Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 482 — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

“~ * we i) ee tad an il - ~ ia 12 —- - Black Bluford’s capture, but were unable to de- cide its meaning, and it was with a feeling of dire suspense that they awaited the result of the conference on the plain. At length their patience was rewarded by see- ing Stonewall Bob, Black Wolf and the princess, Singing-Bird, come out from the crowd of war- riors and walk “oe across the valley toward the island. When they had reached the shore they heard the Boy Trojan shout forth in sten- torian voice: ‘* Hul-loa!l over there, friends!” winter supply of buffalo-mest, and from appear- ances they had not been idle. Thousands of pounds of meat cut into strips hung around the tents, and to poles set upright in the earth, and upon ropes stretched here and there over acres of ground. The camp was also covered with green robes stretched out and pinned to the ground to dry. Scores of dogs were snarling over the cords of bones thrown aside after tho meat had been stripped off. The squaws were all busy at something cr other, wbile the few bucks that remained at camp were lazily stroll- Old Pegleg Sol quickly stepped into view from | ing around, wrapped in dirty red and green the bushes and shouted back: ‘* Here we are, Bobby, yourenegade you! Do you come to demand our surrender?” ‘Bring over that raft and take us to the island,” replied Bob; ‘‘everything is now ona blankets, enjoying an evening pipe. To the amateurs the scene was Neoldediic novel and picturesque, but the strong odor of fresh meat mingled with the conglomerated fumes of un Indian camp are not at all suggestive of the peace footing, and brotherly love reigns su- | intoxicating perfumes of Araby or Ind, premely supreme. dola.” Ben Clark at once stepped aboard the raft and pushed ashore, took Bob, the chief and the prin- cess on, and returned to the island, where the Boy Trojan was received with Joy. Bob introduced the chief and his daughter to his friends. Mabel and the princess at once en- tered into a conversation. Singing-Bird spoke English fluently. She had learned the language of the poor white woman who had taken her own life in the outlaw camp, for she had lived with the Indians for over a year and had been an intimate friend of the princess, Bob narrated to his friends the means by which friendly relations bad been brought about with the Indians, and in this good news tho whole party rejoiced, for they had all had enough of Indian and outlaw fighting. The chief did not hold them amenable for the death of those warriors slain in the attacks on White- Buffalo-Calf and the island, for they acted con- trary to his urders or wishes. From the princess, Singing-Bird, Mabel learn- ed that there was a white man a prisoner in their camp. He had been brought there a few min- utes before she and the wronged wife of Van- dlyke had started to the outlaw camp the night before, and from the description given she knew it was her father, and at once made a personal appeal to the chief for his release, Black Wolf promised her that her father should be a free man as soon as he returned to camp. In fact, the chief was in a mood to prom- ise most anything desired, so rejoiced was he over the return of bis idolized child. Old Pegleg Sol, who could talk the Sioux lan- guage almost perfectly, held a short conference with Black Wolf, which ended in the chief in- viting the whole party of whites to go with him and become his guests in his hunting-camp, The old hunter was not ignorant of the characteristic treachery of the American Indian, nor was he ignorant of Black Wolf’s deep and undying ratitude to one who had done what the Boy rojan had for him. So far as the chief was concerned, Bob was safe to go and come among the savages, as were his friends also: but Old Sol was afraid that some of his warriors, who felt little interest in the welfare of the princess, and who had suffered at tl# hands of the ama- teurs, might undertake to wreak vengeance upon them in a treacherous way. But, after all, the danger in refusing to accompany the chief to his camp would be fully as great, if not greater than to go, and so, after the matter had been dis- cussed on its merits, the party decided to go with him. Camp on the island was at once broken; the horses were taken over to the mainland, saddled and bridled; the camp-equipage was rafted ashore