Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 387 — page 2: what you’re looking at

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

2 It was evident that all were anxious, for their faces showed it, and in response to the question asked them, one replied: “*God knows what we can do; but what news have you, Mr. Beckwith?’ Mr. Beckwith was the old gentleman referred to, and he was looked up to as the “ captain” of the train, *“{ have just this news,” he replied, ‘‘and that is what Guy Marsden told me—which was that he came upon a place where there had evi- dently been a struggle of life and death, and found the guide’s dead horse lying there, and the tracks of another animal leaving the spot.” *‘This looks bad for the guide, especially when he was to have been back last night,” said one, ‘** Bad, indeed,” resumed Mr. Beckwith—“ for without him we are in danger of our lives if we keep on.” **I cannot understand why the guide left us yesterday morning, as he did,” remarked one of the group, impatiently. ‘Oh, his leaving was all right, for, knowing that we did not, travel upon Sunday, he asked me to let him go off for the day to visit a ran- chero and bunter, who, he said, lived some thirty miles from here. ** But be promised to be back last night, and as he had not returned this morning, young am Marsden volunteered to look him up, and I told him to go, for, you know, the youth has passed two years out upon the plains.” ‘‘ Yes, and it strikes me he is about as good a plainsman as the guide; but where is he?” One of the party went in search of the youth in question, and found him looking after the comfort of his horse, which he had ridden all day in search of the lost guide, 6 came toward the group of men with a quick, firm tread and said, pleasantly: ‘f You sent for me, Mr. Beck with.” He was apparently about seventeen years of age, graceful, sinewy, and well formed for his years, and with the air of one who had perfect reliance in himself, young as he was. He was dressed in fringed ieggins, a_ blue- flannel hunting-shirt, a pair of top-boots, slouch hat and wore a belt of arms. His face was bronzed’ by exposure, but he had long blonde, wavy hair, dark-blue eyes, and a complexion that was as pure as marble. Certainly he was a very handsome boy, and ne expression was winning, daring and reso- ute, ‘‘Guy, I wish you would tell us just what you discovered to-day.” ‘* Well, Mr, Beckwith, I took Warpath Will’s trail to-day, as you requested, and followed it for a long way from here, when, upon the bank of a small stream, where the bushes grew thick, 9 ag his horse, shot through tbe neck, and ead. ‘There were traces upon the ground of a struggle, and I could see Will’s boot-tracks, though the others were faint, and evidently made with a moccasined foot.” ‘More than one man’s track, you thought, Guy ?’ ‘* Yes, sir—several, evidently, and without doubt Indians, or white men wearing mocca- sins. “The saddle and bridle had been taken from Warpath Will’s horse, and there were blood- stains about, which led me to know that he had been either killed or captured.” “So you think we need not expect his return, Guy?’ asked one of the party. ‘*T do not expect him back, sir.” ‘* Well, this iscertainly a predicament for us to be in; within a couple of bundred miles of our destination, a wild Indian country ahead of us, and no guide,” sai? Mr. Beckwith, “‘T was going to offer my services, sir, if you cared to trust me,” said the youth. All started and looked at him. ‘*You have had some experience, I know, ’ Guy, but I fear—” Mr. Beckwith paused and the youth said: ‘*T have had just this experience, sir. ‘‘I left home with my father just two years er ago, when he got the gold-fever, and was with : him in the mountains for more than a year. ‘*Then he struck the mine you have heard about, and sent me after mother and sister, and to settle up our affairs at home. ‘*] started with four men, andin an Indian fight we had on the way, three were killed and one wounded; but we beat the red-skins off and 1 remained with my wounded comrade until be died, which was three weeks. ‘Then I came on alone, and reached home in safety, though on foot and alone, I was three months finding my way. —~ Warpath Will, the Traitor Guide. ‘*T feel now that I can guide you to your destination, and thence take my mother and sister to where my father awaits us, so I make the offer to act as guide.” **l accept your services, Guy,” answered Mr. Beckwith. ‘* But [ do not.” **{ will return to the starting-point and geta guide.” , ‘You are game, Guy, but you don’t-know this country.” ‘No, we must have a guide who knows the prairies,” Such were the remarks of the different men of the group, and the youth’s face flushed hotly; but he said simply, and in an indifferent way: ** You are at liberty to do as you please, gen- tlemen; but I shall continue on in the trail.” ‘*Do you mean to say that you will carr your mother and sister to certain death?’ asked one of the men. ‘*] mean to say that I have started upon this trail, and I shall continus it to the end. ‘*My father is waiting for us, my mother is in poor health, and I am anxious to get her on as rapidly as possible, and I shall start at day- light, with the train if you wisa, but without it if you turn back,” and the daring youth walked back to the spot where he had left his horse, leaving the group of emigrants to ponder over his offer and his determination, CHAPTER II. THE SEPARATION. THE shades of night falling upon the prairie, found the members of the emigrant-train in earnest discussion. The horses had been staked out for the night, guards had been placed to prevent a surprise, the supper discussed, and about the camp-fire of Mrs. Marsden those of the train were gath- ered who were not on duty, excepting the chil- dren, who had turned into their blankets for the night. Mrs. Marsden, the mother of the youth whose resolve had so surprised the men about him, was & woman whose appearance indicated that she had been born and reared among refining influences. She had loved a poor man, a trifle wild it might be; but her heart dictated her choice, and she had accepted her