Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 455 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

| | | — —_—_- but it would be a good idee fur me to owna dog, an’ make him guardeen o’ the weak sister; then when the egregious thing got skeered he could sink his molars an’ in-scissors inter the heel a few inches. That’s a good idee, by hurley, an’ Pll hev the dog!” | i With this serious, earnest observation, the | mountaineer led the way toward Zelda’s cabin. The night was dark and would well hide their movements in case of danger, but as they were early, they hoped to get along without any hos- tile encounter. Buckingham felt additional interest in the matter because of the fact that he was again to meet Zelda, He had tried to forget her after the vain effort on the mountain to continue the ac- uaintance, but in vain; the memory of her dart, bright face persistently haunted him, and he was now almost glad of the chance which bade fair to bring them together. Yank finally came to a halt. “Til thank you an’ Trail-Lifter ter remain hyar, Blacklock Ben,” he said. ‘* It wouldn’t be *cordin’ ter the rules o’ fashionable serciety fur us all ter goter the cabin in a y, ye know. Jest stay with the Modoc, an’ don’t come nigh ontil I give ye word. This matter must be del’- kitly handled.” CHAPTER XIV. A DANGEROUS PURSUER, THE mountaineer spoke earnestly, and Buck- ingham did not speeks his arrangement. He did. however, think that as be had been the one to discover the plot, he ought to be more prom- inently presented to those they aspired to rescue, Ordinarily he cured as little as any man for show and cheap honors, but Telda was in his mind, and where is the man who would willingly miss a chance to appear as a hero in the eyes of the woman he admires? Yank Yellowbird moved swiftly away, and Ben and Trail-Lifter were left as companions, It was a pause rendered all the more impres- pressive by the fact that there could be no con- versation. Ben looked at the Modoc and wish- ed that it were otherwise; he would gladly have broken the silence, but the Indian could not reply. i rail-Lifter stuod almost like a statue. Per- haps he leaned some weight upon his grounded rifle, but his lithe form was poised as though for a leap; and the rover noticed that the slightest sound was made an object of investiga- tion by his keen eyes. Time moved on; several minutes passed. Buckingham began to wonder at the delay. Yank must know that every moment was a period of importance; the enemy had said that they would strike at midnight, but they might come before that hour. Surely, haste ought to be made, Nevertheless, Yank did notcome. Ben had seen him enter the hut, but after that there was no a What did it mean? The delay grew painful; the rover’s fancy gifted every shadow with life, and saw human forms where none ex- isted. He grew irritable, too; he was tempted to walk to the hut and stir the slow inmates into activity. way were they so reckless as to waste this valuable time? Did they want the contemplated flight to be foiled by the coming of the enemy? P Suddenly th_re was a stir at the door of the hut, and two persons came out. Ben looked to seea third follow, but none came, The two advanced, One was ce Nan tga Yank Yel- lowbird—who was the other? Buckingham recognized Zelda. The mountaineer led the way to where the other men waited and spoke in his usual cheer- ful manner, though his voice was subdued. ‘‘ Hyar we be, as you may diskiver. Dunno but you’ve got impatient, but the little gal had ter stop an’ fix herself up ter look pooty, as feminines will.” Uh gama gave her hand frankly to Bucking- m. eat am pleased to see you again, sir,” she “Thank you. You see we have met again, after all,” he replied, smiling. ‘Yes; and this time you are the rescuer. Mr. Yellowbird has not failed to explain your “Sartain Tye’ explained in I’ve explained it,” Yank eed. “‘T’ve told all the facts, mebbe some ante: so we needn’t wait ter say more. Comeon!” ** But the other young lady?” asked Ben, * What youn ay A **] refer to Miss Templeton, whoever she is.” ‘*Thar ain’t no sech individooal thar, an’ I didn’t think thar was. Didn’t s’ anybody could keep a hotel, an’ hev a rush o’ boarders, in a seven-by-nine shanty, did ye? I consait not. Them atrocious insex was mistaken; an’ I don’t b’lieve the name o° Templeton ’pears on the muster-roll o’ Big Medicine’s poperlation at all. We're all subjeck ter delusions, Blacklock, yer know.” i A es -hn—nnsses 35 5 Yank Yellowbird. ——— He set the example of prompt departure by asking leave to walk beside Zelda, and the party retreated quickly from the village, Buckin has did not yet know