Beadle's Half Dime Library (no. 1061) (1897 11 23)
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: <LI ol Vv a, Published Every Tuesday. Publishers, ’ , New YorK. X Copyrighted 1897, by BEADLE AND ADAM BEADLE AND ADAMS 92 Wiri114M STREET, : Copy.’ -60 a Wear. , $2 Five Cents a N ell i Entered as Second Class Matter at the New York, N. Y., Post Office. No. 1061
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e Silver Star, the Boy Knight. TS ne ee PE COE TRESS RSLS a Silver Star, THE BOY KNIGHT. A PRAIRIE ROMANCE. BY OLL COOMES, avrHorR OF ‘“‘VAGABOND JOE,” ‘‘ANTELOPE ABE,” ‘* REEN-KNIFE,’’ ““LASSO JACK,” ETC. CHAPTER I. DOWN FROM THE CLOUDS. A FULL moon shone through the blue depths of an October night upon the great prairies—the dark woods and winding rivers of the great Far West. A soft, balmy wind drifted lazily from the south, laden with the rich, ripe fragrance of autumn. The voices of the night were low and monotonous. The White Earth river rolled along as if rendered giuggish by the influence of surrounding nature. “or that weird, mysterious spirit of an Indian sum- yer night seemed to have thrown its dream-like 7 »8e Over the land. ut, as the hours of night wore, the slumbering xhdées of the woods were suddenly awakened by he sound of hoofed feet galloping down its dark- ged halls. It came from the direction of the White Earth, and appeared to be moving south- ward toward the great, boundless prairie, A pair of deer on the edge of the plain, hearing the sound, stopped in their trail and pricked up their ears in alarm, for clear and distinct sounded the clattering hoofs approaching along the path they were following. A moment later the animals sniffed the air with quivering nostrils, and turning, fled away over the plain into the purple haze of night. Then forth from the dense shadows of the night— alone the deer trail—galloped a horseman. Upon the margin of the plain he drew rein under the mellow light of the old moon. The figure of the horseman was that of a man— a youth in age but a man in physical development, and of experience in the saddle, with the revolver, and upon the trail. From under the rim of his gray, slouched hat a brown, beardless face looked out— marked with all the impetuosity of a rp 3 and daring spirit, and set with a pair of as bright, awk- like eyes as ever shot their keen glances over the plains of Dakota. He was dressed in a ee eee suit of buck- skin that fitted him neatly, displaying his manly figure to advantage. A rifle was slung at his pack, and upon either hip hung a silver-mounted revolver. But the most conspicuous feature of all, was the great silver star upon his breast—a star shat was’as well known to every savage and prairie freebooter in Dakota and the Black Hills as old Ursa Major is known to the students of astronomy. For the horseman was the noted Silver Star, the Boy Knight of the Prairies. e was mounted upon a small, clean-limbed_ gray horse, whose long, slender neck, small head and wide nostrils deno’ wonderful speed and endless endurance. The, animal was caparisoned with a light, eee, saddle, and bridle to correspond. At the pommel of the saddle hung a leather-covered canteen and a rope lariat. As he came to a halt upon the plain the you man one the rein — his piieate neck, an restin: arm upon the cantle of his saddle, as- sumed an attitude of intense listen At the same time his keen eyes searched the plain before and upon each side of him, closely, carefully. “Surely I can't be mistaken as to the pons ” he mused; and then he took from his pocket a slip of paper and read these words—written ina bold, rude nd: “Sinver Srar:—Panl Osman, the Outlaw, has some deviltry afoot—the particulars I don’t know. Luc if you are in the vicinity of the point where the Big Deer Trail enters the White Earth woods, PS may learn the facts. Go if you can; that villain must be thwarted. Tue Hippen Spy.” When he had concluded this note, which he had found pinned to his blanket one morning upon awakening from a sound slumber in the woods, he glanced around him as if to take in his position, then continued: “Well, this isthe ee but the question is whether i've been duped, or ledintoa rene: I've heard of the Hidden Spy and the Mysterious Spy for some time, but I always believed he was a myth; nor does this note weaken my views of the case, I'm inclined to think that the 7 Satins og Spy and the Demon of Darkness, of which we hear so much, but never see, _ are creations of some dull, superstitious minds. At any rate, I shall consider the Spy a genuine fraud, if this trip down here terminates in a water-haul.” Thus for several minutes he mused to himself, and finally, satisfied that he had come there upon a wild-goose chase he took up the reins and spoke to nis horse. But to his surprise, the animal refused to spey. It shook its head, reared slightly and gave a jow, uneasy whinny not to be mistaken by his young naster. sar hades of the tempjg!” exclaimed the boy. " t's in the wind, my good horse? Can it be possible that Osman, the Outlaw, and his gang st in answer to his questions, the horse shook his snorted repeatedly, and pawed the earth “ ym the name ee consniaaee can ail yo Prince? - ou going m never saw you go before,” paid the Boy Knight; and with his revol- — ver in his hand he leaned forward and searched the haps before him. But he saw nothing, and quieting 1is animal, he listened. Nothing, however, save the beating of his own heart, seemed to disturb the quietude of the night. A moment or two passed when the horse again became fretful and uneasy, Then a shadow crossed the youth’s vision, and lifting his eyes to the object that had come between him and the moon, acry of horror burst from his lips, and he involuntarily drew up on the reins until his horse was nearly thrown upon its haunches. Phe him and the moon hung—in mid-air— WHEL ? Never in all his young life had Silver Star known fear. Never had he shrunk from danger or duty, however great, however arduous, He was not super- stitious, as most bordermen are, but it must be con- fessed that the youth now found himself confronted by an object that, altogether, was beyond his com- prehension—that filled his breast with a strange, mysterious feeling—a feeling of commingled awe and fear. He fixed his eyes upon the object and held them there as if riveted by a horrible fascination. His horse, too, stood silent—trembling in every limb with affright, High above the horizon swung the hes object. In shape and size it resembled a large haystack, top downward, It was moving, and reeling eS the sky like a drunken thing, and appeared to be gradu- ally settling toward the earth. Something like a rreat basket was suspended from its base, and in his basket the Bo ight could see the forms of two men dimly outlined against the blue sky. And, furthermore, he could hear the voices of these men engaged in conversation—engaged in loud and em- phatie tones, that, to all appearances, were those of animosity and resentment. Silver Star was somewhat relieved of his wonder- ment when he heard the voices of these sky travel- ers. He had never seen a balloon, but had often heard of it, and now came to the rightful conclusion that the object before him was a balloon settling to earth, It relieved him of all fears and doubts, and turning his horse, he rode back into the shadows that lay along the edge of the woods. **By the shades of the temple,” the horseman mused, ‘I wonder, now, if there isn’t something in the words of the Hidden Spy? Can it be possible that Osman, the Outlaw, is in that balloon? or is he lurking about the ‘Deer Trail’ to meet them balloon fellows here, by appointment?” The balloon was, by this time, about a hundred yards above him, It seemed to have become almost stationary, and stood trembling and quivering in the air as if equally balanced between the laws o gravi- tation and the buoyant effort of the inflated canvas —unable to descend, unable to rise. Meanwhile, Silver Star could still hear the aeronauts engaged in high words that sounded more clearly to his ears than if they had emanated from a lower point; still,he was unable to make out anything intelligible. How- ever, as the balloon drifted slowly along the edge of the woods above the tree-tops, he rode almost direct- Read it, but carefully concealed in the shadows. e words of the aeronauts became somewhat sgl and he finally gathered enough to learn that hey were disputing about throwing something over- board to lighten their craft and prevent it from fall- ing to the earth, “7 don't care a——, professor,’ he heard one of them say; ‘if this balloon is lightened of one thing, it will be lightened of me, also.” “Man,” replied he who was addressed as professor, “don’t you know thatif we go down here we can never rise again?” “T don’t care a spark of fire in purgatory!’’ was the response; “you've heard my decision.” i bn, is the professor laughed a wild, sardonic augh. A conversation in a lower tone now followed, and afew moments later Silver Star saw, to his surprise and wonder,fa dark, elongated object lifted over the basket of the balloon and lowered by means of a rope. When it had reached the ground, the rope was dropped, notwithstanding the sharp protest of one of the aeronauts; and thus soloed of a portion of its burden, the balloon n slowly to ascend. Now again did the aor Knight hear high words be- tween the aeronauts, with not an infrequent use of frighthful oaths. But the balloon was soon rising so rapidly that he could no longer distinguish thei words. e kept his eyes upon the air-ship, how- ever, and was startled to see the men moving quick- ly about in the basket, and rego | motions with their arms as if engaged in a hand-to-hand strug- gle. This had lasted but a few moments when to the horror of the lad, he saw one of the men lift the other in his arms and hurl him out of the basket. Down, down, with a wild, blood-curdling scream trailing through the air, the doomed man sunk, and struck the earth with a dull, crushing thud. ‘Oh, my God!” burst from the lips of the boy, his soul fairly sickening at the horrible sight and sound; “what awful mystery and murder are these?” He glanced up as if to see what next was to follow, but the balloon, now relieved of more of its burden, soared into the blue depths above, and striking an upper current of air, d rapidly away to the northward. : Without a moment’s hesitation Silver Star dis- mounted, and, ies his horse to follow, advanced to where the ill-fated aeronaut lay. He found the man—an entire stranger of about thirty years—ly- pon broken, bleeding lump, Life was alniada ex and the young borderman was abcut to be- gin an eonani sation of his person for documentary evidence of his identity, and from whenes he had come, when a low, stifled moan hard by arrested his attention, This reminded him of the first object / that had been lowered from the balloon, and turn< ing, he walked to where it had been let down. To his surprise and astonishment, he found it to bea human form wrapped ina gray blanket, and strug- gling to free itself from the folds of the blanket, and the rope that encircled the body. Without a moment’s hesitation Bilver Star drew his knife, and severing the rope, stripped the blanket from the form and face of the unknown. “Holy Jerusalem!’’ burst involuntarily from the lad’s lips, while his face and eyes lit up with a glow of surprise and admiration. And no wonder, for before him, now occupying a , sitting posture, was a girl scarcely past sixteen summers—a girl of wondrous beauty—a beaut | hightened by her wild surroundings, and the weird,| mellow beams of the old white moon. : CHAPTER It. ELWE ——. Iv was astrange, touching scene—hard for the pen to describe, for pencil to portray. The long, dark line of forest—the great brown prairie—-the astound- ed young Knight of the Plain—the beautiful, terri- fied girl—the lifeless lump of humanity lying near —the motionless horse of the ranger--the t wavs ing grass, and the whole flooded by the pas light of the moon struggling through the mist of autumn, formed a combination of elements whose expressiov and spirit could ne+ be trazs<..«-a vo tne Calvas oF the painter. For several moments not a soul stirred. The pale - of the maiden were pee and her seulful eyes lifted to the handsome face of Silver Star as though she would speax; but, like the youth himself, she seemed speechless, spellbound. The spell was suddenly broken by Prince, who gave an uneasy snort, and struck the ground sharply with his hoof. Silver Star glanced quickly around him, and then turning again to the maiden said: ‘*T can’t actually believe my senses.” The maiden glanced around her, as though his voice came from some other direction; still she spoke never a word. ** Are you actually human’—flesh and blood?”’ the youth continued, advancing and laying his finger upon her head as if to assure himself that she was a material object and not a vision. The touch of the boy’s finger seemed to break the spell that bound her motionless and silent, and by an effort she arose to her feet, though still gazing in bewilderment about her. In size she was a little below the medium, but pos- sessed a petite, well-rounded form, a sweet, girlish face set in a wealth of golden hair, and large brown eyes with long silken lashes. She was dressed in garments that were not of the border, but of wealth and civilization. The shawl about her shoulders, the jones upon her person, and the air of refine- ment upon her features told that she was a child of wealth and society. ‘“Where aml?’ were the first words she spoke, oe her eyes over the boundless plate be. ore her, ‘*My dear young lady,” said the Boy Knight, gal- lantly, ‘‘ you are in the southern extremity of Dako- ta Territory.” Be sir!’ she exclaimed, with a start; ‘ this can- not be.” “Tt isa fact, miss, howsomever bitter it may be to you. Pardon me, ‘but may I ask where you live?” “ A thousand miles from here, I expect!’’ she said, half-choked with some terrible inward emotion, ‘* But, oh! this cannot be true! Iam surely dream- ing! ‘Tell me if this is not all a frightful dream?” “T wish I could, miss, and tell you the truth; but it’s all too real,” replied the boy. “Oh, merciful heavens!’ she cried, wringing her little hands in bitter anguish of heart; ‘“‘why did L ever live to see this? Oh, sir! how came I here?” Silver Star was greatly astonished by these ques- tions. He saw that the maiden had been the victim of some foul and devilish wi La gO she had been kidnapped and carried from her home, wher- ever that might be, in the balloon, and that, too, while under the influence ef some drug. “ All I know abott you, miss, is that you were lowered from a. balloon a few minutes ago--that the balloon rose in the air and sailed away fo the north- ward, gan’ ns Ce alone to the protection of Heaven in this wild, heathenish land. But, rest assured, 1’) die before I see any harm come to you. I’m Silver Star, the Boy Knight. I b’long up to the fort, and there I'll take you. If I do say it myself, Miss Stranger, ’m young, but blest if Ican’t square ac- counts with any red-skin or prairie freebooter that"ll dare to offer you harm by word or act. And I’m rough too, as a quartz-rock, but then you will excuse me, i know, for I haven't had the society and school-pol- ishing like [know you've had, miss. We fellows out here aré-full of fight and fun, but not much for nice clothes and big words; but if there is anything [ like to see it’s a fair fight and a pretty woman. [ know you've not been treated right, Miss Stranger; them men must ’a’ been awful demons to leave you, a perfect angel, alone on this prairie for the wolves to eat you up.’ 5 “No doubt, that is what they desired—intended,” the gi responded, half-choked with her emotions. “But their game’s failed them, thank Heaven! Now may I ask you what b ped name is, miss? and where you come from? and who them men are? and what they are to you?” : “My name is Elwe—’’ she began, but the rest of the name was lost to the ears of' Silver Star in the loud, shrill whinny of his horse. “Great shades of the temple! what's coming now, Prince?” the lad exclaimed, and, turning, he saw his horse looking southward over the plain, Then the»
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aE I a Se mt SEES (6 ee Ne goat bent his head and listened, but could hear | thing. He dropped himself to the earth, and ssing his ear to the ground, again listened. In a oment he started up, saying: “Horsemen are comin’, Miss Elwe. We must ave here, for I know ’most they're Ingins or rob- ars. I’ve been down here watchin’ for some devil fry, and I guess I’ve seen it. The words of ‘The ‘Hidden Spy’ are comin’ true—but then that’s not ‘the thing to talk to you about. Miss Elwe, can you ride horseback?” “ Yes, sir,’’ the maiden replied, 4 faint smile play- ing about her lips; ‘‘if there is any thing I excel in, it is in riding; but, Silver Star—”’ “Well, then, you must mount my horse, and I'll walk, for we must be moving from here.” “Oh, sir, I could not think of taking your horse rom you,” the yirl replied. “But you must think of it; as for me, I could walk a hundred miles to let any one like you ride.” “You are gallant, [ must confess; but—” **]T will listen to nothing,” the boy interrupted; ‘vou must ride my nag, and I’ll walk.” e called his horse up, and assisted the maiden to animal’s back. sho took her seat in the saddle an ease and grace which proved that she was xecustomed to it, and gathering up the reins she an- gZounced her readiness for departure, Silver Star led the way toward the White Earth, but before he had gone far in that direction, strange gries were heard emanating from the depths of the tvoods, and were answe up and down the river. ull well the young guide knew what they mean and without a word he turned regrow d to the righ and led the way eastward over the in. He walked briskly, and had the maiden been fully aware of the geal danger that menaced them she would doubtless have noticed the uneasiness of her rescuer. But, all mnconscious of the fact that hostile Indians and white robbers infested the woods and prowled over the prairies, she rode on, brooding over her sorrow. and wondering, until it seemed her very heart would burst, who her abductors were, why they had car- ried her away from her home and friends, and whether she would ever return to them or not. In fact, her brain grew dizzy, and there were times when she seemed floating along in a half-wakeful sleep—half-conscious and half-dreaming. Often she tried to convince herself that she was dreaming, that she might wake to a pleasant realization; but the * swish ” of wintering the moving page of the allant yo ight, the great — of prairie, ‘aad the oor in the blue depths of heaven—all con- ‘vinced her of the painful reality of her situation. They had journeyed some three or four miles, and ‘the maiden had succeeded, to some extent, in re- conciling herself to the situation, when suddenly her uide dropped alongside her horse and looking up fato her face said, with a troubled expression upon his countenance: “Elwe, you will hawe to leave me and ride on alone.” ‘* Why, Silver Star, 1am content to follow you,” she said, innocent of the boy’s meaning; ‘* more- over, I would not know where to go.” “But you must go, Elwe—I insist upon it,” “Why, Silver Star?” she asked. **We are bein’ pursued.”’ ** Being pursued?”’ she exclaimed; ‘* by whom?” “ Indians, or outlaws; or both, Elwe. Look back; do you see that dark line and flashing weapons mov- ing yonder?” Liwe glanced back and saw—not over a hundred ods distant—a number of horsemen riding furious- ay toward them. She could hear the sound of their horses’ feet, now that her attention had been called to them, and see the flash and glimmer of their ‘weapons and trappings in the moonlight. Still the snatien scarcely realized the magnitude of her dan- ger, and Siiver Star noticed the fact. ‘‘ Elwe,” he said, persistently, “vou must fly! It will be death to fall into them savages’ power. They ‘are hostile Sioux, no doubt, led by the renegade chief, White Crane.” : = “But, Silver Star, will they not kill you?” the girl inquired, with trem — om 8 “ Never mind me—I’ e care of — Give Prince the rein, Elwe, and let him go. lassure you he will carry you safely through to the fort. Do not | attempt to de him, for he knows the way even better thanI do. Now go, Elwe, and may Heaven protect you! Not a moment must be lost.” Scarcely conscious of what she was doing, Elwe bid the boy farewell, gave her horse the rein and galloped swiftly away. A wild, savage yell behind told that her flight had been discovered, and then pursuit began in | earnest. Silver Star dropped himself in the grags, which was nearly waist-deep, and upon hands and knees Began crawling cautiously but rapidly away to get out of the path of the savages. He felt satisfied that they had not seen him, and the only fears he these were soon disposed of, for he had scarce gone a dozen rods ere the whole band of Indians and Robbers swept past him like the wind. Lying upon the earth, he could see every man—red and white— and as negr as he could judge they were about fifty in number. ; When far past him the young guide rose to his £ and, as a smile passed over his f he said: “*Go on, you yellin’ horde of p torian blisters! Tl risk you overtakin’ Prince and Elwe. Ah! who knows but this isa part of the night’s me wf which “The Hidden Spy” spoke in his note? Blest if I don’t b’lieve there és such a person as the “ Invisible Spy ” and the Demon of Darkness! But Oe eee ae the On but, bah! what am J ‘eout? Thea best for me is to be peg- Siiver Star, tne Boy Knight. ; | | upon his breast. ging out for the fort. A thirty-mile walk is not encouraging; but by Bogen: across by way of the Dead Fall I can save five miles, and b’lieve I'll do it. <a if it is a little risky; so here goes.” e turned north and struck out across the prairie. To him every acre of prairie, every watercourse, wood, trail, hill and chasm within miles of him wag perfectly familiar. Wherever he went there was some known landmark to guide him, and so he was not sompelled to follow any beaten track or road, Hes reached the woods and plunged into the deep, dense shadows; here he observed more caution— more through force of habit than fear of danger. Pressing on he soon entered the broken, wooded | foot-hills where treacherous foot-falls, valleys rent | with chasms, and rugged, precipitous bluffs beset his path. The timber, however, was nov so dense and the moonlight struggling to earth, here and there, greatly relieved the footsteps of the young | adventurer. He had journeyed several miles when he found or bluff, artes ag miles to the right and left. B pee around the western extremity of this blu could save miles of travel in his journey to the fort; but it would be attended with great and immi- nent peril. Nothi daunted, however, Silver Star pressed forward—taking the shortest and most dan- gerous route. He kept close in against the face of the bluff Sh a ledge of rocks that wound around the great cliff like a spiral stairway, and soon the — danger appeared. A deep, iack chasm set n upon his left, while the bluff rose higher and higher, overhanging the narrow way he was follow- ing. But Silver Star knew his course and all its at- tending dangers. He had traveled it before, but none save the nimble-footed and the cool-headed dare attempt the passage of a certain point on the route known as the Dead Fall. It was a place where the traveler had te turn a sharp corner of rocks— ; ; | I've passed the fall more than once, and can do it | A little further on a niche in the side of the cliff arrested the youth’s attention and invited him toa daring adventure. It was deep enough to conceal his person, and as the moonlight did not relieve it of its darkness on account of the overhanging brow of the cliff, he rex solved to press himself into it and run the risk of discovery by the passing red-skins. Removing the star upon his breast, the lad back- ed himself into the niche, and in breathless suspense awaited the coming and going, of White Crane and his | followers. He had not jong to wait, for the ungain- | his elbows ly chief soon passed him with long, sliding footste ost brushing the boy’s breast as he sed. He was immediately followed by a savage in paint and feathers, and this one was followed by another and still another, until a dozen or more passed without discovering the enemy pressed in 5 niche of the wall