Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 272 — page 19: what you’re looking at

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

eee... el —_——- —— aii Cet ee = ——a EAL - “He is found worthy.” Slocum cast a grateful glance at the boy when he spoke, and Sitting Bull pronounced the verdict: : ‘+The brother from the East is found worthy, if he has told the truth, He will sit at our council-fire henceforth and be one of us. The circle is broken.” Then he extended his hand to Slocum, and one after another the five brotbers of the inner circle gave him the grip and pronounced the words; ‘‘ Brother, you are welcome.” All spoke slowly and grudgingly save Le Marmoset, who smiled and uttered bis welcome in a peculiar! soft and melodious tone, while the prvssure of bis hand was friendly and reas- suring, Then Sitting Bull said; “The protber is free to go where he will in our camp, and to-morrow we will open the trade with him. I have said.” He stalked out of the tent, and Slocum took his departure to the lodge of bis friend, Bat Richards. . As be came out he noticed that the black clouds had mounted to the zenith, and within a quarter of an bour from that timea tremendous storm of cold wind and sleet set in, which changed in a sbort time into snow, and sent every member of the camp into his or her lodge, to buddle tegether for warmth over the smoky embers of the little fires, Within an bour the temperature had sunk to within a few degrees of zero, to judge from the feelings, and the hides of which the lodges were composed were froze bard as boards, Only the shape of tbe lodges preserved them from Relres overturned; for the strength of the wind was something fearful, even under the shelter of the bluffs. Slocum found Montana George next to him “0 the darkened lodge, and George whispered to m: | ‘(A reg’lar norther, Now’s our time to git, if you’re a white man, If you’re turnin’ squaw- man, s ay and see what'll happen to you, when they've got all they want.” , lt was the first time George had spoken to him since they parted in anger in the morning, and Slocum bad waapped bimself in a buffalo- robe to get through the night as he best could, when he heard the plainsman’s whisper close to his ear. “ Hush!” he answered, ‘‘ Bat will hear you and betray us.” Montana George’s answer, in the same whis- per as before, was this: “Bay the word and we'll be one too many for Bat. Dead men tell no tales, He’s sold us out and deserves death,” Slocum could not help admitting the truth of this last remark, but asked: ‘* How about the squaws? They would make a noise, wouldn’t they!” He had not noticed when he came in, who was in the lodge, it being dark, with only a few embers in the middle. Montana Georges answer electrified him, as lainsman said; ™ pple’s gone back to her dad, and Red Feather’s with me.” ‘And Bat?” asked Slocum, breathless, ‘ Bat’s asleep, so sound he won’t wake ina harry. eather gave him the dose in Wik when he came in. I knowed a norther was coming.” Then ocam remembered that he had had a morale -< laudanum in his baggage, and asked anxi : ‘* Did you give him laudanum? How much, for heaven’s sake?” ‘“7Bout a quarter of a pint,” was the cool an- gwer. ‘' He didn’t get all of it though.” “ Why not?” “Said it — taste right, and made Red drink the rest. nel started up into a sitting posture, ‘Do you mean that they’re poisoned?” Montana George chuckled. — ‘Mighty nigh it. If you don’t believe they’re asleep, go shake’em. But don’t speak above your breatb.” “Why not?” ‘“’Cause there’s lodges all around us and ears is sharp.” The young engimeer verified his companion’s tale by throwing some dry buffalo-chips and bones on the fire. When the smoke ceased, and a little blaze started up, there lay Bat on his back, snoring loudly, with Red Feather beside him ‘potb unmistakably so fast asleep that they submitted to pulling and pinching of consider- able severity, with no symptoms of wakening. But Ripple and the baby were gone. “ How did Ripple come to go?” he asked. “Got tired of Red Feather, I s’pose,” was the answer, ‘*Squaws change husbands whenever they’ve a mind to, and nothin’s said about it, anata why Bat got drunk.” ‘ g? “Cause his squaw shook him,” . ‘ Bat they seemed fond of each other. “Ay, ay, he was fond of her, and a heap onder. of the pappoose, but ’twarn’t no use, was too good for the likes of him. Why, Ri