Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 1152 — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

a +e on - ; » S ’ . : " + “fe oy * ’ 4 * * eae 14 Blackfeet, while they were watching the swan- like flight of the canoe, it flew under the shrub- bery along shore and was lost to view. But. Woo-wol-na and his warriors had marked the point where it had disappeared, and they kept on straight toward it, shooting under the bushes only a few moments behind. But there was no boat visible. It had van- ished as suddenly as when pursued by the trap- rs. | But Woo-wol-na knew what this meant. The instant she had landed, the light boat had been caught up in the grasp of her friends, who would probably carry it half a mile and then launch it again. Very well; if they could do that, so could he. Not hoping to overtake her in the woods, or 9 tell at what precise point sho would embark again, the Blackfect mide a rapid but wide de- tour through the forest, and coming back to the river ata point fully a mile above. Here it was ‘ese in the water again, and tney paused and listened. Nothing of the other boat was to be heard. “They will soon pass here!” said the chief; ‘we will wait for them.” Like a ther crouching under the bank and waiting for its victim, the five Indians lay in yvait. Daylight broke and found them. still there, but they waited, for Woo-wol-na knew that he was see and his prey must sooner or later pass in front of him, where escape would be impossible, Yes; he was right. CHAPTER XVIII. ALY, UP!” Tax escape of Hugh Bandman from the Death Lodge of the Blackfeet was in accordance with tae scheme of Nick Whiffles, and, as the reader has learned, succeeded perfectly. I have shown you how well the pup riage! rformed his , and how the prisoner fol- ywed him out at the very moment that he was directed to do so. Without looking to the right or left, he headed straight for the wood, where he was met by Nick, who whispered: ‘Follow me, and don’t make no noise,” The old trapper then headed toward the river, which was reached before the alarm of the In- dians. “T don’t know how long they’ll watch that burnin’ punk,” said he, as they paused on the ede of the river; “but it ain’t likely they'll sti..y there long, and then there’s a chance fur a ; owerful diffikilty. Here we are!” As the last exclamation was uttered, they | caine upon the white canoe, in which Myra and | her daughter were seated, In that moment, terrible from its anxiety, husband and wife em- braced, and mingled their tears. But it was only for an instant, and while | Miona was wondering what it all meant, they took their seats in the canoe and shoved out frem enone, Myra, as a matter of course, handling the mddle. The weight in the boat was more than it was intended to carry, and it sunk alarmingly low in the water; but it was too late to rectify any error, and the devoted wife now called her enorgies into play. They had not gone far, when Nick saw that -enother serious oversight had been committed. Tae oar which the lady held in her hand was the only one in the boat. They ought to have hai two more, at least, for him and Hugh, by which the speed of the canoe could have been doubled. ~ As if was, she insisted upon using it herself; so that they could do nothing but re- main passive spectators. “Do you think we shall be pureueat: asked Bandman, turning toward Nick, who was ca- reesing Calamity, and praising him for the part he performed. “TI don’t think so—I know so,” was the reply. ‘Tt must be near morning, isn’t it?’ ‘““There be scveral ,Fo08 ours yet, in which we must do all we ; do you know I feel to set here and see that woman use that e?” ‘*So do I, but how can we helpit? But she will get tired of this after a while, and then be ve to give us a chance—Hillo! what’s f°’ ‘“* It is the alarm at the village; they’ve found out you’re off, and now the fun will begin.” Precisely where the fun came in was more than the rest of the party could see. With the first sound of the commotion, the Phantom Prin- ‘ceas increased the speed of the canoe to the Lugbes point. — i re “t@iy~ es <*> . < f ‘ pag o> ne One Tent hip © os This, as has already been said, was far less than her ordinary speed, on account of the un- usual weight in the canoe. There was little said, for every member of the company was deeply impressed with the seri- ousness of the situation, and they felt that it was a time for deeds and nof for talk. When the lady kad carried the cance several miles, her hushand insisted so stronzly upon taking the paddle in hand that she conseuted, and he sent it forward with a speed fully cqual to hers. While this was going on, the watchful Nick was on the look-out for pursuers. He knew that while the Blackfoot warriors were scouring the woods in every direction, Woo-wol-na was. too sharp to forzet the river. He wes sure to take that means of pursuit, and it behooved him to see that his friends were not stolen upon and re- captured. ick was feeling quite hopeful, when his heart ve one extra throb as he discerned a dark ob- ject far down the river which resembled a ca- noe. He scrutinized it several moments until there could no longer be any doubt, when he announced his discovery. ‘‘The varmints are coming, sure,” ‘‘Tet me take the paddle, then,” said Myra, with some-alarm, as she reached out her hand for it. ‘* No, wife,” he replied, without checking his labor in the least; “ you have wonderful skill, but your arm is not as strong as mine, and I can carry this boat forward with as much speed as rou.” me Oh, Heaven favor us!” she prayed, as she covered up her face, as if to shut out the sight of those who, after being so many years her friends, she now regarded as her bitterest ene- mies, Nick Whiffles was watching the coming canoe as acat watches a mouse. It did not take him | long to see that the Indians were coming up ‘‘ hand-over-hand;” consequently there was no | use in attempting to compete with them, when the result of the race was inevitable, | Certain of this, he said as much, and at his suggestion the canoe was headed toward shore, Seeing this, as has already been shown, the Blackfeet sent a spiteful shot after them. ‘* By gracious! that looks like business!” ex- claimed