Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 348 — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

- s «* Fa, ae «* ss ~~ “- x &: 44 xs =. be i Rk Tits ae all it oe o-. = Se ae at ° « ay ~*~ ~ & f- Ret, f ’ a's the men sprung toward him, thinking they would be able to bury their knives in his body ere he would have a chance to defend bimself. ‘* Hillo!” cried Skinflint, nimbly springing ‘back and dropping into a hollow near the path. ‘*Come on, ef yer want me to plug yer!” As he spoke he drew his revolver, and was about to pull trigger, when one of the gang, who had darted round to the other side of the hollow, sprung into the latter, and, knocking aside his arm with his left hand, endeavored to - Nome his knife in his back between bis shoul- ers. The hunter, however, was too quick for the rascal. Whirling round, he avoided the blow, and, apparently averse to taking life when it could be avoided, dealt him on the head, with his re- volver, a blow which knocked him senseless, The three others of the gang were now in the hollow, but ere they could use their knives Skin- flint nimbly swung himself out of the pit by means of the branch of a tree which he had seized, ‘Now, then, you raskils!” he cried, pointing his revolver down toward them, “I hev yer trapped! Don’t yer try fur to come out of that yere hole, or, shore as yer’s born, I'l] plug yer!” The three outlaws looked at each at 5g in dis: may. Skinflint was decidedly the master of the situation. There he stood, sheltered by the tree, and, ere they could draw their pistols or get out of the hollow, he could send a bullet through each of them. ‘* What are yer goin’ to do with us?” inquired one. ‘Well, I’m not perticklar, but I think hang- in’ would be a little too good for sech villains! I see some folks comin’ this way now, and I hope they may prove to be people who are hunt- in’ fur the robbers which hey done so much mis- chief!” ‘* For God’s sake! let us go, Henderson!” cried one of the men, ‘‘and we swear to you that we will not try to molest you again.” ‘*T don’t think I kin trust yer,” said Skinflint. ‘* However,” be added, for a keen glance at the aprneains party had made bim suspect that they belonged to the band of his enemies, ‘I mou’t let yer go, ef yer’ll promise to do all yer kin to hinder t’otbers from findin’ me.” ‘* We will! we will!” was the eager answer. ‘Go then,” said Skinflint, ‘‘ but don’t forgit yer promise!” The outlaws, scrambling out of the hollow, had er wan some yards ere their comrades ‘were heard calling to them. ‘“ What fools we’ve been!” cried one. ‘‘ We might have had that cursed Henderson out of the way by this time, had we only waited, for, ‘see, Our men have now reached the hollow, and yonder goes our ‘game,’ streaking it in the other direction!” In fact Skinflint had left many yards behind him and his foes, but, unfortunately, bis course now led him toward an impassable marsh. The gang darted in pursuit of him. He reached the marsh, and could go no further. ‘““Hyar’s a diffikilty I didn’t expect,” he mut- tered—‘‘ not bein’ very well acquaint with this pes of _ country. Well, I must make the toni He coolly faced round, and aimed his revol- ver at the approaching party, now not more than a hundred paces off, numbering a dozen men. They came to a halt behind a slight mound of earth, which would binder Skinflint’s shots from taking effect, and pointed their pistols to- ward bim. ‘*No use, Henderson, you're a dead dog!” cried one ay ‘i As they inflint dropped upon tbe ground, and the bullets passed on his pont Ere they could fire again, there wasa ve'l, aud a large party of Omahas were seen ap- proaching, on their right. Firing a few parting shots, the gang took to their beels, and a minute later Skinflint, un- harmed, was among the Indian braves. ‘Good! Come just in time,” said Wono, the chief. ‘* We look for Tamina, but no can find. We have seen you with Lona. We know you to be a friend of the young white hunter.” ‘‘Thar yer’s right. I am bis friend.” ‘““We have seen you with Lorne, Belton’s ers A too. You are not his friend?” “No, Injun, but I don’t mind tellin’ yer that I’ve purtended to be, fur a sart’in purpose.” ‘‘It is well. Come to the Omahas’ camp. The bad men who would take my white brother’s life cannot reach bim there.” “Til go to yer camp fur to-night,” answered ‘Skinflint. «| . 