Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 6 — page 5: what you’re looking at

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———— $$$ sure that they would be at no great distance. I now commenced searching for a suitable place for rest, and at last hit upon a small depression in the prairie, where a e stone was imbedded in the earth on one side, which served to protect me from the chill- ing wind. As I nestled down beside this, such a feel- ing of warmth and comfort came over me that I con- gratulated myself upon what had seemed a misfor- tune. Lying thus, just on the verge of sleep, my nerves painfully alive to the slightest sound, I suddenly felt a trembling of the ground, At t it seemed a dream; but, as I became fully awake, I started in terror and listened, I raised my head, but heard no sound, and still in the most perplexing wonder sunk down again, hoping it would shortly cease, But there was a steady, regular increase, and presently I dis- tinguished millions of faint tremblings, like the dis- tant mutterings of thunder. Gradually these grew plainer and more distinct and finally I could distinguish sounds like the tread of innumerable feet upon the prairie. Every second the jar of the earth became more perceptible. Sud- denly the truth flashed upon me—a herd of buffaloes was approaching. Terror for an instant held me dumb, My first re- solve was to rush forth and warn Nat and Biddon; but I reflected that ae must have been awakened, ere this, and that I could do nothing to ward off the ril which threatened all alike. Springing to my eet, I paused a second to collect my tumultuous thoughts. Could I reach the timber, I could ascend a tree and be beyond danger; but I knew not what direction to take, and there was no time to spare. To remain was to be trampled to death; to rush away could save me but a few moments longer. God of heaven! what a death! Louder and louder grew the thundering tread of the animals, and I stood like a madman, the cold sweat pouring off me, tormented by a thousand agonizing thoughts, and expecting death each mo- ment! Nearer and nearer came the rattle of the clamping hoofs, and I stood rooted to the t! Sinking on my knees, I implored mercy of the One who could give it in this moment of dire necessity ; and while on my knees the means of preservation presented itself. “Strange!” I exclaimed, breathing deeply, “that I did not think of it before.”’ I have said that I was in a sort of depression or hollow in the earth, and that a large stone was im- bedded on one side. Now a safer and more secure shelter could not have been found in thisemergency, Wrapping my blanked around me, I crept as far be- neath it as I could, and was saved! A few minutes later a dark body plunged headlong over me with the rapidity of lightning, followed in- stantly by another and another, and I knew the herd were thundering past. For a long time I lay there beneath those thousands of feet, one of whic would have been sufficient to kill me. The incessant crack- ling of their hoofs, and rattling of their horns, sound- ed like the discharge of musketry. Once a ponder- ous body tumbled over the rock which sheltered me, and I caught sight of a dark, writhing, bellowi mass, and the next instant it regained its feet an disappeared. It must have been an hour that I wy here, ere the last animal lea over me. Then I looked up and saw the stars shining overhead. My joy at the sight of those glittering orbs cannot be expressed. Iarose to my feet, and looked about me. It was too dark to discern objects, yet I could hear the gear re- treating footfalls of the herd in the distance. Sink- re Sy the earth, I offered a sincere prayer of grati- tude to the Almighty for His miraculous preserva- ition of my life! CHAPTER IV. THE TRAPPING-GROUNDS. I was ly surprised upon waking to see Nat within a few feet, oldies two Lotens by the bridle. “Which one will you choose?’ he asked, with broad smile. “How did you come by them?” asked I. “ro it must have been about the time you left us last night that Biddon woke me and told me to follow him, as there was a powerful chance to get a couple of horses for you and me. I asked hir where you could be, and he said he s’posed you'd ne further up-stream to sleep by yourself, though ehadn’tseen yougo. Howsumever, we wasn’t wor- ried, as we thought yon were old enough to take care of yourself, so we started down the of the stream. We went about half a mile, when Biddon showed mea small camp-fire, burned down to a few coals two Noreen piokeiat a fon Sarde away, and we seen wo horses eted a few away, an the feet Gr cot le of red-skins turned toward the fire. Biddon said as how they was a couple of hunt- ers, sound asleep, and we might dorrow their horses, if I didn’t make too much noise, He told me to stand still, and keep my gun pointed at them, and the minute one stirred to shoot him, and then rush in and dispatch the other. I promised to do so, and he stole round to the hosses on his hands and knees. He had cut both the lariats and was leading them away, when one of the Indians raised Lis head and looked around, and as soon as he seen the hosses moving off give a grunt and pro. ges up and run to- ward them. I remembered it was my duty to shoo and as the Indian was running purty fast, I aim about ten feet ahead of him, supposing, of