Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 394 — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

10 A: and raising his revolver he fired, bringing down the horse of the outlaw nearest to him. Again he fired, this time with his left hand, and a Red Angel fell from his saddle. The ruffian rovers, in the mean time, return- ; ed the fire, but it seemed with no desire to kill or wound their foe. They felt sure of their | game gnd wished to trap it alive, ' Having shot an outlaw from his horse, the ty Doctor Scout saw an advantage open to him, 4a and made a mighty spring toward the animal Pr thus freed of his rider. ig But the horse wheeled about, as though on a ' pivot, and the Doctor Scout was again forced to We stand at bay amid the Red Angels. ve But just as he was raising his revolver to send another unerring bullet upon its deadly mission, there came a whizzing sound above his head, - and the coil of a lariat settled around his body, pinning his strong arms down to his side. hg Like coyotes rushing upon a wounded deer, He the Red Angels now ran in on their daring foe, tio." and instantly he was dragged toward the river | _ by the half-dozen men who seized him, for the ° __ Indians were now almost upon him. ne As they dragged him along they bound him ' _ securely, and reaching the edge of the stream, | he was thrown upon the back of a horse, and ‘ while a guard led the animal across, the rest of the outlaws turned to deliver a telling fire upon the Indians. —. Glancing back, the Doctor saw that the vol- ley had brought the Sioux toa sudden stand- KM still, while another well-directed fire sent them howling out of range, their arrows falling harm- -__ Tessly in the water and upon the bank, a. He also saw a party of the Sioux separate te themselves from the main body, and dash off in _ pur.uit of Janette, while those who remained | es. gan work as though they had plenty of time _ on their hands, and a large enough number to | _ capture the Red Angels in their own particular time and peculiar way. _ “That chief is a fool,” muttered the Doctor, . **to delay, when if he had rushed right on and Jost a few warriors, he would have ended the struggle ina few minutes. Now he can only | a in his attack, once these men gain the tim- r, ’ - Having come to this conclusion, and discover- | edthat he was, without doubt, a captive to the Red Angels, the Doctor Scout cast his eyes upon a little group that had already crossed the river and were in the timber at the spot where the : emigrant, Richard Joslyn, had been buried. | —-—sOAAs:*‘ihe reached the other shore he wasled apart We _ from this little group, and made to stand by a ____ tree, to which he was firmly secured. loge Then he saw his guard, and all but one of the ___ little group referred to, go down toward the riv- Me >4 _ er-bank, and, ranging themselves in line, begin ea tice with their rifles at the red-skins. . a e first few shots falling short, the Indians ' answered with derisive yells, and Frank Powell | -- muttered: “Tf T had my repeating-rifle here, I could __- make those red-skins ease? their tune.” . He observed that the Red Angels had but - "eight men for duty, for one lay wounded near the grove, and another had gone off at full speed ___ across the prairie, as though to seek aid. _ _ After firing a few shots, which fell short, the ‘Red Angels suddenly fired a volley, as one gun and the bullets went rattling into the very mids of the Indians, who had drawn much nearer up- _ _ onseeing that the rifles of their foes could not reach them. _~—sC A wail went up from the red-skins, who hasti- Ty scattered to a place of safety, while the out- laws yelled with delight at their trick, and the -___- Doctor joined in the laugh at thé ridiculous haste of the warriors in getting out of range, while he muttered: ' ~~. “Tt would please me immensely to see them _-$urn out like the Kilkenny cats!” A ving given the red-skins this lesson of what | their rifles would do, all but two of the Red An- | mm tt ea re oe a « | as 7 who remained on guard, came up to the ds spot where lay one of the little group that had | c and who was evidently severe- -__- not joined them, _ _ After a short talk fwo of them came toward Powell, and one said: _ ** You are the Wizard Doctor, are you not?” _ -‘* My name is Frank Powell,” was the reply. _ ~—~—«* Well, you are a surgeon up at the fort” “cc Yes.” ‘ oo), Uae qpen there is work for you to do here.” What is it?” ‘*Come, and you shall see,” and unfastening i BN the bonds that held him to the tree, they led him | _ to the spot where lay one of their number . 