Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 13 — page 18: what you’re looking at

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

+ — ——— a a ie, ee =t ——- =< =.=: s+ -_— iss tte) An SS 7. Ss _ —EE - -_ —— ——— —_—_——_ _— wrapt in total obscurity; and at last Nat informed his friends that he had lost their course. This news was received with a feeling bordering on despair by the women, for the day’s trials had com- pletely unnerved them, But the assurance of their escort gave them some hopes, and they again moved on, After hours of wandering about, they struck the river, but neither Nat nor the Boy Ranger was fa- miliar enough with the country to tell whether they were above or below the fort. In searching along the bank for some landmark that might impart the desired informatlon, the were so fortunate as to find an old dug-out, in whic they succeeded in crossing the stream. A consultation was now held as to the direction they should take; but no one could give any adequate idea of the proper course. Every star was shut from view by the dismal fog, and not a breath of air was stirring. - They —_ decided to travel down the river fora couple of miles, andif they did not then reach the fort, they would retrace their steps and continue on up the stream. So they at once began their uncertain ore moving slow and cautiously. fact, they cou d move no other way, for the darkness was so intense that they could scarcely see their hands before them, and were compelled to pick their way with care. After an hour’s journeying they emerged into an open plain, and this gave them reason to believe they were following the proper course. They be- lieved, or had reason to hope, that the plain was the same one upon which the fort was located. If so, by continuing on, they would soon reach their desti- nation. So they moved on, their hopes gaining strength at every step. , But alas! They were suddenly brought to an abrupt halt by the sound of voices calling to each other from out the depths of the darkness. They were readily recognized as the voices of Indians, who ap- peared to be lost themselves in the mazes of fog and night. Ry tell you, friends,’’ said Nat, ‘‘ we’re in no little danger, fur I should judge by them voices, that a thousand red-skins ar’ abroad upon this plain. But what can the skulkin’ knaves be doin’ here- awa, 8, I ge OE .s > Les “There is no telling. ey may preparing storm the fort, if this plain is—”’ Here silence was magoaen upon the speaker by the sound of a voice shouting: ‘** Look sharp, red-skins! They entered the plain a few minutes ago. They must not be permitted to get back into the woods, nor reach the fort!”’ None knew that voice better than did Camilla Rossgrove. It was the voice of Reckless Ralph! Scarcely had the villain ceased speaking, when Nat said, in a low tone: “ Here—boys and arter us, cuss their picters!’’ Then the dull thud of horses’ hoofs was heard ap- proaching, and the next moment a dozen horsemen swept past them. ‘*Gussed close shave!’ exclaimed Nat; “ but now fur the fort.” The little panty hurried forward, but the sound of voices just before them caused them to bend slight- ly from their course. The result was almost a fatal one, for the next moment they were lost on the —_— while all around them they could still hear hose voices calling to each other, **By Jupiter!” exclaimed Nat, regretfully, “ this is too bad, but no more’n I eapowes when we left our course in this orful fog. ends, we've got to be keerful, or we'll run into the clutches of the knaves. But if I could git the course again—if our friends on- ly knowed our situation and would fire a gun—” He did not finish the sentence. Far across the plain, through the dismal fog, he saw a lurid flash, and at the same instant, almost, a cannon ball came screaming through the thick air so close to his head that he was staggered by the wind. “There it is now, Nat,’’ said the Boy Ranger. ‘*There is our course signal.” “Ay, ay, lad, and it came mortal nigh bein’ the last call or me. The boys are tryin’ to clear the plain of the red-skins, for they’ve ei a found out we’re—for’a’d on the double-quick!” They pressed on, guided by the flash of the can- non, which ever and anon belched across the plain, stirring the fog around them. ** Move brisk, boys, move brisk, red-skins!"’ a com- manding voice suddenly rung out near the fugitives; ** move risk, all of you, forthe cannon’s flash will guide them!’ Our friends paused. The next instant the across their path and died away in the distance. Then again the cannon vomi out its flame, this time almost over the heads of the fugitives. ‘Hurrah! the fort is reached!’’ shouted Noisy Nat, at the top of his lungs; “ho, friends within! Throw 2 the gate and let us in, for the hounds of the devil are at our heels!” CHAPTER XXII VACATING THE FORT, ““Savep! Saved! thank God, my darling Camilla!” cried Captain ve, as the fugitives were ad- mitted to the fort, and his youhg wife, overcome with fatigue and joy, sunk fainting into arms. An‘ now, cheer after cheer went up from the lips of the exultant claim-stakers, and they were an- swered from the overshadowed plain by yells of derision that seemed to issue in chorus from a thou- sand savage throats, At last our friends were all safe and defied the ed host that swarmed around them. Still, they eft no point unguarded, and during the remainder rls—huddle up here! They’re ck tramp of feet swept ED i OT OL Beadle’s Half-Dime Library. of the night, sentinels were