and packed upon the two pack-horses, Then mounting, all rode out to where the sav- ages were in waiting, and at once started for the Indian camp, White-Buffalo-Calf and Black Wolf riding in front, Mabel and Singing-Bird following, the amateur hunters and Old Pegleg following the girls, and the warriors bringing up the rear. After their recent lively experience with the savages the young amateurs could not suppress a slight mistrust and aversion to the half-nude warriors, yet pa succeeded in disguising their feelings quite well. The two outlaws, Black Bluford and Vandyke, for some unaccountable reason, were taken along as captives. This Stonewall Bob regretted, for he was afraid that their genial host, Black Wolf, proposed to entertain his guests with an exhibi-; tion of savage vengeance by roasting the out- laws alive at the stake. It was almost sunset when the party reached the Indian camp, which presen a picture of life and bustle. The camp was a temporary one. The savages had come down there to lay in their Come over with your gon- | | Riding to the center of the camp the party drew rein and the order was given by the chief to dismount. The amateurs unpacked their ponies which the Indians led away and staked out to grass along with their own, Mabel was assigned quarters in the lodge of Singing-Bird, and a few minutes later Joshua Thurston was set at liberty and shown into the presence of his child, where a joyous meeting took place between the father and daughter, and also the hunters. , The two outlaws were securely bound hand and foot, and confined in a lodge and a guard set over them. Soon the story of Singing-Bird’s rescue from the power of the ‘‘ bad pale-face” by Stonewall Bob was heralded through the camp, and war- riors, squaws and children came to look upon he cee young warrior, the mighty Buffalo- alf. Among them was a powerful young buck an- swering to the euphonious name of Bounding- Bear. He was a savage yiant, and as villainous- looking fellow as one would meet in a lifetime. But his size and wonderful physical and muscu- lar strength made him an important character in the tribe. He was a great.wrestler, and no brave in the tribe, and in fact no two, had ever been able to down the Bounding-Bear. Cor- scious of his superior strength the fellow did not hesitate to make it felt upon every occasion among his own friends to such an extent that some of the warriors had grown to regard him with disfavor, while others looked upon him as an Indian god possessed of supernatural powers. At sight of Stonewall Bob, Bounding-Bear ex- pressed his surprise in a manner that seemed to indicate contempt. He walked up within arm’s reach of the Boy Trojan, and looked him over from head to foot, then walked around him and scrutinized him as though he were an animal or some curiosity there for inspection. Finally coming around in front of Bob again he stopped, straightened up to bis full hight, and appeared togaze down upon the young hun- ter with lofty contempt, bis little snakish eyes gleaming like a serpent’s over his high, bulging cheek-bones, ‘“ Waugh!” he ejaculated, ‘‘ heap little big pale-face!” The Indian’s friends that were present ap- plauded his paradoxical observation. ‘**Lookee here, red-skin,” said Old Pegleg, ‘*that ’are boy’s just "bout as mountainious as you be. He may not be so infernal handsome— over the left—as you be, but he’s a hull team o’ brindle steers.” ‘* Ugh!” ejaculated the Indian, whether he un- derstood Pegleg or not, ‘‘ me Boundin’-Bear—me wrestle.” ‘** Boundin’-Bear big wrestle,” put in a savage standing by, ‘Rather a queer reception, isn’t it?’ asked Frank Payne, in an undertone of Old Pegleg. “That Ingin,” replied the hunter, ‘‘is a con- ceited big cuss that’s got it into his head that he’s a wild, ragin’ war-hoss, and seein’ Bob’s no little runt, I reckon he thinks he’ll take the con- ceit outen the boy right now so’s he'll know what posish he occupies among the whales and giants o’ this ’ere camp.” ‘*He must be a powerful Indian,” said Payne. ** He could prob’ly fling you and me around easy enough,” continued the old hunter, ‘* but he’s a big, lazy, over-fed critter that our Bob, [ b’lieve, could soon outwind and flummix.” **l’m not much on a wrestle,” said Stonewall in reply to thesavage giant, ‘‘ but when it comes to standin’ up and knockin’, ’'m medium.” ‘* Me wrestle,” was the Indian’s reply, and he a an sidling up toward Bob as if to take