Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 729 — page 2: what you’re looking at

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

2 Silverblade, the Half-Blood. skins and dingy blankets. Just beyond this was | journeyed so far to see and to bear. He whose the camp proper, and it was to the dull, indis- | coming is to restore the glory of bis chosen cbil- tinct murmur arising from the occupants of this, that Red Leaf was listening. Keen though his sense of hearing was, Red Leaf failed to catch a single sentence, and only a disconnected word here and there; but this seemed to please ratber than annoy him, for a grim smile caused hi3 mask of paint to wrinkle as he silently crept through the bushes and drew still nearer the rear of the Medicine Lodge, With one hand touching the dry skin, he paused again, casting a keen, suspicious glance around, like one fearing espial; but if any curi- ous eyes were upon him, bis acuteness failed to detect the fact, and lifting the lower edge of the skin, Red Leaf slippec inside the tepee. The entrance-flap was firmly pegged down, and when the skin fell behind him, Red Leaf was in a gloom that fell little short of darkness, His full chest swelied out with a breath that indicated relief, and crossing the tented space, he peered through a narrow slit in the skins, upon the delegation of mighty warriors and wise chiefs, so patiently awaiting the pleasure of the prophet who proclaimed himself the mouth-piece of the Indian Messiah, These numbered nearly a score in all, and to one ignorant of their real character, might easily have been mistaken for a pack of migrating tramps and ragamuffios; but a closer inspection would have made the difference clear. Those seeming rags and patches were but additional ornaments in the savage eye, just as eaeh ‘* white man’s hat” bore from one to balf a dozen ‘Indian feathers,” dipped in dye and tipped with gaudy bits of ribbon. In but one thing alone was there uniformity: each Indian was armed to the teeth, with Win- chester repeating-rifle, revolvers and belt full of fixed ammunition, in addition to knife and hatchet, such as men of their race have borne from time immemorial. For the most part these Indians were gathered about a low-burning camp-fire, the heat cast out by which was very grateful on that cool autumn day, now that the sun was lost to view behind the western hills. They were squatting upon their heels, smoking their pipes, passing brief sentences around the circle, and casting frequent glances toward the closed Medicine Lodge; but there was one exception worth noting. Apart from the rest of the delegation, stood Silverblade, the Shoshone, his head bent a little back, his eyes fixed upon a patch of scarlet ree through an yf paces in the brown foliage, his arms folded tightly across his slowly beaving chest, The heavy blue blanket had dropped from his shoulders, leaving his slender yet muscular body naked to the middle, His face was beardless, but the razor had left it so, not the painful tweez- ers of the fall-blood. From the crown of his shapely bead hung the neatly braided scalplock, brightened by ribbons and strings of beads; but the rest of bis bair, touching his shoulders, was too fine and soft for that of a full-blood, to say neers of the natural curl with which each lock ended. Passing quickly over the figures gathered about the fire, the gaze of Wah-pa-doo-tab rested upon Silverblade, a low, grating sound passing his lips, If not a curse of vicious hatred, then that painted face bore false evidence. Turning abruptly away from the slit, Red Leaf lifted one end of a long Indian drum, strik- ing it sharply with a padded stick. Thump! Thump! Thump! As one man, the Indians gathered about the fire sprung to their feet, and all eyes turned to- ward the Medicine Lodge. The skin flap was ee back, and the prophet step forth, his ands extended as though in silent blessing. Every head but one was bent before his coming, Silverblade alone stood erect, and a half-frown came into hia face as he encountered that keen, stern glance, Did that fiery glance mean hatred to the man, or only reproof to the doubter? ‘““My children,” began Wah-pa-doo-tah, in deep, not ummusical tones, pausing when yet a few paces from the fire, his Sands slowly sinking to the level of his waist, where showed the metal- bound butts of a brace of heavy revolvers, ‘‘ The body of Red Leaf has slept, but the ears of his eg have been wide