Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 492 — page 27: what you’re looking at

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

—— 5 games ay ‘oo Tyr? Saw a 7) PA " *“eeone.- ‘@ e fr rpshooter. -—~- Border Bullet, the Prairie Sh ~ . owe ube! 27 count. You act wise, an’ no harm shall come ter you. Agnes, Ill trouble ye ter toss them cards this way.” Mrs. Prior’s mind had taken a turn for the better, and she promptly obeyed, Yank bound the renegade without delay, an operation to which the latter submitted very quietly. He was deeply chagrined, but knew better than to dare Yank’: wrath. The mountaineer arose, “Thar! I consait our job is cone, an’ that we'd better be goin’. I s’pose we might stay an’ tie up the rest o’ the village, but we’ve gota lively sprinklin’ on ’em a’ready, an’ [ reckon it 11 do. Pale-face Injuns, farewell! I hope you you an’me may never meet in hostyle combat, fur l’ve injoyed your society, an’ I took a heap 0’ pleasure in your leetle joke. I did, by hurley! Agnes, we'll go!” They passed outside the hut, and the blanket was dropped behind them. It occurred to Yank that Nolaw and his follower were left in aplace by far too public, so he conveyed them to the rear of the building and stowed them away close to the wall. ‘““Are we ready to go?” asked Agnes, anx- iously. ‘* We will be d’reckly. Afore we go I must it my rifle, which is over by the cliff, an’ while ’m thar Dll cast off this blue raiment. Don’t think I was ever intended fur a mil’tary man; the tick-tacks don’t come nat’ral ter me; an’ thar is too much newrolgy in my j’ints; an’ my left foot is sech a weak sister it would git skeer- ed when the order come to ‘advance,’ an’ run like hurley. I consait I kin best uphold the Yellowbird pedigreen by stickin’ ter private life.” The mountaineer waved his hand and hurried away. He was gone only a few moments, and when he returned he had his own rifle again, and had cast off the odious uniform. ‘‘Did I tell ye,” he continued, “that one o’ your other frien’s is waitin’ outside the camp?” ‘* No,” Agnes replied. 0-18," ‘* Who is it?’ she asked, with manifest interest. ** Richard Prior.” 4é Ah Ka She drew a quick, involuntary breath which spoke a language of its own as plain to Yank as words, ‘‘ The lad has taken a good ’eal of interest in the matter,” he added, ‘tan’ b’en right willin’ ter resk his life ter rescue you.” The veteran was too wise to say more, and there the matter rested. Agnes had nothing to say; her mind had been given new food for thought, and she was confused. More than that, she felt hope whick she had tried in vain to erush back as unfounded. Richard had done his best for her when in the cave, and was still ready to help her—but would he not have done the same for any imperiled woman? She tried to crush down what might be vain hopes, Half an hour after Yank and Agnes left the place there were new signs of life in the desert- ers’camp. A human figure moved slowly and cautiously through the dark surroundings, its mode of locomotion being upon hands and knees. Slowly it crept on, making frequent pauses, its aze hate ed intently upon Lieutenant No- law’s hut. Many minutes were consumed in the advance, for the prowler did not expect to find the way so clear, and the fact that he saw no one made him suspicious of a trap. He reached the door at last, however, and, brushing the blanket a little aside, peered cau- tiously ahead. : The prowler was Old Porcupine. He had expected to see Nolaw, but what he did see surprised and puzzled him. The only visible person was one who seemed to be a Sioux Indian, and he lay upon his back, bound hand and foot, but rubbing his hands back and forth on the floor, which was made of small timbers with one side hewn to a degree of flatness, in an evident attempt to chafe his bonds apart. Old Porcupine rubbed his eyes and stared blankly. What did it mean? The scene was very different from what he had expected. For several seconds he considered the matter, but as he marked the various signs of a struggle, he determined to enter the hut at once, and boldly. He had a troublesome theory as to the state of affairs. This decision arrived at, he entered promptly. He was at once seen by the white Sioux, who suspended operations, but Lefferts cared nothing for him then. He sought the door to the inner room. One glance was enough to show that it was vacant, Dark with passion grew his face, and he turned fiercely to the Sioux. ‘¢ What does this hyar mean?” he demanded. something. and then Lef- e tore out the The man mumbl ferts saw that he was gagged. obstacle unceremoniously. “* Now, speak!” ke ordered. ‘‘- Yank Yellowbird has been here!” the rene- de promptly replied. BN paras o’ perdition! will I never hear the last o’ that long-legged meddler? Always