Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 870 — page 7: what you’re looking at

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

OO ® re eet YP FRe Ch ee = eS SE ee ee es -e _ SP > Ve eal al ad i ee SP to le en hd ities arty two or three outlaws walked over and watched the girl and her patient a few minutes, then re- turned to their companions, The hunters could see that the sick man’s head was bandaged, and, after gazing at him steadily for some moments, Norway Nels said: ‘‘ Pards, l’m goin’ to creep down to the edge o’ this thicket, so’s to git a closer look at that man and gal.” So saying, he dropped on all-fours and crawied away among the bushes down the slope. He was gone but a few minutes; then he returned in no little excitement. ‘* Belted thunder!” was his whispered excla- mation, ‘‘ that wounded man in the camp yon- der is the ranchero, Dan’l Temple!” -— . =. CHAPTER X. DAN TEMPLE IN A PREDICAMENT. TRUE enough, Dan Temple was not only alive but a prisoner in the Indian camp. It was his prostrate body against which Nor- way Nels had stumbled during his flight up the defile with the supposed form of his wounded friend. While endeavoring to conduct Alfa to a place of safety, the outlaw, passing around the camp, had pounced upon him in the gloom; but despite the disadvantage at which he was thus taken, he succeeded in shooting the assailant, but before the latter fell he dealt Dan a blow witha heavy club that felled him senseless, and in this condi- tion he lay when Polar Sol felt of his pulse and pronounced him dead. Thus the outlaws also found him, and, whether they could distinguish his body as that of friend or foe, or not, they carried it into camp. After receiving the blow in the defile, Dan knew nothing more until he came to his senses in the red-skincamp. The first thing of which he became conscious was of a strange, murmuring noise that sounded like human voices far away. The first thing he saw was a face bending over him-— a strange, yet comely face, but it was many minutes before he could dispel the confusion from his throbbing brain and collect his thoughts sufficiently to enable him to recall the past. When he had succeeded in doing this, he soon discovered the situation he was in—that the voices he heard were those of Indians and out- laws; that the face of the girl bending over him was not that of Alfa Bond, but of a stranger— in short that he was a prisoner! But where was Alfa Bond? Where his gal- lant friends, Norway Nels aud the fearless old Red River Rogues? As these thoughts flasbed through his mind he attempted to rise. With the assistance of tho strange girl he succeeded in getting to a sitting posture, “Thank you,” he said in a feeble voice, look- ing up into the dusky face of the young princess; **yvou are very kind.” ‘“* Would you like a drink of water?” the girl asked, seeing he spoke with a husky voice, “Tf you please; I am very thirsty,” he re- sponded. The girl brought him a cup of water and held it to his lips, and again he thanked her kindly. ‘You know where you are now, stranger?’ the maiden remarked, ‘“‘T am in an Indian camp, I see,” Dan re- sponded, ‘‘ but am I here through the kindness of the red-skins? or a prisoner?” ‘* You’re a prisoner,” the princess answered. ‘*Who are you?” Dan asked looking up into the girl’s face, ‘*‘ Raven-Eyes, the daughter of Gray Falcon. ‘“Ts Alfa Bond here, Raven-Eyes?” ‘‘The daughter of Doctor Dave, the White Medicine of the Sioux?” ? Vou” " She is not here, but Carlos ‘will bring her soon.’ ‘* Who is Carlos?” ‘‘The man who struck you senseless in the darkness,” It was evident from this that the outlaws and Indians were ignorant of the death of their friend whose body Norway had carried away, and that they were expecting him in at any mo- ment with Alfa. Presently ae Horse and two or three outlaws seeing Dan had recovered consciousness, walked down to where he and Raven-Eyes were, ‘ **Raven-Eyes,” said the war-chief, addressing the girl, “‘hasc the pale-face p senses, She lingers long at his side forgetting her father, Gray Falcon, is sick in his lodge. Has the face of the captive stole Raven-Kyes’ eee f ner to his |. Norway Nels, the Big Boy Mountaineer. heart? Does she stand by him pouring words of love into his ear like oil into a jug?” ‘* Kicking Horse forgets he is but a war-chief, and is speaking to the daughter of Gray Falcon!” the girl replied reproachfully, ber dark eyes flashing with a scornful light. ‘** Raven-Eyes is nota giant like the big, pale- face hunter who kicked Kicking Horse out of his camp to-night, but she can strike to kill!” Having thus expressed herself the princess turned and walked away to ber lodge, leaving Kicking Horse smarting under her lashings. ‘* Sboe’s a screamer,” remarked one of the out- laws to a comrade, ‘‘and’d put a knife "twixt a feller’s ribs in a wink’s time if he crossed her.” Returning to the fire Kicking Horse sent a warrior to bind the captive. This was evident- ly done through spite for Raven-Kyes’ rebuke. The warrior bound Dan’s ankles most secure- ly. His hands he also tied togethar, but in front of him so he could lie down. Kamas Kit now came and called on the cap- tive and after addressing a few insalting re- marks to him, turned away and walking across the camp entered one of the lodges, He was greeted there by a white man cf forty- five, whose face was covered with a long bushy beard, and who was dressed in buckskin trow- nie a brown pea-jacket and a slouched som- rero. ‘* My dear Gascoyne,” the outlaw said, as he | entered the tent, ‘‘our mutual friend, Daniel sr or is soming ’round like a June mornin’.” ‘** But that gir), Alfa Bond, isn’t coming round so rosy,” replied the man, Gascoyne, ‘* Don’t worry ’bout that girl,” Kamas advised, ‘* Carlos will bring