Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 1155 — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

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But not until the night is gone will he begin the search for the maiden and the cunning trap- per.” nd the night. said Roche Then come to our camp It is but a short ride to it, The chief accepted the invitation, “ena when the bivouac was reached, they all -dismounted, and corraling their animals on the prairie, en- tered the grove. A fire was soon lighted, and then the warriors gathered around it. eT he light showed therm to be a grim, flerce band, rendered hideous by war-paint. By daybreak the savages and outlaws were moving northward over the plain in two de- tachments—Black Buffalo leading the first eri 2A and following the trail of the fugitives, w rhi Roche and his 698 fers a ay Indians, fol- lowed on with titted wa Bat the torr Pour aid not Son the chief far. He soon chan course and bore to the right, and after a ehigt ar. ord sinig miles, en- tered a strip of timber s g the Boyer river, which they reached about noon. Here they halted to rest, and Roche decided to abandon the wagon. ** But what'll we do with the chest, captain ” asked one in a low tone, as if fearing to be overbeard, ‘We'll have to bury it, and conceal the spot by burning the wagon over it, for, if. we should eo that chest and its contents— Well, you know all about it.” “ Certainly! certainly!” responded the out- law. ‘Then let us to work. If we should take the wagon to the valley with us, if would leave a broad trail for an enemy to follow.” The party set to work in the soft, dry ground, and they soon scooped out a large hole. Then they took from the wagon a large iron- equired four men to con- vey it to- the hole, into which it was Tiaras: a and carefully covered. The turf then be laced, the weeey was taken to pieces and piled a heap over a The vehicle was then set on fire, and in less of red coals and ashes, with the exception “ot the irons. These were raked from the coals and thrown into the river: and thus every part of the wagon was ee ee The party now mounted, and turning to the north-east, resumed the journey up the river. It wanted two hours of sunset, when Roche ere drew rein at the mouth of a little nam that emptied into the Boyer art ‘Here is the place,” he exc A ae fs wae falo promised to join us.” The party dismounted, picketed their animals to grass in a little valley hard by, and went into camp, Anxiously awaiting Black Buffalo’s return, Roche grew very restléss, and finally, slinging his rifle across shoulder, he wandered into the woods. He had traveled, in a round- about way, over a mile from cam , when he detected the fumes of smoke in the a mosphere, and then started as he saw a thin, rarefied col- umn of white smoke rising above the tree-tops a short distarice before him. He crept cautious- ly forward to reconnoiter; but he found neither campers nor camp-fire. To assure himself that he was not mistaken, be looked for the smoke again. He saw it rising ae the top of a large wood, but, search- ng bereath the tree, not a spark of the fire ‘eenid he tnd. . ‘It was a mystery to him—the same that had 2 serge Hawkeye Harry an evening or two before Roche was a wicked man, and although a lit- tle superstitious and cowardly, he searched for the agency of that smoke, but could find noth- t last he gave it up in no nt se eo Be patho and turning, n retracing his Sry steps toward his camp, but sohdntity stop a eo ething like a uman groan start! He bent his head and listened; and then to his hearing came the imploring cry “Roche! Henri Roche! in the name of God, come here i” CHAPTER VIII. THE PIPE OF PEACE,, Ler us now return to the Cone—the home of the two trappers in the little cliff-girted valley, Old Optic, whom we left elo- seted — an Indian, at the close of a preceding is ~~ Old Optic was one of those stern old trappers of two score years, whom hardships andconstant physical exertion had develo into bone and sinew. His rough, bearded face and dark-gray eyes wore a pleasant expression, yet there had been times when the soul of the man was arous- ed, whea those eyes grew fierce with rage, and that face rigid with deadly emotion. The Indian that he had ushered into the Cone was young, and, as before stated, his weapons pan baric finery bespoke the ‘insignia of a chie ‘*T am glad you have come, Red Wing,” said the old trapper, ‘‘ and t jhope ‘with good “dings and with 9 feelin ** Red is chief of the. remnant of the great Fox an tlott He has watched for many suns the true course of events. He has seen the steady and certain advance of the white man into the hunting-grounds of his nation. The tomahawk and sca pee have failed to keep them back. When they oppose the white man they fall beneath his deadly rifle. The Foxes are tired of fighting agai he pale-face, for their warriors have fallen like the autumn leaves. We have decided ba forever wary the hatchet, and ie smoke the pipe of peace with the pale-face. We will fight Ls e by side with the white man against the Dakota, the Sn gags es URI aR Car and the Sac. Red Wing has en. * Your words have the right ring in them, Red Wing,” replied Old Optic, ‘and as a repre- Beadle’ s Half-Dime mando ol MNT ical, concealed by a leathern acipess | chupsaihd hp 0 lpaincie oes Medial nina through the holes of which Soa, could see a pair of eyes shining like balls of fire. ‘‘ Who in thunder, are ye, anyhow?” exclaim- ed the old trapper. ‘One in quest of friendship and aid,” replied the masked figure, whose voice was soft and fe- minine in its tones, yet a little husky. ‘* Have ye come fur?” asked the trapper. ‘Over many a league, more or less.’ re ang how did ye git into the valley past the guards aK extremé caution.” ‘* Then your object in coming here must be of great importance, to run sich risks?” “Tt is, friend ODES one in which my very he is involved, to you have I come for ai ed To me? What can I—a crazy old trapper— “Crazy!” repeated the masked stranger. ‘Your garments are coarse and rude, your h rough and blunt; but was it always 80? hen