Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 1036 — page 22: what you’re looking at

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_horsemanshi 22 haunches, others seized the savage, and, drag- ging bim to the earth, bound and gagged him fore he could give the alarm. Nota sound, likely to create suspicion, was made. But, what now were our friends to do with him? His non-apnearance would soon bring friends into the defile insearch of him. Then escape would be inn possible. maha was put on the watch, and he saw that the savages on the plain had turned their heads and were watching the savage that was rid- ing over the prairie, though now and then they would glance anxiously toward the chaparral at the mouth of the defile. “What do ye say to do with the blarsted skunk, boys?’ asked Old Shadow; ‘come, belch out yer ’pinion, fur we’ve not a minit to ‘No, time is precious, This Indian must be ot out of here at once, or every red-skm will pen us,” “That's the cackle, and I perpose we send him outen here a-flunkin’, replied Old Shadow. = “How will we do it?” asked young. Har- ot. ‘‘Bind him on the back of this hoss, put a burr under the critter’s tail, turn him loose, and let it go outen the defile.” The savage seemed to haye understood the old hunter’s words, and the look he fixed upon him fairly caused him to wince. “Tt will be our only chance, boys,” Fred Travis said, in reply to the old hunter, “ and if it works successfully, the attitude of the savage on the horse may draw the attention of his ss so as to give us an opportunity to escape from the defile, and hide ourselves in the adja- cent chaparral.” ‘“'hat’s the cackle, Freddy,” said the hunter; ‘now, let’s lift the stinkin’ sinner to the hoss’s back, There, up he goes—steady, hoss! Here, one o’ ye pull off the critter’s halter and bridle to tie the varlet an with.” The bridle and halter were taken off the tremb- ling beast, and while St. Leger held him by the muzzle, the others bound the savage to the beast’s back. When the task was completed, the animal’s head was turned down the defile, then one of the avengers gave it a cut with a keen switch that sent it plunging in madness and affright _down the stony valley. Like an arrow it shot from the chaparral out onto the plain, and, with glowing eyes and di- lated nostrils, it dashed through the camp of the savages, trampling down the warriors that ap- peared in its path, and plunging wildly and madly on over the prairie. The savages stood dumbfounded and amazed. They could scarcely realize the perilous situa- et of their friend, nor the manner in which he gotten into such a dilemma. The change from the free rider to the helpless, bound pris- oner, as it were, was made so quick that they sould attribute his situation to no other source than his own free and fearless will. They believed he put himself in that position to 6a more startling aa of his feats of and wondert daring, but, when his cries for nw rung out over the plain, they supposed he had become entangled in the gear- ings of the animal. Wild with excitement, some of the warriors dashed away on foot in ‘pursuit of the flying steed, while those that took a second thought mounted their ponies and spurred away. Omaha, the look-out, at once reported the run of affairs. The camp was deserted by all but half a dozen warriors. _ * Tet us wait until the others are out of gun- shot,” said Ralph St. Leger; “then we can make a charge upon those in camp, drive ‘them off, and mount some of their best ponies and flee.” , ‘‘Bravol” exclaimed Old Shadow; “ you’ve got the right vim about you. A hoss will be quite an item to me, while to a hoss I’d be a mere shader.” At this juncture Omaha informed them that the savages were a quarter of a mile away in | a ee —-— The young Avengers headed directly toward the Missouri river, over five miles away. The plain, to the river’s bank, was an unbroken waste of smooth, level prairie, covered with a growth of tall grass, that brushed the knees of the riders. After an exciting ride the river was reached, but its banks offered our friends no advantages of defense; and, with a fearlessness and daring so remarkably characteristic of the true border- men, they spurred their animals into the turbu- lent current of the great river, and, after a fearful struggle with the waves, succeeded in swimming to the opposite shore, though the current had carried them over a quarter of a mile down the stream. But, before they had scarcely put the river between themselves and a foe, the latter appeared on the opposite shore. With a yell of defiance, the fugitives pressed on into the dense Nebraska forest. The savages, burning mad with a thirst for vengeance, pressed their animals into the water, and swam the river also, and continued the chase. For several