Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 662 — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

i v4 14 Butterfly Billy’s Bonanza. lad that he believes me his friend, ed Dog, must be my friend too, for I am sorry I hit you that day,” ‘* Red Dog heap sorry too.” ‘‘ But you know the Bible teaches—” ‘No know about pale-face Great Spirit; hear of Him, but know red-skins’ great chief.” ‘‘He is the same, Red Dog; but let me tell you that the Great Spirit teaches us to forgive our enemies and to forget how they have hurt us,” ‘“‘Ump! Red Dog forgive and forget, but he remembers,” was the reply of the Comanche, ‘“Well, we are to be friends now, friends unto death,” ‘‘Yes, he heap good friends until Big Baby Bill die,” was the reply, and the victim saw not its hidden meaning. So on the red-skin led the way, through the pass, over the water-washed rocks and then up the steep trail to the peak above. He stopped for an instant and listened atten- tively. Some sound had caught his keen ears; but, after awhile, as though reassured, he led on up to the peak where the cabin stood, ‘‘ Well, this 1s a snug retreat,” said Baby Bill admiringly, and then his eyes fell upon the open grave. ‘* Hal what is that for, Red Dog?” ‘* Big chief have fight, going to bury a foe,” ** Ah! but where is he?” The Indian led the way to the bridge, which had been left spanning the chasm as the Her- cules was not then able to raise and lower it into place, ‘¢‘ Lordy! I can never cross there.” “Oh yes,” ‘** But my horse will not.” ‘** Blind his eyes, see! I lead bim.” The Indian started bis roan across, and b putting something over the eyes of the blac of Baby Bill the animal tremblingly allowed himself to be led over to the other side, ‘¢ This is a dizzy-looking crossing, Comanche,” said Billas he followed and he gavea sigh of relief when upon the other side, ‘Well, I really appreciate this kindness in the general, letting me into the secret of his home,” and the outlaw followed the Comanche on toward the other cabin. But, as they neared it the Comanche stopped and said: ‘* Big chief there /” He pointed toward the cabin, and as the out- law passed on he received a stunning blow, from a rock held in the hand of the red-skin, With a groan he dropped to bis knees, when a revolver was thrust near his left side, and with the touch of the trigger the bullet entered his heart. ‘‘ Him dead, big chief,” called out the Indian, and out of the cabin, with great effort, though, the Giant General dragged himself, ‘‘ Yes, he will fill the bill exactly, or rather the grave, Now to rig him up as the Giant General!” he said. This was dons after considerable trouble, and then the powerful Comanche shouldered the heavy load and went back to the lower peak, while the Hercules gladly returned to his cot in the cabin once more. ob yo the dead form in the blanket which Buffalo had used, and taking the loose earth from the grave, the Comanche placed the still warm form at length in it, just as he had found his white comrade lying. Then he filled the grave in carefully, takin pains to leave all as he had found it, and plac the logs over it as Buffalo Bill had done, Not a thing was left undone to avoid attract- ing attention to the grave’s having been opened and refilled, The rifle, sword and other things were left just as the Giant General had told the Co- manche to let them remain, and then he started upon hie return to the upper bill, Destroying any hoof-marks that were there, he crossed the bridge and then proceeded to haul it into place by means of the windlass, The log with its bushes was rolled back into place, and all looked as it had before, so that the Comanche felt satisfied with his work, and started on toward the cabin to receive the praise of the Hercules, But his ear had not deceived him, when he had halted on his way to his retreat, for there two pair of eyes were watching bim, And now, as he walked away toward the cabin where lay the wounded Giant, the same eyes were upon him, for those who were watch- ing him had trailed him over across the bridge, and were then secreted upon the upper peak, “Tam and you, biding their time to act, and thus far they’ seemed masters of the situation. CHAPTER XXIII, TRAILED DOWN. THE two persons who had from a movement of their horses in the timber, attracted the alert attention of Red Dog the Comanche, had caught sight of the outlaw and his red guide at the very instant the Indian stopped to listen. They remained silent and watched, and gave a sigh as they passed on, Then one said to the other: ; nt Look, Massa Ashley, what dat big man yon- er? ‘‘T saw him,” was the suppressed reply, and as the Indian and outlaw disappeared in the distance the one who had last spoken contined: ‘¢ We must follow them at once.” ‘* Yes, massa,” And on the two rode, out into the trail and on after those who had passed by a few minutes before. Arriving at an opening they drew their horses back hastily, for on ahead they saw the Indian and the outlaw cllmbing up the steep trail to the ridge. Then on they went, when those they followed had disappeared, until they reached the base of the ridge, and here they hid their riding-horses and'the led animal and continued on their way afoot. They saw for an instant a form disappearing over the ridge of a higher hill. It was the outlaw just crossing the bridge over the chasm, Seeing the cabin they expected to taf some one there, and the open grave seemed to move them with anxiety. But they pushed wee across the bridge and just had time time to hide in among the rocks, when they beheld the Indian returning. He was staggering along under a limp form clad in military attire. ‘* My God!” broke from the lips of one of the two, and the other’s hand was laid firmly upon his shoulder, and the words were whispered: ‘* Wait, massa, wait,” And then they crouched for a long time, while the Comanche crossed the bridge with his bur- den and placed it in his grave, Then he