Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 59 — page 5: what you’re looking at

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

o-. _— . 9" ** All right, Bolly; I’m thar, Roarin’ Ralph, you bet, Now for grub. The little fire was speedily rekindled and some choice portions of venison cooking for the rene 24 trio. en these were done a turn, they speedily vanished. Then preparations were in order for a start. These were few and simple, and in a very short time the three rangers had reached the spot where Rocky Joe had left a mark to tell them the position of the trail of Tom Grampus’s mur- derer. Then the same old tramp was taken up, with Joe in the lead and Roaring Ralph bringing up the rear, while Bolly marched on between them, his eves keeping strict watch, but his thoughts wandering back to that prince of humbugs— Old Hickory. CHAPTER VI. ROARING RALPH’S FEARFUL NEWS. THE night breeze caught up a low bubbling ery of anguish, that seemed choked in the utter- ance, and then all became as silent as before. Buffalo Horn’s village, com of several hundred lodges, had been pitched in the great forest bordering the muddy Missouri, and from this point the renowned chieftain, in defiance of the traaty with the government, by which his people were fed during the winter months, sallied forth to murder any unfortunate tour- ists or settlers who came under his observa- The lay close upon the bank of the river, whose murmuring and gurgling sounded a monotonous refrain the ears of the war- riors. From the high hills on the Specter bank and mellowed by di ce, came the scream o a savage panther, the long-drawn howls of great mountain wolves, and the scream of the wild- cat. It was also the haunt of the ferocious grizzly bear, whose broad tracks could be met with occasionally among the hills. The strange sound we have heard, came from the deep fringe of grass upon the bank, between ) ane and the s y-moving water, and which nodded and swayed in the cool night vind. Presently a head, a white man’s head, was wautiously raised above the grass, and an earnest sarvey taken of the village. Then it vanished from view, and once more silence fell upon the border of the ' minutes later the form of an In- dian brave into the Mare which, with the exception of a single point, where a fire eco rightly, was wrapped in complete ess. Half a dozen chiefs were clustered around this blaze, en in an earnest discussion, for the souad of their guttural voices could he heard at times raised in excited debate. The Indian whom we have seen enter the vil- lage from the direction of the river, crawled cautiously up to a point as near the Wied se or sible, and lying upon the und as if asleep, he kept edging still closer. | . at Roaring Ralph Rockwood heard d the next half-hour opened his eyes considerably, and from the queer expressions he muttered to himself Be Ron breath, it might be surmised that the news was of far greater magnitude than he had expected to glean. A faint glow began to appear in the eastern ; the moon was about to wheel into view, and Roaring Ralph thought it was time he made himself scarce in that neighborhood, unless he wpe reo desired to reveal the weakness of is Indian ‘ Graduall away from the vicinity of the camp-fire, he placed a lodge between it and himself. Then to his feet, he stalked boldly toward the river-bank, where he stood for a few minutes, as if contemplating the flow- ing water, on which the first rays of the risin moon now fell. The supposed Sioux brave sted a moment—then was gone. He had jumped down the river-bank, which at this point was some six feet in hight, and was gliding along the water’s margin, going up the stream. about ten minutes he came to a halt, fumbling in the bundle of clothes he carried, for something. ‘Mustangs an’ Mexicans! reckon I’d better let the boys know who’s coming, or some of ’em mg Pe a knife atween my shoulders. Now or it.” ; . | Raising a whistle to his mouth, he blew seve- ral short, sweet notes, such as one could easily at ge as coming from some strange night , calling to his mate. From up the stream the signal was answered, ‘Old Hickory» and when this reached his