Adventure Magazine Cover — page 111: what you’re looking at

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

Gentlemen of the North hope, that he believed the:-enemy would receive reinforcements before night. I ‘insisted he was still angry because I had not shot at the Sioux while she slept on my shoulder. Then we sat side by side, trying to conceal from each other our anxiety, as we watched the sun and kept an eye on the few Indians. They too seemed more interested in the upper reaches of the Red than in us. Like our- selves they were watching for the coming of their tribesmen. The sun was all but lost behind the western rim, and the long shadows cast by the Indians in front of us would soon fade with the twilight. Now the race between the red scoundrels and the sun was almost run, my heart began jumping most erratically. The girl seemed lost in a reverie, so I left her to see what was going on north of the timber. The Indians were stretched across the plain to prevent our making a break. There were no shadows now, and the light had perceptibly dimmed. I knew how quickly the light fled in these vast areas of loneliness, once the sun gave up the fight. Only a few minutes more and we would hope forthe best. A warrior sprang to his feet and stared toward the river. I believed he had glimpsed the Pillager. He said something, and other warriors stood up, one even standing on his horse. Then came a high pitched call from the river. With an extravagant display of joy they answered the call, sprang to their ponies and began riding back and forth. From the other side of the timber came a yelping chorus. “Mr, Franklin! Mr. Franklin!” called the bell-like voice of Miss Dearness. I ran back, much alarmed, and found she had come as far as the rivulet in search of me. “They’re coming!” she said. I raced to the edge of the woods and beheld them, riding far apart, waving their weapons and shouting their war-songs as they slowly cantered towards us. Drop- ping on one knee, I covered the man riding : in advance of the line whose elaborate head- dress marked him as the bearer of the pipe on this expedition. I sent a ball through his chest most neatly, and as his spirit fled tb the land of many lodges his followers came to a confused halt. I fired again, 7 dismounted and 97 this time knocking a man half round in his saddle but not dismounting him. In- stantly the survivors scurried back. As I was reloading Flat Mouth came through the bushes and motioned for me to follow him. I hesitated to leave the girl, but she urged: “Go! They’ve learned their lesson. They'll keep back.” Flat Mouth hurried diagonally across the timber and emerged on the lower edge near the river. Drawing me down beside him, he pointed to the east bank and grunted— eS heard their signal,” I informed him. “They came down the river on the other side. When it gets very dark they will bring their horses over. They heard your gun and they don’t want to try it just now.” “When they cross we can not break through,” I said. “We will all be killed if we stay in the woods. You must stop them from crossing their horses for a little while. The Sioux on this side feel sure of a coup. They will not fight till their friends join them. Stay here till it gets too dark to shoot. I will take Medicine Hair and the horses to the end of the timber. When they attack on both sides we must ride after the sun.”’ “West?” “Tt leads from home but it is the nearest way there. We can strike*the Cheyenne near the Lac du Diable country. There are many good hiding places there.” The bushes across the river swayed and a painted face showed through the dusk as one of the newcomers stood up to signal the horsemen on our side. Knowing I could not begin too soon to teach them their place, I rested the gun on Flat Mouth’s shoulder, aimed a bit high and had the satisfaction of seeing the brave go sprawling down the bank, his head and shoulders remaining under water. This kill wrung a chorus of devilish yells from the hidden warriors. Flat Mouth hurled his war-cry at them and danced in great glee. I reloaded and urged the Pillager to return to the girl and prepare her for making the tip of the grove. Reluctantly he left me, swinging to the north to take a final look at the horsemen there, and’I settled down to waiting. Objects began to fade out of my vision. Trees near by became blurred and unreal. Gomichbooks:, co mM