Adventure Magazine Cover, October 10, 1921 — page 125: what you’re looking at

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

The Doom Trail that we were being followed. We hurriedly pre- pared an ambuscade and hid in the undergrowth near by. "TOWARD midnight seven Cahnuagas crept out to the clearing where they supposed we were camping. At that the Seneca fired his musket and shrilled his terrifying war-whoop. I fired also, and with one accord we rushed to the attack. We over- came the Cahnuagas in short order and resumed our journey next morning. We finally reached the country of the Senecas, and sought the protection and counsel of Ta-wan-ne-ars’ uncle. We decided to go to the fort at Jagara. I was to masquerade as a Frenchman and Ta-wan-ne-ars as my servant; Corlaer we were to meet later if our venture proved successful. Accordingly after a brief rest we set out. We were welcomed by Jon- caire at the fort, and I managed to deceive him completely. I was learning many things about Murray’s plans and the Doom Trail when we were interrupted by the unexpected appearance of de Veulle. The Seneca and I were badly caught. We were made prisoner, bound and hurried away to La Vierge du Bois—a famous torture-place inaugu- rated by Murray and superintended by a French priest. We met once more the Red and Black Deaths and many of our old enemies. Again I was confronted by Murray and his daughter. This time Marjory began to sense her father’s injustice toward me, and she appeared much concerned. Ta-wan-ne-ars and I were then rushed off amid blows and punishment to be pre- pared for the torment. It developed that we were to be slain at a rite called the Moon Feast. We were tied tu separate stakes and subjected to various kinds of torture. The time cane for the dance of Ga-ha-no, the Mistress of the False Faces. She approached us and I heard my Indian brother choke back a groan of love and hate. Her dance ended, the Red Death stepped up to slash Ta-wan- ne-ars with his knife. As he did so a yell checked him, and we all turned to witness the entrance of the Bear! 3 CHAPTER XXVI | THE EVIL WooD AE FOUND the messenger squat- ting placidly by the Council- House under the guard of sev- eral Onondagas, who obviously did not relish the sight of a Frenchman in their midst during the sitting of the Ho-yar- na-go-war. He put aside his pipe as we ap- proached and, stood up. But for his white skin, which was rather dingy under a coat- ing of tan ard dirt, ’twould have been diffi- cult to distinguish him from the savages. He was of the usual type of courrier du bois, but with an unusually repellant countenance. “You have a message for me?” I said. ‘‘Are you Monsieur Ormerod?”’ he replied in his peasant’s patots. ET am.’’ 115 I TWISTED my neck behind my stake and saw Ga-ha-no draw near in the opening steps of the Bear dance. When she had come very close she whispered to me and disclosed the amazing fact that she was Marjory and not the real Mistress of the False Faces. When our tormentors were least expecting it she released us, and at a word we rushed out. The drunken Indians leaped to the pursuit. We managed to elude them for a time, and Mar- jory told us how to make our escape. It was then I declared my love to her and begged her to go with us. But she refused. Ta-wan-ne-ars and I took flight through the forest, and after many weary days of traveling we reached Fort Oswego. ‘There we met Corlaer again. About this time a fleet of canoes bearing furs for the French passed on the lake near by. My two friends and I went out on an expedition to attack them. Corlaer succeeded in destroying a number of their boats. Later on we started on the search forthe Doom Trail. We finally found it—and the Red and Black Deaths as well. There was a long and bitter fight, and we made an end to them. In the Autumn we returned to report to Governor Burnet, who had journeyed to Albany. <A meeting of the merchants was in session, and the Governor attempted to show them the peril of the trade-war situation—to no purpose. Next Murray appeared unexpectedly and denounced me as a traitor before everybody. But Governor Burnet put the matter aside. Meanwhile the opposition could not be downed. We all saw then that the only course left was to persuade the people of the Long House to take up arms against the Keepers of the Ddom Trail. Once more Corlaer, my Indian brother and I visited the country of the Senecas. The clans were called together and a council of war washeld. The six nations made an oath to wipe out the Trail. As the preparations for war were begun, word was brought that a Frenchman had arrived with a message for me. . He examined me with a sidewise squint out of his shifty eyes, and fished with one hand in the bosom of his filthy leather shirt. “You will pay for the service?” he in- quired warily. ‘Anything in reason,” I answered im- patiently. “She said you would pay what I asked,”’ he temporized. “She! Who?” My worse fears were confirmed. I took one step forward and grasped the ruffian by the arm. “Who?” I repeated. “Tell me, if you value your life! And give me the message.”’ “No offense, no offense, monsteur,”’ he growled, pulling away from me. ‘‘Made- moiselle Murray . “Give it to me,” I insisted. ‘‘We will talk of pay afterward.” 1O@OOLK C@