Fifteen Western Tales, March 1954 — page 57: what you’re looking at

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

side. knife. — Fear clutched him. Knives! He had ex- Sn ee ee ‘The youth felt the other draw his pected it to be a shooting fight. Knives! Terror swept into his tightening chest and sickness bubbled up in him. His father let go-and glided up the trail. Chip trailed behind; his palm sweating on his own knife handle until he had to 7 wipe it dry on his pant leg. Chip realized the plan his father had in mind—to kill the sober guards at the head of the trail—then descent on the ttswin- stupified camp. The advantage would be theirs, coming up behind the sentries. Were there one or two Indians? more? Chip’s muscles tightened so quickly he stumbled, scraping his foot. His father halted instantly. They were near the rim. Chip felt his father’s reassuring hand in the blackness of the night, calming him. The.steadying hand pressed him down, and his father floated away in the void that was the night. - His father wanted to go on alone, Chip stood still. «Or ~ ISTANTLY, FAINTLY .a coyote ki: yoodled to the sinking moon in the west, already below the horizon. was just the faintest glow of reflected light along the rim of the canyon. In spite of his father’s warning, Chip crept slowly up the trail. - He held his Rite poised, as his father had taught him, point forward, low, sharp edge turned up and in. His rifle hung in his -left hand, ready to be dropped. Chip sensed, more than heard, his father only a short few paces in front of him. Suddenly the youth froze. A pebble rolled up on the rim ahead. Chip crouched, trying to get more of the _ RACE THE FIERCE WIND! _ \ There + edge of the canyon against the dimly lighted. skyline. Then he saw -his father, creeping, crouching, moving slowly over the rim. The Indian-fighter’s shadow blended into ¢ ~ — —— “io a ad ee a -— - S os ,. Sae a ae” ee ang « eS ae ae ~ — - a AE f= the blackness that was on up-ended pillar of a boulder. Then it passed and came out of the other side. Even as the advancing man passed, another shadow detached itself from the boulder and slid silently in behind and toward his father. | Chip dropped his rifle and sprang up the trail. As he leaped his quivering nostrils were filled with the pungent ‘body odor of the Apache in front of him. He hurled himself onto the Indian’s back bowling him to. his knees. The buck rose strong, and+whirled in his circling left arm and they were . welded in straining, surging, noiseless com- bat. 4 Chip slid his left arm down and pinioned the buck’s right arm, then the hand that , held the warrior’s knife. His own right wrist was clamped in the talon-like band of . _ fingers of the struggling Indian. Even in his desperate fight Chip saw. another form rise from the ground along- side the trail and: became one with his charging father. Chip felt the surge of sinewy strength ~ rise in the Apache, forcing him back. His heel caught, and he fell. The Apache swarmed up on him, whipping to get his knife free. Chip twisted violently, with all his strength, trying to pull the Indian under him as they fell. He all but suc- ceeded. They crashed on their sides into the malapai boulders lining the trail. An up-jutting rock grazed Chip’s ribs and . smashed into his opponent’s side.- The. shock loosened the Apache’s grip. Chip jerked his knife up and out. The Apache wilted in his grasp and gurgled in the darkness as Chip sprang to his feet to rush to his father’s aid. He saw the. older man rise from the squirming, flaying sere that thrashed in the darkness. - They had killed both of the guards. Then the toll of the tremendous exertion swept over Chip. He sat down. His father. crouched near him and both sobbed’ for — COMMICNOO <Sn(Slo) - Lo a Se ee oe ea ee — SO a ar et eae I. Qe Seo y= mae Am MR Ie ae RS ig A EES ees — = - Fas ae oa Sle ee