Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 97 — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

a and sure enough one of the Harpes stepped out behind her, and held her up asash'..t before him, looked hard in all directions, and began to chirrup to the horses. Then he spoke to some one inside and the other brother appeared, both lurking behind the girl, and glid.ng along the base of the rock. It evidently was their object to reach their horses. The creature who held the girl in his brawny arm kept up a see-saw motion as he ran, whicb made it impossible to shoot without danzer to her. Passing the base of the reck, the bushes and trees would be so thick as to allow them every facility for eva- ding danger. In fifteen or twenty running leaps they were into the covert, signaling their horses to follow, while they stooped and dodged andran. It did not take the ranger long to de- cide on one step. His gun was a doubdle-bar- reled one, and he had, besides, King’s rile. He knew tne men were well armed, probably with istols as well as rifles. But if he could place hem on a footing with himself, he would at- tempt the odds of two toone. The girl had not strug7led or screamed, nor made any resistance, as slio was held up to shield her abductors. Old Hickory only noticed that she looked pale and stunned. The horses must have been under good con- trol, for they immediately started after their masters. This was tho ranzger’s opportunity. Two shots of the double-barrel, following so close upon each other as to seem almost like one, sent one of the horses rolling upon the grass in death-struggles, and the other flying, wounded and limping, off in‘ the woods. The fag set up a defiant yell, and disap- peared in the thicket, with their victim, *“ Now I’ve got ’em on ekal terms,” muttered Old Hickory, and in a moment he, too, was ‘‘covered” by a tree, and was dodging, stoop- g, and pursuing his enemies. He had only aited to reload his gun—but when he came up- on the spot where they had entered the wood, al trace of them was lost. That, as soon as possi- ble, they would break from the woods, steal somebo.ly’s horses, and be off, he had no doubt, It was highly important, then, that ho should keep the trail, and come up with them before dark. Skilled in Indian warfare, he had no dif- ficulty in the pursuit; all ke had to look out for was an ambush—and this, as they did not know whether they were followed by one or twenty, it was not probable tiey would attempt. CHAPTER VIL. ON THE TRAIL. Tue astonishment of Brutus, when he re- turned a little after sunset, and found no Old Hickory upon the eround, was intense. He broucht with him four hunters, whom he had encountered in the woods, and who were eager to join in the hunt after the dreaded Harpes. King had been sent on to the squire’s, with word to the family of how matters stood at that time. After cautious reconnoitering, nothing could be discovered of the ranger. One com- fort was, that his body was not tobe found. The dead horse gave some clew to what had been transpiring. It fully convinced Brutus that the Harpes had fled, and that Old Hickory was af- ter them. He therefore ventured to enter the cave. There was just light enough to show that it was deserted. A pile of hemlock bushes, a blanket, and the remains of food, looked as if it had been occupied at least several days. ‘Tf Hick’s arter ’em, he’ll get ’em—that’s all,” remarked one. ‘‘Oh, Lordy,” whimpered Brutus, ‘‘ why ecouldn’t I’a’ been along? Id liked no better fun and now I’ve got to missit! Who’s a bet- ter rizht dan dis chile to look arter de welfar’ of his own dear young missus? It’s right down mean for Old Hickory to go off widout lettin’ me know!” ‘‘ But, ef he’d stopped for that, I reckon you'd ‘a’ lost your missus, nigger, sure. So stop whimperin’, and look about. We may have a mee p the fun, yet. Hoorah! let’s look for the trail. The whole five were soon on the track of it; but it was now too dark to follow. There was nothing to do but to trust the Harpes to Old Hick, and to camp out where they were now, so as to be on their way with the first dawn of day. The cave being the dryest, they resolved to take up their abode in it. ! In the morning, as early as five o’clock, the little band were out in the woods, tracking the ath left by the four persons who had preceded them on the previous night. ~ How had the night passed with Old Hick? Knowing that not more than two good hours of , ———— The Outlaw