Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 148 — page 3: what you’re looking at

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Canada,” replied a ape pare “and I will tell them to have belts of wampum, and more a0w Se Gene ot can ou when come.” smile of sa over the s features of the circle of sa chief- tains; each one in turn reiterated pro- mise to march with his warriors forthwith upon aw. The object of their meeting being thus settled, the councilors prepared for their de This required but a moment, and as they filed away in different directions into the forest, each one cast a longing, regretful look at the empty keg of the whisky-trader. or some time after their de the drunken trader lay in his profound sleep, now and then tossing about and muttering in a de- lirious, incoherent tone. But, at length, he be- to recover from his debauch, and when he was able he arose to a sitting posture, and, rub- bing his eyes to clear them from the hazy mist that dimmed them, muttered: ‘** Whoop tee doodle, whoop t’ doo,’ and whar are ye now, Jabez, ole tiger? Surely not ’n wilderness of Judea nor desert of Salharah. No, no, I sw’ar by Propocattypetile’s fire that you're *n neither place; but you’ve been takin’ a k, you beast. Fust thing you know you'll wake up and find yourself deader than a nit—but oh! I know now whar I be, and I wonder whar them red skinflints and ‘that ole rusty-coated ’Clogan hey gone? Wouldn’t care a durn if they’d gone down to the sulphur-diggin’s, bat they never chalked over the rinktums for them "are spasms. Mebby, tho,’ they’ll do it some time with interest, sol mout as well p’int my ole red nose to’rds Whisky Korner and feed ole Knowledge with more inspiration.” With quite an effort he staggered to his feet, and then, securing his whisky-keg, he managed to sling it upon his back; then reeled away across the glade and disappeared in the under- growth. In leaving the glade Black Bird, accompanied by two of the chiefs; moved away in the direc- tion taken by Mackclogan, who had preceded them in his departure. The three chiefs moved in silence, like so many grim phantoms, and had journeyed more than two miles from the council ground, when a low cry suddenly es- caped the forward chief's lips and he came to an abrupt halt. A few rodsin advance they saw Lieutenant Mackclogan seated upon the ground, leaning against the trunk of a tree, apparently asleep, _ or engaged in mental reflections. His attitu was one of ease and repose, yet his presence there so soon after the recent interview in the glade, and under existing circumstances, ex- cited their amazement. For full a minute the chiefs gazed, first at the recumbent form of the British officer, then in among the shifting shadows around them. Then with cautious footstep they approached the officer. He stirred not, as “- drew nearer him, Was he asleep? Yes; and soundly, too, for Black Bird approached him and spoke, but the Englishman did not stir, Then the chief’s keen eye detected a dark, wet spot u the left breast of the officer’s scarlet coat. Closer examination revealed the startlin fact that it was BLOOD! It came from a woun beneath. Mackclogan had been shot through the breast, and his silent attitude, and the ex- pression of pain and agony frozen upon his face, told that he was stone dead ! The discovery of this startling fact seemed to fill the breasts of the chie‘s with new terror, and, in trembling tones, Black Bird exclaimed: ‘‘Our white friend is dead. A bullet has pierced his heart. The Spirit of the Woods is abroad. He slew our friend; he is upon our trail—come.” , Without further words the three terrified In- dians turned and glided into the woods, leaving the body of their late friend reclining there by the great oak in death’s repose. CHAPTER UL ONE-ARMED ALF, THE GIANT SCOUT. ‘NEARLY, or quite three leagues from the east- ern shore of Lake Michigan, a small, stout-built log-cabin’‘ stood soli and alone, surrounded by the deep,dense shadows of a mighty forest. At the foot of theeminence upon which the ' structure stood, the sluggish waters of the Mus- kegon river crept onward to pay tribute to the broad waters of Michigan. aves upon all sides the great wildwood stretched its dark, green bosom, here and there diversified with great and small water-courses, and dimpled tiny lakes. The cabin was strongly built of hewn logs, and was the only evidence of civilization in the for- est, for miles around. On the outer walls of the cabin were numerous skins stretched to dry; a'id these with other evidence to be seen about, was sufficient proof of the cabin being the home of some bold, fearless trapper. And for awhite man to live there alomw, unmolesied by the wary red-man, was also proof of te existence of friendly relations between thex~ . No loop- hole pierced the wall of