Adventure Magazine Cover — page 148: what you’re looking at

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

138 Joash expected every instant to see the Mexicans break and run. But they did not doso. He tried to frame words to get them started before they should discover his trick. Once they were on the run, he him- self would flee also toward the river to get back to Rodela del Sol and warn the popu- lace—if it still needed warning. Chances were, the band would be too much scat- tered to raid tonight. Yet they did not run. They stood hor- rified. Then the Straddler himself burst out: “Carambal The gringos have got new guns that shoot little bombs.” He referred to the roar of the larger firecrackers. The rattle of hoofs sounded loudly, like a regiment. They would be around the house in a moment, and his trick would be revealed. His eyes roamed around to see a way out. He saw the two guns on the table. He reached unobtrusively and picked up the nearest one. He stepped back and “overed the gang instantly. “Hands up!” he yelled. high!” Hands went up, high. In the light of the two waving candles Joash saw that the Straddler was white of face. Joash’s heart went hard, and his face went grim. The Straddler was his prisoner. He meant to keep him such. Joash was a living threat all at once to the Mexicans, and they realized it. The gun he gripped was bobbing, threatening. Ready to fire at less than an instant’s notice, he reached out and lifted the Strad- dler’s guns from their scabbards. The first he dropped to the floor, the second he cocked and shoved into the leader’s ribs. “T’]] kill!” he cried out venomously. ‘Sur- render to the gringo cavalry! Everybody!” Two doors were at the far end of the room. From having been in this room once before when its occupants were friends, the old man knew that one of the doors opened to the dungeon and the other to an ordinary room. This second door stood open. “File into that room!”’ he bellowed to the harassed men. To get quick action he fired a shot. He was no marksman. He did not own a gun. He almost got a man by the shot. A hat flew off. But the shot had the desired effect. Those nearest to the door turned and walked through. Joash fired again. “Poke ’em up Adventure The others crowded to the door, arms up. Joash did not pause to wonder why the bandits were crowding into the room rather than opening fireon him. They may have been afraid of him, or of the approach- ing racket outside. Or they may have thought to escape, once beyond the door. As they crowded, with backs to him, Joash hissed at the Straddler: “Come! Come to me!” The chieftain, arms elevated, followed after the gun that Joash held as if it were a rope drawing him. Outside the door, Joash slammed and hooked it, then sprang behind the Straddler and, poking savagely with the pistol barrel, ordered him to run toward the river. “PH kill! ll kill!” he threatened. . The Straddler broke into a clumsy trot. In a moment they were going down the hill. And at the same time running, scattered burros began to cross their path. A fire- cracker on the tail of one exploded. It seemed to be the final shot. The Straddler comprehended the trick that had been played on him. He turned around bellowing. Joash fired pointblank. The bandit’s right arm fell limply. “Trot to the river!’ spat out Joash. “Tl drill ye!” The Straddler trotted. At the water’s edge he faced around once more to protest. “Wade in!” ordered Joash. “T’ll turn ye over to Ranger Bud Milroy or I'll kill ye!” He fired over the man’s head to accelerate movements. The Straddler went splashing and plunging toward the Texas shore. wie | THE early morning sun was begin- sia ning to get hot. Old Joash and his young friend Jim sat atop the fence of the empty corral. Buzzards floated overhead. Joash liked buzzards, in a way. They typified freedom, so high up there, and flying where they pleased; and they suggested the cool breath of altitudes. “Only two of the birds this morning,” he observed to Jim. “And they’re flying powerful high.” “Wish they’d come close,” said Jim, dandling a six-shooter. “I could eat a buzzard.” “Too bad you didn’t get any barbecue over there last night.” —-, Go DOOK 1@)