Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 24 — page 5: what you’re looking at

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

- —- 2 _ — _—= _ ———— —— — the full Indian costume, and carried, besides a long rifle, a pistol, knife, tomahawk, and bow and arrows, Quietly the two rode along, the Indian slight- ly in advance, and coming to a small clump of timber they drew rein, as though to halt for rest But ere they could dismount there broke on their ears half a dozen wild yells, and up from their concealment sprung as many painted sav- ages—the wild Sioux. Instantly the white man whipped out a re- volver in each *hand, drove the spurs into his willing mare, and bounded forward, with but one word upon his lips: ‘** Come!’ But in vain the effort of the Indian to follow him—the Sioux threw themselves forward, dragged him from his pony, and a glance be- hind him proved to the white man that his red companion oh already dead. But the savages shrunk back from the ring- ing revolvers, and the pale-face passed on, a slight wound in his arm from an arrow, and his steed bleeding from a like wound in the neck. Instantly at his heels came a crowd of pursu- ers, yelling and firing: but the swift mare dis- tanced them within ten minutes, and the rider kept her at an easy gallop along the broad trail. tre sun set the welcome walls of Fort Hall loomed in sight, and riding into the inclosure, the horseman asked to see the commandant, An orderly at once led him to the rooms of the officer in command, who greeted him pleas- antly, at the same time gazing upon him with admiration in his looks. ‘** Colonel, I have sought you, sir—” ‘‘But you are bleeding, sir—your arm is wet with blood,” interrupted the officer. ‘*A mere scratch, sir—received an hour since from one of your red savages.” ‘What! have you come alone through this country, and been attacked thus near the fort?” ‘* No, colonel—I had an Indian guide from a station on the Overland Route—he was killed in an ambush which we rode into: but, sir, I have sought you to make inquiries re rding a large emigrant train, which camped here several weeks ago, and was seeking a spot to settle in this country.” , ‘*Yes—they pressed on against my wishes, nay, against my orders, for they said they did not fear the Indians—were well armed, equip- ne and hal a score of good fighters among hem—do you belong to the party?’ “No, sir: but there are those in the train whom I seek—whom I have sought for four years, and only a month ago got on their right track.” ** Can T ask who the parties are?” ‘“‘ Certainly —a gentleman and his daughter— his name was Luther Lawton.” ‘‘ Yes, [ remember him, and especially his daughter and her beautiful child—”* ‘¢ Her child! Had she a child then?’ asked the stranger, with great excitement, ‘Yes, a dear little thing, perhaps five years old—and, it me to say, for I saw much of the child, that she greatly resembled you.” The stranger seemed deeply moved, and for some moments was silent, then he said, in his calm, deep tones: “Colonel, that was ny wife, and my child— six years ago, and a few days after our mar- riage, I parted from my young bride, and a Gruel fate took her from me; but I have tracked her for years, and now, thank God, am near her once more.” ** But, sir, they have gone into the country to the north of here—a country trailed by bands of hostile Indians, and you cannot follow them.” **Colonel, were the whole Indian race between me and my wife, I would seek her—a few years ago I served in India against a people whom you will admit are as cruel, if not as sooner ig gp American red-skin, and I know something of bush life—besides, | have been a year on your frontier, from Texas to this See am superb- ly mounted, well armed, and after a day or two of rest, will continue on my way.” The colonel felt that he was talking to no or- dinary individual, and he at once invited his visitor to remain his guest as long as he desired. The stranger, whom the reader has ere this doubtless recognized as the young English offi- cer, the husband of Ada Lawton, accepted the pia gore the commandant for several da’ and then, —- all remonstrances departed upon the trail of the emigrant-train, determined to find his lost bride, brn For days did the determined man follow the tril, his heart heavy with sorrow, as here and there, at an encampment, he came upon a lone- ly mound, the last resting-place of some poor Diamond Dirk. deadly aim. One evening he entered a lonely valley—a very Eden of uty, and the trail before him was so fresh that he felt those he sought could not be many hours ahead. unfortunate who had fallen beneath an Indian’s | i o ee ——- — —— —_——__ a ae — ‘for every Indian you kill, boys, I will give you ten dollars.” ‘““T’'m gwine to git rich,” said Pompey, brave- ly, while Jake asked, demurely: ‘*Ef de dam’ Injuns kill me, how much you | gwine to gib me, Massa Lord Gilbert?” Then his heart gave a great leap of joy—be- | fore him he beheld a wagon, and feeding upon the rich grass of the valley was a stray horse. Spurring forward, his eyes flashing with de- | light, he suddenly drew rein, then his face be- came livid, and he reeled like a drunken man in Before him was a wagon it-was true; but around it lay half a dozen forms—dead, bleed- ing, scalped! | One of trade forms he recognized as the body | of Luther Lawton. In a frenzy of despair and fury, he rushed on —here his eyes fell upon another wagon, there upon a dead horse, and again upon the mangled body of a man, woman or child. In wild frenzy, he searched here and there— one loved form was yet concealed from him: but only for a while, as his eyes beheld a white robe, and long golden hair. In an instant he fell upon his knees beside that. - form—a bullet wound was in her breast—a long, golden scalp-lock had been torn from her head— the eyes stared wildly at the sky—one arm was clutched closely around a tender form—blood- stained and bedraggled—her child. It was Ada—his wife—and she was dead! He had come too late. Gulch we would be safe. “Give you burial—that is all; and if you show the white feather [ll kill you myself,” eed said Jules Vernon. Both Pompey and Jake felt that they were in close quarters, and at once settled themselves with the determination to do their duty. “Oh, Lordy! look