Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 241 — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

14 Bill Bravo and His Bear Pards. His eyes met those of Black Feather as he finished. ‘“* Boy no shoot Karl,” the Indian said. ‘If him take down his pistols Black Feather will leave him with the bears.” Ri moty was honestyin the Sioux’s look and ne. “‘ Agreed!” cried Nat eagerly. ‘I did not «ome to this country for the purpose of dyeing my hands with Indian blood. hate but one man among these mountains. I hate and hunt him because he slew my father in one of the happiest homes east of the Great River. Last night [ was told that Revelation Rube was dead. Now you make my heart leap for joy, for you tell me that the villain still lives.” Black Feather turned to his braves. ‘“Boy no hate us,” he said. ‘‘Him white killer’s friend, that all. Revelation could have saved Karl the Killer’s life mebbe, but him no do it. Let white boy go down to the pale men’s town, and strike the serpent him hates. Black Feather say let ’im go. The Sioux will hunt white killer till they find his scalp.” ‘Yes, you can hunt Bill,” said Nat who believed that the beav-tamer was at the hour in the clutches of the roughs of Cinnamon. ‘If we are not entirely friends, we need not fight here,” , “That so, white boy. Black Feather an’ his braves keep on the trail.” The Sioux were only too eager to withdraw from the two revolvers that covered them, and from the threatening looks of Rocky Dan the big grizzly. The two bears growled regretfully on seeing the Indians depart, and Nat Grayscot felt re- lieved when the last red-skin had disappeared. “T will devote one moment to you, Dandy Dick,” he said stooping over the animal for whom he had just risked his life. The grizzly who had recovered from the severe choking administered by the twisted lariats held out his wounded paw, and Nat soon ee that the leg had been broken by lack Feather’s ball. ‘**] would kill the Sioux if he were here now!” he flashed, sending a look of rage down the mountain trail. ‘‘ But he has escaped you for the present, Dandy. I trust your teeth will meet in his flesh in the near future. No! you can’t go with Rocky Dan and I. MHobble back to the cave. Youcandothat. We are going down to Cinnamon.” Nat waved his hand toward the retreat as he auOne. and Dandy Dick seemed to understand all. ‘* My leg hurts me now,” Nat went on. “I couldn’t walk to the rough’s rendezvous, yet I must go thither. Death may be tugging at Revelation Rube’s heart-strings. Rocky Dan is as good as a horse, though not so fast.” The big grizzly did not object when Nat mounted him and urged him forward. The ride was without incident, and Nat, to his surprise, found Cinnamon comparatively deserted. “They are all at Idaho Ike’s!” he exclaimed. ** They are holding Judge Lynch’s court over somebody—Bill, perhaps—in that den.” He crossed the square to hear a voice that sent a thrill of revenge through his heart, ‘‘Let ther boys stan’ back. We kin fight hyar, Placer!” were the words ‘the avenger heard, He halted Rocky Dan in front of the den and sprung from his broad back. Then he uttered the words that cleared a path to Revelation Rube, who fronted the door pistol in hand. ‘fam not too late!” murmured Nat. “ Fate has preserved the great villain for my aim.” The next instant one of his revolvers spoke, and his father was avenged. CHAPTER XV. A BRIEF RESPITE. “ THE boy did that!” ejaculated Placer Pandy, as we may still call Roger Norton, as Revela- tion Rube reeled away with the revolver clutched in his death-struck hand. “I always had a notion that fate would bring the two to- gether again.” With shouts of revenge the roughs of Cinna- mon had leaped to the door, and thence into the street, where they balted before Nat’s two revolvers. ‘* I want but one life, and that I have taken,” said the avenger, coolly. ‘‘IfI am assaulted I shall defend myself to the bitter end. I have backing, as you can see!” and bis gaze wandered for a moment to the grizzly at his side. Rocky Dan showed his teeth, and his A be évineed an eagerness which told the Tigers that the old bear was ready to precipitate himself upon them. Silently and without show the men who be- longed to the Cherub Shooting Club withdrew from Revelation Rube’s friends and cocked their revolvers. A deadly encounter was imminent. ‘ A life for a life! That’s the law west o’ ther Mississip,”” was heard in Wildcat Carl’s rough voice. ‘' Ther boy hez carried it out, We shall stan’ by ’im!”’ Solid Sol and his men made no reply. Behind them, on the rough floor of Idaho Ike’s den, lay their reckless leader, stiffening in death. It was evident that the Tigers were burning to avenge him, but not a revolver was lifted against Dictionary Nat. For several moments this startling tableau was not disturbed. ‘* Ef ther boy will tell us ther whys an’ whar- fores ov his shot we might fix things up fur ther present,” suddenly said Solid Sol. Wildcat Carl looked at Nat. **T will tell you,” the latter said, and a min- ute later he was rehearsing the story of Rube’s crime, and his (Nat’s) hunt for vengeance to the bronze crowd. Not once was he interrupted. As he neared the end Nat saw a number of hammers fall lightly upon the deadly cart- ridges, and not a few were replaced in capacious pockets on their owners’ hips, Solid Sol was one of the most absorbed audi- tors. ‘‘Rube did all thet, did he?’ he said, when Nat had finished. ‘*He did. I will swear it.” ** No use ov thet. We'll tackle onto yer word, youngster. Revelation ar’ dead this time, sar- tin. Ef you hed held yer fire a minute er two death would hev claimed ’im anyhow. Ther grim monster hez been holdin’ a cold deck ag’ in’ Rube ever since last night.” ‘*'Then my life hunt has ended at last.” Nat spoke these words with the satisfaction of one who had reached the end of a long jour- ney. “You kin go, boy,” Solid Solsaid. ‘‘ But my advice is fur you to make yerself scarce in these parts.” ‘*T have nothing