Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 238 — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

8 trict. The major had also served his time as a soldier, with no little distinction, on the Wanos of the south-west, and with all his experience it was natural enough that Frodd should desire his services. ' Tom Ackerman wasa young man who had grown up on the prairie asa herder. He wasa fine horseman, a deadly shot with rifle and revolver—a wild, dare-devil sort of a fellow who was a terror to all when in his “‘ cups,’ but kind, generous and jolly when himself. Brandt and Ackerman at once tendered their services to Ptolemy Frodd, and were accepted. Others came up and offered their assistance in hunting down the assassins, and the old preacher- detective kindly thanked them, but declined their offer for the reason that his party was sufficiently large. Some were inclined to marvel at his acceptin the service of such men as Ogilvie, Hohn an Rocky. His troubles with them at the Pine Cone had become generally known, and those who were not acquainted with the particulars of that affair, fixed suspicion on them as the attempted murderers. d revealed none of his secrets to his chosen friends, so that while he knew that some- thing more than mere revenge prompted his attempted murder, pv had no idea of the nego the valor — mel wes had — prejudices againt the three roughs, especially the gambler, Ogilvie. There was i tar about the latter, he said to Frodd, that he coul not understand; however, the old man resolved to give Ogilvie a trial, and at once submitted to the an men his plans of action, but none of his secre ———— a - + ae -— one eee -—-— CHAPTER VII. A BOY’S STRATAGEM. To return to the cabin of Max La Fleur, the tanner. We left the old Frenchman and his fair daughter Aimee confronted by four hideous savage foes, while on his sick couch lay Roger Millbank, and upon the floor, stricken down by the murderous shot of the savages, lay Shocky, the Boy Trapper. The lay upon his side, his body doubled up till his knees touched his chin. Old Max stood motionless facing the intruders, his body bent slightly forward, his fists clench- ed, his teeth set, and his black eyes glaring at the foe with the look of a desperate madman. Little Aimee stood near her father’s side, her hands clasped over her heart and her white face wearing an expression of terror. A —_ and deadly silence followed the en- trance of the savages. The latter stood facing the father and daughter with the smiles of de- mons on their painted faces. They saw the pale-faces were transfixed with surprise and terror by their presence. Max LaFleur was the first to break that momentary silence. “Crafty,” he said, addressing the handker- chiefed renegade whom he often met be- fore, “‘ what does'this mean?’ A smile that indicated a guilty conscience passed over the man’s face as he replied: ‘* The Indians have dug up the hatchet.” “What if they have?” replied La Fleur. ‘‘Have I not always been the Indians’ friend? Have I not dealt honestly with them? Have I not sheltered them under my roof and fed them from my table?” ‘* But. the white tanner is the friend of our enemies,” replied ‘‘ Crafty,” and then pointing first to the little knot of motionless humanity on the floor, and then at Roger Millbank, con- tinued: ‘‘ a, Rar the Indians’ foes, and the white tanner harbors them under his roof.” ‘*They are my friends, too,” responded Old determinedly. ‘They are our enemies, and we have been sent here to burn your cabin, and take you and your gal to the Indian village.” ‘““Why did you slay that boy?” asked Max; ‘are you making war on boys and girls, too? Is this Indian manhood?” *‘The pale-face boy carries the gun of a war- rior,” replied the dark-browed Crafty, ‘“‘ and his scalp will now hang at the girdle of the Sionx.” A ery burst from the lips of the terrified Aimee. *“Do not dare to mutilate that boy's body!” rm 3 La Fleur fairly hissed between his set ‘*Do you threaten, Max La Fleur?’ demand- ed the renegade. | ‘*T am no coward! I shall defend my own!” ‘‘ Then you refuse to go quietly to the Indian village where the chief may grant you immu- nity? The Parson Detective. ‘* Bah! talk of immunity from a treacherous eva I am ready to die here,” returned Old ax. ‘‘Then you shall die, but your child shall be the wife of Crafty,” responded the villain, fixing a devilish look upon the girl. Aimee started and crept closer to her father’s side. The old man laid his arm around her shrinking, trembling form and as he drew her closer to him he snatched a flashing knife from a sheath that hung on the wall and raising it above her head, cried fiercely: “Devils, you shall not pollute my child’s body even with your vile touch! Death will claim her before you shall!” The Indians grasped their weapons, startled by the desperate look on the old tanner’s face. ** Hold,, La Fleur!” cried Crafty; ‘‘ de- enarene girl’s life and you shall suffer a dozen deaths.”’ The old Frenchman gazing down into Aimee’s eyes said something to her in his native lan- guage; then fixing his gaze upon the foe he ex- claimed: ‘* Donotforce me to slay my child or the wrath of an avenging God will smite you dead. Crafty, take your warriors and leave my roof! The - of that innocent boy already stains yonr sO ‘‘ The pale-face talks big; he will not kill his child; I am not afraid of him,” was the rene- gade’s oat wl ‘‘Scoundrel! leave my cabin!” cried the now thoroughly enraged tanner. ‘‘ Not without scalps,” retorted Crafty, laying his hand on his tomahawk. ‘‘ Hold, there, you devils!”’ suddenly cried an impish voice in the room behind the savages; “hold! don’t move or we’ll shoot!” Quick as a flash the Indians turned to confront the speaker, but scarcely had their eyes been removed from La Fleur when the form of Shocky, the Boy Trapper, became imbued with life and in an instant he was upon his feet utter- ing a yell like that of a young Comanche. At the same time a revolver in his hand rung out and Crafty fell forward dead. Max La Fleur had not been slow to take in the situation, and releasing his child he sprung like a tiger at the nearest savage and drove his knife to the guard in the fellow’s neck. Witha rattling in the throat, a spasmodic clutching at the open air, the red-skin fell dead. With terror the other two savages fled from the cabin into the night pursued by the intrepid Shocky; but they made good their escape and the boy returned to his friend, his boyish face flushed with triumph and excitement. ‘‘God bless you, Shocky!” exclaimed Old Max; ‘‘ ou played that well, for we thought ou dead. ‘‘ Well, I thought so, too, when they fired into me, but i guess | war only scared, for I feel all right. I laid curled up there on the floor jist to make ’em think I war dead till the proper time come to put in my best licks, But, friends, !m sorry of one thing—that I had to kill that feller. It is the first time I ever had to pull trigger on any man, be he Injin or white. I never liked the thought of takin’ human life.” ‘‘ My noble little hero,” cried out Roger Mill- bank, ‘‘ you dida ain act when you killed that man, Crafty. e world is better off with- out such miserable, murderous wretches.” ‘But it'll be death for Mr. La Fleur and Aimee to remain here now,” asserted the boy, ‘‘for them two escaped rascals’ll bring friends down here to avenge their leader’s death.” ‘Yes, yes; that is all very true,” asserted Max La Fleur, ‘‘ and as soon as Roger is able to be moved with safety, we will seek safer quar- ters somewhere.” ‘‘For Heaven's sale! do not let me stand be- tween you and safety, Mr. La Fleur,” advised the young sei ge ‘* We can be saved, Millbank, so do not ive yourself a moment’s uneasiness,” assured e old tanner. By this time it was nearly morning. It was already growing red in the east. Sleep and rest were out of the lore that night. After the dead had been removed from the cabin and all things set aright, Aimee prepared breakfast for her friends. After breakfast had been dispatched and the day had been fully ushered in, Max La Fleur made known bis intentions of removing at once to the island in the river bi fae, his cabin, It was a piece of refuge fixed upon long before in case of danger—such as now me them. He called it the Isle of Refuge. It was well calcu- lated for a temporary defense, It was some forty rods in length by twenty in width. In the center stood a little cluster of tall, slender —— ere om | oe ee ce ce a ere ee. es tees | were ee 0-0 ee oe ee, me re es Oe ee ee ee ye trees fringed around with a dense growth of shrubbery. All the rest of the island wasa barren waste of white sand sloping dually from the center