Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 492 — page 29: what you’re looking at

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

——— ——— coe. A a “a — Tr a One step more, and then the chief arose as quickly and silently as though operated by ma- | chinery. It was something almost marvelous. ' The prowler started back, but he was too late. Mountain Eagle’s strong hands were upon him, and he was borne to the ground as though he __-were but a child. Would he be as easily subdued? - a A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. uickly settled the last question. The captured Sioux was beneath his knee, and there he remained. There was a struggle—only slight—not enough to alarm his nearest companions—but sufficient to spread consternation among the occupants of the boat. Inez turned her head away, and Agnes covered ker face with her hands. Border Bullet would have spared them that most gladly. Like them he thought that the warrior’s life had been sacrificed, but Mountain Kagle suddenly turned his head, ‘** Have you a rope, Sharpshooter?” he asked, **T believe there is one of'some sort here,” ‘* Let me have it,” Border Bullet found the article in question tied around a package, but it was no time to hesitate. He tore it away, and passed it over to the chief, There was new cause for hope. The other searchers were moving away, and if no return-search was made, escape was possible. The chief was busy over his captive for a while, and then he became motionless. The young hunter could not but notice the de- sire to avoid the shedding of blood by both Mountain Eagle and Yank. He remembered how the mountaineer had silenced an Indian on that very island a few nights before, and that he had afterward said that he merely left the man stunned. There were times when Never- miss had no choice, but if he could show mercy he did it, even when the enemy sought his own life. All sounds ceased on the island. There was a lull, and then a second canoe appeared beside the one waiting off the shore. An order was ree, and both proceeded toward the northern luffs. A little later the third craft followed, pote, from the east end of the island, and every heart beat lighter. To all appearances, that meant that the search was to be transferred tothe mainland; probably the cave would soon be invaded. Mountain Eagle turned back and re-entered his canoe. ‘“ We go now,” he said, quietly. ‘* No one will object,” Richard Prior answered with a sigh, ‘‘ Chief,” added Border Bullet, ‘‘ did you hear the rifle shot?” ‘ My ears were open.” ‘** Possibly you recognized it?” mae Ay ‘Has Yank met with trouble” ‘* Nevermiss has met some foe, but he who can outwit the mountaineer must be more cun- ning than the fox. Many times have the sea- sons followed each other since he first went on the war-trail, and no one has yet taken the great white hunter’s scalp, We may hope to meet him at the cliff where we are to wait.” This calm confidence encouraged all the others and Mountain Eagle and Border Bullet u their paddles with vigor. There was little fear of meeting more foes on the lake, and speed be- came the main consideration, The canoes were driven briskly toward the southwest. In due time they approached the shore, and a landing was made on a ledge, Then the chief found a proper place and secreted the canoes, and all was ready for the journey by land. \ Mountain Eagle led the way, and for nearly a hundred yards they were able to’avoid stepping t on the ground, When the ledge formation ceased the guide had other expedients to use, ' and Border Bullet kpew that the trail they left would puzzle the best of the pursuers, The point they hoped to meet Yank was near- -lya mile from the lake, but this distance was ve" soon passed. - They neared the rendezvous, and 1 Ne then the veteran’s well-known signal was heard and he appeared in the darkness. mt} ‘‘ Hullo! bullo!” he exclaimed. ‘I thought, by hurley, you had got inter some egregious triberlation.” ‘* We found Sioux along our course, brother,” Mountain Eagle answered. “ Did they fiud you?” se No, ” a ‘Twas ter be expected. I hate ter praise a man right afore his own eyes, Border Bullet, but when our red frien’ sets out ter git the best | o’ any atrocious insex, he can come mortal nigh doin’ it, anyhow.” ‘* Praise from me would be useless, mountain- eer, but the chief has ably proven the truth of -_-your assertion.” _ . “IT consait so—’tis a way he has, Yank don’t + ketch him goin’ back on his pedigreen, The __-Yellowbirds 0’ the past ought ter knowed him, | by hurley! All my ancestors would ’a’ took to ; CHAPTER XXXV. | MounTaAIn EAGLE bim, especially them who was named Adam, - Noah, David an’ Solomon. These were allowed _ ter-be the pick o’ my fam'ly in the early settle- ——— a der Bullet, the Prai ae - Ske io ee es ee | _ ments 0’ the country. Samson Yellowbird was egregious strong, but he got inter a fix by hevin’ a female barber cut his hair, an’ was never good fur much arterwards,” ** Brother, we waste time,” gravely observed tae chief. ** Don’t know but you’re right, Eagle, an’ we'll reform an’ go on. The hosses are nigh at hand,” ‘**Did you have trouble?” asked Border Bul et. ‘‘ Jest an artom; the inemy were pooty thick.” ‘* We heard you fire.” ‘1 did fire. One o’ the varmints got badly in my way, an’ give me no choice. fired, an’ I’m ree’lly afeerd he got hurt.” ‘** Let us go,” added Mountain Eagle. cave is not far away.” They proceeded in better spirits, and soon reached the new refuge. It was smaller than the cave they had left, and there was no graz- ing place for the horses; but as it would not do to part from these useful animals, it was de- cided to take them inside, and supply them with ee Rs, the grass-covered open spaces near at land, The men worked briskly bringing grass and wood, and at the end of half an hour they were well supplied in these respects, A fire had been started in the cave, and all gathered around it. ‘*T leave you now,” said the chief. ‘*Goin’ back ter your warriors, I take it, re- plied Yank. ‘t Nevermiss is right,” **T hope they won’t suspect you, by hurley!” ‘* Fear not.’ ‘*V'd hate like the mischief ter have you git inter any egregious triberlation along of it, but we thank ye hearty. You an’I know what that means, fur we have follered the prairies an mountains enough so we onderstan’ each other.” ‘*The mountaineer speaks with a straight tongue, and Mountain Eagle knows his heart. I go now. and will look for the boy with the dusky skin. If he is near, he shall come back in safety.” ‘*T'd like ter see Guv’nor, I admit, fur I con- sait the little varmint issskeered ’most white. I shall look for him ter-morrer.” ‘* Be wise, Nevermiss,” ‘*T will, an’ I’m liable ter be harmful ef any hostyle treads on my toes, Fack, by hurley!” The chief turned to go, but Inez came forward and gave him ber hand. ‘* Let me thank you, too. You have been brave and noble, and I shall always remember you with warm gratitude and admiration.” ‘‘Girl with the starry eyes,” was the reply, ‘‘ your words are pleasant to the Indian’s ears. If all of your race were like you, there would be no warriors in the Sioux nations, for they would live only to be willing slaves. Farewell!” He waved his hand, and then walked rapidly away. ‘‘ As fine an Injun as ever breathed!” quoth Nevermiss, with an emphatic nod. ‘* Have you known him long?” asked Prior. ‘* A good five year.’ **It is odd that you should make a friend among those who are your bitter enemies,” ‘* Nothin’ is too strange ter be true. I consait ef my lamented ancestor, Adam Yellowbird, late of the Garden o’ Eden, had b’en told his fam’ly would increase so like hurley, he would not hev believed it. Poor old Adam! I wish he’s alive now, so I could take him out campin’ with me, but I dar’ say he’d be ’flicted with the newrolgy worse nor I be,” Inez was standing at one side, and Border Bullet joined her, ‘*'You look out of spirits,” he observed. ‘*1 am out of spirits,” «Ts our danger wearing apes you?” ‘*No; Lam used to that. I was thinking.” ‘* May I ask—of what?” ‘*Of you.” ‘*Of me?” echoed the Sharpshooter, trying in vain to meet her gaze, for she looked only to- ward the rocky wall. te Yes ” ‘**T feel honored,” ‘** Don’t say that, for you are not sincere; you can’t be. I was thinking of the strange chance which threw us together, and how you have worked as hard for me as though you had cause to honor, not despise me.” *‘Despise you! I certainly do not do that.” - ote you forgotten Yellow River?” 0. He was silent for a moment, and then he added: _“T have not forgotten it, and I am still anx- ious for an explanation. There was much there which 1 could not, do not, understand. I con- fess that I once thought of you bitterly, but since our last meeting I have had a cbance to observe you even more carefully than I did at Yellow River. Then I was under the spell of love; in the last case, under the spell of bitter resentment, as I may say. Inez, I cannot think evil of you.” | ; His voice had grown earnest, and he tried to take her hand, but she drew back. ‘** Not yet, not yet! Use your strong common- ‘* The sense, and have absolute proof before you say | lieve my father had no part in it; ne eS eeeeaeeetigee—enstessat Goa ae fa * : a. 2 Thee ae [eo g % oe — . Tals, 24 tag” ~ Js fac: ae ‘ whys c m= * ~ a4 - ‘ ad Py ‘ Pe rie Sharpshoote ce ec a a oe Cn ee ee | pe “he § rae ; : . ‘ vi 7? cg Yr. ar F they encourage