Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 241 — page 9: what you’re looking at

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

) Bill Bravo and His Bear Pards. — “‘ Back alive, thank Heaven!” cried the aven- er. Bill Bravo for a moment avoided Nat’s gaze, but advanced until he stood directly over his friend. oy ‘‘Whar’s yer revolver, Dictionary?’ he sud- denly asked. ‘‘ Here,” was Nat’s reply, as he lifted the weapon which had dropped from his hand while he slept. “* Cock it.” Nat obeyed while he stared wonderingly into Bill’s face. ‘‘ Now shoot me, Dictionary! squar’ between the eyes.” A strange cry pealed from Nat’s throat, and he shrunk from bis companion with a shudder. “Don’t flinch, Dictionary! I mean what I say. You kin never keep yer oath an’I bev broken mine. I hev wiped out Revelation Rube; but Pll sw’ar thet I couldn’t help it. My hand wouldn’t stay down!” Nat Grayscot uttered only a groan of bitter ERD RCIDAD ANE and the revolver fell from his and, ‘‘T thought ye hed more grit than thet, Dic- tionary,” said Bill Bravo, with a grim smile, as he Jooked down upon the youth whom his an- nouncement had completely unnerved. CHAPTER IX, A TUMBLE FROM A BARREL. BILL BRAVO was quite positive that he had slain Revelation Rube. Let us go back a step and witness the en- counter, It was the mysterious stillness brooding over Cinnamon City that had caused the bear-tamer to retrace his steps leaving Nat to continue bis journey on the grizzly’s back to the cave in the mountain side. Bill more than half believed that the sudden ‘cessation of hostilities between the Indians and the men of Cinnamon meant a compact of some kind, and he was not slow to conjecture that the true facts concerning the shooting of Kar! oe Killer had been made known to Black Fea- ther, He became certain of this when, as he neared the square, he heard the voice of Revelation Rube, and a moment later, he saw a crowd round that worthy who occupied the head of a whisky barrel in front of Idaho Ike’s den. Indians and whites were mixed together fra- ternizing like old friends, not like enemies who had just been firing at each other’s hearts. “*The wolves hev become lambs!” ejaculated Bill, as he leaned against the rough weather boarding of an adjacent cabin and took in the scene witha smile. ‘Ther truth about Karls wipin’ out hez been punched into Black Fea- ther’s head, an’ he’s mad enough to eat himerelf, fur hevin’ marched shoulder to shoulder with the man what did the job. They’re all mad. ‘Thar goes Revelation ag’in. Ill take in a part ov his speech. Mebbel kin git a grip on thet t ov the programme thet consarns me.” ‘* Fortunately our shootin’ didn’t amount to much arter all,” said the man on the barrel at ~this moment, _ ‘The Sioux an’ the men ov Cinnamon must not be enemies when er common cause should unite ’em. Them two mountain pards must be wiped out; we—the Tigers—will take the book- rat, an’ the red-men kin hunt the b’ar-man. Er we'll bunt together jes’ ez our friend Black Feather says.” ‘‘ Black Feather and his braves will hunt the man who sent Karl the Killer to the lone lodge across the mountains of thesky,” cried the ring- ing voice of the Sioux warrior. “He met Black Feather in the mountains and made his blood hot against the men of Cinnamon with a string of lying words. Now the Indians know that the blood of their brother Karl the Killer is not on their brothers’ hands; but on those of the man who keeps the big bears in the moun- tain den, gee will hunt bim, and before long he will lie dead between his grizzlies.” A derisive smile crossed the face of the man in the shadows, “Don’t count yer chickens yet, Black Feath- er,” he murmured. ‘Ther buzzards may hold a posi mortem on yer remains long afore they get a chance at Bill Bravo's,” The Sioux’s speech was greeted with shouts of joy and approbation by the assembled mul- titude. ‘“The book-rat won’t be a breakfast-spell fur us,” snid Revelation Rube, ‘“‘thar’s no tellin’ jhow badly I winged ’im to-night. He war onto one ov them infernal b’ars who trotted off