Adventure Magazine Cover, February 3, 1921 — page 30: what you’re looking at

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

24 Sitting Bear at once assumed a different character. Pressing close to the trapper’s side, he locked: arms with him and gently explained: “We carry the pipe against the Pawnee. We will kill them all. But when we go we would leave my white brothers’ many presents with the women and children to make their hearts glad.” “When the goods come up you shall have some presents, not many presents,’ cor- rected the trapper. “If you stay in your villages and collect robes you can trade for all of them; if you don’t, we will trade with the Comanches. There will be no gifts for chasing the Pawnees. Besides, the Paw- nees are hard to catch. And if you catch them you can’t eat them or wear them. You have scalps enough.” “Our women want more stripes on their leggings. Ho-ho! See the answer to my war medicine! See the Pawnee run from the Kiowa! See the Kiowa catch the Pawnee and kill him!” And, quivering with excitement, the chief pointed to a rabbit frantically en- deavoring to escape from a wolf. Fear drove the rabbit close to the village; love of.the chase blinded the wolf to all else but his victim. Repeatedly the wolf all but had its game; and as often Sitting Bear grunted in huge content. Each time the chase seemed to be ended the rabbit would make a peculiar side-jump and change its course and avoid the clicking teeth by the fraction of an inch. “Tt dreamed of a wolf eating a rabbit. Our ‘aime is very strong!” hoarsely ex- claimed the chief, his eyes snapping as he waited for the wolf to count coup. “The Pawnee is working back to his hole,” chuckled the trapper, now as inter- ested as a boy in watching the pursuit. and, pointing out on the plain, a) «4 “a ap j exulted: “The Kiowa are very cunning. Their first people came from the Hollow Cotton- wood Tree. They are very wise. Ho! See how they close the trail to the foolish Pawnee!”’ He pointed to a second wolf waiting near the hole. But the fugitive, while hard pressed to change its defensive plans on such short notice, made a super-rabbit effort, avoided SITTING BEAR caught his arm Adventure the rush of the second wolf and ducked into another hole. ‘Medicine rabbit,” gravely commented the trapper as the wolves sneaked away. With a hiss of rage Sitting Bear snatched up a bow and quiver and sent several shafts after the wolves. Now some of the warriors were returning, riding furiously, the compact earth ringing under their ponies’ hoofs. A second group approaching more leisurely contained a figure in buckskin, and the trapper solilo- quized: “Wal, that'll be Tommy Reason, or I’m a Pi-Ute.” With beaming face he turned to the sullen chief and rejoiced— “Tt is my white brother, who went to buy goods.” “He brings no goods,’ reminder. “They ll come soon.” Then in English he bawled: “Hi, Tom! Hello, ol’ hoss!”’ Reason was the direct opposite of his friend. When his jaded nag brought him up to the group outside the village he nodded a greeting to his partner and dis- mounted. The width of his square, mus- cular figure was accentuated by his scant five-feet-six in height. } was the laconic With an exuberance of delight California. Joe seized his friend’s shoulders and rocked him~ back and forth. Reason’s black eyes glittered a response, but through his bearded lips came one word, “——!” ‘“Meanin’, it’s to pay?” Reason nodded, then crossed to Sitting Bear, shot out his huge hand and growled, “Wau!’’ ¥ Sitting Bear accepted the hand but omitted the ceremony of linking arms. He sternly demanded— ‘Where are the goods your brother said’ you would bring to the Kiowas?” “Told him I was waitin’ for ye to come up with trade goods an’ presents for him,” the trapper rapidly informed Tom. ‘‘We’re hooked here for a spell.” “Goods coming,”’ growled Reason, falling back and turning a questioning glance at ‘Joe. “That dirty Mexican Garcia was to ’splain th’ game to ye,” the trapper added. Then in the Kiowa tongue, for Sitting Bear was growing suspicious— “The goods will come along in a few - sleeps.” Gomichbook (C@