Adventure Magazine Cover, February 3, 1921 — page 16: what you’re looking at

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

10 he saw all his people carrying gifts received from the trader. California Joe had no intention of over- playing his part, for his safety depended on making Sitting Bear believe trade goods were on the way. He quietly replied that while there were presents for the Kiowas in his bales, there would be nothing like gifts for all the men, women and children. “For the Medicine Father,’ he added, turning to Walking Wolf, “is a medicine that will make his hair grow twice as long.” The old man grunted and said his hair had never been cut and that its charm was so strong it would turn aside bullets. Sitting Bear reached across the robe and grasped the trapper’s hand and eloquently prenounced him to be the Kiowas’ blood brother. The Kiowas were a proud people and were tired of Pueblo Indian traders from Santo Domingo, who brought only flour and bread, for which they expected horses and robes. The white man should have all their trade and should remain with them until his goods came and the presents were distributed. But while waiting for his goods to arrive it would be very wise for him to keep close to the village, as bad In- dians were prowling about who would kill him; then the Kiowas would be blamed by the Great Chief. This meant the trapper was a prisoner in the village and would be safe until his goods came and were confiscated, or until it was known that no goods were on the way. The trapper bowed his thanks and the talk was finished. “They'll drag your head,” whispered Garcia as they emerged from the tent. “Don’t ye set up nights a-frettin’ over me. All ye’re to do is to meet my partner afore he meets any Injuns, an’ tell him I’m still up in th’ mountains, an’ that he’s to steer clear 0’ this village. If he knew I was here he’d be jest soft-headed ’nough to stick his head into th’ mess; then there’d be two of us for me to git clear.” ‘They smoke to the sun! They make a spell over you!” shivered the Mexican. “Sit- ting Bear is as good medicine man as he is good fighting man.” “Got some pretty good medicine myself,” growled California Joe. “An’ I ’low I'll need it all afore another kado (sun-dance). Once th’ Injuns see th’ next gold-rush there’ll be high to pay on these ol’ plains. So t’other white man sold his Adventure friends to th’ Kiowas to save his own ha’r, eh?” “He told them to give up their guns, that the Kiowas were friendly. He talks Kiowa and had a talk with Sitting Bear first under a flag, his friends waiting.” THE trapper slowly advanced to- | ward the tent of the card-player, but halted on beholding Sitting Bear making for the entrance. The chief was inside only a few minutes, and on reappear- ing, he walked up to the trapper and eyed him menacingly. The trapper lighted his pipe and sent a blue cloud into the chief’s face, causing him to step back coughing. “The man with white hair says you are bad medicine for the Kiowas,” Sitting Bear informed him. “He talks with a split tongue,” was the calm reply. ‘He knows my medicine is stronger than his, and he is afraid. He wants my red brother to grow afraid and kill me.” “Can the white man stand up before a bullet and not be hurt?” ‘ “Not now,” returned the trapper, know- ing an affrmative reply would bring a de- mand for a demonstration. ‘With the Kiowa medicine a man can do that.” “Not when I fire the gun,” firmly reterted the trapper. “Can the white man’s medicine kill @ man many nights away?” “Tt can,’ was the ready answer. ‘Then kill the white man in there.” he pointed to the card-player’s tent. “Whites do not kill whites with white medicine,” explained the trapper. “But let my red brother take his place and my magic power will kill him. When they drag his body out there will be no yellow paint on his face, but it will be burned as if he had been struck with fire from the sky.” Sitting Bear, inclined to be incredulous, yet not fully convinced it was empty boast- ing, thought over the challenge for sixty seconds, then grasped the trapper’s two hands and said: “My ‘white brother, Head in the Sky, must stay a long time with the Kiowa. When his medicine is weak Walking Wolf, And who will never die, will make it strong again. for him.” With that he passed on. uation the trapper idly sauntered toward s Eonnicbouks To test the sit- . (C@