Adventure Magazine Cover — page 65: what you’re looking at

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

The Bushfighters ready to cover my retreat if I come flying. ll give.the word so you’ll know it’s me.” The men took their guns and settled down to wait and watch. Their attention was divided between the faint light from the fire across the Narrows and the danger of the enemy creeping upon them from the south. ’ ‘Gradually the east began to lighten, and they were beginning to give up hope of Putnam’s return before another night when they beheld “his canoe streaking toward them, the paddle - flying as if pursued by death. Instantly they were at attention, their guns ready; only they failed to discover anything from which Putnam should flee. With a swirl of the paddle Putnam brought the .birch dancing sidewisé into the shore and was softly calling out: “Take the boat and follow. A_ capture! Muffle the oars well and pull like the ——!” They piled into the boat and did as bidden. Putnam kept a pistol-shot ahead of them until they were close to a rocky wall, when he _ picked up speed and darted off to reconhoiter. For a few minutes he was lost behind a shoulder. of granite; then he ao and beckoned ‘energetically for them come on. They bore down on him and he placed a finger to his lips. As they glided along he whispered: “A camp of five. They'll be waking now. Each select a man and be ready to fire if they do not surrender.” With that he glided bohiaa the jutting wall, and as the boat followed the rangers found themselves in a tiny cove. Leaving the boat, the men stole after Putnam up a slope, where he brought them to a halt and motioned for them to peer through the bushes. They beheld five blanketed forms ‘stretched in a row. Beside one of the sleepers was the black three‘cornered hat of an officer. A shoulder 4nd arm of the sleeper revealed the ‘white coat and black facings of the troupes de la marine, or the French colonial regulars. “We must capture the officer alive for Win- slow,” whispered Putnam. Then he lifted a hand for attention, at one of the men dropped a ramrod. It had no more than clattered against a rock before one of the sleepers sprang to his feet and called— “Oui vi 'ye???? “Surrender!” roared Putnam. ig HE five sprarig to their feat: and Pe jumped for the guns, the officer pulling - a brace of pistols and shooting as Putham led his men from_ cover. yelled for his men to fire, and before the four three men .went down dead and another with a ball through his thigh. . The officer was unharmed and sought to es- cape. Putnam gave chase. The officer turned and threw his empty = one of them tearing _the ramrod at the man’s legs. Putnam’ a hole throughAhe ranger’s scalp, and then re- sumed his flight. He ran most nimbly. oy 55 Putnam pulled his ax, then thrust it back in his belt and plucked the.ramrod from his gun. With a spurt of speed he drew close and hurled It landed be- tween the flying feet, and the man tripped over it and fell headlong. Before he could rise Putnam was upon him with his ax raised and ready to strike. “Ten thousand devils! the officer in English. many of you are there?” “There was four of us,” Putnam dryly answered, and he took the officer by the arm I surrender,” panted “Who are your? How and led him limping back to the camp. To his men he called out— “Get that wounded man into the boat.” “He can’t travel. ranger. “He won’t bother you any if you make it by Best end him,” urged a boat,” said Putnam, observing the wounded | man was scarcely more than a youth. “If hard pressed and forced to take to the bush you can leave him for his friends to care for. Those are your orders.” He examined the wounded man, bandaged the hole in his thigh and assured him through the officer that there was no danger of his bléed- ing to death. The officer was searched, but no papers were found upon him. He informed Putnam that although he belonged with the colonial regulars this was his first scout with a small party. ‘Did you meet Cap’n Pean on your way down?” Putnam asked. The man eyed him beky: for a moment, then stiffly replied— “T refuse to answer.” “You have answered,” chuckled Putnam. “You haven’t met him. But be careful at Fort William Henry. If you refuse to answer down there you'll be handed over to our Mohawks. And they have'a rare way of making men talk. “Now, men, this affair changes our plans. You must take these two men to the fort. Keep to the boat unless hard pressed. go ashore abandon the wounded man but take this other fellow with you.. If he doesn’t keep up, kill him.” “M’sieur, I shall exceedin’ly keep up,” sured the officer solemly with a deep bow se Putnam. “What about meeting you, cap’n?” anxiously asked a ranger. “Come back here with a couple of boats and a dozen men. Wait for me ‘two days. If I don’t show up within that time report me as missing. Now you're off; and be careful in passing Long and Sloop Islands.” Silently the boat moved away with the rangers and their prisoners. ~ . CORMICLOOLK< If you (E@)