Adventure Magazine Cover — page 108: what you’re looking at

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

102 Scissors’ ability to free his hands from bonds. But as they remembered that the presence of Shunca-luta should render futile any such power they became more optimistic. It was Little Big Man who superintended the tying up of the two men. They were bound with many lengths of rawhide. - Crazy Horse himself inspected the thongs to make sure they were right, and he direct- ed that certain knots in the cords of Sorrel Horse be made more secure. If a medicine was worthy of a man’s de- votion it needed no assistance from mortals. Scissors read the dismay in Dinsdale’s face and murmured: ‘The more rope the better. would be harder to get out of than a dozen.”’ With the last knot tied the two men were carried into the prisoners’ lodge and laid on robes with the center pole between them. Then they were left and the flap was drawn tightly and pegged to the ground. The assemblage considered this the supreme test, and. each warrior waited in breathless ex- pectancy. Sorrel Horse was famous for being a defier of knots. Some of the warriors knew the white man had slipped his wrist-thongs, but conditions were no longer the same. Not only had much more et been used, ‘but the tying of the knots had been under the supervision of the red man’s invisible helpers. Tunkan had sent his subordinates to protect his child. True, the white man had made stone offerings to Tunkan, but the red children were ever first in the heart of the stone god. Almost as soon as the flap had been se- cured there came the sound of voices from the lodge, and neither white nor red man was speaking. There was only one explan- ation—help for the red man had arrived from Mato tipi. One voice was high and squeaky and had been heard before when Sorrel Horse was in a trance in search of enlightenment. One voice rumbled and was quite terrifying to those grouped out- side the lodge. The last would be a very mighty spirit. The side of the lodge next to the half circle became agitated. The covering of hide shook and bulged outward and then sucked in. The vcices increased in volume and gave the impression the white man’s medicine was making a strong fight. Then the flap was shaken violently; and the spec- tators drew in their heels, ready to jump up Four feet -and seated himself beside Dinsdale. Adventure - and run if the battle was transferred to the open. Those outside were at the peak of their excitement and were. having difficulty in controlling themselves as they waited for the‘climax when the voices suddenly ceased. The agitation of the lodge covering ceased. Only a deep groaning was to be heard. This groaning kept up for a minute or two, and yet nothing decisive happened. The spell was shattered by a voice behind the seated warriors calling out: “His medicine has failed, they say. They say it is really very weak.” Dinsdale stifled back .a cheer. The Indians jerked their heads about as one and were nonplused to behold the white man standing on the outer fringe of the massed group. This stupor gave away to a desire for action, and with a yell several of the men leaped to their feet and would have laid violent hands. on Scissors had not Crazy Horse loudly commanded: “Do not touch the white man. He is not running away. Open the lodge.” Scissors advanced to the medicine-pole Little Big Man pulled up the pegs and threw back the flap. Sorrel Horse was flat on his back in his original position, and thoroughly helpless. It was most amazing. Scissors took advantage of the moment to whisper: “Almost beat me. Nip and tuck. If Crazy Horse hadn’t made them tighten up some of his knots he would have won. Once I was loose I fixed him up stronger than ever. That’s what took me so long.” “So long! It was all over in no time. Why didn’t some one see you come out?” muttered Dinsdale. With a chuckle Scissors explained: “T shook the flap and got every one to watching it. Then I slipped out the back side and ran around behind the lodges.” Sorrel Horse was released. His face was deadly with hate as he got on his feet. He would not divulge that certain extra and very stubborn knots found in his thongs had been tied by Scissors. He preferred to ex- plain that the white man’s medicine had been allowed to appear the stronger because the red medicine was displeased at the Indians’ soft treatment of the white man. “Why should Tunkan help the red man against the white when the white man is taken by the hand and called Kola?” he sullenly asked. cGomicbook (E@)