Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 1158 — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

es Pie at r ‘. tan >> —- _ 7 ) young man, mt pondese caay as I di a girl caught the sound of footsteps passing a screen, that the go = the war- _ | they will not -@ i . o a Yes, dear one,” he answered, ‘‘I am in dan- ger. . “And your friends?’ questioned the girl. “IT know nothing of their fate. The savages came upon me suddenly and stunned me with a blow on the head; after that, I know nothing. When I came to my senses I found myself here, a prisoner, your arms around me, your greeting ringing in my ears.” ** You must be saved!” she cried. **T must, indeed, or die a miserable death,” he answered, _ “Where did you leave your friends? Can you describe the place?” asked the girl. “Yes, { think I can,” answered the young man, ‘I left my companions by the side of a . Sol Ginger. 3 and hear all that passed within the council- cdge. Sine was an attentive listener to the scene al- ready described. Then, after the council was finished, she saw the chiefs depart on the war- trail against the whites, and in her heart she re- joiced, for the warriors had left the village al- most unguarded, and she thought that she could easily save her lover, But, judge of her dis- may, when she saw the Young Bear return at the command of the White Wolf and take up a | position in front of the lodge that held her lover, a prisoner! } | Here was an unexpected obstacle, To get Courtney from the wigwam, with the young savage 1 watch before it, was diffi- cult if not impossible; yet the attempt must be little stream that empties into the Flathead | made. ‘The war-party might return at any mo- river, coming from the east—” ‘“‘ Britter stream!” cried the girl. ‘‘I know it. Will your companions remain there?’ “No, I think not,” he answered; ‘they in- tended to come to the Flathead river, I think, They wished to be near this village. There is somethiny here that they want.” “Do you know what it is?’ she said, looking into the face of the young man with a strange expression. **No; only that it is a treasure, and my com- panion thinks.it is very valuable,” said the Limow what it is,” said the girl. ** You do?’ cried Courtney in astonishment. Yes; but the value your companion sets | upon it, I can not understand,” replied the In- cian girl. ‘‘ Were it you, now, who set so high a value upon it, I should not wonder at it.” _.“* You speak in riddles,” said Courtney, aston- ished at: her words. “I can not understant JOU oy “You will, soon,” she replied. ‘‘ If you were free from here, do you think you could find your companions?’ ‘Yes, 1 think so; I would follow the river down to where the little stream runs into it, then follow the stream up; that would lead me to where we were encamped. But I fear that my friends ere in the hands of the Indians also. ‘ No,” replied the girl; ‘if they were prison- ers, they would be here. Besides, the great White Wolf, had but few braves with him —no match for the cunning ‘beaver- her.’ ” . . Giant Trapper?’ said the ‘“You. mean the youg man, ‘Yes, Longlegs, as the Blackfeet call him,” answered the girl. | | ment, and then her lover’s lite would be in dan- ger, A moment she thought; then, a plan came into her mind, by means of which she might | | “True, the old manne will not fall into their | ** Yes; Llove you and Iwill save you. I will thongs that bind you, will bring you. a blanket, and, in the dark, conduct you through the village,” said the Indian maid. — ‘‘T shall owe you my life!” he cried, pressing her again and again to his heart, and covering her face with his warm, passionate kisses. . -“ You will love me?” questioned the girl. _ “Yes: [ shall love you always!” answered her lover. | At that moment the quick ear of the aap Mf nickly she sprung t> tke door, and pulling aside the skin that served as ooked out upon the village. She saw omen were caused by the Indian w passing by the wigwam and going into the council lodge. This fact discovered, she re- turned to the side of her lover and told what ‘she had seen, ‘“ What does it mean?” he asked. “The White Wolf must have returned, and the braves are holding a council,” she replied. “Does not that denote that they are about to , ath?” he questioned, ‘Yes; the White Bird will listen to the coun- cil of the braves; then sbe can tell their