Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 492 — page 31: what you’re looking at

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

a — ee _— lie Pisce ttt: yaaa me eer ow Nk: Porc Bullet, the Prairie Sharpshooter. = 81 Only one arose, and that one was Moses. The Indian had struck his last blow. Not so with the dog: from the first to the last of the fight he was an active participator, and his systematic attacks and great strength made him the equal of a man. Despite all this, matters were going bard with the heroic little band when there was a new diversion. Nolaw and the Sioux had found the fight too warm for them, and they gave ground—were hotly pressed—became demoralized, and were driven rapidly down the slope. Swept by the ursuii they were driven to the very place where y Yank and his friends were making their desper- ate stand, and the assailants of the Body-Guard were swailowed up in the retreating warriors and carried away. The soldiers charged past, and the devoted band were again left to themselves. ‘* We've got a breathin’ spell, by hurley!” ex- claimed Yank. ‘* Is anybody hurt?’ No oneanswered. All of the men were bleed- ing from slight wounds, but they would not com- plain of them then. Clearly, the Gecisive battle was in progress not far away, and rifle reports, shouts and whoops made a din as confused as it was terrible to weak nerves. Miss Longstreeter fell upon her knees and tried to embrace Yank. ‘Save me! save me!” she wailed, frantically. **Oh! dear, noble, lovely Mr. Yellowbird, don’t let ‘em git me! Lalays liked you because you don’t drink, Save me!” ** A Shoo!” cried Guv’nor, dancing with terror, ** We shall be eat up an’ burned at de stake, an’ I ain’t had time to repent!” The old, familiar signal sounded, and Moun- tain Eagle bounded to the spot. ‘‘'‘Where is Nevermiss?” he demanded, in a ringing voice. ‘‘The battle goes on hot! , and no one can tell what the end will be. Storm- Cloud rages like a poncamnh and his young men are full of valor. evermiss, waste no time but follow me; I will guide you to the blue-coats,” * Mount, an’ arter him like a cyclone!” order- ed the mountaineer, bis usually placid voice ring- ing out assharply and commandingly as the chief’s, ‘* No more talkin’ now—this is the time o’ action, by hurley!” In a wonderfully short time the niche was de- serted and all were hurrying after Mountain Eagle. Yank kept close to Age red leader, and Moses went side- waite with his master. The chief set arapid race, and his face was often turned toward the scene of battle. He thirsted to be in the affray, fighting with his comrades, His pledge was well kept, and at the end of ten minutes they were at the rear of the soldiers’ position, ‘‘ Here we part,” he abruptly said; ‘I go to my warriors. Nevermiss, the Great Spirit only knows when we shall meet again, but this re- amember always: The heart of Mountain Eagle is warm toward his white brother!” ‘‘Injun,” was the quick response, “‘ your skin an’ mine don’t bear the same color, but I con- ‘sait our hearts are fashioned ty nigh alike. Go, but remember Yank Yellowbird is your frien’, ter death. May you alwave find as good help in your hour o’ triberlation as we hev found in ourn!” The two men clasped hands for a moment, and then Mountain Eagle bounded wey He soon disappeared among the rocks, and they saw bim no more, es good a man as ever lived, ef he has a ps ch aki! !? che mountaineer asserted, with em- has ae But he goes to fight against us,” doubtfully observed Pri ior. “Not ag’in’ us, but ag’in’ the sojers, What more kin you expect? e’s an Injun, an’ wild as the eagle he’s named fur. Blood will tell. Yes, he'll fight, but it’ll be like a man. No egre- gious cruelty will ever be associated with the ae o’ Mountain Eagle. Thar won’t, by hur- y CHAPTER XXXVIII. A WOUNDED MAN’S REVELATION. Yank and Border Bullet anxiously watched the progress of the battle. A few bullets drop- ped near them, and Moses elevated his nose and growled menacingly. ‘* They run! they run!” exclaimed Nevermiss, “ See the red insex go! Ill be condemn’d ef the sojer-chaps ain’t put them ter flight, an’ I reckon the hull affair will soon be settled. Storm-Cloud ain’t got the force ter carry all be- fore bim, an’ one good shakin’ up will give him his fill 0” war, I consait.” The blue-coats retraced their steps, and our friends were soon in conversation with the Jeader. ‘** A decisive victory,” thelatter said. ‘* Burk- S25 h, or Nolaw, as I hear he renamed himself, ead, and what few: of the minor deserters entdived him are our prisoners. Our work is dione, and we shall return to the fort if the Sioux allow it.” ‘¢T consait thar mou’t be no great amount o’ ‘trouble as ter that,” Yank returned. ** As for your party,” pursued the officer, ‘‘ I shall be pleased to give you safe escort to the settlemen We will go at daylight.” S Boy SUES CREwD NOHOUBSH = GuSERege Fageed © Of SB Peewee ceed OW BERY Neos) 3 oW SoeazecepeyolOCUY TE — —— ———— “That'll suit most o’ our party wal. The | Black Hills ain’t the best o’ places ter start a colony, It’s egregious hard ter zit acclimated ; I’ve knowed them who lost their hair tryin’ it.’ A soldier approached and saluted his superior ‘*There is a dying man over there, sir, who has asked to see one of the ladies. Inez, he called her. He said his pame was Leavitt, or something like that.” ‘‘Tt's Leg-it, sure’s your’s alive!” exclaimed Yank, ‘ Whar is Inez? Break it lightly ter her—” ‘“‘T have heard all,” the girl replied, very calmly. ‘‘ They say my father is dying. I will go to him.” They walked to where Old Porcupine lay. ‘‘ Keep back, all o’ you but Inez!” he said, hoarély, but petulantiy, and with an angry glare of his eyes, ‘* I won’t be crowded, Come, irl! Be cool now, an’ don’t make b’lieve you ev any affection you don’t feel. You an’ I ain’t off the same piece, an’ no love is lost, but ou’ve stuck to me through thick an’ thin, an’ 11 do ye a good turn ter pay ye before I go.” He pressed his hand to his side. ‘‘ The bullet hurts,” he said, ‘‘ but it'll soon be over. I only wish [ could git a whack at the red devil who shot me. Yes—it was an Injun, an’ twas done ter satisfy a grudge. Do ye re- member the day we left our hut so sudden—the day Dick Prior come to us? Wal, I’d never left that place only fur one thing. I had a row with a Sioux an’ shot him, an’I knowed his frien’s would be after me. I was a good bit disturbed when I come home that day, an’ that’s why we left the hut; but it did no good. Ter-night, the brother o’ the dead Injun shot me—he’ found the truth out, some way.” ee, dying man turned his gaze upon Border ullet. ** Come hyar, Philip Morgan!” he directed. The Sharpshooter advanced. ‘‘ Young feller,” Lefferts continued, ‘‘ I’ve al- ways hated you, but fur the sake 0’ Inez Pil bury the feud in my own Br ave. You an’ her had better marry. She liked you at Yellow River, but I lied ter separate you. I told her you was a detective. You wa’n’t, but I'd once ot inter a scrape through another man named = aa Fle was a detective, an’ you are his ete My late father was a detective,” Border Bullet admitted. ‘*Sartain. DPve hated you fur his sake, but Pll drop it ter please Inez, The myst’ry at Yellow River is cleared up. I had no hand in the robbery. It was done by a chap knowed as ‘Bantam im,’ an’ he is in prison now. Hecon- fessed, too, an’ tol’ whar he got yer knife, een was found in the store. He found it ‘on the ound, whar you must ’a’ lost it. That’s the pull story, an’ you an’ Inez kin fix yer affairs alone, I’ve said all I’ve got ter say. Goaway, all of ye, an’ let me die alone!” ‘¢ Father,” said Inez, earnestly, ‘* you can tell something more. You know certain things re- latin to Agnes Prior and—” won’t tell!” fiercely replied Old Porcupine. " The secret shall die with me. Nota word will tee hesitated, and then turned to the others, ‘« Leave me alone with him,” she said. They obeyed and withdrew beyond the sound of her voice, ‘© T consait itll all ccme out right,” observed Yank Yellowbird. nodding to Agnes. ‘* Most things do come around that way intime, Now, hyar’s Miss Longstepper; she’s had a most egregious time on’t with ‘the iniquities 0’ the world, but I'll bet a beaver-skin she reforms the hull outfit, yet.” “Thar would be hopes,” solemnly replied the distinguished lady, *‘ ef it wasn’t fur misguided man, Woman is a tender creature, an’ like the daisies 0’ the field, but man isa viper. He is given to drinkin’s an’ carousin’s an’ he clasps the liquid foe o’ the human race to bis heart. Oh! the perverse generation! Oh! the moral mon- strosity o’ man! Oh! the wine-bibbin’ an’ the turptitude o’ the wicked. Oh! oh!” “Oh! oh!” quoth Nevermiss, mournfully. ‘* By hurley, Miss Longstriker, it worries me csbirtatiy ter see the triberlations you hev with them male monsters. Congress ought to pass a | law puttin’ ’em down an’ stoppin’ them from uttin’ down liquor. You ought ter go afore ongress, m’um, an’ s’plain your views. ‘You'd make the male ‘poperlation so ashamed they’d burn their raiment an’'buy a trunkful o’ silk owns. Not an artom o’ doubt on’t!”’ “‘T trust I do my duty,” modestly answered Abigail, “‘ an’ thar is some fruit o’ my labor. Behold this boy here! I found him grovelin’ in vile wickedness, an’ growin’ up among carousin’s which could only lead him ter drink, but I hev‘reclaimed him. He goes back to Clover- , Connecticut, with me, an’ I shall present im ter the sisters o’ the Anti-Demon-of-Drink Society as a ene ° the glorious work I’ve did in the wicked Wes ‘**Dat am a fact, ny TSR: Guv’nor. “‘ I’se been a dwefful wicked niggeh, but [se goin’ ter pc to repent an an awful egg- a Bekutifal idee!” exclaimed the mountaineer eatin upon the colored youth. ‘‘All you ‘iat en siidhow Dest var now is my lamented gran’father, ter post yer in mil’tary tick-tacks, but he’s not whar he kin come, so