Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 756 — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

~ —— —_— Dashing Charlie’s Destiny. PL would make him find a way to communicate with his friends and let them know that he is to be held asa hostage against the return of the boy, upon our return trail.” _ “Could you communicate with your friends, my friend?” The man saw that the doctor’s words held their influence with Captain Emmett, and he grew again uneasy. But he responded: ‘¢ What does yer mean, cap’n?” “Could you get word to those renegades?” **T c’u’d go to’em.” ‘Yes, and we would never see you or the boy again,” bluntly said Doc. ‘Could you not let your friends know in some way that we were going to hold you as a pris- oner until my nephew was restored to me?” ‘ Pard Cap’n, [ hain’t got no way of letting ’em know.” “ That is bad.” ‘‘T comed here trustin’ in yer honor, ter do yer a favor, as [ thought, and help ther boy, while I admits frankly I concluded I'd git a leetle pay fer myself. ‘* And now yer talks o’ holdin’ mea pris’ner ag’in’ ther boy. ‘** Pard, thet hain’t squar’, be it?” Captain Emmett was silent a moment, and then said: “Doc, I think you are wrong in this case, though [ give you credit for reading faces like books, ‘I feel certain now that Charlie is not dead, and in the Sioux village, and if alive he is all right, ashe is well able to take care of himself, “As for our visitor here, be can go back to ther renegades and say that I will give them jast one thousand dollars in cash for the return of my nephew, and will cawp on Bend Creek, after they meet me, or their messenger dves, until | send on to Omaha and get if, ‘‘ If they do not take that, then I will give our friend here the same sum if he delivers Charlie up to me safe and sound at Canyon Spring or Bend Creek. “That is my ultimatum, and if my terms are not accepted, I will go after the boy with force enough to take him and visit upon the Sioux a unishment they will long remember, for I can influence the commanders of the forts to send back with mea number of soldiers, in addition to the men | take with me. ‘‘Now, my friend, you know my terms, so you can return to-morrow and report what I say.” ‘* Pil. do it, Pard Cap’n, but I think ’d better go ter-night, now I knows ther tarms of your compact, ‘*But may I ask about when yer will be at Canyon Spring?” ‘*Say three months from to-day, or as near that date as possible,” ‘*Aereed, and ef they doesn’t accept yer tarms [ will, for Pll be thar with ther boy, cop’n, see if I don’t, either tradin’ fer Buck and Bricktop, or on my own account, fer I won’t see ther lad harmed, as it bain’t my natur’ ter do so. ‘Now, cap’n, I guesses I'll be on ther back trail as it’s a Jong travel.” * All right, if you won’t remain all night.” ‘*T guesses I'll go, cap’n.” ‘*Then I will send for your horse,” and Cap- tain Emmett called to bis negro cook to go and get the courier’s horse. ‘** And, cap’n, yer said nuthin’ about some coffee, bacon and other fixins’, don’t yer recom- member?’ Captain Emmett did not remember that he had been the one to say anything about the ‘coffee and other fixin’s,” but he ordered a ba of provisions gotten for the man, who then ask for some ammunition, a blanket and several other articles which he said would come useful. He would have asked for more had not Doc Chalmers uttered an oath and said almost savagely: ‘Mark my words, Captain Emmett, you are giving to the hand that will strike at your heart.” — —— CHAPTER XXv. PAWNEE PETE TAKES THE TRAIL, Tur remark of Doctor Chalmers seemed to fairly startle the courier, for he quickly ceased his begging and turned toward his horse, upon Which he bad packed all that bad been given im, The captain also was struck by the words, which fell upon his ears like a prophetic warn- ing and he turned toward the man and said; ‘You hear what my friend here says?” ° e. A ant . 7 ; ‘7 vide eo aD Se | : \ ¥ ae : iis, | ee) \ P **T does, cap’n, but he don’t know me as you “I is thankful, sir, for all yer has done fer me, and I’ll prove it some day, see ef I don’t, ‘* But Pll be goin’ now, cap'n, so good-by ter yer, and J’ll let ther boy know thet [ seen yer and you is aware he is alive and a-kickin’, fer i shall go straight to ther village.” ‘* Which village?” asked Doc Chalmers, quiet- But the man was not to be caught in the trap of revealing where Charlie was held prisoner; tbat is, in which one of the Sioux camps he was, and he answered as innocently as though he un- derstood the question that way: ‘‘Ther village whar ther boy is now, pard,” ** And which one is that?” ‘* Ther Sioux village, pard. ‘But good-by, cap’n, and good-by to you, pard, though yer doesn’t believe I is a honest man, Doc Chalmers made no reply, other than to mutter something impatiently, and the courier hastened to mount and ride away, for he feared a longer delay in the camp might cause Captain Emmett to be won over into detaining bim. ‘* Emmett?” said Doc Chalmers suddenly, as the man rode away. ** "Yes, Doc.” ‘** Will you make me a promise?” ** Certainly.” ** And keep it?” ‘*Of course.” ‘Then send for Pawnee Pete, whom you can spare for a week or so, and set him to follow that man,” ** But why?” “Well, by following him until to-morrow night he can track bim to the Five Trails Forks, as you know, and you are anxious to know in oor one of the four Sioux villages Charlie is eld. ‘*T am, indeed; for if I had to go to his rescue I would not know which one to strike.” ‘** Well, when crossing the river at the Five Trails Forks, the man must turn to the right or left trails, as you know,” és Yes.” ‘* If he goes to the left, he will be going to the camp of Old Savage Face,” ** That is so.” ‘““If he goes to the right, he will be going to ove of the other three Sioux villages,” ‘**T understaad,.” ** Now, half a day’s ride from the Forks brings him to the River Trail, and if he goes up this, it