Beadle's Dime Library, No. 13 — page 39: what you’re looking at

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

‘and the results no more satisfactory. “Call me Madge,” said the other. “T am sorry that the'man must perish in such a lingering manner,” resumed Carlota. “ But will not some of your people hear his sries ? demanded Madge. “His voice will fall dead and echoless on the walls of his stony sepulchre. No, girl, no; there is no hope for Nick, the trapper, unless I escape from this Indian.” “God grant, then, that you may escape!” said Madge, with fervor. “And you?” queried Carlota. “In thinking of Nick I forgot myself. I think only of the long, dreary hours before him ; of wasting hunger; of scorching, agon- izing thirst; of the craving, unspeakable tor- tures of starvation! You know not the ties that bind me to that man; you know not the nature of the debt I owe him; you know not—” _ “*T know more than I speak,” interrupted Carlota. _ Madge threw a quick, inquisitive glance at the girl of the mountains. “What is mysterious to one may be appar- ent to another. What we cherish as a pro- found ‘secret may be borne about in the breast of an enemy.” ~“ Unfortunate as I am, driven to these wild solitudes by the force of wayward destiny, I should have found in one of my own sex a sister, and notan enemy,” replied Madge, ready to sink under the pressure of accumulated mis- fortunes. ‘Carléta did not answer, and the two walked wearily after the chief. CHAPTER XXXIV. THE SEARCH. ; Pathaway saw the danger that threatened Madge and himself, end sprang up to meet it. The nEbor aug of the Shoshone gave him fresh hope and courage. The Indians with- stood the first onset with some firmness; but Portneuf and Andrew Jeanjean hearing the firing, and ri shing to the assistance of their friends, the red allies of Hendricks gave ground, and were soon safely hidden among the rocks, out of ramge of a mfle ball. Hen dricks, who was conspicuous in the fray, was the’ last to withdraw from the contest. t ough not till he had received a wound. ‘Pathaway hastened to the spot where he had left ans but, not finding her, hurried te the Mimic Castle where they had eamped., Being equally unsuccessful in that quarter, he ‘believed she had secreted herself somewhere ‘inthe vicinity.” He ran from covert to covert, | wi her; assured that she could not be far off. his confidence, however, gave place to real alarm as his search grew more extended, He called her name. ‘The name of Madge was ‘whispered among the rocks—at first, faintly ; ‘more loudly anon. Now, ‘the word arose softly and tenderly; and now, in tones husky with apprehension. “ Madge !”—the name grew dearer 4s he re- péated it. As disappomtment after disap- pointment followed expectation, the maiden grew more important in his estimatiqn. He recalled innumerable things she had said, and remembered as many graces that had been be- fore unappreciated. Her beauty of person -was presented in a new and more fascinating form, and he resolved to atone for past neglect, or any want of gallantry that he miglit have at time been guilty of, the instant he had an opportunity of doing so. ‘He felt remorse for his sometimes cruelty to the boy Sebastian. vr and Portneuf ined in the search; nor did they relax their efforts till the morning sun arose upon the “Mimic City. When the parties gathered around the horiiing camp-fire to make a breakfast on the flesh of the mountain-sheep that Nick had ve provided; each had a depressed and anxious expression. The Shoshoné, who had beer outlying as a «cout and sentinel, joined them ‘while they ‘were eating. He could give them no information of Madge. The non-return of “Nick, too, troubled Pathaway. He was well sérsuaded that he had met with ill luck. Portneuf and Jeanjean were of the same opin- jon.’ The restoration of the latter seemed » perfect so far as his mental faculties were con- _gerned. He ex from the wound, but not sufficient to prevent “him from wishing to engage at once with Port- ‘neof’ in an attempt to rescue Ninon and Nick rienced some uneasiness \ £.provided the trapper had fallen into the bands of the outlaws. Pathaway. Pathaway was familiar enough with surgery to understand that quietude was imperative in such a case, and prevailed on Jeanjean with much difficulty to remain at rest at the camp till the following day. Having carried the point, the gray hunter and the Shoshone be- gan a systematic search for the trail of Madze ; but the hard and sterile mountain-side was unyielding to human feet, and it was seldom that the umprint of even a heavy man’s foot ould be found. They passed around the amping-ground in circles that consecutively grew in cirevinference ; and it was not until the last reaened the Valley that arything re- sembling the imprint of a woman’s foot could be found, and then, only two or three slight impressions on softer soil, that stopped as suddenly as they had begun. It must be borne in mind, that these move- ments had to be made with exeessive ecau- tiousness, and necessarily consumed much time. On soil less obdurate, and without the drawback of watchful enemies, the task of tracing the trail of Madge would have been comparatively easy. Signs were found near Devil's Gate, near a spring of water which had saturated the earth; and their roximity to the entrance of the Valley made athaway fear that she had either unwittingly sought shelter in that dangerous neighbor- hood, or veen condueted there by Hendricks or his men. He wished to explore the gloomy spot; but it was already dark, rendering it im- practicable to find or follow a trace so slight and broken. With extreme reluctance, he yielded to the counsel of the Shoshone, and re- traced his steps to the camp at Mimic City to wait for daylight. He dreamed of Madge more than ever that night. He saw her in peril and distress. Now she was wkh the outlaws at Trapper Valley, suffering every species of indignity, and now she was in captivity to the red men, moment- arily expecting Nick and himself to eome to her release. His sleep was so disturbed dur- ing the first part of the night, that the Sho- shoné was up before him in the morning. It was the hand of tbe chief that awakened him from his first refreshing