4 7 ~ : : > ‘ + Ke — ” : oe ae oe Me ¢ i ee, - ; A - ‘* : . ad i ‘ x Fireheels; or, Old Skinflint, the Death-Shadow. He accompanied the Indians to their camp, which was not far off. ‘* Now, then,” he muttered to himself, *‘ thar’s no use of going to the justice of Logville to tell him about Lorne’s true character. He wouldn’t b’lieve me, or would purtend that he did not. Fur tbe sake of that boy, however, that Belton, Il must wring from him a eonfession that be was the raskil who killed Mr. Danton’s darter, fur ther’s hardly a doubt in my mind that he did it though I hev’n’t yet been able to git bim to tell meso. He ought to be made to own that ’fore I go to an honest magistrate who ’ll see justice done,” CHAPTER XIV. THE CAPTURE. ON the next morniug Skinflint left the Omaba camp to pay a Visit to Belton before going on to lie in wait for Lorne, He fou::d the youth still in the cave, but he said nothing to him about the young captain of the robbers. To the questions of his friend be simply an- swered that things were working right, and that he boped soon to obtain proof of Belton’s in- nocence, Firebeels now described his meeting with the boy, Forner, and related what he bad said about the murder, ‘'Thar’s the chap I must find, then,” said Skinflint. ‘“ Yes, must move heaven and yearth to find him. Yer’ve no idea wbar he is now?” ‘* No, but I doubt not Lona has found him be- fore this time.” ‘*T must see Lona first, then.” An hour later Skinflint left the cave and went in search of the Indian girl. She was not at the Omaha camp, so the bunter went elsewhere to look for ber. He wa however, unable to see her, altbough for severa days, be searched far and near. At last he concluded he would go back to the Omaha camp, hoping she had returned to it during bis absence, Tbe twilight bour was near when he found himself not far from the rock under which was the outlaws’ cave, Thinking he heard voices behind a clump of shrubbery near him, he cautiously approached, drawing bis revolver, and crouched bebind a bush, Through openings among the twigs, he now saw Lorne and one of his gang, who were seat- ed on a log.conversing in a low voice. **T don’t hardly think it would be safe to kill that Indian girl,” Lorne was saying, ‘‘ until we are ready to leave these parts, which’ll be be- fore long. That Henderson may betray us at any moment, The girl is safe enough where we have her—in the dungeon—and there is no danger of her being found, as l’ve rolled a bowlder over the crevice on top of the rock which leads down intothe cave. As I said, we'll soon have to leave this country, which is tting too hot for us, as there are people now, ar and near, looking for the robbers who have done so much mischief. When we are ready to go, it will be time enough for us to end the life of that troublesome gir!.” Skinflint distinctly heard these words. ‘Tl soon hev that gal out of yer clutches,” he thought; ‘‘and I reckin yer’|l not git away from heer quite so easily as yer seem to think!” Cautiously moving round to the other side of the rock, he ascended it. Then he pulled a coil of slender rope from the wallet he carried, and baving rolled the bowlder away from the opening, over which it had been placed, he fasfened one end of the rope toa rugged projection, allowing the other end to hang down into the dungeon. Rapidly descending, he was soon in the gloomy cavern, at one side of which Lona was now fastened by a chain to the wall. At first he could not see ber, but a moment later, be beard her voice. ** W bo is there?’ “Tt’s me,” answered Skinflint, ‘and I’ve come to git yer out of this hole.” “That is good. Lona will be glad to go away from here, for she much likes the sun and the fresh air.” ‘Of course yer does,” He advanced to her side, but he could not un- fasten the chain by which she was beld. At length, however, he succeeded in knocking from the wall the staple to which one end of it was . Then he tied the chain around her waist, so that it would make no noise during ber ascent from the dungeon. : : .