Adventure Magazine Cover — page 129: what you’re looking at

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

The Long Knives 123 a pick and ashovel. The Indians will help us none. Where’s your bateauP”’ ‘Below the rapids. Water’s low. Came up in a canoe. What’s the bateau got to do with putting that dead man under _ ground?” “You’re a white man and an American. We want to get away from here.”’ “So do I and my woman,” he gruffly re- minded us. “But you and your wife are safe. We'll be killed if we don’t get away.” “Just what are you aiming at, mister?” This with some asperity. “That you can help us escape by having your canoe up-stream,‘where we can make it unseen. When we run for it they’ll think we've followed up the Maumee, striking for the six-mile portage to the head of the Wabash, then south to Jefferson. While they’re looking for us in that direction we'll be slipping north in your canoe.” “Not by a jugful!” he passionately re- torted, his eyes flashing. “T’m an American. You two are deserters. I'll help bury the dead man, but I won’t stir a peg to save your hair.” Durgin bridled angrily and began mut- tering strong New England oaths. It was a desperate chance, and only our plight warranted me in taking it. “We're not deserters,’ I told him. ““We’re spies.” “Spies! And wanting to go north!” he jeered. “In God’s good mercy, clap a stopper on your tongue,” Durgin fiercely warned him. ‘Let Simon or Jim Girty hear you, and we'll dance round a post till we’re well cooked.” “It’s because we’re spies that we want to make Detroit,” I insisted. “And our blood’ll be on your head if you don’t help us,” added Durgin. He did not believe us. He believed we were deserters and were about to receive treatment we had never counted on. And he believed we were meeting with our just deserts. “T’ll do what I’ve said—for the dead man. You two must shift for yourselves,” he de- cided. But I was not through. I urged him: “Go to the Point and speak with the Pleiss woman alone. Ask her about us, She’s honest.” Just having returned from the lake, he had heard nothing about Mrs. Pleiss. [I narrated the facts of our capture, and he be- gan to waver. Finally he groaned: “It’s a mighty big ’sponsibility! Id rather cut my hand off then to help two de- serters. But if you’re Wayne’s spies I'd lose a hand to help you get clear. Ill see the woman and have a talk with her.” “Then act promptly, for we must take our friend up-stream above the crossing be- fore it gets dark. We must be finishing our work when it is dark. Then for a run up the river-bank and a jump into your canoe.” “Tl talk it over with the woman. I'll be back to lend a hand in digging the grave anyway. What happens after that all de- pends.” He would promise nothing beyond that, except that he would hold his tongue con- cerning our confession to being spies. When he had hurried away we fashioned a litter from two poles and two blankets. Durgin went inside the cabin and returned with a small bundle of bolts which he placed be- tween the blankets. We took our time in the preliminary preparations, for we did not plan to start with our sad burden until dusk was setting in. The Indians kept well away from the cabin, even the young boys conquering their curiosity. Undoubtedly the word had spread that it was bad medicine to go near the dead man. His medicine, or magic, had been powerful enough to permit him to kill a younger and stronger man well- armed. The mortal weapon was almost insignificant in the red men’s estimation. If Old Podge’s medicine would aid him so singularly in life who could say it would not strike a blow to promote his vengeance even after he was dead? It was because of this fear that Spotted Snake had given us the freedom of the village outskirts to bury our friend. Nor did either of the Girtys re- turn to watch us. The Delawares, who had come with White Tom across the river and who had carried his remains back.to his village, now surprized me by approaching the cabin. I had hoped the tabu would keep them away even as it kept Blue Jacket’s men away. However, they did not venture close and came to a halt a few rods distant. I noticed they wore their blankets over their heads. My fear that they might do us harm vanished. One of them said: “There is the white man who killed our brother. Will the man who walks softly cCOmiclboolks (©