Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 394 — page 25: what you’re looking at

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

7 7a.. 4a —< 7%, ' ats + ee 4 a * * 7 a \ ~* ’ 7 ' *- —_ ee RE = the brothers, Frank Powell asked, in his kindly way: “Well, boys, you are here in search of me, [ know.” “That is it, Frank, and we have found you, or you found us, I don’t know which; but you look healthy for an outlaw’s cap- tive,” said Broncho Bill, with a light laugh. ‘‘Oh, yes, 1 am in perfect health; but it will be nothing to boast of if we do not ride on, for we will have the whole band of Red Angels at our heels in a couple of hours.”’ ‘* Minus two we left back in the canyon.” ‘*Ah! you ran upon those fellows, then? ‘*] thought something had started the trio I saw pass me.”’ ‘Yes, we ran on them, fired as they saw us, brought down one each, and the others ran as though they thought we had a regi- ment at our heels, while George and I start- ed to follow, as you see. “But Flyer trod in a hole and threw George, and when I picked him up we con- cluded to Jet the fellows go, examine our game, catch their two horses, and then come on. ‘‘We hitched the horses back there in the canyon, and here we are.” ‘And right glad am I to see you, Will; but where is mother?” ‘On the ranch, Frank, for I left her there when I came at the tocsin sounded by George to strike your trail.” ‘And you struck it?” said Frank Powell, with a smile. ‘Yes, we struck it rich, and now what have you to say for yourself, Frank?” In his quiet way, as they rode along, the Surgeon Scout told his brothers of what had occurred in the camp of the Red Angels, even to his being bound by oath not to lead a force against them. Coming to the horses of the outlaws, they took them in lead, passing the bodies of their dead riders with merely a glance, while Frank Powell, recognizing them, made known their names with the remark: “Lucky Luke’s had a turn of luck this time, and Old Joe never lived to die at the end of a rope, as I predicted he would. ‘* Now, boys, we will push on rapidly, for we don’t wish to be crowded; so, ho for the fort.” . “ All right, Frank; but as we can make it on our way to go by old Major Monkton’s ranch, let us do so, for it isa duty you owe to relieve the mind of that pretty girl about you, or she’ll be coming up here with all of the old man’s darkies at her back to rescue ou.” | r Frank Powell’s face flushed, but he sim- ply said: ‘¢ Well, to Monkton’s ranch be it, then!”’ CHAPTER L. BRONCHO BILL ON THE TRAIL. Mason Monkton had recovered from the wounds he had received in his brush with the Sioux, and had come to bless the day when Janette came to his prairie home, for he found her all that he could wish a daugh- ter to be, He had been most anxious regarding her long stay, and was about to start with his re- maining force of cowboys in search of her when she so opportunely appeared and came to his aid, the charge of the gallant little party putting the Indians to instant flight. The mysterious disappearance of Night Hawk Powell, had worried both Janette and the major greatly, and when they found all search fruitless, the maiden decided to at once return to the soldiers’ cainp and report — << --— —_— Beave | | | nt a - Pea ¥ ~~, —_—_—— — geance shall be visited upon Indians and out- laws all along this border. Shortly after breakfast, and Janette really enjoyed the meal, the sentinel reported horse- men in sight, and half an hour after up dash- ed a young officer and twenty troopers. **Ho, Lieutenant Clark, 1 am glad to see you,” cried the captain, as the young oilicer threw himself from his horse, and started with admiration when his eyes fell upon Janette, while he answered: ‘‘God knows, captain, 1 am glad to find r, the Exile of the Platte. 20 After the first greeting was over between | brother, our surgeon, a most fearful ven- | to death by his red-skin captors, who were too powerful for him to send a force into _ their country to attack and punish. you all safe, for I had grave doubts on the | subject, after what your courier reported, and I pushed on hard, leaving the ambulances under a guard to follow.” ‘‘And did a company go northward after the red-skins, Clark?” ‘* Yes, sir, Captain Taylor started on their trail.” ‘‘] will not believe that they are dead,” said Janette, warmly, as she and the major talked the matter over that night. ‘‘Here am a gemman to see you, sah,” said old Uncle Ike, just then entering, and following was a person whom neither the major nor Janette had before met. He was a striking looking person, and, walking forward, bowed low, while he said in a pleasant way: ‘Pardon me for my intrusion, sir, but my name is William Powell, called for short Broncho Bill, and I am on the trail of my brother, Night Hawk George.” ‘*T pray they may catch them, for old Wolf Fang divided his force into a dozen bands, and one of these attacked Monkton’s ranch and captured Night Hawk Powell, the scout,” ‘Ah! that is bad, and especially when I learn that his gallant brother, Surgeon Frank, isa re? to the Red Angels.” ‘* Yes, Clark, we have been hard hit by both outlaws and Indians, and we must hit back; but let me present you to Miss Joslyn, a fair stranger on the prairie, whom we will adopt as a Daughter of our Regiment,” ‘The courier also spoke of Miss Joslyn, and it gives me pleasure to lay claim as one of the regimental fathers, to so fair a daughter,” | said the gallant young officer, and then he volunteered to start, as soon as his men had breakfasted, in pursuit of the band that had captured Night Hawk Powell, for all knew to attempt the rescue of the surgeon from the outlaws would be to sign his death-warrant. As Lieutenant Clark though. it best to trail the band directly from the ranch, he started for the major’s congratulating himself on his happiness in being able to act as an escort to Janette. The ranch was reached in time for dinner, | and