Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 492 — page 30: what you’re looking at

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

me oe Another volley made the rocks ring. + Dis chile is ‘30. . 1 s¢ ‘you Possibly he has heard of the ar- rest of the real culprit.” ‘“In any case, my last doubt of you is gone Inez, and 1 ask you to receive me like w at I was once,’ ; ‘‘ Wait!” she replied, smiling archly. ‘‘ We are once more friends, but let this investigation be made before I allow you to forgive me fully.” ** Inez!” ‘‘Mr. Border Bullet?” she retorted, still smil- ing. ‘*T must protest—” ‘““You must not protest. Iam not going to allow it. Mountain Eagle has paid me a very pretty compliment, and made me vain, and now { am going to be tyrannical. I will allow no protests, but—you may be my friend!” She held out her hand, and looked frankly in- to his eyes, smiling as she did so, and Border Bullet was satisfied. A few minutes later Yank passed them, hur- rying toward the cave entrance, and his man- ner was so indicative of something unusual that Border Bullet followed. He found the moun- taineer standing in a listening attitude. “What sow, Moverntiat® e asked. **T’ve heerd the sound o’ guns.” Just then there was a roar which was, clearly, the united reports of many guns, ‘‘ Keregious funny!” muttered Yank. ““T have a theory,” quickly observed Border Bullet. “* What is it?’ ‘* No men in the world can fire with the pre- cision of that volley, with all weapons blended as one, except trained men. Noiaw and his fol- lowers are deserters. Can it be that judgment has come to them, and that they are attacked by other, and loyal, soldiers?” ‘Land o’ Goshen! I dunno but you’ve struck it; thar is logic in that theory, by hurley. Lcook hyar, lad, we must know. Ef thar is true-blue sojers hyar, we want ter git their protection right away, Mae You stay hyar, an’ guard the cave, an’ I'll find out.” a e mountaineer hurried away, holding his rifle ready for use. Yank had been gone but little more than five minutes when Border Bullet discovered a tall figure hurrying toward the entrance. It was not Yank, and tbe young man raised his joes, but in a moment more the familiar sign sounded and he recognized Mountain Eagle. Nor was the chief alone; a slighter person was by bis side, and another recognition followed. The lost was found—Guv’nor was back again. « The negro ran forward and indulged in a jig. ‘‘ Hallelujah, Massa Bawdab Bullet!” he cried. tickled cleah out ob his moccasins wid joy. Golly! but I’s had de dweffulest time ebah knowed. De Shoos mos’ eat me up, an’ , 2. dey would, ef I hadn’t killed "bout ten millions the chief, “‘and my __ Delay not ia this. I go to my warriors! ob dem; but I nevah suspeckted to see you~’uns ag’in. I's b’en a dwefful wicked niggah, an’ l’s b’en tryin’ to repent, but—” ‘* Peace!” interrupted Mountain Eagle. ‘‘ Boy with the dark face, your friends are in the cave. Go to them! Shbarpshooter, where is Nevermiss?” **He has gone to reconnviter. What is the meaning of the firing?” ‘¢ Nolaw and his traitor soldiers are attacked, and their assailants are men from the fort the deserted. The retribution which white men ca Nemesis is at their heels, Loyal wearers of the blue are here.” I suspected as much.” There will be fighting,” grimly continued ace is not here. I think Nolaw’s men are al) cut to pieces, but Storm- Cloud still lives. He hates the blue-coats, and the battle will rage hotly. I go to the fight with my meu iM ‘Must you do it?’ asked the hunter, deeply troubled. ‘‘T am an Indian,” was the steady reply, “ cc *“fand I follow the fortunes of my race. I am not eager to fight the blue-coats, but I have no love for them, and I will fignt whoever invades the land of the Sioux.” J hope your aid to us has not been dis- _ €overed.” 5 “*No. The warrior whom I bound and left on the island has been liberated, but he does not - even suspect that it was one of his own tribe who attacked him; he says it was a white man. _ Tamsafe, Enough fornow. Tell Nevermiss the news when he returns, and let him go to the leader of the soldiers at once. Let him place the women in safe hands as soon as possible, Fare- A well!” __ The chief had spoken with far greater rapidity - than usual, and at the last word he turned away. With movements as light as those of a mountain goat, he sprung from rock to rock up the ascent to the left, and soon disappeared from Border Bullet stood irreeolutely at the en- trance. What ought he to do? Yank was ab- _ sent,and some one ought to go to the soldiers _ atonce. But the mountaineer would doubtless __ learn the exact state of affairs and do all that ss Was necessary. _ <The young man’s place was with the women. ; > ("fa Border Bullet, the Prairie Sharpshooter. Guv’nor was exhibiting