Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 870 — page 5: what you’re looking at

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

‘Norway Nels, the Big Boy Mountaineer. ** Polar,” remarked Old Dismal, as they groped their way from the canyon into the defile in which their camp was located, ‘*it *d be a splendid state o’ affairs to get back and find our camp outfit and pack-hosses ’d gone off inside o’ them frisky canines, wouldn’t it?” ‘In that case Nels ’d have a pair o’ homeless orpbans on his hands for a few days,” answered Sol, ‘You're just the kind o’ orphaus I'd like to share my roof with,” declared Nels, In the course of half an hour the hunters came in sight of their camp when Sol and Dismal stopped short, an exclamation of startling sur- prise escaping the lips of each, When they left camp there was no fire, but, to their profound astonishment, they not only saw a bright fire burning there now, but saw a number of forms moving busily about within its radius of light! ‘** Sword o’ Gideon!” exclaimed Polar Sol in an undertone, ‘‘ our claim’s been jumped—our camp infested!” ‘** Rattlin’ thunder!” snapp2d Old Dismal, **they’re a cheeky set o’—” ** Red-skins! Injins, by the great ornegollus!” broke in Nels. ‘Norway, you’re right!” affirmed Sol, after - secund look at the moving forms about the re, ‘* Dan, they are prob’ly Alfa Bond’s captors —the very vandals we are after,” exclaimed Norway. ‘*Then you’re on an Injin hunt, eh?” asked Old Dismal, Dan Temple explained their situation—related the story of Alfa Bond’s capture, the death of her father, and his ride to the home of Norway Nels for help. ‘*Thén, by the sword o’ Gideon!” exclaimed Old Polar, ‘‘ we have struck this country just in time. We, the Red River Rogues, are a Roman Legion—Old Masters on an Injin round- up. But, it’s been years since we’ve had a full campaign—even a skrimmage—with the smoked varmints, and we may be a little rusty, but it won't take long to git on a fine fightin’ luster. Oh! it’d do your soul good to see Old Dismal warp bimself about in an Injin fight like a blacksnake in a bed o’ hot ashes. I tell ye, Dis. is a Doric Dandy.” ‘‘And it strikes me,” added Dismal, who bad been watching the maneuvers of the red-skins, ‘*that the sooner we’re takin’ on that luster the more property we'll have left, for the varmints mean to rob our camp.” The red-skins, seven in number, seemed quite busy in taking an inventory of the hunter’s ef- fects, and, finally, when their pack-borses were led up, it was evident that the piunderers meant to carry every thing away with them they could jay hands on, The four whites were not over fifty paces from the camp, and, having hastily fixed upon a plan , of action, they marched boldly iuto camp, Nels in the lead, and confronted the would-be thieves, ** Ho, here! yourusty-skinned gibbons!” shout- ed the big hunter, affecting a look of furious rage: “git out of this camp you thievin’ imps, or we'll pulverize you! Git!” The red-skins were evidently surprised, at least, by the presence of Nels, That they were intruders they were well aware, and that they were expecting the return of the owners of the property at any moment, was evident from their actions. But, while they were not count- ing upon the appearance of more than two whites, they put on a bold front, and a tall, slender fellow in the toggery of a chief bristled up with a show of fight, exclaiming, in reply to orway: ‘Waugh! Me Kicking Horse—me no cow- ard! Kicking Horse bad Ingin on fight—no *fraid of bluster of big pale-face!” **'What you doin’ here meddlin’ with our trap, you mud-dyed varmints?” demanded Old Polar. ‘*This is the hunting-grounds of the Ingins,” replied the chief, ‘‘ and all he finds here is his.” ‘* Well, you find me here,” Sol retorted, ‘‘ and if you want me; step for’d and take me; and here’s my ole, anchient chum, Dismal David; mebby he’s a long Jost brother, and you’d like to embrace him? And, red-hide, do you see that big, tew-headed son o’ Mars? Well, he’s Kickin’ Thunder, and if he lets hisself loose the wolves won’t be able to find your pieces!” ‘Tbe old pale-face is full of wind like a blad- der!” was Kicking Horse’s rejoinder, ‘‘ and the stick of a knife will