plans. “That isan excellent idea!’’ cried Courtney. “Let me replace the thongs on your wrists, so that, if anz of the chiefs look into the lodge, suspect. So the White Bird bound the wrists of Court- ney again with the deer-skin thongs; then, with a. farewil! kiss, she lett his side and stepped from oie iuto the openair.. With a light step she tool. her way, not to the council lodge, but \in a direction oxactiv opposite; but, when she _ | reached the outside of the little circle of lodges, ~~ } she tuyned, and deseribing with her course gained the “back of the council- ‘ * Ls a _ ; 7 . Ms Lathe \ at ae a2 - rn 2 % = . all “ty Nt ’ ~gh iy see me ¢ ee Zz = ~ * . _ gt 4 Po See ta Lo eee Se Ci eRe ey ae RS Le BRR en a a cena eee Ae ee paws But can you free me?’ | ae - rr SSS sls SS . free the prisoner from the hands of the Black- feet, With a loitering step the White Bird walked down toward the river, taking a course that would lead her directly by the lodge that held Courtney. The Indian on guard, the Young Bear, beheld the Indian girl approaching; he was not sorry, for, in his heart he had a secret liking for the White Bird, but, being a young warrior, with verylittle renown and no great deeds on the war-path to boast of, he had not dared to lift his eyes to the young beauty, the deughter of the great Blackfoot chief, the White Wolf—for she was indeed the daughter of that renowned warrior, 3 ‘Has the White Bird seen the pale-face chief?” he asked, as the girl came by him. ‘* Yes,” she answered; ‘‘ but the pale chief was asleep; is hc awake now?” “I will wake him,” exclaimed the young brave, glad of an opportunity to please the maiden, So, into the lodge went the Young Bear, fol- lowed by the girl. ‘“ Wah! pale-face?” cried the warrior, in Eng- lish, it being the only English he knew. | Courtney turned on the couch as if neon ‘* Leave me your blanket -to rest on, while talk to the white-skin,” said the White Bird, | Gladly the young brave spread the blanket on the earth-floor of the wigwam, and then with- drew to resume his watch. He knew that the White Bird understood the strange language of the pale-faces, and could talk to the white wel, ‘* White Bird?’ said Courtney. ‘Yes; [Lave returned,” said the girl. ‘ Do not fear; speak freely; the young brave who keeps watch does not understand your tongue.” ‘* He is watching me, then?” sé Yes. ” ‘‘ Thon there is little chance of my escape.” ‘You shall be free before the moon is two hours older,” said the girl. ** How can I esca is notice?” “T have a plan,” she answered. ‘There are but few warriors in the village; the White Wolf has taken the trail to hunt your friends to death.. You have been betrayed by the In- dian that I warned settlements by the Big river,” ‘**Mudhole!” exclaimed Courtney. ° “He then bas er us into the hands of the Blackfeet.” ‘* Yes,” answered the girl. “ His right name is Spotted Elk; he is the son of the White Wolf, my father.” : ‘What?’ cried Courtney, in astonishment. ‘You are the daughter of the White Wolf, and yet you love me?’ ‘* Yes; and I will save you from the Black- feet. See this blanket,” she said, pointing to the one left by the young chief. ‘1 will decoy the brave away from the door of the lodge; then you put.on tke blanket, walk through the door, and cross the little open space into the thicket beyond; there leave the blanket and I se ra you, then guide you to a place of safety. | . “You are my guardian angel!” cried the young man, ‘Be ready. I will take the brave away.” Then the Indian yirl left the lodgo, first re- moving the thongs that bound Courtney. ‘* Will the Young Bear walk with me to the river?’ asked the girl. The young brave hesitated, Rs Nee _ “J am to gnard the prisoner,” he replied. a Ee aled from all obser- | “‘The prisoner is bound hand and foot; he Sees! — asl pce esa ets 7 ale aig cannot hve he is wounded, too; what then With the little knife hanging at her gir.leshe should you few? | guteloiein “weskins hat formed the sides of tie |” What the girl said was true, ho know; thera ‘which aperture she could both | was lit irate rime te se. Can 3 ae ee Sp ee S| ae | ot o “ ay Viet, SE oy ad at’ ‘ a ea Ce nw oP a ~ =_— — * ee Pa ou not to trust in the white. ee ee + ee eee eee ee 2k & é Cee Eternia m O- "an ae wi: — Ate fe a+ 44 Ae + o¢ . . « a ta eat os - —ae ee a 11 caping. So, without further reluctance, he