Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 218 — page 24: what you’re looking at

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

sf . absurd 24 object it was to look upon; it was the encrimsoned skull of our scalped comrade! His body was sub- merged below the surface. His head alone was vis- ible—a horrid sight! The three of us leaped at once into the stream; and, raising the poor fellow in our arms, lifted him out on the é It was as he had ed. One of his legs was alleg broken below the knee; and other frightful wounds in different —— of his y: o wonder the Indi had believed him dead, vhen they stri off that terrible Sop Notwithstan the ill usage he had received, shere was still hope. His wounds though ugly to the ve, were none of them mortal. With care, he might recover; and taking him up as tenderly as possible, we conveyed him back to the butte. The Arapahoes had left their impedimenia behind them—blankets and robes at discretion. With these a soft couch was pigpared under the shade of the wagon body, and the wounded man placed upon it. Such dressing, as we were able to give, was at once administered to his wounds; and we found new joy in the anticipation of his recovery. His disappearance—from the spot where he had been left for dead—was explained. He had “ played *possum,”’ as he himself expressed it, hough roughly handled, and actually senseless for a time, he had still clung to life. He knew that the Indians be- lieved him dead—else why should they have scalped him? With a faint hope of being left upon the field, he had lain still, without stirring hand or foot; And the savages, otherwise occupied, had not noticed him after taking his scalp. By some accident, bis hands had got over his face; and, perceiving that these screened his countenance from observation, he had permitted them to remain so. With half-opened eyes, he could see between ‘his fingers, and note many of the movements that were passing upon the plain in front of him —all this without the Indians having the slightest suspicion that he lived! It was a terrible time for him—ar ordeal equal to that endured by Sure-shot and myself. Every now and then — aa alg oe Savage would come staggering past; an e ew not how soon some one of these strollers might stick a spear into him, out of mere wantonness! On the arrival of night, his hopes had revived; and ‘the cool air had also the effectoft partially restoring his strength. The savages, carousing around their ‘fires, took no notice of him; and as seon as darkness ~was fairly down he had commenced crawling off in the direction of the river. He had a double object in going thither. He was suffering from horrid thirst; and he hoped there to ‘find relief, as well as a hiding-place. After craw for more than ‘an hour, he had suc- eeeded in the bank; and, ng to the ‘water, he had waded down, and concealed himself rg the willows—in the place where we had found im. Such was the adventure of the ci-derant soldier, Patrick O g—an éscape almost miraculous! oe if pm laws = pa ne ag BE ‘the farce sho e: —our attention was at this mn ges to a Sodietons incident. ‘The Mexican trapper had ridden up and halted beside ‘the wagon; when all at once his eyes became fixed ‘upon an object that lay near at hand upon the grass. Jt was the black silk hat of the ex-rifleman, already mentioned in our narrative. After gazing at it for a moment, the Mexican slid «lown from his horse; and, hobbling toward the hat. he took itup. Then mttering a fierce “ Carajo,"’ he dashed the ‘‘tile” baek to the ground, and com- menced stamping upen it, as if it had been some venomous serpent he desired to annihilate! “Hilloo! theer, Rombre/’’ shouted Sure-shot. ““What the ole scratch are ye abeout? Why, ye yeller-bellied fool, thet’s om! hat yeer stompin’ on!” ** Your hat?" echoed the trapper in a contemptu- ous tone. ‘* Carrambo, senor’ you should ashamed Saree Any man who would wear a silk hat! mt’ ‘“ An’ why ain’t a silk hat as good’s any other?” “ Maldito sea |’’ continued the trapper, taking the with it nst a stone—* maldito somrero / but for ‘that aecursed invention, inl a trappers wouldn't ‘be as we are now. Carr / it’s fetched beaver clown to a. plew aplug: while only ten years ago we eould get six pesos the skin! k of that! Car: at-i-4 P” Pronouneing this last exclamation with bitter as- jrate, the incensed ain te gave the unfortunate at one more blow with his timber legs and then, spurning the battered tile from his toe, hobbled back to dis horse. Sure-shot was disposed to be angry but a word