Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 66 — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

stock ag in, and sart’in not de chile ob m Missee to this yous ey 7 ; ns! _strange look in the ors of war,” said Duke, with a smile. ‘“‘ Coral I give this young lady into your charge, an I expect you to see to it that she does not es- cape.” ‘Do not make me her jailer, Tom, for assureas you do, I will help her to escape,” replied Coral, promptly. ; . ‘You are certainly candid, my dear Coral,” said Duke, engnng: ‘but 1 think I will trust you still, for eget J think you would suffer any one to escape who would put your hus- band’s life in peril, and I give you my word that if she gets away there is no safety for me in Texas.” The head of Coral dropped upon her bosom. He had taken the only way to secure her aid— through her love forhim. He stood looking at her a moment, with a look half of remorse, half admiration, and then ordered the men who were clustered about the door to move back and per- mit the passage of Bennett and the prisoner. Wed went out with a proud look upon his noble young face, and even the men who desired his death were forced to admire him. Lilly had retreated to the shelter of Coral’s arms, and re- posing her head upon the woman’s bosom, was sobbing as if her heart would break. “Come, Coral,” said Duke, nih your charge with you to our cabin. I little thought once that I should be glad of such a shelter; but life is full of strange vicissitudes.” He went out first, pushing his way through the ranks of the men, pausing now and then to shake hands with a favorite, or to ask some question, and made his way to a cabin more neatly built than any of the others, the door of which stood open. negro woman was laying the cloth for a meal, as °y. came in, who look- ed delighted at the sight of Duke. ‘«Good hebbens, Marse Tom,” she said, ‘‘ you done got way from dem rangers? T’ought you done gone up dis time, Marse Tom—I did, for shure.” “I'm all right, Jinny,” said Duke, laughing lightly. ‘‘ The time had not come for me to be laid by the heels, but when it does, I believe I shall have a sincere mourner in you. Is break- fast nearly ready? I’m as hungry as a hunt- ‘“Mcs’ ready, Marse Tom. G’long — you knows what raal cookin’ is, you does. Don’t ‘low no low-lived truck to beat me cookin’, dat I don’t! Goodness gracious! who dat? Fader above, dat’s my young missee—dat’s Miss Rie!” Tom Duke hesitated and looked blank for a moment, and then laughed again. ‘*So you see the resemblance, do you, Jinny? I might have known it, for I see in her exactly what her mother was at her age. This is Miss *Rie’s daughter.” The old negress approached Lilly and gazed long and earnestly into her face. **'You’s bootiful, young missee,” she said at last. ‘‘ I nebber hoped to see anudder ob de ole dear ll me dat.” “My mother is very well,” said Lilly. “ But who are you?” ‘* Let me answer for you,” said Duke. ‘ This is Jinny, one of your mother’s old family ser- vants. No matter how she came into my session, or whoITam? It is enough for you to know who she is, and I warn you, Jinny, under pain of my displeasure, never to speak my name ie. I hope she well, chile—you ‘** Good he you don’t s’pose I let out on you, Marse Tom?” replied Jinny. ‘Ki! Her fader an’ you not so frien’ly to one anudder dat I tole who you be. I didn’t think he let his dar- ter come an’ see you.” “Tam not here of my own accord, Jinny,” said Lillian, quickly. ‘I am a prisoner.” ‘“ Donno nuffin : ut dat,” said J inny, with the vacant look which a slave knows how to as- ‘‘Marse Tom he ’tend to all dat, I reck- sume, on, an’ it won’t do for an ole woman to interfere; she knows better. Got forty lashes for dat once, and don’t want ’em ag’in, J don’t.” ‘Get the breakfast on the table, Jinny,” said Coral, impatiently. ‘‘ What nonsense you are talking now.” ‘ ; ‘* You don’t’ sense in me, Missee ” said Jinny, with a laugh. ‘“‘ Dat’s too curi’s, dat is. Deidea ob sense in an ole nigger woman! Xi; dat too funny, dat is.” | oe In — of her assumed humility, there was something in the manner of the negress which gave Lilly hope, and she was wise enough to say nothing to her. Two or three times in the course of the meal their eyes met, and she saw a inkling black orbs of the vegress, Which