Beadle's Dime Library, No. 13 — page 17: what you’re looking at

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

i o----—— Se allers, you think you can spare it to an unfor- tinit devil who has lost his peltries and most of his traps in one way and another, atween [ngins and dishonest white men.” “ Jes’ so! Here’s a knife, here’s a stick, there’s a fire; you can cut, roast, and eat, to suit yourself.’ “Wah!” grunted Hendricks, and without farther invitation commenced operations, cooking and eating in grim silence. Patha way wa, well assured that the man was not a‘ his ease ; he did not eat as hungry men eat, swallowirg his food mechanically and without relish. Ilaving finished his meal, he slung his rusty traps upon his shoulders, and took his gun preparatory to taking leave. vu're welcome to stay, stranger, if you ean put up with our ’commodations,” said Nick. “Your weleome comes too late—just a leetle too late. You've pressed the cold shoulder agin me, Mr. Nick, and it'll be strange if our trails shouldn’t cross each other somewhere afore we die.” Hendrick’s gaze rested as if by irresistible attraction upon bastian, who had shrunk into a corner and was half hidden from view by the person of Portneuf. The lad’s weakness was yet upon him—that unaccountable excitement and pal- lor that sometimes rendered him an object of remark to Pathaway, whose ever-attentive eves allowed nothing to escape unnoticed. é tableau of which he formed a part at that instant interested him much. The ear- nestness of Portneuf, the dull fixedness of Jeanjean, the poorly-concealed dislike of Nick, together with the singular deportment of the boy, and the varying expression of Hendricks, were things that struck him as peculiar, and significant of mystery and distrust. _The ta shabby trapper turned on his heel, arted a sinister look at Nick, and muttering, “ When we meet again, perhaps I may be the entertainer and you the unlucky trapper. A good night to ye all. Wah!” endricks departed hastily, as if glad to be one, yet impelled by a strong motive to stay. ear of the camp, he walked off with a strong and hasty step, that indicuted neither fasting nor py inability. But his pres- ence had left an impression upon the parties, like that often induced by the notes of an evil bird upon minds that believe in signs and omens. ‘A strange visitor,” remarked Pathaway, wishing to break the oppressive silenee. “ And ( thought, too, that you slightly deviated, friend Nicholas, from your wonted kindness and hoepitality.” : “There is them in the world, Pathaway, that we take a prejudice agin at fust sight. Our two naturs quarrel, as ’twere, the minute they come within techin’ distance ; they're like ile and water; they can’t mix. In my case, that chap was one of ’em, and I’m glad he’s left us. I've been tryin’ and parplexin’ and spurrin’ my mem’ry to remember if I’ve seen im, and when and where.” Nick stroked his beard and gazed at the crackling embers at his feet. Sebastian stole to his side and whispered in his ear; he sprang to his feet as if a rattlesnake had wes oe An ominous frown gathered upon his before frees brow; his eyes flashed with sudden and deep indignation. He stood a moment with his teeth set hard together, struggling with amazement, incredulity, and au.ger—three foes to calmness that beset him at once. He took his rifle from its place as if he would crush the iron barrel with his fingers ; his muscular arm shook as he held it. The dog Calamity leaped to his feet and to hig master with a low, savage howl, which he re. at intervals. This metamorphosis in he person and prestige of Nick was so sudden that Pathaway was greatly surprised, as he had deemed the quaint trapper incapable of} such a manifestation. He no longer doubted —if ever he had been dubious on that point —that humor and strength of character might be united. “Mountaineer! mountaineer!” exclaimed Sebastian entreatingly and warningly, in a tone that had more firmness and energy in it than he had yet displayed before Pathaway. “ Do not g>! do not go, I say ?” “My pistils! my pistils!” said the trap- , hoarsely. “Nicholas! hear me, Nicholas! If you have