Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 146 — page 9: what you’re looking at

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

~~ sloping beach. ee continuing on up the river toward the Indian . he finally espicd a canoe half-beached upon the shore; and launching it, he resolved to cross over to the opposite shore. Stepping into the craft, he took up the paddle and sent the boat out into the river. At this point the stream was about one hundred ane wide, and the shore before him was a low, arren sandy beach that shone white under the mel- low moonbeams. Beyond this ran the woods and its dark shadows like the grim walls of a battlement. Upon this the eyes of the plainsman were fixed as he plied his paddle, and when about half-way over the stream he was startled by sight of a dark object that emerged from the shadows and approached the river. It was plainly outlined against the white, It was neither a beast nor a human, and yet it was possessed of life—it was moving— rolling across the sand—approaching the river. The paddle became motionless in Arkansaw’s hand. The cold sweat started from every pore in his body. Like all men of his class he was supersti- tious, and in the strange object there was something unnatural. It was round—resembled a huge ball— and coal-black; it was a mystery, true enough. It came down to the water’s edge and there paused. Old Arkansaw kept his eyes fixed upon it, and sud- denly he saw a little jet of flame spit from its cen- ter, and heard the whiplike report of a gun come over the water. Then a wild wail of agony burst from under the forward end of the old man’s canoe. Looking for- ward he saw a savage float out from undey the prow of the boat—his arms beating the waves in the ago- nies of death. He had undoubtedly beer @oncealed there when the borderman entered the vooat, and was waiting an opportunity to dispatch the old scout, and would no doubt have succeeded but for the provident shot of—whom? Lifting his eyes from the dying warrior, and glanc- ing toward the shore he saw the unknown object floating back into the woods. ** By the holy smoke of Jerusalem!” he exclaimed, “that war the Silent Slayer, shurer’n dy! But what for a mask did it wear? It beats the very Old Harry. Well, by Judas! I'll not land there, as any- nos $ aware Of, 50 Yi push on up-stream a leetle urder.” So saying he dipped his paddle, turned half-around and faced up-stream; but he soon realized that he was running a great risk, and so he crossed back to the northern shore. Once more within the shadows, he felt at ease and stopped to listen. He heard the dip of a paddle, and a moment later, a canoe with two occupants appeared in sight. They would pass hari by. As they came closer he saw that one was ase gy and the other the Indian maiden, athelah. They were conversing in quite an audible tone. Arkansaw listened. Sparrowhawk was speak- ing: 3 Yes, Nathelah,’’ he was saying, ‘‘when Silver Tat and /meet again, one or the other of us must ie,”’ ‘‘ Why does Sparrowhawk hate the Boy Knight?’ the scout heard the maiden demand. ** Because he knows too much; he hates me.” “Is that all, Sparrowhawk?” “Yes; it isenough! Do you think I would tell Nathelah, my betrothed, a falsehood?” ‘“*Have you not told me how beautiful the white maiden is that you rescued from the river? Have ree not told me how she talks of the young Silver star? Do you not believe she loves the Boy ht?” ** What if Idid, Nathelah?”’ the lover asked. e-face is false and fickle “The heart of the girl, “and Sparrowhawk sometimes,” replied the may learn to love another. ‘*Oh, my pretty darling,” replied Sparrowhawk, lifting her hand to his lips, ‘‘ I see you are jealous of the fair Elwe; but she will nevertake your place in my heart. I will send her away some day; but Sil- ver Star shall never set open upon her ws hrow fl ‘* By the lords of Ballyhoolan!” exclaimed Arkan- saw, as the lovers passed beyond hearing; “that tells a tale. That young bastion has got Elwe in his power’ and by the great John Rodgers! I'd give my terest in the moon if the Boy Knight was here now. Won't it ag Om beam of joy into his heart, though, when I te m that Elwe’s alive? Judas! every- panos with him has been Elwe, Elwe, Elwe. Oh, but he’s in love with her heels over head; an now I must look up; then we'll spy the Sparrow- hawk’s nest out. And that Nathelah: now, Arkan- saw, my old beauty, she’s no more an Ingin girl than Sabina Bandy’s an angel—not a bit of it. By hokey! I wonder if I'd slick up, and put my best hoof for’d, whether I couldn’t cut that Sparry hawk gt ane pcan laughed heartily at his own absurd conceit. Again finding himself alone in the night, the old scout went ashore, pees his canoe out of the water, and began looking. or a place to pass the rest of the eventful night. He found a great hollow log hard by, and without a moment’s hesitation he go down upon his knees, and having put his rifle in the lo crawled into the hollow, and stretching himself ou went to sleep. . en he awoke it was daylight, and without his narrow chamber he heard the carol of birds and the chatter of squirrels in the tree-tops; but, instead of the Hey) mening air the pungent odor of smoke gree olfactories, «., By Judas Iskariot!"’ he exclaimed to himself, thar’sa fire nigh this log, and I'll bet some red- skin bastions gota camp about. It might be whites, but how the deuce ‘mito tell? I've got to ere, em dasted lo ‘i le jem know I’m coming long afore I git out with my e listened and heard voices—veices of white men tulking Among them he recognized the yoice of Silver Star, the Boy Knight, Old Kit Bandy; but he could scarcely believe the evidences of his own senses, for he believed Bandy had been slain. While thinking the matter over, he discovered that the log was a continuous hollow; he could see out at the other end. This would enable him to make his exit forward, and at once he began creeping slowly along toward the opposite end. When within a few feet of the exit, a small hole in the side of the log enabled him to get asight of those outside, Kit Bandy was there in all his. old-time health and humor, and was being closely watched, in the operation of roasting some savory venison a some hot coals, by two white men, both of whom were entire strangers to Old Arkausaw. One of the strangers was rather an intelligent and prepossessing-looking man, but there was that about the drawn corners of the mouth and eyes, the cloud- ed brow and nervous, restless movement of the body that did not, at all, impress the man in the hollow log very favorably. e was addressed by Kit and the other man as ‘‘ Professor.’’ The other stranger Arkansaw tae down, at first glance, as a deep-dyed villain; and, judging by the manner in which Old Kit Bandy regarded him, it was also evident that he —Kit—had not a very good opinion of him. The aroma of the broiling venison made Arkan- saw’s very mouth water, and sharpened his appetite until silence almost ceased to be avirtue. He crawl- ed on until his head was within a foot of the exit, when he discovered half a dozen sticks thrust in the ground near the log with a slice of steaming hot venison cooling on the end of each. Assured, by the run of conversation outside, that the eyes of the trio were not that way, Old Arkan- saw reached out and removed the meat from the three nearest sticks and began eating it with a vora- cious appetite. Presently he heard Kit Bandy say: ‘Now, gentlemen, jist move yerselves up to the lick-block and try my style of dishin’ up venison. I alers prided myself on gittin’ more concentrated glory into a slice of broiled venison than— Great orn of Joshua! what in the stars ’s become of that venison? I lefta slice on each of them sticks, and as I’m a born nigger, three of them are gone! Reck- on a sneakin’ dog of some Ingin did slip up and gob- ble ’em up.” ““That’s rather strange,’’ said the man addressed as professor; *“‘a dog couldn’t have come here un- seen.”’ ‘** Strange, indeed,” added the other man, Herman Braash. “Not a bit of it, by the roarin’ Hellispont!”’ ex- claimed old Kit, as he saw a large, bony hand thrust from the hollow log, and deliberately remove an- other slice of venison from a stick; ‘‘that tells the tale! Did you see that infernal tentacle of a human Octophus snake in another piece of our breakfast? That log, men, is infested.” ‘** What aceursed impudence!” said Professor Day- on. ‘** Shoot the skulking hounnd!’’ vociferated Braash. The professor drew his revolver, while old Kit, bending over, gazed into the log. The eyes of the latter met those of Old Arkansaw, when a roar of laughter burst from the lips of the scout. “Great horn that floored old Jericho!" ex- claimed Kit; “it’s that pizen old vagabone, Ar- kansaw Abe! Come out of there, you dasted, ornery old babboon, and let me maul the stuffin’ out of you! Qh, but I'll abolish you, my gay old buttercup!” Old Arkansaw crept from his covert, and bowin to the astonished trio, said ‘*‘ Good-morning,”’ anc then seating himself upon the log, drew his hunting- knife and began pickie his teeth in a manner that all the cool impudence they had ever wit- nessed. To add to the surprise of the trio, he turned to Bandy and said: “That venison’s a leetle stringy—done most too rare for me.” ‘*You blasted old rapscallion!’ replied Kit, ‘that’s all purty well done, but it’s only borrowed, now mind. But look here, Arky, this gentleman is Professor Daymon, and this Mr. Herman Braash; and then his, gentlemen, is Old Arkansaw Abe, the nuisance of the White Earth, confound his ornery picter!” Arkansaw bowed politely to the two men; and notwithstanding the language in which the intro- duction was given, Daymon and Braash both ad. dressed the old plainsman with apparent surprise and no little respect. After a few words the four sat down to breakfast, and when their meal had been concluded, Braash and Daymon walked out into the woods, promising to return in a few minutes. As soon as they were out of sight, Old Arkansaw turned to Bandy and said: ‘** Kitsie, my rosebud of beauty, and paragon of rn do you know who you're keepin’ company w | ‘*Why, yes; Herman Braash, civil engineer and government surveyor, and Professor Daymon, scien- tific man of the expedition.” ** How do you know, Kit?’ ‘*They said so."’ * Would you b’lieve I war an angel if i war to say 80? “Not by a thunderated sight, Arky,” replied - “They said their company had. encam up the river last night; and durin’ the night they concluded to make a reconnoissance down toward the Ingin town, and got lost. Meetin’ me, they con- clud to stick by me till this mornin’.”’ Well, it may all be, Kitsie; but I'll sw’ar the government selected some might dubious-lookin’ men to make gocgraph for our sehool-children.”’ Ya-as, that’s what I think; I didn’t like the looks of Braash from the fust—iooks a mortal sight like Old Arkdnsaw Abe—only better lookin’, . But I pro- \ m equaled 9 mised to go up to their camp to-day, and then I can see whether they're surveyors or frauds.” — “Tl tell ye what I think, Bandy: that is, you won't see Surveyor Braash and Skienflintic Daymon back here ag in this — I think you've had the woo: yanked over your , lustrous orbs.”’ ‘** Well, what makes you think so?” asked Bandy, beginning to betray some uneasiness. **Gineral appearances, Kitsie. Surveyor Braash has a down, furtive look like a wolf; and Skinflintic Daymon has the quick, restless eye of a guilty con- science.”’ - Complimentary to the count Bandy; “ but for fear you are right ’s servants,” said — Arky, rll keep - a look-out for them, They may be wanted afore | long, and—’’ “Yes, and please the ious, vou’re wanted now, Kit Bandy!” cried a ‘ ul voice, and the next moment Sabina Bandy came bounding from the woods and confronted her recreant and ungrate- ful husband. Kit, with a look of utter hopelessness, stood at bay. CHAPTER XL “FARE THEE WELL, AND IF FOREVER,” ETC. ** AGAIN, oh, you demon of an old rascal!’’ hissed old Sabina we her big umbrella in Kit’s face, and fairly dancing in her excitement. “ Again have I found you! do I stand face to face with my cruel husband.”’ “Yes, Lord, Lord!” sighed Kit, withering like a coward before the blazing eyes and uplifted weapon of his enraged wife. “Please gracious,”’ the old woman went on, pok- ing him unmercifully in the ribs with her umbrell this is the last time that you desart me alive; an you may depend upon ¢hat/” ‘**We could live just as happily, Sabina, a thou- sand miles a .”’ observed Kit, ** You could, but J couldn't. My youth and beauty and freshness is gone, and—”’ “And where in God’s name is mine? Hasn’t it been deviled out of—”’ “Wait, will you?” vies gee Sabina, “ please cious [ have the floor. man is so deceitful hat he can make a young gal b’lieve he’s a giddy boy, and who knows but you're carryin’ on a flirts - tion with some gal now?’ “‘T am not, ‘Bina.’ ‘I wouldn’t b’lieve you as fur as I could throw a buffalo-bull by the tail,” stormed the wife. “Oh, Je em!" exclaimed Old Arkansaw to himself; “‘ the jee of Old Kit Bandy sparkin’ a girl! I swan that’s good—dee-licious.”’ While the husband and wife were talking matters over in a rather stormy way, as we have seen, Ar- kansaw took his rifle and walking down to the river seated himself in the canoe he had left there the night before with the intention of crossing to the opposite shore as soon as he had an opportunity to bid Kit good-by. “* Kit,” he finally said, ‘‘ when you’ve time between breaths I'd like to speak a word to you—bid you good-by and wish you ears of conjugal happiness.” Kit gave a sad, longing glance toward the river, and then, as a thought seemed to flash through his mind, he turned suddenly, and tearing himself from the embrace of his wife, darted away toward the stream at the top of his Sabina after him. Reaching the beach, the old man made a leap and landed squarely in the center of Arkansaw’s canoe, and with such force that the boat was driven half- across the river with at velocity. Old Kit fell surawiingttn the boat, but rising to a sitting pos- ture, he glanced back at the shore and saw his en- raged wife meee ve at the water’s ee s her umbrella in a furious manner, and airly frothing with anger. With a wave of his hand, the old man shouted back: “Fare thee well, Sabina, and if forever, Still forever, fare thee well.” Sabina could make no reply. Her form shook with the intensity of her emotions. At this juncture the sharp blast of a horn came leaping from out the forest, starting all with sur- prise. “By the horn that fetched old Jericho!” exclaimed Kit, ‘* that come from the direction in which Braash and Daymon went. It means mischief, I’m afraid— pull for the shore, Arky, pull lively!”’ ‘*But your wife, man! would you leave her to—”’ “‘Never mind the old catamount; she'll scratch her way through, See that? Oh, horn of Joshua! but she is an ingenious critter!” Old Arkansaw looked back as ested, and to his wonder and surprise, saw that Sabina had raised her big umbrella—a monstrous large affair—and, in- so had placed it upon the water, and had aube iked in U for across the river, paddlmg with her a , nas | In other words, the little old woman had made a canoe out of her large old umbrella, and, although the current was gradually bearing her down-stream, was slowly crossing in pursuit of Kit Bandy. “Pu be everlastingly confused, Kit!” exclaimed Arkansaw, ““who ever heard o’ the like afore? An = foracanoe. Why, man, it'll sink and drown er! “ The Lord's will be done, Arky.” ‘You old sinner, I'd ort to shoot you— Oh!” A bullet from the woods on the opposite shore cut a lock of hair from the old plainsman’s head, and forced a groan from his lips. ‘““Ingins or surveyors!”’ he exclaimed, and then plied dle with all his strength. A few strokes of the e brought them to the shore, and, land- ing; pone ht er e cover of the woods from whence they watched the opposite side, ECORMIC OOOKS (C (El)