Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 56 — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

Beadle’s Half-Dime Library. “T b’lieve the old sarpent will be looking for me to-night,’’ said he. “Icome away in such a hurry that dn’t think any of ’em got a chance to foller me, but they will be on the look-out to night.”’ ‘They certainly cannot discover us in such an out- of-the-way place as this,” ‘*Not if we take care of ourselves—so I'll just pull the boat up out of the way where they won't be like- ly to run ag’in’ us,”’ Stooping down the trapper drew the canoe clear up on by grass, so that none of it rested in the wa- ter at all. He had searcely done so when Calamity gave ut- terance to a low, ominous growl. “Sh! whispered the master; *“‘we haven't been nous to soon. What is it, pup?” The dog added one or two mutterings, so faint they were barely audible, but they were sufficient for Nick, for they told him that Indians were close at hand, Inclining his ear, the trapper now detected the faint dip of paddles—so faint indeed as to prove that the red-skins were advancing with unusual caution, and that at that moment they were near. Nick made a gesture of silence, and Calamity instantly be- came as one dead, while, as a matter of course, Ned dit not stir. Whiffles reached the edge of the water, on his hands and knees, and carefully peered out in the darkness. The gloom was too great for him to see with any distinctness, but guided by his sense of hearing, he managed to discern the outlines of a shadowy boat, moving very slowly up-stream, and only a few feet away from land. As it came directly abreast, he observed four Indians seated in it. At this preciss point they halted, so near that he could have tosse | his hatinto the boat, and then thay exchanged a few words. As they used their own tongue, and were so close, Nick had no difficulty in comprehending their words, which, liberally inter- preted, were as follows: ‘*He came up the river, and the trappers said he hala companion with him.”’ ‘Did you find waere he went?” :* We lost him in the woods, but he lingers some- where near us.”’ ‘* He is the friend of Woo-wol-na?”’ ‘But the enemy of Red Bear.’’ Nick Whiffles recognized Red Bear himself as the one who uttered the last remark, and it proved that he and his three companions were seeking himself and Mackintosh, unsuspicious of his real identity for the purpose of putting them out of the way, anc en ling all trouble regarding Miona. fhe Blackf2*5 exchanged a few words more of sp culation upon the whereabouts of the two men, atil thea they gradually drifted down-stream be- ond hearing. What Nick Whiffles had seen and heard now fully desided his course. He had not a particle of doubt th wt Miona had been removed from the village and w ‘3 held a close prisoner in some lo lige or place at no great distance, and before anything could be done in rescuing her it was necessary to ascertain where this pluce was. : Wurthermore, it was evident that the Blackfeet w >re not convinced of the success of the stratagem in making it appear that the captive was dead, and Rod Bear, the ons among them most interested, had resolved on putting out of the way the old friend of hi; father, and ths companion who was with him. Hence, as preliminary to any step in the business, it vas necessary to throw dust in the eyes of the B vwkfeet; and this Nick Whiffles determined to do e.<octually and at once. de determined, therefore, at the earliest break of dey on the morrow, boldly to enter the Blackfoot vi age alone, and there ask of Woo-wol-na to see the g..ve where Miona was buried. Then it was his pu ‘pose to affect such a belief in her demise as would el sctually deceive the Indians. \fter which, working with his usual caution and sic U, Nick believed himself competent to detect the hi | ng-place of Miona, then, he and Ned would en- ga re in the “tug of war.” This course of action agreed upon, the old trapper re urned to the edge of the river to watch and listen fo. the return of the Indian canoe, but he heard no-hing of it, and concluded that it had crossed over aod descended upon the opposite side. \s there was no likelihood of being discovered, thoy then lay down to rest irae | as before act- ja + the part of sentinel. He secured all the sleep he w_ shed through the day, so that it was no depriva- tion or hardship for him to keep awake during the nisht, even though his years were beginning to press ra her heavily upon him. ‘he slumbers of both were undisturbed, and both awoke much refreshed and in good spirits. Ned Mckintosh especially found himself the possessor of a myn degree of hopefulness in great con- ; trast to his sensations of the day before. ‘The last of their food was eaten, and by the time ths sun had fairly risen, Nick was paddling down- stream, with a slowness that became one engaged upon such a sad e tion as was he. he first persons he encountered upon landing at the village, were Woo-wol-na and r, who stood together talking earnestly upon some su Se A ht of the visitor they instantly ceased. Nick es’s knowledge of human nature was too great for the young Blackfoot to hide his vindictive hatred of the man who was seeking the prize that he had come to believe belonged to one. Woo-wol-na, on the contrary, was quite gracious in his manner, and seemed to entertain a genuine re- ard