Beadle's Dime Library, No. 13 — page 41: what you’re looking at

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

- Pathaway. 41 « ceived, I allow,” said Nicholas, “and that one | debted, that it would be unpardonable in me | to — well in the eyes of pseudo society. isn’t fur off, though his natur’ isn’t white na- | not to make particular mention of lis name.” The young man awaited, not without secret *tur’.” “It's the modesty o’ youth,” replied the | snxiety, the development of events. It is far The Shoshoné was obviously flattered bw | trapper, and it’s a thing I like to see in these | less easy to exercise the higher qualities of this remark. ~ | days when boys think an Bi men afore the the buman mind than to read of them, and ‘ “The eyes of the young hunter,” he added, | have trapped a beaver or brought down a b for 6 time even the brave spirit of Pathaway addressing Pathaway, “should have looked | faler at fifty rods.” Then advancing to Mult- | was agitated by suspense. The consciousness into the heart of Indian Joe, and seen himself | nomah and confronting him steadily, “ Ingin, that he was armed, and supported also by twa there as he sees himself in the water. The | I krow your natur’ my you know mine. We persons of tried courage and e& mstancy, 10 ; Shoshoné sees much and speaks little.” don’t need much said atween us. This isn’t spired him with confidence not easily shaken. $s “ Jes’ so, chicf! And now perhaps you'd the fust debt I owe ye, and I don’t know of The splashing of the water was now such as ~~ better look round a little, and see if you can’t find the rope that she took away. It can’t be fur off, in course. I can fast and thirst as well as another, but the feelin’ isa’t by no means comfortable.” Pathaway immediatety began to search for the rope, and found ¥ in the obscure hack- grounr of the cavern where it hid een by Carlota. To make it fast and lower ene end into the shaft, was the work of a few moments. The young man feared Nick would not have strength enough to ascend, and ex- pressed himself to that effect. “ Not a bit on’t, colonel !”’ said Nicholas, as he eommenced climbing. “These musk!es o’ mine are the right kind for sarvice. They’ve been tried a thousand times, and there isn't a weak spot in’em. There’s no useless fat on ‘em. Fat, colonel, is the enemy of muskles. Por strength and hardihood nothin’ is wantin’ birt the solid flesh. Here I come, you see !” Nicholas ascended the rope hand over hand, but the gray hunter perceived that the action eost him more effort than he was willing to acknowledge. Calamity, meantime, stood with his forefeet on the verge of the shaft, watch- ing the progress of his master. His bushy tm! wagged with satisfaction, while his large bes sparkled with joy as he reached the sur- Pathaway and the Shoshoné each caught him by an arm and drew him from his living sepulehre. The veteran did not speak, but sank upon the hard floor of the cavern. The dog leaped upon his shoulders, licked his face, rubbed his great head against his eheeks, laid down upon him, rolled over, made e sound like a dumb person trying to speak, and a hundred dog-demonstrations of delight, The trapper put his arms around his neck, and for a short time rested his damp forehead upon it. “To Providence fust,” he murmured, “ to you next, and the humans arterward. These is the sentiments of Nick Whiffles, and on this platform you'll find him. Yes,” he re- ted as if communing with himself, “ on this here platform you'll find him. ’Tisn’t the loudest thanksgivin’,” he went on serious- by, “ that’s the deepest, and the most accept- able to the Master o’ Life. It may be said, rehaps it has been said, that I haven’t them elin’s o’ rev’rence that dependent critters oughter have; but howsomenever that may be—and I won’t be so presumptuous as to be my own jedge—lI do feel grateful for life when it’s spared, and for the kind marey and pro- tection of the Power that can see into the vaults of the mountings with a clearer eye nor the sun can look down upon the peraries at noonday.” Nick drew his brown hand slowly across his eyes. No one interrupted him. The Shoshoné looked gravely toward the murky roof above him, and Pathaway