their destina- tion, but he gave the matter no outward atten- tion. Pleased at being again in the company of the girl, he gave all his attention to her. hen well beyond the human habitations they halted; the Modoc glided away, was gone a few minutes, and then returned leading four horses; and then they mounted and rode away. Ben found that he, Yank and Trail-Lifter each had his own horse. ‘*Lead the way, Modoc,” directed Yank. ‘We're out o’ the fu’st pinch all right, an’ I reckon we won't hev no egregious adventur’ by the way. Ef we do, we must fight it out. Piuck is a good thing ter hev in the fam’ly. *’Member distinctly when Parson Merrick come ter Hot City, which was a monstrous tough town, The parson brung a big book-case au’ got Peltiah Peters ter help him nail it to the wall. When they’d driv half a dozen nails Pel- tiah spoke out, an’ sez he: ‘ Parson, mebbe we'd better not nail this too tight; I think it my duty ter tell ye parsons don’t last long in our town,’ ‘Mister Peters,’ sez Merrick, as cool as an ice- berg, ‘ drive in another nail; ve come ter stay!’ Aw’ he did stay, ontil his voice got so weak with age that nobody could hear him back o’ the first pew. Pluck is better’n genius, any day, fur it fits inter fair weather an’ triberlations alike,” The little party headed directly for the eastern hills, and rode at considerable s Yank was as full of conversation as ever, but he did not see fit to explain where th»y were going, and Ben asked no questions. The tall mountaineer had taken the lead, and he pro- posed to allow him full command. The rover kept beside Zelda. Nobody disputed his right to ride there, and the girl seemed well satisfied. Yank, after a short time, was content to address his remarks to Trail-Lifter, and the young couple talked on other subjects. Ben was more than ever. inclined to believe Zelda a remarkable girl; he could not forget her Indian blood, and her intelligence and com- mand of language constantly surprised him anew, All the while they drew nearer to the higher part of the hills, and the rover could not but wonder what was the object of the journey. Was Zelda going to abandon her home in the village for one among the mountains? He asked the question of her in an indirect way, but failed to get a conclusive reply. She gave the impression, however, that she was trusting to Yank and did not know where the mountaineer would take her. Finally the Modoc fell back in the rear. “Do you fear pursuit, Nevermiss?’ Ben asked. Yank glanced at Zelda. ‘6 We can’t always tell,” he replied. ‘But trailing is impossible in this dark night.” **T wish I’s sure on’t.” ‘“‘Surely, no man’s gaze can pierce this loom.” ** I've knowed things,” replied Yank, punctu- ating his remarks with his waving forefinger, ‘‘ that seemed sartain when they was egregiously unsartain, that I’ve knowed them which seemed dubious which was facks as fixed as the sagt od orbs, sp’ears an’ plants; though, now [ thin on’t, I b’lieve them ain’t fixed except at nights. Durin’ the day they git leave o’ absence, an’ very likely Mars calls on Venus fura social chat—or ter borrer a fryin’-pan!” Just then they reacbed a stream. ‘‘Hyar’s the Sarpent River,” Yank added. ** Foller me!” He rode into the shallow bed of the stream and moved northeast. Buckingham to take more interest in their journey. The tall veteran was not the man to take all these og for nothing; indeed, it was noticeable that the guide’s gaze was seldom stationary, but, sweeping from int to point, observed every thing that was to see " If fou would confide in me, Yank, and let me know just what danger ren fear, I should probably be of more service in case a crisis ar- rived,” Ben earnestly said, after a short period of meditation. At this moment a peculiar, mournful sound was borne to their ears by the gentle wind. Ben started and looked back; he recognized the bay of a bloodhound, Next he glanced at Yank, but, remembering Zelda, said nothing. The latter, however, had not been inatten- tive. “Ts that what you feared, Nevermiss?” she asked, quietly. “What?” ‘‘T heard a dog. Is he on our track?” ‘* A dog on our track! Land o’ Goshen! why Yank seemed anxious to make his statement | should a dog foller us?” oe gina but the rover could not but think ut the mountaineer was concealing some- He did not know why there should be a | the river. ‘*! think I have heard of Sheriff Bunker’s bloodhound, and it is now clear why you took to Human pursuers are not the only thin m story, but if there was one it did not seem to _ ones we have to fear.” ect him. At that moment the mute Modoc came gallop- \ ’ 4» vt ES bad 4 —-t = i + . Rt fo -_ A — 4 . oo aD Ao - ’ 