Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 1106 — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

4c ard nd ae ee KN oe gat TF Tee + = <—«- = Se Pears | _ w 1 * _ o_o» pan? Pr a . “ ee Mie a ee as or A. 5 ae Paap 7 =o ae 7 4 . 2 eller Seem —— ei ~ a ’ =~ - al — Ad ‘ —-s “~~ “ > Poon Wn) pane foe — - me ae er = eS —— _ _ lines at such a time that he would arrive in the afternoon. Then at night hundreds of warriors would push on into the mining-camps to kill and raid ell that fell in their way. Ned had risked his life to learn this Jittle plan, creeping up in the darkness to the council tent, aud hearing all that was said. Bad Cloud, with a dozen warriors, were to go with hin to within ten miles of the settlements, and behind them a dozen miles were to follow two hundred or more mounted and well-armed warriors. As soon as Ned had gone on his way, Bad Cloud was to ride back to join his braves, and, awaiting until night, they were to make the dash in upon the mining-camps. It was a well-concocted scheme, and what troubled Ned was the fact that he would not be able to warn the miners in time. But on they rode, camping one night on the way, and going by the most secret trails, until Ned told Bad Cloud that they were within a dozen miles of the nearest camp, as he recogniz- ed his surroundings. Bad Cloud then bade the boy good-by, telling him that he was his son, though his face was white, and if his warriors ever met the pale-face no harm should ever befall him. So Ned went on his way, his half-dozen po- mies following behind, laden with his presents. Ned also had Spitfire’s horse and trappings, which he had sacredly kept, though he had been forced to give up the two ponies of the slain warriors. Once ont of sight of his Indian escort, Ned said, hastily: ‘‘ Now ponies, you have got to travel, so git!” He urged them into a gallop, and over rough ground and smooth kept them at it. At last the trail led him imto a deep can- yon, which he knew was near the mining-camps and he fired his revolver in rapid succession to give an alarm. Turning a bend in the canyon he came sud- denly upon a dozen ‘miners, who had quickly left work at the sound of firing. Drawing his cavalcade to a halt, Ned shout- acd: ‘* Hello, boys, how are you!” ‘“ Nevada Ned!” came in a chorus of voices as the miners recognized the boy, after a close look, for he had greatly changed in the seven months that he had been absent. His hair was nearly down to his waist, and of a bright golden hue, he had grown tall and as wiry as an Indian, and his face was almost as dark, while his handsome blue eyes flashed brightly. He was dressed in Indian-tanned and made buckskin, from his moccasins up, but wore bis sombrero still though it was ornamented with feathers. In addition to his rifle and revolvers, he car- ried a bow and quiver of arrows at his back, and a tomahawk in his belt, while his bridle and saddle were trimmed gayly in the manner of the Indian warriors. After a grasp of the hand all around, with those who knew him, and those who did not, Ned said quickly: ‘‘ Pards, I’m back again, and sometime I'll tell you the story; but now we have no time to lose, for there are three hundred warriors, or near! that number, lying back in the woods, intend- ing to attack the camps to-night. ‘They'll hit here first, yes on through the canyon into the valley, and so make a circuit of the camps, killing and robbing as they go, and returning to the mountains up through Central. ‘‘Now give the alarm as quickly as possible, have the boys ready for them, and let them come into a trap they'll find it hard to get out of, “They think by sending me’ back you will not expect an attack, but will believe that the chi-f and his dozen warriors who came with me, are the entire band; but they did not think I kuew it, though I heard their entire plot. ‘‘Now boys, you know all I can tell you, and my idea would be to let them come up this canyon to those camps and then atiark them in the rear, pusbing them upon the other camps that would be ready for ther, and may- be you would get them all.” All listened attentively to what Ned had said, and then gave him three cheers, while one old miner, formerly an army officer said: ‘¢‘ Ned. one would think you had been off at West Point studying military tactics, from the pdvice you give, instead of being in an Indian village a prisoner.” ‘Captain, why don’t you be chief?” cried Ned, . recognizing the officer as one who was said to | Nevada Ned, the Revolver Ranger. have once been a major in the army and an Indian-fighter. ‘Yes, you be the colonel, sir,” said a miner. ‘‘ Yes, Major Drew, you be chief.” And the cry going the rounds, the miner thus called upon bowed his thanks, and, with a¢ uick- ness and skill denoting a thorough military training, organized the men into a company, | sent orders to the other camps for their leaders to meet him, and turning to Ned, said: ‘* You, my fine fellow, I wish for an aide-de- camp.” Ned was delighted at this honor, and taking his ponies up to his cabin in the hills, and which he found as he had left it, he quickly returned | ‘* You looks like a bran’-new gold-piece.” | and reported for duty. CHAPTER XVI. SNOWED IN, Hap Bad Cloud followed the ideas of some of our red-skin army would have been wiped out in one night. 3ut as it was, the wily chief, although epee ing to surprise the whites, sent a force of adozen | warriors on ahead some two hundred yards, and when these were almost annihilated by riding into an ambush, he wisely concluded that the miners were ready for him, and at once gave the order to retreat. Finding that he was already entrapped, he knew that there was but one way out, and that was by the way he had come in; and getting his men together in a body, he rode over and through the force that had closed in on him after he had entered the canyon. He got through with some sharp fighting, and the loss of a number of slain, though he man- aged, as was the Indian custom, to carry off most.of his dead and all his wounded. The retreat was a rapid one, for mounted miners, with Major Drew at their head, pursued the flying red-skins hotly. Nevada Ned kept by the side of the major all through the fight, and his utter disregard of danger won the praise of the miners, Whether old Bad Cloud laid it to Ned that he was not able to surprise the camps, is not known; but certain it was that he gota surprise