will be to strike the head chief’s village in the Rock Hills,” ‘* So it will.” ** If he does not follow the River Trail, then he will be going to either Red Antelope’s camp or Bad Hatchet’s village, and the trails leading to these branch off a dozen miles from the river.” ‘** You are right, I guess, Doc, and you should know,” ‘*Oh, yes; for when I was surgeon of Wild Bill’s scouts I scouted that country well and know it thoroughly.” ‘*T see what you mean, Doc, that Pawnee Pete is to trail the man and discover just which one of the four Indian villages he goes to,” ‘*That is just it.” ‘* It is a good idea, for it places Charlie ex- actly,” ‘*Tt does, and we can if we have to, make a dash in upon one of the villages, where we would have to meet the braves from all the camps if we moved with a large force.” ‘*] will send Pawnee Pete, if I can only im- press upon him the idea that he is not to kill the man, for be bates the whites who live with the Sioux, as much as he does the Sioux themsel 7es, I believe.” ‘Then do not tell him more than that the man is a scout and bas found tbe boy, and you only wish to kuow to which village he goes, so as to see if he has been deceiving you.” ** W hich you believe he is doing,” and Captain Emmett smiled, “Tl am so firmly convinced of it, captain, that I would wager every dollar of my share of this expedition upon it.” [ only hope you are not right.” ‘So do [; but send Pawnee Pete off on his trail, and we will learn at least which way the man goes,” Pawnee Pete was sent for, and the matter ex- lained to bim as to just what he was to do, The Indian was delighted, and showed it, to learn that Charlie Emmett was yet alive, and said: ‘Me like to go to Sioux camp and get bim away,” ra) ; . - as 5 SAD Pee 2 eee a ‘** Yes, and leave your scalp there.” ‘“No, go and see to which Sioux village the man goes, and come on after us and report, ‘* When we dog), then you shall have a chance to get all the Sioux scalps you can,” ** Pete heap glad. ‘* Him go quick on trail,” was the answer, and he returned to his camping place, bundled up his blankets, saddled his pony and rode away in the darkness to cross the river on the back trail, and there camp until the dawn enabled him to follow the track of Lone Rifle, the renegades’ courier. CHAPTER XXXVI. THE PAWNEE’S RETURN, THE train pulled out of camp the next morn- ing on its way to the trading-post, and the men discussed the coming and going of the midnight visitor, Lone Rifle. Many had heard of the strange man who was so called, and Captain Emmett questioned them closely regarding him, and as to what was be- lieved of him, Some said that he was really an ally of the Sioux, a renegade himself, while others gave him a good character from what they had heard about bim, But all united in swearing that Buck Baldwin and Bricktop were na pair of unmitigated villains who would stop at no crime to gain their ends, The men were delighted to know that Charlie was not dead, and hoped that they would find him safe and well on the return trip, All were glad too to know that Pawnee Pete was off on the trail of the renegades’ messenger, and when Doctor Chalmers gave his views of the midnight visitor, they said that they guessed be was right, for ‘‘ the Doc” made few mistakes in reading a man, So on its way pulle’d the fur-trader-’ train, making a slow but steady march each day, car- ing well for the stock, keeping a bright lookont for the Sioux and enjoying the expediticn as sach men always do, for its wild life of dauger and adventure, A week passed and it began to be time for Pawnee Pete’s return. But another day passed and still be did not appear. he following day the train reached the trad- ing-post. his was a fortified camp upon the river, where there was a company of cavalry, two of infantry and a couple of guns of light artillery. Then there were scouts and others connected with the army, after which came the hunters, trappers and hangers-on about a far frontier ost, . The train of the fur-traders went into camp on the river, and at once formed a fortified post, as it were. The stores brought along were displayed to tempt the eyes of the white and Indian trappers, for of the latter there was quite a large settle- ment a few miles away, and they visited the post daily to make purchases, A good pelt to an Indian was of little value, in comparison to some tobacco, powder, beads, a rifle, a woolen blanket, brass ornaments, scar- let, blue and yellow cloths, and other things to catch the eye of the red-skin, In fact they did allof their trading with pelts; and Captain Emmett knew just what to take out to win them over, They professed to be friendly to the whites, and were, so long as it suited their convenience to be so; but they were ready to take a scalp in an instant, if the chance offered, and this the soldiers all knew and were constantly on their guard, The fort was a strong one, and could be de- fended by its garrison of a couple of bundred men against two thousand warriors, while the traders and hangers-on swelled the force largely. The arrival of the fur-traders was grested with delight{by soldiers and all, and Captain Em- mett, who had been to that post once before, and was known to some of the officers, was wel- comed most cordially. When he told the story of Dashing Charlie’s joining him, end his capture, he had the sympa- thy of all, and the hope was expressed that Lone Rifle woula be as good as his word upon the return Of the train, ‘‘ Well, captain, we are getting the best lot of furs I ever saw, and cheaper than ever before, so that we will double our most liberal specula- tions of profits,” said Doe Chalmers, one even- ing a week after the arrival of the train at the fort, as the two sat together in the captain’s tent. ‘‘ Yes, Doc, and I could feel really happy over it, were it not for the uncertainty about Charlie, while the long stay of Pawnee Pete really gives gi 4