Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 756 — page 3: what you’re looking at

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

** Who else?” “Tt looks ter meas if a big party dropped back from the train, for there’s many tracks about and some graves over in theriver can- on.” ‘* You seen ’em?” ‘“ Yes, and I says that that train people has had a fight here.” ** And Limber Joe and the boy?” ‘i'm all in the dark about them.” ‘¢ We will push on and see,” “7m with you,” Mouuting, they rode on once more to sudden- ly come upon a group of newly made graves and apart from them a number of others, ‘* Pard, they had it hot here and no mistake. ‘Them graves holds white folks and them yonder has got Injuns in ’em,” ‘* Well, we goes on.” ““Of course, for we must kidnap that boy, if Limber Joe has had ter take him on to ther train. ‘‘ We'll know afore long, and we kin go to ther traders and say we was run in by Injuns who seemed to be on the war-trail even ag’in’ us two. ‘“‘Then we kin catch the boy some night and ligbt out. ‘“*Oh we don’t intend ter be beat out of our ame,” And 80 the two men went once more upon their way, following the trail of the fur-traders’ train. CHAPTER IV. THE BOY HUNTER, THE letter from Captain Emmett, of tbe fur- traders’ train, written to Kentucky, tells tbe reader of the arrival of his nephew, Charlie Km- mett in the far West, and the dangers and ad- ventures he had passed through to overtake his uncle, Having done so, against all obstacles, and hav- ing brought tbe traitor guide to justice, by his turning the tables upon him, Dashing Charlie had become a hero even among such men as com- prised the train of the fur-traders, Going as they were into a country where dan- ger awaited them at every turn, and death was a daily occurrence to be looked for in their midst, the fur-traders were picked men, Captain Emmett had been on such expeditions before, and he wasan experienced borderman, so knew just whom to take along. His outfit was as complete as a Government train on a march, and the same discipline was maintained atall times. It was a valuable train too, with the money along, and stores with which to purchase furs, and each man knew what his duty was and did not shirk from it, for upon each one depended the safety of all. Into the midst then of these men of nerve Dashing Charlie had been welcomed as an ally, Boy as he was, half a score of years younger than any one else in the train, in his adventures to overtake them he had shown himself well worthy the name of hero. He had faced death fearlessly, and was now eager and anxious to share the dangers and bard- ships of the long expedition. Captain Emmett had decided upon the course he was to take, and knew just where he could find a tribe of red-skins who devoted their time to trapping animals of all kinds and were ready and willing to trade the furs for the blankets, weapons, trinkets and other articles brought by the traders. He had no doubt but that hecould load the train with furs, which wouid brivg him a golden harvest once he reached a place where he could sell bis goods obtained at such risk and often hardships which only a strong constitution could stand, He had, in his visits to his old home in Ken- tucky, explained fohis young nephew, Charlie, s0 much of life upon the plains, that the youth felt that be was pretty well acquainted with the wild life he bad chosen to lead, and for which be believed himself so well adapted. He had at once asked to be assigned to duty with the others, and was given the work of hunting for the train, along with Girard who was the guide, and who bad taken a wonderful fancy te the boy. There was also another who was told to take Dashing Charlie under his care, and that was a Pawnee Indian who acted as scont, Pawnee Pete, for such was his name, had been the first to discover Charlie, when the rty from the train went back in search of im, and finding the boy most friendly in- clined, he bad met him half-way, and told him he would make a great warrior out of him. ee Dashing Charlie’s Destiny. With an uncle such as Captain Emmett was, and such special tutors in plainscraft as were Girard the guide and Pawnee Pete, not to speak of the others of the train, Dashing Charlie felt that he had every opportunity to make a man of himself, One day, the fourth after bis joining the train, Charlie was out some miles abead with Girard the guide. ‘‘[ say, boy pard, you beat around for game a little, while I find the best way to take the train through this timber,” said Girard, as he haited at a heavily timbered ridge, which he wished to cross if possible, rather than go around, as it would save a couple of days’ march, Charlie was glad of the chance, for he had seen some deer a short while before, and be rode away to get a shot at them. In this he was successful, and more, he brought oe a couple of fat ones with his repeating rifle, Hardly had he done so when two horsemen rode in sight, At first Charlie supposed they were from the wagon-train, and waved bis hat to them. Bus as they drew near he saw that they were strangers, In the mean while Girard the guide had found a way of crossing the ridge, by making a bridge across a narrow ravine, and he decided to go back and geta number of men to come on ahead and cut timber, so as not to delay the train very long when it came up. But Charlie was not at the rendezvous ap- pointed, and the guide gave a jong, shrill whis- tle, which the boy knew well. But it brought no response, and at once the guide, in some alarm, set out to hunt up the missing boy. CHAPTER V. MISSING. WHEN Girard failed to find Charlie at the ren- dezvous, instinctively» he seemed to dread that some harm had befallen bim. He knew that be bad been gone several hours, and that Charlie must have readily gotten a shot