so close that he seemed a part of it, The lad remained perfectly quiet for fear all had | not gone by. himself confronted by an almost perpendicular cliff, | along the | Five minutes passed, but as no more sevages ap- peared to be coming, he leaned forward and looked out along the ledge. A cry escaped his lips and he started back, clutch his revolver, for another savage was coming within five stepsof him! That the | warrior had discovered his presence there was no denyi for he sent forth a yell that started a hun- d echoes, leaping and rebounding through the | hills and valleys. | savage on the right making where the footing was treacherous, and where many | a red-skin and hunter had been hurled into the fear- ful abyss below, a broken, bleeding, torn mass. It | was this point the boy dreaded, for every step was attended with dan A misstep or a loose pebble might hurl him to his death. One thing was in his favor. ‘The moon shone full against the face of the cliff and lighted his way. But for this he would have had to pick his way step a4 step. As he advanced, the boy found that his path grew narrower, and at times slanted off toward the preci- pice on his left. Every step now had to be planted with the greatest care until beyond the Dead Fall, which was but a few rods away, and the young man had almost reached it when the sound of voices fell upon his ears. He paused and listened, to be certain. He was not mistaken. From beyond the Dead Fall came the sound. Some one was coming toward him from the other direction—from around the Dead Fall. It was im ledge, and if those coming should happen to be ene- mies, death would be inevitable. The lad held his breath in suspense. He leaned his eyes upon the angle that concealed the unknown from his sight. It was immediately answered by those that had by, and a few moments later the Boy ight heard them coming back, and heard the nown his discovery to them. This placed the daring boy in a perilous situation from which there seemed no possible chance of escape, Itis true, the angles of the rocks on each side of him, protected his body as long as he re- mained wedged in there; but he could not entertain any assurance of escape. Py e chasm before him was over two hundred feet deep, the rocks behind high and projecting; so there was no mode of escape save by the path that led him there; so, drawing his revolver, he prepared for the worst. He had some advant of position, but the enemy had the advantage of numbers. More- | over, Silver Star was under the necessity of keeping possible for two persons to pass upon the | a watch upon the right and left, for fear the savages might undertake to circumvent him by closing in on both sides at the same time. With a revolver in «ach hand, he kept unceasing watch. Tne minutes wore slowly and heavily away into hours, but to the watcher’s surprise the foe made not the slightest demonstration. The sav remained perfectly quiet in hopes of deluding boy; but Silver Star knew with whom he had to per and that the enemy was possessed of dogged ence. Slowly the moon crept around the bluff and went down, leaving the land in a purple gloom, and ren- | dering the situation of the brave Silver Star more | precarious. But slowly the eventful night wore inst the cliff, for he felt sick at heart. He fixed | A form turned the Dead Fall and | used before him. It was that of an Indian—an | ndian chief—a tall, er looking creature—hid- eous and grotesque with feathers and war-paint. Silver Star recognized him as the notorious rene- gade, Wade-in-the-Water, or White Crane. away, and the light of a new day burst over hill and thf It gave a momentary relief to the besieged outh’s mind; yet it did not bring relief to his body. unger and cramp from long confinement were telling upon him. Still nothing had been heard or seen of the red- | skins. Where were they? The chief readily recognized the boy by the star | of doom. Each was thunderstruck by the presence of the other. They stood leaning slightly forward, glaring into e dipere resting in their Seath- each other’s eyes struggle. Cold and damp came the air from the black depths below into their faces. The cold sweat started in great drops upon the | face of the chief, and his nerves jerked and twitched with emotion. The star upon the breast of the boy flashed and glimmered in the moonlight. The very wall against which they stood pressed seemed to be swelling outright as if to crowd them over the dizzy hights. Voices beyond the Dead Fall told that the chief had friends soon to turn the corner in sight. Slowly the left hand of the boy sought the pistol at his hip. Nor was the movement unobserved by the chief whose lips moved, and in a strange mys- oe voice, purely English, articulat these words. “Boy—Silver Star, retreat! Go, before they see you, or it will be too late. I'll hold them beyond the corner until you are out of sight, Go. S'death!”’ The voice impressed the boy strangely. He knew | | it was that of a white Man in disguise—a man who, entertained were of being trampled to death. But | to save himself, was willing to permit the boy—the ly | dreaded Silver Star—to escape, and that, too, when | a great rte was upon his young scalp! Silver Star knew there was no use arguing with the chief; but accepting his proposition, an ing the same known by a nod of his head, he at once began retreating backward, all the while keeping his eyes upon the movements of the Indian for fear of treachery. He soon passed from view of his enemy around the winding ledge ed his back upon the chief and continued on. Thoughts of the fair Elwe came up in his mind, not- wit his dangerous situation; and a pang of bitter regret and disappointment smote his bi when it occurred to him that his retreat would delay him almost a day in his journey to the fort, where he ‘hoped to again meet the maiden It flashed before him like \the eye | To test the matter, the lad = his hat upon the muzzle of his revolver, and pushed it slowly out the angle of his retreat. Scarcely was half of the crown exposed ere a bullet tore through it, and the crack of a rifle woke the morning echoes. Silver Star, equal to the cnetneany, uttered a groan of | tered a wild, triumphant yell, an distress, and the enemy, believing he was killed, ut- then the one on the left—he who had the shot—glided forward to secure the coveted rie gS But es he appeared as around the corner, a pistol hed in his very face, | and a bullet crashed through his brain. A low moan mak- | , and then he turn- | escaped the doomed warrior’s lips; he clutched nervo at s , reeled and tottered,and then a <ward and disappeared over the edge of e cliff. This gave the red-skins to understand that their young foe was wide awake, and ready for any emer- gency. It adso gave them to understand that he could not be dislodged by force. The morning sun rose above the hills and tree- tops, and shot his cheerful rays into the narrow re- treat of the Boy Knight. Still it brought little re- lief—little hope to his breast. How and when his imprisonment would end, God only knew; but, ac- customed to look upon the bright side of life, the youth braced himself, inhaled the fresh airinto his lungs, and worked his limbs until partially relieved of their cramp. The mouth of the gaping chasm was not five feet from where he stood. It was not over a hundred feet wide, and the top of the opposite bluff just reached to a level with Silver Star’s eyes. It. was crowned with a dense growth of serubby trees and undergrowth, and while the boy was pondering over his situation, and wondering what the next probable movement of the enenty might be, it suddenly oc- curred to him that it would be a very matter for a red-skin to come up on the opposite side of the chasm and shoot him down as he stood in the niche. And the very thought seemed to have been born of intuition—forced upon him by that in stinctive magnetism with which man and beast have been endowed; for scarcely had it entered his mind | ere he saw the bushes on the ai gr chasm part, and a savage face appear open- ing. ' it was the face of the renegade chief, White
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1 i 4. Grane; snd as he looked across the abyss into the very face of the brave young scout, a smile of de- moniac trium of a gloating demon, Silver Star stood in full view of the chief, whose nce on the opposite side of the bluff he knew, course, must be known to his braves on the ledge; seemed to contort his face into that | and yet the chief acted as though he was endeavor- | ing to keep himself concealed but the boy. He probably felt a peng pt guilt in apnty f this advantage of a boy; but, this as it may, Silver Star was tempted to try a shot upon the genegade, and yet he did not. But a moment later he saw the chicf thrust his gun through a little open- ing in the shrubbery and level it upon him. Hesaw the eye of the man Lear 2 down the deadly barrel like the eye of doom, and bowing his head—with the word * Elwe ” upon his lips—the brave young knight awaited his fate. CHAPTER IT. OUT OF ONE DANGER INTO ANOTHER. Tue rifle of the renegade chief rung forth, a groan followed, and a limp and lifeless body went bounding headlong into the awful depths of the Dead Falls. But it-was not the body of Silver Star, the Boy Knight. It was that of a savage—the one that had stood so patiently at the right of the niche in which the boy was concealed, Silver Star stood unharmed, beg. 3 he scarcely knew what to think—whether the figures passin around him were the figures of a wild dream, or o stern reality. He thought it impossible for White Crane to have slain one of his own warriors purpose- ty; and yet it seemed as utterly impossible for him to have killed him by mistake. Surely he—the boy— had not been mistaken in the person he had seen across the chasm? He was satisfied it was White Crane, but what puzzled him was the chief’s action in shoeting one of his followers; and while ponte the matter over, he was suddenly startled by an- other rifle-report, and the death-yell of another sav- age. Again*had the supposed renegade chief slain an- other warrior, and again was the Boy Knight plunged into doubt and suspense that were painful. He could see nothing of the chief now, nor could he hear anything of his red enemies on the ledge to the left; still he was afraid to venture from his covert, anc while trying to determine what course to pursue, he was suddenly surprised by seeing his unknown friend emerge from the shrubbery on the opposite side of the chasm in full view. it was the renegade ehief, White Crane, sure enough! “Great horn—I mean waugh!”’ the chief began, in a quick, excited tone; ““whatin the fire and thun- Jer are you doing in that hole, Silver Star! Didn't I give you a chance, last night, when I met you on the edge, to save your bacon? Oh,if I had a-holt of you td jerk some of that adventuresome young cussedness outen your system! Why, I had to plug two of my braves to skeer the rest away, and 50, you know what’s good for your hide, you want to be a-climbin’ out of thar like a sick b’ar. In ten min- utes more my braves *ll be round here lookin’ for the feller that struck Billy Patterson, Now shin out round the Dead Fall.” . “ White Crane, why have you befriended me, thus?” the boy ventured to demand, full of strange eager- n ess. **That’s none of Petal business, my larkie, and now zood-by, for I’m off like a gazelle,” and the strange glided into the bushes and was seen no more Silver Star. The boy had been deeply imbued with the honest intention of the chief, notwithstan his mysteri- ous motive; and so he ventured from covert, He found the Indians gone, and without a mo- ment’s hesitation he moved along the ledge, around the Dead Fall, and made his way from the cliff onto broader and safer ground. He now breathed an air of relief, and a moment for refleetion. His d reverted to Elwe and the mysterious White He at once relieved himself of all fears con- cerning the maiden, for he felt certain his noble horse would her beyond danger; but the more thought of the chief, and his acts of mercy to the greater became his heartfelt gratitude and wonder—wonder that deepened into a profound gy bone wea files now lay before the Boy Knight. They were ail the more oer for he was suffering the pangs of hunger and the ill-effect of his long and - confinement on the ledge; but, with that unfalte: courage and resolute determination me racteristic of the boy, he pushed boldly for- ward. He soon reached the White Earth, and turn- inz westward followed along that stream, looking fer a crossing. He had followed this route but a short distance when he came upon the smoldering embers of a camp-fire. He knew by the signs that orerty, of Indians bad been encamped there during f. h up the embers he be on some dry fuel, am! with his hat fanned the | into a blaze. This dons, he resolved to have some b: ast, and shoul- his rifle he set off in search of game, He con- to kill an: fit to eat, from a deer toa and, as luck would have it, he had not gone far na fhe deer came lancing down the woodland shadows within fifty paces of . Accustomed to at deer and antelope 7 the run, the lad brought his e to shoulder and fired. r lunged fo a few rods and fell in a lit- 4la opening. “‘ Weavens!”’ exclaimed the lad, as the echoes re- the rt of his rifle over and over and sent f ie re through the young day, that’s Serge ine down the Rigtae trons, rom the eyes of all | | Silver Star had fired butone of them! British America. But then I can’t starve, report or no report.” Reloading his rifle he advanced to secure a slice of | the deer. The animal was still struggling in its death-throes. It was a noble buck with a coat as sleek and glossy as silk, and as the young knight stood waiting for it to die, he was startled by sight of the animal’s hot blood spurting from ¢wo wounds in its side. Z'wo bullets had pierced the deer, and The other one must have been fired simultaneous—both rifles cracked as onc, Who had fired that other shot? As Silver Star asked himself the question he raised his eyes and glanced quickly around him, A cry burst from his lips. Forth from the bushes near he saw a painted sav- age leap, and glide toward him with drawn toma- aw pages than a flash of lightning Silver Star whip- outa revolver and fired. The savage stopped suddenly, clutched at his face and attempted to ut- ter a cry, but the blood that welled up in his throat choked down all utterance save a low, strangling Fasp, and reeling he fell dead. But, scarcely was this victory won ere two more warriors came bound- ing from the woods with a frightful yell, and bore down upon the young white. Never flinching, the boy deliberately raised his revolver and fired, bring- ing down his Indian, and was about to repeat the act upon the other, when he—the warrior—threw his hatchet at the youth. Silver Star dodged the fi ing weapon, but in throwing up his hand to rand 3) danger, the tomahawk struck his revolver and knocked it from his hand. Still the savage came on, drawing his knife as he advanced, and yelling like a demon. Silver Star, ever ready for any emergency, stood erect with one foot set forward, his fists clenched, his teeth set and his eyes blazing with a desperate resolve, He had laid his rifle down when he drew his a and now he stood weaponless; still he yielded not an inch, The savage was a herculean fellow—strong enough to crush the boy by main strength. The ferocity of a demon was depicted upon his face. He felt confi- | dent of an easy Bh giro for he saw that the lad was | without any means of defense whatever. Silver Star, however, had resolved to sell his life coe and, when the savage was within ten feet of him, he sprung forward like a young tiger and threw himself prostrate upon the earth. is head passed between the legs of the warrior, but the feet of the savage striking the shoulder of the boy he stumbled and fell full ye be upon the ground. Both, with lightning quickness endeavored to be first upon his feet; but the first down was the first up, and before the red-skin was aware of the fact, the hands of Silver Star were fastened upon his scalp-lock, and he felt himself jerked backward with dreadful violence across the body of the dying deer. Silver Star fell at the same time, and the Indian feeling the moving body under him, supposed, in his blind fury, that he had fallen upon the body of the boy, aud raising his knife he ve the blade, with all his strength, into the animal's neck. He attempted to withdraw the weapon, but as it had been buried in the muscles and tendons it seemed riveted there and refused to be withdrawn, and before he could repeat his effort Silver Star was upon foot and tugging desperately at his long scalp. By a sudden movement the lad succeeded in jerking n beyond the reach of his knife, when the war- rior was thrown upon his natural resources for defense. Like a hi are he veaeed himself about upon the .ea' and fairly frothed at the mouth. His strength was a gee and by a quick jerk he threw the Boy t to his knees, and reaching backward he seized the big e by the collar and drew him up close against his back. In the iron gripe of the monster the lad was as a mere infant, and he was eee, at the villain’s mercy. Still the young knight held on to his scalp-lock, and kept the great bullock-like head of the savage 2 del back so that he could not exert his entire stre i In the st le they had rolled over a rod from the body of the deer, but now the savage n wriggling and edging back toward the deer. Silver Star knew his intention; it was to secure his knife and end the airuggle. The young knight felt that his life was in imminent or ae was powerless to do aught in the hands Inch es inch did the red-skin work his way toward the deer, and at len he came close enough to touch the haft of his knife with his fingers, Another hitch and he could presp it. Silver Star felt his blood run cold. He glanced across the opening and within the shadows of a tree he saw a strange, round, black object, resembling, in some respects, the wi of a monster bat. The sight of it sent a shiver through his frame, notwith- standing his perilous situation. Before he had time for a second thought he felt the savage hitch for- ward; he saw his fingers close Porctty handle of the knife. At this very juncture a cloud of smoke burst from the dark a rin on the edge of the opening, and the dull, pistol-like report of a firearm broke the dead silence of the moment. Silver Star felt a quiver run through the frame of his Slant antagonist, he felt his loosen upon his collar, and looking into his inted face, he saw a bullet-hole directly between is eyes—saw that he had been slain. The next instant the Boy Knight stood, a free lad; but who had saved him? He glanced toward the pate Ps the opening; but that strange, black object isa While the youth again found himself pondering over Quttliek ttvaiae mystery, he was efrion s skege | ril FP the Silver Star, the Boy Knight, | and thumping each other’s head | til their faces and foreheads were x | startled by sight of a wild, tragic scone test wae: being enacted a few rods away. CHAPTER IV. ‘““WHEN GREEK MEETS GREEK, THEN COMES THR TDG > WAR ° : Suiver Srar’s attention had been attracted by the sound of a human voice, and loo around he saw a white man, about ten rods away, in a posi- tion of the most comical and ridiculous character; and the words that he heard issuing from the man’s. lips filled him with no little wonder and curiosity, he man was dressed from head to foot in the garb of a frontiersman, and was standing facing, and close up avainst a tree with his arms hugging the trunk tightly. And what was more strange, the arms of another man—evidently a savage—upon the other side of the tree were lapped around the trunk, and the fingers of the hand clutched tightly in the unkempt locks of the hunter. What it all meant, Silver Star could not under- stand, and for a minute or more he stood gazing u on the strange performance. To his surprise, he: discovered that the Indian was none other than his friendly foe, White Crane, in whose hair the long: e two foes had evidently approached each other with the tree between them, and aware of each. other's presence on the opposite side, had endeavor- ed to seize each other and thus became fastened in: a deadly gripe, and in this ludicrous manner they” were found 4g the Boy Knight. It ap that neither would relinquish his hold! through fear that his antagonist would gain an ad~ vantage over him; and yet they were in a position that would enable them to inflict little damage upon each other. Around and around the tree they circled, jerking- ainst the tree un- ruised and bleed- By turns, they cursed each other’s cowardice: | digits of the hunter were hooked. ing. | and stupidity, and made the most horrible threats | the human mind could conceive, | cocoa-nut shel Silver Star enjoyed the scene very much, yet im some doubt as to what it really meant, he stood an@ watched and listened. “ Oh, you gol-infernalated red bastion,” he heard: ) the white hunter exclaim, “I'll hold you here till the fires of the sulphur-pit goes out—I'll pound your old: ana this tree till the milk in it’s alk ees into bonnyclabber, confound your ever—o— oh!” His words were here cut short by White Crane giving his head a furious bump against the tree, “Waugh!” vociferated the red-skin. ‘* White Crane much big chief—he hold pale-face dog here beg grows heap big and makes white dog’s arms: r 7? “Oh, that’s your idea, is it, you mutton-head? I'll hold onto your hair till my whole carcass is: stretched into arms. I’ll be found here a hundred. ears from now if you last, you red bastion. Oh, ackson, that fit at Waterloo! jist wait and I'll soom kick this tree out from between us; I’m to be yous last sickness!” In this manner they continued to pull, and haul, and curse each other around and around the tree: for some time. Neither seemed disposed to yield,. and Silver Star finally concluded that he would in- terfere. He knew not whether the white man waa. a friend or not; but he naturally supposed he was a friend. White Crane he knew had Pefriended him— saved his life, and now if he could repay him he was: going to do it, and advancing nearer to them he ex- claimed: ‘* Ho, here, men! what means all this?” Had a bomb-shell exploded near, the two foes would not have started more violently. Each broke his hold upon the other’s hair and started back, sti: ee e tree between them. Each glanced at. the Boy Knight, then drew his knife and stood ready, as if expecting enemy, to come around the tree and h the conflict. But neither stirred from his. tracks—seemed anxious to renew the battle. “Men, why this fight here in this manner?” Silver Star asked, looking from one to the other. “Because the pale-face dog is afraid to come ‘round the tree and fight like a brave man,” answer- ed White Crane. ; “ The red-faced bastion’s a liar,” roared the hunter, an odd-loo old genius of the genuine Y: types “T went around and around that tree thousand times, but the coward alers kept on t’other side like a squirrel. Them are the facts and figgers in the case, youngster; and I can whoop that sp er-legged, mp-headed red nigger out 0’ hia boots and breéthes if he'll just sail arom here!” ~ hissed the “The pale-face is a great coward!” renegade, shaking his bony fist at his foe, though the tree was still between them. There was something in tlie on, Se and angular-featured White Crane that impressed Silver Star rather favorably. There was a strange twinkle in his gray eyes, and an odd, serio-comical ex- pression hovering about the great, wide mouth that were indicative of some of the better traits and re- deeming qualities of human nature. There was nothing repulsive or sus cages about the white man; but, naturally enough, silver Star’s sympathy was for the man who had saved his life; and believing that now was the time to repay the chief, he resolved to interfere. “St rs,’ he said, “‘let this conflict end here, You are both white men—-brothers. White Crane has saved my life, and it is but just that I shoulé repay him in like manner. White Crane, you mag de . I will see that no harm befalls you.” “Thanks to thee, my little cove,’’ said the chief, with a graceful wave of the hand, asif glad of the lad’s assurance, Then craning his neck around the ES Ee
