Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 92 — page 14: what you’re looking at

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and resolved to teac 14 i a ee we --O— —s a not be persuaded to touch a timber of what they be- lieved to belong to the Evil One. ‘Curse you al for a pack of coyotes!” yout Dayton cried. ‘ Stop your infernal screeching, while I order the man inside to surrender !”’ The Indians quieted down, and then the white renegade advanced and knocked on the door. **Come! open up, if you don’t want the cabin torn over your head, Sylvanus Dayton! No delay now!" he ordered. Within all was dark, and silent as a tomb. But there came no answer, Again did the renegade pound, and call aloud. Still no answer. The savages had crowded back at a respectful distance, and were watching, with their hands on their scalping-knives expecting each moment that a horde of imps infernal would rush out upon them. ‘Ourse the luck! I'll break open the door, and kill him myself!” the infuriated scoundrel cried, and seizing a heavy rock, he hurled it with all his strength against the door. The door burst Open with a crash! At the same instant there was a blinding flash; then a tremendous report—a terrific explosion that rent the cabin into thousands of atoms—tossing great timbers into the air—blowing up trees, and creating a horrible havoc. Eight of the savages escaped uninjured; the rest including Casper arton, were torn and mangled and their remains scattered in every direction! CHAPTER XVI. RED-HOT ARROWS. THosE within the cabin of Old Anaconda were eae to account for the explosion, and opinions ffered—that of the old scout being that Indians had been fooling about the cabin of the Magician, and had, unwittingly, caused the explosion by tam- pering with some of the old man’s secrets of de- ense. The Indians on the edge of the clearing seemed startled, and were seen retreating into the woods. “They’re goin’ ter ses what ther ee is,’’ the Dwarf Destroyer said. ‘‘Let’em go. I only hope they wull fergit ter come back again.” ‘The Sioux will return in great numbers, an’ we'll have a siege,”’ said old Alex. Watchman. . “Yas, I opine thar’ll be sum fun by-an’-by frum them hornets. Let ’em come, tho’! Thar’s enuff in this leetle shell ter defend it, an’ lots 0’ pow- der an’ ball. So thet ef them Injuns git our scalps, et ain’t my fault.” The Ind did not return immediately, but those ae the cabin Pay not wed Rea Wy mae pan for they were constantly expecting the savages’ return, and some sudden surprise in Indian craft. Hal Dayton positioned himself by the side of pret- ty Milly Owens as a sort of protector, while the comely Rachel was zealously guarded by the man from er gs Amasa Scroggs, and the long, lean comrade of Hal, Dave Laam. Dave had no notion of loo favorably upon the woman who was, un- fortunately, the wife of Canada Chet, the outlaw, but he caught an appeelng glance from her eyes, the Yankee a lesson, Amasa, however, could not be induced to leave his an hints, and accordingly, when an opportuni- y offered, Dave called Amasa aside, loo as threatening as possible. “*See here, you ignorant blunderbuss!”’ he said, sternly, although secretly amused, ‘“‘do you know what I’ve a mind to do with you?” ** Jerusalem, no!’’ Amasa replied, in evident alarm. ** What’s the matter?” “Well, if you don’t keep away from Mrs. Connors yonder, who is a married woman, I'll mount you, chaw off your ear, and put a Black Hillwawning over pon) ‘*Gosh all fish-hooks! you don’t mean it, do yor " Pater continue your course of sprouts, and see if I don’t.”” That settled it. Amasa retired from the field, and Rachel Connors was not eG by him again. The night dragged by; the moon arose to zenith, and began to oP toward the west. Still there was no attack—no sight of the Indians. ‘Tsn’t it a little queer about their keeping shady so long?’’ Hal Dayton asked, anxiously. ‘** Yas, Iopine thar is thet same,” the Dwarf De- stroyer replied. ‘But we ain't agoin’ ter be kept much longer in waitin’. Thar!—what’d I tell ye.” He pointed toward the eastern timber belt, from which a figure had emerged, and was rapidly cross- ing the cl toward the cabin. It’s Hazel Eye, the Forest Lily,” the Destroyer said. ‘I wonder what brings her here?” ‘*Hazel Eye is a beacon of warning,’’ Wild Bird said. ‘‘She always appears when there is danger, and leaves when danger is over.” “ Waal, now, ef them ain’t facts, when I come to think about it, Idon’t want a cent,’’ Anaconda said earnestly. ‘*Some one open the door and let the gal fn;"? Harry Reynolds erly officiated in the capaci of door-opener, aid wine quite repaid for his onbis by recei a glad a from Hazel Reye's pretty, spark & orbs, as she saw him. She entered the cabin, and was warmly received by Anacon Wild Bird and Ki ae be stood modestly back, content with the knowledge that he should soon have her for him- self. ) After the first greetings were exchan Hazel Eye glaneed around the cabin, and Dodge har head Owen, while commendingly, as she saw that every person except | Canada Chet. Rachel Connors was armed, and had positioned them- selves at a convenient loophole. ‘Tt is well,” she said, turning to Anaconda, ‘“‘ for you'll need every gun and arm you have to defend yourselves from merciless butchery. The woods are full of savages, who are creeping toward the edge of the glade on its every pa dra a - ‘Let em come, we ain’t agoin’ ter take no slack from them, I'll allow, ef we aire little,” the Dwarf scout said, witha grin. ‘‘I reckon we ked drop the crowd, afore they’d get across the clearin’,’’ **T don’t know about that. The red-skins are double — strength in numbers, and have armed themselves with strong bows that will shoot a red- hot arrow a great distance.”’ ‘*Oh! they’r goin’ ter eus wi’ fire, eh?” and the eyes of the Indian-hater sparkled with a danger- ous light. ‘* They’re agoin’ ter burn us out, be they, the varmints?”’ ‘That is evidently their intention,’’ Hazel Eye re- plied. ‘Is old Sitting Bull with them now?”’ ‘*No; the chief has suddenly disappeared, and the red-skins believe he has returned to the village for more warriors,”’ ‘*Reckon mebbe some galoot's tap the old son of a sea-cook on the noggin! Ef sech be the case, I shall cavort and weep, fer it hes bin the sole ambi- tion of my latter life to raise the ha’r of thet old red cutthroat, By the way, gal, what war thet explosion a while ago?” “It was the blow-up of the Magician's cabin, on Beaver Lake. A white renegade and a number of Indians were killed,” Rachel Connors started forward, cagerly. ‘“‘His name! his name!’’ she gasped, her form ee and features working. ‘‘ Was it Canada Shet?”’ ‘*No, Mrs. Connors, it was not. This man’s name was Casper Dayton. But, I have to advise you, that the ruffian, Canada Chet, was massacred, together with every person in Quinnebog, during the forepart of this night!”’ Before Hazel Eye had finished speaking, there was a sharp scream, and the outlaw’s wife fell to the floor, as all supposed, in a swoon; but when they picked her up, they found that her heart had ceased to beat, and she was dead. This cast a gloom over those within the cabin, for it seemed a bad omen, just when they were “ before the enemy.”’ The body was placed upon a couch of skins, and covered up, and then a deep silence prevailed in the cabin, while they all watched for the coming of the enemy. H ‘ Reynolds managed to get a few words with Hazel Eye, and a pressure of her hand, as a reassur- ance that she had not forgotten him since a previous meeting. The attention of all was presently called to the eastward by Old Anaconda. A fire had suddenly been kindled at the edge of the timber, around which several forms could be seen busied. “‘Thet settles et. We're goin’ ter hev the cabin fired over our heads. But we must sarcumvent sum of them red ripscallions’ plans, tho’,’’ Old Anacon- da said. ‘‘ You, young man, whose handle is Dave Laam, mount up inter ther loft, whar you'll find a trap openin’ out on the roof. ‘When ye hear me screech, you open ther trap, climb out on ther roof an’ pull out the burnin’ iron, sling it away, an’ et bins 5 in under kiver lively, lest ye git plugged in the ac ds ire turned to obey; then Old Anaconda called to masa. ‘‘Oum, ye’re next tallest; you stand by ther door, an’ ef an arrer strikes inter wood below ther eaves et’ll be yer duty ter knock it out wi’ yer gun, and skedaddle back into the cabin like Hellen Blazes.” ‘*Lordy! Jerusalem, no! I wouldn’t go out thar fer all ther money thar is ’twixt heer an’ Michigan! I swow ef I would!’ Amasa ejaculated, in horror. “Gosh all fish-hooks, no! D’ye s’pose I want ter git all stuck full o’ arrers like ee Me at uills?”’ ‘*Oh! ho! ye’re a wuss coward than I thort ye war,” the Dwarf cried. ‘Ef natur’ hed only made me a few feet longer, you wouldn’t find me a-askin’ you ter go!” “TI wish ter gracious natur’ hed made ye tall, then,” Amasa growled. “Cum! git yer position thar, near the door, so thet ye can scud out when I yell. None of yer whinin’ now, ef ye don’t wan’t me to shoot you.”’ Oh, Lordy! Jerusalem! I don’t want to gor out there—boo-hoo-0-0-0!"’ and the big lubber from Kal- amazoo actually began to ery. “Shet up ard bellerin, you big buttermilk calf! Ef thar’s an Injun or a dog evyer grow’d as war a bigger nuisance than you, I'd like to see him!”’ Ana- conda said, fiercely. “Let the poor man alone,” Hazel Eye said, tak- in or eee ononhim. ‘Perhaps he cannot help being afraid. Give me a long stick and I will fill the place, if I am not very tgll.” “ Thankee, miss, thanKee,’’ Amasa said, the huge tears streaming down his face. ‘“‘I’m much obleeged to ye fer ek f. Here, et me go! Iam glad of the chance to git a breath of open air, and am not afraid of gitting hit,” Harry Reynolds said, coming forward. And so it was arranged. ‘The oceupants of the cabin selected loopholes at both sides and ends of the cabin, so as to guard the approach on all sides, for it was suspected that the forest on every side of the clearing was swarm- ing. with Indians. Id Anaconda directed his attention to the east, for the time being, lerving Wild Bird to the west, — a ee a aa ——— - Eee Hal to the north, and Hazel Eye to the south, with | re i —-————— the remainder of the company equally divided in the different locations. The first arrow from the east. shot out of the edge of the timber like a rocket, and soared upward like astar. But the air had cooled the steel, and it was seen coming on its journey only for the space of a few seconds. “Thet leetle arrer will never reach heer!"’ Ana- conda averred, with an odd laugh. ‘They'll hev ter put on a leetle more elbow grease, ef they want ter send us any o’ their bulleux-doos, you bet.”’ He was right. The arrow fell about fifty feet short of its destination. ‘“*Can a bullet reach the cabin from the edge of the clearing yonder?’ Harry Reynolds asked. ‘* Yas, I reckon so, but thar ain’t much danger of hittin’ any one, or of gettin’ hit, as the distance is suthin over a thousand yards.”’ ei How can an arrow possibly carry such a dis- nce?”’ ‘‘Ordinary ‘uns ken’t. Yesee them as they ar’ shutin’ now, ar’ about a ae POURS weight, an’ ar’ sent by a strong-bow, which has twice. the strength of a small bow.” All watched with interest the flight of the next arrow. Soon it was seen to soar Bp out of the edge of the forest, and then they lost t of it. An instant later there was an audible thud against the side of the cabin. ‘“Now’s your time!’ Anaconda you: Harry Reynolds darted out of the cabin, and with a heavy stick reached and dislodged the arrow which had already commenced to burn a hole in the wood. He pony had time to get back into the cabin ere a perfect shower of arrows shot out from the forest on their flery mission. Another and still another volley; then a wild, fierce war-cry rung upon the night. © Hellen Blazes! Git ready, fer ther varmints ar’ a-cumin’! Look out fer ther arrers, boys, an’ we'll cover ye if we can!” Harry Reynolds was out of the cabin by the time the arrows ad struck, — his cudgel against such as were below the eaves, with a vigor that proved he was born of heroic stuff. When he had finished his part of the dangerous job, he glanced upon the roof and perceived that if was literally stuck full of arrows. Dave was working bravely, but the fire was gain- ing headway, seeing which Harry dashed into the cabin, and up onto the roof, to assist in tearing out the fiery bar : In the meantime the red devils were swarming toward the cabin from all sides, Dowling and yelling the best they knew how, as they came, aN how that an 7 victory was guaranteed them. Indeed, it did look rather dubious, as the painted demons swarmed toward the one center, in a terri- ble grotesque fang; But, Old Anaconda was not the one to say die when there was a chance for liv- ing, and his order rung out, stern and sharp: ‘Fire! Let ‘em have yer compliments—gol durn ye, let ’em have, I say, an’ don’t waste a shot. Make every chunk’ o’ lead count, fer ef ye don’t we're a gone set o’ ’coons. When they get in, next ter ther cabin, we may’s well say our ttenkisms, an’ lay down an’ die!’ Crack! bang! went the weapons in sharp concert, answered by fierce Indian yells and death-cries; erack! bang! crack! bang! Would the incessant rattle never ops = They were fighting for life and liberty, were these confined pale-faces, and bravely, determinedly, too. Every bullet counted a death in the Indian ranks; the volleys caused them to waver; then they came on again, howling and yelling like mad! one Laam had left the burning roof, carrying the sehseless form of Harry Reynolds in his arms. And the arrows were not all out. The cabin is surely doomed! CHAPTER XVII. CONCLUSION. ‘*Tr’s no use stayin’ up thar,” he gasped, drop Reynolds on the floor. ‘‘We’re both riddled wi bullets, and Harry here, I guess, is dead!’ : Hazel Eye uttered a scream of anguish, and ran forward to kneel at the side of the unconscious lad. She pa her hand upon his bh then gave an exultant exclamation. ‘He lives—he lives, for his heart still beats!” While Hazel Eye and Kitty Owen devoted their at- tention to caring for wounded Harry and Dave, the others were keeping up a steady fire upon the ad- vancing enemy. _For Old Anaconda’s little “ fort,” was well supplied with ammunition, and the rifle-bar- rels grew hot as the hurricane of bullets continued to fly. But, fire as rapidly as they might they could not keep the swarms of red demons back, and it was only a matter of a few minutes when the cabin was completely surrouuded by the howling horde. And as they kept below the range of the loopholes there was no chance for our band of fugitives to score a int. Pp What then remained? Death them in the face—death in one of its most horrible phases. Death by fire, or by surrendering to the tender mercies of the scalping knife, These were the only two alternatives, Old Anaconda gazed around into the faces of those within the cabin. Each face was a shade paler than usual, although ed eo and smoke, Harry Reynolds had recove consciousness, and after having a bullet extracted from his shoulder, he was able to stand alone. Dave Laam had also been S) Eomicboo o pees eC