Ler in ip due time.” ‘* Well, then [ll go and take our guest to call on Gray Falcon,” Gascoyne said; ‘* everything is in shape for the interview.” So saying this manleft the lodge and proceeded to another into which he disappeared, casting a furtive glance at Dan Temple as he did so. It happened that Dan’s eyes were upon the man at the time, and there was something so suspicious about the fellow’s actions that the young rancbman continued to watch the teut for the man’s reappearance, Nor had he long to watch, Gascoyne came out accompanied by a man whom Dan, at a glance, recognized as the guest of DoctorDave, Ira Bondurant! CHAPTER XI. ANEW CLAIMANT. DAN Tempte’s first thought, upon seeing Bondurant, was that he too was a captive in the Indian camp; but he was led to change this view when he saw the man at perfect ease and liberty—under no surveillance or restraint. When Dan’s cyes met those of Bondurant, the latter stopped short and gazed in mani- fest surprise at the ranchero. It was quite evident tbat the man had been ignorant of Temple’s presence up to that moment and he seemed about to speak to Dan when Gas- ye drew him aside into Gray Falcon’s lodge. ’ Thus to the wounded man disappointment followed surprise, and he was left in painful meditation. The presence of Bondurant in that camp unharmed and, to all appearance, a guest instead of a prisoner, the death of Doctor Dave and destruction of his home, and the abduction of Alfa, formed a com- bination of facts in which the young man thought he could divine the work of the blackest of treachery. But, be this as it may, let us see how Bondurant came to be in the Indian camp. The night he spent in Doctor Dave’s cabin passed very pleasantly. He and the old her- mit sat and talked until midnight. They talked of Doctor Dave’s father and of people that the hermit had known in the town of Zanesville before he fled to the wild West, and of incidents that had transpired there while he was a resident of the place. Then Bondurant gave a detailed account of his adventures of the past year in his search among the mining-camps, cattle-ranches and Indian tribes for Israel Mitchell’s heir. Finally they went to bed and slept soundly, arose early next morning and, having break- J : : - * e 4 ‘ £ oa ; hy ’ Khe i x 9 s# ita: ws “9 ats vv . - te” dS" pea ry wit * 4 iP” -~ Soat® , eG tie <>" ’s oi | P oS + : 7 a ON rye oer, 3 7 : tas ne ns Bh ne ve Rana rts j iS 7 Aa = . Sap " i ary -* fs - * oe en ee P ee ag . Tet s ‘Wy : e) iE wt " y Pe ah Gh ‘ ; . . fasted, Alfa saddled up her pony and started ona ride to Brush Cree team and help to mov their mountain home p East with Bondurant. [n the mean time, Bond horse Clinton Roper had and mounting, set off for the canyon. Enraptured picturesque scenery that ¥ folded to his view, he rodé were greeted by the sound of aysprodtch- ing from behind. nue Turning his horse he found himself con- fronted by a horseman dressed in the suit of aranchman. He was a man of some thirty years. His face was flushed with excite- ment and his horse showed signs of hard riding. ‘*Good-morning, sir; are you Ira Bon- durant?’ the man exclaimed as Bondurant faced him. ‘‘T am,” answered the startled executor; “who are you? and what do you want?” ‘‘T am Joe Fisher,” answered the man, ‘‘and have come to warn you that the Ingins have killed Doctor Dave and burnt his cabin | and that you'll meet a like fate if you return there.”’ ‘‘Great heavens! Mr. Fisher, this surely cannot be!” Bondurant cried, trembling wi excitement, ‘It’s a fact, sir,” the man declared, ‘‘ and it’s no more than’s been expected for some time—ever since the Ingins over which he exercises such an influence moved north’ard and left him settin’ there alone. Doctor Dave had scores 0’ enemies among other In- gin tribes ’cause he’d incited his tribe to bloody war ’gainst them. He war an ole fool stayin’ there with his pretty gal all alone. e might ’a’ known her face alone would ’a’ brought him trouble, and now it’s come. But I’m told your presence in his cabin hastened the end.” ‘‘Why my presence?” exclaimed Bon- durant. ‘‘That’s all I can tell you, sir, for it’s all I know. There are others that will explain all to you, I persume.” | ‘‘ Fisher,” said Bondurant in deep per- plexity, ‘‘ I cannot see through this story of yours.” ‘‘T persume not, sir,” replied Fisher, ‘and I don’t know but that I'd be like you under like circumstances, But, to convince you. we can ride back down the canyon in sight of Doctor Dave’s home and see for yourself,” Ae Nothing less would satisfy Bondurant, and so the two rode off down the canyon. They soon came in sight of Doctor Dave's burning — around which could be seen several In- ans, ‘‘Is seeing believing?” Fisher asked. — “T am satisfied as to what I can see,” re- sponded Bondurant, ‘‘ but I am still igno- rant cf whom you are,” d ‘Don’t let that trouble you one moment, Bondurant. You certainly know I am a friend, andif you'll go with me and wait further developments, you'll learn in time that you came very near being the victim of a foul conspiracy.’ Bondurant was thrown into such a state of confusion and explanity that he finally found himself yielding implicit obedience tc the will of Joe Fisher by riding away with him through the hills. All day they rode along at a brisk gait, finally drawing up ir the Indian camp about sunset. — At first he thought, as they dismounted ir the camp, that he had been decoyed inte danger, and this a a was strengthened when, a ater, Kamas Kit anc ew minutes , his band came storming into camp in grea rage, fc BS he Indians, however, received him ant his escort kindly. The executor was escortet to a lodge and all the favors of an honore guest shown bim. Supper was brought him and blankets furnished foracouch, . 5” : : . , - ab A