Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 283 — page 2: what you’re looking at

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

Indian Joe; oR, The White Spirit of the Hills. A Sequel to **The Three Trappers.” = BY MAJ. LEWIS W. CARSON. 4 CHAPTER I. THE SLEEPING BEAUTY, “WAKE up, man! The bears will be after you before you know it.” The speaker was stooee by the side of a rapid stream, shaking by the shoulder a man who lay there asleep. The person who spoke rifle in his hand and a knife in his belt. His frame was strong and well made, his face manly, and his general appearance prepossess- ing. The man at his feet, who did not wake even when the hand was laid u was one of whose nationality there could be no doubt. Hewasa Dutchman, having the marked characteristics of his people. He had a rather os , indolent face, and as his eyes at ast open lazily, as the other shook bim roughly, considerable cunning was displayed in “Vy you shakes me,’ den?” demanded. the sleeper in an injured tone. “I nefer done Sl mit you.’ “ Wake up, then.” *“'Vake oop! vake oop! Vy shall I vake oop, unless I vants to? Now, see here; you coes avay now—right now, vile I dalks mit you. you no go avay yoost now, I vill get oop unt preak your bet mit mime goon.” ‘*Ob,-no,” said the young hunter, laughing. ‘I don’t want to quarrel. But you are not safe here. I should really dislike very much to see a nice, good-looking fellow like you gobbled by a sthaly bear. Don’t take any charices on sleeping out in this way, without a guard ” “A crizzly pear! Vat is dat?” demanded the - Dutebman. ‘That is one of the mbst savage animals on the face of the earth,” was the reply, ‘‘The strength of a man is nothing when once he falls into his hug. Strong! That is not the word, Nothing can describe his strength and ferocity.” “IT dinks I don’t vant nottings to do mit crizzly pears,” said the Dutchman, rising. ** Vell, who are you anyvay?” ‘‘My name is Daniel Crowley,” replied the young man,” ¢ ** Vat you do?’ ‘I am out on a huntin company with a party _ of perens and guides. Will you join us/ “Vell, L don’t care. I cooms avay from St, Shoseph, in Missouri, pecause efery von is so gg eeecwe’ off a man don’t bay somet’ivgs mit ds Government efery dimes hé sells a class of er. ‘Then it appears that matters nof uncon- nected with the excise question sent you out on the plains?” “Yaw; I vas mat mit eferypoty, unt so I gets my gun unt dinks I vill co mit Californy. Vas it a good vay off, you dinks?” ‘‘A good way! I should think so; a trail a thousind miles long, through the desert and prairie, haunted by Indians who do not know what mercy means. What is your name?” “Yost Hoppen.” ““A good handle that. But come with me. ‘You are well armed, and a few weeks’ hunting and fishing will do you good. And when we go back to’St. Louis, you can return to St. Joseph, and sell beer with more regard to the excise law, a “Yaw,” said Yost. “But, shoost look at dis; ven a man drinks lager peer he drinks him for his own bleasure, eh? “* Certainly.” “Vell den; vat bleasure pect ven you can’t drink it unless some Common uncil or udder say you may? Gootness cra- cious! it makes me sO. mat ash vas, some- dimes, ven I dinks how Pye i dreated.” ‘Never mind that now, oppers Out here you can drink little except the pure sprin water, such as you rarely get in smoky and dusty cities. Beer, after all, does Mot satisfy thirst cool water does.” a _* Vater!” said the other, in a tone of intense disgust. ‘Yankees drink vater, unt don’t care for Papel “A great f them don’t,” repli Waar many of th i” replied “Den a creat many off dem are’ vools!” -snorted the Dutchman, “Vat! not likes coot eT se was a young fellow in a hunting garb, with a n his shoulder, | | greasy man. is dere in drinking. _ this season he’s a Dutchman,’ * suddenly assuming an