Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 32 — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

wane Nell dashed out after them in hot pursuit. _ He saw. the lasso whirl high in the air like a ‘iying serpent, and then descend gracefully vabout the,curving neck of, a large roan, At a single word the faithful animal of the Lasso.Queen stopped stock still, and the wild thorse was jerked upon its haunches. | Then came a series of angry and infuriated screams, and the. prisoner reared and plunged mand writhed and twisted, but all to no avail. With the coil of the lasso secured about the saddle-bow, and holding her own steed with a firm hand, Hurricane Nell sat perfectly at ease and watched the struggles with a smile. Attracted by the fierce screams of their “mate, the other mustangs had stopped, and snow one or two of the bolder ones came trot- “ting back, squealing viciously, and showing their long teeth. All this Burnett saw from the motte, and he gave utterance to an,admiring yell at the -Maiden’s success. Then, thrusting his pistol into his belt, he vwas about to start to join her, when he was seized from behind by a dozen pairs of hands wand dragged forcibly back under cover, where 4he was bound hand and foot! CHAPTER VL THE STRANGE RESOUE. As soon as Burnett could gain a view of his ‘yeaptors’ faces he saw that they were Indians, «dressed in full costume and paint for the war- ypath, and that each wore a brass star attached ‘to their belts in a conspicuous: place. There were twelve of them, all evil and Shideous looking brutes, and each was armed with a carbine, knife and pistols, Dragging their prisoner into the center of the motte, as we have said, they bound him hand and foot, and left lying on the ground. . “Ugh!” said one, who seemed their ruling wspirit—‘‘ catch pale-face man much nice. He eno fight;—berry gentle, like prairie hen, Ser- waka is glad. Cap'n Bob, he give Injin heap whisky fur pale-face!” ... 5 “So you’re one of the outlaw’s devils, are eyou?’ was Burnett’s scornful question. *‘ Yes—Cap’n Bob, big chief. Injun much Hike him. He gib Serraka an’ braves whisky —plenty.. Ugh!” “Well, Tl tell you what Pl do, now, you greasy imp: If you will set me at liberty I ‘will give you the cigars for the crowd, Do yyou know what cigars are?” “Ugh; guess so. Tobacca—long tobaccas; put in mouth, smoke—puff! puff!” Cecil laughed heartily. . “Yes, that is it. Now will you set me at Miberty for six of them?’ “Wagh! let see’em.” “‘No; not until you free me.” “Den scalp,” grinned the chief, “All right,” replied Cecil, who knew this ewas only an attempt to make him surrender. “ Go ahead.” | The red-skins consulted a few seconds, in a low tone, ‘‘Ugh! set white-hen free, for "bacca,” said arene advancing, and cutting the prisoner’s Burnett was upon his feet in a moment, and this, hands sought his belt, but he perceived, to his chagrin, that the wily savages had pos- sessed themselves of his weapons, “He! hel” grinned Serraka, cunningly, ‘‘ no got shoot-guns.. Me got um,” and he glanced «approvingly toward his belt ‘‘Serraka see heap ways ahead, like buffalo; know White Hen be a squaw. Too sharp for’im. Hee] Hee! Serraka big smart Injin!” “Ve-s/ I should say you was,” replied Cecil, reflectively. ‘‘Howsomever, here are your cigars.” " And he took a package of fragrant Havanas fram a pocket, and handed them to the red- skin, who uttered a grunt of approval, and selecting one for his own use, he divided the " gemainder among his chuckling companions, _ Burnett watched them amusedly, as they lit the weeds, and puffed away in great satisfaction. They reminded him, as they strutted about, of victorious roosters after the termination of some valiant,deed, when in the hight of their glory. After a moment he turned and was about to leave the grove, when, to his surprise, he was again seized, and ere he could offer resistance, was bound hand and foot, as before. ‘“Wagh!” grinned the worthy Serraka, blow- ing a cloud of cigar-smoke into Burnett’s face; “Serraka much smart Injin. Got smoke- ’bacea an’ pale-face, now, too. No promise not cotch White Hen ’g’in, he! he!” The young lawyer uttered something sus- piciously like a curse. “What are you going to do with me?” he growled, in disgust; ‘‘ where take me?” ‘‘ Nowhere, jes’ now,” said the chief, puffing away, contentedly. ‘‘ Me cotch Big Hurricane, when she come look for White Hen. Ugh! den take two prisoners to big cabin.” Burnett rolled over, and groaned. Presently two of the savages were dis- patched to the edge of the motte, to watch, while the rest lay upon the ground, and fin- ished their cigars. An hour passed away. Some peculiar influence of the silence and peaceful quiet of the cool motte caused Cecil to drop asleep, and he slumbered soundly for several hours. When he awoke it was with a violent start, and he attempted to spring to his feet, but still found that he was bound. All of the savages, but one, were away, watching on the edge of the forest. This one stood as sentinel but a short distance away. ; It was rapidly growing dark, in the depths of the timber, and presently the savage set about gathering a heap of leaves and twigs, which, in the course of ten minutes, were ig- nited, and blazed up brightly, illuminating the scene around for a considerable distance, Then the red-skin seated himself upon a log, under an immense tree, and lit his pipe, at which he puffed silently. The hours wore on leaden wings, it seemed to Cecil, as he lay in a cramped position on the ground, About nine o’clock, as near as he could judge, Serraka came to the fire, and glanced at the prisoner and said: ‘‘ No cotch White Hurricane yet. Cotch her ’fore mornin’, dough. She leab hosses out on plain, Creep like snake to grove. Injins watch like hawk, .Cotch her soon.” And after having taken a turn or two around the fire, he once more vanished in the impenetrable gloom ‘beyond the camp-fire, An hour more dragged by. *‘See here, red-skin,” at last cried Cecil, unable longer to lie in such an aggravating position,.