Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 13 — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

— ee ee ~~ a ee ein Se 6 —— “* Yes, yes; it is the hunter, boys!” exclaimed the captain, ‘ Come, let us assist him, for a bigger and braver heart than his never throbbed!”’ They all rushed to the scene of the conflict, and hent their gaze into the darkness. They could just “coe the outlines of the two giants clutched in each other’s embrace, but the darkness and rapidity with which they ons gee positions prevented them from rendering the old hunter the least assistance, lest, by mistake, they might aid the savage. With wildly- beating and anxious hearts, and throbbing brains, they stood motionless, ing with dilated eyes into he gloom upon the shifting forms of the foes, The iatter were down upon the tee but the finally struggled to their feet, and, locked im eac o.her’s grasp, they went whirling away through the undergrowth like autumn leaves, ut they soon went down again with a crash. Then they went bounding away, and finally rolled into the little glade within the broad glare of the camp-fire. Our fviends saw they were locked in each other’s great muscular arms; they saw their faces were covered with blood, that their teeth were set, and oes their eyes glowed like those of two struggling igers. Across the glade they went rolling and bounding in such rapid evolutions, that their bodies seemec incorporated into one. Noisy Nat attempted to assist the old borderman but a flying foot struck him in the stomach, and doubled him up on the earth fully a rod away. Others attempted to render the hunter some assist- ance, but their attempts were as fruitless as Nat’s, even if less painful. Like two great beasts the combatants went whirl- ing across the opening, and were soon lost in the un- dergrowth on the opposite side. Neither one uttered aword nor @ cry. ey fought in silence. An old and bitter grudge was g settled. Neither pes- sessed a weapon save those nature gave them. There were, however, knives in their é es, but one movement toward drawing them might give the oth- er an ivvetrievable advantage. Main strength, and the power of endurance would have to settle the con- ‘est, unless the claim-stakers made some interfer- ence in behalf of their friend, the hunter. Fast almost as the claim-stakers could follow up the foes whirled away through the undergrowth and darkness toward the river! ‘*Boys!’’ exclaimed Rossgrove, ‘‘ they will roll in- to the river! We must prevent it if possible, if we would do aught to save the life of our friend.”’ Several of the party hastily placed themselves be- tween the combatants and the river, and made every effort possible to prevent the threatened danger of *he borderman, but their efforts were as fruitless and feeble as a child’s would have been. The giants tore away from their grasp and whirled on, over the bank into the river with a thunderous splash. Kach of them had a new danger to face and con- tend wiih, for the water at this point was — The claim-stakers entertained yw of the waves part- ing them, But this was not the case. They fought on more desperate, more deadly than. before, as if the waves had strung anew their sinews, and added strength to their frames and vengeance to their hearts. At times they were in plain sight on the surface of the moonlit waters, then again they were lost from view beneath the tossing waves that were gradually bearing them down the stream. “*Fernal furies, cap’n!” cried Old Nat, ‘this is what I call tough as ’ell. I swow I’ve a notion to try and shoot the ao ot ‘No, no; don’t do it, Nat,’ replied Rossgrove. ** Old Hurricane would be as liable to be shot as the savage. Grin and Lear it, Nat.”’ “Them fellers beats ole Satan hisself on a fight. A feller might as well interfere with two elephants a-fightin’ as them. Oh, but LI got an appetizin’ old sockdolager in the stomach from one of their feet. Whew, how the water flies!” The claim-stakers could do little else than stand and watch the conflict, which still raged with una- bated fury. Now and then the foes were completely enveloped in a cloud of flying water and spray, while around them their feet beat and churned the waves to a foam, But at lengih it was noticed that their strength was failing. Their demonstrations were bray less desperate, and their blows fell slow and feeble. They were under the water a good portion of the time, and this—not each other—was what was win- _ ning the battle, as strangling gasps and sobs plainly indicated. Slower and softer fell their blows, feebier and fainter grew the sounds of their st le, and final- ly their struggling ceased altogether. Then, as the again sunk from view, one of the combatants’ hands was raised aloft, as if for a blow, the fingers clutch- ing a flashing knife. *There!” exclaimed Noisy Nat, ‘‘did ye see that fash? One o’ them has drawn a knife, and the {:zht'll soon be over with,”’ ‘*May Heaven protect our friend!’’ said Captain Tiossgrove. The foes sunk from view beneath the waves. A sainute passed, and neither arose to the surface. Another minute dragged by, and still the waves held them down. It was a of agony and torturing suspense, The claim-stakers é each instant to see one or the other rise to the surface with the scalp of his foe in hand. But they were disappoint- ed in this; the water became calm and tranquil, and flowed on as quietly as though its bosom had never been disturbed, nor stained with human blood, CHAPTER VIL. MORE DANGERS AND ADVENTURES. “Fur waves have conquered both of them, boys,” Beadle’s. Half-Dime Library. said Rossgrove, sorrowfully, ‘‘and we have lost a | and wrung the hearts of. the little band with heart- valuable friend-,”’ felt sorrow. ‘No; one of them lives, captain!’ suddenly ex- A number of dead savages lay within the radius of claimed Ethan Hamilton. ‘‘Look yonder, toward | the camp-fire. These the claim-stakers proceeded the opposite shore!”’ | to remove into the shadows of the surrounding He pointed across the river, and every eye fol- | thicket, and while they were thus engaged, a cry lowed in the direction thus indicated, and saw a suddenly burst from the lips of one of the party. dark, spherical object upon the glimmering surface “What now, Wharley?”’ asked Rossgrove. of the water, moving slowly and silently toward the | “The Demon’s mark—the Scarlet Death mark!” opposite shore. and he pointed to a deep, scarlet dent on the temple t required but a second glance to tell what it was | of one of the dead warriors. No other marks were —a human head. Without a doubt it was the head upon him. The Demon’s stroke had slain him. of one of the giant combatants. But which one? “Remove the body,’’ said Rossgrove, in a manner The distance was too great to determine the ques- | that wi gears a desire of silence on the subject, as he tion by the eye, and now another silence of painful | glanced involuntarily toward Old Hurricane. uncertainty and nervous suspense was imposed upon Not another word was said about the mysterious the oe slayer, for all felt satisfied the giant hunter was the But it lasted only fora moment. The moving ob- | Demon. ject reached the bank. Then it rose upward from The return of Wild Dick was now anxiously await- the water, followed by a pair of bronzed, massive | ed by Captain Rossgrove. His desire to hear from shoulders and a large, dusky body. the outlaws’ stronghold was growing upon him, The figure leaped ashore. It was the figure of the | And, too, Witless Seth, the mute, seemed uneasy or giant savage, Big-Foot! anxious about something or other, for he stood “My God, it is the savage!” cried Captain Ross- | apart by himself, and ever and anon started up with grove. * ere is our friend?—where is Old Hurri- | a wild expression on his face. cane?”’ Finally when the camp had been cleared of all the As if in answer to his question, the giant savage | slain warriors, Captain Rossgrove called the atten- on the opposice side of the stream stopped on the | tion of his men and addressed a few words to them white, sandy beach, within the full glow of the | in regard to the dangers that menaced them. moon, and brandishing a human scalp above his “ But, boys,” he said, in his concluding remarks, head, uttered a wild, fearful, and triumphant war- | “we are here by permission of Black-Hawk, the re- whoop; then turned and plunged into the impene- | presentative of the Indians, and now shall we give trable shadows of the forest beyond! up the object for which we came? Shall we give up “ That, ra said Captain Rossgrove, as the | those bright thoughts of a future home, because a triumphant Big-Foot turned and bounded away into | band of robbers and savages have notified us to leave the forest, ‘determines the fate of Old Hurricane. | the countryy Or shall we remain firm to our resolu- He has been slain, and but an hour ago I would have wagered any thing there was no one man liv- ing re gg have taken the life of that hunter ina air fight.”’ : ‘‘And a month ago, Cap,” replied Noisy Nat, ‘‘I’d ‘a’ sworn thar were no one on the footstool that could ekal that devil-catcher, ay Ee and I’m o’ the same opinyun still. But who is that man Hurri- cane o’ your’n, Cap?”’ ‘“* He’s a stranger to me; I never met him until to- night,” replied the captain. ‘‘He rescued me from the Indians, and during our souney here, told me he was called Old Hurricane, though of course that is not his true name.”’ “Wal, I never see’d him afore, but I've heard o’ a big hunter ‘bout his caliber, up the Moingonia, but his name war Wallace.” ‘I think Hurricane could hardly have been the same man. He appeared to be well acquainted with these parts, and from what I saw of him, it is my candid opinion he was Scarlet Death!”’ An exclamation of surprise burst from the lips of the par, “Then if that is the case, the Demon of the Des Moines is a being of the past,’’ said Harry Dudley. ‘* Well, Iam sorry he has been slain, for we have lost a valuable friend in these perilous times, when friends are so much needed,” said Captain Ross- grove; ‘‘for he had promised to stand by us through thick and thin.” ‘And so I will, John,” said a deep bass yet pleas- ant voice behind them, accompanied by a massive step and movement in the undergrowth. The claim-stakers turned, and to their joy and sur- prise, saw Old Hurricane appear from the shadows of the shrubbery, with his scalp unharmed. ‘*‘ Is it possible ’—reality?’’ exclaimed the captain. ‘“*Do not my eyes deceive me’? Is itnot a gh the ghost of my friend, Hurricane?” ‘** Reckon not, John,”’ replied the old hunter, break- ing off into a low, silent laugh. ‘Give me your hand, old fellow,” returned Ross- rove; ‘‘we had given you up as dead when'we saw ig-foot swim ashore, brandish a scalp in the air and flee into the woods with a yell of ey go Again the old hunter burst into a roar of laughter and then as he combed the water from his beard with his fingers, he said: “That war a fatal mistake that big fool made, John—the same I'd ’a’ made, perhaps, enny of you come to my assistance.”’ “IT do not understand you, friend Hurricane.” “Wal, [ll explain. hen we war fightin’ in the river, an Ingin—a friend of Big-Foot’s—war standin’ under the bank below here a ways. I just got a glimpse of the varlet as we two sunk under the water. When we rose to the top ag’in, the Ingi war gone, and the. next minute I felt sumthin’ fin- rin’ about my feet. I knew what it war to onc’t. hat Ingin had dived under the water and swum to his friend Big-Foot’s assistance. But—ho! ho! ho as we sunk the last time, we all three got mixed up so we couldn't tell which from t’other, but Big-Foot somehow or other, got a hold of his friend’s hair an scalped him instead of me. “Bout this time a separ- ation took place, and I went ono way and Big. Foot the t’other—both swimmin’ under water. And I'll swear, boys, I like to bu’st with good, sound lafter when 1 see’d that big red lummix bounce ashore, flop his friend’s scalp above his head, blow off his , and go waltzin’ away into the w But it’s not over with yit. We'll meet ag’in some day and then, John, somebody’s hair must come.” e old hunter’s story set things aright once more and with a feeling of great relief, the party hasten back to the camp. Replenishing the fire with fresh fuel, a broad light soon relieved the spot from the surrounding darkness. Attention was now given to | us?” asked the Set : the wounded, who had forgotten their pains during “Tt's hard to tell. They've hounds’ noses on a the excitement of the two giants’ conflict. Their | scent, and I opine we d better bush ourselves till they wounds being but slight, were soon dressed, then the | pass.” two dead comrades were wrapped in their blankets | “Then toa concealment, boys,” said Captain Ross- and placed aside for burial on the morrow. grove. ; The death of these two friends proved asad blow, | ‘Here, right here in these reeds will be a mag- and locate our claims, and avenge the death of our two friends lying there?’ “Stick to the country and locate our claims!” re- sponded the captain’s friends. ‘That's the music, boys,’ put in Old Hurricane; “you fellers are made of the right sort of materia!— all grit to the backbone; and, as I told you, John, I'll stick to you as long as I yoo my own scalp. es, boys, I'll help you waltz a few of the red barbarians into the brimstone pit.”’ “Then the matter may be considered permanently settled,”’ said the captain; ‘but if we remain here- about Jon , we will have to erect some kind of a de- fense and send an escort up the Chequest for our supply train, which consists of two wagons.”’ al now, Captain John” said Old Hurricane, “that sounds like business. You couldn't do enny- thing better than to select a good p’int and erect a log lefense in which to store your supplies and roost at night.”’ ‘To-morrow, then, we will begin the work, but as our tools are all with the wagons, we'll have to send an escort for them at once.” is was soon satisfactorily arrarged, and Noisy Nat and threé men were at once dispatched for the train. As they had a long distance to travel, it would, very likely, be far into the next day before they would return, even if they met with no difficulty from enemies. This would compel the main party to lie inactive until they returned, for it would not be prudent to attempt to locate more claims now while the Indians were in such a fever of rage and revenge. They could, however, improve the time looking out for a location for their proposed de- nse. Captain Rossgrove never hinted at the great ob- jéct that was holding him in the country—at what e had seen on the river that night. He kept Py a bold exterior and appeared to enjoy the jokes of his friends, but all the while, Raya 1 and pangs of the bitterest kind were rankling in his heart and mind. He had great hopes of Wild Dick bringing some in- formation in regard to Camilla that would afford him temporary relief. If he only knew whether she was an unwilling prisoner—whether she was being abducted or not—the load upon his heart would not be half so painful to bear. Had it not been for the note given him by the mute, his mind would have been left clear from doubt, and for the single conclu- sion that she was a prisoner, and so his only course would have been plain before him. The party again concluded to change their camp to prevent another surprise, and the new point se- lected was a sand-bar, or peninsula jutting out into the river like a wedge. was about a mile below their present camp, and around its margin was a a of dense concealing the approach from 1e viver. When they arrived at the peninsula the claim- stakers did not strike a fire, but, spreading their blankets on the sand, still warm with solar heat, they threw themselves upon them for repose, Here they reclined, conversing in a low tone, when Witless Seth, the mute, who had strolled away into the woods along the shore, came bounding into their midst in great excitement. Captain Rossgrove arose to his feet and fixed an interrogative look upon the mute, which he did not fail to comprehend, for he at once gesticulat- ing in an excited manner. He succeeded in drawing the attention of our friends to a number of canoes, loaded with Indians, coming up the river. “It’s a bull convoy of the red barbarians,” said Old Hurricane, “and thar’s no tellin’ what deviltry they're up to, John.” “Do you think eer pass without discovering SR ee eee OOO See Eomichooks eo tions, so long as Blawk-Hawk is our friend, go On >