him- self, and where he had expected scalps and booty, he had to run for his life back to his vil- lage, and leave the miners the victors. ut for Nevada Ned’s warning, it would have been a surprise and a most disastrous one, and the miners, wishing to show their appreciation of the service he had done them, clubbed to- gether and got him up a most unique rig. His broad sombrero was encircled by a chain about the outer brim, to which were hung little | slugs of gold, making an odd fringe, while the band, or ¢ rd about the hat was of solid links of the precious metal. A gold watch, found on one of the dead In- dians, was presented to Ned, and with it a chain oddly made out of five-dollar gold-pieces linked together, and representing a small fortune. Ned accepted these honors modestly, and yet it seemed to inculcate in him a desire to dress in the grandest style, and the result of it was that | he broke the door in and entered. he sent his pistols, rifle and knife East to have them gold-mounted with metal which he for- warded with them. Then his spurs, bridle bit, buckles and saddle ornaments were all made of gold, while he got himself up in a semi-Mexican and frontier garb that was very becoming. Those who knew Ned humored him, for they were aware that it was a whim only, and not vanity, and his courge had been tested too often for them to look upon him as a young dandy gotten up for show, Going to the hiding-place of his treasure, Ned found it safe, and before again commencing the | arduous work of gold-bunting, he decided to make his uncle a visit, for he had heard of his having sent to Colorado to see what had become of him. With one of his ponies loaded as a pack-horse, and mounted upon a superb spotted animal which Bad Cloud had given him, Nevada Ned the Boy Gold King, as the miners now called him, rode off one fine morning on his long and dangerous journey to Virginia City. There were many who predicted that he would never get there, and others that he would never returs; but certain it is thatone morning a youth arose from a blanket bed within a few miles of the mining-camps of Captain Jack Oliver, and, putting aside his buckskin suit, much the worse for wear, rigged himself out in his best, and mounting his horse rode on, followed by his pack-animal. le-face military men, and at‘acked in | squadrons at different points, it is likely his | name still sticks to me. Ee 6p a GER re —— oe ——_—- — - nn —— _— He had burnished up his gold-mounted wea- | pons, bridle, spurs and all, and wearing his gold chain and glittering sombrero, coolly rode up te Captain Oliver's cabin unannounced. Some one had seen the coming of the gor- geous. youth and announced him with a yell that made the hills ring, and brought Captain Oliver to the door, ‘*How ave you, Uncle Jack?” ‘By ull that’s good! you are Ned!” cried | the amazed miner. lighted at the impression he made, while Black Tom, coming forward, said earnestly: ‘Waal, Mars’ Ned, you do shine fer sart’in, that’s a fact. ' | “Yes, I’m Ned, uncle,” and Ned was de- | ‘‘He’s ther King o’ Gold, or I’m a howlin’ liar,” shouted a rough miner, ‘* Well, uncle, ’'ve been successful as a miner, and down in Colorado they call me Nevada Ned, the Boy Gold King, so you see my old ‘‘But how have you been, and what’s the news from the old home East, and how has luck struck you?” ‘“ You ask more questions, Ned, than a Phila- delphia lawyer can in the same length of time; but, boy, I’m delighted to see you, and you must tell me all about yourself and just what you’ve been doing, for ’ve been mourning you for dead and so wrote home.” So that night Ned told of his adventures, and did it ina modest way that caused an old miner to say: ‘*'You has done more than you ‘lows you has, Ned, for you talks awful humble about your- self, while yer looks like the Chief of the Overe land Road Agents.” Ned laughed, but said he came by his gold without having to turn road-agent, and hoped to dig a big fortune out of the earth before very long. After remaining several weeks with his uncle, Ned bade him adieu, and set out upon his re- turn for Colorado, intending te werk with a will and win a fortune, ere he should see Captain Oliver again. He went back well supplied with provisions, and having made some purchases there he was unable to get in Colorado, he took back with him two pack-horses well laden, while Turk, his faithful dog, followed at his heels. In taking a different trail back Ned lost his way in the mountains, and after a week’s wan- _ dering found that he was long miles from where he should have been. He had pressed his animals hard, in trying to find his way, and was looking for a camping- coming with it, when he beheld a cabin ahead, under the shelter of a bill. It was a small log structure, the door was closed, as also the shutters over the two win- dows, and it looked deserted. Under the hillside were several stacks of hay, and a small log stable, while a number of chick- ens ran from him as he rode up, being evidently wild. As no one answered his call, and Ned knew the place must have been deserted for months, i place, as night was not far away and a storm | | It contained two rooms, and within was a cot bed, a table, two chairs, some cooking utensils, and a few pieces of crockery. Ned threw open the windows, for the place to air, hastily built a fire in the large chimney- pe and then looked to the comfort of his 10rses. The stable was a snug one, fifty paces away, and capacious enough to accommodate his three horses, There were some barrels filled with corn, that had been raised on a patch Ned had noticed be- yond the cabin, and which had been rudely fenced in, and in the half-loft was more hay of a coarse kind, Whoever had been the dweller in that lonely cabin had been long absent from it, and Ned, seeing that a rude wagon-way led there, and yet no vehicle or horse being visible, came to the conclusion that the owner had gone away, per- haps to the nearest camp for stores, and been killed by the Indians or torn to pieces by wolves, Whatever his fate, his deserted home served as a refuge for Ned, and he quickly took advantage of it, for it was growing very cold and it seemed that a snow-storm was coming up. Putting his horses in the stable and feeding them, Ned barred the door to keep out the wolves, and soon made himself comfortable in the cabin. ® \ ie) co eta tog i ee a TS SS owe : . ) ) o So 900ks.com ie