Adventure Magazine Cover — page 19: what you’re looking at

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

we head bowed in deep thought. - visage. The Bushfighters : HIS bitter meditations were interrupted y his violent collision with one. who like himself was striding along with The impact of their meeting sent the two backward, and both jerked up their heads in anger. Despite the dusk Willis made out a thick-set, muscularly built man, and rubbing his nose he growled— “If you’re blind get somebody to lead you > round.” “You impudent, godless, good-for-nothing woods runner! You dare to speak to Israel Putnam in that fashion?” roared the other. “Bless my heart! Cap’n Putnam! Great saltpeter! If it ain’t Wolf Putnam _hisself!” apologetically gasped Willis. “You're so cursedly free with your names, suppose you give your Own, you blundering lout!” thundered Captain Putnam. Then before Willis could add to his apology » the captain thrust his head forward and ex- claimed. “That hatchet face! By the Lord Harry! If it isn’t Connecticut breed I’ll shape it over! I have it. You’re a Willis, or may I have my hair trimmed by Montcalm’s barbers!” “Ephraim Willis, sent here from New York to report to you, cap’n,” drawled Willis. “Hope I didn’t hurt you.” “Hurt me, you good-for-not ing rascal. If I hadn’t jumped back I’d have stepped on you and squat the life out of that lank body. You must be one of Daniel’s boys, or Seth’s——” “Dan’l’s,” eagerly interrupted Willis, c- cepting the hand now stretched out to him and grinning broadi . “Lord, cap’n! If you smash the French as you hit me we'd go plumb through old Ti and into Montreal.” The lively good nature over meeting a neigh- bor’s son vanished and left Putnam dour of In a second the strong, animated _ countenance resumed the deeply troubled ex- pression it had worn when the two walked into each other. “Then you don’t know the news?” he mum- bled. “It just come. Oswego’s captured by Montcalm.” “Good God!” whispered Willis, his thin face filled with dismay. “Oswego taken? Why, Montcalm’s at Ticonderoga! Why—why— General Webb was marching there with _ re- enforcements——”’ “Montcalm played us a trick,” groaned Put- nam. “Left Levis in charge at Ticonderoga while he went against Oswego. General Webb heard the news at the Great Carrying-Place and turned back.. Spoiled the road at Wood Creek by felling trees and filling the stream, burned our forts at the Carrying-Place and has a hustled down the "Mohawk to German ____ his liver for a cowardly rat!” moaned Willis. 9 ‘You're speaking of one of his Majesty’s — officers, sir!” thundered Putnam. Then regretfully: “Tf General Lyman had been in his shoes he’d kept up his hunt for the enemy. And he spoiled the road we worked so hard to make! Biggest victory the French have won.” “There was Braddock’s defeat.” “That was a Indian victory. This is all - French. They had painted devils from Two Mountains and way out beyond the big lakes, but it was a French victory.” “When did the news come?” | “An hour ago. - Messenger from General Webb. Lord Loudoun sends orders to call off our advance on Ticonderoga. Seems to. think the French will be piling down on us pellmell.”’ “But why can’t we go out and meet ’em? ‘Why not crowd on and capture old Ti before Montcalm gets back and gets set again?” “You're criticizing your superiors, sir. Why the we don’t go and get them is beyond me. But come, come! Over to the town-house and I'll explain the job ahead of us.” “Here in Albany?” “Right here my Albany. Don’t fret. Vil see you have a man’s work in the bush mighty soon.” Wills’ heart thrilled with delight. No matter how rudely the maid might use him he now ~ | believed he must see her and hear her voice once more. : “We’re to’ round up a spy,’ ’ continued Put- nam. “I had them send you as you’re a stranger here this season. There’s a man in who’s been sending information to Vaudreuil. He shall swing for it. “It’s through this spy that Vaudreuil and Montcalm learned of General Webb’s advance with reenforcements for Oswego. His work has © lost us that. fort, has given Lake Ontario to the French with free passage to and from the west, and now allows them to swing all their strength to hold the line at Ticonderoga. Locate that man so I can take him by surprize before he aa a chance to destroy his papers, and he shall ang.” ‘And let me pull the rope. His name?” “Never mind names. You're to make no inquiries. Find a house with red bull’s-eyés. There is one such in Albany. The others:are green or blue glass. “One of our men, just escaped from Mon- treal, says Vaudreuil receives information reg- ularly, and that he boasts .that messages ~ signed ‘at the sign of the red bull’s-eyes’ counts more for France than half a dozen regiments.” “Vl find it before midnight. Do I drag the villain out?” | “No. Come to me at the town-house at once. I’m keeping under cover till he’s located. His capture must be planned to prevent his Eomichboo G S (eo) ha