Adventure Magazine Cover — page 127: what you’re looking at

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

Pards paper, and not by digging up ruins and preaching sermons.” “Why don’t you try to think well of yourself instead of always hooting at your- self?” asked Goss. FOUR Indians ran up to the pris- oners and began pushing and fie, shoving them about and striking ~ them with their bows. A red man would have considered a blow from a bow a deadly insult, but the white men were thankful clubs were not used. Fierce gestures were made, knives were thrust close to their throats. Goss pressed his left arm against the gun under his armpit and submitted with poor grace to the tough treatment, determined to show no resentment unless attacked with a mortal weapon. Ellis was alarmed. Euclid appeared used to abuse. The Indians desisted and watched for the return of the funeral procession.. A shot was heard. The men came back without the pony. They had killed the animal close by. the grave of its owner. Little Tree was something that never had existed. He would not be mentioned in any conversa- tion, nor were there any of his personal effects in existence to recall his memory. So it was with all the Utes; but if property could not be inherited it could be and was given away before death. As the men entered the camp with Red Crow in the lead the white men were subjected to more mauling. ‘They act as if we were to blame for the old fellow’s death,” muttered Euclid as their tormentors finally finished their abuse and hurried to the lodges. Goss picked up his soft hat and brushed it carefully, smoothed his hair and stared after the men with death in his gaze. He believed he would have opened fire on them with the unsuspected revolver had it not been for the presence of Ellis. Euclid sucked at the pipe-stem and mur- mured: “Superstition. Destroying property. Or maybe they’re wiser’n white folks. No waiting around for a man to die so you can step into his shoes. By mathematics——”’ “Shut up! You make my head ache,” growled the gambler. “Where’d you see old Whip King? Still freighting, I suppose,”’ said Euclid. It was Ellis who gratified his curiosity 125, and mentioned some of the happenings in - California Gulch, for the gambler was sub- merged in murderous meditations and never shifted his baleful gaze from the group of Indians. “T heard something about Charley Dodge when I was up in the Gregory Diggings,” remarked Euclid. ‘Pretty reckless sort of aman. Folks don’t like to cross him.” ‘“‘Goss, here, made him back down. Come near killing him,” proudly informed Ellis. The Utes now advanced in a body upon the prisoners, and Goss stood up and pressed down on the hidden gun, his depressed cheeks and high cheek bones giving him a. profile that was suggestive of Indian blood. His right hand held the lapel of his coat, ready to dart inside the coat and draw the revolver. This time, however, the Utes halted near the prisoners and Red Crow began to ad- dress them. His eyes were venomous and while none of the prisoners understood a word of his taik, it was apparent he was denouncing them. The warriors behind and on both sides of him listened to his speech in ferocious impatience and fingered their clubs and knives and short-handled axes as if waiting for some word. “T shall take five or six with me,” the gambler muttered from the corner of ‘his mouth. ‘Go down fighting.” Red Crow suddenly ceased talking and began lifting his hand. His men leaned for- ward as if waiting for the word that would — release them. From the lower end of the park sounded a shrill ululating cry. The chief’s hand halted, half-raised, and he and his men shifted their gaze in the direction - of the interruption. A small band of mounted Indians were rapidly galloping up the park, and the leader commenced shout- ing and waving his arms. Ellis, standing at the gambler’ s shoulder, tremulously whispered— “‘The second man is the Rabbit!” Euclid exclaimed: “Thank the Lord! Here comes the White Chief of the Utes. I promised to help him make a million from placer diggings he knows about.” The tableau persisted while the returning band came up at a smashing gallop, driving a dozen riderless horses before it. Then the tensity of Red Crow’s men relaxed and they began shouting. salutations to the new- “comers. They expressed much joy on being Gomicboo (ef 8 ) m cS