Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 8 — page 5: what you’re looking at

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7 ing his eye behind him, he saw five or six Indians al- ready down the embankment and in full chase, And now commenced a race for life and death. Graham was as fleet of foot as a deer, and as well trained and disciplined, but his pursuers numbered five of the swiftest runners of the Mohawk nation, and he feared he had at last found his match. Yet he was as skillful and cunning as he was sinewy and fleet of foot. The plain over which he was s was perfectly bare and naked for six or eight miles before him, while it stretched twice that distance on either hand before the slightest refuge was offered. Thus it will be seen that he took the only course which offered hope—a dead run for it, where the pur- suers and pursued possessed equal advantages, He was pretty certain that his pursuers possessed greater endurance than himself, and that in alo run he stood small chance of escape, while in a sho race he believed he could distance mre living Indian. So he determined to try the speed of his enemies. As he heard‘their yells, he bounded forward al- most at the top of his speed. The pursuers, however, maintained the same regular and rapid motion. Graham continued his exertions for about a half- mile, making such use of his arms and limbs as to ive the impression that he was doing his utmost. oward the latter part of the first mile, his s be- gan to slacken, and his dangling limbs and furtive lances behind him would have convinced any one that he was nigh exhausted. But this was only a stratagem, and it succeeded as well as he could have wished. e Indians believed he had committed a common and fatal error—that of calling into play the uttermost strength and speed of which he was master at the outset, and that he was wearied out, while they themselves were just warming into the glow of the chase. Seeing they sent up a shout of exultation, and darted ah at the top of their each endeavoring to reach and tomahawk him before his companion. But their surprise was unbounded when they saw the fugitive shoot ahead with the velocity of a race- horse, while his veins, too, were onl ng with the hot blood of exertion. They saw this, and they saw too, that should such speed continue long, he woul be far beyond their reach, and all now ran as they never ran before. We say Graham's stratagem succeeded. It di and it gave him the knowledge he wished. I showed him that he had met his match! His pursu- ers, at least one or two of them, were nearly as fleet as was he; and, although he might distance them fora time, yet ere the race was finished he would inevitably lose his vesrnee Sto Could one have stood and zg upon this race of life, he would have seen a thrilling scene. Far ahead, over a vast plain, a fugitive white man was flying, and his t, steady gait showed that his limbs were well trained and were now put to their severest test. As his feet doubled with such quick- ness beneath him as to be almost invisible, the ground glided ane S pancreas from under them. Behind were a -dozen or a er their gleaming visages distorted with the passions of exultation, ven- geance, and doubt, their garments flying in the wind, and their pressed to its utmost bounds. They were scattered at different distances from each other, and were spreading over the prai- rie, so as to cut off the fugitive’s escape in every di- rection. Two Indians maintained their places side by side, and it was evident that the pursuit would soon be left to them. The others were rapidly falling be- hind, and were already rel heir exertions. Graham saw the state of things, and it thrilled him with hope. Could he not distance these also? Would they not leave him in such a case? And could he not escape ere he was compelled to give out from ex- on! “At any rate I will try, and God help me!”’ he ut- tered pray , sho ahead with almost su- pete amg ba - ay. He & awee back and saw his ollow an y seem standing still, so ra idly did he leave them behind. t as nature com him to terrific rate at which he was e saw his un- wearied pursuers again agar eir lost ground. The parties now understood each other. In- dians saw his maneuvers, and avoided the trap, and kept on in the same unremitting, relentless - fully certain that this would sooner or later compel him to yield; while Graham knew that the only chance of prolonging the contest rested in his drop- ping into and continuing his ordinary speed. ey now sunk into the same steady and terribly monotonous run. Mile after mile flew beneath them, and still so exact and similar were their relative rates, that they were absolutely stationary with re- gard to each other! The two Indians now remained alone and they were untiring—they were determined to hold out to the end! At last, Graham saw the friendly timber but a short distance from him. The trees seemed beckon- ing him to their friendly shelter, and, anting and gasping, he plunged in among the n— unged right ahead till he stood upon the bank of a large and a agen stream. en the Anglo-Saxons body is pitted against that of the North American Indian, it sometimes yields; but when his mind takes the place of con- testant, it never loses Graham gaeed hurriedly around him, and in the space of a dozen seconds his faculties had wrought enough for a lifetime—wrought enough to save ; Throwing his rifle aside, he waded caref the stream until he stood waist deep. Then King upon his face, he swam rapidly upward until he h