Adventure Magazine Cover, December 18, 1919 — page 88: what you’re looking at

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

74 bare ridge above the town, where they made us a camp with nine women that Estevanico took for wives. There was a fight there—I do not remember much of it, seiores—all that is clear is that Es- tevanico was crucified over an ant-hill and then I was awakened under a great cottonwood tree, and it was on the road to the Spanish cities.” “Are they rich?” “Rich? Senores, I saw from that ridge the walls of the houses that were covered with silver sheets. Their lance points are of pure gold and on their shields and wooden helmets I saw em- eralds and turquoises past all belief.” “You say that they will fight?’ asked Andres, his eyes gleaming. “All men will fight,” said Fray Marco, crossing himself. “These men are not the descendants of the Christians that we sought—that we thought would live in Cibola. These men worship—’” “Yes. Go on.” “They worship a vile and filthy snake.” “A snake! evil ?” “He can teach them nothing. Where do we camp tonight P” ‘At the trees yonder.” Andres pointed to a thin line of cottonwoods in the off- ing. “There should be water enough in the pools yonder to supply our herds.” Fray Marco strode away across the hills toward the trees, leaving the two staring after him. “A most pious and worthy fray,” pail Coronado presently. “T have no doubt of it,” said Andres eryiy, ~ Coronado looked at him sharply. “Has he told you all he knows?” “He told that in less than five minutes, I think. He is no doubt a pious and worthy fray, but as a scout or guide he is the greatest fool that God ever allowed to press shoe-leather. He believes that because we do God’s work, that God will victual us as He did Elijah of old time. I must get ahead with my men or the column will be closed on my heels.” Down they went, mile after mile, along that bitter trail. To one side the hills swept up in wave on wave of green and brown and red—raw, red earth on which no water fell. Below them it sloped Worship the father of “wood tree and there, Adventure away to the rocky fastnesses of a dry arroyo. Ahead of them a long sweep of arid country terminated at the narrow belt of green that marked their camp: So they came down at last, the tired mules whinnying as they smelled the dampness. Horses whinny when they leave camp, mules when they reach it. In a short half-hour the smoke from a hundred dung-fed fires ‘swirled up into the evening air. NDRES pushed on with the men he intended to place on out-posts for the camp. He had selected a low line © of hills a few hundred yards to the north of the camp site. Two hundred yards out he met an Indian runner, heading excitedly for the fires. He was panting hard, and when he saw Andres he ae up his hand in warning. “Come quickly, sefior! There has been a fight here.” “A fight?” Andres spurred quickly forward, jerking his sword from the sheath. The man led him around a turn in the trail and pointed to the bottom of the water-course. - “There, senor! Look!’ was all he said. Andres’ eyes followed the pointing hand. A hundred yards away a column : smoke swirled up from a long dead Still farther away stood a small Sgttont embracing the trunk with both arms, stood a tall Indian, his back toward, them, Andres swore a great oath and peered at the man from under the sharp of his hand. “He is alone?” “We have seen no sign of any other person.” “Come, then.” He pushed his horse at speed down the slope and swung out of saddle. The man at the tree never turned. A glance at hint showed why. His face was close pressed against the smooth bark of the tree, his mouth was open and his tongue was spiked to the trunk by a great wooden peg that was driven through it. “What devil’s work is this? Cut the man loose.” - It was easier said than done. They did Eomichbooks