set all right. I perfectl comprehended the nature of the trapper’s an hy to silk hats, and.explained it to my comrade. In their eyes the ead-gear is more hideous than even to those who are condemned to wear it—for the trappers well know that the introduction of the silk hat has been Mt ay Spree from his waist, and hammering the hat’ the ruin of their | iar calling. ““"Pwarn’t much 0’ a hat, arter all,” said Sure-shot, reconciled by the explanation. ‘It b’longed to the sutler at the fort: for yee see, capting, as we left theere for a leetle bit o’ a hurry, I couldn’t lay my elaws on my own ole forage-cap, so I took the hat in its pl an’ thet’s how I kim by the thing. But heer’s a hat: rhaps, mister, this heer’ll pleeze ye better? Wl it, eh?” As Sure-shot put the question he took ap the glumel bonnet of an Arapaho warrior, wh had -en left lying wag Aw rocks, and, adjusting the gaudy circlet upon his head, strode backward and forward over the ground with all the swelling ma- Josty of an Indian dandy, The odd-looking indivi- dual and his actions caused the laughter of the by- standers to break forth in loud peals. The Mexican fairly screamed, interlarding his cachinnations with Jou “ santissimas,”’ and other Spanish exclamations, while even the wounded man under the wagon was unable to restrain himself at the mirth-provoking gpectacle * » CHAPTER LVII INDIAN BLAZONRY. I wus hurry rapidly over the events of the next few days, when so many springs of happiness welled out for two people, at least-—-Marian Holt and Frank Wingrove. Al) was explained when the two lovers The Wild Huntress. ———__- - -—-- ---———. met, and the death of the Indian girl, Su-wa-nee, in | = od what we were: the emissaries of the Utah e When within a few hundred yards of the camp, a the fight, removed their last cause of jealousy. Turn we to our story, when Wingrove, Marian, Sure-shot | “ith the Bi hon, ae and myself, wi ble Peg-leg for an ally, followed once more on the trail of the caravan—this time with the object of penetrating its recesses in disguise, leaving O’Tigg behind in the care of the hospitable Utahs. Three days later we went into camp within five miles of the caravan, At earliest dawn, and long before the sun had gilded the snowy summits of the Spanish peaks, we were all afoot. A breakfast was hastily prepared, and still more hastily eaten. After that we pro- ceeded to equip ourselves for the masquerade. Peg- leg acted as principal cos/‘umier ; and well under- stood he the rve he was called ns dae to perform, Perfectly acquainted with the Utah costume—both that used for war and the chase—there was no fear about the correctness of his heraldry being called in question. He knew every quartering of the Utah escutcheon with a minuteness of detail that would have done credit to a king-at-arms, For himself he needed no disguise. Asa trapper of Taos, he might also be an associate of Utah hunt- ers; and personally unknown to the Mormons, they would have no other thoughts about him, further than that their friend Wa-ka-ra had sent him to guide them across the deserts of the Colorado. At the Mormon camp, therefore, he could present himself in his Mexican costume, without the Saints having the slightest suspicion as to his true charac- er. This left him free to lend his services to the rest of us, and assist in our heraldic emblazonment. His first essay Was upon myself. My features being sufficiently pronounced, ren- dered it all the more easy to make an Indian of me; and a uniform coat of vermilion over my neck, face, and hands, transformed meinto asomewhat formid- able-looking warrior. ' ' Us, A buckskin hunting tunic, leggings, and moccasins | concealed the remainder of my ekin, while some locks of long hair extracted from the mane and tail | _place-where we might pitch our tents—outside the of my Arab, and eer united to my own dark tresses, with the plumed bonnet and drooping crest over all, completed a costume that would have done | meé credit at a Parisian 6a/ masque, With equal facility was accomplished the meta- eRe pee of the young backwoodsman, but not so easily that of Sure-shot. The nez retrousse, thin yel- low hair, and greev-gray eyes, appeared to be insur- mountable obstacles to the Indianizing of the ex- rifleman. Peg-leg, however, proved an artist of skill, The 2. ee ee chevelure of Sure-shot, well saturated with charcoal | paste, assumed a different hue. A black circle | around each eye neutralized the tint of both iris and | ot o his face was given a ground-coat of red ocher; while some half dozen dark