Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 8 — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

surprise became unbounded, when, doubling himself like.a ball, Seth struck him with tremendous force in the stomach, knocking him instantly senseless. Quick as thought, Graham felled the savage stand- ing over Ina, and seizing her in his arms, plunged into the woods, setting up a loud shout at the same instant. The scene now became desperate. Hal- didge and Haverland, fired almost to madness, rush- ed forward, and the former added his own yells to those of the savages. Ten minutes after, not an In- dian was insight. Finding it impossible to withstand this terrible onslaught, they fled precipitately, car- and feelings, No lives were lost on either side, and not a wound worth mentioning was received by the assailants. The rout was complete. But there was still danger, as the routed Indians would make all haste to the main body, and would in turn pursue the whites. This Haldidge remarked, as he struck into the forest, and called upon the others not to lose sightof him, There was danger of this, indeed. H tit 400 ‘By gracious! yew averland, ngs begin to look up,’’ exclaimed Seth. Gs, Deg “Thank God!” responded the father, with a trem- bling voice. Ina, for a few moments after her recapture, was so bewildered as not to So rcneid the true state of affairs. Finally, she realized that she was in the arms of friends. “Am Isafe? Where is father?” she asked. “Here, my dearest child,” answered the parent, pressing her to bis heart, ‘‘Is mother and aunty safe?” *“ Yes, all—all are safe, I trust, now.” ‘“ And who are these with you?” ‘This is Haldidge, a dear friend of ours, to whom, under Heaven, your rescue is owing, and—"’ “Just hold on, Alf, now, if you please; that’s plenty,’ interru the hunter. AS course I did not mean to leave out Seth here, an ae 9 ‘No, by gracious, it wouldn’t do, you recollect how nice it was me and em the slip.” ‘You and who?” eagerly asked Ina, ‘Me and Mr. Graham—that fellow standing there —the one that has come out here to marry you. Haven't you heard of him?" Ina stepped forward and scrutinized the face be- fore her, “ Don’t you remember me?” asked Graham, pleas- glad you are here,”’ she re- ands in his and looking ecially when raham gave antly. “Oh, is it you? Iam so peated, placing both her up into his face. ‘ Now, just see here,”’ said Seth, stepping earnest- ly forward, ‘I *bject to this. *Cos why, you haven't the time to go into the sparking business, and if you do, Ay Pb val be obsarved. I advise you to ostpone it il you git home. What’s the opinion of this apprehension was well-grounded, the events OO Seth Jones. — = — $$ direct, and was really attended with less danger: and even if they desired to take to the river there was no means to do it. ‘By gracious!” remarked Seth, after a few min- utes’ deep thought, “‘I feel, boys, as though we’re to run into a scrape before we git home. I tell yeou Oo. “And I do, too,’ added Haldidge. ‘I don’t know why it is, and yet I believe there is a reason for it. If there is any chance for them Mohawks to play a game of (tit for tat, they'll do it; you can make up ' your mind to that.’ rying with them several desperate wounds in body | EE ————————— ‘*Do you think the chance is given them?” queried Haverland., at vig afraid we can’t help it, any way we choose to hl “What do you mean? What do you refer to!” You see, them Ry can’t help knowing the way we'll have to take to reach home, and what is to hinder them from getting ahead of us and giving us a little trouble?” “Nothing at all, that’s a fact. Our utmost vigi- lance will be required at every step. Don't you think, Seth, that one of us should act in the capacity of scout?” “TI know it; not only one, but two. As soon as we start, I shall shoot ahead and pilot you along, while one of you must flourish in the rear to announce any new visitors. . This is the only way we can ever ex- pect to move along with dignity.” ‘What course do you suppose the savages will take?”’ asked Graham. ‘I guess they ain’t in the neighborhood, though it’s darned hard to tell where they are. You can make up your mind that they'll show themselves be- fore we get any great distance ahead. They'll be dodging round in the woods till they find out where we are, and then they'll use their wits to draw us into ambush, and I can tell yeou, wo, that ’cuter ones than we have walked right into the infarnal 1ings.”’ An hour later, when preparations were making for resuming their journey, Ina awoke. She was greatly refresh aby the sleep thus obtain ed, and the others felt cheered and hopeful at the prospect of a rapid march for the day. The burden and Da egy nro of this small band of adventurers naturally devolved upon Haldidge and Seth. Haverland, although a thorough hunter and woodsman, had but little or no experience in Indian warfare, and accordingly showed himself to be devoid of that suspicious watchfulness which im up the success of the frontier ranger. As for raham, he was suspicious enough, but he lacked also the great teacher—experience. Seth and Hald- idge thus thrown together, rapidly consulted and de- termined in all cases the precautionary measures to be adopted. In the present instance, it was decided that Haldidge should linger some hundred yards in the rear use all the opportunities thus afforded of watching the actions or approach of their ene- mies, The same wed was imposed upon Seth at the | he audience?’’ front, with the additional certainty upon his part, “Your tion is hardly necessary,” laughed | that the entire safety of the company rested with Graham, ‘The dusiness you referred to shall most | him, certainly be deferred until a more convenient sea- Haverland and Graham generally walked side by son,” side, with Ina between them, and as wa as ‘It gives me great pleasure,” remarked Haver- | though they had none but themselves to depend land, *‘ to witness this reunion of friends, and I | upon. They seldom ind in conversation, ex- thank God that my dear child, so nearly lost forever, | cept now and then to exe ange a few words or in- has been restored to me; but there is another whose | quiries, heart is nearly broken, who should not be kept wait- As Seth Jones was well satisfied in his own mind ing, and there is a long distance between us and | that the post of danger was held by him, we will fol- perfect safety, which should be shortened as rapidly | low his adventures. After eme ng from the val- and quickly as possible,” | ley, in which the whites had encamped, their way es t’s the idea,” added Haldidge; “it won’t do | for a considerable distance led them through the un- to consider yourself safe till you @re, and that isn’t | broken forest, without hill or vale, and pretty thickly yet,” | crowded with bushy, yielding undergrowth. Had a “Just. so exactly, and consequently all fall into | person chanced to cross the path of Seth, the only line of march,” | _ evidence he would have had of the presence of a Our friends now set out on a rapid walk home- | human being would have been the snapping of a twig ward. As has been remarked, there was yet a lo now and then, or the flitting of his form like a shadow distance to be passed, and even now, whilesurround- | from tree to tree, and perhaps the shrill, bird-like ed by darkness, it was reckless to halt or lag apn whistle as he signaled to those in the rear. the way. Haldidge, as well as Seth, resolved that Through the forenoon, nothing occurred to excite they should not pause until it was evident that Ina suspicion upon his part ‘but at the period mentioned n rest, Both well knew that the Mohawks | he arrived at a point where his alarm was excited at would not yield up their captives, as long as there | once. The place offered. such advantages for an was a chance to regain them, Indian ambush, apd, pads the way for those be- Seth’s only fear now was that they would be a hind to halt, and de ned to make a thorough re- sued and overtaken by some of the sav : t | connoissance of the whole locality before passing which we shall now record will plainly show. CHAPTER XV. MANEUVERING AND SCHEMING, TaRovex the entire night, with now and then an occasional halt of a few minutes each, the fugitives —for they may now be prope ly termed such—con- tinued vr gl Journey, When day broke, they halted ina Mg through which a small, sparkling stream made its way. On either side, it was sur- rounded by dark, over forest-trees, and heavier undergrowth, through which none but the eagle eye of the hunter or savage could discover their retreat. made off in the woods, Seth, when they first halted, and in the course of a half-hour returned with alarge fowl. The feathers were plucked from this, a fire kindled, and in a few moments it was cooked. It furnished all with a hearty, substantial and nourish- ing breakfast—what all needed. r this a short consultation was held, when it was determined that they should halt for an hour ortwo. Several blankets were spread upon the greensward, as a bed for Ina, and in ten minutes she was sound asleep. Our friends had decided upon making their home- ward journey upon foot for several reasons, any of which was sufficient to influence them. first place, their course would be much shorter and more through it. The spot referred to, had the ap : ance of having formerly been the bed of some large. sized lake, the waters of which having dried up years before, left a rich, pevueere soil, which was now covered over with the rankest undergrowth and vegetation. Not a tree of any size appeared. The hollow, or valley, was so much depressed that from the stand-point of Seth, he obtained a perfect view of the whole portion. It was about a third of a mile in breadth, and perhape a couple of miles in length, Seth stood a ong time, running his eye over it, 8 every. spot where it seemed likely an ene- oe t lurk. “Hardly a point escaped his keen vision. It was while he stood thus, eagerly scanning the valley, that his looks were suddenly attracted tow- ard a point near the center of the valley, from which a faint, bluish wreath of smoke was curling upward, This puzzled our friend greatly. e the curious, paths agen habits so gene ascribed to his race, and curiosity was wonde y excited PY it not unGenSnOete coe ei ee "all potion aba n it, et, he was w sa an he determined that, before allo those behind him to venture into the valley, he would gain all the knowledge possible of it. His first ~ | was to take his own trail backward until he reached Hav- erland and Graham, to whom he imparte d his inten- tion, This done, he set forward again. Bp te arrived at the point tee he me ae ed this suspicious appearance, he paused again for further consideration The nok es still visible, rising