Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 169 — page 5: what you’re looking at

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

ee dertake to touch a weepin, Pe Se vou of that immense fortune that wi!l be yours if yew obey Injun Jack. I wish you had not left the erin for one moment last night.” “ Jack! If I had not—” ‘Yes, I know! The Injuns would have got away with the boy. They would have put one thorn out of our path. The big haul shall be ours, Olive, every ounce of it! If you'll stick by me you shal) find that Injun Jack will do to tieto. I saw that boy’s master last night, an’ told him to touch the Queen of Red Core if he dares. I would say the same to that boy if he was hyar. You must not meet him, swear rou must not—I, Injun Jack! Nothing must Lien us from going straight to the mine of gold, No love-making, no deception of any kind. In- jun Jack never missed a mark yet. Olive, if ou do not listen to me—if I catch you with hat boy I will not hesitate—” He seized her wrists again, and drawing her to him hissed into her ears the rest of the sen- tence. ‘‘ { will not hesitate to kill!” In vain the girl’s face grew pallid, and she tried to break from his grasp. ** Jack—Jack, let me go back tothe cabin!” she cried. ‘Yes, go back to Red Core, and remember!” he said, releasing her, ‘‘I am Injun Jack, and if you act sensibly you shall be the richest girl on this continent; but if you fe that boy or anybody else into your head, I'll go cl’ar back on you. Do you hear me? Car back!” “ That’s bizness! Keep ’em apart! I’m with you thar, Injun,” murmured Tornado Tom. ‘But touch the boy if you dare!” CHAPTER V. OLD: TORNADO MAKES A COMPACT. “PLu not let on that I know anything about little Tornado’s adventure last night, jist fur che sake ov seein’ ef he’ll tell me,” d<cided Tom as he turned his back on the cabin in the valley. “We must keep ’em oper, Injun Jack. Thar’s su’thin’ better in the States fur the boy—yes, su’thin’ better than the Queen ov Red Core.” Tornado Tom was eager to reach the moun- tain cave, for he hurried over the ground at a a peers e had Jost his rifle ir the river which had almost turned out to be |,is grave, but his revol- vers were still safe, and his cartridges in prime condition. , ‘‘Things work queer) y sometimes. Ef Injun Jack hedn’t lefs thet mup in the sand, I wouldn’t bev found out thet he war in these parts, hunt- in’ fur the same thing I’m inter in. Iwon- der ef Old Icicle told him? No! he didn’t, far one hour after the old man whispered the secret in my ear, didn’t I plant ‘im? An’ didn’t he swear that Il war the only man what he had’ told it to? Old Icitle war a queer one: he didn't say much, but when be did open his mouth he told the truth; you could:bet on that!” The rough man was communing thus with himself when Le happened to raise his eyes, to cut his sentence short, and to start back with a ** hello!” of sarprise. Right bef re him stood seven horses, and on the back of each was an Indian. The faces of the red-skins expressed no little merriment, for they had been watching the un- ting gold-hunter with much amusement. He had been walking directly toward them for several minutes, and they knew that he was ma a: in their power. ‘‘Wal, I swear!” ejaculated Old Tornado as he halted. ‘* Hyar’s a nice pickle—a sudden in- troduction to the lords ov this kentry. I won- er—”’ ‘‘Hillo! white man!” interrupted one of the Indians in fair English. ‘ Pale-face run ag’in’ Injun, if he no stop. Where him keep him eyes! Theyre in my head ..ow!” was the an- swer, and with the last word the savages found the tables completely turned on them, for the gold hunter was covering them with the two revolvers, one in each hand. ‘“‘T allus war handy with the sixes!” warned Tornado, with a sardonic grin. “Now jest un- an’ see how quick to kingdom come! Be- fore ’'m in this kentry long you'll Varn to git the drop on me before I kin touch my shootin’- irons. ar’s seven ov ye; but thar’s thirteen ov me, six deaths ineach weepin an’ the concen- trated essence ov destruction bebind ’em. Git off them hosses!” The Indians stared into each others’ faces, and ther glanced