Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 153 — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

CE EN KM FiO Oe OE OO oe oe om Os - e - ° — =~ «awe ow ew om ~— = - -- . “— _—= | | { ' | 10 Eagle Kit, the Boy Demon. ‘* A fire-fly,” said John Perrin. ‘*T don’t know ’bout that,” replied young odman. ‘‘ Wait for me here and I’ll know,” said Eagle Kit, and before any one could interpose an ob- jection he was gone. The dwarf crossed the river on some drift- wood and with the silence of a shadow made bis way in the direction in which he had seen the light Coming to a certain point he caught the faint low and glimmer of a camp- in a valley alf a mile distant. He at once moved on to- ward it. As he came near he saw the form of a man moving about in the light. Within a clump of undergrowth some thirty es from camp the little scout found three orses saddled and bridled—evidence of the fact that they were to be used again that night. And greatly to his surprise he found one of the animals was that of Nebraska Ned. He knew it despite the darkness. “That young feller’s in trouble,” he mused, creeping on toward the camp. ithin a cluster of bushes not over ten paces from the fire the young scout came to a halt and searched the camp. Two men sat before the fire, and their evil faces, as well as their garbs, were sufficient evi- dence of their character. They were outlaws well armed aud equipped. Near them lay a human form, apparently bound hand and foot. It was Nebraska Ned, a helpless prisoner. From the general appearance of things Kit concluded that the freebooters had stopped there but for a short time. They acted very much as if they were expecting some one who was to be uided to that = by the glow of their fire, or they could have needed a fire for no other pur at that time. Fhe outhewe seemed to have no fears whatever. They laughed and talked in a loud, boisterous spirit—occasionally addressing some jeering re- mark to the helpless young ranger before them, and who had in the past been such an obstacle to their free operations in plundering travelers and settlers. Finally Ned rose to a sitting posture and gazed — the fire. His face wore a sad, troubled loo ‘‘J reckon you begin to realize,my young crusader,” one of the robbers, addressin Ned, ‘‘ that your career is not one of continu pleasure—that you can’t play the gallant to all the pretty gals that comes this way, shoot mountaineers with impunity and do as you please generally by moonlight on forbidden grounds. Just as soon as the rest of our boys come up we perpose to see how long you can stand on air with arope around your neck and over the limb of a tree.” ‘*T wonder what’s detainin’ them?” put in the other outlaw with an oath. A cry from his comrade was the only answer, as the man clutched at his head, fell backward at full length on the earth while a convulsive shudder ran through his frame. **Kirk!’ Kirk!” cried the man’s companion, ‘‘ what ails you, old comrade? Are the snakes at- tee ce ag in?” But Kirk made no answer. His friend raised his head. His body was limp, motionless and apparently lifeless, He’s ruptured a blood-vessel,” said Ned, who saw the blood running from the man’s mouth and left ear. Suddenly the body of the outlaw began quiv- ering as if with convulsions. His jaws fell apart; he rattled in the throat. Bloody ooze rgled and sputtered from his ie His body me rigid, then relaxed and fell in a lifeless heap. Something shot past the ear of the other outlaw and went clipping inf the foliage be- ond. The robber dropped his dead comrade’s ead, sprung to his feet, grasped his revolver and glared around like an animal at bay. A deathly silence reigned for full a minute, then followed a sharp, thud-like sound—the outlaw red to one side and fell like an ox in the shambles while a half-muttered impreca- tion escaped his li Then a little figure came gliding from the darkness, ran to w Nebraska lay and bend- ing over him severed his bonds. ‘Up, Ned, and knock a crack in the air,” said the voice of le Kit. *“‘ionly gotin a stunner on that last pirate—stone was too light and I couldn’t find a better on din a reg’lar King David on that t’other , didn’t 1? Knocked him westward—but, come, Ned, let’s h’ist ves out of here.” So quick had all this transpired that Nebraska Ned’s throbbing brain could scarcely keep pace with the occurring events, and ere he had fully realized the situation Eagle Kit and he were un- der cover of the darkness. CHAPTER XI. THE PURSUERS GO INTO CAMP. OvT in the timber beyond the radius of lights Nebraska Ned and his little rescuer es ** My gracious, Kit!” said Ned laying his hand on the dwarf’s shoulder, ‘‘ 1 am completely as- tonished—dumbfounded.” ‘** Be you? what about?” ** You, and the way you rescued me.” **Oh, p’izen! that war jist as easy as grease Ned; I jist took in the situation and then I shied dornicks at ’em pi-rates like David, of whom the old missionary used to read to me out of his Bible, did at the giant Goliar; and I raked bowler fromtaw on the fust one; but didn’t git in a boss — on t’other chap and only muddled his brain a little. But, Ned, where’s Miss Maple? d’ye know?” : **T don’t, Kit; but she and Cassandra Mar- kelle are ¢ither captives or wanderers in these hills. I was with them when set upon by a pack of outlaws. Cassandra shot one of them and then she and Mabel sprung from their horse and ran into the darkness. I was then over- powered, knocked from my horse and made prisoner. Those two robbers brought me here where they were to await the coming of their comrades. So God only knows where the girls are; but what news from camp, Kit?’ In as few words as possible Kit told of his visit to ons and that four of his friends were waiting for him up the river aways. The news fired Ned’s breast with burning im- patience. He was eager to be off to his friends. By this time the wounded outlaw had so far recovered from his blow as to be able to sit up. Bleeding at nose and mouth, he gazed around him in wild confusion. “Shall I shoot him, Ned?’ asked Kit, drawing his pistol. ‘* No, no; let the wicked wretch go with his miserable life. The say to turn a singed rat loose it will take its friends and leave the neigh- borhood; and perhaps if we let that wounded robber go be will warn his friends that there is a little torpedo in these hills likely to explode at any moment, and they will profit by the warn- ing and seek other quarters. Let us be off, i ‘* But what ’bout the hosses? Hadn’t we ought to cabbage ’em, Ned?’ ‘* Yes, to be sure; my horse is among them.” They hastened around to where the three horses were hitched. Untying them, Ned mounted his own faithful animal and little Kit climbed into the big saddle un one of the other horses. The third horse Nebraska Ned led, and in this manner they made their way down the dark, wooded valley to the ford. Here, as they emerged into the mellow moon- light, a cry burst from the lips of Eagle Kit. ebraska Ned glanced back, and he, too, ut- tered an exclamation of deep surprise. On the back of the led horse was seated a man whose presence had been unobserved in the dense dar ! ‘*Good-evening, gents!” said the man, with all the deliberate coolness of one who knew his presence was v= me “ Great p’izen!” exclaimed Kit, whipping out a revolver. ** Put that pill-box away, boy,” the man com- manded, in an easy sort of a way. “I’m not gorin’ to swaller ye—I’m no hungry pirate—I are— ‘** Judge Zelotes P r!” declared Nebraska Ned; “‘ why, my dear old dare-devil, I am truly glad to meet you.” **And so I you, boy. By the sword o’ Dam-ocles, lruther expected the oranges and oleanders ‘d be blowin’ over your grave afore another week the way things war goin’ once to- night, but I see you pulled through. Boy, I war nigh when you and them gals run into that hornet’s nest o’ outlaws to-night. And I did ox Chagas for you, but in spite of me the var- ts got away with you and the gals. But you can jist bet your bottom spondulic I painted a little purgatory on one road-agent’s uicker nor a hound pup could lick a skillet. word o’ Dam-ocles! we tore up the sbrub- bery like a pair o’ led bull alligators in a canebrake, er mess hasn’t made o’ any critter than I made o’ that brigand since Noah’s ark swung over the mountain peaks of ‘*Then the girls are captives?” ‘“* Yes, they be, Ned, ’m