Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 394 — page 20: what you’re looking at

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

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Powell, you decide me to _ push on from here at dawn, though I did in- ‘tend to rest a few days, as this traveling is terrible to all of us who are wounded. ‘‘Once we reach the hills, we are safe from any cavalry force your fort will send CHAPTER XL. CAPTAIN KIT'S THREAT. SLowLy over the prairie filed the band of | ted Angels, until the sun neared the horizon in the west, and then they came to a halt under the shelter of some cottonwoods that grew thick along the banks of a swift-run- ning stream. o other camping-ground had offered it- | self to the party during the day, only one, rivulet being crossed, and there a halt had been made to fill the canteens with water, | out.” and give the thirsty animals a chance to! ‘‘ Yes, for they deem your strength far quench their thirst after the dry camp of the | greater than it is; but_1 could wipe you out night before. | with two-score good troopers from the Knowing that they had to press on toreach | Fifth Cavalry,” was the reply of the Doctor the spot where he intended to camp, and | Scout. knowing that the chief and the other wound- | ‘By my faith, but I believe you, Surgeon ed must have rest, or die, Doctor Powell had | Frank Powell, and the ver fact that you not halted for dinner, and the men were glad | mav do so will weigh heavily against your enough to seek rest and food when they | leaving this place alive, and you can make reached the shelter of the cottonwoods. up your mind to that,” was the threatening While some set to work to build fires, and | response of the chief. others to prepare the game killed that day, But if it made any impression upon the Surgeon Powell, with a few men, devoted Doctor Scout, the flickering fire just outside himself to preparing a shelter for the wound- | the shanty did not reveal it upon his face, as ed. he quietly wrapped his blanket about him The negro, Brick, seemed an adept at this | and laid down to seek the rest he so greatly kind of work, and, with the aid of things | needed. taken from the pack saddles, a really comfort- But he had heard every word of Cap- able shanty was built, which would wholly | tain Kit’s threat, and being forewarned of protect them from the rain, for a storm was | what might happen, determined to forearm coming up. himself accordingly. Observing this, the men threw up what shelters they could for themselves, and hardly | CHAPTER XLI. had they finished their supper, when the NIGHT HAWK TAKES THE TRAIL, storm swept down upon them, the rain fall- Ir was certainly a great relief for those in ing in torrents. , the soldier camp to see the Red Angels de- “‘T am perfectly dry, thanks to you, Doc- | part, though their joy was mingled with sad- tor, in spite of the fierce rain, and you seem | ness at the thought that they carried with to understand the elements-as well as medi- | them the gallant surgeon as a prisoner, and cine and surgery, to detect the coming | one who, when their crimes were taken into storm. consideration, might be put to death to sati- ‘‘ How are the men fixed?” said the chief, | ate their hatred for him. As soon as the outlaws disappeared over a roll of the prairie, Captain Burt gave the orders to move camp, Night Hawk telling him that over on a stream some miles distant was a good camping-ground, where they could await the coming of the relief party from the fort in comparative comfort and safety. The wounded were therefore borne as ten- derly as possible to the designated spot, and the soldiers began to form a camp, which would protect them from the weather, and also be a kind of fortification. Arriving at the camping-ground, Janette, at the earnest solicitation of Captain Burt and his officers, tarried to take supper, and then, yt iy that it would be moonlight before very long, and with confidence in shanty near him. ‘*The wounded are all as safely housed as you are, and the men, | believe, took my advice and pitched their tents as best they could.” ‘*This rain will thoroughly wash out our trail, Pov ell, so that the soldiers cannot fol- low us, and I confess | am glad not to be at- tacked in our present condition.” ‘* Tt will destroy the trail, yes; but there is one who can track you here, if the troops care to follow you.” “Ah! Who is that?” ‘*My brother,” was the reply. ‘* Night Hawk Powell?” ; ‘* Yes, he is so called from the fact that he seems to trail as well by night as by day.” ‘‘T have heard strange stories of his power | Zip’s ability as a guide, she started upon her return to Prairie Rest Ranch, for she felt there is no trail left, Ido not think even he | that Major Monkton would be most anxious ‘‘He will find it as I would, did I strike | With many wishes for her happiness, they your trail in pursuit of you.” bade her farewell, and saw her ride away In ‘But how?” the gathering twilight, her black bravos at ‘f By common sense.” ber back, and Zip directing the course she “Where Indian cunning fails, common | was to ride by a word now and then. sense will also.” ‘Captain Burt, if youare willing, 1 would ‘* No.” like to scout after that brave little girl, for I ‘‘You believe that he can track us, then?” | am not wholly convinced that there are not “‘T know it.” several small bands of Indians roamin ‘*Do you mind telling me how?” about that may stumble upon her,” an **Not at all.” Night Hawk presented himself before Cap- ‘«T shall be delighted to know.”’ tain Burt, as he reclined on his blanket, his ‘‘In the first place, he knows the spot to | saddle for a pillow, and smoking a fragrant start from?” cigar, while he chatted with Lieutenant ans to SOB,” Ames. “Tracking you to the place where the ‘* Certainly, Night Hawk, for lam anxious rain washes out your trail, he at least knows | about her myself, as it is along 1ide to Monk- the direction you are going?” ton’s ranch, and brave as she and her black ‘ Certainly.” bravos are, they might get into a bad scrape.”’ ‘He is aware that you are carrying your ‘*They might, indeed,” added Lieutenant wounded with you, and not knowing that | Ames, who was suffering from his wound, three-fourths of your supposed horsemen are | through having been moved to another camp. dummies, he naturally would think you were ‘ But first tell me,” the captain continued, short of horses.” ‘‘ what are we to do about that noble brother ‘* Undoubtedly.” of yours?” ‘* Well, common sense would prompt him ‘* How do you mean, sir?” to know that you wished to gain the nearest ‘‘Is there no way that we can recapture point where you could give your wounded a | him?” rest, reorganize and secure more horses, and} ‘‘I cansee no way at present; but if you will his knowledge of the country would show | allow me to start on a scout, as soon as the him that there are only a few such places | relief comes. I will see if anything can be near, and the direction you were traveling | done to get Frank free.” > ¥ ————————— ee White Beaver, the Exile of the Platte. ‘You can go, and take what men you please.” ‘‘| care for no men, sir, for if | was seen | with troops trailing the Red Angels, I believe | they would expect an attempt at rescue and at once kill Frank.” ‘By Jove, but you are right, aud I will not urge it to the major, as a force sent after the outlaws would certainly cause poor Powell's death; but would you go alone?” ‘‘ Well, you are at liberty to do as you think best in the matter.” Night Hawk bowed, and leaving the two officers, who gave him a ‘‘ God speed you,” in earnest tones, he mounted his superb horse, Flyer, and rode off on the track of Janette and her bravos. At a sweeping gallop he went along fora dozen miles, his horse showing no fatigue whatever, and suddenly he discovered mov- ing objects ahead. It might be that he had overtaken Janette and her party, and perhaps it was a band of strolling Indians, while buffalo and elk were liable to be found there. At any rate he was cautious, though he be- lieved he had overtaken Janette. In the west the sky was brightening where the moon was soon to appear above the hori- zon, and the Scout so changed his position as to bring the objects ahead between him and the face of the moon as it rose. Others might have dashed on and felt sure en what he saw was Janette and her cow- oys. But Night Hawk was a perfect scout, and had the patience of an Indian, so threw him- self from his horse and, lying upon the ground, waited. Soon the moon appeared, and, changing his position, the scout soon had what had caught his quick eyes plainly photographed against the bright surface. ‘* Injuns!”’ The one word told what he had discovered. ‘* There are sometwenty of them, and they are searching for the trail of the girl, while they were waiting for the moonlight to follow it. “Yes, they have found it and are off, and will overtake her at the ford, ‘‘Now, Flyer, you have work to do, and doit well, for the life of a lovely girl depends upon you, good horse.” . So saying, Night Hawk sprung into his saddle, and, wheeling off obliquely, went at a telling pace over the prairie. CHAPTER XLII. A PICTURE OF THE PAST, WHEN Janette and her escort of black cowboys leit the camp of the troopers they rode on at a fair pace, for the young girl was most anxious to return and relieve the mind of Major Monkton, who she knew must be most anxious regarding her. As she rode along, Zip directing her course, she could not but think what a change had come over her life. A short year before she and her father had lived happily in their Eastern home, with wealth at their command, and warm friends. But a sorrow had falien upon them, brought on by one who had been as a brother to her, and a son to her father, To this boy’s father, Richard Joslyn had owed his rise in life, and laid the foundation of his wealth, But reverses had come upon his benefac- tor, and broken in health by his losses, he had died, leaving his son penniless. Instantly Mr. Joslyn had taken the boy, then in his fifteenth year, to live with him, adopting him as his own son, and learnin to love him as a father would a devoted child Thus several years passed away, and the youth reached the threshold of manhood, and suddenly it dawned upon his adopted father that he was leading a very fast life, Loving him as he would his own son, Mr. Joslyn remonstrated with him, begged him to change his evil career, and paid his debts for him. So it went on for another year, when one morning Mr. Joslyn woke up to find him- self ruined, for to save his erring protege he paid forged paper to the extent of his for- tune. The wild, reckless youth, afraid to face his — . 5° aut - 1 ww com — >: "al Py ns Ld = 5 4 Gomicboo ‘ S © es ae tm