Beadle's Boys Library No. 54 — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

6 California Joe, the Mysterious Plainsman. left their trail; but, whether all of these were mounted, or not, he could not discover until he saw them. He saw that the trail led toward a high range of bills, and into a most wild country; but he ‘ao@esitatingly pressed on uwtil darkness hid every trace from view and he was compelled to In-darkness and silence he ate his frugal sup- per, 2nd then lay down eee the open prairie to sleepy his horse, to which he had given no name whatever, feeding around him, and not held by the lariat, for the boy knew that the faithful animal would not leave him. With the first peep of day he was up and on the trail once more, «end two hours after had reached the foot-hills. ; There he came upon the camp of those he followed, and a glance was sufiicient to show him that they were red-skins, as one at all familiar with encampments can readily detect the difference between a pale-face and Indian halting: place for the night. He knew by the still burning fires that the enemy could not be far in advance, and ac- quainted with the nature of the country, he de- termined to seek a high hill which would give him a view for miles aroand. — From the position he had in view he knew that. he could see whether the red-skins took a trail that would enable them to head off the emigrant train, or crossed the prairie beyoud to the mountains miles away, where they had their village. Turning short off from the beaten track, Joe began to climb the hillside, and for once bis keen eyes failed to detect half a dozen horsemen com- ing back upon the trail, and with heads bent down as though they were searching for some- thing that had been lost, and which he had, for it was the sacred pipe of a chief and his neck- lace of bear claws, which the youth had picked up in the deserted camp, though attaching lit- tle valae to them, . Back to their night camping ground went the warriors, and not fiuding the pipe and necklace, they started upon their return, still searching the trail, when the eyes of one of them fell upon something that attracted his attention. A call brought his five comrades to his side and after a few words they left the trail and branched off up the hill; and it was Joe’s trail that they bad discovered, and were following. Up tle hill they went, until they came to a narrow ridge, and along this Joe had gone, and they followed. ; As for that mysterious youth, he was stand- ing upon the edgeof a cliff, the point of lookout which he had sought, gaz'ng down into the val- ley below, and across the lower range of hills to the prairie beyond. Far do -n the valley his quick glance had caught sight oz the Indians, filing along; and ‘directing their way acros3, and not up it, as he had feared. He saw now, too, that they numbered but fifty warriors, and that the other ponies were laden down-with game, showing that they were a party of hunters returning to their vil- lage, \ Satisfied that the emigrant train was not their obj-ct, but that they were making a flank movement to avoid any soldiers that might be out scouting from the fort, Joe mounted his horse and started to retrace his way. Hardly had he ridden a hundred yards before he belield before bim the six warriors, _ They halted at sight of him, and he drew rein upon seeing them. How many more were behind him he knew not; but he did know that there were just six more than he cared to see at that time, and in such a locality. - He knew well that the ridge ended in a sheer precipice, sixty feet high. Far below was a pool of water, surrounded by willows and cottonwood, but the depth of which he did not know. Upon either side of the ridge he knew a man on fovt could not ascend or descend, and to think of such a thing as attempting it upon horseback would be madness. To charge upon the six warriors and attempt to break through their ranks, would be next to seeking death, for the ridge was not a hundred yards wide at its best, and where they had halt- ed was in the narrowest part, and in the rough- est, which would prevent his horse going at full speed. They were ready for him, he could see, and: had evidently followed him, knowing that he had gone into a trap. To make matters worse for Kim Joe had in lu; and the sacred pipe he had picked up, and about his neck the bear-claw neck-lace, and the keen eyes of the red-skins detected this. Joe’s rifle lay across bis horse in front ef him, and he bad quickly thrust the pipe into a pocket = his : ageas and gotten ready for the death- struggle. 7 The Indians were armed with bows and ar- rows, excepting one who carried a musket, Joe took in the chances against him at a glance, and they did the same. If it was night, and they were red-skins who bad heard of him, or knew him, as.an evil spirit, he would have played the spook business upon them, _ But it was in the broad glare of day, and the could see that he was fully armed and we mounted, though his horse did look ghostly and | wore no bridie. “ “Tve got to take the chances of the leap over the cliff,” said Joe coolly to himself, an then he added in the same tone: ‘*But I guess all of that gang won't live to see if it kills me.” He threw his rifle forward as he spoke, de- termined no longer to delay, after he had made up his mind as to his course, and with the crack a warrior dropped from his horse. A shot from the musket and a shower of ar- rows were sent in response, accompanied by wild yells; but they fell short, or failed in their aim, and Joe hastily began reloading his rifle. This the red-skins discovered, and knowing the deadly aim of their foe, and that their chance lay in charging directly upon him, they urged their ponies into a run. oe had not finished reloading his rifle when they stdrted; but he coolly did so, threw it to his shoulder, after adjusting the cap with a hand that did not tremble, and again its sharp report was beard, and down fell a second brave. To draw bis revolvers and meet: them, Joe knew would end in his death, -ven though he might kill a couple more, for they would send jbeir arrows through him at close range. So he wheeled about quickly, and a yell sent his horse into a swift run. On he bounded, straight for the