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

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

on The Dumb Spy. 13 rifles poured their deadly contents into the ranks of the gavages, laying several of their number dead. But with wild impetuosity, the survivors pressed to the conflict, with that desperation of men who know they must win or die. They were armed with but a single weapon—the deadly tomahawk. These they dare not throw, through a fear of their inability to recover them in the dark, and so they were compelled to press close upon the whites to engage them. But the latter readily saw where their pen eg lay, and averted the blows intended for their heads by a rapid retreat, in the meantime firing with their pistols— when their rifles had. been emptied—upon the ad- vancing foe. Old Hurricane had no sooner discovered the pre- sence of his giant fee, Big-Foot, than he prepared to meet him. Big-Foot, laboring under the impression that he had slain the old hunter and secured his scalp seve- ral evenings previous, was entirely ignorant of the foe with which he had to deal, until Hurricane, by a dexterous sweep of his heavy rifle, had knocked his tomahawk whirling from his hand and uttered his culiar war-cry, causing him to recoil with momen- tary surprise and fear. “So, ho! my big beauty, we’ve met agin!’’ the old hunter cried; then, with a leap, like that of a tiger, he sprung at the savage, planting his huge fist be- tween his eyes with such terrific force that the red- skin went down like a log. But, quick as a flash he was upon his feet and grappling d-to-hand with his adversary. And now began a struggle that baffles description for their movements were so swift and_ violent, and their positions shifted so rapidly, that the eye could not follow them. Away across the arena they whirl- ed and spun like a pair of giddy waltzers, neither uttering a sound, but struggling in that deadly silence which both had maintained in their conflict of a few nights previous. either commanded a weapon, save those that nature had given them, consequently it was a trial of sheer strength and endurance, in which they were well matched. It is true, the savage had some ad- vantage in the suppleness of youth, but this was neutralized by the white man’s skill as a wrest- ler. Meanwhile, the conflict in another part of the fort had assumed a far different character. The claim- stakers had routed the savages, who were running hither and thither like frightened deer, endeavoring to find an egress from the fort. This decided the conflict between the two giants. Big-Foot oe ig sight of his defeated and fleein friends, and his own fears at once became pie ety He knew assistance would soon come to the hunter and, in all probability, cut off all chances of sat There was no alternative but to seek safety in flight and settle the deadly feud between him and the old hunter at another time. So, throwing every energy into the effort, he tore himself from the clutches of his antagonist, and, with a defiant shout, bounded away across the fort. Old Hurricane gave chase at a speed that threaten- ed the recapture of the savage. The latter, how- ever, reached the wall of the fort, and, bounding u a rude pair of stone steps, that had been constru for the use of the sentinels, he glanced back over his shoulder like a stag at bay, then uttered a defiant ell and made a desperate leap over the parapet for the ground on the outside. But, just ashe was sink- ing to a level with the top of the wall, Old Hurricane, who was literally at the Indian's heels, reached for- ward and grat ed the savage by the scalp-lock. The weight of the escending giant proved too much for the hunter, who was thrown off balance and setheG headlong over the top of the wall, to fall upon e red-skin, Seeing this mishap of the hunter, the men hastened to his assistance. they threw open their ports they were not a little rised to see a num of savages rush up from be the river-bank, toward the two strugg foes. | “Quick, boys, upon them,” cried Rossgrove, ** or our friend will be hs The men quickly fired upon the advancing foes, causing them to fall back d the shelter of the et outside river-bank. The claim-stakers now endeavored to to the assistance of the hunter, but a random broad- side from the enemy intrenched behind the river- = warned them to keep within their breast- workss, “By heavens, boys, we're in a dilemma!” cried young Kendall, the Boy Ranger; “‘we dare not go out to the assistance of our friend, but, in the mean- time, we have the consolation of knowing the red- skins dare not venture out to help their friend. Hurricane and Big-Foot for it, and I'll bet on the hunter.” All relapsed into silence and listened. They could hear the two giants struggling at the foot of the wall on the outside, but they no longer fought in silence. Dull sodden blows, cries, yells and execrations filled the air. oa alt a) w feelers, and Saintet, until, at length, oO e struggle were hushed. The conflict had ended; who was the victor? The claim-stakers peered out at the loopholes. They saw two dark forms lying in the grass about ten feet a , but they were motionless, a Boys, they have slain each other,” said one of e party. : A sigh of bitter regret escaped each lip, for d their sojourn together, all had become greatly at- tached to the great, kind-hearted hunter. Rossgrove, however, pain