Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 1106 — page 9: what you’re looking at

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

—.~_ or - — ———— —_——— ——— 7” —_ a — — - -— re - ne Trailer Harry had seen something moving | and after a long scout they were forced to go among tne willows, and had halted his party, | back without ary word of him. when Ned walked out upon the prairie an waved bis sombrero. Instantly the men set up a yell, and came galloping toward him, and throwing themselves from their horses, they pressed about him, warmly grasping his hands. ‘*T’'m on yer trail, Pard Ned, for I wasn’t goin’ ter hev yer eat up by Injuns, as they isnot on the war-path now, and [ jist got some o’ ther boys to j'ine me and look yer up!” said Trailer Harry. ‘You are very good, Harry; but I found poor Spitfire!” Ned replied, sé No. ” ‘* Yes, [found him in a timber motte about twenty miles from your wagon trail.” ‘** No, but dying.” **Go long! the , MRE had kilt him?” ‘** Yes,” and Ned told all that had happened up to that time, ‘* And whar is yer Ute chief, Ned?” asked one of the miners, ‘‘ Over yonder in the willows.” ‘*Come, pards, we'll string him up!” cried one, and all started for the willows. But Ned ran on ahead, and when he reached the travois , in which lay the Ute, silent, calm, defiant, he turned around and said: ‘“* Here he is, pards, and, as you see, he is bad- ly wounded,” “Sarved him right; but he’s not hurt too bad to hang.” ‘You must not harm him,” Ned said boldly. ‘* What does yer mean, little pard?” ‘Just what I say; you shall not harm this Indian!” All were amazed, and they gazed at Ned and each other inquiringly. *“Leetle pard, does yer sit yerself up ag’in’ us?” asked the man who had before spoken. ‘* Yes, if you mean to harm this Indian.” ‘“* We means to hang him, and right now.” Ned looked troubled and he said, pleadingly: ‘*Pards, I don’t love Indians, and especially since they killed poor Spitfire; but I found this eee wounded, and but for me he would have died. ‘I told him I would take him to his people, and I mean to do so.” ‘** You is a imperdent Irid ter talk so, and I’ve a mind ter lick yer, arter I hes hanged the In- jun. ‘* Don’t you try it on, Ben Hayes, to doeither,” and Ned’s eyes flashed fire. ‘*Tll do it, boy. Come on, pards!” But Ben Hayes stopped short as a revolver was suddenly thrust before his face. ‘* You attempt to hang that wounded Indian, Ben Hayes, and Pll kill you!” said Ned, in a low, quivering voice. A cheer broke from the miners at the boy’s es and Trailer Harry stepped forward and said: ‘* Ben, give in, for it’s Ned’s Injun, and you hain’t got no say about him, and he kin take him to his tribe if he wants to be a durned fool, only I advises him not ter do if.” The others ;ided with Trailer Harry, and Ben Hayes was forced to yield; but all advised Ned to give the Ute one of the ponies and let him rO. ae No, his leg is broken and he cannot ride, and I promised him I would see him to hiscamp, and Vil do it. ‘*ITm much obliged to all you boys for coming to look me up, and I would like to go back with you, only I cannot; but I'll come in before ong. ‘* Never; you'll be scalped sart’in.” ' i ' Such, and other arguments were brought to | bear against Ned’s carrying out his design; but | he remained firm, and, after being given some | fresh provisions, he departed with the wounded chief, the miners under Trailer Harry returning to the mines, CHAPTER XV. AMONG THE RED-SKINS, Ir was a case of: “‘I told you so!” when long weeks and months passed away among the gold- miners, and Ned did not put in an appearance. Trailer Harry, after waiting for some time, and the youth not coming in, organized a party and started in search of him. They went to the place where they had parted with him and seen him ride off with the wound- ed Ute. The travelers had left a trail which was still discernible, and they followed it tothe hills--but beyond that no trace of the boy could be found, ; | | They all hoped that they would find him in camp upon their return, but this they were dis- appointed in, and all gave up the boy as lost. One day, several months after Ned’s disap- pearance, a man from the Nevada mines ap- peared, searching for the boy. He told how anxious bis uncle and friends were about him, and, learning the story of Spit- fire Pete’s death, aud Ned’s fate, for he was sup- posed to be dead, he returned to Nevada to make known the sad news. Atter that the boy was spoken of in the camps as Nevada Ned, and his fate was talked over night after night without coming to any solution of the mystery. Some said that the treacherous Ute chief had killed him, Others asserted that the chief had let him go, and envious young warriors had trailed him and put him to death. Still more were of the belief that Ned was held a prisoner among the Indians and would some day turn up all right. Many hoped that such would be the case, and the doubt hanging over his fate, kep5 Nevada Ned’s name constantly the talk about the camp-fires. All this time the subject of discussion was not dead, but he was the inmate of an Indian camp. The chief, Bad Cloud, had seen that those who had come to rescue Nevada Ned, wished to take his life. He understood English sufficiently well to comprehend that Ned was his defender, boldly facing all who wished to put him to death, and the boy rose still more in his estimation. When he gained his point and they parted company with the miners, the chief felt re- lieved in mind, and urged Ned to hasten on ata more rapid pace, The boy did so, and just at sunset they reached the foothills, but pushed on for a mile or so into them ere halting for the night. Finding a good camping place, Ned built a wicky-up, for a storm was threatening, and with the Indian’s blankets and saddles, made quite a snug retreat. The horses were staked out near, a large fire of logs, as large as Ned himself, was built, and they were enjoying their supper when the storm broke with terrific fury. The thunder and lighting were terrific, the winds shrieked among the hills, and there were