Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 1167 — page 3: what you’re looking at

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

° + 1. f * ~ = * + a . -——- - ¥ ~~ at > » “pe «& 7 - - ». . .. o= nett. a < - _ 2” le ' ~ —_ Te : = wp 4 ns aX — a ra sis /. St aero alee ) Ba Sy — . id td 44% ~~ + P a “dim oy = - city and forest.” short ~ don’t come here !” ace, says he never.see’d a deer hyar. Guess _ * The man who smiled faintly at the hunter’s "te r, > is Ten it ai __ . a ee . = sere SS an P re ls — Yndians work for gold. They seek the same trail that Piney Paul hassought so long. Where is Nokomis? He said he would be here to-night. Where is the last chief of the mountain Upas?” In answer to the question there was the short growl of a wolf-dog. Piney Paul turned ae at the sound, and confronted a strongly-built Indian naked to the waist. He wore no plume, but his hair was jong and lay on his massive shoulders, Between his legs a vicious-looking dog was showing his teeth, as he snarled at the boy. “Nokomis!” cried Piney Paul, starting to- ward the Indian; ‘‘ they are here! He has sent them from the city to find and to slay!” ‘“Nokomis saw them in the forest!” was the y. “‘He came to tell the pine hunter that | repl the cannot trail together.” The boy started at the Upas’s words, and his eyes flashed. “I know his gold will be far-reaching. It will, by foul means, buy the Indian over to him; but it cannot buy Nokomis, the last of his race!” : For a moment the Indian was silent. The workings of his countenance told that the outh’s speech had affected him. A mental attle between good and evil was going on in nis mind. *‘Nokomis has said!” he said firmly, avoid- inj the boy’s Rave: ‘His gold has corrupted even you, then!” Piney Paul cried, drawing his figure to its full hight, as, with flashing eyes, he started for- ward until he found himself right before the red-skin. ‘‘ Hear me, Nokomis, the last of his race, and a traitor for the white man’s gold! They may trail, and you may trail, but I swear that you shall never find. I will stand between his accursed money and the hidden lodge. The trails of these mountains shall yet be sprinkled with blood! You have sold yourself. I drive you from my lodge as I would drive the dog which would steal my breakfast. I will watch you, mean Jndian traitor! Not a word out of our lying mouth! Go! dogand all! But first, look up and see the evil spirit that smiles upon the league you have formed with the devils of S) youth’s finger pee overhead, and the n’s eyes followed it. For one brief moment he looked up. In that of time his eyes took in the great devilish face and wings that covered the ceiling, and, with a shriek of terror, he turned on his heel and fled from the cavern. ‘Fool was I to trust that Indian!” Piney Paul said. ‘‘He has sold himself to Cecil Crane’s schemes, and my cave secret will fol- low him. But I willstand alone. By the God who loves the flower of the hidden lodge! I will baffle them. I was driven to these soli- tudes, and I will show them that there is a tiger in the fastnesses of this devil-land more cun- ning and relentless than the terror of the jungles. Didn’t I know that they would come some day to hunt for the hidden lodge? Will he come himself? No! he dare not invade these mountains where lurks for him the ouly pores who wants his blood. Stay back, Cecil Crane! CHAPTER ITI. | THE INTERRUPTED CONFERENCE. *‘Trar’s not the sign of a boat hereabouts, an ? we've skarted the whole island. _Noko an’ Red Loon st el ae yey. away citer aaah t to in’ hyar, anyhow at ae land h asus. "We have not been observed, I am sure.” 7 “Obsarved? of course not. It war quite dark when we left the shore, an’ the risin’ moon will not betray us now. This island is a place of my own pickin’, Mr, Crane. Simon hyar hadn’t a word to say in the matter. They’ call it Deer Island—the Injuns do—but they don’t know why. Nokomis, who knows every foot of the it that because a deer never got hyar. last remark was a person of two and thirty, - snaky eyes, Ane a cold, money-cunning face. He tags soem Same to be a ha bitue of the Adirondacks; there were ra) * “4 mere - Pi *}5 . at in the stern of a long canoe, which, be- , carried the two