Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 56 — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

ae, ae ~ - ——— 12 Beadle’s Half-Dime Library. ‘Then the first time 1 went out swimming, I got catched in the current, went through the gates, and ot under the wheel. I was p tough in them ays, and instead of stisbundoed Ilo ot purty well squeezed; but it stopped the water-w and took ’em a half-hour to get me out, and my father had to pay the men for the half hour lost time. ‘* When I went to school, the teacher said I had an amazin’ talent, but it was a talent for making fires— and that’s what he set me at; but the second time that I undertook it, the stove upset and set fire and burned down the building. Nobody ever found it out, howsumever, as no one besides me see’d it ex- cept the teacher, and he got burned up afore he could git out. ‘So I got out of that diffikilty very handsome, but only to tumble into another, fur when I was in St. Louis, some thief in the crowd finding himself hard chased, took the money out the pocket-book and pa the pocket-book in my pocket, and then grabbed me by the collar, and yelled, stop thieéf. “That and some other things d sted me with the settlements, and I struck out for the peraries and mountains, “*T was young in them days, and I hadn’t been out here long afore I fell in love with a beautiful squaw and spent a year in courtin’ her from a distance, an then when I got a chance to come nearer, I see’d she was a big warrior, that slammed his tomahawk at my head, and that I had to soothe by lettin’ daylight through his skull. “Every man must have his diffikilties, I s’pose. Here is Ned come all the way across the ocean, to get the gal he loves and loves him, all ‘cause there was a diffikilty that wouldn’t let em take her away with the rest of the family, and now when he comes all the way arter her, here’s the condemnedest diffi- kilty of all; we've got the critter, but here the var- mints are all about us, and there’s no tellin’ when we're goin’ to get her clear away. **I send Ned out to make a rackynoissance and he agrees to meet me, and he don’t do it—some little condemned diffikilty is in the way; he’s run outside of me, which, howsumever, is better than runnin’ inside, and we've got to crawl around here in the — for a good while afore we run afoul of each other. ‘*Thar’s allers some diffikilty fur a man to stumble over, or to stop him, but I s’pose if there wasn't he’d get to runnin’ so fast that there’d be no stoppin’ to It was very evident from Nick’s manner that he was not alarmed at the absence of his friend. He supposed that it had all resulted very naturally, and that they would soon find each other. Nick was quite sleepy, too, but he was alsoso much accustomed to self-denial and privation that he easily staved off his cree drowsiness. He was so far away from the fire that none of its light could pos- sibly strike him, although he could plainly see the moving figures near it. ty still crouched at his side, and the trapper affectionately laid his arm over his neck, as a lover would have done. “Tl orter be kicked to be talkin’ *bout diffikilties, when God has been so clever to me, and what ani- mile is there that He ain’t a blamed sight kinder to than he desarves? Ali through my diffikilties He has took care of me: I’m healthy (‘specially at feed- in’ time), and the pup here still sticks by me. “Then there’s Shagbark at home—one of the smartest animiles that ever kicked a varmint over. Shagbark hain’t had much of a hand in gettin’ the gal out of the power of the varmints, ‘cause we've had to use our canoes; but he’s home gettin’ fat, and will be ready to take the next trail with me. Me and Shagbark have seen some hard times to- gether, and I’ve found his heels a “emp f handy thing when the reds kim down on us rather too heavy.”’ The fact of it was that, although Nick iffles was aren’ to talk oy 3 much of his diffikilties, he did not intend to do so in a wt etn meer # peng but rather for his own amusement. He co not help feeling that he was under the greatest obligations to the Providence that had brought him through so many dangers to see his advanced age. About this time Nick began to feel so much appre- hension regarding his friend that he turned back and resumed his search. ‘**It may be that he’s finished his rackynoissance, and has gone back to court that gal,’’ he muttered, believing such a thing possible, but hardly probable. So he went over most of the ground that he had al- ready trod over, taking a sort of zigzag course, but still without accomplishing any thing toward finding his man. So much time had now passed that he began to feel serious alarm, and finally he made the last re- sort. “Calamity, I’m a little oneasy "bout the lad; do you go and hunt for me.,”’ The dog at once trotted off in the dar':noss, fully sensible of the duty that was required of Lim. Back and forth and around he went, unvil finally he struck the scent, and he followed it as if he were a bloodhound. The Indian that was stealing upon the reg | figure of Ned Mackintosh had