expression of age anger. Penifadt Say it ag’in, an’ say it slow. { hear some remark ‘bout givin’ it to some one under the ear?” Indian J 0@. — —-e— -- = COs. ese 222 peer, vat foams from a parrel like snow, unt runs down the throat like oil, so creasy unt coot? Vy, I nefer sees how a man can lif mitout peer. I don’t know how I does mitout it here. ; ““Now, I want to ask you a question, sir. Some people pig to say that a man can’t get drunk on lager beer. I never drank any, sU— ‘“Goot Lort!” ejaculated Yost. | What is the natter?” said Crowle : i Hater trink any lager peer?’ cried Yost. ‘* Nefer in all your life” ‘** Not a glass.’ Den I vonders as you pé not deat; now vilw I dalks mit you. Nefer trinks any ae, peer in all. his life! Gootness cracious! dat ish so funny.” “I was going to ask you a question,” said Crowley. “There are those who say that peo- le ‘can hot get drunk on the stuff they call ager beer; others say you can; What is your opinion?” ** Vat you call him?—shtuff?” ** It beg pardon—the drink called lager.” “T delle you vat I dinks. Deris no delling off a man could not drown himsel. mit lager,. yoost de same as he might do mit vater. Now den, lager is not made to sim in. Vater ish petter vor dat, Lager ismadetotrink, Off a man sits town, unt trinks his deux or tri dozen Classes off lager, it vill not burt him. I nefer trinks more ash vorty mugs mineself.” “Ts that all?’ said Daniel, laughing. “Dat is not mooch, A man never ought to make a hog of himself.” - “That is true,” said Daniel, repressing a strong inclination to laugh. ‘‘Come along. We may as well go to camp.” Yost shouldered bis rifle which had lain at his feet during the conversation,and followed the speaker, The stream on which they stood ran through a beautiful prairie-land, spread out, before them like a great map. In e distance, the lofty peaks of the mountains could be seen. The prairie, in the bunting season, is one of the most remarkable sights ever seen by mortal eyes. Daniel Crowley was a lover of nature, His dark eyes rested approvingly upon rthe beautiful landscape, and he drew a long sigh of pleasure, and turned to his Dutch friend for sympathy. As he did so, he laughed outright at ihe expression of his face. He had been studying for some time on the wonder of a man who had lived to the age of twenty-five, and had never tasted the delectable drink called ager. ’ ‘Nefer trinks lager peer in his life! Goot cracious, vat a man!” Crowley had his laugh out and then walked slowly away up the stream. He had not gone very far frou the camp, andin fifteen minutes they entered it together. There were four men in all. Two of them were the ordinary trap- pers of the Northwest, clad in buckskins and mo *casins, nother was a half-breed, a well- known guide over the bunting-grounds west of the Mississippi: A tall, nobly-formed man, with a keen ass glange, showing the Indian d grace of every mo- ‘thy skin. He wore the ordi- ya 4 buntep,and guide. Near him, whittling at a small piete of wood which lay in the hollow of his hand, and whistling in a loud key sat an individual who was a character in his way, A sandy-haired, Jank, lean-visaged fellow, in 4 greasy suit of buckskin, “ tattered and torn,” like the manin the old melody. A had a sharp, oh siti Ve, al ACE as dark as that of the half-b pert, exposure to the wind”and He cast a droll look came up, p ao" ney, ** What hev ye got thar, Dan?’ demanded the “Pil bet every cussed pelt I git ** Keep quiet, Jeff Rooter,” said Dan, ‘ Don’t age with my protege.” Rs ‘er—which?” yelled Jeff. ~ “Oh, good cious! — catc Git me an ear-trumpet, C e st id of thet ar’ pee ‘Proto— Oh, Dan, ye'll be the death of me,” — ve it to you right under the ear-i you st, This man is going to join us. se him we ‘Wait a minit, mister city man,” said Jef; so thet I kin SO. Sey ours ‘What .mout