Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 148 — page 7: what you’re looking at

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

One-Armed Alf. @ ‘‘ Hist !~-harkee, cap’n!” exclaimed old Jack. He, as well as com ny ore suddenly caught the sound of a vy y thrashing through the undergrowth on the opposite side of the opening, but the sound soon became hushed for several moments, then was resumed again with more violence than before, and was accompanied by the thud and crunch of blows, = low, laveetictes’ bc + ee , he noise a to approaching, an so our friends beat a hasty retreat to the sha- dows on the edge of the glade, and there paused. The next instant they beheld two figures, locked in each other’s embrace, come whirling in rapid evolutions from the darkness into the glade, engaged in a fierce and deadly struggle! CHAPTER VIIL. ENTRAPPED. Our friends stood as though rooted to the spot, so sudden and startling had been the transition of events, and before they could de- termine who the two combatants were that came rolling in such rapid evolutions into the glade, a third figure shot suddenly into the ey pa from the deep, black shadows beyond. his was readily r as the form of a beast—a huge deerhound. The dog was im- mediatel followed by the tall figure of a man whom all readily recognized as One-Armed Alf, the Silent Scout. On the edge of the glade he paused, but it was only for a moment—until he had taken in the situation of the twostruggling foes, then he strode across the glade to where they were en- aged, and raising aloft his only weapon—his ong cane—he dealt one of them a blow that at once terminated the conflict. Then with a silent exclamation of triumph and relief, the other arose to his feet, and turning to the Giant Scout, said, in a calm, matter-of-fact tone: ‘*Thanks, brother Alf. You came in time, for I must admit that I had my hands full—the knave was an exception to any thing I ever had a hold of, in point of strength.” “By Judas!” exclaimed old Jack Eller, no longer enabled to restrain his emotions, ‘‘it’s One-Armed Alf and Darcy Mayfield! Howdy, Alf! Why, Darcey, you young rascal, what for did you give us the slip the way you did? Glad to meet you, Alf; this is Cap’n St. Jon, from Mackinaw; glad to find you with your hair on, Alf—get your message and husseled off up here like sixty. What’s on the rampage by this time?’ ‘*The woods are full of the heathen foe,” re- plied the Giant Scout, in a low tone; ‘‘ bloody times may now be expected. The spirit of evil and the Indians go hand in hand, and, too, the Spirit of the Wilderness is abroad.” “ Ay, ay, friend Alfred,” returned Eller, ‘‘vou speak the truth. We see’d an Ojibway that the Spirit had slasved it to, not an hour ago. But how comes it that you’re in trouble?’ ‘*T know not unless the variets mistrust that l am a friend to the whites.” “But you don’t go cuttin’ and slashin’ and shootin’ around like Mayfield here, so why should they trouble you?’ ‘*They know my inability to handle fire-arms successfully,” replied the scout, ‘‘ but they be- gin to mistrust something of the real truth— that 1 am a scout and spy in the employ of the United States. But1 care nothing for \his— those lives at Mackinaw are what interest me now, for they’re in imminent danger.” “ Well, stranger,” said St. John, addressing the scout, ‘‘ we are now on our way to Macki- naw.” ‘‘But you have gone out of your course by coming this way.” | ‘‘We came this way on purpose to help you out of your danger first.” “T am rent obliged to you, friends, for our kind yaantie for me, but do not tarry here, pray. If you go with me to my cabin, 1 will lock up and go with you to Mackinaw.” ‘That’s the talk, triend Alf,” said old Jack, ‘‘vour assistance as a scout will be wortha dozen good men,” ‘Then follow me,” replied the scout, and turn- ing, be moved away into the woods. His faith- hound took the lead, while Eller and his party followed close behind the scout. A few minutes’ walk brought them to the door of the scout’s cabin. AJl was darkness and silence within. One-Armed Alf gave the sur- wae glade a hasty glance, then opened the door and entered the building, followed by his companions. A light was soon struck, and as its rays dis- pelled the lurking shadows from the apariment, the scout glanced about the room as if looking for some one or something. ‘Somethin’ missin’, Alf? asked the inquisi- tive old Jack Elier. “Yes; Ethiope, my black companion and housekeeper, is gone, and it seemsa littiestran that be should be away at thistime, I hope he’s not got into trouble.” ‘Ay, ay, you mean that black nigger? I re- member