Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 1167 — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

14 — fee ~ — - sete. - p - x ~ : Oa J | , a | anxiety and interest, told Cecil Crane that his words were not enigmas to her. ‘“Well, the girl did not appear when she be- came fifteen, and the nephew came into posses- sion of the estate which to-day is a vast one even in that rich city. Do you want to know why she never appeared? Shortly after the opening of the will, an Indian was seen prowling around her home some twenty miles from. the city, and one night both he and the child eae 4 vared. The years passed away and the little girl became lost to the memory of the few who knew her. But at last strange stories came to the cities about a white person among these mountains—a girl who lived with an old Indian, The tales sounded like myths, but I believed them. I came here to prove them, and I know now that ou are the girl who was carried away by the ndian. You cannot recollect that far back?’ “No!” was the answer. ‘‘I thought I had always lived with Patagan.” ‘‘Ts that his name?” said Cecil Crane, anxious- ly. ‘*He who stole you called himself Ocotoc. @ was an ogreish-looking fellow.” ‘* Patagan often talks of Ocotoc,” Cicely said. “T wish I could lay my hands on the imp! Crane said hoarsely and with rising passion.” ‘‘ He lied! lied basely! He said that you were dead, and yet I dare say he brought you here and sold you to Patagan.” : ‘But what are you going to do?’ asked Cicely seriously. “That is getting at the matter!” flashed Ce- cil Crane. ‘‘ What do you think [ came here for? I am the nephew of the old man who willed you all his money. | Some day or other you would be found by that meddling boy, and turn ——— - —— + — Beadle’s Half-Dime Library. sss aa Pe ate way by the approach of Pelosee he had aimed a blow" me if shecan. All the imps in these old moun- tains have failed to baffle me!” With a wild bound he started forward again and bis foot was crossing the line of light when the crack of a rifle echoed shrilly and clear in the forest aisles. j The last werd of his triumphant sentence ceased to quiver his lips, for a cry so often the DEPCurBot of death drove it hence, and he fell *kward to the very edge of the forest fire! ‘*T told him the vultures and wolves should quarrel over his carcass!” cried a voice, and the next moment Piney Paul bounded into the lighted arena. fe turned quickly té yreet the springing form of Pelosee, but stopped with a strange cry, and, starting back, gazed with horror at the burden that hung from the witch’s arms. ‘“My God! is this the end of the trail?’ he cried, as Pelosee came forward. ‘‘ Tell me that Cicely is not dead. If she is, | wish Cecil Crane had a thousand lives, that I might take .them every one!” -Pelosee did not reply » but laid Cicely, or Lit- tle Arrow, at Piney Paui’s feet, and then looked up with the unmistakable triumph of jealousy in her sparkling eyes! En CHAPTER XVI. THE END OF THE TRAIL. Wuen Piney Paul darted forward, it was to lift Cicely from the ground, and to look into her expressionless face, ‘Dead it is!” he cried, glancing at Pelosee who waited impatiently for a confirmation of her hopes. Who did this, girl—you or Cecil Crane?’ at Cicely’s heart, but the blade penetrated her, arm, thus saving ker life. And he had paid for all his villainy and heart-: less Seaires:} For several days the white girl had lain om the couch watched unceasingly b y Bee Paul, who resolved that he would not leave her side until he had placed ber in possession of her rights in New York. Pelosee had followed him to the cave. The Indian girl noticed with nosign of joy Cicely’s return to consciousness and health. Her eyes fell evilly upon the zealous watcher by the couch, and more than once the boy caught her casting angry glances at Cicely. He felt that the witch still required watching gage the dangers of the forest were not yet passed. But let us return to the youthful twain in the cave. They were its sole occupants, and their con- *versation for a long time was not interrupted. All at once, a cry that caused the boy to leap: to his feet came into the cavern. It scemed to come from a throat not far away, and beneath the rocky roof of the