very slowly in the clear air, and making so slight an appearance that even his experienced sve searched a long time forit. Seth watched for awhile, until he felt that he could not understand the mean- ing of it without venturing into the valley. This conclusion arrived at, he hesitated no longer, but de- scended and entered at once the luxuriant growth. When fairly within it, he made a detour to the right, so as to pass around the fire, and to avoid the ath that one unsuspicious of danger would be apt to ollow. As he made his way slowly and cautiously forward, he paused at intervals and listened intently. Sometimes he bent his ear to the ground and lay for minutes atatime. But as yet not the slightest sound had been heard. Finally he judged that he must be near the fire that had exci his apprehensions. The era digas Br a burning ember guided him, and a few minutes later he stood within sight of it. Here he met a sight that chilled with horror! Some wretched human being was bound to a tree and had been burned to death. He was painted black as death, his scalped head drooped forward, so that, from. where Seth stood, it was impossible to distin- guish his features; but he saw enough to make him shudder at the awful fate he had so narrowly escap- ed. Every vestige of flesh was burned off to the knees, and the bones, white and glistening, dangled to the he Bes blackened members above! e hands, tie hind, had passed through the fire un- scathed, but every other part of the y was liter- ally roasted! The smoke in reality was the smoke from this human body, and the nch, which was now horrible, had been ‘noticed by Seth long before he suspected the cause. ‘““Heavens and earth!” he muttered to himself, this is the first time I ever saw a person burned at the stake, and I hope in God it will be the last time. Can it be a white man?” After some cautious maneuvering, he gained a point from which he could obtain a view of the face, and he experienced considerable relief when he dis- covered that it was not a white man. He was prob- ably some unfortunate Indian, belonging to a hostile tribe, who had been captured by enemies, and upon whom they had thus wreaked their vengeance. ether he was a Mohawk, or the member of an- other tribe, it was in EE for Seth, under the cir- cumstances, to tell. But what was singular and un- accountable to Seth was, that there appeared to be no other savages in the vicinity. He knew it was not their custom to leave a gem tang! thus, and the very fact of their being absent upon the present occasion e him doubly cautious and suspicious. It was while he stood meditating upon the terrible scene before him, that he was startled by the report of Haldidge’s rifle. He was satisfied that it was his as it was from that direction, and he could not be mistaken in its report. He hid noticed it during the conflict the night before as havivg a peculiar sound, entirely different from either his own or the savages’. This was a new source of wonder and perplexity. He was complet puzzled by the extraordinary turn affairs were taking. Some unusual cause must have discharged Haldidge’s rifle. What it was he could only conjecture. doubting and cautious, he determined to re- connoiter his own position before returning. Stoo ing almost to the earth, be made his way stealthi around to the opposite side of the fire. Here he stretched out flat upon the earth, and bent his ear to the ground. A faint tremor was heard. He raised his head and heard the brushing of someb through the wood. The next moment, five Mohaw warriors, in all the horrid aga of war-paint, stepped into the open space in front of the Indian who had been burned at the stake, The report of the rifle appeared to be the cause of the apprehension among them, They conversed earnestly, in a low tone at first, gesticulating vio- lently, without noticing in the least the heart-sicken- ing spectacle before them. th was satisfied that they had no suspicions of his own proximity, for they gradually spoke louder until he managed to hear the most of what they said. As he expected, it was the rifle report. They seemed to understand that it had not been discharged by one of their own number, and ‘were afraid that their presence had been discovered. Seth learned further that there were at least a dozen Indians in the neighborhood, every one of whom was led thither by the one object. Consequently he must have ra a8 | the others en- tirely in his movements, or else they were in the rear and had been discovered by Haldidge. That the lat- ter was the case seemed more than probable. A collision in all probability had occurred between them and the hunter, and Seth felt that his presence was needed. Accordingly he turned to retrace his ste is presence was indeed required, for and threatening, mugrounded the little whites. OHAPTER XVI. IN WHICH A HUNTER’S NERVES ARE TESTED. when our friends started upon nst surprise from this direction. as e as did Seth any demon- uarter allow himself to lose he was too much of any of his Suspicion and watchfulness, Sometimes he would take the back trail for a mr | distance, and then wander off to the right or of it for per- haps a mile or more. By this means, he kept a continual watch, not gf upon the trail itself, but upon the neighborhood for along distance around t, and, in case of pursuit, made so many and con- r, dark ad of icomicbooks (E()