Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 93 — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

14 oe - ee Ph you were the first to give him the int. ‘“How dat?” inquired the African, with pro- found amazement. ‘He saw you drop the saddles, and heard you k about them containing gold.” ‘*T know dat, but he told me he didn’t tink dere were any gold dere, while you tole him dat we had had purty good luck, an’ had got ’siderable.” ‘* However, there is no need of disputing about it, Jim; he has made up his mind to rob us of that gold, if he has to cut our throats to do it, and the question with us is, how are we to pre- vent it?” * ena ie has burned down pretty low,” said Inwood. ‘ Let’s pick up our traps and change our quarters.” ‘* No doubt he is watching us.” ‘What it he is? It is so dark that we can give him the slip.” The suggestion of the boy seemed to be the best under the circumstances, and the two con- cluded to act upon it at once. Jim quietly stole down the bank of the stream, slip the at- pe s by which the animals were held, and then them about half a mile down the Aa bed of the brook, several times stumbling and bruis- ng himself. Finally he reached a spot which felt right, where he tethered them, and returned to the brothers, who were rather impatiently awaiting him. “T’s found a place,” said he; “you needn’t a down more nor a dozen times in gitten’ ere. The gold was burdensome, but they distribut- ed it among themselves, the ican taking about nine-tenths, and George very nearly all that re- mained. They then began picking their way down the stream, being guided almost entirel by the sense of touch. ® negro’s remarkable memory of oem was found to assist them a great deal. orge kept so close to him that he could touch him at any moment with his out- stretched arms, while Edwin did touch his bro- ther continually to make sure that he was not losing him. ey stumbled quite often, and bruised themselves considerably, but not enough to affect their progress to any degree, and at the end of something over an hour, Jim suddenly came to a stand-still, with the whispered excla- mation: ** Here we is!” The brothers strained their eyes, but in vain; for the darkness was too great for them to per- ceive anything. The faint neigh of a horse, however, told them that Jim was not mis- taken. ‘‘ Here we stays till mornin’,” said the latter, ‘an’ if Mr. Buffalo finds us, he’ll have to have purty sharp eyes.” ‘7? think we are safe, unless we have been fol- lowed. Be careful and speak in low tones, and say only the words that are necessary. Have you got your blankets and everything with ou? Edwin replied in the affirmative, but the ne- gro burst into a low, hearty laugh. “What do you s’pose I’ve done?” he asked. Of course neither could answer his question. ‘‘ [ve gone an’ left my gun up dere by de bcp!) : ‘“Never mind, let it go,” said Geor cannot be a t ways from home, an get along without it. ‘No, sah! can’t do widout dat. S’pose Mr. Bufton brings down a party ob men to-morrer mornin’—where’ll you be den?” There was reason in this question, and George added: Z ‘‘We may need it, but you run a great risk in going back. ey may be there, and you must take great care that you are not seen.” “Yah, yah, won’t see much ob me—dark a colored man as I am, on such a dark night, ain’t apt to be generally visible, an’ what dey can see ob me, dey’r welcome to see.” __ But Jim promised extra caution, and started on the back track. The trouble was that he was in a great hurry; for, by this time, the night was well advanced, and he was desirous of securing his usual allowance of sleep. It was not such a difficult matter for him to make his way as he had become pretty well acquainted Ww —_--- ~~ - ——— ; “we we can the ground, and the rippling brook was an infallible guide, if he were dubious for a single moment. It seemed a long time before he came upon the dull embers of the fire, which were smolder- ing so low as to be hardly visible at any dis- tance; but fortunately, Jim discovered it while several rods distant. At this instant, he recalled that he had promised his young friend to be careful, and he The Boy Miners. me ee ~ - e e therefore hesitated and took a survey as well as he could under the circumstances. Nothing was seen to arouse suspicion, and he was about to ad- vance, when the embers assumed a glow so sud- den and bright as to startle and alarm him. Stepping he watched it intently, anda moment later saw a shadowy form in front of it, and then two others, although neither of them was heard to say a word. ‘“So you’re dere, be you?’ muttered Jim, as he sunk down to the earth to watch his oppor- tunity; ‘‘ but you don’t find us, an’ don’t see noffin ob de gold.” Prudence would have dictated to the negro to withdraw from the presence of such danger; but he placed too great a value upon his rifle to allow it to leave his hands in this unquestioned manner. He remembered while they were busy making their preparations, that he had laid it down to one side, where as yet Mr. Muffin and his friends had seen nothing of it. Jim was several yards from the brook, where he could hear anv words ken. “ By-and-by one of the men seemed to ome very impa- tient, and, with a profane expletive, said: ‘‘ What's the use? They’ve given you the slip, and we might as well go back again,” ‘* Where’ve they gone?” asked another. oA pretty question to ask! I s’pose you think we can see ‘em a dozen miles off on such a bright moonlight night as this.” This remark was greeted with derisive laugh- ter by the others, and the one propounding the question, no doubt, was greatly discomfited thereby. But at this point, Jim began to grow apprehensive about his rifle, and commenced crawling toward the spot where he had left it upon the ground. The African’s complexion was greatly in his favor, and united with the extreme darkness of the night, secured his safety so long as he kept out of the light of the fire. Unfortunately this had been rekindled by one of the strangers, so that the attempt was attended with consider- able risk, Still Jim crept stealthily forward, and was already groping over the ground