with ’im follered by Bill Brayo with @ bull hide. Thar arn’t ez many b’ars in ther Give it tome cave now ez thar war yesterday, thet is not ez many live ones. Snakes an’ lizards! Black Feather, you an’ yer braves ought to hey seen us sail into ther lot ov cubs what Bill war raisin’ fur his enemies’ benefit. Bill an’ ther oungster hedn’t got home yet, an’ we thar- ore found only ther four babies in ther moun- tain cradle. They war fierce ez old wolves, an’ it warn’t child’s play thet we hed on our bands. We got ’em cornered at last, an’ J told ther boys to stand back. The revenge b’longed to me, fur hedn’t Bill grossly insulted me by takin’ bis pare out ov Ike’s jis’ when we bed ’im foul! al, when I told the boys to stand back in ther cave, I sailed into ther cubs, and planted some cold lead where it ’d do ther most good. Then I turned my attention to their breathin’ apparatus, an’ I left’em in er condition most beautiful. to behold. I'd like to know how Bill acted when he found ther baby b’ars with the’r windpipes exposed. They could dance a horn- pipe on the’r bind feet, L[hev heard; but the’r’ in no dancin’ condition jes’ now.” Revelation Rube supplemented his coarse jest with a rough laugh which went through the crowd, ‘‘ Thet’s more than bumanity kin stan’!” fell from Bill Bravo’slips. ‘‘ I promised Dictionary thet I wouldn’t tech Revelation; but I can’t bear thet laugh over ther killin’ ov ther baby b’ars.” Up flew the bear-tamer’s revolver as he sprung impulsively from the shadow of the cabin, and at the sharp report of the weapon Revelation Rube tumbled from his barrel and fell among his companions! ‘*T don’t hev to aim it seems when I shoot for ther b’ars,” dropped from Bill’s lips, ‘* Ven- geance d’rects ther bullet. Vl go back to ther cave, an’ let Dictionary plant a bullet in my head. I’ve spiled his revenge,” The shooting of Revelation Rube so sudden and unexpected, seemed to paralyze the crowd, and before a single person turned toward the avenger he had left the cabin, and was hurry- ing in the direction of the cave, ‘*Tt wouldn’t be policy fur me to stay an’ fight ther pards on the’r own ground,” he said. ‘We'll meet ag’in an’ soon enough ef Diction- ary doesn’t display a certain kind ov grit when I get back to ther cave, At that moment certain sounds told Bill Bravo that the allies were hunting the man who had shot Revelation Rube, but as they did not near him, be kept on until he found himself at the edge of the mountain town where he paused oe a moment, and listened with a revolver in his and, ‘‘ Another man wiped out on the square,” suddenly said a voice so near the grizzly king that he turned like a person struck in the side with an arrow, He bad halted near a cabin, and it was in the door that the speaker, tall sinewy and striking, stood. ‘Tt ar’ Placer Pandy,” exclaimed the bear- tamer as he stepped forward and confronted the old miner who started and allowed his hand to drop to the butt of bis revolver. “ You've bin down thar?” said Placer, recog- nizing Bill. ‘‘ You hed to come back an’ shoot ag’in. You didn’t hit a young girl this time, did you?” ‘‘Thank Heaven, no.” “Who war it?” ‘‘ Revelation Rube.” Placer Pandy bounded from the door-step, and landed at Bill Bravo’s side. ‘¢ Did—you—kill him?” in gasps. “Ef I didn’t, blame it upon ther unsartin ight.” | ‘‘ Awhile ergo, Bravo, I would hev thanked you fur thet shot; now—now I wish you hedn’t come back ther second time. Ther girl ar’ goin’ to git over it.” “Then I didn’t kill ’er?” ** Not quite, but it wara close shave. She’s in thar,” and Placer Pandy pointed over his shoulder toward the shanty. ‘‘] couldn’t see ’er, id s’pose?” said Bill. ‘oT would be good news fur Dictionary.” The old miner did not speak, but led the way to the cabin, across whose threshold he stepped, followed closely by Nat Grayscot’s friend, on whose face was an anxious and eager ex- pression. “This ar’ Rube’s shanty,” exclaimed Placer inalow tone. “I hey no right hyar; but how could I keep erway when ee them carry Posy Nell fur dead through ther door?” “Por