Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 1036 — page 15: what you’re looking at

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

” to light again, I t ‘: Paul?’ No. 7, + ee en we ~~~ ee gee re ee eae ee ee ——— --——_—_ Sylveen was startled by these remarks. They puzzied her. ‘“‘ You appear to know Scott Shirely, Martha,” she said. ‘‘Know him? Alas, to my sorrow! I, Syl- voen, am his lawfully wedded wife, whom he deceivi2d, betrayed and tried to murder.” i Martha, is this really the fact?” “It is, Syi72en. He gave me that ring, so you see why ‘|. gave it to you, for when he thought he had drowned me, he knew I had the ring on my finger; and by his seeing it had come hought it might frighten the villain.” “Then he is a pirate?” ‘Yes; he is Pirate Paul!” A little cry burst from Sylveen’s lips. ‘“ Yes, he is Pirate Paul,” continued Martha. ** And ham here to dog his footsteps and bring him to justice. But the hour has not yet come for me to strike.” “But, how did you find out that he is Pirate ‘““Through a dear friend—E! Pardou.” “a “The victim of Death-Notch?”’ ‘“ No, the victim of the robbers themselves, fhey mistrusted him of being a spy, and having murdered him to avert suspicion, marked him and the tree under which he was found, with Wie totem of Death-Notch.” “'Phen von know where the robbers’ hidden en is?’ : ‘““fde. Thave been in it, and ere many days ass, it shail be made public, Shirely does not kno-v that I live. He would kill meif he did. My love for him has turned to hatred, and I am here for revenge. But, Sylveen, here is a slip pf paper and a pencil. Write a note and leave #ii here for Ralph. Ask his forgiveness, and for euother interview.” ‘* He might uever come for it, Martha.” ‘He was hore yesterday and tho day before. tle may como yet to-day. He cannot give up ‘ Pis love for you, dear Sylveen.” < ‘“Tiow do you know he was here, Martha?” \ ““T have a Spy on Shirely’s track. He saw f‘alph here. He saw him go each time and Jook Kito that hollow tree, as if half-expecting to find 3 gs mothing there.” ; ‘‘It is our old post-office,” cried Sylveen, a light of hope beaming in her eyes. ‘TI will write hima note and leave it here. Oh, Ralph! Ralph! [hope you will forgive me!” She took the paper and pencil and wrote a note, which, with a prayer of hope, she de- Sat posited in the hollow tree. eR mice : ‘hen the two wended their way back to the In less than half an hour later, that note was rend, but xof by Ralph St. Leger. CHAPTER XXIII, HE STRUGGLE IN THE CREEK. _ Tn8 two foes grappled in a deadly embrace ~ tvristing themselves together like twining ser- ou, in pliant and subtle folds, So swift were eir movements and evolutions that their bodies gered incorporated into one, For awhile no 3 o1e could have told how the battle went, for dicey fought at times beneath the water, and at other times they were enshrouded in a cloud of 4jaya and spray. For several minutes the conflict waxed hot. It was ovident, too, that the strength of both was fsiling, for this conflict was less desperate than if frst hed been. Still, neither of them had drawn a weapon, and the struggle would have ta be decided by main strength. Suddenly, however, several figures emerged trom the shadows of the woods, and gazed down \ om the struggling foes. They were savages, and a gleam of surprise and vengeance flashed from their eyes when they discovered the cause of ¥ the confusion in the water—saw their comrade fr combat with the old hunter—saw that the | tide of victory was slowly but surely turning S43 iw favor of the white man, Quickly one of their number sprung into the sreek and began wading to his friend’s assist- Sa JS ance, but, at the same instant, the rush of feet “was heard on the opposite bank—a figure shot trough the air, and landing on thesavage, bore him down in the water, Ji was the friendly Omaha, while upon the bank, facing the savages e'y the opposite side, stood the Avengers, with their rifles leveled full at the breasts of the red foe. a A bloody conflict was only averted by a yell of triamph bursting from Omaha’s lips, closely followed by another yell from the lips of Old ~- Phadow. - . The savages recoiled, and not wishing to en- = gage in a egle, the Vvengers did not follow hem ap ae ’e a Single shot, = Omaha and Old Shadow at once made their ance from the créek, A scalp was at has give and a glow of triumph in his dark | eyes Old Shadow bore no trophy of his con- flict ee ee mg With exhaustion. ao ie ; g ce you w : ” pelt Stef our young fri x “3 ere in, Shadow, a ® Death-Notch, the Destroyer. ee ee + re ee ee ee — — . _———- -— -- Satan. But I tell ye, lads, wind is skarse pout this old karkass, and hunger is purty pleniy. But [ve got