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=—— as ow +a tree until he could see the white hunter, shook his fist at him, and then turned and strode majestically, trinmphantly away into the woods. *“ Great lord of Ballycorn!” exclaimed the hunter, “ Boy, did you say as he saw the chief retreating. he act’ly saved your life?” 4 f “Yes, he did,” replied Silver Star, keeping his eyes upon the hunter through fear of treachery. ‘‘Well, then, that saves hig:/ If it wer'n’t for that I’d foller him and exterminate the red-white bastion—I would, by the holy Moses, Boy, it seems awful queer that I didn’t knock that tree from atwixt us and abolish him, soul and body. Isee, now, I’m a fool for not doing it—I see it plain as the nose on my face, and that’s plain enough since it’s three times its nateral longi and latitood. Jist look, youngster, whar my proboscis war jerked against hat tree by that infernalated red bastion. Oh, that a thought “d do the work, wouldn’t I abolish him, ough?—wouldn’t T smash him all over Dakota like a flirt? Oh, save me' I’m mad—mader’n a bum- blebee. But, what’s the use frettin’? Come to think, I'll sw’er I believe that I’ve heard that cuss’s voice before—years ago. If he’d jist shed his paint and dirt, mebby I’d know him.” ‘*Very likely,” answered the boy; “and if seems to me that 1 ought to know you.” “Well, you’d ought, that’s a fact; but as my features are somewhat out of gear, and puffed up so like a blowing adder, I reckon my girl wouldn’t know me. But my name is Arkansaw Abe —Old Arkansaw, the Traveler and Scout; that’s me, ” “Old Arkansaw!’’ exclaimed the boy, in surprise and delight; “you don’t tellme! And yet, I might have guessed as much.” ‘Yes, sir’ee, hossfly; I’m that very old pilgrim. No great shakes for beauty, but noted for my sweet disposition and charmin’ ways.” “You've been Spree at the fort some time,” said the Boy Knight. ‘Yes; Ll arriv’ thar last night.” ‘*Then you’ve been to the fort?” “Yes—oh, yes; and I hadn’t been there but a few hours when I was started in search of one of the scouts belongin’ to the fort; and the star on your Giaph: 1 tells me I’ve found him. You, boy, are that little bloody Turk called Silver Star, ar’n’t “you?” x4 “T am, Arkansaw; but, why were you sent in search of me? Did Elwe get through safe?” “Who's Elwe? your hoss? It come through in good time all right side up.” ‘‘ Without a rider?” ‘* Without a rider.” Silver Star uttered a groan and fairly staggered , under the terrible news. “Oh, my God!” he exclaimed; “then Elwe is lost!” CHAPTER V. -AREKEANSAW AND THE BOY KNIGHT MAKE A RECON- NOISSANCE,. Boy,” replied Old Arkansaw, “‘what do you ‘mean by saying Elwe is lost? Who and what is Biwe?”’ In as few words as ble the Boy Knight nar- ‘rated the adventure the balloon, rescue of Elwe, and her flight upon his horse, Old Arkansaw was astonished by the lad’s story, and when he had concluded his narration, the hun- ter said: “Then the poor vem 3 thing never got through. The hoss came all right, but no girl. I should think if the red-skins got her, they’d taken the hoss too; so it’s my solemn opinion that she’s been killed,” “Oh, merciful heavens!” cried the boy, “‘I hope such is not the case. I cannot bear to think Elwe is dead. She was the prettiest girl, Arkansaw, that you ever laid your eyes on, And, then, she was as gentle as an el; why, if it hadn’t been for them wicked men inthe ‘loon, I’d ’a’ believed she war sent from heaven direct.” o “Love! love!’ muttered the old borderman, “T never knowed a boy to rescue a gal from danger in my life but he fell in love with her, heels over head. And then they’re alers angels—beauchiful, and all this sort of things, even if they're tg ey mud fences. Like as not your Elwe ’d look like a bird without plumage to me. You see, old eyes and young eyes don’t see alike. I used to see an angel in every gal’s face, but, how’re you angels now? After I got jilted forty-seven times, the female sex became very plain—really human. But it’s mighty ueer "bout that balloon business—some mystery. Why didn’t you ax your angel "bout it, Silver Star?” «J did ask her, and she had just begun telling me when we discovered the Indians coming down upon us, But, Arkansaw, I must know what become of that girl—I will never quit these woods until I know whether she is dead or alive. “Now, see here, boy; you've got a name all over Hakota and creation for bein’ one of the best, slick- «sb and most successful pen om and so don’t, for eity sake, let this girl-hunt spile all. “ &Do you advise me, Arkansaw, to let her go—to pot look after her? to leave her, if livin’ at the mercy of bloodthirsty savages? *Oh, no, Silver Star; be a man—die for lovely woman, if necessary—and you want to; but don’t go soo hasty. Keep cool and calculate carefully, and then see how she'll figger up. Now, Captain Barns and nine of the soldiers are camped up here waiting for me to return with some game for breakfast, and #f you'll b fg till a block out a chunk of that dead reer, we’ u camp.” * Did you fia a that deer. Arkansaw?” the boy aguectionod. “T cid, for a fact.” Se ee ee ee ee ee Silver Star, the Boy Knight. ** And so did I, though I did not hear your gun. There are two bullet-holes in the animal’s side. We must have fired simultaneously.” “Yes, for I didn’t hear your gun till you begun to rattle off checks to them red-skins, eavens, how | you managed that battle, fora boy. You’re a good one, I'll vow. I’m awful glad to meet you, Silver Star; here, give us a shake—like to forgot that; but say, jist don’t say anything to the boys "bout the way I got that White Crane fixed up to abolish him. | They might consider it a thunderated good joke on —on—well, the tree we war huggin’ up so skrimp- | shus. Jist kind o’ leave it all to me; I'll fix up this battered mug 0’ mine, to the boys, satisfacto Te The scouts secured a portion of the deer, and the weapons of the fallen red-skins and at once set out for camp, where they soon arrived. | Silver Star was received in camp with shouts of | joy; but great was their surprise when the men saw the face of Old Arkansaw, bruised and bleeding; and they at once plied him with questions regauding his injuries, This the old man had expected, and as he promis- ed Silver Star, he fixed the matter up by a slight exaggeration of facts in a manner that refiected credit upon himself. While the old frontiersman and one of the soldiers were preparing the venison for breakfast, Silver Star told Captain Barns of all that had transpired since he left the fort. The captain was astounded at the story of the balloon and the disappearance of the maiden, and many and varions were the con- jectures concerning the aeronauts and their strange conduct. With what little that Silver Star had gathered of their conversation, Captain Barns felt satisfied that the girl, Elwe, was the victim of some was eo tA foul and malicious. ‘But the maiden must be found, be she dead or alive,” the soldier said. ‘‘One of the pickets said your horse came in from the direction of Deep Ford; and as this crossing is in the vicinity of the Indian village, she might have fallen into savage power.” “Tf so, then there may be some hope of finding her,” declared the young scout; “‘ but at any rate, I'm going to hunt for her, until I know her fate.” “And you can count on my assistance,” said the officer. Breakfast being prepared and eaten, the party mounted their animals, and took their departure east, along the river. As they had brought Silver Star’s horse along with them, the youth once more found himself at home in the saddle, and that, too, with his shield-star —s brightly upon his breast in the morning e party rode on until noon when they halted for dinner and to await the coming of night. They were not far from the Indian village now, and what was to be done must be done under cover of night. With restless impatience Silver Star watched the sun go down, and when the shadows of night again settled over all, the Pa in company with Old Ar- kansaw, mounted his horse and rode off be Agere river to make a reconnoissance of the Indian ge. An hour's ride brought them within sight of a hundred twinkling lights on the opposite side of the river. “Great Scotland!’’ exclaimed Silver Star, pointing across toward the town; ‘I'd give my whole right and title to all Dakota if I could go through yon hor- net’s nest like a volley of grape-shot.” “T wish so, too, boy, if wishin’ ‘Il do any good,” replied Old Arkansaw; ‘ but I’ll bet the red bastions have all got their optics skinned and their auracu- lars open. I jist want to meet that sweet-scented White Crane again, and if I don’t show him a thin or two I'll give my head for a toad-stool. lf I shoul meet him to-night, I’d spatter his carcass ail over this territory,/and redden the moonshine with his blood. The cowardly sneakin’ ole bastion! Hivens! how I should like clap them paws upon him again!” and the old scout brought his palms together until they cracked like a pistol-shot, “Sup we go over and stir that hornits’ nest up, any. ow?” suggested the Boy Knight. “Haw! haw! haw!" laughed the scout, softly; “a boy can’v pass a hornits’ nest without shying a stone atit. But then, I’m in fur anything that’s full of fun and fire. e might go over and charge into their village and—then charge out again before the varmints sting, though it’l] be awful . Jerusa- lem crickets! won't it raise a seethin’ howl! Why, nothin’Il compare with it since the morning stars unker re together. and the Romans charged on “Well, we'll have to go up the river to cross.” *Can’t we swim her here?—like Washington did the raging Rubicon?”’ “No; the banks are too steep,” replied the youth, leading the way up the river. In a few minutes they came to what was known as the Deep Ford; and entering the stream, they cross- ed to the other side. Just as they were emergir from the water, the keen eyes of the Boy Knigh caught sight of two canoes standing alongside of | each other in the shadows of the bank, a rod or so | below the crossing. There was an occupant in each boat, Silver Star said nothing of his discovery until some distance from the river, when he drew rein and requested his companion to do likewise. Then he | told Arkansaw of what he had seen, and dismount- | ing, he left his horse in the old scout’s care, and started back to ascertain, if possible, who the two were in the canoes, He approached the river with | the silence of a shadow, and at length came within earshot of the two unknown persons. Listening in- Maat he was surprised to hear some’one, mpeaking nglish, say: **One of the horses looked like that which crossed | the w here last night.”’ To this a girlish voice replied: | tS was the dreaded young pale-face upon 'm.”’ ** Who?” exclaimed the man, apparently excited; “Silver Star?” “Yes; did you not see the star upon his breast?” | the Indian maiden—for such the venturesome boy discovered her to be—replied. ‘‘Had I known that, he would never have escaped | alive,”’ “ Does Silent Heart fear him like my people?” Ah! who is Silent Heart? thought the listener. “No; I do not fear him; but he is my enemy and your enemy, Nathelah.”’ “Yes; and he is goin; plied the maiden, ‘and alarm the village.” “Do not be in a hurry, Nathelah; your people are not asleep. Silent Heart has much to say, for it will be many moons before he sees his sweetheart again. Iam going away.” “Going away? Is Silent Heart tired of Nathelah? Does a fairer one sing words of love in his ear?” the girl asked. *T will meet ra here again, Nathelah. Watch oy the river, and when a broken oar floats by the age, meet me here. I will come.” “* And will you love Nathelah then as now?” = Why should I not? Have I not pledged my love ou? toward our village,’ re- athelah should hurry and “They tell me the tongue of the pale-face lover sometimes is crooked.” ‘Why should you doubt me, Nathelah?” “Did the river not give to you one fairer than Na- thelah? Is she not in the wigwam of the Silent ees and can her smiles and soft voice not win his neart?”’ ** Never, Nathelah, never!” This assurance seemed to quiet the jealous fears of the Indian girl, and after a few minutes more of stolen bliss, their interview ended. The maiden headed her canoe down-stream, and the lover turned his in the opposite direction. In a minute or two both had pore pi Ever read. grasp at straws, the Boy Knight be- gan to analyze the conversation of the lovers. He wondered who Nathelah could be jealous of—who the fair one was that the river had given to Silent Heart. Could it have been Elwe? The boy started at the question, and with the thought uppermost in his mind he returned to Old Arkansaw and made known his discovery, but with- out claiming any material benefit of what he had heard more than that the Indian girl would return to the village and inform her friends that Silver Star was about, and put them on their guard. “Then let us rack out like a small hurricane,” said Old Arkansaw, ‘‘and git down there ahead of ai aay, brat, and go through the town like jagged ightnin’.”’ So saying, they galloped toward the Indian vi Old Arkansaw taking the lead. Silver Star wid oi exactly know what his old companion’s course of action was; but he made up his mind to follow him wherever he dared to go. Straight on toward the Sioux town galloped the reckless scouts, and the nearer they approached it the faster they rode. Not a savage seemed to dis- pute their way, and without the least alarm bei ange: they suddenly dashed into the outskirts ey . And now arose a Pandemonium of noises on the October night. Old Arkansaw uttered a yell of de- fiance and discharged his revolver at the nearest savage. Silver Star followed his éxample, and then, jutting spur, they thundered away through the ark part of the map ~ with the ey ing of d the shouts and cries of women and ¢ aren, and the ned of the warriors trailing after them until night came hideous with the sounds. But as well might they have merges the wind, for, ere they were aware of the fact, the raiders were in the w ut of reach of all dangers. . But so successful had been the ride of the fearless scouts that Silver Star was not content to let well enough alone, and he resolved to make another@lash. It is true, nothing had been accomplished by the arg aside from the wild excitement it createds but this was not what had taken the Boy Knight there. He was in search of Elwe; and no sooner di he find himself in the woods with the savages all drawn from the village in pursuit, than he resolved to take advantage of the moment, and run another and greater risk in Elwe’s behalf. Py satel any? a bay Np epee ana he tarn- ed abruptly to the ri and galloped away through te. » back to the river. Then, come doem the stream, he again entered the Indian town on ‘the south side, at which point he knew the place was de- serted, the savages—men, women and children—be- ing at the other side of the village. ith impunity, the daring boy galloped down into the very heart of the Indian town. He knew enough of Indian habits and customs to know that the prison lodge was located near the center of the village, and always designated by some peculiar device. As he advanced the young scout selected this ning from among the many, and rode straight toward it. In a moment more he was at the door of the tent, No one was there to dispute his way, and leaning for- ward in his stirrups he raised the flap-door aud look- edin. But, darkness filled the apartment—he heard, “Elwe? tlwe, are you here?” he called out, but there was no response. Again he called the name of Bias A yell was.the only answer. It was a savage yell. 4 number of squaws seeing him, gave the alarm in the most frightful, discordant meee Keb that ever is- sued from human lungs; and in another mom ‘nh that swarm ef savages was rolling back from 4 ‘wr | he saw not: A
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6 woods like an angry pack of wolves. Putting spur the Boy Knight pushed on through the village west- ward. Before him lay an open level expanse of meadow, flooded with the mellow moonlight. The savages seeing the course he had taken, began to . ary out to the right to head him off; and the orash of firearms now was added to the direful sound ef savage lungs. Lead whistled over and around the young horseman thick as hail. But he was not destined to escape unpunished this time. A bullet struck his ankle, inflicting a serious and painful wound. Theshock paralyzed his whole leg, and it was only by a desperate effort that he succeeded in keeping his seat in the saddle. “Oh, by heavens!” he exclaimed, as the pain shot through his body, forcing a groan from his lips, ‘‘ I’ve ot it at last, ard got it badly, too, I'd ought to ave known better than to come back here into this hornets’ nest. I believe my leg is shot off. On, Prince, my good old horse; the red demons are mountin’ and pursuin’ us!” He was now on an open plain, but a belt of timber lay a short distance before him, and straight toward the nearest point he held his way. Almost on the very margin of the woods the ani- mal came to a sudden stop, nearly pitching his wounded rider forward over his head. “Another confounded blunder!’’ exclaimed the boy, for before him ran a deep, yawning rift that he had never thought of before, yet knew was there. He glanced back—to the right and left. Mounted savages were coming rapidly across the opening. He was ina dangerous predicament... He could not escape by swimming the river, for the banks he knew were mee and precipitous, The rift was be- fore him, and the approaching savages now com- eted_ the environing circle. Escape seemed im- ible, and capture would be certain death. Before him a tree had been felled so as to span the channel, The top side of this log had been hewn away to a flat surface over twelve inches in width. This had been used by the Indians as a foot-log, and the sight of it suggested a means of escape to the daring y° knight. But he was wounded, as he believed, so that he could not walk. The only way he could effect his escape was by deserting his horse and dragging himself along upon his hands and maa the best he could. A moment's reflection, owever, convinced him that he could never elude the savages by this means, and all hope had faded from his breast, when out of the darkness of the tvoods upon the opposite side of the chasm, a voice cried out: *“Dismount, boy, and cross on thelog!” It was the voice of Old Arkansaw. *“T can’t, Arkansaw; one of my legsis shot off, I ” was the boy’s cool response. “Oh, great Babylon!—boy, they'll abolish you! Reet they’re comin’ a thousand million sfrong)” My od, Silver Star! what are you goin’ to do, boy?” The lad had turned his horse’s head and was urg- mK it toward the chasm, I’m goin’ to ride over on this log, Arkansaw, or die in the attempt,” replied the boy; “steady, Prince, steady.” “Farewell then, brave boy, farewell!” groaned the old plainsman, as he saw the trained horse, obe- dient to its master’s will, place its fore feet upon the garrow bridge and then with a spring plant the ‘others close behind them. He saw the horse, with meck extended and form quivering over the preci- ee, take one step; but he saw no more, for he ed his head to shut out the scene that followed. CHAPTER VI. AN INTRUDER IN CAMP, Otp ArRKANSAW heard the sound of the horse’s hoofs upon the log, and heard it snorting with af- fright; he heard the voice of his young friend speak- words of command and encouragement to his rse—he heard the wild screams of the approach- savages—all, seemingly, blended in one awful rrible sound that numbed his very senses, and nsfixed him with fear and terror. His heart geemed to rise in his throat, and a dreadful, choking tion followed. They were the pangs and burn- fais of the most painful suspense that man could er; and it seemed as if they would never end. Everything was on a blinding whirl about the old te: r. “Come, Arkansaw,”’ suddenly exclaimed a voice, and a horseman swept past him. Ths spell was broken. It was the voice of Silver —the Boy Knight was safe! He had safely rid- his horse over the chasm upon the footlog—per- formed 4 miracle! The old hunter started up, gave utterance to a of joy, and putting spur, dashed away after the Y Dumb with astonishment, the red-skins paused = the edge of the chasm. Thena cry of baffled uxaph bursts from their throats. A few dismount, pann pa upon the log, start in pursuit of Away through the forest sped the two scouts. They followed the river a few miles, when they finally rode into the stream and crossed to the op- soon reached Continuing on, the from his horse —— shore. ! when Silver Star was assiste and wourd examined. It was found that the baJl had struck his ankle, in- geting 9 very painful, but not dangerous wound. whole foot and leg had been completely para- by the shock; but this gradually wore off, the sense of pain more acute. n Barns dressed the wound as well as means command would permit; and recommended a rs t application of cold water to allay the pain ver, Already the soldiers had taken the necessary pre- Silver Star, the Eoy Enicht. | cautions to guard against a surprise by the Indians. ferent points, the location selected for a camp possessed great natural advantages asa defensive position. It was guarded see one side by the river, and then nearly surrounded by a horse-shoe shaped body of water upon the other sides, thus forming a kind of a peninsula that could be reached only by bag of a narrow neck of land. he peninsula was about five acres in area—a low, sandy tract of land covered with tall, dense timber, and strewn with driftwood and debris, for the place was subject to overtiows during high water. In the very center of this point had the soldiers lighted a camp-fire; and after the return of Arkan- saw and Silver Star, and the wound of the latter had been dressed, and the story of their adventures nar- rated, all seated themselves around the fire and en- gaged in a quiet conversation. Thus an hour had passed, when suddenly a shrill, strange voice pierced through the soiemn stillness of the place and started soldier and scout to his feet. Thetramp of feet and the cracking of dry brush was heard, and a moment later one of the guards came into camp, escorting as queer-looking a crea- ture as it had been their lot to look upon in many a day; and what was most strange, the person was @ woman—a white woman, well on toward fifty years of age. She was dressed ina garb as odd and outlandish as her general appearance, Her dress was made of some heavy, coarse material of a dirty brown color, It was scant in breadth and in length, and just reached to the tops of a pair of number-seven army shoes. Over this dress she wore a pea-green jacket em- broidered with red, and trimmed with rows of dif- ferent-colored beads. Upon her head was a great, flaring bonnet that rose and fell like elephants’ ears with each nod and motion of the head. Upon one arm she carried a small beaded sachel which ap- peared to be well filled; and in her right hand she carried a great, heavy and clumsy-looking umbrella that seemed to be the worse of long usage. ‘“Well, by the Holy Jerusalim!’’ exclaimed Old Arkansaw, as his eyes fell upon the form of the /air stranger; “ what under the moon and shinin’ stars have you found, Rathbone?”’ * A woman,” replied the half-mortified soldier. Yes, a woman” fairly-shrieked the female, with blazing eyes, while she shook her big umbrella over Arkansaw’s head in a threatening manner—“‘ a poor, sad-hearted and lonely woman—the wreck of former beauty, the victim of man’s imperfidy and incon- stancy—the relic of as owdashus an old scoundrel as led an innocent, confidin’ gal to the hyenial altar, That’s who I am.” ‘“* By the dancin’ dervishes!”’ responded Arkansaw. “it seems to me I’ve see’d you before, ole lady. Isn't your name Bandy—Mrs.—” “Yes, yes!’’ she screamed, her whole frame set a-quiver, it seemed, by mention of the name Bandy; “my name is Eilen Sabina Bandy—the wronged, de- sarted and injured wife of that owdashus, ungrate- ful vagabone, Christopher Columbus Bandy.” ‘“That's it edzactly ; I see’d you years ago down in Nubraska, Yes, gentlemen and soldiers, this is the relic of old Kit Bandy, of whom I war tellin’ you yesterday.” ** Yes, and please gracious, I'll relic him when I git hands on.him again!” added the woman. “T’ll put a stop to his rumagin’ around over this hemisfear like agay young courtier. I'll pluck his eyes out like a vulture—oh, you may laff and laff at a helpless wo- man till your diaframs rips wide open, but when you've suffered as /'ve suffered, you'll know how to sympathize with me. Not one mother’s brat of you’d suffer half what I have, and keep your youth and beauty. Oh! but Ill make that ole vagabone smart like pepper when I meet him again! é promised, at the ron altar, to love, cherish and protect me till death did us part; and tm detarmined to hold him in the breachin’ with a square rein, He shall never lavish his hypocritical smiles and gallantries on any other female that ever wore hair—no, never |”? “P’r’aps, Mrs. Bandy,” suggested Old Arkansaw, ‘tif you’d smooth your feathers, and curb your con- versational powers, when the old man’s about, he'd remain with you. I reckon as what you go for him like jagged lightnin’.”’ bs gracious soceches! hav’n’t I melted myself into all smiles and sweetnesses and lovelinesses all for that ungrateful critter? And how, gentlemen, did he reward me? Why, it was tryin’ to murder me,” and her voice fell to a whisper; “yes, tried to murder me |” she again broke forth, with violent ges- tures, ‘‘ by puttin’ a burr under my horse’s tail one day when I started for a ride.” “Tl bet you got even with him,” said Arkansaw. “Please gracious I did, old covey! he was takin’ his noon nap on a blanket under a tree on the banks of the Yuba, I brought the edges of the blanket together and sewed him up in it with a big stone at his feet. Then I rolled the old cavalier into the river—he! he! he!—and by means of a rope attached to the blanket, I let him down, then hauled him to surface, then ker-soused him under again; and in this way I made him beg like a hungry Italian. He promised to love me, to obey me, to be my own slave, to die for me if necessary, to—”’ * Did he keep,his promises?’’ interrupted the old scout. “No!” she shrieked; ‘not a single, lonely one of them, the false, deceptive heathen! And it nearly kills me when I think of my galhood days when that owdacious critter come a-courtin’ of me so. gay, with his pockets full of sweetmeats, and his tongue ’ with nice poetry. Oh, what a fool I was! dri fl Bult war young and handsome, the neighbors said, my smiles, and every feller in the country co Besides the four guards stationed at as many dif- | | One day, when } - hen, she’s a regular clippe Foolish girl, I were; I sailed over a flower-bed and lit in a mud-puddle when I took ole Kit Bandy for better or worse.” ““What does your husband follow, Mrs. Bandy?” asked Captain Barns, with a suppressed smile. Sia! lowe under the shinin’ sun, but mostly a. nose bigger than your fist. He’s been a preacher and a wood-chopper, a doctor and a hog-drover, a, lawyer and a bullwhacker, a judge and a robber, and now pretends, I understand, to be a scout and a, detective. But a purty scout and detective he’d make! don’t want. He’s been tryin’, for years, to toll we off into the Ingin country thinkin’ I’d git skalped, or | arobber ’d steal me for his bride; but, please gra- | cious, I find the Ingins respect a white woman’s beauty and virtue, so that I’ve been an honored guest wherever I went, whether "mong Ingins or robbers, I've been even offered a home among the red-skins, and but yesterday that noble chief, White Crane, offered to make me a queenif I'd say the word. But I would not percept of the honor till. vengeance is mine own. Oh, that the blessed day will soon come when I, Ellen Sabina Bandy, as queen of the great West, can look down with im. perial dignity upon ole Kit Columbus Bandy, grov- elin’ in the dust at ‘hem feet beggin’ to kiss the hem» of my royal robe!” ““You’re too revengeful toward your husband, Mrs. Bandy,” said one of the soldiers. ‘Heaven forbid,” answered the woman, seatin herself upon a great, hollow log, and rocking herself’ to and fro as if to nurse her wrath and sorrows. She remained silent for some time, then she took a, small slip of paper from her sachel and reading it over, crushed it in her hand with a spiteful hiss, What she finally did with the paper no one knew, but she disposed of it in a strange, sly manner. ‘Well, Mrs. Bandy,” said Captain Barns, “it is but my duty asa soldier anda gentleman to offer you the horpitalities of our camp. We will do the best we can to make you comfortable.” “Oh, I thank you,” responded the woman, in @ lower tone. “I can't tarry. I heard you were down here, and so I come down to inquire if you had seen any thing of my lost darlin’, Kit Columbus Bandy. I must return to-night to the Indian town;, I promised I would.” ‘Well, we have seen or heard nothing of your husband.” “ Haven't! Well, I'll live onin hopes. My day’ll come yet.” nee you come and go among the Indians at will?’ ‘Yes; I've a passport to and from the Ingin village. It was given me by that noble chief, White rane. “Have you any idea that your old tulip, Kit Bandy, is in this country?’ inquired Old Arkansaw, ‘** Yes, Lhave a purty strong idea that way; Isee’d the track of a white man ‘long the river t’other day that looks adzactly like that old blister’s track. Whenever you see a track that looks like the imprint of an elephant’s hoof, and follow it up, you'll find old Kit Bandy at the end of the trail.” “Well, now look here, Mrs. Bandy,” said Silver Star, rising to his feet, and hobbling over to where the old woman sat; ‘‘I’m scoutin’ around through the country a deal of a sight, and I might be of cles oe service to you upon condition you assist me a ittle.” . ** Well, I'll do any thing in my power for you, son, if you'll jist watch out for my old blister, and report. when you find him.” “Tl do so; and now I want to a one ques+ pn is there a young girl in the Indian village~a, captive?” * None to my knowin’s; and if there’d been an Td a-knowed it, rest assured. If there’s a gal ] like as not when you find her you'll find old Kit Bandy with her tryin’ to make her believe he’s a. gay young soul, and that he loves her unto death, and that she ought to -reciprocate. But, please: gracious, them ugly old eyes and that big, alligater mouth, and them jack-mule’s ears, and them old gutters on young, beautiful and innocent gal—no, never /”’ and she punctuated her remarks’ by driving the end of her umbrella into the sand at her feet, A moment’s silence ensued, and as no one seemed disposed to ask Sabina any further questions, she- took a clay pipe and some tobacco from her sachel. Filling the pipe, she advanced to the fire and taking up a red-hot coal in her fingers, laid it. upon the pipe and began puffing vigorously, and in on her face was lost behind a cloud of smoke. ‘““Now, men and soldiers,” she finally remarked, “T’m goin’ to departure, and, please gracious, I hope you will not forgit a wronged and injured wo- man, If you can give me yd information that’0 lead to the recovery of Kit Bandy, you shall be liberally rewarded—if not on earth, in heaven. So now, good-night, folks.”’ : So saying, she turned and started happily away, Pp at her pipe and balancing her big umbre upon her hands with remarkable skill. “Tll be etarnally blessed if that isn’t a kind 0” folks we don’t often see ’round ¢his kentry!” ex- claimed Old Arkansaw. The soldiers gave way to an outburst of laughter. “She may be an Indian Spy, boys,” angneetee — Star, seriously. ‘I don’t like the looks of er.” “No danger o’ that,” replied Arkansaw; ‘but ipper; and mean as she makes. old Kit Bandy out as a husband, I tell you he’s a. , segeitics old hoss to stand in the harness with when, r’s around, and I'd like to bump ag’inst“himm in these diggin’s, I met himseveral years ago dowxy If 7 detect him, I'll bet he'll get a scoutin’ he.” his face ‘ll not let him deceive another- Oe ae ol ne ee ES&S peeesvunnse
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——— ee ee * than his companions. Finally he awoke to find him- poise nor demonstration, 4s = ee -) CE |S RS = oe Silver Star, the Boy Knignt. cok ON Seem et ee aes Ste Lak San Pm Ree on the Ree-publican; and I tell you we had a rol- | lockin’ good time. Bus, somehow ’r other, I hearn | he'd been skinned alive by the Ingins and killed, and so [ never thought any more about him, than that a brave ole soul had gone to rest—harkee!” The shrill, piercing voice of Sabina came to the ears of all; and listening to her words they found she was giving the guard, upon the riverside, a sound blessing for daring to challenge her and re- fusing to allow her to pass the lines. But their pas- sage of words soon ended, and our friends at camp | were momentarily expecting the woman back to re- Rect the guard, when. to their surprise the guard imself appeared in great excitement. ‘ “Captain,” he exclaimed, ‘“ what for an infernal old witch was that you allowed to leave camp?” The soldiers roared with laughter. They saw their comrade was perplexed, embarrassed. “Why, Carlford, she was an innocent woman,” explained the captain; ‘‘an innocent, harmless old woman,” “Tnnocent woman! well, at any rate she’s got a tongue equal to forked lightnin’; and what’s more, boys, she’s a witch.” . * Bah! that’s bosh, Carlford,”’ said the captain, re- provingly. { ; “ Bosh, or no bosh, captain, that woman, defying my challenge and threats, deliberately walked down to the water’s edge, and walked out upon the stream!” A general laugh ensued. *T care not what you say, that woman walked out across the river upon the water! I saw her on the | open moonlit water. Her feet seemed surrounded | by a dark nimbus, and of this Iam eertain. The current bore her down-stream several rods before she disappeared in the shadows of the opposite shore. T'll swear to it if it is my last words on earth!” As Carlford was known to be a brave and truthful soldier, his story, so firmly persisted in, created no little excitement among his friends. It was too late, however, to make any further investigations of the matter, and so quiet was once more restored in camp. About midnight the guards were changed, and those off duty concluded to lay down and take a few hours’ sleep and rest. Silver Star’s wound had | ceased to pain him, and he soon fell asleep. Old | Arkansaw was the last to lie down, and when he did, all the rest were asleep. He was possessed of a | large blue blanket with the figure of a ferocious tiger worked in the center in red, and an eagle with a ah wings in each corner. Laying down upon | the dry sand, with his head in the hollow of his sad- dle, he drew this highly-prized blanket over him and went to sleep. ; The fire burned down, and the low, damp air of the peninsula became heavy and chill, This made the sleepers a little restless, but none of them awoke, Old AfKkansaw tossed and floundered around more | self uncovered. He felt for his blanket, but he could not findit. He rose to a sitting posture and found it was gone—had been removed! He gianced around him, and to his rise and indignation saw his blue blanket with its eagles and couchant tiger, rolled and ber ye carefully around a form on the opposite side of the fire. ** Well, Dll be ely. everlastin’ly abolished! If that don’t beat all the infernalated cheek and im- pudence that [ever dreampt.of. 1 never s’posea a soldier could be guilty of such meanness,” solilo- d the old borderman, his face wrought with the lines of indignation; ‘‘a man, that ’u’d steal the only blanket off a sleepin’ man, and then bold} lay down by his side and roll himself in it, as that hog’s done, would cut a dead man’s throat to steal the coppers off his eyes. That dastardly trick is a dis- to the uniform of the narrow-souled wretch wears it, cussed if it ar’n’t.”” * Arkansaw, it is not a soldier,” said a voice at the eld man’s side—the voice of Silver Star—who awakening from his slumber, had overheard the old svout’s remarks. : “Ay, ‘tis you, Silver Star,’ the borderman ex- claimed, with a sudden start; “but how do you know it 8 nota soldier? He’s covered from h to “T can see he is not a soldier, as well as you can see that he is, for neither can see the man himself, You know there are four men on guard, and seven here in camp besides you and me. There lie seven forms, and that one in Sg blanket makes eight, aod see he is not a soldier but a stranger, be he “he or white. But who it can be the Lord only ows.’ “By the New Jerusalem! I am goin’ to know!” exclaimed the old scout, white with rage; and draw- ing his revolver, he advanced toward the form re- posing so sweetly and quietly in his blanket. “Be careful, Arkansaw,” cautioned the Boy Rnighs, ‘there is no telling what the result may be —-what terrible tragedy is about to be enacted!’ CHAPTER VII. need before h hed the Orv Arkansaw paused before he reac ros- trate form reed in his blanket to Gomadiae' the words of caution given by Silver Star. What dan- gould result Bon the situation? Had the un- Frown stolen into camp and taken his blanket to voke a 1? and if so, was the quarrel to be Re manal or an attack upon the camp by conceal- ed enemies? Had the guards been circumvented and killedy and the rest p ced at the mercy of the Indians? . These questions the old plainsman_ revolved through mind time and again; then he turned and awoke Captain Barns and his men, Accustom- ed to such silent vance, the soldiers made no t, rising to their feet, | limbs and with a bullet head set upon a long, scraw- | they seized their weapons, tightened their belts and | looked carefully to the priming of their fire-arms. When all were ready for the worst, Old Arkansaw | advanced to the side of the apparently sleeping | intruder, and taking hold of the edge of his blanket, ulled it upward with all his quickened strength. e form was set rolling by this movement, and resulted in a man being tossed out upon the sand in full view of all. And a queer-looking specimen of humanity it was. He was tall and angular, with ill-proportioned ny neck. Large ears, a prominent nose, a wide mouth and small gray eyes were some of the natur- al appendages of his features—all of which seemed to have been placed upon the head and face of the | wrong man, and were several sizes too large for the | face they ornamented. A serio-comical smile rest- | ed upon the man’s countenance, and as, he rose to a sitting posture and gazed in feigned bewilderment around him, he exclaimed, in an indignant tone: **Dimnition! What in the name of the great Mo- | 11 does this mean, anyway? Horn of old Joshua! ‘an’t a man take a quiet rest? Can’ta weary soul lay down and sleep without bed-bugs or pirates rou- tin’ him? Hav’n’t you fellers got a smiggin of man- ners? Well, I’ve a notion to get up and maul the stuffin’ outen every mother’s brat of you, confound | your or—”’ / . : “By the stars above us!” burst from the lips of Old'!Arkansaw. “Well, now, what ails you, old reel-legged per- simmon knocker?” asked the intruder, turning upon Arkansaw. *Tt’s old Kit Bandy, as I’m a livin’ beauty!” re- sponded the scout. **Oh, horn that tumbled old Jericho!’ replied the veritable Kit Bandy, for he the intruder proved to be, as he sprung to his feet, and extended his horny hand; ‘if I hay’n’t met my pious old friend, Arkan- | saw Abe! Give us your paw, Arky, you old skinflint, you! Dog my cats, if [ knowed it war you whenI Sak ag wry your blanket—not a bit of it, Arky. Well, bless my old optics! You're still aboard o’ the great lifeboat, ar’n’t ye? You're the same old Ar- kansaw Traveler, ar’n’t ye? Ugly as you war the day you war born, ar’n’t ye? Older’n you war when I see’d ye last, ar’n’t ye? Crows ’s been trackin’ yer face up, ar’n’t they? Well, well, Arky,” and the odd old genius again shook the scout’s hand, “Yes, yes, I'll admit allthis, Kitsie, and that I’m powerful glad to squeeze your phalanges and me- | tacarples ag’in,’ replied Arkansaw; “ but I must confess that your youth and Adonis-like beauty is ittin’ some’at marred by the wear and tear of ime.”’ *T know all that, Arky, and more too; but you must remember that I’m a married man; and if you know anything "bout married life, you know a | man don’t live like a little ambrosial god upon nectar distilled from sweetest flowers by the hands of wood-nymphs and fairies. Oh, great horn of Joshua, no/ IfI war to tell you all the trials and tribulations ’'ve had since I hitched on with Ellen Sabina Bandy for better or for worse—but always | for worse—your hair’d stand out on end, and you'll | want to shoot your own shadder. I don’t b'lieve a devilisher old woman ever hopped on terry-firmy, or ever hatched up more blisterin’ misery for man thas that same identical Ellen Sabina Ban—” The rest of the name was drowned in an outburst | of laughter from the lips of Old Arkansaw and the soldiers. The old intruder was now introduced by Arkan- saw to Captain Barns and his men, when a general vr Ms on followed. At length Oli Arkansaw * Kit, ole comrade, would you believe it if I War to tell you that your wife, Sabina Bandy, has been in our camp to-night?” “Great holy horn!’ exclaimed Bandy, with a | violent start, ‘‘you wouldn’t say so for a fact, would you, Arky? You jist want to torture me a leetle, don’t you? For the love of our constitushun, stab me in the back—shoot me, burn me—torture me aay way than by such means. ‘The very men- tion of my wife’s name gives me the compound- hydrophobia. Just think of that.” “Tt is a fact, Mr. Bandy; a lady calling herself | Sabina Bandy—the wife of Kit Bandy—has been here to-night,” said Captain Barns, in confirmation of Arkansaw’s story. } “Oh, Lord!” groaned the old mang “I thoughtTI | smelt brimstone. Won't that woman last forever? Won't old Time ever mow her down along with the other pizen weeds and plants of humanity? The everlastin’ old blister she is! I'll swear, I b’lieve she’s a born witch. Where'd she go?” “* A-huntin’ of you,”’ answered Arkansaw. “Blast her old eyes! A7’n’t she a ripper though, boys? Do you blame me much for cuttin’ loose from sich an old brig and driftin’ out to sea alone? | Do you blame me, Arky?” “Can't say that I do, Kit; but now I want to ask you a question,” said Arkansaw. “Peg away, Arky.” ‘How came you here in camp?” “Them old stilts swung me down here, and as you war all asleep, I didn’t think it necessary to wake ina to tell ye I'd arriv’; but, takin’. your blanket, or it was awfully chilly, I laid down to—” The ioree of a rifle burst corcienny teva the short the old man’s words, “War! by the horn of Joshua! To arms!” yelled old Kit Bandy, at the top of his brazen lungs. In a moment every man, with rifle and revolver in | hand, stood upon the defense, alge into the gloom | beyond the radius of light. e ages of Indians started the echoes of night, and the next moment the guard, who had been on duty at the isthmus, = ae vs came running into camp, pursued by a score ané | more of savages. “Take aim! fire!” commanded Captain Barns. The crash of muskets and revolvers tore through the night with a horrible din, and with it were min- gled the cries and groans of the red-skins, A num- ber of Indians fell. But others came from the dark- ness to take their places. Two-score strong now pressed hard upon the little band of soldiers, forcin them back into the woods. They poured a voiley o arrows and bullets into theirranks. Two soldicrs | and Kit Bandy fell. At this juncture Captain Barns saw that1é¢ would be certain destruction to contend with such odds, and at once sounded a retreat. Silver Star rose to his feet and attempted to follow them, but his wounded limb refused to obey its of- fice, and he fell. The next instant the savages were upon him; he was a helpless prisoner. The victorious red-skins pursued Old Arkansaw | and the soldiers into the woods, but, favored by the darkness, the latter succeeded in reaching their horses and escaping to the mainland. One by one the red-skins returned to camp, feel- ing satisfied with the capture of Silver Star. To them the Boy Knight was more than all the soldiers would have been. To them he had been a source of constant trouble. He had been a dreaded scourge— watching and defeating all their well-laid plans. And full well the young scout and spy knew hig danger. He felt that there was no hope for him, wounded and heipless as he was. He yielded quiet- ly to his fate, and inwardly mourned the death of Kit Bandy. He turned bis eyes upon the prostrate form of the old man. He saw the savages tear the scalps from the heads of the fallen soldiers and spurn their bodies with the foot. He expected to see Bandy served in a like brutal manner; horror and surprise, he saw the supposed dead man move—raise his head, glance around him, and then rise to his feet. He made no attempt to escape, nor did the red-skins offer him violence. On the con- trary he was greeted with a yell of triumph which told that he was a friend of the Indians—a traitor to the whites! He was allowed the freedom of the camp. He conversed in the Indian dialect with the triumphant warriors. He ordered them to bind the Boy Knight toa tree. They bound him firmly toa stunted pine. Then Bandy and some of the warriors went away—to search for the soldiers and Arkansaw as Silver Star believed. The savages left to hep the boy—a dozen strong —inflicted many cruelties upon him; but the brave lad bore them without a murmur. The search for Old Arkansaw and the soldiers went on, but without success. Those at camp, tor tured Silver Star until they became tired of their fu- tile attempts to make him flinch. Yet they were wild and noisy—they were intoxicated with their, victory. They danced and sung around the fire, _— the scalps of the soldiers flourished upon es. P The minutes wore away into 9, couple of hours. The young prisoner was suffering more from his cut- ting bonds than his wound. But, suddenly, he felt the bonds relax—felt some one behind the tree fin- gering them, for they. passed around the trunk of e pine as well as dy. It flashed across his mind in an instant that some one was trying to re- lease him; but who had dared venture there? Who- ever he was he was concealed in the shadow of the tree; to be seen would be death. The next moment that mysterious chief, White Crane, walked by the youth, casting a contemptuous look down at him as he passed, and joined the war- riors in their scalp-dance around the fire, Silver Star felt certain that this mysterious chief had again endeavored to befriend him, and had loos- ened his bonds. But, what would this avail the boy? He could searcely walk, nor could he esca vy crawling. Moreover, he dare not move through fear that his bonds, that were still hanging in tion, would fall to the ground and betray his liberty. ** At last,"* White Crane finally broke fo as if unable to restrain himself longer, “‘has the young pale-faced dog fallen into our power. No lo: will he watch like a hawk the movements of the Sioux. My heart thirsts for his blood! The stake awaits his torture. Glory will it be to White Crane to see the flames leaping high around him, fed by the grease out of his own carcass. Let my warriors rejoice! On with our scalp-dance! Ha-ya! ha-ya!’’ and the old renegade went whirling away in a wild dance, chanting a demoniac Indian song. The war- riors followed him and for several minutes they con- tinued leaping and sin ngand yelling around the fire, wild and crazy with the excitement werked up = See breasts and brains by the words of their’ chief. Suddenly, however, the renegade sto short. and turning toward the pine tree. S gpeet ‘ Fiends and furies! where is the Boy. ey is ry eye was instantly turned toward the tree, They saw the bonds of the lad lying upon the earth, but the boy himself was gone. Instantly the alarm was sounded, and once more a score of human bloodhounds went forth upon the trail of the Boy Knight of the Prairie, CHAPTER VIIL SPARRO WHAWE. Tie little peninsula resounded with the wild of the baffled red-skiv-, as they glided hither 7 } ells let us see how the boy got away—so suddenly, so si- lently; while White Be an intoxicated with triumph and lost in the wild fr of a scalp-dance, Silver Star became conscious some one was again his bonds, and erg ; } > i - e ; z : es ' tos iis *, ae uf ¥ he but to his . his warriors were S¢_ Mt € > eos a eS ye a ¢ * + a +4 Fr ¢ §
