Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 188 — page 5: what you’re looking at

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

rrr their bows and draw the arrows to their iron heads. ‘*Girl count three,” said the nearest Indian glancing over his shoulder at Cyrille. ‘ Indian beard white sholders count in the forts, and him understand. Girl count—quick!” ‘*T will count!” said our heroine, stepping forward. ‘‘ And may each arrow find an In- dian heart,” Then she exclaimed: ‘* One—two—three |” The twanging of four bow-strings seemed blended into one report, and the arrows sped away on their mission of death. Cyrille uttered a cry as two of the red duel- lists, one in each rank, reeled away, arrow- pierced, and dropped their bows to fall dead on the grass. The other two remained unbarmed. Quick as thought the survivors snatched new arrows from the quivers which they had placed i oe ground, and drew them madly to the arb. Then springing forward until they had cleared twenty feet they suddenly halted and fired again. This time only one wild death-cry echoed over the secluded valley, and pierced through the neck one of the young bucks staggered for- ward to die among the green blades. The victor with a proud glance at Cyrille quietly unstrung his bow and picked up his quiver. Then he came forward. ‘““The arrows of the Red Wolf found the hearts of his opponents,” he said. ‘ The fight was fair and the white girl will warm Red Wolf’s lodge and smile only for him.” But Cyrille with a shudder shrunk away. “White girl no run from her chief,” cried Red Wolf as he scowled. ‘‘ Him fight for her, him win her, and now him keep her!” He bounded forward as he finished. Indian ire flashed in the depths of his dark eyes. ‘Girl stop!” he commanded as Cyrille still involuntarily retreated. ‘‘If Red Wolf cannot keep, he kin kill.” e infuriated buck had drawn his tomahawk and planted himself firmly a few feet from the shrinking girl. The weapon was poised above his head, and Cyrille who had witnessed a great deal of hatchet-throwing by the western iat at different forts, knew that it would certainly find her brain if hurled forward. ‘Girl no stop? Then Red Wolf kill his brothers for nothin’. e will kill white girl, too.” The naked arm went back a few inches fur- ther, the tomahawk turned half-way in his hand os rape t of a rifle broke the still e sharp report of a rifle broke the stillness harmles and the hatchet, hurled forward, fell ess at Cyrille’s feet! As for the young red athlete, he lay on the ep sward with the death-gurgle in his roat The unexpected shot startled Cyrille and made ber turn toward the mountains behind her. ‘** Merciful Father!” fell from her lips. ‘‘ Into the hands of what kind of a monster have I fallen now?” Well might she use the word “‘ monster,” for a few rods away quietly smitty rifle stood a being whose nether limbs were human, but who had the head and arms of a bear. Cyrille felt fear creeping to her heart as she looked, and when the monster came forward she seemed nailed to the ground. Nearer and nearer came the repulsive creature, his rifle slung over his shoulder, and his eyes seeing, not the girl, apparently, but the figures stretched on the grass. He passed quite near to Cyrille, giving her a a glance and stooped a moment over each ead brave. Although the astonished maiden watched him closely, she did not see bim perform the scalp- ing operation, nor did he appear to possess any such trophies when he again stood erect. Then he seemed to turn his whole attention to her, and bounded forward with a strange cry. Cyrille, seeing that escape was impossible, stood her ground until one of the hairy hands shot forward to seizs her, when she suddenly reeled away and sunk back in a swoon. gre eyes Of the Bear Demon seemed to glis- n. CHAPTER V. THE TWO OFFERS OF LIBERTY. ** Hist! Injuns! we’re in fur it now.” The voice was Ben Simon’s, and the next mo- ment four horsemen drew rein and cocked their revolvers, Night had once more thrown her mantle over the country, and themen—Major Beverly and Ned Temple, the Border Boy. — ~~ eee —_—_—_—_—_—_—— nnn NS a ns os —— wee es ee ee —=---—- his companions—were in