Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 492 — page 25: what you’re looking at

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mo EPR Tha Y MPs (FT onan fictions before he got out of the difficulty, and these explanations would be as ready as the first. “We will now go back to camp,” continued Nolaw. ‘*My men andI have been out on a scout, but you have saved us further trouble, friend Porcupine. Possibly, too, we may meet Yank Yellowbird by the way and capture him. Of course, Peter—you bear a Scriptural name, don’t you? I never noticed it before, but I must say it fits well. Of course you will accompany us, Your hearty interest makes you seem like one of us.” ‘“*Thankee kindly, lieutenant; I will go along. All my interests are the same as yourn, an’ ef ye don’t object, Pll j'ine yer party permanent.” -“Object! Heart of oak, I shall be delighted to have such a follower, And now, Mrs. Prior, pray turn your horse and ride by my side. We will breakfast at camp,” Not a word spoke Agnes. She felt dazed by the vicissitudes of her wretched life, and, not being able to detect the covert meaning of No- law’s speeches, she actually believed that they were all sincere, and that he was imposed upon fully by Old Porcupine. She submitted to her fate in silence, and as Nolaw did not care to con- verse with herin the presence of all his men, they rode north without other than casual re- marks. Nolaw’s utter disbelief in Old Porcupine’s story was shown by the fact that he did not make any attempt to find Yank, but he wasonly reserving bis investigation. Lefferts had a true story, and Nolaw wanted it—a remark which would also apply to Agnes Prior, hey reached the camp without further im- portant incident. The deserters were doing something to erect shelter, and their tools, few as they were, camein good play. The lieuten- ant ordered his men to resume work as soon as breakfast was eaten, and then, having satisfied his own hunger, proceeded to cross-examine Lefferts. Telling him plainly that he did not believe the story, he tried to extract the truth. Nevor had be made a more Jamentable failure; Lefferts held stubbornly to the statement he had made, and the slight clew he might have given was lost to the allies. Nolaw next tried Agnes, but she, being in a desperate mood, refused to say anything at all; she would not even confirm or deny Old Porcu- pine’s version. And there the matter rested. During the day work progressed briskly upon the huts the Ceserters were erecting, Storm- Cloud and his men were searching for Never- miss and the others, but no favorable report was made, None of the deserters joined this search during thisday. They were practically useless in the scientific work which was being done, and the Sioux did not care to have them around; so every blue-coat worked with zeal and effect. Two huts were being put up. One was for Nolaw, and was divided into tworooms, The second was in one large room, and was to be occupied by the rest of the deserters. These ap- proached completion as the sun neared the Western horizon, There were two men who watched the work and neither took part in it nor made themselves visible. Somewhat back from the camp, and concealed by abundant bushes and rocks, Yank Yellowbird and Richard Prior lay waiting with what patience they could call to their aid. They had traced Agnes and her captors, and now knew just what they had todo. The next ques- tion was, how was it to be done? They were waiting for night, to see if the work be accom- lished. ‘ Agnes was all the while visible, but she had been bound, and was uot allowed to leave the camp. Yank frequently expressed pity for her, -but Richard said nothing. hat his thoughts were as he saw his wife of happier days sur- rounded by the lawless deserters cannot be known, but he was as ready as Yank to risk his life for her, taking care to add, somewhat em- hatically, that any woman in similar danger Sousne of honest men every effort to save er, ‘* An’ [ consait we'll do it, too,” added Yank, after one of these conversations. ‘ Life is only a peme 0 checkers on an egregious big board, an’ ef a man is a decent player he won’t lose all his pieces without doin’ some jumpin’, hisself, The ‘Yellowbirds was always famous fur gittin’ out © atrocious triberlations, an’ ve had my share o’ good luck sence I got ter be 0’ full growth. I had a mortal hard time on’t previous ter that, an’ experienced some gallin’ defeats at the hands o’ my masculine parent.” ‘*No doubt he thought it was for your good,” replied Prior, willing to humor the moun- taineer’s mood. ‘““T dare say—I dare say; but ef he’d b’en at tother end o’ the stick, he wouldn't seen no great good init. That egregious stick bit like a sarpent an’ stung most as bad as the newrolgy. The old gentleman b’lieved in moral depravity, an’ the savin’ grace o’ the rod, my father did. *Yank,’ he would say, shakin’ his head mourn- ful, ‘the kerrick principles must be a rulin’ featur’ o’ the Yellowbirds, an’ the only way ter distill it inter them is ter use the rod. I hate ter “do it, but the principles must be distilled,’ Sc COs SW Bond ar Border Bullet, the a eS =O a ae 4 — _ “4. eat ca “ sek > > 4 mg vas Fg > pe , a? 4 KE I wish I hadn’t been born fur a distillery,’ sez I, *** Remember the fam’ly pedigreen,’ sez he. *** They must ’a’ b’en a bard set, ef all on ’em was licked as much as me afore they got red o’ sin,’ sez I, *** Don’t scoff,’ sez he, ‘but bear the thrashin’ as walas youcan. it has ter be did. Besides, boy,’ sez he, in a sad, musin’ way, ‘it hurts me more nor it does you,’ ‘**«S’pose we swap places, an’ let me use the stick,’ sez I. *** Onpossible,’ sez he, kinder flustered, ‘ but you must hey patience, an’ ,you kin git squar’ by lickin’ your boys bime-by. The korreck prin- ciples must be distilled inter the Yellowbirds,’ sez he; an’ then he used up twe more sticks on e. ‘‘In this way did my parental father tutor me, an’ ef he didn’t drive out all the sin from me ’tw’an’t his fault. He stirred it up like hur- ley, an’ it’s possible he stunted its growth.” Yank’s good -humor seemed never to flag, but he did not let anything escape his notice. His gaze was never withdrawn from the:camp long at a time, and he was attentively studying every chance, but this did not interfere with his whim- sical stories. He had never been more given to alleged recollections, and bis cheerful conceits oe much to make the hours more endurable to rior. When darkness fell the deserters ceased work with a feeling of satisfaction. Both their huts were up, and that to be used by Nolaw was all done except some minor things which were not of pressing importance. Agnes was removed to one of the two rooms in this building, and, though the place had no door except that which led to the larger room, a guard was posted at the entrance. He was pacing back and forth near the door when the darkness shut him out from view of the men in the bushes. The next two hours were uneventful. The deserters had supper, and then they retired to their quarters. The night was extremely dark, and no light fell upon the scene except the nar- row belt which, shining through the door of the larger building, fell upon the ground, Nolaw bad retired to his room and hung a blanket over the door, These details were carefully noted by Yank, for they had important beariag on his plans. He was determined to rescue Agnes during the night if such a thing was possible. Of course he would have to wait until the camp be- came quiet, so as to avoid chance encounters. After awhile all the soldiers except the guard would sie be asleep. Nolaw had taken one man into his hut, but it was likely he had gone as a companion during the evening, There was little fear of having many in the way when the hour of action came. Yank waited patiently. All signs of life fin- ally ceased in the village except the pacing of the single guard, and he was barely revealed by the light from the larger building. The second man had not been seen to leave Nolaw, but Yank determined t> wait no longer, He shook hands with Prior and made his way toward the paige When near Nolaw’s hut he resorted to his old, Indian-like tactics. Dropping on his hands and knees, he crept cautiously through the short ae until he reached the rear of the hut. Then e tried to investigate. He knew there was still a light in the lieutenant’s room, and he had hoped to get a view of the interior, but in this he was pres aeoeiee There had been no open- ing left at the rear for a window, and the work on the building had been so well done that he could only gain the view by cutting a hole through the wall—something he did not think prudent until he knew that ares was asleep. Agnes’s room was equally closed from no- ice. Yank crouched down by the wall of the hut to think. Should he wait awhile longer, or make some move at once,” ‘*He was still considering this point when footstepts sounded near at hand, and a man came around the corner of the building. Yank grasped his rifle more closely and eyed him sharply. The darkness was intense, but even then he could tell that it was one of the soldiers, and it flashed upon him that the guard who should have been on the front side of the but was doing a little wandering on his own respon- sibility. The man halted; his hand was thrust inside his pocket; and then his head was tipped back anda mellow gurgle followed. He was taking a drink of some beloved beverage. This done he moved forward, his course taking him direct- ly toward the crouching mountaineer. The lat- ea hoped to escape notice, but it was not so to e. The soldier suddenly halted and stood staring at the figure by the wall. ‘** Hallo! what’s this?” he demanded. There was a panther-like spring; strong hands grasped the deserter; and in a moment more he was lying upon bis back with his adversary sit- ting astride him. . ; ““Tt’s me!” coolly answered Nevermiss, ‘‘ an’ ef you sing out. Pl he condemn’d ef I don’t thrash you lice