Beadle's Half Dime Library, Vol. 1, No. 2 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

Yellowstone Jack. — me the mother of at and wise chiefs. Nee- | they must give upall hope of reaching her friends paushwhoees is—”’ np _ that day, or else take the vieriious trail’ that wound ‘A coyote that is very brave when he sees noth- | along the right wall of the canon; that upon which ing but a rabbit, but who runs to his/hole, trembling they stood when Maynard was shot. with fear when the shadow of a brave crosses Ada besought him to take this ear Rag Fame was trail,” added a clear, distinct voice, contemptuously. preferable to longer separation from her friends, Night-walker turned abruptly, his features And thus they crept along the narrow ledge. rendered still more hideous by the scowl of rage that | Along the face of the canon, at that hight, convulsed them, The exclamation that trem- | each footstep was one of peril, where one f step would doom the one taking it to a horrible death up- on the rocks below. Then the ledge widened. They proceeded more rapidly. Pethonista suddenly s ered back. A shrill yell burst from his lips. He flung aloft his arms and then disappeared over the escarpment, A sullen thud, Ada sunk fainting to the ground, a rifle-crack ring- ing in her ears. bled upon his lips was changed to one of surprise as he recognised the bold intruder who had so auda- ciously concluded the speech he began. he ime he uttered, flashing forth his chet. “Save me, Eagle—save me from that fearful man!” gasped Ada, her new-born courage deserting her as she recognized the Indian chief. ‘Squaw have Eagle’s pledge—he save her,” was uiet reply. : “She is my captive—what right have you to come between us!” haughtily demanded Neepaughwheese. ‘*She was mine first—you stole her away from where 1 placed her while I helped fight the pale- faces. My right is better than yours,” coolly re- plied Pethonista. “The Eagle is only a crow, and talks words that have no sense in them, Let him fly away to his own nest, or the Night-walker—"’ and the scarred chief shook his tomahawk significantly. ‘A squaw uses her tongue,” retorted Pethonista, drawing his knife and flinging it at Ada’s feet. “ Now, is Night-walker afraid to meet a chief?” © The — chief “azls forward, and aimed a ) CHAPTER XV. CAMPBELL COUNTS A COUP. YELLOWSTONE JACK and his comrades closely fol- lowed the young avenger’s advice, and when the war- cry of their dreaded enemy was recognized, so ably seconded, the savages broke and fled in hot haste, The trappers and Campbell were warmly greeted by the survivors of the fight. On counting heads, it was found that four emi- grants had been killed, nine more wounded, one mor- y. This heavy loss, together with the unknown fate of May and the two women, cast a gloom over all. During the night there had been a consultation be- tween John Warren, Campbell and the orig see It decided their plans for the day. If possible, they were to leave the train and search for the missing ones, though there would be considerable danger of being nee off by some of the scattered Blackfeet. The lackfeet would never rest until they had avenged the death of their brethren. Though not stron deadly blow at the rle’s head. The stroke was adroitl arried, swiftly returned, and then the rival chiefs stood foot to foot plying their weapons with marvelous skill and celerity. Sparks fell upon every side in showers, the clash of steel rung out lon diy. It was a duel to the death, dimly lighted by the red glare of the tiny fire. And Ada, crouching close against the rock wall, breathlessly watched the | enough to venture another attack, they would lur issue that was to decide her fate. around the trail until they could be reinforced. Be- The stage was small for such a struggle, scarce a a doubt, some of their best runners were on ten feet in breadth, nearly square. Upon three sides | he way for assistance. a perpendicular face of rock, upon the other — Whar’s Hoosier?” suddenly asked Brindle Joe, othing save empty space, until, near one hundred yards below, the jagged bowlders that strewed the canon bed would welcome to certain death the one who should be forced or hurled over the escarpment. Suddenly Ada gave a cry of pain, and sunk down, rtially stunned. The hatchets had met with such orce that the Eagle’s weapon was torn from his grasp and hurled forcibly against the maiden’s head. Be as the party was about to start. ‘“ He ain’t hyar!’” “IT reckon he’s all right,’’ quietly replied Yellow- stone Jack. ‘*‘Mebbe he's gone on ahead to see ef thar’s any snags in the way. It was in the gray of dawn. The wre ary thought it best to leave the corral undiscovered, if age sae and so set out early, at first gliding directly away from the point were the trail had been lost on the ore Night-walker could fairly realize his ad- | preceding a A few hundred yards would carry vantage, Pethonista closed with him, forcing him | them to the broken ground, where they would have heavily against the wall. The shock caused Nee- | good cover to aid them in ing whatever spies the ey have upon the look-out. As both Campbell and Yellowstone were well ac- uainted with the ground, little time was lost, every step leading in the right direction. Yet the sun was two hours = before they reached the mouth of the Wolf Pass, having done a great deal of cautious skulking in order to escape being seen