sorry to say. The odds war too big for this court, and when I’d got through with my man the gals war gone.” ‘*How did you git onto that horse?” asked Kit, whose head was just visible above the pom- mel of his saddle. **Why, I jistswung on as you started off as easy as a shadow flittin’ over astream. But, I say, boys, this is the dam-agest country for a judicial chap to rusticate in that I ever read of —dangers by the trillion—haye to — myself in battle-trim all the time in order to keep the Car’lina bench of justice from bein’ vacated.” The three crossed the river and turned up the stream. Judge Prosper’s tongue rattled away inces- wa ‘* Ned,” he finally asked, “have you see’d anything o’ that ole daisy, Perfesser Jimrack, since that night we fust met on the banks o’ the Beaver?” ‘* Nothing, judge; but I learned this evening from Cassandra Markelle that he is in the neigh- borhood.” ‘‘Dam-age his pictures, ’ve made up my mind that he’s not the ginewine goods—the clear quill; and I’ve been cross with myself ever since that night to think I didn’t smash in the ussy old cuss’s bay-winder. I’m of the opin- ion that he’s in cahoots with these robbers and road-agents, else he’d never desarted me as he did that night. But say, Ned, who war that gal that war ‘ith Mabel to-night?’ ‘‘Her name is Cassandra Markelle— Wild Cas- sandra we call her. She lives at the Agency, and’s an all-fired pretty girl, too.” ‘Oh, ho! then you’re in love with her, be ou? eli, you remember I told you I war on he look out for a stray gal, the daughter of John Henry Grayson, and that I war to meet one Colonel Blower, and he and I war to look Dakota over, and if we found her set her u with a fortune? Well, s’pose Wild Cassandra’s our gal, and she escaped from the outlaws, what'll you do?’ ‘What should I do but congratulate her on her escape and good fortune? But then Wild Cassandra’s not the girl t cde after. She’a Father Markelle’s own child.” “That may be very true, and as I can’t da anything intelligently till Blower comes with all details and perticlers, ’’ll jist amuse mysvlf, as I have been, ramblin’ around ’mongst these hills drinkin’ in the quiet repose o’ nature and ey the balsamic odors and—dodgin’ bul- ets. ‘*Did you say _ had never met Blower?” **T never met him; a friend o’ mine told me ‘bout him—says he’s the handsomest man in face and form that ever smashed the heart of woman. Oh, I’m to meet the gallant colonel— am goin’ over to the fort in a day or two as the time arranged for our meetin’ there’s up soon.” “Tf you ar’n’t a little carefuller meet him this side of eternity,” said le Kit. **T’m careful, my kid— don’t catch me runnin’ my nose into dangers needlessly; but when I do git there, I’m wusser’n a speckled alligator in a canebrake.” ““ Judge,” said Ned, ‘‘I want to ask you a question.” ** Let her slip.” “Do you know Major Dan Baron?’ ‘* Never see’d him as I know of—why?” ‘It was he that attempted to kill you on Beaver Creek the other night.” ‘*The damage it was! well, then he must have the pleasure of knowin’ me. I reckon he must be some jolly old gambolier sailin’ under false colors—some huckleberry, I expect, that I’ve sent up some time or other to learn a trade. By the sword o’ Damocles! what if it should be Ho— well, | want to see that man, boys. If I'm a stumblin’-block in his way, it might be sich a thing as what I’ve business with him.” ‘“* Just so, judge,” replied Ned; ‘‘now I be gin to mistrust something of the real truth—you, are not what you appear to be.” ** Ho, ho, ho!” the old man laughed softly to himself, “so you think I’m an old hypocrite, do ye? Boy, yer mistaken; a truer man to na- ture, anda juster judge than I hasn’t sot in judgment over a constituency since the ark swung into harbor on Ararat.” Thus they rode on till a voice hailed them, They had come to Dick Rodman and his three companions in waiting for Kit’s return. A few words acquainted them with the situ- ation and also the new acquisition that had been made to their numbers. . Great was the joy over the release of Nebraska Ned; and even those of the party who had once mistrusted the iiimical Judge Prosper of double ow’ll not Eomiichboo SS (E()