Beadle's Dime Library No. 327 — page 18: what you’re looking at

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

. ore oe _ = dh ae ~~ Terrapin Dick. ew ee ing about this region. That man has lately come their leader. He is capable of mischief, and may make it, with them to back him.” ‘** Do you think he may take a notion to make a strike at this tavern?” inquired Staley. “It is quite likely. But I think I have a sort of a pull on the gang, and may hear of it if they mean to try that game.” Lawson then related his adventure in the woods with Antoine Jaunot, and detailed the in- formation he had extracted from that individual concerning Jeffard. ‘*T guess you are right about it,” said the landlord. ‘‘ There is a chance that he may light down onme. He is a scamp and a loafer, if not a darned sight wuss. Let ’em come, though. Nothin’ ’u’d suit me better than to clean out a ng of greasy, thievin’ Kanucks, Only I’d like know when to expect ’em.” ‘‘IT think I can depend on the Kanuck I caught,” remarked Lawson, ‘‘to let me know what is going on.” ** That’s a mighty poor dependence, Mr. Law- son. Those skunks are as gral as eels and as mean as snakes, Their word ain’t worth a dog’s notice, and they hain’t got the least idea of hon- esty or gratitude or anythin’ in the line of de- wap 3, 38 ; ‘‘ We must try to be ready for them, then, at any time. I would be glad to catch that scamp of a Jeffard in a way that would give me a hold onhim. As itis, 1 am afraid that I have botch- ed the business with him at the start.” Lawson was in no hurry to leave Staley’s tav- ern, either to go down the river or to takea fresh start into the woods. The landlord was as good as his word, treat- ing his guest as well as he was able to, and Law- son and Da eee kept the house well supplied with meat from the forest and the water, with- out going far to hunt or fish. Ben was also waiting for some letters from below, which finally arrived, and gave him both pain and pleasure. As the letters were from Mary Payson, he made no mention of their contents to anybody; but it could be seen that they made him more restless and uneasy than he had been. His restlessness was caused by his anxiety to capture Joe Jeffard, who, as he believed, pos- sessed some important information which he wished to acquire. But he did not know how he was to get hold of the man, or, if he should find him, how he was to squeeze the truth out of him. Accompanied by Neptune he made a long scout into the woods, but failed to come across the band of Kanucks, or to discover any traces of them. Another excursion was undertaken for the P of seeking Dick Risden, whose advice he wished to get, and whose services he would have been glad to secure. This oo nena was also a failure, as he found no signs of the detective and his party, and he was at his wits’ end to know how to ac- complish his object. In the mean time he did not see Antoine Jaunot, and heard nothing of the vagabond Kanucks. . In the mean time, too, as the season advanc- ed, loggers were beginning to come into the ss peel yer numerously, to prospect for timber, cut wild hay, clear out the small streams, and pre camp for the work of the winter. Boat-loads of a were brought up for ’ their use as req a considerable portion of which found a at Staley’s. These goods and provisions, in addition to his winter stock, which the landlord was get- ting in, amounted in value to a considerable sum Guests were scarce too, as the travelers who ' passed there were always in a hurry to get bce their destinations and attend to their uties. That was the time for Joe Jeffard, if he wished to strike a blow at Staley’s tavern that might profit him and his band. was soon made evident that he was aware of his opportunity, and that he meant to take advantage of it. Lawson and Neptune were out hunting, not far from the tavern, when they met An- toine Jaunot. It is likely that they would not have met him if he had not come forward and made himself known, as he flitted about them like a shadow until he was satisfied that there was nobody else within sight or hearing, when he allowed him- self to be seen. In his attire he was no less greasy and shabby than when they last saw him; but he seemed to have been fairly well fed, and had a rifle. His statement, as extracted from his broken lish and Canadian patois, was to the effect that he had rejoined the band, and had found WBkaied canddl bin. rent. With: te. oth vaga- e e his peace wi e other bonds and with Joe Jeffard by submitting to the rule of the new leader, and taking a subor- dinate position under him. At the same time he hated Jeffard no less than