Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 146 — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

— = —_ == SS ———— —S=—— a —= eae ee ee ~ ——- na — eee —— ————— SoS around the t and, seizin od take the * Pe 238 SIS = a Se ees <a 2 «SOS es ee Le) le eee oe aa nner eee ce — he was aware of the fact, a huge him by the collar, pull- hand reached | ed him aroun shadows of the pine. At the | same t'a voice whispered in his ear: Arkansaw, boy, Avkansaw!'’ and then the lad | knew who had rescued him, and responded by press- the old scout’s hand. ‘*Git onto my back, boy, Tll'trot you off out of danger—come, now, hur- ry? the old man said, in a hurried whisper. Silver Star could do nothing better than obey, and the next moment he was beiug borne away through the darkness of the woods on the back of Old Arkan- saw. The old scout glided and dodged here and there as though the lad were a mere child. He soon came to the river's edge, and wading into the water deposi‘ed his burden in a canoe that stood concealed an some overhanging willows. ** Wait there till T awe arms and baggage, lad,”’ the scout said, and turning, he went ashore. a The yells of the savages came near in the woods. The boy started with fear and a A moment later a footstep sounded close at hand; then a form bounded into the eanoe, and ing up the paddle, drove the boat out into the river. Silver Star never dreamed but that the person was Old Arkansaw, but judge of his surprise and consterna- tion upon discovering that a stranger occupied the boat with him. Nor did he appear to be more sur- prised than did the stranger himself at the presence of the Boy Knight. He ceased pe. and sat like one transfixed, gazing in silent asto to the other's face. Silver Star saw that the stranger was a young man, not over threc-and-twenty years of He was rather prepossessing in ap ance, with dark hair and eyes, witha heavy, b mustache shading ati expressive mouth. eon his head he wore a cap made of the feathered skin of a rrowhawk. The head and bill of the bird answered for the y-eak, and presented a rather novel ap ellow ment in- ce in the m w of the moon. Around his shoulders was a collar or cape, made of the any hepeety of eagles and other large birds, artistically arranged oe ee feathered stranger was the first to speak. ** Sir ter,’’ he said, in a low, deliberate tone, “how come you here in my canoe?”’ ‘* By mistake, I presume, if this is your boat,’’ Sil- ver responded. ** Well, it is my boat, and I should be glad to know a ave for a companion—whether friend or oe,” ‘I am Silver Star.” “The Boy Knight?” as Yes. 9 “Tam Sparrowhawk, the Outcast. We are ene- mies,” and he drew bis revolver. “I am unarmed and wounded,’’ responded the Boy Knight, fearlessly and unmoved, “Tam not a coward, Silver Star; I will take no mete of you. But my race are all my ene- mies. ey have hunted me and mine for years— s our lives. The hand of man, red-skin and white, is raised against me. You have hunted me, Silver Star, and—”’ **You are mistaken, Sparrowhawk; I have not hunted you,” the young scout rejoined, “Yes, you have hunted me, though you may not have’ known whom you were ntinting at the time. Now we have met, face to face. I have the advan- taco— life is in my hands. I am armed, but yoware not. Were you free, and were we to meet in the open field, you would meet me as an enemy. You would know me, for I wear no dis . Here, tT ow one of my revolvers, and a chance for ‘yo A he Silver Star mechanically took the wea The click of Sparrowhawk’s pistol started: the young from his stupor. this time the canoe had drifted into the sha- dows of the southern shore of the river. still a in all his life did Silver Star experience the f that now took on of him. He saw in the wild, half-demoniac glare of 8 whawk’s eyes the expression of a madman. ever before he met strange being. Was he mad? Why did he e himself hunted by every one? As these uestions flashed through the boy’s brain, he saw that he must act with dispateh. ““Sparrowhawk,” he said, “ this is folly; we need not be enemies."’ ‘*Oh, sir, but we are enemies,’’ he answered, in a rtahone thon, fox tone. ‘ Defend yourself.” ti then, for I ‘will not,’’ said Silver ‘Star, his revolver in the boat, and folding his Slowly and deliberately the madman raised his revolver and pointed it at the breast of the boy. CHAPTER IX, ‘BULLETS OF AN AVENGER, * SPARROWHAWK! Sparrowhawk!" cried a voice, as the young madman drew his pistol. At seund of thewoice the hand of the would-be murderer at his'side. Then from shadows of the shore glided a canoe with two oceupants. It ran alongside of that of Silver Star and Sparrowhawk. It contained two occupants—oné a young Indian girl, and the other a. white woman-—the redoubtable Ellen Sabina Bandy _It'was the voice of the Indian girl that stayed the hand of Sparrowhawk, and it seemed te act like — upon the ears of the outcast. His whole face ‘woice changed in an instant. He started as if from a dream—a horrible nightmare. “hi iy Nathelah, is it you?’