regard for me, Nicholas?” added the youth, his voice growing clearer and stronger. “You hinder me—you hinder me!” an- Pathaway. a swered the trapper, impatiently. “ Every minute you ‘are delayin’ the vengeance of heaven. ‘“ Let go of me, lad!” Nick shook off Scbastian’s small somewhat roughly. hana -_----- “It is not for myself that I am speaking! it | 3? is for you, for you that I am pleading, turned Sebastian. “For me?” he responded, stretching out his disengaged arm. “For me? Is the life re- of Nick Whiffles, then, worth so much thac | it’s too precious to be risked in the cause of ee Is it of sich vally that it shouldn't e hazarded when the best of my natur calls to me to go forth to wipe out an old account, and punish therm as the Master o’ Life has set aside as vessels o’ wrath fitted up for destrue- tion ?”’ Nick looked commanding and notably ma- jestic in his honest and flaming indijnation. fe reached for his pistols and thrust ti.em into his belt as if he were driving daggers iato the object of his resentment. “Don’t follow him—don’t follow!” per sisted Sebastian, with increasing resolution and earnestness. “Foller? Il foller him to the #ads o’ the airth if I can place my foot on hie tail!” Nick turned to go. Sebastian sprang between him ay | the door. “ You shali not!” eried the you'h, authori- tatively, while his eyes beamed wth singular brightness. His clear accents th-illed Path- waif ick gazed at the boy a moment, then stooping with the quickness of thought, lifted him bodily, set him gently aside, and sprang from the camp, Calamity darting after him, sharing evidentlv in his excitement. Patbaway heard Nick say, ‘‘ Come, Calam. ity!” and before he had recovered from his bewilderment, the trapper’s steps had ceased to be heard. se CHAPTER XIV. NICK’S REMORSE. Sebastian, confounded for the instant, but quickly recovering, ran after Nicholas ; but erceiving the folly of pursuit, stopped and eaned against a tree, like one dizzy, sick,and faint. Pathaway looked about for his weapon ; while Jeanjean began to sing: “ Her eyes were like soft starlight gleaming At midnight, on the sleeping water ; Her face was ever on me beaming ; I could but love the trapper’s daughter. Oh, the trapper’s daughter !” Pathaway remained irresolute and undecided, so much was he affected YY the wild plaintive- ness uf Jeanjean’s song, following as it did the scene that had just transpired. “Ninon, ma jolie!” cried the Frenchman, covering his eyes. . Jeanjean’s glassy orbs flickered up like the flame of an expiring fire. “ Ninon, ma jolte!” he muttered, 4 went out again. Pathaway stepped to the door, and saw — SSS SSS SSS SSS sts iS reamily, and the fire in his eyes | 17 e horror of that man!” answered Sebastian. “Aid you have reason,” answered Nick- relapsing into his former fierceness. It is be, cause you have reason that my anger barns so savage agin him.” “ But to pursue him to-night,’’ remonstrated Sebastian, “would be to expose yourself to needless danger. You may be certain that some of his comrades are not far distant. Why should you, then, in seeking that retri- bution which Heaven will certainly vouchesafe, ‘se: your own existence? You must reach im by slow and wary movements ; by tireless watching; by learning his habits and his haunts: and I am sure there are those who will assist you in an enterprise so laudable.” “Many, many !” said Pathaway, drawing near. “Providing you refer to those lawless men who infest this region of country. I, for one, have devoted myself to the work, and wil] permit ne circumstance to divert me frem it. The person who has just left us I know not, but I perceived that his presence *“—here he looked at Sabastian—* affected some of us unpleasantly. I agree with this singularly seusitive youth, that to follow him to-night would result in no good. Prudence is as ne cessary as courage.” “Tt is hard,” returned Nick, slowly, “ to master a feelin’ that has been pent up In us a long time; but I a’n’t so wise that I can’t l’arn moderation, and take counsel from them that is my friends. I'll go to the top of yen- der hill, howsomnever, and I may see which way the critter goes; for my old companion, the moon, is shinin’ right beautiful.” With these words Nick and the dog—which had shown much impatience at this delay—set off toward the hill referred to by the former, leaving Pathaway and Sebastian together. Pathaway took the Jad’s hand. “You manifest,” he observed, “an extra- ordinary interest in yonder trapper. Were you his son, I might account for it, but as it 18, it is quite inexplicible. You are as dissimi- ilar in shafudor asin person. Whence, then, eprings this strange sympathy and friend- ship ?