Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 560 — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

2 > | a) «TA - ae? - . yey) * ss rs - « ‘ ° : je where Then he turned to Snake Eyes, who was glar- ing malignantly at him, ‘Do you talk English, red-skin?’ he asked. “Yes, Snake Eyes speak pale-face talk.” cx ‘ a am ; \ , * * oa ay ay en 0 4 am — ie i oat alia be ree i Sadie Th aah iene sbi “* Lex Ty MOREE Oe RENT, ae oT yy a cola : iM s a S : ss a ef -_ 8 . ys f i , Puss ~ eae < 5 ny > ae * OC Rites f Pen Dike " ai : ie ve . . s P; 10 - Pawnee Bill, the Prairie Shadower, PAE | | the village came into view, scores in number and lighted up the large valley. A river wound its way through the valley, and upon either side of it were the tepees of the “ Well, what were you running off with the | Sioux, and Gordon saw that there were many of May Flower for?” ‘* Me love May Flower heap good. ‘‘ Me tell her Snake Eyes love her and she Jaugh at chief. ‘Me take her to Pawnee people and make her Snake Eyes’ squaw, ‘* Bad pale-face take May Flower from me,” * I'm right glad I was able to; but what will the Sioux do with you?” ‘+ Kill,” was the laconic response, *¢ You think so?” ‘* Me know. ‘¢ Sioux torture Snake Eyes until he die.” **]’m sorry for you.” **Go with Snake Eyes and he make pale-face brave Pawnee chief.” “JT cuess not, for I have no desire to turn renegade; but {dare not let you go, as they'd roast me for it,” ** Cook Snake Eyes, too.” Gordon really felt sorry for the red-skin, and he was half-tempted to let him go and take the chances, Then he was tempted to break his word to the Sioux queen and go with the Sioux, While these thoughts were in his mind, he saw through the gathering gloom May. Flower and several warriors approaching at a gallop. “Tvs allup with me, I guess,” be said, rue- fully, and eagerly watched the faces of the braves as they approached. They gazed upon the youth with the look of men who wanted his scalp, but Gordon felt bet- ter over his situation when he discovered that they were thoroughly under the control of May Flower, : The young queen gave a few orders in the Sioux tongue and the braves at once proceeded to place the renegade chief upon one of their ponies and to tie him there. ‘*Now come with me,” said May Flower to Gordon. He at once mounted his horse and obeyed, fol- ae behind her on the trail toward the vil- age. “Ride near me,” she said, when they had gone a short distance, He ur Black Ben alongside of her Indian pony, which was a splendid animal, white as snow. ‘* What is your name?” she asked, in her naive ay. ~ cf Gordon Lillie.” ‘Lilly? Why, that is the name of a flower?” ac Yes. ” ‘* And a girl’s name?” ‘Yes, and itis mine.” "Gordon Lillie, you said?” ac Yes,” **T shall call you Lillie, for I like it,” _“ As-you please.” ‘*My name is May Flower.” **So you told me.” | ‘Well, we will be good friends, and my Ww - father will make you a young chief because you saved my life.” ‘“*T donot care to turn renegade to my peo- le,” he said, shortly. ** Renegade?” . ‘* Yes,’ ‘*T suppose it is that; but then father has lived a long time among the Sioux, and I was a little girl when he brought me here. “Tt is wrong, is it not, for my ome to live * with the Indians?” ‘¢Tt is when he wars against his own race.” ‘* Yes, I suppose it is; but the pale-faces treat- ed him very cruelly, and they would have hanged him had he remained, and here he is chief,” Gordon did not care to ask why her father had to leave his own pcople, and take refuge among: the Indians. As the former associate of Black Beard, Gor- don supposed there had been some good reason ‘for the settlers wishing to hang Evil Spirit, the white chief of the Sioux, but this he very wisely _ kept to himself. fter a ride of several miles the village of th Sioux came in view, It was well located for _ defense, the hillsabout it being only here and there marked with trails, and these | 1 passes . Saeruaaeny by a few warriors, a large force could be kept at bay. May Flower gave a signal as she approached a . the pass, and it was answered at once, and the o rode on, Gordon being unable to detect just the Indian sentinel was. ie . Reaching whe top of the hill the camp-fires of Ln . —— —— rt LL A RL RL LLL LLL LLL LLL LLL LL LLL them, A carrier had arrived telling of the coming of Evil Spirit, with large herds of horses and cattle, and quantities of plunder, and the Sioux were wild with delight. ‘You say that the Indian who captured you was one of your people?’ asked Gordon of May Flower, as the two rode down the vale toward the village, ‘Yes, he was a young chief and a cruel one. ** He tried to get my father to let bim marry me, and was refused, for I bate bim. ‘“*Then he was jealous of another chief whom my father liked, and so he killed him and had to fly from the village, ‘‘Heis a Pawnee chief now, for he went to join the Pawnees, and to-day, as I was riding along the ridge, looking for birds of light plum- age, that I might get their feathers to trim a new skirt, [ was surprised by him, seized and bound before I could resist, for he is a very | werful man. ; | ; ‘‘Then he tied me tomy pony, put that buck- skin bandage over my mouth, and was running away with me when you saved me. ‘‘Oh, how glad I am that you did save me, and it was good of you too, when you were try- ing to escape yourself, and Ill never forget you for it.” \ Her voice and manner proved how deeply in earnest she was, and Gordon felt glad that he had acted as he had. They had now reached the village, and the red-skins, braves, squaws and children followed on the heels of the young queen as she rode toward the tepee of her father, situated upon a slope that commanded a view of the entire village. They wondered at the presence of the pale- face with their queen, and many angry glances were cast upon him as they went along. But the young girl did not deign to make any explanation, and conducted Gordon on to the tepee of her father. tt was a very large one, with others half sur- rounding it, and they showed that Evil Spirit though living in an Indian camp was fond o his