Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 766 — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

ta - re iN, . c ie ¥ t aay ; ' i $ yf - ye Wad! . f ‘7 . Tent Ay ai 4 ‘ 1 5 : » * ae ae are SOW 9 Bia fe id iy t CA) Ak gh ee Ss é ® ~w % £ » i Te P . as - | ‘ " <i ¥ - . -” } “4 12 **The boy is under the protection of the Sacred “White Arrow, and must so remain, ‘“[f the Red Hair is the captor of the white ‘chief, then the Singing Dove cannot hold him ander the pledge of the White Arrow.” ‘‘Then the man is in my power.” ‘*What would the Red Hair do with the ‘white chief?” ‘*He will kill him unless he obeys his com- mands,” was the savage reply. Both Captain Emmett and Dashing Charlie had sat motionless during this conversation, vearried on in the Sioux language, Every word of it was understood by Charlie, ‘though Captain Emmett had only picked up a word here and there, Dashing Charlie saw how matters were going, and he said inalow whisper to his uncle: ‘* Sioux law gives to a head chief who person- ally captures a prisoner, the right to claim his captive, even from the pledge of the White Ar- drow, ‘* The chief captured me, then?’ ‘* Yes, uncle,” ** And so can claim me?” ** He has done so, alas!” ‘*Is Scalper Sam a chief?” ** No, uncle,” ** He captured you?” ** Yes, sir.” * Well. it seems that the head chief will win ‘yet, **T only hope the Sioux Queen will be brave enough to resist,” ‘We have no claim upon her, Charlie,” ** We had none before, uncle, yet she faced the maddened Sioux to save us,” ‘True, Charlie, buf the head chief has been plotting some mischief with Scalper Sam, and e is about to speak.” Then they turned to the renegade, who had evidently decided upon his course as regarded the prisoners, CHAPTER XXXVI, SINGING DOVE’S CLAIM, THE short, whispered conversation between ‘the two renegades seemed to have decided the Anead chief in what he should do, He turned to the maiden and said: ‘As the Singing Dove understands Sioux law she knows that she must yield her claim to that man.” ‘* The white chief?” ~ 2m” “She no longer can claim the protection of the White Arrow for him,” ‘*Then she yields her claim here in the pres- ence of the medicine-chief, Snow Head?” ** The Singing Dove is a Sioux. *“ She obeys the laws of her people,” But the man was not satisfied with an indirect @nswer and asked: ‘* Does the Singing Dove yield her claim?” ‘To the white chief?” ** Yes, if you so call that man.” ts Yes ” ** And the boy?” * She does not relinquish her claim, given by the White Arrow, to the little chief.” ** She still protects him?” ‘Tt is her right,” ‘* Against the wishes of her people?” ‘* Yes, for she intends to adopt the little chief as her son,” “‘Ab! the Singing Dove does not know the Sioux laws as well as she thinks,” ““The Head Chief has a snake’s tongue, for he is a fool to say what he does,” was the hot wepl Bice not the law of the Sioux prevent their maidens from adopting a child?” ** Tt does,” ‘**The squaws who have busbands alone can adopt a child.” ** The Singing Dove is no fool. ** She knows,” ‘ Yet she says that she will adopt the pale- ‘face boy?” ‘The Singing Dove has spoken, and now let ‘the Red Hair speak.” ‘* What is there to say?’ “The Rea Hair has the white chief for his sprisoner ?’’ ‘* He has * ‘* And wili put bim to death?’ ‘ Unless he obeys my command.” * What is it?’ ‘“‘I am Head Chief of the Sioux and the Sing- ‘ing Dove has no right to question my acts,” was the haughty reply of Red Hair, ‘** My uncle and I know where a gold mine is, and the Red Hair threatens to kill us by torture af'we do not guide him to—”’ om CF a —_— ‘ye ee yey a il bo AA i) : oP Dashing Charlie, the Rescuer. It was Charlie who quickly uttered the words, but he was checked by a violent blow given bim by the Red Hair, **Coward! you would kill a woman in irons I verily believe, ‘* You a chief! You are a cowardly dog!” hissed Captain Emmett, savagely, as Dashing Charlie was balf stunned by the blow. In his fury at the insulting words the Red Hair forgot himself and was springing toward the bound man, helpless and at his mercy, when, quick as a flash, there came before his eyes the form of the Singing Dove, He started, stepped back, and said, fiercely: **Does the Singing Dove dare stand in the path of the Head Chief of the Sioux?’ ‘* The Singing Dove dares to assert her rights.” ‘*‘ Her rights? What are they?” ‘¢ She claims this man!” ‘*She but now relinquished her claim, as the medicine-chief here will bear witness, and Scal- per Sam also,” ‘To protect him by means of the White Ar- row, yes,” ‘*Then what claim has she now?” ‘* A better one,” The Singing Dove talks like a silly child. What claim has she, other than that she held through the Sacred White Arrow?” All gazed upon her in wonder and expectancy. She wore asmile that showed she had some deep plot to spring upon them, which her little brain had btolved Dashing Charlie bad recovered somewhat from the blow, while his darkly bronzed fore- head was swelling under the bruise of the brutai Red Hair’s fist. But, be forgot his blow in watching the Sing- ing Dove. Captain Emmett, ever calm, was now some- what excited at the turn affairs had taken. Had the brave and clever girl some deeper game yet to play to save them? She had said she would adopt Charlie as her own son, though Sioux laws only allowed a married woman to do so. Now she seemed desirous of saving both him- self and Charlie from some reason known ouly to herself, Even Red Hair was nervous, for what could she say now that would lose him his prisoner? That she was clever he had to admit, and that she was was perfectly verse din the Jaws of her tribe she had pretty clearly demonstrated. Was he, at last, to lose his prisoner by some ae known to her, and of which he was igno- rant He turned to the ‘medicine-chief, but he too seemed at a Joss to fathom the girl’s purpose, ‘* Will