Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 487 — page 3: what you’re looking at

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

Nevada Ned, the Revolver Ranger. — —_ of ‘he boys attempted to joke with him, would ulways cut them off with some hateful remark, In the evenings he was wont co come into cau p, have a few words with Captain Oliver, the boss of the train, regarding the next day’ § march, and then sit about the fire, smoking his pipe in grim silence, until bed-time, when he would wrap himself in his blanket and lie down to s:ieep beneath some wagon. He was an old man, verging on sixty it was said, with iron-gray hair and beard, a face as hard as leather, but twinkling black’ eyes that were full of fire and vim. He was dressed in buckskin, from moccasins to cap, and his rifle and revolvers were of the very best pattern, His horse was raw-boned, but could go with- out food and water as long. as his master, it was said, and the animal possessed a temper that was even worse, The first thing that attracted Spitfire Pete’s attention to Ned was the boy’s shooting with a rifle and revolver, for Captain Oliver put up a twenty-dollar gold-piece as a prize for the best shot, and although Ned did not win it, he made such splendid shots that the old guide was seen to smile with pride as he glanced at the young- ster. A few days after, Ned was riding ahead of the train when he ct me upon Pete, who asked: ‘‘ Whar yer goin’, boy?’ ‘Over to yonder hill, sir,” answered Ned, who had a great admir ation for the old man. “What fer” sé Water, sir. ” “Who said thar was water thar‘ ” ‘ Nobody, sir; but it looked so to me, from the lay of the land.” ‘ Boy, thar is water thar, and it is whar we is goin’ ter camp, fer thar hain’t no more to be found in twenty odd miles, ‘You is a durned good shot, better than half ther men, ana yer is goin’ ter make a guide and a good one; sO if yer wants ter study | a leetle o’ prairie lar nin’ under me, jist say so,’ ‘Pll be so glad, sir, for no one ee teach me half as much,” said Ned, delighted at the prospec t. Spitfire Pete looked leased, and said: *“* Tl goon and find a place for a camp, and you wait here and fetch the train on; but yer must be keerful nob ter lose my trail, as thar is lenty 0’ ways 0’ gittin’ lost in this kentr vr," ‘Till be careful, sir,” and Ned, pleased with his importance, V waited for the train, and fol- lowing the trail of the old guide, took ‘the outfit safely to the camp. “ Leetle one, I goes off abroad at daybreak in in the morning, so if yer wishes ter go be ready,” said Pete, as he started to bed that night. Ned went to sleep with it on his mind to wake up at a certain hour, and he did so, and was ready to go with Pete when he rode out of camp, “Who ealt yer, boy: ** Nobody, sir.” gen CR woke up yerself?” ‘* Yes, sir.’ **’Yer’ll do in ther long r un,” and Pete seemed pleased with his pupil in prairie craft. From that day the old man and the boy seem- ed to be inseparable, for they were together all day, and frequently were gone a C ouple of days from camp, when the guide made a long trip ahead and waited for the train to come up. Coming out of his shell of silence, he talked a great deal to Ned, told him how to follow a trail in all weathers, gave him the name of different trees and shr ubs, and once or twice, after a most circuitous ride, just to put him at fault would send him back ‘to the train on a message, or for extra ammunition, telling ‘him where “to rejoin him, The result of this thorough training was that Ned became pretty well posted in frontier life, its danger s and its hardships, and his courage in- creasing with his experience, he longed for an opportunity to show Spitfire Pete that he was not unworthy of his teachings. It was not very long, after this desire filled his breast that his longing: was gratified most thor- oughly and just “how the next chapter will reveal to the reader. CHAPTER IV. THE YOUNG INDIAN-FIGHTER, Onn day Spitfire Pete sent Ned on ahead, tell- ing him to pick a good trail for the train and to ES In great glee Ned had started off, feeling his importance more than ever before. The way led through a hill country, with val- leys here and there, and a small stream to cross. Hie picked the best way for the train, marked the trail so that