Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 241 — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

8 *1’m no coward!” hissed the advancing per- son. ‘‘ May I be killed by a baby if [hide from you! Hyar’s Revelation Rube.” At that moment the last man who screened the desperado’s figure stepped aside, and the next second Dictionary Nat staggered from the revolver that flashed in his face. Quick and eager though he was, the eye of Revelation Rube had beaten him, and before he could cover the chief of the Tigers the enemy’s revolver had spoken. Nat fell on the ground just beyond the door. * You didn’t finish ’im, cap’n!” warned a man at Revelation’s elbow. °C will.” A siugle bound carried Nat’s foe to the door. The crowd was at his heels. The next instant a second shot might have have been fired at the fallen man, who was at- tempiing to rise, had not a stalwart man leaped between the two and two revolvers covered Revelation and his bronze backers. ‘*We ar’ pards, dogs ov Cinnamon City! an’ I am hyar to pay you fur the killin’ ov the baby bars!” flashed the new-comer. ‘' You, Rube, first ov all! Then I'll settle with the rest ov the butchers.” The astonished crowd had retreated, and were staring into the muzzles of the outstretched revolvers. ** You killed the b’ars, Revelation! to finish you!” ‘‘ No! no! not until I know the secret!” ex- claimed a woman’s voice, and the next instant the figure of Posy Nell was precipitated between Rube and the bear-tamer. At that thrilling moment a jet of fire leaped from one of the deadly weapons, and the girl— al the chief of the Tigers—reeled from the I’m goin’ sh. Bill Bravo staggered back with a cry of hor- ror. ‘** Posy Nell instead ov Revelation!” he gasped. ‘Great God! an angel instead ov a wolf!” An instant later the crowd rushed forward and the bear-tamer would have been riddl with bullers if two huge grizzlies had not risen on their hind feet and presented a bold front to the mob. ‘Kin you walk, Dictionary?’ asked Bill, ad- dressing the youth at his feet. **T can try.” But Nat was forced to fall back when he at- ya ae to rise. ‘* We'll hev to fight it out hyar!” grated Bill Bravo. All at once the startling war-whoop of the Sioux nation fell on every ear, and before it had ceased to sound a volley was poured into the mob and against the weather-boarding of Idaho Ike’s den. “‘T did not come alone to Cinnamon!” Bill. ‘‘I shoot for the baby b’ars, the fur Karl ther Killer!” CHAPTER VIII. . NAT’S NEW FRIEND. Bort few of the men of Cinnamon went down before the Indian volley. Bill Bravo, his bears, and Nat Grayscot remained untouched by the avenging bails, when with fiendish yells the Sioux rushed to the attack. Revelation Rube and his pards mechanically fell back, and as the door of Idaho Ike’s den stood invitingly open they crowded into the lace with cocked revolvers in their hands. As he last man crossed the threshold the door was shut, and kept closed by the three bronzed giants, who put their backs against it. The frenzied red.skins reached the scene too late to effect an entrance. They were con- ‘fronted by Bill and his bears. One of the braves wp forward to finish ‘Nat’s career, but the paw of Dandy Dick dealt his arm a blow that caused him to drop the up- lifted tomahawk and yell with pain. ‘* Thar ar’ four ov us!” cried Bill Bravo who witnessed the bear’s defense of his new friend. “When you touch one you touch all the rest, so be keerful in the future.” The Sioux now turned their attention to the den in which the men of Cinnamon bad taken refuge. They scemed to ignore the presence of the whites and the bears. ‘We must leave hyar fur the present,” said Bill Bravo, stooping over Nat. “I did an awful deed awhile ago. I ought to be scalped fur pressing the trigger when I did, but I didn’t know the gal war erbout. She appeared be- tween us likea ghost an’ my weapon went off jes’ at thet time. Let Black Feather finish the work. Him an’ his red-skins will settle fur the b’ars, an’ fur yer father’s blood.” Nat would have resisted. rated juns LEE rr rn 7 ~ ee ere Wounded though he was, he did not want to leave Revelation Rube to the