Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 5 — page 16: what you’re looking at

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

16 Beadle’s Half-Dime Library. thing that lent additional strength to her young spirit, was the hope of soon meeting her betroth- ed, Captain Ralph Howard. One thought begat another, and it finally oc- curred to her that the presence of Howard there in the Western wilds was rather a remarkable coincident in which the hand of Fate seemed to have something todo. But, what could it mean? why was he there? She pondered long over these questions, but found little relief in mental speculation. Without the storm still raged. With every nn of the wind the stiff, icy tree-tops ae and creaked ominously, and the great hollow linden that served as a chimney to the ‘‘C Palace” chafed and chilled in the crotch of the tree that supported it, until particles of dust were sifted out of the hollow into the fire. Now and then the wind rumbled mournfully down the great chimney. The hours wore away, and when night — to settle around her, and the long howl of a wolf was heard afar off, Grace be to grow uneasy and restless. She wondered if she would have to nd the long, stormy night alone, se whether danger or trouble befallen oe Growing hungry she broiled some of the strips of venison pre by Joe, and ate the sweet, juicy meat with a keen relish. Darkness found Vagabond Joe still absent. Grace replenished the fire that its light might dispel the shadows from her lonely retreat. Suddenly it occurred to her that it was Christ- mas eve, and the thought brought tears to her eyes and a feeling of intense bitterness to her heart. And the more she thought of the fact the more despondent and heartsick she became. If Joe, however, would only return and bring her lover, she thought her sad, silent and lonely Christmas eve might be turned to one of in- finite joy, despite the novel and dangerous surroundings. But, in this she was doomed to disappointment. The hours wore on and no fdawe came. She worried on between h and fear until tired nature gave way and she fell asleep upon her couch of blankets and furs. When she awoke it was daylight. The fire was nearly out; however, she to re- kindle it into a cheery blaze, and then piled on considerable fuel, for she had become co d. While the fire was blazing so cheerfully, and diffusing its warmth threugh the “ palace,,” Grace broiled some venison for breakfast. The fat dripping from the cooking meat fed the already spirited flames, causing them to leap higher and higher and roarin up the hollow tree serving as a chimney. A first Grace thought nothing of this, but it sud- denly occurred to her mind that Vagabond Joe had cautioned her about that very thing— against letting the flames get into the tree whose hollow was lined with rotten wood and dust dry as powder. She brought in a handful of snow and threw it in the fire to subdue the 0s i then she sat down and quietly ate her m She was suddenly started by a loud, roaring sound like that of flames; and a horrible fear seized upon her heart at the same instant, for she knew at once the cause of the noise. The inside of the tree was on fire! ‘‘ My heavens! what shall I de?’ the maiden cried, in an agony of fear. She started up as if to flee; but quickly recov- ering her presence of mind, she put out the fire upon the ground by covering with snow. But it was too late to be of avail. The flames were far up the hollow, roaring and hissing like a furnace, while millions of sparks showered down at her feet, The maiden saw that she had committed a fatal blunder in allowing the fire to blaze up as it had; but it could not be remedied now; and, pale and trembling, she sat motionless as a statue listening to the roaring of the flames and waiting the final result, whatever that might . Nor had she long to wait, for suddenly there came a loud, crashing, cr ng noise outside. The tree had burned in two, and the top had fallen; and scarcely had it reached the earth ere the trunk sna with a sharp report near the ground and fell carrying the entire southern wall of the snow-hut with ‘it. A ery of affright burst from Grace Manville’s lips, and she s as she saw the end of her retreat go down, for she expected the whole structure to fall. In this, however, she was happily a ea geri The walls had been so firmly knitted together by the cold that none, save that carried down under the