Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 48 — page 27: what you’re looking at

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

[a7n dlateninet clnttina ltl “ on . —S = — > owners Tdaho- Goie! bso The youth slung his rifle to his back, and drew his revolver, as it would be a readier means of defense under the circum- stances. He kept a close watch on both sides for the red-skin; and it’ was not long until he saw the muzzle of his wily foe's’ rifle coming slowly around the rock so far in advance of the: savage that that worthy was not to be seen when half the length of his rifle was in view. With a smile of mischief upon his boyish face, Billy began to back out, keeping just in sight of the advancing muzzle. ‘The dumbed fool, and I reckon he’ll fire as soon as his roifle teches sumthin’ soft,” mused the retreating youth. Slyly and cautiously, his black eyes glowing like living coals of fire, the savage crept on and on, never dreaming that the projecting’ muzzle of his gun warned the youth of his ap- proach. Billy’s greatest fear was that other savages might be near, and, seeing how matters stood, come to their friend’s assistance; out, even in such an extremity, he had his course decided ‘upon, and, with that same broad, comical smile upon his face, con- tinued his retreat, while the unsuspecting foe continued to ad- vance. In this manner the ludicrous exhibition of savage craftiness and patiencé,'and the spirit of youthful daring and mischief, were kept up until the circuit of the stone had been made more than a’ dozen times. But by this time the maneuvering began to assume a sameness to Billy that stripped the whole proceed- ing of its fun and adventure, and so he cudgeled his brain for somé other plan of operation. It was clear to the youth’s mind that one or the other must die, The savage was a powerful fellow, of nearly twice his weight, and in a hand-to-hand encounter he would stand no chance with the red-skin. His only hope lay in getting a suc- cessful shot #t the warrior, and with this object in view, he eoncluded to open a conversation with the red-skin. “See here, rhad-skin,” he called out, ‘‘ whar the divil are yees, anyhow? I can’t find yees to save me gizzard, Shtop, thief, I want to speak to you.” ‘Waugh! pale-face lie!” was the rejoinder, and Billy saw the muzzle start a little faster in pursuit of him. ‘‘Hurra, me b’y, and it’s a foul-mouthed dog yees are!” re- plied the youth. At this juncture the latter saw the muzzle of the rifle disap- pear; but soon discovered it coming around the other way of the rock. Billy reversed his way of retreat accordingly, and hur-, ried on until he had put the rock between them—that is, its full width, Then, with the agility and silence of a cat, he sprung. upon the top of the rock, and stepping back, crouched down 80) that only the: single feather in the warrior’s head-gear was vis- ible. This emblem of savage pride’ told the youth: exactly, where the warrior was, and as he still crept on as’ if deter- mined to bound the lad to death by dogged perseverance, Billy shifted ‘his position on the rock so as to maintain the same’ a tance between them. The savage was creeping along upon his knees, his body = forwarl, and his cocked rifie’clutched in both hands. Billy enjoyed the whole affair immensely; but his position would be an imminently dangerous one should other savages happen to see him, and he soon comprehénded the necessity on putting an end to the matter one way or another. ‘To rush across the rock and shoot the savage before he could dave time to rise, was the surest, and really seemed the only sata course to pursue; but instead of doing this, the young Irish’ dere-devil leaped across the rock and dropped himself plump getride of the red-skin’s back! —_——— —_ —_____— CHAPTER XXIV, BILLY TAKES TALL PINE CAPTIVE, A Yeu burst from the warrior’s lips. Had a wild-cat landed pon his back he would not have betrayed more terrible sur- prise. He tried to shake his adversary off; but Billy, with the strong grip of death itself, locked his legs around the red-skin’s waist in such a manner as prevented him from drawing ‘his knife; while, with the power of & constrictor, the arms.of the youth were clasped over the red- ie. throat until life was nears ly choked out of his body. The warrior threw himself upon : the ae agi ibdvesenit to roll his foe from his back; he tried to rub and crush ‘him off against the sharp edges of the rock. Like the Old Man of the . Sea he clung there as though he had grown ang back. 14.534 The latter finally straightened himself up, drew a ‘strong’ breath, and then