Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 5 — page 23: what you’re looking at

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

Vagabond Joe. 23 “Do you think we will find our friends all safe at camp?’.trace answered. “T hope so, though the Lord only knows the real truth of the matter. I don’t eats grgt of the red-skins got in ahead of us, and if the didn’t, why, we’ll be down there to camp inside of an hour or two.” ‘‘Oh, I pray we will find them safe! though even if we should, I will not be entirely at rest,” said the maiden. “What now, Miss Graceful? tryin’ to borrow trouble?” laughed Joe. i ‘No, no, Joe, my dear, little friend; it is no fancied trouble, but real ; the night I was cap- tured by Cudmore and the road-agents, m friend, a gentleman who was traveling wit me, was taken from the stage and carried off— no doubt, and murdered. ° ‘“Why didn’t you tell me somethin’ ’bout that before, Graceful?” the lad inquired. ‘*T did not wish to trouble your mind with any more cares than you already had to con- tend with. I have not told you half of my troubles, Joe.” Joe made no reply for he at once became busied with his own thoughts. The snow freezing, crunched and creaked dis- mally and icily under the hoofs of the animals and the runners of the cutter. Wolves howled in the distance, and the rab- bits venturing from their burrows along the shore, played to and fro across the river before the travelers like weaver’s shuttles. Suddenly a cry burst from Joe’s lips and he reined in his elks. A huge fire, that lit up the river with a daz- zling plare, burst suddenly upon his view as they rounded an abrupt bend in the stream. It was burning upon the left bank. ‘My great conscience, Graceful!” the boy ex- claimed, ‘‘ the Indians are in ahead of us! they have anticipated our comin’, and what in heaven’s name are we to do?” A cry of hopeless despair burst from the maiden’s lips, Vagabond Joe glanced to the right and left. a banks were steep. He could turn to neither side, ‘Graceful, we'll have to turn back,” he said. Grace’s courage gave way under this disap- intment, and she burst into tears, But those ars seemed to fire the soul of the boy with all the resolution and courage to which the spirit of man is heir. He glanced back and discov- ered half a dozen shadowy figures coming down the river behind him. They were Indians. The fugitives were surrounded, for he knew that others in ambush waited before. “Grace,” he said, ‘‘ pray for God to help us. There are savages, with death in their hearts, before us and behind us. We have got to run the gantlet, or die in the attempt!” a then spoke to his trained elks—spoke sharply. At the ae of their speed the animals shot for- ward with fearful rapidity. The savages behind gave a frightful yell. ar mg instantly glided out from the shadows of the shore, and forming in the light across the river, stood ready to dispute the pas- iy 2s the fugitives. _As he approached them, Vagabond Joe drew his revolver. Grace covered her face and bowed her head in meekness to her fate. CHAPTER XXI. A DASH, A CRASH, AND ALL IS OVER. A WILD, savage yell rose on the night. The crash of firearms rung out and bullets whistled about the ears of the fugitives. The elks seemed to comprehend the dangers of their master, and shot forward with renewed speed. On every side rose the wild demand to halt; eae heeding it not, Vagabond Joe urged on his e A moment later there was a sudden crash, a groan and pistol-shot. Joe and Grace were pitched forward almost from the sleigh, which came to a sudden stop, then, as suddenly, shot away again. ' It was quite evident that the savages had re- solved upon taking Joe, his protegee and team alive, for they could easily have shot the latter down. Instead, however, four stalwart war- riors threw themselves in front of the animals and seized upon them when they found they could not stop them otherwise. but the braves had reckoned without their host. The moment they laid violent hands upon the elks, the ani- mals, as if maddened by the terrible excitement of the moment, uttered a strange, hoarse cry, and rearing upon their hind-feet, struck down the savages with their fore-feet as easily as though