Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 348 — page 4: what you’re looking at

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

| tle. ag’? y / “but he has a terrible temper. You can see it in his eyes.” ** That’s so,” *‘ Jest'so,” “‘ I reckin that’s Gospel truth,” and other ejaculations of a similar na- ture, escaped the lips of the other members of the jury. CHAPTER IV. THE INDIAN GIRL. SEVERAL days passed, during which prepara- tions were being made for Belton’s trial. It had been predicted by persons who had visited him that circumstances were so strong against him that he would surely be hung for the crime of which he was supposed to be guilty. On the fourth night after the murder, as he sat in the prison, with his head bowed upon his hands, he imagined he heard a sort of scratch- mg Dae, above his head. e looked up. The noise was repeated, and then, slowly and gradually, the scuttle of the apartment was raised, and a human head was thrust through the opening. By the dim light of the candle in his room, Belton recognized the iace, which was that of Lona, the Indian girl, who belonged to a tribe of Omahzs, encamped some miles from the set- tlement, She made a motion with her hand for him to keep silent; then she lowered into the room a slender rope-ladder, the upper end of which she had fastened to a hook, by means of which the scuttle had been secured on the outside. She next motioned to the youth to mount. He shook his head, and made signs to her to go away, buf she would not do so, Instead of that, she descended into the room, revealing a face and form, which were more than usually attractive, Her long, black bair, escaping from under a jaunty little cap, ornamented with a drooping red feather, hung below the hollow of her back, Her skin, although of dusky hue, glowed with - health, her features were regular and noble, and a sweeter mouth could hardly be imagined, Her eyes, large, black and soft, beamed with a blended expression of gentleness and spirit, her hands were as small as a child’s, and her shape- ly feet were incased in mouse-colored mocca- sins. The robe of light deer-skin confined about the waist and ornamented with fringe, showed the grace and beauty of her shape to advan- tage, and nothing could have been more easy and natural than her movements. ** Listen,” she whispered. ‘The Fireheels knows that Lona is his friend. He must go away from here, or bis death will be sure. Once Lona saved his life, and he then promised ber that he would never refuse any request she might make. Come, let her save his life a second time,” ‘It may not be,” answered the hunter. ‘“ Go back, Lona, or you will get yourself into trouble, I know I made promise to grant any reasonable ~s uest of yourn, but this one is onreason- able. ‘**Lona will not go till Fireheels her,” said the girl, resolutely. ‘‘If get her into trouble, let him refuse.” ‘You know not, gal, what you're talking about. In the first place, thar’s no prospects of death, for, ef I stay hyar, my innocence on trial must be proved.” ‘*Tell me where you would look for justice.” said Lona, with dilating eyes, ‘‘ The Indian girl has keen eyes, There is one person who will do all he can to hurry the young bunter on pis fate. I need not tell Fireheels who that oes with ® would “‘T kin think of no one who could be mean enevigh for such a thing.” ‘It is the man Luke Lorne that Lona speaks of. He hates the hunter. Lona has watched him, and she knows it. What she says is true. If Fireheels does not leave this place that man will cause him to be hung ! ona has heard him say he would do that,’ **'You’ve heard the rascal say that?’ “It is true. Fireheels knows that Lona would not lie. The missionaries who have visit- ed her tribe, besides teaching her to read and write, have taught her to tell the truth. Come, will the hunter go with Lona now?” “Yes, gal, I will. Ef thar’s to be any trick- ery on the trial by that mean coon, sooner than give him the satisfaction of hanging an Mnocent man» Pie go 4 niet Lo e dark eyes of the girl spar ith joy. She pointed to the rope-ladder, which the au: oner now nimbly ascended. After he had mounted it, Lona followed. She , drew up the ladder and gently closed the scut- t her neck, she eu, coiling the ropes a ' » Sa 4 swe : rs + ‘ad ~ * Fireheels; or, - . . ~ ~- x i a re . ——— \ « , ‘, ? . ro * . * re > Se * "t : 4 4 = »* 4, ; hg , a a) « oe » ih =" . : + ry : ‘Sar + -F , 4 E Hy : q _ ae eC _—— + pointed to a tree which stood about a foot from the edge of the roof. The building was not guarded by sentinels. Persons were only temporarily confined there to await their trials, after which they were re- moved to a better and stronger jail a settle- ment a few wiles beyond Logville. Belton, descending the tree, was soon joined by his rescuer. The night was not very dark, and the girl went ahead to keep a lookout, In a few min- utes she returned hastily. ‘*Down! down in the bushes!” she whispered. ‘‘Lorne coming this way with party of men, He already bas seen Lona!” Belton crouched bebind a clump of shrubbery, and a moment later Lorne came up. ‘*Halloa! Lona here at this time of the night,” he cried, suspiciously, ‘‘ and so near the jail, too !” ‘*Lona goes everywhere,” she answered, coolly. ‘* That’s so,” spoke up one of the men, laugh- ing; “that gal is like a ghost. Yer meet her every where, and at all times of the nigbt.” “But I thought [ saw some one witb her just now,” continued Lorne, ‘‘ Come, Lona, speak up and tellus who was with you,” be added, moving toward the clump of shrubbery bebind which Belton was crouched. Fireheels perceived that discovery was inevi- table if he remained where he was, There was a hollow behind him, and into this he slid. ‘*I’m going to look behind these bushes,” said Lorne, turning to the two men with him, ‘ Re- member, with a murderer in yonder jail, it is necessary to be careful, Here we are on our way, now, to suggest to the justice that irons be put upon his wrists, and it would be strange enough if, while we are taking these precau- tions, he should succeed in escaping.” So saying, he moved the shrubbery aside, and peered behind if. Belton had trusted to his being concealed by the darkness in the hollow; but Lorne, stepping forward, stooped and looked down into it. Fireheels remained so still in the pit that a did not at first perceive that any one was there. To the intense surprise of Belton, he now heard a low, hissing voice:at his ear. ‘‘ Jest change places with me, and yer’ll see him go off like a ghost. Quick! Heer he comes!” The speaker—a long, gaunt shadow—had emerged from amass of high grass in the hol- low on Belton’s right. The youth could not, of course, see him dis- tinctly—could discern little of him except his eyes, and these seemed fairly ablaze, like those of some wild beast, They looked like round balls of fire, girdled by two white rings; and as he met the steadfast gaze, he felt a band, like the claws of a bear, clutch him by the arm. Mechanically, he shifted his position to the left of the stranger, who at once took his place. t Lorne, thinking he saw a moving form, had ac about to creep down the side of the hol- ow. Then, all at once the strange being elevating his head in the moonlight, as if it was that of a serpent, whispered in the young man’s ear four words, which caused him to start back with a low cry of terror, and draw quickly away from the hollow. ae tS ‘“What is it? What did yer see?” inquired Lorne’s companions, ‘* Nothing,” he said. ‘Then there was no one there?” ‘‘No; buta snake rubbed against my hand, and it startled me!” CHAPTER V. THE COMBAT. LORNE and the men with him moved on. As soon as they were out of sight, Belton turned to thank the person who had so oppor- tunely saved him from being discovered. To his surprise, he then perceived that the stranger was gone. ‘Did you see that man come out of the pit?” he inquired of Lona. | “Yes, he go off that way like a shadow,” and she pointed toward the eastward. ‘Tt was very strange,” said Belton. “He merely whispered something in Lorne’s ear, which sent him away at once.” “Lona is glad. She much