started off across the valley, determined to carry the lad off to whero his friends were; but Billy seeing hid’ object closed tighter on the red-skin’s throat and choked him until his face grew black and he fell to his knees; * “ Now thin,” exclaimed Billy, easing up on his jugular, at the’ same time pressing the muzzle of a pistol against his temple by simply bending his hand without removing his arm ‘from the’ warrior’s throat, “if you attimpt that ag’in, by my sow! Ill let rip this little pup of war. Turn yer face to yer back and mosey stright off, for yees hev got to go back to the b’ys wid me. —— Again the Indian attempted to draw his knife from his girdle, but to his surprise found the weapon was gone. This discove seemed to make him all the more desperate, and he made an’ other frantic effort to dislodge his young enemy from his back} but every hostile demoustration that he made was promptly checked by Billy, who would tighten his grip upon the throat. The sight was one 80 ludicrous that it would have provoked Diogenes himself into a fit of laughter. Nor was the ridiculous performance without spectators. Billy’s own friends had shifted their position to a point wheré they could command a view of the whole scene, and even the sober gravity of Bold Heart ‘was forced into an outburst of laughter. Wild ‘Dick betanie almost frantic in his emotions, atid leaning’back against a rock latighed till the perspiration rolled down his face: Billy’s friends, however, were not the only witnesses’ ‘to the tragic comedy. The Indian’s friends had also gained a Position where they could command a view of the valley; but hone of them dared ‘to advance té théir friend’s assistance. They knew that several unerring rifles would be brought to bear upon’ them, To attempt to dislodge Billy bya shot under the circumstances would be to endanger the life of their comrade, whén in fact they could not fully more which was really master of bes situation. “ Will yees moind me, now, ye dumbed owl spalpeen?” ex” claimed Billy, after having administered a severe choking to the savage. liao The latter’s only reply was a frantic effort to get his teeth on Billy’s arm: but in this he alsd failed, and another pressuré of’ the jugular rendered him more manageable, and convinced him that every attempt to dislodge the young leech at his back would be attended with a severe punishment. He fully com- prehended the disadvantage under which he was placed. The’ cold muzzle of the revolver, pressed against his temple, acted like a powerful electric battery upon his nerves, He dodged’ and quivered as though he were going into convulsions, and at length, in obedience to his’ “rider's” command, ented his face southward. But he refused to budge a step. | ois av" “Now don’t ‘be shtubborn like a niule, rhed-skin,” estpbbe lated Billy; “jist advance now like a rigimint av soljers orb’ the mother av Moses I’ll let her rip,” and he emphasized his words by pressing the revolver ‘closer’ against the: warriors temple. ito TMhOY The latter gave his great body # kind of a convulsive ‘jerk, then, with an effort that seemed to tear his‘ heart-strings, he moved slowly away across the valléy in the meet i: - nye friends. ' ' The savages that were concealed over sci the sbi and shrubbery saw how matters stood and started from their coverta. to aid their unfortunate comrade. But the report of three rifles ahd the fall of ofie of their number ‘forced a tay ist wetvaat back to shelter. Pash ovis “This repulse séemed to have driven the last eke ‘hope frorz the red-skin’s breast; and, as if anxious to be rid of his humiliating burden, he movedon with a quicker step, = — Up the acclivity, amid the rocks and towering ‘pines, toiled the downcast warrior, while his friends _—- on with baa od ful, burning eyes. ai - “Shtep moighty keerful now, Hiwed-akin? worhontdine Billy, as his captive picked his way up the weary hights; “a single mi’shtep moight kill yees. Musha! but yees are'a shtout ole booger, rhed-skin—could carry a dozen’ of the loikes of little Billiam Brady of away-off owld Ireland.” aod wer” ‘The Indian was as sullen and‘ morose as’a murderer, never deigning to answer a word addressed to him’ more than to obey the injunctions of his captor)’ His great form shook'and trem- bled at times as though a volcano of vengeful ‘wrath and power was struggling for an outlet. Once he turned and glanced down over a fearful precipice, Billy felt his form sway like a pine in the wind and his breast swell like a billow tossed by an angry storm. ! The youth knew at once that the red-skin had self-destructiog Sh Gboo —ss _ eof