Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 308 — page 9: what you’re looking at

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

Hemlock Hank. ome. Gem me” 9 at the narrow bridge of rock and the depth on either side. “Tbink you can make the trip, sonny?” in- quired Hemlock Hank. “ Well, I was never a tight-rope dancer, and this thing is new to me; but I will follow her, or give up the ghost.” He started boldly enough, and got safely across, though the razor-back bridge fairly made him shiver as be went over. He had the pleasure of being received at the other end by Mattie Marley. © ““T had forgotten you,” she said. “I am so used to that pass, that I don’t think how diffi- cult the crossing may be to others.” A very complimentary reply rose to his lips; but he refrained from uttering it. He had not yet recovered from the depression caused by that rifle-shot, By preceding her companions to the plateau she had a word of explanation for her father before they arrived, Hank Ward was warmly welcomed by Solon Marley; but the old man frowned and looked troubled when Charley Creed was presented to bim. “Tt’s all right,” insisted Hank, ‘Nothin’ to worry about, Mr. Marloy, Charley is my friend, and yours, too.” They were invited into the cabin to a good hot supper, and during the meal the guide told how they had happened to meet Mattie at the falls, but considerately avoided mention of the shoot- ing. incident, he girl, too, made no allusion to it, and Charley Creed felt considerably relieved. ‘*Charley and I had talked about you, old entleman,” continued Hank, ‘‘ and I knew that is heart and his head were both correct on that ‘int; but I wasn’t anxious to bring him up ere without leave from you, and so I kinder discouraged bim, “IT told bim that what we saw on the lake was a spook, and I gave him a heavy dose of the Injuns’ yarns about old Katahdin. * But he didn’t discourage much, as he was bound to hunt the spook, though I threatened to go away and leave him; so I had to give in. “ When he found the canoe at the foot of the falls, he vowed that he meant to camp right there until the spook came, and sure enough she came, “‘Let a young chap git on the track of a gal, and it’s or nb n’ how he ean foller it.” The girlin_ question turned away her head, and Charley Creed blushed visibly. “Does he not believe that I was guilty of that crime?” inquired Solon Marley, a little timidly, “He don't know nothin’ about it, himself; but I’ve told him that you are innocent, an that settles it,” ‘“‘As Mr. Marley is innocent,” suggested Charley, “‘ he ought not to hide himself and his daughter away up here in this mountain.” “t must hide from the law,” answered Solon Marley. pearances are so strong against me that I cannot trust myself in its grasp. The web that has been woven is so tangled that Tam afraid it can never be straightened out, Icould not stand a trial, forfear I would be found guilty.” . ‘*But why should you have to stand any- thing of the kind?” urged Charley. ‘‘ Iam sure that my father would not press a charge against ou. **[suppose you are right about that, youn gentleman, Your father is a kind and good man, Whether he believes me to be guilty or not, he would let me go in peace,” - “Who is it, then, that is so bitter against ou?” mM My brother-in-law, Stephen Ralston—my dead sister’s husband. Since her death he bas never ceased to persecute me, and I believe that he would be glad to hunt me to my death. There were forgeries committed—no doubt of that—and he was able to fasten them upon me, The proof was sufficient for the grand jury aud the officers of thelaw. Icould do nothing but fly and hide,” ** But bow long is this to last?’ demanded the fea man. ‘‘ You are not always tostay here, oO id Poatnt say. Iwould prefer not to speak of the matter any more. I think of it until it drives me wild. I am always praying; but there comes no answer to my prayers.” After this there was silence for a while. Then Hemlock Hank eo ws the subject of the spook again, and told of the whirlwind on the lake, by which he and his young friend had been caught. This led Mr. Marley to speak of Mattie’s ex- cursions in that quarter, and of the trouble they had given him. "You must know, my dear,” said he, “ that Tam unwilling to deprive you of any pleasures ou can find in these solitudes; but lam afraid that your canoeing is quite too risky. Besides, as you are now aware; you are liable to be fol- |- owed.” s “That's jest it,” interrupted Hank. ‘I