Beadle's Dime Library, No. 13 — page 18: what you’re looking at

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

—_ a ee i a a a = - taro _ ar 2 13 a — ~~ — ee sarely away. As the trapper approached, Pathaway strolled meditatively in another direction, Sebastian watching him earnestly as he went. The gray hunter was in one of those half- melancholy, halfcomplaining moods that of- ten visit persons of a certain temperament. He wished to be alone, for there are seasons in life when solitude is a luxury preferable to the allurements of human society. He felt his nature deeply stirred within him without know- ing why. ‘The youth gave him both pain and pleasure—excited both admiration and con- tempt; yet that contempt was so modified with compassion, so transient in duration, and so seldom experienced, that the word express- ed infinitely too much, Sebastian was evi- dently a link connecting him with the past, in some way Known to himself only. Possibly he possessed a face bearing similitude to one that had entered the charmed cirele of his life at some period of his past history. The lad’s skin bore the signature of two races; one, a persecuted and little-cared-for race. How, then, could such a youth revive memories of former days? Bochats it was the extraordi- nary beauty of his face that pointed as an in- dex to the past. The true key to his feelings, however, at present we are oly left to conjec- ture, Proceeding to a spot where he was concealed, apparently, from human observation, he sat down upon a iuxuriant carpet of grass, and indulged in that train of reflection that cireum- stances had called up, the moon shedding he mild light around him, and a host of silvery stars looking down upon him through fields of immeasurable space. CHAPTER XV. BILL BRACE. A figure working its way through the tan- gled grass; a form crouching behind bushes ; a grim shape hiding behind rocks; a dark shadow creeping close to the earth; a head, now raised, now depressed ; eyes shining with the cunning of the mousing cat and the eager- ness of the hungry wolf; a strong and vindic- tive arm, and a hand clutching a knife. Bill Brace, after his combat with the gray hunter, had been conveyed by his companions to a deserted Indian lodge in the neighbor- hood, to recover from his injuries; and to meditate too, as it proved, on the means of re- taliation. It was not the nature of this hy- brid to forgive the man who had the nerve and muscle to conquer him. He considered it an insult that could be balanced by the life of his vanquisher alone—nothing else would be an equivalent. Bruised in body and spirit, he tossed on his blanket in the lonely lodge, thinking more of vengeance than recovery— wishing for the latter only because it was ne- ceesary to the former. Supplied with food and other necessaries by his comrades, he assed several days in comparative solitude ; en Joice and Zenas Beck being absent most of the time—usually not returning till night, and not uniformly at that time. Gifted with a body of iron hardihood, and an unimpaired constitution, a few days sufficed to put him upon his feet again. Although not fully re- stored, and still sulfering from his recent flagel- lation, he commenced searching for Pathaway ; and discovered the new camp of Nick Whiuf- fles on the afternoon of the day upon which the visit was made to Trapper Valley, and Portneuf rescued. Coneealed in the bushes he witnessed the return of the parties; and from that moment, his wrath burning with ‘fresh fervor, he watched the little camp with tireless intensity, waiting an opportunity to ex- ecute his sinister design. The comune and de- parture of Hendricks, with the attending cire cumstances, produced a diversion in his favor. He saw, with a malignant joy known only to such as he, Pathaway leave Sebastian and Nivk, and seek the solitary spot of which men- tion has been made. It was Bill Brace that crouched in the grass —that hid behind rocks and bushes ; it was his burly form that crept, shadow-like, close to the ground ; his head that was now raised, now depressed; and his vengeful arm that held the glittering steel. How patient is vengeance in the pursuit of its object; and how shriaking, timid, and impatient is some- times virtue when engaged in the best of causes How happens it, | wonder, that