cliff, and to urge him to the leap Joe pricked the noble ani- mal with the point of his knife. Right uson his heels came the red-skins, de- termined to force him over, and then ride around the ridge and secure his scalp; but their reins were held firmly in hand to check their own ponies before they went too near. As he drew near the precipice, Joe slung pis rifle upon his back, settled himself well upon the back of his horse, and drew a revolver. His face was calm and fearless, and it was evident, that having taken the chances of the leap, he intended meeting his fate boldly, even | should it be death. - With a yell to his -horse he went over, and when the now frightened, maddened animal shbt away from the brink, Joe turned quickly, dropped his revolver upon a red-skin and drew trigger, as he cried: “Take that bull. t as my parting present, red- skins)” The shot, in spite of the situation of peril of Joe was sent.to kill, and struck a brave fairly in the heart, as he reined his horse up on the brink. Up went his arms, and from his lips broke forth the death-cry, and Joe shot downward out of sight. CHAPTER: X. SEARCHING FOR JOE’S SCALP. _ Irmust be admitted that poor Joe had the idea in bis mind that death was certain, when he glanced below him at about the spot he would fall. : As I have said, there was a pool at the base of the cliff, and its depth Joe did not know, but judged that it-was over the he d of his horse. Around the pool grew « number of willows and cottonwoods, and they almost met in the center, And here is where Joe had aimed to go through, feeling assured if his horse did not turn over in his.downward flight, he would strike the water fairly, and if not killed, or crippled, would soon bear him to safety. But the white had not struck the cliff at the exact point, where Joe had intended he sbould, and the result was that he went crashing through the tops of the cottonwoods, making the splinters fly and tearing the limbs .and foliage to atoms, and at the same time having his snowy sides pierced ceeply at half a dozen different points. Once he half turned over, yet Joe still kept his seat, ard then-a limb caught him under the neck, avd checked the turn, so | had not been Joe was still seated plosion of a heavy gun. As the horse did not rise, Joe pushed himself quickly to the surface, and a couple of strokes of his strong arms sent him to the shore, where he sat amazed, dazed and considerably shaken up by his fall, His horse was killed, he knew, and that he surprised him grea ly. . As it was his feet and legs had been scratched up pretty badly ; but he was yet whole, with no bones broken, and in such condition felt himself ual to at least a couple of red-skins, @. glanced up through the foliage and saw three heads S peeping over the cliff. and locking gw and wonde e they talked. They had heard the crashin even Indian nature had not th to look down then, nor until half a minute after the plunge. Then they did so, and they felt assured the horse and boy were both dead. Joe understood enough of their language te hear one of them say: ‘‘ Pony and pale-face both dgad.” The two others grunted assent, ‘*T guess not,” muttered Joe, who could see them, though they could not see him. . ‘‘ Get pale-face scalp,” said the first speaker. The two others gave a kind of war-whoop, so tickled were they at this. 0 “Tl be there when I’m scalped,” muttered Joe, grimly. : pigs Then the heads disappeared, and Joe set to work to look at his weapons. : The rifle had only powder in it, for he had branches, and ‘not had time to put in the bullet, and this he knew he would have to clean out well, as the rifle had gotten a ducking. Then Joe examined his revolvers, and smiled. He had over the cylinder of each, from the barrel back to the stock behind the hammer, a hood of oil-silk, with elastic at each end that — held it in place, thus preventing the caps and powder from getting wet—for those were not the days of metallic cartridges. e ‘* These are dry, and I guess I'll wait and see them Injuns take my scalp,” said Joe, for he: at become revengeful on account of his noble orse. He could easily have gotten away before the red-skins appeared, but he concluded to wait, and bence he made his preparations accord- ingly. iis first act was to leave his firearms upom + i and dive down in the pool, knife in and. Mp He soon reappeared with his blankets, and to which were attached his haversack of provis- fons and ammunition pouch, the latter being also enveloped tightly in ofl-stlk. “Good!” said Joe, as he saw that the ammu-: nition was dry. Then he cleaned his rifle, dried it as thor- oughly as he could under the circurastances, and loaded it. See ‘““Now I’m ready to receive company,” be muttered, as be took up a position that wculd command the approach to the pool around tue cliff. ® And his company soon appeared iu sight, three in numter; ‘“‘They’ve buried the others, but 1 kilt em,” he said, as coolly as though he did not expect: the slightest trouble. Indians are by nature as cautious as coyotes,. and these three came on with wary advance.. though they felt sure that the youth was dead. As they got within easy range Joe drew a bead upon the one in advance with his rifle, se- lected his lead as his point of aim, and pulled the trigge. ss ; bd cap snapped, the weapon failing to ex- plode. : But it checked the advance of the red-skins, and sent them back to cover with ludicrous sud-- denness. — ‘“‘ Holy smoke! my rifle’s failed me!” cried Joe, and as troubles seldom come singly, at that mo- ment he beheld a score of mounted Indians. coming up the valley not half a mile away. Evidently they were some of the same bard, Cornicls to see what delayed their comrades so- ong. Joe thought quickty, and he came to the con- | a clusion that that was no place for him. Seizing his wet blankets, he threw them across. one shoulder, and with his rifle in his hand, bounded around the edge of the pool, and keep- ing the clump of cottonwoods and willows tie-. tween him and his foes, ran with the speedo? wv deer along the base of the cliff. that he went down feci fur.inost into the pool: : He heard no yell, indicative of his flight be- upon his back and sunk with him, while the splash sounded like the ex- 3 art and nerve ~ sie feet