Adventure Magazine Cover, December 18, 1919 — page 158: what you’re looking at

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

144 : Adventure eagle feathers for the men I have scalped_ desire to know more about the girl. Des- in battle, say it. An evil spirit, sent by tiny had purposed that I should succeed, the Sioux’s great manito, tells you to take else why had she come into my life? Then the white woman. So be it.”’ there was my disappearance from the Le Borgne’s smile twisted his lips con- Pembina post. Would the truth ever be vulsively, and for a moment I believed he known, or would the gentlemen of the was to grapple with my friend. But Flat North write me down asa deserter? ‘Would Mouth’s boldness appealed to him. The any thieving on Black Chabot’s part be warning about the Sioux manito laying an blamed on me? Altogether, an abrupt ambush and baiting him with the girl also finish would leave many loose ends which - registered deeply. an orderly fate would have gathered up. “You are a brave man,” he said to the The grim irony of it all, that I, a Northman, Pillager, “or you would be a dead man _ should perish by the ferocious fancy of a under my ax. I love brave men even when _ savage chief! they are my enemies.’ “My. friend’s face should be filled with “Tam not your enemy. [I tell you the sunshine,” grunted Flat Mouth reproach- truth. That makes me your friend,” said fully. _ Flat Mouth. I simulated a genial expression and “You shall stay to the feast I give after looked up to find the reason for his warning. two sleeps. Then you must go away, for Chief of the Wolves and his friends were the Minnetaree village is too small for two returning from the river, and with them brave men. The white man may stay, but rode an Indian on a pony whose appearance you must go.” testified to rough and fast travel. “And be followed by your warriors, who the center of the group and the target for will try to kill me after I get away from the many queries. As they drew abreast of us, village,”’ sneered Flat Mouth. He was the ,horseman. noticed Flat’ Mouth and “No!”’ passionately cried Le Borgne, stared at him and his string of scalps and and I was convinced he spoke sincerely. talked hurriedly with Chief of the Wolves. “Le Borgne, the Blind, will never wish to. Then he jumped from his pony and ran - kill the Sioux-Killer. Go and kill more of tous, seizing the Pillager’s hand and shaking our enemies. After another snow come it warmly, crying: to me and smoke some of the trader’s “They say you are the Chippewa chief tobacco, Today there is a little cloud ~who killed the Sioux. They say the scalps over the sun. Sometime it will go away you wear came from Sioux heads. Your and we shall feel warm toward each name is heard throughout the Sioux coun- other.” try. The Sioux chiefs call you a great warrior and make medicine to get your skull E LEFT him, having learned for a as a drinking-dish. I, White Snake, a certainty how much time we had Minnetaree and their prisoner, heard them in which to work. On the surface the case _ tell these things.” seemed hopeless. The girl was isolated “I am a mighty warrior,’’ readily agreed and not permitted to see us. We might Flat Mouth. “The Snake’s medicine was kill the chief and a few others, but we could _ strong to help him get away.” not expect to fight our way clear of the “T have been with them for many moons. village. The Pillager would consider it an I went to hunt buffalo with them. Then ideal exit to go to his happy hunting- runners came with stories of what they had grounds in defense of the.girl’s medicine. _ seen. The hunting-party broke up, and I We were three sentenced to death, and _ got away.” death it must be after two sleeps, unless Chief of the Wolves now impatiently a miracle rescued us. reminded: As we skirted the village and gave our- ““My uncle, the Blind, is waiting for you selves to thought, I found death to be to bring hima talk. It is not good to keep ~ very impersonal. It meant nothing to me him waiting.” beyond a keen disappointment. There “The White Snake brings good news?” were so many things I had intended to asked Flat Mouth, as the escaped warrior experiment in and to accomplish before turned to mount his pony. I died. The adventure had opened up a “Strangers come. It is good or bid. = A) JOO (E@) = bd — v pega te “Si coOm pe ae ' eS