* he exclaimed. , a me too, please gracious,’ put in Sabina Silver Star, the Boy Knight. i re —————_--- - ----aean—nm—VmXmwmwwrcrer aren fe flourishing her big umbrella—inviting recog- on “What would the Sparrowhawk do?’’ asked the Indian girl, speaking ao English. ‘‘ Would he slay a helpless for gh Sparrowhawk a coward?” “Oh, I’m a fool, at times, fair Nathelah; Iam crazy. Pardon me, Silver Star,’ the outcast said, apologetically, yet the Boy Knight detected a tinge of sarcasm in his tone. “You'd ort to be laid over my knee and eats furaciously,"” put in Mrs. Bandy; “this thi oy young folks a-quarrelin’ is humiliation. It’s bad enough for old folks to fuss and fight; and that reminds me that if I get them paws on my husband, old Kit Columbus Bandy, please gracious I'll be a salivatin’ blister to him.”’ ‘Mrs. Bandy,” said Silver Star, ‘I left your hus- band in the Indian camp on the peninsula.” A wild, hysterical cry burst from the old woman's lips, and she was about to respond, whev Sparrow- hawk exclaimed: “We must not tarry here; danger surrounds us.”’ ‘*No, the red-men will find you,’ declared the maiden. ‘“ Where to go I scarcely know,” said Silver S‘ar; ‘*T am wounded and can only hobble along.” “Silver Star is the enemy of my people,” said Nathelah, ‘‘ yet I would not harm an enemy. Let the pale-face boy take Nathelah’s canoe and go up the river to mee bee le.” * But what will Nathelah do?’ asked the lad. **T will go with the Sparrowhawk.”’ Without further wo Nathelah and Silver Star exchanged seats. As the latter sat down before Mrs. Bandy, she said: ¥ now, Silver Star, if you have no objection, I'll go with you. Please gracious, I want to be on the move.” The Boy Knight thought it strange that the old woman did not return to the peninsula where he had left the object of her search, the source of her troubles. When the occupants of the canoes were ready to start, Sparrowhawk spoke: ‘* Remember, Silver Star, when we meet again we Rotor emp maetiien= ly, he dipped his pad ‘fore Silver could reply, he pad- dle and sent his canoe ru 1 tthe the waters. ‘“*Law-sakes! dear me, what a crusty, crabbed soul that Sparrowhawk is!’ decided Mrs. Bandy; “he’s most awful queer, too. I can’t understan him 4 better’n [ can a Babylonian inscription. I don’t b’lieve he’s the clear quill, atwixt you and meé, Silver Star. He'll shoot in the back, too, if he gits the chance, so you want to look out. You'd been deader’n old Noah if it hadn’t been for that sweet little duck of a Nathelah. You see, she’s Sparrowhawk’s sweetheart—she told me 80, the sweet. deary. Every few nights they meet up ‘bout Deep Ford and bill and coo like doves; but if ever they marry it’ll be fight and quarrel like wet hens. Men are most awful deceitful critters, if old Kit Columbus Bandy is a specimen of the average man. But we'd better be pullin’ ont o’ here, son, or them dasted red-skins may come chargin’ down onto you. ‘* You have no fears of them, then?”’ **No, only I'd ruther not be catched with their enemies. They are naterally good to a female wo- mee and treat me well. come and go jist as I please.”’ . Silver Star took up the paddle and headed the canoe up the river. He was skilledin the use of the paddle, and sent the craft gliding within the border of ows that hung along the right shore. Suddenly, when he believed they were beyond all immediate danger,'the prow of the boat struck a log in the water with such violence as to throw the : from their seats. Before Silver Star co recover himself, he was seized by violent hands and a savage yell rung in quavering echoes ‘down the wooded halls through which the White Earth wound its way. Sabina Bandy screamed hysterically; but Silver Star believed her fears were assumed—that she, as well as Kit Bandy, was a traitor to those she claimed oes? and that she had been instrumental in 8 ure. A couple of savages climbed into the canoe, and with thongs of buckskin bound the hands of the Boy Knight; and by the ‘time this was accomplished, the boat had drifted out into the open, moonlit wa- ter. Silver Star was now permitted to rise toa sitting ture, and the first thing he noticed was that Sa- ina Bandy was gone. He around him, and saw the woman standing erect and floating down the river in something he could not make out; and before he could ascertain, he was taken ashore; and, notwithstanding his wounded ankle, he was cave ng eey march and compelled to walk along een his ca d totes es took the youth in custody, Three of the sa while the others em in the canoe down the e far when they river. Thecformer had not were overtaken by Mrs. Bandy, who, nearly ex- hausted, exclaimed: **Red-men, Po ose better be careful; the Silent Avenger’s in woods.” This information had its mein ee ler the Indians, for quickened their pace, fairly dragging their whey bed Hour ‘but a short dist h ras , ourney ut a sho ance, when, suddenly, there was a dull, pistol-like report of a agony. \One of the) and a savage yell o mr ! been slain eas t’s captors had tore Rhpduet scream from the lungs of Sabina Ban the air like the scream of ahyena; wild with affright, she came bounding up from the rear where she had been lagging. = “Oh, Lord! oh, gracious Peter!”’ she exclaimed, in .’ did—did you hear that? It’s asI told you; at was the dull, choked report ef that Silen Avenger’s weepon!”’ The say were horror-stricken. The name of the Silent Avenger was fraught with terror to them, a many a comrade had failen under his deadly m. Leaving the body of their fallen comrade, the other two savages hurried on toward the village with their prisoner. Sabina now took the lead, and with her umbrella ina red-skins and prisoner behind. the savages, for her tongue was never still. The were nearing the edge of the opening on the western side of the village, when, suddenly, another of those dull, whip-like reports stung through osition for instant defense, she soon left the This wes a relief to the darkness, and another savage went down, shot through the heart. This left but one red-skin, and determined to sell his life dearly—even at the cost of losi his captive —and avenge the death of his pee ty drew his tomahawk and bounded into the the shot had come, and where he had seen the of a gun. thicket whence Silver Star stood alone, but with his hands bound. He had been startled by the t cover of the shadows around ing footsteps of the dread Silent Ave ootfalls of the red-skin. pursuing edy enacted under m, and stood, like one transfixed, and listened. He heard the retreat- er, and the e heard the scream of Sabina Bandy directly before him, and then he heard the dull report of the ave to his right. A moment’s silence ensu lowed the sound of running feet leaves, and Mrs. Bandy, pantin up to where Silver Star stood. voice trembled with affright. **Oh, Lord!—oh, Lo dreadful Silent Slayer’s abroad! slain, what will we do? We'll be slain, wrung her hands in des ; **Untie me, Mrs. ,”’ the boy woman was in in continued: ‘* You had better flee to the village care of myself. the Indians are your friends, and stay there. Iw I have no desire for your company ’s pistol , then fol- upon the rustling or breath, came er face was white with fear, her frame shook with emotion, and her !’ she exclaimed, ‘that Oh, Silver Star! slain,” and she said, and as the lad’s hands, he ill take longer, for you lied on me, when the. savages ca tured us, to shield yourself. are no place for a ysterical old woman,” Old turned to depart, she said: ‘**Please gracious, I know my I know w you'll know, too, some day, if you keep y and then, with a spiteful toss of the head darkness. Iam a female woman. ed on her heel and vanished in the Besides, these woeds ina laughed softly, derisively; then, as she ait, young man, if t I’m about, and our scalp,” , she whirl- ‘‘What am I to understand by that?” mused the boy, as he turned and hobbled away th woods; ‘did lL insult the old Xantip Sabina his thoughts went back into the brought up the sweet young face of the clouds, the fair Elwe. , and h the pe d she mean that for a silent threat? or is there something more about that woman than any one,suspects?”’ Thus musing, the youth moved on a short dis- tance, and sat down to rest his wounded limb, From t. They at child of c ‘Oh, where was Elwe?” his heart cried out, But there was no solution to the question, and the more he pondered over it, the more vagae and painful it e. , One by one he finally took up the other incidents and attempted to them. singu- lar to him, and what method there-could be in it, ae solve’ the The crated of connec was entirely . ery of Old Kit dy was yengeanee of the nt two days and nights ond his comprehension.. er was Who the Silent Slayer was no one knew; Star half ed the § ith. most ite Crane was extreme e ig wk, but The treach but the a mystery. Silver e Sparrowha Altogether, there was a combination of characters and mysteries surroun few days, 80 the events of the greatly com ted that the boy gate up all hope of solving it, and rising to his feet, e limped away slowly toward the river. CHAPTER X. KIT BANDY AT BAY. Arter leaving Silver Star in the hero canoe, ou Arkan- saw went back into the woods to secure his gun and accouterments and when he. returned, his horror and surprise to find both boat and boy gone. _ He listened and heard thedipo ing through the foliage, he saw, moonlit drifti knew nize. down the river. One as Silver Star, but the o He was about to call to danger of such an n act. Wading into the river, the old borderman concealed under some over himself hanging » hounds searching for the poem him, never dreaming that a foe was con- Finally Old Arkansaw found % > the ‘silent depths of night.. He to. ‘had: seen ‘Kit’ Bandy a the beginnin fight, and still remained matters had terminated with vidual, but believed him 4 When assured that the. until he had passed from the peninsu ‘out ver, a canoe with two the sound of approaching feet warn was occupan he did not recog- ws, trail of a fox, The addle, and look- upon the open, ts rapidly he friend when him of the In- taself alone there in knew that. eaptain w Arkansaw went ashore and tole of gan er, Goim OOO) C ver Then Sj (EO) ~