Beadle's Half Dime Library, Vol. 1, No. 2 — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

ee ee ee a a ie ee ee Beadle’s Half-Dime | Libr “From the settlements—then who are these ene- | mies? You have told me too much, young man, not to say more,”’’ added Warren, suspiciously. - ! How can you make me tell more than I wish to admit of my own free will? Do you think I fear death? Don’t try to ride over me, rough-shod, stranger, or you'll get hurt.’’ sneered Ca oe ** We're losin’ time, boss,”’ put in’ Chris Camp, un- easily. ‘The wimmen may be in danger.”’ ““You are looking for two ladies—and a youn man?” abruptly demanded Campbell of the emi- nt. ‘““Yes—my daughter and niece, They were run away with—”’ “They are safe enough, old man, though they had a narrow esca Wait—you can ask questions af- terward. I tell you they are safe enough. If you an- swer my questions freely, then I'll tell you something that may be of use to you. First, do you know any- thing of a man named Mat Mole; middle-sized, blac hair, eyes and beard, hook-nose, rather good-look- ing, about forty years old?”’ *No—I don't reco e the description.”’ “You have asbrother in California, who wrote for you to come out there, to join him in business?”’ “Yes, but how could you know this? I—”’ “IT do know it—that’s enough. Listen now, and mark what I tell you. This enemy. He has followed you from Omaha, with a band of land-pirates. I acted as their guide, because I knew we would see something of the Blackfeet. We have driven you from the right trail, by false signs, which were read to you, as we intended, by a man Mole has in ray camp. To-day Mole was joined by a band of Blackfeet; that’s why I have de- serted him. To-night they mean to attack you. You will find all hl spare ammunition destroyed. That is to be the work of Mole’s man, your false guide, who calls himself—” ‘*Easy thar, old man—you're wuss'n a rattler, fer he shakes his tail afore he strikes!’’ yelled Yellow- stone Jack, and a man was hurled headlong at the young scout’s feet, a long knife flying before the quivering form. ‘** Brindle—Hoosier—close up! He saved our ba- con—ef these chaps mean to bounce ‘im, they must take us fust! Sock it to ’em!” added Jack, spring- ing before Nog mae with drawn weapons, promptly backed up by comrades. The emigrants started back and drew their wea- ns. Fora moment there seemed a fair prospect ole is your deadly | | i or another duel to the death, only between those of | the same color. “What do you mean?”’ demanded Warren, of Jack. “What ’d he mean, by tryin’ to stick the young fellow here? From behind, too—the pizen snake!”’ ‘“*Tt’s true,” observed Russel. ‘I saw it all.” * Wait,’’ uttered Campbell. ‘“‘This man must be the guide I spoke of. None other could have an motive for stopping my tongue. If so, his name is Chris Camp.”’ * That is his name; but he came to us well recom- mended.”’ “* Exactly so—from Mole, who signed himself Cap- tain Luke Harding, U. 8. A.,”’ sneered the young scout. ‘‘ But there—I have warned you; heed it or not, as you please. You will find your friends either on their way to your wagons, or at the head of the upper pass. I left them there two hours since. our horses and wagon, though, are at the bottom of Chetish canon.” ** You will lead us there? I will pay you—”’ *“T work for revenge, not pay. These hunters can Say you. Good-by, now,” and Campbell strode rap- away. For ttle I’d stop him,’’ muttered Warren, doubt- ing] .. “*I don’t half like his story.” You must walk over me an’ my pards, then, boss,” yee returned Jack. ‘‘He saved our ha’r, an’ shell hev fa’r play, ef it costs a lawsuit. I reckon you'd better look to that snake yender. I hit him chug, but his head’s harder ’n a nigger’s.”’ Camp had partially recovered from the heavy blow dealt by Yellowstone Jack’s iron fist, and hur- riedly secured the knife that had fallen from his —_ It was this movement that drew forth the o— exclamation. arren seemed in doubt what doto. The words of the stranger, added to the scout’s attempt yA his life, had made some impression upon his mind, et the guide had played his part so well as to gain e good opinion of nearly all the emigrants. It did not seem possible that he could be such a double-dis- tilled traitor to the men whose bread he ate. ‘““Who was ‘t hit me?’ growled Camp, glarin phere upon the little party, an evil light in his blood. shot eyes. “You needn't look no furder ’n me,” promptly re- plied Yellowstone. ‘I hit ye—jest as I woul other snake as I see’d crawlin’ up ahind a man to strike ‘im unbeknown, like. Ef a feller wants to be so pizen mean, he ain’t wuth bein’ treated like a hu- man critter.”’ ** Better pray ‘at the fancy don't cost ye too dear, young feller,”’ grinned Chris Camp, with a sickly smile. ‘*I don’t gen’ally = a blow very soon. Mebbe I’m slower ’n some, but I al’ays pays my debts—I do, so /”’ **T lent ye the lick out 0’ pure love, old pizenness. I'd do a heap fer ye, I’ve taken sech a fancy fer yer in- nercent-lookin’ mug; I hev, so. But yit, ’'m ’com- modatin’ to fri‘nds. *F you think you owe me any- thin’, now’s y’ur chaince to settle. Rifle, peeps, or butcher—a-critter-back or afoot, white man’s style or fashion—jest say the word, and Yellow- stone Jack’ll do the best he knows to make it inter- estin’ fer ye.”’ “Not now; [said I kin wait. You look like you was a man. I'd like to do © 96 nigh pasar kin. Wouldn’t ’sult ye by fightin’ ye at e-cock ‘% so to speak. You lent me a mule-kick. My head’s dizzy, my han’ tremb’les, an’ I don’t reckon I could fetch out your hull style as I'd wish. Onless you’re pressin’, we'll wait a bit—say ontel mornin’,”’ drawled Chris Camp. “Right you air! One thing fust—I fergot you’d promeesed old Go ee ie ahh the varmint’s name—to spile these fellers’ powder,” laughed the aes ge “Some folks ’d say a man was a durned fool to o an’ drive the nails in his own coffin—but you on’t ‘pear to think so, Yellowstone Jack,” and the — smiled again—a peculiar, sickly smile that ded danger. **“Come,” impatiently interrupted Warren, “you can settle this quarrel some other time—or now, if you wish, but we can’t stop to see it. If there is any truth in what that man said, we have no time to lose here. He said you men would know the way to a upper pass. Is there any nearer way than by goin along this pass, then up the other?”’ “Not fer hosses. I'll show ye the way, ef so be ou'll wait long enough fer us to plant poor Heely ank hyar, whar the reds won't stum’le over his top-kno ; *Make haste, then. I'll ride on to the train and see if they have got back. If they have, I'll send word to you where the canyon divides.” arren rode rapidly away, and the emigrants busied themselves in looking after their dead and wounded. Three had been killed—making four with Gila Hank, the Trapper. They were all single men, since Minnie and Ada were the only women accom- pony the train, and so it was deemed best to ury them where they had fallen, rather than to carry them to the wagons. “It’s rough lines on us, boys,’’ said Yellowstone Jack, sadly, as they composed the limbs of the dead trapper in a deep cleft in the rocks. ‘Two boys rubbed out in one day—hafe of our party in a week. ’Pears like this was goin’ to be a costly trip fer us.”’ ‘*Hank went under like a true mountain man, jest as he’d wished fer this many a year. He made his coup fust. I don’t reckon the varmints ‘ll hev much to brag on, when all’s counted. But thar was Chavez —he didn’t die right. I’m dub’ous his sperrit ‘ll ha’nt us,’ muttered Brindle Joe. ‘**Not ef J kin help it. To-morrer I'll take the trail —I'll try that witch—spook—whatever the critter is —an’ see ef I cain’t rest pore Mexy. Ef I kin borrer a silver dollar, to run up, I'll be all right,’’ said Yel- lowstone, thoughtfully. ‘**Goin’ to jine in wi’ these fellers? Ef what that feller—the Blood-Drinker—said is true, I reckon thar’s goin’ to be the tallest kind o’ fun round hyar *fore long.”’ ‘* Ef they needs it, Hoosier, mebbe we'll lend ’em a hand—but not inside their durned corral. I fights free, 7 does.” “Whar’s that pizen snake—the critter you hit, Jack,” demanded Brindle Joe. ‘I don’t see him—”’ “Yender he oereey me—too late! He's under kiver. So much fer bein’ a durned fool! Ef I'd hed my way, he’d ’a’ croaked ‘fore this. Wal, they'll hev one more to fight, that’s all,’ disgustedly cried Yel- lowstone, as he saw the form of the traitor guide vanish among the rocks. Chris Camp had indeed slipped away while the men were busy with their dead. Pursuit was idle, considering the route he had chosen, and the party at once entered the pass. At the division they met Warren, who spurred up, pale and breathless. Nothing had been seen or heard of the women, and dreading the worst, the party rode on through the i’ pass. ey saw blood-marks, traces of what might have been a death-struggle, but nothing more. Warren ed with agony, and nearly fell from his animal. ‘** Don’t take on so, boss,’’ said Yellowstone, sooth- ingly. ‘‘Mebbe they’re all right yit, an’ hyar’s me = my mates is ready to take the trail—or ruther to unt or the one we've lost—an’ ef Son above airth, we'll find ‘em. Meantime you’d better go look to the wagons, for you’ll smell burnt powder afore mornin’, sure. Corral them by the spring, under the ight . “a keep good watch, ef you want to see day- ag’ » on Tpay you—I have money—”’ “Wait ontel we do the Soe stay; ef you hev a “a dollar—thanks ! sun’s most own.’ Warren finally yielded, and rode back to the wagons. ow go—the CHAPTER XI. SCOUTING AND FIGHTING. **I RECKON I’m up a stump, fer once,”’ grunted Brindle Joe, disgustedly rubbing his head. “A owl couldn't foller a trail now, even a’ter ‘twas found, which this ’ne ain’t, by a pesky sight!”’ **'F these ee oes *d on’y wore shoes like the hosses—but t ain’t enough on ’em to make a trail on fresh snow. I reckon we’re played, boys,” com- mented Yellowstone Jack. “I’ve got a idee, mebbe ‘tain’t wuth much; I don’t let on to be much a’count, onless it is on a trail. But I don’t reckon thar’s anythin’ else we kin do, sence the varmints ain’t a-goin’ to trouble the train fer some hours yit, anyhow? What say, boys?” ““Reckon you'd better let us see this idee, fust; then | mebbée we kin tell better,” dryly observed oosier. ‘*Was thinkin’—but thar, You heerd what that feller said—him as called hisself the Blood-Drinker. Yuu kin tell es well es me whether he was lyin’ or no. You kin see, too, that somethin’ has gone over the ridge o’ the kenyon hyar. Mebbe it’s | oaly the hoss-critters—-~mebbe the sss rsssstssslrsssssseseseenssteleneneennsnesams SN eee was in the wagon. ary. Thar’s on’y one way to settle that—by takin’ a look where the outfit gal-critters trappers were forced to stopped. It’s dark now to look further fer a trail on these rocks, We kin go up the kenyon to a point whar we kin git down it, take a look at what thar is b’low hyar, an’ git back in plenty time to take a hand in whatever fun thar’ll be goin’ on at the train yender.”’ ‘*Sound hoss sense, an’ well put, Brindle Joe,” cried Yellowstone. ‘I reckon I know the right trail; come on.”’ Indeed, there seemed aeracr. & else that could pos- sibly be accomplished that night. For over an hour the three pe yh had been closely searchin he ground in the vicinity of the upper pass, withou success. The flinty wet sod retained no footprints. The perilous trail followed by the fugitives had been overlooked, for the trappers could not know that a Blackfoot chief had been guiding them, and there seemed scarce oy | for a cat below the escarp- ment. They n doubt the truth of what Campbell had told them—to believe that the depths of the canon contained the corpses of those they sought, Yellowstone Jack led the way, proceeding rapidly, for a considerable detour must be made