Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 560 — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

ib omy Be: " ey , ae aA . ‘ . V) ae ee yin 8 Pawnee -_—— — checks, and you may not have to wait long, either, for life’s a mighty onsart'in commodity on the plains.” The invitation was well meant, and Gordon Lillie took it so; but. he was not anxious to re- turn to Prospect City. He might get into a wild community where he was going, but he certainly could not get into a worse one he thought. So he thanked the landlord warmly, told him if luck went against bim he would return to him, and with a grasp of the hand from all, and anumber of good wishes, he rode off alone on his perilons journey, while-the riders who had rescued him from death went on their way to Prospect City, all of them loud in their praises of the plucky youth, " After riding a mile, Gordon Lillie came to a alt. He had left one of his revolvers, and he re- membered to have placed it upona nail near one of the small port-boles in the cabin. It was a splendid weapon, and he determined to return and get it. Then he would go on his way by the trail which he had first started on, for it was shorter, and he was anxious to get to the end of his jour- ney and see what was in stores for him. ‘If [ can only find a gold-mine, and strike it rich, as they say out bere, I will return mighty quick and pay Banker Rolston the money he says [ stole from the safe, and I think Ican clear myself of the accusation, for I was a fool to offer myself as a sacrifice.” So said Gordon Lillie to himself, as he rode on his way back to the cabin where he had so nearly lost his life, As he drew near he said: ‘*Those Judge Lynch lawyers, as they call themselves, are little better than the desperadoes they kill, for they had not heart enough to bury that fellow I killed, and left Black Beard hang- ing on the tree. *Tll bury them, for they are human beings, at least, bad as they were.” A few moments more, and he rode into the timber. A number of wolves, feeding upon the body of the dead desperado, ran off with angry yelps at his approach, but it was not their presence ng which caused him to come to a sudden ait, The tree on which Black Beard had been hung was before him; but the man was not there! CHAPTER XII, A RENEGADE’S FRIENDSHIP, Tu party under Red Jenks had been gone but a short while from the timber, where they had left Black Beard suspended toa limb, when another band of horsemen rode into the woods, They were a large party, fully two-score in number, and were a band of, red-skins, well mounted, well armed, and in all their war-paint and feathers. At their head rode a large man, mounted upon a splendid bay horse, and carrying the most approved style of revolvers and rifle. e also rode oh a Mexican saddle which was heavy with silver, and the bridle was also oe with precious metal of the same ind, Although painted like an Indian he was a white man, as his long brown hair and beard plainly showed, and he wore the head-dress of a great chief, His quick eyes, as they entered the timber from the opposite side to that which the Regu- lators had departed, fell upon the form of Black Beard swinging from the limb. Instantly he spurred forward, and halted by the side of the suspended form. ‘“* By Heaven! but he isalive!” . . So saying, be called to two of his warriors, and telling them to support the form, he severed the lariat with a blow of his knire. The neck of the man had not been broken whev the horse sprung from under bim, and more, the noose had slipped around to the front and failed to choke him to death. He was, therefore, still breathing; in fact, conscious; and yet, but for the coming of the red-skins, could not have lived long, Placiug the man upon the ground the white chief felt his pulse, ordered water brought from the. spring near, and then set to work to revive him, for he was hardly more than conscious and unable to speak or move, ‘It is Alfred Chambers, and he shall not die if I can help it, for I owe it to bim that I am not now dead,” said the chief, speaking to himself rather than to his warriors, . Water was brought from the spring and poured into the mouth of Black Beard, while his 7 ’ a? Bill, the Prairi ee —_—_—__ face and neck were bathed by the chief, with a | touch as tender as a woman’s, After a few minutes the eyes of Black Beard turned upon the chief, and he said, with great difficulty of articulation: ‘‘Are you reviving me to torture me to death?” ‘* No, indeed, my dear fellow, for I know you, Alf Chambers,” ‘* You are a white man, I see, but a renegade, as you are in full war-paint.” ‘*l am Roger Reynolds, or rather was, for now [ am known as Evil Spirit, a Sioux chief.” ‘* Ah, yes, you are Roger Reynolds, whom the settlers were going to bang, and I got you away from them, and you and -your little daughter escaped that night. **] remember you now, and I helped you then because I[ felt for your little daughter, though I knew that-you deserved hanging, - ‘*‘T have gone tothe bad since, and Iam as bad as you were; but ve not been a renegade yet, Roger Reynolds.” ‘* Well, from your present condition, it seems you are in a fair -way to become one, for your wn race have swung you.up, as red-skins never lang a man.” “Yes, I was hanged by Red Jenks and his Regulator band from Prospect City, and but for your coming, ere this [ would have been dead. ‘** We are quits, Reynolds,” ‘Well, yes; but you must join me, for I have horses and weapons along, and am on araid among the settlements. ‘What say you?” ‘*AsI cannot live among iny own people, I may as well turn red-skin, as you offer me the chance,” ‘** Do so; but are you able to get up and move about, for it will set the blood to circulating. ‘*Go to the brook and jump in, as it will do you good, ‘*Then tell me if it is worth while to take the trail of this Red Jenks and his gang?’ ‘‘No, for yowll get only hard knocks, and if you have no more braves than those I see about you, they’ll do you up, for they area hard fight- ing lot and armed to the teeth.” **Pll let ’°em zo then; but we must leave here as soon as you are able, as I wish to strike tho valley settlement to-night, and it is a long jump from here.” Thus urged, Black Beard arose from the ground, and, following the advice of the rene- gade chief by a jump into the brook, soon after expressed himself as able to go on with the red- skin band, A horse, saddle and bridle were given him, and the party rode out of the timber an hour after entering it, and with Black Beard gloat- ing over his escape from death, and vowing re venge upon Red Jenks and those who had help- ed to hang him, The ride of the red-skins, under their rene- gade white chief, to the valley settlement was made, and many a man lost his life in the scene that followed their arrival, while the heavens and prairie were illumined with the glare of burning cabins, Having completed their red work, the Indian band started off for their mountain fastnesses, loaded with booty and driving a large herd of horses and cattle with them. As this raid of the red-skins is not a part of my story, l only refer to it incidentally w ex- plain scenes that occurred later in the adven- turous life of Gordon Lillie. When he reached the timber and beheld the lariat hanging to the limb, and Black Beard sbecen 8 Gordon Lillie was considerably taken aback, At first he did not know how to account for the mysterious disappearance of the man, and began to think that the ropes that bound bis hands had not been well tied, and he had thus released himself, He had, however, begun to study signs, and he soon discovered that the rope had been cut. The noose end of it lay upon the ground, and the other end was still fastened to the tree. Then he saw the tracks of many hoofs, and as there were few shod ones, he came to the con- clusion that those who had visited the place were Indians, and he knew that the Sioux were on the war-path. Having decided upon this, he followed the trail to the edge of the woods, and noted the direction it took, and counted, as well as he could, the number of horses in the party. Then he took out a map of the country, one he had drawn himself from other maps, and the information he had gleaned of others, and said, after glancing at it: « - ’ e Shadower, t 2 sf - \4 i, ; , a a & SF Ps : ¥ ah i P ' ‘ a " 4 Ie Te % ; yet * del ag Pibeeottur « . « ; ‘ AS ge rN ee ig oe , oe Sty eal e “ ee Pt tee .* . Jing Tae al, a eer i vr de fe | . ur ; — ‘Tf they keep on the trail they have started, they are going to the valley settlement to attack it **Can I not head them off” Hastily, he returned to the cabin, got his pis- tol, and, burying the mangled remains of the dead desperado, on which the wolves had been feasting, mounted Black Ben and rode rapidly away from the timber, The rest and food made Black Ben feel per- fectly fresh, and he went along at a swinging gallop which cast the miles behind him rapidly, The intention of Gordon Lillie was to follow upon the Indian trail, until be was sure they were beh oir for the valley settlement, and then ‘ switch off, and try and get there ahead of 1e¢m, He knew that it was a dangerous undertaking, and that he knew nothing of the country more than he gleaned from his map. But he knew about the distance he would have to ride, and he was sure that his splendid horse was equal to the work before him. CHAPTER XIII. A CAPTIVE, It was no easy task for Gordon Lillie to ac- complish his good purpose, of warning the set- tlement of the approach of the red-skin band, and this be soon discovered to his great chagrin and regret. He followed rapidly on the trail until he was certain that the Indians could not be very far ahead. Then he slackened his pace and held on until he saw that they took the trail leading toward the settlement marked upon his map. At once he made a flank movement to the right and urged Black Ben on at a swift pace. After a ride of a couple of hours he reached a stream that he could not cross, on account of the precipitous bank. The stream was marked upon his map, but it was not stated that the’ banks were too steep for crossing except at certain points. ° One mark indicating a ford he knew must be miles away from where he then was, and so he dashed away for this point. It took him a Jong time to reach it, owing to the nature of the ground, and when he did so the stream was swollen by heavy rains and it was a bard struggle for his gallant horse to get across, Then he halted one hour for much needed rest, as Black Ben was feeling the strain, and greatly fatigued himself, he soon fell to sleep, He awoke in ul humor, for he knew that night was not far distant, and the red-skin raiders n.ust certainly be by that time pretty near the settlement while he was many miles away. But he threw the saddle on Black Ben and once more pressed on. Night soon settled down, and, unable to find his way in the dark, he reluctantly gave up the attempt and sought a camping-place in some timber. “ He built a fire and cooked his supper, and in a morose mood at his failure to warn the settle- ment, went to sleep, leaving Black Ben to feed and rest at will. How long he slept he did not know; but he was awakened somewhat suddenly, as he opened his eyes to discover that he was in the hands of red-skins in all their hideous war-paint. Jt was a novel experience for the youth, and a startling one. His foes had seen his flickering fire and had crept upon him while he slept, Gordon Lillie had not been long enough upon the border to learn wisdom and cunning: but he felt that such experience as he was then under- going would teach him both, if bis life was not suddenly cut short. The red-skins who had captured him were four in number, and they were the advance couriers of the force under the white chief Evil Spirit. ; They bound the youth with rawhide thong until they cut into his flesb, and leaving one o their number to guard him, the others went on ahead. In half an hour Gordon Lillie heard the sound of voices and knew that the rest of the red-skins were coming, It did not take him long to discover that they were driving cattle, for he heard their cries, and soon after a body of horsemen rode up. The Indian guard gave a signal, which was answered, and then called out in his Sioux tongue for the chief to approach. The next moment Evil Spirit rode up, attended by a dozen warriors. Behind hiro came the stolen horses, loaded Ya i