Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 52 — page 3: what you’re looking at

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

i es “Do you mean *Lije?” ‘*? believe that is the cognomen by which he was designated.” ‘Lije went under "bout five years ago,” re- — aufy with something like sadness in his voice. ‘*Killed by aboory-gines, I s’pose?” ‘What kind of engints is that?’ ‘* In-jines.” ‘Then why don’t you call ’em by thar right names—red-skins, or varmints? 0; we got cotched in a tearin’ big snow-storm, and ’Lije couldn’t fight it through; he and his hoss both went manny; but I hain’t heerd what you had to me ‘In the first place, do you imagine, or su as or think that that same identical whi uffalo is still alive?” Jabez was in earnest, and he gesticulated quite excitedly in the face of the hunter, as he <8 oe. while the latter replied with his usual coolness. ‘Wal, that’s anuther thing that I couldn’t sw’ar to. He mought be alive, and ef he is, he’s purty old and rather stiff in the j'ints by this time.” ‘‘T’m glad to hear that; it will be all the bet- ter for me,” ‘What yer drivin’ at?” ‘“‘See yer, Mr. Waufy,” said Jabez, approach- ing still closer, and sinking his voice toa con- fidential whisper, “‘[’m out on a speculating tower, and I see here a stupendous fortune.” Waufy’s countenance proved that he still failed to see the point. “Don’t you take? It’s this: ’'m going tocatch that white buffalo, and take him round the country asa show. Just think how it would o! . And springing round in his excitement, Spikes drew an imaginary poster on the wall with his finger, reading the words as he traced them: “The Phenomenon of the Age! The Wonder from the West! A Genuine Snow-White Buff- alo Phew the Rocky Mountainsof the West, now on Exhibitionat ——. Admission $1; Children, double price, ete. “What do you think of that?’ demanded Jabez, dancing about the floor in his excitement, and swinging his hat; ‘‘won’t that make m fortune? on’t it run like wildfire? Why shall ride down to the remotest lapse of time, to undying fame, on the back of a white buffalo. B ger, I'll hang on too; he can’t throw me like hedid you. Yes, sir, that’s the programme. What do you think of that, Mr. Waufy?” The trapper hardly knew what he thought. His breath was fairly taken from him by the burst of excitement in his companion. The idea of carrying a white buffalo round the coun- try and charging to see him, was entirely new to hi m. Suddenly he brightened up. “Why don’t you take a green buffler?” ‘*There ain’t an¥ such thing, is there?’ ‘* No; but thar’s pentr: of green paint in the ain’t thar?” oun ‘ The New Englander solemnly shook his head. ‘““That would be a fraud, and J could never engage in any such business, I might have made my fortune long ago, if I would have de- scended to such business. And then it wouldn’t work any way; a blue or n buffalo is an impossibility, as much as a blue or L seed wm man, and I should be discovered and my charac- ter e. No, no; that wouldn’t do.” ‘Phere’s one thing in the way,” said Waufy. ““ What is that?’ was the eager query. ‘“ Afore'you kin make your money off that buffler, you must catch him.’ As ’s so,” replied Spikes, jamming his hands again into his pockets, an k and forth. ‘‘ 1 s’pose he’ll have to be lassoed.” ‘« Lasso thunder!” muttered thetrapper. ‘I'd like to see you or anybody else lasso a buffler.” “Then what can you do?’ ““Tll be hanged ef I know, onless you get Lim away from the rest of ’em and drive here.” “Mr. Waufy,” said Jabez, stopping squarely in front of him again, “‘ how soon are you going into the trapping territory again?” “ As soon as the weather settles, I start with my two hosses.” ‘What we ge want of two?’ vr. One to i e, and the other to help bring back @ es. **T see; well, now, what do you say to my go- “Gvaufy had been expecting this, but, bef a € this, but, before making a reply, he scru the Yankee from head to foot and back ‘* Have you ever been on the “Never was as fur west in my life.” | | | i ts bed gu h P rd, Ww 7: tin! | azed t dreams, sky y. J The White Buffalo. ‘* ‘What brought you here?” ‘“‘By ginger if I know. I’ve been tryin’ my hand at every thing, and done only middling well, and I came out here to see what the pros- pects were of my acquiring a suitable fortune, and here I am.” ‘* Have you got a good hoss?” Te. a one; a magnificent rifle, and a stupendous pair of pistols. Oh! I’m all ready for a campaign,” said Jabez, quite proudly. ““Thar is other things beside bufflers out there,” said the trapper, a moment afterward. ** What’s them?’ ** Injuns—and the worst kind, too.” “Oh! I know that; I think [ll lasso one of them, too, and have him as the keeper of the white buffalo. How re a But what do you say to my going with you “You kin go.” - _ right then; that settles it. Now to bed.” As the massive hunter lay in bed, listening to the terrific wore lany Pe. Jabez ~ Sex. he reflect- ed — what he done. He had consented to take as his companion upon a most perilous journey, a man who was a complete novice in ndian ways, and who, for the sake of accom- ee what might well be regarded as an im- possibility, would sacrifice his life. But the original and eccentric ways of the Yankee pleased the hardy old hunter, and not a little to his own surprise, he took quite a liking to him, and he found himself contemplating his com onship with no little pleasure. ““Skulp me! but what in blazes makes him snore so!” exclaimed Waufy, looking across the room, in the darkness, toward the point where he knew the man was lying. ‘ Ef he keeps on that way, he’ll have the door off the hinges. It bea creation !”’ Suddenly the racket ceased, and a movement was heard as though the sleeper was turning in ‘*T guess he had his head fast in the bed-post,” muttered the trapper. ‘‘ Now he’ll rest easier. Hello!” At that instant he heard the feet of Jabez up- on the floor; then he moved around the room, fumbled at his pockets, and scraped a match upon the wall. ‘* What’s the matter?’ asked Waufy; but there was no reply, and looking at the man, he saw that a spe of somnambulism was upon him, and e was unconscious of what he was doing. The trapper watched him with no little interest. Going back to his own bed, he unfastened the cord, tied a loop at one end, and stepping to the other end of the room, swung it over his shoul- der, and hurled it with such precision, that before aufy knew it, it caught one of his arms, and was instantly jerked t. ‘By ginger! I’ve caught the white buffalo!” exclaimed the delighted somnambulist, pulling with such power, that the burly hunter was ae oy out upon the floor, sprawling full len “'Thunderation! I should think a had!” muttered Waufy, am in spite of his misha > You know how to throw the lasso, that’s cok: At this juncture, just as the hunter caught his knife, and cut the cord, Jabez Spikes, si ly enough, awoke. Of course he was consi bly am when he discovered what he had done, and he was somewhat chagrined at the figure he cut. “‘If you can throw the lasso that way when you are asleep, you orter know something about it when you’re awake,” said babe ‘“* Never tried it before in my life. You'll arn, but s’pose you stop practicing fur to-night.” Jabez took up his Bag Koy with Waufy, and soon after both sunk intoa refreshing sleep, which was undisturbed by any more troublous and neither awoke until broad daylight. CHAPTER IIl. THE FATE OF THE ESCORT. THE morning dawned clear, bright and beau- tiful. The storm had cleared away during the night, and the sun was shining in an unclouded . The air was cree although not severe, and it was just the weather for a party that con- sy any le y journey. “s ginger! this is whee I denominate grandly magnificent!” exclaimed Jabez Spikes, after ar os upon the scene for a few mo- Ne vars vir h to . yer now, wied the trapper, “’s’pose ou leave off that Saitle Don’t satabor me, but ist call me by m t name.” ‘* Well, then, Waufy, how soon will we start te buffalo?” on our hunt for the w oe , in 3 i “We! J don’t start at all.” **'You needn’t feel bad; J intended to make you a half-partner all the while.” “No, you don’t; I’m goin’ up the Yallerstone to hunt beaver and otters and sich like; not any white buffalo for me.” ** But you are going where that natural phe- nomenon exists?’ demanded Jabez, in consid- erable consternation. “Sartinly, ’m goin’ whar that critter was seen, ef that’s what you mean, and I'll help you cotch him ef the thing can be done—but then it’s fur you, and not fur me.” ; “All right,” responded Jabez, as they made their way down-stairs. At the breakfast-table, Lieutenant Putnam was encountered, and quite a pleasant conver- sation ensued. Waufy seemed quite communi- cative, and Spikes was in the best of spirits. en they had finished, the young officer said: ‘“*l understand you start to-day for the head- waters of the Yellowstone,” “*That’s the idee.” “The escort which Colonel McHavens prom- ised should be here several days ago, has not yet appeeree, and [ am almost certain that some- t my Sa happened to them. I find, from what you have told me, that f ha are going wer. nearly in the same direction that I wish to follow—” ** Where is Colonel McHavens?” “He is encamped at the junction of the Black and Thunder rivers, about—” “That’s enough,” interrupted the trapper. “Ive been thar often ‘nough to know That place. It’s "bout twenty miles west of. the trail ; "but, if Nod go ‘long with us, we'll take you right to the spot.” The lieutenant bowed and expressed his thanks. He hardly ex such an accommodatin spirit upon the of the trapper, and coul he have felt certain that no accident had hap- pened to the escort, he would have been in as good spirits as they. The forenoon wore away, and the weather settled into a pleasant, mild autumn day. At noon the three men ate their dinner ther, and then, each ae ey be horse, with W aufy’s extra trotting behind like a dog, they rode down into the river-that ran in front of the vi carefully forded it, and reaching the opposite side, struck off toward the west. From this moment it may be said that their real journey began. The time was quite anum- ber of years ago, before Western Iowa and Mis- souri were so thickly populated on their west- ern border, and the marauding Indians came down to the very villages and towns. Colonel McHavens’s exploring party consisted of something like forty men, all well armed and pre for this expedition, so that it may be said, that when together, they were in no per- sonal danger, as they were abundantly able to take care of themselves; but, they Kad ‘iienaae lost several stragglers, and they had every proof that they were under the constant survei of hordes of vigilant red-skins, who would have been only too glad to have scalped every mem- ber of the company. The trio continued riding along at a leisurely gait the clear bracing air im ing a vigor to he e of each, that made the act of riding a most pleasurable exercise. Jabez Spikes was very loquacious, and Waufy seemed to be very communicative, and gave some most thrilling experiences that had ans his in the years past. The prairie was mainly of the rolling kind, interspersed here and there with patches of tim- ber and wooded streams. Several of the latter were quite deep, but the great ere gpacn of y - Waufy led him to easy fords, without an tation. Just at dusk they crossed a small stream, and concluded to camp among the trees on the oppo- site side. Before doing so, and while the two were making their preparations, Waufy rode to a som euue —_s away, and took an a vation. othing of “sign” was perce e, and he returned with the permission Yor then, to kindle a fire. “‘Build it down as close to the stream as you kin,” said the trapper, as he came back, “for some of them varmints may be prowlin’ ’ 5 They had seen an abundance of game during the day, but had not taken the trouble to bring any of it down, as they had brought quite a tial lunch with them, and they now gathered about the cam to enjoy it. ide was an inveterate smoker, but the others did not indulge in the use of nicotine, and they whiled the hours away in converse. When it had owe Wee late, they turned in for the t, and three slept without disturbance until morning. 0)(0\(0) (e “Ss = _ ~ —_ - -—— ae = — Se — —