Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 6 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

“ Wait,” said I; ‘ pray do not leave me.” “*But you must not talk,’ she pe pst much agi- tated, ‘‘ the Medicine Man will not allow it; you will injure yourself.”’ ‘You and the Medicine Man are both mistaken. I know I have been sick and delirious, but my mind was never clearer than it is this instant. I know a few moments’ conversation can not injure me. Let me beg you not to refuse, as I can not tell whether the opportunity will ever again be offered.” The young woman before me was much embar- rassed, and for a moment hesitated, seemingly in doubt: between duty and inclination. Seizing the op- portunity, I urged my wish with greater fervor than ever. Finally she glanced furtively around as though she expected to meet the twinkling orbs of the Medi- cine Mab. and then answered: *“T cannot refuse = request, and yet it seems wrong that I should thus disobey the injunctions that were given for your good. What is it that you wish to ask me?” : **Am I out of danger?” “Not yet. You have been crazy fora long time, and more than once the Medicine Man has shaken | his head in doubt when he looked upon you.” ‘Have you not watched by me nearly all the time I have been thus?”’ I gazed full in her face as I uttered this question, and she dropped her eyes in confusion, as she re- | plied: . **T have assisted the Medicine Man several times as SS een - Bill Biddon, Trapper. ee ee gone through the same awful exp rience, that filled my soul at that discovery. Such a whirlwind of fire as seethed through my bursting brain, such a per- fect blaze of all the passions that can rack the human mind, I cannot portray with this feeble pen. For a moment I was frantic, and then suddenly a dreadful and frightful calmness soothed my frame. Ay, I was buried alive! The savages had mistaken my trance-like stupor for death itself, and I had been hurried prematurely into the grave. Oh, the appalling discovery! To die while in the grave! The thought was too horrible! I was not _ yet ready to give way to utter despair. I durst not he wished me to, and I have done no more to you | than I would to any one in similar circumstances.” “No, sweet lady, I know claimed, in admiration; one. w ho you are I know not, but I can see your was left for me was to ause a second for thought, for I knew it would sure- fy come. I twisted and struggled with the strength of fury. I could turn my arms. There was an open space before my face, as I had been buried in the sitting position. Had I lain back I could not have survived five minutes; as it was, my limbs were immovably secured, and it was absolutely impossible for me to free myself. It was a long time, for such an experience, before I admitted this, but I was compelled to at last. Death by suffocation was rapidly ~ i inbiee ag and all that t. breath of air around me over and over again, and was becom and sickening. wande I commenced praying. Suddenly a muffled sound reached my ear, as though something had fallen to the earth above. I _ listened—it was repeated directly over me, now rap- ou haven’t,” I ex- | “‘vyour heart is open to any | race is similar to my own, and P irom you to a | willing prisoner among these Indians. Your image | has long been before me, and I can never forget your | fair, angelic face. What first was merely interest a grown into a stronger passion for you, though I ear—’’ I paused as she suddenly arose to her feet, and raised her hand in a warning manner. Before I could ask the meaning of this, a shuffling step was heard, and the next minute the Medicine made his appearance. He gesticulated angrily toward her, and she passed quietly out of the lodge. I fol- lowed her with my eyes, and as she reached the pas- sage-way, she turned toward me with a look that | told more than words. The Medicine Man evidently suspected what I had continually to himself. He forced a bitter, scalding drink to my lips, which was soothing in its effects, and in a short time I =< Now comes a long blank in my memory. After this incident, black night shut around my mind. There is a faint recollection of again seeing Jim an the Medicine Man bending over me, and the sweet pale face of the fair captive, and then again came utter oblivion. CHAPTER X. : AN AWFUL AWAKENING, I HAVE now reached a point in my life over which I would fain in silence. It is an rience so strange, so like some horrid vision of sleep, so dif- ferent from what usually falls to the lot of man, that, at this remote day, I cannot look upon it with- out a recoiling shudder of horror. I have some- times persuaded myself that it was unreal; but no, it is true, and time can never clothe the memory idly and regularly, Whatcoulditmean? Wasitthe sign of dissolution, or was it real? I listened, and heard it pean and plainer above the wild throbs of my heart, Jt was real! Something or somebody was d ging at the grave above! Could I now hold out till I was reached? The air had already become thick and palpable, and st e fires were flitting before myeyes, I held my brea till the distend then as I respired, the earth turned to soft mud around me; and then the long, labored inspiration was like drawing in some loathsome reptile. But what was above? It,could not be a person, as I had been buried by them. It must