you'll hev ter depend on our fair re- former, Don’t yer never take a drink o’ root- beer, Guv’nor, onless ye hev an atrocious attack o’ malignant newrolgy. ? “One word, Nevermiss,” interrupted Border Bullet. “ I think you owe us an explanation in regard to Mountain Eagle.” *‘ Mebbe you’re right, an’ it’s yourn. He was born a Modoc, Mountain Eagle was; an’ his name was Trail-Lifter, He follered my fortunes fur sev’ral year, when he’s a mere hoy, on the trail an’ in camp, an belped me in sev’ral del’ket operations. Durin’ this time I used ter call him Still Tongue, now an’ then, ’cause he pretended ter be dumb, Ef you ever meet Ben Bucking- ham, Gold Gauntlet or the Duke o’ Dakota—all old associates o’ mine—ask them about the young Modoc. He was too wild at heart fur my tame life, though, an’ be j'ined his present companions, But he’s as good as gold, Mountain Eagle is.” Inez approached the group. ‘‘ Father wishes tosee you, Mr. Prior, and Agnes,” she said. They went forward quickly. ‘« She’s done it,” said Old Poreupine, hoarsely. ‘* Ef you make up, credit it all ter Inez. Dick Prior, your wife never run away with Reginald Eyre. He wanted her, an’ he laid a plot ter separate you. Witnesses at the divorce trial swore they saw your wife, close vailed, in the wagon with Eyre. Ill tell ye how ’twas. Eyre was a rascal, an’ as I'd done a bit o’ work fur him, he come ter mein a town a few miles away. He asked me, could I finda woman who would steal Mrs. Prior’s clothes, put ’em on, an’ ride with him, close vailed? I prodooced the woman, a gal named Annie Rose, “Your wife, Dick, went on a visit with your cousent, an’ Eyre sprung his rag The clothes was stole; Annie Rose rode with him, takin’ care ter be seen: an’ then the clothes was put back whar tbey b’longed. That’s why honest wit- nesses swore ag’in’ your wife at the trial. Iain’t got the strength ter explain more, but ef you find the Rose gal—she’s still thar—she’ll tell all. “Your wife wouldn’t even look at Eyre arter the trial, an’ he give it eth went to St. ang an’ was shot in a gamblin’ “room. Lieutenant Nolaw was an acquaintance 0’ Eyre’s, but he never knowed all. An’ now the sojers rie pn Nolaw! We're all goin’ off the scene. ry tol’ ye a few days ago that Dick Prior had fied ter me about the case. I lied; he never did it; never said a word, -That’s all I kin say. Now leave me alone!” They all went except Inez. Evil as the man had been, she remembered the tie of relationship and stayed with him until he died. Richard and Agnes re wae me argh and the former was all the happier because he came to trust in his wife again fore Old Por- cupine’s dying confession. **T consait the clouds are rollin’ away, Border Bullet,” observed Yank. ‘“‘ Thesun alwaysdrives the clouds away in course o’ time. All the Yel- lowbirds bev noticed the fack, an’ my fu’st an- cestor, Adam, left a written dissipation on the subjick. Allo’ my fam’ly was handy with a pen though I consait I kin best hold up the Yel- wbird pedigreen with my rifle. Give me that, an’ Moses an’ my hoss; with the prairie fura bed, an’ I won’t meddle with pens and ink. I won't, by hurley!” The return to the settlement was safely made, and there Yank Yellowbird left them. Accom- panied by the dumb companions of bis nomadic life, he went back to the scenes he liked best. Richard and Agnes returned to their old home. — The girl, Annie Rose, was found, and forced to make a confession. Reunited in heart, as svat as by marriage law, the Priors began a new life pred pi th as their old one had been stormy, neither bas had cause for regret, Border Bullet did not lose sight of Inez, and at the end of one year she became his wife. Un- like his old associate of the prairie, he found mn domestic happiness more congenial than scenes _ of adventure in the Wild Wes Miss Lo and he was duly presented as areclaimed sinner. Tbe eminent lady was rapturously received the sisters of Anti-Demon-of-Drink Society, and — when she had related her adventures in the Black — Hills, she was unanimously elected the society. True, Guv’nor co remember — none of those adventures, and his faith in her veraci good living, at her expe as a reclaimed drunkard, he held his place Pea ngstreeter took Guv’nor to Connecticut, - was shaken, but as he was getting 2 “A é ing.” Abigeil still believes, whenever , she meets — a man, that he has been ‘‘ drinkin’,” wickedness of the world shocks her; but she finds - rie ae in the companionship of her = sisters.’ and the © by resident of i Wn kepton “‘repent- = | Storm-Cloud survived the fight, but died of a ‘+74 4 wound soon after he had led bis warriors away Mountain Eagle escaped all suspicion of double- cere and continued his old career. 5 daneriaeg were duly Soaddee of the party that had captured them only — tted that Nolaw had not lived to saris io tribution in the same way. THE END. (€©) m 4.5 <Sir = ge 100 &. Wits =. punished, and the ay ‘~ ru , * bY com