the neighborhood of old Fort Reno. They had proceeded thus far on their way to Fort Buford, and no incident, save a few false Indian alarms, had broken the monotony of the journey. This time, however, grounds for fear, for the working of Ben Simon’s countenance and the flash of his eyes, as he re- joined the little party after a brief reconnois- sance, told all that he had seen something un- usual. They are coming this way. Quick! to the grass, and cover your horses’ mouths.” The command was swiftly obeyed. The men urged their steeds from the trail, and while the held their caps over their mouths with one hana, the other held ready for instant use the formi- dable revolver of the army. Ben Simon had not spread a false report, for the tramp of many horses soon fell upon the soldiers’ ears, and the apparitions of horses and their riders greeted their eyes, Major aap did not think of treachery at that moment. Instead of looking at Simon, the scout, he kept his eyes fixed on the Indians, All at once the red-skins halted and at the same moment a voice on Beverly’s left attracted that officer’s attention. Ben Simon was not at his post, although his horse was still there. Where was the scout? ‘Thar they ar’, Red Cloud!” suddenly cried the traitor. ‘“Twoov’em ar’ my cronies, but the other one is one ov the accursed blue-coats.” If a bomb had exploded at Major Beverly’s feet he would not have been more astonished, He had been betrayed, and for the first time he knew that his two other companions were men of Ben Simon’s stamp. ‘Devil! you shall not live to boast of your in- fern’ treachery,” the officer cried, droppin his bridle and darting toward Simon. ruil scatter your brains over the scene of your trea- son. Ben Simon involuntarily slunk away, but the two men behind Beverly instantly seized him and tried to wrest the weapon from his hand. ‘** White man bo quiet,” said a stalwart Indian who was instantly recognized by the soldier. My braves are all mad for blood, for the secret killer walked among their camp-fires last night. White soldier must not provoke them.” ‘* Then, Red Cloud, you and that traitorous dog are partners,” flashed Beverly, glaring at Simon, who, seeing him firmly held, had ven- tured to come forward again. ‘‘ You accept of his betrayals. Beware! some day that viper will sting you. If he is dog to us, he will prove wolf to you before he dies. Were I loose for a moment, I would do you a favor.” But Beverly was still firmly held by the two traitors, and after awhile he was turned over to the Sioux, by whem he was closely guarded on the site of Fort Reno. He had much to cccupy his mind while stood in the midst of the Indian band His journey to Fort Buford had come to an abrupt conclu- sion. He had been consigned to the care of three traitors, and that Colonel Armstrong, who had selected the trio himself. Did another terrible thought flash across his mind _ he stood in the midst of the Indian cam ‘*Heaven forgive me! I do not want to think that I have an enemy at head-quarters,” he muttered. ‘I am hurried from the com- mand at night, with three companions, traitors every one. What does it mean? And in what manner have I offended Leslie Armstrong?’ The thought had no pleasant associations for ee Beverly, and dismissing it as well as he could, he turned his attention again to his present situation. enemy. ‘* Yonder, if I am not mistaken, is an Indian whose figure has familiar outlines,’ he sudden- ly exclaimed, regarding a person holding a talk with the chief, Red Cloud. ‘‘ An Indian; no, he is not a Sionx; but one of those treacher- ous devils of the Simon stripe. Ha! he is com- ing toward me—a message, probably from Red Cloud himself.” The man had left the Sioux chief, and was walking toward the soldier, now lashed firmly to a young cottonwood, No Indians were near at that moment, and the chief’s late companion came on until he stood in the shadow of the tree thrown by the firelight, and within five-feet of the captive. af Major, would you accept a favor at my hands?” he said, in a tone that made Beverly start. ‘If so, here isa knife. I’ve succeeded in doing something for you with, Red Cloud. there seemed to be Armstrong was not his i / ‘ J _ —— At a ee TW ae ee ee Se eee ee eee =. ’ ’ 7 . 