Yellowstone Jack: Trappers of the Enchanted Ground — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

6 YELLOWSTONE JACK, ceaey, smoking revolver dropping from his nerve- less grasp; then ho fell forward upon his face, dead, shot through the brain. The chief was still leaning against the trunk, nor did he move asthe mon sumul- taneously sprang to their feet with drawn weapons, other than to lift the hammer of his revolver. His face was calm, though his eyes seemed to emit a phosphorescent sleam, as he spoke. Af “A shot for a shot—'tis true prairie law. But if any one of you object, f will be happy to accommodate you.” “The boss is right, boys,” said a tall, gaunt specimen of humanity. “Sandy Ben pulled fust—an’ sence the durned sreeny couldn’t shoot no better’n that, why, he orter kick the bucket. Miss the size of a man at fifteen yards—git out !” This characteristic speech turned the tide, and the threatened mutiny died out. he slayer of Sandy Ben now appeared an catirely different person. He was as uffuble as he had been stern and haughty. ‘Thank you, my lads, we'll get on finely, now. Sandy Ben was the onty fool umong you; he thought he could drive me, by hot words. But enough of him —roll the carrion into the creek—then listen. I will tell you, now, just what my. plans are. IL intended doing so all along, but Ze would have said that fear of him made me, “You know this much, that my name 33 Mat Mole, that I hired you at fifty dollars a month, to do a job of work for yc. You know that this job is connected with the emigrant train ahead of us, but nothing more. As the hour for winding up the job is now at hand, Pliltell you muy whole plans. “ You know that John Warren is boss of this train. He is my enemy. The man that shows me his sealp, 1 will pay double wages when we return to Council biults, “There are two women with the train —\Varren’s daughter and miece. His daughter, the brown-haired one, must be mine, unharmed. ‘The other you can dispose of, by drawing lots, or by cards, just as you chooss. ‘Warren is bound for the coast of California, where he expects to make a fortune in the hide and tallow trade. His brother wrote him to come—that he had mada nearly a milion In five years. Warren sold out, and is taking his money lforget what I told you. along, Hie has orcr twa thausand duliaral fest vii} be our ailies, in gold with him, This sum you cats divide between you. I ask nothing, only that you help me in getting | daughter.” | Se RAP he men cheered loudly at this intelli. gence. At that moment they would have charged death itself, had Mat Mole desired them. Ca “You have wondered why I did noi strike at once; why I have delayed so long, and thrown away so many fall opportunities. Well, 1 am a man that likes to make all sure, before I show my hand. Not one of this party must escape with their lives. They are néarl) double our force. Even if we had sur prised them, as we might have done a score of times, there would have been & tough fight, and some of them might have got away. Vow, if they escape us, the Indians will pick them up before they can reach safety.” _ Vet. “What's to hender the varmihts from pickin’ «ws up, as well?” asked Tobin, the tall man. Se ‘We are in the Blackfoot country x d : ? yy * i can do with them whatever I will. They will aid, not oppose us. Besides, wé have a friend with these emigrants, Their guide is inmy pay. Yousee how fat they (pee wandered from the right trail. Well, we have Chris Camp thank for that. You know the trouble! have taken to lay false ‘signs’ around their camps, Chris read that as I bade him. Under the pretence of giving th Blackfeet the slip, he has led them inte the very heart of the Blackfoot countty, This night, if everything works well, we will finish our job, and—” | te A low; peculiar whistle echoed from down the shallow stream, interrupting Mat Mole in his speech. The mer seemed to recognize the signal, but when it was repeated, with a different cadence, each man sprang for his rife, yen Mole appeared startled. = The next moment a tall, lithe figure Bred into view, and approached Mat ole. . . i “ What is it, Vern ?” asked the leadeh “ Indians—two score—trailing us,” Wé the quick reply. “ Blackfeet, I thim They were too close for me to lose any time. They are painted for the wa path.” ih ty “Then it's all right. Boys, I see yo These Biat ¢) ener, ina com ~ - 4 (ECON ME