Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 482 — page 5: what you’re looking at

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

4 ya LE i ie 7) . . aye oe ae : “- Ce oe C—OC—t—i—i—™”*tst—s own mental suffering up to the moment of his —Stonewall’s—arrival. The boy giant fairly groaned in spirit over the | news of the terrible death of Old Zadok, and the maiden saw tears glistening in his big bright eyes. ‘* Poor old Zadok!” the youth said, dismount- ing and resting his arm on the saddle; ‘* it was a hard way to die, but 1t was in a good cause, thank God. And so the Indians, too, are in the valley? I reckon they’re on their annual bunt, though earlier than usual. Oh, wouldn’t I like an introduction to that man Vandyke, and again have them outlaws as I had them yester- day!” ‘*T heard them mention your name—the name Stonewall Bob—several times since yesterday, They jested each other about Stonewall Bob and ‘ baptism,’ and then they would laugh and curse, 1 ze heard them talking about interce ep a party that was going in search of a Hidden Cache wherein there was buried a lot of gold.” “Sin and calamity!” exclaimed Stonewall Bob, ** now on earth have they got wind of that expedition? Miss Thurston, ’m to join that party at the forks of the Grand Rivers, and if they intercept us—that is, me and the friends I am to meet there—they’ll soon after be inter- cepted in Purgatory by old Satan. | | A young | the red-skin. But t man from your settlement is to be one of that | arty of treasure-hunters. Perhaps you know Sern. it is Ben Clark.” ‘‘Ben Clark?’ replied the maiden, her fair face becoming suffused with a tell-tale blush. ‘¢ Yes, sir, [ know him quite well, Were you to meet him soon?” “This very night at Willow Island at tho forks,” the young plainsman responded. ‘ But, condemn that villain Vandyke! I wish he were here now. Girl—pardon me, for it’s got tocome out—l’'d splatter his carcass all over this range— Ah! there comes one of his associates now.” It was a coyote to which the youth alluded—a bungry, snarling beast attracted there by the dead buffaloes, It came up within a few paces of the Sentinel, as if to investigate the situation. Stonewall Bob gazed at it a moment, then whip- ping out his revolver sent a bullet through its brain, Coolly replacing the weapon in his belt, the boy turned to Mabel and said: ‘*So you do not know, then, Miss Thurston, what has been your father’s fate?” ‘* No, sir,” she replied, with a deep sigh, ‘* but I live in hopes that he is safe—I have prayed to Heaven for his safe return to me.” ‘‘T’]] turn a bloody old infidel, if the Lord, whom my mother taught me was so merciful, hasn’t heard your petition,” the young giant declared; ‘“‘ but until we know his fate, Miss Mabel, you must place yourself under my pro- tection.” ‘Thank you, Mr, Comstock—” ‘© Stonewall Bob—or Bob, please,” interrupted the kind-hearted big border boy, ‘‘Well,asI was going to say, Stonewall Bob,” replied Mabel, with a faint smile, *‘f am in dire need of a friend, and yet I hate to be an incumbrance to you, and ask you to endanger your life for me.’ “s not,” was the blunt reply, ‘ but then I’m chap enough to volunteer to do so, and that witb great pleasure. God didn’t make me a big, overgrown calamity for nothin’ and if I can be of service to you I will rejoice in the honor. Tve heard so much of rangers, and hunters, and cowboys makin’ heroes of them- selves in behalf of beautiful young gals, that I’ve always bad a desire to try my hand at it, aud now that the opportunity’s offered I’m oin’ to let myself loose, and if the outlaws or ngins give me half a show, by calamity, I'll fertilize this valley for the comin’ generation o! farmers by strewin’ it with the carcasses o’ red- wzkins and freebooters. But this is what’s called bluster, and bluster don’t count much only when the enemy is in another territory, so if you'll come with me, I will take you to where [ ex- pected to meet my friends, and once there I as- sure you that you will be safe. ‘‘But if my father should return here and find me gone—”’ ‘* Ah! there comes a horseman now from the east,” exclaimed Bob, dropping his hand to his istol. rt Mabel? Mabel, my child, are you alive?” came from the li s of the approaching rider, “Thank God!” cried the maiden, her heart gers with a sudden joy, ‘it is my dear father!” She leaped to the ground and ran to meet her father, who, dismounting, clasped her in his arms, —_ eee ee —EE -- ——e | bulleé through him, Stonewall Bob, the Boy Trojan. conducted her father to where Stonewall stood and introduced him to the young plainsman, — Then the two men hastily discussed the situa- tion, which resulted in Joshua Thurston accept- ing Bob’s proposition that he and his daughter go on to Willow Island with him. “Then,” said the boy, ‘‘ let us be off. Miss Mabel, you ride my pony and Ill lead the way on foot.” ‘Oh, f could not think—” began the maiden. ‘* But you must,” interposed the young giant, and he deliberately lifted her in his arms as though she were an infant and placed her in his saddle, saying, as he did so, ‘‘and you'll please excuse my outlaw-way of argument. Wouldn’t I be a lovely hero, though, to go riding along, and the maiden I was heroing for sailing along afoot?” and the bluff, big-hearted boy laughed heartily at bis own conceit. Bob was about to give the word to start when he suddenly threw up his hand, saying in a low tone: ‘*By calamity! there’s another horseman com- ing! and it’s an Ingin, true as I’m here, Stand quiet, folks, and I’ll surprise the fellow, for he’s comin’ right this way.” The young giant walked out to the wolf he had shot a short’ time before, and taking up the ani- mal by the hind-legs, slowly advanced toward he latter saw that all was not what he had supposed it to be, and drew rein when about ten paces from Bob, and leaning slightly forward and peering at the boy, uttered a low, guttural exclamation. ‘* Waugh!” answered Stonewall Bob, and at the same time he raised bis arm and flung the dead wolf at the savage as though it were a mere kitten. The novel missile struck the red- skin in the stomach with a dull crash, and not only knocked him heels over head from his hor.e, but laid him breathless and speechless on the earth. And at the samemoment almost, the young athlete sprung forward and seized the savage’s horse, and in a twinkling was on the animal’s back. When Mr. Thurston and Mabel caught sight of the youth's face, it was all aglow with silent laughter. ‘** Stonewall,” said Thurston, * otes around like they were mice,’ “T reckon that Ingin il think a buffalo-bull run into him when he comes around,” replied the boy; ‘‘ and if it wasn’t for the looks of the thing and the fear of drawin’ others here, ’d sock a But now that we’re all mounted I guess we’d better be amblin’ along, and as we’re all on borrowed borses we needn’t be particular how fast we ride.” So saying, the three rode away, going almost due west up the valley. They had not gone far when their ears were suddenly greeted by a series of wild, savage yélls and shrieks behind them, ‘‘ Hal ha! ha!” laughed Stonewall Bob out- right, ‘* that red skin’s got the kinks out of him and begun to pipe an evenin’ carol; but let him pipe till the sun comes up, if he feels easier by so doin’, However, his harmonious trills are likely to call up some of his friends, and the further we’re away then the more enchantin’ it'll be for us,” And so they urged their animals on at a faster speed, and miles were soon passed over, They were congratulating themselves cn their good luck in escaping further dangers when they were suddenly startled by a savage vell behind, that told them they were being pursued, ‘* Oh, bo!” exclaimed Stonewa 1 Bob, betray- ing no fear or surprise, *‘ that’s another tune, and first thing you know there'll be some more red-skins hurt. But» little more speed, friends, won't be out of oraer.” The fugitives urged on their hcrses to renewed speed, while ever and anon Stonewall Bob glanced back over his shoulder, But he said nothing, nor did bis looks or actions betray the least sign of fear or uneasiness, But finally Mabel, who rode between the youth and her father, saw the boy adjust his revolvers and unsling his carbine, which he carried muzzle downward at the side of his horse as if ready for instant use. These movements of the young plainsman convinced ber that the savages were gaining upon them—that the brave boy realized that a confiict was inevitable, CHAPTER V, OLD PEGLEG SOL. “Haut the.e, and throw up, old man!” This peremptory command was accompanied by the click of gun-locks, and he to whom the command was given eas reined in his horse and dropped his hand to the pistol at his you throw coy~ The first joy of their reunion over, Mabel | side, * Shea Al Pr. he a St Sy =. .! : ‘ag . “s ~” 7 bs: Zr . or rn . “ ioe ae > Feu a be t ™ Re ¢*s my > Bir gst fs i] ?. 