Beadle's Dime Library No. 147 — page 20: what you’re looking at

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

_—_ a *Oh no, for I did not go Gold Spur, the Gentleman from Texas. ** And could J not go and warn them?” asked the fearless girl. “ You ?”” ‘Yes, Why not.” “My dear girl, they are far from here, and the trail is a hard one and full of dangers.’ ® “I am a thorough prairie girl, and if you would draw me a map of the trails they are likely to take, and where I might expect to find them, I will undertake it.” ‘*T know your fearless nature, Sibyl, and your skill in prairie craft; but I would never allow you to run such a risk.” ‘Then you must go.” . “ Alas! you see where I am.” Impulsively she replied: a ‘Ah! you shall go free.” ** How can I?” **T don’t know, but you shall.” *‘T fear not, for I shall be doubly watched until it is too late to head the colonel off.” ‘‘ Let me think about all this,” and she bowed her head a moment in thought. and then said mess § “T have a plot that will do, I hope.” ** Well?” ** Your horse is here?” ** Yes, the servant of Captain Moreland gave him a stail in Colonel Eldred’s stable.” **T will be back in a moment,” and she half turned away, but remembering she had not spoken upon the subject she had told the senti- nel she had come for, she asked so that the lat- ter could hear: ** So my father is well?’ ¢ Yes. ‘* Where was he?” ‘*Tn the camp.” ** What camp?’ * The Jackal’s.” * Ab! he is taking some fearful risk to clear up this charge against him; now I must be off, but I will soon be back,” and eg the door herself she handed the large key to the sentinel, at the same time remarking: ‘*Thank you, Danforth, for your kindness; but I am coming back, to bring the prisoner a comfortable pillow, and some little things.” ** No pistols and knives in the bundle, I hope miss.” ** You can see for yourself, Danforth, when I bring it,” she said in an injured tone. **No, no, miss, I'd take your word against a thousand other girls.” With a laugh The Child of the Regiment “bounded away, and returned to her room at head-quarters. But in half an hour she was back again, car- rying in ber arms what appeared to be a pillow in snow-white case, and a small basket. The senttnel unlocked the door for her, and again she stood in the doorway, and handed the pillow and basket in, at the same time slip- ping him a letter. otioning for him to read it, she stood talk- pain a random way, while he read what she had written, and which was as follows: “IT have determined to make a bold effort to get you out, so have harnessed your horse and mine to a re belonging to the chaplain. ae pillow-case contains a 28s, bonnet, vail -_ shawl, which put on at once, and stand by the oor. “Your weapons lie on the table outside, where the sengrant left them. “T shall drive down in this direction, pretend that I cannot wae the horses, and run them around the corner of the cabin, and call to Danforth to aid “Then you come out, for I shall not lock the door, but pretend and hand the key to the sentine and you en aa our disguile walk toward the Band quaeress, where I will e you in the vehicle, and e you out of the garrison. “ Your saddle, and mine, are already in the buggy and once out of the fort, 1 know what Feather oot can do, and if you find and warn Colonel Eldred, it will get us both a pardon. ‘To a man of your nerve I need offer no advice. a) Srsyu. ph) ‘It is a daring act, but a feasible one,” he said in alow tone, and aloud he thanked her for her kindness, and Sibyl turned away, skillfully leaving the door unlocked, though she pretended to bolt it. Handing the key to the sentinel she engaged him in conversation with the remark: “* You are one of the best fathers I have, Dan- forth, and I’ll not forget your kindness.” ‘*T want to please you, miss, and I hasn’t really disobeyed orders in doing so.” nto the guard- ouse.” **T'll swear to that, and I don’t wonder you likes the Texan, for he’s a game one end. as handsome as a picture; I tell you, miss, I don’t believe all the stories about bim, for if he is as bad as they say he’s got the wrong face on him.” “So I think, Danforth; by the way, ae go- to drive over to the settlement; is there any- thing you want there?” ** Well now, I would like a package of smok- ing tobaceo from the store at the cross-roads, for that [ gets from the sutler I believe is coarse sawdust, soaked in tobacco juice: I tell you, Miss Sibyl, we have to watch these arm sathers for they come here determined to get rich off o ad poor soldiers and bordermen in a year’s e. ‘‘T have heard they are a little crooked in their dealings, Danforth; but I will get you