Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 93 — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

EE oe a wr ee | | | | ! 10° The Boy Miners. Finally, he took him by the arm, led him a short distance down the stream of the brook, and when motioned for him to fall behind and fol- ow. On the whole, this struck Edwin as rather a curious proceeding. The Mohave had not de- rived him of his gun, and did not even take he trouble to examine whether it was loaded or not, nor did he once look over his shoulder to see whether he was followed by the captive. It was a strong temptation to the latter to dart aside, and make another effort to get away, but he could hardly bring his mind to the “sticking int.’ : As a matter of course, Edwin had strong hope of getting out of this difficulty, and he there- fare paid strict attention to the route which they followed, so as not to be lost, when the op- oortunity should come to him. The Mohave jitorally took the ‘* back track,” going over his own footsteps, and turning off from the stream at precisely the point where the boy first struck it. _ As yet there was nothing seen of the other Indian, and the boy was wondering where he could have taken himself, when he made his appearance as suddenly as if he had risen from the very ground. He seemed to entertain the same constitutional objection to talking as did his predecessor, for not a word was exchanged ‘between them. One walked in the front and the other in the rear of the boy, so that, for the present, he gave over all thoughts of taking abrupt leave of them. The party passed directly by the remains of the antelope slain by Edwin, and so on until they reached the gorge where he had first de- scried the Mohaves as they were seated around the camp-fire. This led the boy to think that they were a part of those who had beseiged them in the cave. Whether this was a matter for congratulation or fear was more than he could determine, al- though it gave him hope that the captured Mo- have might be among them, who he was sure would not forget the magnanimity shown him when he was at the mercy of those whom he sought to injure. ightfall was close at hand, and the party made their preparations for remaining on the old ecamping-ground of their former friends. They had a portion of the antelope with them and offered a piece to Edwin, who accepted it more for the sake of pleasing them, than on ac- count of any hunger he felt. After this, they seated themselMes upon the ground, and mo- tioned for him todothe same. Their pipes were then produced, and then began the longest and dreariest evening of Edwin Inwood’s life. He lay on the ground, looking up at the stars, communing with the Great Being who dwelt beyond them, wondering what George and Jim thought of his prolonged absence, and specula- ting as to what the morrow would bring forth. Hour after hour wore away, and it was near midnight, when his ear detected a faint, regular jarring of the ground, and, raising his head, he — | pelts the gloom a party of men close at and, CHAPTER XI. A KINDNESS REQUITED. “T pOESN’T care ’tic’larly "bout gittin’ ’quaint- ed wid any spooks,” muttered Jim Tubbs, after bidding good-by to George Inwood, as the latter hts on his reconnoissance of the Enchanted sland. * Dat ’ere George was always a fearsome boy eber since he was a little codger dat used to ride de hosses at home in ole New York—nebber could make him b’lebe any stories about ghosts an’ hobblegoblins, an’ spooks. Beats all na how queer some folks be; I don’t care much for darkies, whedder dey be red or black, while he does; but when oks is around, I ’fers to be *scused, while he don’t. gaya ¥ Thus did the African commune with himself as he made his way carefully from the lake and its phantom-like island. Not until he was far from it did he pause, look around, and ask him- self what was the best thing for him to do. ‘“T has de ’pinion dat when I ’grated to dese arts, Icome arter gold, an’ dat’s what I’m go- lug to hunt for at present. I sometimes t’inks I orter be de ’prietor ob dis ’stablishment, as I *wested de most money. Howsumeber, Mr Tubbs, we’ll ’scuse de ’scussion ob dat question to some subsequent ’casion.” Without suspecting it, the African took al- most the same direction as that followed by Edwin Inwood. As he was looking for gold, he went along the margin of a small stream, and began examining its banks and current for some signs of auriferous deposit. “Dey say you’re de most aptest to find gold near de water, ‘less you find it somewhere else —so I'll take a peep. Oh!—” Jim stopped, absolutely thunderstruck, for there in the water before him he saw a large piece of yellow metal, whose nature he divined at a glance. ese forward the next in- stant, he seized it in his hand, and held it u and turned it over. It was a piece of pure gol nearly the size of a hen’s egg. It lay imbedded in Cy sand, only a small portion displaying itself. The dusky fellow could scarcely restrain his delight. He turned it over and over again, and danced about, and laughed, and almost cried, Finally he sobered down. ‘‘Dat’s de best fish I ebber catched an’ I’ve fished a good deal. Shouldn’t wonder if dere’s some more ob ’em ’bout.” There was some reason, if not much truth, in this conclusion, and he fell to work with might and main. The stream was about a dozen feet in breadth, some eighteen or twenty inches in depth, with a clear current, and a hard, sandy bottom. As he had not his tools with him, he laid his rifle on the bank, and procured a heavy stick with which he raked the sand hither and thither in his search. A few minutes’ search revealed another piece considerably smaller than the first, but large enough to fill Jim’s heart with joy. “Talk about spooks!” he exclaimed, con- temptuously, ‘‘dat ’ere lump ob yaler stuff is more interesting dan all de spooks on de lake or in de wood. It’inks I'll settle here for de pre- sent. He plied his rude rake with unabated vigor, but nothing more rewarded his labor. He gradually worked his way up the channel, so intent on his labor as not to observe or care for aught that took place around him, his persevering toil undoubtedly would have continued until darkness, had it not been checked in a most sudden and alarming manner. Jim’s head was bent down, when a peculiar, whir- ring noise caught his ear, and he looked up just in time to see a dark, circling ring descending over him, and, ere he could dodge, the loop of the lasso dropped to his elbows, and was drawn taut with