Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 6 — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

[SS ——_2 we eee eS ee ae - — = —_—— = = > ee lie ee -- —_—=— 2 8 “Tt sounded jist under your feet about.” ‘* Jerusha!’’ exclaimed the affrighted Nat, as he sprung nervously toward me. ‘Tt must have been the Indian who made that yell,” said L. “In course; but things are beginnin’ to look quar- ish to me.” The same look of uneasiness again passed over the trapper’s face; and I saw that although he strove to hide it he was by no means at rest. Matters were beginning to a on an unusual aspect, and that was the reason, . Give the trapper of the north-west flesh and blood to contend against, let him know that nothing supernatural is arrayed against him, and he is the last man in the world to yield an inch. But the moment he sees something unexplainable to his simple mind (and the trapper is a credulous being), his courage deserts him. He believes that other spirits than those of men visit this earth, and they are his greatest horror. “*Let’s go home; there's Injins all around us,” pleaded Nat. ‘* How'd you know?” ** Because I seen one myself,” Biddon looked inquiringly at me, and deeming it best, I related the incidteal. given in the p mex chapter. I saw at once his uneasiness was increased. . y didn’t you shoot the red-skin?”’ he asked of at. Ta he a didn’t you shoot the red-skin?’’ added Nat, urn, Re I did—hit him fair and square as I ever hit any- ing.”” ** But didn’t do any more good than I did.” Vaan & SN \ \\ Wy} ¢ 1,4 ip v.44) d AS ——— an een el ee ee ee ee ee — ee ae ee ee oe “No doubt about that. I’ve been thinking that some of them helped off that fellow when I was load- ing my gun.” “We mought as well go back ag’in,” said Biddon. **T’m tired of huntin’ spirits, and I dunno but what we'd better move traps and leave this Pp to ’em.”’ “ That’s what I am in favor of—”’ Nat suddenly paused, for Biddon, with a slight “*sh!’? motioned us down. We sunk quickly and silently to the earth, while he, in a crouching posi- tion pened steadily up-stream. “What is it, Bill?” whispered Nat. “ There's a canoe comin’ down-stream!”’ We said nothing; and Nat looked meaningly in the water. ‘Skin me, if there ain't two reds and a squaw in it,’ added Biddon, without changing his position, or removing his gaze. I could not restrain the singular agitation that came over me at this moment. Fearing to betray myself, I cautiously arose beside Biddon. ‘Let me take a look,”’ I whispered. ‘““Be keerful you ain't seen,’’ he whispered, in turn, as he stepped back. As I looked, I saw, not more than two hundred yards distant, the canoe approaching, heading di- rectly toward us. For this reason, I could only see the foremost Indian, though I was positive another together with the white captive, was in it. I gazed but a moment, and then looked inquiringly at the trapper. He made no reply, but again peered forth. “That ain't a squaw; it’s a white gal,” said he, looking round upon us with an astounded look. ‘**Shall we rescue her?” I asked. \ - AN \\ \ \\ } y ~~ 2 eS ) j } >. ‘ S ’ Beadle’s Half-Dime Library. ** How is yours, Greeny?” Nat lifted his, examined the lock and looked into thebarrel. He had indeed discharged it, grazing the trapper’s head so closely as to wound his ear. “Wonder if that was my gun? Sure, I believe it was,” he remarked, still looking into the barrel. “Was it your gun?” repeated the trapper, his brow darkening like a thunder-cloud, and laying his hand ope his knife-handle, as he approached. Nat look- up and started as he saw his visage fairly gleam- ing with passion. : "eee shoot it, Bill, by thunder!” he expostu- ated, The face of the trapper changed. It grew paler, but the dark cloud fied from it. He replacéd the drawn knife. He believed the words of Nat, Matters were approaching a crisis. The recent startling events had their effect upon us all. The trapper avowed he could not stand ** sich goin’s on,”’ and should leave for some other quarters. Little sleep came to Nat that night. His adventure with the savage, and the more recent occurrence alarmed him. He had discovered that there were consequences to be feared from both sides. I was still unwilling to believe that there was any thing in the. events given which would not be soon explained. It was evident our foes were around, and from some inexplicable cause, had pursued an un- usual course toward us. We had all been exposed to their power, yet had escay harmless What was the meaning of this? And, above all, what was the object of the appearance and disappearance of the canoe at the different times mentioned? These questions prompted my anxious curiosity, * ’ - . VY KS KANSANS MW WSS — ——— ee ~~ ~ > » s -— _n Sy Se Sf Se > So, ‘ — = — SYS —> = —<_ ie _ \ ~ . -— ~~ . =~ > —— a — > SS SS ~e Foe . > _-— —-< _ - a -4 >; ~~. -_ = aS Ve Ss —_—~ —— va | j Be ee ne SS - ——ll ee Pe ee “THAT AIN'T A SQUAW, IT’S A WHITE GAL,” SAID BILL, LOOKING ROUND UPON US WITH AN ASTOUNDED LOOK.