before, and wished above alli things to bring him to grief. It was this desire, possibly connected with a be- |" feeling which might for og peny ye that had cbueed him to keep faith with Ben Lawson and act as a spy in his interest. | At last he had got hold of an important piece | of news. The Kanucks had learned of the stores that were being collected at Staley’s, and, incited by | Jeffard, had determined to make a raid upon | the tavern. | None of their members had been lost by the attack on the Sanders stronghold, and they had accumulated plenty of ammunition and other necessaries by successful thieving from parties of Baba sm he coming night was the time fixed upon for the attempt on the tavern, and Jaunot, while desirous that none of his compatriots should be | hurt, was extremely anxious that Joe Jeffard should be caught and severely punished, if he should not happen to get killed. ‘We will attend to his case, you may be sure,” said Ben Lawson, ‘‘ and we won’t kill an Kanucks if we can help it; though, if it should come to shooting, they are as likely to get in the es of bullets as anybody.” e praised Jaunot for the faithful manner in which he had thus far obeyed instructions, romised him that he should be rewarded for | urther assistance, and gave him such a sum of money as made the vagabond’s eyes glisten. “Try to keep yourself out of harm’s way,” he said at parting, ‘* and come to the tavern if you can after the picnic is over. Then I will have something more to say to you.” Antoine Jaunot went his way, and Lawson and his guide hastened back to the tavern to carry the news to the landlord, CHAPTER XXVI. THE TAVERN ATTACKED, Sam STALByY evinced no surprise at the in- formation that was brought to him of the ex- pected raid upon his sh: asaly , and his excite- ment was pleasurable, rather than otherwise. + “If the thing has got to come off,” said he, ‘*the sooner it is over and done with, the better for us, if not forall hands. It’s a darned good thing that we know when to look for ’em, and I guess a little skri e won’t do us any harm.” This was the opinion of all the household, with the exception of Mrs. Staley, who was not anx- ious for excitement, but preferred peace and quiet. ‘‘Sam says that it'll stir our blood,” she re- marked;-‘*‘ but mine don’t need no stirrin’, and I hope the Kanucks will keep away. I'd rather fill °em with victuals than with lead, any day or night. " ‘But it will be a thing for us, Sally,” persisted her husband. ‘‘If we can give those cusses a good wallopin’, it will be a warnin’ to others of their sort to keep away from us.” The men at the tavern considered themselves easily a match for their expected adversaries. There were five of them, and they were well armed, and the log-house would serve them well as K oe ‘ia pei’ oreover, they no respect for the prowess of the Kanucks. 7 Mike Molloy delighted in boasting of the style in which he mph s ished off three in a logging- camp with his ed fists, as they came at him one after another. Neptune, who knew how tough and wiry most of those scamps were, and how silently and secretly they could move, was not so san- sg as the others, but had no fears of the re- Before night ey a their weapons in order, and arranged the rior of the house for fight- ing purposes so that they deemed it proof ainst attack. heir only fear was that, as it was impossible with their small force to guard the entire estab- lishment, their foes might set fire to some of the sree 8 they lighted their pi d di r supper they eir pi an - vided themselves Calween: the ral ts rooms of the house, all Soy wakeful enough to watch the night ou It was soon found necessary to put the bar’s supply of liquors under lock and key, lest Ne tune’s besetting sin should put him out of the fight before it began. ‘* Torewarned is forearmed,” is an old saying and a true one. But wa a of apt and forearm- ing might be sufficient to guard against surprise by such accomplished sneaks as Joe Jeffard’s gang, The early hours of the night went slowly by, and the expected attack was not made. There was no moon, and the night was hazy and quite dark, favoring the purposes of the raiders, who doubtless meant to take advantage of the obscurity. Again and again the watchers in the tavern sallied out around the house in detachments of two at a time to watch for the approaching foe, They strained their eyes in the darkness, and held their ears to the ground, but neither saw nor heard Ss of their enemies, Finally they settled down to a long siege of waiting inside of the house, and attempted pass the time by ‘‘ swapping lies.” . Their stock of stories ran short, conversation