Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 188 — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

/ ee . — ————_— #0 to see. old ford; him find horse there, and him know which way to ride.” The Sioux chief sprung away before Beverly could frame a word of thanks, and a minute later he was out of sight. Then he waited for the false alarm. All at once the Indians sprung up around the camp- fires, and Beverly saw Red Cloud’s figure mov- ing among them. he Indian’s part of the programme was car- ried out well, and the major soon found himsel/ wnwatched, cenion sy gliding from the tree he made his way to the ford which had been used by the garrison of Fort Reno. Sure enough, a horse was waiting for him, and Beverly’s heart leaped for joy when he found two loaded revolvers in the holsters of the cavalry saddle. _ “*Thanks, Red Cloud; but none to you, Oap- tain Hardinge!” exclaimed Beverly, preparing to vault intothe saddle. ‘‘One of these days, portaps Major Beverly will be able to return a ioux’s one good deed.” “‘ Major Beverly, of the regulars?” exclaimed @ voice so near the fleeing officer that he tarned and threw back the flap of one of the holsters. “Yes,” he said, boldly, ‘‘ 1 am Major Beverly. Who are you?” **Ned’ Temple,” was the answer, and the weapon half lifted, fell at the officer’s side, as ihe speaker sprung from the tall grass and halted «lose by him. Beverly could not repress an exclamation of astonishment. ‘Thank heaven! I meet a friend again!” the bey went on. ‘You are escaping from the Sioux—from the scourge Red Cloud. I saw a ' gman bring the horse down Lere, and heard him say, talking to himself, that it was for Major Beverly. e was rejoiced at the thought of getting rid of you, for he more than half be- ieves that Cyrille is in these parts, and, of course, he doesn’t want you here at the same time.” Beverly’s hand shrunk from the bridle. a Then Hardinge is helping ne, But where is ille¢ “‘T wish to Heaven I knew.” ** She is not in this country?” “She is. We got to Fort Renosafely; but ou had left. Then we were separated. I was ed into Powder river by a fiend in human g#hape who called himself Sam Wildcat, and Cy- rille was left in his power.” “Cyrille alone in the hands of that man?” ex- claimed Beverly. ‘‘ We must rescue her!” “Of course! we will stick together,” said Wed. ‘Major Beverly, fortune has brought us together, and when we have saved Cyrille, my _ promised bride—” A hoarse, mad cry broke from Boverly’s throat. “ Your promised wife, boy? Cyrille the fairy our bride? Never! by the flames of Tartarus! o back and die at the stake or by the knives of the Sipux, in place of Major nateery whose blood they want. Not while I live shall Cyrille become your wife. I would die for her—I, Major Frank Beverly; but you—go back and die where I was to be sacrificed!” Beverly held the boy in his mad £r2ep while be spoke, and, with the last word, he hurled him headlong away with all his might. Then he leaped upon the horse and was soon @iying along the bank of the river. CHAPTER VI. THE SWOOP OF THE CROWS. Nep TEMPLE, staggering from Major Beverly, struck a cottonwood and fell unconscious among the grass. it was well for him that the tree stood in his way, for, while he lay death-like on the nd two figures glided up the river bank an looked for several moments at the spot where the horse had been left. The twain, Thornton Hardinge and Red Clond, were satisfied that their offers of liberty had bern accepted by the «idier, for after ex- chang.ng a few words * . an undertone, they ‘went away together. 'Whon Ned regainen consciousness he found ‘himself alone and still on the bank of Powder river. His rival, the major, had long since dis- appeared, and a short scout told him that Red ©loud and his band had gone northward, or to- ward one of the large villages of that red chief, afew miles away. ; “T must first find whether they overtook Sa Wildeat and Cyrille,” the boy said. “I have the girl to save and that villain to punish, and I / ¢ } rs N ed Temple, the Border Boy. fe Oe - Then let the soldier slip down to the | swear that I will not leave the Powder river country until I bave accomplished both.” Fortunately his sudden jmmersion had not deprived him of any weapons. The répeating rifle which had fallen from his grasp when Wildcat sprung with him toward the water, he found again after his escape fiom the waves, er his revolver had not been lost from his Following the Indian was no great task; the trail was as plain as a country road, and Ned did not halt until the light of another day came. Having selected a good shelter among the hills by which he was surrounded he resolved to hide until night when once more under the stars, he would push forward, nor pause until be knew whether Cyrille was an inmate of Red Cloud’s camp. Leaving the boy there let us precede him to the wigwams of the Sioux. Red Cloud and his braves had kept on to the village situated on one of the estuaries of Pow- der river. They were captiveless, and the braves were in no good humor. Fort Reno had been abandoned by the Government, and the troops had eluded the bloodthirsty Sioux. Thornton Hardinge began to feel uneasy from the moment of his entry into the camp. The sight of a white face was not a cheering view to the Indians unless it belonged to a captive. It is true that Ben Simon and his companions were among the band; but they were regarded as friends to the nation, and would be treated tts, A {f Hardinge slept the remainder of that night his eyes belied bis words when he greeted Simon the next day. Tho two sat together in the lodge which Red Cloud had presented to the deserter. “Wal, we’re byar, cap’n; but you’re without the gal,” said Simon. ** Curse it, yes! Where is she?” “Of course it consarns you most, but I’m ttin’ oneasy about her, too. She war to leave ort Buford on the tenth?” 