slumbers. Portneuf and Jeanjean were already stirri - “There are four of us,” said the latter, “and duties for each. My wound has para- lyzed my efforts too long. Portneuf and | have made up our minds what to do: we will rescue Ninon, or perish im the attempt !” “The feeling is natural and right,” said Pathaway. ‘I need not warn you that the enterprise will be attended with no common danger. The voyageur has doubtless already informed you of ‘the circumstances. The story of his own sufferings and escape give you an insight into the true character of those with whom you have to deal.” “T know all, and will dare all,” replied Jeanjean, with energy. a will use no arguments to dissuade you from your purpose, for it is laudable; but in your zeal for Ninon, do not forget the man who has twice periled his life for her. Re- member Nick Whiffles !” “ God forbid that I should forget him!” ex- claimed Jeanjean. ‘“ My restored faculties, my consciousness of life and its responsibili- ties—everything that is dear to man—admonish me to remember him.: Who that has known him can cease to think of bim with pleasure ?”’ The two men shook hands with Pathaway, and descended by a a detourtothe Valley. Path- away and the Shoshoné soon after followed by a more direct route, (On the way, they were met by the dog Calamity, alias Misfortune, He had a piece of bark in his mouth, whicb he dropped at the hunter's feet. »Pathaway picked it up, and read the following words, rudely cut with a knife : “In A PISON DIFFIKILTY. Cant Gir ovt, I ALLOW. TAKE GOOD KEER O THE DOG Kanam- ITY, AND DONT LET IT BE KNOWD DOWN IN THE CLEARINS BUT Nick WHIFFLES IS) DOIN WELL,” ‘What says the talking bark ?” asked the Shoshoné. “ That our friend is in trouble, and expects no relief. Indian Joe, I fear, betrayed him.” “ Were the eyes of the gray hunter so’ dim ” demanded the chief. “TI trusted the boy because he dischargec the trust that was reposed in him with fideli- ty,” answered Pathaway. “Brave men are not always cunning,” re- turned Multnomah. “One may have the strength of the buffalo without the knowledge of the fox or the subtlety of the serpent. Had the pale-face asked the Shoshoné, he would 39 — e+ —- -= | have told him what the smooth-faced boy _ was,” added the {ndiau, with a slight gesture | of contempt. “ White men,” respopded Pathaway, “ speak their thoughts, but the red men disguise them.” ‘“ Dovbledark did not speak his mind to Multnomah. He did not say to his friend ;: ‘I am going with the boy to the Valley, .where _ the voice of the Thunder-Spirit is sometimes rrr ng rm — heard.’ Had he said this, the Shoshone would have told him better.” “ Doubledark is reputed wise. He baffles his enemies; he has eyes that are not, afraid to look at the sun.” “The wise sometimes act without wisdom The heart of Doubledark was heavy for the pale woman. He no sleep at night, because she was before him in dreams. Heart. too soft —risk too much. But Multnomah is his brother, and he goes to find him.” “ But Madge ?” said Pathaway. “ First Nick, then. Madge,” replied the In- dian. ‘“T cannot and will not object to any reasen- able undertaking in behalf of the, trapper. Nick ; but the helplessness of the young girl. Madge, appeals continually to my sympa thies.” They had now reached the spot where they had found the trail of Madge on the previons night. Pathaway hung anxiously over the im- pees of her little feet, while the chief observed im in silence. “The Shoshoné,” said the young man, st length, ‘is, older than. 1; he understands what is good, and I will listen to his words.” “Multnomah knows the thoughts, of the young hunter; he thinks of the boy-equaw ; his spirit is heavy for the fair face of the girl. But young mien are apt to be hasty. Lister to the talk of Multnomah, and if it is no good. no take it.” The chief pointed at Nick’s dog, and added : ‘He com: from Doubledark—he kuows the way back.’ ‘ True'” said the young man, struck with the idea. “He can, without doubt, find his master. Iam ready to go.” The dog, meantime, had turned toward Devil's Gate, and was looking back over his shoulder at the Indian and Pathaway. “Go on, dog, go on!” said the latter, and the animal, wit! ears erect, and a satisfied wag of the tail, sprang into the tunnel... The pas- sage had lost. none of its gloominess since the young man visited if. Its rough and time-worn portals frowne:l! grimly on them as they enter- ed, and though the morning sun was beaming brightly, its rays penetrated but a short dis- tance into the passage, falling refracted and broken on rock and column. “ Feet have waiked here since the sun came up,” said Muitnomah, ‘* How do-you know ?” asked Pathaway. _“ Look!” returned the ehief. .‘ Here is a sign.” The hunter stooped over the spot indicated by the Indian, and detected the imprint of a damp moccasin. ) * Yes,” he answered, “some of the nroun- taineers have left the Valley recently.” “Let my brother be dumb. To-day they go a and they come in. Cap’n Dick watch very s ie - My tongue is sealed,” returned the young man, and threaded his way noislessly after the Shoshone, the dog keeping a few paces in ad- vance.. A portion of fresdintaiioe they could not see their, danine guide, but) oecasionally heard his feet upon the stones, . They issued from the darkness without accident, and pass- ing the boiling spring, arrived at the stream, which they were about to cross, when they perceived that the dog had stopped in ths middle of it. This pause was of short duration, for the moment he found that the cireumstance had attracted their notice, he walked down the bed af the stream to a point where it ran be- neath an arch of sandstone, and was lost tc view. Under this arch their fore-footed guide disap peared. « Bad men hide from the sunlight like owls,” muttered the Indian. In a moment they were in utter darkness, guided only by the splashing of the dog’s feet in the water. Pathaway did not remember tiat he had ever experieneed such.a feeling of complete isolation. Could one be more hidden from the world? he queried. What if a frag- ment of rock should fa}! from the dark roof and shut them in? He sliuddered as the thought shot through his mind. He could not resist (E{ JOJO) cGolim “Ss (El) ° a Stee — ee A ti en” aor m Se