Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 394 — page 7: what you’re looking at

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=e mods * vo, + ‘ ? where they could turn off when suddenly, out of the timber, right in the stream to cut them off dashed Red Angel and his men. ‘¢ Janette, now comes the death-struggle, for the Sioux are close on our heels and Captain Hyena, yonder, wants us, too,” said the Wizard Doctor, as he drew a revolver in either hand and rode straight toward the outlaw band. CHAPTER XITI. RUNNING THE GANTLET. As Doctor Powell settled himself firmly in his saddle, and drew a revolver in each hand, Ja- nette glanced into his face toread there any hope that he might feel that they would safely run the gantlet of the outlaws, But as well might she have looked upon a mar- ble face, as not a shadow was there to express fear, or an expression that she could read as hopeful. ut a reckless smile played about the lips, and his eyes were full of the fire of determination to do or die, It was very evident that their situation was desperate, and poor Janette cried earnestly: ‘*Oh, sir, you can escape; so do so, and leave me to my fate, for my life is not worth all this struggle, and I will be content to rest yonder in a grave beside my murdered father.” “ Why, my little Janette, don’t lose your grip and nerve, for there is no need of it until we are whipped in the struggle. ‘‘ Keep close to my side, and ride on through thick and thin!” and the Doctor spoke in a voice that gave her hope, it was so soft and gentle, being wholly devoid of any dread of the conse- quences. , She glanced furtively behind her at the In- dians. They were coming swiftly on, though momen- tarily they had checked their horses, evidently believing that more white horsemen were to come out of the timber, when the outlaws dashed forth. That the Red Angels were coming to the res- cue of the man and maiden flying before them, the Indians did not doubt; but seeing that they were so few, they again pushed forward to sweep over them. ; Having seen that the red-skins had no inten- tion of halting, Janette turned her gaze again upon the outlaws. They had crossed the river, and with their daring chief at their head, were charging for- ward to cut them off before they reached the level place where they could dash down the stream along the bank. Ravines were on either side of them, and it was yet a hundred yards to the turning-place, while the Red Angels were fully’that distance away from it, too. The Doctor Scout was pushing ahead at the utmost speed of Janette’s horse, which was not as fast as his own, and was striving to make*the turn around the end of the ravine before the out- laws got there. Once he could do this and it would become, in sea Lf pero g a ‘*stérn chase,” and he felt that he could check the Red Angels momentarily with his revolvers, and this gain a slight lead, which he could teadily increase with their horses, tired as they were. That Captain Kit did not care to trust himself too far from the timber, was also very evident, for he wished to be able to retreat rapidly to shelter should the red-skins keep on their head- long charge. With a nerve born of the cool mien, almost indifference, in fact, of the Doctor Scout, Janette took the entire Situation in all its risks and chances. Noting the desire of her preserver to reach the head of the ravine before the outlaws, she urged her horse to a greater speed, and her heart seemed in her throat when she saw that in a few more bounds they would reach there, while the Angels were yet further off than they were. Frank Powell had placed himself upon the danger side of the young girl, and kept close to her, while he rode upright in his saddle, his reins hanging on the saddle-horn, and his hands ping his revolvers. If he could only round the head of the ravine before the Red Angels, he would open a fire upon them with bis well-tried weapons that would surprise them for its ra idity and deadly effect, Nearer and nearer all, fugitives, outlaws and Indians, drew to the climax, and breathlessly the white men pressed toward the dread ordeal, while the Indians came yelling behind the Doc- tor Scout and the girl like a pack of wolves. Another bound of their horses would take the Doctor and Janette to the head of the ravine; but another bound of Captain Kit’s animal would bring him there also. Janette saw the outlaw chief well now, ob- served even in that awful moment his dandy attire, and marked his long, golden curls, blonde mustache, and the crimson wings that he wore as a mask, She saw also the two men who had run to earth her father and herself, and the cthers of . the band, and she felt that one man, dare what = might, could never successfully meet such S. As this thought flashed through her mind, up - - White Beaver, me ————_—_— rrr a , —————————— ers were wholly taken aback and ceased their peas! 9 went the Doctor Scout’s right hand, and as it reached the level there came the crack of his istol. : Backward from his saddle fell the famous Red Angel chief, and his horse sped on riderless. But quick as a flash a second shot followed, and an outlaw’s horse went down. ‘* Now, Janette, wheel sharp to the left and we are saved,” said the Doctor Scout, in a clear voice that held no quiver in it. the Exile of the Platte. 