open. Words came to them, and with the words a mighty gladness such as you must share with me,” “The Great Spirit spoke to his favored son, father?” slowly ventured one of the delegation; @ tall, withered, scarred chief of the Grosventres, ‘The Great Spirit’s son, our new Messiah,” ‘bowed the medicine-man, as bis arms formed a cross before his breast, ‘‘He whom we have dren, even as his blasting breath wipes from the face of the earth all pale-faces! Even his voice —the voice of the Indian Messiab—-came to the ears of my spirit as my body lay like one dead!” ‘‘ And the words thus spuken, father?” hesita- ted Shooting Backward, the Grosventres chief. ** Are we to hear them?” ‘*So the voice added, before it passed away,” bowed the medicine-man, ‘“ ‘Tell my children all, and let them know that the Messiah is pleas- ed with them,’ said the spirit voice unto Wah- pa-doo-tab.” The Indians interchanged swift glances, and more than one eager face grew grave anid looked disappointed. There was a brief silence, broken at length by tho old Grosventres: ‘* The words sound good, and weare very grate- fu] for so much, my father. But—was there no more? Are we to hear ouly through thy ears, see only through thy eyes? When we go baek to our people, and they ask us of the Messiah, will these few words be enough to send them on the war-path to their brothers of the South?” ‘*Tf your people are ali red, those words should be enougb, but I bave still more to tell my children. They know that, far as we have journeyed, there lie three days’ travel between this and the spot where Red Leaf saw and talked with the Indian Messiah, What we take three days to crawl over, is but a single step to the Messiah, and he—the words that filled my heart with joy were these: ‘“ *Tell my red children that their eyes shall see and their ears hear. Bid them come to me with clean hearts, and before another sun rises, they shall know what words to carry back to their people. They should bave seen me before this, but my beart was sore because of the doubters among the faithful! ” Red Leaf flashed a look toward the young man standing apart from the rest of the delega- tion, and Silverblade, unable to ignore his mean- ing, stepped forward, speaking slowly, in almost cold tones: ‘*Only fuols and babes believe all they hear, without askiug for proof, my fatber. Wise men ask to know, before they can believe /” ‘¢‘That is the white blood speaking, David Woodbridge!” ‘‘David Woodbridge is dead, J am Silver- blade, son of Weenamoo, child of He-That- Fights-Long. If white blood once _ flowed through my veins, it is all gone now, swallowed up by the red.” ‘*So you have said before, and so I have tried hard to believe, Why should these doubts give me so much trouble? Because the New Messiah needs just such converts as Silverblade might prove, if he could find the new life, if be could win the eyes that look through night to light, the tongue that knows bow to spread the new gospel throughout the land of the Great Ser- nt.” ‘* Before one can preach, one must learn,” ‘¢ Before one can learn, one must be willing to be taught,” swiftly retorted the prophet, his thin lips curling away from his teeth, lending him an almost wolfish expression for the mo- ment. ‘‘ Are you this, son of Weenamoo? Have you ever been more than a doubter? What have you done to justify the confidence expressed by your mother’s people? Did they not consult. together, then come to me and say: *‘ He-That-Fights-Long was a great chief and a mighty warrior? While he lived, the Snake- children never knew defeat, on war-path or council-ground. Weenamoo alone of all bis children yet lives. She is a squaw, but she has ason, True, there is white blood flowing in bis veins, and he has been walking in the white man’s road; but this is all the better for us now. He can look on both sides of the trail, and tell us which is the safest. Take the son of Weena- moo with you, father, and as he comes back, so will the children of the Great Snake act: if Silverblade comes, we will dig up the hatchet and sharpen the scalping-knife: if he who comes back should be David Woodbridge, then the Sboshones will know that the Indian Messiah 4 re another ile dream coming from a cracked skull!” ‘‘ These were the words I received from the chiefs of your people, son of Weenamoo, I have prayed long and prayed often that the glorious truth might wash away all doubt, so that the waiting Shoshones might behold the coming of Silverblade, but—” The young map lifted a hand, and the prophet ceased speaking. ‘‘ My father, you sav you have stood face to face with the Messiah?” 