Yank Yellowbird! The scoundrel is the curse of my life. But what has happened?” ‘Liberate me, and I will tell.” Lefferts promptly cut his bonds, ‘** The long and short of it is,” the white Sioux explained, ‘* Yellowbird has been here and won the game. He overpowered Nolaw and tied him up; then he served me the same way; and then he took the Prior woman and cleared out,” ‘* Too late!” groaned Old Porcupine. ‘“You do seem to be left; but such is life, Try to bear it philosophically. JI do, when J lose a game.” ‘*Seems ter me you’re a queer Injun.” ‘* Just now Iam; but I] shall be a queerer one to-morrow. Iam about to cut stick and run— desert. Will you go along, my hearty?” ‘*Not [! I hev work ter do hyar.” “Still bound to win Agnes, eh? All right, my boy; youcan doas you please; but this is my last actin Siouxdom. Iam going to skip. I owe you thanks for freeing me, so [ll wish you good luck in your attempt. Honest Peter, let me shake your hand!” CHAPTER XXXITI. THE WORD OF ALARM, No trouble was experienced by Yank, Prior and Agnes in reaching the cave, The moun- taineer used his usual precautions, and, though he saw a few Sioux by the way, he avoided all dangers with characteristic skill. Once during the previous day he had visited the cave, so, though it had been over twenty hours since he first set out, it had been less since he seen Bor- der Bullet and the rest, Passing behind the waterfall, the trio entered the passage. Not far had they gone whena warning growl sounded in Moses’s well-known tones, and Yank gave the customary signal. It was promptly answered, and Border Bullet came hurrying to meet them. It was a joyful reunion, and the Sharpshooter shook each of the new-comers gg be by the hand, while Moses, after a little deliberation decided to relax a little of his dignity, and claimed attention from his master with con- siderable exuberance. Inez and Abigail had been awakened, and the former came quickly forward to greet Agnes. Miss Longstreeter, however, only condescended to sit up on her blanket, and she looked at them through her spectacles with relentless intensity. It was her own opinion that some of the party had been ‘‘drinkin’,” and she only awaited a favorable opportunity to express her views, ‘“‘Hyar we be once more,” quoth Nevermiss, as he set his rifleup against the wall, ‘tan’ I would be quite contented ef only Guv’nor was with us, Dunno what has become o’ that little varmint, by hurley. Hope he ain’t got inter no triberlations. It’s bad he ain’t hyar, fur I al- low we would makea bold push fur civilized parts ef our party was all tergether; but we can’t desert Guv’nor—that’s settled.” “It isa great pity he is missing,” answered Prior. ** T consait so,” ‘What do Bee intend to do, Nevermiss?” asked Border Bullet. “The only way is ter look fur him as I’ve done for t’others.” ‘* And stay here?” ‘**T s’pose so.” ‘*T have reason to believe this is no longer a place of safety.” ** How so?” ‘* Miss Longstreeter is quite sure that she saw an Indian eering over into the place where our horses are kept, just before dark.” ‘* Hullo!—that so?” 8 Unfortunately, it is,” ‘* How was it?” ‘*She wandered into the north passage, and went on until she reached the valley. ccor - ing to our custom I had turned our horses out shortly before, and they were then there, She was looking up when she saw the head and shoulders of an Indian, They were quickly withdrawn, but not soon enough for secrecy.” ‘**Be you sure your eyes didn’t deceive ye, Miss Longstepper?”’ asked Yank, gravely. ‘* Sir,” retorted the maiden lady, indignantly, ** [ will bave no aspersions cast onter my eyes. T guess they’re as good as yourn, an’ they’re a heap han’somer. In Cloveryard, Connecticut, I hev always b’en noted fur my visual optics, sir, I thank my stars I hev never injured my eyes by drinkin’s an’ carousin’s, like some I could name,” ** Land o’ Goshen! I wa’n’t castin’ no insinera- tions on your eyes,” Yank good-humoredly re- plied. ‘‘I couldn’t, fur they are bright as dia- mon’s; but all o’? us—” ‘*T hope nobody here has b’en drinkin’! pur- sued the lady, severely, as she waved her cane at her companions. ‘tI know whatrum will do, an’ the sisters o’ the Anti-Demon-of-Drink So- ciety will tell ye I have always made heroical efforts ter tread the monster under foot, an’ raise the wicked from the gutter. But they won’t be raised, fur man’s abnormal condition isin the gutter; an’ he’s there, too; an’ he will keep on drinkin’. Oh! the depravity o’ man! Oh! the power o’ iniquitous rum! Oh! the woes 0’ women, an’ the pangs they endure! pe the fiery pits that yawn for man! Oh! 0 ——— —-eYQSSSC sss ss 7 * ‘ ‘ x \ , ,. And the great orator rolled her eyes and waved her cane until Moses broke forth in lugu- brious howls. ‘*She’s got’em