Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 394 — page 23: what you’re looking at

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

BP se -~ from the others, and more pretentious, are | ae . é i % ' * oh . pe fg po _ - ni S ie paces only from the man, is a horse, saddled | “T told you that I would make no effort to and bridled. -escape until I reported that you and your This man is in plain view of the canyon, wounded men were in a safe condition for wherein is the camp, and it is evident that he me to leave them.” is the sentinel, watching there for the ap-; ‘‘And you assert now that they are?” proach of any foe. | <5 aan In the camp are a score or more of men, | ‘‘Then you consider your parole at an idly lolling about upon the grass, sleeping, end?” . smoking, or playing cards, while coming es ie Tl down the hillside are several more on horse- ‘‘And may attempt to escape at any mo- back, their animals loaded with game. ment?” ‘No, I shall wait until after your men have given you permission to let me go,” an- two persons, one of them reclining upon the swered the Surgeon Scout, as he turned on ground, the other supported in a half-sitting his heel and walked off. posture upon a stretcher that had evidently | ars brought out of the hut. : oth these persons the reader has seen be- | fore, for one ah the Doctor Scout, the other | CHAPTER XLVII. the Red Angel chief, his face still concealed | THE DUEL FOR LIBERTY. by the mask of red wings. | _ ‘THe outlaws’ feast was a picturesque scene Some weeks have passed away since the though a wild one, for the lurid glare of the outlaw captain became the patient of the camp-fires sent huge shadows of men, horses Doctor Scout, and in all that time the Sur-. and trees dancing against the sides of the geon Scout had not seen the face of the hills, while voices in song, in profanity and wounded man, other than the long blonde coarse jests were heard upon all sides. mustache and firm chin. A cask of rum had been opened by the What attentions, other than surgical, the chief, in honor of the Surgeon Scout’s report chief needed, Brick, the black bravo, attend- that the wounded were out of danger, and ed to, giving him his meals, and caring for the rough, desperate men were drinking deep him as tenderly as though he were an in- and adding the stimulant of liquor to their fant. own reckless natures, “And you pronounce me out of danger, | Frank Powell was no liquor-loving man, Powell?” asked the chief, as the two were to- and sat calmly by, viewing the wild scene gether under the shanty. and wondering how it all would end. * Wholly so.” The chief had been bolstered up on his ‘*And Dead Knife Jim, is he out of dan-. stretcher, the other wounded had _ been ger?” brought to the large camp-fire, and Dead | in Jim was seated near Powell, grim and silent. When the feasting was over and the des- perate band were excited with their drinking the chief ordered silence. ‘Is likewise doing well.” Instantly all was attention, and Captain ‘* And sows iN | Kit said, in a voice that had grown strong ‘* Was up this morning, while the lesser once more, and had the old-time ring to it: wounded of the men are up and about.” | **Men, there is one in our midst who, as ‘“You have then done your duty, you | you all know, does not belong to our band.” think?” _ A number of voices shouted: ‘To such an extent that I have sinned | ‘“« That’s so!” against ny Government and my conscience **T refer to the Wizard Doctor.” in nursing back to sinful lives a set of villains | ‘‘‘ We all know him, an’ he are a Wizard that deserve hanging,” was the very cool re- | Doctor,” said one, sponse of Frank Powell. ‘‘T admit his magical skill as a surgeon, The chief bit his lips, and asked: men, I admit his marvelous deeds as a man, ‘Well, what do you expect of me?” his desperate courage, deadly aim, and all ‘«To release me.” ' that; but he is our foe, and though he has ‘* Upon what terms?” | brought me and others back to life, is he en- a What terms do you ask?” titled to go? ‘‘That you take a solemn oath not toagain; ‘‘I put the question squarely to you all. take the trail of the Red Angels.” ‘**Is the Wizard Doctor to be permitted to “Tf such are your terms, just set yourself | go free and again become our deadly foe?” right om the matter, for I shall take no such A silence fell upon all for an instant, and oath.” then Dead Knife Jim said: ‘Will you swear not to bring any force of | ‘‘If the Doc gives his word as how he men against us, or give information that will won't do no harm ag’in’ us, I says let him lead your soldiers to find us?” go, fer he are ther man clean through ter ‘Yes, I will swear to keep the secret of | keep thet word.” | your retreat here, and not to march against ‘“‘T says so, too.” you with any force, or to make known facts | ‘‘ Dead Knife talks serene!” that may lead to your being tracked down. | ‘‘ Thet’s ther music!” ‘‘ But I will pledge you also that I will re- | ‘‘ Ther Doc can’t tell a lie ef he tried.” main your foe, and when I can personally , ‘‘ Let him go!” track you, kill you, or do youor your band | ‘“‘ Yas, he’s squar'!” harm, I will do so with my whole soul in the ‘‘ He’s Gospel on ther truth, pards.” good work.” Such were the cries that followed the ‘* You are frank.” words of Dead Knife Jim, with many more, ‘Yes, my name is Frank, and you should Then the chief said: know me well enough to understand that my | ‘‘ As the opinion of all seems to be to let words fit my name.” the Doctor go free, I will administer to him ‘‘T do, for