Adventure Magazine Cover — page 96: what you’re looking at

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

“CUT-HAND will go down among the rocks and listen to the men talking. Remain here until the signal is fired by Yellow Bear, then, softly as a snake, come to me. You shall count a warrior’s coup without making a sound.”’ The Indian was opposed to this, prefer- ring that the white man stay on the shelf while he did the reconnoitering. Uncle Dick overrode his inclination, knowing full well the hot blood-lusting for a warrior’s honors would surely spoil the whole scheme by some premature bit of reckless daring. Armed only with a revolver and knife, the mountaineer seized the rope and began easing himself down. the way he was able to assist himself with his feet against the cliff. As he came toa halt in the darkness at the foot of the steep rock he realized it would be no easy matter to get Miss Mary up to the shelf. Putting that trouble aside until he should come to it, he dropped behind a boulder and studied the shack. It showed no lights, nor could he detect any signs of occupancy. Suddenly a fear that the girl had been spirited away by the gang’s leader assailed him, and, with the old cunning which had placed him next to Kit Carson in mountain- craft, he swiftly worked along the cliff. Midway between the line of rawhide and the shack his advance was halted by the coming of two horsemen from down the cafion. Contrary to what he had observed, these two swerved in close to the boulders. Uncle Dick remained. motionless. horse nearest him plunged and reared, and a man laughed boisterously. They were abreast of him and, as the rider of the frightened animal cursed and reined him closer to the rocks, Uncle Dick made ready to shoot, fearing he was about to be dis- covered. The man who had laughed coun- seled: “If ye don’t want to bust yer nag’s legs ye’d better keep clear of that clutter. Them rocks is thicker’ n peor in a pud- din’. 9 With an oath the other epnrred his horse recklessly ahead, his stirrup grazing a rock, and reined in behind the shack. Here he remained for a few moments as if listening for some sound within; then the two rounded the structure and joined the camp-circle. Uncle Dick resumed his journey and was close to the shack when a light twinkled a e Raventaee For practically all The. dozen feet ahead and he heard a woman’s low voice demanding— . ~ “What do you want in here?” “T want to talk. Put that light out!” replied a coarse voice. “Your leader promised I shouldn’t be molested. Go out at once or I'll call for help.” Uncle Dick fingered his revolver and edged nearer. The light was that of a candle. The girl’s voice was Miss Mary’s. Even though deeply agitated at the thought of her being in peril from the ruffian’s visit, he did not miss a new quality in her. voice. He would have expected a pitiable fear to be registered; instead she spoke firmly and with no trace of weakness. A few days before she could not endure the sight of a stage-coach; and now she faced and gave commands toanoutlaw. Uncle Dick began | to believe the ascent of the cliff would not be so difficult for her after all. Near the top of the shack was a small opening that served as a window. Uncle Dick rose to his feet to peer through this, but the risk was too great. The only alter- native was to crawl across the open space and spy through the crevice. He would have dared this, had not one of the men by the fire wandered toward the end of the shack. Dropping to cover, Uncle Dick heard the man inside the shack gruffly remonstrate. “T tell ye I must talk with ye. It’s for yer own good.”’ ; “T’ll call for help in three seconds if you’re not gone. If your leader has any authority over you he won’t approve of your coming in here,” was the spirited reply. “Keep yer yap closed. rll go outside an’’ talk through the winder,” growled the man. “I’m tryin’ to show ye how ye can git clear of this gang an’ go back to yer friends, if ye’ll let me. Of course if ye make a row I can’t do nothin’ to help ye.” That the girl was somewhat favorably impressed by this speech was indicated by the bit. of silence that ensued. When she spoke it was to say: “Tf you'll go outside I'll listen. can talk through the window.” “‘An’ ye’ll doyse that glim so I won’t be all lit up?” “YH put it out when you come to the window.” The sound of the door softly closing and being bolted was soon followed by the cau- tious steps of the man rounding the corner You 7 a i — Mee < a ee ses > ee ee tS ee of ST ee hg ES ag < -—— €omicbooks.com —