Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 48 — page 22: what you’re looking at

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

Bare # cry burst from the youth’s lips; he thréw up his’ hands, and, ‘ptiigeritig; fell backward into the lake—stricken' down bye savage bullet! CHAPTER XIX | ZOE TO THE RESCUE. . Wp Diox knew nothing of his friend’s mishap. . The surge of the water around him as his lithe form cut its way through _ bhe. element, drowned the report of the savage’s rifle, and, sup- (posing that Frank was close behind him, he pushed rapidly on toward the shore. _ Frank’s friends saw him fall from the canoe, but they were not the only ones, The maid upon the island.also saw: him stricken down, She had seen the paddle snap.in two in’ Dick’s ‘-hands, and at,,once read the peril of their situation. To relieve them was her first thought, To spring into a canoe moored in a little cove in the side of the. island, take up the paddle and send the light craft skimming out into the bay, occupied the) brief _space.of a few moments. .., A few vigorous strokes of the paddle carried her alongside of the ,wounded, struggling youth. With an almost .superhuman effort, in which she was but slightly aided by the youth-himself, she succeeded in dragging him into the canoe, at the imminent peril of upsetting the craft... Then.the brave little heroine pad- dled back to the island, on whose shore she was.met..by three armed men, whose rifles had covered her retreat, _ Two of the men were middle-aged, while the third was, past _ A look of regret, clouded the old man’s face; as he gazed upon the unconscious youth in the canoe. ‘Is he dead, Zoe?” he asked. | ‘No, father; I think he is only wounded,” replied the maiden, in a tremulous voice, her eyes filling with tears... The.two-young men lifted the form of the boyfrom: the canoe, and carried him into a tent upon the island, Placing :-him-upon 8 oot there, they turned and went. out. “‘T'm afraid it’s all up with him; Hubert,” one. of them said to the, old,man, whom, they met at the door, . Hubert Leland went into the tent, and kneeling by the youth, examined his pulse. Then he searched for his wound. ‘Is he dead, father?” eagerly inquired Zoe, who stood in the _ doorway, breathlessly awaiting her father’s decision, “* Deadi—no, child; far from it. His wound is but a mere scratch upon the temple, But he is the worse of his struggle in the water. Another minute and he would have been. dead by drowning... Daughter, bring me. some brandy and a suit of the _ boys’ clothes, and I will soon have him afoot,” With a joyous light beaming upon her face, the bright-eyed Zoe hastened to, obey, the demand, The stimulant. was. soon brought and administered, ;. The:youth.was then turned. upon his face, and by continual pressure, upon the back and: sides; the water was ejected from his lungs, Signs of returning, eonscious- ness were soon manifest. When he had done all he could, Hubert. Leland arranged him in a comfortable position and went out to await that result which only) time could effect, _Hubert.Leland was a man of a naturally grave, yet: pleasant demeanor. Tall and commanding in form, with a calmness in his tone, a strange intelligence in his steel-gray eyes, it was evi- dent that in him great force of character and precision of mind were strongly predominant. . _. His companions, who answered to the names of Silas Jamison and. Theodore Roberts, betrayed by their looks that they were honest, kind-hearted men. “ How .is he, father?” inquired Zoe, when he came out of the tent. “He is being punished for being inquisitive,” the old man re- plied, solemnly. “He will live, then?” asked Roberts. “ Yes,..but, he will doubtless suffer. Were he not a boy, I would, feel , sore toward him. But his youth will excuse him. He is a fine, manly-looking fellow, brave and fearless to a fault, ‘I dare. say, . Perhaps we may be able to enlist him in our ser- : -Yiee, and thereby involve him in our secrets, But our surround- ing situation—how is that?” _ (The, savages have disappeared, and not a sign of life is visi- . ble,on, the. .bay,or along the shore, father,” replied Zoe, ‘But uu, Can pees Gripe: going on out among the hills to the south ward of the bay.” Beadle’ s Dime