Seth — — FO ee Ge ame ee she was old Sitting Bull’s daughter. I didn’t b’lieve it till we gor bere, but I seen it was true. then, She went off on a visit to her family, as might be, and I reckon Bat knows she won’t come back to him, while there’s lots of young bucks wants to have her.” Slocum felt considerable excitement at this iece of news. He had been so mueh absorbed in his own perils and ordeals since he had been an Inmate of Sitting Bull’s lodge that he had almost forgotten all about George, whom he had left at the other end of the valley, when he had startgd in for the buffalo-hunt, ‘Tell me, George,” he said. **‘How came you here, unarmed?” ‘‘Kasy enough. You seen me stay by the squaws when they sot up the lodge at the Bad Lands, I knowed the dog soldiers would give you all you wanted.” ‘* Who are these dog soldiers you mean?” ‘The bunters of the camp. Sitting Bull him- self daresn’t cross ’em too much, an they jest raise Cain if any one breaks the ruJes on ’em, I seen you a-ketchin’ of it, and thought you was dead till I seen Bat scoop ye up, Then I knowed ye was safe.” ‘‘ How did ye know?’ “Cause that was the game, You'd broke their rules and he stood out to save ye. If he hedn’t clutched ye when he did, they'd ha’ cooked your goose, sure.” ‘But you said he bad betrayed us, Why should he save my life?” George laughed rather scornfully. ‘*There’s ways of saving life that’s worse than killing. Mage they cut off yer arms and legs, one arter the other and scar the stumps with red-kot irons so ye wouldn’t bleed to death, that ain’t much to be thankful for; is it?’ Slocum shuddered slightly. “IT should say not.” ‘“That’s why Bat saved ye then. Oh, I know them half-breeds and Injuns. You’ve trusted him and he’s jest sucked ye dry.” ‘* How so?” ‘““He seen ve wanted suthin’ here, and he don’t know what it is yet; but he seen that ye wanted it bad; and he’s bound to make a good thing out of ye. He got ye to put out money in guns and cartridges, dead ag’in’ the Govern- ment laws; he got ye to stampede Major Ire- land’s borses; and he’s got ye here, he’s sold ye to the Indians sure,” ‘* Are you sure of that?’ **Sure! You bet. I understand a good deal of their lingo, and heard him telling ’em,” ‘Telling them what?” : ‘* How he’d fooled you into coming here, and that the rifles and ammunition would all be theirs now, if they wanted.” ‘You heard that? When?” ‘‘This arternoon, Didn’t you see him, tellin’ it when I spoke to you, and that darned old black priest was a scowlin’ at us?” ‘*T saw him making signs.,”’ pit That was his story, and they was all Jaugh- at ye. 5 But you forget one thing, George,” ‘“ What’s that, siry” “That since that time I’ve proved to them that I belong to their secret Order, and that every man in camp is my friend,” ‘‘] don’t care ‘bout that,’ returned George doggedly. ‘'They ain’t mine. The dog sol- diers come and took away my weepons, and beat me like a dog, and I didn’t dare resist, for I knowed that was all they wauted to get a chance at me. I ain’t a-going to stay here and be made roast meat of for fun. I’m a-goin’ to git out of this came this night,” ‘* But you'll freeze to death outside,” “‘So much the better, I won’t feel them burning me then. I tell ye ’ma-going. If I stay here 1’ll be burnt sure, If I get out, I'vea chance for my life, and that’s worth a good deal nowadays. The Injins will bug their fires close, you bet; unless the stock stampedes, and it ain’t likely to go out of shelter to night. So saying the hardy plainsman began to make his preparations to face the awful tempest out- side by putting on extra clothing, and when he was ready asked: ‘Well, are ye going or not?” ‘*No,” said Slocum, “I came for the field- book of Mr. Graves and I go back with it or not af all.” CHAPTER XXII. THE FIELD BOOK, MONTANA GEORGE uttered an impatient urse, ‘*I tell ye this is our only chance. This norther will last three days, and not an Injun will stir out of his lodge till it’s over. We kin git out and hide our trail till we’re out of dan- ger; but if ye stay here, ye’ll be killed, sure /” ‘I cannot go without the field-book,” was Slocum’s only reply. BE ye goif ye get it?’ asked George sul- Cc “The moment I lay hands on it, I shall think of nothing but escape,” answered the other, | ‘*D’ye know where it is?” ‘Father de Smedt says it’s in Sitting Bull's Slocum, Railroad Surveyor. —— ae =. fee — a+ —-+ oe = == ’ medicine-bag, and if so, there’s ne hope of my getting it HiT gain his confidence.” ‘‘ Gain his confidence! You’re darned likely to do that. No, Mr. Slocum; there’s only one way to doif you want to get out of this camp alive with that book,” ‘* And what’s that?” ‘Steal it to-night, and run with it.” Slocum was struck by the advice. ‘‘I swear | think you're right, But to get it, I must enter Sitting Bull’s lodge. That is not a possible thing, I anticipate,” . ‘You're rigbt there; but ain’t there no way in your darned Order to make him come to you?’ A thought struck Slocum. “There is one way; but I fear it cannot be done to-night,” ‘What is it, sir? here I am,” - You could not do it. I must do it my- self.’ ‘What must you do?” ‘‘T must go and tell Si ting Bull that Bat is siek, and ask him to come and see bim, I shal also tell him you are missing; he will probably order a pursuit at once,” ‘No, he won’t.” “Why not?’ ‘* Because no Injun would stir out on a dark night like this. They believe that if they die in the dark they’ll stay dark forever.” . “Tben you think be would not come out!” “Sartin, no, But Vil tell you what we kin do, if you’re a mind to take your life in your hand—” ‘*Go on,” | ‘We kin both go to Sitting Bull’s lodge, and knife bim as he sleeps,” said George, coolly. ‘* He’s a medicine-chief, and they’re aliers alone, except for the rquaws, If it was another ebief's lodge we’d find a dozen bucks sleeping there, but he’s sure to be alone,” Stop,” said Slocum; ‘‘I’ve another idea.” He began to bunt in his baggage, and soon rummaged out a bottle, saying: “ That’s cbloroform—” If it wants a map to do it, ——_ He had only got that far when they heard a knocking at tbe flap of the lodge, and the object of their conversation himself put bis head ip and saidin French: ‘‘Where is the Horse Chief? What is that noise, brother?’ As he spoke he put aside the flap and walked inside, closing the entrance after him, while Siccum was too much amazed to say a word till the Sioux bad taken a seat at the fire, and ob- served quietly: ‘‘Monsieur Slocum, in our camps we go to bed in the dark, and don’t sit up totalk. It is a cold night, but ears are open in the lodges of my peone ontana George bad thrown himself down by the fire at the first noise on the lodge-door; but Slocum still remained, overpowered by sur- prise, sitting up where be bad been. Sitti ull had evidently come in to spy on him, in the midst of a norther, so severe that no one else would have dreamed of going out in it. The chief’s long hair was white with sleet and snow, in the short distance be had come from his own lodge, and bis ayly-painted baftalo- robe was gathered closely around him, as he sat there on the other side of the fire, where he could see Slocum perfectly, and watch Montana George, whose pretended sleep evidently did not in the least deceive him, As soon as Slocum recovered his coolness, which he did by astrong effort, be said: ‘* | was talking to the hunter who came here with me. He is afraid that your people will regard bim as an enemy, and I bave told him that be is my friend, and that the Brothers of the Black Cloud will not harm tbe friend of their brother.” The chief slowly raised bis gleaming eyes and fixed them on Slocum. ** You made a mistake, monsieur. This map belongs to our enemies, and is therefore a fair prize, Wedonot gointo your camps and ex- pect mercy. He will be given over to the equaws for torture,” Slocum glanced ver at George to see if he unders the speech, which was delivered in Freoch, bat the plainsman made no sign if he did, and the young man answered: * Then I Pay rene it is also possible that I my- self am destined to the same agreeable openEe tion of providing amusement for your ladies, monsieur ?” Sitting Bull shook bis head, ‘‘Not unless you attempt to escape.” ‘* And then “Tn that case you would be held to have vio- lated the oath of the Order, and we should of course punish you more severely than a mere common enemy,” The chicf’s tone was pitilessly cold. The thin varnish of civilization be bad received in his early life had not sufficed to make bim civil enough to vail bis meaning in fine words. Slocum smiled. ‘You're very frank, monsieur,” | “Itis best I should be, 1 am not, like the rest of my. people, a savage. I have learned nicpoe ——— - a =_— a. —,. co cS rele lle “ : ——,. ~~ - dia -