Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 5 — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

os Beadle’s Half-Dime “Library. “* T know there is, Fred.” “But I do og age that Grace has been a willing party to the wrong. **Do you think so, Fred?” ‘*T would be safe in saying, I know it, cap- tain. ” At this juncture Vagabond Joe came runnin up to where the two stood, and in an exci mnanner said: ; “Boys, fall back! there’s a pack of Ingins comin’ down from the west, and I believe they’re a band of Omahas; and if they are, there’ll be some fightin’, now mind. The Oma- has and Ishtahaba’s followers are p’isen to each other—deadly enemies. May God protect the poor young angel in the tent, if they do get to ghtin’ er captors may kill her to keep her out of the hands of the Omahas, for I believe she is a captive!” The three hurried back into the woods, and joined the rest of their friends. The Omahas came on out of the woods, and, like skulking wolves, approached the tents. A few moments later the sound of excited woices rose on the air in front of the lodges, telling that a conflict, true enough, between the foes was inevitable. ainiie Joe, turning to Fred Manning, said: *‘Loan me a revolver, and I'll slip around there and see what I can do for the girl while sere fightin’.” red gave the youth both of his revolvers; then by a circuitous route Joe finally made his way back to the rear of the tent in which the woman was co ‘ Peering into the lodge, he saw that she was alone. The men had gone out, and were en- deavoring to quell the storm that was brewing between the red-skins, The maiden was fright- ened, and sat gazing wildly around her like one bewildered. High and fierce were the words now goeeng between the whites and Sioux on one side, an the Omahas on the other. A question of right to the pale-face hunters’ deserted camp, also the hunting-grounds of the Lizard rivers, seemed the points at issue between them. Joe perceived that the Sioux were determined to farce a battle, and that the terrible crisis was at hand, He waited patiently for it to begin, for ke had his course of action marked out in ease it did. He was somewhat disappointed, however when he suddenly heard the report of rifles ou im the vicinity of his friends. It told him that tthey had been attacked—no doubt by a party of Sioux that were coming to join their friends. This endangered the youth’s situation; still he étid not flinch from his original designs. The conflict in the woods produced a momen- tary suspension of hostile words in camp; but suddenly the war-whoop of Ishtahaba_re- sounded through the night. It was followed by the ‘‘ ping” of a revolver in front of the tent and acry of savage vengeance. Then the conflict, became general, The war- of the Omahas and Sioux rent the night. maiden started to her feet as a bullet tore through the tent close to her head. A savage with a cloven skull suddenly fell with his body half in the lodge. A sight of the ghastl object forced a smothered cry of horror m the poor girl’s lips. . Vagabond Joe drew his knife and sli the tent from top to bottom. Then he glided into the Rodge. The maiden uttered a cry of alarm at sight of him; but the sound of the conflict outside drowned her voice. One word and one look from Joe seemed to > whi her fears, and assure her of his kindly in- ntions. ““Miss Stranger,” the brave boy said, ‘‘are you here of your own free will and accord?’ “*T am not,” she answered, in a voice full of terror. ‘* Do you want to escape?” he questioned, “Yes; I want to die!” she responded. i eae 4 deration! you’re skeered; don’t be afear ’m Vagabond Joe; if you'll foller me, ara we can escape while they’re fightin’. But there’s not a holy second to lose, Miss Stranger.” As he “pes Joe took down the maiden’s cloak and shaw] and them about her shoul- ders. Without a second thought the girl con- sented to trust herself to the protection of the boy-stranger. oe now picked up a rifle that lay at his feet, and placid it and its accouterments upon a hand-sledge in the tent that had been as a seat by Captain Howard and his friend. Upon this sledge he also quickly piled several blank- ets, a robe of wolf-skin, one of jaguar-skin, and one of buffalo, Then he stepped out of the tent and drew the sledge and its load after him. The fair captive, with wildly throbbing heart, seerped into the , “* that was now ringing with the horrible of battle. Joe took her by the hand and moved rapidly away, pulling the sled along. They plunged into the shadows of the deepest timber and labored on as fast as possible through snow nearly a foot deep. ; It was a dreadful undertaking for the frail, tender girl who was already worn with the fa- tigue of the journey there into the valley of the Lizard. Buta hope of escape from the power of her enemies buoyed up her lagging spirit and renewed her failing strength. Warmly clad, there was no danger of suffering by exposure. Vagabond Joe made his way toward the river, and when it was at length reached, he led his protege down the bank upon the ice. “It will be easier traveling here,” he said; and so they found it. While the wind sucking down the river had kept the ice in the center clear of snow, a light crust had been permitted to gather along either side; and this made foot- ing light and easy. ‘We ean hurry along a little here,” Joe said, ‘and if you git tired, Mis Stranger, you can take a seat on the sledge and then I'll git out onto the slick ice and jist take you a flukin’.” The maiden smiled sadly at the youth’s kind words—spoken uncouthly, yet with such a depth of earnestness. She was greatly surprised that such a mere boy should assume such responsibilities, as her oung protector and rescuer had taken upon Simse If; and that, too, with all the self-assur- ance of an old, woodman. She regarded his slender form with wonder, for it seemed impos- sible that one so small could be possessed of such physical endurance, After journeying a mile or two they*sto to listen. Joe prevailed on the maiden to sit down upon the sledge and rest. All seund of the conflict had hushed; and as five minutes’ listening brought no evidence of the condition of affairs behind them, Joe ven- tured to remark: ‘* The conflict has ended, Miss Stranger.” “Do you think they will find us?’ the maiden in . ‘4 It