3 The white horse seemed now willing to be con- trolled; as no danger threatened, and she drew him down to a walk, while she became lost in deep thought after once turning into the trail as she had been directed. At a swinging walk, a five-mile gait, the ani- mal went along for perhaps a mile, when he sud- denly gave a snort and a quick bound that un- seated Janette and she fell from her saddle. But, as nimble as an athlete, she caught on her At the shots of the Doctor the Indian pursu- | feet unhurt, while she also retained her presence yells, for they told them that the white horse- men were not coming to the rescue of the flying man and young girl, but were, like them, the stant, an foes of those two, and were seeking the cap- ture. To the outlaws the shots rung forebodingly, for they saw their chief go down, a horse fol- low, and escape seemed before the daring sol- dier-surgeon and annihilation to themselves, with the red-skins coming swiftly down upon them. Thus feeling, one of their number raised his revolver and fired. ** Oh God!” The cry broke from Janette, as her horse stumbled, staggered, and she saw that he was hard hit. But they had rounded the ravine, and as the animal swayed wildly, while plunging along, Janette felt a strong arm about her waist, and she was dragged to the saddle of the Doctor weer, who had slipped behind it to give her the ace. The noble white did not seem to feel his dou- ble load, and Frank Powell wheeled half-round to open upon his pursuers, when he saw that they were preparing to fire upon him. Quick as a flash he cota to the ground, urging his horse on with a blow, while he called out: ‘**Go on, Janette, and do not mind me.” Relieved of his weight, the white steed gave a bound forward, and in his excitement and alarm unheeded the tugging on his reins of the young girl, who had almost lost her presence of mind at the act of her brave preserver. Finding it impossible to check the flying’ ani- mal, and hearing several shots in rapid succes- sion, Janette turned to look behind her, and the sight she saw she never forgot. There, standing at bay, and with his foes crowding upon him, stood the Doctor Scout, upright, calm and fearless, while the Indians, only a few hundred yards distant, were rushing toward the scene to end the unequal battle by joining in the melee. Sickened at the sight, the poor girl covered her face with her hands to shut it out from be- fore her eyes; but a wild shout caused her to again look back, and she no longer beheld that upright form battling against cruel odds, for the brave man was being dragged by his ene- mies rapidly toward the river, whether dead or dying the girl knew not, and upon the flying = si the Sioux were charging with terrific yells, CHAPTER XIV. JANETTE’S FLIGHT, It was certainly a most critical moment for Janette, when she found herself alone upon the white horse, whose rider’ had slipped from his back and stood at bay among his foes. _ Try as sbe would, shecould not check the mad flight of the animal, and she was quickly borne ‘from the scene, which had disappeared from sight when she a second time looked behind her. Almost overcome, she fairly reeled in the sad- ny a for a moment seemed as though about to fall. But we en tf she broke forth with the cry, almost savagely uttered: ‘* No, no, I will not yield to a woman’s weak- ness, ‘*T will be strong, ay, strong as a man, for there are two to be avenged now !” The last words she spoke in a tone boarse with suppressed emotion, and, having formed the des- perate resolve to avenge her father and _ the Doctor Scout. she sat bolt upright in her saddle, and her face became strangely stern for one so beautiful. And beautiful the face certainly was, for the features were refined, and yet strongly cut. the eyes great liquid wells of blue beneath the long, sweeping black lashes, and her complexion as pure as a lily. . Her hair was, as I have said, a mass of golden curls, and her form was strangely perfect for a girl who was just entering her sixteenth year. A startling resolve was it for a young ‘girl to make, that she would be avenged for the death of her father and, as she believed, the Doctor Scout. her brave preserver, at the hands of the cruel Red Angel band. And more strange it seemed when the resolve fell from the lips of a girl who was then on a runaway horse, flying for her life, and wholly alone upon the vast, wild prairie. After a rapid