Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 121 — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

fi > oe ee oe ee Ee : - . 2° eS eer ee ee 10 tion, lady?’ Ma asked, as he finished nib- bling at his dried buffalo-meat. ‘‘ This country is so fair thas 1 really could wish that the jour- ney was a long one.’ ‘Oh! you'll get enough of it, before you sight Mount Rosa,” Chip reassured. ‘“ Ef don’t, set me down as a lass beat. "T'wixt now an’ to-morrow night thar’ll be heaps of music in these yere lattytudes.” “* Music?” f Yes, music. Ye’ll heer all sorts o’ tunes, sech as ‘Put me in my little bed,’ an’ ‘ See’t my grave’s kept green,’ ter be sung wi’ Apas accompaniment.” +é he?’ ‘* Waal, Ireckon. Apash abound up on th rairies, thicker’n fleas on a red org. ER? ardpan, you old blister-plaster—ain’t thet “Yes, Chip, my hollyhock; Apash ar’ ex- ceedin’ spry up hayrabouts, durn my old frog- bazzoo, ef they ain’t. Seen as menny as fifty thousan’ of ’em at one time, all performin’ a war-dance,” ‘“‘Git out! Fo’ suah, dat’s no circumstance. While yan drawin’ de long bow, why not make a big one!’ exclaimed the darky. ‘Yes; thet’s the ticket,” captain Mayburn cried; ‘‘let every man, woman and child do something in the way of a Pit to digest the meal, For instance, let’s give a truthful statement of just how many of the red Bedou- ins of the West we’.2 slain, single-handed, in one day. I think some of the gang can contrib- ute some pretty big fi or myself, I have killed and scal of the heathens in one day single-handed, and alone.” ‘Pshaw! dat’s nuffin. I’se killed as high as thirteen, an’ it wasn’t much of a day for In- spe, nethet ” exclaimed the darky. “Well, that isa fair day’s work, I should say, Jerusalem. Dutch, how much can you ‘Oh! I haff kill so high as fifdeen in vone hour und dree quarters, und perried ’em all mit der ground!” the German replied, swelling with b papcr tenon. ‘Worse and worse. Hardpan, you are the biggest liar in the crowd—what can you do for us “Ef ye want ter know of one solid day’s work of ther t frog-faced bazzoo o’ ther Nor’west, jest rami. Et’san actooal fact, biyees, wi’out any veriation frum ther scri tooral truth, thet I hev started sixty red heath- - > their speeritual pilgrimage, in one ae | aoe ‘You , don’t you, Chip?’ the captain ar ae ig to the Girl Guide. as : es—I shoot _— a une away from n,” was the laughing reply. ; How about ae Rosebud higher than ; : ; never any er one,” the Sport admitted. “‘ Well, I guess Hardpan is bound to have the pees. the captain decided with a smile, “ un- ess, mayhap, Wild Bill or Pi Pete, bere, can do something for us. do you say, Pete?” ‘*Me no Injun,” the Celestial nded with a dubious shake of his hand. ‘‘Me no pee Injun—run muchee fastee from Injun, al- ee samee. _ Well, well, I guess it is left to Marion to cap the climax, yet,” Mayburn averred; “ Come, Bill—tell us your best day’s average.” “No! no!” the Avenger exclaimed, a gloomy expression flitting across his swarthy face— ‘‘T never coun he number, for fear of being struck blind.” A shudder seemed to run through the frames of the listeners—there was something horrible in the meaning of the words, and none who bad ever heard of Wild Bill Marion, could doubt that he had killed and scalped more Indians than any other man on the border. silence of several] minutes was finally broken by Captain Mayburn. ‘ You spoke of Apaches, Chip,” he said, turning to the Girl Guide. ‘‘ When, and where do you expect we shall encounter them?’ ‘“Most anywheres, *twixt here and Mount Rosa,” was the reply. “Ef ye see ’em, at all, it will be on horseback, an’ about fifty milyun on ’em, at that.” - ‘‘Then, we must watch sharp, every man, and prevent a surprise, which would surely cripp e us,” the captain warned. ter the horses had grazed for an hour or more, a mount was ordered, and the cavalcade of adventurers was soon dashing away over the prairie, due north, Cinnamon riding in ad- vance with the grace of a gazelle. No halt was muce uutil sunset, when they Cinnamon Chip. ——-— = sighted a small prairie motte, and aimed for it, as a camping er On arrival, they found that the timber cov- ered less than half an acre, and was watered by a little prairie stream, niaking it a choice spot for a camp. ** Good place for a cam arned likely place fer af ome ” Wild Bill ion cautioned, when they d dismounted, and struck camp. ‘Yes, an’ ef we don’t see a red sun afore mornin’, set me down fer a candidate fer next President,” Chip asserted in all earnestness. To which Old Hardpan nodded his head, as- oe Ind it seemed a prevalent expectation among the adventurers that there would be trouble with the reds, before Sar The camp was pitched in the northern oape of the motte, and two tents erected—one for the Girl Guide, and the other for the male portion of the company. After a supper had been prepared and dis- patched, Chip said: “Mebbe you’re boss of this expedition, Cap- t’?in, but I opine ef ye don’t want them yaller locks o’ yourn hangin’ to an Apash lance, afore mornin’, ye’d better put out some pickets or guards, to prevent ther consarned Injuns frum crawlin’ over us, when we’re wraslin’ wi’ Mor- pheus.” ‘‘ Yes, a guard will have to be stationed,” Mayburn replied—‘ two of them atthat. I do not mean to be surprised, if I can help it.” Accordingly the Dutchman and the ne were sent on duty for the first half of the ni t to be relieved at midnight by the scout, Wil Bill, and Rosebud Rob. The remainder of the pen! immediately sought rest and’ repose, well wrapped in their blankets. But they were not nearly asleep when there was a series of wild yells on the southern side of the motte, and a moment later, just as our party of adventurers had gained their feet, grasped their weapons, and rushed outside the tent, the two guards made their appearance, leading two prisoners, whom they kept in abey- ance by the aid of leveled cocked revolvers. ‘‘ Yah! yah! we’se got de tief dat stole yer onions, massa!” Jerusalem shouted, in delight. ‘* se cotched de skunk dat stole yer chickens!” ‘““Yaw! yaw! we haff got so much ash swi pig teefs dot stole away mit yer sauerkraut, py shimminy!” the Dutchman added. ‘By Jove, they are white men, instead of Indians,” Mayburn cried, as he stepped into the light of the dying campfire and surveyed the two prisoners. ‘‘Where did you get these chaps, boys?” “Oh! ve caught hime prowlin’ around mit der outside off de grove, unt ve t’ink ash how ve petter capture hime, und bring him mit der camp in, youst fer de shoke of de t’ing,” the Ger- man exp | CHAPTER IX. NIGHT VISITANTS. THE two prisoners were as nearly unlike as the eccentric pair who had captured them, as far as personal appearances went. The German’s captive was an elderly man with iron gray hair and bearded face, and had the dress and bearing of a traveling clergy- man. His companion was a younger person, sa about six-and-twenty years of age, with an ef- feminate countenance, shaded darkly; black eyes, closely-cropped brown hair, and a slight mustache, | His dress was of stylish light diagonal cloth, well fitted, and patent-leather se ian fitted to his small fect, and a silk hat upon his bead. Both men carried weapons, and the elder one a rough sachel, which evidently answered to carry the paraphernalia of both. “Verily, my good man, thou wilt not suffer us toremain in the hands of these rough and lawless men?” the elder prisoner said, turning to Captain Mayburn. ‘We are shepherds of the Lord’s flock, an’ cometh into the land of the Philistines to gather around us a fold.” ‘“T reckon, boss, ye’ve struck ther wrong cli- mate — yer partickler biz!” old Hardpan n “Nary a sheep ner a lamb will ye git in this kentry, onless et be a mountain billy goat, or a yowltin’ coyote.” “'Nary a lamb!” accorded Cinnamon Chip, leaning upon her rifle. “I opine, stranger, ye hain’t struck a werry saintly crowd.” ‘‘ Nevertheless we falter not, but plant our ' platform, and hoist the flag of the righteous on ihe breeze,” the elder prisoner said, sclemniy. ‘Thou art not human if thou wilt not listen te the words of the 1.” ‘‘Mebbe we ain’t!” Chip replied, with a low laugh. ‘‘ Eh? Rosey—my blooming bud, what’s yer inventory o’ thet crowd?’ ‘“‘T rather suspect that the elder party isa humbug!” Rosebud Rob replied, decidedly. ‘I don’t like the cut of his nib, exactly, but have seen worse-looking clergymen. Say, old Rock of Ages, what’s yer introduc?” ‘‘ Young man, thy flippant tongue betrays a calloused heart; moreover, thou art a scoffer. As for my name, if that is what you ask, it is the Right Reverend Harvey Hannibal Fish r of the Jerusalem Orthodox Church, at erusalem Center, Madison county, Injeanna.” ‘*Whew! and who is the effeminate rooster with the stove-pipe hat, and diagonals?” ‘That, sir, is my son, Charles Augustus Fish, presiding elder of the Jerusalem circuit.” ‘* Bet five ter one he can’t lick a crippled mus- keeter!” Chip wagered. ‘‘I say, you Charles rere Daisybeau, did ye ever sculp an i The Lawd forbid!” the younger Fish gasped, putting up his hands, in horror. ‘‘Compare me not © woman, with the Philistines of the wilderness?” ‘*Keerect! don’t mix that galoot wi’ our gang o disciples!” grunted Old Hardpan. ‘‘ We don’t want no craw-Fish pilgrims wi’ this com- mand, nohow.” ‘‘Gentlemen,” Captain Mayburn interposed, scrutinizing the new-comers with a keen gaze, ‘‘vour coming here is most inopportune, as we, are on the eve of an expec ttle with the Apache Indians, and must use every precaution. Not knowing who you may be, we must bind ou, and hold you as prisoners, until after the ght. ‘‘Thou art over-wise, my friend,” the Rever- end Harvey Fish replied, piously. ‘‘Surely we the servants of the church, would not seek to a thee harm?” ‘‘ Neither would a coyote chaw terbaccer, ef he didn’t get a chance,” was Hardpan’s sugges- tion. ‘‘Ner a Greaser steal a horse,if he didn’t know how,” Chip chimed in. ‘“‘“You must either submit to be bound, or o whence you came,” Mayburn announced. ‘If you’re clear timber, you won’t suffer—if you turn out treacherous, we’ll most likely han you to one of these trees. Boys, you may bind em, hand and foot.” Ready hands were there to assist in obeying the captain’s order, and in a twinkling both of stragglers were upon their backs, securely un’, Jerusalem and the Dutchman were then sent back to their posts, and Wild Bill volunteered to act as guard over the prisoners while the re- mainder of the party turned in for rest. And although they retired to their respective tents, they were not allowed to enjoy undis- turbed re , for about midnight the German came as ing into camp, followed closely by arky. ** Got fn himmel! dar vasso many ash sixteen tousandt Injuns out mit der prairie!” he eewehe esticulating wildly. ‘‘ Dey vos comin’ straigh or dis camp, quicker ash ee ‘Yah! yah! dere’s a hull regiment of de oe rele fo’ suah!” Jerusalem averred, wildly. ild Bill motioned for them to be silent, while he listened. It took but a moment for bis quick sense of hearing to ish a dull thud upon the prairie. Stepping first to one tent then the other, he shouted the single word: “ Injuns /” in a clear, ringing voice, and it had the effect to bring the adventurers quickly to their feet. Out of the tents they came, weapons in is the matter, now?’ Mayburn demanded, glancing around. ‘‘Injuns!” Wild Bill replied, ‘“‘ Listen, if you don’t believe it.” They did listen, and heard the jarring noise of horses’ hoofs. ‘‘ Indians, I guess,” Mayburn admitted, ‘and unless we get to business, we’re likely to be in here for some time.” sg dea are you going to do?’ Rosebud Rob asked. ‘‘ Fight, of course. You take Cinnamon Chip, Wild Bill, and the Dutchman, and I'll take Hardpan, Jerusalem and Pigtail, and we'll go to the southern side of the motte and meet the cutthroats. If they surround us, string out your men around to the west and north, and I'll meet you from the other way.” “Tf we can help it, not a red-skin must gain entrance to the motte!” laconically. “GOMIGDOOKS: EO