the Singing Dove speak?” at last said the Red Hair, ‘* The Singing Dove claims the white chief as her husband,” was the startling response of the Indian girl, CHAPTER XXVII. THE WINNER, THE astounding claim of the Singing Dove to still protect the prisoner brouzht a yell from the lips of the Red Hair that rung wildly through the valley. Could he believe what he heard? It was true that it was allowed by Sioux law for a maiden to claim a prisoner doomed to die, thus adopting him into the tribe by making him her husband, Many a poor fellow had thus been saved from a terrible death, and it was clung to with a joy no matter how hideous might be the object who so suddenly bestowed her affections upon im, But here was the Sioux Queen, the beauty of the tribe, and one beloved by the bravest warriors and most noted chiefs, The maiden who had refused the love of the great bead chief, whose beart was supposed to have been carried away by the young fugitive chief, Red Spirit, falling in love with a man double ber years, a pale-face, a foa to ber tribe, one who had made many a Sioux warrior bite the dust and who had come to the scene where he then was to destroy and then kill her people. The medicine-chief also seemed as though willing to echo the yell of amazement and fury of the head chief. The old man seemed absolutely nonplused and showed it, What could the young Indian girl mean? Then there was the Red Scalper. He ap- peared at first astounded; then it seemed as though his face sw den gratification that the Indian girl had outwitted the Red Hair in tha game they were playing, but not from any desire to see the prisoner spared, - - ‘ / ’ pang r _ . of ‘ dus FY : { FT Wa the 8 ee LY ORS LU eqiys " oom, 4 hae a sf 4 Pas > : ; ; , j ~ : ’ in ‘ ‘ As for Charlie he did not now know tbat he bad received any blow. He, too, knew the customs of the Sioux, he had heard what the Singing Dove bad said, and was certain that it was her right, if she cared to assert it, He saw that his uncle was bewildered, as if not eomprehending all that had passed, so he quickly whispered to bim: ‘She intends to marry you,” “Ob Lord!” The exclamation was one of surprise, half dread, and a feeling he could not express, all mingled. He bad escaped the machinations of mothers with marriageable daughters, had steered clear of all benedictine shoals, and was to be caught and wedded by an Indian girl in aninstant, It was a surprise to bim, The fact that it would checkmate the Red Hair was his first joy, and then came the joy at his own escape from death, or the clutches of his worst foe, The Singing Dove was the least moved of all present, She had made known her claim, ayow- ed her intention of making the white chief her husband, and she intended to have her way. Who could gainsay her? The old medicine-man was silenced; and as for the Red Hair his yell of rage, disappointment, venom and surprise expressed bis sentiments, while be now stood like one suffering in wila- eyed horror from fear of some dreaded fate, Having uttered her fateful words the Indian girl determined to maintain them by instant procedure; so she took from about her neck a large necklace of grizzly claws. This had been ber father’s, and only a chief could wear it, Instantly she threw the string over the head of the man hie had honored so, and at the same moment whipped ber bunting-knife from her belt and had severed the rawhide bends abcut bis wrists and apkles, Then she took from her head her own war- bornet and placed it upon the head of Captain Emmett, who, the moment ke was free bad quick- ly risen to bis feet. He bent bis head and bore his bonors calmly while he gave a glance at the face of the d Hair, which was a study for a sculptor, 80 much of bate and disappointment did it express. Then the Indian girl knelt before the white man and taking his hands pressed them upon ber head, while she said in a low, earnest. tone: ‘*The Singing Dove acknowledges ber master, Her tepee is to be the bome of the white chief, who is to be a chief among her people, ‘He bas proven himself a brave foe; he will now be a brave friend to the Sioux, ‘* The Singing Dove claims the white chief as ber husband, ‘Let the Snow Head, the great medicine- chief of her tribe, cust over them tke robe of the white beaver,” Ske pointed to her pony as she spoke, where the large white robe was thrown ov: r the sad~ dle, The beautiful robe “as composed of @ dozen skins of the white | eaver, oe old medicine-man glanced at the Red air, Dare he disobey the Singing Dove to consum- wae the marriage of their queen to a pale-face oe Dare he obey the Red Head should he order him to obey the command of the Indian queen? He glanced at the girl, then at the Red Hair. ‘“The Snow Head is not.to obey amy orders but mine,” firmly said the Red Hair. ‘Does the medicine-chief, who was my fa- ther’s brother, obey the ec mmend of bis queen or the pale-face chief?” asked the girl. She triumphed, for the medicine-cbief steppéd to the black pony, drew cff the robe of white beaver-skins, and, walking to where Captain Emmett and the Singing Dove stood side by side, cast it Over their heads, {ts folds fell about them almcst to the ground, shielding them from view, and this last act of the medicine-man com pleted the Sioux ceremony of marriage, CHAPTER XXVITI. Tak NEW CHIEF, No one realized more than did the Singing Dove the bold act she bad done, What her motive was for saving the lives of the boy and his uncle she kept to berself, but Captain Emmett felt sure it was not a case of love at first sight upon her part for him, He had acquiesced in the Sioux marriage ceremony, a8 it was performed before the medi- cine-lodge upon the ledge, with more of triumph in his heart at seeing Red Hair vanquisted than for any other reason, He saw that the Red Hair was at the end of ; s a 4 aout oy . - neh 2 5 A) Be , =" wo * ae oa Mag th = r--- -_- -