Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 20 — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

; ; is a 6 a —eEaEEEeEeEeEeEeEeEeEeEeEeeeee - - r The New York Library. —_—_ -— - —+ —_—_— - - a ee a short a memory that yoa have alrcady for- gotten Red Cedar ?”’ ‘Red Cedar!” the Spaniard reveated in surprise ; ‘then you are not hung yet, my worthy friend ?”’ ‘‘Not yet, to my knowledge. I hope to prove it to youere long.”’ ‘‘Come across, in the —’s name; do not let us go on talking at this distance.’’ The stranger left the bridge-iiead, where he had stationed himself, probably to dis- pute the passage in case of necessity, and drew. off, uncocking his rifle, * Not waiting for a second, invitation, Red Cedar bounded on to the tree and crossed it in. a few seconds; he affectionately shook the Spaniard’s hand, and then they entered the grotto together, The grotto, or cavern, whichever you please to call it, was wide and lofty, divid- ed into seyeral compartments by large frames of reeds, rising to a hight of eight feet, and forming ten rooms or cells, five on either side the grotto, beginning at about twenty paces from the entrance—a space left free to act as kitchen and dining-room. The entrance to each cell was formed by a curtain, which descended to the ground. At the extremity of the passage that ran between the two rows of cells was another compartment, serving as store-houses; and beyond this a natural passage ran through the mountain, and terminated almost a league off, in an almost inaccessible ravine. All proved that this cave was not a bivouae chosen for a night or two, but an abode for many years past, in which all the comfort had been collected which it is possible to procure in these regions remote from any center of population. Round the fire, over which an enormous quarter of elk-meat was roasting, nine men, armed to the teeth, were sitting and smok- ing in silence. , On Red Cedar’s entrance, they ruse and came up to shake his naud eagerly, and with a species o1 respect, These men wore the garb of hunters or wood-rangers: their marked features, tlreir rarocious and crafty faces, on which the tra- ces of the most disgraceful and ignoble pas- sions were marked in indelible characters, strongly gore up by the fantastic flashes ot the fire, had something strange and gloomy about them, which inspired terror and re- vulsion. It could be guessed at the first glance that these men, the unelean scum of adventurers of all nations, lost in sin and compelled to fly to the desert to escape the iron hand of justice, had declared an obstinate war against those who had placed them beyond the pale of the common law of nations, and were in a word, what are called, by common consent, Pirates of the Prairies. itiless men, a hundred-fold more ruffian- ly than the most ferocious red-skins, who conceal a soul of mud and a tiger’s heart under a human appearance, and who, having adopted the savage life of the Far West, Lave assumed all the vices of the white and red races, without retaining one of their better qualities. Villains, in a word, who only know murder and robbery,and for a little gold are capable of the greatest crimes. Such was the company Red Cedar had come so far to seek. We are bound to add, and the reader will easily believe it, that he was not out of his place; and that his antecedents, on the con- trary, gained hima certain degree of con- sideration from these bandits, with whom he had been long acquainted. ‘‘Comrades,’’ Sandoval said, bowing with exquisite politeness to the brigands, ‘‘ our friend, Red Cedar, has returned among us ; let us greet him like a jolly companion whom we have missed too long, and whom weare delighted to see again.”’ ‘* Friends,”?» Red Cedar answered, as he took a seat by the fire, ‘‘I] thank you for your cordial reception, and hope soon to prove to you that I am not ungrateful.” ‘*Well!’ ene of the bandits said, ‘*has our friend any good news to impart to us? It would be welcome, deuce take me! for a whole month we have had to scheme for a living.’’ ‘* Are you really in that state ?’’ the squat- ter asked, with interest. ‘*Quite so,’ Sandoval confirmed him; ‘** Pericco has only spoken the exact truth.’ ‘*Hang it all!” Red Cedar went on, ‘I have come at the right moment then.’ ‘““Eh?” the bandits said, pricking up their ears. ‘‘ And yet I fancy that, for some time past, earavans have been becoming more numer- 9us in the desert: there is no lack of white or red trappers, who every now and then can 9e saved the trouble of carrying their beaver- ‘skins. I have even heard of several parties of miners.”’ ‘““ They are as badly off as sarees 3 San- do val replied ; “ and as for trappers, they are the very men wno injure us. Ah! my friend, the desert is not worth a hang now; the white men are drawing too close together ; they are gradually invading the territory of the red-skin, and who knows whether, in ten years from this time, weshall not have towns all round the spot where we now are ?”’ “There is some truth in. your remark,” Red Cedar observed, as he shook his head thoughtfully. ‘Yes,’ Periceo said; ‘‘ and unfortunately, the remedy is difficult, if not impossible to find,’’ ‘* Perhaps s0,’’ Red Cedar went on, toss- ing his head in a way which caused the Pi- rates to wonder what he was driving at. ‘‘In the meanwhile,’ he added, ‘‘as I have made a long journey, feel very tired, and havea tremendous appetite, I will feed, with your permission, especially as it is late, and the meal is admirably cooked.”’ Without further ceremony, Red Cedar cut a large slice of elk, which he placed before him, and began incontinently devouring. The Pirates followed his example, and for some time the conversation was naturally suspended. A hunter’s meal is never long ; the present one Was svon over, owing to the impatience of the band, whose curiosity was aroused to the highest degree by the few words drop- ped by the squatter, ‘“*Well,’’ Sandoval began again, as he lit a cigarette, “ now that supper is over, suppose we have achat. Are you agreeable, com- rade ?”’ ‘* Willingly,”? Red Cedar replied, as he settled himself comfortably, and filled his ipe. pk You were saying then—’’ Sandoyal re- marked. ‘Pardon me,’”’ the sqnatter interrupted him; ‘‘l was saying nothing. You were complaining, I believe, about the whites de- stroying your trade by coming closer and closer to your abode.”’ ‘* Yes, that was what I was saying.’’ ‘You added, if my memory serves me nee that the remedy was impossible to n ‘To which you answered, ‘ Perhaps.’ ”’ ** 7 said so, and repeat it.’’ ‘Explain yourself, then.’’ “The affair | have come to fwopose to you is extremely simple: For some years past jhe whites have been gradually invading the desert, which in a time not remote, will end by disappearing before thed.ncessant efforts of civilization.’’ ‘It is true.”’ ‘* Well, if you like, within a month you shall be rich men.’’ ‘* We will,’’ the bandits exclaimed in a for- midable voice, ** | will tell you the affair in a few words I have discovered a placer of incalculable wealth ; twenty leagues from here, [have left one hundred men devoted to my fortunes. Will you imitate them and follow me? I promise each of you more gold than he ever saw in his life or ever dreamed of possess- ing. f Hum!’ said Sandoval; ‘it is tempting.’ “T thought of you, my old comrades,’’ Red Cedar continued with hypocritical sim- plicity, ‘‘and have come. Now, you know my plan; reflect on what I have said to you; to-morrow, at sunrise, you will give me your answer.”’ And, without mingling further in the con- versation, Red Cedar rolled himself up ina zarape, and fell asleep, leaving the bandits to discuss amoug themselves the chance of success his magnificent proposal offered. CHAPTER VL THE PROPOSITION, Rep CEepAr, immediately that he entered the Far West, had, with the experience of old wood-rangers which he possessed in the highest degree, chosen a suitable site for his band to encamp. He did not wish to enter the desert without insuring allies on whom he could count, in the event of his being attacked. Red Cedar was one of those men who make it a principle to neglect nothing that can insure the success of their plans; he, therefore, resolved to protect himself from any attack as speedily as possible, His first care was to choose a spot where he could encamp his band, so as to be protected from all Indian marauders, and offer an advanta- geous resistance, in the case of a serious at- tack. » The Rio Gila forms a multitude of wooded islets, some of which, rising in a conical form, are very difficult of access, owing to the escarpment of their banks, and especial- ly through the rapidity of the current. It was on one of these islands that Red Cedar bivouacked his men. eee Peru and cottonwood trees, which grew abundantly on this island, mingled