the bad pas- sions often burn more deeply, and possess more iron energy of determination, than the ood ? The heart of Bill Brace beat fast with ex- pectation. There was a wild, malevolent ex- citement in his breast, as heewormed, serpent- like, along the earth, and drew nearer to the victim of his resentment. He felt that sav- age delight that the Indian experiences when lre tears the scalp from his fallen enemy. It was fortunate for Pathaway that the man had no weapon but his knife ; for the distance was now so short between them, that even a pistol would have proved a fatal instrument in the practiced hand of Brace. He crawled on—on hand, on knee, now bent like a worm, now prone on his face—seeing, knowing, realizing, and absorbed in but one thing, and that—murder! Every sense was strained up to that; every nerve and muscle was enlisted in that. Nearer-—nearer—but a few yards from Pathaway’s back! No noise had betrayed his coming: no rustle of leaves ; no tell-tale crackling of twigs; no careless striking of feet against loose stones. Bill Brace arose and walked upon his knees, with his weapon raised for the fatal blow! The gray hunter was stil unconscious of danger: he sat leaning forward, his eyes fixed gloomily upon the ground ; his Sona and fancies might have been far away. Brace was within thing distance ; he threw up his arm yet higher—it was about to fall! The weapon was not fated to deseend—at least in the manner intended. Sebastian De- launay sprang between the two, and received the point of the weapon in his arm. The baf- fled assassin turned and fled. Pathaway sprang to his feet-—saw him bound- ing away, and the youth standing in the atti- tude in whieh he had received the wound : his right hand stretched out toward the spot where Brace had stood—the other held like a shield over Pathaway. Red drops trickled from the right arm aie pattered upon the ground. Be- fore the gray hunter had time to take in the scene, Nick Whiffles rushed to the place, pale and alarmed. “I s’pected a p’ison diffikilty to-night, and it’s come!’ he exclaimed. “ flurt bad, ain't Ye little ’un? Arm hacked most off, I s’pose. hat did you 'magine you could do with an arm no bigger nor a pipe-stem ?” “ It would seem that he has done much with it,” answered Pathaway, who now understood what had happened. “He has received the blow intended for me, without doubt. Brave outh! I hope you will forgive the injustice have done you.” The outstretched arms sank slowly to Se- bastian’s side: he tottered, and was received, fainting, by Nick, who hurried with him to camp. ‘Take off his coat,‘ said Pathaway. “ Not for the world!” returned Nick, hastily. “ He’d take a cold that he’d never git over long’s he lives! I know his natur’, which you don’t—beggin’ your pardon.” In quite a flutter, Nic k cut open the sleeve of the boy’s coat, and hurriedly commenced band- aging the wound, The gray hunter observed that the arm was small and delicate, and where not stained with blood, it was singularly white for a half-breed. A doubt, a vague, startling doubt—went floating through his brain like a cloud, Sebastian opened his eyes witha shudder and complained of being cold. Nick finished the dressing of the wound as if it was a that could not be completed with too muc dispatech—then fastened the severed sleeve at the wrist. Pathaway hung over him anxiously, ready to render him every aid in his power; but the trapper claimed the right of surgeon and nurse; so that he could do little else than express his thanks and sympathy. “I’m afraid,” said Pathaway, “ that the bandage is too loose to check the bleeding- You put it on rather hastily.” “ Not at all—not at all!” answered Nick. “You never see a boy stop bleedin’ as quick as he does. He can stan’ cuts and bruises be- yond all account ; and not bruises, either, but cuts. It’s on’y eperdemics and other outrage- ous diseases that takes him down. Give him a fever, and ’twould go pesky hard with him, he’s so small of his age ; for a fever requires 80 much room to stir about in, that a good ’eal o’ trouble might be anticipated. But this little diffikilty isn’t nothin’.” The youth was lying with his eyes closed, but Pathaway perceived that he smiled faintly at the “eae of Nick. “There’s sich a healin’ power in boys,” added Nick, watching every