Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 394 — page 21: what you’re looking at

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

y. <>. *_ aa ay Oe »*) p* or benefactor and more than father, departed, | to lead a different life in future, so that he could pay back every dollar he had squan- dered of Richard Joslyn’s property. In the kindness of his heart the ruined man believed him, and almost broken-hearted at his losses, he got together what little he had saved, and, having honorably paid all, “es Sie ieS * “A _— a: « at. re ; yO hite Beav | : ' departed for the West to build up a new | bome and fortune. Still believing and trusting in the youth who had ruined him, Mr. Joslyn had never | told Janette that uhe one she loved asa bro- | ther had committed crime, but put it down to speculations that had gone against them, and she had never dreamed that Paul Mur- dock, for such was his name, had done that which would have sent him to become, for long years, the inmate of a prison. By easy stages Richard Joslyn and his daughter had come westward, hunting, fish- ing, and enjoying the free Jife they led, as they came along, until the maiden, an expert rider and fair shot from early girlhood, be- came a superb marksman and splendid horse- woman. How well these accomplishments served her the reader has already seen. And how reverses had dogged the steps of her poor father, ending in* death, and she had become an orphan in a strange land, was what was in her thoughts as she rode along over the prairie that night at the head of her colored guard. ‘‘Oh, Paul, if you were only near me to share my sorrows!” she cried, as a feeling of desolation, most utter, swept over her. Then she continued, murmuring to her- self: ‘“And that noble man who so befriended ; ' ' ~ os ~ = ‘ Se Wes t ¥e = ‘, oo ~~ > - : Ey =.) . nae « r, the Exile of the Platte. ty: = . “4 . ~~ > * - > — as" + : ol ‘Tt is due to my good horse here, Flyer, | unless the party they trailed had halted in leaving a letter of contrition, and promising | for he did the work. the timber for the night; but they came to a ‘But I felt anxious about you, after you , stand-still and listened in deep silence. left, so got permission to follow.” ‘* And why anxious?” ‘“Well, Wolf Fang’s band, not being pressed in their retreat, will naturally break into small parties, and spreading over the country do all the damage they can. ** Fearing that you might meet such a par- ty I came after you.” ‘“It was certainly most kind of you; but we have seen no trace of an Indian.” ‘*T have.” ** Indeed ?”’ ‘Yes; the moonlight, as I followed you, revealed a party of warriors slowly examin- ing your trail. ‘*Finding it, they at once started in pur- suit, while I, knowing where they would be most likely to overtake you, made a flank ride of it and headed you off, by pushing Flyer pretty hard.” ‘You are indeed a good friend, Mr. Pow- ell, to come and share our danger; but what do you advise?” “A lesson to the red-skins,”’ ‘*In what way?” - . ‘You see that timber ahead?” ce Yes.” “It is a thick grove on the banks ofa swift-running stream, and there is a fort there—” ‘‘T know the spot but too well, Mr. Pow- ell, for my father lies buried on the bank of that stream, and it was there, on the prairie beyond that your brother was captured by the outlaws.” “Then you do know the spot well, Miss Joslyn. ‘* But the red-skins are on your trail, and me is in danger of death at the hands of my | will take advantage of your approaching the poor father’s murderers, and I will lose him, | timber to close in upon too. ‘‘That dear old man who says I shall be ou.” ‘ And what do you advise?” “That I ride on and see if all is clear his daughter is all that I have tocling to, and | ahead, and you come on at the pace you are I will devote myself to him. ‘* But there are two things I must do,” and now traveling. ‘‘There I will wait for vou, and you and the moonlight showed her lips closed firmly, , one of your men can ride on, while the rest and her eyes flash for an instant, as she re- | dismount, you leading their horses. mained silent, and then continued: * Going into the river, the Indians, who ‘‘T must avenge my poor, poor father, and | will push on rapidly as you near the timber, do what I can to save that splendid man, will think you are all coming to the other shore, and will run right on to our am- Doctor Powell, and return the debts of grati- tude I owe to him, :, ‘‘T will talk to Major Monkton about it, ‘ bush.” ‘‘ It is a good plan, Mr. Powell, and I leave and see if something cannot be done, for I . it in your hands to carry out. can do much, as I am no longer a child buta woman, and one who possesses the heart, the ‘* But are the Indians visible behind us?” ‘* Yes; I saw them with my glass just be- will, the nerve and endurance of a man todo | fore you joined me. and dare. ‘*Now | will ride on,” and Night Hawk ‘‘Ay, and I will do and dare all that man gave the rein to Flyer, who went off at the will to save Surgeon Powell from death— same sweeping pace he had gone in getting Oh! what is it, Zip?” and she turned as the , ahead of Janette and her cowboys. negro rode up. © There a 4 horseman ahead, missy.” > . The scout approached the timber with ex- treme caution, until convinced that there ‘‘T see him; but we shall have nothing to , was no enemy concealed in its shadows, ard fear from one man, Zip,” was the quiet re- then he rode boldly through it. sponse, as the eyes of Janette fell upon a horse and rider directly in their way, and about a hundred yards distant. CHAPTER XLIII. THE AMBUSA. THe horseman who barred the wa nette and the black cowboys coul of Ja- be dis- -_—. ee tinctly seen in the moonlight, and it was ob- | servable that