weight of the tree, fell. And, fortunately for her, it was the oe from the wind and storm. She could now see out into the woods beyond where the fallen tree lay, steaming and smoking in its bed of snow. She could see the tall trees and their naked, bristling mo twisting and writhing in the wind; and hear the roar of the storm as it beat through the woods and sky in merciless uddenly the wind broke through the crystal — dashing up a cloud of snow in the girl’s ace and throwing her almost prostrate upon the earth. Quickly rising to her feet she turned to in- quire the cause of this freak of the blast, when, to her horror, she saw the blanket withdrawn from the door, and two savages bending over and — in upon her. This sight was more than her already worn strength could withstand, and with a cry she sunk in a swoon to the earth. The savages were the scouts, Keen-Eyes and Slyly, who had been attracted by the burning tree, as they were returning from their fruitless pursuit of Vagabond Joe. ; With a shout of savage triumph, they sprung inside the snow-hut, and at once took possession of the unconscious girl. They wrapped her slender form in three different blankets; and then, without further delay, they lifted her in their arms and hurried awav. They soon found that they had more on their hands than they would be able to get along with. Already wearied with a long tramp after Vagabond Joe they found that the form of the unconscious gi j momentarily grew heavier. Still, with that dogged a so characteristic of the savage, they labored on through snow and storm. The next thing of which Grace Manville was conscious, after seeing the Indians, was of a form bending over her and speaking in a low familiar voice; while fine particles of snow fell in her face. She hastily recalled her scattered senses, and opening her lovely eyes, looked up into the handsome, boyish face of Vagabond Joe, and upon a dozen bearded, storm-laden men that stood around her. “*Is she dead, Joe?” asked one of the storm- spirits. ““Not by a long shot, Neutral Bill,” replied Joe; ‘say, Miss raceful, are you scart out of your wits? Look here, we’re all friends ready to die for you, Graceful.” emer full possession of her mind, Grace sprung quickly to her feet and gazed around her. She saw that she was out in the storm, and, horrors! at her very feet lay the lifeless form of one of her late captors, around whom the snow was weaving a winding-sheet. She turned from the revolting sight and fixed her eyes upon Joe, their glorious light telling what her tongue refused to utter. ‘We come jist in time, Miss Graceful,” Joe said, as if he comprehended the meaning of her looks; *‘ it’s been a good while since we parted; but I done the best I could to git back to you. These men are all our friends, and the friends of Captain Howard. They’ll take care of you now, Graceful; so you go with them. I want to stay here and t that other Ingin if he comes back here with —— ri ge e will.” The hunters, under Neu Bill, received Miss Manville into their care, and at once struck for the woods, where the storm was less furious, agreeir s to wait for Vagabond Joe at a desig- nated point. Joe at once wrapped the body of the fallen Indian in the blankets so recently taken from about the form of Grace Manville. He care- fully covered every portion of the body and then tucked the edges and corners of the blanket in and under, so that the covering could not come off. This done, he threw the Indian’s irty red blanket over his own head and shoul- ders, and then sat down to wait events. The snow blowing from the plain drifted in along the river, and in ten minutes every track was filled, and all vestige of the late enactment completely obliterated, so far as the eye could penetrate. Six Indians from Ishtahaba’s camp approach- ing from up the river, found Keen-Eyes, as they supposed, and the maiden half buried in the snow, for Slyly had told them where he had left his companion and the maiden. Without the least ceremony the savages spread out a blanket, laid the motionless form upon it, and then with a savage at each corner and one at the side, the hastily improvised litter was lifted and borne away, Keen-Kyes follow- ing at a safe distance behind. - The storm prevented conversation and aided the daring boy in every particular of his bold and desperate game. He watched the six war- riors between the borders of his close-drawn blanket, a