a fine turkey out thar, and feel much like I could take half o’ it, feath- ers and all.” Omaha waded across the creek and procured the turkey, and then they all returned to where the Avenger's had lighted a fire. It required but a few minutes to dress the game in hunters’ style, then it was roasted to a crisp brown, and a goodly portion of it eaten with a sharp appetite and keen relish. After the meal was completed and the rem- nants of the turkey stowed away for future use, Old Shadow expressed his readiness to fight his way through to the Indian village. he littke band soon resumed its journey, and as the day advanced, the keen eye of Omaha detected a fresh trail in the yielding soil. There were the hoof-prints of two or three horses, and a numberof moccasin-tracks. Both Omaha and Old Shadow agreed upon their being made by a party of white men; and they all had rea- son to believe it was a party of robbers, pushing for the Indian village. The Avengers at once proposed to follow the trail, believing it would be & more practicable route to the Indian village than any other, for if it was the trail of enemies they would natur- ally select the best and nearest route known to them to reack the Indian stronghold. Omaha took the trail, and like a beagle freed from the leash, he led his companions forward at a dig pace, The day wore gradually away. It wanted an hour of sunset when a low whistle broke sud- denly from Old Shadow’s lips. The party came to an instant halt. ‘“What now, Shadow?’ asked one of ths boys. * Ah, that’s it,” he replied; ‘‘ you fellers are young and limber; yer hearin’ may be better than mine. Yer eyesight may be quicker and stronger than mine; age is goin’ back on me in them faculties that were onc’t as clear and bright as a May mornin’, but then I conceit that the sense o’ smell is better in me than in any man on the border, all hounds included. And now, as sure as my skulp’s over a warm head, there’s a camp-fire close about. I detect the fumes cf smoke in the air, and afore we goa foot furder, prepose we reconnoiter our sifua- tion. What’s yer virdict, lads?” ‘* Reconnoiter,” was the general response. “'That’s the cackle; if thar’s enny reds er- round, we'll set ’em up!” exclaimed the old hun- ter, and bringing the butt of his rifle heavily to the ground, he broke forth: ‘The ‘possum he grinned at the ole hedgehog, At the ole—”’ : ; But here a gesture, significant of silence, from Omaha, arrested his singing, and the next mo- ment he had relapsed into silence. CHAPTER XXIV. AN INTRUDER IN CAMP. More than an hour before sunset a party of about twenty persons went into camp in the solitude of the dense woods bordering the Sioux river. Most of the pare fact, all but two —were dressed and pain as Indians. ‘heir movements, their bs and equipments were purely Indian, but the anatomical construction of the facial outlines told that they were white men in disguise. The other two persons were females. They were captives, too, for their hands were bound before them and their heads were bowed in srief. They were young women, but exceed- ingly handsome, yet depressed in spirit and fa- hey with journeying. ~~ n the background two horses were cropping the foliage. Their backs showed saddle-mar]:;, and had, in ali probability, been ridden by the captive females, = ' The white Indians are lbungine about in atti- tudes of listlessness and security. They seem to fear no danger. The savage they know is their friend, and there are no write parties around of sufficient strength to endanger their situation. So they can rest with impunity there beneath the oply of the green forest trees, while their fair captives aay chafe in spirit over their confinement, for if Wihavail them nothing. sos A camp-fire is burning at one side, and one of the pale Indians is busy around it, broiling veni- son for their supper. It requires but a few minutes to prepare the meal, and when it is an- nounced as ready, the hands of the captives are freed from their bonds. Then tender slices of the venison are brought to them, not on a silver tray, but on large green leaves. One of the pier age © proffered viand—the other e § it, . “You had better take it, dear Sylveen,” bt Martha ide to her voting friend; ve you strength whi a dearest.” you mey.ae" retty, sad-hearted Sylveen Gray took the venison and ate it, and after 4 it he eng ; all it proved quite age POP oes P, 2, tha tee he exclaimed, “ve bet | delectable to her taste. It added stier oth to her ae tt war now, oul 7 rat in be , and in so dotng 1b ag ngthe her hope ae ee dockyments. au war tyi ) rbed | 0 en rescued from Pirate F and his ars = eae SUE. , the low-lifed hound ‘mini had effected the capture that “he 2 - Shee x, <3 ; - “as » in wy, 7 = ‘ ; ~ = 23 - a - Fas 4 ee “Tt. a ! nt< ret P ~ ? Sie, ES “se waa! . -~ a4 -* 7 : - > ; ~*~ - ~ ~ ‘spot. They falter. - i . fs Boge if I one’t 15 aor ee ee we ree re ee ee ae ee a eee morning while taking their usual walk in the woods near Stony Cliff. The disguised men ate their supper in silence, then resumed their lounging attitudes; some en- gaged in smoking, others in silent thought. Suddenly the whole band starts. Something like the sound of music reaches their ears, drift- ing through the forest aisles in notes faint as those of an Eolian harp—so faint as to be almost inaudible. z ‘* What the deuce is it, anyhow?” asked Pirate Paul. ‘* Music, captain, sure as you’re a sinner,” re~ plied one of his men, listening eagerly. “Whew!” ejaculated another, “‘ this must be aradise itself. The angels. are tuning their e next instant every man is upon his feet, Those enchanting strains, make all strangely anxious to know from whence such muted comes. ‘“'We can’t all leave at a time, boys,” said Pi- rate Paul, glancing in a significant manner at the captives; “‘part go at a time and we'll last longer.” Seven or eight of the pirates resumed their positions of ease on the ground, while the others stole away in the direction from whence the music seemed to come. As they move on and on, the sound gradu- ally grows plainer, clearer and sweeter. They move with the silence of phantoms, almost entranced by the ravishing sounds that come to their ears. Surely it is an enchanted Their wicked hearts grow cowardly. Something so sweet and heavenly in that music makes them feel as though they were approaching a hallowed spot with unclean spir- its. Finally they pause. But the music swells out, nearer and sweeter than before. They can not resist its seductive inspiration. It fascinates them. It draws them on and on, until the stand upon the banks of a little stream, enchan ed by what they see. A little opening or glade is before them. In the center of it stands a little vine-embowered cabin. A narrow path leads from the door through an archway of flowers and creepi vines, They run their eyes along the path, an just before them, where it touches the creek, they see two persons seated—a girl and a youn man. The former appears to them like an an ina dream. In her lap she holds a Spanish gui- tar, over whose strings her little white fingers are fluttering like snowflakes, calling forth these sp tr melodious eins Ss +5 ey wero enraptured; and that they mi have a fairer view of the place and its inhabi tants—that they might bring these sweet strains of musie nearer, they parted the foliage and red through upon the twain of lovers, Vida t. Leger and Fred Travis. Leaving them to gaze enchanted upon the wildwood beauty and her lover, let us return to the robbers’ camp, where Sylveen Gray and Martha Gregory are prisoners. As soon as the captives had finished their meager supper, their hands were rebound, They wero then fee in a small bower constructed for them of boughs and blankets. Here tho two women sat and talked over their misfértuno and probable fate. Sylveen was sad at heart and low-spirited, while Martha was Sopeees of being rescued, and defiant to her cap- ial | “Suddenly, however, their conversation was disturbed by a stranger voice that seemed to be a ing the camp, and singing, in a leud, jolly tone, the words: ~ “The ‘possum he grinned at the ole hedgehog, The ole hedgebor, the ole hed eit: gehog The *possum he grinned at the ole hedgehog, *Way down by the Squantum—” ‘* Halt, there!” suddenly rung out the voice of one ef the robbers, and the peremptory demand was accompanied ‘with the click of a gun-lock. Oid Shadow, for he the intruder was, ceased singing, and confronted the white Indian with apparent surprise. ‘By the royal voice of the woods,” he ex- claimed, “if you ain’t a sassy cuss, now! Whe are ye, ennyhow?’ “Me Ingin,” replied the outlaw, attempting to counterfeit bad English. . ““Now, ole buck, I'd hate to tell ye that yer tellin’ a snug little lie, but, She ite it’s a fact; youarea ginuwine, downright, flat-footed, bare-faced—” _ os _ “Be careful, idiot!” exclaimed the indignant see pirate; “ you might utter yer death-war- ran : ‘And you be keerful, ole mug- or Tl re al Ph like an ounce chunk o’ lead. Ole er, I'd have Pv know, ye villainous it across @ man’s Vision, , pass for the sulpher di ~Sae ouw’re an old, blab-mouthed fool,” retorted the robber, growing bolder as his friends gath- ered ‘* You measure o ! he’s ee bushel, I see,” replied the-old hunter: “but, Mister, what’s in that bower?” : 2 hae Ke your business,” returned the indige Cg Se Em“ TS og b ee ta RE ORS ae -~ ’ * 40-2 ad -- / ° =. = rare , ad ae Ss a oy Ah < * ‘ a OX @)