Library. “ The’ red-skiris have gone ashore and got into’a fight With “this' boy's friends,” said Jamison, “and we may be a trouble now.” “The red heathens know bétter than to venture wna th shot of us,” declared Leland; ‘‘ therefore we might regdme our work, boys. And Zoe; you will n6t fail to' Keep your watch on a@li‘vides, If the youth should recover, he will doubtless be very curious about his'situation. You kiow your duty, daugh “Certainly, father,” respondéd the miiden. Having thtis cautioned his daughter, Hubert Leland and his male friends advaticed to the interibr of the island and entered a large quadrangular tent whodsé covering was of heavy oil- cloth. Zoe scanned the'stirrounding shores, and’ having made certain that no ehemy was'in sight, she turned and on tiptoe stole into the tent! where Frank Caselton lay. This tent was large and strongly constructed. Of the half-dozen that stood around it upon the ‘island, half hidden beneath vines and bushes, it seémed to be the main dwelling, or sitting-room, of the little’ party. It. was furnished and fitted up with’ that peculiar air of neadtnéss and comfort which only the ‘déft fitigérs'of woman can’ ere to the arrangements of a household. In'otie'Gorriér} on‘a’kind'of a'shelf? wére’ a’ ntimbér ot! Woks. A guitar, several pictures and a bouquet of beautiful -f6WwWers déntPibuted théir sweetiiess ‘and ‘nidgical” influetite’ to the’apart- ment. Th alldition td thes,’ a*rdsewood clock ticked’ pee away. de sit down by the'side’of the séernitizly’ esi $bath, and’ gazéd’ upon’ his ‘handsomé' face with'a mingled expression of pity ahd’ adtiiration’ beaming’ inher sdft' eyes. She “kheW' no impropriety in going alone into the tent. She was’ youhg°and ufiséphisticdted in ‘thé ' ways of the world: Her motives, like her heart, weté the ptirést of ‘the”pure! Shé felt at interest ‘in thé yourig stranger which was but the inspiration of a' kind and (génerdus “soulthe offspring ofa heart untrammeled oe — or the weight of human sin. 3 owl Zoe Leland was a beautiful creature, just budding into womanhood. She was lithe in form, yet molded with all the grace of health and beauty nourished by. unalloyed happiness. Her features were of the rarest type of ‘female loveliness, wear- ing an air of queenly grdée and’ médééty, and at the same time partaking much'of “her father’s forte of renner decision of mind,” As before stated; slie ‘was dredded'in’a sky-blue’ ibe; igitded at the waist with a delicate white ribbon. Her golden hair was ‘gathered ‘back! from*her' brow ‘and temples, and*permitted to flow like a silken mass down her back. Ste wore'but-a'single jewel—a diamond ring of great value ahd exceeding brilliancy. Thus appeared Zoe Leland, :the Lady ofthe Isle;as'Iiddho Tom ‘addressed hér+a' rare flower, there blooming» aloiie,’and “wasting ita sweetriess on the desert aif,” as it: wette! _— whytwho'can tell? ( For a moment or two Zoe lingereit’ ‘by ‘the*: bedsides cof ithe “lyoung hunter; then she rose, andgoitig ‘out, seated herself uhder the shade of a manzanita,’ where sie could command'a’ Aates of . the whole bay, and'the surrounding shores.’ , tovO No sooner, however, was‘ her’ face turned” away’ from’ Frank, ‘than:the youth’s eyes opendd and followed ' the rhage with a gaze that seemed eager with admiration, ale ai 4 ot ~s } "0 CHAPTER XX. A RAPID CONVALESCENGE. vs : " Frank Casenton had recovered consciousness before ‘Zoe, vis ited him, but had feigned sleep while she was there—not through any want of honoror true manly spirit, but from that, physical impulse which often compels ene to do things independent of the mind’s volition. ovif vi Frank felt vexed at his own conduct, but excused himeeit ‘on the grounds of an excited mind and unsteady nerve, As soon, however, as Zoe went out, he rose toa sitting posture and gazed around him like one bewildered. He was not a ou elegance of his surrou eleganc an sis ahs ee education and refinement. The tick ot the clock before him sounded so familiar, so homelike, that it re- vived vivid thoughts in his mind and forced a film of moisture to his eyes. Still suffering from the effects of his late Ginga he exper jenced a nauseating sickness at the stomach, hs we apa dizziness of the brain. With some effort he Eomichbooks (E(0) A