stripes, yet longi- tudinally over it, and running parallel to the nose, extinguished the snub—transforming the Yankee into as good an Indian as any upon the ground. Marian was her own * dresser;”’ and while we were need outside, was making her toilet within the tent. Her costume would require but little alteration: it was Indian already. Her face alone needed mask- ing: and how was that to be done? o speak the truth, I was apprehensive upon the score of her disguise. I could not help reflecting on the fearful fate that awaited her, should the coun- terfeit be detected and the girl identified. I had felt uneasy upon this point, and had been en- deavoring to devise some scheme by which to avoid the imprudence of her presenting herself in the Mormon camp. But the thought of Lilian—the perilous situation in which she was Leelee ORE aca. Ww more than all, the selfishness of my own love, bad hindered me from thinking of any definite alternative, — When I saw the huntress-maiden issue forth frem her tent, her face empurpled with the juice of the auegria berries, her cheeks exhibiting each a circle of red spots, with a lino of similar markings extend- ed across her forehead, I no longer felt apprehension for the result. Though the hideous tattooing could not hide the charms of her speaking countenance, it had so chanred its expression that even Wingrove himself would not have recognized her. More like was it to baffle the scrutiny of father and false husband. In due time we were all dressed for the drama; and, after making a cache of our cast-off garments, we struck tents and moved forward to the perform- ance, The faithful Wolf accompanied us. It was against my wish, and contrary to the counsel of our guide; but Marian would not part with a companion that more than once had protected her from cruel ene- mies. The dog had been disguised, as the rest of us. Shorn of his shaggy coat, with his tail trimmed smooth as that of a grayhound—his skin, moreover, stained Indian fashion—there seemed but slight dan- ger that the animal could be vecognized. CHAPTER LIX, THE MORMON TRAIN. The last rays of the setting sun were sparkling on the selenite of the Silver Mountains, as we ap- proached the encampment of the Saints. We had got near enough to make out the dimensions of the caravan. Wesaw that there were abouta score of the large tilted wagons, with several smaller vehi- cles. The latter, with springs, were no doubt the more luxurious traveling carriages of such Saints as may bave been in easier circumstances at home. With the larger wagons, a “corral” had been formed—as is the usual custom of the prairie cara- van, As we drew near the camp, we could in the most approved fashion had the structed their corral. Most of the lighter vehicles were inside the inclos- reeive that ormons con- ure; and there we could see the forms of women | spot he occupied but t | ~ Ba for an instant had been turned away. | Hereulean frame, and great rufus beard han over his breast, p1 of the Tennesse | firmed it. on that eventful morning, and children moving about in an excited manner— as if they had retreated thither on discovering our approach, The men still remained outside; and the horses and horned cattle had been left undisturbed. Our party was not large enough to have created an alarm—even had our arrival been unexpected. It could scarcely have been so. No doubt they took f , already on horseback, came trottin TLaahileas had hoisted a piece of w toward te fawn- skin on his gun-rod—the world-known symbol of | peace, and so understood by the red-men of Ameri- ca. A towel or table-cloth, or something of the sort, was held up in answer; and the mounted men spurred forward to meet us. after the demonstration When we had approached within a dozen lengths of each other bot parties reined up; and the Mexi- can and Mormon leader, separating from their re- spective followers, met midway between the twe parties, shook hands, and entered into conversa- tion. What they said was simple enough. I could hear lish the nature by Wa-ka-ra te act as their guide; and that we his companeros, were the Utah hunters, to provide game for the caravan. Of the Mormons who rode up to us there were half a dozen in all; and I was fain to hope that they were not a fair specimen of the emigrant party. They the trapper declaring in broken — of our errand— that he had been sen were not—asI afterward ascertained. They were the Danites, or Destvoying Angds, that accompanied the train. “Destroying devils’? would have n a more appropriate appellation; for