Brothers. daylight were left to him, and that, if the Harpes got clear of the woods in the night, their escape would be easy and certain, he pressed forward, resolved that the girl should be res- cued, avd that the brothers should perish by his rifle. Excited as he was, and nerved to the —- -—-— -—_ __ arter I’ve seen you safe home, miss, I guess the other is done fur, anyhow.” It was a sore trial to the ranger to leave the bear he had boxed with so handsomely without taking the fellow’s skin; but, he consoled him- self for this, as wellas for the escape of the hichest tension of muscle and brain, he did not | realize that he was upon the eve of one of the most extraordinary adventures of his life. He had gone forward for some time; already the declining sun threw his ‘‘ golden arrows” throurh the trees, almost ona level with the horizon. He had just picked up a comb, such as women wear, which had either dropped from the girl’s hair, or been thrown down on purpose to arrest attention, when he heard, so far before him in the wood that the sound was faint as an echo, a woman’s screanw Then two shots were fired in rapid succession; and while he was puz- zling bis brains as to what it meant, a huge bear rushed out of the underbrush, coming directly toward him. The animal was wounded, and in a towering rage. Although sure of his rifle, the ranger did not care to engage with bruin at that critical time. He would rather rescue Miss Bella than slay all the bears in Kentucky. But Fate was obstinate. The bear saw him and came at him, furiously. Hick raised his rifle, but lowered it again. ‘‘ Tf I fire on the brute, they will hear me, and will pause to reconnoiter—at least, it will give them a warning of my whereabouts. I should- n’t like three beasts upon me at once. No, mis- ter bar, it’s got to be a hand-to-hand tussle, I see, So muttering, he dropped his two rifles, and drawing his huge knife, fell upon his knee, an awaited the onset. As the beast sprung upon him, he plunged his weapon into its snceitor but its claws were fastened into his shirt an flesh, and the two rolled over together. The hunter came up at the top, and again drew his knife, which had been wrenched from his hand, ard was sticking in the wound, and drove it again and again into the brute’s flesh. The bear had hold of his leg with his mouth, and would not be forced to release it by the pain of the wounds, while the hunter was in such a position that he could not strike at the animal’s heart or eyes. It was at this moment that a shot whizz- ed by his ears. He comprehended instantly that the Harpes had returned to see what had become of the bear, and were rejoiced in this opportunity to put an end toa worse enemy than bruin. Quick as thought he again rolled over, bringing the bear between him and hisad- versaries. A second shot, designed more for him than the animal, pierced the bear’s heart, riddled the ranger’s jacket, but left him un- harmed. The fierce clasp of the savage monster aight relaxed—the brave man felt himself free, al- though scratched and bleeding. Still somewhat sheltered by the bear, he cast his eyes about to see the exact locality of his rifles. Then, with nice calculation, he suddenly rose, made one bound, and was behind a tree, his weapon in his hand. Two more shots whistled harmlessly ast. , He felt, now, that, although one against two, the best of the fight wasin hisown hands. A series of maneuvers now commenced. The Harpes, convinced that but one person was on their track, seemed to resolve upon re- venge for the trouble he had made them, In attempting to make a circuit, so as to come in his rear and front at the same time, one of them e himself incautiously for five seconds, and the quick rifle of the ranger did not miss the opportunity. The man fell, apparently severely wounded. The other only wai for the fast- increasing darkness to protect him, when he darted off like a deer, the girl flung across his shoulder. It was impossible to fire while she was in that position; again she served as a shield to her abductor, Smarting and lame from his contest with the bear, Old Hickory gave chase, furious at the trick which prevented him from aig At last, in the gathering gicom, the fugitive stumbled, staggered, fell, dragging the girl down with him; but almost instantly she was upon her feet, and flew, with lightning speed, back, toward the ranger, who, she knew, was near, though it was already so dark that she did not see him. ‘‘Tree, gal, tree!” shouted