Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 1151 — page 3: what you’re looking at

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

sd | “4 SD ial J 7 * 4 : 4 aa t S . ? . tilated to ~ SHIT Biddon, Trapper, eee * ef sfoey had visited me that night, although Mat's extreme foar toward date gave way to drow- siness, and he slept long and heavily. ““Oome, wake up, Nat!" said I, shaking him as g00n as I saw that day was at han “How? What's the matter?” said he, rubbing his eyes, and gaping confusedly about him, ~ Day is at hand, and weé must be on our way to e. hastily rose, and we commenced our simple a by reaons T ran up the river-bank, and swept the prairie to the south of us to satisfy myself that no wandering Incians werein sight. The whole plain wos visible, and with a feeling akin to joy, I reported the fact to Nat. He, however, was not satisfied with my furvey, as he had more than once before detected ob- ects that had escaped my vision, and he ascended a igh roll in the bank, some distance up, and took a long, careful, scrutinizing sweep of the whole hori- zon. Feeling satisfied that he would be no more re- warded for his pains than [ was, I started the fire and commenced cooking some of our buffalo. I had becn engaged in this for a minute or so, when J heard Nat call, in a hoarse, anxious half-whisper: ~ “*Come here, quick:” | I hurried to his side to ascertain the cause of his agitation. “Why, just look yonder; if that ain't enough to — one, then I don’t know what is,” e pointed across the river, out upon the prairie; and following the direction of his finger, I saw, not more than amile or two away,a single horseman proceeding leisurely from us. ‘Who can that be?’ I asked, half to myself, still watching the receding figure, “ Why, he’s the one that sent the bullet across the water after us, and I’m ge ip it’s lucky for him he's going another way, If I should get my hands on him, he would remember the time.” And Nat extended his arms energetically, and Bacok Dis head spKefully by way of emphasizing his remar I continued gazing after the unknown person. At first I rig it was.an Indian, but at th: i distance, and with his back toward us, it was almost impos- Bible to Judge accurately. A moment’s thought con- vinced me that it was a white man. I could malice out tho hunting-cap of the trapper, and was soon satisfied he belonged to thas class. His horse was walking leisurcly along, and he seemed totally un- aware Of the proximity of straneors. But who could it be? Was it he who had fired the well-nigh fatal shot? Anc what meant his actions in thus willfully leaving us? These and similar ques- tions l asked mysolf, without se ig teed eyes from him. When his figure had grown to ut a speck in the distance, I turnod to Nat. . We may see him again; but, if I don’t know him, I know one thing, 'm wonderfully hungry just now,” We partook of a hearty breakfast, and then, with- out much trouble, we forded the Republican Fork. Here we made a careful search of the shore, and ascertained enough to settle beyond a doubt the identity of the horseman with the would-be assassin. His ak glamor could be seen, and the place where he had slept upon the ground, together with scraps of meat. By examining the tracks of his horse, we discovered that both hind feet were shod; this de- cided the question of his Deine a white man; but, although it cleared up one doubt, left Ms in a greater one. He could not have avoided the knowledge that we were of the same blood, and what demoniacal wish could lead him to seek the life of two harmless wanderers? Be. he who he might, it was with no Christian feeli toward him that we took the trail of his horse and pursued it. Our course, after the first five miles, swerved con- siderably to the north-west. From the actions of the r, it was cvident he understood the character of the country, and we judged the shortest way of reaching the Oregon tre’! would be by following him. The footprints of his animal were distinctly marked, and we had no difficulty in keeping them, At noon we forded a stream, and shortly after another, both considerably less than the Republican Fork. On the nortliern bank of the latter were the still glowing coals of the stranger’s camp-fire, and ed ho could be ati\o t distance. No signs 9f Indians were seen, and we anticipated little trouble from them, as they were friendly at this time, and the most thoy would do would be to rob us of some of onr trinkets or rifles. oft sundown we left our guiding trail and struck toward a small stream to camp for the night. When we reached it, and decided upon the spot, Nat Ymar seriously: “I say, Relmond, that feller might be near enough to give us another shot afore morning, and I’m going te see whether his trail crosses the brook or not.”’ So saying, he wheeled and ran back to the spot where we had left it. It was still light enough to fol- low it, and bending his head down s0 as to keep it in view, he continued upon a rapid run. I was n _the point of ro he against thus running into r, but no much uy rehension for his matany I turned my back towa m,- A minute af- terward I heard footsteps, and, looking up, saw him gray, ae full toward me, his eyes pearance of terror. “* He’s there!’’ he exclaimed. ** Where?” I asked, catching his excitement. “ Just across the stream up there; Lliked to have run right into him afore I knowed it. See there!” at. spoke, I saw the glimmering of a fire the trees, whinny of a horse. “ ‘t he see you?” : ” did. WhenI splashed into the rae him piok know a fool, he hoked up at me; I seen ir utmost extent, and with every ap- up his rifle, and then I put, expecting 2ach moment to feel a ball in me.”’ < “Tf thought you intended laying hands on him if an A y offered,’ I remarked, with a laugh. “T declare, I forgot that,’ he replied, somewhat crestfallen, After some further conversation, I decided to make the acquaintance of the person who had eee so much or our thoughts, Nat opposed this, and urged me to get further from him; but a meaning hint changed his views at once, and he readily acquiesced, Leaving him, I started up the stream, When I reached the point opposite the stranger's camp-fire, I ceneed so as to attract his attention. I saw him hurriedly scan me, but he gave no further evidence of anxiety, and I unhesitatingly sprung across the stream, and make my way toward him. Before I haited, I saw that he was a trapper. He was reclining upon the ground, before a small fire, and smoking a short bleck pipe. ‘‘Good-evening, my friend,” I said, cheerfully, ap- proaching within a few feet of him. He raised his eyes 2 moment, and then suffered them lazily to fall again, and continue their vacant stare into the fire, ‘** Quite a pleasant eveuing,”’ I continued, seating my- self near him, ‘**Umph!” he grunted, removing his pipe, and to the upright position. He looked at me a secon with a pair of glittering eyes, and then asked: “ Chaw, stranger?” . **T sometimes use the weed, but not in that form,”’ I replied, handing a piece to him. He wrenched off ahuge mouthful with a vigorous twist of his head, and returred it without a word, This done, he sunk back to his former position. ‘*Excuse me, friend,’ said I, moving rather im- patiently, and*determined to force a conversation open Bes ‘but I hope you will permit a few ques- ions?’ “Go ahead, stranger,”* he answered, gruffly. ** Are you traveling alone in this sectiony”’ ‘“ T reckon I ar’, ’cept the hoss which ar’ a team,” ** Fellow pie ftp and hunting, I presume?’ ‘ What’s yer handle, stranger?” he suddenly ask- ed, as he came to the upright position, looking at me with interest. : ‘** William Relmond, from New Jersey.” ‘*Whar’s that place?” “Itis one of Me Middle States, quite a distance from here,”’ ‘What mought you be doin’ in these parts?” “Tand my friend out yonder are on our way to Oregon ”’ ‘*Umph! you're pretty green ’uns,”’ ‘“*Now I suppose you will have no objection to give me your name.” ‘My handle’s Bill Biddon, and I’m on my way to trappin’-grounds up country.” ; * How far distant =} “A heap; someWwhar’ up "bove the Yallerstone,” ‘*Do you generally go upon these journeys alone?”’ ‘‘ Sometimes I does, and sometimes I doesn’t.” I ceased my questions for a few moments, for fear of provoking him. -As his route, as far as it extend- ed, would be in our direction, L determined to keep in his company if I could gain his consent. He was a splendid specimen of the physical man. He was rather short, but heavy and thick set, with a com- pactness of frame that showed a terrible strength slumbering in his muscles. His face was broad, cov- ered by a thin, straggling beard of @ grizzled gray and several ridged sears were visible in differen parts of it. His brows were beetling and lowering and beneath them a couple of black eyes fairly snapt af times with electric hed. His mouth was broad, and though one could plainly see a whirlwind of ter- rific passion might be called into life within his breast, yet there was, also, in his face, the index of a heart alive to good-humor and f cess. I saw that, if approached skillfilly, his heart could be reached. e was evidently the- creature of odd whims and fancies, feeling as well satisfied without the society of his fellow-man as with it—one of those strange beings, a hero of a hundred perils, who was satisfied to lose his life in the mighty wilderness of the Far West, without a single one suspecting or car- ings for his fate, ‘Would you have any objection to my friend and myself accompanying you, that is, as far as you should proceed in our direction?” He looked steadily at mea moment, and answered: ‘You kin go with me ef you wants; but I knows as how you're green, and yer needn't s’pose ['m goin’ to hold in fur-yer. Yer’s as néver does that thing.” “Oh T shouldn’t expect you to. Of course we will make it a point not to interfewe in the least with your plans and movements.” ‘ Vihar is yer other chap? 8’ }itwar him what come peakin’ through yer a while ago; had a notion of spilin’ his picter for his imperdence.” *T will ge bring him,’’ I answered, rising and mov- ing off. ButasI stepped across the stream, I dis- cerned the top of Nat’s white hat, just above a small box-elder; and moving on, saw his eye fixed with an er stare upon the trapper. “E Don't he took savase?’ hé whispered, as I came * Not ve Are you afraid of him?” ‘*No; but I wonder whether he—whether he knows anything about the mare and my knife? “Perhaps so; come and see, He just now asked for you,”’ ‘**Asked for me?” ted Nat, stepping back. sty What does he want of me?” ‘Nothing in icular. I just’ mentioned your name and he ed where you were. Come, I you ain’t afraid?’ ‘‘ Afraid! I should like to see the man I’m afraid of!’’ exclaimed my companion in an almost inaudible whisper, as he tremblingly followed me across the < “brook and to the spot where Biddon, the'trapper, V4? n “ Ny friend, Nathan Todd, Biddon,”’ “How are you? Very happy to make your am quaintance,”’ and Nat nervously extended his hand, “How're yer?” grunted Biddon, with a slight jerk of his head, and not noticing the proffered hand. ‘**Been a most exceedingly beautiful day,’’ ventur- ed er, quickny and nervously. r the trapper was not particularly impressed with him, and I took up the conversation, I made several unimportant inquiries, and learned in the course of them, that our se Bill Biddon, was about forty years of age, and followed trapping and hunting for over twenty years. He was anative of Missouri, and Westport was the depot for his pel tries. For the kast two or three years he had made ali his excursions alone, He was quite o famous trapper, and the fur comDaer which he patronized gave him a fine outfit and paid him well for his skins, le possessed a magnificently mounted rifle, and his horse, he informed me, had few superiors among the fleetest mustangs of the South, th of these were presented him by the company mentioned. ” vay ain’t you got horses?” Be asked, locking to- ward me,’ "hey were both stolen from us,” “I don’t s*pose you've seen any thing of a com- pany with a mare, zhort-tailed, that pares a little, and an overcoat that had a knife in @ pocket?’ asked Nat, eagerly. ‘* Not that 1 Knows on,”’ answered Biddon, with a twinkle of humor. I gave the particulars of eur loss, and them asked, en oe due thought: - of the Re ** Did you not camp u vanks e Repub- lican Fork last night?” os ‘Yas; what'd yer want to know fur?” “Oh, nothing, nothing,” quickly answered Nat. T believe tue trapper understood my allusion, and I hoped he would give an explanation of his act; but he made no reference to it, and after further conver- sation, we all lay down in slumber, CHAPTER IL THE TRAPPER’S STORY. I wAs aroused from my slumber, before it was yet light, by Biddon shaking me and calling in my ear. ‘Come, you chaps, you've got only two minutea to swaller yer feed in.’ Nat was already moving about, and I sprung to m feet, determined to continue in my friend's ¢ graces, if such a pe were possible, by a cheerful icquiescence in all his reasonable wishes. Our fire was kindled, a hasty breakfast swallowed, and just as the sun made its appearance above the prairie, we moved off toward the north. Long before noon we reached the Platte, and ford- ed it at the pont where Fort Grattan now stands. The Platte, ¢ the winter months, is a bois- terous stream of great widt but in summer it is ve shallow (from which circumstance it derives its name), and at the dry season it almost ceases running, and dwindles down to an innumer- able number of ‘stagnant pools. As it was now’ the summer season, we walked over without more ¢ wetting our shoes. The Oregon trail follows the northern shore of this stream to W ton Terri- tory, or to what was Oregon at the time of which ! write. Leaving the Platte, we shaped.our.course «9 ward the north west, so as tostrike the southern spur of the Black Hills. From Biddoun's conversation, I found that his destination was the neighborhood of the head-waters of the Tongue or Powder river, which have their canons in the Black Hills. As he allowed his horse to proceed upon a moder ate walk, we had no trouble in keeping him com- pany. We generally started at the first indication of morning, halting now and then to slake, our thirst in the numerous streams which crossed Our path, and resting an hour at noon. At sunset we struck cam upon some small stream, cooked our evening me spent an hour or two in smoking and conversation, and turned in for the night. One night we halt a the bank of a large stream some miles no the Platte, which emptied into the Missourl, It was quite br and rapid, an near the center of the ela small, sandy island was visible, over this while fording 6 We ort stream, and I noticed that Biddon walked around it, and surveyed several spote with more than commion interest. I did not question him then, but at night be Fay were = chew. pesre oie fire, with cur BOO , lven quiry. z ea most 9 fights on that chunk of mud one gime,” said he, with a dark frown, a bet ‘‘What was it?—what was it?” asked Nat ey ra “Here'’sas what don’t like to think of that time, augh!” he answ seeming still unwilling to refer to t. ‘Why not?" I asked, partaking of Nat’s curiosity. “Tt makes a feller’s blood bile; buf howsumever,” he em brightening up, ‘if yOu wants to hear xt, er +B) me We do, by all means; please give it,” , “Yas, that ar’ war a e of gen wipin’ out, and this yer water that now looks as black as a wolf's mouth, he Hg Rap nig Ms It bbe noe tem ear ago tha ppen was down estport one day in summer when a feller slapped me on the shoulder and axed me ef I wanted a job. 1 tole hia I didn’t care much, but if he’s a mind to fork over, and it wa’n’t desprit hard, and Is his man. . He gaid as how