the quickness of lightning. The huge fellow comprehended his _pre- dicament in an instant, and exerted his giant strength to the utmost to free himself. ‘‘Dat ’ere will nebber do! My gracious, dey’ll got all my gold!” o great was his strength, that, in all proba+ bility, he would have broken the rope which inclosed his arms; but, in the midst of his furi- ous struggles, a second lasso, from nearly an opposite point, shot up in the air, and, in spite of the attempt he made to dodge it, came down with unerring certainty, and helped imprison his arms. ‘¢ Dat ’ere is a little too lubbin’,” muttered Jim toiling like a giant in his bonds, but, finding himself unable to accomplish anything in this manner, he resorted to different tactics, *T%an pull, if I can’t break.” With which, he made a furious plunge up the bank, thereby entailing a rather ludicrous occur- rence. The Mohave who had hurled the second lasso, simply held it in his hand, he and his companion fnstantly dropping out of sight the moment they threw their noe. The sudden and tremendous strain apon e rope found him totally unprepared, and he came scramblin erate out of the bushes and over the ban before he could recover himself, observi which, Jim made a dash at him; but, as the fi red-man had se his around the point of a projecting rock, the doughty fellow was brought up with a round turn, and the other made all haste to rectify the mistake which he had com- mitted. “ Tucky for you I couldn’t cotch you! IfTd got one ob dem feet ob mine on you, I’d have mashed you,” At this juncture the red-men revealed them- selves, three of them rising to their feet, and all motioning to their captive to come ashore. This command he obeyed, all the time puzzling his wits to see whether there was not some piste Push which he could extricate himself. The third Indian placed his loop over his arms, and they then mounted their horses, fastening the 2 ge to the saddle, and taking good care to keep their sable prey at a respectable distance. Poor Jim Tubbs was now fairly secured. The three ropes, whieh incased him like a child, were woven of a peculiar thread, which made their panty almost equal to that of strands of iron, The Mohaves were perfect adepts at this | said, with an kind of business, and, air upon the African unawares, they had effected his capture with rare skill. “'Dey’ve got me dis time, sure,” he reflected, as he walked along between their horses, ‘‘ an de ’portant question is, what am dey gwine to do wid me, an’ when dey gwine to do it, an’ how dey gwine to do it, an’ how it’s gwine to ’gree wid me when dey come to do it,” He walked along a short distance in silence, but his thoughts were busy. ‘‘T remember dat dat gentleman in New York dat put up at my boarding house, said de Ingins sometimes roasted de prisoners what dey took, Gracious! I hope dey don’t s’pose to do dat wid me, He scanned the face of each one for a few moments, and concluded: ** Dey don’t look very awful in de face; don’t b’leeve dey’l] roast me. Oh! jus’ hear dem gold piace chink in my pocket. onder if I can’t ribe ’em wid one ob ’em to let me off. Butden dey. don’t know what gold am worth; dey’d jus’ as lieb hab my jack-knife, an’ I’d jus’ as lieb hab it too; so I Hinks Ill let it stay in my pocket fur de present, Mighty glad dey didn’t t?ink ’bout my ole gun in de grass, for I can go back an’ get it myself arter awhile,” That ‘after awhile ” was the “to-morrow ” of the unrepentant—a period, about which one might reasonably entertain a few grains of doubt. Jim was phihceopes enough, seeing that there was no help under the circumstances, to take things as a matter of course. He walk- ed along quietly and peacefully, the Mohaves being sharp enough to keep an unremitting watch upon his every movement. Just as night was setting in, they halted near a pile of rocks, where one of their number col- lected sticks, and speedily started a fire. In this portion of California, during the summer season, itis generally very warm and oppres- sive, but tle last few days had been remarkably cool, and a fire was by no means unwelcome. The cramped ,position of his limbs made him chilly, and he came as near to the blaze as oe would permit. No food was prepared nor di the fellow care for any. An hour or two after dark, and while the Mo- haves were pulling at their pipes, and Jim was half asleep on the ground, he heard a footstep, and raising his head, saw near him the identical Indian with whom he had shaken hands so em- phatically, The African’s complexion was such as t> make him easily recognizable, and the start and glance of the red-man told plainly that there was no misunderstanding upon his part. | ** How do you do?” at Jim, with a nod of his head. ‘‘If yowll untie my arms, I'll shake hands with you again.” 7 “ The Indian seemed pleased in way at meeting the man who had pha ished him so nicely. He offered no rudeness to the captive, but came nearer, and seating h upon the ground, smoked hi pipe. This was extremely gratifying to the sable individual, for it was proof positive that the Mohave had not forgotten the kindness which he had received, and that he was well disposed toward the unfortunate African. ‘“* How lucky that he doesn’t know I wanted to come de gold trick ober him—don’t b’lebe he’d Si so much obme. T’ank you, I guess I'll smoke. 7 He inclined his head forward, and the pipe-stem was inserted between his teeth, and he puffed at him in a style which showed that there was no pretended enjoyment on his “Dat ’ere tastes good, I can tell you,” he ression on his shiny face of genuine pleasure. “‘I’s much obliged to you, an’ ou needn’t be ’fraid ob ‘fending me if you want offer it to-morrer ag’in,” _ The Mohave knowing nothing at all of Eng- lish, and Jim Tubbs unders‘anding not the first syllable of Mohave, it is not to be supposed that they got along very well in conversation. Jim tried increasing the loudness of his voice, but that did not seem to help matters, and their communication therefore took the .character of signs, the African’s words being thrown in by way of embellishment. ; fter he had smoked awhile, he turned his back so that the Mohave might see how his arms were bound, and then said; Tl be much “ Jus’ cut dem, won’t you? obliged.” The Indian unquestionably understood the request, but he was not satisfied as to the pro- priety of granting it. He looked at his com- panions, exchanged a few words, when they came up and debated the matter. ‘*T won’t run away—T'll promise you dat— EoOmicboo CS e com