* a] have experienced his kindness in such , marked manner, that to have less affection for him would be black ingratitude. said Sebastian, “he once saved my life.” “ Boy, your hand tremblesin mine. Banish this effeminate weakness. Remember that courage is a necessary ingredient in humap character ; cowardice renders one pitiable.” The youth snddenly withdrew his hand, which was glowing as with fever. “Contemptible, you might have said,” he answered, with affected carelessness. “ But I am not such a craven as you may think me. My body may be delicate and girlish, but my spirit is brave as that of boys of my age gen erally.” “ What ts your age ?” asked Pathaway, now quite absorbed in contemplating and question- ing the youth. Nick returning softly, who, seeing Sebastian | leaning against the tree, hastened to him like | one stricken with sudden remorse. He touched the boy upos the arm, and said, tenderly : “ Forgive rough Nick, my child! rough Nick! He didn’t mean to wound you; “ Thirteen, perhaps ; possibly fourteen,” an- swered Sebastian, with hesitation. « ulder, older! And yet”—he spoke re- | flectively—“ you are young enough.” Forgive | he wouldn't ; he couldn’t wound you; it isn’t in his heart to do it. O Lord, no!” The trapper waited for a response, but re- ceiving none, and hearing his breathing grow shorter and shorter, added in alarm : “You are angry; angry with a man that would die for ye; and you a’n't angry, neith- er; you're faintin’. Don’t faint! don’t!” 8 J astian smiled faintly, murmuring : “T thought you had gone, Nick.” “Tam, child, Tam; and not gone, neither, but goin’. The fact is, I was summat rough with ye, and was afeard you might think on’t onpleasant- ly, so to speak. But you know ’twas for your sake that my natur was so stirred. J was think- in’ "—then, in a lower tone—‘ the man Patha- way is lookin’; he’s allers lookin’.” Then louder, that Pathaway might hear: “Cheer up, little un! I didn’t mean to hurt ye, I’m sure. Which foot was it I steppedon? Corns are p’ison things to have, cause they’re allers liable to be trod on. Have had one on my thumb toe goin’ on now twenty year, that’s werful full of animosity at times. There! go in, and don’t trouble yourself about Nick Whiffies.” Nick stopped and whispered : “Are you angry? Can’t you forgive my onpoliteness ?” “I so feared for your safety ! “Yes, young and petted, and fit only for the society of boys,” answered Sebastian, playfully. “ Boy!” exclaimed Pathaway, “ your face is to me a perpetual mystery, and your char- acter is equally bewildering. Nature made a mistake when she did not make you & wo man.” “I have heard that Nature never makes mistakes,” replied the lad, laughing. “Though you laugh, you are still excited. You are panting and trembling, as if fear was with you an unconquerable ‘niet rem e Come, come, boy, be semething besides a chicken ; for I cannot love a coward, though there are moments when I feel strangely attracted to ou.” “TI only ask that you won’t ridicule me,” Sebastian replied, vurtly. “JT should seek a different object for ridi- cule,” returned Pathaway, somewhat piqued. . There is Nick and that “Ah! look yonder. omnipresent bear. Observe that bruin stands erect upon his hind feet, and disputes, seem- ingly, the progress of Nick.” Sebastian looked, and beheld the object to which his attention had been directed. The bear was indeed standing strikingly straight, while the dog was walking suspiciously around it The man and the beast confronted each other a short time, then the former turned te I bave such | retrace his steps, while the latter walked let EOMMIUGL OOO) <S i Besides,” (E@)