Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 422 — page 7: what you’re looking at

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

t% hights. When they did, however, Baby Sam flew up the acclivity, and then, ata Vig that = taxed Old Kit to even keep in sight, he glided back along the ledge. Before he was aware of it the young guide A’ was out of sight of the old man, buta slash of i. blood on the ledge before him brought him to a stand. He waited till Bandy came up, then pointed to the blood, saying: e) rs ‘* Kit, look there! we will find Wilma dead,” and the youth’s whole frame now shook with emotion. ath , sy ‘‘ Boy,” assured Old Kit, looking around him, ‘ this is the very spot whar ye shot the panther —wwhere it bled!” se “No, no, that cannot ve, Kit, or where's be Wilna’s body?” ‘*T fear, lad, it’s—” ‘‘Pallen over the ledge?’ exclaimed the Cis- tracted boy. ; Kit made no reply, but advancing to the edge of the cliff, shaded his eyes with his hand and glanced steadily below for several moments, ‘‘ By the horn o’ Joshua!” he suddenly ejacu- lated, turning to Baby Sam; ‘‘I see the carcass 0’ the painter, boy, but tho gas body is not there!” sae “You don’t tell me, Kit?” and a ray of hope kindled in Baby Sam’s eyes; *‘ then she must be alive, and has been spirited away by—” ‘6 Or else she’s got np and deliberate! away,” put in the old man, ‘‘T fear such a thing’s too good to be true, Ixit,” said Sam, ‘‘ but let us hurry on, for if she went away of her own accord, I know sne is badly wounded aud'may yet fall from, this ledge and be kiiled.” | ‘* Ha! look thar, Baby! that tells the tale,” said the old man, pointing down to the imprint of a moceasined foot in the thin layer of dust that had sifted {rom the rocks above; ** tho poor enal’s in the clutches o’ the red-skins again; and that tells me she’s alive, for a red-skin wouldn't spend much strength in totin’ off a dead gal. Lut let’s hurry on, and maybe we can over- haul them afore they escape into the deep woods,” ** rit,” observed Daby Sam, as they hurried along the ledge, ‘‘I see you’re a regular border- man—an old Ingin trailer.” ‘““Yes, boy, if thar’s a, gal in the case,” rc- plied Kit, with a smile, ‘Pm hard to‘beat. I allers war a pesky fool ’bout pretty gals, Sa:n- uel; anc ifs queer, too. You'd naterally think that..a man that’d lived with Ellen Sabina Bandy—that carried a scar for every day.cf <r) walked . od J seventeen years’ married life—would be soured on the hull female fraternity; but it ar’n’t so. Old as I be, I'l bet a patch o’ blue sky that some sweet littl: baby-faced gal o’ about sixteen could jist lap mo round her little finger like a ribbon; that’s the kind o’.a tormented ole fool I be. I’ve sworn a billion times I’d never look on -womankind ag’in only with “crucifyin’ daggers in my eyes, but here I am ready to die for that little joa Wilna, and that’s some more 0’ the _ kind o’ an ole fool I be!” ee Baby Sam was _in no mood for jesting, yet ho could not repress a smile at the whimsical humor and grievances of the eccentric old man. The ledge they were following finally termi- nated in a broad descent, running gradually down into the deep wooded valley, and tho trail, which was that of a singlo Tidtsin: was easily followed, down the slope and through the woods, , On reaching the valley it trended away toward the Yelowstone Lake, and as that shect was not over a mile or two away the pursuers felt, exceedingly nope of, overtaking the red- skin before he reached it, for, as no footprints but his own could be secn, it was quite evident that, if he kad the maiden at all, he was carry- ing her, and thus incumbered could not long keep up the speed with which he had eyidentl7 But they were entirely mistaken in the speed and endurance of the Indian _ were a ow- ing, for, ere they were scarcely aware of the fact, they stood ‘upon the shore of the Yellow- stone Lake, at the very edge of whose waters the trail ended. But glancing out over the wa- te, Old Kit exclaimed: s : iu There they go, boy!