Adventure Magazine Cover — page 145: what you’re looking at

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

Battle of a Thousand Hoofs did without a light. And as cautiously he got the stuff through the hole in the wall and loaded himself up, hay and all, and made for the corral. When he arrived at the place of the shifting hoofs he found Jim waiting for him in the darkness. ‘“‘Where’s the eats?” hissed the youth eagerly. “You starved wretch!” panted Joash. “Take some o’ this burden.” Jim put out his hands, got the two paste board cartons and the chunk of hay. “Hay!” he snarled. “I can’t eat that. What’s in these boxes?” ‘‘Hold your horses, boy.” Joash led to a big boulder and there, in partial concealment, he struck a match. Jim tore open one of the cartons. ‘Firecrackers! Joash, I’m of a mind to slay ye.” Joash pulled the cans from his shirt bosom and struck another match. Jim pounced on to them. “Got a can opener?” he demanded. He held match and can close together to read the label. “Concentrated lye!” he gurgled madly. He snatched up another can. ‘Superior Oil for Leather Goods’.” He snapped up the other two cans. ‘“‘Bluing! Both of ’em!” “Lordy!”? moaned Joash. shelf too far over. and beans.” Jim got to his feet, and even in the dense darkness it was plain he was threatening murder, though he only gesticulated and swayed. “Wait, wait, boy,” pleaded Joash, chang- ing the subject. ‘I got a plan. We'll tie firecrackers to the burros’ tails and let them charge the Mexican village. We'll scare the livin’ gizzard out of them bandits. The Straddler will think it’s a regiment of cavalry.”’ “Of all the fool schemes!” Jim boiled over. “Ves, yes, but it will work. Sure. Anyhow it will disperse and scatter the Mexes till they won’t be able to make the attack. You'll help, won’t you, Jim?”’ “No!” “Then I’ll go by myself and do the best I can.” “You're a fool.” “Maybe, but I’m going to try it.” “T got one Meant to swipe wienies 135 Old Joash gathered up the hay, the two cartons and the rope and twine. “T’ll let the bars down at the gully,” said he. ‘The donks have been going down to the backwash of the river to drink. They’ll go down now, or anyhow follow the rustle of this hay. You drop in behind and shove em along. They’ll follow this hay across, and when we get on the other side we’ll halt and get ready.”’ Joash lowered the bars. The hungry burros spilled out on his heels .at once, reaching for the hay. He held the hay in front of him, as he started down, and was forced to elbow at the burros’ muzzles to keep them back. He was not certain that Jim was following but he kept on, knowing that in the end the _ boy would not let him go alone. At its lower end the gully spread out and afforded room for a pool of backwater. Reaching this spot, Joash was taken back sharply at sight of a man lurking in the shadows of the high bank. He stood petri- fied for a moment, until in the thick gloom he niade out the stooped outline of the American, Hunt. “Hi,” called Joash. “That you, Hunt?” Hunt, not ten feet away, laughed apolo- getically and sat down a sack of tinkling bottles. Joash disliked law violation; but, coming but red-handed from burglarizing a store, he could say nothing on that sub- ject, so he turned to something else. “By golly, Hunt, I’m glad to run across e. ‘““What’s up?” “The Straddler’s over in the Mexican village.”’ “He is?’? Hunt was startled. ‘That’s bad.” “He’s going to raid Rodela tonight un- less I stop him. Will you help out on a scheme?” “Sure. What is it?” As Joash outlined the plan, a little ashamed at the absurdity of it, yet de- termined to push it along, Jim came up. ““Good boy!” praised the old man. ‘‘Knew you’d stick by. And when we get in the gully on the other side we’ll hold the donks and fix them up with the crackers. Then I'll goon ahead— _ But come on, we'll work it out as we go.” Joash shoved the cartons into Hunt’s arms, and they started into the river, Jim agreeing to bring up the rear. The burros NOOK 1 @)