“‘cut these cords around my feet, so that I can exercise my limbs a little, and l’ll promise you I won’t attempt to escape,” “Ugh! White Hen got more smoke~’bacca?” asked the savage, reflectively. “Yes; there is another cigar here, in my vest pocket. Free my feet, and you can have it.” Long Snout rose with alacrity, and in a mo- ment more Burnett was able to stand upon his feet, while the Indian rejoiced in the pos- session of another Havana. After exercising his cramped limbs for some time, Cecil once more seated himself before the camp-fire. Hours flew on; the fire died down to a bed of red coals. Burnett knew by this that the sentinel was asleep. Still he made no attempt to escape, for he felt sure such a move would be hazardous, with so many of the red heathens lying all around the edges of the motte. He was considering what to do, when a strange sound attracted his attention It came from the dark leaf coverts among the branches of the tree, at the foot of which slept Long Snout, With eager eyes Cecil watched, and strained , Beadle;s HalfDime Library. ee nn — ——— —— —— ” rn eee —_—_ ———— The lower branches of the tree were only about three feet above Long Snout’s head, and were so large that only a heavy weight, or shock, could jar them. Presently a pebble dropped through the leaves, and fell at the sentinel’s feet. But he did not awake. The next instant a body swung down into mid-air, headforemost, the feet and legs being locked about the limb above, and the head and shoulders were brought on a level with those of the Indian. In a second the plump, muscular arms were straightened down, one hand clutched the sleeping Long Snout by the throat, and the other, which contained a long knife, drove the glittering blade repeatedly to the hilt in the bared breast. ‘the redskin writhed and twist- ed fiercely, but could not break away, or even yell, for the grip about his windpipe was like a twisted cord. He sunk down, quietly, the blood spurting from every gash in streams. Quickly the assailant returned his knife to his belt, and drew an iron-stamp from an inner pocket, shaped like a half-moon, which, after dipping into the life-blood of Long Snout, was brought foreibly down upon the forehead, leav- ing a bloody impression —a gory half-moon. In an instant more the strange avenger had disappeared up among the branches, silently, like a thing of shadow. Cecil Burnett uttered a startled ejaculation, as he saw the hitherto concealed face, upon the drawing up of the body. It was not a man, as he had at first supposed, but Hurricane Nelli! Rising quickly, he advanced to the side of the stricken savage. Every spark of life had left the red-skin’s body, and the ghastly death-mark was start- lingly distinct as the dim glow of the fast ex- piring embers fell upon the distorted visage. ‘“‘ Heavens!” muttered the young lawyer, with a shudder, “‘what a sickening sight. It is as the tavern-keeper said. This wild crea- ture, whom they call Hurricane Nell, is a very tiger in ber hates!” He peered up among the dark branches of the tree, but cou!d see nothing; not the stir of a leaf or twig announced that a human being was concealed in the dark depths. *‘Humph!” muttered Cecil, staring down at the savage, ‘‘ can it be she did not see me, and thinks I have escaped?” Even as he spoke he felt something drop over his shoulders and then tighten about his waist. a lasso, The next moment he began to , and was pulled rapidly up among the branches, CHAPTER VIL AT LUKE RICE’S—A RAOK. At first, Burnett sca*cely knew what to make of it, but in a few moments found him- selt sitting on an upper branch of the tree, and Hurricane Nell facmg him, ‘**>Sh—/!” she motioned, as he was about to speak aloud—‘‘’sh! There are Indians all around us, Follow me, carefully, without the least noise. Don’t make a misstep, for if you should fall to the ground now it would be al? up with you!” : Removing the lasso from about his waist, and severing the cord which confined his arms, she crept out on a limb, at the eastern side of the tree, where the limbs of the next tree were interwoven with those of its giant neigh- bor, thus forming a natural sort of bridge in mid-air. Across into the next, and the next, they thus crept on, and then the daring girl stopped, and listened attentively. Not a sound save the chirp of a cricket greeted her. The savages had not yet discov- ered their escape, but might do so at any in- stant. “Here,” said the girl, once more fastening the lasso about Cecil’s waist, “I'll lower you to the ground, where you will wait for me.” He obeyed, mechanically, for he was wholly at loss how to act in the darkness of a wilder- his ear to catch any other sound that might be , ness, where foes were hoveriag on either side made, (e ANNIE OOO KS (El)