Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 394 — page 17: what you’re looking at

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

‘ ord ye $5 am ( Sae.) | } ae _. 5A ~ : 3 » bod ad f ’ 4 J : A At. & ‘ , St My Q bx “A , a" £ ‘ ALK ‘» ; ‘ td a bd ‘ 1, . - * ~ ~ « - iy Ly. a Ww ——_—_—_——e—er dians retreat in the direction of their comrades who were besieging the soldiers, and they broke forth into a cheer, ' ‘‘ Don’t get glad too quick, men,” he said, with a smile, ‘‘for they have gone to take the foes they believe the weakest, in spite of numbers, and will soon return, if successful, armed with weapons that will end our struggle, wild as they will be at their triumph.” These words sent a damper upon the outlaws, and Dead Knife Jim, thou arm the Doctor was then re-dressing, asked: ‘‘How is we ter prevent that leetle cirkis, Doc?” Before a reply could be given the excitement in the Indian force, occasioned by the coming in sight of Night Hawk, Janette and the black cowboys was discovered, and quickly Frank Powell turned his glass upon the rapidly riding party. : ne Phat young girl, as live, and my brother George, too, at the head of Monkton’s black cowboys,” he cried, with more excitement than it was ever his wont to show. ‘“ What girl?’ asked Captain Kit, eagerly. ‘The one upon whom you brought so much sorrow and trouble, and whose father your men killed,” was the frank, cold answer. ‘+ Janette Joslyn?” **' Yes.” ‘‘ And she has gone into the camp of the sol- diers?” ‘* You,” ‘‘ By Heaven, but she must not die.” a Not if she can be saved.” ‘* But can she not be?” *“* Perhaps.” ‘¢ But how, Doctor Powell?” “Tf you are willing to accept my parole, and will allow me to take ten of your men with the longest range rifles and best horses, I will ride out, when the red-skins charge the soldiers, and so worry them that they will not be able to take yonder works,” ‘* But what will you do then?” ‘* Return here.” ‘‘T have your word for it that you will re- turn?” be. Yes.” ‘*'You can go then.” ‘‘Thank you,” and a few moments after, as has been seen, the Surgeon Scout rode out of the outlaws’ little fort at the head of half a score of Red Angels. CHAPTER XXXYV., FOES TO THE FRONT. FRANK POWELL had seen enough of Indian- fighting on the plains to feel that things looked desperate, both for the soldiers and the out- laws. Had Captain Burt retreated at first, ere he was surrounded, he could have successfully kept up a running fight. But the gallant captain had no such idea, He had been looking for Indians, and had found them. . He had been on the search for the surgeon of the fort, who had been missing, anct discovered him. For the Red Angels he was always on the lookout, and they, too, were before him, so he would not have retreated against even greater odds, where there was the least chance for suc- cess. He had hoped to bring the outlaws to terms the following morning, and then pursue the red- skins back to their village. But the red-skins had trebled in numbers during the night, and now threatened to carry themselves on to victory on the tide that had set in their favor. If they caused a panic among the soldiers, then all was lost, for their entire force, hurled pe ae. the outlaws, would certainly ride them owr. . All shese things Frank Powell took in at a giance, and he saw that some daring act coe alone stem the tide of battle against em. That act he decided upon. It was to dash out against the Indians, carry- ing the war over the line. There were but a few of the horses of the Red Angels left, and these were at once sad- died. ; j Then all was made snug in the little barricade, those remaining there being told to kill any In- dian who came within range, With his long-range guns and fleet horses, the Doctor Scout felt that he could keep the Indians back, and also, if pressed hard, retreat before them to the little fort once more, and then make another dash. By such maneuvers: he would prevent them from concentrating upon the troopers, and doubtless the remainder of the Red Angel band would soon be along, for he did not doubt but that his messenger had gotten through. ’ He had given the messenger certain instruc- tions, which, if carried out properly, would give the red-skins a scare and send them rapidly away in retreat, and as he rode out of the barri- cade be looked anxiously over the vast expanse for the coming of the remainder of the Red Angel Land, . 