Adventure Magazine Cover, December 18, 1919 — page 120: what you’re looking at

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

106 Adventure “No. What was it?” this charge is now as far as ever from “He said that God would exact a fear- settlement. I am sure that the man Fon- ful price of me. He has done it, Andres, seca must have been knifed back there ‘unless you are the Bearer of good news. in Culiacan by—oh, by some one who Are you? You have seen the land to the admired him for his well-known good . eastward. Have you heard of a>city qualities. There! Is that speaking evil called Acoma ?” of dignitaries? What are your plans, “T have come fromthere,” said Andres. senor?” ; “What is it? A large and rich city?” “Plans? I have few left. I must “No. It is an Indian walled city, work south to the great river to run to peopled by a few thousands of Indians. earth the story of Quiviri lest it should They are semicivilized. It is one of the turn out to be true after I have gone. As fabled Cities of Cibola, or so Fray Marco for you, Andres se says.” OM Sven” “That accursed priest,” Coronado “My word is that you take a small oaned. “I have searched far and wide. party and push south again for our own have fought three pitched battles since frontiers. The sevorita must, of course, you left me. I took their chief town of be sent back, and your own honor is at Hawikuh. It, too, was said to be one of stake. I will give you such letters to the Cities of Cibola. I took three other Mendoza that you can knife one of the cities of which men said the same and _ officers each night in perfect safety 3 now you come with a tale of Acoma. Coronado grinned at his scoutmaster, There is but one remaining city—Quiviri who smiled back understandingly. —it lies far to the east, men say. I “You will remain in Culiacan for six must go there too. Is Acoma rich?” months at least. If I have not got back “It is as you have described the others. in that time, send me what reinforce- No more; no less.” ments you can raise of horses and men. “Then,” said Coronado heavily, “I I will never leave this quest. till I have have spent a million of my own money once and for all settled the tale of the and the lives of many who trusted me Cities of Cibola, though in very truth I in pursuit of a chimera invented by a_ think they are settled. I will give you lying priest. Truly God has exacted a such men and horses as you need to aAearful price, my friend.” return. I will give you papers making “No, no, sefior. You are wrong in you intendant of all my estates ig Sonora part. You must remember that a priest till I return. You will leave, then, when does not see with the eyes of a soldier. the senorita is rested sufficiently.” The man was for three months fleeing . alone through the desert. Why he did™ IVE days later; Coronado turned out not die on the road I can never under- all his men in gallant style to bid stand. Like St. John in Patmos, he saw farewell to the little'group of Mercedes strange visions.”’ and six men who were to accompany “But—houses—houses covered with Andres on his homeward march. Very _ sheet silver—streets covered with copper different was Andres’ feeling as he —emeralds beyond’ price. Can you ex- swung into saddle on that hot July day plain these things that he said he saw?” from what it had been months before “The houses were covered with stucco when he headed northwest on a well- lime-washed. The streets were paved “nigh impossible quest. This time their with red earth that showed like copper. trail had been pricked- out for them by ‘The emeralds—ah! A word, senor Coronado on a chart and showed that “A thousand if you like. What is it?” water would be plentiful. He halted on “Of my own case. I was accused of the ridge above the camp and looked the murder of the fiscal. So, too, was back at the group of armed life beneath the Sefiorita de Acasta. She had never him. Coronado, standing under a great heard of it till I told her that the man _ pole, from the top of which fluttered his was dead. There is some mystery in own arms with the golden flag of Spain, this that I can not fathom. I must return waved his hand in silent farewell and to face Governor Mendoza, sefior, for Andres passed on down the far side of <2e> | . comicbooks