gone a hundred yards. Here he struck out into the channel, swimming wp-stream as well as across it, so 4s not to reach the bank at a lower point. The cur- cease the into ee | Seth Jones. rent was very swift, and required an exhausting out- lay of his already fainting frame before he reached the opposite bank. Here he immediately sprung upon the shore, ran quickly a short distance down the stream, making is trail as plain as he could; and then springing into the water, swam rapidly up- ward, remaining as close to the shore as possible, so as to avoid the resisting current. The reason of these | si movements will soon be plain. and after swimming until he aes it time for his ursuers to come up, he glided beneath their friend- i shelter, and awaited the further development of things. Almost immediately after, both Fe ison tea upon the opposite bank, but at a point co erably e shore was lined thickly by overhanging bushes, | A$ a and closed his o $e —=- - ee “Soft, like squaw’s hand—let me feel it,’ he re- marked, shutting his own over it like a vise. Seth winced not in the least; but as the Indian in turn was about to relinquish his attempt at making sport for his comrades, Seth said: “Your paws don't ap very horny,” and closed over it with a terrific gripe. The savage stood like a martyr, till Seth felt the bones of his hand actuall dis one and ers Boon an apple. He determined, as he in reality suffered himself, to be ee igid till the poor wretch sprung to his feet, and howled with pain! ‘Oh! did I hurt you?” he asked, with apparent so- licitude, as the savage’s hand slid from his own with ers tighter and more _ much the appearance of a wet glove. The discom- lower down. Without hesitation, they sprung into | the stream and swam across. As they landed, they commenced a search, and a yell announced the dis- covery of the trail. Instantly after, another yell og er ota their disappointment, as they lost it in e river. The savages supposed that the tive had again taken to the water, and had either drowned or reached the other side. At any rate, they had lost what ef considered a certain prey, and with feelings of baffled malignity they sullenly swam back again, searched the other side an hour or so, and then took their way back to their companions. CHAPTER VII. THE EXPERIENCE OF SETH. “By gracious! stars and garters! &c.! &c.! This isa new way of introducing one’s self!” exclaimed Seth, as he a i out among the savages around the council-fire. The consternation of the Indians at this sudden apparition among them may well be imagined. The crac of the undergrowth above had aroused them, yet the advent of Seth was so sudden and almost instantaneous that ere they could form a sus- picion of the true nature of things, he was among them. Their habitual quickness of thought came to them at once. Graham was seen as he wheeled and fled, and as has been shown, a number sprung at once in pursuit, while a dozen leaped upon Seth, and as many tomahawks were raised. ain't any need of being in'a hurry. Plenty’ time to n't any n s) in a . enty e take my hair. Fact, by gracious.” His serio-comical manner arrested and amused his captors. They all paused and looked at him, as if bree another outburst, while he contented himself with gazing at them with a look of scornful contempt. Seeing this, one sprung forward, and clenching his hair in a twist, hissed: ‘*Oh! cuss Yankee! we burn him!" “If you know what's best, ole chap, you'll take yer paw off my headin a hurry. Ef you don't you mought find it rather convenient to.” The savage, as if to humor him, removed his hand and Seth’s rifle, too. Seth gazed inquiringly at him a moment, and then, with an air of conscious supe- ae said: “I'll lend that to you awhile, provided you return it all right. Mind, you be keerful now, ‘cause that ar’ gun cost somet down in New Ham i From what has n written, it will doubtless be sus that Seth's conduct was a part which he was p ying. When thrown into peril by the impa- tience of his companion, he saw at once that an at- tempt at flight was useless. Nothing was left but to submit to his misfortune with the best seared ble; and yet there was a way in which this submis- sion could be effected which would result better for himself than otherwise. Had he offered resistance or submitted gammy as many a man would have. done, he would doubtless have been toma- hawked instantly. So, with a readiness of thought which was astonishing, he assumed an air of reckless bravado. This, as we have shown, had the desired result thus far. How it succeeded after, will be seen in the remaining portion of this history. Seth Jones was a man whose character could not he read in an hour, or day. It required a long com- panionship with him to discover the nicely-shaded points, and the c ristics which seemed in many cases so opposite. United witha genial, sport- ive humor and apparent frankness, he was yet far- seeing and cautious, and could read the motives of a man almost at a glance. With a countenance which seemed made expressly to vail his soul, his very looks were deceptive; and, when he chose to play a certain role, he could do it to perfection. Had any one seen him when the conversation above recorded took place, he would have unhesitatingly set him down as a natural-born idiot. “How you like to burn, eh, Yankee?” asked a savage, stooping and grinnin horribly in his face. “TI don’t ow; I never tried it,’’ replied Seth, with as much nonchalance as though it was a dinner to which he was referring. * E-e-e-e! you will try it, Yankee.” “Don’t know yet: there are various opinions | about that, p’raps. When the thing is did I mought believe it.”’ “You sizzle nice—nice meat—good for burn!” added another savage, sping and feeling his arm. | net tie we Pe ee raised it slowly on high, bent down till his form was ‘* Just please do not pinch, my friend.” The savage closed his fingers like iron rods, and clenched the member till Seth thought it would be crushed. But, though the pain was excruciating, he manifested not the least feeling. The Indian tried again, and again, till he gave up and remarked, expressive of his admiration of the man’s pluck: “Good Yankee! stand pinch well,” “Oh! you wa’n’t pinching me, was you? Sorry, I didn’t know it. better,” The savage, however, retired, and another stepped forward and grasped the captive’s hand. _ jeers of his comrades. SE sss cnet EEE ———— SS A LE Try again, you mought p’raps do | ; ; fited Indian made no reply but retired amid the Seth, without moving a mus- cle, seated himself deliberately upon the ground, and coolly asked a savage to lend him a pipe. It is known, that whenan In sees such hardihood and power, as their captive had just evinced, he does not endeavor to conceal his admiration, Thus it was not strange that Seth’s impudent request was complied with. One handed him a well-filled pipe, with agri in which could be distinctly seen admiration, exulta- tion, and anticipated revenge. From the looks of the oth it was emg they anticipated an immense deal of sport. present hero continued smoking, lazily watching the volumes of vapor, as they slowly rolled before and around him. His captors sat about him a moment, conversing in their own tongue (every word of which, we may remark, was perfectly under- son by Seth), when one arose and stepped forward ore : “ White man strong; him pinch well, but me make him cry.” So he stooped, and removing the captive’s cap, se a long tuft of yellow hair which had its roots at the temple. A stab in the eye would nct have caused an acuter twinge of pain: but, as he jerked it forth by the roots, Seth pave not the slight- est cation save a stronger whiff at the pipe. @ sa around did not suppress a murmur of ac- miratio . Seeing no effect from this torture, the tor- mentor again stooped and caught another tuft that grew low upon the neck. Each single hair felt like e point of a needle thrust into the skin, and as it came forth, the Indians seated around noticed a livid paleness, like the track of a cloud, quickly flash over their captive’s countenance. He looked up in his tormentor’s eyes with an indescribable lock. For a moment he fixed a gaze upon him, that, savage as he we caused a strange shiver of dread to run through m, To say that Seth cared nothing for these inflicted onies would be absurd. Had thesavage dreamed what a whirlwind of hate and revenge he had awakened by them he would not have attempted what he did. It was only by an almost unaccounta- ble power that Seth controlled the horrible pains of both body and mind he suffered. He felt as though it was impossible to prevent himself from writhing on the ground in torment, and springing at his ag secutor and tea him limb from limb. But he bad been schooled to Indian indignities, and bore. them chingly. His temple had the ap ce of white parch- ment, with innumerable bloody points in it, as the blood commenced oozing from the wound, and his neck seemed as though the skin had been scraped off! His momentary paleness had been caused b the sickening pain and the intensest passion. His look at the savage was to remember him. After the events which have just transpired they remained seated a moment in silence. At last one who ap- peared to be the leader, addressed, in an undertone, the Indian whom we have just seen retire from the post of tormentor. Seth, however, caught tke words, and had he not, it is not probable he would have successfully undergone the last trying ordeal. The same savage again stepped forward in the circle before the helpless captive, and removing the cap which had been replaced, clinched the long yel- low locks in his left hand and threw the head - ward, Then whipping out his eye stg ty he rey rl hie head ‘th the’ rapide f lightning, e around his w era yo 4 The skin was not pierced, and it was only an artifice. Seth never took his eyes from the Indian during this awful minute. The tormentor again retired. The sav were satisfied, but Seth was not. He handed pipe back, replaced his cap, and rising to his feet, sur- veyed for a few seconds the group around. He then addressed the leader. 2 Can the white man now try the red-man’s cour- age?’ The voice sounded like another n’s. Yet the chief noticed it not, and ncdded assent to the re- quest, while the looks of the others showed the cagernens and interest they felt in these dread- ul proceedings. . The ayene Wied had inflicted all this agony seated himself directly beside the chief. Seth stepped to him, and grasping his arm pressed moderately. The Indian gave a scornful grunt. Seth then stoo and gently took the tomahawk from his belt. He like the crouching panther ready to spring. The glittering blade was seen to flash as it cireled throug. the air, and the next instant it crashed clean throng 1: the head of the unsuspecting savage! CHAPTER VIIL. UNEXPECTED MEETING. exhausted, Graham crawled fort’: from the water, and lay down awhile to res’ himself upon the soft, velvety carpet of grass. Here, overcome by the terrific strain which his system had undergone, he fell into AN WEARIED and JOO (CON AILICE cS (E@)