many trees blown down, But Ned had built a strong shanty, and shel- tered as if was in a chasm, it withstood the strength of the tempest, and also wholly pro- tected them from the driving rain, The huge fire of legs burned brightly, and both Ned and the chief felt most comfortable in their retreat, and listened to the howling of the winds and heavy down-pour of the rain without dread or discomfort, All the night through and the next day, the storm continued, and it was not until the third day that Ned was able to move on once more. he perfect rest had however done the Indian chief a great deal of good, and he pointed out to Nevada Ned other plants that were better, as healing remedies, than the one he had used on the prairie, and these the boy skillfully dressed the wound with. Then into the mountains they continued their march, the chief directing their way, until they struck a broad trail which Bad Cloud said led to his village. After two days’ march among the mountains, Nevada Ned came in sight of the Indian village. ‘* Show this,” and the chief gave Ned a pole on which was the tail of a horse, dyed scarlet. It was the insignia of rank of Bad Cloud, and waving it, Ned went toward the Indian village, followed by his strange outfit. Instantly a great excitement was observed in the Indian village and warriors rushed for their arms and horses, for Ned was seen to be a pale- face and was supposed to have hundreds of white men at his heels. The wounded chief gave a long 'oud cry, how- ever, and called Ned to his side, telling him to dismount. The boy obeyed, and the cry of the chief was repeated and answered, and instantly warriors came hastening toward them. In a few words, as they drew near, Bad Cloud told his story, which Nevada Ned did not under- stand, it being in the Ute tongue; but he discov- ered that he was the subject of it, as all eyes were turned upon him, some in wonder, others in kindness, and a few in natural hatred, Nevada Ned bore the ordeal well, and while Nevada Ned, the Revolver Ranger. A i nn TT 9 the chief was being welcomed by his people, stood quietly by. That Bad Cloud had been considered dead by his people, Ned saw, as also that the two ponies were recognized as having belonged to warriors of the tribe who had not turned up. Ned had told Red Cloud about his friend Spit- fire Pete, and how he found him dying, with three dead Indians about him, and the chief had said that they were a part of his hand, The warriors he had led on the war-path, had returned, excepting about a dozen, who had not turned up, and three of these Ned could account for as Spitfire’s game; but the others had doubtless been slain by the Cavalry which had dashed in upon Bad Cloud’s camp and wounded the chief so severely. The tribe mourned for their dead, rejoiced at the return of their chief, and bemoaned the fact that they were not allowed to kill Nevada Ned. The chief was taken to his tent, and ween to understand his people, he ordered that N should occupy it with him. He was then turned over to the tendermercies of the medicine-men, whom Ned watched most attentively in their curative arts for their chief. As the days passed on Ned began to pick up the Indian language, and he joined the tribe in their games, Practicing with the bow and arrow, he soon learned to shoot with the best of them, and then he showed them his skill with the rifle and re- volver until they were amazed. Disdaining to go with the youths of the vil- lage, he accompanied the warriors on their hunts after game, learned to fish as they did, to trap birds and small game, and studied all their signs. He made himself useful to the medicine-men of the vil'age, and learned much from them of useful herbs, roots and plants, and how their medicines were made and given, All this time Ned knew that he was little more than a prisoner, for the wound cf the chief kept him still confined to his tepee, and he told the boy that he did not wish him to depart until he got well and could accompany him, for he said that there were evil young warriors in bis tribe who would kill him. So Nevada Ned was forced to remain for months in the Indian village, passing away there the long days of winter. When spring came Bad Cloud was able to walk about, though his leg still gave him some trouble. Then Ned asked him if he could not go, telling him how anxious he was to see his pec Pe Bad Cloud was pained, for he had hoped to wean the boy away from the whites, and to make an Indian of him. He liked him also innmeusely, for he knew that he owed his life to him, and so said: ‘““ Wont Gold Hair stay with my people?’ ** No, | must go home,” Ned answered, ‘Gold Hair be son of Rad Cloud, ‘* Make big chief some day,” urged the In- dian. ‘* No, I wish to go to my people.” ‘‘Give Gold Hair lots of ponies, buffaio-robes, wolf-skins, if he stay.” “No;” ‘Gold Hair will go?” ac Yes.” ‘‘ Bad Cloud good chief, so let Gold Hair go, but no want to say gcod-by,” and seeing that Nevada Ned was determined to depart, he fixed a day on which he could leave, telling him he would accompany him as far as he dared toward the camps of the pale-faces, Then the chief began to load the boy with presents. He gave him several of his best ponies, and large quantities of buffalo and bear robes, with the skins of mountain lions, deer, wolves, foxes and beaver. These were packed upon the ponies, along with other presents given Ned by warriors and squaws in the tribe, who had learned to like the pale-face boy who had saved the life of their chief; and one morning early the party set out to escort Gold Hair, as all called him on account of his long, golden hair, to the home of his people. In the party were Bad Cloud and half a score of warriors, and the latter led Ned’s ponies, bearing his gifts. But Ned, though going back to the mining- camps, seemed pale and anxious, The fact was that he had overheard a plot among the chiefs to attack the white settie ments. The Utes thought, by returning the boy with presents, it would put the ; ale-faces off their guard, and they planned to take him near the * ee ———'