Adventure Magazine Cover — page 95: what you’re looking at

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

The Torch-Bearers got him on his feet. Only his eyes showed through the bandage. He started toward the stairs, his gaze roving listlessly over the company until it reached me. They dilated and he refused to go farther. I knew it was coming, and, yawning prodigiously, doubled my arms before my chest like one fighting against sleepiness and stepped behind my chair. ‘The men urged the wounded man to move on but he remained rooted, his eyes ‘glaring at me. In a hoarse voice he yelled: “Curse me, cap’n, but that’s the chap that done for Ricks! Dawgs done for t’other two!” As he spoke he swayed forward and pointed a quivering finger at me. My right arm straightened out before me, the clenched fist catching the astounded Ganner on the chin and sending him across the table and to the floor along with a clutter of jugs, decanters and glasses. I knew I never could gain the door, push back the bolt, and get outside and win clear of the sentry. And raising the chair,I hurled it at the two nearest men, sending them on their backs, and sprang for the stairs just as Ganner struggled to his feet, his face dripping wine. He gave voice to a how! that was the crv of a wolf. It was caught up by the men till the room rocked with the terrible threat. Now the gang was in motion. Besides the wine Ganner’s face dripped blood from a cut across his forehead. He was in the lead as I mounted the stairs. I looked back and his slate-colored eyes were fearful to behold. With an inarticu- late scream he yanked at a pistol in his belt. I pulled first and fired, and as I did so he yanked a man in front of him. The fellow went down with a squawk, like a hen under the ax. The pack was now after me in a compact body. Half-way up the stairs was a landing. I reached this and seized a tall clock and hurled it behind me. As I turned to complete my ascent I beheld a tangled mass of men where the heavy clock had mowed them down. What was more peculiar, I glimpsed the outside door swing open six inches, with the firelight playing on what might have been the face of a ghost. The face was grayish-white and there was a white nimbus about it. Then the door closed softly. I had no time to dwell upon this phenomenon as the gang was on its feet again, and Captain Ganner 85 was once more,in the lead, yelling to his men to take me alive. The hall ran the entire Jength, of the second flcor, with rooms on either side. Instinct told me it would lead to an impasse unless I had time to reconnoiter. At the -head of the stairs stood a noble piece of furniture, a massive writing-desk with tiers of bookshelves above. In my desperation I seemed possessed of double strength. Just before Ganner and his men gained the landing I whirled the desk about and sent it plunging downward to block the stairway for a few moments. Ganner leaped back- ward and collided with his men, and down they went like skittle-pins on an English green. Now was my time to fly, only I did not know where to turn. Running down the hall, I came toa closed door and was abreast of it when it opened and the light feeding up from the lower hall permitted me to recognize the terrified face of the slave who had served me with food. He tried to say something but could net speak. His beckoning hand was eloquent, however, and I darted into the room and gently closed the door. His hand, grasping mine to lead me through the darkness, shook as if he had the ague. He hurried me to what I supposed to be the door ef a clothes-press. I held back, having no desire to hide in a hole and be caught like a rat. : ies ‘Outdoors, massa,” he managed to tell me. Then T followed him willingly enough. The pack was now pounding down the hall. I heard Ganner yell— “[nto every room!” The slave closed the second door behind us and we were in darkness except for a vague blur on one side. My escort ran to this and I at his heels found it was an open window. Doubtless he had gained the upper hall by climbing up to this windew. I flung my leg over the sill, but before 1 could jump he caught my hand and guided it to one side where it came in contact with a water-pipe leading down from the gutter above. The confusion in the hall was ter- rific, but 1 recovered from my panic, and remembered my manhood enough to draw back into the room and force mv new friend to take the first chance at liberty. He stood on no scruples, but swung out and vanished in a moment. Now some of the pack, including Ganner, were in the adjoining room and in another CO MICLOOKS ©