7. we and curse upon the plains, had not been killed by his shot, and the backbone of the Red Angel band thereby broken. , Instantly came the response from the wound- ed man, and in a tone that proved he suffered greatly: ‘*' Your bullet was well-aimed, Doctor Poweil, and has gone deep; but I am like a cat to cling to life, and am not dead yet, so sent for you to see if you could help me.” ‘*1f I let you die I will render the country a service.” “Yes, and get the reward offered for me dead or alive,” responded the outlaw, with a sneer, ‘*-No, sir, I do not trade in blood-money, nor would I accept a dollar in payment even for ridding the country of such as you are; but I do not see that I am called upon to bring you back out of the shadow of the grave.” ** You refuse to help me, then?” The Doctor Scout was silent, and stood with a far-away look in his eyes, though they rested upon the Indians on the other side of the river. + i am suffering greatly; do you refuse to help me? ‘“T will see what I can do for you, but upon conditions,” and Frank Powell turned upon the wounded man, who asked: ‘* What are your conditions?” ‘*That, if I can save you, as soon as you are out of danger, you disband your men and pledge yourself to leave Nebraska.” ‘* Tf I decline your conditions?” ‘Then I shall rid Nebraska of you by allow- ing you to die.” **] refuse the conditions.” ‘‘ And I refuse to serve you, Captain Hyena,” was the cool reply. ‘* You are in my power, Doctor Powell.” ‘s Yes, andif lam any judge, you are so seri- ously wounded, if something is not done for you, Death has his clutch on you.” The red wings hid the face of the man, so that expressions could not be seen, but his lips quiv- ered and a shudder ran through his frame at the words of the surgeon. ‘*T do not wish to die,” he said, in a low tone. ‘“T do not say that you will, nor can I tell; but the wound is in your left side, and without examination Il can only surinise that it 1s most severe.” ‘“Your skill in surgery and medicine has gained for you the title of the Wizard Doctor, I believe?” ‘* Yes: tho soldiers and Indians so call me.” ‘| have often heard of your great skill in snatching wounded and sick men out of the very jaws of death, and I have faith in your power to save me,” ‘‘ Paith is half the battle, Captain Hyena.” ‘‘ Well, sir, baving faith, I intend to place my- self in your hands.” ‘*Upon my conditions?” **'No, sir.” ‘What, then?” ‘1 pon no conditions,” ‘What if I refuse?” ‘**T will show you. Here, men!” ** Ay, ay, sir!? cried the men in chorus. ‘Stand that man there.” The Doctor Scout himself stepped to the spot indicated. ‘* Get your rifles ready.” This order was obeyed, four of the men con- fronting the Doctor five paces distant, with their rifles in their hands, Then the Red Angel chief said sternlv: ‘* Men, unbind that Wizard Doctor, and if he refuses to extract the bullet from the wound in my side, kill him,” Frank Powell did not allow a muscle in his face to quiver at this stern order from the lips of a man bovering between life and death. He simply elanced at the men, who were to obey their chief’s command, and said with the utmost calmness: . ‘* Men, my heart lies xy here, so aim true, and do not botch your work. : ‘‘ Ha! that means that you prefer death!” cried the outlaw leader. ‘‘T have never cared to shake bands with death. sir; but I will do so rather than be forced by fear to obey your order.” Captain Hyena uttered an oath. He sawth>* ——— NN TT TT TT WS se the man before him would die, rather than |o- intimidated, and his own critical condition alarmed him greatly, so he said: “Well, sir, do as I bid you; save my life and I will set you free as soon as 1 am out of | danger.” ‘* Fnough; I will do all I can on those terms; wounded, but I must not be bound, for the ropes even now Fs, ‘ —_— unfit my hands for work where steadiness is re- ate CHAPTER XXII, quired.” ‘we THE RED ANGELS’ THREAT. “You are right; release him, men, if he _-—s« * By Heaven! but I was in hopes that I had | pledges himself not to make his escape until I | __ killed you!” | _ The words were uttered by Frank Powell, when the outlaws fell back at his approach, and | he beheld who it was that lav wounded on the 4 ora ground, half-supported by the _ placed over the emigrant’s grave. ‘Frank Powell was generous, even toa ce, ite Jy [ b4e® of a rf * ‘ ~~ ; | oe “ss tok, , 52 is - a ; logs that had been | foe, but. | his words were uttered impulsively, when he | saw that a man, who had made himself a terror am out of danger.” 