already drawn knife, and had decided where to drive it home, when — rustling behind him caused him to turn his As he did so, a huge dark body, like a cannon-ball on the ricochet, struck him with such velocity as to throw him over and over, while the fangs of Calam- ity were fixed with such immovable fierceness in his throat that the red-skin, after a few spasmodic strug- gles, stretched out, dead. It was all done with inconceivable quickness. The almost human foresight of the dog seemed to tell bim that his human enemy would bury the gleam- ing knife in his body if only the opportunity was given, and so he Pron, he the life out of him m4 once and completely. There was no outcry, but the flinging of the leaves so close to the head of Mackintosh aroused him, and he rose to a sitting ition just as Calamity released his iron jaws from the throat of the Indian. One glance and the young manfunderstood all. He saw that the dog had rescued him from death—a fate incurred by his own remissness—and he impulsively threw his arms about the animal. ‘“*God be thanked for sending you in time!” he ex- claimed; ‘‘ but for you I would not have been a liv- a this minute.” ow came Calamity to be upon the spot at this opportune time? moment’s reflection served to explain it to him. He had doubtless been sleeping on the ground for a long time, until the wearied Nick had sent Calamity ‘*l am sorry I forgot myself, gave the trapper all this anxiety,’’ reflected Mackintosh, as he began ee retreating from his dangerous position; ‘**but at the same time I am very ¢ I have been able to secure a good hour or two of slumber, for I needed it bad enough, and might-have taken It at a time when it would have put the rest in more dan- ger.”’ As he had no idea of the proper course to take to reach Nick Whiffles, he put bimself under the guid- ance of Calamity, who, as a matter of course, 8 - ily brought the men together. Ned confessed to his falling asleep, and explained how the dog had dis- covered him just in time to save his life from the ferocious Blackfoot. ‘“*The pup done the same thing for me once,”’ re- plied Nick, who took it all as a matter of course; ‘ raf ve like him, just like him.” ‘What are you going to do when he dies?” asked Ned, looking admiringly at the brute. “I shouldn’t ese poe myself safe a day leading your life without m.”’ “TI got him at the Selkirk settlement eight years ago, and I think he’s good for several seasons yet; ‘*he’s got plenty relatives there, and I'll hunt ’em out when he kéels over, and take some of his nephews or descendants.”’ ‘** You will keep him till he pegs out with old age?” *““Onless he goes under afore; I expect, howsum- ever, that Calamity will be co, Bre when I git to heaven, for you can’t make me believe that sich dogs hain’t got souls like the rest of us.”’ Mackintosh had no wish to disturb the pleasant belief of the trapper, and so he let his assertion pass undisputed. ‘ ‘* How long do you suppose I have been sleeping?”’ e a ‘Well on to two hours; that is, if you dropped ee purty soon after you left here.” nt t I did, and it done me good; I sorely needed it.”’ : ‘* What did you l’arn "bout the Injins?” ‘* Well, not much of anything, except that there are about a dozen hanging around the camp-fire— for what I cannot imagine, and therefore cannot tell whether the indications are favorable or “The sign is rather d,”’ added Nick; “this is a sort of a camp, and ain’t any trap set to catch us; we can pass around it without runnin’ ag’in’ a lot o the varmints at every step.”’ ‘*Have you met with no adventure while I was sleeping?” “ one.”’ ‘** You consider our chances pretty good for getting out of the valley now?” ‘“* Better than they war; you see, the varmints are id the track altogether, and don’t know whar to look or us.”’ ‘‘One of the signal-fires that we saw, you recol- lect was on the top of the very ridge over which we are to pass; consequently we may look for our ene- mies there.” ; ‘“Wemay look for ’em everywhere,” replied Nick; ‘that Red Bear isn’t goin’ to give up the chase so long as there is a show for ‘em, ‘**I suppose Miona is looking for us.” eae and time is precious, so we'll walk and The two men were so far away from the camp that they considered it safe to engage in a cautious con- versation, without risk of being overheard by their enemies. At the same time neither was so reckless as to forget that there was danger all around, and that a misstep even might betray them. Nick Whiffles was quite hopeful again. He and the others had been so hotly pursued, and were driven to the wall, as it were, so often, that there was a relief in the respite, which they now oe be e Ci around so as to give the cour fe) Blackfeet a wide birth, they rapidly approached the sput where they had left Miona. They walked along some time in silence, and then Ned looked about , and said: ‘‘I can’t see very well, buf this looks like the spot.” ** It is the spot.”’ ** But where is Miona?”’ ’ “That is what I should like to know. She isn’t here, that’s certain.” The two walked carefully about for a few minutes, and then Ned asked his companion: “Are you really certain this is the place where she was to await our return? I didn’t notice it particu- larly enough to tell.” ; “*Tt’s the spot, sartin: there’s no mistake about it.” ** Merciful heavens! then she is gone /”’ “Tt looks very much that way,’’ was the answer of Nick Whiffles, who was standing in the shadow of po wood, with his arms folded and resting upon his e. This was his attitude when in deep, perplexing thee at as he certainly was on the present occa- on. Ned Mackintosh waited a few minutes for him to speak, and then growing impatient, asked: “Where ean she be, Nick? Do not ‘say she ig ne hands of the Blackfeet, or you will drive me Ww Fone ‘*I don’t say where she is,"’ was the impressive re- ply of the trapper. ‘I don’t know whether she’s ead or livin’, but I think the varmints have got her and if they have you may make sartin that you'll never see her again!” —_———— CHAPTER XVI. IN THE TOILS. Lirrte did Nick Whiffles and Ned Mackintosh dream of the experiences to which Miona was doom- ed, when they left her to herself in the wood. er position seemed so secure against discovery by the Blackfeet, that even the veteran trapper deemed it perfectly safe so long as the darkness lasted. The girl resolved to obey the instruction of her old friend to the letter, and drawing the blanket close around her, she sat down at the foot of the tree, under which she had been stan , and almost instantly sunk into a profound slumber, for she needed rest as much as did her lover. But her nerves were in a more excitable condition, for the shadow of her great danger was upon her, and after she had slept about an hour she suddenly awoke to a full consciousness of her situation. At the same moment she was conscious of a feel- ing of peril such as she had not when first left alone. It was a sort of presentiment of danger that was so impressive, that, despite the warning she had re- ceived from Nick, she determined to change her position by withdrawing somewhat further into the w She ste back a dozen paces or so, when she found horace beside a tree, similar to that which she had just left. Here she stood motionless and listened, Was that the rustling of the wind that just then caught her ear? No, it was upon the ground, and while she was trying to still the beating of her heart, she distinctly the tread of some one upon the leaves! Some wild animal, she concluded, was wandering near her, unconscious of her presence, ,” she thought “T will not stir, and he will pass b -_ she endeavored to pierce the inky gloom abou But no; it was drawing near, and it was moving so stealthily that she was certain her presence was de- tected, and it intended to steal upon her. Filled with alarm, Miona reached her hands upward to seek if there were any limbs upon which she could seize and draw herself up out of its reach. No; there were none, and the creature was now within a few paces! What should she do? She had no weapons at all with her, she had left the deserted village in such haste that she had not nce ee of bringing her rifle with her. She was he Then AcAmne the hope that she ht frighten the animal into leaving her, and summoning her courage to the intense trial, she made a light spring toward it in the darkness, throwing up her outstretched arms, as she had seen Nick do with the bear, and shaking her blanket at the same time, and uttering an as tion intended to startle the creature, what- ever it was, As she did so, she felt her arm yeree in such a manner that she knew at once that an Indian had seized it! With a gasp of terror, Miona attempted to draw back and wrench herself oe but a giant could not have held her more securely. ‘Heaven be merciful!” she prayed, struggling with the strength of desperation. “ Miona! my Queen!”’ She recognized that voice; it belonged to Red Bear! Ay; the very being most dreaded upon earth had her now in his power! Miona would have screamed, but her tongue seem- ed palsied; she attempted to speak, but could not! She was like one dead. ‘“My Queen of the Woods!” added Red Bear, in his native tongue. “I have sought you long, and with tears in my eyes; why did you flee from me?” Her h came back to her, but what should she say? What reply could she make? What reason could she give? What was to be gained by attempt- ing to bandy words with him who Enew no reason or mercy ? Oh, if she had but a pistol, or even a knife! How she would fight for her freedom, never so dear to her as at this moment. | He used no violence, but, holding her with a gripe that was painful, he ied her forward into the path n. A of hope shot through her frame. Where was Nick? Was it not time for him to return? Would he not be coming along this path in a few minutes? Would they not meet, and then she would be safe after all? : But no one else was encountered, nor did she hear any indication of the proximity of her friends, “Why do they remain away? Have they, too, deserted me?” she wailed, in heranguish. “ cA there no hope for me?” The heavens seemed closed, indeed. As the dim cS GOMiGyeCoO (E(@)