hunters, Tarsus d Simon Oldfoot, eps raft loomed the form of an islan a3 HINSse twell a: Awe: - Res : ° an See J — —_—_ = oes ~ =< , Poe = xt . on, — =TS nie > - tani + eA P a aa ak ‘ Me se OF eS . — . ae ES ne (The Hidden Lodge. —— —— The moon, deserting a bank of clouds, threw her mellow light upon the voyageurs; but they soon passed beyond it into the shadows, and leaped ashore. “They were to meet us at a certain place, I SANDOR: the cityfied man said, half questioning- ‘‘Of course,” answered Simon. ‘‘ We've been hyar afore an’ kin find the place. Wonderful country, this.” ‘* Nature is wild here,” was the reply. ‘** An’ the people, too!” “The Indians, you mean?” ‘Everybody! Bless you, Mr. Crane, it you’d seen what Tarsus an’ me hev seen since we've come into this country, you wouldn’t be hyar to-night to meet two red-skins on Deer Island.” ‘Perhaps not; but I do not intend turning back until my work is accomplished,” the city man said with firmness, ‘I may be risking my life, but I will go on. There is no turning back till my work is done, I care not what obstacles lie in my way. I came here for business!” There was no reply; but the two giants ex- changed looks that were significant. . The boat was moored to the body of a tree which the violence of the mountain gales had hurled into the water, and the trio pushed into the interior of the island. “They're thar,” said Nightwell, suddenl throwing his voice over his shoulder at his fol- lowers, and a minute later five dark human fig- ures stood amid the shadows that nestled on the center of the island, “This is our master!” said Nightwell to the two Indian figures, were his hand as he spoke toward Cecil Crane. ‘‘ This is the white man with the gold, He will tell our red brethren what he wants. Nokomis and Red Loon must know that he never lies!” Without waiting for Nightwell to finish the introductory remarks, Cecil Crane extended his hands, which were taken by the stranger with expressive *‘ ughs” and “‘ good brothers.” ‘I came from the great city to see you,” Cecil Crane said, as the Indians drew their figwres to majestic hight, and with arms folded upon brawny chests, waited for him tos ** Long’ ago some evil hand stole a white chi d from the arms of its mother, and it was carried to this country, Somewhere that child is still hidden, watched by the person who stole it. That was seventeen years a Wc Lave Leard that she has been seen in these mountains and we have hunted for her; but all trails have ended sud- denly, as if the child had re ere into the water of this lake. I came to tell my red brethren that if they find the trail and bring the white child to me, I will load them down with gold, and with fine goods from the great city of my ple. My friends are here. They are skillful evade they will trail with Red Loon and No- omis, Cecil Crane finished, and stepping back, awaited a reply. . The Indian called Red Loon, a lithe fellow, be possessed of much str ngth, broke the si- nce, - ‘* Red Loon will trail the child-stealer for his pee brother!” he said. ‘‘ He must be well paid, or does not the chief take his life in his hands? There is one who will follow Red Loon. He will tear the white child from the Indian’s arms and send a bullet to his heart. The canoe boy is a tiger.’ ecil Crane looked at his white companion, + m does he mean?” he asked, “Pll tell ye arter ’while. Don’t let the boy bother you. We're five; he’sone. Odds‘enough, Simon, eh?’ ‘“Odds enough, Mr. Crane,” said Oldfoot. Sh Red Loon that you'll give him all he wants.’ The last sentence, couched in a whisper, fell LS the white man’s ears alone, and he assured e caviling Indian that his trail should be ea sprinkled with gold coin. The ’s eyes flashed ¢ eedily. “It is enough!” said Loon. “We will trail the man with the white girl, The woods and rivers of this land are as open ee to Red not and Nokomis. Will my white brother o back | . “No? said Cecil Crane, quickly. “ Without the girl I will never “4 “Then you never go back!” AS ir2 If a thunderbolt dropped at the feet of the five the thrilling sentence would not have startled them less, | The voice came from the impenetrable gloom iy turned toward them en w em. ” Coal rane’s was white; a nameless terror had taken