Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 283 — page 5: what you’re looking at

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

ever you git any money in your fist, what must | or yon are dead men,” the beautifal visior How it was done no one could say. They saw the brawny hand of Hoppen shoot out and seize the leg of the roan, and the next moment he was sprawling on the grass. A short struggle took place, a trial of brute force and masculine will, and manhood tri- umphed. : ost rose, and the roan lay trembling at his feet. The Dutchman touched him with his foot ¥ and he rose and stood panting. Hoppen threw on the saddle-cloth, put on the saddle, looked at his teeth, tightened the girths, and sprung upon his back, They saw ina moment that he was a prac- ticed horseman. There was another thing which puzzled Dan. This was the ease with which he adapted him- self to the Mexican saddle, which at this time was hardly used except upon the plains. Hop- en seemed to know all about it, and lengthened is stirrups after the manner of mountain men, in a way entirely different from the manner of the old school of horsemanship. “ Where did you learn to ride?” asked Dan, as the party rode away beside the shining stream. Hoppen looked up with an odd smile. There was something so cunning in it that Dan felt more and more the conviction that this man was not what he seemed. But the first words he spoke were so transcendently Dutch that he was immediately ashamed of bis suspicions. “T learn mit St. Shoseph. I lifs ous of town mitavarm. I keeps goot many horses, I nefer vinds von I vas afraid to ride.” ‘‘How did you tame that fellow? I was a little afraid you had more than your match.” “IT t’row him down,” said Yost, nodding. “SolIsaw. But how? That isa strong horse and you are not a very large man.” Hoppen stretched out an arm for Dan to in- spect. He ran his fingers along the powerful limb above the elbow, and felt the muscles, hard as wrought iron. “You are very strong.” ‘A little. I trow Jeff easy. Now look. He oot man; he drue man, put he fool too mooch. Get hurt some day. Vere you coes now?” ‘‘Into the mountain, to bunt for the best ~~ Indian Joe. —_ you do but §° your pi eon kings and, calculat- ing to fill. You kain’t allus do it, and ef you do, somebody will be sure to draw a flush hand and then whar’s your kings and, eh? I don’t say nothin’ ag’in Leer They ar’ a providence to us trappers and guides. Like ez not we would git into some diviltry ef it wa’n’t for an honest game of poker or old sledge, But, bet in rea- son, Jim,” ‘ ‘*T don’t reckon thar’s any man that sails un- | der the name o’ Jeff Rooter kin lick me at | | | keerds. I caleulates I’m the best poker-player in this kentry. Yes, I do.” ‘All wrong, Jim, All ye know of keerds I told ye. Ye kiow thet.” ‘‘ Don’t lie now, Jeff. I kin lick any man that sez I ain’t a better player than any of the Rooter family, father or son,” ‘That means ye kin lick me, don’t it? Jest jump off that muwe and send for me one’t. You don’t know me, I reckon, I’m the great Pray- hary Flower. I’m the boss scrimmager of the Rocky Mount. You've hern tell of the man that took a buffler-bull by the tail and knocked out his brains ag’in’ a pine stump? "TT wasn’t much to do, but I did it. ‘“You don’t say,” muttered Jim, climbing slowly from his horse and throwing the bridle to Nat. “Git down here. I’m the Almighty Catamount of the Big Red. I don’t back down on no man. You took an insignificant little buffler-bull by the tail and knocked out his brains, did you? That ain’t nothing, that ain’t. Did you ever see me pull up a tree a the roots? Oh, git down.” Jeff was off in a moment, but Hoppen jumped down and catching the two men by the breast, held them at arm’s length, in spite of their ae “Kill the durned Dutchman,” roared Jim; ‘‘what business hez he to interfere with white men?” *'Yoost you keep shtill, or I knocks your heat against der rock,” replied the Dutchman, coolly. *Coom, coom. [Tm not afraid mit you. Keep shtill. Vat you vant to fight for?” ** Didn’t he call me a liar?’ roared Jeff, strug- ‘known as the Indian devil—the Carcajou, I gling to get away. ‘I want his skulp. Wa- hope we may find one.” oo! Yip! Let me gitathim. He desarves