Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 766 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

——™ tee — ae ee - his rope, so to speak, The renegade, indeed, seemed fairly stunned, His prisoner had es- caped him and ina manner that was perfectly legitimate, according to the Sioux mode of thinking. The Singing Dove had made her choice for a husband a chief and then had wed him, The great medicine-chief of the tribe had con- summated the ceremony, and that settled it, Not long did the young girl stand under the sacred beaver robe, only until its folds had sheltered the two from sight for an instant; then she threw it off and placed it upon the shoulders of her newly wedded husband, thus bestowing another honor upon him, and one which protect- ed him from the hand of any Sioux thatin anger might be raised against him, The Singing Dove did not intend to half-do matters, She was going clear to the end of the trail she had struck, and Red Hair seemed to re- alize that determination, Dashing Coarlie was fully protected by the touch of the Sacred White Arrow, but that was not enough for the young Sioux Queen. She intended to carry her threat into execu- tion and adopt the boy as her gon, A moment before as an unmarried woman she could not do 80, Now she was a wife, the bride of the white chief, and she at once proceded to carry out her intention, “Let the medicine-chief, Snow Head, know that the Singing Dove claims the little chief as her son. ‘* Does the medicine-chief hear?” « **The Snow Head has heard,” was the solemn answer, ‘* Has the Red Scalper heard?” “The Red Scalper has beard,” answered the renegade with a smile, ‘* And has the Red Hair heard the words of the Singing Dove?” It seemed cruel that she should appeal to the renegade chief as another witness. But then the woman was revealed in this in the heart of the Indian girl; she did just what her white sisters in civilization so often do, hit at a man when he is down, **The Red Hair bas ears,” was the angry re- tort of the renegade chief, ‘Then the Singing Dove claims her three witnesses to her intention,” was the quick reply and the man uttered an oath ashe saw that he had unwittingly aided her. With this he wheeled and walked away rapid- ly down the ledge. He had been defeated and his action was an admission of it, Revengeful in heart he was, but he would abide his time to strike. His oni in crime, the Red Scalper, followed, after he had said in his sarcastic way: “‘The Red Scalper congratulates the Indian bride and her pale-face husband!” With this he turned to follow the renegade chief, but halted and looking back, as he added: “And, you, my boy, I am glad to see escape from a cruel fate, for I like you.” igs this be disappeared down the steep tral, A silence of a moment followed the departure of the last of the two renegades, and then Cap- tain Emmett spoke, ‘““My brave girl, you have saved my life, and the life of this youth who is as dear to me as my Own son, “Tf my devotion to you can repay you in any way you shall have it,” The voice of the brave, strong man trembled as he spoke, and the Indian gir) read intuitively that’ he was touched deeply by what she had done, Stepping forward quickly she now released Dashing Charlie of lis bonds, and the boy at once ki-sed her, while he said: Don’t be jealous, uncle, for I’m only a boy!” Then did the Siovx Queen decide to go to her tepee and take with her the white chief and her adopted sun. ‘ ‘““You must ride, I will ride behind you,” she said, still carrying out the Sioux idea of a Epericr taking his brido to his tepee on horse- ack, Leading the black pony down the hill the queen bade her newly-made husband mount, and then she sprung lightly up bebind him, “The medicine-chief, Snow Head, will come with us,” ghe had said, and the old Indian obeyed, walking by the side of the boy. The strange party at once riveted the eyes of the Indians, The scene stilled ‘the noise of the village. The renegade chief had acknowledged himself beaten, and, beginning at once to play his hand —_—_—_—_—_—_—_— = — OOo —— ——— Dashing’ Charlie, the Rescuer. for revenge, had told what warriors he had met of their queen’s act, admiiting that he sanc- tioned it, as well as bad the medicine-cbief, So the news spread from lip to lip, and it was known thatthe Singing Dove had claimed tae white chief as her husband, the pale-face youth as her adopted son. The fact that she rode behind the white man, upon the same horse, both seated upon the robe of white beaver-skins, was, in itself, an adver- tisement of the marriage, There was silence in the camp until the party disappeared in the canyon, leading to the tepee of the Singing Dove; then one burst of yells was heard, echoing far and wide. Indian drums and music was heard, with voices of joy over the occasion, for where the Red Hair had made them such a gvod chief, according to the Indian view of his merits, which were cruelty and hatred of his see why would not the new white chief be like him This was Indian logic, and so it was accepted, and the Sioux were even happy over the mar- riage of the Singing Dove, all except tke disap- pointed lovers, CHAPTER XXIX, A STRANGE PARTNERSHIP. To say that the Red Hair was bitterly roiled at a situation, would be to express it very mildbhy, . He walled his chiefs to council, and told them what had occurred at the Medicine Lodge, and Ni eos himself as sati-fied, ‘his he did to throw all off their guard. He intended to begin his plot at once. He must find some young braves to take into his confidence, Of course his strong ally would be his trusted friend, Scalper Sam, It was night when the Red Scalper went to the tepee of the Red Hair. He had been told to come there at. that time, and he found the renegade chief expecting him. ‘* Well, Sam, what