Adventure Magazine Cover — page 124: what you’re looking at

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

118 “Our brother forgets he is not on a war- path. He runs with a knife in his hand. He is like a foolish man. He will be falling on his knife.”’ James glared wrathfully at me over the savage’s shoulder. Perhaps he was re- calling his long monopoly of the Shawnee trade and the growing accumulation of property since he had enjoyed the privilege. Or perhaps he was afraid of the Snake’s immediate vengeance. Anyway the rage faded from his face. He restored the knife to its sheath and sullenly said: ‘“‘The white man opened a bad bag of talk. Tell him to keep his mouth closed when he walks about the village.”’ The Snake’s small eyes glittered although his voice was low and quiet enough as he answered: ‘Spotted Snake knows what to tell his risoners. The white man need not tell him what to say to them. Even Blue Jacket does not tell the Snake what to tell them. This man—” and he touched my arm— “‘isa very braveman. With his bare hands he was ready to fight against a knife.” James lowered at me thoughtfully and asked the Snake: “Will you trade him? I will buy him from you at a good price. I have new guns and new coats like what the Englishmanake wear.” Spotted Snake’s longing for a coat richly laced was betrayed by the sudden lighting up of his fierce little eyes. He folded his arms and replied: ‘“‘There is a white man with a very small heart. He hides in the cabin. The Snake will trade him.” “Two coats. I want this man.” For a few moments I feared I was to pass into James Girty’s hands. Then came the welcome words— “The Snake has spoken.” With that my captor turned and strode away, perhaps to escape further tempta- tion. I was anxious to accompany him, but as to do so would have evidenced weakness and would have lowered me in the Snake’s esti- mation, I tarried and even walked closer to the two brothers. Simon wheeled on me angrily and cried: “You poor fool! Do you want a foot of knife between your ribs? Git back to your cabin. If Jim can’t buy you he can cover your dead body with gifts.” Adventure Which meant that did James murder me he could appease the Snake with liberal presents. To his brother Simon next suggested: ‘‘Let’s go down and look at that old man. Last night I almost remembered who he makes me think of.” They gave no heed to me although I fol- lowed them. I feared trouble for Podge. Durgin was outside the door, smoking a pipe and sunning himself, his bearing that of a man who has nothing to fear. Fresh whittlings were on the ground and adhering to his legs. By his side were his whittling- knife and several sticks of soft wood. His gaze widened for a moment as he beheld the infamous brothers approaching, with me trailing along a rod behind them. Several warriors, attracted by the renegades, drew in closer to the cabin. “‘That’s the Yankee, Jim. You got him mixed with the feller behind us,” said Simon, pointing to Durgin. ‘The old cuss is hiding in the cabin.” Durgin picked up one of his peculiar darts, fashioned from the soft wood while I was interviewing Blue Jacket’s son, and with a wide grin at the Girtys flipped it into the air and sent it skimming along over the tops of the lodges. The savages patted their mouths and stared at him respectfully. Jim Girty halted and followed the flight of the dart. . ‘““What’n kind of a thingumajig is that?” he fiercely demanded. “A new kind of a fire-arrer once you know how to make and shoot it,” lazily explained Durgin. James, ever the trader at heart, eyed Durgin speculatively. He was laying his blood-thirsty mood aside and was discover- ing a rich profit in the new kind of arrow. To Simon he said: “ve changed my mind. I don’t want the man that dogged us down here; and I don’t want the old cuss in the cabin. I want this Yankee. I'll treat him well. Notching ears is pleasant, but other things come first.”’ Spotted Snake, accompanied by half a dozen braves, came hurrying up. His savage gaze questioned James Girty’s pur- pose in visiting the prisoners. The Snake had picked up the dart and was carrying it gingerly as if afraid of its medicine. “Did the white man send this into the air?” he asked of Durgin. COmiclbook (©