Adventure Magazine Cover — page 130: what you’re looking at

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

_ . Pein Pe +L FS as ie > * y - - ~ 128 He stared at Ellis as if under a spell; and when the song was finished he jumped to his feet, declaring: “That’s singing. Got to smoke on that. You ought to.get a job at Denver, singing.” “No, not at singing,’’ mumbled Ellis, with a frightened side-glance at Goss. “He’s been blamed for killing a skunk he never harmed,” explained the gambler. “He’s known as the Singing Pilgrim. Best for him not to sing in Denver for a season at least.”’ “Anyway, it’s prime music. Let’s stretch our legs. No one will notice so long as we don’t go near the pony herd.”’ Ellis was willing. Goss fished a deck of cards from his pocket and decided to re- main where he was and play solitaire. Euclid led the way to the lodges, explaining: “I'm bound to have a smoke, You saw that red beast smash my pipe? But I know where there’s others, lots of them. Indian pipes.” He halted before a large lodge and pulled back the entrance flap. ‘There were no blankets in the place nor any other signs of it being used as a habitation except the several pipes hanging from the center pole. Ellis did not wish to enter. He feared it would be intruding. Euclid assured him: “I’ve learned a lot about Indians. You’re expected to walk in where you want to. When I’m hungry I go into any lodge and squat. Indians don’t know anything about ringingdoorbells or knocking. Go where you want to. It’s their way. I know a lot about them.”’ As he talked he stepped inside. Ellis, with some misgivings, followed him. Euclid further explained: “As I make it out this is sort of a club room. Free to every one. Indians meet here and talk over things. Funny lot of trash they cart around.”’ And he nodded toward a buffalo robe on Which was the painted skull of a buffalo, a horn from a mountain sheep that measured three feet in length and was nearly five inches through at the base, some curious rocks, and a miscellany of other objects. While his companion was examining the pipes Ellis examined the medicine collection more carefully and became interested in a small stone statue. While ignorant of the red man’s ways he knew the little idol was beyond the Ute’s culture plane. He de- Adventure cided itjwas of Aztec origin. Meanwhile Euclid selected a pipe with a long and decorated stem and quickly filled the bowl with tobacco. He puffed contentedly. Curious about the statue, Ellis took it to the opening the better to examine it. Euclid followed him, mumbling: “This draws better’n the pipe the Indians busted. Stem’s too long, though, to handle easy. If the stem was shorter I’d take it. Even-Stephen.” The Rabbit appeared between two lodges, and on beholding them, halted in amazed horror. Then he was fiercely commanding: “Fools! Come out of that medicine lodge! Put that pipe back! Knock the tobacco from it!" You’re stepping over your own souls. Quick! Before you are seen!’ Both intruders were alarmed by the in- tense earnestness of the Indian. Ellis dropped the small statue in his pocket and darted from the entrance. The Rabbit ges- tured for him to get clear of the camp. Euclid, inside the lodge, lost no time in emptying the bowl of tobacco and returning the pipe to its thong on the centerpole. He was nervous and alarmed but not to the extent of Ellis’ fright. When he emerged from the lodge the Rabbit had vanished, gone to meet and hold back any Utes re- turning from the conference. Ellis slowed his pace when clear of the lodges, and on seeing Euclid coming, he halted and waited for him. “T’m scared,” he greeted. to go nosing in that place.” “Seems an awful row to make over a smoke in an empty skin hut,” growled Eu- clid, now beginning to feel ashamed over his display of alarm. “When the Rabbit speaks like that he means it,’’ whispered Ellis. “No harm done. None of the beggars saw us. I supposed it was all right to go into any lodge. Seems that place is an exception.”’ “No need to tell Goss. fools,” said Ellis. They joined the gambler and for some minutes watched his game of solitaire be- fore the Utes swarmed back into their camp. Lomsom’s offer of two American horses to take the place of the medicine-ponies no longer acceptable to the malign spirit was accepted. It was necessary, however, to make new medicine to propitiate the evil “‘We were fools He’ll think we’re comicbooks com