smile of grim delight playing over his face as he did so. “Great mallysanders!” he mused, “ won't they scotch when they find out the facts?” Joe allowed the savages to enter the encam ment more than twenty rods ahead of himself, so that when he came up the center of attraction was around the tent in which the supposed cap- tive was placed; and taking advantage of this diversion the adventurous youth slipped into the tent where Captain Howard wasconfined. The captain heard him coming, and supposin he was an Indian, feigned unconsciousness unti he heard the low, familiar voice of Joe say- ing: a Cap, oh, Cap, are you hurt? dead? or —— . e captain opened his eyes and gazed up into the boy’s face. f: " “s * _“Tt’s me, Cap, Vagabond Joe,” the youth con- ! recognize that voice,” replied the pares rae ‘how come you here, “Toe?” ‘ I waltzed hero in this dirty rag of a blanket, captain,” he responded. ‘Where have you been, Joe? and where is she —that girl?” ** Safe, — in the hands of your friends. I tell you ap, she’s a stavin’ purty gal!” “Thank God!” murmured the captain; ‘‘ oh that I could go to her!” ‘* Are you seriously hurt, Cap?’ “Not so badly hurt, as I am weak from the loss of blood. Tell Miss Manville that I should — like to see her, for I am now satisfied that she is more sinned against than sinning. But the Lord only knows what my enemies will do with me. Iam completely at their mercy.” ‘Keep a stiff upper lip, captain, and I'll get ou out of this pestilence, or bu’st a trace. But ll have to be goin’, Cap, for I’m supposed to be an Ingin under this b anket, and they’ll find there’s been some shenanigan played on them when they find a dead Injin rolled up in a blan- ket where the red fools s’posed Miss Graceful was. I'll watch out for you, cap’n, and don’t you forgit it. I’m going to put a bee in Doc Cudmore’s bonnet, now mind. I’m on the war- path big as old Guldy. They wouldn’t let me stay in school at the settlement—detarmined I should be a young sava , and so ’'m goin’ to put in my best licks. is an awful, awful storm, Cap; the likes old Neutral Bill said war rr nts a 2 the nor’west. But if it don’t git any colder, I can worry through as easy as a ring-necked snake in ‘the - Yes, Miss Graceful Mansville is well and safe, and she sent me to inquire after you. Lor’ mollyhorns! but if she isn’t an angel of a gal, I don’t know what an angel is. But I’d better be off, Cap, for fear of danger. Good-by. Look out for breakers, and—don’t you forgit it.” As the lad turned to leave, his eyes fell upon some cooking utensils and supplies that had eslbtazed to his friends, and suggested that he appropriate some of them for the needs of his comrades in the woods. So he put some ground coffee in his pocket, and taking a small coffee-pot, a drink- ing-cup and wt fem Pom he concealed them un- der his blanket, an stole out into the storm and away into the woods, the drifting snow filling his tracks almost as fast as they were made. The young borderman made his way back to where he had left his elk-team, and unfastening them, he sprung into his ‘‘ jumper,” and drove away toward the south-west. In half an hour he arrived at the point designated for his meet- ing with Neutral Bill’s party. He found his friends busy as beavers erecting a snow-house, under the supervision of Old Bill. Grace Man- ville sat near, sheltered from the storm, watch- ing them as they worked, and feeling more we in spirit than she had felt for some ime. The maiden was greatly pleased when she saw Joe drive up. She had conceived a regard for the little Me pe strong as sisterly love; and as soon as he had hitched his team, she called him mater cyt ye sat, and oue ye him thus: oe, 1 am very, very glad to see you back alive and unharmed. I was so ’fraid you would be detected in your disguise. You are a brave boy Joe, but a little rash, sometimes.” ‘Til admit that, Miss Graceful; but a feller’s got to be rash as a mad bull when he deals with red-skins. I kindo’ hate to go killin’ and slashin’ arouud like a young hurricane of a pirate, but when it’s svete at ib never hesitate tu put a a red-skin’s bonnet, and—don’t you for- it. “Pll not, Joe,” nded Grace: ‘‘ but what of Captain Howard? did you see him?” ‘Yes, Miss Graceful; he’s lying ‘n that tent, what I helped you out of, with an awful leak in his head. But, then, he’il git along if he don’t catch cold, or the devils don’t kill him, I prom- ,OO (COMIC “Ss (E()