depends altogether on who’s victors,” the boy answered; ‘‘if your captors won the battle, they’ll be apt to find and follow our trail. But if the others win, they may not know you were in the tent. y own friends, ’m awfully afraid, got into danger before we left the tent.” “Then you had friends near?’ the maiden asked, ‘* Yes, I had several of them. I left them out in the woods when I crept down to help you; and I would have taken you to where they were, had I not heard aa goin’ on out where I Jeftthem. But by mollyhorns! “the lad sud- denly exclaimed, as he scanned the heavens; “if our trail’s not found within the next hour, it will not be found to-night; for I tell you, Miss Stranger, we’re goin’ to have another rattlin’ ole snow-storm. I thought it had only cleared off to git a good ready for a regler blizzard, and told the boys so.” Finn hope it will not snow!” the girl ex- Cc ‘It was the fury of the storm at the begin- ning of night that drove my captors into the deserted camp where you found me, though I am sure I do not regret the fact now, but an- other storm may cause us great suffering.” ‘Not a bit of it, Miss Stranger; I’m too old a coon to be catched asleep ina snow-storm. I was just wishin’ it would storm and conceal our trail. Don’t you see the nub to it?’ ‘It would be in our favor in that respect,” she admitted. ‘*Course it would! But, Miss Stranger, I’ve been dyin’ to ask you a question or two: wasn’t you landed in the camp up there in a sled?” ‘* Yes, sir,” she answered; ‘I was taken from the stage, due at Fort a at eight o’clock some distance below the settlement, and pla in a sled and carried off. I had a gentleman friend on the stage that was also made way with; but what became of him, I know not. The road-agents must have killed him.” ‘*Do you think your captors are road-agents?” “T called them road-agents, though I believe they are a band of conspirators; and that my friend and I are the victims of their foul con- spiracy. I overheard enough from their lips, when won am gg I was unconscious, to war- rant this belief. ee you don’t live in this outlandish coun- ‘No; my home is many long miles from here. I was on my way to the settlement to visit a friend. My name is Grace Manville.” ‘* Grace Manville,” repeated the young guide. ‘* Well, it differs a leetle from mine in elegance.” ‘* What did you tell me your name was?’ she asked. ‘“Vagabond Joe.” A smile lit up the face of the fair giri, and she was about to reply when a strange, dismal cry broke upon her ears, causing her to start to her feet and cling closer to the side of her young protector. ‘* What was it, Joe?” she asked. “That was nothin’ but the cry of a welf,” he answered, with a good-natured, boyish laugh that did much toward removing her sudden fright. © Indeed! it is the first I ever heard,” she an- swered. ‘‘ How very dismal and heartrending!” ‘* Pve heard sweeter music, myself, Miss Grace- ful,” Joe replied; ‘‘ but I guess we’ll have to be peggin’ on.” ey resumed their flight. The sky became overcast with light, en-gray clouds. The atmosphere grew damp and heavy; and soon the snow began to fall again—this time in large, damp flakes that clung to whatever they touched. And here I will say that this was the begin- ning of that terrible storm which made the winter of the — 1856 the most severe and prolonged in the memory of the oldest hunter or settler in the North-west. It snowed for near- ly a week with but a few hours’ intermission, and then the wind kept the air filled with blind- ing, drifting snow. During the week of snow- storm the weather was comparatively warm, the mer seldom falling below freezin — but when the storm ended the bitter cold set in. Joe and his fair companion trudged on. The snow, falling in perfect sheets, weighed them down and made travel heavy and laborious. Grace tried to induce Joe to abandon his sledge but in vain. "He dragged it along with a patient determination, for he knew not what moment it, or the articles upon it, might be needed. He talked away incessantly, boy-like. He addressed words of cheer and encouragement to Grace, and then rambled off on some story of his ad- ventures. Finally Grace asked: ** Joe, how far is it to your settlement?” “Sorry to tell you, Miss Graceful, that it’s over twenty miles as the river runs.” A cry of hopelessness and surprise burst from the fair fugitive’s lips. ‘*Oh, I can never make that distance, Joe. I shall die with cold and fatigue!” ‘* Won’t you let me arrange a seat for you on this sledge, Miss Graceful? I can—” “No, no,” she interrupted, ‘save yourself, Joe. ou are a brave, noble boy; but you can- not stand it to drag me through this storm. Go ~~. Joe, and leave me to my fate—save your- self. ‘* Never!” replied Joe, emphatically.’ “I'll be frozen stiffer’n a jumpin’-jack, edidee it shall be said that Vagabond Joe deserted an angel that couldn’t fly for want of wings. If you won't let me draw you on this.sled, Pll stick right by you, Miss Graceful, till the last breath. That's me, Vagabond Joe, to a scratch.” With this determination, the youth conducted the girl slowly onward until she finally sunk to her knees with exhaustion and discouragement. “Oh, God, save me!” she cried, imploringly, addressing herself to Heaven. ‘* He'll not desert you, Miss Graceful,” Joe re- plied, kindly assisting her to her feet, and then ae her to the bank and out into the Ww Ss, ** You sha’n’t die, Graceful, as long’s my head’s hot,” he continued; *“Tll save nt in ‘spite of the road-agents, the Injins and the storm. Now I want you to sit down here and let me cover you all up, then I'll see what ean be done to’rds ois tense sn Ulaniettor h e sp a Dianket tor her feet to rest upon and then she sat down on the sledge. Takin another blanket he threw it over her head and shoulders, and carefully tucked it about her form so that the snow might not reach her. ‘You see, Miss Graceful,” he said, “ it was <5 me lucky I brought these things along. They’ll be an awful comfort to us. How’s that? can you breathe?’ ae being assured that she was comfortab] bundled up from the storm, Joe applied himse to work, determined to avail himself of the snow-bound hunter’s last resort for a camp, by recourse oe ie ee Hard by the youth found a large linden ‘ It was hollow as a shell, and hevine partially ’ EGOmicdbooks.co