then the hard-ridden horses were given up for the hardy ponies the major furnished the trail they pushed swiftiy on. It was days before they returned, and then they brought the news that they had trailed the Indians far on their way to their village, and not overtaking them, dared not go fur- ther with so small a force, so turned back. But they had captured an Indian who was ill and dying, and, having wandered away from his comrades, had been left by them, the lieutenant and his troopers, and taking ° and he had told them that the white scout had dashed forward in the charge at the ranch, hoping to capture Wolf Fang, or kill him, as he recognized that chief, and his horse had rushed right into the midst of a Both the major and Janette were, on their feet in an instant, the latter murmuring to herself: “ Billy Blue Eyes! His brother did not speak too highly in his praise.” And then Broncho Bill received a warm welcome from both, and while old Auntie Phoebe was preparing supper for the visitor, the major and Janette learned how the hand- some young ranchero had gone to the fort in obedience to his brother’s call to a brother's rescue, and had found Night Hawk himself in the hands of the red-skins. Major Benteen knew just what Broncho Bill was, and of his daring services in Texas, and aware that he, if any man, could rescue Night Hawk, he offered him a party of picked men to accompany him. But Will Powell said he could do better alone, and mounted upon a splendid animal, and leading another, he had departed upon > ‘ his solitary trail, intending to make Monkton Ranch his starting-point. | ‘‘And do you mean to say that you will go alone into the Indian country, to attempt to rescue your brother?” asked Janette. “Oh, yes, for L certainly will not let him die, if I can help it, or go unavenged if they kill him. “If I get George out, then we will look up Frank.” ‘‘ Three of a kind, Janette,” said the major while Will Powell asked: “Can you sell me five good ponies, ma- jor?” “ T can give you all you wish; but will you not want some of my gallant black cowboys as riders?” ‘*No, thank you; but it is a long ride to | the Indian country, and I may not be able to pick up ponies as I need them, so wish to go with three pair and an extra, for I have two goud horses,” The major promised the young ranchero the pick of the drove, and at dawn the foi- | aides Poke 7 Broncho Bill started alone i dozen foes, and Night Hawk had been taken | captive, though he fought like a demon. This was proof that the scout was in the clutches of the red-skins, and what would be his fate all could readily understand who knew what the merciless cruelty of the In- dians was. , With this additional cause of sorrow, the soldiers returned to the fort in glocm, leav- ing the major and Janette also to feel for the two brave brothers whom they feared they would never again see. Thus the days passed by at Prairie Rest Ranch, until Janette was startled one day to see a party of cavalry dash up, and in their midst were several ladies, It was Major Benteen, the gallant com- mander of the fort, accompanied by several the disappearance of the scout, and her belief | of his officers and their wives, and their mis- that he had fallen intu the hands of the red- skins. She found Zip and his comrades most will- ing to accompany her, and, mounting fresh ponies, they set out, retracing their way without aecident or adventure, and arriving at the bivouac on the river just as Captain. Burt was sitting down to breakfast. Janette was most warmly welcomed, and her story of Night Hawk’s brave work, and his mysterious disappearance, listened to with the deepest attention’ ‘| will order what men can be spared in «hase at once, Miss Joslyn, and when the re- lief comes send as many more as I can, for we must not lose that splendid fellow, Night Hawk, and if harm does befall him and his sion was to call upon Janette. After several hours at the hospitable ranch, anda dinner that was most tempting, they took their leave, all charmed with the young and beautiful orphan, and haviog obtained the promise of the major to bring Janette over to the fort soon to spend a few days, where sie could become acquainted with military life on a frontier post, There was one thing that Major Benteen told her that distressed her pias and that was his fear that nothing could be done to rescue or ransom Frank Powell from the outlaws, who had sent him word, Py a mail- courier they halted, that they woul upon his perilous mission, riding one pony, and leading six others. rs With prayers for his success and safety, the major and Janette saw him depart, and then the latter remarked sadly; ‘| fear that yonder goes the third of that noble trio of brothers to his death.” “*] fear it too, Janette; but that man will © conquer success if it can be done,” wasthe response of Major Monkton. ; ; Ly CHAPTER LI. ‘AN ACT THAT WAS NOT DOWN ON A SIOUX _ PROGRAMME. . Nieut Hawk, in his charge with Janette and the black cowboys, had suddenly recog- nized in the moonlight none other than the arch Satan of the chief. Instantly he had boldly decided to ‘‘ have his hair,” and had spurred recklessly into the very midst of a party of warriors, his revolvers rattling, and with a determination to take every risk to accomplish his pur- ose. Unfortunately wildly along without a rider, had struck up. one of his revolvers from his hand and near- ly threw him from his saddle. | It was but an instant that he was thus thrown off his guard, but it was fatal to him, % against his horse with a force that knocked __ for the red-skins about him threw themselves = upon him, and he was dragged away with kill the | them in their flight, stunned by blows, and _ surgeon if they were followed, and also that | bound as they rode along. he feared Night Hawk had already been put Discovering whom they had captured, and GOMGRVOOKS ioux, Wolf Fang, the eg an Indian pony, dashing —