Adventure Magazine Cover — page 115: what you’re looking at

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

The Lord of the Stony Rises ‘‘__and I’m sure,” Gilding concluded all out of breath, “I’m sure it’s not my fault, sir. They didn’t cross any of our land. I don’t quite know what to do.” . ““You’re not expected to,’’ snapped Bur- dette. ‘“‘You’re paid to do as you're told. We’re leaving at once, that ought to put us across the river early tomorrow morning. Tl ride Gun Powder. Don’t want an escort. Don’t stand gaping at me, Gilding!” “No, sir ss “Get out!” They forded the Shaw at dawn and threaded their way through the swamps. Then they emerged into the open, riding through knee-high grass. Topping the crest of a rise they came upon the tres- passers camped by the side of a stream in a broad valley where the scattered cattle were like little gray dots against the green background. A peaceful scene and an inspiring one: The onward surge of civilization, as typified by Rushton, Lund and Mitcham, rolling back a little farther the frontiers of modern Australia. There they sat, dusty, travel- stained and triumphant, boiling their billy- cans above their crackling fire. Burdette’s strength lay in his directness. He never went around an obstacle except as a last resort, he much preferred to butt it down and trample upon it. He dismounted and, having flung the reins to Gilding, walked straight up to Mitcham, tapped him on the chest, and barked: “You can’t stay here, Mitcham. Your bluff is called. Take my advice and shift.” In anticipation of this very meeting Mitcham had prepared a speech which ran, in part, as follows: “Now we’re beginning to be even, John Burdette! I have a title to this land, signed and sealed. You are trespassing. I give you two minutes to remount and begone. Once you drove me away shamefully, and now it is my turn . Instead, because Burdette’s eyes were upon him, he mumbled— “Aw, listen here——” “Ragtag-bobtail outfit. Whoever heard of such nonsense? Do you think you are going to hold me up—me? With a hundred diseased cows? Get out of here, I tell you!’’ Then Rushton, having brushed some dust from his boots, came to the rescue. “We haven’t been introduced,” he began. “My name is Rushton. How do you do?” 105 “Jackanapes!”’ “Indeed? I thought it was Burdette?” Sounds issued from Burdette’s throat. He made as if to bring down his mighty fist on the offender, but checked himself just in time. He turned to Mitcham and snorted contemptuously— “‘What’s this, Mitchame”’ | “That’s Mr. Rushton, sir? He’s——” ‘““Mr. Rushton! Take him away with you, d’you: hear? Don’t leave him lying about. Confound you! you! Wasting my time like this. insolence! What’s the world coming to? Land I’ve had thirty years and a stockrider tries to blackmail me to get possession of it! Arrant nonsense! I'll have you arrested and flung in jail. D’you hear? Get out immediately. I’m staying here until Isee you move off my property!” “Then won’t you sit down?” urged Rush- ton, ‘‘and have some tea and a smoke. You may have to wait some time——”’ “Shut up! I’m dealing with Mitcham— not with curiosities.” “It so happens,” Rushton sighed, ‘that this land belongs to me. At least I have a license to that effect duly endorsed by the governor general. I also have several other documents, but so far I haven’t had time to read them through. And these are my cows, and Mitcham is my gallant fore- man on a profit-sharing basis, and this is Lund—’” “Who,gave you a license to this land—my land?” “The usual authorities I. presume. Who else?”’ “Don’t believe a word you say. Won’t believe it. I'll have the —— thing re- voked. And in the meantime take yourself away at once!” ‘“Vaporings,” Rushton said _ gently. “Vaporings! You have a great reputation, Mr. Burdette, but don’t you think you are being rather silly?” Burdette choked and tore at his. collar, his eyes bulged. He stood speechless, apoplectic with rage. No one had called him silly in thirty years and this snipper dared “Here you—you mustn’t talk like that to Mr. Burdette,” Gilding broke in threaten- ingly. “Don’t you know who you're speaking to?” Mitcham finding fresh courage burst out: ‘“‘Remember me saying you’d be sorry? I’ve done it! We’re ’ere to stay! You’d Go DOOLK 1 @)