Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 394 — page 18: what you’re looking at

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18 As he drew near his brother’s party he came to a halt and quietly awaited their approach. But Frank Powell also drew rein when he was sul called out the speak. ‘‘ We have suffered considerably, and as Lieu- tenant Ames and some of the men are severely wounded, Captain Burt begs that you will re- port at once to him.” ‘‘T am sorry, George, that I cannot come; but urgeon Scout, being the first to ef’s permission to come and see poor Ames and the men, if only for a few moments.” With a wave of hi back to the barricade to report what his brother had said. tae odds opposing him, ‘‘ Tt was with a sigh of relief, therefore, that they saw him ride on, for, even with their num- bers, they cared not for a hand-to-hand fight with two such men as the Surgeon Scout and his anak Night Hawk Powell, were known to e. While the Doctor rode back to the outlaw stronghold, Night Hawk returned to the captain and told him just what had been said. ‘* The Doctor is right, for he well knew that it would come to blows if he attempted to come, so he will try and get the outlaw chief to allow him to come here, and will then remain, said Captain Burt. ight Hawk smiled at this, and then said: a “To come here, Captain Burt, Frank will haye \) 29 to give his parole to Captain Kit to return, un- less he can buy his pardon from him, ‘*Of course, Night Hawk.” ‘¢ Tf he gives such parole he will keep it.” “What! you mean that he will consider a narole given to those red-handed cut-throats binding?” ens Or.” ‘‘There 1s no man, Powell, more anxious to keep faith with the world and shield my honor not, in my opinion, binding, and if Surgeon Heaven, I will put him under arrest for it, if make him my foe for hfe,’ and Captain B ‘Hawk ’s dark, handsome face remained unmoved as he calmly surveyed the outlaws through his glass. / CHAPTER XXXVI. FRANK POWELL’S PLEDGE, Upon his return to the barrier of horseflesh, earth, saddles and blankets, which had protected the hves of the outlaws from the arrows of the Indians, a strange scene presented itself to the view of the Doctor Scout. The horses had been staked out around the in- closure, the barrier was full of arrows, and about it were the outlaws gathered in groups and talk- ing earnestly. oo e four men, who had ridden out when a ht Hawk rode off to meet his brother, had .. returned, bearing with them the dead y of one of their number, and another one wounded, and who had been of the Surgeon Scout’s party. Within was a double row, long and ghastly ata first glance, for they appeared to be dead | But a closer scrutiny showed that they were effigies, or ‘‘dummies,” as they were nothing ‘more than a suit of clothes stuffed with prairie ,and having boots and hats attached, while ‘ ney were made fast astraddle of a saddle. Sy ismounting from his horse, while be glanced -——-—seassuailily over the faces of the half-dozen new- comers, who had arrived with the mounted effigies which had so frightened the Sioux, the ___ Doctor walked over to where ‘the chief lay, . attended by the negro, Brick, and with Dead Knife Jim near by, _ “ Well, Doctor Powell, you have handled my men far better than I could have done, and pee a splendid victory,” said Captain Kit, _ holding his hand toward the surgeon. _ 1 Aa apes not to see the offered hand, Frank eis Powell answered: + &¥ou have a gallant set of men, Captain Hyena, and it is a pity you lead them to devote their courage to so bad a purpose; but I see that our foot-messenger got through all right, and that your pack-horses and their guards avs arrived, and put the Indians to flight, ra . : 4 - “ rage ip a's ~ 1, aed s ee pers ‘Yes, your device worked well, for my man told me the instructions you gave him, and the boys say the red-skins ran like deer, believing a large foree was upon them, while the soldiers are expecting we will attack them with our overwhelming numbers,” and the chief laughed. Frank Powell made no reply, but went to work to re-dress the wound of the outlaw leader, after it. ay aOs