* 15 4 bee? a ee +: , ’ Spal +S i: “ . : d - ’ = | Oe a _ : 4 * ¥> y~ ‘Now, then, yer kin climb the rope, but: whar’s the other gal—the white gal, who was: heer? I don’t see her.” ‘* They took her to another part of the cave;: they say she die if she kept here.” ‘The mean varmints! Well, go on, Lona.” The Indian girl commenced to climb the rope, which she found it easy to do, as there were projections on the side of the rocky wall, all the way up tothe opening. Skipflint followed her, and when he had reached the summit of tbe rock, he returned bis rope to his wallet, and rolled the bowlder back in its place, As the two hurried along in the direction of the Omaha camp, the hunter spoke about the boy, Forner. “Did yer find that young chap? Belton told me ver went to look fur bim.” “ Yes, find him. We take to justice, but jus- tice would not believe. Boy getaway. After- ward, he try kill himself by drowning, but Lona save him, and lead him to Omaha camp.” ‘* And is he thar, now?” ‘‘He was there when Lona left the camp, few days ago. Hope beis there yet.” hey soon reached the camp, but Forner no longer was there. On the day before, he had contrived to slip away, and the Indians did not know in what direction he had gone. “Too bad!” said Skinflint. “I wanted to hev a talk with that boy about the murder.” There was a peculiar expression on Lona’s face when Skinflint made this remark, but she said nothing. Next morning the hunter left thecamp. He hovered on the outskirts of Logville, evidently watching for some person. Lorne finally passed that way. Skinflint followed him until he reached a lonely spot, near a thicket, when he sprung for— ward and collared bim. ‘* No noise, or yer’ll git this!” cried the hunter savagely, as he leveled his revolver at the bead ot the young outlaw. ‘‘What are you going to do? What do you want?” inquired Lorne, coolly. “Confess that you murdered her—you mean varint!” ‘“*Murdered who? What are about? Have you lost your senses ‘‘T mean that you are the coon that killed Mr. | Danton’s darter! Come, own up at once!” ‘You know better,” was the quiet answer. “You know I had no band in that «ffair. You know it was yourfriend Belton who did the deed!” . “No! no} yer don’t git off with any of yer les!’ ‘*'You better let me go.” **No, I’m not goin’ to let yer go, arter what I’ve larned. Yer’ll jist go with me fore a mag- istrate, aud I'll bev ver jocked up fur trial. I know enough about yer, now!” ‘You cannot barm me. Bole would not be- lieve you.” ‘‘I’m not goin’ to Bole, I’m goin’ to Justice Wentworth, who is a friend of mine, and who'll: b’lieve what I say.” — turned pale but quickly recovered him- self. At that moment the noise of approaching footsteps was heard, not far off. _ “Here come some of the men who are bunt- ing for the robbers,” said Lorne. “If you don’t let me go, it’ll be the worse you.” ‘‘T hev a few questions to ask yer,” said: Skinflint, fiercely. " eggeg “Yes, what hev yer done with Mary?” At these words, Lorne looked confused. ‘*Mary?’ be stammered, ‘Yes; the poor gal that yer married, and! then desarted, after cursin’ ber and bestin’ her, leavin’ her in a snow-drift to freeze to death!” - ‘**T don’t know as this is any of your business,” said Lorne, striving to speak calmly. “tis my business, and I'll tell yer why. That sweet little gal was my sister !” ‘*'You, her brother!” cried Lorne, startled. ‘Yes, and I swore to bunt yer down, and: avenge the gal!” ‘You are not going to kill me?’ said the out- law, alarmed at the fierce aspect of the man be- fore him. ‘No, ’'m not goin’ to kill yer, I’m goin’ to» let the law deal with you, as you desarve. It’s. fur this I’ve shadowed yer <o iong!” ‘* Well, then, it is true I left my wife, but I hope she was not frozen to death.” “‘Sbe was not. It was that noble boy, Bel- ton, who helped ber, and may God bless him fur it. But what [ want to find out from you is whar she is, now! 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