Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 1158 — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

. ‘ ’ a* Clee pene mine,” pomiting as he spoke, with pride, to the mud-oolored pony, ‘‘she can smell an mile, an’ hates ’em like old Satan. He’s nearly kicked Mudhole’s head off three or four times; | he’s p’ison on Injuns.” | ‘* A useful brute,” said Wright. ‘‘'That’s so; kin travel his sixty miles a day, day “e an’ day out, gits fat on a chaw tobacco, | n Injun a | gether,” said the concealed an ‘The young chief and the girl are then to- anxious young man to himself. ‘If the old chief is here, the others will come, so I shall see my dark-eyed beauty again, though I may not be able to speak to her. Well, that is better than nothing; it’s a poor heart that cannot find consolation, so ll watch and wait.” Beadle’s Half-Dime Library. ‘‘Ugh! the white squaw!” answered the old ees a heavy frown gathering upon his rows, “The White Wolf is right; the ears of ‘the a tog Elk are long; he heard the talk of the white braves; when the sun comes they go.” ‘* Their bones shall whiten in the valley of the Flathead, and the coyote feet upon their hearts!” n sleep on the top of a rail fence;’ anda | The two chiefs commenced aaron & Court- | cried the White Wolf, fiercely. road grin spread over the trapper’s face as he | ney listened eagerly, but as the chiefs spoke in ‘** Longle s with the white braves.” descanted on the good qualities of the mud-col- | the Indian language, he had his trouble for his ‘* He shall die!” exclaimed the old chief. ored beast. *‘ T suppose we had better take our rifles and Ifttlo traps from the boat to-night,” said Wricht., ‘“Sartin; they ain’t apt to be stirrin’ in the mornin’, an’ we'll take wing mighty airly.” ‘* Come, then, Cozrtney” said Wright, “We'll be back in a few minutes.” ‘‘ Jes’ so. Pll have come fodder ready fur yer. I’ve got the nicest buffaio-tongue hyer that ever a hungry man put his tevthinto. Then, after foddering up, we'll take ashake-nown till morn- i — ing.” Wri ht and Courtney left the snanty and walked down the street to the boat. It had now grown quite dark, and as there was 10 moon, cus frionds could scarcely see ten paces vefore them. They reached the steamer, however without | accident; there they fot their rifles and a few | other *‘ small traps,” as the clerk of the stearner | denominated them, and proceeded to return to | the “apper’s shanty. ey had nearly gained half the distance, | when three dark forms brushed by them in ths gloom, The darkness was so great that the fig ures could not be easily recognized, yet Court- ney felt sure that it was the two Indian braves and the young Indian girl who had just passed him. A wild wish sprung up in his breast to once again see the Indian girl—if possible to pains. We, however, for the information of our readers, will translate the conversation of the Indians. “Why does the dog of the white-skins follow the steps of the chiet of the Blackfeet?’ demand- ed the old chief. “The White Wolf speaks with a straight tongue,” answered the strange Indian; ‘“‘ the outcast brave is a dog.” The tones of the second Indian’s voice sounded strangely familiar to the ear of the watching Courtney, though the meaning of the speech was as Greek bo ia: ‘‘ Where the deuce have I heard that voice?’ questioned Courtney, communing with himself the face of the speaker, but the darkness was too intense. Courtney could only distinguish the outlines of his form. , “ Yes, a dog that licks the hand of the whites —the hand of the deadly enemies of his race.” ‘Tt is true; the dog is in the dust; why crush him? Let the chief open his ears; he will hear things good for the Blackfeet to know,” replied the strange Indian, whose tones sounded so fa- m:liar to Courtney’s ear. “Ugh! Can the dog do good to the tribe he has disgraced?’ questioned the old chief, in a stern voice. ‘‘'The Spotted Elk is dead *p the warriors of the Blackfeet; let him rest till the Great Spirit | Elk dies too. The White Wolf will | and striving through the darkness to distinguish | | tted Elk from ies, the Spotted spare Long- legs, or the Spotted Elk will tell him not to leava the white wigwams.” ‘“*{t is good!” replied the old chief; ‘‘ Longlegs shall not die; the Spotted Elk shall save hi , the others shall die!” ‘It is well,” iaconically replied the Spotted Elk and then the two chiefs walked on in the dark ness, and their figures were soon lost to sight in the gloom of the night, ‘* Now, I'd like to get out of this,” thought Courtney, *‘ but, there’s that confounded listen- er over there. It may be some big Indiap. who may put a knife into me the moment I show nyself. Mighty little information I’ve got. I wonder where the deuce my Indian beauty is?” Then, a noise from the Yirectlens of the con- cealed person, that was yet to be proved friend or foe, attracted his atvention. e turned his eyes toward the spot; a dark figure rose from the ground and advanced directly to the. hiding- place of Courtney. Through the gloom he could distinguish that it was an Indian; on came the figure steadily toward him. ‘*T’ve got to fight for it!” said the young man, between his teeth. He sprung to his feet, draw- ing his revolver as he did so, and leveling it full at the breast of the advancing stranger, who, however, did not seem to heed the hostile action ‘* No! Longlegs saved the 8 the blue-coated whites. If he ’ speak to her; and he determined to gratify that | cails him to the happy huntin unds,” said | but still came steadily on. wish. He did not, for a moment, consider that | the strange Indian, mn a mournful voice. ‘* Keep off, or I fire!” exclaimed Courtney, as ibly the girl knew nothing of the English ‘The Spotted Elk was once a great chief of | he pressed his revolver almost to the breast of to gue, and as he knew not asingle word of any | the Blackfoot nation—the great brave of the | the strange Indian. The blanket dropped from n et therefore be imposs ever. Courtney had but one wish, one thought, the Indian languages, conversation might ible. ‘Love is. blind, how- so, toward the trees Courtney slowly bent his steps. In a few minutes he stood beneath the spreading boughs. All wassilence; the stillness of the night alone was there. | was loved, to ask love in return! “Now, then, what is my course of action?” #0 be stretched himself out at full 'ength in the ushes, Courtney had not been five minutes ir the concealment of his ambush, when his quick ear flotected the tread of persons RproReh Mee The sound came from the direction of the town. ‘“'Tho tread is too heavy for my Indian girl,” tuought he, as the sound came nearer and nearer. Then, to the eyes of the watching man, two es loomed up in the gloom of the night. at they were Indians he could plainly see by tho blankets wrapped around them. | ‘Those are the two chiefs, but where is my | beauty?” questioned the young man, as he peer- | ed into ths darkness around him, anxious to de- tect the person of the Indian girl. But, no lithe form, with its light, springing step, rewarded | besides himself. young warriors; he was the son of the White Volf One day he would have been the great chief of the Blackfeet that dwell in the Flathead from the land of his fathers. For the love of a foolish mr gt the Spotted Elk gave up the chieftainship of the Blackfeet—became a dog in the wigwams of the pale-faces—rolled in the mud at their feet—drank their fire-water, and eere of their conversation; he listened with im- tience. “T wish to heaven they’d get out, and that the girl would come!” was his muttered excla- mation. Just then a slight noise to the left. of him attracted his attention; he listened, and, in & moment, became satisfied that some one else was watching the interview of the two Indians For a moment he felt a slight alarm as to his own safety; but, as the other listener, whoever it might be, did not seem in- clined to approach, Courtney flattered himself that his presence was unknown, The two Indi- ans again resuming their conversation, he turn- ed his attention to them, thinking thot possibly t eee say something that he could under- stand. ‘The White Wolf speaks straight; the Spot- ted Elk isa wanderer, but his heart is Black- the dark figure, and by the dim light, Courtney could discern that it was the Indian’ girl whe stood before him. A cry of delight escaped hip to see the fuir face of the savage maiden—if | valley. The Spotted Elk was as brave as the | lips at the welcome sight. possible, to touch her hand, to tell her that she | eagle, and as foolish as the owl; he loved the ** White chief will not shoot Indian gir)!” said Fg of the Gray Eagle—another’s