Adventure Magazine Cover, February 3, 1921 — page 24: what you’re looking at

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

18 soon be brought to book or pushed far back into the staked plains, where they could do but little mischief. But this new discovery of gold in the Colorado mountains was bound to bring more trouble to the Indians and greatly excite them. Each hour the news was spreading, and once the whites began to react, as they always did react to the call of the yellow metal, California Joe knew there would be few Indian camps or villages where a white man would be safe. One slim ray of hope entered his medita- tions as he reclined on his robes and pon- dered over the matter. If Many Lances, sent by Sitting Bear to smoke with the government officials, could complete his errand before any great rush of gold- hunters disturbed the delicate balance, it might be possible to hold the Kiowas in line. At the worst their activities could be minimized. “Thank th’ Lawd th’ Sioux ain’t got het up under th’ collar,” he rejoiced as he quit his couch and performed his toilet by run- ning his fingers through his hair and beard. He decided he was very hungry, and as no offer of food had been made he went forth to forage. Selecting a large tent, which he knew must belong to Sitting Bear, he entered and beheld the chief reclining on some robes with the remnants of break- fast before him. - The trapper seated himself opposite the chick lighted his pipe and extended it for the other to smoke a few ceremonial pufis. Sitting Bear puffed twice to the sun, a sorcerer’s invocation, the Mexican had said, then coughed as the strong weed strangled him. Recovering his breath, the chief mo- tioned to a woman, who brought a large piece of elk-meat, burned to a crisp on one side and barely warmed through on the other. - As the trapper commenced eating, Old Oakes entered and took his place on the chief’s right. He was quickly supplied with meat, which he ate sparingly. After he had consumed but a small portion of his helping and had indicated that he was through, Sitting Bear appropriated the re- mainder and soon devoured it. Oakes took no notice of the trapper, but Joe was difh- cult to ignore. “How’s yer loony Injun friend this mor- nin’?” he blandly asked. “None of your business,” swered Oakes. gently an- Adventure “If we jest consarned ourselves with what was our business there wouldn’t be any tradin’, stealin’ hosses, other men’s wives, or gamblin’ ” genially replied the trapper. “Then ag’in if weall’tended our own business ye wouldn’t ’a’ pushed yer nose intomy game yesterday an’ gonean’ lost yer medicine.” “We ain’t done with each other yet,” warned the gambler. ‘‘No man can rub Old Oakes against the grain and prosper.” “Ye don’t say! Then hear this: When I rub ye th’ wrong way I'll lift ha’r an’ hide. I’m bad if ye git atween me an’ my victuals or pipe. I’m rank pizen when I meet a murderer.”’ Before the gambler could retort Sitting Bear commented — ‘“White men’s hearts a are bad.” Though unable to follow the swift ex- change of words he had sensed hostility. “Remember I don’t like you,” warned the gambler with a frosty smile as he rose and wiped his hands on a bunch of dry grass. “Til be keen to remember,” trapper. Oakes walked from the tent and Sitting Bear, staring after him, shrewdly observed: “White men do not smoke together. Make war medicines against each other.”’ “He’s angry because my medicine is stronger than his,” explained the trapper. “He knows his medicine will turn against him. His medicine is telling him it failed because he made no feasts for it.” ‘His medicine will be strong again when he kills you?” artiessly inquired the chief. “He can not kill me,” firmly replied the trapper. ‘He knows it.” “Tt is very bad for white brothers to fight. If he kills you the Kiowas will have heavy hearts.” “Hits the Sky knows that,” Joe gravely assured him. “Is it safe for your white brother to ride down the river and look for his friend who went for the trade goods?”’ “Very bad,” replied Sitting Bear, shak- ing his head as if disconsolate. “Some of my wild young men ran away last night and will be hiding along the river road, looking for a stripe to give their squaws to wear on their leggings. Stay in the village while my older men go find them and bring them in. “Soon they will go to Mexico for scalps and horses. Then my brother will be free as a bird.”’ returned the COMMICLOOOKS (C@