5 The hour was between sunset and dark of the day preceding that of the events narrated in the foregoing chapter, and the place was a little rove on the banks of the South Fork of Grand LM not far from its junction with the North ork. The horseman who was so suddenly and unex ctedly brought to a stand was a man of per- aps fifty years of age. He was dressed in a complete suit of buckskin, barring the coonskin cap on his head, Ue was well armed and well mounted; and that he was a man of the border there could be no doubt, unless it should rise from the fact that he hud but one leg. But those who knew Old Sol Whistler knew that he was one of the most fearless and success- ful hunters on the northern hunting-grounds, notwithstanding he was a cripple. A wooden peg, with a ferule and a sharp brad on the end of it, did service as a second hmb, and it was from this that the old hunter had re- ceived the sobriquet of Old Pegleg Sol. His leg had been taken off half-way between the knee and thigh, but as he wore his pants-leg full length it concealed most of the wooden limb; but as he sat in his saddle this limb stuck out- ward almost at right-angles with his body, giv- ing him, as a horseman, a decidedly comical RDPORT ARCS. The old hunter had come down the river from the west, and his sahara at the edge of the rrove, wherein he had expected to encamp for the night, was a startling surprise to him, In fact, not seeing the one who had ordered him to halt, he could scarcely believe the evidence of his own hearing; but before he could draw his revolver, three men with guns leveled upon bim stepped from cover of the Bushes and confronted him, The old hunter saw that hey were stran- gers, and he knew at a glance that they were {reebooters of the prairie. ‘‘ Don’t draw that iron, old man,” exclaimed one of the villains, as he stepped from the brush; ‘‘ jist you succumb quietly and no harm Il come to you.” ‘“ Rampin’ tigers and blood!” retorted Pegleg Sol, ** I'd like to know what you blear-eyed var- mints want with me. If I’ve anything ‘bout me rou want, take it and let me pass on. I’m no og, and if a feller’s in need V’d even give him my wooden leg.” ‘You get down from that saddle,” ordered the outlaw; ‘‘there are nothin’ ‘bout you we want but yourself. We don’t mean to harm rou, but we want you a few days in our camp in this grove to give it tone,” ; ‘P11 prove a white eleephant on your hands, men,” said Old Pegleg; ‘‘ besides, ve an engage- ment with friends down the creek that—” ‘‘ Ay, that’s the very point, exactly,” said one of the outlaws; ‘‘ we were aware of that fact, and were in waiting for you here, and have been three days, so you'll please dismount and con- sider yourself our guest.” ‘‘ Not of my own free will,” declared the old hunter. A burly outlaw sprung at the old man and seizing him by the arm, dragged him from his horse. Then the three proceeded todisarm him, which they soon succeeded in doing, ‘*‘ Now search his pockets for documents,” said the leader of the outlaw trio; ‘* he might have ecme information "bout him, of the Hidden Cacne.” ‘So, ho!” exclaimed Old Sol, “that’s what vewre after, eb? Well, precicus little good you'll git out of bangin’ me around, for I know ro more "bout the Hidden Cache than you do,” ‘“We understand that, Pegleg Sol, but you might rave something of value about you so vell search you anyhow,” The old man squared off end knocked the first cne down that came in reachofbhim. It wasnot his nature to succumb quietly to indignities, and while be had nothing of value about his person, he proposed to fight just the same, But be. was soon ove: powerd and borne down, though he gave the three outlaws a lively tussle, and, in the midst of the struggle, a Weapon was discharged with a low, dull report, anc one of the outlaws fell, stot through the abdcmen, and died in a few moments, At first the freebooters supposed that one of their own weapons had been discherged, acci- dentally, in the struggle with Old Pegleg: but an examination of their revolvers satisfied them of their being mi taken. They knew that Peg- leg had not fired the shot, for He bad disarmed him, and so they concluded it must bave come from under cover of the grove, and if so, others were likely to follow it, and with no little un- easiness of mind, the two outlaws made haste to get away from there, Their dead comrade was thrown across the oa eae eee eee ee - ee ee —— oe - | / => | ti . x PY, at * ve .