was sensibly affected. “ Dogs,” continued the trapper anon, “was | Wriness into the dark background. Patha- Andrew tu-ned toward Hendricks and re- ( made for man, and when they’re well-used, | Wy noticed that Nick followed him with un- lied : | they're true and never-failin’ friends. Lose | wavering confidence, and his own spirits arose “T have followed you hither because I could | everything you've got, be turned out o’ house | Tesponsive to his evident assurance. He feared | mot resist your will. I eame to the Valley on " and home and become a beggar in the streets, | that the cave was not sufficiently capacious te | an errand of mercy, but unfortunately feil in- and your dog’ll foller ye all the same. Patches afford them a secure hiding-place from those | to your power. From you, Richard Hen- and rags don’t disgust him; he'll hek your who 1 gwen a but his apprehensions were | dricks, [ expect little kindness, yet I do en- hand the same when you've no bread to give speedily dispelled by the increasing extension treat of you to pause before you proceed to bim. ‘ihe dog don’t turn up his nese at you of the subterranean yault. The floor was now burden your soul with another crime. Stop —the dog don't—when you're in disgrace, and clayey and damp. The chief turned around here in your career, restore the vo ageur’s } at last will howl over your grave in giniwine | 5% sharp abutment of earth and extinguished daughter to liberty, and here in this deep and grief when there’s not a human bein’ to drop tho torch. secret sepulchre resolve to change your mode } a tear on it.” Nick was as quiet and as little disturbed as of life. Reflect a moment, Hendricks; ask \ Nicholas placed his hand on the shag Load, anie the eyes beneath \beamed on ES with unspeakable affection. CHAPTER XXXV. THE OUTLAWS Fp Me ys Whiffies arose and stood erect. x clonal he said, stretching out his hand, “J thank ye! ‘Thank ye’ 1s words that is easy spoke, but not allers felt.” Tt would be unju@, Nicholas, to take much eredit to myself for your rescue. To the shief of the Shoshonés you are so much i any individooal, be the complexion of his skin what it may, that I’d rusher owe a good turn to. We've slept with our feet at the same fire, Shoshoné, and took the otter and the beaver from the same waters.” “Tt is as Doubledark says; Multnomah knows what is in his heart.” returned the chief. “Sartiu,” returned Nick. “It’s your na tur’ to be quick at understandin’ things.” The Indian did not answer, but making s gesture of silence, walked quickly to the sub- mountain stream. Nick and the hunter saw him stop and stand in a fixed and listening at titude. Pathaway was holding the torch, and 1ts rays glimmered feebly against the person of the chief, making him resemble a piece of iron statuary. ‘“Tt’s natal to him, nat’ral to him,” whis- pered Nick. “ Red blood is i pea o’ hearin’ nor white, less the white is eddicated by prae- tice. He hears somethin’ which you promably can't. Now, colonel, lay down and put your ear agin the ground, pervidin™ there’s an nat'ral airth hereabouts, and I’ll wager you'll scarcely hear a sound equal to the tickin’ of a watch.” “T’m not so much of & novice as you may imagine,” replied Pathaway, somewhat A te nine at Nick’s low estimate of his powers. Thrust- ing the torch into a crevice, the young hurter tried the experiment recommended by his friend. “Wrong, trapper, wrong for once! I hear the distant splashing of water,” he said. Nicholas stretched his person upon the floor of the caverr with a quickness that was like the spring of a cat. Por a space he was im- mobile as the solid foundation beneath him. “It is very well—very well, indeed, for a beginner,” he said, approvingly. “ And not that, neither, but mighty cute in one that hasn’t trod the peraries many years. There ts splashin’ in the water! If you live, you'll it be able to walk side an’ side with the hoshoné.” “ Your good opinion is gratifying. A word of praise from Nick Whiffles is something to be proud of. The sounds, trapper, come this way.” “And the Ingin, too. It’s a right good thing, colonel, to have a eritter of so much sagacity to help us in the time o’ need. Now I know from his manner,,by the way he walks and the way he looks (and it comes of bein’ rage him) that he’s made up his mind what to 0.’ The first words of Multnomah verified the prediction of Nicholas. “ Comin’ down the water—two, three, four. White men.” _The chief plucked the torch from the cre- viee, and swinging it to increase the baze, strode with all the rapidity compatible with if in his own solitary hut, a score of miles from a known enemy. Pathaway wished to question the Shoshoné, but with the satisfied example of Nick before him, restrained the impulse. He was wise enough to comprehend, that if one older and more experienced than himself was perfectly reliant on the knowledge and trustworthiness of the Shoshoné, he should also manifest the same faith and confidence. He therefore eom- posed his features, and appeared as stoical as possible. Wisdom, dere consists in imi- tating those supposed to know more than our selves. This is the philosophy of the world, at least, and is acted daily by those who wish el am to indicate the proximity of the coming ami ties. The light from their torches, tuo, glim- mered on the passing stream and flickered upon the rocky roof among the drooping stw lactites, and the large drops of water collected upon the sharp points, just ready to drop. Looking from behind the protecting angle, Pathaway and his companions saw & man emerge from the subterranean passage, bear- ing a torch in hismght hand. It was Dick Hendricks. His left arm was bandaged and in a sling, while his features were pale from loss of blood apparently. The blaze shining on his face revealed in a striking manner the pe- culiar hardness and recklessness of his nature. The hunter experienced an unpleasant thrill of astonishment at beholding the next object that presented itself. Andrew Jeanjean came after the outlaw captain, his countenance near- ly as pallid as that of the latter, and his hands secured by a cord about the wrists. This un- expected spectacle gave the young man unal- loyed pain. He would have observed the vis ages of his comrades but for the obscurity. Walking behind the prisoner appeared three armed men. What did this portend? A visit to snch a locality, under such circumstances, could have no good for its object, and Pathaway trembled for the trapper’s fate. Jeanjean’s expression was firm and resigned —like one conscious of peril, yet resolved to meet it with becoming manliness. As Hen- dricks ushered him into the eavern, he threw an inquiring, earnest look around him, and his cneeks, the hunter thought, grew paler The robber captain flourisl.ed his torch till his menacing lene seemed set in a circle ot fire, then approached the shaft with cautious yet hasty steps. Am indiguant glow warmed the hunter's blood. The pulsations of his heart grew quick with expectation, nor could he refrain from drawing Nick farther behind the abutment, and whispering : . * Nicholas, I am sure f can depend on you, Nicholas, if anything dreadful is to be pre vented.” “T think so, eolonel, I think so!” 1eturned Nick, pressing the young man’s hand. “ You haven’t knowed me a great while parsonally but you've heerd of me, and can form some idee what my natur’ is.” Pathaway gratefully returned the pressure of the trapper’s hand, and nurried vack to watch the progress of ev«nts. ‘ Where’s the rope?” asked Hendricks, in a tone that indicated that his temper had been recently ruffled. “It’s hangin’ in the hole, cap’n” answered one of his fellows. «Ninon, my poor Ninon!”’ exe aimed Jean- ean, dejectedly, while his breast heaved with emotion. “(Go down!” said Hendricks, pointing to the tet with his torch. ourself if wrong done to a fellow-being will Orin quietude and ea “ Go down!” repeated Hendricks, gruffly. “Life is sweet to the young,” muttered Jeanjean, sighing. ¢ tell you to go down!” aried Hendricks, fiercely. “If my hands were free, you would be less insolent, Dick Hendricks !” retorted Jeanjean. “ Fools!” exclaimed Hendricks, addressing his men, “ untie his hands.” | Andrew’s hands were at liberty in a moment. “Now,” added Hendricks, drawing a pistol, “there is nothing to hinder you from goin’ down that rope. 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