Adventure Magazine, December 10, 1924 — page 111: what you’re looking at

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

The Homesteacers “Go back. Bad down here.” He retired, closing the door. Light from a new fire vaguely illuminated the room. Mrs. De Camp tried to hush the older boy’s shrill voice as it persisted in re- peating the awful question. Mose reached back and secured the pail of water, fol- lowed by Murray. He gave the woman his box of figs, saying: “Slim fodder for youngsters. You'll need both, ma’am. We'll stay down here and you take the -youngsters to the loft. He started to take the water back. She halted him, saying: “T think we’ll be safe here. Wapasha and Wacouta are friendly. Most of the In- dians outside belong to their bands. I thought all this terrible work was done by the upper Indians, the Sissetons. I’m afraid some of our lower Indians were at the agency.”’ “They were there, ma’am,” assured Mose. “I saw them. Their leaders can’t control them. We must all get away from here tonight.” “No, I can travel only at a walk with the children. I can’t travel secretly as the younger two will cry or talk,’ she whis- pered. “If any of the upper Indians caught Ne She paused and for a moment her eyes lost their courage. “But I know Wapasha and Wacouta, and they will help me,” she added. “I’ve fed so many of their people I don’t think their men will harm me. Hush, dear. You won’t be hurt.” The last as the nine-year-old again asked the question. Then to Mose: “It’s no time for you men to leave now. Go back into the loft until the speaking be- gins. If you’re found down here it’ll be worse for all of us.” “Til go, but Pll be at the trap door, ready — to jump down if I’m needed,” said Mose. “But this young fellow can stay with you. He’s safe so long as they can see the crow- skin he’s wearing.” HE RAN up the ladder, and Mur- | ray gave the children water and figs and induced Mrs. De Camp to eat. In a low tone to escape the children’s ears she told Murray much he had witnessed from the hill near the De Camp home. What she had endured since leaving the hill was a new and tragic chapter. Had it not been 89 for Wacouta’s old mother she and her chil- dren would have been slain, she insisted. In turn he explained how he came by the crowskin and was completing his narrative when the door flew violently open and two Indians brought in three white girls. One appeared to be barely conscious and was supported by her companions. “Our friend has been shot in the back,”’ one of the girls told Mrs. De Camp. ‘She must lie down somewhere.”’ And her gaze darted to the ladder and the trap door. “Elizabeth Potter!’ mumbled Murray. She was pale but held her head high. Her neat traveling dress of brown and white shepherd check with its voluminous breadths of silk seemed sadly out of place in such tragic surroundings. Murray me- chanically noted the brown cloth shoes that matched the dress and the traveling cape of black net banded with silk. The other girls were much disheveled, and their hair hung in tangles over their shoulders. Elizabeth’s head was surmounted by a white straw bonnet, trimmed with lavender and with flowers, making gay the front cf the flaring rim. The bands of white lute- string were primly tied under the round, determined chin. It was plain she had been about to travel when captured. “Murray Fall!” she faltered, her eyes di- lating in amazement. “TI was riding into the agency early this morning to find you when—it began to happen.” “Help us get Mary Anderson upstairs. She’s been sadly hurt. This is Mattie Wil- liams, my Ohio friend, and Mr. Reynolds’ niece.” “We're all going to be killed,’’ whispered the Williams girl. “Hush! We mustn’t frighten any little folks,” cautioned Mrs. De Camp. “It’s best that the three of you go to the loft. Take the water with you. We'll get more.” Mose, listening at the trap door, came down the ladder far enough to lend a hand with the wounded girl. She did not appear to be suffering; nor did she lament her sad fate. “There was Mary Swandt, the hired girl,” she said, as if endeavoring to refresh her recollection. ‘“‘Mary Swandt, the hired girl. She must have been killed.” They got her into the loft, followed by the Williams girl carrying the pail of water. Comicbook CO =) es