make him sink down like a wet moccasin,” ; While Kicking Horse was thus delivering him- self, a little, ferret-faced warrior leaped upon the back of one of the well-jaded pack-ponies as if he meant to impress the whites with bis inten- 5 ‘ tion of riding it away; but, it was quite evident tbat his ostensible object was to provoke an at- tack by the whites, and in this he succeeded in a manner unlooked for, Nels, standing within a few feet of him, made a spring, and, seizing the whiffet by the shoul- der, jerked him off the pony so violently that his heels fairly cracked in tbe air; then, as if he had been but a worthless bundle of rags, he swung him around and hurled him with terrifie force squarely against the stomach of Kicking Horse, knocking that worthy flat upon his back, almost breathless, The Red River Rogues saw that now was their time and at once “sailed in.” Nor was Dan Temple idle, but, side by side with the **Old Masters,” took a hand in the knock-down, Before entering camp the whites bad agreed to shed no blood unless it was necessary, and so the attack on the foe was made with fist and foot, and so skillfully were these weapons ap- plied by the athletic mountaineers that the savages were knocked out at the first round, and, as fast as their legs would carry them, or circumstances permit, they broke for the friend- ly cover of darkness, the last to go being Kick- ing Horse who was assisted in his departure by a vigorous kick from the sturdy Norwegian. ‘Git tbar, you mud-veneered thieves!” yelled the big Hunter, as the blustering Kicking Horse went sailing into the darkness; ‘*depart, you unclean devils from the camp o’ the undefiled, and let the wild dogs eat you and die!” “By the sword o’ Gideon!” exclaimed Old Sol, ‘‘that was short and sweet! Dismal, how it brings the color to your old sallow face and the luster to your big eyes! It seems like old times to have even a bloodless whirl with the red-skins, don’t it, Dis.? Another one or two and the Red River Rogues will be tharselves ag’in. And, Norway Nels, you’re the makin’ o’ an Old Master artist. You fling on the colors like a settin’ sun, and by the time you git your growth you'll be—” ** Sol,” interrupted Old Dismal, ‘‘ rest yer lips before them red-skins rally and swat us from cover o’ darkness. We’ve got to look out the rest of this night,” ‘Yes, for [have no doubt there are a num- ber of Tngins in this vicinity,” added Nels; ‘** but, men, I don’t mean to be cheated out of my supper o’ broiled bear-meat, but while it’s bein’ cooked a man ought to keep watch so that we’re not surprised. As soon as our meat is cooked, the fire can be put out.” ‘* Pll stand guard, Norway,” said Old Dismal; ** bring on your bear-meat!” | Nels procured bis chunk of meat, and, having sliced it into strips, proceeded to broil it on the hot coals, This occupied but a short time and when Dismal came in the four hastened to par- take thereof witb keen relish, They had scarcely finished their repast when, suddenly, from the darkness beyond the radius of the camp-fire’s light, came the startling cry, ‘* Help! help! Oh, God! help me!” It was a wild, imploring cry—the cry of a woman—a cry that the very echoes repeated, as if possessed of the instincts of a human soul! CHAPTER VII. KAMAS KIT, THE OUTLAW. THe four men started at sound of that implor- ingcry. Mechanically their hands dropped to the revolvers in their belts. They had barely time to turn their eyes in the direction whence the sound came when there suddenly burst into the circle of light a slender, girlish figure upon whose fair face was the impress of terror, while back in the darkness could be heard the tramp of swift pursuing feet. ‘*Save me! save me!” burst from the girl’s lips, and not until she had thus spoken did Dan Temple recognize in the terrified fugitive the daughter of Doctor Dave, Alfa Bond! **My God! it’s Alfa Bond!” burst from the young ranchman’s lips, as he advanced toward the girl, who staggered into bis arms barely conscious in her excitement and fear of bis pres- ence, At the same moment, Nels and the Red River Rogues quickly advanced and placed themselves between the young people and the girl’s pursu- ers, who suddeuly burst from tbe sbadows