Frank Reade Library No. 12: Frank Reade and His Steam Man of the Plains — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

12 THE STEAM MAN OF THE PLAINS. —— they were and took a long time to get | chieftain; but the words wore hardly out of his| The chief did not murmur, but regarded the boy softened, and it was early dawn before he was enabled to stretch Semapet aod free his hands ; but at length they yield With great caution the boy :ecured the rifis and wder-flask of the sleeping chief, and with the etermination to do or die, opeaed the door. Be saw one of the horses grazing near at hand, with a rope halter hanging from its head, and, a & , Charley mounted the steed aud was oO instantly the alarm was sounded, and soon his uers were after him; but Oharley had got start and he kept it. He had thrown pursuers off the track once, and they had discovered him again bela he ibe resting in a grove, but he was up and away fore they reached him. For miles he had maintained a running fight Barney and Frank’ together with the terrifying ey and Fran er ) team man, arrived to save him from his foes. He allowed his horse to scamper off, while he and Frank mounted the seat, and while flying along, made oat their plan of rescue. CHAPTER XIV. FRANK READE’S GENIUS. THE summer sun was slowly sinking behind the eastern hills. w The Osage tribe, in a holiday sort of attire— that is to say, they had on extra feathers, otc.— gathered in solemn silence in their village. The hour had arrived when, according to their deliberate decision, the white prisoner was to die. The chieftains, prominent among them the great and mighty chieftain Motzer-Ponum, sat in a pelreie around the wide-spreading roots of an o , This tree was to be the stake at which the white man was to perish. An order was given. ‘* Let Schorumanollus and Schlenterer, our two moet trusted braves, bring before us the white man, while others bring the dry brush wood,” eried out Motzer-Ponum. The two chosen braves departed on their mis- sion, and several of the younger warriors hast- ened to procure the wood, and heap it upon one side of the tree. By the time that the fuel was collected, the two braves returned to the tree, conducting the bound form of Dash Hallett. The prisoner was a little pale, but otherwise he was the same devil-may care rover of the plains. He glanced seornfully upon the chieftains, and erled out to them, in their tongue: ‘‘Let me at liberty, and give me buta single weapon—a knife—and I'll fight six of your best Oo ” ‘warriors. ‘* Ha, hal’ laughed Motzer-Ponum. “And in that way you would cheat us out of our coveted pleasure. Ob, po; you shall burn!” ** Bah |” cried Dash, who hoped that they might be taunted sufficiently to dispatch him with their weapons, whereby he would escape the ny of the fire. “You are a set of squaws. have killed dowans of your bravest mon, and some of them died like a pappoose might die—orying for t presrhg & and for their life. I have cut their hearts out, and they were not like those of men. They were dovrs hearts, and some of them were even blacker than those of the prairie dogs.’ ‘feversi of the braves and warriors set oe yell at these taunts, but the shrewd Mot- sex Ponum prevented them from using violence to the prisoner. **Do you not see that the white man wishes to arouse your r?” he asks. “If you kill him wan youre then he escapes the torture of e 9 They saw through the dodge then, and fell back in silence. The wood was now brought forward, and Dash ‘was securely bound to the The dry brush was piled up around him as high as his breast. Then the warriors drew knives and tomahawks and, at a wignal from Motzer-Ponum, began their weird w ange, the chosen braves Schoruman- ollus ana Schiefterer, leading the fantastic meas- ure. When the prelimin ary dance was onded, the chief called for the fire-brand, and one of the Widowed squaws—not the lovely widow Shoffus- y, Rowever-advanced to the tree with a blaz- rch. ‘It’s good-bye with this chap now,” solil- quized the hunter. ‘ Well, I neverdone anything Worse nor puttin’ a few red cusses under the Foard. and J don’t think that counts again me. wonder how long a fellow feels the fire?” ** Let the torch be applied,” commanded the mouth before several of the tribe set up a cry and pointed toward the western plains. The widow paused with uplifted torch, and then sllowed blazing brand to fail to the ground. Alone, and apparently unarmed, Frank Reade was advancing towards the tree. did not feel much alarmed by the advent of a e boy amid their armed numbers, but they were certainly a good deal surprised, - Not so much, however, as they were destined to be before our hero got through with them. Tne brave yo traveler advanced straight to the group of chiefs and braves, cast one glance at the surprised prisoner, and then gravely saluted the terrible: Motzer-Ponum. The latter, his vanity much tickled by the fundity of Frank’s salaam, bowed low Frank then spoke to Dash Hallett. ee understand the jargon used by these Osa- 66 I do.” “Then act as my interpreter,” said the boy, ‘and if we fail to pull the wool over their eyes, then call me a fool.” ‘*Fire away,” said Dash. “‘Tell them that I’m some mighty medicine- man or other,” said Frank: ‘you know best what to say.” ‘* Chieftains, listen,” cried Dash. ‘“ This young brave, the son of the moon, the grandchild of the sun, and the mother-in-law of all the stars, is the greatest medicine-man known to the world, and he now desires to prove to i that the Great Spirit is frowning upon your tribe.” Of course the red-skins were properly im- ressed by the atring of high-sounding titles given our hero by