thet last remark o idn’t ‘“T think you did,” said Dan, ‘This man is le ee ee . “ - - rs SO Ob eee - ‘ = — ee ee under my protection, and he shall not be trou- bled.” “That's a big word. Which ear mout ye pre- fer, Mister Crowley!” * Don’t bother ibe, Jeff. You can’t quarrel with me, if you keep your own side of the fence. But, if you get over on mige, it might make a row. Now be civil. Don’t mix your- self in with this man, i want him well used.” ** Whose a-hurtin’ of him; say?” Nobody,” replied Dan. ‘ And I propose to see no ; does.” “Ob. Yer a sort.o’ gardeen of his’n. Now Jook hyar. Laio’ta quarrelsome man, J ain’t. But [kin go through any man, big or lettle, old or young, the younger an’ spryer the better like it, thet goes to put on style over me. Yes, sirree, I ain’t nothin’ but a lettle cuss, but thet thing I kin do, Which way will ye hev it? Nip an’ tuck, square-hold, side hold, or with bare fists? Any way you like. So's yer suited, I ain’t.partic’lar.”’ **A truce, Jeff. You and Ihave no right to quarrel.” ‘Then Jet Dutchy take bis own part,” grum- bled Jeff. - “Vat you mean by dat?’ said Yost, who had been measuring him with his eye for some time. ‘* Vhat you want mit me?” ‘** For heayen’s sake don’t talk to him now, Yost,” said Dan. ‘‘ Keep quiet.” *\ Let me spoke a few dimes mit him,” said the Dutchman, quietly. ** He spoke at me good many dimes, unt I no says notings. I’m not afraid mit him. He dalks too much mit his mout’,” ‘ Keep back, every man of ye, while I thrash the ground with a Datehman. Git out of the way, ’cause I don’t want to spatter his blood an’ bones an’ brains all over yer good close. Now, Dutchy, hiadn't ye better say yer pra’rs?” ‘Vat for?” said Yost, who did not seem in the least frightened. ‘‘ [nefer says my brayers mitt’e daytime. Vat ye goin’ to do?” ‘I’m goin’ to wipe the ground with yer karkidge.” ‘*Vat for?” asked the Teuton, in the samo tone, his army swinging lazily by his side. ‘Vat I done mit you?” *“You’ve got to be ’nitiated,” replied Jeff. ‘‘ I’m the man to doit.. Once pay yer entrance an’ it’s allright. But,the timehascome, Git ready. Dm goin’ to wrastle ye down.” - Jeif rushed forward and fastened on the Dutchman by the shoulder and elbow. Yost nev r made a struggle, but ‘stood like a rock, smiling calmly at the efforts to overthrow him on the part of the greasy hunter. Jeff got very red in the face, . i **T’ll wrastle ye down ef I dle,” he panted. ~ “Off youdo, unt I find it ous,I vill t’row you over der moon,” said Yost, Jeff Rooter tugged and strained without any perceptibly e aH on the equilibrix ; “Go avay,” said bhe ar, ge the ;port. ‘You can tings mit nie Dake vay your hands.” — xy i Tm goin’ to throw , anyhow,”. said Jef, es ee his struggles, . “I dells you vonce more, go avay, ven | dells you, » Orie » ie * T won't.” Sat ae Y are | Yost put out bis lon d the st around such a Tr 3 first throw bad b n that he did, not have time to the skill be seal possessed in wrest- gz. He was now on his guard and had his avorite hold. The left arm* of Yost was brown about bis neck and his right bani! grasped bis wrist in an iron clasp. Bor five minutes they danced up and down upon the ‘turf, and then, to the surprise and joy of every one, the heels of Jeff Rooter suddenly flew into the air, as he went over the hip of the Dutch- man. Derisive Yells grected the fallen hero, as he rose slowly from the grass. / CHAPTER II. : THE GREAT AMEHICAN PARTRIDGE. JHEP was at first inclined to be angry. But, at the bottom of his bravado, th re was a real admiration for a spirited act, and, before the laughter had subsided, he extended is hand and shook that of the Dutchman wa y. Thet’s right, old man,” he said. ‘I like a man with pluck, awyhow. Ye throwed me. fa’r Aan’ sqnar’, Idon’t say nothin’ ag’in it. Let's be friends." J00 AUUCE “SEO (0) “+ 2 nb