like sO Many wolves on the trail ofafawn. And human wolves they were! There were eight of them—five white men and three savages, The party was headed by a tall, bearded, brigandish- arog man armed to the teeth, and who, rushing into the light, was brought to bay by the drawn revolver of Nor- way Nels. \~ Thus suddenly checked¥, the gang stood like bafl glaring with red eyes after ‘* Stop there!” commandes a tone of no uncertain mea flashing eyes on the leade do not attempf to raise @ you—or it’]l be your déath-y ‘‘ Amen!” shouted Polar S ver, ‘*Second the motion!” adde a Wisrmnal, fol- lowing his friend’s example, his round, fat face flushed with excitement. ‘Do you mean to defy us?’ demanded the bearded villain, bristling up with an attempt to appear cool and defiant, his hand resting on the butt of a revolver. ‘‘ We certainly mean to protect that gal!” re- sponded Nels. ‘tHe is the outlaw, Kamas Kit!” cried Alfa, as she clung in terror to the arm the young ranchero, A knowledge of that fact, however, Norwa Nels already possessed. He had seen that red- handed villain before and knew him to be a desperado, And the presence of the Indians with him was sufficient evidence tbat they were in collusion with the outlaw, While the bunters were loth to precipitatea conflict, they were, nevertheless, fully aware of the dangers of delay. Thé odds were already against them, and these were liable to be in- creased at any moment by tbe discomfited Kicking Horse and his followers. ‘t- Yes!” exclaimed the outlaw in a tone calcula- ted to overawe the hunters, ‘‘ Il am Kamas Kit, and you know what that means!” ‘Ves, villainy! robbery! girl-stealing!” an- swered Norway, ‘‘and we warn you not to crowd on us!” ‘““Them’s the warble!” put in Polar Sol. “I reckon you scoundrels hasn’t sized up the Red River Rogues; but if ye want to do so, jist kadrille this way!” ‘* Blow and bluster I’ve heard before,” sneered Kamas Kit; ‘‘it don’t work with me. I de- mand tbat girl. She was placed in my care, and [ mean to hold her in custody.” ‘Not much you don’t!” replied Norway; and then, aside to Dan Temple he said: ** Dan, escort the gal back into the shadows where she won't git burt if we git to shootin’.” But, low as he spoke, the outlaw overheard bim when, in turn, he spoke in a whisper to one of his white allies who immediately turned and retraced bis steps into the darkness, What this movement meant the hunters did not, at the time, understand. The outlaw could not bave been sent for re-enforcements for, as Dan Temple with Alfa turned and started off up the defile, Kamas Kit advanced a step, grasping his revolver and exclaiming: ‘‘Stop with that girl, or by the gods you'll wish you had!” CHAPTER VIIL A BLUNDER IN DARKNESS, THE instant Kamas Kit made a step forward the arm of Norway Nels was extended and his big revolver pointed at the breast of the outlaw like the finger of doom; and as quickly was his example followed by the Red River Rogues, Not another step did Kamas Kit take. On the contrary} he stopped and recoiled from those deadly tubes, a look of dismay on his wicked face, The villain, despite his superior force, still seemed loth to precipitate a conflict, and the hunters now began to mistrust that there was some scheme on foot to entrap them, As one thought after another was flashing through their minds, the crack of a revolver and a terrific scream burst upon their ears. ¢ The shot and the cry came from the direction whence Dan and Alfa had gone, and they quick- ly told the hunters what the outlaws were up to; the man that had dropped back into the dark- ness had stolen around the camp under cover of the shadows and intercepted Dan and the maiden, Determined to save the girl at all bazards the hunters, as if actuated by a single impulse, turned quickly and dashed away into the dark- ness up the defile. ‘Halt, there!” yelled Kamas, sending a shot after the receding hunters, as he and his crowd started in pursuit, The only attention, however, paid to his com- mand was by Nels, who fired two shots back- ward over his shoulder as he lunged into the shadows, one of the bullets striking Kamas Kit’s foot causing the villain to fall, howling and cursing with pain and rage, JNA. - com 2.0.0