Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 1152 — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

wi ‘ —_— ’ . a ee . *, as w . - ~ a Ee ~ gone : lary of te red-:kins manifested any differ- —+ oo —_—— eee a ee ee ee Beadle’ ——-<— — - +--+ —_ ——— ae — suddenly asked Nick, turning his head toward \..6 Gispositicn toward her, on account of the | Lis companion with such an earnest expression favorable words she had rittered? Did. Miona her daughter, know auy thing of the identity of the captives Tiow loug a respite was conceded to him? uch, in substanco, were the questions sak ed ky the trapper, and to them he received, in trict, the folowing answers: ¢ There wero alweys three fully-armed warri- ‘ors, at least, guarding tho approach to the Doath Lodge, and it was by the permission of theso sentinels that sho herself had secured ad- mission to him, none of thera knowing the mean- ing of her interview with him. Beyond question, the most favorable time to befriend him was at night, as the cover of darkness was an advantage not to be compensated by any thing else. A sudden dash into the lodge by several men might succeed in getting the pris- oner away before the alarm could become gen- eral; but several men were needed to accom- plish this, and there was no time or means for procuring these. Woo-wol-na was not to be intimidated by any threats, and all time spent in such attempts would be worse than thrown away, If by any ossibility the outside of the Death Lodge could _ be reached by Bandman, he had only a short ‘Gistance to riin across the elenting to reach the forest, when, if the night was pretty dark, there was a chance of his getting away. It was hard- nA possible that any of the Blackfeet suspected 216 relation between Myra and her husband or that sho had any real purpose of befriendin him. She was so accustomed to coming an going at will that no one would suspect her er- rand in going up Elk river, and she was satisfied that no ono was watching her movements, But tho earnest efforts of Myra to befriend the hapless captive, she had every reason to believe, had won her the dislike of a number of the vil- lagers, Woo-wol-na himself had given unmis- tekable evidence of his displeasure. Miona knew nothing at ell about the matter. Should Ban remain in the power of the Blackfeet, he could not possibly escape death more than three days longer at the furthest. ‘** Another thing,” continued Nick, when these questions had al proposed and answered: “have they got Hugh tied up?” “T am sorry to say they have; he was left free until after I saw him, and then he was bound hand and foot.” ‘ That’s good; I’m glad to hear that,” replied the trapper, emphatically; end noticing the look of surprise upon the face of the lady, he added, ‘‘ I say it’s good, because, if they’ve got him tied up, they ain’t apt to watch him so close, and then we've got all the more chance to untie ’im,”’ “I do not see how that can be done,” said Myra, ‘‘for no one can remain in the lodge long enough to unfasten his bonds, without attract- r the notice of the sentinels.” ick Whiffles smiled in his most benignant manner and pointed to Calamity, who wasseat- ed on his haunches in front of them. ‘'There’s the animile that’s done the thing a dozen times in his lifetime. Ef it hadn’t been for him, I'd gone under long ago, when I was tied hand and foot by the Sioux, and when he slipped in between a half-dozen of the varmints, at night by the camp-fire, and chawed ’em oO0se : The face of the Phantom Princess lit up with ope. ‘Can it be possible? I never dreamed of such athing. There are so many dogs in the village that yours eouid pass to and fro without alarm- ing tac Blackfeet. Then, when the cords were 4 unfastened, Hugh could make adash out of the door, and, favored by God, he might és- cape. ‘Hold on,” said Nick, in whose head the scheme was beginning to take shape; “* we must _ try and get the varmints away from the Lodge if only for a few seconds; if we can’t do thai, i eed sce the first chance of Hugh giving ’em e slip. The face of Myra saddened again, for the words of the trapper sorely disheartened her, ‘You don’t see how it ean be done, but I aig I do.” ' 4ben everything is arranged,” beigptaning up again, “No; it ain't,” was tho response; “‘arter it’s all understood between us, then Hugh has got lo get the hang of things; he’s got io Iniove what to do, and when to do it to the second, or it’s all & you see him again?” said .she, pwithus. Can “Tt is Conbtful.’ “%é there’s any other way of doing it, it will get mo f a - . ss Ad 7 i, : va © . 3 r - . that sho smiled, as she answered: ** Certainly.” “Til get you a piece of bark, ard you must scratch on it, with a sharp stone, that the pup has come to chaw off his cords, and that the minute the animile comes out he’s to foller him, and rush straight for the w you do that?” “Of course.” ‘* Wal, then, I don’t know but what we might as well be oiT, as we need all our time.” Nick rose to lis feet, and with his rifle slung over his shoulder, started in the direction of the river, the lady and Calamity matte 2 him. He was so occupied with what she had told him, that ke forgot to close the door of his cabin and never once thought of the baby-clothes that he had left out, exposed to the view of any one who might chance to drop in during his ab- sence. As they walked along they kept up their con- versation about the all-important matter. Nick showed no impertinent curiosity about the his- tory of Myra and her husband; his whole mind was centered upon the task he had undertaken —that of freeing Hugh Bandman trom his hap- less captivity, A general plan had already taken shape in his head, but as he meditated upon it, he saw more and more clearly the difficulties, that were so t as to be almost insurmountable. The Blackfeet were always vigilant, and the fact of Bandman being an inmate of Death Lodge shut out all hope of further reprieve or liberation. Nick believed it possible that he might reach the wood, but the greatest danger was then, when the alarm should occur. The pursuit would be so quick and fierce, that in the moon- gan iteoacchr 4 and recapture seemed inevitable. is was the difficult — to be gotten over, and it was the one which gave him much con- cern, as he made his way throvgh the wood, talking in anabsent sort of way, with the hope- ful, doubting, fearing woman, whose impatience constantly carried her ahead of both him and his fast-walking dog. When the river was reached the canoe was gone. The Princess