hold of him. ‘** Bobby,” said Old Pegleg, ‘‘ that noble red- stonewall Bob, the Boy Trojan. man seems determined to know which o’ you dainty little heletropes are the gamest on a wrestle. If you could stand him on his head a time ’r two he’d keep ’way from you.” ‘* Take my weapons,” said Bob, ‘‘ and I'll give the lark a twister for luck. Now, look here red skin,”—turning to Bounding-Bear— “ if you’re such a star-eyed cyclone on a wrestle, why, pile me up easy.” he Indiars present, seeing that the boy giant was actually going to wrestle with the great Bounding-Bear, became so excited that the whole camp was drawn, as if by magic, around the contestants, Black Wolf being in the crowd, Stonewall’s friends entertained no little anx-~ iety for his success, but they permitted no look or act to betray their feelings, On the other hand the faces of the red-skins wore a satisfied smile which seemed to anticipate the triumph of Bounding-Bear. The two wrestlers grappled and the contest began. Insize they were well matched, and it soon became apparent to the red-skins that their champion had met his match. For several minutes they maneuvered for an advantage, the Indian exerting himself at times to his utmost. Stonewall seemed content to stand on guard and let the red-skin do the work until a favorable opportunity was offered, when he suddenly threw all his strength into a single effort and endeavored to bring down his man; but the wary, athletic red-skin was on the alert, and while the Boy Trojan succeeded in throwing the Indian, the latter got in his work, and the two went down together. As neither could claim the fall the contest was renewed. As before, Stonewall Bob allowed the Indian to.do the work. This continued for sev- eral minutes, when suddenly Bounding-Bear’s heels flew into the air and the savage landed on the back of his head with such terrific violence that it seemed that his neck must be broken. It was done so quickly that no one save Stonewall Bob knew just how it was dene, and fcr a mo- ment the savages were silent with surprise. Ther as the truth of the situation became apparent, there arose a mingled cry of surprise, delight and derision. But there was more excitement when Bound- ing Bear arose to his feet, gazed around him in a bewildered sort of a way, staggered and fell to the ground again. ‘* By the jurrpin’ jackals!” exclaimed Old Peg- leg, ‘* you’ve ’bout killed that critter, Bob!” ‘*T give him the ‘Jim river Flirt,’” said Bob “and I reckon the fellow is confused in his head and weak in the spine.” Bounding-Bear again arose to his feet, and with the help of a friend staggered away, un- able to come to time. ‘‘ Bobby,” said Pegleg, ‘‘ that gives you the belt and the Ingin the wry neck.” A few minutes later the crowd had dispersed to their lodges, for it was now almost dark, and Stonewall Bop was walking about the camp, in hopes of learning by some means or other the disposition to be made of the outlaws, Black Bluford and Arch Vandyke, when a little figure crept up to him from the shadows of her tent, and looking up into his face with a pleading, anxious look, said: ‘‘ White-Buffalo-Calf, beware! Bounding- Bear is a bad Indian, and he will take your life when you see him not.” ‘‘Thank you, Singing-Bird,” replied Stone wall; ‘I will heed your kind warning.” CHAPTER XIII, AN EXCITING BUFFALO-CHASE. As soon as Stonewall Bob reached the ledge assigned to him and his friends he acquainted the latter with Singing-Bird’s warning. ‘““Oho!” exclaimed Old Pegleg, ‘the little black-eyed, smoked-skinned witch is’n love with you, Bobby; I see’d that to-day the way she fixed her eye with an expirin’ leok onto you. But then her warnin’ is no doubt timely, That Boundin’ Bear are the meanest-lookin’ Injun that God ever put breath in, and that ‘Jim River Flirt’ you give him will call for blood and may after all be the means 0’ givin’ you some trouble.” ‘‘T rather think that as scon as we can we had better get away from here,” said young Payne. ‘‘T’m not afraid,” replied Stonewall, “‘ for the chief and his girl are on our side,” ‘‘That may be,” said Old Pegleg, ‘but the chief don’t control the actions o’ his varmints when out 0’ his sight; see how they waded in on you fellows at Willow Islan’. needn’t tear ourselves away, but then I can see nothin’ to detain us here longer than to-night.” " ag maybe Stonewall can,” suggested Ben rk, To be sure, we > — —— —— OO ee ye ne ee ~. :