Adventure Magazine Cover — page 123: what you’re looking at

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

The Long Knives The string was composed of small white beads and had the feather of a crane fastened to. the top of the supporting thong or smew. It advertised Ogden’s errand to be one of peace and that he was sent by Tarhe (Crane). Something kicked my legs as I gained the outer air. I glanced down and beheld Simon-ne, the spoiled son of James Girty’s Shawnee wife. I believe the youngster was glad to see me although his greeting was about as pleasurable as the mauling of a young wild-cat. It developed, however, that he was assaulting me merely as a source of information; for he began de- manding: ‘“‘Where is the white magic-man? Simon- he wants the white magic-man.”’ Glad to be rid of his impetuous company I pointed in the direction of the cabin and took time to rub my shins as he raced off to enjoy Durgin’s company. Blue Jacket’s son, who had watched the boy, remarked— “Even the children know he is a worker of magic.” With that he left me and walked to where Betsy, the boy’s mother, was stand- ing. At one side was the Pleiss woman, the servant of the renegade’s wife. As the chief’s son paused to ask some question of Betsy the white woman came to me and whispered: ‘““May God in His high heaven help you, mister! By His grace you still live. But git away. Git away! The woman Betsy told me while we was crossing the river that all you white men would die pretty soon.” : “She heard her husband say it,” I muttered. “Not when I was round, ‘less they talked in Injun. Betsy talks with Injuns and hears and says things I reckon her husband don’t know about. She talked with a Injun in the canoe. He told her something. ‘Then in English she told me. I think she wants to help you men ’cause her brat takes a liking to the Yankee. But git away! Git away tonight! And may the good Lawd help you.” “Stop talking and listen to me,” I harshly told her. ‘‘Just inside this door, hanging on a peg at the left, is a string of small white beads. There is a feather fastened at the top. See if you can take them unseen. No, no—not now. Sometime after I’ve gone. If you get them have Betsy bring “He belongs to Spotted Snake. 117 you to our cabin. Give them to me or the Yankee when no one is looking. Or toss them inside the door. Whatever way that seems best. You will be treated kindly here. You have nothing to fear.” The last for the benefit of Blue Jacket’s son, who was returning to hear our talk. To him I said: ‘“‘This woman is afraid she will be hurt. Speak to her in English.” “You will not be hurt,” he readily as- sured her. ‘‘You are safe here. Do as Betsy tells you. Bime-by, some time, you can go back to your people.” And without glancing at me he entered his father’s lodge. She bobbed her head and muttered: “T understand. Never was slow-witted.” Then she was scuttling back to her mistress, and I was-continuing my stroll. rr SHAWNEE BETSY’S presence it led me to look for James Girty; so Mx “I was not surprized on beholding him and Simon talking together a short distance from the landing-place. On be- holding me and perhaps unable to dis- tinguish me from Durgin because of my nakedness and smears of paint, James yelled an oath and cried: “You Yankee! I’ll put the Injun sign on top your ears before you quit this country.” “You leave him be, Jim,”’ warned Simon. It’s bad medicine to fool with him just now.” “T ain’t said when I’d notch his long ears. I ain’t said the Snake will know who done it,” replied James. “You haven’t any call to talk to me like - that,” I told him. “I’m what you are, a renegade. I got tired of Americans just as you did. Why do you wish to harm me?” ‘“‘Because you’re a Yankee!”’ “You're a liar. I’m a Buckskin and proud of it,’ I hotly retorted. ‘“‘T’other man’s the Yankee, Jim,’’ cor- rected Simon. ‘This man’s a Buckskin.” As he was speaking James was sounding a yell and leaping toward me, a knife in his hand. I was gathering myself to meet the attack as best I could when Spotted Snake suddenly glided between us, his arms at his side and his brawny chest presented to the knife. James halted, the point of his weapon within a few inches of the bronzed breast. The Snake quietly said: COmiclbook CO