Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 93 — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

Ne ET _ oe ee a ee 6 like one who, from the tangled web of a dream, endeavors to form the skein of coherent thought. But he speedily recovered himself, and was sharp enough to comprehend that the animals must have been abstracted very recently, and were within the possibility of recovery. With a muttering exclamation of impatience, he dash- ed headlong through the bushes into the open space .beyond, and stared around. Being at the base of the mountains, he was also on the edge of a broad valley, and the bright moon- light gave him quite an extended view over the broken, rocky country. It required but one sharp glance of the Afri- can to discover, about a quarter of a mile dis- tant, the three horses and one mule, making their way among the bowlders and patches of broken land, with all the deliberation with which they would have answered the call to work. Jim paused long enough to see that no one was driving them, when, uttering the ex- clamation which has been given at the close of oe last chapter, he started on a full run after them, With his usual thoughtlessness, he had come out without his gun, and he was now running at his utmost speed, entirely regardless of his personal danger from the hubbub he was creat- ing, and from withdrawing so far from his base of operations. There was something so singu- lar in a spectacle of these four animals leisure- lar trotting all over the country, that he ought to have hesitated and attempted to explain the matter before venturing after them in this open, boisterous manner. It was observable, too, that, immediately af- ter Jim gave the terrific outcry referred to, the slow trot of the animals increased to quite a brisk gait, a thing so unusual on the part of the mule, as to cause no little wonder upon the part of the pursuer. . ‘* Beats all natur’!” he exclaimed, as‘he struck his foot against a stone, and was almost thrown forward upon his hands and knees. “ Fust time I ebber see’d dat ole mule raise a trot; split two, free rocks ober his head, smashed all d » limbs off a big tree ober his back, but no use, couldn’t get him off a walk, an’ dere he goes now swingin’ ‘long like a feller on stilts. Beats all natur’.” 7s It was indeed so curious, that he paused to take a look at them. Just at that moment they were ascending a small swell; and, as they came in relief against the blue sky’ beyond, they were as plainly visible as at noonday. It was clear that none of them had a rider upon his back, nor was any one following, except him who was trying so valiantly to recapture them. What then was the explanation of this singular movement? Jim, who had suddenly resumed his running, as suddenly paused, for he had discovered some- thing. - _ ‘*Wal, dere! if dat don’t beat eberything! dar’s an Ingi a $9: in among dem hosses, or else dat switch-tailed mare has got six legs—one or ttoder!” It would have required a good ‘rend of eyes to notice this curious fact, had not the mare refer- red to at that moment fallen somewhat in the rear, when the singular addition to her means of locomotion e the usually large eyes of the Africau considerably larger. The fact was apparent that a red-man was among the quadrupeds, and inciting them to their rapid gait by some outlandish means which seems to come natural to the aborigines, and which, up to this time, had escaped the at- tention of the pursuer. Immediately upon this Spoverys Jim broke into a flercer gait than ever after the fugitives, s outing in his tremendous style: ‘Drop that hoss, I tell you! Drop that hoss, or ’ll make you!” Inasmuch as it was hardly possible for the marauder to hold up one of the equine speci- mens, if he chose to tumble, it was not exactly elear how he was to obey this command. On the contrary, the animals, including the mule (which having once got up a loping trot, didn’t exactly comprehend how to stop it), increased their and the indescribable whirrin howl with which he accomplished it, reach the ears of the exasperated pursuer. ’ he muttered, as he Oh! if I onky had a gun! jogged along, ‘‘ wouldn’t I pepper dem legs for | im! At this juncture, the und assumed a rougher character, and the animals were com- pelled to deviate to the left to a canyon, where the waters raged with such fury that the shrewd Mohave did not attempt to force them jnto it. Observing this, Jim took the hypot- essen = ae EE SS ne cl eee = -_— -—- ! goon The Boy Miners. enuse of the poor ap and went sailing down the course in magnificent style, gaining so rapidly, that he gave utterance to a joyous shout. ‘ClVar de track, or [Pll run ober you! comin’!” This startling intelligence did not have the effect expected, and the copper-colored gentle- man evidently concluded that all was not lost, for he still maintained his position between the two horses, and, just then, oe a fordin place, he fernbied! them turbulently in, and, scrambling up the opposite side, renewed the flight in the same admirable fashion. ‘*Dat’ere beats all natur’!” he exclaimed, in absolute amazement, as he witnessed the ex- ploit. ‘‘ Whoeber dreamed dare was so much go in dat mule?” The chase by this time had become interest- ing; but, if the Mohave had displayed some natural smartness in stampeding the animals, he now found himself at fault so far as regard- ed the mule; for this character, as he rattled down the canyon with a noise like the charge of cavalry, lost his unnatural gait, and, finding himself back into his natural one, it was impos- sible to change it under a furlong, seeing which, the charging body dashed forward with such a burst of speed, that the Mohave and his body- cae were compelled to leave him behind. ive minutes later, Jim vaulted like an ava- lanche upon the saw-like back of the mule. ‘‘Now, ole fellow,” said he, addressing the beast most affectionately, ‘‘ show ’em what you can do.” But the mule didn’t seem anxious to obey; for, although his enthusiastic rider thumped his sides with his huge heels until he nearly bounced off, the beast subsided into a moderate walk, as if he didn’t exactly comprehend the meaning of all this uproar upon his back, and all efforts to change his gait were useless. A man in a great hurry has very little patience, and it took but a little while for Jim’s to exhaust itself. ‘* You want de gold trick comed on you; dat’s what you do, an’ you jes’ wait till 1 get you home.’ Sliding off the serrated animal, he left him alone, and resumed the chase with greater vigor than ever. The few minutes’ halt which he had made, were precious moments to the Mohave, who, still keeping his body invisible, had improved them to the utmost; but the roughness of the ground was against him, and the African gained rapidly. ‘‘'Ye’d better drop dem hosses while you got de chance!” he shouted, as he came sweeping down with great velocity. A few minutes later, he observed a diminu- tion in the speed of the horses, and finally they walked, an. “©” stood still. ‘* You oughter ..andered sooner, den I might been cweect to show you some mercy; but I don’t know— Hullo! where be you?’ He might well ask the question, for, as he came in among the horses, there was nothing to be seen of the aborigine—he had taken the oceasion quietly to slip away, when he found himself compelled to relinquish his prize. | Jim stared all around, but could see nothing of him he sought, and concluded, under the cir- cumstances, it was best to make his way back as renee as sible. inks Taipei ‘nough to ’arn a ride,” he reflected; as he put himself astride the back of his own horse, and turned his head homeward; ‘an’, as dat darky ain’t anywhere’s about, I won't wait for him.” When the nature of the ground would permit he putthe horses on a good swinging gallop and in a short time encountered the mule walking leisurely toward him. Before this obstinate animal could be induced to take the right di- rection, Jim was obliged to get off his horse and ress his shoulder against that of the mule, until i had described a half circle, when he came round right, and was left to go without any other direction. The rider exercised himself awhile in endea- voring to get him off his walk, but he speedil gave that over as useless, and rode ahead, well aware that so long as he kept a linear direction the long-eared animal would eventually come up with him. It was not long before he struck the canyon, but at a point where it. looked unsafe to cross. Believing himself above the place where he had forded, he turned down its bank in quest of it: but, after going fully a mile, discovered his mistake, and was about turning back, when he caught a glimpse of a broad sheet of water, and suspected at once that here wasa lake into which the stream flowed. As the roaring, compressed canyon must end here, he kept steadily on, and I’s halted at the view of a scene so beautiful | that he was lost. and enchanting, that his untutored mind was filled with admiration. The canyon suddenly spread out into a broad rapid stream, which flowed into a lake of about a half-mile in diameter. Under the bright moonlight, it had the appearance of ‘“ liquid silver”—an expression by no means original, but so literally truthful, that we can use no other—and in the still summer night there was not a ripple upon its surface. In the center rose a small island, so abruptly, that, covered as it was with vegetation, it had the appear- ance of a bouquet, and would have reminded a traveler of the famous Lakes of Killarney. Jim noticed that the opposite shore was roc and fringed with trees, and the lake appeare to stand on the edge of a large wood. ‘Dat ’ere is nice!” was his reflection, as from the back of his horse he looked out upon the fairy-like scene. ‘*‘ What a good place dat would be for George to build a house. I t)ink we could run a bridge ’cross to de land, or hab a ferry: boat to run atween it an’ de shore, ‘Hullo! dere goes somebody,” he added, as he saw a canoe put out from the shore to his right, and head toward the island. The full moon had now sunk toward the horizon, so that the shadow of the trees and island were thrown far out upon the lake; and, as the single Indian who impelled the canoe issued from the broad band of darkness which lay along the shore, every motion of his dusky, musc arms was plainly seen. He managed his oar with such skill, that his body never seemed to incline a hair’s breadth to the right or left. The flash of the paddle seemed born of the paddle itself, as he held the point in the water instead of coming from his hand, as the tail of a fish is sometimes seen to move in the water, when its body re- mains motionless. The canoe sped forward without the least sound, but instead of haltin at the island, Jim observed that it passed behin it, and immediately disappeared, The African now drove his horses into the water, and crossed without difficulty. As he came out, he halted a moment to take a last view of the little gem which rose from the lake. The first glance nearly frightened him out of his wits; for, on the mp ee he saw a thin, waving, arrowy point of light rise to the hight of five or six feet, and then vibrate back and forth, as though held by a hand which oscil- lated from right to left. While he sat amazed, a second flame, precise- ly similar, arose from another point of the island, and then another, and another, until half a dozen were visible, every one issuin from that portion of the island which touche the edge of the water. It was indeed a small representation of what Magellan, the great cir- comnay gator, saw in 1520, when he sailed by Terra del Fuego. “T t’inks it’s "bout time Mr, Tubbs left dese parts,” chattered Jim, as, with a shiver of hor- ror, he started his horses homeward. CHAPTER VII. FLY-AWAY ISLAND. Jim had sp but a short distance, when, still fascinated by his great terror, he reined up his horses and looked back at the moonlit lake and the little island in its center. Could he believe his eyes? Yes; it was moving. He saw it slowly float toward the wood, until, un: ble to control his excessive fear, he once more gave the rein to his animal, and did not pause until he was far beyond sight of the e and its Enchanted Island. ; The negro rode a considerable distance, when, as objects around him be to wear a singular look, he drew his animals down to a walk, and, on the edge of a rocky grove of small trees, came to a dead halt. ‘Dis yere looks strange! I disremember dese trees; I’s afeerd Mr. Tubbs is off de track, an’ how ishe gwine to git on ag’in, am de ques- tion.’ The country through which he was journey- ing, was a broad valley, interspersed with streams and canyons, trees and open spaces, and huge bowlders piled promiscuously here and there, and in some places so thickly strewn as to. become almost impassable, There were acres where one could gallop as free as pon the beaten road, and then, for the same d ce, it was the utmost that a horseman could do to pick his way along. ei In the hurried manner in which Jim had made headway across the desolate tract, it was not to be supposed that he entertained a very vivid re- collection of the landmarks; but he had quite a memory of places, and after he had rested his animal for a few moments, he became certain Under these circumstances, Cbooks Col ss (Eo)