for the old hunter, who so many years before iad done him such valuable service when hard pressed by his enemies; but, savage-like, his whole i) crests were wrapped up in those of his son, and he was prepared to sacrifice anything or anybody who stood in the way of their accomplishment. Nick greeted him in the usual formal manner cus- tomary at such times, and then questioned him re- garding the death of Miona. How long since did it occur? Of what character did her disease appear to be? How long was she sick? Did she seem to suffer much? Did she leave any parting messages for her friends? These inquiries were all made for the purpose of deceiving the chief into the belief of their sincerity. The reply in substance was that she had died a week before. The symptoms, as he described them, were those of a violent fever, short and occasioning reat suffering. The medicine-man of the village ad done all that was possible for her, and her death was sincerely mourned by the entire village, who were all attached to her. As her mind was wander- ing during the entire time of her sickness, she left no tangible message for any of her pale-faced friends who might seek her. Then Nick stated that he would like to visit her grave before carrying word to her home many miles away. Woo-wol-na voluvteered at once to lead him to it, and the two started. As is well known, it is the frequent custom of the Indians of the North-west to bury their dead above ground—that is, by placing them upon a sort of scaffold, where they are carefully wrapped up and left to decay by the action of time and the elements. This is often done, but, at the same time, as many, if not more, are placec beneath the sod, more after the manner of civilized life. Woo-wol-na conducted the visitor to a beautiful i se about a tenth of a mile distant, where there was the appearance of a newly-made grave, where, he said, Miona had been buried amid the lamentations of all the warriors and maidens of his tribe. Then, with unexpected deference, the old chief withdrew and left him alone with his sorrow. Knowing that he was carefully observing him all this time, the trapper affected a great deal more of grief than he felt, and when he had remained a proper time, he bade the grave farewell, and was es- corted to the village by the chief, where he embark- ed in his canoe again and started u river. Ned was taken in ina secret manner, and by lying down in the canoe, was not observed by the lynx-eyed Black- feet watching the wie er far on his way. The shrewd old man so well knew that he would thus be under surveillance, that he resolved to return all the way to his cabin and thus disarm the red scoundrels of all suspicion both of Ned’s existence and of his Nick’s) own want of faith in their story regarding iona’s death. He chuckled with a satisfaction so hearty that cautious as he was by nature and training, he could hardly refrain froin a good, loud laugh, as he pad- dled away, heur by hour, while the red-skins, with almost superhuman efforts, kept along like shadows on his path. “Trot along, Xx greasy vagabones!”’ he said, in a low tone; ‘“‘ we'll give yer a twist that'll make yer ely face look worser’n that hole ye dropped my oy in.”’ Silently, steadily he paddled, keeping Ned close and quiet in the canoe bottom, until they neared the cabin, when the old man permitted the younger to take the blade, which he did in silence, while faithful Calamity, like a grim sentinel, stood in the canoe’s bow asif to relieve his old master from all further responsibility. CHAPTER IX. THE BACK TRAIL. “Now,” said Nick, as they sat down in the cabin, “we can turn about and go back a’gin. We've got rid of the condemnedest diffikilty that we had.”’ “* And all this time what is poe Miona suffering ?”’ replied Ned, resting his hand upon his elbow, and looking the very picture of misery. “She ain’t suffering half as much as you,” replied Nick, who, like a thoughtful host, was preparing a meal for two very hungry men. “She don’t know she’s dead, or that we think she’s gone under.” * But how she must long for our coming! What weary years of waiting she has spent, and now she does not know whether they are to end or not, When do we start down-stream again?” ‘“*Tt will be dark in an hour; we can make a good nt’? td by that time, and I'll take a week's food with us, so we needn't stop to shoot game when some of the varmints are near.”’ Nick was walking toward his fire-place, when he suddenly paused and looked back at his young friend with oF may expression. - , what do you s’pose I b’lieve?”’ ‘**T am sure I can not tell,”’ he replied, looking up = no little surprise at the abruptness of the ques- on. . ; ere?’’ was the eager in ‘ nly no Grizzly Bear Cave?” ed ’, ‘**No; up that creek that I p’inted out to you as we passed. ind, I don’t say she’s there,’’ added Nick; *I only s’pects it.”’ ‘“You wouldn't suspect it without good cause,”’ said Ned, “so I will take that grain of consolation." “It’s many a year ago and more that I helped Woo-wol-na out of his scrape with the Shoshone, I got several purty good digs myself in that scrim- mage, so that I was carried back and laid up in one of thar lodges for the rest of the winter; and I hap- pened to think just now that thar village then stood on the bank of the creek, about ten miles upit. ‘The tribe staid thar fur several years, and then moved down to where they now ar’. When they done it, they left the old lodges standing, and put up new lodges along the river. Now, the Blackfoot allers / puts up his house with the idee that it’s going to last awhile, and I’ve a mind that some of them old sg are still standing, and would make the best areryy of shelter fur a chap that got lost in the w Ted ‘* Have you seen any of them within a few years?” _“* By mighty!” exclaimed Nick, in considérable ex- citement, “‘I slept in one of them lodges the very summer you left me, so they're likely to be some of ‘em there still.” hae you think Miona has been removed to that place ‘*That’s it! It may be that I’m wrong, but Iswow to gracious, that if she ain’t there, I don’t know where to look for her.” “Don’t say that,”’ said Ned, pleadingly; “it will be hard enough to give up when we are compelled to. Until then don’t let me know that you can ever henoagy point where you feel unable to do any- _‘* We're going to havea little moon to-night, though I'd just as lief get along without it as with it.” Nick spent the greater part of an hour in cooking meat for the expedition. He had learned in the great school of necessity, and he worked with that skill and dexterity that soon gave him a)! the food he needed, Ned and pet but a few minutes in eating their evening meal, and then, accompanied by Calamity, they set out again for the river, where they had left their canoe lying. Their food was placed within, the dog took his accustomed place, and just as the shades of night were closing upon forest and river, the paddle was dipped into the water, as they began what was to prove a most eventful journey. All night long the iron arms of the trapper kept at work with the regularity of a steam engine, and seemingly without tiring any more than so much machinery. Mackintosh slept the greater Bay of the night, and when daylight came, they landed and made a few hours’ halt. Then, under the direction of Nick Whiffles, Ned took the paddle, and they te- ‘an stealing their way along shore down-stream; or, above things, it was now important that they should not be seen Ly any of their enemies. The gee part oi the day was spent in stealing along in this cautious manner, constantly on the lock-out for their e: cmies. Near the middle of the afternoon, they had a narrow veg 1 from running directly in = of a large canoe full of Indians, but, fortunately, they *“‘ backed water,”’ and ran in under cover of the bank in time to escape discovery. Just at nightfall the mouth of the creek was reached, and they landed. The boat was pulled up’ out of sight, and Calamity was left to guard the entrance, and the two withdrew out of sight alto- gether of any who might pass during daylight even. Young Mackintosh could scarcely conceal his anxiety and impatience. If Nick had settled in his mind where they were to look for Miona, he saw no reason why they should not prtss on at once and take iime by the forelock. ‘We expect to make our search there, Nick, anc why wait until our foes are ahead of us?” “Trust to me, trust to me,” was the reply. “It may be that Red Bear will come dcwn the creek to- night, and, if that is so, we'll ru: ufoul of him, as sure as the world.”’ “Why not go overland? It’s vag a matter of ten a or 80, and we can make it in a couple of ours. ‘* And leave a trail, that’ll be sartin to betray us.”’ “Well, as you please then,”’ replied Ned, settling himself back, in the expectation of spending a num- ber of weary hours. ‘* You ought to have l’arned the vartue of patience when you was Ned Hazel, trampin’ in the woods with me. Don’t you know the Esquimaux of the upper Hudson Bay will set fer a dozen hours by the air-hole in the ice waiting for the seal to come up and git ears rr ~ hope you don’t expect we are going to do the same?”’ “Not unless it is necessary, but we must wait; the Whiffles family always had the faculty of wait- ing. Fact of it was, some of ’em waited too long, and, fur all I know, sqgme of ’em are still waiting— Hullo!” At this yy Calamity gave utterance to a low, almost inaudible growl, and springing to their feet, both the men were at his side in an instant, The faint moon, of which Nick had spoken, had risen, and was already overlic:., so that they could both see to the opposite side of tne narrow creek. ‘‘“*Sh!’’ whispered ‘the trapper, ‘‘ some one is com- in’, sartin.”’ The ripple of oars was plainly discernible, and while they were straining their eyes to pierce the loom, they saw a small canoe, with two in t, making its way up-siream. It was near the center of the creek, and moving in a manner which showed the occupants had no fear or thought of discovery upon the part of corvans or interlopers. Nick was especially anxious to learn whether one of the men was Red Bear or not, but there was not sufficient light fcr the purpose, although he was sat- ron ~ his own mind that the young chief was in e boat. The two men scareely breathed until the canoe had posers be out of sight. Then the trapper noiselessly unched his own canoe, and entering, Calamity was placed in the bow. “The pup can see further in the dark than his mas- ter, and when he can’t see one of the varmints, he can scent him. You see, it won’t do to run afoul of ar. ‘“Why won’t it do?” demanded Ned. “There are as many in this boat. We have rifles, and! carry a COMMICELNEKS <S (EO)