SORES how goes it with you all?” | s hand Frank Powell rode | on, while Night Hawk turned and went slowly | During this short conversation between the | brothers, the outlaws had watched Frank Powell - fe clos ly, seemingly fearing that he would leave | them, or at 1 ast attempt to do so, even against | | LL A TT NN SS pl sgh ents - or a oe ae ee ——— White Beaver. the within long pistol-shot of his brother, and the | rest of t four men in the rear of Night Hawk followed | ask.” — Tama prisoner to the Red Angels, and con e- | — not my own master; but I will ask the | c than I am; but a pledge so made, under force, is | urt | or my life even, upon terms so vile, spoke with considerable excitement, while Night | Surgeon Scout, indignantly, and then he add- ’ ‘ like service for him. ‘* Now, Captain Hyena, [ will look after the e wounded, and then I have a favor to ‘* Well, Doctor?” ‘‘ A lieutenant in the troopers’ party, and a dear friend of mine, has been severely, though not seriously wounded, and also some of the soldiers are also suffering with wounds, and I desire to go and do all in my power for them.” ‘* Why, do you expect me to give bee up?” ‘* Not without an equivalent, and that I am willing to give.” ** Name it.” ‘*T have about five thousand dollars in money and property at the fort, and I will pledge my- self to turn that over to you within three days, if you will allow me to go.” ‘* Not for ten times the sum, sir.” ‘Then I have nothing more to offer; but I will give my parole that I will return within two hours, if you will permit me to go and dress the wounds of Lieutenant Ames and his soldiers,” ‘* A man’s word is little worth, Doctor Powell, where his life is concerned.” ‘T hold my pledge as dear as my life, sir.” ‘And I believe you; but you will tell the commander of the soldiers that he still outnum- bers us for the greater part of our men are stuffed suits of clothes.” **T will not if you so ask it.” ‘*And you will pledge yourself to return within two hours?” ‘* T will pledge myself to return, Captain Hy- ena, as soon as I have thoroughly attended to the wounds of the soldiers who demand my services.” ‘* Powell, I will do with you what I will not bibs: another man living,” said the chief, earn- estly. ‘* Well, sir?” “T will take your word and accept your pledge.” ‘*T thank you, Captain Hyena.” ‘‘One moment.” * Well?” ‘‘There is one person in yonder camp that I wish to get in my power.” ‘* Who is he?” “It is Janette Joslyn.” ** That poor girl.” ‘Yes, and if you will manage for me to en- trap her, I will set you free.” | : Powell attempts to keep such a_ parole, by betas are a fool, as well as a villain, Captain yena, if you think I would accept my eed said the ed: ‘‘As you give me permission to visit my com- panions, I will go at once, for there are those there who sadly need my aid.” ** And you will return?” ‘You have my pledge, sir,” was the cold re- ply, and mounting the animal he had ridden since he had been a prisoner to the outlaws, the Surgeon Scout rode over toward the soldier camp the eyes of all upon him. CHAPTER XXXVIIL. THE SURGEON SCOUT’S SACRIFICE. As the Surgeon Scout 2) eee the mili- tary sain riding at arapid gallop, as though he knew that he was sorely needed there, the soldiers gave vent to cheer after cheer in his honor, for they were well aware that they owed their lives to him, while also he was the most popular man in the fort. As he dismounted, Captain Burt grasped his hand and said earnestly: ‘*God-bless you, Powell, for we owe all to you; but here are others to greet you,” and the captain yielded his grasp upon the doctor’s hand as Night Hawk stepped for- ward and took it firmly, though nothing more was said between the two brothers than for each to utter the other's name: ** Frank !” ** George !” ‘And another one is here to welcome you, Doctor,” said the captain, and Janette Joslyn glided forward and clasped the surgeon's hand in both her own. Twice she essayed to speak, but her heart was too full, and Frank Powell spoke up quickly: . ‘‘ Indeed I am glad to meet you all, after all we have gone through, and it certainly looked dismal for us at