5 The whole band will move off directly to in- vestigate a pretended alarm; we will leave you here. I will contrive to have a horse for you at the old ferry, and you know bow to use this knife. By George! I never expected to see you in this fix, and I want to say ubat Simon be- trayed you without a word fror i me.” Major Beverly did not speak until the man had finished. He knew him now—Thornton Hardinge, of the —th cavalry! He was not only a deserter, but was hand in glove with the red scourge of Montana. ‘Captain Hardinge, why are ai here in league with the scarlet fiend who has scalped a battalion of our old comrades?” cried Beverly. ‘We had all made up our minds that you were a deserter, but not one dreamed that you had turned Sioux.” Despite the coloring on the deserter’s face, his countenance was seen to change. His eyes flashed. “T offer you liberty, Beverly!” he cried, tak- ing a step toward the prisoner. ‘* And you re- turn the favor by calling me a deserter. Do you want the knife?” ‘‘Wrom you? Never!” Hardinge seemed taken aback by the answer, “Think! I may not be able to offer you free- dom any more. The young bucks egged on by Ben Simon will soon break out in a tumultuous clamor for your blood. Last night the secret terror of Cloud’s camps was among us again, and six Sioux warriors, the flower of Indiandom, so to speak, were found this morn- ing dead around the fires. No one knows who the mysterious slayer is. He has followed Red Cloud on every war-trail for the last two years, and the chief has been robbed of his best braves by the terrible unknown. His deeds last night have more than maddened the young bucks whom he spared. They will cry for your blood directly. Do you thin the shedding of it? He is onl would not ard two minutes the sixty demons over yonder. As for your charge, I did leave the army; but I joined Red Cloud for a purpose.” “You will be murdering our troops next,” cried Beverly, bitterly. , Hardinge winced under the words, but did not reply to them. ‘“You will not accept freedom?’ he asked, suddenly. ‘**T have answered you.” | “Then die where you are!” was the harsh answer, and Hardinge finishing the sentence with an army oath turned\on his heel and left Beverly to bis reflections. The eyes of the captive officer followed the deserter until his figure was lost to view. ‘Of course he came hither for a ad ” he said. ‘Cyrille, if you have left Fort Buford, he must know it, and it is you that, wolf-like, he waits for here.” 1 Then Major Beverly knew the girl Cyrille, Ned Temple’s companion! For several minutes the soldier was left alone although he was aware that keen eyes were fixed upon him, eyes that had the baleful glit- ter of the cobra’s orbs. Red Cloud was not in sight, Somewhere, he was listening to Hard- l gee report of the interview just closed. at once Beverly saw the figure of the Sioux chief appear on the very spot where the deserter had stood. The sight caused the major to start violently, for he had not witnessed | Cloud’s approach. | “White man can get away. Red Cloud doesn’t want his blood. His friend, the white soldier, has plead for his life—” ‘‘Life is dear, chief, but I do not want to keep it when it comes as a gift from Thornton Hardinge’s hands. He has deserted the flag of his country, and has added treason to his crime. one man and he. Red Cloud bit his lips at these words that fell : from Beverly’s lips with a noise like the biss of water on a heated iron. He had not expected sueh a reply. It seemed to deprive him of speech, and his lock » 18 a stare of incredulity. ‘‘ Offer me freedom % your own account and I might accept it,” con. ued Eeverly, in a dif- ferent tone, ‘* but don’t ice in that sneaking de- serter. at his hands—not even life itself.” Red Cloud hesitated a minute, and then sprung forward. The next second Beverly felt a knife-blade against his hands, and heard the ropes cut through. He was free! , ‘* Soldier stand still,” whispered the red liber- ’ ator. ‘*By’m by Indians hear alarm and all ‘\ com Red Cloud can prevent’ tween you and I repeat that I will not accept anything . = ~ J00KsS=COM