dwindled and dried up, and most of them were dozing or snoozing, when they were startled by a series of screams from the pig-pen, which was at a little distance from the house in the rear. ‘“* They’re afther the pigs!” shouted Mike Mol- loy, as he seized his rifle and rushed to the de- fense of his especial charges and pets. Mrs. Staley, who was at least equally inter- e: ted in the porkers, grabbed an ax and followed the Irishman. The others hastened to the back door, ready for war, and expecting to meet the enemy there. But the noise at the 7% ae quickly ceased and when Mike reached that locality he declar that there was nobody in sight. The attack, when it came at last, was made in an unexpected and really strategic manner. While Sam Staley and his friends were grou ed near the back door, wondering what contd have been the matter with the pigs, their atten- tion was suddenly called to the other end of the house by a thundering blow on the front door. Another blow followed, and the door was torn from its fastenings and fell inward. The assailants, it oh had detailed one of their number to make a demonstration in the rear by stirring up the porkers, while the others prepared to batter in the front door with a piece of timber they had picked up. This mebeies, “4 was so successful that they were: pouring into the house before its defenders could come forward to meet them. This was a very serious business, It was recognized as such by Staley and his: followers; but they were equal to the emer- gency, and rushed eagerly to the onset. The struggle that ensued in the dimly-lighted front room was a closer and more sanguinary one than they had anticipated. Rifles were quickly thrown aside, and pistols were brought into vigorous play, to be followed by fists, stools, and such other weapons as could be picked up. or a few minutes the room was filled with the flash and smoke of powder, and resounded with the mingled noise of shots, shouts, yells, falling bodies and breaking furniture. Mrs. Staley contribu largely to the con- fusion by dashing into. the melee with a pail of boiling water, which she flung upon the Ka- nucks, or attempted to, though her friends did not miss a share of the scalding baptism. This diversion virtually put an end to the fight, which had been getting to be rather one- sided. Though the Kanucks outnumbered the Ameri- cans, the latter were the heavier and stronger party, and they were fighting on their own ground. They were not — defending their home, but were acquainted with the locality. Sam Staley, almost a giant in size, picked up one of the assailants bodily, and threw him out of the open door. Ben Lawson was rapid and businesslike with his poy and did effective work when he put his muscle into the melee. Mike oy! was an eager and vigorous fighter, and Neptune and Tom Staley, cool, quick and steady, rendered good service. Mrs. Staley’s deluge of scalding water com- pleted the job, and those of the Kanucks who were able to get away made themselves scarce as ily as possible. obody saw Joe Jeffard in the house durin the erent, though his voice was plainly h as he ordered and encouraged his comrades, Sam Staley declared that when he threw his man out of the doér the human missile struck against Jeffard and knocked him over. “Ben Lawson rushed out of the house, hoping to catch the man he wanted. He caught sight of him as he was making his way through the timber toward the river, and ran after him. Jeffard seemed to have been injured—perhaps by a chance shot—as he teat and was no match for his pursuer in a foot-race. ‘*Stop, or I will shoot you!” shouted Lawson; but the fugitive did not stop. Ben fired, but without to hit, and the only effect was to make Jeffard run the faster. His pursuer followed him at a lope, until he saw him halt on the bank of the stream, near where it emptied into the Penobscot. Only a second he halted—then he jumped off the bank and disappeared. Directly Lawson stood on the spot from which the fugitive had leaped into the stream, and looked in the water for him, apenas to see him swi toward the other side. But he was not visible anywhere. Neptune, who had followed his chief from the house, joined him there, and they searched the water and the bank of the stream up and down, without finding any trace of Jeffard. ‘‘He must have drowned,” said Lawson sor- rowfully. ‘If so, his body been carried out — the Penobscot, we ine een me ie turning to the house, they found the ey family clearing up the p repairing , and taking an inventory of the results of the combat. It had, indeed, been short, sharp, and san- guinary. cS EGOMIEDOO (Eo) eS