Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 20 — page 15: what you’re looking at

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

> PF 9 ot De “We donot need a long discussion for that,’? Don Pablo replied. “You think 80?” “Hang itall, the only thing to be done, I fancy, is to follow Red Cedar’s trail.” ‘*'True: but to follow it we must first find it.’’ ‘*Granted : so let us look for it.’’ “That is what we are about to do.”’ Atthis moment furious yells were heard not far from them. The hunters, surprised, looked about them anxiously, andsoon saw a band of Indians running in every direction along the river- bank. These were not more than half a league distant. ‘*Oh, oh,”’ Valentine said, “what's the meaning of this ?” , ‘*They are Apaches,” Shaw remarked. ‘IT can see that,’’ the Frenchman said. ‘**But what the deuce is the matter with are devils? On my honor, they seem mad.”’ ‘* Wah!’ Curumilla suddenly exclaimed, who was also looking, though not speaking, as was his wont. ““What’s the matter now?’ Valentine asked, as he turned to the chief. ** Look,” the latter replied, as he stretch- ed out his arm, ‘‘ Dona Clara !’’’ ‘What, Dona Clara!’ the hunter ex- claimed, with a start of surprise. “ Yes,’’ Curumilla observed, *‘ my brother must look.”’ ‘It is, in truth, Dona Clara,” Valentine said aftera minute; ‘what on earth can she be doing here ?”’ And without caring for the Indians, who, on seeing him, would not fail to start in pursuit, he hurried at full gallop in the di- rection of the maiden. His comrades followed him; not caring for the width of the stream at this spot, they plunged in, resolved to reach the other bank, and fly to the help of the maiden, un- der ashower of arrows which the Indians fired at them, while uttering yells of rage at these new enemies. Eagle-wing and Dona Clara were still fly- ing, unheeding the shouts of the hunters; the horsemen the Coras had perceived were Apache warriors returning to their village from a buffalo-hunt. Although they were ignorant of what had happened, the sight of theirfriends galloping along the river- . bank, and the two riders escaping at full speed, revealed the truth to them, that is to say, that prisoners had escaped, and warriors of their tribe were in pursuit of them. The river was soon crowded with Apache warriors, who crossed it to catch up the fu- gitives. The pursuit was beginning to re- asstme alarming proportions for Eagle-wing and Dona Clara, in spite of the considerable advance they still had on their enemies. The Gila is oneof the largest and most ' majestic rivers in the Far West; its course is winding and capricious—it is full of rap- ids, cataracts, and isletc formed by the change of bed which it effects when, by an abundant overtiow of water, it spreads far and wide over the country, inundating it for fouror five leagues around. Eagle-wing had seen that the only chance of safety left him was not on the prairie, where he had nota single covert to attempt a desperate resistance, but on one of those little islets of the Gila, whose rocks and > thick scrubs would offer a temporary shel- ter, that could not be violated with impuni- ty. His vagabond course had, therefore, no other object but to return to the river by a zig-zag route. Valentine and his comrades had not lost one of the fugitive’s movements; although they were themselves hotly pursued, they anxiously followed the incidents of this ter- rible struggle. “They are lost!’? Don Pablo suddenly shouted. ‘‘ That Indian is mad, on my soul. See, he is trying-to turn hack in this direc- tion—it is running into the wolf's throat!” ‘‘Youare mistaken,’’ Valentine answered ; “the tactics of that man are, on the contra- ry, extremely simple, and at the same time most clever. The Apaches have guessed “hem; for look, they are trying to cut him off from the river as far as they can.” “Tis true, by heavens!’ Shawsaid; ‘‘we must help that man in his maneuyer.’ “That depends on ourselves,” Valentine answered, guickly; “let us turn and sud- denly attack the Apaches; perhaps that di- version will enable our friends to succeed.’’ “Well, that is an excellent idea,” remark- ed Don Pablo ; **how wise it was of Curu- milla to make us ride.” ‘“* What did I say to you ?”’ Valentine said, with asmile. ‘“‘Oh! the chief is an invalua- ble man.”’ Curumilla smiled proudly, but maintained silence. “Will you follow me and be killed, if ne- © cessary to saye Dona Clara?” Valentine went on. | . The Bandit at Bay. “We will!’’ the hunters answered. ** Forward, then, in heaven’s name! each of us must be worth ten men!’’ the French- man shouted, as he suddenly turned his horse on its hind legs. The four men rushed at full speed on the Apaches, uttering a formidable yell. On ar- riving within range they discharged their rifles, and four Apaches fell. The Indians, intimidated by this sudden attack, which they were far from anticipating, dispersed in every direction to avoid the shock of their daring adversaries; then, col- lecting in a compact mass, they charged in their turn, uttering their war-cry, and brand- ishing their weapons. But the hunters received them with a second discharge, which hurled four more Indians on the sand, and then started in dif- ferent directions to collect again, one hun- dred and fifty yards further on. “Courage, my friends!’’ Valentine cried, ‘**those scoundrels do not know how to use their weapons; if we liked we could hold them in check the whole day.” **That will not be necessary,’’ Don Pablo remarked; ‘‘look there!’’ In fact, the fugitives, profiting by the mo- ment’s respite which the hunters’ attack on the Apaches granted them, had reached an islet about one hundred vards in circumfer. ence, in the middle of the stream, wheré they were temporarily in safety. ‘‘It is now our turn,” Valentine loud) slrouted; ‘*a final charge to drive thowe devils back, and then to the islet !”’ ‘‘Hurrah! hurrah!’ the hunters then shouted, and they rushed on the Apaches. There were a few minutes of hand-to-hand fighting, but the Apaches at length broke and the hunters, freed by prodigies of valor, retreated to the river-hbank, from which ney were not more than twenty yerds dis- ant. The others plunged into the river, but suddenly Valentine’s horse stood * p, gave a prodigious bound, and fell back on its rider— the noble animal was shot throug a the heart with an arrow. The Apaches uttered a formi Jable yell of joy, on seeing one of their enemies rolling = the ground, and they rushed up to scalp im, But Valentine had risen ‘o his feet im- mediately; kneeling behind je body of his horse, which he converted into a breast- work, he discharged at the Indians first his rifle, and then his pistols, being supported by the fire of the hunters who had reached the islet. rhe Apaches, exasperated at being held in theck by One man, rushed upon him, as if fo crush him beneath their weight. Valentine, to whom his fire-arms were now useless, seized his rifle by the barrel, and employed it like amace, falling back step by step, but always keeping his front to the en- eniy. By a prodigious chance, Valentine had not yet received a wound, save a few unimpor- tant scratches, for the Indians were so close together that they could not use their arms for fear of wounding one another. But Valentine felt his strength desertin him, his ears buzzed, his temples throbbed as if bursting; a vail was gradually spread- ing over his eyes, and his wearied arms only dealt uncertain blows. Human strength has its limits, and how- ever great the energy and will of a man may be, the moment arrives when further fight- ing becomes impossible, his strength betrays his courage, and he is forced to confess him- self vanquished. Valentine was reduced to this supreme point. His rifle broke in his hands; he was disarmed, ar.d at the mercy of his ferocious enemies. All was over with the gallant Frenchman. But the hunters, whom the Indians had forgotten in the heat of the action, seeing the imminent peril of their companion, re- solutely hurried to his aid. While Eagle-wing, Don Pablo, and Shaw attacked the Indians and compelled them to fall back, Curumilla carried off his friend on his shoulders. The contest began again, more obstinate and terrible than bef6re, but, after extraor- dinary efforts, the hunters succeeded in re- gaining the islet, in spite of the stubborn resistance of the red-skins, Valentine had fainted, and Curumilla car- ried him to a perfectly sheltered spot, and silently busied himself with recalling him to life. But fatigue alone had produced the hunter’s syncope, so he soon reopened his eyes, and ten minutes later he was perfectly restored. When the Apaches saw their enemies in safety, they ceased a contest henceforth use- less, and retired out of rifle range. The day passed