1 a0," ‘Then set to work, Doctor Powell, and for God's sake save my life, for I fear that we have 1 delayed too long already.” ‘Don’t get nervous, but keep cool and have faith,” and taking his case of instruments from his belt, the Doctor Scout knelt by the side of the wounded outlaw chief. ~ rem en el White Beaver, the Exile of the Platte. CHAPTER XXII. A CAPTIVE IN A NEW ROLE. THROUGH his mask of wings the outlaw cap- tain watched the face of Frank Powell, with an 0 germ that was born of the peril of his criti- cal situation. ‘**Can ycu bear the probe, or shall I give you chloroform?” asked the Doctor Scout, taking a small bottle from his case, ‘*] will bear all pain,” was the reply of the outlaw, who seemed to dread being placed under the influence of the drug by the sur- geon. Then, when Powell turned to select certain in- struments, he called one of his men to his side and whispered earnestly to him: ‘* It shall be as you say, sir,” answered the mre who was an under officer of the out- aw. ‘*See to it, Van,” said the chief, and then he nerved himself to hear the worst, as Doctor Powell again turned to him. ‘* The bullet has gone in deep,” remarked the surgeon, as he inserted the probe, the wounded man uttering no cry. ‘*T know it, and the wonder is, having been fired by you, that it did not kill me in- stantly.” ‘True; I seldom have to do my pistol work over a second time,” was the cool reply, and then he added, with a smile: ‘*T am in this case undoing my work; but have no fear, Captain Kit, for I shall do my best tor you. The probe was again inserted in the wound, and the skillful manipulation of Frank Powell not only found the bullet, but drew it forth, the wounded man bearing the anguish occa- sioned thereby with set teeth, but without a groan, ‘*There is the bullet, sir: keep it asa son- venir,” and the Doctor Scout handed the dearly a c Aron of lead to the patient, who took it and asked: ** Will it kill me?” ‘* It has touched no necessarily vital part, but has left an ugly wound.” ‘* And you can save me?” _*T think so, if nothing unforeseen occurs to prevent.” ‘Thank you, Doctor Powell, and trust even the word of an outlaw that you will never re- gret your act.” ‘ Others will, though, I am afraid,” and the remark and smile was lost upon the chief. _ As kindly and skillfully as though he was ser*- ing a dear friend Frank Powell dressed tL» wound and made the chief easy upon a blanket bed he had spread for him. Hardly had this been done when Van tho oat ae before referred to, approached ant said: ‘‘T am sorry to trouble you, chief; but the Indians are preparing to cross the river at three different points of the bend, and in equal forces.” ‘“ Well, I can only lie here and let them scalp me, if you allow them to cross.” ‘* We cannot prevent them I fear, sir.” « ‘¢ Well, stand like antelopes, and let them shoot you down,” peevishly said the chief. ‘Pardon me,my man, but your chief must not be worried, for he is in nocondition to stand it,” warned the Doctor Scout. ‘¢ But what is to be done, sir?’ asked the man with a certain respect he could not deny the prisoner. ‘*Tf you ask me, and, as Captain Kit is unfit for duty, I will ee quickly tell you, for I have no desire to be scalped by the Sioux, I assure ou. ‘**Do so, and take command, Doctor, for your life, as well as ours, depends upon keeping those red-skins at bay. Van, you and the men are to arr! eae Powell as you would ne.” think Iam next you in rank, Captain Kit, and should not be placed under a Clara command,” hotly said the outlaw officer. Frank Powell smiled, and then said in his low, musical tones: ‘* My dear sir, I assure you I have no desire to command a band of cut-throats; but the exi- rencies of the case demand prompt action to save us all, and, for myself, I do not intend that a coward shall lead me into danger.” ‘* Do you call me a coward, sir?’ and the man dropped his hand upon his revolver. “TF call any man a coward who, in danger, turns to a wounded, almost eying chief to extri- cate him. Take your hand off that pistol, for I am unarmed, and you but prove yourself the greater coward in threatening me,” ‘‘By Heaven, Van, he has you there, and I appoint the Wizard Doctor to command in my place, for if any man can save us, he can; so, now, . trouble, Pll see that the Doctor is put en an equal footing with you, as far as weapons are concerned.” This threat cowed the man. and he walked away, but was recalied by the Doctor with: ‘* "You sent a messenger oft for reinforcements, I believe?” ‘The chief can tell you,” was the sullen reply. * The chief, sir, is simply so much baggage to get to your post, and if you give any more . e, be looked after just now, and, J Lc notallow — Gomicbooks. . OLN &.. mee Mi