mercy of the in- furiated Indians. He had discovered his father’s slayer, and he longed to carry out with his own hand the resolution he had formed. Bill Bravo seemed to read this in Nat’s hesi- tation, for he called one of the grizzles to his side, and before the young avenger could pro- test, Bill’s hand was holding him upon the back of the bear, which was trotting from the spot. ‘*'We’ll come back ef ther Injuns leave a nest egg!” the bear-tamer said in response to Nat’s look. ‘* Ye’r onfit for sarvice now. Thar’s a bullet somewhar in yer anatomy, an’ ye hev the honor ov bein’ the only man what didn’t lie still arter Revelation tetched the trigger.” ‘‘He’ll pay for granting me that honor,” hissed Nat. ‘* Mebbe so, Dictionary.” ‘* Do you think the Indians will make a clean sweep to-night?” ‘*That depends. Ef Idaho’s shanty is fixed ez [ think it is thar’ll be more’n one dead Injun on ther squar’ afore we git to the mountains.” ‘* A rear door?” **'Thet’s it.” A few seconds later the sudden reports of more than a score of revolvers reached the ears of the partners hastening from Cinnamon. An expression of triumph overspread the bear- man’s face. ‘Thar! didn’t I tell ye so?” he exclaimed, looking into Nat’s face. ‘‘ The Tigers an’ the the Cherubs got out in the rear ov Ike’s shanty, an’ they’ve taken the Injuns on the flank.” The two friends and their ferocious compan- ions had halted just beyond the outskirts of the town, and were listening to the noise of the mad battle raging in the square that fronted Idaho Ike’s saloon. They could see nothing, but the ceaseless pis- tol shots told them that the struggle was of the most desperate nature. ‘‘The Injuns seem to be surrounded,” said Bill. ‘' But they’re fightin’ like tigers. Thar’s no discount on Black Feather. I saw ’im. tried once,in the Crow kentry. The battle ceased as suddenly as it had been resumed, and the friends in the moonlight ex- changed puzzled looks. ‘*T don’t understand it,” murmured Bill. ’ ‘* Unless one side has annihilated the other.” ‘““Thet’s not likely. Im afraid it means a new twist to the wheel ov fortune.” ‘* A compromise?” asked Nat. Bill did not reply, and the youth saw by the workings of his countenance that he was burn- ing with eagerness, ‘‘[’m goin’ back to grasp the meanin’ ov. the confab among the dead,” the bear-tamer said, turning with. an abruptness that startled Nat. “You an’ the b’ars kin go on to the cave. Dandy Dick will carry you ef you hold on; thet’s all you'll hev to do, Dictionary. Thar now! no protests. You’ve got one ready, I see; but I won’t take any stock in it.” Nat bit his lip. ‘* What if Revelation has escaped with his life?’ he said. ‘*T’ll promise you anything now, Dictionary. I won’t settle accounts with Revelation to-night, although he slit ther throats ov ther baby b’ars. Ill let ’im live till you git able to go round ag’in. Thet’s what yer eyes ar’ beggin’ fur now. The bear-tamer had seemingly read Nat’s in- most thoughts, and before ihe youth could thank bim, he was gliding back to the scene of the battle which had ceased mysteriously and sudden. ‘‘ Now let us resume our journey,” said Nat, turning to the bears. ‘‘ lam not badly wounded, that is certain; but I’m in no fighting condition. I pray heaven, Revelation Rube, that the balls of the Indians failed to take your life to-night,” The two grizzlies moved on side by side until the mountain trail became too narrow, when Rocky Dan moved ahead to clear the way for his companion to whose back the young avenger clung. ‘*] cannot—I will not believe that Bill killed Nelly,” he said to himself as his mind returned to the bear-tamer’s brief narrative of the terri- ble shooting scene before Idaho Ike’s. ‘‘ Heaven will not let such a promising life be snuffed out so cruelly. Bill will find her alive, though wounded, like myself. We are destined to meet again—Posy Nell and I. I will not believe otherwise, because my presentiment is too strong in that direction.” He was now being borne upward to the open- ing of the cavern, and the streaks of dawn were chasing away the long night of tragic scenes as he was carried into the Retreat. With an