she could not understand. eee ee Single Hand. ‘“‘T have not asked you how Bi esca dear Tom?’ said Coral. ‘‘Ned Clayton said you were in irons.” “So I was,” replied Duke; ‘‘ but Lhave a way of my own of getting out of irons when they are not too tight. I freed myself from the shackles, squeezed myself out of the window, stole a horse, and was off. I had to-make a circuit to avoid some Indians, and that made me late, or I be- | lieve that I should have been here to receive | Master Ned Clayton in person. But it is just as well; I was in time to do the work.” “T wish you would let Ned go, or at least spare his life, even if you keep him a prisoner.” ‘You ask too much, Coral, There are not many things which I would refuse you, as I think you SCabw, but this is impossible. Our safety depends upon the destruction of this boy, who has the intellect of an Arnold, and the same traitorous disposition. Once free, he would leave no stone unturned to thwart my plans, and we should not be safe for amoment. He must die, and you only make trouble by talking of him.” ““He is so brave and noble-hearted in every thing else, that I cannot bear to see him suffer. If he would promise to leave Texas and not re- turn, would you let him go?” **He would come back, Coral—he would come back—and the magnet which would draw him is not far away. ve me to attend to him, and as the men vote, so it shall be. They know what is best for their own safety.” ‘** We took an Indian prisoner last. evening—a man who Blanchard says is Black Feather, the son of Single Hand. e—” ‘You did him no harm, I hope?” cried Duke, starting up. “He escaped during the night, and although he was treated somewhat roughly when cap- tured, I hardly think he was hurt.” “You have made a mistake in capturing him at all,” replied Duke. ‘‘He came here with friendly intentions, and perhaps we have now alienated his father. However, we must repai the wrong, if possible, and at once; so tell Ben- nett to prepare to accompany me to the prairie.” Half an hour after, the outlaw rode out with two men, and returned before noon, accompa- nied by four or five Indians, one of whom was the young chief taken the night before, who looked sternly about upon the faces of the out- laws as if seeking the man who had struck him down the night before. But, Pedro prudently kept out of sight, as he had no wish to meet the Indian now. Riding by the side of Tom Duke was the gigantic chief whom Lilly had seen be- fore, Single Hand; a truly appalling figure in his war-paint. He seemed to be upon friendly terms with Duke, and looked about on the cam with the eye of a warrior, and appeared to think well of his associates, They dismounted at the door of Duke’s cabin, and as they entered, Lillian shrunk away, awed by the terrible appearance of the great chief, who looked at her pt beandbes $k although the dark beauty of Coral pleased him best. ‘*My brother has beautiful wives,” he said. ‘Single Hand has none like them in his lodge,”’ ‘** The old rip,” muttered Blanchard, who was with the party. ‘‘ Perhaps he would like one of these?” “This is my wife,” said Duke Coral. ‘The other is the child of and mine, Captain Hardin.” “Ha!” cried the chief, flercely. ‘‘ Hardin is adog and many of the Comanche have fallen b his hand. Let him beware of Single Hand, | chief of the Comanche! His coming is as the rushing of a mighty wind and his blows as ter- rible as the stroke of the lightning. When he hates he strikes, and his enemies,wither before him as the prairie under the fire.” There was something strikingly impressive in the attitude of the great chief, and Lilly, much as she feared him, was deeply touched by his manner. She could not understand his words, pointing to your enemy mes eC ee | but his gestures were Sperm, Mammy his eyes kindled as he spoke. She turned from him and her eye met that of Black Feather, who was looking at her intently. As their eyes met he smiled, and she knew that, in the young war- rior, she had found a friend. € ve us, Coral,” said Duke. ‘‘ We have some private business.” Coral took Lilly by the hand and led her out of the cabin and into the forest beyond the clear- ing. They had not gone far when they were overtaken by Black Feather, who had made some excuse for leaving the cabin. He at once approached, bending