a more fearless man I never ! an oath that he will not lead a force against met in word or act.” us, will not betray our haunts, our strength “Thank you; lam sorry I do not know | of numbers, or tell any secrets about us, and something good of you that I can return the | if he takes this oath, he can go.” compliment by flattery.” ‘‘ Thet’s ther music!” shouted a voice. “So you demand your release?” ‘* Remember, men, this does not bind me “T do.” not tosingle-handed hunt you down and kill ‘Then I shall consult my men to-night | you wherever I find you,” came in Powell’s after the feast, for I see the hunters have an tones, Before one of the shanties, standing apart ce Tes.” e $6 Kad no longer needs care?” ‘‘Only such as his comrades can give him, for his arm is healing rapidly.” ‘And Lucky Luke?” brought home a fine assortment of game.” ‘Wal, thet are narve,”’ said one. ‘“T thought that you were chief?” “True, it gives you the right to hunt us ‘*T am.” as you can, singly, but not to betray us, or “ Then why consult your men?” march against us with any force.” ‘To see if any of them object.” ‘‘T understand you then, Captain Hyena, “And if they do?” and am willing to take such oath.” ‘‘ We'll decide then what is to be done.” ‘Then there is no dissenting voice?” asked Frank Powell said no more, but rising, | the chief. strolled about the camp, looking at the game “1 Poay® the hunters had brought in. | All turned upon the speaker. As he passed near the chief again, the lat- | the outlaw. It was Van, ter called out: ‘“You object, do you, Van?” ‘ ‘When does your parole end, Powell?” $F 'doe” ; hite Beaver, the Exile of the Platte. mr i rrr, -_--_ooo——— eee eee eee a ee eetlieeeedtiaetibe tl a i ‘ies , : bi 23 ‘You are the only one.” * And the rules of our band gives me the right to object.” , LOR, ‘‘T demand the execution of that man, whom I am almost superstitious enough to believe is allied with the devil!” savagely said the outlaw. ‘‘T have been allied to a number of devils of late,” coolly put in Powell. ‘Why do you demand his execution, Van?” asked Captain Kit. ‘* Because he has tracked us like a hound: he has the death of several of our number to answer for—’’ ‘‘T have a greater crime to answer for in saving the lives of your chief and others,” fearlessly put in the Surgeon Scout, and his bold remark really won for him the greater admiration of many present. 7 ‘See, he regrets saving your lifeand the lives of Dead Knife and others,” continued — Van, and heewent on rapidly and with say- age earnestness: “He has wronged us, hunted us, killed us, and will do so again, and wipe us out from the prairie, for he will never keep an oath if he makes it on a Bible, if we nad one in camp to swear him on.” “T hes got a Bible,” said Dead Knife Jim, putting his only hand into an inner pocket — and drawing forth—a pack of cards ! All broke forth in a loud laugh at this; but notin the least disturbed, Dead Knife Jim again thrust his hand into his pocket — and this time drew out a small Bible, while he said: 5 ‘‘Tt were in comp’ny along with ther — keerds, same es thet good man are in ther comp’ny o’ us, thet are a durned sight wuss nor any old greasy pack o’ keerds thet hev — ever gambled a life away.” ‘‘Lordy! Dead Knife are goin’ ter take ter preachin’, now he hev lost one o’ his grips,” said Lucky Luke. ‘‘“You is a howlin’ liar, Luke, fer I are only talkin’ sense, an’ ef yer think ’cause I~ hev lost one grip that I hain’t got another, jest let me feel yer windpipe an’see ef 1 | don’t turn off the gas.” a But Lucky Luke concluded that he’d lose his name for luck if he allowed Dead Knife 52 to try the experiment, and remained silent, while Van, the outlaw, said in a loud voice: ‘You have heard my demand, men, and speak up and tell the chief | am right.” + But not a voice was heard in response, and an unpleasant silence followed, which was | broken by the mellow-toned voice of the Sur- geon Scout saying: . ey ‘As you seem so anxious that I should | die, sir, suppose you take upon yourself the part of executioner, and face mc with a re volver at ten paces?” oe A perfect yell greeted this proposition, i A and Van, the outlaw, saw that he had made | a mistake, while he was the more convinced of it by the remark of his chief: aa “Yes, Van, that settles the puzzle as to what we are to do with the Wizard Doctor, | and you must face him.” "head Againa yell of delight broke from tne men, fer they were just in the humor to wish to witness some tragic scene; and the dis- — tance was quickly stepped off by Old Joe, — the back of each man to be toward a fire, be ~ on which fresh logs were thrown to 4251 light to the affair. rn Doctor Powell calmly prepared for the meeting, his revolver being handed him by | Brick, at the chief's orders, for inthe camp 4 - he had been forced to go unarmed. eas “The weepin all right, massa—loaded jist as I got him,” said the negro. ee the the | Frank Powell smiled, and levelin weapon at a mark on the tree, rattled o six shots. “ss “There were no bullets in that revolver, Brick, for see, there is no mark on that tree.” a ‘* Massa miss de tree, maybe,” said Brick, innocently. et ee Powell made no response until he had load- ed the weapon, and then he said, turning quickly toward the negro: an “You think so, do you, Brick, that I missed the tree?” ? as Si ‘* Yas, massa.” «| ‘““All right; T'll convince you,to the con: — trary. , ty aag ‘There, place your hand there,” and seiz- ing the large hand of the negro, he flattened » comicbooks.com i eam —s i eed a, —- .—