Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 1152 — page 4: what you’re looking at

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

| 1/2 ee “Fiave you ever seen it before?” asked Mack- itech. ‘ Yes,” repliodiNick, gazing steadfastly xt it. ‘What is it?” “ The Phantom Princess !” “What's that? I never heard of it until to- ; nt. 7 ‘You know what tho critter is, then, as well es I do.” ‘* Have you ever spoken to it?” ‘‘Yes—but if never answered; I’ve see’d it, pout t never could get any nearer than we are nov. ‘There is a mystery about it, certainly,” added Mackintosh, as if speesing to himself, an then turning about so as to face his men, hoe spcko ina c eery voice: ‘* all to, boys; if you can overtake that crea- ture I'll divide fif ty pounds between you, when woe get back to the fort.” Tbe courageous words of their leader acted like magnetism upon the trappers; their paddles were dipped by one impulse, and the two heavy canoes sped forward as if rowed by the great crew of the Tyne, Mackintosh leaned forward and peered at the white canoe and its ghostly occupant. “Do you think we can catcii her?’ he asked, in a whisper, of Nick. ‘* No,” was the reply ; “there ain’t a human livin’ that can do it,’ - te. **\7e can try it, at any ‘* 8’ pose ae do; if xo go to put your arms or, she’d go up in the air, and that would - be the last of her,” ‘‘T am not ag superstitious as you, Nick; I think she is real life and blood, and we are going tJ unravel a curious mystery.” At the end of ten minutes, it was plain that the **Phantom Princess” was as far away as when first discovered. Mackintosh spoke sharply to his men, and they bent every energy to the work; the water foamed at the prows, and the woods glided rapidly back, like the figures in a panorama. The trappers were toiling as they had never toiled before. What boat could keep pace with them?” ‘* Woe must overhaul her, Nick!” he added, peering forward again; ‘‘ we are gaining; I am sure of it— WHat!” ‘* What did I tell you?” The white canoe and the Phantom Princess had vanished, CHAPTER IV. THE NIGHT SPY. Ay! while Mackintosh and Nick Whiffles, and the men who were constantly guanine over their shoulders, were gazing. st the mysterious eanoe and its occupant, it had disappeared as a flash of sunlight is sometimes obscured by the passing shadow, The ‘Beotchman rubbed his eyes and looked ain, “It is gons, sure enough!” he muttered, as he sat down, disappointed, chagrined and the least bit frightened; “‘what has become of it, Nick?’ ‘‘T ain’t acquainted with the kind of animiles called spirits,” was the prompt reply. ‘*Il’ve tried chasing her aforo, but what’s the use?” ‘*] gin’t prepared to believe in ghosts and uch nonsense,” was the stubborn reply. “For ail that female has got out of the way im a style which I don’t exactly understand, I am satisfied tnat she is real flesh and blood, and like enough some outlan:iish contrivance of the very Indians we are going to visit.” The men had been quick to detect the fauw pas, and were now pulling with a steady, s'’ow stroke, as if they were wearied with their exer- tion, Mackintosh permitted them to do this for sometime longer in the hope of seeing the Phan- tom Prineess again; but, satisfied that her dis- appearance was for that night at least, he gave 69 orders to stop for the night. Once more the prows were turned in shore, and the crew landed. The prows of the boats were puller up the bank, the blankets taken out, and two huge fires kindled. Around tl:ese strztched the score or 30 of men, their fest to- ward the fire, and their heads outward. Ina few moments, the only ones who were awake were the two acting as sentinels, and whose du- ty it was to keep the camp-fire burning brightly. As was his invariable cus when the two yore traveling epee Nick Whiffles and Ned Hazel were onfolded in the same blanket. With ‘wir bodies so close that the warmth was mutu- ai and reciprocal, the two passed off into sweet aol refreshing slumber. It was a strange and powerful tie of love that nnited the grizzled old trap and the fair- beired, ruddy-cheeked boy, w: face and ap- proved him to be of no mean birth. Fi ven > =e < t Sig = Se! ~ er as °. =. > ie ©. A aud . MRE. mote _- mar, bn » \— aa es Beadle’s HalfDime Library. a re ee oe ee ee we ne ee The unraveling of the mystery of the Phan- tom Princess, demands at this pomt that anoth- er porsonage shouldwreceive more particular no- tice. That personage is oue of the men who is now acting as sentinel over the sleeping trappers. isname is Hugh Bandman, an Englishman by birth, who has been in the employ of the Hudson Bay Company for something over ten years. He is pleasing in appearance, of rather a sad countenance; but there is none who stands higher for honesty, modest daring, and perfect trustworthiness in every respect. He was si- lent and rather uncommunicative, except now and then, but he was held in the highest respect by his associates. There was something con- nected with his early history, before he left En- land, known only to Mackintosh, which doubt- ess threw a shadow over his whole life, and had much to do with his burying himself from the civilized world in the wilds of British America. He was in the boat containing the director of the brigade, and none rowed harder than he for the purpose of che rence the Phantom Prin- cess. It had been noticed by all those who were acquainted with him, that be always showed a peculiar zest in engaging in any enterprise or adventure that seemed to offer anger or curi- ous experience, To-night he was more moody than common. With his gun upon his shoulder, in “the usual manner as a sentinel, he paced back and forth, looking down the river, as if in quest of the phantom that had caused him and his compan- ions such wonderment an hour before. After gathering enough wood to keep the camp-fires burning for some time to come, he said to his companion: ‘You can keep watch a half-hour or more while I am gone?’ His friend nodded to signify his willingness and he at once moved away from the camp and disappeared in the gloomy depths of the sur- rounding woods, In a brief time Hugh Bandman was making his way along the shore of Elk river, moving with the stealth of a Blackfoot Indian upon the trail of a foe. So silently indeed did he ad- vance that he might have passed within an arm’s length of the listening red-skins without his J ay ree being discovered. 