Adventure Magazine Cover, June 18, 1921 — page 128: what you’re looking at

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

118 Adventure “Eh? Extra? Good ——! What did Tans and cheated him out of whipping a you have?” half-wit. “Only the cold potatoes and journey- cakes. So the colonel treated you to porridge——’”’ He frowned at the fire and remained silent for some minutes; then announced: “It’s all settled about my parole, but I must go to your camp first. Until then I’m in your charge. This ends me in America—back to Charleston to get poor old Masters’ papers, then for England on the first ship out. That porridge. I spoke like a hound— _ It was good porridge.”’ In the morning we crossed the Kingstree road, half-expecting to be attacked, and took the shortest route to Lynch’s Creek. Posby and I brought up the tail of the column and were poor company for each other. He was thinking of his military disaster and I was brooding over Elsie. Suddenly I decided I would get leave and ride to the Macson cabin. I explained to my friend: “T think J’Jl call on my cousin, the young woman I helped to escape from Tickridge. I would like to have you go with me. I'll fix it with General Marion. We’ll be en- tirely alone.” “T must get to Charleston and back home and be assigned to service. But this seems to be our last throw together, Jim. ! Til go along with you. Fix it.” The matter was easily arranged. Gen- eral Marion had read Posby’s true character almost at a glance. He advised the cap- tain to wear a plain dragoon cloak to cover up his uniform a bit and ordered me to re- port at Snow’s Island with the captain with- in five days. In dismissing me he said: ‘Tell Mistress Elsie our camp js quite dull ~ ‘without her. I shall expect the Macsons, two of them at least, to return with you. ,There’s work ahead.” I do not believe I would have planned a visit to the cabin if not for Posby’s com- pany. Her message, expressing a desire to avoid me, would have kept me away. Pos- by was an excellent excuse in salving over my pride and in catering to my heart. I told myself that the captain and I were pay- ing the visit to the father and brothers. I did not stop to consider what old Angus’ reception of the hated uniform might be. So the two of us dropped from the column and swung off to the left. I pointed out to Posby the spot where I had met Captain ‘Too much whipping and burning. Too little coming to honest blows,” growled Posby. Be NEXT we came to Ellis Ambros’ a NRA cabin, or rather what was left of it; for it had been fired. I have no doubt Tickridge in his blind rage placed the torch. Isought to expel the cloud from my companion’s face by describing my adven- tures at the cabin with Ganner’s men. He showed no interest until I mentioned the dogs. Then he was bristling with questions as to their strain, and what not, and was much disgruntled at my ignorance. “T’ve seen old Ambros. If I’d known about his dogs I’d have treated him with more decency. Atleast with enough to find out what brced his man-eaters are.”’ ‘‘He’s been very useful to Cornwallis,” I remarked. “Oh, aye. But that doesn’t make him popular with the army. Lots of foolish chaps like myself in the army who can’t fancy a man who turns against old neigh- bors and lays them by their heels.® Fight- ing one’s neighbors is good sport at times, but this sneaking in and out and whispering, whispering, and then some poor devil’s cabin goes up in flames and his crops are ruined— None of us in Charleston would give the old beast a civil day even if he could get his lordship’s ear when we couldn’t get into the anteroom. Brutally lonesome country in these parts.” “Tt’s very quiet just now,” I admitted. “Did they make much of my escape from gaol?” 6c b S peace! Such fault-finding! Such overhauling! A Sergeant Newt came near to swinging on a charge’ of having helped you. He was saved by that imbe- cile Tickridge. There was some talk about Masters and me and a few of our friends going to see you. Ended quite right, though.” Now he was embarrassed, showing he had broached something he did not care to go into. I became very stern and insistent and got enough out of him to permit me to fit the whole thing together. He and Masters had been in for a wigging, and were fortunate to escape with being assigned to border duty. “My return to Charleston won’t be very COmiclboo oN ) CO