the easy-spo«en Dash. Who wouldn't be? #s rare you told 'em?” asked Frank. sé ve,”’ ‘* Tell them I have been sent tothem by com- mand of the Great Spirit.” “* What for?” ‘‘To rescue you.” ‘* All right,” said Dash, and in sound Osage in- formed the Indians of the very rl Share fact. ** He must prove his title,” said chief. ** He will do ao,” said Dash. “ How?” The hunter turned to Frank. ‘“‘They want to know how you are going to prove what I’ve been blowing about?” “Qh!” said Frank. ‘‘ Well, in the first place I shall let a knife drive fair and square at your breast. It’s a trick knife, so don’t allow the act to frighten you. After I hurl the blade at you, T'll make it stick fast in that tree.” ** If you can do that, you'll make the reds open their peepers,” said Dash. as ‘a what I'm here for, said Frank, ‘You don’t know me yet.” The hunter then spoke to the Indians. ** This and mighty relatve of the sun and moon and the little stars,” said the trapper, “‘ will throw a knife at my heart with all his strength. He will cast a spell over the knife, and it will not hurt me in the least. Hoe will take the weapon and hurl it at this tree, and the blade will sink OT cvarmmar of apple greeted this piece of in murmur of applause piece of in- coreence, and the Osagew looked expectantly at rap The boy drew a short, heavy dirk-knife from his breast, ta great care not to touch any of the numerous which erossed his body. He held the dirk aloft. The dying sunlight glanced along the blade, and then the young genius planted his right foot firmly, balanced his knife on the palm of his left hand, point reversed, and hurled it at Dash Hal- let’s breast. The blade flew swiftly through the air. The point struck full at the broad breast of the undaunted Dash, rebounded from his bosom, and fell with a cheery ring to the ground. The Indians didn’t say anything, but they looked their wonder. Frank stepped forward, picked up the knife, planted his foot firmly, and then huried the dirk at the h tree. The point sank into the bark and wood, and the shaft quivered like an aspen. Then the redskins did shout. They sent up a mighty yell of unbounded de- light, mixed with a little superstitious awe, and ed our hero very much. rank pulled the knife from the tree, walked up to the ohlef, and took the latter’s hand in his own. He lifted the blade and struck a slight blow at Motzer-Ponum’s bare arm. The point pierced the flesh, and a tiny stream ' of blood trickled forth. wondering. Frank then put the dirk in the leader’s huge ee Tell him to strike lightly, as I struck him,” he d to Dash The latter communicated the desire to Motzer- Ponum. CHAPTER XV. MOWSHER ABINER. ‘“‘T sHaLy do so” said Motzer-Ponum. co np Relea s hand in his own, and struck at the ‘s bared arm. Mea ther tiny stream of blood followed the blow and Motzer Ponum seemed triumphant over the pro- return. | fact. Frank ste back a dozen paces. “Now te pen to burl it at my heart,” he said to Dash. The latter obeyed. The chieftain, in eommon with many of his tribe, was an expert knife-thrower, when Dash shouted out the command of the boy-genius, the redskin leaped to his feet and hurled the knife with rapid aim. The flying knife spun over in the air, and the point struck fairly against the breast of ‘the un- wavering Frank. Then it rebounded and fell to the ground with & musical clang, while the boy stood smiling and unharmed, We were going to say that Motver-Ponum turned pale; but an Indian don’t turn pale under extreme terror. But he 14 get sickly-green-looking around the gills, and stood ng the youthful medicine- man with wonder and fear, while the warriors and braves sent up a shout that testified their ap- proval. “That's darned clever, you r,” approw- ingly remarked Dash Hallett. “You're a team and a hoss to let; no mistake about that. Carn you do anything more?” “Tf it is needed, I can,” said the bo pene done all that is necessary. coon?” An Indian of middle age, having a very odd sort of head-dreas,’and covered from to foot with other charma,.wes epproaching the grou er c 8, Was & 6 p. “That,” said Mr. Dash Hallett, with a comical grin, ‘‘ ie a brother of yours.” “ How?” ‘* He deals in magic. “Oh, ho!” cried Frank. ‘* Keep your eye skinned, my boy, for he’s goin” to di-pute yer.” ‘I’m not afraid of him.” . ae he can do things you can't begin to make out.” “I can return the compliment,” said Frank, ** Don’t make any mistakes,” said Dash. ‘“‘T’ll not,” said “Fear not but that I will save your life.” **T hope so,” said the cool card, as though Frank were apeaking of 8 very small matter. ** What is his name?” asked Frank. is ft medicine chap?” 6s @3.” ‘‘Mowsher Abiner.” “*Mowsher Abiner?” “That's it” ‘** What does it mean?” “‘ The devil himself,” said Hallett. ‘This chap is the t medicine-man on the plains to- day, and there's mischief in his eye now, 90 keep cool and knock him silly if you can.” Moweher Abiner now approached the boy and gave him a keen ce. ‘*T may as well keep on good terms with him if I can,” said Frank. ‘Please present my compli- ments to him.” ‘Moet mighty Mowsher Abiner,” roared ouf the prisoner, “ this great and illustrious relative > “but I is this of the sun, moon, and stars, you.” Mowsher Abiner acknowl the greeting by a profound bow. ‘I am pleased to meet my young brother of the art,” he replied. ‘What wants he of the tribe of ae rat Baro r 6s y berty.” ** And wherefore?” ** Because the Great Spirit is i “ nee pest sent by the Great Spirk ar 6 r:) rl “Tbe prentont ete rtd 6eé e so sorted Wohnen nthe w confidently as- ‘“‘Greater than Mowsher Abiner?” demapded the ooppery trickster. “Even so,” snid Dash. COmiIcoooe S (SO)