six more villain- ous-looking idividuals I had never beheld. There was no sign of the angelic, neither in their eyes nor features—not a trace; but, on the contrary each might have passed for an impersonation of the op- posite character—a very “devil incarnate!” Five of them I had never seen before—at least to remem- ber them. The sixth only on one occasion. Him I remembered well. The man who had once looked in the face of the ex-attorney’s clerk, and ci-devunt schoolmaster of Swampville, was not likely soon te cast that countenance from his remembrance. It was Stebbins who was talking to the Mexican. The dialogue was of brief duration. The tale told by the trapper was scarcely news; it had been expected; and was therefore accepted without suspicion. The interview ended by the Mormon leader pointing to a wagon inclosure, and near the bank of the river. This was just what we desired; and, proceeding direct to the spot, we commenced unpacking our paraphernalia, 4 CHAPTER LX, THE CORRALED CAMP. AS soon aS our quality was known, the Saints came crowding around us. The corral poured forth its contents—until nine-tenths of the whole caravan, men, women and children, stood gazin with that stare of idiotic wonder pec humbler classes of countries called civilized. We managed to withstand the ordeal of their ' scrutiny with an assumed air of true savage indif- ference. upon us, to the Not without an effort, however; since it was difficult to resist laughing at the grotesque ex- clamations and speeches, which our appearance and All along | movements elicited from the wondering We were cautious not to notice their remar pearin as if we understood them not. okels. p- Peg-leg, by the aid of his Anglo-American jargois, picked up among the mountain-men, was able to satisfy them with an occasional reply. The rest of us said nothing; but, to all appearance earnes occupied with our own affairs, only by steal turned our eyes on the spectators. I could perceive that e huntress was the chief attraction, and for a moment my apprehensions were sufficiently keen. The girl had done nothing to disguise her sex, the mask extending no further than to her face and features. Her neck, hands, and wrists—al!l of her skin that might be exposed—were stained Indian of course; and there would have been little likelihood of their detecting the false epidermis under a observation. Had it been a mere ordinary person, vainted as she was, she might ndian without aiff and, spite of her disfigured have passed for an culty. As it was, howeve voluptuous beauty bad tempted a closer scru r, her tiny; eatures, I saw glances directed upon her expressive of secret but passion- ate observation. We had now an opportunity of studying the Mor- mons: for not one of them had the slightest idea that their talk was understood by us. Most of them: appeared to be of the humbler class of emigrants—- farm-people or those of mechanical calling—artisans of the common trades—shoemakers joiners, and the like. The women were of all ages, and, added, of all nations. mingled in the mele of sounds: » blacksmiths, it might be Several European ton but the one which es predominated was the jargon of the Welsh Princi- pality. Many of the atter wore their picturesque native costume—the red-hooded cloak and kirtle— and soimne were x age teeth, fair complexion, an to other branches of fair, with the fine white ruddy cheeks, common the Celtic race, but nowhere so characteristic as among thé fair maidens of Cam- bria. My own eyes dwelt not pe these. Ever since our arrival upon the groun I had been watching with keen glances the opening that led into the corral. Every one who came forth—man or womaz —had been glances had 6 object of my scrutiny. But m been given in vain, and ene not r warded by the recognition of a single individual. After all, had we taken the wron not Holt have kept on with the gold story of the Chicasaw signified nothin “ e squatter may have resisted track? Might -diggers! ie the will of hie Apostolic companion,’ I muttered to myself, “ and. separating himself from the Mormon party, have gone on with the diggers? No! yonder! self, as I live!” Th It was Holt. e exclamatory phrases were called fo appearance of a tall man in the openin the wagons. Holt him- . rth by the . gz between He was standing grins must have reached the It was precisely the same © moment before, when my The cing ‘oclaimed to my eyes the identity an squatter, and the costume con- worn by him with his long rifle raised against my life. eom OO Ne) € when standing before me cS (E(0)