one time; but my time is limited, and I must do what | can for poor Ames and the men.” ‘‘ Your time limited, Powell?” asked Cap- tain Burt. ‘Yes, captain, for I am merely on a couple of hours’ parole.” ‘‘What do you mean?” ‘Simply, sir, that lam a prisoner to the Red Angels, whose chief, Captain Hyena, allowed me to come and look after my Exile of the which he turned to Dead Knife Jim and did a | wounded comrades, upon condition that I . = ok 6% “ 4 - ae . a a oy > gee 5 a 6 4 * y s* 4” a - ¥ > ‘ would return within a given time.” ‘‘And do you consider this parole binding, Doctor Powell?” asked Captain Burt. ‘* 1 do;-air.” ‘*A parole given to cut-throats?” ‘‘T consider my word as good, Captain 8 whether given to an Indian or rene- ade. ‘““What the one may be to whom I give my pledge, is not the question, but it is my word I keep if in my power to do so.” ‘*T cannot allow this sacrifice, Powell.” ‘¢ We will not discuss it now, if you please, captain, for I must look after the wounded,” and Frank Powell walked over to where Lieutenant Ames lay, suffering from two ar- row wounds, one of them being in the shoul- der and severe. ‘“‘Ah, Doc, you are more than welcome, but Lam sorry I am _ not able to give youa good grip with my right hand, for you see the reds have marked me for life,” said the young officer, in a cheery way. ‘“ Not as bad as that, f Pai but they have given you an honorable scar or two.” ‘‘ Hold on, Doc, and see to Corporal Green first, for he is worse than I am,” remarked the self-sacrificing young officer. ‘‘ How is he wounded?”’ ‘*A musket-ball in the body.” ‘Then I will look to him first,” and the Surgeon Scout hastily walked over to where the corporal lay. ‘* Well, corporal, how are you, my man?” he said, in his gentle way. No answer came, and a private soldier near, who had an arrow wound in the head, said: ‘*T guess he’s sleeping, Doctor.” ‘Yes, a sleep from which he will never awaken,” was the low response, and the sur- geon returned to the lieutenant. “What! am I worse than the corporal, Doctor?” ‘The corporal needs no aid from me, lieu- tenant.” “He is dead?” ce Yes.”’ ‘**Poor, brave fellow; this has been a hard day for us, Doctor.” ““ Yes, but it might have been worse; but let me see what the reds have done for you. ‘‘Here, George, you are already half a sur- geon, so come and help me,” and the Doctor called out to his brother, who quickly came to his side. Then the officer’s uniform was cut away, the wounds examined, dressed, and Lieu- tenant Ames expressed himself as most com- fortable and in very little pain. Then the surgeon and his brother Night- Hawk went the rounds of the wounded, and the work was quickly and skillfully done. ‘*Now I will have to leave them to you, George. and you know all that is needed to be done; but let us take another look at Ames.” The young lieutenant greeted them with a smile, as a, Bes upon his blankets, and said: ‘‘T have just been visitcd by that lovely girl, Miss Joslyn. Who is she, Doctor?” ‘‘She has doubtless told you her story?” ‘Yes; in a word.” ‘¢T can tell you no more about her. ‘J found her by the side of her dying father, and I left her on the back of my horse as he was running the ganilet of the Red Angels. ‘‘T have been the outlaws’ prisoner since, and she, it seems, reached the ranch of Major Monkton, where I bade her go, ‘That is all that I can tell you.” “Well, Frank, I can tell you more, and it is that the girl is the pluckest little woman I ever saw, for you must know what she went through after you left her, as Zip, old Monk- ton’s black cowboy captain, told me all,” and Night Hawk went on to tell the story of Janette’s race for life, the falling of her horse, and her daring stand at bay, and in fact all that had occurred to her up to her coming into the barrier with bim and her negro fol- lowers to share the fate of the solders. ‘‘She is a most remarkable girl,” said the Doctor. ‘‘Yes,a girl in appearance, a woman in character, and the equal of a man in nerve and deeds, and she showed her true nature in coming on the hunt for you, after what you had done for her.” ‘On the hunt for me, Ames?” (EO) in (E ofeXo ~