Adventure Magazine Cover — page 125: what you’re looking at

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

Pards Ellis followed the direction of his hand and discovered six mounted Indians making swiftly from the timber for the crack in the wall ahead. Racing the savages for the narrow exit was out of the question. Goss — even allowed his pony to halt and graze. “We're bottled up!” he muttered. “Good { Look behind!” cried Elhs. A dozen braves, their long braids of hair snapping behind them, were riding down the creek at a furious gallop. There was no cover except the fringe of willows along the.stream. Goss slid to the ground and rested the barrel of his gun across the pony’s back, intending to utilize the animal as breastwork against the In- dians coming down the creek. Ellis imitated his example, but face the Indians between them and the exit from the park, and aimed his rifle on the leader. A chorus of wild howls rose from both galloping bands which not only startled the stillness of the opening but incited the ponies to bolt toward the spruce growth. The two men were left naked to the attack. , THE yelling suddenly ceased and ®* the two parties slowed down to yy, a walk. From the larger band % a rider detached himself and gal- joped ahead, his open hands held high in the sign of friendship. “Most of them have guns. All of them have bows and arrows,” said Goss. “It’s sure death if we fight, yet ’m willing. What do you say?” “There’s my sister,” hoarsely replied Eis. “I mustn’t miss a chance to get out alive.” And he lowered his rifle. Goss thrust his gun in his belt. The two bands kicked their ponies into a gallop and with a wild flurry of hoofs, quickly sur- rounded the white men. The leader, who had made the sign of peace, flew from his pony and ran to the prisoners, his hands open before him. He kept repeating— “Good! good!” Then with a quick movement he snatched Ellis’ rifle away and almost at the same time jerked the gambler’s gun from its holster. Immediately rough hands were laid on the two and they felt nooses of horsehair ropes around their necks. Their hands were tied at their backs. With loud whoops the-entire band started up the creek toward the south. As the prisoners desperately hurried along abe re ey om - ite ee ee —F,— —s SE at + ets SO al a gee ae = ne Oe CK aoe Be he are Os IE en aS hat RAT Se er a = Eee - ee Ce et eee emai ae eee” 2 ae ee te ee Ge eae y Ae oN os <=> a Fg ee a oases : ats oe cee a io set Oh a tage ee ie Sar) . = = = 7 wy Fee SS Bo om ref ecw 12g to escape strangulation their captors weld scowl murderously and make threatening gesture. The man having Goss in tow pointed dramatically at the two broken- down ponies and talked vehemently. The gambler shook his head to indicate he did not understand. Ellis caught something of the pantomime and told his companion— “Awful big fuss to make because we rode a few miles on those castaway beasts.” The rope around his throat tightened and cut off speech. The way led to the southern end of the park, a distance of three miles, and then swerved abruptly to the right, or west, into the mouth of a narrow gulch. Its presence could not be suspected by a stranger until he was close upon it. The traveling grew rougher, the Indians taking to the dried-up bed of a mountain creek which was scat- — tered thickly with small and large boulders. Only by the utmost agility did the white men escape being dragged by the neck. It was evident the Indians were not particu- Jar whether they took them along dead or alive, as no consideration was shown. When Goss managed to get a brief breath- ing spell he choked: ee oe seen “Well, their hides! I'd made it a fight!’ “We’restill alive,” reminded Ellis’ muffled voice. For five or six miles they clambered and bumped over and against the boulders. When they were on the point of exhaustion, their faces bleeding from abrasions, the gulch widened and debouched into a beauti- ful park of about the same size as the one where the capture was made. There were twenty or more skin lodges, and the absence of women and children indicated it was a temporary settlement, a hunting or war camp. : A considerable herd of ponies was grazing in the rich grass near the mouth of the gulch. From the lodges came the wailing of a single voice. But what interested the prisoners, now that the ropes were removed from their necks, was the sight of a white man sitting on the right of their approach to the lodges He was smoking a pipe, and on discovering the prisoners he jumped to his feet and ran toward them, calling out— “Who are you?” An Indian struck at him with his bow and smashed the head of the pipe. The man ~ eGomicbooks.com