be a famished animal hastening to devour me, Yet this would be can die with your own kindred. Jim, who is fait her on a fallen tree. Then I _ over on my bosom, and looke 13 Should I ever see the land I left when a c ee should be a stranger among strangers. There are those here who love me. I will remain and die among them.” ‘Flee with me,” I impetuously urged. ‘ You will not be a stranger. Hundreds will love you, and , u to you, will furnish us both with a fleet horse, and we can elude all pursuit. I—” I paused, for her agitation had become painful. She was sinking to the earth, when I caught her, and leading her a short distance, seated myself beside gently pulled her head down upon her fea- upon her. tures. Her gaudy head-dress was removed, and her y around, and use my | _ jewel set in darkness. The dark, sweeping ye for The small | sic an been breathed | i ae ne hot, emg = | was gasp an , but | strove to collect my ery, go and rea thei’ from | h | blood-vessels seemed bursting, and | | replied, a relief, to gain one more draught of the sweet, cool | air of heaven before death. Now I heard the murmur of vwoices/ I shouted— _ there was a pause and stillness; and then the efforts been doing; I could see he was excited, and mumbled | — oe were renewed with greater vigor. I shouted again. I could feel the jarring trembling of the loose earth above. Some one was endeavoring to rescue me from my awful fate, thank God! A moment after, and the cool air brushed my face; a strong hand seized my arm, and—oh, joy inex- pressible! I was on the earth again. For a moment I was bewildered and dizzy, and my ulse fluttered wildly, for I had been very nigh death. was recalled to full consciousness by the familiar voice of Jim. ‘* Got in a tight fix, Will. Ole Jim jus’ in time.” I took the savage’s hand without a word, and sink- ing upon my knees, sent up a deep, heartfelt prayer to the Merciful ween who had thus snatched me from the most appal death. There was a bright moon shining, and, as I turned, I saw the dark In- dian’s eyes fixed wonderingly upon me, ‘‘ Jim,” said I, solemnly, ‘‘may the God who has _ put it into your heart, reward you for this act. I of it in a different dress than that of unearthly | terror. Bleak and bare it stands alone, in my check- ered lot, and the silver that now glistens prema- turely in my hair, came upon that night. | did!” I remember falling into a deep sleep, in which the | last form that before my eyes was that of the dark Medicine Man; there was a confused mur of voices, and then all became dark. Gradu- ally the darkness was ig by the glittering folds of a dream—a dream which had theme, but the minutest particulars of which I re- member to this day. here were airy, waving figures gliding silently about me, without voice, but with every variety of motion. They passed and re- assed before my face, frequently pausing and ex- tending their arms over my body, and sometimes standing and intently scanning my countenance. This continued a long time, not a word ken either by myself or the forms, when suddenly the whole changed. The waving figures darted with the rapidity of lightning among each other, and the qu et radiance became instantly as black as night, n this I could distinguish the rushing forms grow- ing fainter and fainter, until at last all was black- ness Then came a feeling as though the thick dark- ness in one volume were gradually crushing me be- neath whe thena ue feeling of being cramped and held forcibly still. en came a long, deep, in- drawn breath, and I awoke, All was confused and inexplicable. Open oy eyes as wide as I might, I could not pierce the S gian | gloom. I tried to move, but could not—could not Stir a limb, and only the fingers of my hand. The air was steamy and hot, and I was surrounded by something which chained every part. I strove to collect my thoughts. I remembered the consulta- tion in the hut, the coming unconsciousness, and— my present awakening. first impression, after this, was that the house had fallen over me. I clenched my hands—they closed wu earth! 1 reached forward and licked the darkness. J tasted earth /—and then came the sudden, overwhelming knowledge— Il WAS BURIED ALIVE! No pen can draw the faintest picture, no soul con- ceive the unutterable horror, unless that soul has mur- | ttle form or. a ee ee ee ee — nl never, never can.” “Jim didn’t do it,” he quickly interrupted, ‘She and Loe ge ot his grasp, he darted out of sight. I turn and looked behind me. There, standing motionless as a statue, her slight form wrapped in a thick mantle, her sweet, white face pet ale like a spirit’s, stood the fair, mysterious or a moment I was dis to believe it was a spirit before me, so still and motionless she remained. forward and seiz- Suddenly she turned to depart. “ Hold!” exclaimed I, springing ing her arm; “‘ Hold one moment, till I thank thee.”’ Thank the Great One above,” she replied, in a ae Sweet voice. ‘ He it is who has preserved your e. As she uttered these words, she turned her dark eyes upward, and the ache streaming down e upon her face, threw a vail a halo of glory pop it. Then, looking me calmly in the face, she ed: “You have esca you are not the only one who has thus risen from the by When delirious, you spoke of home and of riends there, and I know your presence is prayed min The chance of reach them is now placed w ee your reach. A horse is saddled and bridled, and awaiting you, but a short distance away. Jim you with a rifle. You know the direc- tion to take, and let me urge you to flee.” A ain she turned to go, but I restrained her. ou are a white as die with these sav é tears gliste ty nate nota ned on her face as she replied: “I were murdered by the Indians, and myself and sister carried away in captivity. Wewere separated ; I was taken eastward, and she westward beyond the Rocky Moun A She cannot be living, for she was a deli- cate child, younger than me, incapable of one-half the suffering that must have been im * In the north-western part of Oregon is a tribe of Indians called Chenoo a Medicine ‘Man ks, who bury their sick cove Ss ho racti nfined to th moh” for other tribes. in the Ratio meat have known to inflict it upon their captives. persen, nd do you wish to live | white face lay among the mass of jetty a eee a shes, the faint roseate glow of each cheek, the delicate nose and lips, as the moonlight rested on them, were indescribably beautiful. There was, too, a tumul- tuous throbbing that showed what a powerful emo- tion was agitating her. What was that emotion? Was it a response to my own great passion? What else could itbe? Encour- aged by the certainty that the latter was the case, I urged my suit with redoubled ardor. I pictured the regs ae that would be hersin a civilized country, and the utter misery that must follow her life among the savages. She informed me that she was a cap- tive, not of the tribe near at hand, but of one further north, which had held her ever since the massacre of her parents; and that she had been told, in case she attempted to leave them, instant death would be the result. I saw she wished—she longed to flee, and the sa uaa she offered were only suggested by her ears, ‘* Hist !’’ she whispered. ‘‘ There is some one.” Iturned. Jim stood beside me. , : ‘** How soon goin’?”’ he asked, anxiously turning to me. “Shortly; why do you ask?”’ comin’, and if you git cotched, no use!’’ he meaningly. ‘I was not aware, Jim, that I had enemies amo ou.” ** Yout hain’t; but—”’ The rest of the sentence was gesticulated, first. pointing to me and the fair one beside me, ‘*Do you not understand?’ asked the latter. ‘There are several in the tribe who look upon me eee _ with envious eyes, and were they conscious that you ee eee a aaa EE — eno _ should be gratified, and he Seanpenren as noiselessl i eee sss. an awful death, it is true; and | | | | | | knew of my existence, you would not be spared a moment. This is what Jim must be heeded.”’ **Must I travel afoot and alone?’’ I asked of the Indian. ‘“‘There’s hoss what tossed you over buffler,’”’ he answered, pointing to a clump of trees, ‘‘and I’ve peg your other things,” he added, handing me my knife, powder-horn, and rifle, ‘‘and I'll show through woods to perarie.”’ “Thank you; but I shall not need you, as I know the vay well enough.” ‘* How soon you goin’ to start?’ he asked, turning to depart. *“‘In less than an hour I shall bid you farewell.” “ Jim,”’ interposed the fair captive, “bring my horse to the same spot. I think Ishall also leave for home = If inquiry is made, you can tell them this, and add that I shall probably be with them ina few days again. As I know the wilderness well, I will guide our friend here through it,”’ The savage looked cautiously at us both. If he was shrewd enough to suspect the truth, he was also polite h not to show it. He replied that her wish means, and his words as he came. It was now getting far in the The moon rode high in the heavens, and shed a perfect light down upon us. ‘So you are g0 , said I, looking at her. “Tam going attempt it,’’ she answered, firmly. ‘And through no action of mine shall you eve this step,” I added, warmly. Oh! I hope he will soon return, for I wish to go,” she said, as with a shiver of apprehension she look- oS about in the dark shadows of the for- es ‘“‘ As yet we know not each other’s names,”’ said I, pleasantly. “ True,’’ she answered, with a faint smile. ‘‘ Mine is Imogene Merment.”’ Pe aca is William Relmond; but where can ‘‘ Ah! there he is now,” she answered, with a deep flush, and the next minute the savage stood beside us. ‘The animal's there; you'd better be off. Soon as you git away, I'll cover up hole, but ’'m afeard there am some ’ about here.”’ ‘ ‘* We will go at once,” said Imogene, gathering up er ; I turned to give a last word to Jim, but he had vanished. * Let us h ,’’ said she, ‘‘ for I have adread that we are watched, and will not get away after all. I pray God that nothing may prevent us, now that we end in the civilized world. My parents | are started. She almost ran. In a minute we reached the grove. Here we found two horses ready for a journey. Without losing a moment, we mounted and struck Why this dir ogene?” I asked ‘Why this direction, Im er ‘To avoid pursuit,” she answered. “At daylight we will change it, and proceed to the south-east.’ The open prairie was some miles distant, and as | as soon | long as we were in the deep shadows of the wood pronounces them beyond re- | the test was to be apprehended. It was danger em | more than probable that the exterded absence of been | Jim and Im ne, at the same time, had aroused the suspicions of more than one savage. As al] must GOMmichboo Ie S (El)