in search of his weapon, when it was suddenly snatched from the earth, and a voice called out: ‘* Helloa! here’s a gun, anyhow. They left in such a hurry that they forgot to take that with ’em, and I guess—” The speaker was suddenly prostrated by a powerful blow, and the weapon violently wrenched from his grasp. ‘*Quick! there’s one of ’em!” was the lusty cry of the man, as he staggered to his feet. The others were bewildered by the unexpected as- sault, but they attempted a pursuit, rushing off blindly in the darkness in a direction almost opposite the right one. ‘Yaw! yaw!” chuckled Jim, as he stumbled and hurried down the bed of the stream. ‘‘ Won’t have to run fur to git away from the likes ob ou. A half-hour later the anxious brothers were relieved by the appearance of Jim among them, when he gleefully recounted his adventure, quite jubilant at his success. ‘“Won’t they follow you?” inquired Edwin. ‘Dey undertook dat, but dey went de wrong way.” ‘But they may now go the right one.” ‘“ How dey know dat?” , ‘We are not sure that they have any sus- picion of the truth,” said George, ‘‘but they would naturally suspect that we had followed the course of the brook.” ; ‘* Let ’em foller,” was the reply of the African, ‘an’ if dey do so, dey might tumble ober us widout seeing us.” **Do you know how man ‘‘See’d t’ree ob ’em, an’ around.” ‘“‘T don’t fear that so much, as that they may encamp near us, and make an attack in the morning.” . ‘‘We must move off as soon as it is daylight,” said Edwin, ‘‘and get all the start we can be- fore they discover us.” Edwin and Jim finally lay down in their blankets and went to sleep, while George main- tained watch. He was toonervous and troubled to feel any desire for slumber, and too anxious to get out of this dangerous neighborhood to al- low any advantage to escape him. More than once, Pe the lonely hours of the night he was sure he heard whisperings and footsteps, and as often he raised the hammer of his rifle, and endeavored to pierce the Cim- merian gloom. The faint neigh of one of the animals sent a thrill of apprehension through him, and he was certain the outlaws were among them, but nothing further was heard, and, at there are?” t’?ink dey was more —_— er Se me rm ee oe ee ee ewe we the first streak of light, he aroused his friends, and told them they must start at once. Their preparations required but a few mo- ments, when they resumed their march. They found that the face of the country materially changed as they advanced, and they made much more rapid progress than they had dai.d ope. They were constantly looking back, and once Jim’s keen eyes were pcsitive that he detcct«d a number of men on a distant eminence, ¢\i- dently watching them; but nothing more wi.s seen of their enemies, and when they encampcd at night, they were confident that none but the All-seeing Eye observed them. CHAPTER XV. A JOYFUL SURPRISE. It was toward the close of a warm summer day, that our friends drew rein in a grove with- in sight of the residence of Mr. Underwood, in precisely the same Wo that they had encamped a number of weeks before. George Inwood was rather shabby in his ap- pearance, but he determined to call upon Ma- rian, and have a chat with her before he re- turned East. He washed himself in a running brook, combed out his hair and whiskers, brush- ed his clothes, and having made himself as pre- sentable as possible under the circumstances, he told his friends that perhaps he would not re- turn until late in the evening, and that they were by no means to wait for 1 Po There was a faint moon, as he came up the pata made by the ewe of many animals, and e could discover no house. He missed the voice of Marian, but he knew she was there, and that in a few mo- ments more he would be sitting face to face with er. Walking forward, he stepped upon the long low porch which ran along the entire front of the house, and, seeing no bell near, or knocker upon the open door, he rapped it smartly with his knuckles, and then stepped back and endea- vored to feel cool and unconcerned. In a moment a servant appeared, and he said: ‘“Is Miss Underwood in? ‘‘2 Pregunta V. par alguno ?” Not understanding Spanish, Inwood stood for a moment em and silent. ‘*s Acerca de quien quiere V. in formarse? A quien bresca V. ?” said the female, quite ex- citedly. ra, little probability of coming to an un- derstanding, Inwood repeated the words, ‘‘ Miss Marian Underwood,” and then walked into a low, broadhall. Theservant immediately open- ed a door onhis right, and the young man walk- ed into a broad, well-furnished room. Taking his seat on a sofa, which he knew had been brought from the East, he awaited the com- ing of whomsoever chose to answer his sum- mons, He had waited scarcely a minute, when a light step caught his ear, and, looking up, Ma- rian stood before him. He saw at once she did not.recognize him in the dim light, and he con- cluded not to undeceive her foramoment. Ris- ing, and bowing profoundly, he lowered his voice and asked: h ‘‘ Have I the honor to address Miss Marian Underwood?” ; ‘Yes, sir,” was the reply, as she still remain- ed standing. “Tam from the East; Mr. Inwood desires you to receive his kindest wishes.” ** Ah! you are acquainted with him?’ she said, with great vivacity, exceecin ly ager) to the listener, as she seated hard front of him. “When did you leave New York?” ‘“Several months ago; I am on my return now.” ‘*Is he well?” ‘* Never better.” : ‘‘T‘am glad to hear it, indeed, as father will be.” “His father died last autumn—Inwood was compelled to leave college, as he found himself penniless.” _ is Is it possible? May I ask what he is doing now ¢ ‘¢ Nothing at all.” ‘‘T wondered that he never wrote to us.” ‘*T remember sis well seeing him put a let- ter in the office, addressed to you.” ‘Indeed, I never received it; he must have thought strange that I never answered it.” ** However, he went to California.” She gave a start. ' “ And never inquired after us?” ; ‘Yes; he sought your home out with great difficulty, and, Miss Marian Underwood, he sits talking with you this minute.” Eomicboo uman beings near the | — tia tient i le — —