Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 70 — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

12 of the varmints still left in the woods. I think we'd better make a change of quarters.” ‘Tam so glad ewe have come,” said Helena, reaching out her d to the hunter. ‘‘ Ned has just told me that father and mother are both safe in your cabin, where I hope we shall soon ‘We haven’t been out hunting for you very long,” said Zip; ‘‘ somehow or other we dri over this way, cotched a glimpse of your camp, heard the bang of your pistol, and came up just in time to take a hand in the rumpus.” While the three stood conversing, Fitzsim- mons did his best to recruit his toilet, taking from the prostrate forms his hat, watch, neck- tie, vest, and various articles that rightfully be- longed to him. It was a sore task and a repul- sive work, but he persevered, and soon placed himself in quite a presentable condition again. He found his wearing apparel rather soiled, but he was glad to get ib as 1t was, and recalling his recent remarkable escape, he was certainly justified in feeling that extremely good fortune ad attended him. As there was something terrible in the sight of the three inanimate forms lying near them, and Helena shuddered every time she encoun- tered them, the party moved away, carrying the rifles with them, so that each man was doubly armed. They walked through the woods in silence un- til they reached a small clearing, into which the moonlight 2 Axe «tree where they paused for a short consultation. ‘‘ As near as I can make it,” said Old Zip, in answer to a question, ‘‘there are forty or fifty Injuns among these hills, and the sooner we git np into the old cabin the better it will be for all of us Hosmer, who had been introduced to Percy, treated him with the utmost cordiality, inquir- ing the particulars of his capture and how it was that he was peepee. in charge of three In- dians, instead of remaining with the eatire 3 e soon as they surrounded me in the house,” he a oy ‘*they all set upon and dis- armed me. After that they pauged my hight and’ weight, and concluded, I suppose, that if three of their number were fully armed they would be capable of preserving themselves from injury at my hands. I trust you do not mean to insinuate, sir, that it required a smaller party than. usual to hold me in durance.” ‘‘On the contrary, quite the reverse, Old Zip, here, tells me that he was once driven a hundred miles through the woods by two In- dians, who together didn’t weigh more than one of your jailers.” * You didn’t understand him,” inte the hunter, with all solemnity; ‘‘ the wonder is that after the varmints took a look at you, they didn’t make up thar minds that it would take the whole party to hold you, and not run such an awful risk as leaving only three of their best warriors to hold you.” ‘‘ Beware, sir,” said Fitzsimmons, with frigid dignity ; “T am not in the helpless condition I was a few moments ago; I am armed,” ‘“That don’t make no difference, fur you’re just as dangerous one way as the other.” Helena, seeing a prospect of something un- leasant, interfered, and reminded Zip that he fad said that it was necessary to make all haste to the cabin, as they were in danger so long as they remained away. ““That’s so,” he said; ‘‘and we’re standing here, making fools of ourselves. Tl take the lead, and you can foller, minding that you must keep as quiet as if tending your own fune fur thar’s no telling when we’ll run into an of the varmints. Ned, you’d better let the come next to me, and you keep a watch at the rear. Helena stepped forward to carry out this sug- gestion, when Fitzsimmons thrust his elbow ou as an invitation for her to take his arm. She smiled and replied: _ “Dm afraid we can’t adopt that style v well im the woods, y in the nigh ‘‘ Let ’im kink out his elbows ef he wants to,” said Old Zip; ‘‘and after he gets them cracked against the trees two or three times, he’ll get enough of it. Percy concluded not to press the point. To reach the ravine in which the wonderful cabin was situated, it was n to ascend and pass to the other side of a mass of hills. The walking was exceedingly rough and tire- some, and poor Fitzsimmons was tired to the ut- most ost. Forgetting himself, he now and then gave ut- terance to some exclamation, but one or two Beadle’s Half-Dime Library. sharp reminders from Zip sufficed to make him more careful afterward. He had one consolation in journeying. As Ned Hosmer acted as rear-guard, he thus found himself placed between him and Helena, with whom he managed to exchange a word or two, without exciting the ire of their guide. When they reached the summit of the hills, all paused for a few minutes’ rest. om their elevated stand-point they found their view quite extended, as the moon had reached a high point in the heavens, and it was unobseured by any passing clouds, Away off to the northward a wih cp light could be seen in the sky, and pe oye y in the very horizon. Looking a little to the east of this, a precisely similar sight was seen. ‘‘ Both made by the varmints,” was the com- mentary of Zip, after they had looked at them a few minutes in silence. ‘‘T hope the inmates have been as fortunate as we,” said Helena, leaning upon the arm of her lover. ‘“More likely every one of ’em is inside them burnin’ buildings,” replied Zip. ‘‘ I never know- ed of but one cabin in the air, and that ’ere be- longs to the undersigned.” ‘* That’s quite a curiosity,” said Fitzsimmons. ““T passed under it to-day, and tried to learn how it is stuck up there.” **Did you find out?’ ‘* Certainly; I always succeed in any thing I pa unless something intervenes to pre- vent. ‘* How is it? Don’t speak too loud, for those others might hear you.’ s any you have got the side against the rocks planed off smooth, and then you covered it with mucilage and glue, and stuck it up against their surface, and there she sticks.” ‘*See here,” said the hunter nudging him, and king in a confidential whis er. “it/d'a t secret, and I don't want to vet any body ow how the thing is done.” ‘Oh! that’s all right,’ replied Percy, with a lofty air. ‘‘ Of course, I understand such things; but let me ask you how it is in rainy weather. Isn’t the cabin in danger of dropping off?” ‘Well, yes, we have to look out for that. Two or three times it has got so wet that it slid down to the bottom, and we had to wait till next morning afore we could stick it on ‘“‘Isn’t there any way by which you can avoid that danger?’ ‘*Oh, yes; I have an umbrella in the house, and when it gets to raining pretty hard, Peg holds it out the window, and that keeps it off, you see.” ‘* That must be rather tiresome.” ‘‘So it is; but when she gets tired, why we relieve one another, and so get along first-rate. Do you understand, Persimmons?”’ Percy nodded his head to signify that it was all clear to him, and that he was a man who knew how to keep a secret. When the party had sufficiently rested, a resumed journeying through the w taking the same form of march as before, but advancing with still greater caution. Old Zip tabooed talking, except in whis- rs, and admonished each one to walk with as ht commen as pee ee manner they progressed, un ey descending the hill into the ravine. his was the point of extremest danger, and the gait of Old Zip became tedious from its de- liberation and care. He really believed that the chances were ten to one i the ravine being clear of the Sioux, and if he should lead his friends into an ambush the result could but be disastrous in the extreme. In this fashion they reached a point on the edge of the gorge, where the vegetation grew luxuriantly, and where the rocks were piled in masses one above another, while a stream of arcu water trickled down from a point fully oo oe apy ay ores ag a ‘** Here I’m goin eave you a while, Old Zip, oat ae ns abe and facing his friends. ‘‘For what?’ was the prompt query of Ned osmer. ‘** Matters look a little too dub’us for me to take the whole down thar, till I make sartin thar ain’t a thousand of them sarpints waiting to gobble us up.” ‘How far off is your cabin?’ inquired Fitz- simmons, ‘* A little less than thirty miles.” ‘By Jove—” ** Excuse me,” interrupted Zip with a laugh, ‘“‘T mean abouta quarter of a mile. But the only way to get at it is from below, and we have got to make it right through the ravine: so we must make sure of our ground afore we o to tramping over it. Do you get the idea, ersimmons?” ‘Very commendable forethought—very com- mendable,” assented Percy, as though his opi- nion was all that was needed to decide the whole question. ‘*Do you wish me to accompany you?’ asked Hosmer, rr ag up to the sidle of the old hun- ter, laying and upon his shoulder, and speaking 1n an undertone: ‘‘for if you do, I will leave Helena here and go with you.” Old Zip looked down with a pleasant grin in the face of the young man, whose daring skill and nobility of character had completely won his affection. ‘Do you s’pose I’d take you away from the gal, if Idid want you? Just look back and see ow she is eating you up with her eyes. No, Ned, I don’t want you; stay and take good care of her, for Persimmons is smit, and is bound to po in ahead of you if such a thing is pos- sible. Ned Hosmer’s face expanded with the quiet smile of assurance, as he answered: ‘Don’t wo him; he seems to be good- hearted, and if anxious to measure lances with me, T will leave Helena to act the part of um- Zip shook his head. ** I'd like to see the chap that has any show thar; why I’'d doubt my own success, supposing Peggy hadn’t been born.” his badi finished, the guide now ad- dressed himself to the party: * Pm going to make a reconnoissance of the ravine. s’pose Perey is on the look-out, and unless she signals all right, you’ve got to stop among these rocks and bushes till she does give the right signal.” ‘‘Are you about to venture upon the expedi- tion alone?’ inquired Percy, stepping up to Zip. i I did think of it, onless you object to it.” ‘*T think you ought to have company, and if Mr. Hosmer here’s unwilling or afraid to do so, poe will volunteer to go along with you my- This was a direct thrust at the lover, in the hope of rns br! to leave the ground clear for him to press his suit with his cousin Helena. Both she and Hosmer understood this, and the girl pressed his hand to signify that he was to pay no heed to it. So our hero quietly smiled, and said no- Finding the taunt had produced no effect, and feeling a little jealous, Fitzsimmons became more pointed: ‘*T wish to say, Mr. Hosmer, that I consider this undertaking of Zip ous in the ex- treme, and | am of the opinion that he , to mate Dpeee Are you willing to act as his es- co Hosmer was not without a certain ness in tion, and he answered, in an humble voice: ‘‘T suppose you are right, Mr. Fitzsimmons; indeed I will not take it upon myself to dispute you. Yes; the expedition is dangerous, and no- t ought to be neglected that can increase his chances of safety. ‘‘As I learn from my dear friend Helena, there, that you are intimately acquainted with the country, I consider you as eminently the pereen. to act as his companion. What do you ‘*] am afraid I shall have to plead guilty; but then it will be a t deal more pleasant for me to stay here and keep company with my dear friend Helena.” It seemed as if Fitzsimmons was unable to ve utterance to the noble rage that was swell- in his soul. ‘From what I know of my cousin, I know that she will drive you out of her presence, if you have not the manhood to volunteer.” “ Can’t I stay, dearest?” asked Hosmer, turn- ing plaintively to the lady, like a child whini for some sweetmeats. “Yes: I am willing,” was the reply, given t reluctance. ‘‘ Yes; I think with an apparen it will be safer for you here.” Percy was nonplussed, and did not know what to do to show his scorn for such poltroonery. While he was debating what to say or do, Old Zip focused things by starting away. ‘Hold on!” be called out, in a dangerously loud voice. ‘““Wal, what’s wanted?” asked the hunter, pausing, turning his head, but not offering to come . ‘‘T want to fix this matter. It’s a shame—a disgrace—” GOMmIIGHeCO cS Eom