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8 he was aware of the fact, a huge hand reached around the tree, and, seizing him by the collar, pull- ed him around into the shadows of the pine. At the | same instant a voice whispered in his ear: “ Arkansaw, boy, Arkansaw!’’ and then the lad knew who had rescued him, and responded by press- ing the old scout’s hand. ‘‘Git onto my back, boy, and Pll trot you off out of danger—come, now, hur- ry!’’ the old man said, in a hurried whisper. Silver Star could do nothing better than obey, and the next moment he was being borne away through the darkness of the woods on the back of Old Arkan- saw. The old scout glided and dodged here and there as though the lad were a mere child. He soon eaine to the river’s edge, and wading into the water deposited his burden in a canoe that stood concealec a@niong some overhanging willows. ‘Wait there till I git my arms and baggage, lad,” the scout said, and turning, he went ashore. The yells of the savages came near in the woods. Th» boy started with fear and ee: A moment later a footstep sounded close at hand; thea a form bounded into the canoe, and taking up the paddle, drove the boat out into the river. Silver Star never dreamed but that the person was Old Arkansaw, but judge of his surprise and congterna- tion upon discovering that a stranger occu the boat with him. Nor did he appear to be mdm sur- Silver Star, the Boy Knight. LTTE TE ENTS RENE IE ET ESR PETE EA Oe NETS RR FETS ANAT TT SATO CME SER | prised than did the stranger himself at the presence | of the Boy Knight. He ceased paddling and sat liks one transfixed, gazing in silent astonishment in- to the other’s face. Silver Star saw that the stranger was a young man, not over three-and-twenty years of age. He } was rather prepossessing in appearance, with dark hair and eyes, witha heavy, black mustache shading an expressive mouth Upon his head he wore a cap made of the feathered skin of a sparrowhawk. The head and bill of the bird answered for the peak, and presented a rather novel appearance in the mellow low of the moon. Around his shoulders was a ad collar or cape, made of the quill-feathers of eagles and other large birds, artistically arranged m buckskin. his feathered stranger was the first to speak. **Sir youngster,’’ he said, in a low, deliberate tone, “Sow come you here in my canoe?” “ By mistake, I presume, if this is your boat,” Sil- wer Star responded, ** Well, it is my boat, and I should be glad to know — Thave for a companion—whether friend or ‘oe,”’ ‘**T am Silver Star.” “The Boy Knight?” “ Yes.” “Tam Sparrowhawk, the Outcast. We are ene- mies,’’ and he drew his revolver. “ft am unarmed and wounded,’’ responded the Boy Knight, fearlessly and unmoved, “T am not a coward, Silver Star; I will take no eirentene of you. But my race are all my ene- mies. ey have hunted me and mine for years— seeking our lives.. The hand of man, red-skin and white, is raised against me. You have hunted me, Silver Star, and—” “You are mistaken, Sparrowhawk; I have not haunted you,” the young scout rejoined. “Yes, you have hunted me, though you may not have known whom you were: hunting at the time, Now we have met, face to face. I have the advan- tage—your life is in my hands. I am arméd, but ge are not, Were you free, and were we to meet n the o field, you would meet me as an enemy. ‘You woufti know me, for I wear no disguise. Here, ¥ give you one of my revolvers, and a chance for your life.” Silver Star mechanically took the weapon. The elick of Sparrowhawk’s pistol started the young knight from his stupor. By this time the canoe had drifted into the sha- Jows of the southern shore of the river. The yells of the savages upon the peninsula were till ringing down the ae Never in all his life did Silver Star experience the feeling that now took possession of him. . He saw in the wild, arate agin sh mie of Sparrowhawk’s eyes the expression of a madman. Never before had he met this strange being. Was he mad? Why did he fmagine himself hunted by every one? As these > ergo flashed through the boy’s brain, he saw at he must act with dispatch. “Sparrowhawk,” he said, “this is folly; we need tiot be enemies.”’ “Oh, sir, but we are enemies,’ he answered, in a strange, determined tone. *‘* Defend yourself.”’ “Shoot, then, for I will not,’ said Silver Star, dropping his revolver in the boat, and folding his arnis over his breast. Slowly and deliberately the madman raised his vevolver and pointed it at the breast of the boy. CHAPTER IX. BULLETS OF AN AVENGER. “SpaRROoWHAWK! Sparrowhawk!” cried a voice, as the young madman drew his pistol. At sound of the voice the hand of the would-be murderer dropped at his side. Then from the shadows of the shore glided a canoe with two occupants. It ran alongside of that of Silver Star and Sparrowhawk. It contained two yvecupants—one 4 young Indian girl, and the other a white woman—the redoubtable Ellen Sabina Bandy It was the voice of the Indian girl that stayed the hand of Sparrowhawk, and it seemed to act like magic upon the ears of the outcast. His whole face and voice changed in an instant. He started as if trom a dream—a horrible nightmare. **Why, Nathelah, is it you?’ he exclaimed. “ And me too, please gracious,’ put in Sabina Boney: flourishing her big umbrella—inviting recog- ion. “What would the Sparrowhawk do?” asked the Indian girl, speaking good English. ‘* Would he slay a helpless outh? ts Sparrowhawk a coward?” ‘Oh, I’m a fool, at times, fair Nathelah; Iam crazy. Pardon me, Silver Star,’* the outcast said, apologesoaly, yet the Boy Knight detected a tinge of sarcasm in his tone. “You'd ort to be laid over my knee and spanked furaciously,’’ put in Mrs. Bandy; ‘this thing 0’ young folks a-quarrelin’ is humiliation. It’s bad enough for old folks to fuss and fight; and that reminds me that if I get ‘hem paws on my husband, old Kit Columbus Bandy, please gracious I'll be a salivatin’ blister to him.” “Mrs, Bandy,” said Silver Star, “TI left your hus- band in the Indian camp on the peninsula,’ A wild, hysterical cry burst from the old woman’s lips, and she was about to respond, when Sparrow- hawk exclaimed: ** We must not tarry here; danger surrounds us,” ‘*No, the red-men will find you,” declared the, maiden. ‘Where to go I scarcely know,” said Silver Star; ‘*T am wounded and can only hobble along.”’ “Silver Star is the enemy of my people,” said Nathelah, “yet I would not harm an enemy. Let the pale-facé boy take Nathelah’s canoe and go up the river to his pee le.” “But what will Nathelah do?” asked the lad, **T will go with the Sparrowhawk.” Without further words Nathelah and Silver Star exchanged seats. As the latter sat down before Mrs. Bandy, she said: “Well, now, Silver Star, if you have no objection, I'll go with you. Please gracious, I want to be on the move.” The Boy Knight thought it strange that the old woman did not return to the peninsula where he had left the object of her search, the source of her troubles. When the occupants of the canoes were ready to start, Sparrowhawk spoke: “Remember, Silver Star, when we meet again we meet as mortal enemies.”’ Before Silver Star could reply, he dipped his pad- dle and sent his canoe rushin, throug the waters. “Law-sakes! dear me, what a crusty, crabbed soul that Sparrowhawk is!’ decided Mrs. Bandy; ‘“*he’s most awful queer, too. I can’t understan him any better’n I can a pone geese inscription. I don’t b’lieve he’s the clear quill, atwixt you and me, Silver Star. He'll shoot in the back, too, if he its the chance, so you want to look out. You'd en deader’n old Noah if it hadn’t been for that sweet little duck of a Nathelah. You see, she’s Sparrowhawk’s sweetheart—she told me SO, the sweet deary. Every few nights they meet up “bout Deep Ford and bill and coo like doves; but if ever they marry it'll be fight and uarrel like wet hens. Men are most awful deceitful critters, if old Kit Columbus Bandy is a etter: of the average man. But we'd better be pullin’ out o’ here, son, or them dasted red-skins may come chargin’ down onto ou.” “You have no fears of them, then?” *No, only I’d ruther not be catched with their enemies, They are naterally good to a female wo- man, and treat me well. I come and go jist as I lease, * Silver Star took up the paddle and headed the canoe up the river. e was skilled in the use of the paddle, and sent the craft gliding within the border of shadows that hung along the right shore. Suddenly, when he believed they were beyond all immediate danger, the prow of the boat struck a log in the water with such violence as to throw the occupants from their seats. Before Silver Star could recover himself, he was seized by violent hands and a savage yell rung in quavering echoes down the wooded halls through which the White Earth wound its way. Sabina Banuy screamed hysterically; but Silver Star believed her fears were assumed—that she, as well as Kit Bandy, was q traitor to those she claimed as friends; and that shé had been instrumental in his recapture. A couple of savages climbed into the canoe, and with thongs of buckskin bound the hands of the Boy Knight; and by the time this was accomplished, ~ boat had drifted out into the open, moonlit wa- er. Silver Star was now permitted to rise toa sitting stare, and the first thing, he noticed was that Sa- bina Bandy was gone. He glanced around him, and saw the woman standing erect and floating down the river in something he could not make out; and before he could ascertain, he was taken ashore; and, notwithstanding his wounded ankle, he was ery upon the march and compelled to walk along atween his captors. Three of the cagpl ive took the youth in custody, while the others embarked in the canoe down the river. The former had not gone far when they were overtaken by Mrs. Bandy, who, nearly ex- hausted, exclaimed: “Red-men, you'd better be careful; the Silent Avenger’s in the woods.” This information had its effect i the Indians, for they quickened their pace, fairly dragging their wounded captive along. They had journeyed but a short distance, when, suddenly, there was a dull, pistol-like report of a firearm, and a savage yell of agony. One of the Boy Knight’s captors had been slain! _ ; A ene scream from the lungs o1 Sabina Band. tore through the air like the scream of a hyena; and, wild with affright, she came bounding up from the rear where she had been lagging. “Oh, Lord! oh, gracious Peter!” she exclaimed, im gasps; ‘* did—did you hear that? It’s as I pre Aer that was the dull, choked report of that ¢ Avenger’s weepon!”’ The savages were horror-stricken. The name of the Silent Avenger was fraught with terror to them, for many a comrade had fallen under his deadly aim. Leaving the body of their fallen comrade, the other two savages hurried on toward the village with their prisoner. Sabina now took the lead, and with her umbrella in a position for instant defense, she soon left the red-skins and prisoner behind. This was a relief to the savages, for her tongue was never still. The were nearing the edge of the opening on the western side of the village, when, suddenly, another of those dull, whip-like reports stung through the darkness, and another savage went down, shot through the heart. r This left but one red-skin, and determined to sell his life dearly—even at the cost of losing his captive —and avenge the death of his friend, he dréw his tomahawk and bounded into the thicket whence the shot had come, and where he had seen the flash of a gun, Silver Star stood alone, but with his hands bound, He had been startled by the tragedy enacted under cover of the shadows around him, and stood, like one transfixed, and listened. He heard the retreat- ing footsteps of the dread Silent Avenger, and the pursuing footfalls of the red-skin. He heard the scream of Sabina Bandy directly before him, and then he heard the dull report of the avenger’s pistol to his right. A moment’s silence ensued, then fol- lowed the sound of running feet 5 the rustling leaves, and Mrs. Bandy, panting for breath, came up to where Silver Star stood. er face was white with fear, her frame shook with emotion, and her voice trembled with affright. “Oh, Lord!—oh, Lord!” she exclaimed, “that dreadful Silent Slayer’s abroad! Oh, Silver Star! what will we do? We'll be slain, slain, slain,” and she wrung her hands in despair. ‘“Untie me, Mrs. Bandy,” the boy said, and as the woman was engaged in freeing the lad’s hands, he continued: ‘* You had better flee to the village, if the Indians are your friends, and stay*there. I will take care of myself. I have no desire for your company longer, for you lied on me, when the savages ca tured us, to shield yourself. Besides, these w are no place for ahysterical old woman.” Old Sabina laughed softly, derisively; then, as she turned to depart, she said: “Please gracious, I know my gait, young man, if I aa a 09 woman. Pn opr i Ww le m about, and ou’ll know, too, some day, if you p your . aid then, with a spiteful toss of the head, Che wthele ed on her heel and vanished in the darkness. ‘What am I to understand by that?” mused the boy, as he turned and hobbled away through the woods; ‘did I insult the old “gorge, and did she mean that for a silent threat? or is there something more about that woman than any one suspects?” Thus musing, the youth moved on a short dis- tance, and sat down to rest his wounded limb. From Sabina his thoughts went back into the erg They brought up the sweet young face of that child of the clouds, the fair Elwe. ‘“Oh, where was Elwe?’’ his heart cried out, But there was no solution to the question, and the more er pondered over it, the more vague and painful it ecame, One by one he finally took up the other incidents ‘of the — two days and nights, and attempted to e myste solve conn with most of them. The conduct of ite Crane was extremely singu- lar to him, and what method there eould in it, was entirely beyond his comprehension. The treach- ery of Old Kit mney was oon nag enough; but the vengeance of the Silent Slayer was all a codon. Who the Silent Slayer-was no one knew; but Silver Star half suspected the Sparrowhawk. Altogether, there was a combination of characters and mysteries surrounding the events of the few days, so greatly complicated that the boy ave up all hope of solving it, and rising to his feet, e limped away slowly toward the river. CHAPTER X. KIT BANDY AT BAY. Arrer leaving Silver Star in the canoe, Old Arkan- saw went back into the woods to secure his gun and accouterments and when he returned, great was his horror and surprise to find both boat and boy one. He listened and heard the dip of a yee and look- ing through the foliage, he saw, out upon the ome moonlit river, a canoe with two occupants rapidly drifting down the river. One of the occu he knew was Silver Star, but the other he did not recog- nize. He was about to call to his young friend when the sound of approaching feet warned him of the danger of such an act. ading into the river, the old borderman concealed himself under some overhanging willows. The In- dians like hounds searching for the trail of a fox, glided past him, never dreaming that a foe was con- cealed in the water within arm’s reach. Finally Old Arkansaw found himself alone there in the silent depths of night. He knew that Captain Barns and his men had escaped to the main He had seen Kit Bandy fall at the beginning of the fight, and still remained in ignorance of hob f matters had terminated with that eccentric old in vidual, but believed him dead. When assured that the vicinity was clear of d ‘ Arkansaw went ashore and followed al the r until he had passed from the penins' Ther ~*~ a aa oe
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nove. Ces SS o ry tS continuing on up the river toward the Indian village, he finally espied a canoe half-beached m the shore; and launching it, he resolved to cross Over to the upposite shore. Stepping into the craft; he took up the paddle and sent the boat out into the river. At this point the stream was about one hundred ards wide, and the shore before him was a low, | soa sandy beach that shone white under the mel- low moonbeams. Beyond this ran the woods and its dark shadows like the grim walls of a battlement. Upon this the eyes of the plainsman were fixed as | he plied his paddle, and when about half-way over | the stream he was startled by sight of a dark object that emerged from the shadows and approached the river. It was plainly outlined against the white, sloping beach. It was neither a beast nor a human, and yet it was possessed of life—it was moving— rolling across the sand—approaching the river, The paddle became motionless in 'Arkansaw’s hand, The cold sweat started from every pore in his body. Lile all men of his class he was supersti- tious, and in the strange object there was something unnatural. It was round—resembled a huge ball— and coal-black; it was a mystery, true enough. It came down to the water’s edge and there paused. Old Arkansaw kept his eyes fixed/upon it, and sud- denly he saw a little jet of flamé spit from its cen- ter, and heard the whiplike report of a gun come over the water. Then a wild wail or agony burst from under the forward end of the old man’s canoe. Looking for- ward he saw a savage float out from under the prow of the boat—his arms beating the waves in the ago- nies of death. He had undoubtedly beer eoncealed there when the borderman entered the voat, and was waiting an opportunity to dispatch the old scout, and would: no doubt have succeeded but for the provident shot of—whom? Lifting his eyes from the dying warrior, and glanc- ing toward the shore he saw the unknown object | floating back into the woods. * By the holy smoke of Jerusalem !”’ he exclaimed, “that war the Silent Slayer, shurer’n guldy! But | what for a mask did it wear? It beats the very Old Harry. Well, by Judas! I'll not land there, as any- ae $ aware of, So ii push on up-stream a leetle urder.” So saying he dipped his paddle, turned half-around and faced up-stream; but he soon realized that he was running a great risk, and so he crossed back to che northern shore, Once more within the shadows, he felt at ease and stopped to listen. He heard the dip of a paddle, and a moment later, a canoe with two occupants ap in sight, They would pass bard by. As they came closer he saw that one was Soe Rigel D and the other the Indian maiden, athelah. They were conversing in quite an audible tone. Arkansaw listened. Sparrowhawk was speak- * Yes, Nathelah,” he was saying, ‘‘when Silver neg and J meet again, one or the other of us must ie.” ““ Why does Sparrowhawk hate the Boy Knight?”* the sdowt heard the maiden demand, ** Because he knows too much; he hates me.” “1s that all, Sparrowhawk?” “Yes; it is enough! Do you think I would tell Nathelah, my betrothed, a falsehood?” “Have you not told me how beautiful the white :aaiden is that you rescued from the river? Have ou not told me how she talks of the Pa Silver tar? Do you not believe she loves the Boy ht?” ‘* What if I did, Nataelah?”’ the lover asked. “The heart of the e-face is false and fickle sometimes,” replied the girl, “and Sparrowhawk ne “gris to ata ip os 1 replied thai lat « my pretty darling,” rep’ rrowhaw lifting boo f anid to his lips, “‘ I see you are jealous of the fair Elwe; but she nevertake your place in my heart, I will send her away some day; but Sil- ver Star shall never set Ee upon her me “* By the lords of Ballyhoolan!” exclaimed Arkan- Baw, as the lovers beyond hearing; “that tells atale. That young bastion has got Elwe in his pores and by the great John rs! I’d give my nterest in the moon if the Boy Knight was here now. Wows it Ae beam of joy into his heart, though, ven I te m that Elwe’s alive? Judas! every- thing with him has been Elwe, Elwe, Elwe. Ob, but he’s in love with her heels over head; an nowI must look him up; then we'll spy the Sparrow- awk’s nest out. And that Nathelah: now, Arkan- saw, my old beauty, she’s no more an Ingin girl than Sabina’ Bandy’s an angel—not a bit of it. By hokey! I wonder if I'd slick up, and put my best hoof for’d, whether I couldn’t cut that Sparryhawk out?” and the plainsman laughed heartily at own &osurd conceit. Again finding himself alone in the night, the old scout went ashore, ie canoe out of the water, and began eins * or a place to pass the rest of the eventful night. He found a great hollow log bard by, and without a moment’s hesitation he down upon his knees, and having put his rifle xe the | erewled into the hollow, and stretching himself ou went to sleep. When he awoke it was daylight, and without his narrow chamber he heard the carol of birds and the Chatter of squirrels in the tree-tops; but, instead of fhe fresh morning air the pungent odor of smoke Greeted his olfactories. * By Judas Iskariot!’’ he exclaimed to himself, “thar’sa fire nigh this log, and I'll bet some red- skin bastions has gota camp about. It might be whites, but how the deuce ’mI to tell? I’ve got to back out of here, and them dasted long ll let *em know I’m coming long afore I git out th my listened and heard voices—voices of white men fulking Among them he recognized the voice of aie Silver Star. the Boy Knight. 9 Old Kit Bandy; but he could scarcely believe the | evidences of his own senses, for he believed Bandy | had been slain. While thinking the matter over, he | discovered that the log was a continuous hollow; he could see out at the other end. This would enable him to make his exit forward, and at once he began creeping slowly along toward the opposite end. When within a few feet of the exit, a small hole in the side of the log enabled him to get asight of those | outside. Kit Bandy was there in all his old-time health and humor, and was being closely watched, upon some hot coals, by two white men, both of whom were entire strangers to Old Arkausaw, One of the strangers was rather an intelligent and prepossessing-looking man, but there was that about the drawn corners of the mouth and eyes, the cloud- | ed brow and nervous, restless movement of the body | that did not, at all, impress the man in the hollow log very favorably. e was addressed by Kit and the other man as *‘ Professor.’ The other stranger Arkansaw tie down, at first glance, as a deep-dyed villain; and, judging by the manner in which Old Kit Bandy regarded him, it was also evident that he —Kit—had not a very good opinion of him, The aroma of the broiling venison made Arkan- saw’s very mouth water, and sharpened his appetite until silence almost ceased to be a virtue, He crawl- ed on until his head was within a foot of the exit, when he discovered half a dozen sticks thrust in the ground near the log with a slice of steaming hot venison cooling on the end of each. Assured, by the run of conversation outside, that | the eyes of the trio were not that way, Old Arkan- saw reached out and removed the meat from the three nearest sticks and began eating it with a vora- cious appetite. Presently he heard Kit Bandy say: “Now, gentlemen, jist move yerselves up to the lick-block and try my style of dishin’ up venison. I alers prided mysel? on gittin’ more concentrated glory into a slice of broiled venison than— Great norn of Joshua! what in the stars ’s become of that venison? I left aslice on each of them sticks, and as I'm atborn nigger, three of them are gone! Reck- ble ’em up.” “That’s rather strange,” said the man addressed as.professor; ‘‘a dog couldn’t have come here un seen.”’ “Strange, indeed,” added the other man, Herman PBraash. “Not a bit of it, by the roarin’ Hellispont!” ex- claimed old Kit, as he saw a large, bony hand thrust from the hollow log, and deliberately remove an- other slice of venison from a stick; ‘‘that tells the tale! Did you see that infernal tentacle of a human Octophus snake in another piece of our breakfast? That log, men, is infested.”’ “* What accursed impudence!” said Professor Day- mon. ** Shoot the skulking hound!” vociferated Braash. The professor drew his revolver, while old Kit, bending over, gazed into the log. The eyes of the latter met those of Old Arkansaw, when a roar of laughter burst from the lips of the scout. “Great horn that floored old Jericho!’ ex- claimed Kit; “it’s that pizen old vagabone, Ar- kansaw Abe! Come out of there, you dasted, ornery old babboon, and let me maul the stuffin’ out of you! Oh, but Ill abolish you, my gay old buttercup!” Old Arkansaw crept from his covert, and bowin to the astonished trio, said ‘*‘Good-morning,”’’ an then seating himself upon the log, drew his hunting- knife and ee picking his teeth in a manner that equaled all the cool impudence they had ever wit- nessed. To add to the surprise of the trio, he turned to ef and said: “That venison’s a leetle stringy—done most too rare for me,” “You blasted old rapscallion!’’ lied Kit, “that’s all purty well done, but it’s only borrowed, now mind, But look here, Ar this gentleman is Professor Daymon, and ft Mr. Herman Braash; and then //is, gentlemen, is Old Arkansaw Abe, the nuisance of the White Earth, confound his ornery picter!”’ Arkansaw bowed politely to the two men; and notwithstanding the language in which the intro- duction was given, Daymon and Braash both ad- dressed the old plainsman with apparent surprise and no little respect. After a few words the four sat down to breakfast, and when their meal had been concluded, Braash and Daymon walked out into the woods, promising to return in a few minutes, As soon as they were out of sight, Old Arkansaw turned to Bandy and said: ‘* Kitsie, my rosebud of beauty, and paragon of re do you know who you're keepin’ company with?” ‘““Why, yes; Herman Braash, civil engineer and government surveyor, and Professor Daymon, scien- tifie man of the expedition.” ‘** How do you know, Kit?” “They said so.” “vould you b’lieve I war un angel if { war to say “Not by a thunderated sight, aot ee replied Bandy. “They said their company had encamped up the river last night; and durin’ the night they concluded to make a reconnoissance down toward the Ingin town, and got lost. Meetin’ me, they con- cluded to stick by me till this mornin’.” ‘Well, it may all be, Kitsie; but I'll sw’ar the government selected some migh dubious-lookin’ men to make graphy for our school-children.” **Ya-as, that’s what I chink; I didn’t like the looks of Braash from the fust—looks a mortal sight like Old Arkansaw Abe—only better lookin’, But I pro- on a sneakin’ dog of some Ingin did slip up and gob- | in the operation of roasting some savory venison | mised to go up to their camp to-day, and then I can see whether they’re surveyors or frauds.”’ “Tll tell ye what I think, Bandy: that is, you won’t see Surveyor Braash and Skienflintic Daymon back here ag’in this day. I think you’ve had the wooi yanked over your full, lustrous orbs.” ‘Well, what makes you think so?” asked Bandy, beginning to betray some uneasiness. **Gineral appearances, Kitsie. Surveyor Braash has a down, furtive look like a wolf; and Skinflintie Daymon has the quick, restless eye of a guilty con- science.” **Complimentary to the country’s servants,”’ said Bandy; “ but for fear you ave right, Arky, I'll keep a look-out for them. They may be wanted afore long, and—”’ “Yes, and please the gracious, you're wanted now, Kit Bandy!’’ cried a sharp, shrill voice, and the next moment Sabina Bandy came bounding from the woods and confronted her recreant and ungrate- ful husband. Kit, with a look of utter hopelessness, stood at bay. CHAPTER XI. “PARE THEE WELL, AND IF FOREVER,” ETC. ** AGAIN, oh, you demon of an old rascal!’’ hissed old Sabina, shaking her big umbrella in Kit’s face, and fairly dancing in her excitement. ‘Again havo I found you! again do I stand face to face with my eruel husband.’ “Yes, Lord, Lord!” sighed Kit, withering like a coward before the blazing eyes and uplifted weapon of his enraged wife. “Please gracious,” the old woman went on, pok: ing him unmercifully in the ribs with her umbrelia, this is the last time that you desart me alive; and you may depend upon that!” ““We could live just as hanpily, Sabina, a thou- sand miles apart,’’ obse1v.d Ki ** You could, but Z couldn't. and freshness is gone, and—”’ ** And where in God’s name is mine? Hasn’t it been deviled out of —” ‘““Wait, will you?” interrupted Sabina, “please gracious [ have the floor. A man is so deceitful My youth and beauty that he canmake a young gal b’lieve he’s a giddy boy, and who knows but you’re carryin’ on a fli tion with some gal now?”’ “Tam not, ‘Bina.’ “*T wouldn't b’lieve you as fur as I could throw a buffalo-bull by the tail,’ stormed the wife. “Oh, Jerusalem!" exclaimed Old Arkansaw to himself; ‘‘the ijee of Old Kit Bandy sparkin’ a girl! I swan that’s good—dee-licious.” While the husband and wife were talking matters — over in a rather stormy way, as we have seen, Ar- kansaw took his rifle and walking down to the river seated himself in the canoe he had left there the night before with the intention of crossing to the ere shore as soon as he had an opportunity to bid Kit good-by. ‘Kit, he finally said, ‘‘ when you've time between breaths I'd like to speak a word to you—bid you good-by and wish fea years of conjugal happiness.” Kit gave a sad, longing glance toward the river, and then, as a ye te seemed to flash through his mind, he turned suddenly, and tearing himself from the embrace of his wife, darted away toward the stream at the top of his <(naees Sabina after him. ing the beach, the old man made a leap and landed squarely in the center of Arkansaw’s canoe, and with such force that the boat was driven half- across bine br the —_ great nine to Old Kit fe spraw e , bu a — ture, he glanced back at the shore and saw Jes: raged wife stan at the water’s , Shaking her umbrella in a ous manner, and fairly frothing with root a Raia a wave of his hand, the old man shou “Fare thee well, Sabina, and if forever, Still forever, fare thee well.” Sabina could make no reply. Her form shook with the intensity of her emotions. At this juncture the sharp blast of a horn came leaping from out the forest, starting all with sur- prise. “By the horn that fetched old Jericho!” exclaimed Kit, “ that come from the direction in which Braash and Daymon went. It means mischief, I'm afraid— pull for the shore, Arky, pull lively!” ‘* But your wife, man! would you leave her to—”’ “Never mind the old catamount; she'll scratch her way through, See that? Oh, horn of Joshua) but she is an ingenious critter!” Old Arkansaw looked back as requested, and tc his wonder and surprise, saw that Sabina had raised her big umbrella—a monstrous large affair—and, in- phi rs Ae had placed it upon the water, and had rp Ay in tt for across the rtver, paddiing with her ands | In other words, the little old woman had made a canoe out of her large old umbrella, and, although the current was ually pearing 208 down-stream, was slowly crossing in pursuit of Kit Bandy. “I'll be everlastingly confused, Kit!’ exclaimed Arkansaw, “who ever heard o’ the like afore? AR ary foracanoe, Why, man, it’ll sink and drown er! “The Lord's will be done, Arky.” “You old sinner, I'd ort to shoot you— Oh!” A bullet from the woods on the opposite shore cut a lock of hair from the old plainsman’s head, and forced a groan from his lips. rs!” he ex ry iene or orvere and the» plied dig with all his strength. A few strokes of the blade brought them to the shore, and, land: e cover of the wi from , th Shine tier ie the opposite side, a)
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CHAPTER XII. A MUTUAL FRIENDSHIP, We left Silver Star alone in the night and the forest pursuing his way toward the White Earth viver. Again had the youth been thrown upon his own resources, though he was wounded and un- | armed. But he possessed a resolute spirit, and with aever a thought of giving up he pressed boldly on. 8 aching the rive he sat down at the water's edge antl thed his burning wound; and then dipping sv.ne water in the hollow of his hand slaked his feverish thirst. This done he crept back into the woods and raking a pile of diy leaves together bur- rowed himself therein and went to sleep. When the boy awoke it was morning—broad day- izht. The mellow-throated birds were warbling their matin songs above him, while a hundred voices at the young day made the cool, fresh air resonant with their weird, droning music. pean from his couch, the Boy Knight shook the leaves from his body, and then going down to the river dressed his wounded ankle and made a thor- ough ablution of his hands and face. He felt *éatly refreshed by this exhilarating treatment; Sit still he was weak and feverish. Could he have s.t down to just such a meal as his appetite craved h» felt. that he would soon be his own self again. But, food was denied him, and hungry and sore he evept back into the brush fringing the shore, and toanin; gainst a log, ve way to reflections. Again White Crane, the Mysterious Chief, the Silent Slayer, the balloon, the fair Elwe, Old Arkansaw and Kit Bandy passed in silent review before his mental vision. A slight noise in the bushes to his right arrested his attention. He listened and heard something dragging itself through the shrubbery. Was it a savage creeping upon him? The question gave him — uneasiness. He rose to his feet and peering hrough an bs igine in the bushes saw the cause of the sound. It was an Indian crawling upon his hands and knees—a Phyto warrior. He was cover- ed with blood, and his sunken eyes and hollow ehecks told that he was wounded nigh unto death. At his back was a quiver filled with red and black- feathered arrows. In his hand he carried an un- strung bow. Somewhere Silver Star had seen this Indian, and it was full a minute before he could recall the fact that he was one of his captors of the previous night —one of the three shot down by an unseen foe, The boy felt no fear of the savage, for he saw that he was doing him harm. e Indian crept down to the water’s edge, and ring down, dr: as if he had been dying with thirst. BRpnS a moment for breath, he drank again and then again; and as he turned away, he looked at the river as if with regret that he could not drink itdry. Leaving the water, he crept back directly tow: the white boy, who now felt a sense ot fear s' over him. In a moment his eyes had met those of the wound- ed warrior, The latter started excitedly and laid his hand upon his breast. Silver Star knew what this meant— friendship. Geepouting in a similar manner, the youth at once addressed him in the Sioux dialect. “The Sioux brave is wounded like the Silver Star.” “The Weasel will die,” the Indian replied in his - own | , which we translate. “Mebby not, red-skin,” encouraged the young knight, “Ves,” persisted the Indian, “the blood of the Weasel has reddened the ground where he fell by the bullet of the terrible Silent Slayer.’’ ‘We've been unfortunate, red-skin, though I be- tieve you've got the worst of it. Last night I was your captive, and to-day I could make you mine.”’ ‘Here is my bow, and in my quiver is an arrow. Fhe Weasel the praises of the Silver Star in the happy h g-grounds if he will end his sery.” a No, no, red-skin, I can’t kill you now. If you wre not down and helpless, I'd kill you quick enough. But the Boy Knight is nota coward, He will not strike an enemy when he is down by the hand of another. You need not fear me, red-skin.”’ The Indian looked the gratitude he could not ex- ress in la , and gy closer to the young might, sank down upon the earth with sheer ex- baustiuz. Presently, however, he rallied, and risin to a sitting posture, himself forward an deaned aganst the log at Silver Star’s right. And there, side by side, those two wounded enemies sat through all that long day, talking in she icindliest manner and lamenting their condition f mutual friendsh ip. Silver Star bound. up the red-skin’s wound from | which there had been a clow leaking away of his tire-blood, drop by drop, ever since he had been rounded. This treatment seemed to give the indian courage, and his reviving ho brought trength; but it was some sine betors he had strength enough to stand. Hunger now began to tell upon the wounded yuuths, but there seemed no prospect of relief ‘rom this trouble. cay own § the shadoWs of night were deepening in the forest and stretching across fie river. Nocturnal voices n their melan- choly song; the night-hawk’s wings pounded the wilant air overhead; velvet-footed animals crept softly through the woods; rabbits glided from their irs and were playing in and out of the moonlight along the beach like weaver's shuttles—pa' Z. now | a then, within twenty feet of the wounded ouths, “Weasel, let me ‘ako your bow #=d arrow,” said Silver Star, as a -abb'*stcpned 1. “vont of him and reared upon its him’ reet: auc gave utterance to a | string, and then awaited his chances for a shot. | took his bow and shot another rabbit. Silver Star, the Boy Knight. queer noise that sounded like mockery to the ears of our, hero, The, Indian gave him the bow and arrow, and stringing the bow, he placed an arrow against bd e had not long to wait. A big-eyed rabbit came bounding from the shadows and stood 4 before him on the beach. The lad raised the bow and drew the arrow to the head. There was a“ thrum,”’ < cry, and the animal lay struggling upon the shore. **Good shot,”” murmured the Indian. Silver Star crept out and of the animal, returned to the Indian and asked him for his knife. Cutting the rabbit's throat, he passed it to the Weasel and said: ** Drink the blood, red-skin; it will do you good.” The young warrior eagerly seized the animal, and applying his lips to the wound, sucked the hot blood from every vein in its body. This nourishment ave him new life. It threw a new luster into is dark eyes, and infused new strength into his body. It seemed as though he were startin from a helpless dream, so greatly was he revive by the rabbit’s blood. He felt so strong that he he blood of this one Silver Star drank. A third rabbit was killed and dressed and the meat devoured raw. This unexpected delivery from the pangs of hun- er gave the youths new hope. They felt so great- y invigorated that. they finally began to think and talk of departing. They still maintained the ut- most friendship, and seemed to take a mutual in- terest in each other’s welfare. But the time for pee finally came. Rising to their feet, they walked down to the beach. “ Good-by, Weasel,” said Silver Star, “I hope you may get home safe.’ ‘* Toes can be much good friends, sometimes,” was the Indian’s reply, ae with a grateful look. Thus they parted. Silver Star turned his back upon the Indian and started down the river. He had gone but a short distance when the murderous “whiz ’’ of an arrow crossed his ears. At the same instant, almost, he saw the feathered weapon | strike into the white sandy beach before him, the “ta t leaning back toward him, telling from whence t came. It had been fired at him from behind. Of this there was not a single doubt. Neither was there a doubt in his mind that the Weasel had fired it—that the red-skin, obeying the instinct of his treacherous nature, had attempted to murder him. CHAPTER XITIL TRUE UNTO DEATH. Srnver Star turned easy around, his very heart rankling with e and indignation at the treachery of him whose life he had been instrumental in say- ing. He saw the Indian standing where he had left him in the very act of firing another arrow; but, seeing him turn, he lowered the weapon and began gesticulating in a violent manner. He pointed up the river as if trying to call the boy’s attention that way. Looking beyond the Indian, Silver Star saw a canoe with two occupants coming down the stream. This told him that he had accused the red-skin wrongtully—that the arrow had only been fired to call his attention without giving an alarm. Hasten- ing back to the Indian the latter said, in a low, ex- cited tone: “Blackfeet scouts! Sioux enemies! Blackfeet bad Ingins—been scout round Sioux village—killum —scalpum!’’ Both Silver Star and the Sioux were surprised at the presence of Blackfeet Indians there, such a long way from their own ie oes In fact, the boy scout could hardly credit the fact of their be Blackfeet; but he saw that all the savage nature o. his companion was aroused by the presence of these ancient foes—that he seemed suddenly sig of all the strength and combative spirit he ever had. He drew, Silver Star into the bushes, and then with fixed, glaring eyes, and his weak and almost blood- less frame aquiver with emotion, he waited and watched the motions of the two Blackfeet. The latter crept along the shore in the moonlight, their paddles creating no sound whatever. ey were nearly opposite the Sioux and Silver Star, when, to the surprise of the latter, the Weasel be- gan uttering a series of strange sounds that did not ail to reach’the ears of the Blackfeet. What did it mean? Was there treachery in this? Silver Star had seen so much treachery in the In- dians that he could not fully trust any of them. He had only the Weasel’s word for the two Indians be- ing Blackfeet. He could not, situated as he was, tell them from any other Indians, and he thought it might be such a thing that the Weasel was calling to friends for assistance; and his suspicions became all the stronger when he saw the boat turn and make directly toward them. “* Weasel,” he asked, no longer able to keep silent, ‘how do you know them are Blackfeet?” Weasel made no reply, but, with a slight frown. bent forward, his eyes fixed upon the canoe; he stood silent and motionless as a statue with an arrow to his bow and half drawn. The g4 Knight would have repeated his question had the Indians not reached the shore and Laer | and had he not seen that they were Blackfeet, beyon a single doubt. And as to the Weasel’s honor, the “ thrum” of a bot on and a. yell of agony bore ample evidence; for the Sioux sent an arrow deep into the breast of one of the Blackfoot braves; and before the other could tell whence the missile came, he, too, received one of the barbed weapons in his throat. — Neither of the warriors fell, but reeling upon the beach and fearing madly at the arrow-shafts, uttered the most horrible and agonized screams, Silver Star shuddered. **Weasel,”’ he said, ‘‘ you had better have let them gone on; you’ve only wounded them, and their cries may bring others, if others are about.”’ “They die soon—red arrow pvison—white arrow not,” replied Weasel. Again the boy shuddered, and wondered at the cool and awful bloodthirstiness of the wounded Wea- sel, and the superhuman strength with which the spirit of vengeance had endowed him. The Blackfoot shot in the neck fell first. He ceased his cries and frantic efforts to draw the arrow and sunk down lifeless. The other, asif being consumed by fire, plunged into the river and was seen no more. ; With a glow of demoniac triumph upon his face Weasel crept out of the thicket, scalped the Black- foot, rifled him of trinkets and jewelry, and then ene. into his fallen foes’ canoe, said: “Come, pale-face—go in Blackfoot boat—Weasel go with you.” All distrust had now vanished, and stepping into the canoe they pushed out from the shore and drift- ed down the stream. In the boat were the Indians’ blankets, one of which Silver Star wrapped about him to keep off the damp, chill air. When out in the river under the moonlight the Sioux began itemizing the booty he had secured in his victory over the Blackfeet. Silver Star watched him handle the bloody scalp and some jewelry and look them over with a childlike curiosity. A little cry of surprise suddenly burst from the red-skin’s lips. He had found something that excit- ed his curiosity. He looked it over and over and then passed it to Silver Star. It was a gold locket. The lad Seay the spring and it flew open, There was a picture inside. He held it up closer to his eyes. It was his turn now to be surprised. He recognized the face therein. It was the face of Elwe, the heroine of the balloon. Of this there was not a single doubt in his mind, but it was a serious question how it had come in the Blackfoot’s posses- sion, unless Elwe had fallen into his power. The thought that such might be the case gave him pain; but he no longer reflected upon it, for a dark object—a clump of drifting brush—suddenly parted by theside of the canoe, and three Blackfoot Indians, with yells that rung fearfully through the night, at- tacked the canoe. ; bs) Boy Knight dropped the locket in his sudden right. e Sioux warrior gave the war-cry of his tribe and seizing the paddle at his feet swung it aloft and brought it down upon the tufted head of a Black- foot, stunning him and causing him to release his hold upon the boat. At the same instant Silver Star received a blow on the head from behind that felled him, half-stunned, in the bottom of the boat. He was rendered help- less, motionless by the blow; and yet he had con. sciousness enough left to realize, in a vague sort of way, the danger that_ menaced him and his compan: ion. He could hear the far-off sound of a struggle going on around him, and he could see dim, shadowy Hs Sate passing and whirling and bowing before him like the figures in a panorama. The sounds he heard finally changed into a deep, dull roar, like the fall of distant water, and the figures before him disappear- ed. He experienced a vague sense of his situation and tried to shake off the terrible spell. But every effort seemed to add new weight to the powerful de- mon that was crushing him to death. He seemed to be smothering, and a bloody mist gathering over his eyes. The roar in his ears became as music, and his soul’ a to be drifting away into darkness. At last he passed away into oblivion. He had be come totally unconscious, ’ Silently and prostrate he lay in the boat until finally he awoke as if fromasleep. He arose to a sitting posture and gazed in bewilderment around him—up at the sky and down at the silent waters. Everything seemed blended in one confused mass, but gradually objects began to unfold themselves to the eye. One by one he began to recall the events of the past. The moon, the stars, the rippling wa- ters and the moaning forest all aided his clouded senses, Then a cry escapes his lips. All at_once the past comes, like a flash, upon his brain. He saw that he was still in the Blackfoot canoe. Before and around him was borrible evi- dence of the result of the conflict with the three red- skins. Just in front of him, and with his body han ing half-out of the canoe, lay Weasel—dead. 9 fingers were clutched with the icy gripe of death in the hair of one of the Blackfeet, whose body was in the water, and whose fingers of the right hand were fastened upon the throat of the Sioux. In this way the two bitter foes had died. The shock was terrible to the already overtaxed nerves of the Boy Knight, and it required his utmost effort to overcome a feeling of to vrs gran But, determined not to give up, he crept tothe bo Y and lifting it in his arms, consigned it of the Sioux, to a Meco grave. This effort well-nigh overtaxed his strength and he was compelled to lie down again. The canoe was lodged in some driftwood, and as the lad had not the strength. to manage it, he cun- cluded to remain there until morning, whatever the result ht be. As he lay there with the water rippling around him and imparting a gentle, swaying motion to the boat, a feeling of drowsiness came upon him. He tried hard to dispel it, but the ee ong of the poe two aes and nights, and the effect of the blow receiv and hang upon the head, seemed to dull his senses, weights upon his eyelids; and despite ~