miles now their course lay through a wooded valley, and our friends did not ride in a body nor line, but scattered out, so as to make The New York Library. a pe = oienentamnaineg mal by the hits and threw it back upon its | Vol. {. of the fire, now that it has carried me beyond immediate peril:” “Nor I,” repeated his companions. _ They galloped along at a slow pace, conver # ing in an undertone, when, suddenly, their jaded animals pricked up their ears and sniffed the air uneasily. “ Boys,” said Death-Notch, “ there is danger about. These animals—” He did not finish the sentence. A terrible sound rushed suddenly athwart the darkness. It was a sound resembling the roll of thunder-— deep-toned and awful—low at first, but gradn- ally gathering volume of sound. But it wasnot thunder. The sky was clear. Besides that, sound seemed rolling along the face of the earth. There was no doubt of this, for they could feel the Row. ground trembling under their animal?’ oofs. CHAPTER XXXII. A BUFFALO-CHASE, Tue day was two-thirds gone. Thesky we. clear and the sun shone hot and sultry. The great Nebraska plain lay glimmering wit waves of heat, as though an internal fire was burning beneath its surface. A herd of buffalo along a small stream that their trail more difficult to follow. But, in so | found its way into the Platte river, was the only doing they endeavored to keep within sight of each other, After an hour or more riding through the woods, they debouched into a great Nebraska ylain, stretching away for leagues and leagues into the hazy distance, : Death-Notch was the first upon the plain, He drew rein. from the woods on either side of him, until all were present but Old Shadow. They waited for him, but he did not come, and the party were sorely uneasy about him. Seeing he cid not make his appearance, Ralph St. Leger asked: “Who of you, boys, saw him after we scat- tered out?’ * Faith and mees see’d him once, and it was far behind he was,” said Phelix O’Ray, ‘for it war a sorry ould divil of a baste he war riding. He war using heel, whip and tongue to make the critter keep up, but about played out he war, sure now. Mees s’pects the red niggers hev got the poor old bag-ov-bones.” ‘Too bad, too bad,” said Fred Travis; ‘ but hark! I hear the yells of the red demons—they are in the woods—they are after us! Let us away.” They again turned their animals’ heads west- ward and rode on. Ever and anon they looked back in hopes of seeing Old Shadow emerge from the woods, But their hopes were in vain; he came not. But they did see the savages come out of the woods on their trail. They were over two miles away, yet our friends could see that they were not pursuing under whip, but riding leisurely on. Our friends aimed to keep the same distance between themselves and the savages. This they were enabled to do, however, without riding as hard as usual. The sun declined slowly westward. It wanted an hour of sunset when they discovered that the savages had given up the pursuit entirely—that they were nowhere to be seen. ere was some- thing singular about this—something which ee at them to believe it meant them no ood. ° It was now sunset, and they were debating the subject of going into was Some were in favor of continuing on, but before they could decide upon either course, they suddenly dis- covered a dense black smoke rolling heaven- ward far behind them. “ What does that mean?’ asked one. ‘‘ Look,” said Omaha, pointing down at the ground. All saw at once what he meant. Although it was midsummer, and the plain was covered with a growth of green grass, the old fog, or last year’s growth, still remained, and was dry and combustible as tinder. It was thisold grass that their savage pursuers One by one his companions came | object to be seen upon that plain. The shag beasts were pees with heat. Some were wal- lowing in the creek, others lolling beneath e fringe of willows, while others were rummag~ ing about in the tall grass with restless impa- tience, They seemed to rest in perfect security, for not even a skulking coyote was to be seen. Far away upon the crest of a prairie wave, however, a pair of black eyes weie cagerly watching them. They were the cyes of an Ine dian warrior. But, why should he be watching the buffalo? He kept his black, covetous eyes upon thems for several minutes, and when he had assured himself that they had not detected his presence, he turned and crawled away through the grass, and when the crest of the hill concealed him from view of the buffalo, he arose to his feet and continued a few paces further on, when he came in sight of a band of mounted warriors drawn up in line in the valley below. With his hand the Indian motioned to them, whereupon the whole party, numbering some thirty, galloped up the hill and drew rein before