change in Sebas- tian’s countenance. “I r’ally believe if you’d acut my fingers and toes off at night, when The New York Library. TN I's ten years old, that they’d sprouted out ag’in by mornin’. All our family was jes’ so. How do ye feel now, sonny ?” “ Very well,” said Sebastian. “The little diffikilty don’t pain ye any, does it ?” “No, Unele Nicholas,” answered Sabastian, cheerfully. “ What did I tell ye?” asked Nick, turning triumphantly to Pathaway. “You are wonderful peop both,” uttered the latter, with warmth. “ But I should feel grieved indeed,” he added, “ should this brave and disinterested boy suffer serious injury on my account. I am heartily grateful, believe me,” Sebastian’s color heightened, and he was about to speak, when Nick stopped him, “Don’t trouble yourself to answer, for I know how to do it better nor you. Boys never know what to say in sudden ’mergencies. The truth is, friend Pathaway, he’s done nothin more’n e¢-mmon, and he'll forget it afore his arm gits well, You don’t know what a feller he is he’s allers savin’ somebody’s life; and not allers, neither, but whenever he has a chance. ‘Tisn’t worth mentionin’. Wonder what o'clock 'tis ) dee Nicholas looked around, as if to know “ what o’clock ‘tis,’ was the absorbing topic of his thoughts. +4 Used to run a watch, once, but ’twasn’t one o’ the little stunted consarns that folks carry now-a-days. "Twould go like a trottin’ horse when it got started. It got out o’ order arter awhile. Tried to fix it, but arter tinkerin’ on it a couple o’ days, I sold the in’ards to a Sioux chief, and closed out the rest o’ the consarn to a squaw, who wore part on’t for a brooch, and used the rest for a stew-pan. It’s gettin’ late ; [’m sleepy, by mighty !” Nicholas yawned, gave Sebastian some wa- ter, and, after covering him with his blanket, stretched himself composedly at his feet. Portneuf and Jeanjean were already slum- bering, the terrible ordeal to which the former had been exposed rendering sleep an over- wering necessity. The camp-fire flickered ow, and the night went on; but restless, and unsolicitous of repose, Pathaway reclined, mus- | ing, at the door. CHAPTER XYVI. CAPTAIN DICK. On the following morning Pathaway left the eamp, ostensibly to hunt for game, but really because his nature would not allow him to re- main idle; he had a strong curiosity, too, to make himself acquainted with the prominent landmarks and peculiarities of the country. . Possibly he had no special object.in view, but followed those unquestioned impulses that so frequently impel men to action, and reach not only to the denizens of cities, but to the far fastnesses of the mountains. Although of a reflective turn of mind, it was seldom that Pathaway was so abstracted and disposed to reverie as on that occasion. He walked 1 a seeing the ground he traversed ; hill and valley, water and tim- ber, seemed to pass him as objects float y us in dreams. Once a mountain sheep offered him a fair mark, but he did not look through the sights; an antelope bounded across hia ath within easy range, but the deadly rifle id not leap'to his shoulder. Perchance the gray hunter was negate Sebastian and the wounded arm; but why the brown-faced youth should form a prominent picture om the can- ras of his mind, is # question that gives rise to fresh queries. Whstever was the tenor of his thoughts, he was recalled to the realities around him by the appearance of a man slowly descending the sian of a hill and coming directly toward him. He reminded him at onze of the person he had seen in the éanor, wearing the red sash and exercising 80 cauch authority over those wild characters that acknowledged bim their leader. Here was an anexpeote? event, and Pathaway was for a time pe: plexed respecting the regulation of his conduct. His first care was to see if he of the sash was unattended, © or if there was any convenient lurking-place for hia wild fellows. Having satisfied himself that his men, if in the neighbo:hood, were not very near, he resolved not to shun the meeting that now seemed inevitable ; for the object of his attention had discovered him and not changed his course. There was a verdant level at the bottom of a hill, and both reached it at the same moment; they paused within pistol-shot of each other, wary and guarued, eomicbooks