Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 414 — page 3: what you’re looking at

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

{ | a “Te } Red Deo ee — but L never turn back once I take a trail, until ¥ know where it leads,” was the calm reply. «And I wold,” died Buck Bradley. ** Your trail will lead you to the gallows some day, Buck; but we won’t quarrel on that score now,” and King Kendall smiled, and again turn- ‘‘These gentlemen can do as they think fit; oes on, too, for I knows it leads to | ing to the Indian, who calmly sat upon his horse | the while, continued: ‘What is it we have to face, chief, on this trail?” ‘* Death,” was the low response. ** What kind of a death?” ‘‘Does it matter what kind to the pale-face, if it comes?” ‘* Yes, for | do not care to die at the end of a rope, as will my vicious-faced pard here, nor do I wish to be killed and scalped by Indians.” ‘‘ Does the pale-face believe in Death Spirits?” ueried the Indian. ‘* Ghosts, you mean?” ** Yes; spirits come back from happy hunting- grounds,” ‘**T confess I do not.” “*They are there at end of the trail,” and Red Renard pointed toward the mountains where was the destination of the miners, ‘* Then there I shall go, chief.” ** Bah! that Indian knows we is on the right ‘trail for gold, and he wants to scare us off,” added: remarked a disgusted miner, while another | ‘‘Pard Kendall, we kinder acknowledge you | cap’n o’ this outfit, and we is willin’ to foller | ence among his comrades, while Buck the Bravo, your lead, if you says goon.” just that often bad Red Renard proven him- self master of the situation. But now, far from the mining-camps, he had deliberately ridden into their midst, and they felt that he was in their power. More, he had warned them not to follow the trail they were then pursuing, and this they believed to imply that they were nearing the lost mine, One of the miners had quietly slipped behind the Indian, and, under a sudden impulse, thrown his lariat, the noose settling over his shoulders, The result the reader knows, and that there was a rush to bind the fallen chief, now that the first step had been taken, and force from him the secret he held. But King Kendall was the first man to get to the Indian’s side, and, quick as a flash he had turned, and while standing across the body of the half-stunned chief, he warned the miners back in the words that open this chapter. It scemed that he held forth his hands only to warn the crowd off; but the keen eyes of those who had seen his shot at Buck Bradley detected now a derringer pistol hastily drawn from a pocket in either cuff of his jacket. } The crowd stopped as suddenly as though the had run against a stone wall, while Buck Brad- rd quickly placed himself behind one of his com- rades, ‘**Ho, Pard Cap'n, does yer intend to go ag’in’ er own blood?” asked Digger Dan, the miner fore referred to as having considerable influ- seeing that he had not now alone toface the **So says I, and the Injun knows we is bound | young miner, cried: to strike it rich, for, pards, if any man in Colo- rado knows whar the dust is hid, that Red Fox do, and no mistake,” said another. ‘Yas, he'd go ag’in’ his brother for a Injun, for he looks it.” King Kendall made no responso to this latter “ Ti tell yer what I knows abouthim,” put in remark, but in answer to the question of Digger _ Dan, said in his cool way: Buck Bradley. All looked toward him to hear him speak— Red Renard also turning his large eyes calmly upon him, ‘*T knows, pards,” began Bradley, ‘‘ that the TInjun are said to know whar the lost gold-mine | he'd o is. For your benefit, Mister Kendall, even if we did bave a few words, Ill tell you that some | | right; “te protecting an Indian froma herd of white cut-throats, is going against my own race, I in- tend to do it.” ‘** Cap’n, that Injun could make us all rich if y open his mouth.” ‘Tf he cares todo so willingly, Digger Dan, all I have nothing to say; but if, as you say, years ago there was a man camé to these parts | he holds the secret of a mine, and will not tell of and prospected alone. Luck went against him at first, but at last he begun to bring in ©’ gold and sell it tothe traders. He said hohad struck it rich, and we all knowed he didn’t lie, for he traded off more dust than all else in the camp had together, and again, and he always covered up the scent, so no one knew where his mine was, but it was suspected to be in them mountains. ‘** One time he didn’t te in an appearance, and soon after he was found dead. He was swinging to a tree, his hands tied behind him, and upona paper bound over his eyes was written: *“*He would not reveal where to find his gold- mine, so he died by the hands of “*THE GoLp Buzzarps.’ ” , ** The Gold Buzzards?” queried King Kendall, “* Yes, Gentlemen of the Road who will some day make your acquaintance, Pard Kendall,” answered Buck Bradley, with a wicked grin, ‘‘ Well, what has all this to do with this In- dian?” asked Kendall. . ‘* Waal, folks that this Injun was the bosom pard o’ the Gold Hermit, as we called the old miner, and he can tell just where to find that secret mine.” ** Suppose he can, he is not compelled to do “* Yes, he knows it, and more—he sees we are going toward it, and that is why he comes after us with his story of the Death Mountain and Spirits,” said one of the y, and one who had considerable influence among his com- 7a. 1 lem on our w d e ent en, we can gO ay an meet Sway dangers we have to face; but I thank the chief for his warning, though we do not heed it.” é ‘‘ Say, pards, if the I=jin knows, and I believes he does, he’s jist got to tell,” cried one, and as he spoke a lariat whizzed through the air in the rear of the Indian, and his pony springing for- ward, he was dragged to the ground with stun- ning force, while, like a pack of yelping coyotes springing pe a wounded stag, the miners rushed upon him. CHAPTER ITIL. AT BAY AGAINST ODDS. ** Back, all of you! for I stand this Indian’s Sriend !” Had any one doubted the ringing words of King Kendall, bis attitude was ce y such as to prove that he meant all be said. Whether he had suspected treachery among his comrades toward Red Renard or not, he certainly had quietly placed himseif ina position to thwart it, if one man could do it. The sudden move against the Indian certainly had not been premeditated, All knew him well, had seen him often in the mining-camps, and believed that he knew where rich gold-veins could be found, | The legend of the lost gold-mine they had con- nected him with, and often had men attempted to force him toa confession regarding it, and ‘ | - —_ — —— = — eee I will kill the first man it, or be bribe< to do so, then I for one will not lenty see him forced into a confession.” ‘**] wish we c’u’d agree with yer, cap’n; but we can’t, and I knows the Injun has been offered a fortin’ to give up his secret, but refuses, and The boys trailed him time | now we kin make him talk, we is going to do it.” ‘We is, fora fact,” said another, while the rest nodded assent to Digger Dan’s words, and Buck the Bravo growled: **’Yes, the Red Renard has got to preach truth about the lost mine, or he’s going on a trail for the nappy hunting-grounds’ ‘Well, gentlemen, I say no, and I wish no trouble with you, but I fear it will come. Iam a stranger to you, but when you know me better, you will find out that I am one to offer my life where I haye given my word, and I say I stand by this Indian.” ‘**Cap’n, you is a game man clean through, to buck By us as you isdoing; but we don’t want no trouble with you, and yet the Injun isour game, and it’s his jd-mine or his sca ig By one of those lightning-like movements for which he was noted, King Kendall slipped his derringers back into his sleeves, and drew his gold-mounted revolvers almost before his com- rades suspected his act, while be coolly said: ‘Gentlemen, you know my decision, so act, don’t talk.” Digger Dan looked at his comrades, and they at bim. They felt a great liking for the and did not wish war with him, disconcerted them, for they were six to one against him. But they had made up their minds that a fortune was in their grasp, and they would not give it up. The Indian still lay where he had fallen, and the young miner stood over him, a foot upou either side of his body; but Red Renard was now no longer stunned, but, half-rising upon his el- bow, while his arms were still pinioned by the lasso, he regarded the scene with a calm dignity that was indicative of his stoical character. If it came toa struggle, Red Renard was the man to rise to action; but until that moment he remained a passive looker-on. ** Pard, we'll give you the larger share, won't we” and Digger Dan turned to his comrades. young miner sponse, . ‘* Before I get gold by stea that of a poor Indian, I'd starve,” Wes: the sneeing’ awe,” ** Well, what terms do you want?” oll ‘*T have no terms to offer, and none to accept. or men, whoattempts to harm this Indian, and if I die, I'l not be alone, SO act quick, for our dinner will burn to a crisp. : Again the men looked at each other, and it was a look of amazement, at a man so placed, as was King Kendall, thinking of something to eat, and rather u g the matter to a struggle. “I says kill em both,” cried Buck the Bravo, ing