him now,” replied Eller. “TIT can ~ no signs - violence about the “ Harkee! There's a footstep at the door; it may be your nig.” ——$—$———_ OTT a_i LL LL LL LL LL LT re eye was at once bent upon the door, when the hound i the pony ae, sone to leap to room apparen ry ‘¢ What is it, Sultan—what is it?” The dog uttered a low, plaintive whine and advancing to the door again, be elevated his nose, sniffed the air with apparent doubt, then bounded back to his master’s side again. Then a figure appeared in the doorway, that caused a convulsive movement of every form in the cabin. It was the figure of an Indian, painted and plumed for the war-path, with his shoulders enveloped in a red, flaming blanket. A half-defiant smile rested upon he face of the savage as he ran his eyes about the room and scanned the faces of our friends. is pres- ence seemed to enjoin silence upon every one present; and during the hush Captain St. John glanced toward Darcy Mayfield, and was sur- rised at the unearthly light of vengeance that lazed in his eyes. e saw his hand seek the knife at his girdle, and as the young man’s breast swelled with the fearful emotions stirred within it, he—St. John—saw the murderous blade creep slowly from its sheath; but before it was entirely withdrawn, the fearful spell was broken—his deadly intentions arrested by One- Armed Alf, who stepped forward, , con- fronting the Indian, said: ‘‘Why isa war-chief of the Ojibways here, when bis brothers are away, fighting the Yan- kees in Canada?’ ‘‘ Bruddere not all there. Lots in Michigan woods. Me here to talk with One Arm,” replied the Indian, in a tone and language that con- vinced all present that he was not a genuine Indian, but a white man in disguise, But, with fei : ed ignorance of the fact, the Giant Scout replied: ‘Come in then, and let me hear what you have to say.” The Indian advanced into the house, and, at a signal from the scout, bis comrades fell bark and seated themselves on the opposite side of the room. The Indian and One-Armed Alf re- mained standing ‘‘Tam ready now to hear what the Ojibway chief has to say to me,” the scout said. ‘*Does One Arm and his pale-face friends know there is war between our le?” ‘*We have heard it intimated, but have no positive proof of the fact; and sincerely hope that it is not so.” “It isso,” replied the Indian, glancing from one to the other of his auditors to see the effect his words would have upon phat, ‘‘and hun- dreds of Yankee scalps hang at Indian girdles.” ‘“Do you know this to be a fact, Ojibway?” ‘IT do. Already great battles have been fought.” ‘* Where at?’ ‘* One at Mackinaw.” ‘‘ And what was the result of the fight at Mackinaw ?”’ ‘““ Mackinaw was captured.” ; ‘Great Heaven! can this be possible?” cried Captain St. John, start/ng up. im smile of satisfaction and triumph Ben 5 over the face of the Indian as he replied: ‘The young warrior is anenesnes at the news —so are hiscompanions; but Long Run tells the truth; Mackinaw has fallen.” ‘*Oh, God! let me out of this—let me go!” cried St. John, starting wildly toward the door. ‘Hold a moment, young man, said One- Armed Alf, laying his hand on the young cap- tain’s shoulders; *‘ wait, and we y.ill go with you. The time come when cool, calm con- pe beforehand will be our only safe- guard. “It is hard—hard to do, Alf, when the lives of those we hold dear may hang upon the ac- tion of a moment,” said the captain, resuming his seat. Then One-Armed Alf turned to the Ojibway and continued ; ‘*Let us hear what else Long Run has to communicate.” ‘‘T have but little more to say, for One Arm’s mind is long and he can guess the rest. He knows that the great lakes were once the undis- puted range of the red-man, But the pale-faces came in and drove him away and built up forts and villages; cut down our trees, and killed our game and our brothers. Now the red-man has dug up the hatchet. The pale-faces must all die, or from the hunting-grounds of the Indian. One Arm can not shoot, neither can he wield a tomahawk; but his skin is white, and bis beart is too, and his scalp would count one in the eyes of the great Canada Father. The red-men would not take the scalp of one whom the Great Spirit made without an arm, as an example of his wrath and punishment upon all white men who raise their hands against the red-skin; but when the Indian hatchet, wet with pale-face blood, is raised, he spares none,” “IT observe, Ojibway,” said One-Armed Alf, leaning slightly upon his long, knotted cane, ‘that you have some secret motive in comin here—something besides your avowed friend- ship and kindness. In the first place I observe you are