mate. | the maiden, in good, plain English, with ony & So, on arriving at the trapper’s shanty, Court- hat was the end?’ demanded the old chief. slight Indian accent, ney pinced his. ‘‘ plunder” inside, said quietly ‘The Gray Eagle came upon the Singing Bird | . “* Shoot you!” cried Courtney, pushing his re- . that he would return in a moment, and then re- | and the Spotted Elk; he was angry like the | volver back to its place. ‘‘ I would rather shoot traced his steps down the street. great clouds when they look black over the flow- myself 4 . “T may be on a wild- chase,” he said to | ers; the Gray Eagle was a great chief, a ee ‘Is white chief glad tc see Indian girl?” ques- himself, as he strolled along in the darkness, | warrior, strong as the pine-tree, but the t- | tioned the maid. his eyes and ears on the watch to detect the | ted Elk tore his heart out,’* and the voice of the ‘Glad? To be sure fam!” he cried, “ That three shadowy forms that had passed him but | chief swelled into a tone of triumph as he told | was my object in lying concealed beneath these the moment before. of the death of his foe. trees, to see you.” Suddenly a thought occurred to him. Might ‘The —— truth; the Gray “You like me?” the girl asked, jonkiags inte not the little clump of trees that had shaded the | Eagle died by his knife, but the tribe of the Courtney’s face with her bright, beautiful eyes, Indians in the day, be the best place to find | Blackfeet killed the Singing Bird—the guilty | now full and lustrous as rippling waves, . them in thenight? The thought was reasonable; | squaw—and drove the Spotted Elk an outcast ‘*Like!” cried Courtney, impetuously; ‘‘I more than tike; I love you!” and, with a quick movement he drew the unresisting girl to hia breast. A moment he held her there—a mo- ment he heard the beating of her heart against his own, and then his lips met hers in ep he gaid the young man to himself, ‘Shall I con- | became their slave,” and the voice of the old lingering, passionate ! The blood dan ceal myself in the bushes, at the foot of these | chief swelled with indignation as he spoke. The | qu-ckl through his veins; that kiss was the trees, and wait for the coming of the Indians, | other Indian hung his head, and for a moment seal of love; henceforth the maid was his: for- » or shall I give up the chase and return to the | made no reply, ever! s | » trapper’s shanty?” A few minutes’ thought de-| The interview was decidedly uninteresting to “T love yut!” said the girl, softly, looking cided him to adopt the first course of action; | the listener, Courtney, unabie to understand a with he~ full, lustrous eyes into her lover's face, ‘‘And you will leave your tribe and go with me?” questioned Courtney. ‘¢ Yes,” and the girl, lookin peering through the gloom, as if surprised, asked: ‘You go with the trapper Longlegs into the Blackfoot country?” ‘¢ Yes,” answered Courtney, in astonishment; “how did you know that?” ‘You understand the Blackfoot language?” asked the girl. sé No. ” ‘Then you could not understand what the chiefs said. ' sé b ** Ah!” and the girl for a moment was, silent; then she again continued: ‘‘ You seek some- thing in the Blackfoot country?’ - “Yes,” said Courtney, wondering where the Aza, The Indians stopped beneath the trees, and | foot. Let the chief open his ears. The White!) girl could have procured her knowledge. ‘‘I then Courtney saw that he was wrong in his | Wolf saw the strange whites with the trapper | seek a treasure worth fifty thousand do sO surmise: the two Indians were not the two | chiefs who had been with the girl Here, in- deed, was one of them—the elder w-zrior, who had carried on the conversation, but the sborter one, the younger brave, was not with the old ehief. The other Indian now with him, was a Lonelegs?” Yes,” answered the old chief. . ‘The strange chiefs seek the Flathead river, the country of the Blackfeet; they seck some- thing which thov will find in the village of the pa cannot White Wolf. Can the chief guess what they | by a the blue-coated chiefs. seek” my companion says,” The girl shook her head incredulously. ‘*T know the treasure you seek; it is a living one, and it sab 9 a with you alone, Your com- tain it though he were backed the Big river great plains.” , warrior fully as tall as the old ehief himself. ) : ,00kKSs-com > corm