run of a few miles, the ford across the river came in view, and with the broad, well-defined trail running northward, which the Doctor Scout had spoken of as the one she should take. } ' | | —EE—— — —_ ————— re ee | of mind sufficiently to grasp the rein tightly and hold to it. The frigbtened horse pulled back for an in- d Janette gave a hasty glance arovnd to see what had startled him. What she saw caused her heart to leap with terror, and, with the strength of despair, she gave a bound, grasped the saddle-horn, and drew herself upward. Away rushed the white steed, she clinging to the saddle-horn, and in vain struggling to get her foot in the stirrup, and thus manage to seat her- self in the saddle, while, just out of range of their arrows, came a dozen painted warriors at full speed, and their yells, to terrify the girl, and cause her to lose her grip, were fearful, an enough to cause dismay in the stoutest heart. Even in her danger Janette took in the situa- tion at a glance, knowing that the Indians be- longed to the same band that she and the Doctor Scout had nearly ridden upon, and had pushed on after her, leaving their comrades to deal with | the outlaws. Following her down the river, they had seen her turn to the left upon reaching the trail, and, ~ cutting across the prairie, had come over a di- vide almost upon her, This it was that had startled the white horse so, and but for Janette’s activity and presence of mind her fate would have been to fall into the hands of the red-skins right there. As the horse ran along with the poor girl > clinging to the saddle, and the Indians rushing after with, wild yells and the clatter of hoofs, it was a sight to appall any heart but a savage’s and Janette almost lost ber hold. weed from between her shut teeth came the words: ‘** 7 will not fall off! I will cling on until the last, and live for revenge!” ; Thus again stimulated, Janette clung on, still struggling to get her foot in the stirrup and thus save herself. At last, just as she felt that she could not re- tain her hold more than a minute longer, the toe of her boot touched the stirrup, and as she drew up and seated herself in the saddle, she could not repress the cry of triumph that welled up from her heart—a cry that was echoed by a shout of rage from the red-skins, who, up to that instant, had felt sure of their game, CHAPTER XV. THE DEATH SHOT. HAMPERED by the weight of the side of him, the noble white horse had not been able to keep up his speed, and the result was that the Indian ponies bad gained on him con- siderably, until, when Janette succeeded in get- ting into the saddle, they were within bow-shot. renge. ; Seeing the possibility now of their victim es-_ caping them, as the white began to drop them once more, they sent a shower of arrows flying after her. “a Nearly all of them flew wild, but one cut through her slouch riding-hat, and another bu- ried itself in the hind leg of the white. With a snort of rage and pain he hounded for-_ ward at an increased speed: but, ere he had gone far, Janette sadly realized the fact that be was really burt, for his leg was bleeding freely, and though he had placed timself barely out of range, by his short spurt of speed aiter being - wounded, he dropped back to a pace that did not gain any on the pursuers. 4 Anxiously Janette looked ahead of her, and her eyes fell upon a roll of the prairie, much bigher than the surrounding land, and upon it was a timber grove several acres in size, A fringe of cottonwood and willows, leading to and from the timber, marked the outline of a stream, and upon the benks she saw with joy a — herd of cattle. They were not buffalo, or elk, but cattle, as she could plainly see, though yet a long way off. They betokened that a ranch was near, and peering into the timber, she beheld the outline of houses, and her heart throbbed with ope. ‘Tt is the ranch that Doctor Powell direct-— ed me to. But can I have ridden so far? Come, old horse, bear up end save me now, for help lies yonder,” and she yatted the struggling © horse kindly. Thus encouraged, he made enother effort, and — for half a mile increased his speed, but glancing back once more Janette saw that the red-skins were steadily gaining. _ They were stretched out in a line helf a mile in length, according to the speed of their horses, and, seeing the ranch also, they were laying their quirts viciously upon their ponies, on after the flying white. Gone JOO cS co —— = — - to urge them, on ty ‘ . : =. - ye a Fd a ie, — % ‘< PP . rr. a's j | ae th See J _ ~ De 7 os ' e e. Fs, me to fe * «et . be +. wd ’ * irl on one - d a 4. ta ap Meee a rs nae e+ 5 | ad 7 ° t\ we re a . . »% . 4 °4ie im > * my f ‘ - - a fot Ne ah te 4 +, ix Be Pg . ve en . é., ° > « = c =* aa > ae be > «i > +S “ne +# && : _ a Ps * att S me x, 9 ay ~ i i S tal ' P . a -~ — ‘ ae ry Ay ~ id ; 7). . hs no. mad | * >