without fresh incidents, | and the hunters were able to iutrsnch them- selves as well as they corld 9n the islet, which they had succeeded in reaching with 80 much toil, B.. need CHAPTER XY. ON TBE ISLAND. THE sun had descended on the horizon, and darkness was invading the sky; ere jong a dense vail of gloom was spread over the emtire face of nature. The Indians seemed ¥ have given up all idea of attacking the aites, but did not leave the river-bank; on the contrary, their number momentarily increased. On either bank of the Gila they had lit large fires, and put up their tents. The situation of the fugitives was far from reassuring; sheltered on an island, whence they could not escape without being seen by their vigilant enemies, their previsions were reduced to a few handfuls of maize boiled in water, and a little pemmican. Their ammu- nition consisted of twenty charges of pow- der at the most. The hunters lit no fire, for fear of letting the Apaches know the exact spot where they | were; collected in the middle of the island in a dense thicket, they watched over Dona Clara, who, overwhelmed by the terrible emotions of the day, had P baci to sleep, and was lying on a bed of dry leaves. Valentine and his friends watched the movements of the enemy by the light of their bivouac fires. Opposite the island, and round a fire larger than the rest, several chiefs, among whom Black Cat could be clearly distinguished, appeared engaged in a lively discussion. At length, two men rose and advanced slowly to the water’s edge; on reachi . they took off their buffalo-robes, vais them above their heads, and let them float in the breeze. *“Do you see that?’ Don Pablo éaid to Valentine. ‘*The red-skins wish to parley with us.’’ ** What the deuce can they have to say to us?’ the hunter answered; ‘‘the demons must know in what extremities we are.” ‘‘No matter. I fancy we shall do well by receiving them.”’ ‘*What does Eagle-wing think of it?” Valentine asked the Coras, who, crouched near them with his head ——— on the palms of his hands, was reflecting deeply. ‘“* The Apaches are foxes without courage,” the sachem answered; ‘“‘let us hear what they want.”’ : **And you, Curumilla, what is your opin- ion?’ the hunter said, turning to Curt- milla. ‘‘My brother is prudent,’ he replied; ““we ean hear the propositions of the Apaches.”’ ‘* Well, as you all wish it, I consent; but I feel certain that no good will come of this interview.”? ‘* Perhaps so,’’ Shaw remarked. ‘“‘That is not my opinion,” Don said. “*Koutonepi must not receive them here,”’ Curumilla went on. “The Apaches are very crafty ; they have an extremely forked tongue, and the eyes of tiger-cats.” . ‘That is true,” said Valentine; ‘let us go and see what they want.”’ a age making Curumilla a sign to fol- low Mim; and after assuring himself that his arms were in good condition, he walked to the end of the island. | The Indians were still continuing their signals, and Valentine raised his hands to his mouth in the shape of a speaking-trum- et. Pe What do the Buffalo Apaches want?” he shouted. ‘“The chiefs have to speak with the pale- faces, but they can not hear them at such a distance. Will the pale-faces promise them safety-if the warriors come to them ?” *“Come,”’ Valentine replied; ‘* but mind, only two of you.”’ | ‘*Good,”’ the chief said; ‘‘two warriors will come.” “ | The Apaches consulted for an instant to- gether, and then took from among the lofty grass in which it was concealed a light raft, which the“hunters liad not noticed, and pre- pared to gain the island. Salada The whites awaited them, resting on their rifles, apparently careless, but anxiously watching the shrubs on the bank, behind which the Apache warriors were doubtless hidden, and watching them in their turn. ‘The Indians landed and walked toward the hunters with all the etiquette prescribed by the law of the prairies. . | On seeing that the Indians were unarmed, Valentine handed his rifle to Don Pablo, who laid it a few paces behind him. = ‘“Good,” Black Cat muttered, with a smile; ** ~! brother acts loyally. I expected that from him. a ) “Hum, chief!’ Valentine answered, sharp- ly ; Bo. of compliments—what have you to say to me?” cy | ‘““My pale brother does not like to lose time in vair re the Indian said; “he is'a wise than. -T bring him the itions of the principal chiefs of the tribe. 9 Pablo eed a 900 > > ne. ‘ 5 “Oe te