Hickory. She sprung to one side, as a pistol-shot whizzed past her. The warning of the ranger barely saved her. Not pausing to see whether his fire had taken effect or not, the ruffian again dashed forward. ‘‘Let bim go,” muttered Old Hickory. did hope to make sure of him, and I will yet, | ser’us, arter all,” he add. murderers, by resolving to return in the morn- ing, with a band of friends, and scour the coun- try far and wide, It was now so. dark that the girl had to cling to her preserver in order not to lose him. As he had no guide, except the stars, which he could not always see, he was compelled, after trudging back for two or three miles, to camp for the night. The cold and darkness were both unpleasant and dangerous; _ fired; de shot took him in de shoulder. he was very sorry for the trembling girl, whom he could feel shivering, as she clung to his arm. He resolved to have a fire, quite certain that the > would take no backward xg 38 Should they do so, he was far off the track by which they came. They descended a hill, and at its base Hickory found a ravine which would uite effectually conceal the light of the fire rom observation. He then drew forth his tin- der-box, struck a spark into some dry leaves, and soon had a brisk little flame, and then a cheerful fire. He seated his charge before it, while he looked about for water, which he knew he should find somewhere in the hollow; for he was, as he expressed it, ““pretty nigh tuckered out,” being thirsty, hungry, and smart- ing from the hug of bruin, Fortunately his tough leather breeches had sustained the chief fury of the bear’s onslaught, by which means he escaped any very deep or dangerous scratch. When he had washed his wounds carefully, wet his head, and drank some water, he felt better. Gathering some hemlock-boughs for his com- panion, and. heaping the fire well with such fuel as he could find, he prepared his weapons for use, in case of necessity, and bidding his com- nion sleep, promised, to keep SAA over her. ‘or some hours neither of them slept, but fatigue gradually won the mastery over prudence, and both sunk into slumber, The earliest bird startled them to their feet; and thus it was that the re-enforcements had no more than started out, that morning, when they met the triumphant hunter with his prize. Brutus came running up and began a series of leaps and dances about the ope then sud- denly cast himself on his knees before his young mistress, caught her j Ses and kissed it, mp: ed up, and almost looked seriously savage, as he cried; “it war right Cown mean of you, Massa Hickory, for to send me off le way you did, jis’ for to go and reap all de glory, an’ not let ole Brutus do nuflin’ for de salvation oi his own missus. For she ismy own missus, so she is, an’ I'll prove it. Oh, Lordy! what for you let dat man be a-rescuing you? Didn’t you know I was a-comin’?” ‘“T didn’t care to wait,” said Bella; and de- spite her trials, she laughed at the absurdity of the idea, ‘‘Il was very glad to take the first help that came to hand;” and she gave the ran- ger such a look out of her dark eyes that he felt well repaid for all his efforts in her behalf. ‘““We'’re both of us on the p’int of starvation,” said the hunter; “so if you re’ly car’ for your missus, darkey, just fly around and git us some breakfast Be quick about it, too, for I want these chaps to jine me in huntin’ down them human painters.” Brutus had come prepared for just such an emergency, and produced bread and dried meat trom one of the capacious pockets of his jacket. While the two were eating, Old Hick laid out his plans, which were, first, for Brutus to take the horses he had brought and convey Bella safely to the squire’s; secondly, that he and his little band of hunters sho start after the Harpes. : ds Kell the squire and young King to rest eas in thar minds,” was the ranger’s parting in- junction to the two, as they started homeward; ‘‘one o’ them Villains is already hurt or killed and we don’t intend to come back till we find tother.” * . CHAPTER VIII. BRUTUS AND HIS MYSTERY. ‘Laws, didn’ Massa Hick tell you Massa King was hurt bad ?” exclaimed the servant, as he rode beside Bella, noticing that she nearly fell from her horse when he chanced to mention the circumstance of his injury. ‘*'No, he told me nothing.” ‘‘He was hit wid dat fust shot dem _rascals When I took him off he fainted dead away, an’ I’m “T | afeard he’s in a bad way, but mebbe not so ,as her face turned EOMmilcooo