you were lord of the Highlands on the banks of the Ohio river, were you not a gentle man of cultured refinement and polished man- n Old Optic pasted # as though a dagger had been thrust into his bos The masked treme saw hir motion, and continued: ‘‘T know you are surprised by what I have said; but, friend trapper, I say it with no inten- sentative of the whites, I will take upon my | tion "of harrowin your feelings, nor cpening own head the responsibility of teeing you | an old wound, know all about your past their protection and friendship, if you do all you | troubles, and why you are here as a trapper in say. you will.” the Far ‘West, w eee oa, FOR ay ht have been one he face of the chief lit up with a glow o of the leadin tion, Do I not ) In this recognition of peace he i A cotati he could see the regeneration of his tribe, and their restoration to their former greatness and power. Alas! deluded chief! Half a decade was to see the total extinction of his tribe! ‘Then let the white warrior and Red Wi smoke the pipe of peace,” said the chief, produc- a highly-ornamented calumet filed with to- They smoked the pipe of peace and acknow- ledged each other friends, Peace een the Fox Indians and the whites was declared, and it was for this purpose that the chief had come to the Cone. Presently page han Chet, went to the door of the hut and uttered a shrill p. Forth from behind the rocks and bushes, like phantoms came a hundred Indian warriors, painted for the war-path. Old Optic experienced a slight shudder at sight of them, but he permitted no look to betray the least mistrust. His confidence in Red Win had been so firmly settled by acts of kindness ana in of truth, that he felt no hesitation in ac- ting him as a friend. But, in general, he red ta t was the nature of an Indian to be treach- eh sae in oye isnery of a hundred at ab sat- i there were those unpossessed o e traits of their chief. ie Red Wing gathered his warriors around the Cone, and made known to them the treaty of peace that had just been consummated. Then llowed the ceremony cf burying the hatchet, and after this had been performed, most of the warriors left the valley, but shortly before night they returned, bearing with them, upon ponies, their women and children and a promiscuous mass of Meeaee an their earthly possessions. Before the sun had gone down, an Indian en- ry! had been bitched in the valley, and the outs of children and barking of dogs were echoing through the forest aisles. Darkness came, but Hawkeye Harry did not. Old Optic felt somewhat uneasy about him Guards were posted in the defile leaning into the ey. and along the bluff overlooking the The night wore sia and a new day dawned, which was spent b é warriors in supplyin the encampment th game for food, while ing | Optic and the chief. sat in consultation. ight again threw its shadow over forest and plain, still Hawkeye Harry had not come. Alone, by 8 a small fire that burned in the cen- ter of the Cone, sat Old Optic gazing reflectively into its warm glow. e felt sorely uncasy about his young friend, Hawkeye Harry. On Se morrow he resolved to make some search for im. Then a soft footstep sounded behind him. He turned his head and saw fod ita standing in the door of the Cone that va him to start with surprise, It was a human ficure, envelo in a red blanket that swept the ground, e head was covered we Gar of fur hood, ana the nae ot dda ae : kaos Si .€O speak the trut ” ‘You do, man or woman though you may ~ ers?” to y y ng A unkn es, P * No. e,’ G ga ge be. Go on,” said the trapper, grasping for fur- ther information as a drowning man grasps at a straw; “‘ go on!” “You were a kind and loving husband, a fond. and affectionate father, bus,” and the stranger's voice grew tremulous, ‘‘what became of your wife, and your sweet little girl?” came up from the trap ou would answer,” continu r’s heart. the stranger, ™ that another won the affections of my wife, and together they Pee from cao es ‘ttle G to own g my dar ittle ~ ie with them. Broken-hearted, di fled to the wilderness to forget my Ree amid ite constant dangers.” ame sw ioe “that is what my answer would have been.” *‘And have you never heard. of that unfaith- ful wife since she left you?” asked the stranger. ‘* Never!” returned Optic, with the bitterness of despair. Nor your child—your little Gertie?’ “ How old was she when you last saw her— the child?” ‘She was in ber ninth year.” ** And how long since you last saw her?” “Seven long, bitter years.” “Do you think you would know her if you were to see her now?” ee old Poe ne s ioe eer brighter, \ A ray ae ae would meen Ther, Her face conld uever have chan in seven years beyond a father’ s recognition, for it has ever been beicie m sie And again: would you believe me were I to on you where to find your daughter?” gain Old, Optic started, though a light of joy send hope apane 2 In his eyes,” ‘You seem to know my past so well that 1 could not believe aihervdes? ” he replied, ‘‘She is the adopted daughter Me the Sioux chief, Black Buffalo,” ‘Great Heaven! is this the truth, stranger?” sped the old trapper. It is the solemn truth.” “ Then to-morrow’s day will find me on the way to on Sioux village. Gertie, my Icst darling, shall be rescued, God willing?” ~ “ Then I will go hence,” said the aameied stran- r, turning toward the door of the Coue. “Stay! stay, stranger!” cried the teepper. “Let me reward you for this service—this in- formation! You said you had come for aid; name your desire, and if within my power, it shall be granted.” ‘*My crab len are the same as yours. In the hands of the Sioux J have a captive child—a ea ene Date I.came to seek your aid to rescue er “Then stay search of our children to-morrow. I will obtain the Red ce of TORR AED cee ee oe / ' r ‘ ~~ . “. >. sd tag mii vy wa. * Der: hatin pam eee Lae) we ny ’ + ‘ é - e « ° E . ee :. - ro ons - r . - ;*? . } P ‘ “ ae fF } a yes!” returned Old Optic, excitedly, and together we will start ing ie ~~ _— a : ~*~ 2 — 1S Tes 5. - 2 ” = m 54. os hos > 4 _ ~~) + 7 ~. ~ _- : t Be <<. nace Mee am. Sout & — - ~*~ ~ * — * a Re ges’ ~ a = - : — *