their scout. The latter quickly communicated to them the position of the buffalo, and the way by which they might be approached as near as possible, without giving the alarm. The savages were not all red-men. There were whites and half-breeds in the party, but they were no less savage and brutal-lookin than their companions. They were all well- mounted, and their trappings showed that they were a hunting party. Some carried rifles, asiig lances, and a few carried lassoes of Trew, ride. No ‘sooner had the scout given the situatio, of the herd, than the whole band moved cau tiously around the hill, thereby availing them selves of every possible screen that would enable them to approach nearer the buffalo without being seen. As they were to the leeward of the herd, they succeeded ip getting -within two hundred yards of them when an old bull detected their presence, an with a snort, he dashed along down the creel with a low bellow, arousing his companions from their noontide siesta. | Then forth from the cool shade of the willows and the water, the buffalo went pouring in one continual stream, their hoof-strokes sounding like the sullen roar of thunder. For fully a mile along the creek the huge, shaggy beasts came charging out from among the willows with a snort and bellow, and swept away over the plain like a mighty wave, rising and falling with the undulations of the great prairie. With whoop and yell the savages gave pursuit sressing their animals forward at the top of _their speed. For over a mile the chase continued with but little advantage to the pursuers, for upon such — ° - va had fired, and the light breeze was carrying it hot pursuitof the flying steed and its hapless directly toward them. There was nothing to a hot, sultry plain it was impossible for either en. | : “Then, forward, boys,” exclaimed young | be feared from this fire but suffocating by the | man or beast to exert themselves to their ut-_ Travis; “‘make your aim certain, and your hot, fetid smoke. most fora great length of time, And among ‘| ‘The green grass would keep the flames in check, | those thousands of shaggy forms it was impos choice of a pony good.” Like sha tows the Avengers glided from the defile, through the chaparral, out onto the ¢ en followed the clash of fire-arms, mingled with yells of terror and shouts of victory. _ The savages that do not fall under the Aveng- pre’ fire flee across the plain, while the white foe dash through their camp toward their _ It required but a few seconds for tho men to galect a good pony each and mount it; but, by this: tinge. the -obher savages had discovered what was going on at. and had sible for the weak ores to hold out with the stronger, and soon the pursuers saw that sfrag- glers were falling in the rear. There were both cows and calves among the lagging, but the latter were the most desirable of all for food. The savages pressed on, and two or three fine 3 calves were soon secured, but it was a prand a and not until darkness fell would the chase close. The herd spread out over the plain with a. | front of a mile, and as the shadows of evening =; came on and the air grew more vibrant, the unding of the hoofs on the plain fairly shook ys. it to its center. . from sweeping onward like an irresistible wave, but the smoke arising therefrom would soon cover the face of the great ous and make it impossible for one to live an breathe under it. This the savages knew, and they had fired the prairie with the intention of smoking the Avengers across the plain, and in all proba- bility, into some trap which they had or would have prepared. rene As the shadows of night continued to gather, the light of the burning prairie began to shoot athwart the sky, and roll in dull, lurid waves down toward them with no little ra idity, #3 r,” sai tee i turned “a ’ : bask upon the Avengers. But the latter had} “Let us press on, bo = tive ' 7 5 got several Dg ey te and the ponies that | young. Travis; “if the’ ‘ind should gain | Still the hunters pressed on. One by onethe — tay did not appropriate they managed to stam- strength, it will seatter the smoke over the | herd fell. The trail lay strewn with carcasses; ea ee. | hole plain and. suffocate us. If, however, we |'some had been shot and others impaled with: _” Still there about thirty of the purs she 1 come to a water-course we might m lances. The chase once over, the hunters wil ~~ -— quat wore’ mivunted, and'e wild, Bot chase at | a halt and escape the dangers of the fre, But T | g,beck an sroure re meek desraleof ties oma bega: Nh will not consent to desert my pony to the mercy © % Rbadars “A vemim, Oe er SS dag NT == Soe GES. ee a By SY aa a = ha n= Ses NO = Aen ey ee ae 8 eis re * eee < + te ~ _— a> 2 fe yb, vee ane per = aor SI Th | O (©) ©} : © ~s an , _ “ an, < < ~ he ‘