Nick, as he sighted his gun in return. ‘*T guess Woo-wol-na is in that boat, and he doesn’t feel much like palaverin’ over this mat- ter. I wouldn’t give much for the hair of any of us if they catch us.” It was Nick who fixed the return shot that came’so startlingly near the Indians. He had no expectation and no wish to strike the pursu- ers, but it struck him that it might serve to show them that, if it should come to a fight, there would be some of it done by both parties. Reaching the shore, all sprung out at once, and Nick and Hugh caught up the boat by con- cert, and plunged into the woods with it. | Thus the suspicions of Woo-wol-na proved cor- rect, for the fugitives were attempting the very | stratagem of which I have spoken, “Well come back to the river about a half- ' mile,” said Nick, thus unconsciously running into the very trap that had been set for them. | This was done, they reaching the river at just about that distance from the starting-point. ere the boat was launched, and they took | their seats in it again. | They remained concealed, not wishing to put out until they could gather some idea of the locale of their enemies. They listened and watched, but saw and heard nothing. Calamity made a short reconnoissance through the sur- rounding woods, but he gave no indications of learning any thing. ‘$ ive bagteuine to get light in the east,” said Bandman, who was quite impatient at the de- lay; “‘if seems to me we are losing very pre- cious time.” ‘*Go ahead,” replied Nick, “ but keep close to the Shore, and be ready to dart under at any minute.” In this way they coasted along, until they had ne a distance, and the sun was rising. ick iffies had taken the paddle, and reach- ing a sharp point, he said: ‘We'll go in here awhile, and make a few ob- servations.” As he spoke, he shot round the point, and Ca- lamity gave a low growl. as = t is it, pup?’ asked his master, in alarm. A wail went up from Myra, as Woo-wol-na’s canoe suddenly shot out, less than a dozen yards distant, and made straight for them, Nick Whiffles saw that it was all up, evd he made no attempt to escape! | | ~~ + , a ! - ~~» ’ rs : “Jes a . oth * — ee ee Beadle’s Half-Dime Library. eee -_—— —e_- ee - — . «,* “~) : a" ~~ ow : s 4 * ; re a x o~ - CHAPTER. XTX. MORE LIGHT. Youne Ned Hazel was happy, as he left his frimds on the edge of Bik river, ond started through the woods for his herne. He whistled and sung, for every thing looked bright and cheerful for him. He was certain now that Miona was very lit- tle, if any, less than an angel, and that when he and she became old enough, they were intended by Heaven for each other. ‘**T love Nick,” he mused, as he walled along, ‘put I am not gcing to spend iny life as he does his, in the woods. There 1s a great world around me, and I must see it, and make n:y mark in it. I have got a father somewhere, 4:0 I begin to feel like getting acquainted with him.” He was full of dreams of a gloricus future, and of the fortune he was going to carve for himself, ‘1 shall make Miona proud of me some day,” he added with a glowing face. ‘I have grown to be a big boy, without knowing much of books, but I've the will and the brains, and J’U do it. Ah! the enthusiasm of youth! if it could only follow us through manhood, down the slo of life, what wonders we might accomplish! What heroes all of us would be! what victories the historian would have to write opposite our names! , 2 Yes, sir—that’s what [m going to do—hel- oa! The last exclamation was caused by the sight of a man, that came into view just in front of him. The lad paused a moment, and then, as he recognized Mr. Mackintosh, he bade him good-morning and walked toward him. “Tam looking for Nick Whiffles; I suppose you can direct me to his cabin?” Yes; it’s close by, but you won’t find him home,” ‘‘T am sorry about that,” said Mackintosh, ‘‘for I have come on special business. What time to day will he be back?” “Not to-day, nor to-morrow, unless it’s very late to-morrow night.” The superintendent showed by his looks that he was greatly disappointed. He stood as if debating with himeelf. ‘Come to the cabin with me, and wait there till he comes back.” Mackintosh accepted the invitation in an ab- sent sort of way, and the twv walked silently in the direction of the cabin, Reaching there, Ned entered first, and the first thing that at- tracted his eyes was the ‘‘ baby-clothes” lying upon the ground. ** Helloa!” he exclaimed, as he stooped down and picked them up, “ Nick went off in sucha hurry that he forgot to put them away.” ‘* Let me see them, please,” said Mackintosh, Who was only a step or two behind; ‘these are the yery articles about which I came to sce Nick.” Ned passed them over to the visitor without thought. The latter held them to the light turned very white, and trembled so that he sa down to keep from falling. . ‘Oh, Heaven!” he gasped, looking ina strange, wild way at the boy. ‘‘What’s the matter?” asked Ned, surprised and alarmed. ‘*Are these the garments that were areund you when you were found?’ ‘So Nick says.” “Then you are my own darling long-lost boy /” exclaimed the overjoyed Mackintosh, as he threw his arms about the lad, weeping like a woman as he did so. As for Ned, he felt so strange that he hardly knew what to do, but he was conscious of a. new emotion of fe ogi and something like an instinctive love for his parent caused him to re- turn the embrace, and to shed tears too. There was silence for a few minutes, and then, as the boy released himself, he sat down and looked up in the face of his parent, bis ow1 countenance ing with a heavenly delight, “Tam so glad that you are my father,” h said; ‘tell me all about it.” i ‘“‘ Ever since I saw you the other day, I have | had a curious feeling about you. Your age, looks, and the account you gave of Nick Whif- fles finding you, led me to think it poe you were my long-lost boy. The more I thought of it, the more determined did I become that Nick mons ve = = ears of the matter, an a Ww ave leit my m rig wees y y men and come wee eune I a igh ag you?” lw a y day awaits your moth- er!” continued Mackintosh, raping the tears of the questi joy from his eyes, and heedless o uestion ™ Ma, gs om ° — l\