Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 283 — page 4: what you’re looking at

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

4 Jeff. ‘Seems to me ef ye didn’t want the bird ye moat ‘a’ said so.” “I gifs him to you. Vat you mat apout? Dat ish nice pird.” “‘Of course,” replied Jeff, with a doubtful look, ‘Thar ain’t no nicer. Ext a piece.” ‘LT ain’t oe mineself. 1 nefer vas hoon- gry dis night. gifs him to you; eat all you vant.’ The grin which had been getting broader every moment, suddenly broke out into a loud | | and took it up, and found if to be a small piece | Jeff looked round upon the circle of grinning faces with anything but a pleased ex- pression. But the humor of the thing at last affected him. The grin became reflected on his own face, and, breaking into a laugh, he threw the bugzard at the head of one of the guides who was laughing loudest, and shook Hoppen heartily by the hand. From that hour they were warm friends, and proved so to each other in many a trying situation, CHAPTER IIL THE MIDNIGHT MESSAGE. Dawn CROWLEY took his mishe on guard that night, as his turn came. is companion on the watch was the half-breed, Joe Lane. This re- markable man was at one time well known in the section traversed by the employees of the Northwest and Hudson Bay Companies at the Three Buttes or on the Red river. He was very ta-itnrn, and it was a remarkable thing that he should choose for a companion a man like Jeff {ooter, who was .a continual and untiring talker, But, they had been friends for many vears, and bad traversed the country in all its varts. Now you would hear of them at the Vhree Buttes; then they would be trdversin the fearful region of ice and snow south “tudson’s Bay. These men often accomplished wonderful journeys, to which the Magazine journeyings are mere child’s play. Over icy waters, by the side of bottomless lakes, living for days without food, eating with ravenous appetites a frog or snake which fortune threw in their way, and through all maintaining a cheerful temper, which would have stood them even in a dying hour, * If the histories of such men could be once souch! out and written, what a record of hum- bie liergisiw, of devotion to the cause of friend- this. of steady bravery in the hour of danger, tueir story would show. It is the duty of the avvelist and the writers of every class to rescue from the depths of forgetfulness as much as possible of the story of a race of men who are grand tn many of their characteristics. ** Do yon think it probable that we are in any dangér, Joe?’ asked Crowley * Perhaps. Good many Blackfeet on the trail now. (Go out to hunt, and carry scalping- knives under their blankets. All same. Bad blood now. Chief killed up at Snake river one day. Bad Indian, but the Blackfeet like him. See how itis! They like any bad man. Some myself; some white. But my white Reared for the gfeater portion of his life the tribes, Joe had never been able to get over their sententious mode of speech. He was a curiosity as he sat there, with his elbows on his knees, and a long, reed-stemmed pipe in his mouth, puffing out columns of smoke trom his nose, a habit acquired among the sav- azes, Jt would strangl- me to smeke in that way,” said Dan, langhing. goffaw. bree tl. “ Like it now. The Crows are the best tribe, Like the Nez Perees, too. ‘Tne Coman- ches and Arapahoes vive thieves aul nurderers. (sot to lock out for them, or yon will get, into trouble. Blackfeet jus’ as bad.” ‘‘Tex ected danger here. Some young fel- lows rather hike it. Ido, at any rate; and | think you like it too.” ** None of our boys will flinch. trail long time. bat, when time comes, keeps his mouth shut as well as any map. «Gooi mau, Jeff.” ** What you think of the Dutchman?’ “ Don’t know yet. Study bim,” said Joe. ‘** You think he needs study, then?” * Yes. Shoots well: fooled Jeff; wrastled him down; no fool do that.” ** We will keepan eye on him. Is he asleep?” | a) | “And if you do, I will give you ten prime | attention, wr / nec ‘*Guess so. If he good man, glad to have him. Very strong.” ‘He is, indeed. I wonder what be meant by falling asleep by the river” e ‘One eye open, p’r’aps,” said Joe. ‘‘ Lots of men do that, Wait! t your rifle. See any- ‘thing out thar?” The night was clear and still. The moon was cc a ** Learned it among the Crows,” said the haif- | Been on the | Jeif talk great deal in camp, | Indian Joe. | ~ ee ee -_---+ A hundred yards away they saw something moving slightly. The next moment a figure appeared 6n horseback and was off like the wind. Joe sprung to his feet, and ran after it with leveled rifle. But he did noé fire, not | bar of the concerted piece he was knowing what danger the report of a rifle might | upon the instrument which had a -_— — _--- —_—-—.-- re ee up, and a mellow radiance fell upon all around. | ger. The Dutchman especially was snoring iv such a way as to awaken the mirth of Dan.. The ormance of a new beginner on the trombone was nothing to it. .A gurg:e, a gasp. and then a rolling snore, formed part of each performing *schmelled bring upon them. Dan followed him ona oe, | somet’ing” wrong in the turkey *buzzard. and ney reached the spot where the figure hac stood, ground attracting Lane’s attention, he stooped of paper, attached to a stick thrust into the ground. “Ha!” said Dan. ‘* Looks like a letter,” said Joe. ain’t a scholar myself.” Dan took the paper, and found it written in a | Dan. sifting it in the moonlight, he | doubt as to the reality of that snore.” female hand. made out the words: ae Go you on every hand—danger which will end in your destruction. I have warned you. Be- ware!” : Looking at the half-breed in the moonlight, ve 9 saw that his brown face had turned a little pale. “T don’t understand this,” he said. ‘‘ Do you, | | } | ing Joe?” ** Yes,” said the half-breed. ‘‘It is the White Spirit.” “The White Sprit ‘“Yes, Something haunts the hills. Comes | in the night to Camp and warns people back. If they don’t go, some of them, and sometimes all, are killed before many days. Came to me once near this very spot. I was out with Jeff Rooter and two others. The Spirit came and warned us. In two days the other boys were robbed and murdered. We took the hint and dug out.” ‘* Have you ever seen the figure?” ‘“Only at night, as we saw it now,” replied oe. ‘The White Spirit certainly writes a very pretty hand,” replied Dan, smiling. ‘“‘I see ou Are a little imbued with Indidn superstition, oe. If this were a spirit, there would be no occasion to resort to the very earthly process of writing letters. If there had been a postscript or two, I should have thought it was a woman.” He turned the paper over again and found a little more writing. “Tt am your friend; J] would save you, I pray you go away!” ‘* There it is,’ said Dan. ‘It is a woman.” Joe lookedsullen, ‘ Perhaps you want to say next I never see it. Come often, tell you. Jeff bas seen it. Always in moonlight. ives some sign of danger and rides away. “Don’t it seem a little curious that a spirit needs a horse?’ asked Dan. ‘*Don’t believe me. Wait; stay here and lose your scalp. May if you want to.” “ Don’t get , Joe; I mean no harm. But I am not to blame if I do not believe in ie | Rooter. e the | I was taught the other way. Shall we w rest and tel! them?” ** Do you mean to stay?’ ‘* Certainly; I mean to have “Then keep still; don’t tell. es leave you if they hear you see the te Spirit. They believe; they know., Seven times the my hunt out.” All times the camp is full of sorrow, Some man | White Spirit come down from the hills. Seven | dead; sometimes all. Theix bones bleach in the sun because they would pot take warning, like you.” ‘“ Would you have me run away like a cow- ard? We came out here to bunt.” ‘Tf yon not afraid, neither be I,” said Joe. | ‘*Go back to camp. Keep your letter.” “Pll bet you the price of a new rifle I. see ‘and speak with your White Spirit before we a. he re ogee ‘ 4 ‘* Speak to i ou crazy, I guess. ‘*Dare you bet?” é . _ ‘*Speak to it! You die! No man look spirit | in the face. There are spirits in the rocks and trees, and they hear the words you say. They will carry your words to the ite Spirit!” ‘Let them ca : they like. But if I do mot see and speak with this White Spirit before we return, I will make / you a present of my rifle. it is a good piece.” _ beaver pelts. That’s agr | They went back to | roanned it, they saw some one moving back on | is hands and knees, At that distance it was ‘ impossible to say who it was, and when they | arrived at the camp every man lay wrapped in | uis blanket, blissfully unconscious of any dan- ee | ** Who was it that left the camp just now and Something white fluttering near the | came in before us, Joe?” said Dan. ‘* Don’t know. Thought it was Dutchy. He we pretty sound.” : st 9 “Don’t you think he sleep too sound for so f ‘‘What have you there?’ | early-in the evening?’ said Joe, in a slightly ‘** Read it; | suspicious tone. ‘*T never should have ger whe of that,” said ‘No, I don’t think ere can be any ‘‘ All right, perhaps. I don’t know. Don’t back to your homes, Danger is about | talk tome. I want to think.” Through all that tedious night-watch the balf- breed never spoke to his companion, but sat with his head upon his knees, smoking in that odd way of his, and apparently plunged deep in thought. As the pporning came, the men he- oe to stir, and Jeff rolled lezily out of his: lanket, with a snort and gasp. Yost was still snoring. ‘**Dinna ye hear the pibroch?’ said Dan, wink- at Jeff. broth?” said Jeff. What's the ‘* The Scotch bagpipes.” It’s a wind-barrel. Hark to him. “ Bagpipes? boys. ear the Dutchman tune his fiddle. Ob, gallory, ain’t it just splendid! Ef I ain’t charmed, durn me for a fool. Give him a dig- in the ribs, Joe.” , The half-breed did as desired, and Yost sat: up with a rumpled head, stretching himself and. distorting his Visage in an odd manner. Some of the party laughed. “You besser look a little ous, vat you do‘ I pecs der heaviest sleeper mit America. Yaw.. r ish.not so mooch ash von fe‘ler vat kin. sleep so long vat I can.” ** Were you not up during the night?’ asked the young man, looking at him keenly. The face of the German did not change. “Up? Yaw. I vas up. I vas up in der clouds. I yas asleep.” ** You are sure of that?’ “| nefer vas sure mit anyt’ings,” replied Yost. “I lies town here unt den I forgits ved- der J vas asleep or not. I nefer vakes oop to» see ‘“* You are a wit, I see.” ‘“‘A vit? Vat ish dat?’ ‘*'You make jokes.” ~ ‘*Shokes? I nefer makes a shoke in mine hfe. A shoke? Ven I dalks mit pou, I dalks trut’— notting but trut’. So I dells you.” : ‘*Umph!” grunted Joe. ‘* No more talk. Get ready. Off this morning.” ‘‘Whar we gwine at now, Joe(” asked Jeff “Higher up the foothills. Git some place where we safe. Guess we find a place, eb, | Jeft?” “* You bet ve! Is Dutchy goin’? **S’pose so,” said Joe. “ Jus’ as he likes.” | | turke as many of my words as | You have often said | “Yaw,” said Yost; ‘I coes mit you. I nefer likes to shtoy ous here mit ter pears. I vill shoot a pear some day mit mine_cun. Z “Treckoh ye kin,” said Jeff. ‘‘I mind how ye shot that ar’ buzzard.” __ ‘Creat American pattridge,” said Yost. “ Yaw, I shoots him.” Rooter looked particularly foolish, He had hens that Hoppen would forget the ngme he had given the turkey buzzard. ‘‘ Why, yes,” he said sheepishly, “‘ we cal] em uzzard out hyar, sometimes.” ‘Vell, dat ish not so goot name, I calls dem | creat American pattridge.” ‘* He has you, Jeff. You may as wellown up. _| Get out your horses, boys. Hoppen, yonder is | your horse—the roan with the white star ih his fecobiad Look out for him. There is no bet- ' ter horse in the foothills when you are once in. | the saddle, but he is hard to back.” Yost approached the roan with a hesitating | ste The horse threw his ears back viciously rie uttered a defiant snort. Any judge of a _ horse would have been on the alert for a bite or _kick. The Dutchman did not seem to pay any until the roan darted out his long k and made a savage bite at him. Hoppen, the camp. As they ap- | with extreme agility, acted a charade upon his name, imitating the posture of the father of evil in the garden of Eden. ‘The roan ran to the ex- treme length of the lariat and made two or three athim. The next moment the two were down together on the green sward, cS (ECA MICE — er ’ / — JOO (E(@) a