me to make an explanation. Would you like to hear it?” She looked at him with a faint smile. ** Would I?” he echoed. ‘ Inez! it would take ona-half the sorrow out of my life.” ‘*T can surmise how you have been troubled,” she softly replied. ‘‘ I can see evidence of your desire to abandon the whole world, even in your name. Border Bullet! Who, bere, knows your real name save me?” ‘* No one,” ‘*T suspected as much. But I wander from the subject, I fear I should not speak, even now, were it not that Jate events have proved my father who]ly without honor. Why dol say that? Ihave known what he was, all along,. but when he turned against us and went over to Storm-Cloud’s band, it was the last evil act, and one more than I could bear. ‘You never knew my story—I will tell it now, My mother died when I was twelve years. old. Thank Heaven, she never knew how bad my father was: but she did know he was a law- breaker in certain ways; she knew that he was. liable to arrest at any time; but thought him, not really evil for the sake of evil, but because he was too weak to resist it. Aud before she died sbe made me ate sacredly that I would remain with him, help him in what was right, and try to influence him for bis good. ** Don’t ask me to tell in detail what followed, Little by little I learned the truth, and at the time you and I met at Yellow River I knew him to be guilty of every crime except that of mur- der. If he had done that, he kept the knowledge from me. We came to Yellow River as fugi- tives, yet, for a wonder, my father was not then guilty » circumstances made him seem to have een the ally of evil men in a lawless deed; and though I knew him to be innocent, I could not prove it. ‘*[ had grown sick at heart sharing his des- perate fortunes, knowing him to bea criminal, yet I remembered my promise to my mother and did not abandon him, And when we came to Yellow River I was, for once, in sympathy. with him, ‘* ‘We met you, and—you know what followed. But you do not know why we left Yellow River so suddenly, nor why—why I seemed to be so without buman feeling.” Her voice had faltered. ‘**Go on!” exclaimed Border Bullet, eagerly. ** At first father took a fancy to you, and used you well, but bis mood soon changed. Probab! there was no good reason for the change, as suc freaks on his part were common, I only knew 29 what course he took. Without allowing me to © suspect that he had turned against you for pri- vate reasons—or no reason—he came to me with a story which I now beheve—nay, I know—to be false. He claimed to have definite knowl- edge that you were a detective; that you were hunting him down; that you sought my com- pany only to entice me into confessions that would ruin him, ‘“*You know what followed. I turned against ou; I threw your friendship away; and then we left Yellow River as abruptly as we had come, unknown to any one, and leaving no clew to our destination, CHAPTER XXXVI. UNSEEN MARKSMEN, InEzZ ceased speaking, but did not raise her — Gowaiennt eyes. Border Bullet grasped her an “Would to heaven you had told me this be- fore!” he exclaimed. ‘“When could I tell you? Not at Yellow River, for I believed you to be a detective,” ‘* And this belief clung to you?” . ‘** Always, until we met here, as members of Yank Yellowbird’s ‘colony.’ I did not like to. regard you as one who would seek to secure a prisoner secretly, and then, to gain his object, assume a friendship for i which—” “T see!” Border Bullet interrupted. ‘In plain words, I tried to win your love, and then, one day, your father convinced you that I was a detective, and seeking your company only to. trap him. You must have thought me an un- conscionable villain.” ‘‘My mistake was in not suspecting that ny father was deceiving me, wholly.” . ‘““Weall err at times, It ‘Al true that. every story has two sides, And, Inez, what if this mistake had never occurred?” He bent his head near hers, but she answered steadily: ‘*“Do you remember what happened at Yel- low River after we left#+—what happened to you?” ‘1 was arrested for burglary.” “You were innocent, and you proved it.” — | a ‘* Yes, “I know by what father has lately said to me: that you at one time cted that we were the burglars, and that we tried to fasten the crime upon you—wait! hear me out. There was some- thing about a lost knife of yours, found in the store after the robbery. Now, let me say that Iknow nothing about the robbery; that I be-— fe but, I do be- that. I thank you for your kind words, and lieve he has later news from Yellow River than f ' vs ; sok ne i -? - “—_ ats : * ‘ - « 7 iy “a le- . ‘ “fh Pi eu * ft ~ . it *% J a abba, OD eesti A cou, Eomichbooks > a mnt A ‘ae another which— ow you know my story,” —