Adventure Magazine Cover — page 108: what you’re looking at

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

‘ae i . at nothing of that. | <— > ~ an res ae - = 4 > ar. ° ~ : » “s 4. red ~~ a — ~S —y 3 : ea et <—s f =e 7 a e a. =3 Pe as we 2S may en Sh ge a 2 ~~, zt Sa —o 5. eT a: “Some of the men treated me courte- ously, while others seemed offended be- - cause I was there, and the man called Chuckle-Luck growled much about ‘a pet- ticoat being mixed in business.’ I thought It was natural they shouldn’t want to be bothered with a woman while passing through the Indian country, but to get away from them I used to ride my pony clear of the cafion and wander along the banks. “One day, however, an Indian chased “me and I was badly frightened. I escaped back into the cafion and met two of the men and told them what had happened. They rode on and I heard shots. When they returned they said the Indian had escaped, that I mustn’t go out alone any more. After that they were absent a few at a time, and at nights some of them would be counting money. I couldn’t under- stand what we were waiting for, as there was a round score of them when all hap- pened to be present. Several times I asked my uncle why we didn’t start for the East, but he would answer. something about the Indians and promise me we should go very soon. “T’ve spoken of the day I was left alone and explored the recess we camped: in. It’s a short distance beyond a twisted pine that grows on the river bank. At first when I found the crack or crevice in the rear wall I thought nothing of it. Then, being curious, I got a splinter of pine for a°torch and examined the narrow opening more closely. Passing my torch through, I discovered the opening led into a cham- ber. None of the band had ever noticed it, Iam positive. It was in the thick shadows and, if one saw it, one would think it was only a crack in the solid rock. I slipped through the opening and there at my feet, saw the two nuggets. I had been in California Jong enough to know that gold specimens: weren’t likely to be found on the floor of a cave in that fashion, and I preserved them. Advancing deeper into the cave, I was frightened to find it was apparently a charnel-house. One end seemed filled with bones, but I gave them only a glance and fled back through the opening. I was convinced it was an an- cient burial-place of the Indians. No good would come of telling the men, as some of them, including my uncle, were superstitious, so I kept still Shout it; but ae oe Pheu —s Eel tye sy ae ae - oe “6 ves g oP 5 is at ae nnn as 2 ah it oe toe = bi eae ae & Pe ae ae pe a ek TS a. ae Ft - ae ee 55 S- oe £ . ee * Ss pao Sa es — a Ps ” Pw vv y = —— = a “ “ I didn’t like to shah in the place alone. “At first it didn’t bother me; then I began to fancy I could hear some one mov- ing round in there. I knew it was ab- surd, yet it worked on my nerves until I couldn’t endure it. So one day when the men began bustling about to go on some er- rand, I made up my mind to follow them— not to spy on them, for I didn’t suspect that anything was wrong. I wanted to be near them. Then followed my ride. out on the shelf of rock and my discovery that they were robbers.” “You made a mighty good picture of that cafion—when you was forgetful,” mused Uncle Dick. “I sketched it several times before the Indian chased me. It’s a wild spot. The stunted pine near our shelter under the rocks always suggested to me an evil guardian of the place. I used to imagine the crooked arms were waving me back. I’ve been in many rough places in the moun- tains, but never where the very atmos- phere seemed to warn one away, as it did there.”’ “You never, while with the outlaws, saw any one you believe to be this chap in the black mask?” “Never. I’m positive of that. If he commanded the band he did it through a messenger.” we CROOKED ARM _ now arrived a8 with the mountaineer’s horse. Uncle Dick sprang to his feet and, pointing to the kindling east, said— “My brothers, we can start now.” In single file the cavalcade traveled to the mouth of the pass. Reaction was now telling on Miss Isobel. Uncle Dick ob- served her swaying in the saddle, so he rode beside her and supported her oun his arm. “Y’m tired,” she faintly confessed, try- ing to smile. Now that he was likely to meet white men, Yellow Bear concealed. the outlaw’s scalp which he had been flaunting on his bridle. Crooked Arm reluctantly~drew a blanket over his blood-smeared chest. Half way up the road the travelers met a small freight-train which displayed symptoms of a panic until Uncle Dick rode ahead ane vouched for his companions. y “We know it’s all right, long as ye’re with ’em, Wooton,”’ replied the leader, a : - . . 7 ———