Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 870 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

ge <n --- . «5 eo “‘Tf you meant no harm to me, why did ou not let me remain with the hunters?’ de- ianded Alfa. ‘‘We didn’t want you with sich toughs,” ‘as Kamas Kit’s cowardly answer. ‘¢ And what did your murderous hands do ‘ith the young ranchman, Daniel Temple?” ie girl demanded, the fire of her flashing ves seeming to search the soul of the shrink- ig, cowardly outlaw. * Ah!” Kamas Kit exclaimed; ‘‘so you’re sre lookin’ for that handsome voung cow- uncher, eh? Well, he killed a man last ight, but for all that we kindly brought him | here and dressed his wounds, and then ime his friends and killed a few of Gray alcon’s warriors and dragged Daniel into iat bear-hole that you can see over yonder. irl, forgit Dan Temple, for, unlike his iumesake of old, he’ll not escape from the on’s den. You'd better go into Raven- yes’s lodge and get a bite to eat, and take a ttle nap, for you’re tired and sleepy, and ‘oss as a little bear.” ‘‘Sir, 1 am the daughter of the White ‘edicine, Doctor Dave!” she exclaimed, rawing herself up proudly, defiantly. My father’s voice is silent, but mine is ill strong in the council of the Sioux, and rong enough to be heard across the hills. he blood of the White Medicine courses y veins. You have murdered my father! ou are the enemies of my father’s people! have come here in power! Though the ght was dark, and the mountains full of ingers, my spirit was strong, my feet en- aring and swift—” ‘*Oh, bothberation!” Kamas Kit broke in; girl, you're crazy! Go into that tent and ep still till you’re rested, or you'll be a Win’ maniac!” ‘« Never into the lodge of my enemy, un- ks dead or by force!” exclaimed the maiden, ‘lr Indian blood aroused. “Well, what do you want, then?” the atlaw asked, ‘The release of the pale-faces yonder,” ad she pointed across toward the bear cave. ‘‘ Anything else?” ‘Yes; I demand tbe murderers of my fther, that they may suffer for the crime,” us the astonishing reply. “‘My dear little girl,” said Kamas, with mek regret, ‘‘your wishes can hardly be cmplied with in a single instance, Just tink how many deaths your father has cused in his time in the ranks of these red- mn! I could not grant your wish, even if I ws disposed todoso. But, sick and feeble, Gay Falcon lies in yonder tent; if you can mke any terms with him, you are at liberty tado so, and I will take pleasure in escort- im you into his lodge,” _ ‘Gray Falcon,” came the shrill, sharp vcce of that worthy himself, who had been lisening to all that had passed between Kit an Alfa, ‘‘ will make no compromise with on of the blood of the impostor, Doctor Dye!” ‘That settles it,’ decided Kamas Kit. ‘That settles it,” repeated Alfa Bond, as sh began backing off from the crowd, at the ‘sane time clasping her hands above her hes}, while her dark eyes flashed with a strage, fierce light. Telieving she meant to turn and flee, Kick- ing Horse advanced with quick footsteps to selie her. But, he never did. He had talen scarcely five steps when the giant fig- ureof a white man was seen to step from the bushes not forty paces away, throw his rifle to ais shoulder and fire, the bullet piercing thechie?’s brain. | i} The giant slayer was Norway Nels! _ Afrantic yell of rage and vengeance burst _ fron the lips of the red-skins and outlaws, and as one the whole crowd surged toward ‘the hunter. But at the same moment, al- most, there arose from cover of the bushes, g the base of the bluff behind Norway , another Indian war-cry that seemed to a i tee : a“ 4 : va L ~ z + ; alo i Ne » j ety : > “> ‘ ‘ Me be w 7 se ety ¢ ; AP aS VE we ; i. ~ . hee Ps a t . : > f 4) ‘i Norway Nels, the Bige Boy Mountaineer. issue from a hundred brazen throats, and then from the covert burst a legion of paint- ed forms, that advanced to meet in battle the followers of Gray Falcon and Kamas Kit. They were Sioux, and had come to avenge the death of their White Medicine, Doctor Dave! —_—— CHAPTER XVIII. A BLOODY CONFLICT. FuLut well the followers of Gray Falcon knew the war-cry of their red foe, and their own advance was checked by the sights and sounds that burst upon eye and ear. . Ira Bondurant could not realize what was coming until the friends of Doctor Dave and Gray Falcon had met in the shock of a ter- rible battle, and he heard the whistle of bul- lets above his own head. ‘To elude these he turned and hastened toward the west side of the canyon. His first thought was of seeking refuge in the cave where he knew Dan Tem- ple and friends were besieged, for already he saw the four savages who had been guardin the cave, coming on the run to take a hata in the battle. : As he passed the lodge of Gray Falcon, he was astounded to see the hitherto decrepit old man come bounding therefrom witha demoniac yell, and go speeding away to bat- tle ria all the suppleness and vigor of oul ‘ Meanwhile, Kamas Kit was making better use of the precious moments. He watched the horde of enemies pouring into sight, un- til it seemed the base of the bluff was dis- solving into Sioux warriors. His surprise and new born fear magnified their numbers threefold, and as the forward movement of his friend had now landed