66 Yes,” ‘ And so standing, you heard, you saw, you had full faith, and you firmly believed?” ‘T bad full faith, and [ still believe.” ‘‘Good! So will we all believe after we have seen and heard the Indian Messiah, Until then, though our lips may declare our belief, in our hearts there must linger at least a shade of doubt, Even you, our father, and the chosen mouth-piece of. the New Messiab, must have have doubted before you knew, for then there was white blood flowing in your veins,” ‘“* The finger of the Messiah turned it all red, because he saw that the Sioux had perfect faitb. But you, son of Weenamoo and Luke Wood- bridge! If there lingers even the ghost of a doubt in your soul when I bave brought you face to face with the Messiah, wee be unto you! {f you see and hear, yet have perfect faith, the red drops in your veins shail turn white, and ye shall perish even as one of the thrice-accursed race whose doom has been spoken by the coming lips!” ‘‘ Let it beso,” gravely bowed the young man, ‘‘T have followed Red Leaf as an earnest seeker after truth, not alone for myself, but for my mother’s people as well, They gave me their ears, their eyes, bidding me receive and bring them back the whole truth. They said they could trust Nilverblade, but he reminded them them be was still young, and so they chose three wise Shoshones to bear him company. They are here, They listen to the words I am speak- ing. They have heard the joyful pledge given by Red Leaf, and they are weary of idle talk. They are eager to reach the end, and see with their own eyes, hear with their own ears, If they see and hear differently from Silverblade, still it will be well, for the truth will go back to our people, and the truth is what the children of the Mother Snake are waiting for. If one is to perish, three will remain. I bave spoken.” ith anotber dignified bow, the young man drew back a couple of paces, lifting the blanket from where it hung about his middle, closing its folds with true savage grace, yet leaving his bare right arm free, For a few seconds there was silence, broken finally by one of the elderly Shoshones, who rose to briefly say: ‘“The son of Weenamoo has spoken, and his words are good, Wehave not come so far from our people just to talk: let us see and hear. Go with us to where the Indian Messiah lives, Red Leaf, and then the children of the Mother Snake will give their answer.” ‘That is very good!” cried Shooting Back- ward, nodding vigorously. ‘‘Show to us the Indian Messiah, father, that we may know bow to answer the questions our people are waiting to ask!” CHAPTER II. PUT TO cha. © naga THE rreenish-gray eyes of bim who called him- self the rmeuthpiece of the Indian Messiah, passed from face to face of each speaker in turn, but bis paimted face might have been a mask of stone for all the emotion it betrayed. And only waiting for the murmur of approval which cag the words of Shooting Backward to die awa 6 made reply: ‘“Tt shal be as my chiliren ask, Red Leaf will guide them where the New Messiah awaits their coming.” “ ‘is it far from here, father? “Tt is not too far, else the Messiah would never have bidden Bed Leaf to bring his chil- dren. More than tbat, Red Leaf cannot say,” The prophet turned away to the medicine tent, but he remained inside but 4 few seconds. When he emerged, he carried the rude wooden ead was muffled in a long and broad scarf. If he could see aught, then the peep-hole was Very cunningly aT anged, for nota glimpse of bis face was visible as he paused in the fire-glow for a few seconds, turning slowly around, bis head bent backward, straDge, 1. articulate sounds issuing from his throat. Then, like one obeyI®& ®0 unsee? impulse, Red Leaf moved away 19 an almost due west. erly course, pacing deliberately, yet “vor each a as though gifted with More than mortal vision, The sun had long since disappeared, and thg twilight had deepened into night. Even thos with free eyes had to use care in Moving OVe> that rough, bush-spotted tract, but Red Leaf seemed to find ne difficulty, even after his pacy quickened until bis followers were for ' almost trot im Order to keep from being dis tanced. Their tethered horses were passed by witbou & pause on the part of the guide, but even aged Grosventres never gave the animals | om