ejaculation of relief Dictionary Nat disengaged himself from his singular steed, and reclined on a blanket before the few coals of the bear king’s fire. He did not see for several moments the murdered cubs over whorn Bill Bravo had sworn eternal vengeance against Revelation Rube and his pards. The two old bears were making almost human demonstrations over the car- casses. Suddenly they broke outin loud growls which increased in intensity until Dicticnar Nat thought they were going mad, and laid his hand on his only remaining revolver. ‘In their rage they might attack me,” passed rapidly through his mind. ‘‘ They want human blood, and want it bad.” The two grizzlies, at times playful as kittens, were now monsters incarnate. They filled the cave home with their roars, and tramped in- cessantly around the cubs—all four of whom they had dragged to one place—until their looks and huge feet more than threatened Nat Gray- scot. } ‘‘A few more mad circles and I will be at- tacked!” he murmured bestowing a firmer grip on the weapon clutched in his right hand. ‘* Bill did not dream of this when he sent me on ahead. Iam at the mercy of two of the largest grizzlies in the Rockies; but I will not submit while I can lift a band.” The rage of the bears increased every moment. Not one of their movements escaped Nat's eye. Suddenly Rocky Dan, the larger of the two, stopped in one of his rounds and turned a ferocious front to the youth. ‘‘ It is coming!” thought Nat. The next instant Dandy Dick paused and strode to his companion’s side. ‘* You advance at your peril, blood-seekers!” grated Nat leveling the revolver. ‘ You attack the best friend you ever had when you charge me. Don’t 1 hate the men who killed the cubs? Bill would tell you soif he were. here. But if you have determined to attack me, I am ready.” He addressed the grizzlies in a firm voice as though the dark brown monsters were human beings. Rocky Dan growled derisively and thrust forward another foot. Dictionary Nat’s finger had begun to press the trigger when Dandy Dick suddenly cast his lumbersome body before his companion, and effectually blockaded the way to his victim. A breath of relief from the expectant victim and a look of gratitude rewarded the mediator. Dandy Dick shot Nat a look which seemed to promise new friendship, and for a moment the two grizzlies eyed each other Jike gladiators, If Rock an overtopped his comrade, he did not relish the thought of engaging him in mortal combat, for Dick’s eyes rather invited the fray, and his attitude was a menace, ‘‘Thank heaven!” ejaculated the young aven- ger reclining on the ground. ‘‘One finds strange friends in this wild land. Dandy Dick has outlooke« his giant companion. I am saved for the present!” The big grizzly had actually turned his back on Dandy Dick and gone back to the cubs. His vanquisher with another look that assured Nat of continued protection, came toward him and sat dowrat his side. ‘‘ A thousand thanks, my old fellow,” said the Avenger looking up into the grizzly’s face. ‘From this night we are the truest of friends. I would shed my blood for you. You have saved my life—preserved it for the work before me!” : A huge paw dro lightly upon the hand which he put foreoed in pledge of the friend- ship spoken by tongue and eye; but Nat did not imagine that he would soon be called upon to yrove his assertion—that he was willing to shed 1is blood for Dandy Dick, By-and-by, despite bis wound and watchful- ness, overstrained nature asserted ber power, and Nat Grayscot fell asleep. When he awoke he felt a sharp twitching pain in his side, and caught sight of two eyes watching at his head. ‘““Here yet?’ he exclaimed, recognizing the friendly grizzly. ‘‘ You would not desert me for a moment while I slept, old fellow. Where is your pard, Rocky Dan?’ Nat raised himself on his elbow and looked around. Dandy Dick’s companion had disappeared, and with him the four dead cubs. He was speculating on ths disappearance when the grizzly guard uttered a short sharp growl and bounded toward the opening. A moment later he came back followed by @ figure which Nat instantly recognized: OOO) com S) (E (E()