Adventure Magazine Cover — page 110: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

ele Thus we sat while the sun sped along on its eternal errand. Thus we sat when a Sioux vidette galloped slowly toward the grove with the intention of counting coup by coming very close. Through the lace work of willow branches I could see the scoundrel plainly, although Se un- seen by him. As the girl had her head Siegel on my right shoulder I raised my gun with my left hand. Even when thus handicapped I knew I could pot him if he should come up a bit closer. He wavered, almost halted and stabbed his suspicious glances up and down the front of our shelter, then directed his horse well within easy range. I had him, only the explosion of the piece would have startled the girl. I held my fire. Something suddenly alarmed him, and he yanked his pony about and rode frantically back to his mates. Arrows began pursuing him, three in the air at a time, and I knew the Pillager was back from his trip of dis- covery. The arrows did no damage, and the man escaped. Then the Pillager burst through the undergrowth, his face distorted with fear. On beholding us he grunted in deep disgust, yet looked much relieved. Finding the savage so close without any action on my part, he assumed we had been butchered. The girl stirred and opened her blue eyes. For a few moments she remained with her head on my shoulder, her eyes slightly dazed as sleep still lingered. Then a red tide spread to her neck and she drew back against the tree trunk. “You could have killed him!” Mouth was accusing. “The range was long,” I protested. “Vou could have killed him,” insisted the chief. ‘The Medicine Hair slept on your shoulder, or wé would have now one more dead Sioux.” The girl understood. Her manner was gentle as she asked— “You didn’t fire because of me?” ‘“Vou were sleeping nicely. You needed rest. Tonight will be very hard on you. Besides, the chief is mistaken. ‘The war- rior was too far away.”’ Flat Mouth easily followed my disclaimer and with a grunt cried: “Let the Medicine Hair see how far away the Sioux dog was.”’ Before I could stop him he was running out on the plain. The horsemen pranced Flat Adventure 4“ about, undecided whether to drive him back or await developments. Possibly they believed he was insane. He stopped, stuck an arrow into the earth and loudly called: “Here, white woman, is where the dog turned his horse. Is it long range?” “Almost an easy pistol-shot,’’ she mur- mured. ‘You shouldn’t have minded me.” “But I do mind you,” I assured. “Be- sides, one more dead won’t save us. Others will be arriving before night. Shooting won’t get us clear. We must depend on the darkness.”’ “You think we can break through?” she wistfully asked. “We will sneak through,” I answered, renewing my pity for her as I more fully realized how she had stood face to face with death ever since discovered by the Sioux. The Pillager and I had the stimulus of battle to hold us up to the mark. She must await the verdict and, if it be adverse, kill herself or die a thousand deaths. “T suppose it depends on whether the Sioux up the river arrive before or after dark,” she murmured. “Tt will be dark before they arrive,” I comforted. I was horribly afraid. The Sioux would make all haste on reading the smoke which told of three victims—one a woman— awaiting capture. I believed they would arrive before night. Did they do this we must stand an attack in force and go down fighting. JI prayed for a storm to spoil their bow-strings and leave my gun master of the situation, but the wind continued strong from the south, and there was no hint of rain in the sky. Had it been a case of the Pillager and myself we would have taken to the river, trusting to reach the opposite bank and find a hiding place in the thickly timbered country. By separating, one of us would stand some chance of escaping. Together with the girl it would be a miracle if we could conceal ourselves even if we reached the other bank of the river. Only a black night would reduce the advantage of mere numbers. Pe turned on his heel and retired its : the timber. I endeavored to engage him in conversation but he would not talk. The girl said his silence meant he had lost GComicbooks FLAT MOUTH came up to us, (E(0)