—Page 8. “‘T made the infarnal imp how'!."’ ** And I made mine grunt," added Nat, triumph- antly. mt There is no need of bap Linte . “Each of you did your best, Nat included. You, Bill, I be- lieve, hit your man and mo y wounded him. That yell was of agony, though I can't conceive how we came to mistake it for yours, The dead or dying body of that Indian, I believe, is near at hand. what does that mean?’’ I asked, asI detected some red fluid dripping from the limb of a bush to the earth. The trapper stepped forward and looked at it, * That's the blood of a Blackfoot, or I'm a skinned beaver!’’ he remarked, with a glow of relief. o I’m convinced that's Injin blood,” added Nat, rubbing it between the tip of his finger and thumb. ‘The blood of a Blackfoot Injin, too—a man’s about thirty-two years old. Probably a bro- ther to the one I frightened. “‘ Biddon, I believe, as I just said, that we will find me body of that savage, near at hand. Let us fol- ow it.”’ “‘ Jes’ what I's going to do,” he replied, starting at once. It was easy to follow the trail, as every step was marked by blood, which in many places was drip- ping from the bushes to the ground. It was fol- owed but a short distance, however, as it led in a direct line to the river. ’ “ Tt’s as L s’pected,” said Biddon, turning round in d ioe ines taken to vprytoyy A > wala ne ee an as as not some of the other - then have helped him off." ‘*‘ Ef she wants us to, in course.” “ You going to shoot them?” asked Nat, anxiously. ‘Can't tell yit. Jest see that yer irons is ready, and we'll wait till they get out yer. Don't make no noise till I give the motion.” The trapper stole a yard or two infront of us, where he sunk so uy down upon his facé till only his head was visible. Nat fingered his gun nervously beside me, while I, not a whit less tated, waited for the canoe to appear through the interstices of the bushes in front. In a moment [heard the faint ripple of an oar, and saw the et slowly raising his and bringing his rifle in front of him. He raised his hand warn- ingly for us to remain quiet until the moment should arrive. I heard the click of my companion’s gun, as he Sore the hammer, and admonished him to be care Suddenly I saw the red head-dress of one of the sav glitter through the bushes, and, before I could speak, came an explosion beside me like the crash of a thunderbolt, Almost simultaneously, the herculean frame of the trapper bounded over me, and he exclaimed: ** Who fired that? I'm shot.” Nat and I sprung to our feet and dashed after him; but as I turned, though bewildered with excitement, I looked at the spot where the canoe was seen. It was gone! We dashed up the bank, and in a moment reached Biddon, The excitement had completely gone, and he stood coolly feeling his ear. ‘Was that your gun, Jarsey?” he asked, “No, sir; mine is still loaded.” and a desire to learn more of that mysterious be whom I had now twice seen. I ridiculed the ideas o Biddon, and Nat strove hard to convince him that he was not afraid. Biddon consented to remain un- til more was learned, intimating, at the same time, that it must be very soon. He visited the horses each day, and found them undisturbed. This, how- ever, only added to his anxiety. Had they been one he would have taken it as convinc roof ae are. were Jide Indians in the neighbor- The next day, after the closing scene of the last chapter, Nat to accompany me for the last time to the s where we had seen the canoe. The ranges could not be prevailed upon to go affirming that he should probably have his hands full at home. It required my utmost skill to succeed with Nat, as the horror had plainly settled upon him. “Tt’s awful,”’ said he, as we started, “this walking right into danger, but I want fo see that canoe ag’in, and especially that gal, and so I'll go.” ** And, I trust, behave yourself. You well know, Nat, you fired that shot which came so near ending Biddon’s life.” ‘‘ Wonder if I did pull the trigger!” he exclaimed, suddenly stopping and looking around at me, “You know you did, and had he known it too it would have been a sorry piece of business for you. cr temper of his is terrible, when it is once ex- ci 9 “IT remember cocking my gun and kind of pulling the trigger, but I didn’t mean to pull hard enough bo make it go off.” “I suppose not, I cannot conceive how Biddon Eboo