Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 92 — page 3: what you’re looking at

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

a — ee ee - ee ** The pele faces are at liberty to go now, and had best make the most of the Me Pgh she said, waving her fair hand down the river. ‘The red- man is as treacherous as the tarantula of the South and the young pale-faces have not seen the last of them. tet them go.” ‘You bet your life we will, Miss Hazel Eye!” Happy Hal assured. ‘‘We haven’t got much time to thank ye now, but we'll make up for it, some other ime.” ‘Hazel Eye asks not for the thanks of the pale- faces,” was the reply, and waving her hand, she wheeled her horse about and rode away into the wil- derness, ‘Now for a d get up and . said Hal, seizing and locking his oars, while Big Track push- ed off from the shore against which the boat had drifted. “Tf we get caught in, it sha’n’t be our fault.” Seizi Phe haa both layed to with a will, and the skiff shot along out into the deep silent stream like an arrow. Over the waters they glided, swiftly, keeping a look-out on either side for red-skins. For, had not Hazel Eye said as much as that an Indian could not be trusted? They kept on until it was about the hour of sun- set, when they suddenly found the river merged into a lakelet of several miles in width—a glassy sheet of water, whose banks were locked with dense for- ests of pine. To the northern side of the lake, a score of cabins were visible in among the trees, and acloud of steam and smoke Sear from a large shanty proclaimed itto be a saw-mill, Near the center of the lake a tiny shoal of land arose from the water, and ae it, and all around it, were those compositions of mud sticks and stone known to the trapper as ‘beaver huts,’ Several hundred of these strange havitans poked their heads out of water, making a strange and picturesque scene—an animal reg py eng ‘* By Jove! we are in Beaver Lake,” Hal exclaimed, as he over the scene, upon which the dying sun- light cast a halo. ‘ According to Hazel Eye, we’ve got right out o’ ther fryin’-pan, into the fire.”’ ae Hang the luck, yes,’’ Big Track replied, with a growl. ‘Yet this is the place we were originally steering for, and there is no use of backing out, yet ~ awhile. The first question we have before us, is— what shall we do?” “Do? Why get back to shore, aslively as possible, and scull along under cover of the wood, until we can find a good place to spend the night. I propose we go ashore, and tramp into the settlement, yon- der, There ought to be some kind of protection there, anyhow?” This was decided as the best course eo ste and pulling into the nearest shore, they disembarked, yr secreted their boat in a clump of bushes that ringed the bank. Then, shouldering their rifles, they followed the curving of the lake shore until they reached the settlement, which consisted of some thirty cabins, all built in under the shelter of the forest. It was evidently a town for the purpose of produc- ing lumber from the immense forests that stretched away in all directions, There were no streets laid out, nor any fences, but every man evidently had built his cabin where it pleased him. One or two shanties of sawed lumber were there, also, and over the door of one of these was a creak- ing sign, bearing the words— “ CHOPPING HOTEL.” There was also a grocery store, and a blacksmith shop, besides the steam saw-mill, which was running at blast. . ‘* Let’s go in here and see how things savor,’’ Hal oe 1 they accordingly entered the ‘‘ Choppings rs) » r : It was a rough, ill-constructed apartment which they entered, with uneven floor and unplastered walls and everything wearing a dingy appearance, at that, A rude bar behind which was a craeked mirror; a rusty stove around which lay numerous quids of tobacco, and several tables and rough stools, com- prised the furniture, unless we mention the individ- “ie, oe cclael Isive-looking wretch was a rawboned, repulsive-loo wa ip lees rolled to is, elbow, and his shir e roat—a man oa ce, bloodshot eyes, and matted hair and beard, so ugly ont ae a to shudder to nen at amas Y ‘ a grim , which he conde- scended to remove in order to ptane insolently at the “fal stepped up to the bar d mo- tioned for Big Track ey follow hie oxampio’ he said, reaching fa his pope gome good cigars,” e ; e ‘ oa the beat y 0 u've got, now.” or money. ‘Give 6 n’t got none,”’ was gruff ** Got be soda-water, theny” reply. ‘“ ” * Any champagne, for luck?” sé bh] 2 Any wine, then?” “What in the deuce have you got?” inns crowed thot onan eae as the ov “ and chewin’!”’ Hal exclaimed, icon . “Gotany smoking?” | “A ppg sult. : mae to sell it?” “ fs) 99 _L£_—w LL ttl tt _ ad Canada Chet. ‘““Got anything to eat?’’ “You bet!” ‘Well, let’s have your bill o’ fare.”’ ‘**Hain’t got none.” ““Good Heavens! what have you got, then?” Hal demanded, half exasperated. ‘*Got turkey buzzard an’ swill.”’ ‘** What do you take us for, anyhow?” put in Dave Laam. ‘“ We don’t want buzzard.” ‘Nor swill. We ain’t hogs,’’ assured Hal, gazing around in despair, ‘* What else have you got?” “A eucher-deck,”’ allowed the individual behind the bar, quite suddenly, as if the bright idea had struck him as auspicious at this point of the inter- view. ‘Worse and worse,’’ growled Dave. ‘See here, meat, or cheese, or milk, or—”’ ‘*Got swill,’’ was the only answer, ‘Well, what in the name of Jupiter Pluvious is swill, then?’ “Swill is milk,”’ deigned to answer the host, lofti- "well, then, trot us out several quarts, and let us sample it,’’ Dave ordered, overjoyed at the prospect of appeasing the cravings of his voracious appetite, 9 Hold up. Don’t be so fast,’’ Hal cried. “ Let’s see how much the old galoot asks for his swill?”’ ‘* A dollar a drink, an’ dog cheap at that,’’ vouch- safed the proprietor. ‘*T should say so,”’ Big Track growled. ‘“ Go ahead and fetch us rome,” The man shuffled off, and was gone about an hour, during which time our young vorqgeaae had to amuse themselves as best they could. “What has become of the ee Dave demand- ed, at last. ‘*Ten to one he’s fallen asleep, while on his errand.” ‘““No, here he comes at last,’’ Hal replied; and, sure enough, the proprietor of the hotel entered, earrying two Saget Soar os brimming full of fresh, foaming milk, which he deposited upon the bar with a huge grunt. ‘*Give’s yer money,” he or ered, relighting the grimy pipe. “You be blowed,”’ growled Dave. our drinks of milk?” ‘“*T’ll allow thar’s two on ‘em on the counter. W'at more d’ye want?’ the host said gruffly. “You don’t call the bucketfuls drinks, do ye?” Dave gasped. ‘**Reckon I do,”* was the reply. The voyageurs didn’t wait longer to bandy words, but, slapping two dollars down upon the counter, then set to work at their novel drink. Each bucket was provided with a lip for straining and pourin purposes, and gluing their own lips to this each Ate began to drink. And they drank and swal- owed, and swallowed and drank, until they could hold no more, when they relinquished the nozzles, and compared notes. Hal had emptied his about a quarter of the way, while Dave had Scoop eS a good half! The individual from behind the bar gave a grunt. ** Why don’t ye finish up?”’ **Look here, who is doing this?’’ Dave demand- ed, puffing and panting from his overgorge of the lacteal. What d’ye take us for, anyhow? a pair of reservoirs, or a couple of Welland canals? I reckon we’re the ones that is purty near finished now.” The host chuckled, audibly. ‘“Werry small capacity,’ he observed, filling up his pipe with pulverized weed. ‘ Werry small ca- pacity. Thar’s them in this city as kin drink one 0’ them tin cups empty ten times, inside o’ ten min- utes, by ther moon.’ * You're a liar, and [ll bet on it,’ replied Hal; ‘or else this place is inhabited by human hogs.’ At this juncture loud voices were heard coming pase the woods in the viciuity of the tavern. The host vaulted over the bar, and peeped out of the door rather nervously. When he came back, he looked so grim that Hal and Dave involuntarily ex- ars ay glances. . hyar, young fellers,”’ he said, eps front of them. “I opine you've struck an unhe latitude. My name's a legion uv honer in this yere ye but I’m an old sinner ef Capt'in Canada Chet an’ Als gaing o’ cusses ain't pintin’ fer this werry shanty.’ Dayton demanded. “Where are in thy «a aVell, what of it?” Hal What ve they got to do with us?’ Waal, now, ye don’t want ter let ‘em git hold on ye, ef ye hevn’t a likin’ fer a bit o’ hemp, Piccadilly collar style, an’ an elevated limb.” : You mean they’d lynch us?” ul, I opine they would. © couldn't lick twenty on ’em, thet would be yer fate. Ye see as how Canada Chet purty much runs this hyar town, an’ he don’t allow no immigration, you bet! He sez he’s got them picked out as he wants, and none others will he have. Now, providin’ ye wanter escape him, how much’]] ye pan outefI hide ye till he gits gone?” , ‘* How much’ll you take?” “ ie a 9 do . “Give you ten—that’s every cent.” “* Avreed. mrey up—they’re most heer.”’ Hal Dayton handed him a crigp United States X., and then he led them behind tite bar, where there were several barrels. Taking some keys from his pocket, he unlocked the headsof two ordinary-looking barrels, and raised them on invisible es. , ‘* Git in lively,’ he growled, ‘and keep yer nozzles ter ther bung ole, or ye’ll smother.” . * te you let us out when danger is blown ve ‘Yes, yes—get in.” Leastwise, ef ee you blear-eyed Muldoon! haven’t you got any bread, | death-yell. —— eee LT 3 Both Hal and Phil obeyed, and soon were locki d within their queer places of refuge. d not a moment too soon; for the door was flung open, and a swarm of SLORY DOLE, long- bearded and roughly-clad men burst into the room, and they heard a hoarse voice ery: ‘“‘ Heer we aire, boys; but rippin blazes! where's the moat Say, you, Abe