Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 162 — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

— . : — Se yo — eee - “ » f e * Ie —— oie od trom his .¥ ——— + eee ore T a ’ } tego? akg oe a eS SS. ated or 12 Will Wildfire in the Woods. pers ee eee EEE res ! release from the bear, and the two scouts, followed , closely by Ben and Harry, rushed upon the scene. * sorry to have dietaxtea yer little fun,’’ remarked Jerry. ‘But I've been hankerin’ arter a shot at that b’ar; and when [ see’d you an’ him tusslin’ it looked to me like a good oppertunity.”’ : -“You got a second ahead of me,” said Will. “Thi were getting too warm for fun. But you are badly wounded "Bi the close w “"Diaff myself ef I see’d anythin’ to laff "bout," cormtinued the boy. “ Yere we’s got ter chaw hard- tack all day, coz we can’t make no fire; and I’clar to goodness dat I don’t hanker arter no sich grub,” And the yon 5 gm pocuniy enough to all, under of the tents, though they had | more or less occupation in repairing damages. _ that he was goin ment of that black bear on a erce. You are bleediug pro-— tusely. This must be looked after, at once.” “T'}l cure my sores with the hide of that bear,”’ re- turned Pierce. ‘I think I won it, in fair battle.” While Je who professed a degree of surgical ial ens po naire and preparing to badtinne ese wounds, Joe advanced toward the slain dog. Suddenly he raised his rifle, and called out: “Come back, there; blast you for a sneakin’ hound! Quick, now, ‘fore my finger its narvous!”’ These words were addressed to Mar had taken the opportunity of the bear-fight to de- scend from the tree, and was hastily making off in- to the bushes. ‘*Back, consarn you!” growled Joe. ‘So ye treed him, hey; arter all our chase?”’ “The bear aia,” answered Will. In a few hasty words he told the story of the affair, while Mar Preston reluctantly turned at this stern command, and slowly walked back toward his f oes. -* Stand thar, now!” continued Joe. ‘ Watch him, Viger! We'll tend to you arter we git this gentle- man in order.” With bit lips and pale face the captured villain silently awaited the completion of the surgical per- formance, a cowardly tremor shaking his whole frame. It proved that Pierce had received no dangerous wounds, though the flesh had been badly torn on his logs and shoulders. : ‘What's to be done with this chap, now?” asked Joe, with a grim look at his prisoner. “Oh! I fancy he has been well punished,” said Wil “Ihave nothing more against him, The bear settled my score.”’ ** And blamed near settled mine,’’ grumbled Pierce. ** That’s all very well,”’ replied Joe, a law of the woods as well as of the city. When yer inurderin’ devils come out yere to = the’r pranks, we wood folks like to hev a finger in the pie.’ Preston, who | Joe Smith had taken away the bear-skin to have it cured and prepared for stuffing, Pierce declaring to keep the counterfeit present- estal in his room as a perpetual reminder to his friends that they had a Nimrod among them. ‘By Jupiter, I have earned it!’’ he said. ‘‘I won’t forget that bear for one good month to come. Ugh! how my shoulder hurts, and what an infernally dis- mal day itis! It’s enough to give a saint the blue _ devils.’ He lay back on his couch, puffing volumes of smoke from his cigar, as if there was nothing but _ smoke in the world worth living for. “But there’s | The next day dawned bright and clear. The sun shone warmly on the sodden soil, rapidly its surface, while a thin mist filled the ambient air. The pleasure-seekers were early abroad, quite for- getting the dismal gloom of the previous day. Their camping-out season was near its end, and they felt like making the most of the short period remaining. As soon as the grass had sufficiently dried Pierce seated himself in a camp chair at the tent door, with a pillow to sustain his back, smoking, and criticising the culinary labors of Jack Hasardinastyle not very agreeable to that individual, Of the others some went fishing and some shoot- ing. Will started out on a tramp after woodcock, in company with Jerry Prime, that personage agree- ing to lead him to a famous resort of that desirable game bird. As for Pete he went ne ‘* Mought be some catties left thar,’’ he soliloquiz- ed. “Efthar is I’s bound to haveamess. Don’t keer much fur rch; dey’s sich a berry common kind o’ fish. ouldn’t guv one good catty fur a barrel of *em.”’ Only Pierce, Jack Hasard, and Harry Waters, re- mained at the camp, Jack swearing that he was so rascally sick of wet-weather grub, that he was bound _ to have a first-class dinner that day, if he exhausted _ the powers of the cook-book. “Good for you,” rejoined Pierce. ‘ Give the hound | a taste of backwoods law. Will is too tender- | ” he “No lynching,”’ said Will. **Oh, no! Only a little keepsake to remember us ~ 9 “The others moved off, leaving Joe and Jerry alone with the panes On seeing this he sprung forward, making a pite- ous appeal not to be left in their hands. ‘““Stop thar!’’ cried Joe, authoritatively. ‘‘ We’ve rot a trifle of bizness with you.” The four friends walked on into the woods, pay- ing no heed to this appeal. An hour after they had reached the camp, Joe and Jerry came in, bringing with them the hide of the bear, which they had skillfully removed from the slain animal. “Where is your prisoner?” asked Harry, curiously. “ Flobbled off, on one boot and one stockin’,”’ an- swered Jerry. “But what did you do with him?”’ “Guv him the full law of Moses. Forty less one. And with a prime hickory switch. I'll bet that b’ar’s lride that he wears plaster on his back fur a good fortnight to come.” CHAPTER XIV. AN ASSAULT IN FORCE. Tue next day it rained. Camping out, however agreeable it may be in sunny weather, marvelously loses its attractions when dark clouds gather on the | sky, chill winds roar through the forest, and heavy alse pour down upon the sodden ground. chill; the bright-colored autumn leaves, which still adorned many of the trees, fell, like a flight of migrating birds, before the winds; and a general chorus of discontent went up from our storm-stayed friends, who did not like confine- nent in tents. | | | ' The | genial warmth of the Indian summer sunshine | changed to a shiverin t was particularly unpleasant to Pierce Brown- | 1 ing, who was now ace, the pain of the wounds which had troubled him ment. ‘““This is confoundedly uninteresting,’’ he grum- tle in yesterday’s excite- | the sun can beat a gnpagrs Lied, as he rolled restlessly on his cot. ‘ Ridiculous-— ly sharp rand tce-nails that bear had. I won’t be myself again fora month to come. Wish I was well in my own room at home, with a bottle of sherry cud the morning paper, instead of in this wishy- yashy, drippy, dreary bit of country. Hand me a oh car, J and a light. A map must have some soinfort,”’ While the invalid was striving to extract comfort | ar, Pete, sqnatted in the door of the indulging in siroilar shag thoughts. icut ; like ’em,”’ he mutterec ss J «hoes vatties, ‘count ‘cept shoes an’ tae ce a spring chicken; and floatin’ down de riber jess like o stray chip; an’ shootip’ de rapids; or de rapids ‘Sif thar weren't nothin’ in de world of no ‘* Brung back my | an’ jacket, but dey neber fotched one of dem | An’ me tied up like | shootin’ me; dunno which it were. Sure’s | you lib, I felt ’sif I'd been shot outer a seventy-five-_ ] _ self with slewing his chair around in that direction, Som y oe An’ now it’s got torain; an’I jess’: m a Nee hey wap is ms Pete’s grum voice sunk to a lower tone, as a | M behind him showed that his lamentations were merriment in his a ' ' catties is done sp‘iled; an’ 1 won't git another bite; an’ I jess ’ Harry stayed with him as a necessary aid-de- camp, and Pierce because he was in no traveling | trim. ‘*“Where’s that confounded growled Jack, as he found his fire .ood running short. ‘I hope the charcoal ed youth isn’t out on another boating-club expedition. There’s one thing sure, he is a genius for being out of the way when wanted.”’ ‘* Yere’s Pete; an’ I’s cotched jess the nicest mess ob na you eber see’d. Look dar; and den don’t ta ” oung rascal, Pete?’’ The boy held up proudly a string of large cat-fish, while his ebony face beamed with satisfaction. ** Dar’s no use talkin’,” he declared, ‘* but a catty’s jess de best fish goin’. An’ when Pete drops his hook fur ’em dey know dey mought as well take holt. Dar ain't no gettin’ away.” “Let us have them, Pete,’ said Jack. “Fried cat-fish are not bad provender, that s a fact.”’ ** The’r scrougers,”’ declared Pete, as he brought forward his string of fish. ‘‘ Neber see’d sich beau- a gg do you t’ink’s dat comin’ down de hill yander?”’ He pointed over his shoulder with his thumb. ‘“* How’s that, Pete?’ asked Harry. ‘“‘ A kerridge; sure’s you lib. I cotched sight of ‘t *way up dar, ‘bove de woods. Comin’ down yere, suah,”’ ‘*T hope it is not lady company,”’ remarked Jack. ‘“ We haven't got what I call prime accommodations for the ladies.” “ Let them come; we'll set them to cooking,” an- swered Pierce. ‘Of all the animals out of a place in the world a man turned cook is the worst.” “Growl on. You're “saloon, al retorted Jack, slicing away at his venison steaks. Harry meanwhile, with the aid of Pete, set him- self ere to work in cleaning up the camp, in preparation for a possible inroad of ladies. ‘*T don’t see where in the world they could come from, or who they could be,’’ he said, *“‘ but if they are traveling here I don’t want to have them making game of our housekeeping. There’s nothing under in seeing a hole through in geon’s eye. Stir up there, a ladder, or a speck in a ee an a A ee — SS Pete! It’s ‘ cl’arin’ up’ time. He soon had matters in a somewhat more pre- sentable condition, though itis very probable that | an accomplished housekeeper might have suggested | some improvements. ‘*Let them come now,” he remarked, with a sigh of relief. *‘‘ We’re spick and span clean.” In a few minutes afterward the sound of wheels — was heard, and it was not long before a carriage | rolled into view, coming carefully down the rude | mountain road, This road, in fact, was little more than a narrow cart track through the woods, and it | was very doubtful if it had ever been invaded before by any vehicle worthy of the name of carriage. Yet this was a stylish barouche, drawn by four spirited horses, and revealing, even at a distance, the bright and smiling faces of a bevy of young ladies. It a opposite the camp, Harry Waters run- ning briskly forward, while Pierce contented him- and Jack stood, with sleeves rolled up and ladle in an looking toward the new-comers with a grim wh. “Tf it’s dinner they want,” he growled, “I’m afeared somebody's to have short ” With a rich chorus of laughter the ladies descend oo the accepting Harry's proffered ‘* Miss Moreland!” he exclaimed. “Miss Darling! This is too good of you. Let me help you, ladies,” holding out his hand to two others, whose names were unknown to him, ‘‘ Why our camp will be like a nest of sunbeams. What ever put ft into your bad A chorus of laughing responses followed his words. “We were bound to take you by surprise.” ‘* We wanted to see in what heathen way you were livin here.”’ “It is only a delegation of the archery club come to pay you a visit.”” ‘“‘ Have ridden over from Pottsville, through the mountains.”’ The clatter of happy tongues soon became too live- ly to distinguish just what they were saying, as they advanced m column on the camp. “Mr. Browning!" cried several of the ladies in concert. ‘And not moved out of his chair! Well, this is gallant” tlad to see you, ladies. But, as Jack Hasard has just said, I am privil és “Jack! Grim old Jack!” and there was a flutter of bright dresses in that direction. ‘‘ Cooking! Well, I'll declare! Oh! do come and look here! Do come and look! Oh! what a sight for a housekeeper!” ‘*Now make tracks, if you don’t want to be scald- sé ed!"’ grumbled Jack. is spoon of mine getsa mighty awkward twist sometimes,”’ ‘“* Because it is in amighty awkward hand,” laugh- ed Miss Darling. ‘‘ Let me have it.’’ Andere he could hinder she had reft it from his sp, and was diligently stirring up the contents of This great iron t pot. “1 don’t know all that’s in here,” she cried. ‘“ Let me see. Potatoes, beef, barley, a regular combina- tion. And mutton-chops and catfish in the same pan. Oh! did you ever?” ‘Give me that spoon, or you'll be soup from head to foot,’ growled Jack. ‘‘Mutton-chops, indeed! It’s as pretty a venison cutlet as was ever sliced. And as for the catfish, don’t you see it’s a double barreled pan? They can’t run together.” ‘Lay it onto him, ladies,’ laughed Pierce, *“ His shoulders are broad, but his sins are a legion.” “*I do not see that your virtue goes very deep," said Clara, with a touch of sarcasm. ‘To nos “ven leave your chair to receive your lady friends.” ‘You must excuse me, I am troubled with corns,” replied Pierce, with a ace, asa sharp pain shot through his shoulder. ‘*He’s jess a-foolin’ you, Missy Clara. It's con- sid’able wuss nor dat,” cried Pete, indi antly. ‘What, Pete? You here? AndIdid not see you before!’ exclaimed Clara. ‘‘ But what is it then?” ** Not Hold your tongue, boy,’’ commanded Pierce. ‘He's jess been chawed up by a b’ar,”’ persisted Pete. ‘‘Jess half eat up alive. Oh, lawsee, Miss Clara! it’s jiss monstrous de way he was chaw Wants to make out it’s corns! ‘Tain’t no corns, no- oye ll and Pete’s voice hada ring of deep indigna- jon. ‘* Bitten by a bear!’’ the cries of sympathy rose almost into screams. They huddled artend Peres with warm earnest questions, and tender expressions of feeling and interest, and we must admit a degree of curiosity, until he felt that he was being half smothered by the warmth of their sympathy. ** Oh! it is nothing, ladies,’’ he exclaimed despair- ingly. ‘Just don’t press so close, I pray you. Pete's a little humbug. Got scratched a bit, that’s ail.” But eg, ape bound not to be satisfied so readi as that. ey plied him and H and Jack wit a multitude of questions, and would not be satisfied until they had heard the whole story of the bear- hunt, and knew precisely the part that Pieree had borne in it. “Of course we did not see it all,” said Harry. ‘*When we came up Pierce and the bear were hay- ing a free fight. They were h ng each other like two wrestlers or two lovers, whichever you prefer. And between us all I hardly know which was get- ting the worst of it, Pierce or the bear, However, we settled the animal, by a bullet through its head. But all we got for our pains from this champion bear-fighter, was a scolding that we did not let Lim have it out.’ If the nonchalant giant had never been a hero in his life before he was decidedly one then, and for the next half-hour was overwhelmed with praises, congratulations, and pity for his wounds from his fair assailers. “But when are you going to have dinner?” asked Miss Darling. ‘There is nothing Jike a mountain ride for the appetite, you know, and we are ‘most fa ean’t ide f h 6 n’t provide for such an addition to the camp,” replied Jack. ‘‘ You will have to take short rations.” “I don’t fear that, with your immense potful. Besides we can provide you with dessert. e did 1.0t come empty-handed.” | With the assistance of Pete she soon exttacted certain jars and packages from the carriage, whose contents were speedily displayed upon the table, whieh the othe teil were mtly setting. ‘Preserves! jellies! fruits! Gracious me! won't our friends be rised ae oe, come in!"’ ex- claimed. Harry, as the con © packages sue- cessively appeared. That they would be surprised was a mild term for it. When, a half-hour afterward, Will emerged from the forest with a half-dozen of woodeock, and Ben Huntly and Phil Carson with a bag full of quail, they were astonished at first by the musical laugt- ter that came to them through the trees, cAginsee | ht of the were overwhelmed on ca \ EOMmiecnoo (C (E(o) .S)