before them with a court- ly grace which would have done credit to a on ‘*Black Feather can not much speak white , — a Salient 11 man talk,” he said, quickly. ‘‘ But see; he is a friend of the Golden Hair, and would not see her wronged. Shesaved him from white man knife; he save her now—all same.” “You can not help me now,” said the eagerly, ‘but you can help one whom I love.” tay,” said Coral. ‘‘{ must not hear this, although I hope that you will succeed in your undertaking. Let me go away for a moment and leave you together. You do not fear to be left alone with this young chief, Lilly?” Without a moment’s hesitation she answered $ nie and Black Feather drew a long breath of relief. “The Golden Hair is wise beyond her years, and can read the heart of the Comanche. She is safe with Black Feather, who would not hurt a hair in her head to save his life,” Coral moved away and stood under the sha- dow of a great tree, out of bearing, but from which she could warn them of the approach of anenemy. Lilly and the Indian remained for a moment in close consultation, and then he moved awa sai oe came Penagye rm rane ‘* Don’t tell me anything, dear Lilly, cried the creole, eagerly. ‘“ Vou Bad better keep it a secret if you have formed any plan, for it would be my duty to tell the truth if my husband ask- ed the question.” ‘I shall tell you nothing,” answered Lilly; “but that yo Indian has a noble heart—a heart which would do credit to any white man. You will probably hear something before morn- in Pd They went back to the camp but did not enter the cabin, as the leaders were still in consulta- tion. An hour after, while they were sitting in Blanchard’s cabin, that worthy came in, looking flushed and angry. “Pl tell you what it is, madam,” he said, ad- dressing Coral, ‘‘ your husband carries matters with too high a hand. I, for one, did not join a party of kidnappers. I knew that they were rascals, but I did not think they were of the mean kind.” i What is the matter, Blanchard?’ said Co- ral. ‘The matter is that, as soon as this present work is done, I quit. I’ve been asked to league with Indians in the meanest plot— See here; I'll go out on the-plains and fight the savages as long as life lasts, but ’l be—no, I won’t swear— if ’'U kidnap any more women. And don’t let them give me a chance, or Ned Clayton will get away sure,” Lillian made a signal which Coral understood, and she left the room, leaving them together. What Lillian said to him did not transpire until afterward, but Blanchard went out, whistling, with a happy look on his face. That night, or rather next morning, Tom Duke was called out by one of the. men and led to the cabin where Ned Clayton was confined. He found Bennett lying senseless upon the earth, bound hand and foot with a gag thrust into his mouth. There were marks of several feet upon the earth, but chiefly moccasin-tracks which it would be hard to identify. “You needn’t tell me what has happened,” said Duke, fiercely. ‘‘The boy has escaped.” ** It wasn’t our fault, captain. Jim Bagley is dead and Bennett pretty nigh it, and the boy gone. Duke stood a moment in thought, with his hand upon a knife, and then stooping he cut the cords which bound Bennett. ‘Call up the men, Timpson. Get out Blanch ard and tell him that we march in half an hour. There is not a moment to be lost.” The ‘outlaws wasted no time. Half an hour later the camp was deserted, and the jaguar and the prairie wolf struggled with each other for the debris of the deserted place. CHAPTER XI. A PRAIRIE BATTLE. THE escape of Tom Duke was reported to Captain Hardin early in the morning. No one could be blamed for it, as it was evident that he had slipped off the irons—a trick of which few men were capable. The rangers were at once called together, and leaving three men in charge of the house, they rode out toward Deep Gully, where a preconcerted signal called out Jack who was hidden in the bushes, and who heard the news of Duke’s escape with great alarm. vial He'll kill bad Clayton!” he said—“ he’ll kill im as sure as fate. wouldn’t give a picayune for his chance of being alive, twenty four hours from now.” “Do you know where their camp is, Jack?” said the captain. ‘No, I don’t, captain. You see I’ve been in another part ef the State, fur this band bas com EGNOOKS