before they could reach a point where a descent into the canon was possible. And, despite the mere losses they had sustained, not one of the trio but was anxious to take part in the anticipated conflict at the corraled wagons. Somebody burnin’ powder,’ suddenly uttered Yel- lowstone, The report of a rifle rung out upon the evening air, its reverberation awakening a thousand echoes among the hills, until one could fancy the skirmish- ing line of an entire army at its deadly work. The trappers tried to settle the point from whence the shot bac one but in vain, The thousand echoes completely bewildered them, and a few moments later they resumed their course. It was this shot that hurled Frank Maynard down the canon, For nearly an hour the trappers pressed on, with- out further interruption, but then Yellowstone ee quickly aside, crouching behind a bowlder, ssing: * Cache, boys, there’s a varmint just ahead!” “*Easy, friends,” promptly replied a clear, not un- musical voice, from the gloom beyond. ‘ There’s no quarrel between us, that I know of.” ‘Who air you, then?’ demanded Yellowstone Jack, . **A friend to all those who are not in 1 e with the accursed Blackfeet. You saw me to-day when your comrade was rubbed out,” ‘The feller what called hisself the Blood-Drinker —but don’t trust him foo fur,” muttered Brindle Joe. ‘“"F you're alone, step out. I reckon we've got a crow to pick wi’ you,” added Yellowstone, uncock- ing his rifle. ‘Iam alone, but I’m not afraid to trust you, I set you down for true men, to-day, and I'm not often deceived in a man,’’ quietly said Campbell, ad- vancing. “Folks is sometimes peskily bad fooled. You _ don’t look like your tongue was crooked, Bf you put a = a false trail to-day,’’ dryly replied ack, “There is some mistake here—”’ * Jest what 7 thort—a blamed big one, too. Didn't you say you left them gal-critters all safe? Then whar be they? They ain't whar you said, nor at the emi t many “fT told you the truth. I saved them from being dashed into the canon, by shooti one of their horses. They were all right whenI left them. Be- sides, I warned them of the presence of enemies. It may be that they have been captured. These hills are swarming with their enemies, both pale-faces and Blackfeet.”’ ** Look here—you say you've quit these fellers!”’ ‘““Yes—they have banded with my deadly enemies, the Blackfeet. For ten years past I have never miss- ed an opportunity of taking a Blackfoot’s scalp; is it likely, then, that I would fight with and for them, now?”’ “Will you lend us a hand, then?” bluntly asked Yellowstone. | ‘*In what way?” **'We was goin’ to take a look in the kenyon—” “That would be a waste of time. Those you seek are not there. If they have not reached their friends, then some of Mole’s men, or some of the Blackfeet have captured them. I will do better. I will show you their camp.” ‘**T don’t know much about ye, stranger. You talk nk o’ you as a traitor. slick a gt an’ I'd hate tot be three fellers nigh to ye, who’re tol’able ellowstone But thar’ quick on the trigger, an’ who kin hit the bigness of a man when it’s cluss enough,” slowly uttered the eeppe®. ‘**Nor am I used to such threats. I don’t ask you to trust me. You need not accept my offer unless you gee ag Hak gad Campbell. ‘°F you mean right, thar’s no ‘fense intended. What say, boys? Shall we go wi’ him?” ae “You ne! tre ae Ps: ee op eh talk that a-way,’’ promptly re rindle Joe, and Hoosi - timated a Sadler belief. oo ‘**Come, then; the trail is a roundabout one and the coyotes will soon be creeping up to surround their prey ” tersely added Camp leading the way, at a rapid pace, hough the sun had set clear, the heavens were rapidly becoming overcast, and the full moon o shone forth at rare intervals. Vernon Campbell led the way with acelerity and promptness that told how well he knew the country, and even the well trained admire his noiseless progress. NOVO KS COMMU (EO) NL SN