kept posted on the fort, and scouts sent out to patrol the valley. The night passed away without any demonstration on the part of the foe. With the coming of day the besieged had hopes of the dense fog dispersing, but in this they were disappointed. The white mist seemed to thicken instead of growing lighter, and this protracted gloom made it necessary for the claim-stakers to keep several men on duty as guards and scouts. Shortly after daylight one of the latter discovered a canoe coming down the river with a single occu- ant. The craft was moving leisurely and standing boldly out in the middle of the river. As it drew near, our friends saw that the occupant was an In- dian chief, and as he came still nearer he was recog- nized as the old chief, Black-Hawk. As he gained a point opposite the fort, he headed his canoe toward the shore. Captain Rossgrove, see- ing he was going to land, went out to meet him and conduct him into the fort. All saw that the brow of the old chief was clouded, and that something of a serious nature was weighing heavily upon his mind. He had but litile to say, and when he had received a cordial welcome from each of the little band, he turned to Captain Ross- grove, and said: “ Black-Hawk is troubled in his heart; a cloud is upon his brow like the cloud that is upon the face of the heavens.”’ ‘*T am sorry to hear it, Black-Hawk,”’ replied Ross- grove, ‘‘ and would be giad if I could do anything for you.” “The pale-face captain can help me some,”’ replied Black-Hawk. ‘ ‘* Then let your wants be known, chief.” ‘* But a few suns ago,’’ the old man began, “‘ Black- Hawk gave the pale-faces permission to stake off claims on our Reserve. It has been the cause of much trouble, for many of my war-chiefs are made rebellious by the white man’s fire-water, and they do not approve of my kindness to the pale-faces. e brave men you have defended the rights I gave you to our Reserve,.and many of my rebellious warriors have been slain, and the trouble is growing worse, A fearful storm is gathering around the apeetacs the power of Black- awk can land-claimers that not af ‘*Is it possible, Black-Hawk?”’ asked Ross;rove. ‘“Yos. While my war-chiefs and their } aves did not approve of my giving you permission to locate claims, I could have overruled their obje ciong; but the bad white men on the Dispute gave them fire- water that put the devil in their heats, and all my power can not drive it away. The powe. of the bad pese-tece that is concealed in his fire-waicr is greater han the power of Black-Hawk’s eloque. ve, for he is old and feeble; but he has seen the day \vhen mighty chiefs feared his power and trembled at sound of his voico, But allt has passed away like the glories of a summer day. e Black-Hawk does not wish to withdraw tho permission he gave tl.c land-chain- ers, asa friend he would advise them to leave the leserve before danger befalls them; and now is a rood time to go, The Great ats vas thrown a cloud over tho land to conceal the land-chainers from the eyes of their enemies, and it will last full another sun,”’ “This is quite a surprise to us, Black-Hawk," said lossgrove; ‘‘ we have defied the power of our ene- mies and located our claims. But we have remained here sinco, only to show our enomies that we are not afraid of them,”’ **You have done well; but you are in a strange land, and your powder will not hold out with the pa- tience of your enemies.” . “True, chief, true,”’ replied Rossgrove, “and we will bo advised by you, for we know you mean us well, We wi!! loavo your country at once, to come again when tho title of your land expires.”’ “It is woll,” said the chief, his face lighting up with a glow; “when the snow of another winter has passed and tho flowers burst open anew, then the title of the Great Fathor at Washington begins, and his children can come without fear. But let them ever remember that Black-Hawk is their friend.” ‘** We will nevor forget you, chief. You have been a friend to us in a trying moment, and if we ever re- turn to this country to live, you will always be a wel- come visitor to our firesides.”’ The old chief smiled in childlike innocence. He seemed highly pleased by the mark of respect shown him by the claim-stakers. Before he went away he was made the happy recipient of many valuable presents—a fine silver watch, a handsome rifle and a rich blanket. After the departure of the chief a meeting was held, and it was unanimously decided that the party make no aay in getting out of the country. But how should they go’? Their horses had all fallen into the hands of the enemy the night pre- vious. It was soon settled. They would go by water. They would use the boat captured from the enemy. aan could build a wall upon it to protect them from the rifle bullets, and they could mount the howitzer upon it for their defense, The greatest trouble they would be likely to meet with, would bein peer Spain, for should the enemy got wind of their intentions, as they probably woul hey would run the risk of their lives to destroy the whole party of claim-stakers. Old urricatis Noisy Nat, Wild Dick, and Witless Seth, also the Boy Ranger, had ed to accompany the party to the Des Moines’ confluence with the Mississippi, and so the arrangements for the retreat were ed upon Old Hurricane. The hunter ac- cepted the trust with all the pride of a man who has had an army consigned to his care, and at once laid out his course for the retreat. — -—— — eee ee The band was to be divided into two parties—one