king he might have only been wounded, calied to him by name. But there was no response—no movement of either of the mo- tionless forms. Se ee ee ee ee el | A moment later Dora and Dolly came running’ with affright, to where the party stood. *““Oh!”’ eried Dolly, “the hunter, Noisy Nat, is dy- out yonder!” h one noticed now, for the first time, that Nat was missing. ‘*Come, one of you, and let’s us look to Nat. The others remain here and watch that the savages be- hind the bank do not approach and sealp our friend Hurricane.” Rossgrove and young Kendall were conducted by the maidens to where Noisy Nat had fallen under the blow of a savage. The captain soon discovered, to his great joy, that the hunter had only been stricken unconscious, and even then showed signs of returning life. Dora and Dolly had procured a lantern, and, like angels of mercy, lent their assistance in restoring the borderman to life. As soon as Nat was able to speak, he started up, and gazing around him iike one bewildered, ex- claimed: ‘Where is it?—where is that—that—” “That what, Nat?’ asked Rossgrove. ‘That Demon, Scarlet Death!’ ‘“Your mind is confused, Nat. There has been no Demon about, unless you mean the Indians, which is nearly the same.”’ “No, captain,” rsisted the hunter; “I know what I’m talkin’ about. ‘I did see a Demon. I see’d him leap into the fort. Isee’d his horns and cloven hoofs—yes, I know it was Scarlet Death. I see’d him open his mouth and balls of fire shoot out among the red-skins. I know it was the Demon, and I know you can find his mark on some o’ them dead Injuns. Go look, captain, jist go look for my satis- faction,” “Tll do so, Nat,” replied the captain, turning away with a Smile on his face, and taking the lan- tern from Dora’s hand, he moved away toward the bodies of the slain savages. ‘‘Yes,”’ he mused, “Nat is out of his head; the savage gave him a pretty heavy jolt on the head, filling his mind with visions of demons and dragons. However, to satisfy him I'll examine these dead warriors, for the De- mon’s mark.”’ He came to where five of the savages had fallen near each other. He held the lantern down so that its rays streamed across one of their faces. He started, and a cry of surprise burst from his lips, Upon the temple of tae warrior he saw the death- mark of the terrible and mysterious Scarlet Death! ‘*By heaven! Nat is right; here is the Demon’s mark, as I live!”’ ‘*I told you I weren't outen my head, captain.” Rossgrove turned at the sound of the voice. Nat had risen to his feet and followed him. ‘*Ay, you are better, Nat, the captain said, a little conf ; “but see here; did you actually see what you just described to me?” “I did, captain, help me Bob Crusoe, I’m sure I see’d just what 1 told you I did.”’ ‘* But what becarm*of the Demon after the fight?”’ said the captain, g.owing more and more confused and ge ite geo *T don’t know gr Ane nae I got that jolt on the head that sent me flukin’ to taw "bout the time the Demon fust made its appearance.”’ “This isa little strange—yea, mysterious. Were it not for the Demon's mark before my eyes, I would believe you received that blow on the head a second ore the Demon appeared, or why would not some of the rest have seen the same?”’ “Can't say, captain, but it’s a gospel fact. J, Na- thaniel Taylor, did see the Demon of the Des Moines, and I’m the fust that ever sot eyes onto it.”’ “The two proceeded to examine the rest of the slain warriors. There were seven of them in all, and of these, two had fallen under the deadly hand of the mysterious Scarlet Death, for there were no other wounds to be found upon them. They next searched for the tracks of the Demon, but the ground being covered with a mat of trodden grass, no impressions were left upon it. There was Soretiing orcidediy strange about this mysterious avenger. tain ve’s mind was entirely free of superstitious bias, yet, here was something well calculated to engender mystery and wonder in the most skeptical mind. However much the captain’s mind may have been worked up by the mystery, all soon became forgot- ten in the interest centered on the fate of Old Hurri- cane, for while most of the men was dead, others declared that they had seen him move, and averred that the distance between his bod and that of Big-Foot was gro shorter. If suc was the case, it was evident that both of the giants were alive, yet feigning death, probably to mislead each other into some rash act t would terminate fatally, And again, if this were true, their present OCs MeO, been brought about by total ex- ustion, As the hours dragged wearily by, the moon finally came up. From the paricboles our friends now gazed out. They saw the of Old Hurricane and that of Big-Foot lying upon the earth apparently stark and stiff, But it was seen that the distance in- tervening between their bodies was not half so great as when they were first discovered! The foes were gradu- ally approaching each other. There was no doubt of this, and ve had decided to fire at the body of Big-Foot, when Witless Seth, who had been out at one of the port-holes, beckoned him to is side, and motioned to look out of the loop ina certain direction, | The captain complied with the mute’s request, and he was nota little surprised to see a large, fine-look- ing horse, with bridle and saddle upon it, coming directly from the west in a eourse that would leave the fort scarcely a rod to the north. No one was | visible about it, but it was quite evident that its movements were directed by the impulse of an invis- ible rider. Pe Captain Rossgrove was at quite a loss to know the meaning of the animal's amma there, and so he called Noisy Nat for counse After the hunter had taken a careful survey of the animal and its surroundings, he said: ‘“* By Jehokey, Cap, I see thro’ part o’ it, ennyhow. _ Thar’s an Injun or robber on that hoss, layin’ up like | a tick ag’inst the further side; and now, mind ye, a he’s up to some deviltry with his cunnin’—mebbe jist reconnoiterin’ the situation.” ‘Then let us watch his movements,’ said Ross- grove, and put a bullet through him if possible.”’ he horse came on with cautious step, and head erect, as if he scented danger. He was moving di- rectly toward the motionless figures of Old Hurri- cane and Big-Foot, and at sight of them he shied slightly, bringing his cunning riderin plain view; but before our friends could fire, the horse had been ——— back into its former course and urged for- ward, It was finally permitted to stop directly beteeen the bodies of the two giant foes, and then our friends saw the cunning rider slip to the ground. “I see into it, now,’ said Noisy Nat; ‘‘ that infer- nal booger has come to help Big- oot away, or else to et Hurricane’s scal Ah! looky, Cap, they must ink we're a pack o’ condemned fools!”’ The last remark was induced by seeing Big-Foot move, so they knew he was only wounded, and b _ Some means or other it had become known to h friends, who had conceived the idea of sending the horse there to help him away. Our friends kept a close watch on the eee t. All of a sudden they saw him leap to hisfeet and repare to aptng upon the animal’s back; and at he same instant they were not a little amazed to see Old Hurricane spring nimbly to his feet, and turn as if to mount.the horse, also. The two foes stood face to face with the animal between them. Their eyes met above the horse’s back. ck asthe lightning’s flash, the right hand of each shot across the saddle’s seat and the fingers clas with a f gripe ineach other’s long-coveted sealp-locks, The Indian stooped quickly to break the hunter’s hold—the hunter did the same. This movement threw their united weight upon the horse’s back. Side by side their arms lay across the saddle-seat, their weight supported by the hair of the head, A yell of vengeance burst from the savage’s lips. It was answered by a shout of derision—emphasized by a tug at the Indian's hair—from the lips of Old urricane. Their yells frightened the horse, and, with a wild snort, it whirled around and dashed away at a thun- _ derous speed over the plain, the two deadly, relent- few hours’ slee believed that he | drive , a . on foes dangling, as it were, cheek by jowl, at his sides, No effort of the frantic beast could break the pet- rified grasp of the deadly enemies—no effort could slide them off over his back, for their arms lay press- ed kong deep saddle, and held there by their united weights. In this manner they were dragged away into the gloom of the distance—away to an unknown fate! CHAPTER XVL CAMILLA’S PRISON, Let us now follow the Dumb Spy back to Spain ain. n accordance with his brother Seth’s daily habits, Wild Dick lingered about in the woods until dark, en made his way into the settlement and to his quarters in the rear of the court-room. The robbers, he knew, were all absent, so he threw n his couch and endeavored to gain a and rest that his over-worked body and mind stood in need of. He soon fell asleep, and slept soundly for hours, but he was at = a awak a himself u nig wpe ee of — in the —— 2 ment, and rising to a sitting posture, he a ear to the crack in the wall mafie for his especial earoaropping purposes. ~ He heard the voices of Reckless Ralph and Cale Thoms in stormy rage. They had i returned from the vicinity of Fort Defiance, where they had sustained another defeat by the claim-stakers. “I tell ete captain,’ he heard Thoms say, “we have got to callon the United States dragoons to hem fellers off the Black-Hawk Purchase. You know, last summer, when them fellows from Illinois came on to the Purchase and made their claims, we reported them to the authorities. And what was the consequence? Why, a company of ragoons came on and drove them off and burnt their cabins.”’ “This ease is different, Thoms,’ replied Reckless Ralph. “ Rosageres party has old Black-Hawk’s rmit, on ce he Purchase, and so they couldn’t be held amen- able to the terms of the treaty. However, if our red allies succeed in assassinating Black-Haw the obstacle of his permit will be removed, an troops could be ed to our assistance. But things have gone too far for such measures. These claim-stakers must never leave this country alive— notone of them; for they possess knowledge eno of — and its inhabitants to bring us to grief. Surely two hundred Indians and settlers can defeat a ae malvers conan s without oe on an army ', Our & depends on secret exter- mination ¥ he” Sata stakera) ; _ “True, Judge, true,” responded Thoms; * it’s noth- in’ like havin’ a long head, but Ido want to pay some of them fellers for that affair at the Two Oaks, be- sides them girls of Abel Mobile’s must be rescued, if taken dead!”’ ‘cS GomiGcopee conditions, to locate claims on- (E(0) ee ae aes B29 6 Go 8 Gases se Se as eee fe >. o. -S-. ~