guess I will have to j‘ine you, old gentleman, in ad- visin’ Miss Mattie to quit that sort o’ thing for a while, About this time, in partic’lar, she might be foKered, and it might lead to trouble,” “Why at this time in particular?” inquired the girl. ‘** Because there’s trouble on the wing, huntin’ a place to “light.” : he guide went on to tell of his meeting with the party of Joggers on the river, and of the in- formation be had received from them concern- ing Dick Risden, the detective, and his errand. Risin Morley was greatly distressed by this news. **My guess was, Solon, that be had been sent by Steve Ralston to hunt you,” suggested Hank. “Yes, it must be so. No other person would persecute me £9 relentlessly. Why does he do it? Why should my sister’s husband hate me so? “So you see, Miss Mattie,” resumed the guide, “ that you can’t be too keerful about this time. You ought to be safe enough here; but that man would never have come unless he had some some sort of clew, and he is mighty keen on the trail.” The Indian, who had been intently listening to this conversation, then spoke up sharply, ** Louis find ’em, an’ kill ’em.” “No, Louis,” replied the old gentleman. “You must not think of such a thing. What- ever happens, we must have no bloodshed, You must not speak of killing.” ‘Louis find ’em, anyhow—him and Au- guste,” CHAPTER XII. SOL BARNES IN TROUBLE. * DARN all b’ars, anyhow! That's what I say. Darn ’em to darnation!” if was Solomon Barnes who “darned” the whole ursine race so pavegete Zeb Carter’s timber-hunting party of three had been reinforced by four more men from be- low, with a four-ox team and a heavy load of provisions and other necessaries, They had finished their prospecting, and had located a timber grant for the work of the com- ing winter. ut they had some long and Jaborious tasks before them yet, sufficient to keep them busy until theseason of snow and ice set in. They had been obliged to gather and cure and stock large quantities of wild grass from the meadows and swamps along the river for use of the cattle through the winter; but that task had been concluded. It was also necessary to improve the channels of a few sma)l streams for the pur of float- ing logs on them, by eae them in some places, and by removing rocks in other places, Then they would have to erect’ winter-quar- = for a large party of loggers and their cat- tle. As these operations would cover a consider- able _ of time, and as they were to be con- ducted within a comparatively small range, the lumbermen had erected a temporary camp on one of the beautiful streams that form the head- waters of the Penobscot. ‘* Darn all b’ars,, I say ag’in!” mournfully ex- claimed Sol Barnes, as he stood in front of the camp in the gray light of the morning and looked grimly at a serious spectacle that was there presented to his view, “You may darn ’em, an’ darn em’, but you'll never mend their manners,” mildly remarked Luke Schooley. The tall and eye lumberman looked at the short and fat one as if he Would like to cook and eat him, but evidently considered his undignified speech worthy of no further notice. Then he again looked solemnly at the sad spectacle. .- The spectacle was one which was calculated to depress him into even a lower stage of mel- ancholy than he ene enjoyed. On the ground near him was a torn and scat- tered assortment of a logger’s winter outfit, in- cluding, besides the customary garments, boots peg rt comforters, and even shaving tools an a Bible. These articles were the property of Sol Barnes and had been brought to him by the last arrival from. below, It was a superstition of his that his outfit needed an occasional sunning. Therefore he had hung it, canvas knapsack and all, well up on the front side of the camp, as that side faced the south. At night he had gyre to take it in. When he emerged in the morning he saw his —— strewn upon the ground in sad con- usion. He had not to look far for the author of the calamity. At a little distance from the campa black bear was leisurely trotting away, carrying in his mouth a remnant of the torn kna Barnes hurried back to get a Ag when he a ge the predatory brute had disap- |. , and it was useless to attempt to follow a im without a dog. The other members of the party came out, and their condolence with the afflicted logger was badly mixed with rough jokes at his ex- nse, To him the loss was no sort of a joke, as it represented’ a loss of money, and ashe might suffer from cold before