to ‘‘Nefer see von?” die.” ‘‘No, By all accounts, they are not the most lovely thing in the world to tackle. But I want one, and I'll have bim.” ‘. CHAPTER IV. "HE MOUNTAIN PATH. Trey left the plains behind and entered the of the hills. On either hand rose rugged cliffs, with low growths of pine and spruce upon the sides. A gloomy . Dark shadows fell upon the path they trod, from cliff and pine tree overhanging it. In some places the road was 90 narrow that they were forced to advance in Indian file. Joe rode in front. Dan followed, ~ext to him Yost. The two guides and Rooter orought up the rear. They were a strong and well-appointed body of men for that region, and men whom a band of savages would have hesi- tated long before attacking. Their knives and ‘pistols were of the most approved manufacture, and any one of them could hit a man with a rifle-ball at six hundred yards, “We orter know this hole, Jeff,” said Joe, looking back at his comrade. ‘This is the place where we Pe: ie of our boys. Never understood how it were done.” — “Twas the White Spirit,” said Jeff. ‘ You : it were, Joe Lane. Sens iene.” said Nat Farrel, one of the guides, “Tnever thought of that. The White Sperrit haunts these hills. I don’t like it overly well. “Nor I nutber,” said Jim Arnold, the other guide. “Say, Jeff, I s’pose you couldn’t find no other place to hunt only here.” “ Didn’t Dan say he wanted to track a carca- jou? Tonly ask you fair, Jim Arnold. a Ne know any better place to look for the Indian devil? Bey, now? “No, I OT we tee Jim. ‘But I don’t like to face the White Sperrit.” ‘No more dol, Jim. But, we must hev the carcajou. Didn’t Dan say that ef we tuk one, it would be two hund dollars right in our tists? Ain’t that sumthin’?” _ ‘All right, Jeff. Never thought of that. White Sperrits be eussed. Whose afraid? aro’t, fer one, That's fifty dollars apiece. : ** He said he could beat me at poker, he did,” shouted Jim. ‘“*T knocks your heats togedder off yeu don’t keep shtill. Now you listen mit me. Off you bromise me not to fight mit each udder, [ let you co.” ‘This is sheer nonsense, Jeff,” said Dan. ‘I am ashamed of you.” . Jeff began to be a little abashed now that his anger began to cool. “ Tain’t got nothin’ ag’in’ Jim,” said he. ‘“ But he ain’t got no call to crow over me, hez he?” *T tell you what to do,” said Dan, “ Let it rest until you go back to St. Louis after this trip, and then play against each other. But don’t fight.” » “* Good cnongh, old man,” said Jeff, ‘‘I agree. Do you, Jim?’ ‘*Sbake!” said Jim, renee his hand. Their little difference adjusted, they became better friends than ever, and for hours they rode side by side through the mountain. where it was wide eu , boasting of their ex- ploits in these regions. a 98 listened with a quiet smile. Dan, who had been watching bim up to this tim», rode up too and entered into con- versation with bim. He found, under the rude phraseology ot the German, a vein of native cunning and shrewd good sense, which did not so much astonish bim after what he had seen him do that day, and the evening before. Jeff regarded him: with some doubt. The ease with which he tad ‘held both himself and the other uide had astonished him, at the same time giv- ng bim.a high opinion of their strange com- panion’s physical strength. The party passed through a narrow defile in the mountain and entered upon a verdant table. land, a thousand feet above the level plain which they had quitted half a day before. At this moment a clear, sweet voice called them to a halt. Turning in surprise, they saw a woman standing on a flat rock a hundred feet above them, leaning upon a small rifle and looking down atthem. A glorious woman! Her hair unconfined, was lifted by the passing breeze, and swept in waving curls about her symmetri- cal form. Herdress was a sort of tartan, and a ‘the men I have with me. oe eee te ee oe me ee called out. Astonishment kept them silent. Sach a vi- sion as this, appearing te them in the midst of the savage scenery, throned on a great rock, might well surprise them. Dan was the first to find his voice. “You ask us where we are going with the air of one who hasa right,” he said. “Weare go- ing on a bunt.” “Turn back then, while there is yet time,” she said. ‘I warn you back from this terrible lace, as 1 have warned many another. If you |. emy advice, it shall be well with you. 10 prairies are broad enough for us all. Leave to to those Who claim it the right to patrol these passes, as they have done for years.’ ‘‘ Others claim the pass, then?”’ “Yes. They are not the ones to warn you back. That is my office. If you are foolhiidyv enough to keep on, after what I have said, you do it at your peril.” ‘“We accept the peri], and refuse to 20 back, unless we know what we have to fear, You -cw They ere uot the’oucs to go back without reasons. You must give them to us,” ‘Other men have acted as you do,” replied the girl, with an angry flush. ‘ [have no more tosay. I leave you to your own devices.” ‘‘Stay,” said Dan, as she turned to go away. “A word before you go. Was it you who sent us the warning last night?” “Ask no questions, for I will answer none. ‘You have marked out your own course, Walk it, if you will, For my part, I have done all in my power to save you. But you will not be saved. Go your ways and I will go mine,” While she held them in conversation, Jeff Rooter had ridden forward at arqnick pace, As she turned to away, be suddenly appeared beside her on the rock and seized her in his arms before she could use the rifle. ‘*Loose your hold, rascal. How dare you touch me?” sbe cried, Unheeding ber words, Jeff raised her in bis arms and descended the cliff rapidly, while Dan called out to bim angrily to let her go. Shortly — after he ap red among them, panting for breath, and holding ber firmly. , “Thar,” be said, Jetting her feet rest on the ground an! still bolding her hands, ‘Now you’ve got her, Make her tell what she means.” ‘Release her, Jeff,” said Dan, pushing his companion back, ‘ How dare you lusult a wo- inan?” Jeff released his hold and she stepped back with leveled rifle, looking angrily at the party. * 1 am here,” she said. “What do you want with me?” i * Nothing,” replied Crowley. ree,” . . ‘Thank you, I know you, Rooter. I will teach you better than to lay hands upon me. It is well for you that you held me, or I would have shot you down like a, dog. No one ever — yet touched Maid Marian in anger who did not nepen it wid am nial mets nstble ; ‘Ef you let her go, I won respo or the result,” said Jeff. ‘She kin be made to tell you what you want.” ; “Dot's right,” said Yost, ‘‘ Make her shpeak. Vat right hasb a vooman to holt her tongue! Vip her ef she von’t ery. . ‘Be silent, fellow,” replied Dan, in high anger. ‘‘ Believe me, miss, this rudeness was not intended on my part. mat Spe for my- self and? for my men, A moment’s thought will convince Rooter that be is wrong.” ‘*T know him well enough,” she Md | though he does not know me, I will never for get this insult on his part. Am I free to go?’ ws laybcrons § replied Dan, She turned to go away, but came back, The nerous behavior of the young man had touched yer, and she wished to do something torepay it. . ‘‘T wish you would take warning,” she said. “There are dangers here of which you have no conception. ‘Dangers unseen, and of which I cannot speak. I would do it if 1 could. It ought to be enough for you if I warn you that these mountains are fatal to all who enter, them.” ‘‘ We are grateful to you for your interest in our welfare, but we will not go back. If you know those from whom this danger is to come,. let me warn them. We are not men to be trifled with, and will not submit tamely to be robbed or murdered. Let them remember this.” “You wili not be warned, Farewell, then * You are git that, an’ I ever hold kings and ag’in in old | sash of the same material was thrown over ber | and when the time comes, remember that Maid sledge, I won’t back idea aioua T ain't got | shoulders and knotted at her waist. Her feet | Marian warned you in the Robbers’ Pass.” money enough. Now you bet.” were smalk and shod in dainty boots, slashed She turned and darted up the rocks with the ‘Them keerds wiil be the death of you yit, | and embroidered ina fanciful manner. agility of the mountain Upon the summit dim Arnold, Don’t 1 know you! As soon as! ‘* Wheredo yon go’ she cried, ‘‘ Halt there, | sue paused and made them a mute gesture of . U as 5 ee Gomilcbooks (C