they had possessed the power of a thun- derbolt. en, with a sudden, and unexpected bound, the animals shot away—snatching the fugitives from the very grasp of a score of hands already extended to seize them. Into the darkness, beyond the reach of the light, glided the sleigh—away around a bend it disappeared, while on in swift pursuit went the yelling horde of Ishtahaba. ‘* Thank the Lord, Graceful!” cried Joe, when he, at length, found they were really safe. Grace’s lips were already moving in prayer. When she had finished, she lifted her eyes to Joe’s, and said: ~ Oh, Joe! Joe! God is very good to you and me; but do you think we are safe now? ‘*T do, Miss Graceful,” the young borderman replied, his heart swelling with manly pride; i f think the red-rovers of Satan concentrated the whole of their infernal clan back there, and made one last, grand effort to recapture you. And, to tell the truth, 1 was afeard they’d suc- ceed. I was afeard they’d shoot the elks, and it’s the greatest wonder in the world they didn’t, But, how they knowed we war comin’ down the river is a mystery to me; but then a confound- ed, dashed Ingin is a mystery, anyhow. Oh, eat mollyhorns! if lbec and Nineveh didn’t ut a hull nest of bees into a couple red- skins’ cahate. I don’t want a copper—just knocked them a-flukin’ heels over appetite.” ‘Your team, Joe, seem posse: of almost human intelligence and devotion,” said Grace. ‘““Oh, yes! they’re sailors, Graceful. I raised ’em from wee dumplin’s of kids, and took all the pains in the world to learn ’em some gump- tion. Now, I can ride Baalbec like a hoss; but Nin—why, she’s naterly womanish when she gits her he’d set; but when it comes to runnin’, I tell you what, Graceful, se gits up and brindles, and don’t you forgit it.” A smile lit up the face of the maiden. A momentary silence ensued, when Joe con- tinued: ‘* Well, we’ll soon be at camp now; we jist passed the old camp where T first rescued you.” * Indeed?’ replied Grace, too full of joy over their escape and the expected pleasure of meet- ing Captain Howard, for further utterance, ey glided on and at length turned from the river into the woods. A few rods from the stream a voice suddenly cried: ** Who comes there?’ * Joe,” answered our hero, ‘‘ whose surname is Vagabond.” “Ts that a fact?’ exclaimed the guard; “we were afraid you had got into trouble, Joe. But I see you’ve got your eae back.” ** Yes; Miss Graceful, too.” ** Drive on to camp, Joe, and let us all rejoice together,” said the , and he gave utterance to a shout of joy that at once brought his friends from the snow-house. ‘*By go-lomminy! it’s Vagabond Joe!” cried Old Neutral Bill, as the boy drew up in front of the hunters’ quarters; ‘‘ and he’s got Miss Man- ville, as true as] amaborn sinner! Yoop! yoop! hurrah for Vagabond Joseph!” A prolonged shout burst from the lips of the "4 Take it cool, boys, for the red-skins are fol- lerin’ us up,” said Joe, ‘‘ and we may all have to holler out of t’other side of our mouths afore mornin’. But say, Billi are the captain and Miss Myrtle safe?’ ‘* Safe and sound as a hound’s tooth,” replied Old Bill. With a wildly fluttering heart, and mind fill- ed with a dreadful uncertainty, Grace Manville Se ge from the sleigh and conducted into 6 hut. Captain Ralph Howard, pale and weak, rose as she entered, and as their eyes met there was a momentary silence; then a cry burst from the maiden’s lips and the next moment she was clasped to the breast of her lover. Joe came softly into the hut, his boyish face aglow with manly pride and triumph; and steal- ing around to where Myrtle sat, he put out his hand and said: * : Good-evening, yrtle.” ‘Why, Joe!” the maiden exclaimed, her blushing cheeks and drooping eyes telling a tale that her lips could not utter; “‘I am very glad to see you k safe. We were all afraid you had been captured by the Indians, or had per- ished in the storm,” ‘‘ Well, L did have an almighty wild time of it, Myrtle,” he said, still holding her little hand that was trembling with her emotions of jo and love; ‘‘and we jist esca by a hair's breadth. But, how’s the time passed with you folks?” “Very pleasantly under existing circum- stances. I have found Mr. Howard