Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 13 — page 10: what you’re looking at

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10 Beadle’s Half-Dime Library. swered by a shrill whistle, coming from the top of the very knoll where he had seen a small party of Indians encamped. He knew at once there was a preconcerted system of telegraphy existing between the outlaws and _ the Indians—that the former were calling their red al- lies to their assistance. The savages, added to the bloodhounds, would render the peril of the fugitives imminent, and so, quickening pace, the hunter pressed on. . Arrived at the oak, he was greatly disappointed at not finding his friends there. He uttered a low whistle in hopes it would reach their ears and elicit a response that would direct him aright. A deep silence succeeded his call, There was no response, nor could he hear a sound, nor discover a sign by which he could determine the course taken by the itives. However, there was no time for specula- tion, and the natural presumption forced itself at once upon his mind that they had gone east toward the river, as had formerly been decided upon, and so he moved briskly away in that direction, expect to come up with them, But an hour’s walk foun still alone, He was now several miles from the cabins of the outlaws, and scarcely knowing what course to pue sue next, he stopped to listen. If he could only hear the baying of the hounds, this, he me might give him some clew to the course taken by his friends, ut he could hear nothing. A deep and unnatural silence brooded over the woodland, but this was sud- denly succeeded by the sharp report of firearms, mingled with piercing screams, wild, sayage yells and fierce, brutal execrations. These sounds came from not over rods from where the old borderman then stood, and they smote like a death-knell upon his ears. “Too eg Too ; cole aren sae eg een as a pang of regret shot t iis great breast; “ they’ve been overtaken and all captured. me it may go hard with the ee may be slain on the spot. But the girls— By the gods of he fey one I'll make a Golgotha of Ingin and robber-bones bu what I rescue them angels! It’s no use to whine now, but it were a bad thing when we separated at the cabins, for I may and may not have saved ’em And I expect they've been a leetle careless, and went billin’ and coein’ like lovers would do, through the darkness, and let ’emselves into a oe But, Hurricane, move your stumps; you may be in time to render your friends some help.” He listened. He could still hear the sound of ex- cited voices, but nothing by which he could deter- — ig fa 4 - his Se wee - Ne oe so - a trail, he crept forward throug e woods, sto occasionally to n. He soon diasovered Bhat those excited voices were stationary, and as he drew closer and closer to them his practiced ear caught a sound like that of water dripping on dry leaves. He pats a and pressing his ear to the earth, listened intently. e could still hear that slow, mysterious drop, drop. What did it mean? The old hunter scratched his head in dire perplexity. For once in his life he heard a sound for which eoild not account. But his curiosity overbalanced his superstition, and he determined to investigate the matter. So he crept silently forward and soon came to the edge of a little moonlit glade, on the margin of which he halted. Before him lay an old log, and across this lay the half-nude form of an Indian warrior. He was dead, aud from a wound in the head drops of blood were failing on a pile of dry leaves collected by the log. The mystery stood explained, and the old border- man pushed boldly out into the glade and examined the body. He recognized the Indian by his enor- mous size, being fully as large as the hunter himself as a notorious war-chief called Strong-Arm, and leader of the party he had seen encamped on the knoll near Mobile’s cabin. He knew at once that this very spot was where his friends had been overtaken, and that Strong-Arm had been slain in the conflict that ensued. But the voices—now toned down—that he could hear were a few rods further south, and so he crept on and came to @ halt within ear-shot of them. He heard a ugh, raeping voice—which he readily detected as nfa ying at of the mous Abel Mobile—sa : ro th «* Yes, my little ladies, you've got yerselves into a purty muss by lopin’ off with these two yo scamps, who'll hang for their part in the game.” From this Hurricane gleaned that both the maid- ens and their lovers had been recaptured. ‘And now, Thoms,” he heard Mobile continue, “as these little runaways ‘ll not be safe at my cabin while that infurnal big Hurricane goes unhung, we'll trot ’em none down to Spain.” ‘* That’s the place for ‘ keeps,’ ’’ Thoms exclaimed. Mobile continued: ‘** Now, I'll run back home with these ‘ere hounds, and wg couple o’ ponies to take the runaways on, fur it'll be a lo walle fur the likes o’ them, tho’ T’li warrant they'd ‘a’ walked to Halifax with these young freebooters.” right, Abel,” Thoms responded; “we'll wait fur you at the Two Oaks. You see, we’ve got to do a little hanging before we git rid of these two gal- thieves, and the Two Oaks, you know, is where sich things are done.” “That's the Cale Thoms,” replied Mobile; “don’t let the ra pester us any eurder, bat hang "erm, cuss em, ang *em.” ** What will you do with Strong-Arm's Tn- s?’’ Thoms now inquired of the four Indians stood over Harry and Ransom with drawn toma- hawks. ‘* We take body “long,” one of the Indians re . Latng Ceri great war-chief—chief and friends be an take to make lit poe he no body eer “Wal, it’s no use to try to persuade ’em out 0’ takin’ the body,’’ Mobile said; *“‘so now, Thoms, you and Hupp will have to look sharp. It will take all four o° the Ingins to tote the carcass o’ Strong-Arm, and you'll have to take charge o’ that pair 0’ young ladies and brace of gal-thieves. Mebby I'll be at the Two Oaks in time to help boost the gentlemen up.” ‘*And J may be there, too, my dear Abel Mobile,”’ mused Old Hurricane, as the outlaw turned and started on his return to his cabin with his hounds. I will here remark that the dogs had not been turned loose upon the fugitives’ trail, else the result would have been serious. They had been held in re tine their master, who, with his companions, followed at their heels at a rapid pace; and when the fugitives were overtaken, the fierce brutes were held back by the leash. The old hunter could not see the parties, for they stood in among the densest shadows, but, from what he had heard, he learned this: Harry Dudley and Ransom Kendall were alive and unharmed. But they were prisoners, and were to be hung at the Two Oaks, a point well known to him and situated a mile further east. The girls were both captives also, and were to be taken to 8 for safe-keeping. The captors, since Mobile’s departure, numbered six, two outlaws and four Indians. For some time the hunter argued with himself whether or not he should make a charge “oe the foe and attempt his friends’ release. ut there were two obstacles in the way, either one of which was sufficient to defeat him; and he knew that a failure on his part, in case he should make an at- tack, would precipitate the execution of H and Ransom, One of these obstacles was the overwhelm- ing number of the foe, the other was the extreme darkness. However, had it not been for the latter, he would have made the daring ere As it was, however, he would have to watch his chances and do the best he could, for he could not bring help in time to save the boys now. While waiting for the party to make some move, he heard Thoms say: “Ingins, if you are going to take Strong-Arm’s body with you, it’s time you were fixin’ a litter to string it on.” ‘* Ugh, the pale-face speaks the truth,” one of the Indians poved, “Strong-Arm is heavy as he was brave, and it will take all his friends to carry him so As the Indian concluded, the hunter heard the sound of footsteps oe away toward the body of the savage he had found lying across the log in the little glade, and, when they had passed him, he arose and followed softly after. On the edge of the glade, where he could not be seen, he paused to watch, for his mind had become deeply engrossed with some- thing of a novel character. He saw the Indians lift Strong-Arm from log where he had fallen before the pistol of the Boy Ranger, and lay him on the ground in the center of the glade. Then two of them took from their own shoulders blankets, in which the form of the chief was carefully wrapped from head to foot, with his rifle and tomahawk at his side. This done, one of the savages said, in his own dialect, which Old Hur- ricane readily understood, and, which we translate thus: “Let each of us go now and get poy poles to make a good, easy litter to carry our dead chief u om 7? i hen the old borderman saw them unloosen their tomahawks and depart into the dark woods in search of the desired poles. Several minutes elapsed before they returned, then several more were consumed in constructing the lit- ter. But, when it was at last completed, they lifted the heavy, lifeless body and placed it carefully and tenderly upon the movable couch, Then a savage took his place at one of the corners of the litter, and signified his friends to take their positions at the other corners. This done, the body was lifted aloft and borne slowly away. Deluded red-skins! They little dreamed that the body they bore upon the litter was no? that of their beloved chief, Strong-Arm, but the LIVING FoRM oF THEIR MORTAL FOE, OLD HURRICANE, THE HUNTER, CHAPTER XII. OFF FOR THE TWO OAKS. SLOWLY, and with solemn tread, the four savages moved away with the supposed lifeless body of their friend, to where the two outlaws, Thoms and Hupp were impatiently beg for them. And had it no been for the dense b crowding upon them and against the frame of the litter, they might have de- tected a slight, vibratory neha of the same, caused by Old Hurricane’s great form being in a convulsion oF aa pressed laughter over the success of the cun- ning ck he was imposin Ve te his red enemies. e idea of substituting orm for that of Strong- Arm had been conceived the moment he saw the savages wrapping the chief's body in the blankets. He knew there was not difference enough in his own weight and that of the chief to lead the four savages to detect the imposition, consequently, the moment he saw the warriors depart in search of poles, he glided into the glade, hastily unwrapped and con- cealed the body of Strong-Arm out among the dense shadows. Then returning to the glade, he spread the two blankets on the rae rg allowing them to lap a few inches. With his rifle and Strong-Arm’s tomahawk at his side, he now proceeded to roll him- self in the blankets. This he effected with the best success by la down on one edge of the blanket and baking © e lower corner between his feet, the middle in his hand, and the upper corner in his teeth, and rolling over and over, thereby wrapping the blanket around him as neatly as though the savages had done it themselves. The blankets being several inches longer than his body, every portion of his feet and head were concealed, and, ot es rolled himself to the exact spot where Strong-Arm had been left, he awaited the run of events. Already we have shown the result of his trick so far as his escape from detection was concerned. When the savages, with their burden, came to where the outlaws were in custody of the two maid- ens and their lovers, Thoms eakeds ‘Are you ready, Frogfoot?” “Ugh,” was the laconic reply of the Indian ad- dr ‘ ** Then lead the way for the Two Oaks,” the robber said; and as the Indians took their position in the lead, Thoms turned to the male’ captives and said: ‘And now you two gal-thieves will foller behind the Indians, and remember, two pistols are right at your heads, cocked and primed.”’ Dora and Dolly were mounted upon the young ranger’s horse, which was led behind by Jack Hupp; and the procession being now formed, at once set off through the woods. A solemn silence now fell over the party—a silence as deep and solemn as a funeral cortege moving away through the lonely halls of the night. Perhaps, since the outlaws had had time for a moment’s reflection, they had become impressed with that mournful spirit which the presence of death inspires in the hardest hearts, for the dark outlines of the motionless form on the litter was directly before their eyes, If this was the case, a different feeling would have been inspired, had they suddenly become aware that old Hurricane was upon the litter. “Well, well, Hurricane, this is a good ’un on the red-skins—perhaps the best you ever played on the varlets,”’ the old borderman mused, as he was borne carefully on, every sinew stiffened to maintain the rigidness of a dead man, his teeth pressed upon his lips to keep back the stormy emotions that were s rugeling within his breast, threatening to seek re- lief in open expression; ‘‘ yas, it’s a good ‘un on the red guttersnipes. How keerful they tread—like pall- bearers! Now, if Big-Foot war only here to whistle a dead march, or Yankee Doodle, what an imposin’ pageant it would be! And, sweet Moses! what a soothin’ effect it has on one’s nerves, this gentle swayin’ 0’ the bier! I sw’ar, it’s a leetle the softest thing I ever got a hold on—but, Lordy! wouldn't they — me like a hot cake if they find out the joke?” us the daring hunter mused with his own thoughts as he was carried on and on through the dark woods, the soft tread of his conductors’ feet be- ing the only sound that broke the solemn silence. At length the party came to a halt, and the hunter felt himself lowered, and placed carefully upon the ground, They were at the Two Oaks. Leaving the captives in charge of the four savages, Thoms and a proceeded to strike a fire under the two oaks, This they soon accomplished, and the reat spreading boughs of the two gnarled oaks, an he smooth, grassy sward beneath, were lit up wit a bright glow. The young surveyor and Boy Ranger were at once lashed to one of the oaks, while the maidens were tied to a small sapling, not far from the litter upon which reposed the dead Strong-Arm, The outlaws now turned upon the young men, and began taunting them with the most heartless, pro- voking eneuege they could command. But os an expression of fear became visible upon the prison- ers’ brows. On the contrary, a look of cool, calm de- fiance met the gaze of their captors’ eyes. ved rd ptr, hearties!’’ the brutal Hupp at last exclaim ‘we'll soon take the temper outen you!” ‘“*Do your worst, you bloated wretch,” replied the Boy Ranger, with a scornful flash of the eyes; ‘‘ we will have the consolation of knowing while we do live that you'll get your dues at the hands of your mas- ter, e devil,” : Frogfoot 8 exclaimed the outlaw, enraged by the youth's Me bring me the lariat attached to that saddle, and I'll string this impudent young rascal to one o’ these limbs in a giffy!’ The Indian brought the lariat, one end of which me at once adjusted around the young ranger’s neck. Little Dolly seeing these preparations for the execu- tion of her lover, began begging in a a © ng voice, for the robbers to spare life. t the un- natural monsters only laughed at her appeals, and went on with the preparations for the execution. Dolly now burst forth in wild, frantic sobs and cries that py! tremulously through the forest like the wail of a lost spirit. 7 ers !’’ exclaimed Tho indignantly, “ stop that li tle wench’s mouth. er wildcat screams might bring that skulkin’ big giant, Old Hurricane, upon us. “Humph!”’ exclaimed Hupp, “T should think six of us could manage him, but’’—turning to Dolly— “see here, little woman, you must hush this no I'll stop your mouth with a kiss, so I will.” **Wiend, do not come near me!” she cried, fiercely, her eyes with deadly scorn, “If you touch me, I pra Heaven will strike you dead!” Now Il will have a kiss,” the burly ruffian said, advancing and taking the pretty ‘pale face of the maiden between his hard palms and stooping to kiss her. But before he had accomplished his insulting de sign, he started back while a cry of agony wailed from his lips. With both hands he began clutching wildly at his breast, over which his shirt was ti htly drawn, and from between his fingers, his friends, as well as the captives, saw a tiny stream of blood, spurt- ing in crimson jets. Oh, God, I’m killed!” groaned the wretch, and staggering to and fro in vain attempts to keep his feet to the last, he finally fell like a log to the earth. GOmicdooks 2 1” ote