Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 766 — page 5: what you’re looking at

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

CHAPTER VIII. THE CAPTURE, THERE was no more daring, dashing man on the border, than was Captain Emmett, the §Jeader of the party of Rescuers, A fine-looking man, with frank, determined face, dignified mien, and a physique that was wiry, athletic and graceful, be was an attractive fellow wherever he went, His nephew, Charlie Emmett, was much like him, enough so to have been bis own son, and ke ossessed, too, much the same nature, though ashing Charlie was une to take desperate chances, where his uncle weighed all his move- ments, The two had been in the thickest of the fray since it began, and the map kept as near to the boy as he could, knowing bis rash way of doing things when excited. He could not but admire Charlie’s pluck more and more, and was glad to note that the boy did not throw any shots away, but coolly picked out his man each time he fired, ‘‘Uncle, why don’t that band fire on us?” asked the boy, noting the fact that the one bun- dred daring warriors in their frequent and sud- den charges did not use their weapons upon the whites, **Tbhey doubtless wish to capture our party alive, Charlie, and so do not care to kill or hurt us now, hoping to torture us to death.” ‘They've laid out a big work: to undertake, I guess,” said Dashing Charlie, ‘* think so myself; but, Charlie?” ** Yes, uncle?’ ** Do you see Scalper Sam, the traitor, among Ghat band?” ‘* T see the chief, Red Hair.” ‘*'Yes, [ made him out, but I wish to capture tim alive, so gave orders to the men not to kill him.’ ‘‘ T think the man on the roan horse is Scalper Sam, sir, for he looks it, in spite of his painted face and Indian togs,” ‘“* IT guess you are right, Charlie, for I picked out that same fellow as the one we wanted. ** He came with us to betray, and but for your watchfulness would have done so, ‘Suspected by us he made his escape, and ‘that we found the Sionx prepared for us is on account of the warning he gave them. ‘*T want that man, Scalper Sam, Charlie, and Red Hair, too, so both must be captured alive if it can be done.” Dashing Charlie and his uncle, after this con- ‘versation, were parted for a while, and yet when the band of Indians, led by the chief, made their jast desperate charge, they were again near to- gether, W hatever the others of the Rescuers thougbt of the motive of this one hundred red fighters charging so daringly into their midst, and strik- ing no blows with their weapons, it quickly flashed upon the mind of Captain Emmett just what the reason was, He saw the Sioux sweep down in solid and ir- wesistible force, They divided in three columas, two of forty «nen each, one of twenty, The latter was under command. of Red Hair himself, and the others did the fighting. The small band of a score of warriors struck the very center of the band of Rescuers, and staggered a moment under the resistance they But only for an instant, for on they swepty and with them in their very midst, with lariats thrown over then, pivioning their arois to their sides, were Captain Emmett and Dashing Clar- ie, The two had fought manfully until overcome, aod half a dozen of the score of braves had bit- ten the dust. But in the smoke of battle, the dust rising from the boots of the borses, the confusion of conflict, the two captives had been carried off without their comrades seeing their misfortune. Like a gale the band of captors swept on, while the other two squads of forty each clo:ed in bebind them, and then struck back and in deadly earnest, They sent showers of arrows upon the Res- cuers, who were momentarily staggered by the charging warriors who had cut through their ranks, A few minutes more and the Chief Red Hair ‘and his one hundred had disappeared over the ridge, and the braves threw themselves in as a rear guard to the retreating Indians, squaws, children and aged people, with what things they could save from their burning village. It cost me a score of good warriors, Scalper ‘Sam, that charge of ours; butit caught the two Dashing Charlie, the Rescuer. I wanted, and the sacrifice is well worth the re- sult, yes, worth a bundred braves,” said Red Hair, grimly, as they reached the ridge where they were safe, their two prisoners in the rear under a guard of braves, ‘Yes, now you bave Emmett in your power you can see both riches and revenge abead of you,” announced Scalper Sam, ** Yes, for both of us,” ‘*Of course, for 1 am your firm friend and ally, Chief Red Hair,” was Scalper Sam’s re- sponse, though bad the chief seen the expression far back in the eyes of the man who uttered the words he would have felt that be was a renegade in friendship as well as to bis race, CHAPTER IX, ON THE RETREAT. CONTRARY to his expectation Captain Em- mett and Charlie were not maltreated by their captors, hief Red Hair had left them in safe hands, beyond all possibility of escape; but though they were scowled savagely upon by the braves they were not struck or injured, as was the wont of the Sioux with their captives, Charlie, in his captivity among the Sioux bad made their language a study, and he bad learned to speak it well, though this fact be cunningly had kept hidden from bis foes, He told his uncle, as they rode side by side in the retreat. ‘* They are making for their stronghold in the mountains, where all intended going had we given them time to retreat,” **And the Red Hair, did you learn whither he has gone, Charlie?” “To fight the Rescuers, and try and capture them before the soldiers come up, uncle.” ‘“They will never do it, for Doc Chalmers knows what he is about and just how to handle his men. ‘*They will stand at bay and beat off the Sioux until the soldiers come up to their relief, when Chief Red Hair will be very soundly whipped,” ** But, uncle, the soldiers can never take the stronghold of the Sioux, so the chances for cur rescue through them is slight,” responded Dashing Charlie. ‘* You know the place?” ‘* Yes, uncle, when I was a captive of