Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 8 — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

14 absolutely slid over the ground without any exertion | There was no excuse for further delay, and the on his Ina mage pee were down to the river's brink. They now slo raised their heads and peered over and poe y the grass out into the river. The log was a short distance above, and they had a perfec ' } _ with heavy, tumultuous cloud view of the side which was o ite to Haverland. | Nota of an Indian was vi The tree seemed ancho in the middle of the stream. re is something there,’’ whispered Graham. ere "Sh! keep quiet and watch, and you'll see!” ad- monished Seth. A moment more and the log, apparently without any human agency, slightly changed its position. As it did so, Graham saw somet glisten on the top of it. He was at a loss to understand what it meant, and turned inquiringly toward Haldidge. The latter had his keen eyes fix upon it, and there was a grim, exulting smile upon his face. He motioned for Graham to preserve silence. _ over which they were traveling, it may well Beadle’s Half-Dime Librar party immediately set forward. The sky again gave signs of astorm. Several rumbles of thunder were heard, but the lightning was so distant as to be of neither benefit or use to them. The sky was filled which rendered the rfectly intense and impenetrable; and them understood a foot of the ground sup- poses that their progress was neither rapid nor par- icularly pleasant. The booming of the thunder con- darkness as none o tinued, and shortly the rain commenced f g. _ The drops were of that big kind which are often formed in summer, and which rattle through the leaves like a shower of bullets. ‘**Can you look ahead, Seth?”’ asked Graham. **In course I can. The darkness don't make no difference not at allto me. I can see just as well on _ a dark night as I can in daylight, and, what is more, As our hero turned his gaze once more toward the | river, he saw that the log was still further into the | stream. Something like glistening even hter carefully, and in a moment he saw that there were several rifles resting upon the surface of it. While gazing and wonde where the owners of these weapons could conceal themselves, the water suddenly seemed to on the side of the log to- ward them, and the bronzed face of an Indian rose to view. Up, upit went, until the shoulders were out of the water, when he remained stationary a mo- ment, and red Over the log at Haverland, Seem- aay ed, he guietly s down into the water again; but Graham noticed that he did not disap- ar beneath the surface, where he had hithe ept himself, nestled in so close to the log that al- most any one would have supposed that part of it. His head resembled exactly a large black not in the wood. Graham now noticed also that there were two other protuberances, precisely like the first. The conclusion was certain. There were three fully-armed Mohawks concealed behind the 18), De ge were doing their utmost to steal upon the ves. “Ey ust exactly one a iece, as sure as you live,”’ ex- claimed Seth, exultingly. ‘‘ Get ready, each of you, for your man. Graham, take the one nearest this way; you the next one, Haldidge, and T'll pick off the last one in the genuine style. Get ready, quick, for a got to hurrah over the way things is coming round.” The three pointed their ‘deadly instruments to- ward the unsuspicious savages. h took a long, deliberate and certain aim, * Now, then, together—/i7ve/”’ Simultaneously the three rifles flashed Seth missed fire. The others s true Two yells of deathly agony broke upon the air, and one of the savages sprung his entire length out of en sunk like lead to the bottom. Er eS to the log for a moment, his hold, disappeared beneath the lished metal was seen but that of to their aim. the water, and The other clu and then loose water. “Thunder and blazes!’ exclaimed Seth, springing to his feet, “‘hand me ‘ko! rifle, Graham, Some- thing is the matter with mine, and that other imp will get away. ! hand it here!’ He took the rifle and commenced loading it as rap- idly as possible, keeping his eye upon the Indian, re Rees was swimming desperately for the other nk. ‘Is yer iron loaded, Haldidge?”’ he asked. **No; I’ve been Mi gery Mee and that chap’s dou to see who'll get the best, so long, tha didn’t think of it.” * Load , for s’po too, he'd get off then, sure. isn’t coming out now!’ The Indian, as if scorni from the water, and w shelter of the wood. ‘* Now, my fine feller, see if you can dodge this?” Seth Once more aimed at the retreating Indian, and this time pulled the aaipeer but, to his unutter- sen this should miss fire, al, my stars! if he the danger, rose slowly able chagrin, the rifle ed in the pan! Before Haldidge could finish | his gun, and before Seth could even reprime his, the In had disap- peared in the wood. “By the hokey-pokey! what’s got into the guns?”’ exclaimed Beth Sim pertoct fury. ‘* That’s twice lve been fooled. orse’n two slaps in the face by a purty woman, I’llswow. Hallo! what’s that?” The discharge of a rifle across the river had sent the bullet so close to him as to whisk off a tuft of his long, sandy hair, “ By ous; that was pretty well done,’’ he ex- claimed, ‘sesatghing ead tly ecras an his h as though he was 8 wo misma out, for heaven’s sake! Get down!” called Graham him by the skirt of his hunting-dress, and jer him downward. , “Don't know but what it is the best plan,” replied the imperturbable Seth, going down on his knees in time to avoid another foul shot. There are plenty of the imps about, ain’t there?’’ The firing so alarmed Haverland that he desisted from his work, and sought the shelter of the wood. By this time, too, the rnoon was so far advanced that darkness had already commenced settling over the stream and w C on the was now out of the question, for it would have been nothing less than suicide to have attempted it, when their enemies had given them such convincing evi- dence of their skill in the use of the rifle, even at a ter distance than to the middle of the stream. ut the river had to be crossed for all that, and the only course left was to shift their position to some other place, build a new raft, and make another at- tempt. » han before. He looked | ed leisurely toward the | @ Was 2a | | _I do. I should like to see me make a misstep or stumble—”’ Further utterrance was checked by the speaker itching, with a loud splash, head-foremost over or nto something. ‘** You hurt, Seth?’ asked Graham, in alarm, yet half tempted to give way to the mirth that was con- vulsing those behind him. ‘‘Hurt!’’ exclaimed the unfortunate one, scram- bling to his feet; ‘‘I believe every bone in my bod is broken in two; and by gracious! my head cracked, and both ‘legs put out of joint, the left arm broke above the elbow, and the right one severed completely !”’ Notwithstan these frightful injuries, the speaker was mo about with wonderful dexterity. ns My gracious! w into?’ he suddenly ; ‘Into a pitfall or a hole in the ground,” replied Graham. “It’s my opinion, too, that it be very easy, with this noise we are making, to stumble into the Mohawks’ ds.” ‘*T should think you ought to know that I didn’t fall,’ retorted Seth, angrily. ‘I happened to see sumthin’, and I stepped forward to see if it would hold my weight. What are you laughing at, Ishould like to know?’”’ Th oats is that you have stepped into?” asked Hav- er ‘ y, it’s nothing less than a doat, dragged u here by the varmints, I s’pose.”’ . ‘*Such, indeed, was the case. There was a very large-sized canoe directly before them, and not a sign of the presence of others besides themselves. Not a more fortunate thing could have happened. Upon examination, the boat was found to be of un- usual length and breadth, and amply sufficient to carry twenty men. It was quickly pushed back into the stream. ‘* Come, tumble in, and we'll set sail,’’ said Seth. The fugitives, without any hesitation, entered the boat, and Seth and Haldidge, lending their shoulders ~4 it, shoved it into the river, and sprung in as it float- away. ‘. CHAPTER XIX. DENOUEMENT. TuE whites found in a moment that they had com- mitted a great mistake in launching as they did. In the first place, there was not an oar in the boat, and thus, not being able to “ paddle their own canoe,” they were also deprived of their ype to paddle one belo Sy: some one else. Besides this, the river was dark as Styx, and the whole sky and air were of the same inky blackness, and not one in the boat had the remotest idea of where they were go- ing, whether it was to pitch over some falls, down some rapids, or into the bank. “I’m going to set down and consider which is the biggest fool, Haldidge, you or me, in starting out in this canoe which we wed for a short time.”’ So saying, Seth made his way to the stern of the t do you suppose I’ve tumbled asked _ canoe, where he rested himself—not upon the bot- | tom of it, as he expected, but upon something so/t, which emitted a grunt audible to all, as he did so. sa Sreceual what’s under me?” he exclaimed, reaching his hand down and feeling around in the dark. “‘A live Ingin, as sure as my name is Seth Jones. Ah, you copper-headed monkey!”’ It was as he said. An Indian had stretched out on his back, with his feet dangling over the edge of the canoe, and Seth, without the faintest suspicion of his presence, had seated himself square upon his breast. As may be supposed, this was not relished at all by the startled savage, and he made several strenuous efforts to roll him off, “* Now, just lay still," commanded Seth, “ for I’ve an Age that I can't ope peg pes hey ~ ae e savage was evidently so thoro y frightened eer his efforts and lay ectly quiet and mo ess. “Have you got areal Indian here?” asked Hald- idge, as he came up to Seth, 98°; > just feel under me, and see if “What are you going to do with him?” * Nothing.’ “ Are you going to let him off? Let's pitch him overboard.” “No you won't, Haldidge. I’ve two or three good reasons for not doing such a t . In the first place, there ain’t no need of it, the poor imp hasn't hurt us; and, for all I detest his whole cowardly race, I don’t believe in killing them, except when they’ve done you some injury or are trying to. The most important reason, however, is that I don’t want my seat dis- turbed.”’ “ He is a cussed fool to let you sit on him that way. I'd give you a toss if I was in his place, that would send you overboard.” o be sure I have; —_—_ y. “ ne if you knew what was best for you. Thun- er!” Perhaps the Indian understood the words of the hunter. At any rate, he made an attempt to carry out his suggestion, and well-nigh did it, too, Just as h gave vent to the exclamation recorded, he pitched headlong against Haverland, knocking him over upon his back, and falling upon him, At the same instant the savage sprung Overboard, and swam rapidly away in the darkness. That’s a mean trick,’’ said Seth, as he recovered his sitting position. ‘I was just setting on him to keep the rain off. Jest like the ungra dog!’’ e attention of all was now directed to the pro- gress of the canoe. Drifting slowly onward through e darkness, no one knowing whither, their situation an to assume a terrible form. There was no power in their hands to guidé it, and should they run into any of the trees which had caught in the bottom, or upon a rock, they would be instantly swamped. but there was no help for it, and each one seated and braced himself for the shock which might come at — instant. t was while they were proceeding in this manner, that they all heard the bottom of the canoe grate over something, then tremble for a moment, and suddenly come to a stand-still. The stern swung rap- idly round and commenced ; “Overboard, men, all of you! We're sinking!” commanded Haldidge. Each sp x into the water, which was not more than two feet deep, and the canoe, thus lightened of its load, instantly freed itself, and floated off in the darkness. ve ig move, till I take a few soundings,” said th. He naturally supposed that to reach the shore, he must take a direction at right-angles with the cur- rent. A few steps showed him that he was not in the river itself, but was walking in that portion which had overflowed its banks. **Follow on, boys; we're ~ ge he called out. Bushes an — entangled their feet, and the branches overhead brushed their faces, as they toiled out of the water. A few moments and they were upon solid land again. The canoe had carried them safely across os river, so that this trouble- some task was “Now, if we o had a fire,’ said Haverland. “Yes; for Ina must be suffe “he ‘“*Oh! don’t think of me!"’ replied the brave little girl, cheerfully. 4 Seth discovered with his customary shrewdness that the storm had been very slight in this section, and the wood was comparatively dry. By removing the leaves upon the surface of the ground, there were others beneath which were perfectly free from dampness. A quantity of these were own in a heap, a number of twigs found among them placed upon the top, and some larger branches placed upon these inturn. After great difficulty, Seth managed to catch a spark from his steel and tinder, and ina few moments they had a rousing, roaring, genial fire. “That’s fine,’ said Graham. “But won't it be dangerous, Seth?”’ * Let it be, then; I'm bound to dry my skin to- night, if there’s any vartue in fire.”’ t the Indians didn’t choose to disturb them, al- though it was rather a reckless proceeding upon their part. It was more than probable, as Seth Jones remarked, that their pursuers had lost their trail, and would experience some difficulty in regain- ing and following it. Yorning at last broke upon the hu , miserable ht incre they looked hopeful fugitives. As the about them and discovered that they had camped at the base of a large, heavily-wooded hill. It was also noticed that Haldidge, the hunter, was absent. While wondering at this, the report of his rifle was , and in a few moments he was seen descend- ing the hill, bending under the weight of a half- frown deer, This was hastily dre , Several good- sized pieces skewered and cooked in the flame, and our friends made as hearty and substantial a meal as was ever made in this world. “Before starting upon our journey ” said Haldidge, ‘I want you all to go to the top of the hill kn with me, and see what a fine view we sha ave,”’ *“Oh! we've no time for views,”’ replied Seth. ‘“*T am afraid there is little spare time,’’ added the w . ‘* But this is cularly fine, and I think you will be well pl with it.” Pm Seped ib oe se” coma cay others were nally obliged consent. ccordingly they com- menced the ascent, Haldidge leading Naw end all anxiety, smiles and expectation, “= how you like that view!” said he, pointing off to the west. The ives gazed in the direction indicated. The rene’ was one indeed which at that time pleased hem more than could have any other in the universe; for below them, about half a mile distant, was the ve toward which they had been so lon their way. It looked tapes 4 beautiful that morning in the clear sunshine. score of cabins nestled closely together, and the heavy smoke was lazily ascending from several chimneys, while here and there a settler could be seen moving about. At one corner of the em 3 stood the block-house, and the gaping mouth of its swivel shone in the morning sun like burnished silver. One or two small boats were visible in the water, their ashen paddles flashing brightly as they were dip ed by strong and active hands. e river, down which the woodman and his wife and sister had escaped, flowed at the foot of the village, and its windings could be traced by the eye for miles. Here and there, scattered over EOMMICLOOO_ KSaEO© (E