Hooker, whar’s them slran- gers OHAPTER III, i: THE DWARF DESTROYER—SITTING BULL. RACK |”” The echo of a rifle report went booming through the wild woodland, answered in the distance by a The time was night, and all nature seemed at rest, for a brooding silence hung over the woods, the waters, and the prairie, which stretched away in a vast unbroken expanse, a few miles north- of Beaver Lake, beyond the timber. Lana, peemeing in the heavens, sent a great flood of mellow, whitish light over Mother Bart , A man who had been crouching in the edge of the timber, arose to his feet, and wiped the barrel of his repeating rifle, with a rag. ‘ Another red hellion gone ter blazes, kerslap,’’ he chuckled, ‘ Thet makes fifteen, to-day, which ain’t a werry bad average, I'll allow, fer a pilerim oo’ m status. Fifteen, Old Sitting Bull, an’ yet I ken’t git a bead on ye. Waal, thar’s better times FOR UNE 5 an’ ef thet ancient an’ remote leetle Darwinian, Old Anaconda, ken’t get at ye, ther hull United States Constitoochin hes gone ter slivers, an’ no mistake. I'll go out thar an’ raise thet pesky warmint’s ha’r, an’ then get back ter my nocturnal roost. Wonder w’at thet salamander were doin’ out thar, a-crossin’ the prairie, anyhow, at this time o’ night? ‘Spect sum deviltry ar’ afoot, anyhow, consarn their red icters! Ef evyer ther war a beast, bird or reptyle hate, et be an Injun.”’ The old fellow said this flercely enough as if in dead earnest. He was something of a curiosity to behold, this little old scout, such as you would not often stumble across very often in the Far West, “Where men grow large, With strength and courage great.” He was a dwarf, not over four feet four, in hight, with strong, perfectly shaped limbs, large, irony muscles, and a trunk of prodigious mrcheen. In every way he was a perfect specimen of well-ripened manhood, except in hight, in which he was lackiny. His face was covered nearly to the «yes with hair which the shears had reduced to a harsh stubble, so that his glittering little orbs were all that lent his face any expncgaiul He was clad in a well-worn guit of buck-skin, with a beaver-skin cap upon his head, and belt around his waist containing a curious assortment of revol- vers, knives, scalps, ammunition, ete, His rifle wasa Winchester repeater of the 1876 mode), and hand- apinais mounted with silver, and a diamond muzzle sight. e slung this weapon to his back now, and stood for a moment gazing out over the prairie, wpon which the moon shed so grand a flood of light. Away to the north-east galloped a horse—the ricer- less animal of the Indian the scout had dropped from his saddle. No other object was in view to mar the har- mony of the beautiful scene, as it stretched away to the horizon. A smothered sigh escaped the little old man’s lips, and he turned and glanced around him. ‘“‘Thar’s danger afoot to-night fer somebody,” he muttered. ‘I ken feel it inmy bones, I'll sail out an’ see ter thet warmint’s top-knot, an’ then I'll take a scout toward old Sitting Bull's camp. Ten ter one I'll drop another before l soar back,”’ He accordingly threw himself in the grass, and crawled out upon the prairie. Too old was he in the wisdom of the wilderness to sally boldly forth upon the prairie, and run the risk of a fusilade from the timber, for a hundred of the enemy might have been concealed therein without his knowledge. He referred stealth to risk, as the true scout ever does. Stealthily he crawled along until he came to the spot where the savage lay stretched cut upon the yrairie, stark and silent, a horrible distortion of his eatures evidencing the fact that he had died hard. As he gazed upon the savage, Ola Anaconda gave a little start of surprise. ‘It is Flying Eagle, Sitting Bull’s best herald,”’ he said. ‘I thort et wasn’t no common Injun a-run- nin’ around loose in this fashion. I'll bet he’s carry- im’ sum news ter Mary, an’ may 1 be stewed fer pie ef I don’t find out about sum leetle game. With very little compunction the dwarf scout ‘‘raised” the Indian’s scalp, after which he pro- ceeded to make an examination of his personal ef- fects. But he failed to find anything that he wanted, and he sat for a few moments in silent thought. ‘Queer, durn my Doxy Ann ef it_ain’t!’’ he mut- at last. “I calculate thet Injun war ther transporter o’ news, an’ he had it on paper, too, puobabiy. But what has become of it?” More cogitation suddenly brought to him a thought —one that was hardly feasible, sure enough, but still an idea worthy of testing. Might not the crafty savage have put the paper in his mouth? ‘* Bet a jug 0’ p’izen I’ve struck ther head on the nail first pop,” he chuckled, drawing his knife, pre- Reretony p open the set jaws. ‘Heard o’ wuss things than that, by a longshot. Thar was old tha ins out in Kalamazoo, who once hid a thousan’-dollar diamond in her mouth, w’en she went off ther handle, fer feer her darter Sal would OOO) com cs Cc