possession of it. . ~ Ste S <8 : . rea a , —-> —-_ ~— “ <T} —— > x me “ - al a eS a OE ; . = + a =< ee tn ee ~~ == = - = — Ss ' -———___ CC lOO OOO OOOrOanrrrr nw rr ee eee 0000 0 0 OO O00 COO OO OO en> ‘Lead back your tools and get yourself from this domain!” cried the same stern voice from the shadows. ‘The girl whom you seek shall never fall into your hands. Between her and you stand death in more forms than one. It igs decreed in heaven that your gold shall never drag her from the hidden lodge, Leave this country, Cecil Crane!” , The man to whom these words were address- ed listened like a criminal at the bar to bis death sentence, and he staggered against Simtn Oidfoot with a sound—half-curse, half-cry. *‘ It’s a lie!” he cried, recovering himself im- pulsively and darting forward. ‘'T care not if all the devils of these solitudes eer against me. No voicecan drive me hence. ‘Tarsus, Si- mon, what are you doing? You know this island. Follow the villain and bring him to me! But the giants did not move, and the Indians were motionless, too, “*Foller a shadder or a ghost?” said Night- well, with the old leer of fright in his eyes which a fortnight Panag had glittered there, ‘* We'll hunt the gal fur ye, an’ all that; but we wouldn’t foller the thing what spoke fur all the gold in yer chests.” “ Pish!” flashed Crane, derisively, and with anger. ‘To perdition with your ghosts! Red Loon and Nokomis, are you, too, afraid? You know this land. Follow the liar out there in the gloom, riches for his accursed scalp!” ) Cecil Crane tore the gold chain from his neck, and thrust it with the magnificent watch at- tached to it into Red Loon’s hand. **Red Loon is brave!” said the Indian, as he thrust the costly gift aside. ‘He will hunt the pale girl; but he stands here like a tall pine when the spirit speaks.” ‘‘ Cowards!” cried the baffled adventurer, his face chan Bing from its pallor to the lividness of rage. ‘‘lam not afraid to face the liar. All the imps of this imp-land cannot frighten me.” With a suddenness that no one could meet, he tore the rifle from Nightwell’s gripe and bound- ed forward. ; But the next instant a hand seized his-coMer, and lifted him bodily from the ground. It was the hand of Simon Oldfoot, **Yowre crazy,” saidthe giant. ‘We'll sar- cumvent that feller out thar some time or oth- er. The advantage is all his’n now. We knows our business.” Cecil Crane was forced to listen, firmly held as he was in the vise-like grasp of Oldfoot. “The trail to the hidden lodge will be bloody!” came the voice from the darkness, ‘The crimes of the past shall be avenged. The eagles of the Adirondacks and thé wolves will glare at the bones of Ceci] Crane and his fol- owers.” 1 Simon Oldfoot released his employer and saw him brace his courage up. ‘‘T'll prove it all a lie!” he cried. ‘I am not afraid of you! The eagles and the wolves shall behold your carcass, and the coyotes shall quar- rel over it. Iam here, and here I stay until E> p ! Beware, sir boastert I have gold enough to hire every Indian in these fastnesses to trail you. I will make each one a blood-hound.”’ . The only answer was a wild, derisive ang which seemed to set the leaves in motion as i rippled through them. | & CHAPTER IV. SHADES OF DBA accomplish my HatwF an hour later the island on the bosom of Lake 'Tupper—called then by an Indian name as dificult of pronunciation as the cognomen o Maine’s rivers—was deserted by humanity, — The moon came~up slowly and bathed the sleeping water and the ae f the stately pines in a shower of silv Ai 9 Two boats were disap ng in the shadows that hugged the They contained. Cecil Crane and his pa no doubt, to Tn an opposite direction, an object likea small St ap ng sie, at iy : ripples, bu nO noise to disturb the li pociiie ear of nature. 3 The figure that occupied the middle of the Sp was boyish in proportions. It was ey Paul's. maker _ He guided the boat toward a dark island-like object which ight have been il ) to keen _ eyes-from Deer nd, north of the place of the interrupted conferenx and was not so large as it, by pedi seyy os eeoed ‘When the boat touched the most adventure s0mo Let him not escape. Here! my | island, cutting the — visible . shadows of the trees, the boy lifted the —