Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 387 — page 5: what you’re looking at

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

other, do not trust that man, for I feel rhe is treacherous.” Oh, Cleone! I never beard you speak ill of Any one before, and you surprise me. **No, no, Warpath is as true as steel and all right, so don’t insult him.” Cleone made no reply, and supper being served they sat down and partook of it. But Mrs. Marsden ate very little, and Cleone seemed annoyed and was silent; but the guide _and Guy did justice to the supper, and, when it was finished, the former started off on a scout, he said. Guy followed him out of earshot of his mother and sister, and said: ‘* What do you know, Warpath?” ‘*'You have heard of Captain Champion, the Danite?” ‘‘Often, for he was the talk of our camps be- fore I went East.” ‘‘ Well, he is a terrible fellow.” ** So it is said.” ‘‘He has a band of twenty men, and they have done a great many red deeds throngh the land.” ‘* ‘Yes, so men say.” A *§ They are camped within three miles of you, uy.’ The youth started at this assertion, and said, quickly: ‘‘Can this be true, Warpath?’ ‘‘Yes and more.” ‘What more?’ “ They are on your trail,” ‘‘ Well, they shall find me ready to defend those I love, for my poor mother is too ill to travel faster.” ‘*[T know you are brave, Guy, but you can do little, even with my aid, against Champion’s band,” “Tecan do my duty, and then accept the al- ternative.” ‘** No, Guy, I must be the sufferer, not you, and I will tell you what I will do.” ‘+ Well?” ‘‘A Mormon regards’ bis oath sacred, and if Captain Champion swears to you that he will do as you demand, he will keep his pledge to the letter.” ‘* But I have no pledge to ask of him,” “ Listen, Guy, while I tell you that Captain Champion is following you, because he believes that I am with you, as guide. ‘Now he has had cause to know me, and has offered a reward for my bead, as I have been the veorst foe of himself and band. ‘¢ Now, Guy, I am a man that cares little for life; you are young, and life is before you, and then there are your mother and sister to look after, and your father awaiting your coming, as you have often told me about bim,” ‘‘ Well, Warpath, what does all this mean?” “Just this; that you go to the camp of the Danites and offer to give me into their power, if they pledge themselves to allow your train to go on its way unmolested.” ‘* Warpath, you don’t know me, if you sup- pose I will save even my mother and sister by sacrificing you,” was tbe hot reply. ‘*‘Guy, you do not seem to feel that the shock of capture will kill your mother, while your sister will be carried off to become a Mor- mon’s bride, not to speak of you being killed by them,” “« As you will be too.” ‘““T hope uot, for I believe there is a chance of escape for me, in fact 1 know it, as one of the band is my friend, I having saved his life. ‘‘ Besides, I am a man and must take my chances, and will @o so.” ‘“No, we must think up some other plan, Warpath.” ‘¢There is no other, and time presses,” ‘*T know not what to do.” ** Do as I say.” “If I was certain that you could escape?” *¢1 can.” ‘‘Then I accept your noble offer, but for the sake of my poor mother and sister. ‘¢Tell me where the Danite camp is and I[ will go there, while you remain with my mother and sister.” ‘ All right, Guy. ‘* Your sister does not like me, but this act of mine will prove to her that I am sincere I hope,” and having told Guy how to find the Danite camp, Warpath Will saw him ride off on his mission of life and death, CHAPTER VII. THE GUIDE'S SACRIFICE. Guy MARSDEN f°lt that he was certainly ina most unfortunste and perilous situation. He knew well how cruel the Mormoms were Warpath Will, the Trai said to be, to men and women alike, and it was his earnest desire to keep his mother and sister out of their power. But to do this be must run the risk of sacri- ficing the life of the brave man who had offered himself as a bostage for them as it were. ‘‘ Well, 1 can only accept good Warpath’s offer, and then do all in my power to rescue him from the Danites,” he said as be rode along on his way to the Danite camp. A ride of a league along the valley trail, brought bim in sight of a camp-fire up a can- yon, and thither he went, Not wishing to be fired upon, as it was likely be would be in the dark, he bailed when within a bundred yards of the fire. ‘Well, who are you?” answered a voice near, and it told Guy that he had already been seen by the sentinel on duty. ‘‘I wish to see your captain, if this is the ere’ of the Danites. ‘*It is a Danite camp, and you will find the captain yonder. ‘* Dismount and leave your borse with me,” Guy quietly obeyed, and then walked on to- ward the fire. As he approached he saw gathered about it a group of a dozen or more men, who were en- gaged in the various occupations of gambling, smoking and talking. As Guy advanced the whole party sprung to their feet, thejr hands upon their revolvers, while one man, with a long beard asked: ‘* Well, sir, you area stranger to us, s0 give an account of yourself.” ‘‘ My name is Guy Marsden, and Iam on the trail to the gold-mines, and learn that you are following me,” was Guy’s response. ‘* How know you this?” _ ‘Tt matters not, but I know it, as I do that this is the Danite band of Captain Champion.” ‘‘ Well, granted, what then?’ ‘Why do you follow my trail?” ‘You are our foe.” ‘‘T have never harmed you.” ‘““No, but may do so, and your plunder will come in well for us.” ‘‘ Ah! you are robbers then; but can I not make terms with you?” ‘* \V hat terms have you to offer?” ‘‘Do you know a man whois knownas War- path Will, a scout and guide?” ‘* Well, we do, and would give much to cap- ture him,” ‘‘Suppose I promise to place him in your ower?” ‘“* We will pay you well for it, young fellow.” ‘“Will you pledge yourself to allow me and my train go free, and unmolested to our desti- nation?” o - you give Warpath Will into our power?” ‘* ‘Yes : ‘1 will pledge myself, yes.” ‘* Are you Captain Champion?” “Oem,” ‘*And you give me your pledge, by all that you hold sacred in the Mormon faith, to allow me and mine to go on our way unmolested?” “T do.” ‘* And your men?” “T pledge myself for them.” “Then 1 will give into your power Warpath Will, upon one condition.’ ‘‘Name it.” ‘‘That you will not barm him for thirty days from to-day.” ‘‘Why this condition?” ‘‘T have a motive for it which I will not re- veal.” “Tt is granted.” ‘Now how much will you take in gold to allow me to go on unmolested, and not deliver to you Warpath Will?” ‘No sum that you can name,” was the stern reply. ‘¢Well, 1 will bring Warpath Will to your camp to-night.” **Do so, and you go on your way, young man,” Guy Marsden said no more but turned to go, when the one with whom he had spoken called out: ‘‘ Where is Warpath Will now?” ‘‘ Tt matters not where.” ‘Yes, for if he is in your camp, or near it, I wil! go with you along with two of my men, to bring him back, for I am well aware that you have only yourself to guard your train.” ‘* Well, come on, so that you do not go nearer the camp than I wish,” and Guy Marsden rode back down the valley accompanied by the three Mormons. Arriving in sight of the fire, he bade them halt and rodé on alone, eee —————————— — tor Guide. — 5 He found his mother and sister anxious about him, and Warpath Will striving to cheer them. ‘* Well, Guy, I told your mother you would be back all right; but what news?” called out the guide in a cheery tone, ‘‘T could only arrange it, Warpath, as you suggested.” ‘* That is all right, and I will go at once. ‘*Good-night, Mrs. Marsden, and when I see you again I bope you will be well. ‘**Good-by, Miss Cleone,” and the guide arose ‘* Did you tell them?’ asked Guy, : ‘Oh no, of course not.” ‘Well, I will—” ‘‘No! no! Guy, you bad better not,” and un- heeding Mrs, Marsden’s question why he was going, the guide walked away accompanied by uy. The three Mormons sat on their horses await- ing their approach, and, as Warpath Will halt- ed before them, leading his horse, the Danite leader said: : ‘‘ Ha! ha! ba! it makes my heart glad to see you, Warpath Will.” ‘‘T do not doubt it, Captain Champion; but you would not bave me for your prisoner if I did not give myself up to save my friends.” ‘‘It matters not what the motive, we have you, and shall hold you fast until we can kill ou.”’ ‘‘A threatened man lives long, Danite,” said the guide, “ All right, but we have you now. ** Bind him, boys.” Two of the borsemen sprung to the ground and quickly secured the guide, and with a sad heart Guy Marsden turned away, and upon reaching camp told his mother and sister just what he had done, ‘‘Heaven bless that noble man,” fervently cried Mrs. Marsden, while in a low tone, broken by sobs, Cleone said: ‘“‘God forgive me for wronging him as I have in thought, for I have ever doubted him, ‘‘But, brother!” and ber eyes flashed, ‘‘ he shall not die by their hands, for, as you have the Danites’ pledge to spare him for thirty days, in that time we can rescue him.” ‘That is just what I intend to do, Cleone, and it was the belief that I could do this that nae me to accept poor Warpath as a sacri- ce. “Well, I will aid you, Guy, for, having wronged him as I have, [ will make amends by my endeavors to save him,” said the noble girl. CHAPTER VIII. THE MIDNIGHT FLIGHT, Unt1 late in the night Guy Marsden and his sister sat by the camp fire, discuesing their situation, and getting from it what comfort they could. Both of them fully realized the critical condi- tion of their mother, for they remembered her as she had been a year before, beautiful, strong and cheerful. Now they beheld her a wreck of her former self, and with little strength. Suddenly a voice came out of the darkness: ‘** Hello!” Guy started and went in the direction from whence came the sound, bis rifle in bis hand. Mrs. Marsden bad retired, and Cleone stepped to the tent-flap to see if she, too, had haart. the voice, ‘‘V/ bat is it, Cleone?”’ she asked, ‘‘ Brother bas gone to see, mother, for some one called to bim,” ‘On, that we were safe at home, if that home be in the wilds,” sighed the woman, wearlly. Just then Guy eame back to the camp-fire; but be was not alone, for a small man, with long hair and bushy beard, accompanied him, Tbe man had an evil face, and was armed to the teeth, for he carried four revolvers in his belt, He bowed and grinned at sight of Cleone and said: ‘‘ Yer sarvint, miss, and I hopes I see yer.” Cleone did not like the visitor but bowed cold- ly, while Guy remarked: ‘*Cleone. this gentleman says that he is the friend of Warpath Will, and that he comes on an important errand to us,” ‘‘Yas, miss, I are Pistol Pete, as ther boys calls me, ’cause I carries so many revolvers,” said the stranger in a cringing sort of way. ‘‘And you come from the guide?” asked Cle- one. ‘‘Yas, and no, miss; but I comes ter sarve yer. vs A en ae ee = ; * eels a? ¢ te ~< - - i — - ae -