party to take the boat down the river and around the great bend, while the other party was to take the females, and on foot, cut across the country and meet the boat below the bend if it made the trip past Spain. The object of this division was to insure the safety of the females, for should the boat be attacked and its defenders compelled to give it up, they would be enabled to make their escape if not incumbered with the females. The old hunter’s plans meeting general approval, work was at once commenced on the float, and by dark all was ready for departure. Those detailed to carry the craft around the bend took departure shortly after dark, and a few minutes later the other party, under Old Hurricane, crossed the river, and took its wey in a south-easterly course through the woods. By his own request, Witless Seth was permitted to accompany this party. As Black-Hawk had predicted, the fog still hung over the land, and this, together with the darknéss, rendered the gloom almost impenetrable; and it was only by Harry Dudley, the young surveyor, consult- ing his compass occasionally, that they were enabled to proceed at all in the right direction. ‘the journey before them was a short one; yet, owing to the extreme darkness, it would require sev- eval hours, if not the entire night, to make the trip. However, ro pressed on with good heart, and about midnight they emerged from the tangled woods into'the open prairie. Here they were en- abled to move with greater ease and speed, but they suddenly became aware of other persons being abroad upon that plain. This discovery gave them great uneasiness, It gore rise to the fear that they were being followed y the Indians and outlaws, and should the fog clear away suddenly, as it was likely todo at any hour, escape would be impossible. They mcpped and listened. True enough, Indians were on the plain. But there was no alternative now but to keep on, and so they quickened their a in hopes of reaching some place of secur- ty soon. Old Hurricane brought every faculty into play, in order to keep himself posted as to their proximity to the red foe that now seemed to be scouring the plain in all directions around them, At times they could hear the swift ‘‘swish” of feet through the grass within a few paces of them, yet the deep gloom concealed both parties from each other's eyes. At length, however, another discovery was made that caused our friends great uneasiness. A light could be seen bobbing about over the plain, and it finally became known to the fugitives that it was a lantern carried by no less a personage than the no- torious Lieutenant Cale Thoms. ‘* Bo = whispered Old Hurricane, “ that lantern is lik cause us some trubble, and should it come ai I shall endeavor to exterminate the thing.’ They moved briskly, yet cautiously on. Witless Seth, the mute, followed close at their | heels, and al- though no conversation could be had with him, it was observed that he was constantly on the alert for danger, orten amar | out that which could be neither seen nor heard by his friends.” As they pressed on, several pairs of eyes were kept fixed upon the moving lantern, and at length it was seen to be making a circuit that would bring it near the tives. The latter made no efforts to elude it, for they felt that it was of the greatest importance to them that it be destroyed as soon as possible, How- ever, they came to a halt as it approached them. They were enabled to see by the light that Thoms was alone, although there was not a doubt but that others were following close behind. The outlaw was moving in a direction that would lead him directly across the path of, and not three paces from the hunted party. Old Hurricane had decided upon his course of ac- tion. He would let the outlaw pass him, then strike him down from behind. But, to the sudden surprise and fears of all, the instant the outlaw got direct] in front of them, he stopped, and turning with his face toward them, held up his lantern so that its rays fell full in their faces! It also lit up the broad, sensual face of the o Jaw. Our friends saw his small, ferret eyes dilate, then start with a fiendish low when he discovered who were before him. ‘hey saw his lips part as if to utter a call, but before he could give his cry, there was a sudden “ whirr” through the air, and with a low moan, the robber sunk to the earth. His lantern had falien from his hand, and leaping forward, Old Hurricane grasped it. As he did. So, its rays streamed across the face of the prostrate outlaw, and upon his temple he saw the death-mark of Scarlet Death! Dropping the lantern, as if through fear of its on ay showing the mysterious avenger where to strike b he sprung back to his friends, and in a tone denot- ing By th pe said: heath < e gods 0 ym friends, Scarlet Deat is abroad too! He slew’ that robber! Come, let’s leave, fur fear we git a spot. Leave the lantern to show the Indians the mark of the Ayenger, and meb- be it'll skeer the varmints off!” Ros ve saw, as they followed on after the hunt- er, that he was not a little excited over the death of Thoms, and that he entertained superstitious fears of Scarlet Death. In fact, the mysterious Demon had proven himself a creature of singular power, and a knowledge of his being about was not calculated to make the captain himself feel entirely at ease. It also served to quicken the steps of all the party— Witless Seth, the poor unfortunate, creeping on hind, unconscious of what was being said. GOmichoo Ss (EC) all a