himself as a hero within the cave, but Border Bullet remained at the entrance. He heard no more firing. Utter silence reigned all around. There was natural excitement among the other fugitives. Guv’nor, who, since he had been left behind by Old Porcupine, had been hiding here and there in the hills, and had been been found by Mountain Eagle by chance, and learned enough to tell a fairly coherent story, and he did not fail to do his best to make it a thrilling one. Richard Prior spoke in a low voice to Agnes. **Will you walk toward the entrance with me?” he asked. She acquiesced, but he went only far enough to make their words inaudible to other ears, ‘* Agnes, pardon me, but I have a word to say to you. I fear that it will be disagreeable for ms to hear me speak of your affairs, for you ave cause only to hate me—” ‘** Richard,” she interrupted, tremulously, **do not speak that way. I have not forgotten how bravely you risked danger for me in our late adventures,” ‘*Have you forgotten,” he bitterly asked, ‘how cruelly 1 put shame and disgrace upon you a few years ago?” roy PH face flushed, and then grew pale. ** | don’t think you intended to wrong me,” she humbly replied, pressing one hand over her fast- beating heart. ‘““That is no excuse for me. You were my wife, and 1 was bound by every dictate of honor to know what I was doing before I took a deci- sive step. I thought [I did know. You told me I was wrong; that you were either the victim of a plot or a singular combination of circum- stances, but I would not hear to you. You know what followed.” Richard paused, brushed his hand nervously across his forehead, and then, giving Agnes no time to answer, rapidly continued: ‘*Since we met herein the Black Hills, fate has thrown us strangely together. At first I avoided you, as you know, and gave free rein to my resentment; but when I became protector to you after you were separated from Yank, I had no choice but to be on familiar terms, For twenty-four hours our fortunes were one, and I[ had a chance to observe that same patient, modest, retiring manner I once knew so well. You caged me to desert you; toleave you to your fate and think only of my own safety. thought, when | had time to think calmly, that this was not the way of a guilty woman. In brief, Agnes, my every convicticn is changed, and 1 believe that you were invocent; that you never eloped with inald Eyre, but were the victim of a plot or a terrible mistake. Would to Heaven my hot temper had not blinded my eyes at the time! And now that there is ho of rescue, let me humbly ask that you will think of me as leniently as youcan, I dare not ask :you‘to forgive me.” Agnes’s face was a panorama of strong emo- tions, among which hope showed supreme, ““T have gr to forgive,” she replied, tremulously, ‘‘ for I know you were the victim of a mistake,” ** But my cruelty—” “Tf it had been as you thought, your conduct would have been no more than just.” ** But [ should have trusted you.” — ** You were deceived by circumstances.” “You will not blame me, yet I am all to blame. Itis like you—like your noble nature, { hope you will think, in the future, as kindly as you can of the miserable wretch who would not dare to ask to be your friend.” ‘Oh! Richard, Richard! How can you say that?” “‘Ttis true. My eyesare opened, and all my heart cries out to you. Yet—yet—lI can’t hel saying it—I would give ten years of my life if could take my old place in your affections, and again call you my wife!” The words broke almost fiercely from his lips, but Agnes was given no chance to answer. Footsteps rung on the nooky floor, and Yank be pita) and Border Bullet hastily entered e cave. _ CHAPTER XXXVII. THE BATTLE. ** ALL hands on deck!” cried the mountsineer, in his most cheerful manner. ‘‘ We’re goin ter leave this hole in the ground right away. True- blue United States sojers are at hand, an’ thar will be safe guidance fur you all ter civilized parts. I’ve seen the gin’ral o’ the party—or corporal], I forget which he is—an’ he says you're ter come right along, so pack up an’ we’ll leave. Guv'nor, hustle around an’ git the hosses, an’ don’t let any on ’em step on your feet. Your hoofs are flat as a pancake now, an’ more o’ the shape ain’t desirable.” “* Sir,” exclaimed Abigail smarty; “T would like ter hev you speak with more o’ human feel- in’ ter that boy. I hev entered inter an agree- ment with him by which he sign a temper- ance pledge, an’ go with me ter Cloveryard, Connecticut, ter be exhibited as a brand plucked from the burnin’, an’ an awful example o’ the a an’ carousin’s that hev b’en goin’ on re. : tt 2 vt <i ‘ => I . s a . ) « » ** Land o’ Goshen, Miss Longstrider, hey you b’en drinkin’? I never noticed it.” By this time all was ready for departure. Border Bullet and Guvy’nor