looked around somewhat impatiently, and then callect the name of her daughter. The latter heard her, as I have shown, and instantly replied, while she and Ned Hazel made haste to return, Soon. the canoe was discerned rapidly crossin the stream, with the twin it, anxious to no keep them in waiting. ** Ned,” said Nick, as the lad ste “T shall be gone several days, an to wait home for me,” * All right,” was tho cheery response. The boat put off again, with the three in it, and Ned stood on the shore waving them a good- by, 50 long as thoy were in view: and teen when they disappeared from sight, he turne enone an bigits his way toward his cabin- ome. - ashore, want you PHAPTER XVI. A WISE BRUTE. HvuGH BsnDMAN was reclining upon the pile of buffalo-skins in the Death Lodge, his thoughts sad, depressed and solemn. He knew that M his beloved wife, had gone in quest of Nick Whiffles a couple of days before. He searcely dared to hops, and yet life for many years had not been so precious to him as now. The long-lost wife, she toward whom his heart had yearned during the dark years that had dragged over his head, and who 1ad never given him one loving thought, had lived to see the scales fail from her eyes, and turned to him now, with an affection deeper and more sanctifie? than that with which she viewed him during those few days, when she was his happy bride, Yes; life was all sunshine and beauty, and he longed for it, with all the ardor and depth of his soul, . But he could see litile cause for hope. He was bound ani unable to help himself in the least. The Indians vere vigilant and watchful, pesparcd to frustrate the first attempt to escape. 8 was condemned to death, and so far as he was concerned, he could not see how any human hand could save him. ** Well, let it come,” he mused, with a sigh; “it is hard to be resigned, but I can die hapry. if I can once more fold my darling wife and lit- tle daughter in my arms.” It was night, and the same flaring oil light burned near at hand, so that he could view the whole interior. Water and food had been abun- s Half-Dime Library —_ ee eae ee > ee _-- OC—-_COi“ OOP COO OD OS - er- nmi OO i Fee eee SS TS SSS OK CCC COO OOOO. _”_e_—_ O_O RR A — ’ ---— -_—— + - ---- toscshimf Vere hermoyements watched? | be better, Do you know how to write?” | dantly furnished him, so that he was suffering nothing physicaily. More than orce his eye had wandered over the sapling rafters, covered with bark and skins, wonderiny whether, if free, there was any ready means of reaching the outside; but it was easy to see that they were powerfully constructed, and if he were given the use of his arms, anda sharp knife, it would be the work of several hours to force his way out, and then he would be likely ~ to fall into the hands of his captors, the moment ke reached the outside. But he had no means of lcosing the bonds upon him—so that, if Jeft alone, he knew he was sure to die, ‘she has been gone two days, and she said she would be back to-night—for to-night decides ge ‘Sh! was that a footstep?’ e raised his head and listened, but nothing reached his ears, except the mournful sighing of the night-wind through the forest outside. The hour was late, and most of the Indians were asleep. Those whe were awake were silent and vigilant. Living such an Ishmaelitish life as these Blackfeet led, they knew there was no moment when they were safe from attack by oes. ‘ The dead of night was the favorite time of their own race for such forays, and at such times, therefore, a goodly number were on Bandman had slept very little for the Nees two days, and a heavy drowsiness began settlin over him; and so, stretched ont upon his be of buffalo-robes, he dropped cff into a feverish, unrefreshing sleep. Now and then he woke with a start, certain that he heard some one in the lodge, but after listening a moment, he became convinced that it was only fancy, and sunk off into slumber again. But near midnight, he was awakened by a genuine visitor. Something cold rubbed face, and starting up, he recognized a large, ill- favored dog standimg over him, whining and rubbing his nose against his cheek. ‘**Get out!” gasped the startled prisoner, with a shudder of terror, supposing that one of the numerous Indian dogs had been allowed to come in But the creature refused to retire, and Pand- man, nervous and feverish, was about to shout for some one to remove him, when he sud- denly recollected that he belonged to Nick Whiffles! At the same mcment, he observed a piece of bark tied about his neck, and suspecting at once what it meant, he succeeded in loocening it with his hands, bound and cramped though his arms were, The bark was thin and white, having been taken fresh from a sapling, end on the tencer inner coating had been scratched some words, that now were well defined, owing to the dark- ening of the sap, where the letters had been traced. Bandman managed to read with little difficulty the following: “This dog has been sent you by Nick Whiffles, who is near at hand to befriend you. The dog will gpew your bonds asunder, and then pass out the ge; the next mcment you are to do the same, and make a rush for the woods, where you will be met by Nick, who will do all he can to help you.” Hugh Bandmen made certain that he bad read and that he had undcersiocd every word upon the strip of tark; then he quietly tore it in pieces, and east it from him, his done, he Iccked about for the hero, Caie- mity, and saw tke tip of his tail as he whisked out of the door. ‘‘Has he deserted me?’ asked the captive, with a sinking of the heart, but he had hardly uttered the words, when he comprehended the sagacity of the brute, One of the Indians had seen that emorg the several dogs, playing ahout the Lodge, was one that had entered. Suspecting nothing, however he had walked to the door cf tke cabin, and looked in, out of curiosity, merely to see what was going on. <As he did so, the dog shot by kim into the open eir again, gd he saw the white man look up alarmedly at him, and then drop his gaze, as in sad reverie. The Blackfoot stood a few minutes at the door, scrutinizing the interior of the Death Lodge. The light was burning brightly, and by it he saw no signs of any thing unusual. The top and sides were undisturbed, and from where he stood, he could see that the bonds of the prisoner were firm and secure as ever. Everything being satisfactory, he turned and moved away. it struck this same sentinel, that the dogs were unusually frisky that night, and that they COrr