to the water’s edge. On either side of the island the water was fully two hundred yards wide, deep and strong of current. Shortly after sunrise the removal to the island was begun. A large bateau was used for the purpose. Roger Millbank and Aimee were taken over first. A comfortable tent was erected of poles, robes and blankets for the wounded ranger in the heart of the little motte. Then the household articles, provisions and in fact everything of value were transferred to the island, and although the old Frenchman and Shocky worked like beavers, it was high noon before the last boat loaded had been safely carried over to the Isle of Refuge. After partaking of a hearty dinner the refu- gees examined into the condition of their fire- arms. Shocky had his trusty rifle and a pair of revolvers. Old Max was possessor of a Sharp’s rifle, and some four muskets he had brought from Omaha to trade to the Indians, and a pair of Colt’s revolvers. Besides they had the two rifles and the pistols that had be- ey to Crafty and his friend. In all, they had eight rifles which were carefully cleaned up and loaded, and then they were ready to re- ceive the foe. Their boats had all been concealed—the bateau under some heavy drooping willows on the right bank of the river, while ee’s little bark canoe was carried into the grove on the island, thus leaving nothing in sight that might attract the attention of the enemy to the island. Keeping under cover of the little grove Shocky kept a close and constant watch upon all sides, and along in the afternoon be discovered a figure dodgin among the trees on the bluff back of the old tanner’s cabin. It was an In- dian who seemed to be making a reconnoissance, ignorant of the fact thatthe house was deserted. As evening approached other sav were seen gathering in the woods on the ridge, and darkness had scarcely fallen when there arose a fiendish yell on the night that fairly chilled the blood in the veins of the refugees. It was a yell of mingled rage and disappointment. It came from the deserted cabin, and was kept up for several moments. Finally a dim light was seen shining from the cabin window, but rapidly it grew brighter and brighter. The cabin had been set on fire. Soon red tongues of flame darted out at the door and windows and ate through the roof. In half an hour the whole structure was in revealing in its light a wild and _ picturesque scene. Around the burning building stood a score of savages that to the eyes of the watchers on the island looked like fiends of giant form. Back of the fire rose the sloping bill with its dark, green woods frosted over with the shim- mering light. At the foot of the hill the broad turbid river swept across the line of light like a great stream of molten silver. The little chunp of trees that concealed the refugees rose up hike a grim, black sentinel on the breast of the snew- white isle. The sav stood around the burning cabin until the walls began to crumble, then t be- gan searching the surrounding, They found the body of Crafty and his friend covered with some bushes a few rods above the cabin and at once set up a yell of dismay that resounded horribly through the night, ; Their search, however, did not end with the finding of the bodies, but was continued, evi- dently for some trace of the whites. Finally a warrior ran down to the river bank and searched the beach. A yell announced a discovery and his friends at once te where he stood. The Indian pointed out the tracks of the fugitive in the sand, also the im- ression made by the prows of the boats. _ Phese they knew the old tanner and his had embarked for a point unknown. In silence they stand looking up and dewn the river and across at the Isle of Refuge. But they can see nothing, for the trail of the whites ends where it begins—at the water’s brink. it never once occurs to their savage minds that Old Max is within rifle-shot of them. Finally they return to the burning eabin where they ap to hold a consultation, then they take up their dead and move slowly and solemnly away up the river. ‘¢ Thank the Lord!” exclaimed Old Max, with an = of Ppsinn age te se ‘‘They don’t suspect we’re so close,” r Shocky; ‘‘ but now as we’venothin’ Chateloanl of, s’pose you acne Aimee lay down and rest and let me kee , Wearied and worn out with the labors and 7 =" GOMIGEDOOKS SOW