Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 487 — page 7: what you’re looking at

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

= CHAPTER XI. THE YOUNG MINER, EASTWARD, as far as Council Bluffs, Ned went with his old friend, Spitfire Pete, and there they found that the train, which the guide had to take westward to the Colorado gold-fields, was making up in Kansas City. So thither they went, making the ride through a country at that time infested with roving bands of hostile Indians. Ned enjoyed the trip immensely, however, and did not seem to vare in the least for the several little skirmishes they had with the red-skins, for his confidence in Pete was unbounded, while the old guide was wont to say: ‘‘T tell yer, Ned, I dunno any man I w’u’d rather hey back me in a scrimmage than you, onless it might be thet rattlin’ Injun-fighter and scout, Buffalo Bill, and he are worth any half a dozen men I ever seen.” ‘‘You know Buffalo Bill then?” asked Ned, who had heard of the young scout of that name, who was winning such a name on the border. ‘* Waal now my old bones would be a bleach- in’ on ther pararer ef I didn’t know him, Boy Pard, fer he came up one day when I were corraled by Injuns and, just yanked me out o’ death’s jaws, and he were all alone too, ‘‘Them reds seen him comin’ too, but they counted on him fer one man, yer see, sO wasn’t much disturbed; but Lordy, they begun ter count him over again arter he got in among ’em and concluded he were too many fer them, so thy just got away like they was anxious, and he laughed, and says ter me in a pleasant way: “T say, old pard, they was a-workin’ yer rather lively, I guess.’ ced crawled out o’ ther hole on ther pararer, whar I was hidin’, along behind o’ my dead horse, not ther one [| are ridin’ now, Neddie, and says I: *** Who in thunder is you, pard?’ ‘**Men calls me Buffalo Bill,’ he says with a sweet smile. ‘Says I: ‘“*T hes heerd o’ yer, pard, from ’way back, and my grip is yourn onto death,’ ‘He laughed again, and we was pards from that day and I are his ter command, Ned. ‘‘But I tells yer he are some in a fight, as dangerous as a bull-dog and as pretty asa picter.” Ned was delighted at the story he had heard of the great scout, and hoped to meet him in Kansas City but in this he was disappointed, as Buffalo Bill was then away at some army fort on the frontier, The train was ready to depart, soon after the arrival of the old and young guide in Kansas City, and so it pulled out on its way to the Col- orado gold mines, those who composed it, most anxious to be at work digging for the precious yellow metal. In due time the train reached Denver, after an eventful pull across the country, and Ned had won renewed fame as a rifle and pistol shot, for it was hard indeed to find his equal with either weapon. Arriving at Denver the miners spread about in search of gold, and old Pete laid out a plan for Ned to follow, telling him that he was sure he would “strike it rich” some time, Ned was seized with the gold fever, and readily followed the advice of the old guide, to devote a few months to prospecting, while Spitfire Pete returned with an Kastbound train intending to return to Denver with the next one coming West. Ned readily got a few of the miners to help him build a little log cabin, and, then securing a hunter’s outfit, he set out daily upon prospecting tours through the adjacent mountains. One day he shot an antelope that fell far up the side of a mountain, and climbing up to him, he was so tired out when he got to his game, that he threw himself down to rest. Right by his side was a little hole, a water- wash in the rocky hill, and in it he saw some- thing with a yellow hue, which he quickly seized upon, for the boy had seen enough of the pre: cious dust to know gold when he saw it, A ery of delight broke from his lips, and the antelope was forgotten, while he dug down into ee: pocket” and dragged out the grains of old. ors Old Spitfire said I’d strike it rich some day, and I have, ‘Why, he’ll be as glad as I am,” he said ex- citedly, and then added: ‘‘'This beats Uncle Jack all to pieces.” Out of the pocket he got a goodly sum, and then prospecting about on the hillside, he found \ se a + ~ es Ae Pes \ vy Ve 4 BY, 64 Ld "° : ~ © a iP. “Gs i nipted ls s* ' ea ie ty ae that there were others near, some scantily pro- vided with gold, and a few quite generously hrowing his treasure into his canvas bag, he shouldered the choice cuts of the antelope and started for camp, distant several miles, He kept bis ‘‘ find” a secret, however, well knowing the danger of making it known, as there were many bad men among the miners, who would kill him for a few hundreds in gold; but he ascertained enough to know that he was a thousand dollars better off than he had been that morning. The next day bright and early Ned started for his mine, as he now called the whole moun- | tain where he had struck such luck, and he worked hard all day, though with indifferent Thus it went on for months, the young miner sometimes finding a considerable sum, and then for days panning out almost nothing. Still his litile store gredually increased, until he knew that he possessed quite a snug fortune, and he was anxious for Spitfire Pete’s coming that he might tell him his good luck and share it with him. One day a Pony Express rider came into the camps, and reported that a train was coming, consisting of nearly a hundred miners, and that their guide, known as Spitfire Pete, had mys- teriously disappeared three nights before. This was enough for Ned that pony rider until he go he could glean from him, and mounting his horse, set forth that night in search of the and he questioned all the particulars He pushed on rapidly, and the next day at noon came in sight of the train, and at once sought the guide in charge, and the one who had taken old Spitfire’s place. ‘“Where’s Spitfire Pete, Harry?’ he asked, recognizing the man as one who had been with the old guide on their trip out. ‘Lor’, Ned, but [’'m glad ter see yer, boy; but I can’t tell yer no more about Pete than that he rode out o’ camp three days ago, and none of us has seen him since.” “But did you not go and search for him, Harry?” indignantly asked the boy. 0, though I wanted to; but I’m the only guide along, and the miners just said I should not leave camp, so I was forced to stay.” ‘Was Pete mounted?” ‘Yas, and armed,” ‘* At your third camp back?” ‘Yas, Ned; but don’t go and make a fool 0’ yourself a-lookin’ for him, for Injuns and road- agents are lively on this trail now, and you'll git picked up sart’in.” ‘*T shall risk it, for I wish to know whai has yened to poor old Pete.” ** Killed, like as not.” ‘Well, I should like to know if he has been. ‘*Good-by, Harry, and I hope to bring you news of Spitfire, when I see you in Denver, or Central,” and the brave boy, true as steel to the old guide who had been his friend, started off on the trail left by the train, while Trailer Harry remarked to some of the miners, who asked him who the boy was: ‘‘That are Ned Oliver, a boy in with ther narve of a man, and he kin shoot, trail and fight with any of ’em, and ef be don’t find old Pete, then thar is no use fer others ter CHAPTER XII. THE LONE TRAIL. WHEN thrown wholly upon his own resources, Ned found that the training which Spitfire Pete had given him, served him well. He had stndied prairie craft as hard as had ever book-worm pored over his studies, and the boy had become really a wonderful trailer for He had pressed his horse hard, but anxious to find the trail of Spitfire Pete, where he had left the train, before it should be obliterated, he felt that both himself and the fine animal he rode must suffer. For this reason he held on along the broad trail left by the train, until he could no longer see it in the darkness, and then went into camp. Looking after the comfort of his horse first, he found him a good feeding-place, gave him water, and then rubbed him down until knew that the animal could not but be greatly |Then he ate his humble supper in darkness, wrapped himself in his blanket, and was soon He awoke before dawn, watered his horse, gave him another good rubbing down, and, after f Py aay eh “yeaa 7 PTO Le SORA 2 aa -—— — pmaee ome me Nevada Ned, the Revolver Ranger. 7 irri i a Sm mr ee -——_——- —— ee ww eee a light breakfast, mounted and struck the trail just as it was light enough for him to see it. At a rapid pace he followed it, and, as the train was making but twenty-five to thirty miles a day, he came upon the camp at noon, from whence Spitfire Pete had disappeared, To find the trail of the missing guide was no easy matter, but he succeeded in at last striking it, and then he sought rest for himself an horse. Feeling that he could then treat himself to a good dinner, as his horse was faring well, he broiled some game he had shot, roasted a potato Trailer Harry had given him, with some other provisions, boiled some coffee, and enjoyed a sumptuous repast, for the prairie. Then he saddled his horse and pressed on along the faint trail left by old Pete. It was near sunset when he came in sight of a timber motte, and seeing an object moving about im it, he came quickly to a balt. The guide’s trail led directly to the timber, and Ned gazed earnestly to see what it was that he saw moving about. afi Suddenly there came into view a horse gid a glance was sufficient for the hoy to see that the animal wes saddled and bridled. ‘It is Pete’s horse, and he is there,” cried the boy, and heedless of danger he spurred for- ward, Dashing into the timber, he heard several frightened snorts, and saw two other horses, which he recognized as Indian ponies. Instantly he drew rein, tg rifle in hand, waited and watched. The three horses, at first startled by his com- ing, resumed their grazing, and Ned rode for- ward slowly, to suddenly hear a savage yelp, then growls, and behold a dozen coyotes dash away from the dead body of an Indian which they were devouring. Further on were the remains of another In- dian, torn to pieces by the wolves, and in a clump of trees Ned beheld a form he well knew. It was Old Spitfire Pete. Dead? No! But he lay up against a tree, and near his feet was a third Indian, dead. Ned saw that the old guide was breathing heavily, and groaning, and yet in his hands he hae a a revolver, as be lay back against the ree, Springing from his horse he ran toward him, calling out: ‘* Pete! old man, Pete! I have come to save you,” The eyes slowly opened and rested upon the boy. The face was worn and haggard, and the clothing was stained with blood in several places. ‘* Pete! Pete! don’t you know me?” cried the boy, kneeling by his side, ‘* Water!” gasped the old man. Ned took his canteen from his saddle and get- ting fresh water from a spring not far away, he brought if and held it to the parched lips, Then he bathed the haggard, grizzly Pace ten- derly, and said: ‘* Pete, [am Ned; don’t you know me?” ‘IT do, boy.” ‘* You had a fight here in the timber, and were wounded?” és Yes,” ‘** But I have come to save you.” ‘** Too late.” ‘No, no, you'll pull through all right.” The man made no reply for a moment and then asked: ‘‘ What are you doing here, boy?” ‘‘The Pony Express Rider brought news of your disappearance from the train, and [ came to look you up. ‘“‘T took your trail, after Trailer Harry told me where to find it, and here I am.” ‘¢ Just like you, Ned.” ‘* Come, let me fix up your wounds, Pete, and nde soon be able to go back.” INO, ‘‘T have, as you said I would, struck it rich, and I guess I’ve got three thousand dollars hid- den away for us.” ** Too late.” ‘No, no, it is not too late, for you'll brace up now.” ‘No, I’m gone.” ‘“Where are you wounded?” ‘Three times, and, maybe, years ago, they wouldn’t be so bad, but I’m old now, and have had some hard knocks, so I must go,” ‘Don’t talk so, Spitfire,” and the boy’s eyes filled with tears, i. - ' 7 ; : , ‘s oS} “ ; ae , . ¥ i we | y— y ahs a * ZZ s nh Vy mm its cbooks.co