6 did not pause until he reached a point about a quarter of a mile below the camp. Here the dense undergrowth ceme down to the very edge of the stream, and offered a most se- cure hiding-place even at noonday. Secreting imself in this cover, he prepared to watch the surface of the river, flowing so calmly beneath the radiance of the moon. ‘¢7 wonder if I am to see her again,” he mut- tered, as he seated himself. “I thought I caught a glimpse of the boat awhile ago.” Looking to the right and left his view was uite extended up and down the river, but bis sight failed to reveal anything, and he drew a deep sigh of Scappoiy tment, “I can’t stay here long. I would not have Mackintosh wake up and find me gone for all ~ world. He would be sure to suspect some- thing, Hark! his strained ear caught the sound of soinething like a faint ripple, ‘That was a paddle, or an animal stepping into the water!’ he whispered, as he leaned for- ward and looked up affd down the river. Gliding close along the inner shore, so as to be enfolded in the thin ribbon of shadow, he dis- cerned the ghostly canoe and octupant, It was moving slowly along, as though carried by the current alone, and, as he looked, he saw the same spivit-like figure of a female sitting in the stern, and a second form in the prow, m both before, Still intently watching them, he saw that the figure in the forward part of the boat was much smaller and lighter than the other. ‘‘Mother and daughter!” was the thought that instantly flashed into the mind of Band- man, as he fairly devoured them with his eyes. A supernatural air was attaching to this curi- ous scene hard to shake off; but the trapper was a practical man, and he would not believe that a not material flesh and blood he saw before ** Tf they would only move or speak!” he mur- mured, seeking to shake off the oppressiveness that rested upon him. They did not speak, but a movement was made. She who sat in the stern di a pad- dle into the water, and the same soft, rip sound came to the ear of the trapper agai ‘* Sbo’s is a human being,” he concluded, with * _— 2 ‘- PN ek “s SAME ES | | | ' | Ne Cr" — “'There are two of them,” be thought, as he | for advice. st breathlessly. at the sight; ‘“‘ we did not see The old hunter smiled, 3) ee) a sigh of satisfaction. ‘‘ What will she de if} hail her?” He was on the point of calling to her mage than once, but restrained himseif, from a con viction that the canoe and its occupants would vanish from sight as suddenly as it did when under the scrutiny of Mackintosh and Nick Whiffles. So he stood still, watching, listening and wondering. hie was in hopes that the boat would shoot out from the shadow, where he could gain a better view of it, but it remained where it was, but floating downward, unti} Hugh saw that he must move with it, if he ex: pected to keep it under surveillance any longer. He stepped carefully back, out of view of the river, and stealthily made his way a rod or twa further down-stream, In his haste, he was con: scious of making a light noise, but not enough, as he believed, to disturb any one. But when he reached the stream, and looked expectantly out upon the water, the boat was gone! Up, down, across, everywhere he looked, but it had indeed gone, and was to be seen nowhere, ‘There ts something supernatural in this!” he exclaimed, as he turned about and made his way back to the camp-fire, returning, as he had pro- mised, within a half-hour of the time of his de- parture. 3 But no word escaped the lips of Hugh Bang- man of what he had seen that night. CHAPTER V, KNIVES AND SKINS, NATURALLY, the tra upon awakening the next morning, Fert: froub diseased their singular experience of the preceding night. @ majority agreed that it was some In contrivance, although of what character, or what its purport was, no one undertook to con- jecture even. Nick Whiffles was thoughtful and reserved. He seemed like another person, devoid of hia eccentric humor and geniality of spirits, Whon he was appealed to, he refused to make any satisfactory answer, and appeared unwilling te hold any conversation tocattiing it. Mackintosh was the only one who seemed un. affected by the occurrence. He laughed and chatted with all, and when one or two ventured wo, mony him upon his disappointment, he re- plied: ‘The thing ain’t ended yet; I’m bound to get at the bottom of that mystery.” Again the two canoes put out in the river, and the long paddles of the trappers swept the boat forward with the same power and grace, but they still refrained from breaking out into their usual chorus and song. They were now within the vicinity of the Blackfoot village, and.were certain of coming upon Indians in a very short time, Mackintosh and Nick Whiffles were convers- ing together about ‘‘ business,” when their canoe turned an ap bend in the stream, and they saw the town they were seeking, within @ stone’s throw. A clearing, of several acres’ extent, came down to the river, and on every other side were the dense, ‘continuous woods” of Oregon. Very nearly in the center of the clearing, and a hundred yards back from the stream stood about twenty lodges, made of bark and skins, and of a character that showed they had been built with the purpose of withstanding tie rigor of the winters in these latitudes, e prow of the canoe had scarcely turned the bend, whensuch a Babel of shouts and hal- loas filled the air, that the trappers stop rowing, and Mackintosh looked toNick WwW % That's the way the critters say how do you 0. “What shall we do? Go ahead?” “ Wait a minute.” ; With which he rose in the canoe so as'to make himself visible cap over his head, called ou Blackfoot tongue, that they were friends who had come to barter with them. ; Nick was recognized before he spoke, and an instant hush fell upon all, so that his words were easily understood; one of their number called back that they were ready to trade, and invited them to come ashore. ex lained what was said to Mackintosh, an : ‘Put me ashore, but don’t any of you folka land. I know these chaps and I’m afraid you'll git in trouble.” “But, suppose they offer you violence, do yeu and then swinging his coon-skin a a ea to them in the ~ com ; i ; ot _, - me =) ’ 2 i ) - . * > - 7 b» “_ . - - ; le he de . a , 7 ™ ’ . 7 ee ee ke ee ee e “ +, - . <=