Adventure Magazine Cover, June 18, 1921 — page 139: what you’re looking at

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

The Torch-Bearers men, taunting them with horrible oaths and silencing them by displaying his trophy. “Open the door, Jim. I’m going after that hat,” Posby hoarsely said. ‘““You’re as crazy as Ganner,”’ I answered. “It makes bad friends to link my name with his,’ Posby grimly replied. ‘I’m going to get that hat. Stand clear, Jim.” “Then your hat is of more account than I am, Captain Posby?” Elsie softly asked. She was close beside us and I knew her hand was resting on his arm. “God forgive me!” he choked. ‘‘The hat shall wait. I—I need to be quite alone to express myself becomingly—yes, becom- ingly. He—he was so cursedly insistent on having the hat, Mistress Elsie.” “You are a brave man,” she cooed. ‘‘Jim had to come here because he’s my kinsman. You came although it wasn *t your fight and I belong to the enemy “Old Jim’s fight is my fight, young lady, when it isn’t reb—patriot against the king— And they’re up to something. I hope they'll charge again. I hope their head co will come after my head to put in the at!” Ganner’s reckless: act had inspired his men with fresh ferocity. A rush was made for the log and Posby warned me to wait until they had picked it up before firing. The attacking party was covered this time by a volley of lead that plunked into the logs or hurtled through the window. Under protection of this heavy fire the others swarmed down on the log. Against the background of the night we could make them out as a mass, not as units. They rushed forward, and by the undula- tions of the mass we knew they were swing- ing the log back and forth to give it a bat- tering-ram’s momentum. We fired despite the efforts of the cover- ing-party to keep us from the window. Again men groaned and fell. The captain swore viciously between his clinched teeth, and I knew he had been hit. The bandits were streaming back to safety. But our second victory lost its savor when we heard Ganner’s whining laugh back of the cabin. While his men charged he had passed be- hind the cabin and was up to new deviltry. We reloaded, aided by Elsie, and I searched for a loophole through which to pot Ganner. The cabin had been constructed without any provision for this means of defense and although only the thickness of the log wall 9 129 was between us I could not get at the devil. As I examined the wall, leaving the cap- tain to guard the window, some one bumped into me and I was startled, for it was not the slim form of the girl. “Time I got up,” “Hear that critter yowl! that’s lost a cub.” “Go back! Lie down!” I commanded, pursuing my quest from a crevice through which I could shoot. “La, for me! I’ve got anegher fight left in my old carcass,” said Shonts, yet leaving me, and, as I supposed, obeying me. ‘All clear on your side, captain?” I whispered. “Tediously so. On the roof.” I heard it, a faint scraping sound. The roof would be formed of poles, snugly thatched with bark. . ‘“‘He’s up there!’ gasped the girl. trying to get through.” I danced about with pistols raised, trying to locate the exact spot where the intruder was working. “What the you doing with that door?” roared the captain. _I was not near the door and yet asI wheeled about I could glimpse the faint stars where there should have been stout timbers. It lasted for a second or two, then the stars were shut out, I threw myself for- ward and found the door closed, but the prop was on the floor. I replaced it and felt my skin prickle as the girl exclaimed: “Tt was open! Who came in?” I made toward her, commanding: “Back in the corner! Look out, captain! That devil’s in here!”’ “You're crazy!’ growled Posby, yet with much uneasinessin his voice. “There! That proves it!” said Shonts’ voice. Like a painter That’s a funny noise— “He’s The last in great relief as the scratching sound was renewed overhead. _“He’s still on the roof.”’ “Shonts!”’ I called. ‘‘Shonts! Where are you?” But I knew he was gone, that it was his stealthy departure that had left the door unpropped. I knew it before putting the question. And before the girl or Posby could speak I heard something dragging over the edge of the roof, and it was not Ganner, for now he raised a loud shout and yelled for his men to attack, proclaiming he was about to tear off a part of the roof and take the fighting to us on the inside. COmicloo oN Uf) CO