comfort, ‘ As they reached the ee May Flower sprung to the ground and bade Gordon to dismount. pete she turned to the mass of Indians and said: . | *‘ My people, this white brave is our friend, for he rescued me from Snake Eyes, the Sioux renegade chief who had made me a prisoner, and was carrying me to the Pawnees. t: ‘“The pale-face will dwell in my father’s tepee until he comes.” Gordon did not know what was said, but he discovered that the wrath of the Sioux seemed appeased by the wordsof their queen, and many, after a close scrutiny of him, walked away, greatly to his relief. Then he was led into the larger tepee, and was surprised to find out how comfortable it was, for it contained rudely-made chairs, a table, some shelves filled with books, and a cot, while bear and buffalo robes covered the floor. A large fire was then built by some young boysin front of the tepee, and a number of squaws and braves came up with food for the stranger who had saved their queen from the renegade chief, Snake Eves, The dread that Gordon felt at going to the Indian village faded away under the hospi- tality shown him by the red-skins; but yet there were many who would have been glad to have swung his scalp upon their lodge-pole, and young warriors eyed him with angry and jealous eyes, when they felt that he had rescued their young queen from danger. CHAPTER XVI. A PRISONER GUEST, | Gorpon Livi had just finished his supper, with May Flower, and he really enjoyed it im- mensely, when the head of the plundering column came into the village, The large number of horses and cattle were driven to the lower end of the valley to graze along with the ponies and stock of the Indians already there, and the pack-horses were led to the medicine tepee to store the plunder until it should be distributed by Evil Spirit to the sit | : ey he renegade captive was also taken to the —-_—- mob, hooting at him and heaping cruel words upon him. The squaws slapped his face and the children’ Wey’ struck him with sticks; but Snake Eyes uttered — no word or cry, and walked on his way with the euerds, who had dismounted upon reaching the village, _ Once in the medicine tepee he was safe from intrusion, and it must have been a great relief to him, though he could not but know what his fate would be, Gordon Lillie was great] scene, but could not but feel sorry for the rene- gade Sioux, as he could readily realize how he might have been in his place, as far as cruel treatment by the red-skins was concerned, He retired early, sleeping in the tepee of Evil — Spirit, as May Flower bade him do: . The din of the Indian camp, kept up until a late hour of the night, and his strange surround- ings, did not disturb his slumbhers, and he did not wake up until the sun streamed into his face the next morning. He sprung to his feet half in alarm, hardly realizing where he was at first. But it soon came to him that he was a pris- oner, nothing more nor less, in the Sioux village of Evil Spirit, the white chief, He went out of the tepee and saw May Flower, and she greeted him pleasantly and invited bim ° to eat the breakfast which she had cooked. Svon after there was a bubbub in the village connie the lower end, and Evil Spirit appeare in sight. | ‘‘T sent a warrior to my father last night, to tell him that you were here and what I owed to you,” she said, as though to reassure Gordon, The young man made no reply, but watched the coming of Evil Spirit, Would he give to him the same welcome his daughter had? ould he sanction her act in bringing him to the village of the Sioux? Gordon felt’ that the moment of greatest peril was upon him, and he asked: ‘* Did I kill the Indian warrior who was my guard?” ‘‘ No; he was badly hurt and lies over in his tepee, but the medicine-man says that he will not die.” Gordon Lillie gave a sigh of relief, and con- tinued to gaze upon the coming chief, Evil Spirit was not alone. He was attended by Black Beard and two In- dian chiefs, and they were coming at a, canter toward the. eo; The red-skins were surprised, without doubt, to see with their chief, and not bound asa pris- over, another pale-face, and they cast wonder- ing glances at each other. nt if Evil Spirit knew what they were think- ing about he did not notice it, and dashing up to his tepee, sprung to the ground, telling ‘Black Beard to do so also, He strode at once toward his daughter and kissed ber, at the same time uttering some words of endearment t her in a low tone. With all his sins, Roger Reynolds the White Renegade loved his daughter. In a few rapidly-spokea words she told him of : her capture by Snake-Eyes, and rescue by Gor- don Lillie, and he seemed greatly surprised at her escape, Then he turned to Gordon and said; ‘‘So, young sir, you preferred to take your chances and escape from me?” ‘‘T certuinly did, sir,” was the reply. “Well, lam not sorry, as had you not done | ‘so [ would have lost my cbild, the only being on earth I care for, and all [ care to live for, ** You have done nobly, young man, and Tam your friend; my red people are your friends, for they love their queen. ‘You are a noble fellow, and must become one of my people, as our friend here, Black Beard, is to do.” interested in the . ‘‘ No, I shall never be a renegade to my own | | pat race, and I am surprised that such men as you and Black Beard are, should become the foes of your own people,” boldly said Gordon Lillie. -* Boy, you do not know what has driven me to be what I am. ‘*Guiltless of no crime, I was accused of the worst, hounded down by those I bad befriended, and at last would have been hanged like a dog had IT not fled for my life. “Tl brought my eo pe with me and found refuge here, and here | am all-powerful. . “Ah, but it was sweet revenge for me to strike my foes. and they will not soon forget Evil Spirit the White Renegade.” The man spoke rapidly and with much bitter-— ness, and his words told Gordon that he had suf. edicine Lodge, and he was followed by a wild | fered much, ; vot ' q é > } re | rf " oe PS ye 7 Ny! 7 Pam tate . lee ie non g a4 ~ . 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