do you think of all this?” asked the Red Hair, when his friend bad taken a seat and lighted his pipe. ‘**Tt’s wonderful.” **The girl is a wonder.” ** Keen as a brier.” ‘*Sbe thwarted me,” ‘* Completely.” ““She fell in love with that fellow at sight, that is certain.” ‘* Well, he’s a fine-looking chap, chief,” ‘Oh, yes, i admit that; but I have another idea about it.” “* Well?” ‘‘] believe she formed a real strong affection for the boy when he was a captive, and tried to save him; and for his sake saved his uncle,” ‘“ Maybe, chief, for there is no telling what a woman will do, be she white, red or black, ‘‘ 1m afraid of ’em all,” ‘Now, of course, the fact that Emmett re- mains here is 80 much more in our favor.” ‘« How so?” ‘‘He will take his chance when it comes up and go to that mine.” ‘Or the boy will,” ‘They are only playing Indian, for they do not intend to remain here when the time comes for them to have had a look at that mine and then skip away.” _ “ That is my opinion.” ** And we must watch them,” ** Sure,” ‘*And put several young bucks who can be trusted upon their track.” ‘*No young bucks can be trusted,” **'W at do you mean?” ‘* We must keep this secret for ourselves,” **T will watch the boy, and the man also,” After a silence of some minutes, in which both were lost in deep thought, Red Scalper said: “Pll play devoted pard to the boy, and through him can keep my eye on the man,” ** Good!” ‘We want all that gold for ourselves, and ou know we are only playing Injun too,” ‘‘- Yes, until we can get away With that gold.” “ We can doit; but wo have got to be friends with those two.” sc Yes,” “Make them believe we trust and love them now they have become real Indians, and I can get out of the boy all I wish to know.” ““When the trap is set then I'll spring the nd we'll bag the game,” ** Certain, chien” . 13: . » ** Well, Scalper Sam, I leave allin your bands for I believe you can work it.” ‘‘ Just see if I don’t,” was the answer, and Scalper Sam soon after departed for his own: tepee, not far distant. he Red Scalper had money, He had also a number of things he had brought: with him just to catch an Indian’s eye. The next morning he took some of his treas— ures and started out for a trade, His object was to buy the best pony he could find in the village. He soon hit upon one, a claybank with silver’ mane and tail, and a perfect beauty, The bargain was made, and a fine Indian sad— dle and bridle were secured. Phcneys he started for the tepee of the Singing: ove, He saw Dashing Charlie seated out under e@. wey cleaning bis rifle, so he went up to bim and said: **Pard, we are going to be friends now, and I’ve got a peace-offering for you. **] wish you to accept this pony from me.” The youth, at first, seemed about to refuse. when changing bis mind, he said: ‘*I thought you hated me, Scalper Sam, be-- cause I suspected you of treachery and followed you on the trail here.” “That is past now with me, boy pard, for now we are all renegades together, as you and your uncle have also turned Injuns. ‘* But let us be friends now, tor we pale-faces» must stick together you know,” Dashing Cbharlie’s face bad flushed at the> ey of renegade, but he announced prompt~ ‘* Agreed, Scalper Sam, and I guess uncle will see it as I do some day, though he too has: felt that you and Red Hair were his worst foes,” ‘*Oh, Red Hair got that gold mine into his head and it madea fool of bim; but he'll come round all right now, for be told me he had nothing against Captain Emmett except that he- wanted to captureand hang him as a renegade: but now that he is one too be will bury the tomahawk,” ‘*T am glad of this, for we don’t wish to have bad feeling between us here in the Indian village,” ‘Well, pard, take the pony, and we'll go om many a bunt together, for I don’t hanker much after running with red-skins,” Dashing Charlie thanked the renegade warm-- ly for the pony and sbook hands with him, after which Scalper Sam handed him a bunch of beautiful beads for Singing Dove and walked, away. **Renegade am I? Well it’s a pretty barsh name for uncle and myself to wear, but I sup-- pose we must do it, for we are now as they used to say in the old church at home, Indians in good standing, I suppose,” and Dashing Charlie laughed at bis own conceit, CHAPTER XXX. THE RED SCALPER’S SECRET, Montus passed away in the Indian village, and the white chief and Dashing Charlie had be-- come favorites with the red people who had adopted them as their own kith and kin, If there was any feeling in the hearts of the man and youth at the change that bad come over their lives, the fact was not revealed upon their faces, Charlie was the king among the Indian youths, for he could out-shoot, out-run, out-ride and: swim faster and further than any of them, He had learned to trail as unerringly as any warrior of the band, and he was liked by all the- squaws and chiefs. His uncle, ever dignified, was yet courteous to» all, and he had been admitted into tbe Council. Lodge of the chiefs. Between the Red Hair and himself there was: a certain coustraint, though they were each one. polite to the other. . With Scalper Sam Captain Emmett bad_be- come better friends, and between the Red Scalper- and Charlie the warmest friendship seemed to exist, The two hunted and fished together, went on. long trails and really seemed ineepere. Singing Dove seemed happy in her new life, She became devotedly attached to her pale- face husband, and had told bim that she had wanted to save him because Charlie had rescued’ ber former lover, the Red Spirit. That lover she bad secretly met, after his rescue by Charlie, and he bad told her all, and then be had gone his way to unite his fortunes with another tribe, y ‘ by v, Ms ’ 4 a . : - ‘a + 4 P % 4 i? ay 4 *,t A ‘ = | ys l rd. f= bY me