at the man with death in his hands. ‘‘Qit off them hosses!” Pll give ye a passport Tornado Tom. ———) —s — Sullenly the seven stalwart braves obeyed. ‘‘Come out from’em. I wanta cl’ar view ov among yer anatomy. Thar! thet’s right.” The horses relieved of their riders began to Ove off much to the discomfort ef the red- skins, * Look xt me, not at the hosses!” command- ed Tornado. ‘“ Eye me as you would a photo- graphin’ aparatus.” The deadly pistols forced attention, and Tor- nado saw the indians standing before him with flashing eyes and heaving breasts. ‘Throw down yer rifivs.!” Seven rifles were cast vpon the ground. ‘** Now listen to me. kentry to disturb a single Injun in his rights. I simply come to hunt up a piece ov land with a hole in it, an’ when I find it I will go back without the blood oy one ov yer race on my skeerts. All lask is fair play. If you try to balk me, you'll think thet all the bolts ov death hev been turned on ye. We ought to understand each other. I want to find thet piece ov ground without a single scrimmage with you; but, I’m goin’ to find it ef I hev to goon areg’lar war-path. l’ve got opposition already, but it isn’t gah All Lask is squar’ dealin’, an’ only one Jack in the deck. me hear from you.” His’ words were addressed to the Indian who had first spoken, and that scarlet worthy after a covert giance full of meaning at bis compan- ions, addressed the gold hunter. ‘White man hunt gold mine long lost, eh?” “That’s it. Who told you thet it has been lost a long time?’ ‘* Never mind. Injun knows. If him find it him leave country, and never come back?’ ** Never!” Tornado could not conceal the eagerness that seemed to be devouring him. Did the Indian know the location of the gold mine? and was he about to make a compact, that would open its long hidden secrets to him, and enable him to baffle Injun Jack from Red Core? “T’ll never come back!” he reiterated. ‘ Ef you hev ’squires in these parts l’ll go before the ull batch ov ’em an’ subscribe to ten million oaths. Do you know whar it is?” ‘**Injun knows.” ‘*Don’t cod me. I kin tell when a fellows lyin’ by bis eyes. Don’t forget thet my fingers touch the triggers.” “Tnjun see. What him lie fur?’ ., ““ Thet’s so. . Now, whar is the mine?” Z “Tf white man go with Injun he will know,”, **Go with you?” and the words were followed. by a long whistle. ‘* Do you see anything green’ | in Old Tornado’s eyes? Not fur Joe, thank ye, gentlemen. Not fur Joseph,” The answer seemed to disconcert the Indian. ‘** When [ conclude to put my anatomy into yer hands i'll jest drop a line in the post-office;” continued Tornado... ‘‘ Ye’r a set ov cowardly” liars, an’ not one ov ye ever heard ov thet par- ticular mine.” nhs ‘“What would make white man b’lieve?” ask- ed the red-skin. ) i ark Nothin’! You don’t know anything about “ May co ae show?” ‘* Ef you kin—yes.” The next moment the savage drew his knife it. ‘and stepped from the line. 7: The ground before him was quite bare and hard beside. Stooping for a moment he cut a number of gashes into the earth with the blade and rose with a ray of victory in his eyes. As for Tornado he was simply astonished, and stared at the marks in the earth as if they were diamonds just dropped from the skies. “It’s a map like Injun Jack made in the sand!” he ejaculated, ‘‘ The red-skin is not lyin’, He knows whar the big bonanza is!” Slowly and with no signs of excitement in his eyes Tornado looked at the triumphant Indian. ‘‘[’'m not satisfied. Them marks may mean nothin’,” he said. ‘‘ They look like a fish-net to me. ‘** All would be clear to white man if he would let Injun guide him,” was the response. agama did not whistle this time, but merely said: ee The same old proposition. How far away is i ‘Not far. White man ride Injun horse,” _ ** By Jehu! Vl risk it. ‘ Nothin’ risked noth- in’ gained,’ as they say in the States. I[’ve lived long enough to know that some Injuns kin be trusted. caught a lot ov Bannacks in this very way once, made a compact with ’em, an’ they stuck toit. Dlltry these fellers anyhow. They know wharthe mineis. That's certain!” Then he addressed sie! aZer of the Trios, ‘ { didn’t