the cabit, nor were iaate any defensive measures visibl» about the place, Letus enter that lone! cabin and see who its One-Armed Alf. tis. As we cross the threshold we are aueeied nie friendly manner by a single indi- vidual, a negro. This ebon son of Ethiopia was about five and thirty years _ 90 and in stature was about the average size, h his limbs and features were somewhat and an . His hair was jet black, short, crisp and curly, and his eyes were large, and, in fact, the most prominent feature of the man, if we except the double row of white ivory teeth that were constantly displayed. It is on the day succeeding the events narrated in the preceding chapters, and although he was alone, it was evident, from his nervous move- ments and anxious, e tant glances out into the forest, that he was looking for some one at the time. The truth of this was soon established when the figure of a white man suddenly emerged from the forest sbadows and approached the cabin, followed by a large, sleek deerhound. He was a man whose very presence was calcu- lated to command the attention, respect and admiration of a stranger, not only from the power of his physique, but all the attributes that go to make a model of perfect manhood, physical and _ nbellentone “ was not over thirty years of age and appeared even younger. In pres he was far above the average hight, standing almost seven feet in his moccasins. His form was built in proportion to his hight and bore evidence of prodigious muscular and physical power; and the lightness of his foot- steps and grace of movements told of his sup- pleness and activity. His hair was dark, though streaked with a few threads of silver, and hung in straight tresses down about his shoulders. His face was smoothly shaven, showing the full expression of the bronzed feavures, that were not. unprepos- sessing. His eyes were of a dark gray color and pleasant in expression, yet there was a strange, vacant look in them which revealed a hidden, burning fire away down in his great heart. In fact, there was a sad, silent and clouded look upon the whole face. This man could have been neither a trapper nor hermit, depending on his own efforts tor sustenance, from a, single fact—his right arm was gone! And still an- other fact, corroborating that of his not being a hunter; was that of earrying no_ fire- arms of any kind; neither was he habited in a borderman’s costume, but wore a peculiar kind of a suit made of nankeen and dyed the color of the forest leaves. Even the slouched hat and buck-skin leggins and moceasins were of the same color; and his partiality for this particu- lar hue must have n engendered from the desire to evade discovery by hostile ‘eyes through contrast of colors, when journeying sabe the green shrubbery and foliage of the orest. We say he was unarmed; yet he did carry a heavy, knotty cane with a crooked head and brass ferule on the end, which might have been a dargerous weapon if skillfully handled; still it would have been of no use there against wild savages, wild beasts and gnawing hunger. With rapid strides this giant stranger crossed the narrow opening and approached the cabin door. When the latter was reached, he Gpened it without ceremony and entered the building, his hound stopping without and stretching him- self on the ground nearthe door with his own characteristic familiarity. ‘* Ho de good delibberance,” cried the negro, as the man entered the door; ‘‘ you's come at las’, Mas’r Alf! Whar you’s been gone dis eb- berlasting time dat’s been more’n a million years to dis nigger?’ *‘ Why, Ethiope, what’s the matter?’ asked the white man, ina cool, calm tone, while a faint smile played about his mouth, ‘* De matter?” Ethiope fairly shrieked; “why man, jist as sure as your name’s One-Arm Alf, de debbil’s to pay—I sw’ar to de natural system, he am. Why, mas’r, don’t you t’ink dar’s a big war declared atween de whole United States ob North America and all. creation. Mackinaw’s to be’tacked to-morry, by a hundred million red-skins, and den don’t you t’ink de good-fur-nothing scamps am gwine to march on Point Michigan!” ¥ Is this a fact, Ethiope?’ asked One-Armed Alf. | ‘*T'll jis’ be bu’sted into a gob of nothing if it ar’n’t so, Mas’r Alf.. I sw’ar it’s so. -Why, de Merican Gineral, Ike Hull, wid a switching big pile ob sojer men, am over in now, jist making Inging ha’r and British fur fly like de dirt from, de heels ob a race-hoss, Isw’ar he am! ** Indeed, indeed,” said the giant, in a thought- ful mood, fixing bis eyes upon the floor, “this is no more than I have long anticipated. The English bave long been provoking us to extreme measures, and are preparing, and have been for some time, for war. I detected this in a strange movementamong the Indians which I know was originated by British emissaries, The new rifles and blankets lately placed in the hands of the red-men attest this. Aud so the war has really begun? The Point, vou say, is threatened after the capture of Mackinaw?’ ‘* Dat’s de programy, now, an’ dar’s work for you now, mas’r. ’ 3 ‘* And how am I to work?” marin’ ha es ot Staten ea ; “hav ou as as eons! yan Meated ob de Spirit ob de ““T have the same limbs I always had, Ethi- ope, with the le exception of anarm. Iam not afraid of the Spirit of the Woods, because I do not believe there is such an avenger, but there are over a hundred Indians at this very moment watching my cabin and movements.” ““Oh, my! oh, me! oh, Lor’!” cried rates in sudden terror, his eyes growing larger, his lips ng, and his whole face assuming a serio- comical expression; ‘if dat’s de truf, and noth- ing but de truf, Mas’r Alf, den dis poor black chile’s days am ’bout figured ovt, and I never’ spoke a prayer in all my born life. Oh, I see it, mas’r; I’m a lost nigger, bound for total eklip- tion and destruction. ‘We may have to fight for our lives, Ethiope, tefore night,” said the scout, solemnly. ‘Fight? dis poor black nigger chile fight? Oh, Mas’r Alf! and dar’s nota gun in de shanty, nor nuffin’ but dis chile’s banjo and de meat- knife. Ki, yi! it am awful sarcumstance,-: Mas’r Alf. It’ll be death in de fust disgrace; but den jis’ let ared nigger ob an Injin show his head yer and I’ll wade into him, tooth and nail, foot and fist, in a slap-upest way.” ‘‘] will inaugurate no war with the red- skins, Ethiope,” replied One-Armed Alf, ** but T must manage some way or other to get word to the garrison at Mackinaw of the intended at- tack upon the place, and I must do it without leaving this vicinity, else my mission here in this country will be at an end.” ‘**Roarin’ jingoes, Mas’r Alf! How de Sam- hill ye gwine to ’komplish de t’ing, if de con- duct ob de Ingings mean hosstilities? Dis nig- ger wants light on de subject.” “Will you do me a favor?” asked the scout. ** Now dat—dat. beats all git-out, Mas’r Alf. Why, boy, ain’t I been doin’ favors for you dis thousand years, now say ” ‘“‘T want you to take,” continued the scout, in a low tone, ‘‘the bucket and go down to the river for water. On your return, in climbin, the bank among those young hickories, pluck o a dozen or more of the largest green leaves and bring them to me.” ‘‘ Lor’ save me!” cried the negro, in perplexi- ty, ‘what does de man mean? But dar’s no use talking, so I'll jist run down and bring de water, and mebbe a few leaves ’ll fall into de bucket as I come up ’mong de hickories.” The negro companion aud housekeeper of the scout took a bucket and departed on his mis- sion. He was gone some time, but finally re- turned with the water and a number of green leaves. He had scarcely placed the bucket in its accustomed place, when a light footstep was heard at the door behind. Both the scout and the negro turned, and to their surprise and horror, saw a powe savage warrior stand- ing in the py while in the yard behind him, others could be seen drawn up in front of the open door! ; CHAPTER IV. THE CABIN GUESTS. ALTHOUGH surprised by the Indian’s silent, unceremonious intrusion, One-Armed Alf wel- comed him there with a well-affected air of cordiality, although he felt that the red-skin’s presence there at that time boded no good. ‘‘How do, One Arm and Thunder Cloud?” the Indian replied to the scout’s welcome, in disjointed English. © _ “Well, as usual, Gray Hawk,” replied the scout; ‘‘you and your braves are welcome to the wigwam of One Arm.” The chief crossed the threshold to the opposite side of the cabin and seated himself upon the ground, his warriors following his example with a silent, sullen demeanor **Spect One Arm surprised to see us come,” the chief said. , “Tadmit Iam both surprised and pleased, Gray Hawk, for you have never visited me in all the time I have been here.” **Come to talk with One Arm.” **l_am glad of it, chief,” said the scout, seat- ing himself on a stool before his visitors, ‘**Does One Arm know Canada father and In- dians fight Yangese?’ ‘“*T have heard it intimated that there is to be a war, though I hope the rumor will prove to have no foundation of truth.” . ‘* All so—there be big war—many scalps will be taken.” ‘‘Tam sorry—very sorry to hear it, Gray Hawk, for I had hopes that our people would never be arrayed against each other in battle ain.’ “How One Arm fightif have war?’ The chief put the question so plain and em- phatic that there was no chance for evasion, al- though it had been the aim of the scout from the beginning of the conversation to do so. How?” he repeated; “ why, Gray Hawk, how could I fight?” “No fight with gun or tomahawk, but fight with heart,” replied the chief. = _ From this the scout saw _what the chief was endeavoring to come at. He was testing the GomiGcnoee ; — cS (E()