Adventure Magazine Cover — page 116: what you’re looking at

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

IIo measuring strength with General Wayne. He had said that Wayne wasa ‘chief who never sleeps,” and he had advised the tribes to make peace terms and avoid a general war. His argument was that the tribes could not be expected to win three successive victories over the whites, and that better terms could be made by an un- defeated red confederation than by one broken in a big battle. It was this hesitance that permitted Blue Jacket to forge to the front as leader of the war-at-any-price faction and assume chief military leadership of the tribes. The great Miami was not actuated by coward- ice, and his presence in the village was proof enough of his readiness to do his best. He was of fitedium height and looked even smallet beside the powerfully built Shawnee. I pointed out Catahecassa, or Black Hoof, to the whites. He was one of the most famous Shawnee war chiefs, and he had especial interest for me, for it was said he had been present at Braddock’s rout when a lad of fifteen years. The thought that I was gazing on one who might have seen my three uncles as they fought at the baggage- train to give the boy Watson—my father— a chance to escape, affected me strongly. I had seen him for the first time a year back, when he visited Detroit. His stern visage stirred me deeply, and always would stir me did I see him many times. His youth was linked up to the youth of my father at the time my father ceased to be a boy and came back home to die prematurely because of his wounds. With Black Hoof walked Buckongahelas, most celebrated of all Delaware warriors, implacable in war and yet said to find no pleasure in torturing prisoners. Unlike the others he had a blanket hooded over his head and walked like one lost in meditation. I looked for Tecumseh; but Old.Podge, ven- turing to peep from the door, said he had heard the guards the night before speak of this leader as being out on a scout. One of Tecumseh’s brothers was in the group, a bold, stalwart figure, whose medicine had not told him he had only a year to live be- fore the wrath of the Black Snake (Wayne) and his Long Knives would send him among the ghosts. The triumvirate was Little Turtle, Blue Jacket and Buckongahelas. The only other trio of Northwestern Indian leaders that could have equaled these three men in Adventure bravery, military strategy and general resourcefulness was Pontiac, Cornstalk and Tecumseh; and of these three only Tecumseh lived. Old Podge, who had overheard much of the guards’ talk, informed Durgin and me: “They’re gitting ready to move down to the foot of the rapids and hold a big pow- wow. Red Jacket of the Six Nations will be there and will speak for peace. Blue Jacket has picked out some Wyandot, mebbe Tarhe, to speak against a peace. Red Jacket won’t be listened to. Our com- missioners are just wasting their time try- ing to make a peace. We’re making be- lieve we’re at peace now. Injuns making believe the same thing, but the woods is filled with fighting. The Injuns are keen for a big fight right now, and they’re fooling round and killing time only to git more of the Ottawas down here. If the Ottawas was here now they’d strike for the frontier before tomorrer morning. “Little Turtle’s got a better head ’n t’others have. Heard the guards say they should send out bands and strike at half a dozen different points so’s to make Wayne separate his army in trying to defend the different settlements. The Turtle figgers this would keep Wayne from marching up here. Blue Jacket wants to come to grips with the whole army. He figgers he can lick it before a mancan spit.” ‘“General Wayne won’t let anything stop his coming to the Maumee,” I assured him, “The settlements must do their own fight- ing. He’s as keen to get all the Indians be- fore him as Blue Jacket is to meet the army.” “Then both will git their satisfy,” sighed Podge. ‘But, Lawd! I wish I was out of this place! Anywhere rather than next-door neighbor to White Tom!”’ ‘“That’s all foolishness. Not a chance in a thousand of the Delaware being near here. Even if he entered the village and saw you he couldn’t touch you. You be- long to Spotted Snake. Even Blue Jacket won’t interfere with the Snake’s prisoners.”’ “Matter with you, Podge, is your mind. It’s sick,” grunted Durgin. “‘I’d ruther face the then face White Tom when I’m cooped up like this,” -re- plied the unhappy man. And he withdrew to his dark corner and despite the heat of the day muffled a blanket around his head. COmiclbook (©