Adventure Magazine Cover, February 3, 1921 — page 31: what you’re looking at

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

The Road to El Dorado “Why did your brother come ahead of the goods?” demanded Sitting Bear. ‘“‘He pushed on ahead to find me before I returned to the mountains. I was not to wait for him beyond today. After a few sleeps the red and blue blankets will make Setangya’s heart glad.” “We want powder and guns,” the chief said coldly. ‘We will trade guns for robes. We have none to give away,” coolly answered the trapper. Sitting Bear shouted to the women to begin collecting the spare robes and stack them outside the medicine tent. Another order sent the young men out on the plain to surround the village. The trappers knew the chief was advertising his determination to hold them prisoners until the goods arrived. Joe spoke aside to his friend, giv- ing more details of his visit to the village. Reason briefly explained how he came to be there by saying: ‘Ridin’ for th’ Apishpa. Jumped!” For the benefit of the chief he said in Kiowa— “] must make a feast for my new medi- cine.”’ “The village is filled with new medi- cine,” grunted the chief. Reason unrolled some buckskin and held up the cast skin of a seven-foot rattlesnake, even the eye-holes as well as every scale being intact. California Joe, quick to take advantage of any opportunity, spoke up and declared: “This is very strong medicine. It makes my blood warm. I feel very strong after looking at fit. It begins to tell me things. It says it has scared the wild Indian’s medicine away.” “What’n—” began Reason under his breath; but Sitting Bear broke in, taunt- ing: “A white man’s lie! The snakeskin is no good medicine. The Kiowas laugh at the snake. The wild Indian has sun magic. It will eat up your poor medicine.” The trapper knew that, unlike the ma- jority of plains and mountain tribes, the Kiowas did not hold the snake in any particular reverence. He wished that Rea- son had brought something else. However, he had one great advantage in championing the cause of the serpent; he knew the Pit River Indian was in full flight. “Go and bring in your wild Indian and 25 his sun magic,” he challenged. “TI will let the snake make him eat grass like a pony.” “Good! You have said it. If your medicine turns weak you shall eat grass like a pony,” cried the chief. He wheeled and called on his warriors to go and bring the Indian wizard and the white-hair. Before his messengers could get clear of the village a warrior rode whooping from the direction of the river, gesticulating wildly. California Joe lighted his pipe and waited. Sitting Bear stood motionless, his eyes fas- tened on the rider, who now had communi- cated something to the other horsemen that sent them riding over the plain in wide circles and galloping far up the river. The lone rider dashed into the village and dramatically announced the disap- pearance of the gambler and his Indian. Still the chief said nothing, but his gaze frequently stole to the long snakeskin and his face became troubled. Another scout came up and reported that the missing men had passed up the river road afoot and had run much of the way. A longer wait, as some word was _ being relayed across the plain, rider shouting to rider, until the one nearest the village raced up to the chief and informed him— “White-hair and his Medicine Indian have gone to the mountains on ponies.” Sitting Bear turned to Reason and ad- mitted: “The snake medicine is strong. The wild Indian’s medicine is a squaw. The Indian can not be hurt as the sun has touched his head. But the white-hair’s scalp shall hang in my tent. Go make feast for your snake.” The friends withdrew to the tent assigned to California Joe and were soon provided with a kettle of boiled meat. Joe smoked zestfully while Reason feasted and fre- quently offered portions to the snakeskin. When he had finished and had wiped his fingers on a handful of grass Reason stared thoughtfully at the kettle and queried— “T opine. mind?” “Many Lances.”’ “Sent to talk with Injun Agent Miller an’ fix it to swap a peace-talk atween him an’ th’ tribe for presents. I know all ’bout it. or Delawares because they never fight us. Now what’s gnawin’ at yer COMICLOoOolkKks We don’t give no presents to Shawnee ° (C@