the tobacco,” and Sibyl walked away, to appear in a few moments seated in the chaplain’s covered buggy, and with a pair of horses that closely re- seu ied the red bay she had ridden on her chase after Gold Spur, and the horse of that individ- ual himself. She was driving rapidly, and it seemed awk- wardly, and approaching the guard-house, guided the horses up toit on the side around the corner from the door, at the same time call- my pleadingly to Danforth the sentinel to come to her aid. Instantly he obeyed, and seized the horses by the bits, bringing them to a halt. ‘** T guess these reins are not right, Danforth; please fix them for me,” she said calmly. The soldier did find the reins of uneven length, and readily arranged them, at the same time saying: These brutes seem wild as bucks, miss, and you are surely not going alone!” ‘*Oh no, I shall have company, for Mrs, Ben- son goes with me,” and catching sight of the flutter of a dress at the Band quarters Sibyl sprung into the buggy and drove away, this time handling the reins with consummate skill. Watching her, Danforth saw her halt and take a companion into the buggy, little dream- ing that the dress and bonnet, instead of hiding the large and stately form of Mrs. Benson, con- cealed from curious eyes The Gentleman from Texas. Delighted with the success of her plot thus far, Sibyl boldly drove to the gate, passed through it safely, and went along ata pace over the settlement trail, that would have been any- thing but agreeable to the widow Benson. CHAPTER XXXIX. THE BITERS BITTEN, THE cause of Captain Moreland’s sudden re- mark—‘ By Heaven! after all the Texan was right!’—which he gave expression to upon sud- denly discovering something which the quarter- master had pointed out, was on account of ob- serving the general appearance of the coming horsemen, Up to that minute all were cracking jokes at the strange story concocted by The Gentleman from Texas, to suit some motive of his own, to them incomprehensible; but now, as Captain Moreland looked again through his glass, there were some things that struck him as most peculiar. In the first place, the faces of the supposed troopers were as white as if the whole com- apse Sag just returning from a siege in the ospital. Again, there was not a red-bearded man vis- ible, but all with coarse whiskers, those who wore beard, as black as night. Nor did they ride just like the ceenne dragoons, and though the whole party woul muster if not critically examined, and with no suspicion cast upon them, under the lens of doubt and scrutiny, the captain saw that The Gentleman from Texas was certainly right. instantly he sent Lieutenant Burr, and other officers acting as aides on his staff, to the dif- ferent captains, telling them to be on their guard, and of the discovery he had made, In the mean time the horsemen drew nearer and nearer, and the two who were supposed to be Edna and Esther, had fallen back a little with the personage who rode between th and who really was not a bad make-up Colonel Eldred self. Another look at the coming cavalcade, and then Captain Moreland glan along the trail leading to the settlement, to see that the vebicle lately oe through the gate, was going at a rapi ce. ‘By Jupiter! I believe that those horses are connie away with the Child of the Regiment, urr “Tf they are, sir, she is not in the danger she would have been here, had those fellows gained an entrance unsuspected,” answered the lieu- tenant. ‘You are right there, Burr, and assured! would they bave come in unsuspected h t not been for the warning of that curious Tex- an,” warmly remarked Cupta.n Moreland. ‘‘The Gold Spur certainly deserves his free- dem now, captain,” said one. ‘He has taken it without permission it seems; for me, you say, Caruthers?’ and Cap- tain Moreland held forth bis hand for a letter a corporal brought to him, “Yes, sir. The Child of the Regiment asked me to bring it to you when I got off duty.” The captain took the envelope, opened it, and a cry burst from his lips as he read it. _ Instantly all turned upon him to inquire the cause, and he said in a hoarse voice: ‘* Listen to this please, geutlemen.” Then he read aloud as follows: “My Dear Caprain More.anp:—If a woman is always getting a man into trouble, as I heard you say a short while since, one has now reversed the saying, and gotien a man out of trouble. | Denne EE EEEEEEEEEEnEEEEEnn enn ee “To be n with you, fully belie the word of The Gentleman from Texas, and anxious that he should and warn Colonel Eldred of the danger threatening without orders, I released him, and by what you will have to admit was a clever trick. ‘*The