dead, Placer?” “ Thet’s jes’ it, Bravo. But hyar wear’,” . The only light that revealed the interior of Revelation Rube’s cabin was that afforded. by at EN IS BERET SR SR ISCE LE NT the moon, but it was sufficient to reveal the white face and bandaged head that rested on the pillow of bear-skin not far from the door. Posy Nell was asleep, and the bear-tamer stopped suddenly and riveted his gaze upon the face on the pillow. ‘‘Ef you hed killed ’er, Bill, you would hev ained the worse foe man ever hed,” said Placer andy through clinched teeth. ‘‘ Ther ar’ some things what you don’t know yet, but ef you hed finished Nell when you shot, even though you didn’t intend to hurt her—you would hev discovered suthin’ afore the proper time, | There was a mystery somewhere in the miner’s sentences; Bill Bravo looked puzzled. ‘I don’t understand you, Placer,” he said, “Ov course you don’t,” with a smile, “TI didn’t intend thet you should; but we aren’t enemies ef you did draw Nelly’s blood to-night. We won't waken ther child.” ‘‘ No; let her sleep.” Placer Pandy, who during the brief dialogue had knelt, at the young girl’s pillow, started catered up and grasped the bear-tamer’s sleeve, ‘Ef she war fit to move she shouldn't stay hyar a minute!” he cried. “She war dead when they brought ’er hyar, but I brought ’er back to life, an’ hevn’t I a right to her, Bill? She's no more Revelation’s child than she ar’ yours. By-an’-by you'll know sutbin’. An’ so you killed Rube?’ The question was shot into the ears of the grizzly ing with an abruptness that made him start. ‘“*V’ll admit thet I played the fool, Placer, thet I forgot thet the boy, Dictionary, holds a mort- gage on his heart— ; “Ef you killed Thar!” interrupted Pandy. ’im thet settles it. I held ther first mortgage on ’im, an’ I always said I would kill the man what wiped ’im out ’an cheated me.” ‘‘[’m thet man,” said the avenger of the cubs stepping back. ‘**T can’t kill you with the gal lyin’ thar.” “Then follow me down ther trail a few rods,” ‘‘No! go back to yer wounded pard, You kin tell him thet Nell still lives. like ther oungster, but thar’s sich a thing ez a man evin’ too much grit. Nell wouldn’t be thar ef he hed grinned an’ downed ther devil’s dram.” At that moment the girl moved and opened her eyes. ‘** Heavens! go!” cried Placer Pandy pushing the bear-tamer toward the door. ‘ You'll see ih soon enough ef she lives, an’ Placer ef she es! CHAPTER X. RIFLES AND TRUMPS. SEEKING to address the old miner no more, but with a farewell glance at Posy Nell, whose wandering eyes were gradually becoming fixed upon him in a questioning stare, the bear-ti mer crossed the threshold of Revelation Rub»’s spice and hastened toward the mountain ome, We have seen him enter it, and startle Nat the Avenger with the declaration that be had killed the captain of the Tigers of Cinnamon. Of the truth of his assertion Bill Bravo bad not the least doubt. He had seen Rube tumble from the barrel at the report of his pistol, there fore he had good reasons for thinking that he had sent a bullet into the desperado’s brain, “Wal,” he said, addressing Nat, “ef you won’t pay me fur killin’ Rube, mebbe you'll let me tell ye a bit ov good news.” | “T ghot th know when she jumped ‘“*T shot the gal you know when she atween Rube aS me?” e'W ell?” ‘‘ She isn’t dead, thank Heaven!” Dictionary Nat’s eyes gave expression to the joy caused by Bill’s announcement but he said: ‘Not dead?” ‘It war a close call, however,” continued Bill, “‘ fur they carried her fur dead to Rube’s shanty whar Placer found ’er, an’ whar 1 left ‘em both an hour ago. But hyar I’ve been standin’ ten winutes without once askin’ you about yer wound.” Were “Tt doesn’t hurt me now,” Nat said. “I shall be ready for whatever the days may bring forth aster Metin e bear-tamer examined Nat’s wound which proved to be a bad flesh shot in the thigh, but one not at all dangerous. ‘What hez become ov the baby b’ars?” sud- ony inquired the western surgeon. ‘Ido not know, They were yonder when I fell ge * An’ ky Dan is missin’, too!” Eomichoo G gS (E(o)