Adventure Magazine, December 10, 1924 — page 119: what you’re looking at

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

The Homesteaders houses, and the soldiers will come and use them for forts.” Murray closed the door and softly told Mrs. De Camp: “Tt looks easy for me to leave. can’t leave you women,” “T tell you Wapasha and several other leaders will help us. You must go. Only the Potter girl is able to travel. The Swandt and Williams girls are too fright- ened. But you can try them. I believe you can get away with the Potter girl while the Indians are arguing. Either of the others would be a hindrance.” Murray climbed the ladder and rapped on the trap door. Elizabeth Potter opened it. The Swandt girl and Mattie Williams were seated by the unconscious Anderson girl, their arms about each other. Murray briefly repeated Mrs. De Camp’s advice and concluded by saying: “T believe I can get you girls to the fort, or to New Ulm. We will have the night to travel in and can hide during the day. It’s an awful responsibility for me to suggest it. Mrs. De Camp says I must try for the fort or the town. But she also thinks you all will be safe here.” “One can stay with Mary. There’s noth- ing to be done for her as she’s mortal hurt. I'll stay with her, and the others shall go with you. Mrs. De Camp has her children to look after. Wait.” She crawled to her companions and talked rapidly. The Swandt girl wept and con- tinually shook her head, shrinking in horror from the suggestion of stealing away through the night. Mattie Williams, more composed, decided: “T won’t risk it. I ran once when Mary was hurt. Mrs. De Camp has saved us from them when they were at their worst. It’s safer to stay here. I won’t go.” The Potter girl talked further, but met with refusals. Picking up her little bonnet, she tied the bands of lutestring under her chin, returned to Murray and reported: “They won’t risk it. But I will. I think they’ll be safe here and in the big camp they’re to be taken to. But I’ll take the chance with you. You must go anyway, and I can do no good here. I’d rather die than stay. Let’s start.” Murray told her she must wait while he reconnoitered. Descending the ladder, he helped Mrs. De Camp carry the sleeping children to the loft and took up the second But I 97 pail of water and what was left of the green corn. Then he slipped from the door and walked around the house. He found no sentinels. ; He ventured farther and found a large number of ponies and farmers’ horses herded on the south side of the village. He ap- proached these and stumbled over two guards unconscious from drink. Orators were still adressing a large audi- ence around the central, or council, fire. As soon as one man had delivered his opinion another would take his place. Flushed with their success at the agency and lusting for more killings and looting, the fighting men were demanding immediate action, but the difference of opinion as to the next move was not smoothed out. Little Crow was accepted as the supreme leader, but this did not mean that men and chiefs must bow to his will. Much of the talk had to be repeated as men from bands who had held back from the initial massacre kept coming in and declaring their desire to participate in the war and share in the plunder. Whereas their leaders had sought to keep them out of the fighting those lead- ers now were irresistibly swept into the war. Under cover of the confusion and wran- gling Murray returned to the house un- noticed and tossed a handful of dirt into the small loft window. The Potter girl at once called down to him. He directed her to descend and wait at the door. Once again he circled the house. Return- ing to the door, he took her hand and swiftly led her toward the horses. Halting a short distance from the animals, he whispered for her to lie down by a clump of bushes. Then he boldly advanced and pulled up two picket pins, the first he came to, and led the horses to where the girl was hidden. She came to her feet, and he directed her to lead her horsé until he gave the word to mount. “Tf any of the Sioux show up drop to the ground and let the horse go. They'll think they pulled their pins and strayed,” he whispered as he took the lead. Not until nearly two miles from the vil- lage did he dare give the word to mount. They were south of the road, and the girl became impatient as Murray insisted on riding slowly. They felt their way through the darkness until the east began to lighten. Then Murray dismounted and his com- panion did likewise without being told. Comicbook © 5}