afraid the white hunter be taken again.” “Seeing the other person in the pit, I reckon Lorne hadn’t any suspicion I was thar.” ld Skinflint, the Death-Shadow. we > | ; ® .. | ** No, but he soon find out now; you escape,. and we must go fast. Come, we have far to oO. It was late ere the twain reached the camp of the Omahas. The chief—a tall, dignified savage—came forward and welcomed Belton. ‘* Fireheels is safe with the Omabas,” he said. ‘*There was a time when he saved the tribe, and now the tribe will save him. Wono does not forget!” “That I saved your tribe, Wono, is very true; but you had to streak it some to save yourselves after I warned you that the Black- feet were coming to attack you.” ‘‘ The bunter has had poor fdod of late,” re- marked Lona. ‘‘Let my brother give him of the best in the camp.” ‘‘Ugh! That is good. He shall have it,” an- swered the chief. Belton was conducted to a tent, and he was soon partaking of a good repast. When he had finished it, Lona came in, and spread for him in onecorner a comfortable couch of skins. The hunter, soon after, was buried in a pro- found slumber, from which he was awakened, before midnight, by a hand upon bis sboulder.. He opened bis eyes, to behold, by the light of the moon, which was now shining, the face and form of a youth of seventeen, who stood look- ing down upon him with a troubled aspect. elton recognized him as Tamina the son of one of the old Indian chiefs. ‘‘ Well, why hev you waked me from a sound and sweeter sleep than I’ve had before, since L was arrested?” “There is a reason. Tamina would ask the white hunter to leave the gg “To leave your camp? Who sent you on that errand? as it Lona?” ‘*It was not Lona. Lona is glad to have the hunter here, and that is why Tamina is not glad.” ‘‘T understand—a case of jealousy; but you needn’t trouble yourself, Tamina; I’m not going to try to cut you out.” “That is why Tamina thinks the hunter should go away. If he wanted Lona for his. equaw, then the Indian would not say a word, But he knows the heart of the Fireheels is away from the ‘Singing-Tbhrusb,’ and he would not have her throw hers away on him!” ‘° ‘‘ Nonsense! The gal doesn’t care for me im the way youtbink. She is friendly, for the lit- tle sarvice I did her tribe. That is all,” “Tt is not so. She will never be the squaw of Tamina while Fireheels is bere,” Again the hunter told the young Indian,. what he really believed to be the case—that he was mistaken. The other insisted he was not. ‘* And so Fireheels must go.” “Thar’ll be a price on my head, Il be hunted down for a crime I couldn’t hey done, had I tried. If I go, i'll be arrested.” ‘‘Ts it better, then, that Fireheels should, break the heart of Singing-Thrush?”’ ‘‘Thar’s no danger of that. Jl not leave your camp, so long as Wono is willing I should stay hyar.” “The bunter will not go?” ‘*‘T have said it.” ‘“Then Tamina and he are no longer friends.’”” “Come, Injun, you'll not be so foolish as that,” said Belton. ‘What Tamina says he means.” “ You are not going to betray me?” said Bel- ton, sternly. But the young Indian abruptly left the tent, making no reply. Belton turned over on his couch and again dropped tosleep. On the fol- lowing afternoon Tamina made bis appearance before Fireheels, who was still in the tent which had been given up to him for his use, “The white hunter bas refused to leave the Omaha camp!” “They. Why should I leave it?” ‘‘T have said why. Will Firebeels refuse to meet Tamina, too?’ ‘To meet you?” “Yes. Tamina would meet Fireheels, knife in band, that be and the Indian may fight out their quarrel!” ‘‘T have no quarrel with you, Injun. I don’t want to take human life ef I kin help it.” ‘The words of Fireheels are big. His heart may be big, too. But I will try it.” ‘““Come, now, Tamina, thar’s no use of » Nad trying to force afight on me, I’m friendly to your people, and don’t want to hurt you.” The ne, Satan curled his Jip. **Tamina knows how to use bis knife as welt Sp dbuhage sk doi tub 3 eepenbitiw Sot att erhaps you do, but I re not going to fight vou. ds — vw er.