bad brought the horses; Yank had deftly packed their few arti- cles of household importance; Richard and Ag- nes had exchanged a few more words, whic made the latter’s face beam with a new expres- sion of happiness; and they had only to go. Yank led the way. Moses seemed to feel that the occasion was momentous. He kept close to his master, and his manner was suspicious and belligerent. Moses never showed ill-temper to bis master, or his master’s friends, but he had the appearance of a dog who, finding a good deal of wickedness in the world, had grown sour and misanthropic, and was only kept from acting aggressively to his best friends by the idea that no member of his species could retain bis standing in society unless be also retained his dignity. They had goue about half-way to where Yank had seen the soldiers when the delusive calm was suddenly broken. A single rifle-shot rung out on the air, and balf a dozen others followed. Then came a volley, asof a score of muskets blended—plainly the work of soldiers. Indian war-whoops ended the startling combination; and all these sounds were dangerously near the fugitives, ‘**Hold up!” Yank exclaimed. ‘Rein yer hosses inter this niche. Ef we go on, we'll git inter some egregious triberlation. We will, by hurley!” Nearer and nearer came the tide of battle, and men suddenly became visible on the hillside. Yank’s keen eyes soon discovered that the sol- diers were driving the Indians, though only a comparatively small number were engaged on either side. The Sioux retreated slowly, con- testing the ground stubbornly. Yank had just discovered that one person among them was a white man when that person made himself more conspicuous, 2 y, braves of the great Sioux nation!” he shouted. ‘‘ Hold your ground, and give the enemy lead and steel. Rally! Show no mercy to the invaders of your country! Beat them back! Down with the invaders!’ The speaker was Nolaw, and he was fighting like a tiger. Men were falling around him, but he did not waver. To his natural courage had been added that of desperation, and he was more revengeful than the Sioux themselves, The latter answered with wild yells, and the battle raged more hotly. It was hand-to-hand, at last. Nolaw had emptied his revolvers, but he now drew his sword—tbe weapon he had so ced--and fought with unwavering courage, ‘* Pity a man like him is sech villain!” mut- terel Yank. ‘* No doubt he was brought to it by drinkin’,” asserted Abigail, rallying from a condition of almost comatose fear. ‘‘ On! tke wickedness o’ man! Ob! oh!” “The savages retreat no longer!” exclaimed Border Bullet, ‘* They do seem ter hev got a new grip.” ‘** Nolaw’s example is contagious,” **Nolaw will git cut down in the flower o’ his youth, ef he don’t look out)” retorted Never- miss, with a frown, ‘* Wish I could j’ine in the ruption, by hurley, but I consait all o’ the y-Guard is n hyar.” ‘‘ Are we safe here, mountaineer?” ** No; an’ we ain’t safe nowbar. A disarran ment ©’ the status o’ battle may put us inter the wu’st on’t at any time, but what better kin we do by shiftin’ our position? Who knows which way the tide o’ fightin’ will flow? Even my n’father, the Revolutionary relict, couldn’t iagnose the case, fur the tick-tacks o’ war ain’t ee account when atrocious red insex are bat- in’, Yank stroked his beard in a quick, perturbed way, while Moses growled savagely and e his teeth as he glared at the combatants on the hillside. Suddenly a party of Sioux came running across the level, heading for the scene of strife. It was a sudden change from peace to war, but they had to deal with men as brave as them- selves. Yank and Border Bullet fired almost simultaneously, and two yelling warriors went down never to rise. Richard Prior was but a little behind, and three of the Sioux never reached the line. The others did, andin a mo- ment all was confusion. The fight was hand-to- hand, and the whites had to watch their chance to use their revolvers. Yank Yellowbird made nosuch attempt. His reliance was still in his long rifle, and he revers- ed the weapon and used it asa club. Standing in front of the women he swung the rifle as though it bad been a toy, and whenever it fell an Indian cropees- . Yet, the. ‘ yv-Guard” was hard-pressed. Border Bullet and Prior were doing their ut- most, and they stood grimly by their leader, but the force of numbers was against them. A blow brought Richard to his knee, and a stalwart savage raised his arm for the final stroke, _ Then a dark form, which looked not unlike a panther, leaped upon the Sioux. It was Moses, turned for the time into an incarnate fury; and ~ he bore the Indian to the ground resistlessly, mi oy! pies As , a co dy YY 3 = ee ee eee ee . “’ « yee Ee | 1p \) \ ——————— ~~ fer ~ > — —_——_— —— oy ate ee Lifes » Varna mine