ears, the di ranger moved forward with confidence, ing’that all was right. ark figures crouched under the forest trees, looking in the gloom that surrounded them, like so many phantoms. As the adventurer drew near, a voice questioned: ‘“That you, Bolly?” “It’s me, Roarin’ Ralph Rockwood, you bet. vor whar’s Bolly gone?” ‘*’Took a notion to go into the place himself ised ow- and fasten that proclamation he carried to the lodge of Buffalo Horn,” came in Rocky Joe’s tones. And these three other forms! Surely we have met two of them before, and can recognize Blue Beans, and his Indian friend Powder Flash. The latter was still munching away at a piece of that tough venison, as though he meant to put his words about eating the whole of that old buck himself, into execution. The third one of the new arrivals was as manly and handsome a imen of a young hunter as ever tram and although Jack Holmes possessed but little of this world’s goods, it was the boast of his manhood to say that he had never willfully harmed an innocent ‘person, nor had the help- less ever appealed to him for aid without being answered. Along the borders Jack Holmes was known as a fearless ranger, ever ready to assist in the right, and quite as handy with his weapons as ngue. He had come across Blue Beans and the Co- manche chieftain shortly after their chase with the hostile Indians, and being an old friend, had naturally joined forces with them. The two comrades were wandering around like the famous Quixote, in search of adventures, and in this part of the country they were likely to meet with all their heart desired. Their meeting with our three old ranger friends had come very close to a tragedy, for catching a fleeting glimpse of each other as they treed,” each had mistaken the opposite part for Indians, and several hats were bor with bullets before the truth was made manifest. United they made quite a strong party, and when the three new additions were shown the placard d'up by the Sioux chieftains, a shade anxiety assed over the features of handsome Jack Holmes. ‘“* Down at Laramie, boys, there,was a rumor that the old man had gone under, and that his ay scalp was on its way to the village of Buf- alo Horn for redemption. I tried to trace it but couldn't get any her than that a half- breed had seen the scalp in the possession 6f the man that killed old Pandy,” Jack had said. Bolly _Wherrit had refused to believe it, but nevertheless had been much excited over such a thought. Pandy Ellis dead! his chum Pandy, in whose company he had tramped the plains for more than a score of years! Impossible, and yet, while showing such a bold front, Bolly grieved in secret. ‘Well, what did you find out, old hoss? Isee by your dress that ye’ve been in the thick of ‘em, I reckon ye’ve heard something,” said Rocky Joe. “Heard sumpin’! Wal, now, I reckon I’ve heard enough to make your hair stand on end, ky Joe. The infernal critter; how I'd like ter choke the life outo’him! If Bolly war only here now, he’d goclean c . Sculps an’ sau- sages! but it’s true, arter all,” and the reckless se a3 gave an actual groan. The others were now alarmed. ** Ralph Rockwood, what does this mean? Do ye think we’re a pack of babies that can’t be trusted, can’t hear some news without faintin dead away? Out with it, man! Is the worl coming to an end? Has the old chief, Buffalo Horn, got a fish-bone in his throat, or did his whisky bottle break instead of his squaw’s skull, the last time—” ‘Hush, Joey! this here is serious. I pity poor Bolly Wherrit when he hears the news,” Roar- i biborttinpat solemnly. o0e’s lence was rapidl ttin bey ond all botride. ey ee “Roaring Ralph Sedunk Rockwood, if you don’t hurry up and tell us what’s the matter, there’ll be a dead man among those trees in less than five minutes. Who were those prisoners, and what’s ir ay se _ now, Joey, old friend. Them prison- ers I didn’t find out much about, exce rt that the qonns tallow was an army officer. I crept up to half a dozen chiefs what were havin’ a confab, an’ heard everything, Buffler Horn had just received word through one o’ his braves that a man, with the sculp of Pandy d the western prairies,. 