ag’in!” quoth Yank, shaking his head mournfully. ‘‘ Miss Longtounger has ot ’em ag’in, an’ she’s got’em bad. and 0° shen! ef we had a block o’ marble hyar, an’a chisel, an’ a sculptor, lll be thrashed ef I would- n’t like ter set him at work an’ let him sculp ae Longnecker. I would, by hurley! Oh? oh! Miss Abigail bridled with anger, but Yank turned abruptly away and gravely added: ‘* Border Bullet, ef the atrocious red insex hew got a clew it is sartainly serious. I thought, bein’ the pasture-lot was so cut off by gulches, thar wa’n’t much danger o’ our hosses_ bein” see’d, ef allowed ter graze only at sartain bours,. but the Injuns are puarseverin’ creetur’s: they may hev got the clew.” ‘*T am afraid they have. I investigated, and though the nature of the place was against me— there was no earth; only a ledge, partially covered with moss—I learned that something, man or beast, bad lately been there. The moss showed abrasions very easy to see,” Yank stroked bis beard thoughtfully. ‘*T dunno but we ought ter git away at once, but I hate ter go afore Guv’nor is found, ’spe- cially as I don’t know o’ any other good hidin’ place nigh at hand.” ‘*T fear we are risking a good deal by remain- ing here,” Border Bullet answered. ‘ Logic, ew’ry word on’t—sound logic.” ‘Of course it is for you to decide,’ ** Your idees ain’t ter be picked ter pieces often,, lad. You hev see’d sev’ral years of life on the prairie, as man an’ boy, an’ thar are few whose bi ty I value more’n yours. I consait yow nows the ins an’ outs right wal, an’ I’m glad e do. Now, hows’ever, we're all werkin’ i dark.” ‘*Our prisoners, the deserters you so scientifi- cally drilled, have also asserted that the allies have the clew. This I believe to be empty talk, however.” rath you’ve kep’ them sojer-chaps igno~ rant, ‘*Wehave. They are in the niche where yow put them, and can hear and see nothing.” ‘*We want ter keep ’emthar. An’ now I want a gin’ral expression of opinion. I hate ter take ye out ag’in, fur we may run afoul the Injuns so I’m ready ter hear opinions, for an’ against,™ Every one at first declined to give an opinion, satan, to leave all to the mountaineer, but e insisted, and a general discussion followed, Border Bullet and Prior were in favor of makin a bold push to escape, while the women, thong slow to advance any ideas, seemed to think that a shelter, however poor, was better than to cast themselves adrift again, The discussion was still in pr when & sound at the entrance caused San and Border Bullet to start abruptly. 1t was the signal used by them to announce their homecoming at criti- cal times, and it certainly meant something now. In the Yank seemed to bave a clear theory, for he ans- __ wered promptly, and then a tall figure advanced with long, strong, yet i. be light steps. Abigail uttered a screech and fled into the re~ mote part of the cave, but Yank started forward instead of back. The new-comer was an Indian of large stature, and Borcer Bullet at once recognized Mountaim Eagle. The friendly warrior waved his hand in a dignified way. ‘“ How-de-do, chief; how-de-do!” saluted the mountaineer, ‘‘ You’re welcome ter our house, an’ not ter ours, either, fur this place is only one we occupy free o’ rent. Make yerself at home. ve offer a cheer, but our furniture ain’t com yit. ‘‘ Nevermiss,” replied the chief, in a deep voice, ‘the stag does not gaze when the prairie is burning.” **T consait not; be’d git his egregious ‘*‘ Is he wiser than man?” ‘** Sometimes; at other times, no,” in fligbt.” The chief spoke gravely and deliberately, but: Be his gaze had wandered from Yank’s face to that. of Inez. He put more force to his voice and | added: | ‘*‘ The heart of man may grow hard with evil _ as the winter turns water to ice, but his eyes are never blind to what is fair to look upon.” = ‘In plain words, Mouutain Eagle, you advise 4 us ter pack our bandboxes an’ skip, eh?” **My brother can read the language of the Indian.” PP “I consait [kin. You an’ me ain’t nostrangers, Many the time we've set by the camp-fire ter- ether; an’ follered the deer, the buff’ler an’ the ‘ar; an’ many the time some atrocious insex ~~ Pint.- es, has follered us, But that ain’t ter the What is the danger?” ‘The eyes of the Sioux are sharp, and Storm- Cloud’s young men have come to him with tales dangerous to Nevermiss and bis friends, The secret of this refuge is a secret ro longer, and EComicbooks ora » of Piao mest - -—s- =e 4 eel — ~iane te - a P ¥ r : es | Le nw * ee.” scorched ef he did, He would, by hurley!” f a ‘* The Great Spirit bas given man reasoning ee faculties and the power of hearing. If onesense tells him a volcano is muttering under his feet, the other should teach him that safety lies only ‘ ». * ‘ , » i . ‘e re a . - < 4 a! a . ‘ * ee fC a 7 Pats