his hands were raised above his head, as though indicating that his intentions were not hostile. “Tt seem ter be Massa Night Hawk, mis- sy,” said Zip. ‘‘You are right; it is the scout, Mr. Pow- ell,” answered Janette, and she urged her horse more rapidly forward. ‘Why, Mr. Powell! is it really you?” she said, as she drew near. ‘‘Yes, Miss Joslyn, and wholy at your service,” was the reply. , ‘They call your brother the Wizard Doc- tor, I believe, and I certainly think they should name you the Magic Scout, for we left be back at the camp three hours ago.” ce es. ’ ‘‘And yet you are here before us?” ‘Yes, and for a reason, which I will make known as we ride along.” ‘‘T certainly shall be glad to know how you can change your localities in such a magical way, for I would like to possess the same power.” Having reconnoitered to his satisfaction he selected the spot for the ambush. which was at the bank, where the trail descended to the river, He also selected a position on each side for a couple of cowboys to stand, so as to catch the Indians between four fires, for he ‘ntend- ed to follow them when they entered the tim- ber. Soon after Janette and the negroes rode up and Night Hawk made known his plan of a2- tion. To give every rifle a chance the young girl offered to lead the horses across herself, and they were accordingly tied together with lar- iats, and she took the lead. Night Hawk then placed two negroes on each side of the trail, and in such a way that they would not fire toward each other, and the balance were ranged along under the ‘ bank, the latter serving as a breastwork. A cowboy, left to watch the red-skins, now came running up with the word that they were pressing on rapidly, and but a short distance off, and Janette rode down to the river with her string of horses, while Night Hawk glided back into the timber to follow the Indians until they were in the trap, and “ie his shot was to be the signal for all to re. The scout had barely reached a _hiding- place in the edge of the timber when the red- skins dashed up. They evidently suspected no enemy near, The splashing of water reached their ears, and they gave a grunt of satisfaction and urged their ponies on. Like grim phantoms they rode through the timber, not one of them seeing the dark form gliding from tree to tree behind them, and keeping pace with their gait. Before them suddenly gleamed the moon- light again, and a few more rods would bring them to the stream. Again they halted and listened. There was no splashing in the water now, and once more they pushed on. Rut suddenly the dark woods were illumi- nated by a red flash, a sharp report rung out, and a warrior dropped dead from his pony, while his comrades rushed madly toward the river, for the spot had come from behind them. But in their front burst forth a glare of fire, then on their left, then on their right, and again in their rear, until, with mad yells of fear, the red-skins wheeled as cne man and dashed away through the timber, back the way they had come. But as one warrior was rusbing by, a strong arm suddenly seized his bridle-rein, and the iron grip threw the pony he rode to the ground, while his red rider was dashed heavily against a tree. Holding on to the frightened pony, Night Hawk quietly walked up to the fallen red- skin and bent over him. ‘*] thought so, when I heard his head strike the tree with such a crack, * Well, it saved me killing him, and I am always glad to escape red work when I can; but what a scare we gave them, and fully half of them went down. “J will go and join those gallant black bravos, and then we'll hasten on after that plucky girl.” So saying, Night Hawk sprung on the back of the captured pony, and signaling his coming by a call, soon dashed up to Zip and his comrades, whom he found ‘‘countin’ noses, ter see ef they’d go round one apiece,’ as ohe of the negroes remarked. ‘*Not as many as that, Zip, but you did well, and I see have caught three ponies, so I'll push on after Miss Janette, and bring you back your horses.” ‘*She am comin’ back now, sah,” said one of the cowboys, who had been looking across the river. ‘“Yes, and she comes as though there was danger behind her— Ha! there is danger,” and Night Hawk sprung again upon the Indian pony and spurred into the stream, followed by Zip and two others of the cow- boys upon the three captives they had made. CHAPTER XLIV. NIGHT HAWK SETS A TRAP. ‘‘ INDIANS are pursuing me!” cried Janette, as she came dashing toward the scout, meet- ing him midway of the stream and sending showers of spray over him from the splash- ing hoofs of the horses. ‘Do not be alarmed, for we can bold our | own,’ said George Powell, wheeling about, and riding by her side, while Janette went on to say that she had discovered a party of horsemen about the same moment that they saw her and started in pursuit, for she in- stantly retreated to recross the river. As they reached the other shore Night Hawk said quickly: ‘“‘ Now you keep on at a gallop through the timber, and they, hearing you, will believe you still in flight, and we can repeat our am- ush act very cleverly.” ‘Oh, what a life this is to lead,” muttered Janette, as she obeyed the injunction of the scout, while the cowboys, excepting two who went with her, ranged themselves along on the bank for a surprise to the pursuers. In obedience to the command of Night Hawk, the two negroes witlr Janette shouted and called out, as though they were hastily driving cattle in a retreat, which would leave | the Indians to believe that they would cap- ture a bonanza. ; But the red-skins were a trifle cautious, and Pg upon the opposite shore, came to a ait. -~ ““They seem to git skeert ob a trap, sah, an’ won’t come across, ’ said Zip. com JOO €