Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 422 — page 4: what you’re looking at

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

4 afew minutes before in the face of the boy, the man severed the youth’s bonds, and then d: ** Now let’s git to cover, lad, or them other fellers may take a hand in this shootin’ mati- nee.” Sam followed the renegade into the bushes, where the latter turned, and putting out his big bony hand, said: “Put her thar, Baby Samuel!” and the two . scame together with a sharp smack. ‘* Ha, ha, boy! Its a tie atween the two great pistol-shots o’ the North! Great horn of Joshua! did you ever see a nicer job set up on the chil- dren of Satan? Did ye ever see a duel worked off in sich a bang-up style? You thought I war jokin’ when I[ fu’st whispered to you thar, in the lade, didn’t ye? Lordy! don’t I makea savory, om Ingin, though! Can’t I put on the vari- ations and curlamacues with frills in front and gores up the side! Didn't I split that Ingin’s gourd accidentally a-purpose in a real Mosaic style! Say, lad, I know you're a fine shot, a brave boy, and all that, but if you’d run with me awhile, you’d soon be a double-breasted roarer from Roarerville.” ** Well, who in the plague are you, anyhow?” demanded Sam, as soon as able to get in a word for the man’s action, and talk, and the faithful manner in which he had carried out the whis- promise made in the grove, puzzled him most an pgpene & Looking carefully around him as if to be as- sured that no one was near, he said: “IT reckon them survivin’ fellows will pike out for a place less malarious, for thisis a sick- ly island; but, oh! horn of Joshua! Ill be marked for red-skin vengeance forthwith and forever, amen! Id liked ‘io have saved them two gals, boy, but situated as I was I could do nothin’, and so they were hurried away from the island in charge of two big bucks that kept the island between you and them s0’s you couldn’t see ’em. They’re to be taken to the Ingin village, and mebby you and me cafi catch ’em before they git there.” “But say,” interrupted Sam, you ?” ‘“*Me? Well, I’m plain Ka-ristopher Ko-lum- bus Bandy, and—” “Not Old Kit Bandy, the Mountain Detec- tive?’ exclaimed the amazed Sam. “T should laugh to smile that I am that man —ay, | am more than that! I am a refugee from the turmoils and sorrows of domestic in- felicity. With this paint off my face, and these Ingin habiliaments somewhat reversed, you’d see a poor, h cast, storm battered-lookin’ old relic of a once gay and festive gambolier. But marryin’, boy —marryin’s done the destructive work for me! My wife, Sabina Bandy, I hold responsible for the old, blistered, cadaverous, reel-footed hulk you see drifted afore you. She war a devoted wife—an affectionate helpmeet, but,she allers kissed me at a distance—said distance lent en- chantment. Do you see that scar there? Well her proxy, an iron skillet, kissed me there; an there's whar the carvin’-knife, flipped from the ends o’ her pink-nailed fingers, embraced me; and there—right there, Sammy, ’s whar I war esculated with a sad-iron. This sunflower here’s not a birth-mark, Samuel; oh, no! it’s where *Bina love-branded me with a red-hot shovel. Oh! I’m a total wreck—I'm the ruins o’ Baby- lon—the downfall of the Roman Empire—the destruction o’ Herculaneum! That’s why ’ma refugee—why I took to the timber—the moun- tains—the Ingin village. I’m here for peace, rest, safety. 1 war baptized into the Si-ox faith, but I’ll be rimracked if I could stand it to gee you deestroyed in the bloom o’ youth—the mornin’ twilight o’ manhood.” grateful “who are “Mr. Bandy,” said Baby Sam, in a ¥ ‘*T thank you for your kindness in help- ing me out of my difficulty, but I must confess ouwre a badly mixed-up man, and still worser ed-up. tween your wife and the Ingins and outlaws, I’m thinkin’ you'll have to emi- grate now to Japan.” __ ‘‘ Ja-thunder! boy, I intend to die on Ameri- gan soil that has been so gorgeously enriched with my blood—blood that’s come down from Noah and the ark in all its es purity. Boy, you needn’t be afraid to trust me, though you weedn’t believe everything I say ‘less you want to. My tongue’s a kind o’ anindependent ranger ‘and rambles away sometimes on its own hook while my mind’s off p tin’ somewhar else. That comes through force o’ habit—makin’ ex- euses to one’s wife while thinkin’ 0’ some place te dodge but I’m gittin’ over ’em now—ar’n’t ouc- so bad as I used to be. But now, Baby, ye