—olf yander! | he e» ‘wsonoug , a canoe with two occupants was | _ _ “By St. © ayer the lake nearly a quarter of a mile be theroofc: hat one of the occupants—he who island.” = « paddle~was an Indian, there was no “That wyyo~t the other one appeared to be reclin- Drood. -a 13 boat, and Kit and Sam could not ‘It mre sure it was Wilma, but from the fact that too, tego trail running from the ledge had ended this ere at the lake, and there being plain evi- «Br dence of the one that made the trail having em- | | +, ,* a“ vr \ Po al A ii : we’ ; i” ae BJ as A re vet ; 2. ° ~ b , . . eee Lhe 4 =f ie 1 , ft - ; ‘ . — * tay a : Bs its te x et k Zz z N eee ap a - eee Ra before they found a break in the perpendicular ‘barked in a canoe from that point, there was little doubt left in their minds but she was in the craft. ‘*By the horn o’ Joshua! we're at the end Q’ our string, Baby Samuel,” Old Kit averred, somewhat disheartened, ** Why so, Kit?” ‘* We've no boat to foller that red devil: we can’t walk the water, and night’s comin’ on. Isn’t that enough to break a man’s heart? Can you see any hope for us?—any sunshine?” ‘We must not forgit, Kit,” suggested Baby Sam, ‘‘that. there were two of the captive maidens, and if Wilma’s in yonder boat, Sarah Marshall is still back somewhere in the wooded valleys.” ‘* Ay, lad, your head’s level; and we should look for her while there is a chance.” ‘* Yes, at once!” and Sam led the way back into the valley and began a careful search for the trail of Sarah’s captors. But darkness finally coming on put an end to their search for that day, and with a feeling of despondency they began to look about for a place to stop for the night. While thus en- gaged, they suddenly discovered the faint glow of a light some thirty rods away, which they concluded must be thatof acamp-fire. Whether of friend or foo they could not determine from where they were, and so they moved cautiously toward it, making a detour to the right so as to avoid the opening between them and the light. It required but a few minutes toreach a point from whence they could command a\full view of the fire and all within its radius*of light. As they had suspected, they found it to be an Indian camp, and to their joyful surprise they discovered Sarah Marshall there, though she was bound hand and foot, and fastened to a tree, against which she was reclining. To their bitter disappointment, however, they soon dis- covered that there were cight or ten savages in- stead of the two who had started with the captives from Wilma’s Island; and the only consolation they could get out of their dis- covery was that neither Scott Dresden, the out- law, nor any of those with him at the island at the time of the duel, wes with the rarty. The Boy Giant and Old Kit hold a whispered consultavion. What 40 do they could scarcely decide upon in the face of such great cdds, but finally the ingenious Old Bandy said: ‘“Pve a suggestion to make, Baby; them In- «ns are all Si-oxes, and not one cf them war on the island at the time of our duel. Tho two that took tho gals away from the island are both there, and I thik they've accidentally met the others and camped together. Now, I’ve a notion te take the bull by the horns, sail right into that camp and make myself to home till a chance is offered to liberate that ral.” ‘Tt may cost you your Ife, Kit, if those In- ‘ins have heard cf your conduct at Wilma’s sland.” ‘All right, boy, PU be dyin’ in a gal-orious cause; so lot’s retire away and arrange the pree- iminaries.” Rising, the two moved back into the deeper Shadows, and when their plans had been Jaid for the rescue of Sarah, Old Kit announeed: ‘Now, Baby Sam, I’m goin’ to buck the tiger in his den, and if 1 should £0 under, and you should ever meet hereafter a fellow named Tcha- bod Flea, tell him his old pard Kit Bandy, Moun- tain Detective, died with full harness on.” With this request the old wood-tramp turned and moved silently away through the darkness, leaving the Boy Giant absorbed in deep and pain- ful thoughts, CHAPTER VII. SABINA BANDY, Arter their surprise and capture on Wilma Island, Sarah and Wilma were hurriedly taken to the mainland and moved away at a rapid speed by two large and fierce-looking savages. When a mile or two from the lake the girls heard the reper of guns behind them and the sound of a conflict. They knew what it meant, yet they knew not the fate of their friends. Not a moment’s rest was allowed them during the. day, but as soon as it grew dark the Indians halted for the night, having first sought the im- netrable labyrinth of a dense thicket. To revent their escape, and yet’ permit the cap- ives to rest, each one was closely wrapped in the folds of a large blanket which was securely fastened with cords, evidently brought along from head to foot, thereby making it im to move hand or foot, a cult to breathe. ; Impossible even making it diffi- And there, through all that ~\ ‘ ad ‘ 4 et . r ’ : ha x ‘. ° ‘ q * - 4 , - ‘ - *. : . 7 j + mA, + : ietiny i i r , ; 7 , Ve a . > ! : j aot cE ~ a I~ mea “ee $s A . *_ ae = - - 4 PR ee cate a.” c- ~~. | le ee at = Qe RS eS oe a Bre ee dnt ? 