it could be readily followed by the assistant guide that led it, and was crossing a piece of low-land when suddenly a bullet whiz- zed over his head, His horse was startled, as well as he, and in- stantly there came another arrow and it told Ned that at last the time had come when alone, with no help near, he had to face savage red- skins. He had behaved well in the fights the train had had with the red-skins; but then he bad half a hundred men as a rrotection ; now he must meet them singlehanded., Ned’s prairie knowledge told him from whence the arrows had come, when he marked them sticking up in the prairie, and quick as a flash he wheeled away from the point of danger, a small thicket some sixty yards away. The moment his horse bounded forward there came half a dozen wild yells, followed by a shower of as many arrows, and one of the barbs struck his horse in the neck, Ned’s training served him well now, for he took in a distant hill, with a steep over hang ging cliff, and some rocks at the base, the eround being open in front, He determined to ride for it at full speed, and let the Indians give chase. If he readily outran them, he would have no fear; but, if their horses were faster than his, then the shelter he observed would be the place for him to seek, and ha must try and keep them at bay until the train, ten miles away, came up, or Spitfire Pete, who might hear his rifle. Another volley of arrows again wounded Ned’s horse, and the boy saw that it was no slight injury, from the behavior of the animal. Looking back he saw that there were six In- dians in chase, and they were well mounted, for they were coming on rapidly. As he feared another shower of ar rows, he concluded to show them that they were in range of his rifle, and throwing it to his shoulder, as he turned in the saddle, he fired quickly. A. cry escaped his lips as he saw an Indian pony go down with such’ suddenness, that his red-skin rider was hurled heavily to the ground, The other Indians instantly drew rein, though not without firing again at the young fugitive, yet without any damage being done. ‘‘Tf you was not wounded, Virefly, Pd not fear those reds,” said Ned to ‘his horse, who he saw was bleeding freely from both wounds, But the Indians had halted only for a minute, and then came on all but one, who remained to help his dismounted companion, Having taken his trappings from his dead pony, the warrior sprung up behind his com- rade, and they followed rapidly on 1m the chase. “ Poor Firefly, you feel bad, I know,” said Ned, with deep sympathy for his horse; but he urged the animal on, and, reaching the shelter of rocks under the cliff, sprung from his back, and then turning quickly, fired upon the four Indians coming rapidly toward him. It was a long-range shot, but he saw one of them recl in his saddle, and, cheered by the be- lief that he had wounded him, Ned reloaded his ride with remarkable coolness and quickness, and taking a rest over the top of a rock, again fired. A red-skin fell from his saddle, and the others half drew rein, but then pressed in until the brave boy, having again quickly loaded, once more drew trieger. This time it was another pony that fell, and Ned drew his revolver and fired two shots’ from it quickly. With yells of rage the red-skins fell back, cpa ing the pony writhing in death-agony, and ‘arrying their wounded comrade w ith them to a saad s dist ince, when the two riding the one horse joined them, ‘‘ They are holding what Spitfire Pete calls a powwow now, and I guess I can look after Firefly,” said Ned, and, having loaded his rifle and revolver, he tur ned to his hor se, The animal had lain down from weakness, having bled freely. Ned drew out the arrow that still stuck in bis flank, but saw that it had gone deep. ae ‘‘ Poor Firefly! I guess you will die,” he said, patting the horse kindly, and wiping a tear from his eye, for it was the first horse he ever owned find a pleasant camping-place some twenty-five | the one given him by his uncle when he joine miles from where they then were. the train that night after his long tramp from TI] see if I can’t pick up a leetle game, lad, | home. and find yer in camp; but yer must keep a| A startled snort from the horse wh, it Ned ee fer seine Pete had said. back to his own danger, and he thre