Adventure Magazine Cover — page 121: what you’re looking at

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

The Long Knives forced him back to his corner and finally reduced him to a point where he would listen. Then I told him: ‘Even if the Delaware comes he can’t kill a Shawnee’s prisoner. Blue Jacket is the man to be afraid of. If McKee doesn’t come very soon and buy us we must try to make his storehouse and farm at the foot of the rapids.” ‘‘And be chased and fetched back,”’ com- mented Durgin “Possibly. But if we find him he’ll hear what we have to say. And if he believes we have something of value to tell the com- mandant at Detroit he will send us along. Once we escape this village we are prisoners of the man who recaptures us. Also he’s the Indian officer, and they look to him for their guns and powder. Even Blue Jacket can’t afford to quarrel with him.” This talk did not satisfy my companions; nor, in truth, did it satisfy me. Our posi- tion was very hazardous. Blue Jacket had sounded either a warning or a death sen- tence. The danger of White Tom visiting the village and coming to our cabin was very real. Nor did I believe, as Durgin did, that the vengeful Delaware would hesitate for a moment in recognizing Podge. In the old man’s favor was the fact that he was the captive of Spotted Snake. As long as he remained mewed up in the cabin I did not - believe the Delaware could harm him. But did the Delaware come before we made our escape there would be no chance of Podge’s accompanying us either north or south. If he would live he must stick to his sanctuary. Pe OUR guards did not return. On “ the surface we were as free as if we had been Blue Jacket’s trusted friends. When it became unendurable to remain squatting before the cabin, watching the sun’s slow passage through the western half of the blue heavens, I announced that I would walk about a bit. As I had ex- pected, Old Podge refused to leave the cabin. Durgin wanted to go with me, but there was something in the old man’s face that impelled him to remain and see that our friend did nothing foolish. No one appeared to give me any bead as I sauntered along, but never did I pass a lodge nor a group of warriors that I did not feel their sharp gaze stabbing me in the back. Only when encountering a group of 118 young men, scarcely more than youths, did I meet with discourtesy. It was indirect but none the less nerve-trying. Without looking at me one spoke up for my benefit and said: “‘They say there is a bad medicine at work. in this village. They say it will be driven away.” : Another quickly replied: “Only the death of a white man can drive it away. They say it will take the death of two white men to drive it south of the Ohio.” “It will be driven very far, even to the country of the Cherokees. To drive it that far three men may have to die.” I pretended not to hear, and as boldness is ever. the best course when among red men I proceeded to Blue Jacket’s lodge. One of the chief’s sons was standing near the entrance, and I paused and in Shawnee said— ‘‘When does Colonel McKee come to the village?” In good English he replied: “T do not know. Colonel McKee is in Detroit, I think.” “I was hoping to see him here soon.” “Colonel McKee may be below the rapids. Idonot know. Come inside and have something to eat.” He seemed to be a very likable chap, but I did not fool myself for a moment into thinking his English education had taken any of the red out of his nature. I entered. One of. his pretty sisters brought some beans and turnips and meat. He seated himself opposite me and ate a little, more to keep me company than be- cause he was hungry, although as a rule an Indian will eat any time he can procure food. My gaze wandered around the lodge, and he remarked— ‘“You have been in here before.” “Just stepped in so my New England friend could see what the home of a great chief is like. He had never seen a war- rior’s lodge before.” ‘“‘Weyapiersenwah has many things at Detroit,”’ he proudly informed me. Then with a sidelong glance of his keen eyes— “They say the white man from the North works magic.” “He does some things I do not under- stand,” [ admitted, and wondering just how sophisticated my young host was. COmiclbook C©