Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 283 — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

> A ange a — eueiieen natin ae **T will do it soon.” ** Then you must str *‘ | will make you rue tled with me. ‘*' You don’t know me, Will o’ the Wisp,” re- plied Dan, putting forth all his powers. ‘‘ Look out for yourself,” Chey were well matched, but Dan, in makin a feint, caught his foot in a projecting point o rock and staggered. Conrad threw his body forward to finish the struggle, but, by a dex- trous sleight, Dan turned him as they fell, and came down uppermost, ‘‘Good boy,” shouted Ben. ‘“ Thet’s right; stick the condemned critter. Stick him, Dan!” But. the wrist of Crowley’s right band ‘was still encircled by the iron band of Conrad. ‘You have set your rtffians’on me, coward,” be hissed. ‘Dll die game.” : “ Rise,” said Dan, freeing himself with an ef- fort. ‘I take nounfair advantage.” Conrad was on his feet in a moment, and raising the knife above his head, made a tiger- like bound, and would have buried the steel in the unprotected bosom of his antagonist. The blow fell, But Ben Miffin’s hand and eye never failed, and the knife was shivered into pieces against the silver-bound stock of the rifle, which he thrust between them. Then, whirling the rifle over his head, he knocked the ruftian sense less, “Thar he lies, the condemned critter,” he said. ‘* Not the kind of an animile a man would like to meet without weepons. I'd like to finish the dirty hound.” ‘*T bopes he deat’,” said Jan. “T hope not,” said Dan. ‘Thank you for your timely aid, Ben. I[t saved my life.” “T wouldn’t ’a’ chainced sp’ilin’ this yer rifle only for that,” said Ben; ‘I hold it to be a sin to strike at one of God's creatures without just cause. This yer thing desarved wuss than he got. Ef be comes to life, an’ you an’ he hez a turn-up ag’in, stick! Stick bard an’ deep, fur he never will give you the second chaince ef he grits ye down. I knain’t make it out. °Tain’t offen a trapper holds a grudge ag’in’ another for nothin’. He seems to hate you without rea- sou,” ‘‘Tdells you,” said Jan; “it vas all pecause of der young fraulein.” ‘The gal?” ac Yaw.” y ‘The Dutchman is right, Dan. Blame my eats ef he ain’t. Now don’t thet beat all natur’? ‘Tain’t right; ’tain’t Christian. Now an Injun, ef ye hurt him, always remembers it, till he hez yer skulp. But durn a white man that harbors sech a sperrit. Don’t say nothin’ to him. Only keep cool, an ef it comes to blows ag’in, give him tar.” ‘He yoost like Shules Tamant,” said Jan. “Yes: an’ Jules was a geod chap till the Blackfeet cum. That reminds me that I expect Whirling Breeze out this way soon, He’s a Blackfoot tat don’t owe me any good-will, I helped t’ar his company all to shivers one day. He an’ this devil hunt in couples; an’ ie’s the likeliest man of the two.” ‘* What shall we do with this man?” ‘Keep bim; he'll be a hostage for the good conduct of the rest. Ef they come at us, we'll put bim out in front of the stockade an’ let him teel the bullets first. Give me that thar lariat, Jan.” The Dutchman obeyed, and he cut it into three pieces. One of these he tied about the arms of their captive near the elbows. The second about bis waist, to drive him by,and the third was kept for his feet when they reached the camp. “ Git un saidhe; “ ney fool: you ain’t hurt so bad but you kin stand. “Will om the “Wik ” rose sullenily: ** What do you intend to do with me?’ he said. ‘You ar’ my pris’ner,” said Ben. “Tm ju- bous you mean some devilment. I won’t be ‘sure, but that is what Ithink. Tennyrate, I’ve got ye, an’ I mean to keep ye safe. Keep an eye on him, Jan, an’ ef he goes to stir, shoot him through the head,” ‘I vateh him like von cat,” said Jan; ‘‘T no ’ . let him vool me.’ Don’t. Now git on, you. “That's right, Down that path.” Ben took the loose end of the lariat fastened about the waist of the captive, and drove bim before him down the slope toward the camp. Tbe inmates hailed their coming with wild shouts as they saw the captive. At the same moment Joe, who was on guord, shouted to some one who was coming to halt. : ‘*T must come,” replied A sweet voice, which Dan knew well. ; LL I le for it,” said Vesey. e day that you wres- * oe ee cc ee ee LL LLL LLL COLL LLL LLL LLL LLL LL Ss SSS Indian J oe. eumnasemage— 2 + Joe stood aside, and at the same moment the beautiful horse of Maid Marian cleared the low breastwork at a bound and stood before them, She started as she saw.their prisoner, and beck- oned to Dan to come to her. ‘‘ What has he done?’ she said. ‘*He attempted my life and we took him.” ‘‘Do you mean to harin him?” - * Not unless he attempts to escape.” **You took him in good time. The entire band are here, a hundred men in all; and they are searching high and low for you. I see you are prepared.” “They will have to fight for us,” said Dan. * Brave, but too rash. If they can not take you in that way, they can besiege you ardstarve you out; or they can callin tbree hundred In- dians to aid them. Whirling Breeze and a large company of his braves will be here to-morrow. I pray you, if escaps is possible to attempt it.” How is it possible? No doubt they hold all the passes.” ‘** You should have taken my advice before,” she said; ‘‘I meant it honestly, and for your good. I come now to warn you to summon all your fortitude, and to fight bravely against the enemy, and save yourself if youcan. I would ask you to surrender, but I fear you would not do that.” “ You judge us rightly. What chance would we have of life if we yielded unless we join this band of professional murderers?” ‘There is something else,” she said, in a slight- ly tremulous voice, ‘I know my actions may, nay, must seem unwomanly—” ‘*To me?” ‘You would, of: course, deny it. I would have you and all here judge me as leniently as you can. I was not born for this. To be a companion of savage men, without the pale of society, fugitives from justice with the ban of the law upon their guilty heads. But blind fortune has made me what I am, and I cannot break the tie which binds me to them,” ‘Lady, will you hear me?’ ‘* Let me finish. I am bound by a tie of grat- ifude to yonder man, Inever knew until lately what he is. I did not believe it possible, for, savage as he is to his enemies, he is gentle to me.” ‘** Are you his wife, lady?” ‘* Fis wife? No, no; never that tie. I have not time to tell you ow. It is enough that my fortunes are linked with his, and [ cannot for- sake him. If I could turn him from this wicked life, it seems to me I would be willing to die. But good-by. We may never meet again on earth, but I shall not forget you.” iT) Lad 2 “*My name is Marian Delisle. Call me by m first name. Iam Maid Marian téall the band.” ‘*‘ And Maid Marian of Sherwood Forest was not fairer than she of the Black Hills,” said Dan. “A truce. If Iam Maid Marian, yonder man is no Robin Hvod, nor are his followers such men as feasted in merry Sherwood, You see I know the history of the worthies to whom you would compare us. Let that pass I have bid- den you good-by.” “But not forever,” cried Dan. “J will find rou and know you better. . “No; seeansthei more! Think of meatm be When you are gone from this, thin ee of the ‘poor girl who would have been a better woman if fate had not been too strong for her.” He would have detained her, but she turned her horse’s head and put him over the breast- work again. n turning she had dropped a small dagger, which he snatched from the ground and put into bis bosom. As he rose, he saw the black eyes of the prisoner fixed upon him in speech- less malignity. ‘Come here,” he said. Dan walked slowly to bis side. . Give up the dagger. Curse you, do you think you ean keep anything that belongs to ber? I will haye it if you hide it in your heart, for there I will dig for it.” me, no heroics,” said Dan.’ ‘I do not propose to give up the weapon. It is all I have as a remembrance of a woman whom you keep with you only by the strength of gratitude. You do not Suppose she will fall in love with Shin character? lve up the d gger, T say. Fool, bound, coward, liar! Untie = ethan and Jet us fight it out bere, in the midst of your hired bullies, one I will put you where you will never entra ‘e beart of “foolish girl again. Yon devil! pl Be you have me fast, but my time may E& *“* 4 ee « ee id A “‘ Silence, sir. Iam not fool enone, ho ta eae re hase you safe. The time for d ne by. "yes: with cowards,” “The day may come when you will find whetber I am a coward or not, sir. It does not matter. In the meantime, keep a civil tongue in your head, or you may chance to suffer by it. It you disturb the camp I will have you gagged.” ** Dan,” said Ben, '‘ come byar.” The old trapper was standing on a point of rocks from which they had a view of the valley below. Dan hurried to his side. They could see the entire band gathered upon the plain, at the mouth of the pass, in conference. Just then Maid Marian joined them. “They hev found us,” said Ben. ‘So it seems. Ha! Do you see there?” He pointed to the south. And there, filing into the valley, they saw a band of warriors, larger than the force of white men on the plain, The reinforcement had come abead of time, “Whew!” said Ben, *“Thet’s Whirling Breeze. Now we ar’ in fer it. Look out fer trouble to day.” ‘Do you think they will attack us?” ‘*You bet. They won’t do nothin’ else, . Btar- na! goslins, look at them Blackfeet! How many more? Swear to gracious ef I don’t think thar’s nigh two hundred of them,” The two parties met and exchanged greetings. These were hardly over when Verton detached . himself from the company with a white fag in bis hand, and came up the pass. Ben at once left bis elevated position, and taking his rifle, called to Dan t6 accompany him, and ran down to the first barricade to meet the envoy,, When Verton came in view, Ben was sitting on top of the barricade, in the mst. nonchalant, manner possible, with bis rifle across his knees, smoking a moe ‘Hello, you thar,” said Ben, in rathera cava- lier manner. ‘t What ar’ you arter?’ ‘* We claim this ground.” “Goto Halifax An’ ef Halifax ain’t warm enough, go to the devil's kitcben an’ make brot for him.” ‘“You old ruffian, we do not come bere to ’ parley and badger words with you, As leader of the Free Rangers I.demaud that you yield everything in your camp—traps, guns, ammu- nition, pelts, and the like. “You will be regard- ed 5p ee of war aud your lives spared,” ‘You don’t tell me! S’pose we ain’t ekil! to the task of throwin’ ourselves away that fashion? What then?” “We shall come and take you. If we do, and you kill any of our men, you need expect no uarter.” , ** Dew tell! You’ll come in yer best clothes, I suppose, ’ca’se ye’r’ a capting, now that we've got the rea) cut-throat-bere asa guest?’ When . will we give us a call?” ‘In a half-bour’s time, you old fool, if you don’t yield!” ‘* Jess so! jess so! Mister Brigadier, Bring yer fiddle along; do, fur yer capt’in that used to may want todancea jigintheair.” 9 —~— ** What do you mean?” Ves ‘‘ He means,” said Dan, stepping to Ben’s side. ‘that we shall puta rope around your captain’s neck and string bim ne on the first sign of your attempt to force an entrance to our camp.” “Ts your name Crowley ?” “a Yes. ” \ “Then I have a message for you. You have seen Maid Marian, She says that while in’ camp she Ss a cornelian ring, with a heart for acrest. I take it that you have the rin upon your little finger.” | Dan drew off the ritg. “ Give it to the Iady. with my compliments,” said he, Verton wen: away. ‘That was your own ring,” said Ben, in some surprise, ‘* She didn’t lose no ring.” No,” said Dan. “She has my ring; I have her cto ipgl pet i ‘**Good enough, an’ ef you hev yer way, it ’ Kin see that in your = have her as well, I ace, Dan smiled, and the old man answered by ,a broad’ grin, as he hurried back to the ec and returned directly, accompanied by his prisoner and Jan, who brought his rifle and ammunition. Ben took a heavy batchet in his hand and climbed a small tree which ‘grew close to the barricade, Once in the tree, he lopped off the twigs from a strong branch, leaving it im full view of the enemy as they came up the pass. ‘Make a running noose in that lariat an’ put it over tbat devil’s head, Jan,” said he, Jan obeyed without a word. ‘* Now, toss it up byar.” : een Eomilcbooks