Red Hair he took me with him there when he went to the stronghold. ‘*Tbey keep their extra supplies there, horses and afew braves always on guard, ‘* We are on the trail now to the place.” ‘“* Well, Charlie, Red Hair had some motive in wishing to capture you and I, ‘*His actions showed it, and we are prisoners for some especial purpose I feel assured, ‘* But keep your eyes skinned, my boy, fora chance to escape,” ‘““Tam watching my chance, uncle, you may be certain, and I’]] keep you posted if I am allowed to do so,” returned the boy, and he took bis capture with the coolness of a veteran. ‘*T fear, Charlie, my life on the frontier has gotten you into very serious trouble, though I hope not,” ‘It will make a man of me, uncle, so I do not mind it. ‘* But let me tell you now, while I have the chance, that the girl whois known as the Sioux Queen is a friend of mine, for she was always very kind to me, ‘The Sioux gained a grand victory over the Pawnees the day she was born, and when she was twelve years of age, she had a dream which she told to them, and the old medicine-chief sent them to follow the trail she told them of, and they were successful in a raid they made against the whites, ‘* She bad another dream of ill-omen to them, and tbey did not believe it, so when their village was attacked and destroyed by soldiers, they be- gan to believe that she was a dream-spirit, and they made her their queen.” ‘“ What is her name, Charlie?” ** They call her Singing Dove, uncle, and for an Indian she is a mighty pretty girl, and has as much influence as the chief, Red Hair. ‘* How she fools them, I don’t know, but she springs a dream on tbem every now and then, and she hits the truth like a bull’s eye, every time. ‘* She told them not to go upon the attack on your train on your way back to Omaba,” ** And we beat them badly, but it was through “inn escaping and warning us of their am- ush, ‘True, uncle; but they only saw that Singing Dove told them not to go.” ** Does not Red Hair make love to her?” ‘He would, if ske cared for him; but I think she is in love with a young chief who hated Red | Hair, and who would have been the ruler of the Sioux but for the white renegade, ‘*There were other chiefs who feared Red Spirit as a rival, and so they plotted to get rid of him, and, as 1 told you, be bad to fly for bis life from his own people, for Red Hair’s friends among the braves were the strongest party.” ‘*Something like a political row among the whites, Charlie,” ** Yes, sir; only more bitter, I think.” ‘* And on the march to ambush my train they captured this fugitive young chief, Red Spirit, you told me?” ‘* Yes, sir; his pony had fallen on bim, and broken bis leg. ** One of his worst foes found him, and so he was sent back a prisoner to the village.” ‘‘But ran against you making your escape, and you set the Ked Spirit free, after killing big rival and captor.” “Yes, sir, and I only wish Red Spirit was there now, for then we would stand some chance: but, as it is, uncle, I reckon Chief Red Hair will make it very bot for us.” **T should not be surprised, Charlie; but what- ever comes take it like a man, for, remember, pbysical torture can not last long and not kill, and we have but one time to die. ‘* Never beg toa foe for mercy, or let him re- joice in bebolding your sufferings, for it is hig pleasure to see you weaken, ‘If we have to die, Charlie, we will meet our fate as brave men should, for, boy though you are, you have the heart of a map,” ‘*1’l] die game, uncle, never fear,” was Dash- ing Charlie’s response, in a tone that showed he meant just what he said. CHAPIER X. THE SIOUX STRONGHOLD. As though fearing that the two captives were plotting mischief, the Sioux warrior in charge of them decided that it would be best to sep- arate them. He did not like this long-continued conversa- tion bet ween them, for it appeared to bode evil of some kind, } So Charlie was taken on ahead and placed by the side of a warrior, while two braves took Cap- tain Emmett in charge, The trail led further and further up into the highlands, and became more steep and danger- ous as they went along. It followed tbe backbone of a rising ridge, and at last penetrated the fastnesses of a large mountain range, where no sane commander would dare follow the retreating Sioux unless he had a force equal to their own. Piuces of ambuscade were upon every side along the trail, and here and there were spots where by simply loosening a shower of stones from above on the mouutain-side, they would come crashing down and stampede a whole army, for shelter there was none, Captain En:mett took the situations in ata lance, and really hoped that the men would be orced to retreat, for as he said to himself: ‘If they attempt to rescue us, and come on this trail they are doomed,” At last a basin in the mountain range, fertile, well watered and a natural defense was reached, and Captain Emmett knew that it was the stronghold of the Sioux, There were already encamped there hundreds of red fugitives, who bad fled from their village miles away, They were seated about their camp-fires in sullen humor, the old braves smoking their pipes, and talking in low tones, while the wo- men and children were keeping silent.in this their hour of grief and anger. The call had come for the young bucks to go to their chief to give their foes battle, but the old men, the youth and the wounded and sick were there, and their humor was fiendish, As tbe braves came in with the prisoners there were angry murmurs running from fire to fire and all eyes were turned upen the man and boy. The former was not known to them, excepting perhaps a few warriors who had attacked hig fur-trains in tbe past. But Dashing Charlie had been a captive for some months in their midst, and all knew him, He had been the Red Hair’s favorite they knew, and he had made his escape, and more, it was owing to this that their warriors bad been surprised where they meant to surprise, and bad thus been badly defeated. | So they scowled at Dashing Charlie in a way that spoke volumes.