around the head of a comrade. Pp ith his ‘ast word the revolver of King Ken- We will, fora fact,” was the general re Renard, the Indian Detective. a ee ae dall rung out one sharp, solitary shot, and a cry of pain followed it, while there came the calmly- uttered words: ‘*Pard Buck, I have shortened that long nose of yours, so that lll know you by my mark.” ith the shot, the Indian had suddenly glided from between the feet of King Kendall and rose to his full stature by his side, his revolvers also grasped in his hands. . If King Kendall had expected to precipitate affairs by chipping off the end of the Bravo's nose, the shot had just the contrary effect, as far as bringing ona combat, for the miners were cowed by his daring, and, at his words, several of them laughed, while the acquisition to theside of Kendall of a man known to be as dangerous an antagonist as was the Red Renard, equalized matters in a way that brought them to terms, ‘** Well, pards, the cap’n means lt usiness, for he sp’ilt Buck’s nose and no mistake: but it’s got to come to a back-down, one side or t/other, and which are it to be [ leaves to you, forif the music opens, there is to be a graveyard started right here in this valley, and we is to furnish ther corpses.. Are it a go on with ther cap’n and hunt fer gold, or fight it out fer ther Injun and tor- ture the secret out of him?” Digger Dan glanced around at his comrades, — as he asked the question, and he saw that they were not anxious to press matters, excepting Buck the Bravo, who said savagely: **T says don’t be bullied out o’ our rights.” **T will fight you for the Indian, Pard Buck, so take your stand with any weapons you wish; so it is back-down or fight; which shall it be?” and King Kendall stepped toward the Bravo, who said savagely, while he still nursed his wounded nose: ‘*T hain’t in no condition te fight, as you sees.” ** Well, then, get out of this camp, for no cow-. pard,” con- | ard shall follow the trail I do as m temptuously said King Kendall, and he advanced upon the Bravo with a threatening air, CHAPTER IV. A WOMAN TO THE RESCUE. ‘“* HANDS up, sir!” sternly said King Kendall, as he mov uickly toward the bully, who seemed thoroughly cowed in the presence of the man who had proven himself his master. The others look on amazed, glad to see the turn affairs had taken, for outside of the know- ledge that it would be a fight to the death, they cared not to have trouble with Kendall, wacom, as I have said, they greatly liked, and now ad- mired more than ever. Up went the Bravo’s hands, and stepping up to him, King Kendall quickly disarmed him, and then said: Buck Bradley, you are nothing but a cowardly brute, and I tell you frankly, you shall no longer stay with this outfit, and have got to leave it, if you refuse to fight me. If you do the latter, then the best man can remain. Which will you do? Pe “Pll go,” was the low answer, and a laugh of derision broke from. the lips of his former com- rades, while one cried: “What, Buck, has your feathers all tarned white, soon as yer meets a man as is yer bos ?” Buck Bradley made nor walked toward his horse, the young miner fol- owe bim, while the others stood looking after em. ihe horse was quickly saddled and Kendall said: ‘** Mount, sir!” In silence the bully obeyed. “Here are your arms, Bradley, and now go your way; but remember, if you so wish it, it shall be war to the knife between us from this ay. ' ‘‘It shall, King Kendall, and I make no idle threat,” was the hoarse reply. “So be it. bully his weapons. . A flash of intent to kill suddenly came in the eyes of Buck Bradley, as he grasped the belt of arms; but Kendall saw it, and in an in- stant his derringer was in his hand, while he said, coolly: “ Don't do it!” . A curse came from the set lips of the man at his failure, and he seized his reins and rode away in silence, followed b Kendall watched him until range, and then turned w see that the Indian was gone. ‘* Ha! where is the chief?” he cried, a jeering laugh. All turned quickly, and yet no eye fell upon | the Red Renard. He had noiselessly slipped away while the others were gazin the scene between King Kendall and the Bravo. oe ' His horse had trotted over toa thicket near by after his master’s fall, and stopped there to feed; but he too was gone. ihe * Let him go, gentlemen, while we dis@nuss our long postponed dinner, and accept my word fer it that I am glad we are again friends,” sai | King Kendall, in his cheery way, 4md Digger Dan at once extended his hand, while ancther cbooks*com remarked: <€om ly, but turned and y Now be off!” and he handed the eI he was out Of rifle 4 . ¢ . es