a-yander!” It was Jake who spoke, and all eyes turned in the direction in which he pointed. Was it a wonder that the brave faces of those three white men turned pale, that their fearless hearts throbbed quickly at what they saw? Out from the shadow of a distant hill, follow- ing closely upon their trail, came a large band of moun warriors, fully two hundred strong. - Was it not madness to attempt resistance against that force?” , It gplgnt be, but they would sell their lives early. ‘* Had we only been able to reach Emigrants’ Beyond that point no Indian dare come. They will not intrude into what they superstitiously call the Devil’s Home,” said Leo Markham. “*T wish we could have reached it; but, as it is, we have’ but one chance—to fight it out,” With a moan of bitter anguish the strong man | fell forward, and consciousness forsook him. CHAPTER IX AT BAY. « AT a pace as rapid as they could go, with their pack-horses, Lord Gilbert and his party rode on, Pompey and Jake showing great anx- iety to lead the retreat. hour’s ride brought them to the river at a pome not very many miles below Yellowstone e Here the beautiful valley widened, with roll- ing hills, extending back some distance to the mainrange, and Leo Markham was anxious to press more swiftly on, for, if they were attacked — there, they had little chance for protection. Ever and anon behind them was heard a wild shout, which proved that their enemies were still on their trail. Toward noon they came in sight of some re- markable looking bie tps of erent colored stone, nearly a hun feet in “hight, and from atty to sixty feet apart. | oward these the solitary trail through the upon the light snow led, and in a short while the little © party found a shelter among the friendly ledges, _ tween which coursed a small rivulet. Here they lost the trail—it went to the very bank of the rivulet, and there it ended. Where had their mysterious guide gone? Around them the sheet of snow was unbroken, and their guide had ney 1 ome like magic. But they had no time to conjecture eee their de’s mysterious disappearance—behind them e cries of their pursuers drew nearer and nearer, co : ut like baying hounds on the track, a certain sign that’ they knew the num- ber of their foes, and were confident in their own stren we have certainly a m our horses can amply protected, while rifles and shot-guns will give us plenty of fire-— arms,” Leo Markham spoke coolly, and at once set to tt an to select a position, and prepare for de- ense. . He felt the d ration of their situation—he knew that the Indians must outnumber them ten to one, or they would not did; but he also knew well the Indian nature— determined to fight them to the bitter end, for surrender to the Sioux was certain death. _ _ Ina few moments the horses had been placed in a sheltered position, a kind of rocky cham- ber in the cliff, and getting out their rting arms, as well as those they carried for defense, the little party stood at bay. ‘Now, Pompey, you and Jake must do your duty—those fellows coming are not ghosts; but they will make ghosts of you if you don’t aid us - t them off. When you fire, don’t shtt. to both eyes, and blaze away at the ; but take ood aim and kill every time,” ary Leo am placed the two negroes in good itions, while Lord Gilbert remarked: ‘ie press on as they. fought them often before—and he was | i on, not in their usually noiseless, | _ tering with fear, ‘‘Here we must fight them—that is evident; ificent position, and — our | said Lord Gilbert, quietly. “We were si ay to come with so small a r,” returned Jules Vernon. *It.is useless to bewail our errors now, gen- tlemen; we must fight. See, the Indians are =—- for an attack, for they doubtless now we are jidden here. Fools! do they think a couple of scores of warriors can dislodge us?” and Captain Markham laughed, as he saw a small band of Sioux separate themselves from the main body. Mounted upon their hardy ponies, the detail of warriors came dashing on toward the ledges, yelling fiercely as they rode. As if confident of an easy victory, they swept up in solid mass, until only two hundred yards separated them from the little party. “Now! all together! fire!” As Leo Markham’s stern order rung out, five shots pealed forth, and down went several In- dians and ‘ponies, for even Pompey and Jake had not thrown their fire away. Then, in the confusion that followed, the rat- tling of the repeating rifles was heard, and war- rior and pony went down until a dozen lay ound, and the demoralized Sioux turned with wild cries, and rushed back toward the shelter of the distant hills. “That has taught them a lesson—now. they will attack us in full force,” quietly said Cap- tain Markham, hastily reloading his matchless Evans’s rifle. It was at once evident that Captain Markham spoke truly. The whole band at once moved out from the hill. ‘*They are dividing into four les, and will attack us from as many points simultaneously,” said Jules Vernon, : | ‘Yes; thatis bad. We must keep them off, or all is lost. If they fail this time to break our line, they will await until night.” And turning to the negroes, whose teeth were chat- arkham continued: _ “* Boys, you did well before—now do _ better— ha! here they come.” , Like an avalanche the warrior bands swept on, coming from four directions at the same time, and threatening instant death to the little * My lord, I will take the party in our front, ou the one on the left, Mr. Vernon the band on e right, and Pompey and Jake, you blaze away at those fellows who. are to turn or stantiy” at the repeating’ rif , at long ran e es opened, and, in a num r of instances, with d effect; but, confident in their numbers, the Sioux rushed on, Nearer and nearer they came, their wild war- cries making the valley echo again, and their hideous faces growing more and more distinct, “Tt is useless—they will ride us down; but fight to the last,” said Leo Markham, stermly, as the rushing, howling Sioux were now not a hun- dred yards away. “Hal! we are surprised! turn and defend yourselves,” rung out Captain Markham’s stern order, as a score of dark forms bounded into the rocky fortress from behind them. ‘Hold! on your lives fire not—it is our guide,” . he cried, as a slender form, a girl, sprung to EOMAICLOCO KS (E (E(0)