rifle . ‘ us t; i ‘ , 7 Aes 7 te. 8! ate . : ht a oY =f em ee | aba Sas ae & io the th fa" 8 Oe EROS Epona Ae r $$$ —<——$——<—<—— SS oe over the top of the rock as he saw the Indians were again advancing, but on foot, and scat- tered in a line, tive ot them, while tlie sixth re- mained crouching upon the ground, and evi- dently wounded badly. Ned fired at the one nearest to him, and saw him drop quick as a flash and remain motion- less; but, as the others did the same, he did not know whether or no he had hit his man, Just then, clear and ringing, though somé distance off, came the sound of a ‘bugle. It reached the ears of the Indians before it dia Ned, and, springing to their feet, four of therm darted aw ay. The fifth remained, and seeing this, the four came back, and raising him in their arms, were hastening ‘with him to their horses, which had been left near the wounded red skin, when louder and more ringing came the bugle sound, and into sight dashed a horseman, beckoning as though to others to follow quickly. Instantly the dead Indian was dropped, and the four mounting quickly, two on one pony, rode rapidly away teward the hills. ‘* Why, that is old Spitfire,” said Ned, as the veteran guide came flying along, and alone. ‘‘ Where is the cavalry, for I heard the bugle?” Ned said, as Spitfire drew near. Reaching the dead Indian, the old guide halt- ed and called out: ‘‘Come here, Ned, and git yer scalp, fer it’s yourn, sure as ‘shootin’, and ’m durned ef yer hain’t desarvin’ of it.” Ned, thus urged, left his retreat and walked toward the guide, who, dismounting, called out: ‘* Whavr’s yer horse 7 ** Dying, sir.” ‘Ts you hurt, lad?” ‘* No, sir.’ “Tm durned glad 0’ that; hut I seen Injun signs soon arter leavin’ you, lad, and I concluded ter foller on arter yer, and I’ m right peert glad I did.” **So am I, sir.” ‘* Boy, put yer grip thar, and let me congratu- late yer on yer fu’ st red-skin, and Pll show yer how to scalp him.” ‘No, no, Spitfire! I could never take that scalp!” cried Ned in horror at the thought, while he gazed with awe upon the up-turned face of the dead savage. ‘Boy, youre young and foolish; but yer'll come to it, some day, for it are ther only wa ter fight a Injun; they hain’t dead until | hey & scalped, and [ has no marcy on any on ’em, for they had no marcy on me or mine—no, no, no! they kilt my wife and three childre n, one a bo sich as you is, and they scalved ’em, too, so I is marciless toward ther red devils.” He spoke with a depth of feeling that showed how he suffered, and bending over the dead red- skin cut off his scalplock with a skill that showed long practice, “But where are the soidiers, sir, for I heard a bugle?” said Ned, anxious to change the cur- rent of the old man’s thoughts. ‘* Thar wasn’t no cavalry near, hoy. ‘y ** But [ heard the bugle, Spitfire.” ** Listen!” He placed his hands to his lips, and loud, clear, ringing came the exact notes of a bugle. Ned ° was amazed, and the guide said: “It's a trick I bas, lad, and it has helped me many a time. ‘‘T heerd yer shot, and seen ther fix yer was in, so 1 jist bugled, and them Injuns got, as yer seen: but we camps yonder under ther hill ontil ther train comes up, as I wish ’em ter see what a boy have done as a Injun-fighter, ‘‘T tells yer, boy, [ is proud o’ yer, and I only wishes yer was my own flesh and blood, bein’ as I is all alone in ther world, all alone,” and all the harshness had gene from the old man’s voice, and Ned knew that those who said he was heartless and cold did not know him, or the causes that had imbittered his life. When the train came up old Spitfire told his story, and Ned became a hero with all in the train, and the old guide seemed most proud of his prairie protege. CHAPTER V. NED SAVES A LIFE, It was a long and hard trip to the train’s des- tination, the then young town of Virginia City and all who had started on the trail did no reach the end, for here and there one dropped out, killed by Indians, several of them, one dy- ing a natural death and one being killed in a broil one ment in camp, so that graves dotted the way all along. The trip was a revelation to Ned, and it taught him a great deal of dust what wild life on the border was. a + 3 Es a at - A [o)3 > 7 wy 44 « - 4 aif di) naa 4 a ngs} rs ed i a bate. 3 books. com