to keep me here now.” Nothing more was to be said. Nat could see a fe¥ revolvers in the hands of the Cinnamon Tigers, but they were not going to harm him then. The eyes of their swarthy owners were threatful, full of revenge. ‘*Come, Rocky,” he said to the bear, but not before a slight nod and a significant glance from Wildcat Carl had admonished him to move away. ‘Tt is not all over yet. I was mistaken,” the avenger said to himself. ‘‘ Those roughs will hunt me down. They let me off because a col- lision with Wildcat Carl and his men was not to their liking just now. Bill Bravo is not here. If he is alive I must find him as quickly as pos- sible. We must stand side by side or back to back from this day.” Nobody seemed to take any notice of his de- parture, In the excitement of the hour he had forgot- ten his wound, and was walking at the grizzly’s side. ‘Hold a moment, Nathan!” said a voice that made bim stop and he Jooked over his shoulder to see the familiar face of Placer Pandy. ‘The rest of us might as well go along,” con- tinued the old miner coming up. ‘‘ My hunt ended just when and where yours did. Before Nat could reply, a young girl emerged from one of the cabins and approached the pair. It was Posy Nell. “Tam so glad that you are safe,” she said halting in front of the avenger, and in a tone which possessed more than a passing interest for him. ‘‘ The secret is out at last.” ‘But Rube did not reveal it,” said Placer smiling. “Then you must censure me for not keeping my promise,” ‘* But F do not,” ce Ab !”? : “‘T had a secret, too,” the miner said before Nell could reply. ‘‘ My hunt has been for my child. I have found her.” An exclamation of surprise, an incredulous stare at the couple, was Nat’s response. ** Posy Nell is Ada Norton from this day,” the miner continued. ‘‘ We are going to unite our fortunes with yours.” ‘No; that will never do. Revelation Rube’s men will turn on me before another day.” ‘“There may not be any left to turn when ee the sun rises again. A shooting match is to take place in Cinnamon before that hour.” * Are you certain of this?’ ‘‘T know it. When a cage gets too full of bears there is certain to be some hard fighting. Don’t object to our intentons. We are going with you. I have seep you tried, and you have not been found wanting. The Sioux are hunt- ing your companion. The Cherubs saved him from Revelation Rube’s halter awhile back, now the Indians are after him. We must all stand together. To the mouutains, boy.” The young avenger acquiesced, and the party soon had their backs turned upon the city of the roughs, Nat once more sat on Rocky Dan’s back, and the mountain trail became the little band’s road, He led Placer Pandy and Posy Nell to the cave which they approached with caution. A low grow] and the head of a grizzly greeted them as they stepped across the threshold. , ‘You are here, Dandy Dick, but where is your master?” exclaimed Nat. Bill Bravo was not to be seen, and after a brief examination the Avenger informed Placer that the bear-tamer had not been to the cave since his departure. ‘‘ Listen!” suddenly cried Nell. ‘‘ Was that not a shot? There is another, and another still!” Her father was already at the entrance which was almost blocked by the huge body of Rocky Dan, the big grizzly who was snuffin the air while he uttered sharp growls an showed his teeth. , ‘The Indians have found Bill Bravo!” ejacu- lated the miner. ‘‘Tf the hunted did not surprise his hunters,” said Nat. The sentence had hardly left the youth’s lips when the grizzly bounded away and disappear- ed down the bush-fringed trail before a band could intercept him or a voice call him back. Dandy Dick would have followed his comrade if his broken leg had not interfered. ‘‘There goes Bravo’s revolver. I have heard its voice before,” said Placer as two distinct shots came up from the ground below. ‘The brave fellow may need help, I will throw my arm into the scale.” **So will I.” we, ‘‘Wounded as you are? No! it is not your fight now. Stay here and guard Nelly—Ada, I mean,” and the next instant the miner, Revela- tion Rube’s old enemy, was flying in the wake of the mad grizzly. CHAPTER XVI. WOLF RENDS WOLF. ‘Hartt! You ar’ huntin’me. Hyar I am!” These words, clearly spoken, fell like the crack of doom upon the ears of the stalwart In- dians defiling through a narrow pass in the mountains within rifle-shot of the cave-home. The leader of the band recoiled aghast, and with his red warriors stared into the face of the man who blockaded the way like a statue of bronze. ‘* While braves. ‘‘Tt’s all ther same to me what I’m called so I’m hyar ready fur ther fracas!” was the re- sponse that was shot from behind the hands that thrust a pair of revolvers.into the faces of the braves. ‘‘ ve been watchin’ you snakes more than an hour. I’ve see’d you crawlin’ byar an’ thar lookin’ fur me. Now I’m hbyar iv ther flesh, large ez life, an’ eager fur the scrimmage, We bad to meet some time, an’ ’m not used to puttin’ off ther evil hour. I hevn’t got a b’ar to help me, but I hold in my hands twelve through tickets to kingdom come. Shall I proceed to distribute them, my red varmints?” There was a distance of twenty-five feet be- tween Bil! Bravo and his enemies, and the bear- tamer shortened it by a few inches as the last word dropped from his lips. ‘‘ One—two—three! Hyar Black Feather.” At that moment the revolvers went off simul- taneously, and two Indians fell back bored through the brain by the deadly bullets of the mountaineer’s weapons, Black Feather himself had been spared, al- though he had presented a prominent target to Bill’s aim. . A third shot placed another Indian hors du combat, and then, having recovered, the Sioux rushed forward, straight into the jaws of death. Fast and furious, although he retreated a ste the fearless man poured the contents of his weapons into the midst of his foes! ‘I’m always on hand when wanted, an’ some- Killer!” fell from the lips of the goes, SOmil ; bDoOoksSuGcom