Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 74 — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

f~ t= ——- Pe 4 oF - dragoons, who had entere had seen what could / **Then you're on your wa a temporary encampment. -ereek flowing from Lake Okibogie. 7 . . ees Cy ue —_ = = SST - 14 the bushes, pale-face, and you can see that the approaching horsemen are not Indians.” ‘‘Not Indians!” exclaimed Old Optic, as he red through the opening out into the plain. ‘By heavens, you are right, Red Win €! tisa party of dragoons, and at their head I see that noble boy, Hawkeye Harry! Whoop! whoop! hurrah!” and the old trapper bounded through the undergrowth out into the prairie, where he was met by Hawkeye Harry and the dragoons. ‘‘ Hullo, my young friend!” exclaimed Optic; ‘*~ou’re still on foot, eh?” ‘Yes; though I have had some pretty narrow escapes,” replied the young ranger. ‘The red- skins got me into a bayou last night, and tried to burn me out,and I only nar a by the skin of my teeth, just in time to sink a tomahawk into the brain of the Sioux chief, Gray Hawk. But what are you doing here, old friend?” The youth dismounted as he asked the ques- tion, while Lubin, the dragoons and Mr. Gar- dette advanced and joined Red Wing and his warriors. Old Optic briefly narrated all that had trans- ired under his observation since Ha had fot the Cone, including the startling informa- tion of Clouded Heart. to rescue e had h our daughter?” said Harry, when the old pper’s sad story. ‘* Yes,” replied the trapper. ‘*Then you can depend upon company and assistance, for these dragoons are going to the Sioux village to rescue the daughter of that elderly man on the white horse. I tell you, Op- tic, he is the father of the sweetest little woman I ever saw.” ‘* Ah! oh, yes; certainly,” en gu Old Optic. ‘ But if she is a captive, how did you see her?” The young ranger narrated his late adven- tures. ‘* And Optic,” he continued, ‘‘ I'll rescue that girl if I lose my own life by the act.” “In love!” said the old trapper; ‘‘crazy in love! But, Harry, I want you to keep your eyes upon this masked stranger of whom I told ou awhile ago. He calls himself Clouded eart, and I must admit he is clouded in a great mystery.” ‘**T’ll do so, Optic. see of the stranger.” The two fellow-rangers joined the Indians and d upon terms of friend- Now let us see what I can ship and good feeling. Coude Heart stood aside by himself, and, as they advanced, Hawkeye Harry noticed that he fixed his glowing eyes upon the old trapper, with a steady gaze. For awhile he elicited much notice and curi- osity from the soldiers and Mr. Gardette, but when they had learned of his sorrow through Old Optic, their attention became more of pity than curiosity. A consultation was now held as to the proper course to pursue in rescuing the captives. The two ties had unitec their forces and were to act together thereafter. They were now some ten miles from the Sioux village, and it was suggested by Hawk- eye Harry that they remain in the timber un- til night, and then 2 ig heen the enemy’s strong- hold under cover of darkness. The suggestion was no sooner advanced than acted upon, and in a few minutes the whole party had gone into The day wore away quite slowly to some of the party, but by dusk every man was mounted and moving northward, guided by the young ranger and Lubin. It was far in the night when a point on the prairie was reached, two miles from the Indian town. Hereahalt was made for further con- sultation in regard to their course of action. The suggestions advanced were many, and noue but those of Hawkeye Harry and Red Wing coincided, and theirs was the one that all decided upon as the most likely to be attend- ed with success. They proposet to leave the horses with a strong guard, then steal forward on foot to the village, or close to it as they dare, without running into danger before they were prepared to meet it. If the warriors had all returned from their expedition, it was thought best not to make an attack upon the town until they accomplished in their favor by stratagem, the white man’s first expe- dient. The Indian town was located upon a small To the north of it & steep, wooded bluff arose several hundred feet above the level of the valley, and extended down to the encampment, most of which was infolded within the shadow of the -_—-— ~~ eee aero A A * shrubless plain rolled away in gentle undulations for many miles. Hawkeye Harry and Red Wing took the lead toward the village. They crossed the creek a mile below the place, and after hours of toil reached a point in the woods, in the rear of the town. A reconnoissance was now to be made, and the perilous job fell upon the Boy Ranger, Lubin, the scout, and Red Wing. Leaving their friends, the three crept for- ward ph oA the woods and soon gained a point on the hill, where they had a fair view of the town. The hour was late, but there were many fires burning, and apparently every man, woman and child was astir. ‘‘Thar’s sumthin’ up,” whispered Lubin, ‘or the red imps would al in bed.” Yes, they have war-dance,” said Red Wing. “Yes, and they’ve got a white male prisoner, too,” added Hawkeye. ‘‘ Look, nigh that cen- tral lodge, tied to a post.” Lubin and the chief did as directed. At the same time a low exclamation burst from the lips of the old scout. ‘* By jinks!” he said, “ that captive is Richard Parker! The boy weren’t killed, arter all.” ‘* He is the young man that Mr. Gardette was speakin’ of, eh?’ ‘Yes. Heard ’em say at the fort he war the lover o’ Gardette’s gal.” Harry started at this information. Was it possible that Nora had a lover? The thought was a bitter one. For some time the trio sat and watched the Indians moving about, aah preparing for some exciting event. What was it? ere they going to torture Parker? If such was the intention, the idea was sud- denly abandoned, for they saw the prisoner taken to a lodge and guards posted around it. Hawkeye Harry strained his eyes in hopes of getting a glance at Nora, but he was disap- pointed. But he did see among the Indians, moving about in perfect freedom, Henri Roche and his men. Gradually the savages retired and the camp- fires died out, but, between them and the camp, our friends saw a number of wary guards pac- ing to and fro upon their beat. ted Wing proposed making a sudden attack upon the village in the dark. But Harry and Lubin opposed such a bloody course. They knew that the Fox warriors were thirsting for Sioux blood, and, if once under way, an indis- criminate massacre was sure to be the result. ‘*No, no, Red Wing,” said the youth; ‘ I hate a Sioux as bad almost as you do, but I’d never consent to see their women and children mur- dered. And if we should attack them and meet with a repulse, as I believe we would, then it would make matters worse. Let us be patient; but, bah! talk of patience to an Indian! But, boys, I’ve a plan in my head to rescue the pris- oners, and if it should fail, nobody’s scalp but my own would have to pay. the forfeit.” i ‘What is yer plan? t’s hear it,” said Lu- in. The young ranger made known his plan of ac- tion. Me Ten to one ye’ll git tomahawked,” said Lu- in. Red Wing was silent, which was proof that he did not approve of the youth’s project. ‘‘T know it’s dangerous, friends, but, if I lose my scalp, it won’t be a serious loss. All I ask is your assistance or presence on the other side of the creek.” » ‘‘ Never fear; we'll be there,” said Red Wing. ‘* We'll be there,” repeated Lubin. And together the two arose and a softly away, leaving Hawkeye Harry alone nerve himself for the execution of his dangerous and fearless undertaking—all for the sake of Nora Gardette. CHAPTER XVIL. BEARDING THE LION. NIGHT passed away, and the sun of another day dawned upon the village of Black Buffalo. Still the cunning Sioux knew naught of the foe that was environing their town, for all they were Vigilant and scouts were constantly on the Close to the edge of the stream that divided -Beadle’s Half-Dime Library. ee woods. South of the village a long, treeless, ing the stream above and below, the wigwams of the tribe were built with no little pieion The chief’s lodge was well rded and he had no fear of danger, for a foe could nota spear from the south, nor could he pass the ne of wick-e-ups without being seen. At an early hour on the mourning in question, five men took their departure from the Indian town. They were Henri Roche and his men, starting back for the contents of the chest they had buried upon the banks of the Boyer. The chief found himself alone in his lodge soon after the departure of the outlaws. The execution of the young male captive, Richard Parker, was to be postponed until Roche’s return, consequent- ly quiet and inactivity prevailed. The warriors lounged idly about their wigwams and slept in the warm sun. Only their ge kit were busy bringing water and fuel and dressing game of the previous day’s chase. But where was Nora Gardette? where was Gertie, the captive child of the old trapper? and where the child of Clouded Heart? _Ah! see yonder! Out from a neat-looking little lodge floats a being fair as the sun ever shone upon. Her skin is white, but her move- ments and manners, and gaudy, flashy orna- ments and clothing, were those of an Indian. But seven years could change the habits of a child into those of an Indian princess. It must be Gertie, the child of Old Optic. The joung princess crossed the opening be- tween the wigwams and the lodge of the chief and approached the latter structure. At the door she was met by Black Buffalo. ‘*What does my white daughter want?’ he asked. ‘‘I see that her face wears a cloud which tells me her heart is sad.” ‘‘My heart has always been sad, Black Buffa- lo,” she said. ‘* Ever since I was taken from my poor papa and mamma, I have known no happiness. But I came to intercede for the life of the prisoner yonder,” and she pointed toward young Parker’s prison-lodge. The chief’s brow clouded and a grim smile swept over his face. " Then you love the pale-face prisoner?” he said. The princess hung her head and blushed scar- let. — chief noted her emotions and con- tinued: ‘*The pale-face youth shall die. You are to be the wife of the chief, called Roche, when three suns more go down. Waugh!” The last exclamation was occasioned by the unceremonious intrusion of a figure wrapped in a great blanket, into the secret precincts of the chief’s lodge. Before the chief could utter a single word, the figure threw aside the blanket, and there, face to face with the great Black Buffalo, stood Hawkeye Harry, the ranger. The brave youth had come to beard the lion in his den, and before the chief could recover sufficiently from his surprise, a revolver was leveled full at his head, and a firm, decided and unflinching voice said: ‘* Utter one word, Black Buffalo, that can be heard outside of this lodge and you shall die !” The chief fairly staggered backward before the deadly fire of the youth’s eyes. His great spirit was quelled by the deadly weapon pointed Aa breast, by a hand he knew was never- ailing. ‘‘ What does the pale-face—” the chief began in a low tone, but permitting his voice to grow higher with each word—‘' want here? oes “Stop!” commanded Harry; ‘‘not so loud! If by word or action yor make my presence in this lodge known, I will shoot you dead !” e chief was unarmed, and he saw that he was completely in the youth’s power. It was over a hun yards to the wick-e-ups of the warriors; the boy stood between him and the door of his own lodge, the flap of which was down; no sudden movement could defeat the youth’s purpose, for his dark-gray eyes were fixed with a steady, unwavering on his own black, scintillating orbs, and his finger was upon the trigger of the weapon. “T come,” the youth continued, after a mo- ment’s hesitation, “‘ for all the captives in your hands.” “Uh! hain’t got any,” replied the chief, in English. ‘Vou lie!” exclaimed the youth; “ within the last two days you have brought two, a man and woman, to your den. I want them; also, acap- the wooded bluffs and great prairie, stood the | tive or two that you have had for years—one lodge of Black Buffalo. the stream was a steep, precipitous bank that | | uarded well the approach from that direction. na semicircle around the chicf’s lodge, touch- Upon the south side of | named Gertie.” At this juncture a low cry burst from the lips of the Indian princess before him. ‘* Have you such a captive?” Harry continued. 700 comic ’ . 2 : : » > 2 Ee ip he |