know who and what I am, and I’m ready gard, heart-broken, down” Baby Sam, the Boy Giant of the Yellowstone. for work. What shallit be fu’st? Just mate, boy, what it shall be, and you'll your twin-brother till death do us part.” ‘If I knew,” said the young mountaineer, ‘* what a tg ho you Indians and the outlaws to or island, could determine then what to do st. ‘*Boy, I can tell ye what I know ’bout it. Captain Dresden, you know, stays in the Ingin village, and I’ve been makin’ it a pint to watch him closely, and by a little systematic eaves- droppin’ I learned that a select party of red- skins, with a reserve of outlaws led by Dresden himself, war to visit this island, but for what purpose I couldn't learn. But I knew it was for nothin’ good, so 1 made up my mind that I'd go on a little expedition o’ my own, end so I pulled out for this lake and got here ahead 0’ the others. When they found I war here they couldn’t do any better than’ to take me into their party. They told me some white squaws would come there soon, and that we’d git the scalp of the Boy Giant. This tickled meso that I couldn’t hardly hold in. What follered you already know, and had I been able to get ashore I’d ’a’ warned you of the ambush. Now my honest opinion is that this expedition war made here in the interest of Scott Dresden, or a friend o’ his that’s been hangin’ round the village some months. And if that be the case, then thar’s some one in the settlement of the Gallatin that posted Dresden in even the details of your trip to this place.” ‘* Yes, that’s very plain to be seen, Bandy,” nded the boy, ** but I can’t think who the traitor can be. But say, my handsome red- skin, itll pay you and me both to see that those other fellows don’t escape alive from this Ver h head’ ‘Verily you speak the truth; your head’s level as he calm, blue ocean. I know it'll be healthier for me if all the witnesses to our duel are tunneled with lead, so let’s hunt the rascals down,” ‘*Come on!” cried Baby Sam, grasping his re- volver. . ‘‘That sounds heroic —‘come on!’— noble words! I’m better on a follow than a lead, when the danger’sin front. To follow you is peter tion, for you’re broad and deep enough, boy, to stop a six-pound cannon-ball. Yes, I'll follow, for I want to show ye some o’ my fightin’ quali- ties—that I’m ahu'l litter o’ wild-cats, a flock o’ bald-eagles—a mule team with a brindle pup thrown in—a Jersey bull with a cur] in the fore- head. But look sharp, lad, that the varmints don’t git the drap on your barn side,” With noiseless celerity the Boy Giant glided away through the bushes, his form slightly in- clined forward, and his big eyes on the watch like those of a deer that scented danger. And the eccentric Kit Bandy moved along—not be- hind, but at his side, with all the silence and suppleness of one accustomed to the dangers of the trail. Thus the two searched the grove, but finding rocla- nd me nothing of the foe they made the circuit of the | island, and, to their regret, discovered where Dresden and his two friends had escaped in a boat. ‘Horn of Joshua!” exclaimed Bandy, regret- fully; ‘‘I’m to blame for their escape. I stood down thar and cackled like an old fool when I'd ought to been at work. But that’s the trouble with me, Baby—too much lip! I’ma splendid fighter feeder, and a sound sleeper, but when this old mouth gits set a-goin’ it makes a "tar- nal Jee! o me. But what now, Baby Sam- ue ‘‘T must look about for my friend, who fell in the fight,” the young mountaineer said, his voice full of sadness. ; They proceeded to the. little opening wherein the lifeless form of poor Fred Sears lay, but no- where could Frank Rodman be found. They followed the trail where he had been dragged through the bushes to the water’s edge by Spar- rowhawk; but what disposition the young Crow had made of the body at could not imagine, unless he had consigned it to the waves, But why the Indian himself had disappeared was another query in their minds which they could not answer on any other grounds than that he had become cognizant of Baby Sam’s capture, and fled before he had learned the result of the singular duel. ; m and the old mountain detective hollowed out a grave with their knives and hands, and with heavy hearts, placed the body of Fred Sears therein, and carefully covered it over with dirt ani stones, Then the bodies of the savages and outlaws were consigned to the lake, a made te depart from the ill- fated island. To his