at the deer, and should have returned to the place where he had left him, But the whistle remained unanswered, and though repeatel again and again, brought no response. So Girard at once went off on the boy’s trail. He readily followed it, circling around as Charlie had ridden, to get a shot at the deer, and then came upon the spot where he had dis- mounted and crept up to a place within range. His tracks showed that he had returned to his horse, mounted, and ridden over in the little vale where lay his game, and dismounted near the two fallen deer. But then the guide came to a sudden halt, for he saw two other trails near. They were made by horses that were shod, too, and so he said: ** He has met some of the men from the train. and gone back with them. ‘* Yes, they have taken with them the best cuts of meat,” With this he mounted his horse again and headed back for the train at a gaUop. He felt a0 longer any anxiety about the boy, but was only anxious to get men and push on for the ridge to bridge the ravine, He came in sight of the train, and meeting Captain Emmett riding ahead, told him that the ridge could be crossxd by a couple of hours’ work in building a vridge, and thus save severa] days’ march. “T am glad to know this, Girard, for we will save much time by it, going and coming, as we will doubtless return this way, “ But did not Charlie go with you?” — ani eenteenenttieneeieel ‘Yes, sir, and killed two fat bucks, got his venison, and returned some time since.” ‘* He has not returned to the train,” ** Not returned, sir?” ‘*T have not seen him.” ‘ Why, some of the men met him just where he killed his game, and I supposed they had all come back together.” ** Some of the men met him, you say?” ‘* Yes, sir: two of them.” ‘Why, Girard, there has not been a man leave the train,” ‘‘ Can this be possible, sir?” “Itis, See! here they all come,” and as the train came up, Captain Emmett called out: . ‘* Who are away from the train, Chalmers?” ‘No one, except your boy and Pawnee Pete, as Girard is here,” ‘* Are you sure?” You.” people of the train, and then said: Captain Emmett ran bis eyes hastily over the ** You are right, Dick. ‘** Pawnee Pete and Charlie are the only ones missing. ‘*Girard, who were the men you saw?” ‘**T did not see them, sir; only their trails,” > ** Ab! and where?” ‘* A couple of miles from where we now are, ‘*T will return at once and see where their trails lead; but as their horses were shod, I sup- posed, of course, they were from the train,” ‘‘ But where did yeu leave Charlie?” and Cap- tain Emmett was growing anxious now, ‘**T left him at the foot of the ridge, sir, for he was to hunt some game, while I looked out fora crossing of the ravire, ‘* We were to meet at a spot I pointed out on our way, and not finding him there, and hear- ing no response to my whistle, | went on his trail. ‘** And found the otbers with it?” ‘© Yes, sir, 1 found the tracks of two horses come up to where Charlie had balted by the deer be had shot, and so supposing they were menu from the train, I bastened on to get a party to push on ahead and cut timber for the bridge,” ‘Well, Girard, I will go with you; and Dick, send half a dozen men to follow us, for I very much fear my poor boy has gotten into some trouble.” ‘*] sincerely hope not, captain,” was the re- sponse of Doctor Dick Chalmers, who was one of the partners of Captain Emmett, in the ex- pedition, ‘* IT will push on with the train to the ridge and halt there,” he continued, as Captain Em- mett rode on with the guide, The two rode rapidly to the spot where the two strange trails were visible, and Girard pointed them out. As every man was with the train, except Pawnes Pete, who rode an unshod Indian pony, it was sure that Dashing Charlie had met those who could hardly be other than foes, and as the tracks of the three horses led away from the point they should have taken to return to the train, both Captain Emmett and Girard seemed to feel that evil had befallen the brave boy. CHAPTER VI. A LOST TRAIL, CAPTAIN EmmeEtt’s face wore a gloomy ex- pression, as he turned to Girard the guide, and asked: ‘‘ Well, what does this mean?” Girard also appeared worried, ‘he youth had gone out with him and he felt, in a measure, responsible for his safety. ‘*T hardly know what to say, captain, more than that tbere are other people here than be- long to the train,” responded Girard, ** Who are they ?” ‘*1t’s hard to say, sir, for certainly Limber Joe and his pard were all of that lot.” ‘* Yes, and they are dead.” ‘The horses are shod, sir.” “That causes you to think they were white men?” eK horses,” ‘‘T see no reason to believe they were Indians; but can it be that two white men are up here alone?” ‘‘ We must find that out, captain.” ‘ By trailing them?” ‘¢ Yes, sir.” ‘‘Tsee no signs of a struggle, and the boy is not one to be taken without a fight, did he be lieve them to be foes,” ** No, sir, but they may bave gotten the drop on him by strategy.” ** But, captain?” ** Yes, Girard.” ‘“T’ll follow the trail, sir, while you wait for the men to come up. ‘‘Then you can send one back to guide the camp to the ridge, where there is a good camp- ing-ground and [ll mark the trail I take well so you can follow it.” ‘All right, Girard, and lose no time, for though I hope no harm has befallen the boy, still [am anxious to know just whose company he has fallen into. “Ag I am, sir,” and Girard rode off on the trail of the three borses, going at a quick canter, for he readily followed the tracks which to others would have hardly been visible without close search. So the captain waited for the coming of his men, whom he had told his partner, Doctor Chalmers, to have follow bim. They soon arrived, and there were five of them, for Dick Chalmers had come himself, sir, unless Indians rode American nicbooks.,