hurley! Nota word, now, fur I j Lf . ‘s 7) ' . «& - a 8 hy Ph. oe né , igre ay ay ¢ ie ; baits hye bit in a a eel alae aaa ae le i a Sains, 253 - (SST Se SAS ee : pe » Fes bg owt | He- a) 2 Prairie Sharpshoote - Try La » ug am what might be called a desp’rit man. I hev a reputation that would make ye turn pale as a ghost ef I told it, but I ain’t hyar ter swap pedigreens. [’m hyar fur business, an’ you're my pris’ner!” CHAPTER XXXI. a YANK BECOMES A SOLDIER. ’ “y THE deserter did not cry out; he could not | have done so if his life depended upon it; the strong hands which encircled his neck hada | language of their own even more effective than the words, The mountaineer relaxed his hold some- what. art ‘*B’ar in mind what I said,” he continued. ‘No hollerin’, now, o’ whatsomdever natur’, | I'd hate ter kill ye, but it’s a melcholyfackthat | I’m the most bloodthirsty desperado this side | the Mississip’, when I giton atear. [mafraid | o’ myself at sech a time—I be, by hurley! Dont | ye holler!” ,, It would have been amusing under some cir- —_ | cumstances to hear genial Yank give himself | such a bad character, but he wanted to frighten _ the ex-soldier into silence. He must be silenced somehow, And it was done when Yank laid the flat side of a knife against his cheek, ** Don’t kill me!” he gasped. * Do ye give up?” ‘* Yes, yes!” * An’ won’t holler?” . ‘“*T will not.” i “That's all right, mister, an’ I’m glad on’ =| [ usually kill fifteen or seventeen men a day,but _ [ll let it lay over fur once. I’m goin’ tertie — ye up, though; I’ve brought strings, an’ Pll do | it. Lay still, now.” ¥ The cords with which the mountaineer had. — provided himself, in view of such anemergency, now came in good use. He applied them with — celerity, skill and effectiveness, and whenagag was added, the deserter was helpless, Yank — meditated for a moment, and then carried him | to the outskirts of the campandtiedbim toa | sapling. His next step was to gainaviewof | Nolaw’s room, something that was easy now | that the guard was removed, git | | | | | at |. : / Nolaw and one of his followers were there, — smoking and playing cards, ae The mountaineer frowned. He could do noth- — ing while the second man was present, for he | could hardly hope to dispose of both without — creating an alarm. He must wait for the man _ to go—but what then? The absence of the © guard would be discovered, and an alarm would — at once follow. a Yank stroked his thin beard thoughtfully | for a moment, and then nodded emphatically, = {| ‘1t’s got ter be done—no other way. ey must be a guard hyar, an’ as the ginervine ar- — ticle is otherwise engaged, it must be me. Pvo _ got ter put on his blue garments, sure as burley, _ an’ pose as a United States sojer, I hate ter — take the place o’ an egregious deserter—but what’s the odds? No historian ain’t hyar ter l, c 1 write it down in the Yellowbird pedigreen, a even ef he was, all the Yellowbirds hey b'’lieved in justifiable hypocrisy. Some ov ’em hev b’en — atrocious tricky in a good cause, an’ I consait I~ hev the same priv’lege.” | aN He hastened back to where he had left the © captive deserter, and soon relieved him of his — outer garments. The man was of larger frame ~ than Yank, or, more correctly, he carried more | flesh, and tke clothes went on over the moun. — taineer’s with some pulling. o> : ta metamorphosis made, he returned to the ““S’pose I’ve got ter march back an’ forth like a crowbar witbout a j’int in its back, sojer — fashion; though I bate her like burley. man never was made ter walk like he hadn’t no jints; ‘tain’t nat’ral, an’ it don’t look pact Sue Tm bound ter keep up ’pearances. Ef the atrocious cpa te | don’t snap my muskles all out c plumb, Ill walk as stiff as ye please!” eo Bearing bis musket with a fair imitation o the guard, he began to pace back and forth, __ “Wish my gran’father, the Revolutionary relix, was hyar now, ter give me some p’ints an’ tarms on_ military tick-tacks, Lemme see What’ll Nolaw say when he comes out? He’l say: ‘Smith? Then I'll say: ‘Ay, ay, sir? An’ he’ll say: aE: by hurley!’ 7 ’ a a 7 i ‘Isall wal? An’ Vl ag “Yes, Stcp!—that won’t do. The Yel- lowbirds hev pecooliarities, an’? I must drop ’em while ’'m a sojer. No ‘lusions ter my fam’ly _ pedigreen, nor no talk ter give me away. Jes’ so—l’ll talk like a Harvard professor 0’ botany an’ other weeds.” Blader cs Moditating thus, the veteran walked his beat for ten minutes with new experience. He could hear Nolaw and his man laughing and talking” inside, and he wished in vain that the man would go. Ame He was considering the advisability of leaving the camp to summon: Prior to his aid—a risky step, since Nolaw might come out at any mo- ment—when he saw some one else approaching, — The man advanced boldly until quite near. * An Injun, sure’s I live!” Yank muttered. ** Now fur a test case, I'll challenge him, mil’ tary style an’ tarms,” ee ee e raised his voice and added: a (E(@) ; yet miGbDoOoks.com. Sis eee a =