him in the rear, he turned and limped away to the nearest. horse, which he began to saddle and bridle for flight. He was just ready to mount when a bullet struck him, and he dropped to the earth, while over and along the canyon rolled the report of a rifle, from the direction of the bear-cave. Bondurant looked abead with a start, for the bullet whistled but a few feet above his head. He saw Polar Sol and Old Dismal coming onarun, the muzzle of the latter's rifle still smoking. Down past the now Seep bewildered executor dashed the Old Red River Rogues toward the scene of battle, yelling like a pair of excited madmen. As Bondurant turned to watch them, he saw Alfa Bond glide from the midst of the combatants and come run- ning toward him. Headvanced to meet her. ‘‘Mr. Bondurant!” she exclaimed as she approached, wild with excitement, ‘‘ have no fears, for they are the friends of my poor, dead father! Oh! it is dreadful! but they brought it all on themselves by murdering my father!” | ‘Miss Alfa,” responded Bondurant, be- traying no little uneasiness, ‘‘this whole affair is a horrible piece of work! I do not understand it! Did you bring those Indians here, Alfa?” The maiden did not answer, for at this moment she saw Dan Temple, with blood- shot eyes and feverish face, come limping toward them from the cave. She ran to meet him, greeting him with a passionate fervor that for several moments could find expression Only in sobs and tears. Bondu- rant joined them, being warmly greeted by the young ranchman, who said: ‘‘Mr. Bondurant, you’re having a lively experience.” *“‘ But, so far, you seem to have had the worst of the two, Temple,” the executor re- sponded. | ) ‘‘Oh, Dan!” Alfa suddenly exclaimed, ‘‘how thoughtful it was of you to send | word of father’s murder to his red friends!” “Ah! so I did!” exclaimed Dan; ‘‘I’d almost forgotten the fact. But, where have and asked: N oble, the a you been, dear Alfa, since our p night?” ‘‘ Believing you were slain, Is determined to reach the Indian know these hills well; but on the vy my father’s friends coming. Your m had aroused them, I turned bac tlteem. We soon met the brave, big Norway Nels. He was on his way Sioux village for help. He told me that you and the other men were alivé approached this camp alone in order to suade the Indian on guard to come here w me. Norway Nels and the Sioux then fol- lowed up the canyon concealed behind the bushes.” Meanwhile the battle was on in its fury. The Red River Rogues struck Gray Falcon’s: forces on the right, and with all their old- time spirit hurled themselves into the fight. with clubbed rifles, and like a cyclone: mowed their way into the ranks of the foe. Gray Falcon knew it was victory or death, for the presence of the Sioux there with Alfa Bond told him they had come to avenge the death of Doctor Dave. It wasa danger he had never dreamed could come so soon. In fact, the attack was a complete surprise. The odds were two to one against him, but this fact only made him fight the harder. Side by side the outlaws fought with their ravage friends. Kamas Kit alone was the craven, coward; but the bullet from Old Dismal's rifle had checked his flight. Hand to hand the combat raged. Revol- vers, tomahawks, knives and clubbed rifles, barked, crushed, cut and smoke, Bondurant turned from the sight and almost wished he were deaf to the horrible, murderous sounds. A triumphant are suddenly burst above the fearful din. It was the yell of victory. Overwhelmed, the followers of Gray Falcon ’ were routed. What few had not been slain broke forcover. The enraged Sioux pursued them, and few, if any, of that two-score escaped to tell the tale of the sanguinary struggle. The Red River Roguse and Norway Nels: met on the bloody field. The latter's face. and breast were covered with blood from a. frightful wound on the forehead, but in his. cdepinerh he was scarcely aware of his being: urt. , Polar Sol led him from the field and pro~ ceeded to dress his wounds. They were soon joined by Dan Temple;. Bondurant and Alfa, who all gave their asvistance to the old hunter, | Bondurant now paced uneasily to and fro. He could see nothing of Gray Falcon, of Raven-Eyes, of Syl Gascoyne. Had they fallen in the conflict? Were both claimants to the Mitchell estate dead? While these questions were revolvin through his mind, Old Dismal approach ‘Are you Mr. Bondurance?” ‘‘T am Ira Bondurant,” answered the exe-. cutor. a at ‘ | “Then you're wante up here,” said the: — hunter, - , Bondurant went with him to where there: hi a group of Indians around a prostrate. orm. yore The red-skins fell back as they approached. _ Upon the ground lay Gray Falcon, wounded unto death. As his eyes met those of Bon- — eat & grim smile came to his lips, and he. — Bal > , ‘ 4 r ‘‘ Bondurant, they were too many for us.. The game’s up with me, and, rather than fall into the Sioux power, my daughter lies. — a in her des dead by her own hand.” “Gra , am soul sick,” ‘* Bondurant,” and the old man raised his. 5 ¥ been deceivin’ _ voice to a higher key, ‘‘ I’ve ou. I am gt ) Rowell /Stitchall, Put. Jack mpted bank-robber!”» . “i J y, ’ - a | Falcon,” said Bondurant, kneelin i Sah by the chief, ‘‘it’s all dreadful! horrible! I it, tae Ps ~~ a,