4 7% Dogg et ae a ee | 7 for the purpose, wound around and around her | Baby am, t] € Boy rlant of the Yellowston es ne | ae long night were they compelled to lie in those strait-jackets, suffering untold agonies of body — and mind. Bright and early the next morning ttey were released of their bonds, given some dried venison. — and hard bread. for breakiast, then the tramp was resumed. But the captives’ strength began to fail fast, and before noon it was all they could do to move one foot after another, and finally they sunk down with sheer exhausticn. They were then lifted in the brawny arms of their captors and carried from the valley up a steep hillside, around which they proceeced until they came to a ledge or terrace continuing cn arcund the hill. Here they stopped, evidently with the intention of resting thar captives; ard to make sure that they did not get away or escepe cap- tivity by leaping cver the hights, they were again rolled and wrayped in tlankets as on the previous night, Half-dead, the poor girls leaned their heads against the rock at their tkeck end wept in silence, while the Indians assured of their security, walked away as the naicens supposed to procure gaine for food, Thus several mcments kad passed, when a slight, unnatural sound arrested the attenticn of the girls and they raised their tearful eyes and looked around them. To their horror they beheld a huge panther crcuching near, his eyes fixed upon them and his tail lashing the rock, as if in the very act cf springing upon them. A cry burst from Fereh’s lips and she surk down in a swoon. When she recovered her senses she saw thé two savages standing cver ber, but Wilma was gence! She told the red- skins what had happened, when one of thcm started in search cf the missing girl, Lut the report of a rifle around the ridge scared him back, and taking Sarah they hurried away, manifesting no little alarm. They traveled on until nearly nightfall, when they were met by a party cf half a dozen Sicux warriors coming into the valley frcm the cirec- tion of the Indian village. All went into camp where they met, a fire was lighted, and a con- sultation held. From the fierce looks, the fran- tic gestures, and vehement speeches of each and all, it was evident to the captive maiden that they were greatly excited. The consultaticn finally ended in two of the red-skins leaving camp, but for what purpose Sarah ‘could not conjecture, Being supplied with abundance of frésh deer- meat, some of if was kroiled and given the captive who ate it with good relish. But while the food gave strength to her body her mind was sorcly troubled, The unknown fate of her friends at the island and cf Wilma almost dis- tracted her, As the minutes wore away, and the shadows of night deepened around them, the savages bound her to a tree so that she could either sit or lie down at pleasure. <A blanket was thrown around her shoulders to protect her from tho chill air and another was arranged for her as a bed. But, she had no desire for sleep—her fears and suffering forbace it: she sat like one half-unconscious, taking but little notice of what. was going on around, when suddenly, she, as well as the savages, was startled by a StTATER sound like the bleating cf & moun ain- goat, ” Instantly the red-skins were all upen their feet, not with the excitement of fear but delight, crying out: ‘« Bie Horn! Big Horn! white Sioux!” Then out of the shadows of night into the light emerged the author of this stidden excite- ment. He was a tall, engular-built fellow, dressed and painted as an Indian, but his features, as wellas the white rings around his eyes and mouth, where the yaint had worn off, told that he was a white manin disguise. Tho Indians hailed him with shouts and other de- monstrations of joy to which the ungainly and comical-looking renegade replied: * Yoop-pee! Good-evening, my red brothers! Big Horn is rejoiced to meet you here. He is tired, but happy asa coyote on the trail of a wounded deer. He has fit hard and tray far. But Isee my brothers hev but one o ey pretty white squaws. Mahla, where is theother eee ve one? ‘Don’t know, sure,” replied the India dressed as Mahla, speaking in his own langr ‘let Big Horn question the white squaw fc cannot talk Sioux.” aoe ‘*Tll do so,” replied Big Horn, and with lofty step and lordly mien that were both h crous and comical, he strode over to wher Sarah sat, and squatting down before her, said: ~ “Wal, little ’un, this isn’t so nice as it mip be, is it?” is ere