Old Shadow Shot — page 16: what you’re looking at

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

14 CHAPTER VIII. A HEART TWICH “ COVERED.” ( EAVING Captain Rough in momentary L expectation of an attack from the free- booters so suddenly brought to a halt by the death-shot, let us return to Nightin- gale Nat, whom we left filling the forest with one of his songs. The reader will recollect that his notes reached the ears of two persons, One of whom, a man on horseback, we left approach- ing the boy. Some time elapsed between the cessation of the song and the sound of a horse’s tramp. “That is not a wolf,” the boy said, raising his head as the noise saluted his ears. “I wonder whom I have sung ta me this time ?” Nearer and nearer came the animal, un- seen because of the night that still enshrouded his surroundings. He did not fear a return of Paddock, for that worthy had evidently left him for good, and would be the last to return to his succour. “He must be near here,” he heard a voice say, as the tread of the animal ceased not far away. Nat held his breath. “Tf the boy but knew that I wanted to save him, he would let me know by some noise where he is.” The Nightingale started with hope at the last words of the unseen. ‘“Here I am!” he said, and he heard an ejaculation of joy greet him. A minute later the nose of a horse brushed his face, and he saw a human figure spring from the saddle. ‘Ho! here you are!” cried the new-comer. “Well, well, I did not expect to find you so _ soon !” 3 3 The voice, changed to its natural tone, was enough to send cold blood to the boy’s heart, He saw the sombrero-like hat of the man who had sprung to the-ground. It was Captain Dave, the leader of the Vul- tures ! ‘“Who-did this?’ cried the man, laying hold on the cords. “One of Oaptain Rough’s men—Zimri Paddock.” “Oho! why, he tied you for keeps, didn’t he ee I’m going to untie you; just see Suiting the action to his words, Captain Dave, the Apollo, severed the ropes, and the little captive, with an exclamation of joy he could not suppress, stepped from the tree. But he was not free; the fingers of the Apollo encircled his arm ! a ae —> | boy said, sternly. OLD SHADOW-SHOT. “You got away from the train to-night with that long hunter who calls himseif Shadow-Shot,” said the Vulture, eyeing the boy. “Where is he?” “T do not know. He was not near when Paddock fastened me to the tree.” “T reckon not,” Captain Dave said, with a smile. “You will go with me?” The boy’s recollection flew back to the meeting of the two ruffians during the attack on the train. “T will not go back to Captain Rough,” he cried, jerking away from the hand that held him. With an oath, the outlaw sprang forward, but before he could touch the boy, the latter had thrown himself upon the horse, and drawn a pistol from the heavy holster ! “Lift a hand and Ill blow you to Davy Jones's locker,” cried the plucky boy. “I guess the tables have turned, my Captain of the Vultures. This saddle suits me to a ‘t,’ and I’m going to keep it. Rockets and torpedoes! Tl laugh at Captain Rough when I ride away on this horse. The old scoundrel brought me into this forest to get me out of somebody’s road. Didn't he tell you about it, Captain Daye, while you talked to him at the train?’ The Apollo, completely in Nat’s power, grated his teeth, but did not reply. “See here!” suddenly cried the boy, lean- ing forward with eagerness. ‘“ What's that mystery about Collyer’s train? There are — Collyers in the big city where I came from, and they're rich, too. One of our neighbours, | a widow woman, is named Collyer. ‘Pears to me that her husband went off somewhere, years ago, and hasn’t come back yet. Was © he the Collyer who commanded the train plundered by you and your fiends in the woods five years ago?” . “T don’t know!” was the snappish reply. “My little demon, if I had you in my hands for just one moment——-” “T shouldn’t be inquiring about the Coll- yer train, eh?” ce No Vis , “Well, we'll bring this scene to a close. Captain Dave, there is a law in the forest which is respected in the cities. Here it ig wild. I am going to kill you. You have lorded it over these woods long enough. You and your men have made the paths to Lake Superior paths of blood. In your fury, you haye not spared the dumb oxen that drew the waggons. If I did not take your worth. less life, you would hunt me down and merci- lessly slay.” “That is true?” said the Apollo, savagely and with candour. “Look up and say where you want it,” the CONNIE LOOOKS CO