corridor leading from the water side. It wasacry of mingled pain and defiance! Bounding toward the chamber, rifle in hand, Piney Paul was suddenly confronted by a hide- ous human which he with difficulty recognized, . as Nokomis. The terrible aspect which the last Upas pre- sented had been created by the demon of fire. His long hair had been burned to the skull, and his body, repulsively disfigured by flames, was. up suddenly in New York, There was another ‘‘T sir!” came the unexpectéd reply from the | enough to drive the boy back! alasne in that will that I haven’t mentioned. | white man, who had partially raised his body A wild cry pealed from the Indian’s throat Well, never mind! it wouldn’t help you to know | from the ground, “ Dead, the brat is, you say, | when his eyes fell upon the mountain boy, and. it. Don’t you sea what I’m driving at? You | Piney Paul? Look again and tell me truly!” brandishing the tomahawk which he griped in are in my way, curse you! You can make me a beggar—so confoundedly poor that the richest ople in the a tog quarrel for the first ick at me, This is plain talking, Cicely Draeme; you can’t misunderstand me! Misunderstand him when his eyes fairly danced in the fire that seemed to consume them. ' **Tt cost me many thousands to get here!” he continued; ‘* but the reward pore richly for the expenditure and my toils. needn’t cep my inteations back. I’m going to drive this knife clear through your heart. That’s what I came here for!” =: Cicely uttered a cry of horror and strove to break from the hunter’s grasp; but he held her firmly with his left hand. > When did the red trollop leave?” he cried, suddenly, noticing that Pelosee had mysteri- ously and without noise disappeared. The spit, burned half in twain, was. ready to let the grouse aooy tito the fire, but the Indian 1 was not near to prevent the threatened ca- he, aide “eae a fool to — her et — "3 oat again turning pale. ‘‘ Was iso wrap u ts iy telic ak to Eo so foolish? She may be the rifle at my breast now. Curse my more than empty-headed folly !” For a moment he remained undecided how to act; but he covered his breast ppt 8 with his captive and retreated from the firelight. ‘Tt wou:d be dangerous to lift the knife here!” he said in a low tone, which reached the girl’s ears. ‘‘But in the woods Pll make my property secure, and then the others who want you can have you!” The forest seemed to swallow Cecil Crane and his prisoner in its gloom. The grouse fell into the and began to burn there. Deeper into the woods the hunter went with Cicely dropped from the boy’s embrace, and with a revengeful cry he turned upon Cecil Crane. But his hand was not lifted against his pale- faced foe, for the villain fell back crying— **Dead! dead! thank heaven! they can’t take it from Blanche!” The mountain boy Lee for Pelosee’s arm was between him and his foe. ‘‘The long trail—see!” she said. ‘‘ He lies as still as Pelosee’s bear in the forest!” Sure enough, Cecil Crane was lying motionless at the fire, and a glance served to show Piney Paul that he was dead! ‘*Come!” he said to the witch, as he took u Cciely’s hody in his arms again. ‘“‘ We will see the cave now. All my t have ended!” He turned away, followed by the scarlet girl, and the figures passed from the firelight. “ How long ago was it, Paul?’ ** Did he not tell you that night?’ “Yes; but I want to hear it from your lips. Pelosee is not here now.” “* She left the cave last night, so do not let her bother your thoughts. It was fifteen years ago or more. I do not recollect the matter; but when I grew up they told me all about you. They said that Ceci) e was at the bottom of the trickery, and when word came from these mountains that a white girl, guarded by an old Indian, dwelt among them, I came hither to find — need not teli you that Cecil Crane came, , for he believed that you were his cousin, the person who could take all his ill-gotten wealth which he deserved. We hunted and fought one another for you. I know now why Ocotoc knew of you, for at Cecil Crane’s instigation he car- you from home and gave you to Pata away, and bring upon his head the obloquy his right hand, he turned to the opening with the desperation of a tiger brought to bay by re- lentless pursuers. The