4 i a Anxiously the departure of the little party of horsemen was watched by those they left behind, as well as by those in the soldier barricade. ‘‘ What a sight! an army officer leading a gang of cut-throats,” said Captain Burt to Lieutenant Ames, who stood by his side. ‘Yes, a strange sight indeed; but Powell is playing some deep and desperate game, and it is for our good, captain.” ‘Tt could not be otherwise, or else why would he risk himself out of the barricade with that handful of men, and what can he do with them anyhow?” ‘*T do not know, sir; but certainly he has won- derful influence over men, for he is leading now, in the desperate danger of the outlaws, where he was a prisoner awhile ago,” ‘*'Yes, he is a’remarkable man; but I will call that also remarkable brother of his and see if he can read what the surgeon is up to, ‘*Here, Powell!” . ‘Yes, Captain Burt,” and Night Hawk step- ped to the side of his commander, ‘* What does that move of your brother mean?” ‘* Tt means, sir, that desperate diseases require desperate remedies,” ** As how?” ‘‘ Frank has seen that the Indians are concen- trating on us, and if our troopers weaken, knows that all is lost, so he bas convinced the outlaws that the best thing to do is to strike back—see, they are going to charge!” ‘*By Heaven! you are right! A handful of men charging hundreds,” and Captain Burt eagerly watched the result. The Indians in the mean while had seemed taken aback at the bold move of the outlaws, seemingly not knowing what to do, or how to understand it. They had grouped together just out of range of the soldiers’ carbines, and had assembled all their fighting men ready for a grand charge, while back in the divide were a few more with the wounded and dead. With the soldier barricade on-the left, the out- laws a half-mile to the right, and the Indians a quarter of a mile distant in the front of each, and an equal distance from both little forts, the three forces formed a triangle, with the Surgeon bi and his band riding directly toward the ioux, When Night Hawk called out that the little band of horsemen intended to charge, Frank Powell and his men suddenly urged their horses into a run, just as the Indians had started to move toward them, dividing as though to sur- round them, | But suddenly the white horsemen were seen to halt as one man, a rifle went to the shoulder of each, and a platoon of soldiers could not have fired more promptly together. With the crack of the rifles the doom of sev- eral warriors was sealed, and several ponies were toppled over. This taught the Indians that they were crowd- ing, too close, for their arrows yet fell far short. ut, Frank Powell and his men now formed in single file, and began to ride in a circle, which gradually grew iv size, and seemed not to care whether the red-skins got between them and the forts or not. As they thus rode, the little band sent a steady fire at the red-skins, Powell firing first, then the next man, and the next, and thus on, without a break, the shooting turns running steadily around and around to each man. Wild at this style of firing, and the fatal re- sults, the warriors dashed rapidly around the little band to cut them off, and distinctly came the command from the Surgeon Scout: ‘‘ At the fort there—let them have it!” ‘** Fire! all fire!” shouted Night Hawk, and the carbines of the soldiers fiashed forth a fusi- lade, while cheer after cheer arose at the clever manner in which the Doctor Scout had inveigled the red-skins in easy range of the troops, for in their anxiety to entrap the outlaws, they had not noticed their danger. ‘*Charge!” yelled the Surgeon Scout, ere they could rally from their consternation, and firing as they charged, the outlaws broke the ps a line, causing them to scatter before em. This sent a few again near the soldiers, and the main party were driven back so rapidly, to escape those deadly long-range rifles which mow- ed them down, while their arrows fell short, that they retreated 2 see nage BS to suddenly find themselves under the fire of the Red Angels left in their little stronghold. Maddened by being thus beaten, and half- bewildered, they charged boldly down upon the outlaw fort; but a galling fire met them, and Powell and his horsemen pushing them, they ‘broke in disorder, circled around, and again forming a compact mass, rushed furiously down upon the soldiers’ retreat. * Right about, men! and charge them again!” shouted Frank Powell, as he saw the Indians, driven to frenzy, were making a bold rush for the besieged soldiers, The reckless charge of the outlaws, caused the red-skins to divide their attention at once, but the fort was still their goal, and they dashed right up to the breastwork, and it looked as if all was lost, when a cheer came from the out- ite Beaver, the Exile of the Platte. mee LL nT | — SE EEE ee eee Vine ——_ OF en's