guard, Danforth, is no more to blame than you are, for, as Iam called the Good Samaritaness, and relieve the sick and needy, I sought the prisoner, with certain articles to cheer him; said articles oe a dress, bonnet and shawl, and though the sentinel did not admit me, he could not refuse my handing my bundle which Lon? al in, anda note to the plot. 2 apes Dien was for me to dash up to one side of the guard-house withmy team, which was sup to be unmanageable and call lustily to poor Danforth for aid, and when he ran to me, the prisoner was to let himself out and escape to the Band quarters, where, as the Widow Benson, I was to pick him upin my vehicle. “Tf you get this note, you will see that my plot was a success, and if you send over to the guard- house you will find r Danforth on duty over a cage from which he little dreams the bird has flown, “For my act I seek no excuse, other than that my heart prompts it, for The Gentleman from Texas, you remember, saved the life of my most unfor- tunate father. “And for my act, I will return and suffer such punishment as you deem I deserve.”’ * With respect, TBYL, “Child of the Regiment.” ** Well, that was the cleverest of clever acts,” cried Lieutenant Burr with real enthusiasm. ‘*She is a little vixen, and I cannot under- stand her,” remarked Captain Moreland. ‘* Being a woman who could?” growled an old bachelor cynic. But ere more could be said the captain saw that it was time for action, and once more giving the coming horsemen a sweeping glance, and seeing that they were not what they pro- fessed to be, but the Indians painted, uniformed, and genera oe as soldiers, be called to his bugler to blow: “ Commence firing!” Instantly along the line a flash of flame shot forth, and the roar of rifles and guns was deaf- ening. And into that living mass of men and brutes, tore the cruel bail of lead and iron, and then followed the agonizing shrieks of wounded horses, the wild war-whoops of Indian braves, stern orders, and s of anguish. “Fire!” deouted ths officers along the line, and once more the fearful discharge was heard, and down upon the prairie went horses and riders. In vain then was it that the White Jackal charged forward, striving to get his red follow- ers to break in the garrison gates; they were surprised where they had expected to surprise, terror-stricken when they had expected to strike terror, and cut down and killed, where they had expected to kill and scalp, and in wild dismay they turned and fled from the fearful scene, leaving bebind them scores of their com- rades, and wounded, struggling ponies, unable to fly from the field. And, as they fled far out upon the prairie, suddenly out of the cottonwood ve, filed a large band of warriors, in all the glory of their war-paint, and joined the defea masque- raders. And there they halted, and all in the fort could see that some council for deviltry and re- venge was going on. ‘** Yes, those are Sioux and Cheyennes, and they were ready to charge into the garrison, as goon as the Jackal and his red devils in uniform had gotten in and begun the fight. ‘* Well, again I say, gentlemen, that The Gen- tleman from Texas was right, and to him we owe our lives this moment.” “We do, indeed, Captain Moreland, and the man who says aught against Gold Spur after this, quarrels with me,” remarked an old vet- eran officer, and all present indorsed bis words, and universal regret was expressed that he was not there to hear their apologies for the past doubt of him which allinthe garrison, with very few exceptions, had shown. CHAPTER XL. THE REGIMENT BEMOANS A SAD LOSS. AFTER the consultation of the allied bands of Indians, far out upon the prairie, and in full view of the fort, the entire force began to mova slowly back, as if to attack the garrison. It was gree a their calculations had all gone awry, for they seemed really dazed b the blow they had sicetved. 2 d Counting with perfect confidence upon the daring plot of their white leader, The Jackal, whose cunning they knew to match their own, and whose skill they readily admitted was su- perior, they took an hour’s consultation to re- cover from the shock sufficiently to decide upon some course, Had the garrison fallen, all would have been lovely for them, as they would have kept in it sufficient force to entrap the command of Colo- nel Eldred upon bis return, and then throw the bands of Two Lance and Bad Medicine upon the settlement of ranches some miles away. Bat the failure of their attack on the fort, through the discovery of their being en ma y and the severe punishment they received in ap ared to be a cot d Spur told him my <e€poo <€om S