Adventure Magazine Cover, March 20, 1925 — page 184: what you’re looking at

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

166 “Not bad. What happened?” he ‘Joe Moon,” she whispered. Joe Moon! At every turn he heard the name of the rascally trader, always spoken in that same tone of fearful respect. “He hit you.” “Did Joe Moon go away?” 4 ‘He go.” _ So the trader had left the Nogassaw village. Well, reflected Munroe, be would go out and see to his dogs and then be on his way in the morning. The Indians would nct refuse him shelter for the night, in spite of their drunken state. He and Joe Moon would meet again. Painfully he got up and went over to the door, feeling about for the crude latch. But the woman whispered again. “Stay,” she said. ‘“They hurt you.” He could hear the loud voices of the Indians outside, but he laughed shortly. The squaw had reason to be afraid of them, no doubt, but he did not. He shoved open the door and stepped outside. The Indians were still continuing their carouse, but their numbers had diminished, some having staggered into the huts for drunken slumber, but those who remained were still quarreling about the fire; two were wrangling about the slight remaining con- tents of a bottle. As Munroe stood there for a moment, looking at them, one caught sight of him and spoke quickly to the others. They all turned and stared sod- denly at the factor, then advanced un- steadily toward him. “Back,” ordered one, pointing at the door behind him. ‘(Where did Joe Moon go?” They shook their heads obstinately, and crowded about him, five in number, old Peter Nogassaw gabbling rapidly in Ojib- way. Munroe gathered that he was or- dering him to go back into the shack but he stepped ahead and, as he did so, one of the other Indians snatched out a knife, and confronted him, his eyes glinting dangerous- ly. The redskin was very drunk, but the knife was very -tright and sharp, so Munroe told himself he must be careful. “I stay here tonight,” he said. The old Indian, Peter, nodded vigorously and then motioned tc the shack again. “T feed my dogs,” went on Munroe quietly. “No,” grunted old Peter. “You stay.” The man with the knife came closer and said. ‘thought, he felt quickly for his belt. Adventure one of the others lifted a heavy stick, and together they shoved him back to the doorway. Munroe was minded to oppose them, but he was outnumbered and they were reckless- . ly drunk, so he made a pretense of agree- ment and stepped abruptly back into the shack again. He could hear them talking when he went inside and then one man sat down heavily against the door, plainly as a guard. He was a prisoner. He went back to the bunk and sat down. He intended to remain in the village over- night anyway, so there was no use making trouble for himself, and he could easily get away in the morning. But he fretted about his dogs, for they had not been fed; perhaps the Indians would look after them. Then the woman whispered again. “Joe Moon go. Take money.” For a moment, Munroe did not under- stand. Take money? Then, on sudden It was empty. The big roll of bills- had dis- appeared. This was serious. Joe Moon’s purpose was plain. Without money, Munroe would be forced to turn back to Wakina, abandon his trip altogether. He was beaten. Joe Moon had won a complete victory—this time. “Which way did Joe Moon go?” whispered. “Up river.” t ‘Upe”’ “Take same trail you come.” This was a new angle. He had assumed that Joe Mcon would cut across country from the village, toward the railway. And then he remembered that the trader had not been successful with Louis Buckshot on his previous visit. Perhaps he was making a second attempt. With this thought, Munroe was galvan- ized to action. He would have to return by the river trail in any case, for Joe Moon had seen to it that he was unable to proceed farther. Plainly, the trader had ordered the Indians to detain Munroe in order that he might not be inconveniently close on his trail, counting on a good twelve hours’ start in all probability. But why not outguess Joe Moon and over- take him? Munroe’s head still pained him and he had a lively desire to meet Joe Moon again. His enemy had not only clubbed he MICLOOO (C©