law barricade, and was answered by the Red Angels under the Surgeon Scout. What could it mean? An instant the red- skins paused to discover the cause, and that mo- ment of hesitancy lost them the battle, for the soldiers, almost unnerved with panic, rallied and delivered a well-aimed revolver volley, while Frank Powell charged with his backers, their repeaters in hand rattling forth death, and behind them, back on the prairie, was visi- ble a large body of horsemen rushing to the rescue. One wild yell of savage hate and disappoint- ment commingled, and the Sioux broke in mad fear and rode away, leaving their dead upon ae field, but dragging their wounded with them. CHAPTER XXXVI. AFTER THE COMBAT. As the Indians broke in wild confusion, it could be seen that they had no idea of renewin the fight, for their retreat had begun in re disorder, the band over in the divide, havin the dead and wounded in charge, moving o rapidly, without waiting for their flying com- rades to come up, seeming to realize that if they had failed to capture either fort from the num- bers emo | them, with the reinforcements coming over t time of it to escape destruction themselves. When the Sioux started in flight, the Surgeon Scout and his outlaw followers went in hot pur- suit, and the rattle of their long-range rifles was continuous, As the soldiers beheld the stampede, and the reinforcements coming over the prairie, they cheered themselves boarse; but watching the e prairie they would have a hard | LT + — 2-4 he é * - a - : ia 4 . latter closely, they saw that they were not, as they had hoped, cavalry from the fort, but a band of horsemen, who wore a suspicious look that caused them ‘to be set down as friendly to the outlaws, rather than the troops. This belief was soon rendered a certainty b seeing the relief party dash up to the barricade of the Red Angels, and entering it, dismount after awhile, while their horses were led out and staked upon the prairie near to feed. Seeing thet he woukd be still confronted by a force his superior in numbers, Captain Burt de- cided to remain in his barricade, for he had not horses left for more than half his men, and was — hampered by the severe wounding of Lieuten- ant Ames and a dozen men, while four soldiers had been slain. ‘Those fellows were friendly, Night Hawk, in coming to our aid; but I am confident it was your brother who forced it, prisoner though he was, and now they may turn against us, and we will still be besieged,” and Captain Burt turned to the scout, who stood by his side, coolly watch- ing the outlaws through his glass. “ Yes, sir, it is best to be prepared; but there comes Frank back again, and he has picked upa number of good Indian ponies, which would give | us a lift if we could get them.” ‘Yes, I cannot mount half of my mcn; but see the Doctor is not coming here.’) ‘* No, he certainly outlaw stronghold. ‘Why is that?” ‘‘1 can only judge that he is still a prisoner, Captain Burt.” ‘* Yet he is the leader of those men, and has seemed to have general control throughout.” “True, Captain Burt; but they knew m brother’s skill and abilities as a plainsman, realizing the danger of all, have doubtless per- is heading off toward the e«** 7 e *. - ~ A 4 i vr mitted him to lead; but now the dangerisover you will find he is stilk the prisoner of the Red Angels.” as ‘7 can tell you no more than you know, tain Burt. 44 ‘‘We must wait and see what willbe there- sult of all this,” answered Night Hawk, and he _ again turned his glass upon the outlaw barri- cade, Bp But Captain Burt was anxious and worried, | and called out: Rt >. ‘“‘ Night Hawk, ride out to meetSurgeon Pow- > ell, and tell him I wish him to report here atonce as Lieutenant Ames and a num of the men need immediate surgical aid.” yes, ‘‘T will tell him, sir, but I fear that itis out | of his power to obey.” aa So saying, Night Hawk threw himself es his horse and, leaping him over the barrier, rode The Red Angels at their stronghold were watching all that transpired, and, apparently alarmed by the act of recognized who he was, and aware what a des- eS ac out to head his brother and the outlaws : perate fight two such men could make even Pe against those with the su horsemen out to watch the movements of th Soldier Scout. , ** Look out for those fellows, Ni they seem inclined to cut you off,” called Captain Burt, Night Hawk waved his hand in rode on with only a cursory glance at ffie Spar. tette of horsemen who had left the outlaw ys ricade. 0 ONO) ‘S mic , they sent four ht Hawk, for O38 ; stad ys why does he not come tous and report?” be id Cap: ont ; A 7 j > ight Hawk, when they ns it, ¥T ‘ é