3 , he 13) ing along in the shallow water. He checked his horse near the mountaineer, pointed to the rear and beat himself upon the breast. ‘““'To be sure,” said Yank, laconically. : f , f : ‘You may as well deal frankly with us all, } Mr. Yellowbird,” said Zelda, in the same quiet | voice. ‘‘ Wal, you’ve guessed it already ; the atrocious |) insex are on our track, an’ they hev the blood- } hound along, but water leaves no trail, an’ no # scent. The egregious dog won’t be wu’th astraw now. Howl away, ye mean varmint; you can’t smell us out no more with that long nose o’ } yourn. I hope ter thunder you'll split yer throat?” This misfortune was called down upon the hound, which was making a good deal of noise. ‘*T judge that he has lost the trail,” observed Ben. ‘* He has, an’ he’s liable to lose his miser’ble f life ef he don’t look out. Once let me gita chance at him with a knife, an’ it’s a long good. |) by ter his yowlin’.” For several minutes the fugitives moved | along in this way, but the roughness of tha river-bed did not permt.rapid progress. They were drawing nearer to the high hills, but no- where near as rapidly as the enemy could go on land, if a determined pursuit was being made. Whether it was no one could say; the bay of the hound had ceased, and there was no way of locating the pursuers. At last Yank paused and turned his quiet face toward his companions, | ** We leave the river caution is a mighty good thing, at times, I don’t mind sayin’ that we'll need it goin’ up that rough ground. push along eda an’ inter them. O’ course we kave the at the foot o’ the hill, but we want ter plant our hyar,” he said, ‘‘an’ as | I consait that the inemy has madea | we ae run right § osses hyar | feet jest whar they won’t make a racket. Come jj on!” They left the stream at a point where the bank was hard and pebbly; the animals were concealed in a recess in the rocks; and then the } ascent of the bluff was begun, Yank led the way; the Modoc wasa rear guard; and Buck-— ov gave aid to Zelda as opportunity al- lowed. The rover remained ignorant of their destina- |) tion, but his faith in the mountaineer was still strong. Whatever of pique he felt at being ex- cluded from the counsel of the case was put § aside for the time in his desire to serve Zelda. Even then he could not help wondering at strength of bis fancy for her. share of experience on Cupid’s field in the past, — like all other men, but each and every case had ended so prosaically that he wonder terest he felt in the girl. And she was only a half-breed! Few words were spoken as they toil He had his > at tbe in- | Yauk was absolutely ae | the rocky acclivity. lent; it was a time of danger, and he was begin-— ning to reveal to Buckingham those qualities of warlike valor and prudence which had made | him famous. eet Suddenly he paused. eS ‘* What is it?’ Ben anxiously asked. et “Hark!” 4 i Ue 7 The single word passing Yank’s lips. The | mute Modoc cast himself quickly, but noiselessly / on the ground; he pla his ear close to the — earth and, for a moment, was like a statue. Then he quickly arose and, as on a former occasion, beat himself on the breast; his blows — now rag be and light. re Yank Yellowbird leaned his rifle against a rock and, taking a few rapid steps owe Oe his knife and dropped upon one knee, FaZe iw directed toward a point still ahead of What imminent danger menaced them? — be CHAPTER XV. er a > - BEN DOES NOT UNDERSTAND. et ZEeLDA’s hand trembled as it rested on Buc - ingham’s arm. Su ; Be calm,” he said, ‘‘no harm shall be done you. | ‘‘But the danger—what is it?” be ‘T hear quick, light footsteps; 1 believeit is the dog. Why he don’t bay I can't say, unless b 9 is! muzzled. Have no fear; I believe Yank Yellow- bird will oe of him alone, and if he does not, Trail-Lifter and I are here.” el There was no time for further words; a dark form shot into view, moving straight toward | e) ‘ a. a oe ‘7 the mountaineer. Yank remained in his f¢ — like a rock, and Blacklock Ben did not dec that his heart was as firm as his form. i The new-comer was the bloodhound, xs With an indistinct cry the animal leaped upon > the kneeling man, but he had met an iron bar- rier; there was a brief struggle, the sound of a blow, and Yank arose as Ss rows! as thoug 1 nothing unusual bad occurred, _ ‘* The wu’st member o’ the gang is observed, ‘Is’ Bob Bunker will m bloodhound, but my flesh was never made te! be chewed up. Not much, itwa’n’t.” **The w sister didn’t seem to desert you then,” replied Ben, hoping to reassnre Zelda by giving the matter a less somber coloring, = ‘comic —e, : ” ‘ a *s ’ , ; P | \- sa 900ks:com wel va - : ‘ ' ae ee . _ ‘ _ ;