Adventure Magazine Cover — page 116: what you’re looking at

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

102 do anything worse than try to steal our horses.” “They’ve killed traders when catching them alone. These are not of the same band that comes to the Pembina.” “All the Assiniboins are good robe- makers. They’re all friendly with the whites,’”’ I persisted. “These are not any Red River band. If they see us they will do their best to kill us and take our horses. I am an Indian. I tell you I know this.” As a trader I had had experience only with straggling bands of the tribe. It was hard for me to believe that I had anything to fear from a people who begged rum rations from me and who went and came when I gavethe word. My incredulity must have been obvious, for the chief hissed out— “Do you think Eshkebugecoshe is afraid?” No, he was not afraid. He had lived with Mandans and had fought with them and their allies, the Crows, against these same Assiniboins and the Sioux. The tribe had taken to horses, being a migratory people and forever chasing the buffalo, and horses they must have. That they would appropriate ours if they got the chance went without saying, but I had sup- posed the theft would be committed with stealth and in no event be accompanied with violence. _ “Say what is to be done and we will do it,” I agreed. “We will wait until they go. If they come down here we will follow up the river,” he replied. Then very significantly — “They must not see the white woman.” “She was big medicine to them once,” I reminded. “To those who came to the Pembina. But the Voice is back on the River That Calls, and this band would kill her to prevent it being stolen again.”’ I remembered what the girl had told me, much to the same effect, and if Flat Mouth was not afraid, I was. Yet I still hoped and half believed the dark objects were buffaloes. At so great a distance it is impossible to detect any but the most rapid motion. A_ horse galloping at full speed will scarcely appear to be moving. So far as the dots were concerned, they appeared to be stationary. We rose to go back to the camp, and I was debating whether it was necessary to in- form Miss Dearness of this possible new Adventure peril, when the Pillager gave a sharp yelp and went bounding through the bush as if the devil were nipping his heels. Believing the girl was in some danger, I charged after him. When I entered the glade he was furiously stamping out a little fire. Miss Dearness stood at one side anxiously watching him. =~ ‘What have I done now?” she whispered to me. “Nothing,” I warmly assured, scowling at the Pillager. “Green bark!” he grunted and, tilting his head, he pointed upward. Even with the fire extinguished there was a pale haze floating clear of the tree tops. I belittled it, saying— “An eagle couldn’t see that, Eshke- bugecoshe.”’ “They have sacrificed dogs to their manito, ‘Their medicine is strong,” he gloomily retorted. ‘““‘What’s the matter, Mr. Franklin? the Sioux near?” cried Miss Dearness. “Not a Sioux in sight. The Pillager and I disagree about some dots out on the plain. He says they’re Assiniboins. I say they are buffaloes.” “And he fears they saw the smoke,” she cried, wringing her hands. ‘‘Now I’ve brought new danger on you two by my thoughtlessness. It was so dreary waiting. I forgot myself. I threw some green bark on the hot ashes to see it curl up—it burst into flame—then I fed on some green sticks —I bring bad luck.” “Nonsense,” I sharply replied. “Is it surprizing that a band of thieving Indians should stumble’ upon us here? They will stand lear of my gun. It’s stood off their betters.” | I turned-to Flat Mouth and boasted the same to him. He shook his head energetically: “It’s no medicine to the Assiniboins, the Crees or the Chippewas. They have seen it and its two barrels, and the truth has gone through the three tribes. They are two shots afraid; that is all. Soon the Sioux of the plains will know about it. Then it won’t be medicine to them.” Are HE RAN back to watch the dots, and Miss Dearness and I followed him. Now they were no longer dots but mounted men. They had drawn near enough for us to be sure of this, and Gomichbooks.co