he could send word to» his home and get back another outfit, Evidently the bear had taken down the knap- sack, and i tents. Finding nothing that suited bis fancy, he bad in his disgust demolished them one by one, evem chewing up the handle of a razor. _ It's Bare an’ b’ars, an’ allus b’ars!” wrath— fully exclaimed Sol. ‘* They’re the trickiest an’ peskiest varmints on airtb, What did thw darned crittur want to make a ruination of my things for, anyhow? He couldn’t eat ’em, an’ he couldn’t wear ’em. "Twas nothin’ but the meanest kind o’ mischief.” ‘“Mebbe he wanted to swap,” suggested Luke. “Then he orter took off bis hide fu’st.” iD “T shouldn’t wonder,” observed Zeb Carter, “if that was the very bear that followed us up from the lower river, watching for chances to git hoid of little things. He bas found us out now, and means to keep us in mind, His curi- osity is ahead of Eve’s, and his wickedness beats Cain’s, Nothin’ will be safe from him now, un- til we can contrive some scheme to git rid of him.” 4 Sol Barnes declared his intention of watching for the bear and making an end of him. “ Better let me fix him.” said Luke, ““There’s lots o’ fun to be got out o’ bears.” “I'd like to see you foolin’ with one of ’em,” replied Sol. ‘‘ There might be some fun in that, if there’s any fun anywhere in this wicked world.” *“Don’t sour on the world too beavy, Sol. Come in an’ git your breakfast, and your heart may feel lighter as your stomach oy pe heavier. If you run short of breeches, I'll lend you a pair o’ mine.” The idea of Sol Barnes attired in Luke Schooley’s nether garments produced an ex- pee of laughter, and put all the party but lin a good-humor, It was a common saying that when Sol Barnes got anything into his head, it was bound to stick, even if it was something that ought to be removed with a fine comb, The notion of making an end of the bear that robbed him bad taken full possession of him. step. the day, while the men were at work when Sol was more than usually taciturn and gloomy, it was understood that he was medita- ting the destruction of the bear, At night be secured one of the two rifles that the pares ssessed, and took his station near the door of the cabin, but inside, to watch for the beast, While his comrades were sunk in slumber so deep that only the chorus of their combined snores gave evidence of their existence, Sol. = was supposed to be wide awake and on watch, He was on watch, whether he was wide uwake or not, He might have closed one eye in sleep; but he could be depended on to keep both ears wide open. To such good effect did he keep his ears open, that toward morning he was aroused by w& scratching against the walls of the cabin, and then by a noise on the roof. He was sure that it was the bear, and silently stole out with his rifle and with deadly intent. | If the bear was on the roof, he would have a good chance fora shot; buat it puzzled him to guess why the beast should have gone up there. Possibly he did not know that a keg of mo- lasses had been placed on the roof for safe- keeping. But the bear knew it, When the time comes when a predatory bear cannot discover a keg of molasses and get at it, that will be a cold day for bears, ’ It was a partly-cloudy night that the lanky lumberman encountered outside of the cabin; but there was light enough to enable him to see a dark object on the woot. iH The object was considerably blacker than the night, and it was also in motion, ) here could be no doubt that it was a bear, if not the identical brute that had previously made trouble, and Sol p to give him such a dose of lead as should cure him of thiev- ing. Getting closeto the cabin at the rear side, he rested his rifle on the edge of the sloping roof, took a careful aim at what he supposed 4 be a vital part of the bear, and fired, ys The result was a bowl, a tumble, and a yell. ’ ad opened it to examine its con-~ ( : The howl issued from the throat of the stare "— tled and indignant bear, The tumble was that of the body of the bear | as it rolled down ‘tho roof and pitched to the ground, The yell was forced from the lips of Sol Barnes as the big body fell upon him. CHAPTER XIII, ‘““WHERE IS HEMLOCK HANK?” . THE shot, and the howl and the shriek to- ther caused all the occupants of the cabin to umble up and hurry out. On the ground at the rear of the building they found Sol Barnes in a pitiable condition, S Gomichboo G (0) Eee ——EeeeeeeeeeeeeeEeEOeeeEEeEeeeeeeEeeEeEEeEeeeeeeeeee—eeeeeee —— “5 _. & a t we