Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 92 — page 5: what you’re looking at

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

14 - 4 2 ney i ce hed Canada Chet. eee o = TT LLL ee beside the head that sent him crashing like a log to the ground. The next minute the agile scout was astride his body; his flashing knife did the deadly work, and tore the scalp from the red-skin’s crown. ‘*One more!”’ he muttered, hoarsely, as he arose from the ground, and stole away through the forest, “and still not enough. Were the whole cussed race 0’ red hellions dead, it would not pay for the wrongs I and others have suffered.” A few moments of swift but silent walk brought him to the edge of a small open glade in the heart of the forest, whence came the sounds of song. A glance explained all, ; In the center of the glade was a roaring fire, built beside a dry old stump, and seated upon a log in close proximity to the fire, was the author of the singing, who had now branched off into the current epidemic—** Whoa, Emma!” In one word he was a Yankee. This was evidence by a jack-knife in his hand and a piece of pine, which he was whittling. Fe was a long, lank, bony individ with an ideal Yankee face, buttermilk eyes, a large mouth, and hair and chin whiskers of a fiery red hue. His make- nded with the invariable newspaper Uncle Sam, from the white plug hat to the st d breeches, and swallow-tailed coat. A rusty musket with powder-horn and bullet-pouch constituted his only weapon of defense, while a wild hawk roescing by the flames evidenced the fact that he was not disposed to starve, even if he had to re- sort to the meaner fowls of the air, Old Anaconda gazed at him keenly for a moment, then a smile hovered about his lips. “A rez’lar, downright, out an’ out Yank,’ he muttered, with a chuckle. ‘* Wonder who he is, any- how? Ten to one he’s as ignorant as Cain, an’ab coward, Jest fer beans, I give him a test.’ Slinging his rifle to his back, the scout got upon his hands ani knees, and crawled stealthily out into the glade toward the stranger, whose was turned on him. Never did the Dwarf Destroyer move with more caution than now, as he crawled along. A cat could not have moved with less noise. Fully ten minutes were consumed in reaching a position directly behind the Yankee, who kept on whistling and whittling and singing. “Gosh, tho’, but it ar’ ruther lonesum up hyar, seems to me,”’ the whittler muttered, as he gave the fire an extra poke, thereby sending a shower of sparks, heavenward. “1 don’t reckon I'd like it heer, ter live fer good. I'd ruther be back in Michi- gan, every time. But then, I ain’t doin’ bad, a-gittin’ six shillin’ a day fer trampin’ about, lukin’ for some- body. Wonder ef thar’s any Injines around these parte, or any buffiers, or b’ars? They do say them ‘ars ar’ a monstrous tough anymile. Ho! ho! Sally Backus, she sed I'd be afeard ter cum out inter ther West. Sed I'd run at first sight o’ blood or an Injine. Hain’t seen nuther, yet, but thar never war a Michi- gander as war a coward. Oh! hum, ‘Mary had a little lamb Wi fleece as white as—’ up corres etchin “Thunder! Oh! Lord! Lord! git eout! shoo! go ‘way! oh! oh! oh! Julius Ceesar Christofer Colum- bia!”’ The scout had, before rising to a standing position in the rear of the Yankee, tied a cord to the bloody scalp he had so recently torn from the head of the red-skin; this he suspended upon the end of his rifle-barrel, and slowly lowered the repulsive object before the eyes of the man from Michigan, The frightened man made one leap without look- ing around, and cleared both the fire and the stump, striking the ground only to fall flat on his face, where, for a full minute, he lay trembling and pant- ing from fright, while, on the other side, Old Ana- conda was rolling around on the ground convulsed with laughter. Hearing this noise, the Yankee final- ly arose and ventured arouud the fire, when the old scout arose, with a huge grin. ‘*Gosh all fried cakes!’ the man from Mich ejaculated, surveying the dwarf-scout critically; ‘“who be you, Cap? ‘Pears to me ye’re a dasted lit- tle cuss ter hev whiskers on ye.”’ ‘Big enough ter skeer the fits out o’ you, tho’,” Anaconda snorted. ‘ Great hatchet o’ Washington! but you war skeert, tho’! Went kitin’ over thet ne as ef all the divils in purgatory were at your heels.” ‘ + Sa, I warn’t ve saat o proseatens ine ma rom Mic sna ngers. _ * now ou was behind aaa the time, an’ I jest got up het sarcus for the fun of it.” “Git out! You war skeart ni’ ter de’th!’’ declared Old Anaconda. ‘* Who be ye?” “Dm Amasa Scroggs, from Kalamazoo, Michi- gan,’’ was the reply. ; “ Kerwhoop! ee neities it. Never see’d a man rom Kalamazoo who w ’ + hi wu ahadder. » But-="* arn’t afeard o’ his o The Dwarf Destroyer did not finish his sentence for at — am oe of nance yells resounded upon e arm o . sprung from the forest into the glade" S#V88es And Sitting Bull headed the gang! CHAPTER V. INTO THE PEN, THe ruffian, Canada Chet, evidently meant his de- mand to be persuasive, for he accompanied it with a broad oath. ‘“Whar’s them young Yanks as cum in hyar a bit o’ go?” he repeated, glaring around like a wolf in search of sone morsel of food Show ’em to me, while I dissect ’em! Say, you, Abe Hooker, whar ar’ them Yanks?” ‘““Dunno. Hain’t see’d any,’’ Hooker replied, in- nocently. “If ye mean them two young Henglish- men, they’ve took their departure. Cum an’ got a drink o’ swill, an’ then went off.’’ ‘** You're an unmitigated old liar,’’ Chet swore, an- ily. ‘*You’ve got them cusses hid, an’ I know it. idn’t Isee them same pilgrims come in heer, an’ don’t I know they didn’t come out ag’in? You old lyin’ thief, I b’lieve you've got ’em hid. Boys, make a search for them kids, an’ I'll give a gallon 0’ straight whisky to the galoot as will find ’em.”’ This seemed to be a powerful inducement, for the wood-hawks set to work turning everything boner turvy in search of the concealed voyagers, w Canada Chet grasped Abe Hooker by the collar and held a cocked revolver to his heart. He was a fierce-looking ruffian, this Canada Chet— a large-limbed, powerful six-footer, clad in buckskin and armed to the teeth, and the embodiment of all the evils of passion and crime in the calendar. The eyes were black and stern; the mouth was large and sensual; the black mustache that was of on size reminded one of the Neapolitan bri- gands, He was a man one need not care to anger unless he was ready for an immediate row. With rude oaths his band of roughs hauled things about promiscuously in the little bar-room, for they were all men after the captain’s own ‘pe and had no care for anything except plunder an adventure. “My whisky—ther galoots will drink it all up,” Hooker groaned, in anguish of spirit, as he saw the precious liquor flow freely down the throats of the ransackers, ‘“*So much ther better,’’ Canada Chet said. ‘ It will l’arn ye in future to keep a better article ferjther boys. 0 owns this yere place anyhow, an’ what ar’ ye grumbling about? Ain't I boss hyarbouts, I'd like ter kno’? Ain’t Canada Chet ther king o’ this ro region—the monarch o’ all he surveys? Waal, should remark thet same.” One of the searchers gave the barrels a whirl out from behind the bar, and sent them tumbling to another part of the room, where they would be out of the way. As he did so, a faint sneeze came to the ears of Canada Chet, and he uttered an ejaculative oath. ‘*Whoa up! thar’s music hayr,’’ he roared. ‘Take an ax an’ knock ther hoops off’m them barrels, jest fer fun, an’ let’s see if we ken't find a couple o’ fugi- tives. Oho! Hooker, you are no good at stowing away precious freight,” “Swow to gracious, I didn’t stow nothin’ away. Ef anybody’s in them bar'ls, they got in on thers y while I was out a-milkin’!” the tavern-keeper averred, stoutly. The Canadian only smiled, grimly, and watched the men assail the unoffending barrels. With axes and other sharp-edged tools they drove the hoops off, and then knocked the staves apart. And there, in cramped positions, were the two young adventurers from Ottawa. They were speed- ly hauled out, by ready hands, and held up before anada Chet, for they were too weak from semi- suffocation, to stand alone, The wood-ruffian surveyed them critically, an ugly expression upon his repulsive face. ‘‘A pair 0’ babes in the woods,” he said, sneering- ly. ‘“‘Say, ye young devils, w’at ever fetched ye to these parts? Didn't ye know thet Canada Chet war king o’ these yere lattytudes, jest like Victoria aire boss, t’other side o’ ther big puddle? Waal, I am thet same. I boss these hu ritish Possessions, I do, an’ ary galoot as kicks against my monarky, he gits a bu’sted head.” ‘* Who said contrary?’ demanded Dave, independ- ently. “No one, younker, an’ ye needn't be so sassy nuther. Mebbe ye hedn’t heerd 0’ my en agement ter be married to ee Victoria, soon? aal, it’s a fac’, thet same. But, ye hain’t told me w’at fetch- ed ye heer, cusses on ye!” “That ain’t the finish of it—we ain’t a-goin’ to, neither!” retorted Hal, in the true border language. : It ome none o’ your business what fetched us 1eer!’ . . Ho! ho! we shall see if it ain't!” the Canadian cried, angrily; ‘‘weshall see ef Canada Chet ain't boss 0’ this yere hemisfeer, Fetch ’em along, boys, ter ther pen!"’ And the ruffian turned toward the door, but step- ped back with a growl of rage. Stop!” astern voice pe 24 and Hazel Eye, the queen of the woods, stepped boldly through the open doorway, and confronted the chief. ‘Stop, et Howard, unless you would provoke the wra of the Magician of the North.” The an chuckled horribly. Once the old humbug, of the lake shore yonder, ne ptr: ner aes i aN eluded his devilish spell. Onger fear , or any other pilgrim thet stands in hate.” 4 . ‘But you fear me /’’ Hazel Eye cried. ‘‘ You dare not disobey me.”’ ‘And why not, pray, my pretty bird of the forest? How do I fear you?” “TI will tell you,”’ Hazel Eye said, stepping toward him. Then, lowering her voice to a whisper, she ut- tered two words—a single name, and then gazed at him with a triumphant laugh, For he had leaped back with a frightful curse, his usually red face grown as white as death. ‘Devils seize you!”’ he gasped, with a shudder. ‘What know you of—of—” “T know enough to assure you that you have run nearly to the end of your halter; that your hour of doom is gradually but surely approachings | ‘An’ ye dare ter imagine thet I'll surrender up these two younkers on ther strength o’ thet name?” he demanded, with a leer, **T think you will find it to your advantage to do so—yes,”’ Hazel Eye replied, coolly, as she toyed with the hilt of her revolver. “Then, I ken tell ye, I won’t do nothin’ o’ the kind !”’ the Canadian swore, pushing her rudely aside, and bolting through the door. ‘“‘Cum erlong, byees, an’ fetch them ’ar younkers.”’ The ruffians obeyed their commander's orders, and Hal Dayton and Big Track Dave were forced along out of the tavern into the town, Hazel Eye exchanged glances with them, and then darted along into the forest out of sight. The hearts of the two voyageurs fairly sickened with dread. They had looked upon the strange and beautiful girl of the wilderness as being able to ef- fect their rescue again; but it now seemed that her wer over the ruffians had failed, and so they were oomed to be hustled off to some uncertain fate. Dave Laam was the cooler of the two, for he had long since learned to master his feelings and to con- trol his emotions. Hal, on the other hand, was usually gay and careless, spirited when his sun shone brig thy. but gloomy and downcast, when it was in under a cloud. ‘*] guess we'd better make an unconditional sur- render, if so be that we can, and if we get a chance we'll skin back for Ottawa,” he said, as they were forced along in none too gentle a manner, “I'd rather have another course through college, than much more of this life.”’ Dave laughed. “You're getting weak’ he said; “ no use of that. They can’t more than butcher us and cannibalize our bodies.’’ “You don’t believe they’d do such a thing, do you?” Hal asked in alarm, “Of course not, you goose! But wait, we shall see, more than we care to, no doubt.”’ They were marched along through the forest vil- ra y the roughs, who were headed by Canada € The rough citizens, and their families, stood in the doorways of their cabins, making no effort to stop the strange nocturnal procession, for afraid were they. of the Canadian ruffian and his backers, any a time he had proven himself a human brute and cutthroat, and the people held him inawe, For he owned all the cabins in which they dwelt, and supplied them with work at the great mill, which yearly turned out millions of feet of lumber that was rafted down into the settlements, and ofttimes smuggled down into the United States, Therefore these citizens, a class composed mainly of half-breeds and Kanucks, were in no ways eager to raise a hand against the man who was the means of their Fig ale Hal and Dave scanned the faces of these people, as they were hustled along, but could not distinguish one expression of pity there. They were rough and evil-faced, as a rule, and a softening look was un- known to them. On along the forest-lined lake-shore were the two fugitives hurried, until a long barn-like cabin hove into sight, before the door of which they paused, oe enough for Canada Chet to unlock it, en they entered, Hal and Dave looked about in some curiosity, but were not greatly surprised at anything they saw. The building was divided into several rooms, the first containing a bar. Here the whole crowd took a drink, and then Dave and Hal were both blindfolded, and marched away into anfadjoining room, where they were stripped of their clothing and supplied with loin-cloths, such as many of the Indians wear during the hot weather. They were then separately lashed to strong, up- right beams, with their faces toward the beam, and then the coarse, brutal voice of Canada Chet spoke so that they could hear, ‘*Neow, you sneaks, we've got ye like a bug ina rug. P’r’aps ye'll consent ter give us yer names, now ?”’ ‘*Yes—mine’s Hal Dayton,” that young voyageur announced, eagerly. ‘* And mine’s Dave Laam,” Big Track thought best to add, ‘*So ho! I thort ye would cum ter time, after a bit,’ the Canadian chuckled. ‘Next, if ye please, @ may tell us w’at fetched ye heer inter this ken- * Three things,’’ Dave replied, “a love of adven- ture, a desire to see the country and a hope to catch a few beaver, for which this place is noted.” **An’ that’s all, was et?” “Every bit of it.’ “Sure you never heard any suspicions cast out, concerning this yere settlement?” ** Positive I did not.”’ ‘Wal, I guess ye’re karect, as [reckon no one ken’t say much ag’in’ our character as citizens. How- sumdever, you’ve cum in hayr, 8 et od about, an’ we don’t ditaee no strangers heer, [ll allow; so we'll give ye a lash apiece, and set ye ter work,”’ The lash was administered by a powerful arm, and cut a gash in each of the voyageurs’ backs, but they refrained from expressing their pain in words, They were now unbound, and taken into an ad- joining room, on entering which, the noise of clank- ing machinery greeted their ears. 3 The bandages were now removed from their eyes, and they gazed about them in wonder, It took but a glance to tell them that they were in a counterfeiter’s den, on the outskirts of civil- ization. Canada Chet, having motioned his men to retire, stood watching our young adventurers, The room was a large one, and lighted by lamps set in reflector brackets. In the daytime, sufficient light was ad- mitted through the two narrow windows in the slant- ing roof.