not an Indian, but a white man dis- guised, which wmisrepresentation leads me to t you of some treachery.” A low, silent and devilish laugh escaped the disguised villain’s lips, which was succeeded by the of foo without. Then our friends caught the glimpse of other out- side of the door, and, a moment later, a dozen real Indian warriors filed into the room, their faces aglow with a subtle, malicious smile. They paused and glanced around them with well feigned rise; then, at a sign from the renegade, the seated themselves upon the floor, facing the whites. The very countenance of the pain wretches was an index to the cunning treach and murderous intent of their hearts; and the boldness of their intrusion, and the mocking sneer upon their faces, were intended to provoke the whites to some demon- stration of violence. But the cool equanimi and dogmatic forbearance of One-Armed overcame the spirit of resentment, and for the time being the storm was stayed. In fact, he went so far as to turn and glance at thesavages with provoking coolness, at the same fime salu- ting with a friendly bow. But his glance was mmediately transferred to bis companions, who read a volume of meaning init: -“* Boys, we're entrapped! But stand firm, and die like men] CHAPTER 1X. HAND TO HAND. A DEEP and found silence followed the bold intrusion of the red-skins into the cabin of Qne-Armed Alf; but it was ae silence, which when fully broken, would be i Bs cries 0 SEDRy FFRPR from men in a terrible death- struggle. Alt h the red-skins all came wrapped in Mhnkebe and some of them smoking, in order to allay suspicion of their purposes, their trea- cberous intentions were too thinly disguised to escape the notice of the scout. He knew full well that they bad murderous wea con- cealed beneath their blankets, ready for instant use; and the superiority of their number, with the thought that others might be conccaled out- side, gave the scout much uneasiness, yet he permitted no look or word to betray his emo- tion of fear. Long Run, as the renegade had called bimself, glanced at each of the whites, as if to read their perturbation of mind, then said: ‘Why are the pale-faces silent and amazed? Have they not looked upon Ojibway warriors before?” ‘We have,” replied One-Armed Alf, seein that there was no evading the sub “an we have looked upon more welcome visitors, I can assure you. “‘ A darned sight,” added old Jack Eller, un- able to control his tongue longer; ‘‘ I’ve see’d lots han’somer niggers than you kit of red galoots, and I'd like to be knowin’ wharfore: ye’re here,” ‘We have come for scalps, horses, pretty squaws and lots of things; and we’ll have them too, unless you agree to take them all and leave: the country of the red-man,” ‘*Have we violated the confidence you in- par gy in us in the past?’ asked Captain St. obn. *“No; but your great Father at Washington has declared war against our Canada Father, know you'll take sidcs with your peo- ple. “*Suppose, then, we agree to leave here, what assurance have we that you will not follow and shoot us when our backs are turned?” ‘Then One Arm does not believe an Ojibway mf the F Otibe said Long Run. “Yes; an Ojibway might, but a ren e like you is not to be believed. ge A grim, Satanic smile flitted across the face of Long Run, and bis eyes flashed a deadly re- vengeful look upon the undaunted scout. A momentary silence followed the scout’s re- tort, then the renegade said: “It is no use for us to spend further words, One Arm. Weare bere for two things. One, to exact a promise that you will leave this country ; another, for one person in your party. As he spr the chief rose slowly to his feet. ‘Which one of our party do you want?’ asked the scout. * That one,” the renegade replied, pointing to Darcy Mayfield. ‘What do you want him fur—to eat?” asked old Jack, in a tone of provoking sarcasm, ‘*That’s none of the old gray-beard’s busi- ness,” replied g Run; “we want that m n alive, if we can git him so, but if not, we will take him dead.” There was an involuntary commotion among our friends, and each eye sought the face of Darcy Mayfield, who stood unmoved by the demands of the renegade chief. He did, how- ever, exchange glances with the Giant Reout, then both fixed a close, studying gaze upon Long Run’s face, as if trying io penetrate his disguise of paint and feathers, e thus en- gaged old Jack Eller broke forth: “I say, Long Run, you’re a darned on’ry knave, and if you want to stand erect here without a punctuated hide, you mus’ talk more respect.al to me, Jackson Eller: or I'll be cussed if I don’t swamp ye, tooth and nail, ECM MUCEL OKO) SHA Elo)