Adventure Magazine Cover, February 3, 1921 — page 19: what you’re looking at

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

The Road to El Dorado one whose man wipes ye out has that right, ye know.”’ “Now Ill say that even all the Colorado country ain’t big enough for the two of us,” murmured Oakes. “Prob’ly th’ first true word ye’ve spoke in years,’ commented Joe. ‘‘Wal, th’ plains i8 some roomy; but we'll have to travel quite some considerable distance apart or _ my ol’ gun will have a new notch on it.” “The sooner you drop dead the better I'll like ¥t. =I promise myself to be on hand when you die.”’ “Thank ye kindly. Jest remember my medicine is goin’ to eat yers up,”’ warned the trapper as he backed from the tent. Ffis last view of the interior was that of the sallow-faced gambler dealing the cards and the Indian feverishly hacking notches in his stick. | fA | where the Kiowas were teasing the bear Garcia sidled up to him and whispered: “Setangya believes the white-hair has very big medicine. He throws down cards and Sitting Bear can not pick up the one he wants even when he sees just where it falls.”’ “Bah! JI can throw ’em, too. Not so cute as him as he’s been doin’ nothin’ else all his lite, but cute ‘nough to fool a Injun.” “Tt would be good if you could do it bet- ter than he,” was the ominous rejoinder. “Tf you should die of the white hair’s medi- cine the Kiowas would say they had nothing to do with it. When your trade goods come your friend might die the same way; then the Kiowas would have much goods.” California Joe combed his fingers through his beard and muttered: “So that’s Sitting Bear’s game, eh? Git Oakes to kill me. Then jump Tommy when he comes an’ take the goods. But there ain’t no goods. Still if I’m dead by th’ time Tommy comes without goods th’ joke will be on me, I reckon.” To Garcia he boldly said: .“Y'll show him some medicine he can’t fool with. Jest a Digger Injun gamblin’- trick. Learned it when campin’ on Little Butte Crick near Feather River. Bucks used to play it while the squaws sat on top o’ their mud huts shellin’ out grain. They git so worked up over it they'll sweat like a hoss mired in a swamp. An’ they’d bet AS HE turned to walk back to everything they had, even their squaws an’ younkers. “Kindly git me a big batch o’ dry grass or straw, an’ a couple pieces of white wood or bone, an’ whisper in Sitting Bear’s ear he’d better go slow in foolin’ with white medicine an’ make sure first what medicine is th’ strongest, mine or that skunk’s. Or he’ll find hisself tied up to a mighty weak article.” “Si, sevor! A duel of the medicines,” eagerly cried Garcia as he hastened away to obtain the desired material. That he paused to drop a word to Sitting Bear was indicated by the chief’s appear- ance in the little square where the bear was hitched. Coming up to California Joe, he began— “Hits the Sky isa medicine man, they say.” “T have a very big medicine, but I use it only when among enemies. I have a small medicine that Setangya may watch work.” “The white-hair has a very strong magic.” “Oh, my small medicine is stronger than his best,’’ quietly assured Joe. “The Kiowas will see which is the biggest medicine,” said Sitting Bear; and he spread his blanket and sat down. California Joe knew the test had come and that he must oppose his skill to the gambler’s. He could appreciate why Oakes should desire his death. Even the plains and mountains were all too small for a white man to mingle with white men when there was one to accuse him of betraying four companions to a bloody death. As a gambler Oakes must frequent the busiest centers. and in none would he be safe while every cross-current of drifting humanity might bring the one man who knew and’ who would publish his perfidy. Because of self-preservation alone the gam- bler must see to it that no witnesses against him left the Kiowa camp. Sitting Bear had imposed certain condi- tions on Oakes. If his medicine should ‘be what he claimed he must prove it by de- stroying the white man. The test had been arranged even before the Mexican had whis- pered it to the trapper. Joe seated himself opposite the chief and waited for the gambler to join them. A side glance revealed the immobile face of the gambler at the opening of the tent, but he did not come forth. Affecting not to see him, the trapper stared at the red sun wal-’ lowing in a cloud-bank. COMmicoo@ (C@