Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 1104 — page 9: what you’re looking at

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

-_—- a ee ee ee ee ——~+--—— --- —~ ee OC ee That would make you open your eyes. I pave these Mohawks are certain we won't suspect they’ let the gal go off with two or three of their num an when there were enough to watch her and keep her out of the hands of a dozen such as we are. Feeling certain of this, I say they have let her go; and being sure also that we'll tramp on after them, they have made arran ements some distance away from here to dispose of us,’ ‘*Sound reasoning, I admit, but here? to offer on the other side,” said Grah another fluttering rag from a bush. ‘** How is that upon the other side of the queried the hunter. , “Tf you will notice the bush from .wh this, you will see it is upon the trail of the larger party, and consequently Ina must’have been with hat party to have left it there.”’ ** Just show me the exact twig from which you took it,’’ quietly asked Haldidge. Graham led the way a few yards off and showed him the spot. The ee ome —-—- oo + + or -Beth-Jones. = Jones. em eee we ee cure in their two of their number, when they were conscious they were pursued. But the decision of the hunting- knife could not be appealed from, and in a moody s lence he followed in the footsteps of the hunter. It was now getting far along in the afternoon, and the pursued savages could be at no great distance. Their trail was plain, as no efforts had been made to conceal it; but, although Haldidge strove his utmost | to detect signs ‘of Ina’s delicate moccasin, he failed entirely, and was compelled, in spite of the assur- ance which he manifested at the start, to take some misgivings to himself. 1e hunter, notwithstandin ning and skill he had shown thus far in tracing u the savages, had made one sad mistake. He hac been misled ‘altogether in the number of the smaller party. Instead of three or four Indians, there were six: he began to think he had undertaken a more difficult matter than he anticipated. Still, there was no time for halting or faltering, and he strode reso- the consummate cun- ssion, into the hands of one er | oe ae 20 a oe we have failed ‘stontinan% thus far to detect it, is it probable that she is among them?”’ **T think so. You must remember that these half- dozen Mohawks are walking promiscuously and not in Ingin file, as is generally their custom. It is very oe that the galis in front, and what tracks her ttle moccasin might make would be entirely cov- | ered up with the big feet of the In rins.’ ‘‘T hope you are not mistaken,” returned Haver- land, in such a tone as to show that he still had his lingerin doubts. matter cannot be decided until we get a peep << the dusk rs cowards, and the only course is for us to push ahea ‘*It strikes me that they can be at no great dis- tance, and if we are going to come upon their Cam p~ fire to- -night, we have got to do it pretty soon, ‘*Come on, then.”’ With this, ‘the hunter again strode forward, but with more stealth and caution than before. He saw in the different signs around them unmistakable hunter stooped and carefully examined the bush. lutel forward. proof that the Indians were at no great distance, ‘I’m now sabisfied,’’ said he, *‘ that I was right. h—some more signs,’’ exclaimed he, stopping Just as the sun was setting, the trumvirate reached This rag was left there by a savage for the express | suddenly, a small stream which dashed and foamed directly purpose of misleading us. We must seek Ina in an- other direction.”’ “Haldidge,”’ said Haverland, earnestly, “I place great reliance upon your skill and judgment, but it strikes me at this moment that you are acting capri- ciously against reason.” ‘*There’s but one way to decide it; will you agree to it?’ asked the hunter, smilingly. The other two expressed their willingness, and he produced his hunting-knife. For fear that some of our readers WITHOUT LOSING may Le apprehensive of the use to which he intended putting it, we will describe his modus operandi at once, Stepping back a pace or two, the hunter took the point of his knife between his thumb and fore- tinger, and flung it over his head. 3 it fell to the earth again, the point was turned directly toward the trail of the lesser par’ ty. * Just what I thought,’ remarked the hunter, with another quiet smile. The mooted question w: is now settled to the satisfaction of all, and our three friends turned unhesitatingly to the w estward upon the trail of the smaller party. How much sometimes hangs upon the slightest thread! How small is the point upon w hich “creat events often turn! The simple fact of the direction in which the blade of the hunting-knife remained when it fell, decided the fate of every character in this life-drama. Had it pointed to the northward, an hour later the three would have walked into an embuah intended for them, and every one would A MOMENT, HE RAISED HIS RIFLE, TOOK QUICK | doi ‘* What are they ?’’ queried his companions Cageny. “ Just notice this bush, if you please, and tell me what you make of it?” The two friends did so, and saw that one of the branches of some sprouts of chestnut, growing round a stump, had been broken short off, and Jay pointing toward the trail. ‘*T make it favorable. Ina has done this to guide us,”’ said Haverland., ~ Se opinion exactly,’ added Graham. Poa are mistaken about one thing. Jna did not | ‘* Did not do it?” did theny’’ ‘'That’s the question. I’m of the opinion that that white man you have told me about has done it. x ‘** But it cannot be that he is with them too.’ ** Surely it is impossible that the Indians would al- low both of their captives to be in charge of two or three of theiy number at the same time.” “As for two or three, there are six painted Mo- hawks ahead of us for that matter. I haven't de- tected the trail of the gal yet, but have discovered several times pretty convincing evidence that awhite man is among them, If you will look at that stick again, you will see that it is not likely your gal broke it. Inthe first place I don’t believe she is able; for notice how thick it is; and, if she could have done it, it would have taken so much time that she would have been prevented,” BUT SURE AIM, AND FIRE exclaimed the others; ‘‘and who | across their trail. They halted a moment to slake their thirst, and the hunter arose and moved for- ward again, But Graham made it a point tosearch at ev ay halting-place for guiding signs, and he call- ed out to his companions to wait a moment, “Time is too precious,’ replied he, ‘‘and won't find anything here,”’ ‘“Won't find anything here, eh? Just come and look at this.”’ The hunter stepped back over the stones in the you 2. ¢ ~~ ae D.—Page 12. brook, and with Haverland approached Grahan> The latter pointed to a broad, flat stone at his feet’ Upon it was scratched, with some softer stone, the following words: ‘Hurry forward. There are six Indians, and they have got Ina with them. They don’t suspect you are following them, and are hurrying up for the vil- lage. I think we will camp twoor ‘hres miles from here. Make the noise of the whippowil when you want to do the DUSINCER, aud I will understand, ‘Yours, respectfully. ‘Sera Jones.” “Tf T warn’t afraid the imps would hear it, I would vote three cheers for that Jones,’’ exc Jaimed Hal- didge; ‘he’s a trump, whoever he is.” ‘You may depend’ upon that,’’ added Graham, ‘for what little I saw of him was sufficient to show me that.”” « have been massacred. The huriter was right. Ina ‘Very probably Seth is among them, although it ‘Let me see,” repeated the hunter, again. reading Haverland had gone with the smaller par ty. is singular, to say the least. Some unaccountable the writing upon the stone, “he says they will en- whim has take possession of the Indians,” camp two or three miles from here. The sun has CHAPTER XII. ‘But you say you discern nothing of Ina’s trail?”-| now set. but we shall have light for over an hour PENCILINGS BY THE WAY asked Graham, | yet, sufficient to guide us. It’s best for, us to be We have said the hunter was right. By the acci- Not as yet. moving forward, as there is no time to spare.’ dental turning of the hunting-knife, he had not only saved his life, but his efforts had been turned in the right direction. It must be confessed that Haverland himself had some misgivings about the course which they were He could not believe that the savages were 6 = you think she is among them?” +s Oo." ‘* Where is her trail, then?’ “ Somewhere on the gr ead I suppose.” ‘* Well, why have we not seen it, then?” ‘**T suppose, because it has escaped our eyes.” ‘A good explanation,” smiled Grabam; “ but if “Tt beats my time how this Jones got into that crowd,” said Graham, half to himself, as the three again moved forward. ‘* Fle’s there, we know, and that is enough for the present; when we have the time to spare, we may speculate upon the matter. 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