destiny, which was to find a loving husband, and be cast off by her family, who had intended to sell her for gold equal their own in value, Guy Marsden and his sister Cleone were the fruits of this marriage, and they were twins. Strangely alike, they were, too, in their ap- earance, both in face and form, and many had ras the times, as little ones, they had not been known apart, even by their parents, Though the husband of Mrs. Marsden had worked hard at his profession, which was that of editor upon a small paper, he had not been able to accumulate but little, and the health of his wife beginning to fail, he was determined to give ber a change of air in the hope of bene- fiting her. He bad gotten together his lIfttle savings and gone to a Western town, hoping to secure em- ployment there. But luck was against him, and finding ‘his money going fast, he determined to strike out with a party. for the gold mines lately discover- ed in the Rocky Mountains, Taking his son Guy with him, equipping him- self as well as he could, and leaving for Mrs. Marsden and Cleone the balance of their sav- ings, enough to support them balf a year with economy, he set out for the gold country. It was just one year and six months after bis departure that he “struck it rich” one morn- ing, or rather, Guy did, for he had discovered the vein of precious metal and called his father to his side. Instantly Don Marsden knew that his fortune was made, and he started Guy at once to bring his mother and sister there to join them, for the climate was delightful, and be promised to have a comfortable home built for them by their re- turn. He had sent home little sums of money from time to time, so that the wolf had been kept from the doar, and always had received cheer- ful letters from his wife; but one from Cleone bad told bim ber mother was “niling, and the doctor had prescribed mountain air. “The very place for ber, Guy, and you must make her most comfortable on the way. “You have the dust to fit out well for the trip, so leave nothing undone, and in the mean time I will pay the boys to help me build a cabin worthy of those ~ love so dearly. ‘“‘T would go myself, but you know? the boys have not been lucky, and in sp all they would take my mine from me, for do not like our coming off here alone, so from camp. ‘‘ Now don’t let anything delay your coming back, and bring your mother at all hazards at once, for something tells me, my son, she will not be spared long to us,” Such had been the instructions of the miner to his son, and thus it is that the reader finds them on the way to their destination, and ey ie to a standstill by the loss of their guide, They had joined the western-bound wagon- train at Kansas City, and intended to remain with it until reaching Denver, its destination, when Guy had secured the services of Warpath Will, the guide, to conduct them on to the gold region where his father awaited them so anx- iously. As they now sat about the camp-fire, it was evident that the Marsdens were really alone in their determination to go on their way with- out a guide, Mr. Beckwith alone of the others sided with them, but he was overruled by the majority, and said at last: ‘Well, Guy, Iamin favor of going on with you as our guide; but of course I am but nominally the leader, and must yield to the majority, so all will get ready to start back in the morning, to a point where we can secure a competent person to take us on our way.” All looked at Guy Marsden, and saw that he showed some annoyance at the decision; but before he could speak his mother said: **] thank you, Mr. Beckwith, for your trust in my son, and will be sorry to part with you all, for you have made my way a pleasant one.” ‘‘'What! do you mean that you will not re- turn with us?” asked Mr, Beckwith, with sur- prise. ‘“* Certainly, if Guy thinks it best for us to go on alone,” was the quiet response. Guy glanced toward his sister, and arose and walked off into the timber. She understood bis look and followed him, leaving the whole party urging ker to remain with the train. Cleone Marsden had been the life of the party, and to give ber up would cause many bearts 16 ache and especially with several young men who had been ber most ardent admirers, She was a high-spirited, beautiful girl, with ‘the form of a Venus and the nerve of a man. She was devoted to her mother and brother, and looked up to the Jatter as she might have done to her father, in whose place she knew he then stood to them. ‘* Well, Guy, you called me?” she said as she mppecaghee bim, where he stood out of earshot of those about the camp-fire. | ‘Yes, Cleone, I wished to ask you what it is best to do. ‘‘ Mother, as yon know, is failing, and counts the days she will yet live, for she cannot believe that she will get well, and I believe that the hope of seeing father alone keeps her up. ‘*If we turn back it will kill her, for it will add several weeks more to our journey. ‘* From here on I know the way, as this is the trail father and I took out, and on which I came back alone, so we will not get lost, and I hope we will not meet any Indians, ‘* But if you say go back I will.” “IT do not say so, Guy, for, with you, I be- lieve mother would die under the prolonged disappointment.” ‘Ther you are willing to trust to me as uide?” ** Willingly, brother.” . “Thank you, Cleone; now go back and I will soon join yon. and then these train people sball know just what I intend to do,” Five minutes after be again approached the camp-fire,.and found the men and women alike trying to dissuade Mrs. Marsden from going. ‘‘What do you say, my son?’ she asked sor- rowfully, as be sat down near her. ‘* How are you feeling, mother?” ‘* Not as well as I could wish, Guy.” ** And do you wish to go on?” ‘ST. do." ‘We will start at dawn then, mother,” was the firm reply. ‘*And you are willing, Cleone?” asked the mother. ‘‘Ob yes, mother, for I have mere confidence in Guy asa guide and defender, than in all the rest here, who have not bad his experience upon the plains.” This dig made several of the young men wince, while Mr, Beckwith added: oa —*- - ° * ' ‘ji - 7 hd) “ | ' \ a : a da A J - =a ¥ id ’ ~ > : - 6 | i ——=-—