with creepers that twined round their stems in inextricable confusion, formed an impene- trable thicket, behind which they could boldly sustain a siege, while offering the immense advantage of forming a wall of verdure, through whose openings it was easy to watch both banks of the river, and any suspicious movements on the F aeyiag 80 soon as the miners had landed on the island, they glided like serpents into the in- terior, dragging their horses after them, and being careful to do nothing that might reveal their encampment to the sharp-sighted In- dians, So soon as the camp was established, and Red Cedar believed that, temporarily, at least, his band was in safety, he assembled the principal leaders, in order to communi- cate his intentions to them. They were first, Fray Ambrosio, tht monk, then Andres Garote, the ranchero, Harry and Dick, the two Canadian hunters, and lastly, the squatter’s two sons, Nathan an Sutter, and Kagle-wing, the chief of the Coras. Several trees had. been felled to form a suitable site for the fires and the tents.of the women, and Red Cedar, mounted on_ his steed, was, soon in the center of the chiefs collected around him. ‘‘Comrades,’’ he said to them, ‘‘ we have at length entered the Far West: our expe- dition now really commences, and I count on your courage, and, above all; your expe- rience, to carry it out successfully; but prudence demands that ,on the prairies, where we run the risk of being attacked, by enemies of every description ut any moment, we should secure allies who, in case of need, could protect us efficiently, It renders ita duty to redouble our vigilance, and, above all, hasten to enter into communication with the friends we possess in the desert,”’ *Yes,”’ said the monk; ‘bat I do not know these friends.” ** But I know them, and that is enough,”’’ Red Cedar replied. **Very good,” Fray Ambrosio went on; *‘but where are they to be found?” ‘*] kuow where to find them, You are here in an excelleut position, where you can hold your own for a long time, without any fear of it being carried. Thisis what I have resolved on.” ‘* Explain yourself; I am anxious to know your plans,’’ said the monk, ‘*You shall be satisfied: I am going to start at once in search of my friends, whom lam certain of finding within a few hours; you will not stir from here till my return.”’ *‘Hum! and will you be long absent ?’’ ‘Two days—three, at the most.” ** That is a long time,’’ Garote remarked. “During this period you will conceal your presence as far as possible. Let.no ove sus- pect you are encamped here. I will bring you the ten best rifles in the Far West, an with their protection, and that of Stanapat, the great Apache chief of the Butfalo tribe, whom I expect to seé also; we can traverse the desert.in perfect safety.”’ ‘But who will command the band in your absence ?’’ Fray Ambrosio asked, ‘‘ You, and these gentlemen. But remem- ber this: you will under no pretext leave the island.”’ **"Tis enough, Red Cedar, you can, start; we shall not stir till you return.” After a few more words of slight import- ance, Red Cedar left. the clearing, swan bis horse over the river, and on, reaching firm ground, buried himself, in. the tall grass, where he soon disappeared. | It was about six in the évening, when the aus ies left his comrades, to go in search ofthe men whom he hoped to make his allies, The bandits had paid but slight attentior to the dleparture of their ebief, the canse of which they were ignorant of, and which they Be would not last long. ‘he night had completely fallen. The gold-seekers, wearied by a long jour- ney, were sleeping, wrapped in their zarapes, round the fire, while two sentries alone watched over the common safety, They were Dick and Harry, the two Cana- dian hunters, whom chance had so un- towardly brought among these bandits. Three men leaning against the trunk of an enormous tree were conversing in a low . voice. They were Andres Garote, Fray Ambrosio, and Hag le- Wing: A few paces from them was the leafy cabin beneath whose precarious shelter reposed the equatter’s wife, her daughter Ellen, and Dona Clara, the Mexican irl 7 - The three men, absorbed in, the conversa- tion, did not notice a white shadow emerge from the cabin, glide silently along, and lean against the very tree, at. the foot of which aa were, wagle-wing, with t penetration which distinguishes the Indians, had read the EComicboo ead s rs “ oo 5. iF