Adventure Magazine Cover — page 111: what you’re looking at

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

The Long Knives and I had to cross over to get Quain’s talk. If he’s sober enough we’ll all git together tonight and have a powwow. I’ll ask the Snake to let you have the freedom of the village.” He stepped one side and talked with the Snake; then walked away without looking at us. We had no idea as to the outcome of his talk until the Snake came to the door and announced: ‘“The white men can go as far as the river. They will not cross to the white cabins on the Point.” Then he left us after telling the guards they were free to go where they would. Durgin clutched my arm and drew me to where Old Podge was seated with a blanket over his head. ““How’n sin be we to get out of this mess? Just as soon as it gets a bit darker we must run for it,” he cried. “Tf we run for it that spoils our business, and we can only turn back and try to make Cincinnati.”’ “Tf we stay here we’ll surely be roasted.” “You and Podge try for the Ohio. I'll try for Detroit.” ‘“‘The minute that feller sees us he’ll re- member the fuss him and me had, and he'll be a caution in denouncing us,” warned Durgin. “My business is with the American commissioners at the mouth of the Detroit River if they’ve not already made Detroit,” I persisted. “If we can make Detroit or Canada we’ll be safe from the Indians. The United States and England aren’t at war yet.” “Then I vote for Detroit,’ said Durgin. Old Podge groaned beneath his blanket and lamented: “If I budge outside this cabin White Tom’s bound to see me and know me. Id rather risk the stake than that.” We tried to reason with him, but his mind was incapable of entertaining any thought except the one: White Tom’s ven- geance was hovering over him. He must remain hidden, or endure the cunning tortures of the Delaware. Durgin lost all patience and growled: “Then stay here and be roasted, but I sha’n’t keep you company. [I’m going to make a break for it with Mister Watson. Better die in the open, fighting, than to have these Shawnee ———s take a vote on how they’ll cook us. Wish that cuss would 105 be drowned when he crosses to this shore. Wish he’d drink so much rum he’d die be- fore he could open his yawp.”’ “Tf he died suddenly it would help us immensely. If he died before talking we’d be in no danger,’’ I gloomily admitted. “If he died—”’ muttered Durgin. “A man’s years are three score ’n’ ten—but not always. Yes, Mister Watson, it would help a heap. Let’s git out of this stuffy hole. Wish a bolt from my bow-gun was through his mis’rable carcass.” “Wouldn’t help much. They’d all know it wasn’t any Indian arrow that killed him. That would fasten iton tous—probably on to you, as they think you have some magic.” “Uhuh. Oughter be a Injun arrer, of course. Well, s’pose we take a walk round the village. Always like to meet things in the open.” “T don’t budge from this cabin,” Old Podge informed us. “White Tom is close by. Ican feel him. But he’s got to come the whole distance to find me.” We tried to talk him out of his sick frame of mind, but the possibility of meeting the Delaware had blinded him to the certainty of exposure once we met Ogden, the de- serter. We had to leave, and our last words to him were for him to be ready to join us in attempting an escape that night. Durgin wore a long blanket after the Indian fashion, but there was no use in at- tempting concealment once Ogden’s tongue began to wag. If we were prevented from escaping down the river we must outface our accuser and lie our best. No matter how I viewed the situation, however, I could discern only defeat. Did we manage to escape we would be branding ourselves as spies; and my business at Detroit would be spoiled. Did we gain that settlement I did not believe we would be surrendered to the Indians, but surely we would be prevented from acting as Wayne’s special messengers. I would not return to the army and confess failure unless it was the only way of saving my life. Never once while journeying north had I foreseen the chance of Quain’s turning up to denounce me; even more re- mote was the thought of Ogden deserting and penetrating to Blue Jacket’s village. However, I should have been on my guard against Quain. I should have known that his flight to Kentucky was merely an ex- pedient to cover his trail and gain a safe COmiclboolks (©