Adventure Magazine Cover — page 113: what you’re looking at

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

The Long Knives the crossing, and a dark object entering the fire reflections became a canoe. Now we were catching the words of the song, shouted in a drunken voice, and recognized them to be from the gruesome ballad of ‘St. Clair’s Defeat.” ‘We had not been long broken when General Butler found eens so badly wounded, was forced to quit the und. ‘My God,’ says he, ‘what shall we do; we’re wounded every man—— “Shut up that squalling,” harshly commanded Simon Girty’s voice. “Want the Injuns to think white men are fools?” “No hurt to sing a song,” defended the singer, his tones blurred from strong drink. “You’re drunk,” Girty reminded him. “‘Ain’t so drunk but what I know some- thing that’ll s’prize you.” And the speaker laughed loudly. “Bah! You started talking that way to Jim. Idon’t like this mystery talk. You’re nothing but Quain’s messenger.” “That’s what you say.” And there was more of the empty laughter. 3 “Mister, I ain’t so drunk on McKee’s rum but what I know I’m mortal keen to see them white prisoners you talked about.” ‘What about them prisoners?” fiercely demanded Girty. “Can’t hurry me any,” retorted Ogden. “T’ve been laughing my imsides out ever since you crossed over to your brother’s place and began talking about ’em. We'll find your big Injun chief and go and have a talk with ’em. Then mebbe you’ll think I’m more’n Quain’s messenger. Quain thmks I’m more’n that. If it hadn’t been for me he’d ’a’ straightened out a rope before now. Ask Quain.” We had until Ogden reached our cabin in which to attempt to escape. I turned to urge Durgin to make a break up the river while I went back and aroused Old Podge to take the same direction. My own flight must be down the river and toward Detroit. Only the humor of a drunken man had pre- vented Girty from learning the truth and confronting us with it. Durgin had disappeared. I was non- plused. If left alone he would be re- captured immediately. He was not situ- ated as were Podge and I. However, Ogden would be keen to pay him off for the drub- bing received in front of Creigh’s store; but 107 Girty would not permit the working out of any private grudge. Both the renegade and Spotted Snake had taken a fancy to him. Decidedly my duty lay in the direc- tion of the cabin, where Podge was waiting to be rescued. As I reached this decision several Indians, attracted by the singing and the loud voices of the white men, closed in behind me and blocked any precipitate withdrawal. Already the canoe was ground- ing against the bank. eit WITH no gentle hand Girty grabbed == Ogden by the shoulder and dragged him up the bank. “You'll make good about this mystery talk, or find yourself in a heap of trouble,” threatened the renegade. “You’re drunk and don’t have much ‘idea what you’re saying. We'll sober you off mighty quick.” As he talked he pulled the fellow close to the fire. Rocking forward and backward and grinning at the stolid-faced warriors, Ogden cried: “That so? Just tell your Injun friends Ym a man that don’t forgit a bad turn. Just tell ’em to foller along behind us. Just hunt up your big Injun chief. I ain’t said I know anything about a man called Simp- son. Never heard of kim. But you show me this Mister Watson and this Mister Durgin, and have ’em look me in the eye, and then watch ’em. We'll hunt up the big Injun chief and have another snort of rum, and I'll be primed for a big talk. ‘“‘We had not been long broken when General Butler found——” I caught the twang of a bowstring, and Ogden broke off his song to make a horrid, gasping cry. Before any one could move he had spun around, clawing at his throat, and fell to a sitting posture. Not until I saw the red patch on each side of his neck, the blood pumping through both, did I realize that the man had received his death wound. Not until his head sagged forward did the Indians and Girty recover from their amazement. s and one’s killed him!’ The warriors behind me rushed _for- ward, carrying me before them. Ogden was gasping his last when we halted at the fire. The men stared stupidly at the limp form. It was Girty who turned him over “‘Some- !” shrieked Girty. oO Comicboooks CO