course, the villain would git there as soon as the bullet did; I'll be hanged if he wasn’t mean enough to stop and let the bullet be wasted. My gun kicked like Fiinea. and the Indians, I s’pose, thought a whole tribe was upon them; for setting up a great howl, they scooted off in the darkness, leaving us alone with the ani- ' mmm mst | —_— Bill Biddon, ee Trapper. mals. Running back, I overtook Biddon, who was riding along as if nothing had happened. He asked me to ride, and of course I jumped on, and here I am. But which hoss do you want?” *“T do not see as there is much room for choice,” I replied; “‘both are splendid animals, and a most opportune blessing.” “If it’s all the same to you, this gentleman is mine; and handing the bridle of one to me, he vault- ed upon the other. The latter was a magnificent Indian pony, of a deep bay color, probably captured when very young, and high-spirited and fiery. Both manifested considerable uneasiness, know- ing they were in the hands of st ers, and Nat’s made one or two efforts to disl« shim; but he was a good horseman and maintained his place with ap- parent ease despite the struggles, which were frantic and desperate at first. Mine was somewhat larger, of a coal-black color, with as much spirit and fire as the other, but in a few moments we had them under perfect control. Besides these two animals, we gained two fine In- dian saddles, and were now as well mounted as we could wish. Nat remarked, that when the buffaloes thundered by he felt some apprehension for me, but the trapper expressed none, saying that I would be found right inthe morning. As soon as there was light, Nat commenced searching the bed of the stream for me, and failing in this, he climbed a tree and took a survey of the prairie on both sides. From his elevation he discovered what he believed to be my dead body; and accompanied by Biddon and the horses, hastened toward me. Upon reaching me, they understood instantly the whole matter, and it was their loud laughter that had aroused me. We were now pretty far to the north-west of Ne- braska Territory. The face of the country was ma- terially different, and I began to notice a change of temperature. The summer had just closed, and the early autumn was like the approach of winter, The — were cool and chilling, and the days generally mild at noon, but often keen and exhilarating. The ea was mostly of the rolling kind, but ts of imber were more COmMaOA, and the vegetation richer and more exuberant. It was plain, too, that we were in a section where the foot of civilization had not been. The vast, undulating swell of the prairie, the mighty fields of verdure and the broad streams, bore only the marks of the red-man and wild beast. Toward noon, Nat descried a solitary antelope far ahead. It was near a grove, from which it had just wandered, and stood gazing wonderingly at our ap- roach. We rode on in silence for some time, when iddon raised his hand. ** Jes’ hold on,”’ he said, as he dismounted. He made a circuit, skirting the prairie, so as to reach the ve mentioned upon the opposite side from the antelope. I still was at a loss to understand his intention, as the animal was too distant from the timber to be brought down with a rifle-shot from that point. On the outer edge of the ve, next to the ante- lope, I saw him emerge, holding a stick over his head, to which was affixed a handkerchief or rag. He walked a short distance, and then lay down flat upon the prairie peeeeey concealed in the grass. e rag was visible flut above him. I now watched the motions of the antelope. He stood gazing at us, until the trapper came into view, when, with a star- tled glance at him, he wheeled and ran. In a mo- ment, however, he paused and turned quickly around. His looks were now fixed upon the fluttering ‘ He stood motionless a moment, and then cautiously lifting his foot, made a step toward it. Thus he con- tinued to approach, step by step, with a nt fear, yet evidently impelled by an cEpavereae é curiosity, until he was scarce a hundred yards distant from the prostrate form of the trapper. Still he was mo stealthily onward, when suddenly the sharp crac of Biddon’s rifle reached us. We saw the antelope ive a wild leap into the air, and bounding forward all to the ground. The trapper sprung to his feet and hastened to the fallen animal. ate us ride to him,” said I, walking my horse on- ward. We had ridden a short distance when Nat asked: ‘* What's got into Biddon? Just look at him!” I did look, and for a moment believed him crazy. He had seen us approaching, and was now making furious gesticulations. I watched him a moment, and then remarked: MR is either signaling for us to come on or to s ve tie means us to wait, I guess, and we had better We reined in our horses and watched him. Appa- rently satisfied with our stopping, he stoo and commenced working at the animal. In a few mo- ments he arose, and slinging a huge piece on his shoulder, made his way into the grove. m this he emerged in due time, and made his way toward us, motioning, meanwhile, for us to remain in our places, “Why didn’t you wish us to approach?” I asked, as soon as he came within distance, He made no answer, but thro his meat upon the ground, hastily mounted his horse. Then he spoke in a deep whisper: * Boys, did you s’ there’s over twenty red-skins among them trees?’ ‘* Heavens! it isn’t possible!’ I exclaimed. ‘* It’s so; I see’d ‘em, and thar eyes are on us this minute. They're waitin’ for us to go on, an’ they'll give us thunder,”’ ‘“* What's to be done?” queried Nat. ‘* Jes’ keep still, an’ don't kick up, or they'll see it. We've got to make a ran for it. p close to me, and when I start, let your horses went.” ‘** But the meat?’’ I hurriedly asked. 5 **Can’t take it. Wemay havea long run, an’ our horses won't want to carry no extra | I didn’t es thar animals, but I guess they ain’t mounted. y.” With this, Biddon wheeled his horse, and vanis*ed from his place with the speed of ee while ours almost simultaneously shot ahead like an arrow. An instant after, I heard the faint discharge of guns, and looking back, saw a host of savage forms pour- ing hastily from the timber. ‘No need of hurrying. They are not mounted,” I called out to Nat, who was hurrying his horse to the utmost. vi don’t believe it,’’ he exclaimed, speeding furi- ously on. ‘*Go it, Todd! you'll fetch up at Laramie," yelled Biddon. The latter drew his horse into a steady canter, and indulged in several loud laughs at the fugitive. Nat continued on in his mad career, but, seeing how far behind he had left us, he reined up and awaited our approach. he savages, in the mean time, were hurrying on in pursuit. I know not what led them to expect any success in this chase, for, as remarked, not one was mounted. They may have had little faith in the speed or bottom of our horses, and trusted they would be able torun us down. Biddon half turned in his seat, and looking back a moment, asked: “Do you see that red, diggin’ like all mad off on one side? The one as is trying to surround us?” I glanced back and answered in the affirmative. ‘** Do you want to see a red drop in purty style?’’ I answered again in the affirmative. ‘Wal, jis’ keep yer nee on him.”’ So saying, he raised his rifle, without checking the speed of his horse, took a quick aim along its long barrel and fired. To my astonishment, the Indian uttered a wild shriek, and springing high in the air, fell Ls ae we" —. ‘‘He’s done for,’’ remar the trapper, quickly. 7 While Il fodder my iron, s’posen you try your I raised mine to my shoulder, and pointing it toward a suspicious savage, pulled the trigger. As ht be expected, I came about as near to him itt will take ¢ a time f to plish os i e a long time for me accom that feat,’ said I. ree “Wal, yer goes ag’in.”’ And again was the fatal rifle discharged, and again did a savage bite the dust. Still the pursuers maintained their ground, seem- ingly determined to overtake us at allhazards. They were separating and scattering over the prairie, with the evident intention of hemming us At this momers we came up to wy Bs : on’t you run?” he A sy ney shoot us all afore we know it.” ype He had scarcely finished his words, when the pur- suers did fire, and with an uncomfortable eff too. The bullets were pane: heard whistling through the air beside us, and one actually cut its way through the upper part of Nat's hat, some eight or ten inches from the crown of his head. He dodged nervously, and jerking the hat off his head, held it up to view. “Just look there!’ he exclaimed, indignantly putting his finger through the orifice. ‘What of it?’ gruffly asked Biddon. “That's a pretty question to ask, I should think! I swow I won't stand any such work as this."’ Bees giving his horse the rein, he shot rapidly “I guess we mought as well,” remarked Biddon, letting his horse have free rein. The race was now decided. At such rete we went, of course the pursuers were soon behind, and in an hour not one was visible, all of them being “er distan or = bic sania wh. t is not necessary to give the of our journey to the north-west. We continued traveling onw for six days, when we reached the where it was intended we should remain until This was much further northward than I suspected; in fact, it was but a few miles distant from the Hud- son Bay Territory, and upon one of the remote trib- utaries of the Missouri. We had entered a climate had Lath” War eed apicned as duighity: 'withermnne eft. e en a e where, ere we left it, we were doomed to pass through strange experiences. Beaver were detected at several streams which we crossed during the last day or two of our journey, but Biddon pers no attention to them until about the middle of the a small river flowing un through the Hudson Bay tory in its When upon the opposite side, he remarked. ‘* Yer’s the spot whar we're goin’ to squat.” It te geehape worth remarking that the section was a wooded country. We had passed over no clear rairie during the day, and were in the midst of a eep wood. e trees were of nearly every conceiv- able kind—cotton wood predominating, with oak, elm, ash, walnut, etc. After crossing, the tra headed directly stream for a short conta than he turned to the left and descended into a valley. Here he dis- mounted. ~ Take yer fixin’s,’’ said he, ‘“‘and turn the hosses “ Won't they wander away,” I asked. ances “Tele't akek: chee'll be starved. "oat cr chi . ’ y , : ont ——— gUROR of rich inclosed b was a grass thick walls of undergrowth. Here we left our a horses, ony! jaking our saddles = moved away. are pee ever been here before?’ “I yer last season, but didn’t 'spect to come. Gomicbooks (E (E(@)