sig- nified his willingness to i a the gir The simple-bearted red-skin only yielded te the same fascination that stripped from the Roman Antony his share of the imperial city. The In- dian brave was not the first man to yield to the subtle lures of womankind, Courtney watched from the door of ths lodge the departure of the girl and the warrior; then. when he judged thein to be at a safe distance” and that the time had come to attempt to, es cape, he hastily wrapped the blanket around him and boldiy stalked forth from the lodge, crossed the little open space and gained the wel- come shelter of the thicket. In the thicket he dropped the blanket and extended himself at full length in the bushes, to await the coming of the Indian girl. } The W hite Bird and the young Indian warrior walked slowly down toward the river. Arriv- ing at the bank, the girl paused. ‘Does the Young Bear know’where the rat- tlesnake tree (the w of the river?” (Among the Indian tribes of the North-west, the twigs of the white ash are believed to have the power to charm the rattlesnake.) ‘* Yes,” replied the brave; “a big walk from the village,” | “No; the Young Bear is swift, What brave of the Blackfoot tribe can outrun the young warrior? The Young Bear will bring the White Bird the twigs of the rattlesnake tree?’ And the girl bent her large, dark eyes full upon the face of the warrior. What mortal man, 1¢ 4 or white, could refuse? The delfcate compliment leased the Indian, but duty made one last ef- ort: ‘‘ But the prisoner?” he stammered. “The White Bird will watch for the Young Bear,” said the girl, with another Lewitching glance of her dark eyes. “It is good,” replied the Young Bear; ‘the chief will go;” and with a long, loping etride, up the river went the warrior. he girl watched him for a moment, then quickly retraced her steps, but instead of to the lodge, she sought the thicket opposite, where she found Courtney awaiting her, “‘T have blinded the eyes of the young war er for some little time; you are safe,” she cried. ! “Thanks to you; you have preserved me!” ex: claimed Courtiey: ‘“‘ But for a little soon return, then your absence may be dis covered at any moment,” replied the girl. “What shell I do}—endeavor to join my friends by the little stream, or—” “No, no!” cried the White Bird, anxiously; ‘*do not go there; the red braves are even now thick in the forest. Should you meet th and they will kill you without perey Ah!” aed girl started suddenly, as though bitten by a | snake. | ‘* What is the matter?” ey “Hush!” said the girl, listening. “Did you not hear something?” =" For a moment Courtmey listened attentively, but his ear caught nothing but the usual soun of theforest. . | . 5 Sh tee “T can not hear any thing, he said at le . ‘‘ But I did,” responded the girl, still listening, —__ es Fite as though some one moved in yonder icket, ; rE Do ene ‘* Might it not have been a bird or some small animal?’ asked the young man. His mene was not as acute as that of the Indian maid, oe from childhood to the noises of the wil erness. , : | , || No, answered the girl, with a shake of the head; ‘'the noise I animal, Hush! ‘tis there a pointed to a dense cluster of : feet from the spot where they stood. “Tis a foe, he shall die!’ and with the oii dash of the tiger, the Indian girl drew the little knife from her girdle and bounded toward the thicket, Then from the coppice rose the eof a man, and disclosed to the astonish Conrtney the person of the old trapper. ! cautious voice; “ don’t you prod me with that air toad-sticker !” Sins 5% ‘pe ‘‘Longlegs!” cried the Indian girl. what your dod-rotted relations christen me!” waited in his ambush for some oppor y still he waited, hoping against hope. He seen the departure of the Indians and the scape a ' a Py - at | J af Pike‘ ee lt tem < x *o ite ash) grows by the bank time only; the warrior will heard was human, not bird or and she — nshes some ten — 1 eyes of © “Hold on, you female wildcat!” he cried, in a- “« Jes’ so!” coolly replied the trapper: “that’s _ It Was the trapper indeed. Patiently he had — enter the town, but none had presented itself; — ‘ : - . Parr - -> —~ e = an s a ® “ x yet ae ~ ~ * - ee ger ; re Fd ie . ie . 7 ‘ { ~¥ ¢ P “ Pn = oy oe a Py ev ° | 5 a) | ) *| (b nee iF } =| = fn _i | 3 * ’ P - 7 - — Z > — a= > y=, = ss vy @ fol @} | : | | wl } “| > ad | / a ‘ » a —~ ‘ ee —