returned, drew up the bridge and disappeared in the direction of the center of the hill without dreaming that eyes were upon him, that the secret retreat of the Hercules had been invaded. ‘* What does it all mean?” ““T dunno, massa; but we kin foller dat Ingun now, and if I don’t mistake he are a Comanche we knows,” ‘‘He is a Comanche, yes, and there is some- thing familiar in his bearing; but what is he doing here?” “*‘ Don’t. yer recommember, massa, Red Dog de Comanche chief dat run off with Apache girl, and his people goin’ ter kill him, and he stop at de ranch, and his poor young squaw was go sick, and you nursed her until she died, and bury her on de stream?” ‘‘ Yes, it is Red Dog, I believe.” ‘‘He am) Red Dog, massa, for he went away and folks say he was kilt; but he pretty lively Injun now.” ; ‘Then Red Dog should be Ais friend, not his oe ‘‘ Yes, massa, but I hain’t so sart’in dat was him.” “Then we must find out. ‘Come, for the sun is near its setting, and we have no time to lose.” ‘‘ Dat’s a fact, massa,” and with this the two started on oute more, following what was now mice to be a well-beaten path further into the ridge. After a walk of a couple of hundred yards, they came in sight of a cabin, and there, seated before it was the large form of the Giant Gen- eral, half-reclining in a rustic chair. i His eyes were closed, and he was awaiting the return of the Indian, who had gone further along the ridge in search of some herbs with which to dress the wounds of the white man. ‘Tt is be!” The words came hoarsely from the lips of the speaker, and the other replied confidently: ‘* Tt am, for a fact, so we has trailed him down sart’in, massa,” ‘‘ You go forward, for he will recognize you at a glance, and tell him that Iam here only if you believe he would care to see me; but if you think he will not, then slip away and come back to me, and I will go away—yes, I will go away.” Thus urged, the one addressed moved out of the thicket, and approached the cabin, His step aroused the Giant General, whosprun to his feet, with the words bursting from lips: ** Black Sampson ! you here ?” ‘Yas, massa, I am here, sah, and I am awful proud to see you, sah, I is indeed,” and the huge negro grasped the band of bis white counterpart and wrung it warmly. ‘*My God, Sampson! when did you get here— how did you get here, and where are you from?” ‘* Slowly, massa, slowly, fer you is overflood- in’ me with questions, sah. ‘**1 got here, sah, half a hour ago, by seein’ a Injun I takes fer Red Dog comin’ along, and I follows him. ' ‘‘He didn’t see me, so I slipped across de bridge, and here I is, sah,” ‘* And where are you from?’ and the Giant’ was quivering with emotion as he asked the question. ‘‘ rom Ranch Eden, sab,” ‘‘ And why have you come, sir?’ came the stern query, ‘* Waal, massa, I came ter find you, sah, and I has been six months a-doin’ it, too.” ‘*' What do you want with me, now ?” and the last word was uttered with deep pathos, ‘Waal, sah, you jist made a mistake, some years ago, and [ come to tell you of it.” ‘‘ A mistake? My God, yes, I loved one who was unwortby, and that mistake bas warped my nature, made a devil of me,” was the bitter re- sponse, ‘Massa, you is a little too fast, fer yer didn’t love no one who was unwortby, as [ bas come ter oo to yer, sab.” ‘“By the God above, man, prove this and I’ll give you a fortune,” and the words rung wut like a trumpet. ‘“Waal, sah, you thoughted when Missy Ellen’s fambly was a massacreed by the Co- manches, dat all of ’em was kilt dead and burned up; but yer see, sah, her brother Arthur he went a-lookin’ fer her, and he escaped ther massacree, but were took prisoner, and gittin’ away went to ther fort and they made him an officer, and one day met a old trapper, Buckskin Bill, and got to talkin’ over old times, and found out his sister was a-livin’ and had been found by you on ther ,pararer, 80 he come ter see her one night and— ‘* God forgive me! but he never can!” The words came with a wail of bitterness from the heart of Sol Soulette, and he dropped back in bis chair and buried his face in his hands, while his whole form shook with emotion which nearly overwhelmed him. CHAPTER XXIV. FORGIVEN. Tux large honest eyes of Black Sampson filled with tears, as he gazed upon the anguish his master suffered, and he stood looking upon him without knowing what to say or do. The Giant sobbed like a child for some min- ‘¢- Yes, Massa Sol?” ‘And my poor wife?” ‘You wounded her, sah, but she got well.” ‘‘ Heaven, I thank Thee!” and the head was again bowed. ‘Massa, you is wounded, sah, and—” “Tt is nothing; but tell me, did she send you to find me, to tell me bow she hated me?” ‘‘'No, no, sah, for missy understand it all. ‘She got heap good horse, senor, sah, and she know you thoughted her folks was all dead, and Carlos he afterwards tell ber how he told you . dat dere was a officer visitin’ missy, and she recommember how a lieutenant camped near de ranch made you jealous ’cause he like her, so she just know’d you thought she wasn’t no good wife no longer and in your temper kill him, ‘She done forgive you, sah, right away.” ‘Could I believe it?” ‘‘ Tt are Gospel, sab, for missy didn’t send me, sah, for she come herself,” and Black Sampson put his finger to his lipsand gave a peculiar, ringing signal. : ent S romptly answered, and the next mo- ment out of the cedar thicket bounded a slender form, clad in the buckskin suit of a man. But in spite of the male attire, and short curling hair, Sol Soulette knew his wife and sprung toward her, while Sampson hastily walked away and a few moments after nearly scared Red Dog to death by coming upon him face to face in the thicket path, It was lucky for Sampson that Red Dog mo- memtarily took him for the Devil, or in other words the Great Evil Spirit, and dared not raise a hand against him, and in the moment of hesi- tation the negro called out: ——— -~ | - ui} . | .. ie ai, | ‘ 4 a : rt - Pag ooks.com 4 x » 7” * «&! ee ‘<t