46 Yes.” ** Who war to be the guides?” ‘¢ Two Crows, Black Robe and Uncapa.” Simon gave a long whistle. “Them two devils?’ he exclaimed. ‘‘ Then you hardly expect to find the gal in these parts, fn et ardinge’s eyes seemed to possess a tri- umphant glitter. **T didn’t think of that when I sent Black Robe and U neapa after Cyrille.” **You couldn’t hev seut two better Injuns. Cap’n, allow me to congratulate you. The gal is outen your way,” and Simon held out bis tawny hand, ‘*Not yet, Ben. Maybo she is still at Fort Buford,” said Hardinge. ‘*Not if the Crows got thar an’ Ill bet my hat that they did. Now, cap’n, ef I war as far through the woods as you ar’, I'd dance a jig in this oll Injun shanty.” “What plans have you?’ ‘* A marryin’ scheme.” sé You 9?? ‘‘Why not? Lown thet I ain’t as handsome as a rose, noras good as a saraph, cap’n; but I’ve got a grand marryin’ scheme on foot. You hev heard ov the lovely Stargold? Ov course you hev!” **Not Red Cloud’s only daughter—the prin- cess of the Sioux?” ‘*She’s the sunflower ov my heart,” was the scout’s reply. ** What does Red Cloud say?” ‘By George; I never sounded the old cod- ger. He may object—I expect he will—but Vil get the gal or die.” ‘Then it is a desperate case.” *: wn a I should remark. Every young Sioux throws his first skins and his first scalp at Stargold’s feet. She hes hed ’em fightin’ fer her smiles fur two years. Never saw ’er, cap’n?” ‘I never have,” said Hardinge. ‘‘I would like to see this red beauty.” ‘“The future Mrs. Ben Simon? Well, we'll go down to the palace an’ take a squint at the queen.” “* Now?” Why not?” Hardinge hesitated. “Wait till night,” he said. ‘“‘The Indians must get used to my presence here before I appear among them. That strange fiend who visits their camps at nicht has lately mad- dened them anew. They believe him to have a white face. By to-morrow they may partially forget him; then I can eppear in public.” j “Jest as you like,” remarked Simon, ‘“ Pll go down an’ pay my respects to the beauty.” Hardinge saw the curtains of the lodge drop behind the scout’s lank figure, and his steps soon died away in the distance. The deserter drew them closer with his hands and pinned them with the blade of a bowie. Every now aud then footsteps passed and re- Po the lodge; but he cid not look out. If e had he might have seen looks that would have troubled him. Slowly the first day of his sojourn passed away. Simon, the traitor, had not returned. Had he fallen into the snares of the lovely Star- = and was he at her feet in Red Cloud’s odge? ‘*T guess I can go out now,” said Hardinge, who had grown inpatient since sundown, “ 1’m not wanted here even if Red Cloud did receive me with open arms, and tell bis partners that my person was to be regarded as sacred as his own. My work in this part of the country seems to have been accomplished, if Black Robe and Uncapa cid their duty. Simon never sus- pected anything, altbough he thinks that I don’t care if Cyrille never calls me uncle any more, Hardinge was unpinning the lodge curtains as he spoke, and his hands gently drew them aside. But the next moment he stepped back with a light exclamation of astonishment for a figure stood before him. ‘White chief must go! Why does he stay here when the knives of the Sicux are ready to touch his heart?’ said a girlish voice. The soldier could not speak for a moment. ‘Red Cloud is away. He will not be here to stand between the young bucks and the white chief whose blood they want because the pale slayer visits the Sioux camps.” “Just as I’ve been thinking,” exclaimed Hardinge. ‘They are going to sacrifice me. Where are they?” ’ “They gather behind the hill,” said the gir! ointing away. ‘They are the young chiefs— ong Scalp, Eagle Eye, Fox Tail and their brethren. Will the pale chief stay in his lodge and die?’ ‘*Not if flight can save,” “ Stargold may help him.” “Stargola! Then youare Red Cloud’s child,” cried Hardinge. ‘‘ Where is my friend?” | ‘‘She is here. Stargold is the white chief's friend.” ‘“No! no! my friend, Ben Simon.” ‘Over there with the young chiefs.” | ‘‘Plotting against me? Quick! Stargold, I want to go now—not to stay away, but to come back by and by and find the heart of this ac- cursed double-dealer.” At the thought of Ben Simon’s aie ate fire seemed to flash from Thornton Hardinge’s , eyes. ‘*T am ready!” he cried, stepping from the lodge. ‘‘Show me the way.” Stargold seized his hand and started forwar ‘but came to a sudden halt. “Too late!” she said, looking up into the sol- dier’s face. ‘‘The wolves come for the h of the white soldier.” ‘Where are they? I see nothing.” ‘‘ Look yonder,” said the Sioux girl, in a low whisper. ‘‘ Cannot the white man see the wolves creeping forward on their bellies? One —two—three—twenty !” ‘‘I see!” grated Hardinge, bestowing a fierce look on the moving figures. ‘‘ Twenty against one. Stargold, can you point out Ben Simon? I want to send him ahead, as an avant courter.” ‘No. White man might go back and run for his life. Stargold cannot stay here. Good-by.” “Not yet, my beauty,” hissed Hardinge, springing after and seizing her arm. ‘There shall other blood than mine shed here to- night. By Jove! I'll rob Ben Simon of you anyhow if I cannot take his worthless life.” uscular and strong as a lion the desperate deserter held Stargold in his grasp. The crawling figures had halted, and resem- bled so many tigers crouching for a spring. *“Come on!” shouted Hardinge, inviting the combat. ‘I shall have the pleasure of making your tribe queenless before I go. Come on and see the trump I hold in my hands.” Not a figure moved. ‘‘Hyar! giv’ me the gal, cap’n!” suddenly cried a voice behind him, and some one was trying to take Stargold from him. “ Giv’ ’er to me, I say, an’ leave these diggin’s. The camp is full ov mountain Crows an’ the two tribes will be at it in five minutes.” | Thornton Hardinge suddenly released the girl ng he recognized the man that wanted her— 3en Simon! - | 00 aa