great joy, the young giant not onl re- covered his revolvers, but his trusty W inter and cartridge-belt. The two latter had been _| taken aie a of, when the lad was captured, by an Indian, who had carefully set them aside when he went out to witness the duel in which he himself had fallen. Crossing Over to the west side of the lake, an-“ 7 ; ste. other bitter surprise awaited Sam. His and the tonrists’ horses had all been stolen along with all the most valuable par of their camp outfit, and the trail left behind told that the thieves had taken a southeasterly route around the lake. The boy guide regarded this loss with philo- sophical coolness, but instead of following the horse-tracks he started off arcund the lake in search of the trail of Wilma’s and Sarah’s ab- ductors. They had no difficulty in finding where they had Janded, nor in determining the course they had taken after leaving the lake. It led away through a defile dencentiing gradu- ally toward the Yellowstone valley and touch- ing the river near the lower extremity of the Yellowstone ce. This left no doubt in ihe minds of the two scouts as to the destina- tion of the abductors, and so they at once started in pursuit. They did not keep their eyes upon the trail as they would have done had they been on the open plain, for they knew the foe would follow one straight course to the river, at least. And being satisfied the Indians would not be expecting pursuit, unless Dresden! and his friends formed them of the outcome of the fight, the ursuers had high hopes of overhauling trem ccire even they had made half the distance to the river. Before they were scarcely aware of the fact, however, so eager were they on the trail, night was upon them, and as the darkness in the pass was almost impenetrable, they were compelled to stop and wait the coming of daylight. To Sam it was the longest night he ever ex- perienced. He did not close an eye in sleep, for the sweet face of Wilma was ever in his mind and the fate to which she was being carried filled his breast with a restless fear, With the first streaks of dawn they were up and away through the dewy shadows of the densely-wooded pass. They had age supperless and went on without breakfast, for they had no food, nor did they like to lose time to procure it. But as the hours went by and noon approached, Old Kit, whose strength the boy was taxing ‘*o its utmost, said: ‘* Boy, I observate that the waste of caloric is roducin’ a sort 0’ a goneness in my stomach. ’m considered a good traveler, but I'll be blest if I can hold my own with you without refresh- ments, once in a while. Bay, isn’t it "bout time to dine? I'll swear, by the horn of Joshua! that I could eat a grizzly bear.” ‘‘T presume we'd better be looking out for some game for food,” said Baby Sam, ‘ for I’m beginning to feel a gnawing at the stomach, ? Before they had gone a mile further a young deer came out from the shadows on the right. and stopped and Jooked at them a moment, then bounded away down the valley. But before it had gone three rods the rifle of the Boy Giant rung out, and the fawn sunk down dead, Old Kit advanced, and securing a quarter of the deer, carried it to a little spring where they halted. A fire was kindled, and in a few min- utes the aroma of broiling venison was mingled with the odor of the pine woods, making the ap- petite of the two all the keener. After having partaken of a hearty meal, a few slices of meat were broiled for future need, and then they were ready to resume their tramp. But before they had started, Old Kit happened to glance up the acclivity on their right, when he started back, crying out in sudden alarm: ** God in Israel. Look thar, Baby Sam!” The Boy Giant glanced in the direction indi- cated when he, too, uttered an exclamation of horror, his form became motionless and his gaze Saget et - the oe 9 eA ome oe It > bay that of a huge, glossy panther dragging a hu- man body along a narrow ledge fifty feet above them, and a single glimpse of the white face of the animal’s prey told him that it was the life- less body of his sweetheart, Wilma Rodman! CHAPTER IV. IN CAMP ON THE YELLOWSTONE LAKE. On the shores of the Yellowstone Lake—un- der the sheltering branches of stately pines, three men were encamped one bright Septem- ber day. The spot selected was one that com- manded a fair view of the Jake and its sur- roundings, and revealed to eye and ear the micbooks (elo) ad overtaken them and in~- A } '