next minute Piney Paul was at his side.. ‘““They caught Nokomis in the woods!” the hunted Indian said. ‘They tied him to a pine and piled sticks around him, Then they shot. arrows into his arms and legs and burned his: long hair away. But Nokomis lifted his voice to the Great Spirit for strength, and it came; it went through his body hot and swift. He broke the sinews and kicked the fire away ; but it is in his limbs yet. He fled and the ollow- ed, Nokomis broke the arrows off in his body, and they kept him back, Mountain Cat, they are here. Hist! they can trail Nokomis by his blood and the scent of his burned limbs. Go back and Jy with the flower of the lost lodge.” “No!” said Piney Paul, determinedly, “I will defend her here!” There were unmistakable sipne of the a proach of Nokomis’s hunters. ey had - ed the last Upas to the Piptited cave, and were entering it, eager to finish the work begun in the forest. The corridor that led to the water made a gradual slope from the spot where the defend- ers stood. It was narrow, high and dark, and! was ily revealed by the light of the fire. The hunters were in the corridor; they were creeping cautiously forward like panthers upon their prey. To them the location of the cave was unknown; but they ted to find Noko- mis soon and finish him. This was their ambi- ion. For several minutes the two defenders listened to the sounds that betrayed the presence of the Mohicans. Piney Paul glided 'S the fire and took there- from a flaming brand. e ball!” he said to the chief. vengeance in his eyes, and his hand on his knife. | That night I thought you were dead; but how Tl] open Cicely, resisting no longer, did not utter a | glad I was todiscover that the knife had pierced | Nokomis took the torch and threwit sudden word. * : your arm, and not-your heart.” and with a shout down the corridor. It alight- All at once there came a startling cry from ‘** And we will go to the city now?’ ed with precision amid the group of consulting: the shaded depths, and then the sound of some one running deeper into Lt, ape The cry was not re ; the very echoes taken up on every side by the tone, seem to tell the story of some deed of blood, and ghastly crime, Suddenly the feet of the unseen runner neared ‘When I have seen Ocotoc and heard from his lips the story of Cecil Crane’s villainy.” ‘What! Wi l'you venture upon that dread- ful island eo “Yes. ould you not like to see old Pata- gan once more?” **He was very kind to me,” was the reply. braves who were thus revealed, and the next; instant the report of Piney Paul’s rifle was fol- lowed by a death-cry! The torch was quickly seized by the Mohicans: and dashed again and again against the wall ot, the corridor until it was extinguished. But by this time the rifle had been reloaded;. the fire. Like an antelope the unknown bound- | ‘ He would give me up to you, and tell me and a second ball went crashing t ed forward and all at once came into the | follow you back to the houses of my people.” brain of another red hunter! BPOND TP ht. It was in the pictured cave once described to | ‘‘ Now Nokomis meets the Mohican wolves!” ‘At was Cecil Crane, andalone! the reader that the foregoing conversation took | cried the scorched red-skin, and before Piney’ There were footsteps behind him, and he | place Paul could restrain him, he darted into the pas: ht sight of a female figure, clad in a fan- tastic Indian dress, and hastening forward. All this in the moment of his halt in the fire- fighs.:e9 it to recover strength for a resumption “Ty Arg it!”. he cried, defiantly, and with a fiendish laugh. ‘‘ Now let the demoness catch Cicely reclined on a couch of skins over which the mellow light of a pine fire fell, and seated beside her was Piney Paul listening with a joy to the words that fell from her pS. Cecil Crane had misdirected his last blow in the shadow of the Adirondack woods. Startled sage witha yell that would have been creditable: to the Prince of Tophet,. ‘The fellow’s mad!” cried the boy. ‘ Gim- sis y and crickets! there’ll be some tough work now - The “tough work” began even while he waa speaking, for the wild cries of combat and the ’ : . - : : ; , a i oe a, ae et a 7 ; : . 4 books.com , s T., a 7 —. - ™ + > - ~ = - . - ~~ eee