5 .—.— Ellis in his possession, war on the way thar, an’ would arrive soon, expectin’ the reward.” An exclamation of horror went around, ‘**Poor old Pandy!” said Rocky Joe. ** And poor Bolly Wherrit,” added Blue Beans, ‘“‘'Won’t he be tearin’ around, though! I sh’u’d hate ter be in the shoes o’ ther critter w’at hez thet gray sculp in his possession.” * Who was it, Rally?’ asked Joe. ‘**Thet air the wust o’ it.. Trowsers and tom- cats! arter he hed laid alongside o’ we uns fur a night. Tie me up in a blanket, ter think that he had poor Pandy’s sculp in that leetle sachel at his side.” ‘What! you don’t mean Old Hickory?’ ex- claimed Rocky Joe. “Dust my Bins breeches if I don’t now,” half howled the old prairie ranger; ‘‘ yes, that identical ole villain w’at slept wi’ us, an’ who wanted to become my chum, Oh! wouldn’t I give sumpin to lay hands on him this blessed minit! Bolly Wherrit will tear his insides out ef this air true, an’ thar hain’t any doubt but w’at itis true. Yes, sir, 1 lay tharan’ listened to them reds a gloryin’ over it, an’ decidin’ ter pay the reward when the ole critter kim in with the sculp, as it might hev a good effect in any future transaction. Thar’s no mistake about it; poor ole Pandy Ellis has kicked the bucket an gone up Salt river.” A silence fell upon the little party. It wasas if their feelings would: not permit of a further interchange of opinions on the subject. It was Joe who broke in with: ‘Hark! there’s poor Bolly.” A peculiarly mournful howl came pres ee from the direction of the Indian village, and of them recognized it as Bolly’s private sigual to tell of his presence. They stood, almost trembling, for Bolly ’s niger would be frightful when he Pareed of his chum’s death. Then footsteps and the sound of low words reached their ears; Bolly was not returni alone. Had he rescued the soldier prisoner o the Sioux, or— Good heavens! there could be no mistaking that croaking voice. The two now loomed up in the darkness, and Roaring Ralph forgot to give utterance to any queer remar for Bolly’s companion was the scalp-taker, Old Hickory. CHAPTER VIL. THE PRINCE OF PRAIRIE RANGERS. THE rangers were thunderstruck at this ex- ample of temerity and boldness. What did this , coming of the treacherous old man portend?, Did he covet their scalps also? i Roaring Ralph asked himself these questions, ‘ but was unable to utter a word aloud. An while they stood thus dumbfounded, Bolly and hiscompanion reached their side. ‘** Wal, boyees, hyar we air, an’ our ole friend along wi’ me. I met him jest az he war enter- in’ the Injin camp, an’ coaxed him ter come wi’ me, fur | knowed that. Rally thar war jest dyin’ ter see his new chum ag’in. Ain’t that kerrect, Hickory?’ and Bolly turned: to the white-bearded old sinner, who seemed to have come with evident reluctance. ) | “I reckon it air if ye say so, Bolly Wherrit,” he croaked, dismally. ‘‘ Now then, boyees, shall we stay hyar wile I tell’ee wat I did. an’ saw, or move on a bit further?” asked Bolly. ‘Move on,” said Rocky Joe, sternly. ‘*“Move on. I hev sumpin to tell ye, Bolly, what'll make ye take a fit,” came from Roaring big ey commenced moving through the forest going further away from the Indian village all the while. The reckless ranger kept close be- side Old Hickory, whom he watched with a wary eye, fearful lest he should again give them escape. The old man was shaking ety little while, whether with fear or eg aughter none could say. Roaring ph thought it was the latter. ‘‘He believes he’s playing a good joke on us rangers, but I'll soon open his eyes to the truth; it’s me that says it, Roarin’ Ralph Rockwood, you bet,” muttered he to himself. In this manner something like half a mile was pamed over. Rocky Joe, who led the little at length came to a halt, indicating that they had gone far enough: It was an open space where they now stood, and the moon’s rays (for she had been risi when Roaring Ralph left the Indian village, an was now in full sight), finding an entrance through interstices among the branches, lit up ot Now,” said Bolly tly, “what is a ‘‘ Now,” said Bolly, impatien wha ye hev ter tell me, Rally? ne (E(0) Gomicbooks (S