come to this | DN eee — Now let | deep-cut canyons, which | daylight to more’n one Injun S “Swar t ee a ee —--<—— — ee “Sw’ar to play fair,” he said. : show me the gold mine er the trail thet leads t& it, an’ Tornado Tom will fathfully carry out Bi ' part ov the agreement.” With more than victory in his eyes the Indiax. whirled upon the six braves. ‘Swear to be faithful to the white mans. Spotted Robe will kill the first Indian who at- tempts to betray him.” Then an Indian oath, so well known to tha gaunt gold-hunter, fell upon his ears, and bx went forwara. An instant later he found himself in the midst of the Indians, his pistols again in his belt, ant triumph in his eyes. ‘* At the first sign ov treachery [ll introdues rain!” though’ Tornado. ‘‘ Fair play, life; treachery, death Thet’s the motto.” A few minutes after the making of this sir gular compact between red and white the sever horses moved away, and on one sat a whi man. . This individual was Tornado Tom, aud thy Indian who walked at his horse’s head we» | Spotted Robe. arty through severity om had not discover. ed in any of his explorations, and he gazé« around him in a great deal of wonderment. Suddenly an exclamation fell from his lips. “By Jove! thar’s the little mountain wuts Old Icicle said looked as if the summit hed beer split with an ax!” he said. ‘‘The red-skin wae n’t lyin’ arter all, but I’ve never been in tii part o’ the kentry. By the jumpin’ jingo! Ta» nado, ye’r in luck.” Spotted Robe, who noticed the gratified e- pression on Tom’s face, allowed a similar one clothe his own, and the next moment he turmé:. upon the hunter, as, at a sign from him, te band drew rein. ‘‘White man must have his eyes hid & cpaine Robe wants them to see,” said the ke an Tornado winced at the-words. “It’s a quer idee,” he said; “‘ but [ll submit, but I want *- remark jest pe thet my weepins hev eyes;#* I can’t see. remember yer oath.” ¥ . A minute later a piece of an Indian blank& | was passed over the gold-hunter’s eyes, and tix horses resumed the journey. | ‘* We’re under ground now. I kin tell by thn» air,’ thought Tom. ‘‘ What ef I’m in the 1% boss mine¢ Ah! Injun Jack, the Queen of Hee The journey led the “Core will never git an ounce ov the rocks> #2 the-boy—ah! Tornado Jr., we'll be the mori kings ov the States this fall.” Such were the sentences that leaped in rahi: succession from Tom's heart. _ ‘The goal was reached, the prize won; incakes Jable riches were at his feet; he fondly beliem& that,the walls around him were solid gold! All at once his meditations were cut short {& the sharp blow of an Indian-whip accom by the cry used to frighten horses, and his over animal darted forward with a snort of pain. _ ‘“Preachery!” flashed through ‘Tornadd® mind. ‘‘Cuss the o’nery skunks! Halt! va mad hoss. Ill pay ’em fur this joke. Tl) tum this old hole in the ground into a graveyzint Jestilet: me get this rag off—” He finished the sentence with a yell of ho for his borse, blindfolded like himself, th he knew it not, bad left the solid earth, and mam falling through space to death. This terrible journey seemed endless to ‘tise bewildered man, although it did not last thm seconds, when crasa! thud! and Tornado #& from the horse, suddenly bereft of his senses. - He had been betrayed, and if he should ever recover he would realize the shallowness of & dian oaths. The echoes awakened by that terrible Gescat had died away long before there was any move —_ on the part of either the horse or te rider. “Tornado, you’re a fool! an uneddicata idiot!” suddenly resounded throughout the daa ness. ‘‘Trust an Injun, an’ unearth a list Wal,” after a long pause, * you’re ahead o’ Fe. jun Jack, anyhow. Him an’ the Queen ov Re Core ar’ countin the gold afore they’ve founds, but you’ve struck the bonanza, Tom, you’reaz the premises. Whar’s the hoss?” Groping through the gloom, he found the dm dian steed—dead! His own escape was miraculous; but ‘he a not think of that. He turned to the right and walked fi rwase. Sudaenly he brought up against a hard wail. oo wheeling to the left, he tried that dimse ion. The same result—a val! again!) “comicboo KS. m *