by the In- ughwheese to drop his weapon, and striving to _ the sinewy Fence away from tls throat, a fear ful struggle for the mastery ensued. Though taller and heavier, Night-walker was neither so supple nor active as his antagonist, and the trial was more even than one at first glance would have believed. First one and then the other was forced back a pace, their limbs locked together, every muscle | dians whom they discovered stationed at different strained to its utmost tension. They fell heavily to | points. the rock, tearing, biting, snarlin e maddened “Tam puzzled,” frankly admitted Campbell, after beasts, first one on top, then the other, They rolled | 4 considerable time spent in trying to recover the lost over the heap of glowing embers, scarce heeding the | trail. “I can’t see into it. Where can they have gone? I left them here, alive and well, with the in, and then, still locked in tight em- Somers Poon oe worst of thestorm over. It’s st brace, they staggered to their feet, only to fall again, 01 range—very strange!” with crushing force. Strange things is a apt to happen in these The embers were scattered in every direction. parts, stranger,’’ quietly observed Yellowstone. ‘I've see’d stranger things ‘ithin the week. An’ that makes me think—yes, hyar ’tis. Mebbe you kin tell me what them crooked scratches mean,” and the scout produced the bit of white buck-skin that had been wrapped around the arrow sent over his head by the strange maiden of the be “It’s writing !"’ exclaimed John Warren, taking the skin. ‘What does it mean? It says: *“* Your lives are in danger. The Blackfeet have found —— trail. To-night they will attack you. Your only “og is in instant flight. From one who wishes you we “Kin a sperrit write?’ abruptly demanded Jack. “That's a question you can answer as well asI, But why do you ask?” demanded Warren, curiously. “*Nothin’—never mind. The gals fust, I reckon. I move we take a look down the kenyon.’ Warren turned pale as death, for he could not help but read the trapper’s thought. Indeed, it was pos- sible that the lost ones had been swept from the rock by the fearful tempest. And there seemed no other solution to the mystery. Had they left the spot by any other way, surely the keen-eyed scouts would have detected some signs of a trail. And there were none to be found. “Look yender!"' muttered Brindle Joe, after they had traversed something over a mile. ‘“‘See that varmint, by the scrambly pine on the rock. I kin — *im from hyar,”’ and he handled his rifle eager- Ada could just distinguish a writhi mass. She could not tell which was which, though she saw one form half-arise and with a killing exertion of strength hurl the other away into the darkness. A brief space—and then came a dull ‘Aud from the canon below. And then the victor staggered to his feet, with a faint, breathless whoop of victory. A cry of terror and despair broke from the maid- | en’s lips. She fancied she recognized the scarred | chief's voice. Those few moments were full of bitter anguish for her. She could hear the heavy, labored breathing of the victor, and expected with each instant to feel his brutal grasp upon her person. But, instead, there came the words: “No need be skeer any mo’. Night-walker he dead—Eagle keep his pledge. Squaw plenty safe | now.’ The maiden's brain whirled, and she bowed for- | ward with a low sigh. Her strength, both of mind and body, had been sorely tasked during the past fif- teen hours. She had undergone enough to prostrate Rawtves & credtally 010 ing light in th ere was a gradua en gray e east, when she returned to consciousness. At first she could not realize what had occurred, but then, | as Pethonista, bleeding from half a score wounds, rose before her, a glad cry broke from her lips. | ‘You will save me—you will restore me to my | eee ssereepeeeeeeeepemeemmmmemmemmmmmeneesem ee Es friends?” . y: ““ Yeh—what le say, he do. Frien's live yit, | ‘Don’t be a fool, Joe; we don’t want the hull kit dough had big gh ; Fight like debble—you’ frien’s | on our backs, when we get in the kenyon. Mustn’t ae Blackfeet,” and the chief’s brow darkened. | burn powder ef it kin be helped—mind that.” ith | **'Yellowstone is right. é are not our own mas- fficulty Ada suppressed a cry of joy, but arising, though weak and stiff, she begged ie to | ters now, until this matter is fairly settled. After lose no time in the train. | that there will be time enough for paying off old Pethonista led the way along a narrow, winding | scores. I think we can manage to by without ledge that finally carried them to easier traveling. | being discovered; if not, then leave to me,”’ said Then the chief briefly told her how he peaneee Campbell. follow Neepaughwheese through the nightin time to | In single file the quartette glided along, taking rescue her. | advantage of every rock and bush to screen them- The trail was a long and rough one, and twice the | selves from the roving gaze of the savage hed ian were forced to hide in order to escape | upon the point of rocks. This maneuve con- seen by some of the scattered Blackfeet, | sumed time, but it was finally successful, and then, when the look-out was safely passed, our friends in- fully an hour. From a high peak, as he neared the | creased their pace, and soon reached a point where , Pethonista could see that it was guarded by In- | they could descend into the canon. diane, and after a little reflection he told Ada that ' At some distant age, this canon had evidently and once to make a wide detour that consum 13 been the channel of some powerful stream. The sides of rock were worn and eaten curiously, and some of the larger bowlders that thickly strewed the bed were worn smooth and round. Others had more re- cently fallen from the hights above, and were still rough and j . There was a thin deposit of sand and earth along the bed, and this had, in places gives growth to shrubs, vines and even goodly-sized rees. “We could play hide-an’-hunt-us hyar wi’ the hull Blackfoot tribe fer a month o’ Sundays!”’ observed rindle Joe, curiously noting some of the coverts. ‘*Ontel they’d roast us out, youmean. This st ‘d burn like greasewood, in a fa’r breeze.” -A low exclamation from Campbell, who was a few yards in advance, interrupted the trapper. He was bending over a blood-stained rock that had barely dried. “Sign—and it came from up there,”’ he slowly said, a upward, where the bent and broken branches of the tree lent emphasis to his words. ‘‘Cain’t be; thar’s no gittin’ *ithin half a mile o the edge up thar,”’ positively returned Jack. “Yes there is; 1 know a trail that would lead one right above us, though ’twould require strong nerves and a steady hand. And some one has tried it, af rou see.” me Must ’a’ bin the devil, then, fer no human critter could fall down frum thar an’ live a’ter. Yit hyar’s a trail, one a blind man could foller,” retorted Brindle Joe, pointing to a few drops of blood that his keen eye had discovered, leading away from the spot. Campbell and Yellowstone eagerly bent over the trail, and Warren waited for their verdict with beat- ing heart. Yet it did not seem possible that his lost ones could have reached this spot. ‘* We'll see where it leads, anyway. Brindle Joe, will you trail, or shall I?” uttered Campbell. ‘You lead; we'll kiver you. Thar may be var- mints at t’other eend o’ this. Old man, you kinder keep ahind, so’s not to spile the trail. Now, stranger, spread y’urself.”’ But Campbell found little difficulty in following the trail. The blood-drops were never more than a yard apart, sometimes even closer, and a far less experi- enced eye than his would have sufficed for the task. ‘* Bleeds like a stuck pig!’ muttered Brindle Joe. ‘*Must be a healthy critter, to walk so fur an’ so stiddy, a’ter a tum’le like that,’’ added Yellowstone. The trail led on for over half a mile, then seemed to end all at once. The blood-drops were no longer to be seen, until Yellowstone pointed to aplace where the wall slanted abruptly down to the canon bed. His keen eye had detected a tiny blotch of blood. ‘** He’s in them bushes, I reckon,"’ muttered Jack. His voice was —— y drowned by a half-stifled shriek, coming from the point toward which their faces were turned. Then the words: “* Mercy—would you murder me ?”’ “It’s Maynard’s voice—I know it!” cried Warren, leaping up the rude steps and tearing aside the vine- wreathed bushes, revealing a dark cavity. “ A’ter ‘im; he'll git into a pizen scrape, the old fool!’ gritted Jack, as he sprung forward. A strange scene lay before them. The weird wo- man clutc a knife, bending over the feebly strug- gling emigrant. She had heard the cry of John arren, and turned her head in surprise. The emigrant sprung forward and wrested the weapon from her hand, hurling her with violence axninat the rocks. She dropped in a heap, senseless. “Thank God! I owe you my life!” faintly uttered Maynard. | ‘*“My child—Minnie—where is she?’ cried the al- most-distracted father, staring wildly around, as though hoping to discover his lost ones hidden within the cave. ‘*God knows!” brokenly replied the young man. “They were with me when I was shot—then I fell down from the ledge we were upon. A strange man nd me, and brought me here. Then she came, an we “Whar is he? Mebbe he kin tell us somethin’,” meget Yellowstone Jack, as Warren sunk to the oor At this moment a rifle-shot sounded from without, mingled with a shrill yell of mortal agony; and a moment later there came a dull, heavy, sickening thud upon the rocky bed of the canon. “Come out here, you fellows—I've made a ee found a prize!” cried Campbell's voice, exul antly. As the trio emerged, they saw him bending over a horribly crushed and ~_——— corpse, coolly off the feathered scalp-lock. “A chief—see!” and he held up the wy me | storted his pale lackfeet; and he was in frophy, while a fiendish expression features. ‘A chief of the nice business, too! You see the ledge above—it’s where the blue line of rock ends. He was upon tha with—now, old man, don’t go into a fit—she’s right, though she did fall back out of sight—I said he was with a woman—a white woman. You're ht, old man—’twas one of those we were looking for. ate Gotan OL ages teen the W lips; but groan of agony burst m Warren's lips; bu then he quickly bri htened up. Though Campbell had seen only one, it was possible that Minnie was also there. At least Ada would be apt to know where she was to be found. . “*Quick—we must rescue her—oh, hasten!’ me , Old man—thar’s the young feller an’ the—” ‘Thar goes the witch!” yelled Brindle Joe, point- ing along the canon bed. “* How'd shes PP us?”’ ‘You fellers kin see to the gal—I’m goin’ to ketch that witch,” gritted Yellowstone. ‘ Thar’s Chavez to pay for yit!” e darted away, closely followed by Brindle Joe. CORMIGE OOO KS (EC)