to bea very intelligent and entertaining ae Oh! I am so glad, on his account, that you rescued ‘‘Gosh!” whispered Joe, ‘‘isn’t oie ESE: Myrtle started as if half-envious of the com- pliment; and, glancing at Grace, replied: ‘* She appears to be a very nice lady.” “Yes, and she’s brave as she’s handsome, I tell you!” added Vagabond. ‘‘Have you fallen in love with her, Joe?” whispered Myrtle, a smile flitting over her pretty doll-face. ‘‘No, Myrtle; I can’t love but one gal at a time,” was the young lover’s response, bending his gaze full upon Myrtle, with a look that im- lied a world of meaning—a look she did not ail to interpret. Old Bill and his companions withdrew from the camp—some of them to take care of Joe’s team; others to procure more fuel. Captain Howard introdu Grace to Myrtle, and ina very short time the two unfortunate girls had conceived a regard for each other that continued to increase with their acquaintance. Captain Howard had, by this time, so far re- covered from his injuries as to be able to walk about; and, as soon as the excitement of their meeting was over, he and Joe went outside to hold a private consultation regarding their situ- ation and future course. Joe gave his opinion unreservedly upon the subject, for he knew the Indians were in hot pursuit, and would soon be upon them. He ad- vised the closest watch and strictest precaution during the night; and, if unmolested when morning came, to break camp and make for the settlement. And acting upon this advice, the guards were doubled, and every measure of precaution pos- sible was taken, The weather was still mittens, glovesand mufflers not only a comfort, but a necessity. When assured that all measures of safety had been made in accordance with his military judgment, Captain Howard returned to the camp, and, seating himself by Grace, said: “Grace, I was never so astounded as when I first saw you, a few nights ago, in the tent with Dr. Cudmore, up at the Indian camp.” ‘No doubt of it, Ralph,” the maiden replied “and I assure you a surprise was no less ereat when I learned from Joe that you were in this country.” “Tt seems as though the Allwise Being has had something to doin sending me here. It was not my intention, Grace, when I last wrote yo to come so far West; but I changed my min after I came into eastern Iowa, and by the unanimous voice of my party, we came on to Fort Dodge. I am very glad, now, that we did come. ‘‘Nor was it my intention, when I last wrote you, of coming ” replied Grace; ‘but a very dear relative in Fort Dodge insisted upon my coming here at once, upon business of great importance to both him and me. Under these circumstances, I could not refuse him; and so I wrote you the fact, directing my letter to Sel- kirk, as usual; and in company with my rela- tive’s agent, a Mr. Sampson, I started upon my long journey. All went well until we arrived at I’ort Des Moines, when the cold weather set in, making our journey a heavy and disagree- able one. But we worried ‘along, and when but an hour or two’s drive from our destination— after three weeks’ tiresome travel—the stage was attacked by Cudmore and his gang, and I forcibly carried away. Sampson was also taken out of the and away by two or three of the men; but what they did with him I know not, though I fear the worst,” ‘Perhaps he was acting in conjunction with your abductors,” Howard suggested. ‘“No, no, Ralph, never; he was a too noble and high-born gentleman to stoop to such vil- ony: I am almost certain that he and I were the intended victims of a foulconspiracy. Cud- more’s presence here convinced me of this fact the moment I saw his loathsome face, and beard his detested voice.” “Well, through the kindness of Heaven, you have been saved from his contaminating touch; and yet I should like to put a bullet through his heart,” and Captain Howard’s face was hard and stern. ‘“‘I am of the opinion he will not trouble us again. I mistrust that brave Joe has killed him; though the lad would not admit that he owing colder, making had; neither would he deny it.” “T ho , for the sake of peace, that the vil- lain has summoned to a final account,” re- plied the captain; ‘in the morning, however, €om cbooks.com