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Silver Star, the Boy Knigh i his efforts, he finally sunk into a profound and re- freshing siumbecr, How long he slepfp he knew not, but when he awoke, it was some time before he could recall his situation. But when he did, he became aware of the startling fact that he was moving—that his boat was gliding along through a narrow black channel —— rustling reeds and grass. : Spellbound by this discovery he lay —— —_ —scarcely daring to move or breathe, through fear; for in connection with the discovery that his boat was moving, he cow ear the 8 y dip, dip ofa Cees. © ld h the steady dip, dip of a. A deep, dense darkness overhung the face of all mature. The moon had gone down, and even the stars were shut out behind the blue mist that ob- scured the heavens. Not the sign of a tree-top was visible over the sides of the canoe, which was evi- dence enough to the lad that he was not upon the river. But, now and then the edges of the boat raked under some over’ reeds whose rough blades dragged over the youth’s face, This told him that he was moving through a swamp, and the dis- covery sent a strange shudder through his form. He knew there was but one swampin all the region thereabouts, and that one was known as the Spirit Swamp. It was a black, dismal place where it seem- ed impossible for human life to exist—for human feet to penetrate, Indian tradition habited the place with the spirits of white hunters that dwelt within the bodies of dragons and hideous, deadly serpents; and the red-skins around and about the swamp searcely ever ventured within gun-shot of its margin. Silver Star believed that he was either dreaming, or else through the Spirit Swamp, and_to satisfy himself that he was not ing through a state of transition, he rose to a sitting posture, de- termined to meet the worst. To his horror and surprise he found there was no one in the canoe with him, nor was any one visible around him; yet his boat was moving—gliding steadi- ly along the narrow, watery path—winding like a Paso among the rustling reeds of the Spirit wamp. CHAPTER XIV. HELLICE. Sitver Star was ina quandary. He asked him- self these questions: “ t does this mean? from whence does this boat receive its motive power? Unable to arrive at anything like a definite con- clusion the young knight remained perfectly quiet, ve that there was a boat just ahead of him, and that it had his canoe in tow. But, who was the occu of ‘that st boat? This was anoth uestion that agitated his mind. On with Tight and steady strokes of the paddle the boats glided through the rustling reeds. A few minutes later they eme into open water, and then Silver Star was enabled to distinguish the outlines of the canoe before him, and those of the person in it. It was a small figure. A few rods further on the tow-boat came to a halt, then the hinder craft was hauled up alongside the other, when a cry of surprise burst from the lips of unknown. “Why, sir, [thought you were dying. I am sur- at seeing you ne up.” It was a soft, musical voice that addressed him— the voice of a Pp toms girl Silver Star’s heart gave a t bound of joy. “My fair, strange friend, if I may call aa such,” the youth replied, “I am surprised to find myself here in an unknown region.” “No doubt of it,” was the answer; “‘but you are in the heart of the Spirit Swamp.” “TI mistrusted as much,” he answered, endeavor- ing to calm his emotion; ‘put may I ask who has brought me here?’ a ai friend to pple I recognise : an Paves: Star, Knight; ave seen you often thoug ou knew % not. To-night I found ou on the eee | tere lees peood and dying, as 1 supposed, and so broug’ ‘ou here.’ “T am Wounded and suffering great pain, fair y,* a You shall be cared for, Silver Star, upon one as va ** Name it, my good friend.” “That you consent to remain concealed where I place F town’ “J should be ungrateful not to do so, but Iam at @ loss to know why you exact this promise.”’ “* Because the master of my home—my brother— és your mortal enemy.” “Indeed? 1 knew not that I had an enemy among the ple of my Own race.” “ t may be; but Sparrowhawk, the recluse, is your enemy.” gemne Boy Knight was astounded by this informa- m, “Then Sparrowhawk is your brother,” he said, thoughtfully. 7 * Ah! then you know him? “Yes; I met him just last night, and he would have slain me then but for another. But, why he is os Gwen I know not, unless he is, as I mistrusted night—” I Silver Star!’ interrupted the girl, “I know what you would say; but do not say it—do not think that my brother is—but come; if you would accept yg eee nage veed me. Pe igiped pt ng fe ah e arose m her i follow ea by the boy, who could searcely walk. The maiden led him across a dry knoll densely covered with tall willows, They soon came to the door of a low, wide hut overgrown with ivy and honey- suckle, the doce, the girl conducted her The next minute a light flooded the room. For several moments the dazzling light blinded the lad’s eyes, but when he became accustomed to it, surprise and wonder took possession of him, Me m4 girl before him—his rescuer—could not have n over seventeen years of age, She was tall and slen- der, with a form of sylph-like grace and beauty, a face of exceeding loveliness, and dark-blue eyes radiant with heaven’s own serenity, The room, which was but a part of the cabin, was furnished with an air of comfort and taste in per- fect harmony with the fair mistress of that seclud- ed home. It is true, the furniture was cheap, but neat and clean. The walls were hung with pictures, and with wreaths made of wild grasses and vines. Here was a shelf upon which sat a bouquet of fall roses and other late flowers, that im a deli- cious odor fo 7 room; and gps ser @ corn- ucopia, made of pine cones and glitteri uartz. that was qvertiowion with its fullness of fruits and owers, * Now, Silver Star,’’ said the maiden, “you must make yourself as comfortable as possible. Situated as we are, our home is not—” “Make no apologies to me, my fair friend,” in- terrupted the lad. “I know what you would say, and I am surprised, now, at the comforts and beau of your home;” and in his heart he added: “the angelic loveliness of its mistress.” ter a few words of conversation had passed be- tween them, the maiden excused herself, and went out into an adjoining room; and, a moment later, Silver Star heard her in ¢gonversation with some other person. The youth listened intently—not that he wished to be inquisitive, but because he could not resist the burning desire to know more of the home of the strange Sparrowhawk, and ascertain, if possible, the cause of his great enmity toward " The maiden had been gone but afew minutes, when she returned to the room, followed by another young girl. Silver Star’s back was to the door when they en- tered, and he did not notice the second girl, only with a passing glance, until his friend said: “ Silver Star, this is my friend, Miss Bland.” Silver Star rose and turned toward the girl—a young. maiden dressed in black, with a face white as alabaster and beautiful as an angel's, with dark, soulful eyes and a wealth of dark-brown hair. At sight of her the youth started back; a light of pecog aie overspread his face, and his feelings breaking beyond restraint, he exclaimed: = eg gracious, it’s Elwe!” “Yes, my brave young friend,”’ replied the girl. The boy advanced, and taking the proffered hand, ressed it warmly, while his eyes looked down into ers with a wild, burning joy. A moment of rap- turous silence ensued. ““ And you escaped safely ?’’ he said, as if doubting his senses. “Yes, sir,” replied Elwe, “and I am rejoiced to meet you and thank you for your noble kindness to me the other night. I should never have forgiven myself had any thing happened you that night.” ‘But your escape, Elwe, has been a matter of un- certainty to me until this moment. My horse came through to the post safely, but without a rider. We all supposed you dead.” “Oh. that was an awful ride, Silver Star!” the maiden replied, clasping her hand as if with terror at the thoughts of what she had gone through; “I stood it very well, and so did Prince, but when I came to the river, my heart failed, my head or dizzy at sight of the rushing waters, and I fell m. the saddle. Then I knew no more until I found my- self in this house. Fortunately, for me, Sparrow- hawk was near, and seeing me fall from my horse, poet me; and that accounts for my presence ere,” “Exactly, Elwe; and now I understand the mean- ing of a eae pe saci at a ees a ‘ew evenings ; but, eclare, you an ve had some terrible adventures,” “And the Lord only knows how soon we may have others,” the maiden sighed. “Oh, I never borrow trouble, Elwe. We should always consider the worst over with, unless we are ee ve that itis not, With you it may be different. t is true, for I know you have been the victim of some foul conspiracy.” . “Yes, Silver Star, I have,” she replied, her lips trembling and her eyes fi with tears; “‘I did not tell you all the other night—1 did not tell you any- thing, I believe, for the Indians swept down upon us just as I was about to begin, But to-morrow, Silver tar, I will tell you all I know about the balloon, and my | Amey here. I told Hellice all to-day,” ‘Hellice? who is Hellice?”’ “The ee kind girl that brought you here.” “Oh, I beg pardon: I might have guessed that At this very juncture Hellice came in from the adjoining room, and invited Silver Star out to sup- per. Expressing his thankfulness to the beautiful girl for her continued kindness, he followed her out into the room where a table, with a rich repast and a bow] of steaming coffee was spread. e sat down and ate with a keen relish of the well-cooked viands, and when he had concluded his meal, felt that he was himself again—that, with the exception of his wounded ankle, all his old-time vigor and spirit had been revived. With his usual cheerfulness and happy, boyish spirit, he conversed with his fair friends until bed- time. But when about to retire, he turned to Hellice and asked: “No, Silver Star; Sparrowhawk will be absents but even if he, orany other danger, should approac there is an ever-watchfui sentinel in the house that will give the alarm. I hope you will let no thoughts of danger disturb your rest, for again I assure yor brother will not be home for two or three days.” With this assurance the lad retived, and enjoyed & few hours’ sweet, refreshing slumber. Early the next morning he was astir. He walke@ out into the yard to take a look at the surroundings. He found that the cabin stood upon a little knc® which rose out of the center of the swamp, seve1i#@ feet above the water-line. The knoll was covered with tall cottonwoods and willows, in the teps of which tame squirrels played and chattered in glee. Breakfast was finally announced by Hellice, whe seemed more lovely in her morning dress, and in the light of day, than she had before. After their meal had been atched and the table cleared away, the maidens joined Silver Star in his walks about the island, and did everything im their power to make him happy. In fact, there was a spirit of gentle rivalry manifested by these twe beautiful girls in their endeavors to make the youth feel at ease and enjoy his sojourn upon the island. To Silver Star the day was one of unalloyed bliss. Basking in the smiles of the two lovely girls, he felt that he was surrounded with all the irations of fairy-land—transported to an enchanted It was such a day of pleasure and intoxicating joy that he could scarcely have believed it reality, it not been for the dull haze of autumn hanging over them and the eternal croak of frogs in the swamp sur rounding them. When night again closed in over the place, and the Boy Knight found himself wandering alone under the trees, his thoughts ran constantly over the omens, happy words of Hellice and Elwe—words hat had been spoken that day, and apresien to his heart. He tried to decide with himself which of the girls was the loveliest, and which he Fa cap! the most of, but as he could not decide, he finally dismissed the matter with the conclusion that both were angels and that he loved both. An hour or so after dark his ears were arin by the sound of music coming from the cabin, and | 6 in he found Hellice playing upen a ~ tar and singing some beautiful airs he had never eard. Elwe sung with her, and the strains of musie that came from their lips, mingled with the harmo- nious chords of the instrument, were the crowns, joy of the boy’s life. His senses swam in a sea 0) ecs and bliss, and he seemed carried away on rah g cet wings of melody into the realms of dream- The soft tinkle of a silver-throated bell suspended to a beam overhead suddenly ‘put an end to the music. Hellice sprung to her feet, dropped the guitar, and with a white face ran to the door, and opening it, looked out into the night. oo heard some one coming up the knoll, whistling softly. “It is brother!—Sparrowhawk!” she exclaim turning to Silver Star. “ Oh, Silver Star, you mu: ead oe will kill you—he has declared he wo ‘ It was a sudden change from dreamland to stern reality, The maidens’ faces w palée.and their trem- ulous with emotion. Silver Star rose to his feet unm moved—betraying no sign of fear. “Follow me,” Hellice commanded, and she led the way into the kitchen, and then pointed him te the head of a ladder leading into the cellar. “*Ga, yc Star,” she continued: “it is your only chance of escape.” “ Hellice,”’ the boy said, his manly spirit asserting = — courage, ‘‘lam not afraid to meet your rother.”’ “T know it, Silver Star; but he is impulsive—he is quick, and may shoot you before he takes a moment to think; you must go, Silver Star—go for me—for to I pray.”’ : e young scout could not remain deaf to this appeal, however much he felt humiliated at the ought of skulking in his enemy’s cellar; and so he descended the ladder into the darkness of the place. Hellice returned to the front door just as her brother came in, 9 ood-evening, girls,” he said, doffing his feath- ered cap. “Why, brother,” cried Hellice; “ we are surprised to see you back to-night.” “I know lam back soone ,anI intended, but I became uneasy about my ~ s.” “You are very good and kind, Sparrowhawk,” said the pretty little Elwe, grate A “Thanks for the compliment, Elwe,” the young recluse returned, his handsome eyes looking down a the maiden’s transparent orbs into her soul, “Why were you uneasy, brother?” questioned Hellice; “ are we in any more danger than usual?” “Yes; there is a stge band of Blackfoot Indiars in the vicinity, and as they belong two hundred or more miles from here, they may not know any thing of the old tradition connected with Spirit Swamp, and with nothing to fear in shape of spirits dragons, conclude to search this swamp, in which case our home would be in danger. Knowing this, I could not stay away. Moreover, I was uneasy about you, sister. I was so afraid that you might have met with danger in coming home after meg pe ing me to the river, I could not rest; and war another thing that drove me home.” me’ got home safely, and in good season,’’ saié ellice Sparrowhawk ot upon his sister’s face S27 2So0n eoFrnarned. am “Qu Pare’ om guest into the house, and around she found Pe Hellice, if your brother is my mortal enemy am | with « in ive look. A great lum a stool and bade him be nite ing | I not in danger here to-night?” rose!” Sha ” throat, for she had never seen ioe iz , 7 2 ee
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12 Silver Star, the Boy Knight. brother look so before, and she believed he mistrust- ,ed something of the truth. “Sister,” he finally said, in a sterner tone than that with. which he usually addressed her, ‘how came those strange canoes at our landing? and who came in them?” “Do you mistrust me, brother?” the maiden ask- ed, evasively. - . “That does not answer ‘my question, Hellice,” he replied, with a faint smile playing over his stern ' €eatures, **T brought one canoe there,”’ she said, ‘‘ and only one. I found it upon the river soon after leaving you last night.” ‘“But who was in it, Hellice, tell me that?” the brother persisted most cruelly. ** Brother,” she said, her face flushed and_ her eyes flashing, ‘I have no desire to tell you a false- hood. After reine hg last night I found that ca- noe on the river, an it dying, as I supposed, was @ young boy—"’ ‘Silver Starl’’ exclaimed the brother laying his d upon his revolver. ‘* Was it Silver Star?” “Tt was Silver Star,” she answered, fearlessly, thy n, Hellice, his blood willbe upon your head; you know what I have told you—” “Brother,” said Hellice, pleadingly, ‘‘do you for- eect that—” ‘ ag ue you love Silver Star? no; but I have sworn at—’ His words were here cut short by the sound of footsteps, and turning, he found himself face to face with the object of anger, Silver Star, who had appeared from the adjoining room. . “Sparrowhawk,” the young man exclaimed, “if ou want the life your sister saved, take it. am re to answer for self. I am not a coward.” . “Silver Star,” replied the desperate Sparrowhawk, *T told you but a few nights ago that when we met nit would be as enemies, Lam not a man that Again do I meet you unarmed; but I will Shoadvan e of you. Here, take one of my ‘gevolvers, and follow me into the yard.” _, Bilver Star took the weapon, A cry burst from the lips of Hellice and Elwe. \ 5 whawk turned to the door, but at the same t there came a sharp, violent knock against it caused the recluse to start back with terror. My God!” he exclaimed, ‘“‘they have found us! @©h, my sister, and my little friend, Elwe, we are Y He heard the sound of voices without, and before he could shoot the door-bolt, the door swung open and a savage—a Blackfoot warrior hideous in war- paint—crossed the threshold. Beyond him, in the moonlight, Sparrowhawk could see other painted faces and plumed heads, CHAPTER XV. MOMENTS OF TERROR, “Van!” was the ejaculation of the red-skin, ag he glided into the room and shot his black, snakish eyes about, permitting them to rest upon the white, terrified face of the fair Hellice. “Red-skin!” exclaimed Sparrowhawk, “ why do you intrude hero in the Spirit Swamp?” “Come git scalps—purty squaws—heap lubly,”’ was the answer given in English, such as it was. The eyes of Sparrowhawk fairly blazed, The forocity of ademon and the d ration of a mad- became sot upon his handsome, manly face. ‘ne very muscies of his face and neck seemed to contract into hard knots, while his whole person eoemed surrounded with a nimbus of superhuman wer. Pa Red-skiu, you. and I are not enemies—we are _ ptrangers,”’ he said, in measured accents; ‘‘ but come euother step and yvu shall die.” The savage laid his hand upon his tomahawk, and fooling secure in the presence of his friends, he straightene.t himself up to his full hight and took a ghort stcy: forward. ™he next instant he fell dead—shot through the Withovs rosea flerve, sav yell, but before an- other Blackfoot cveuld enter, Silver Star sprung for- ward and slammod the door shut and bolted it. Again the say tore the ree with their yells, .,and the blows of tomahawks fell thick and fast up- on the door--¢ frail burricade to long resist such an parrowhawk saw the door must soon yield. In ent terror, and with a burning humiliation, he med to Silver Star. He glanced at the fearless oung scout, tbyn at Hellice and Elwe, The light in s eye had changed. His spirit was unbending. A silence had now seized upon the besieged. Juick and rattling fell the blows upon the door— vlows that seemed to awaken echoes in the cham- hers of Sparc w haw't's soul, “Silver Star," the young recluse finally said, *‘if +o can, I beg of you to re ol me. I have wrong- od you. Death stares us all in the face,”’ I hold no malice~a0o, ill-will toward you, Spar- _* whawk,” was the truly noble reply. she two ae i. hands and were friends. A ery of joy burst frem the lips of the maidens. re lice, you ané Elwe go into the back room— tide in the cellar,” said Sparrowhawk; then turn- to the young scout, continued: ‘Silver Star, do you think there is i, "Sa “God only knows; but we cannot die in a better cause than in defending those innocent girls.”’ * Never, Silver Star, nev— Ah! the door is yield- 2 ABs out!” whawk blew out the light as the door burst in. Darkness filled th » essault. ie e room and concealed the ders; but they could see the shadowy forms of ; vages ust the moonlight outside. Te sacaives thet pada So would have raised pid Pees A Lait ae ae ri US Cen FS against Silver Star now opened its deadly fire upon the yilling fiends. Side side the two, Sparrow- hawk and Silver Star, stood dealing death to the ad- vancing foe. Over the Spirit Swamp, the first time, nia since creation’s morn, rung the din of con- ct. But such an uneven contest was not to last long. The revolvers of the defenders would soon be empty. Sparrowhawk finally seized his companion by the arm, and drawing him into the back room, closed and barred the partition door. The savages, a dozen strong, poured into the front room, “While they are pounding away at this door, « must try and escape,’ said Sparrowhawk; ‘con Silver Star, let us join the girls in the cellar.” The two descended the ladder into the cellar, where the girls stood trembling with terror. ‘Now let us go outside and make a run for the canoes.”’ They ascended the steps to the outside entrance, and stood in the shadow of the building. The savages were now inside, yelling like fiends and thundering about in the darkness in search o} the whites, For a moment our friends stood by the cabin, con- versing in hurried whispers; but presently the broke and ran toward the landing, Sparrowhaw ae the lead and the young scout bringing up be- A savage left on Ap k at the landing gave the alarm, Sparrowhawk shot him dead. Those in the cabin heard the pistol-shot, and at once came pouring from the house and yelling, to- ward the landing. Hellice and Elwe sprung into the first canoe they came to. Sparrowhawk gave the boat a shove, and sent it gliding across the open water into the reeds. Then he and Silver Star leaped into another boat and pulled out rapidly after the maidens, and in a moment they, too,were concealed from view of the red-skins in that wilderness of reeds, The crash of rifles and the rattle of bullets, like hail, among the reeds followed. “Thank God, we have escaped with our lives, if nothing else,’’ said Sparrowhawk, dropping his pad- dle and inserting cartridges into his revolver. “Yes, Sparrowhawk, but we are not out of danger yet,” replied the Boy Knight. ‘*No; and so let us hurry forward and overtake the girls. We can then take them into our canoe and endeavor to elude the savages before we leave the Piety ” said Sparrowhawk, taking up the pad- dle and riving the canoe into the narrow passage through the reeds. They followed the path familiar to himself and his sister, supposing the girls would follow that course to the river. ey moved eae 3 as fast as two : dles would carry them, and to their surprise and re- gret were not in sight or hearing of the maidens when half the distance to the river was made. “Tt's singular we don’t overtake them,” said Sil- ver Star; “ we surely haven't passed them.” ‘*No; Hellice would have kept this passage; moreover, they are in a light canoe and sister han- dies a paddle with wonderful skill, We'll be apt to find them at the river.” With this assurance they glided along. They were nearing the river, and as the girls were still not in sight, Sparrowhawk began to feel uneasy, inally they glided out into the river. The moon- light flooded the stream, Quickly the young men glanced up and down the shomering, placid waters; but nowhere could the girls be seen. ** My God!’ cried Sparrowhawk, ‘‘ we have missed them, Silver Star!” * And I fear the worst for them.” With the strength of a madman Sparrowhawk dipped the paddle and sent the canoe leapin through the water back into the reeds, then compen and listened. But nothing on earth save the roar of the ey org ake rushing over the wilderness of reeds could be heard. “Oh, heavens! this is too bad. My poor sister! my poor little friend, Elwe!” groaned the young re- use. “We may find them yet, Sparrowhawk; let us go back the way we came and search the side pas- es, We'll be sure to meet the accursed Blackfeet; but then, why should I care? Lam growing d I- ate. This is worse than the torture-rack—death is preferable.” “Don't give up, Sparrowhawk,” said Silver Star, in tones of encouragement; “lve 8 face to face with death every five hours in the last forty- eight, and yet the hand of Providence has protected saved me.” ‘Well, [lladmit I am too despondent at times,” said the young recluse; “I will follow your sugges- tion, my friend.” Re dip his paddle, and again sent his canoe gl ing along the passage they had come, It now came necessary to use more precaution, for they were liable to meet Blackfeet at any turn, Silver Star, who sat in the front of the boat, kept on the alert for danger, and when about half-wa k, the sound of voices fell upon his ears. e gave the alarm, and the canoe stopped. Both listened—both Heard the voices. They were Indian voices. The youths turned their boat aside, and pulled into the tall reeds, where they were well concealed from the main passage. The dip of a paddle sounded near, and a moment later a canoe, with half-a-dozen feet, along, going in the direction of the river, It was immediately followed by several ea loa led with Indians and plunder from the cabin. It seemed to our friends that all must have left the swamp, and as soon asthe rear boat was out of-hearing, they crept from their concealment, and moved on toward the cabin. When a few rods from the landing, Sparrowhawk began searching the by-ways and passages that the otter and, musk-rats had made through the reeds, A broken'stalk, or a ripple on the water, might give him a clew as to where the maidens turned out of the main e, He feltsatisfied they were some- where in the swamp. He would have shouted to them, but was afraid of directing the savages, not only to them, but to the girls also, should they—the girls—hear and answer him. The only safe course was to search in silence; and still t seemed a hopeless task. elieving the savages had all left the vicinity of the cabin, the youths did not observe the precaution they would have otherwise done in their search, The frogs had resumed their unearthly music all over the swamp, which was the strongest evidence they had that the coast was clear. They searched here and there for hours, Every passage connecting with the main channel was thoroughly explored, from one end to the other, but = — the same result. The girls could not be ound. At ~ the moon went down and put an end to the search. The wind was still blowing from the south, and enn among the dry cio, as though a stately orest, Running their canoe into a clump of willows, the bag men condluded to await the coming of day. ‘* Well, my friend,’’ said Sparrowhawk, as_he laid + Agi the paddle, ‘thisis a sad and terrible night ‘or me.” ‘** Ay, Sparrowhawk, and for me, too,” exclaimed Silver Star. “But you have lost nothing, Silver Star, while 1 have lost my home, my darling sister, and my little friend, Elwe.”’ “You know not, Sparrowhawk, what I have lost.’’ “Yes, I mistrust it, my friend; but of this I do not want to talk. The thoughts of it almost made me a demon—a murderer.” ‘““We cannot afford to be enemies, Sparrowhawk; we must find the girls, living or dead,” said Silver Star, evasively. ‘* Of all the years I have resided here, my friend,” the recluse went on, ‘‘ Elwe was the first to enter our cabin, and her I carried here unconscious, You were the next, but not the last. The savages a, as you: know, like the destroying hurricane. they not been Blackfeet, they would never have come, The Blackfeet live way north of here, and know nothing of the superstitious fear with which this swamp is i yer No Sioux eyer enters here, This I know, and when I left the society of civiliza- tion, and, with my little sister, became an exile, I selected this dismal place for my home. Here have Llived, hunting and boos a for a living, and going occasio to the post for supplies and to barter my Its. But I also went in diseuise.” : ‘I am surprised, Sparrowhawk, to hear you—a mere boy like myself—talkin’ of bein’ an cite. It must be you are such from choice—from your own free will.’ ; “No, it is not; I am under a cloud, Silver Star,” he answered, a slight tremor shaking his voice, * and you have caused me more fear and uneasiness than all the red-skins.”’ “You astonish me, Sparrowhawk—you have said this before; and yet lam as innocent of any intend- ed wrong toward Ae as a child unborn.” “I believe you, Silver Star. I know you have been my enemy, and yet you know it not.” ‘There is some mystery about mye eg ise bach I see, plain enough,” remarked the Boy Knight. “Yes, I will admit it, Silver Star; and yet I dare not tell you what it is. Were it not for m apes. in- nocent sister and—and, well; one other fact, would not care afarthing. But t heavens! were Hellice = know all, it would her—kill her dead, Silver tar!’ ‘* Sparrowhawk!’’ suddenly exclaimed Silver Star, ‘it’s growin’ lighter; it can’t be comin’ day, can it? “No, surely not,’ replied § whawk, rising to his feet, and looking around ; “but my God! the cabin and the swamp is onfire! Silver Star, we have got to work for our fives!” Silver Star rose to his feet, and looked southward over the swamp. The cabin of the recluse, surely enough, was wrapt in a sheet of flame, while along the south side of the swamp the reeds, as tinder, were on fire. And fanned by a strong south wind the flames were rolling and leaping toward heaven like flery demons lue, black smoke, filled with millions o ks, went boiling and burst- ing upward into the inky sky, twas an awful and the light falling upon the faces of the two wretches, gave them the pallor of death. “3 Oh, my Lord! where are they?—Hellice and Elwe?” burst from the Boy Knight’s lips. As if in answer to the question,.a wild, terrified scream came over the swamp, mingled with the roar of the ro! seething billows of fire. The two, Silver Star and Sparrowhawk, exchan ippores. They could not speak. They pat oe ut more save the con: heard n suming Se e they took up their paddles Seating themselves and began their flight. SHAPTER XVI. TH SURVEYORS’ CAMP, ** Yrs, Lsaroen said Old Arkansaw, as he and Kit woods, ‘that wife o’ yourn is a treasure—a genius, What woman ever born ’d ‘a’ thought of makin’»
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Siiver Star, the boy Knight. 13 ¢anoe of herambrilla, and sailin' out across a roar- én’ river?”’ “Oh, yes; she’s a jewel in your eye, Arkansaw, but if you’d’a’ had a red-hot skillet flapped over your head or a tater-masher driven into your dio- gony as often asI have, you couldn’t see anything smart in the old catapult that done the violence. Oh, I honestly wish the Ingins ’d skulp her, dash her old picters; but instead 0’ that she’s act’ly_bein’ »ompered up and courted by that old rip of a White rane. He's even promised her the position of queen if she'd give up the white people entirely. Lordy! what a queen she'd make! Knock the socks offen Queen Victory of France. She’s a doctor, and that’s what makes the Ingins like her. She really does know somethin’ "bout pills and sich, and has brought more’n one buck Ingin out o’ the kinks-a-flyin.’ Oh! she’s a sort of a goddess, and a free character ’mong them, and ’s ce ies os, of friends. But she can’t stand it always. he’ll:flap her heel ag’in’ the bucket some of these days, and then she’ll call on Peter at the gates o’ Par ys *“ Ah! you think she’ll be an angel, do you?” * She'll go through if she takes a notion in spite o’ the doorkeeper’s club. She’s a will of her own, has Sabina, and alers makes a way; and I reckon she’ll foller me upon earth and off.’ 3 “Tf she follers you, Kitsie, after you leave this nemisfear, she’ll catch blue-blazes, now mind.” “She'll foller if she takes a notion, brimstone or no brimstone; but mebby the devil and I both can head her off. But, lookey here, Arky, suppose you and me visit that ag tibes J party’s camp and see what they’re doin’. Somewhow ’r other I can’t recon- cile user to Surveyor Braash and Scientific Day- mon, Thar’s plenty of royal old cussedness crap- pin’ out o’ their eyes; but, arter all, everybody ar’n’t villains because they're not as handsome and lovely and sweet-spirited as you and me, Arky. Do you know that?” ** That's so, Kitsie; but thar’s Silver Star that we must look arter, too; and, also, that dasted young feller with the s arryhawk cap and feather jacket. He’s got{that gal Elwe, ‘bout which Silver Star talked so much; and, for some reason or other he’s threa- tened the life of the Boy Knight. I’ve an idea sneak- in’ under my skulp, Kit, that that Sparryhawk’s not the clear quill.” ““D'ye thinkso, Arkansaw? Why? State yer rea- son, will ye?” **On account o’ his mysterious comin’ and goin’. Now none o’ us knows a dasted t *bout where he belongs; and I’ve heard it loudly ted that he’s the leader of a gang o’ robbers, and that his handle is Osman, the Outlaw.” i “Great horn that pulled old Jericho! D’ye think ' thar’s a shadder of truth in it, Arky? “Couldn’t swear that thar is, but my own suspi- cion’s what hinted it to me. A mule’s heel’s not always statio when the mule’s asleep, Kit Bandy; so keep that in your pipe. Thus conversing the two old bordermen pushed on through the forest in the direction of the surveyors’ camp, and in the course of a few hours they came in sight of the place. It was located in a natural de- fensive position, and commanded a view in all direc- tions. It was situated upon a h hill or knoll sloping off in all directions. The sides of this knoll were barren of vegetation, smooth and covered with @ sandy soil; but upon its crest grew a little clump os a and in among these the surveyors had pitch- their camp. Without ll hesitation Old Arkansaw and Kit Bandy ascended the hill and entered the camp where they were met by eerreyor Braash and his men. e scouts took in the camp ataglance. There were about fifteen men of different nationalities, and some of forbidding looks, in the sak’ All were armed to the teeth and looked as though they would as soon fight as eat. A wagon of heavy military rn, four draught mules and some twenty fine- ooking saddle-horses and equipments comprised their outfit. As evidence of their business, there po Fong one side a surveyor’s staff, a compass, a theo- dolite, a Gunter’s chain and pins, a flag-pole and ovher things pertaining to a first-class outfit of a sur- veying party. ; ay am tna to meet you again, gentlemen,” said Herman Braash, “ and ape you will accept of the i of our camp as long as you feel so dis- osed.”’ “Thank you, strangers,’ replied Bandy; ‘* we're great guns for fun and good eatin’, Wemay, and , we may not stay here awhile with you—jist owin’ to the weather.” “I desire, gentlemen,” said Professor Daymon, *to secure the assistance of one of you a few min- ntes in Sig me make up the topography of this country. Whichever is the best acquainted with this vicinity will nee step into my tent,” Kit Bandy motioned to Arkansaw to go with him, se the old scout followed him into the tent. The first thi the professor did was ¢o take from an inno- seut-looking camp-chest a bottle of liquor and a gmail goblet and invite Arkansaw to drink. The old man touched the liquor lightly, and Daymon, after driaking himself, took a small, portable secre Yrom his chest and opening it Ww a well-executed map of the White Earth river country therefrom. This he spread out before Arkansaw, and then said; { presume you can read and write, can you, Ar- kansaw?”’ ~ rfesser, that I don’t know ‘B’ "ne: b ‘atoon, > * used to have a hang of the let- ters, but as it alers seemed a waste of the raw ma- enial to be thinkin’ ‘em over,I let ‘em slip and fifed up my n Bh aa re 10 useful reseats bg curin tries and sich. “a Welt don’t know as the want of a knowledge at the alphabet will hinder you giving me just as much information as though you had the learning of Humboldt. This map, now, embraces this coun- try so far as the geographical dimensions are con- cerned; but many of the prominent features of the region are not indicated by location, and as we have to make a complete report, even to minute details, we must have the information to make it upon. To travel the country ever would require much time and labor, and so we decided to call some one already acquainted with the lay of the land, as the saying goes.’’ * Yes, yes,”’ said Arkansaw gazing upon the map; “but what river's that, perfesser? he said, point- ing to a red line running north and south across the map. “That’s not a river, but an isothermal line, Ar- kansaw,” explained the professor, smiling at the old man’s childlike ignorance; “ but now, let us com- mence at the Sioux village and follow east down the river: what are the general features of the country ?”’ “Wal, professor, I’m not very handy in making g’ogra: hy, but then I'll tackle it best I know how. Arter leavin’ the Si-ox vi e the country, for a ways is level and lightly timbered, but after it gits into the vicinity of the Spirit Swamp it’s tumbled Be wuss than a trundle-bed, and kivered with stunt- ed pines and grubs, till ye can’t rest. Then comes the Spirit Swamp—a nasty dismal hole; put her down, perfesser. Thar’s more’n five hundred acres of it, and nothin’ but reeds and willers, and frogs grow and ripen there.” “Is it accessible by foot or by canoe?’’ asked the professor, “They say it’s navi-gate-able for canoes, tho’ Ican’t say sure enough for g’ografy. You see the swamp bucks up against the north side of the river; ut it down, perfesser; and a canoe could enter it rom the White Earth. But as it’s said to be the abode of spirits and goblins, put it down, perfesser, that Old Arkansaw Abe, who's not afeard to face death and distruction, could not be hired to enter it in broad daylight."’ “Then you have never. explored the swamp?”’ asked Daymon. ** Explored it? Heavens. I’d.as soon think of ex- plorin’ purgatory. Why, rfesser, when I along the river whar the Sp t buckles on to her, I feel cold and chokish. It seems as though the wind is always blowin’ over the swamp, and sich a roar as them reeds make—why, I sw’ar it would make the h’ar raise on a dead nigger’s head. Oh, a dasted Sa pill is the Spirit Swamp; put her down, per- esser.’’ For fully an hour Arkansaw continued his descrip- tion of the country, and when Daymon had obtained all the information of this character desired, he turn- ed the conversation upon other topics. The wea- ther, the hunting, the Indians—all were fully dis- cussed; and fi Daymon remarked, incidentally: ‘*We were all wonderfully worked up the other night, when encamped south of here, by the ~~. ance of a dark spot against the clear sky. ny were the conjectures as to what it was, but none was right, for it proved to be a balloon. It was _ ing north, and appeared to be settling toward the earth; but what became of it I know not.” “That was the night of the twenty-fust, wer’n’t it?’ asked Old Arkansaw. ‘*Let me see,”’ said the professor, reflectively. ‘I believe it was—yes, it was the night of the twenty- first: [remember now. Did you see it?” “No, but Silver Star, the Boy Knight of the Pera- ro, did; and that’s not all. The balloon was nighly down when he seed it, and he heard the ballooners quarrelin’ like man and wife ‘mong themselves "bout somethin’, and presently he saw a bundle let down from the balloon with a rope. Then up went the air- boat, and the fellers begun to quarrel ag’in, and presently the boy saw somethin’—well, it was a man —thrown out 0’ the balloon and come screamin’ down through the air, and strikin’ the ground, was mashed into a lump of red liver. And that bundle, perfesser, turned out to be the sweetest little gal— so Silver Star said—you ever see’d.”” ‘*Good heavens! do you believe it, Arkansaw?” “Yes; Silver wouldn’t lie.” ‘*What became of the girl?” “Well, Silver took charge of her—put her on his hoss and started to the fort; but the Ingins got af- ter ’em and he sent her on to the fort, and he dodg- ed off afoot. But alas! the hoss come through hunky, but thar was no gal on his back.” “You don’t tell!” ex¢laimed the professor; ‘‘ then Silver Star doesn’t know anything about her?” ‘**No, I know he don’t.” “Do you have any idea where she is, Arkansaw?” “Tf you can find the den of one Sparryhawk, a young trapper, or hunter or somethin’, 1 think you'll Fm the gal there. I heard him tell a person so, and—”’ At this juncture Arkansaw caught the eye of Kit Bandy who was standing near, and who gave the scout a look that expressed more than words could have done, However, to get around an ab- rupt break in his honest revelation of facts, he went right on. ‘But that Sparryhawk is a crazy loon that imag- ines himself lord of creation and cock of the fodder- walk, My ’pinion is, that the gal dumped out of the palloon’s deader’n Mother Eve, perfesser.” PBL likely,’’ replied Daymon, making an entry Ss ‘ The eee conversed a few minutes longer, then rose and went out, when a general, running conver- sation ensued. Presently Daymon and Braash left camp in opposite directions, but managed to get to- gether on the south side of the grove. But of these every Bandy and Arkansaw appeared to take no notice, ‘but that doesn’t hinder ’em from bein’ t Kit walked about camp examining, with a childish curiosity, the surveying instruments and outfit; and finally he strolled off toward the north side of the motte, and took a look at the country beyond. Over among the wooded hills he saw a smoke ang | as from a camp, and it filled his mind with no little wonder and curiosity. While pondering the matter over he heard a slight, fluttering sound at his right, and looki around he discovered a red flag attached to a b flapping in the wind. And he had no sooner discov- ered this than he saw a horseman em from the woods in a line with the smoke over among the hill and ride toward him. It did not uire a secon glance to tell him that it was an Indian, and as he eame nearer, Kit saw, to his surprise, that it was a Blackfoot chief. ‘* Wal, now, what’s brought the Blackfeet away down hereaways?’’ the old man mused. “ Horn of Joshua! if the Si-oxes git wind of it, theyll bounce ‘em like ducks would a June-bug. And bugger is comin’ right smack up this way. Who ows—”’ The sound of footsteps cut short his soliloquy, and turning he saw Professor Daymon approaching. ‘“‘ Perfesser,”’ he said, pointing toward the Indian, ‘“what does that mean? Can you explain it?”’ aon gracious! it’s an Indian, isn’t it?’ exclaimed aymon. Yes, a Blackfoot chief,” responded Bandy, eying Daymon. “Well, he mustn’t enter our camp,” said Day: mon, “and count our force, or he might give us trouble. I will go out and meet him, and find out what he’s after. Daymon advanced from the thicket and moved down the knoll until he met the Indian. The latter dismounted and the two held a long conversation, keeping the horse between them and Kit. Finally the chief mounted and rode back toward the woods; and as the professor approached cr he said: “T coaxed the vagrant and cutthroat to go back for fear the boys would raise his hair.” ‘“What's the Blackfeet doin’ down h two or three hundred miles out of their own latitude?’ “ He says a few of them came down to hunt buf- falo, but I don’t believe him. I think they’re look- ing up Sioux scalps.” ‘Neither do I,” responded Kit, in a tone that caused the professor to look up as if in doubt as to what he meant. The two returned to camp, talking as chey went. Dinner was soon announced by a strapping big cook, n invitation, Kit and Arkansaw broke bread with the surveyors. After the re) was over the old scouts concluded to take their departure, and as they were not urged to stay, they had no difficulty in getting away. When out in the woods, Old Arkansaw asked: ** Well, Kitsie, my posey, what do you think of the surveyers?” ‘** Not quite as much as you do, for I didn’t tell °em everything I know and guess at what I didn’t know, as I heard you doin’. Oh, by the time you've served a term or two of married life you'll be leetle more keerful how you shoot off that lip ey ny surveyers, Kit? Haven't shaioe, and ae and talk on any subject from matromony to a Bab’lonian inscription.” ‘“* Your confidant, Professor Daymon, eh?” “No, that old honey-mug of yourn, Sabina Bandy.” Wl? 4 Arkansaw! you're a fiend—you delight in torturin’ me—you’re second cousin to old Satan.” ‘Thanks for the rose-tinted complishment, Kitsie; but all jokin’ aside, I struck a lead in Skinflintic Daymon's tent by stretchin’ the blanket a leetle and bein’ communicative.” “Indeed?” “Yes, sir; he took out a map of these diggin’s and axed me if I could read. I told him no, but I meant that I couldn’t read Hottentot, and then he showed me the map, The fust thing that rested my ‘tention was a red line runnin’ north and south across the map, and I axed, innercently, what river it war, and says he, smilin’: ‘It’s not a river, but an’ icythermule line,’ or some sichaname. But right thar, Bandy, is whar the little eddycation, that [had mauled in’ me at the Brimstone Holler school-house, come into - . Right along that red line it said: ‘track of the altoon.’”’ ** Horn of Joshua'*™ “Yes, sir; that’s what she said, Bandy, and it’s my solemn opinion that Skinflintic Daymon’s the man that run that balloon that Silver Star the gal out of. He talked about the balloon—said ow all see’d her over ’em; but somehow 'r other couldn't swaller all he said after he lied *bout, that sheet Ene line. Now how’s that, Adonis of u bel ‘* Wal, that’s been my opinion, all along, of them, They may be government surveyors, and all that, rascals, ” said Kit, * Wal, I mean to look around tha: Blackfoot camp, and keep an eye open,”’ declared Arkansaw. * Sebond the motion, Arkausaw, for I think thar’g Government has lots of sich servan
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Silver Star, the Boy Knight. — a chance for haydoogins ot fun atwixt this and to- soorry night. Thar’s a nigger in the wood-pile, somewhere.” * The fust I do ‘ll be to reconnoiter that Blackfoot eamp when night comes, and see what relation it vears to the surveyers’ camp; and if thar isn’t some skulps to be h’isted. And it might be sich a thing that Silver Star’s in their clutches.” “Well, while you’re doin’ the Blackhoof camp, I'll tun’up and interview the Si-ox hornit-nest.”’ “ Hate to lose your comp’ny, Ka-ristofer.” “Till meet, you round these diggin’s in a day or two—mebby sooner. You may expect me down on you at any moment.” The two old bordermen parted, Bandy going west, anc Arkansaw, by a circuitous route, going in the direction of the Blackfoot camp. The latter did not hurry, for it was some time until night, and darkness was necessary for a successful reconnoissance. When night at length came, he pushed forward and soon came in sight of the camp. A dim camp- fire marked its location, and with the stealth of a shadow he crept toward it until he had gained a point where he could command a good view of the place. He counted not less than thirty Blackfoot warriors and two white men. One of the latter he would have sworn was Professor Daymon, of the corps of surveyors, although he might have been mistaken. Hesaw that the Indians were making prepara- tions for breaking camp, and that the white men were directing their movements and assisting in packi up. The savages were all painted and umed for the war-path, and when they at length k their departure, Old Arkansaw could not im- agine what point they were aiming for. To satisfy self, however, he resolved to follow them, and by the time the last savage was out of camp, he was roe aes trail—following within hearing distance For some time they journeyed on through the woods, but finally reached the shores of the ite Earth river, where a halt was made. A wide, sandy beach separated the river from woods, and this en- abled Arkansaw to see all their movements. He was surprised to see a number of canoes, la and small, lying upon the beach, and he was still more — when he saw the savages launch the boats and embark therein, oe can the demons be goin?” he asked him- sell. Across the river lay the Spirit Swamp, and as if in answer to his question, the convoy o naxeges pind died over the stream and disappeared in the k labyrinths of the black, dismal swamp. “The bl bastions!” exclaimed the old scout to himself, * ‘re goin’ to explore that swamp. Thar's deviltry on foot, or else they're doin’ it in the interest of science and g ography. By the eye of Jupiter! I wonder, if in givin’ that Skinflintic Day- mon the lay of the land, and in describin’ Spirit Swamp, I have made an infernalated jassack of my- self, as Old Kit intimated? Great Goshen! I'll swan if Ihad a canoe I'd foller’em, if I got completely abolished afore I got out o’ thar.” Thus musing, the borderman kept his watch by the shore—w: ting for the red-skins to return, Two hours or more passed, when suddenly the re- port of firearms, mingled with savage yells, came rolling over the swamp, ““My good Lord of Israel!” said the scout, “the demons have found the retreat of some one—are murderin’ and ’ innercent people, and I, old’ blockhead and j am to blame for it all! I thought I was so smart tellin’ all I _knowed and hin- tin’ at what I didn’t know! Great Judea! just listen! It’s a regular battle.” For some time the sound of conflict rung over the water, then all became silent.- But Arkansaw still kept his watch by the river, and presently saw a canoe glide out of the swamp into the stream. It con- tained two occupants, whom the old scout recogniz- ed as Sparrowhawk and Silver Star, the Boy Knight. He was about to call to them, when, to his surprise he saw a dark, round object beng im, from the woods, and pense just within the moo: t. “By Judas!” he exclaimed, ‘‘ that’s that infernal Silent Slayer, and I’d give all my right and title in the oper regions if I could git one squint behind the cri iter’s black shield. I'll be switched if it isn’t queer.’ As he concluded his remarks, he turned his eyes toward the swamp, just in time to see Silver Star and Sparrowhawk glide back into the wilderness of ceeds. *T reckin,” he thought, “ them young cockalorems have made up, or they wouldn’t prancin’ ’round in their gondola so gay; and I'll beta coon-skin that Sparrowhawk lives in that swamp, and that he’s been Blackfooted out. But whar’s that gal I heard him tellin’ Nathelah about? Ah! that Nathelah! Yi bet she’s a fraud—taken Sparrybird in hand- somely.”” Another hour went by, and the next thing that at- tracted the old borderer’s eye was a beam of light tnat shot suddenly into the sky from near the center of the swamp, while almost at the same instant a dozen other red lights flashed up along the south e. Full well he knew what it meant—the savages had He watched the light. It grew brighter and hter. Higher and higher the flames rose. Dee and dense the smoke rolled upward, with fork tongues of fire bursting out o- it. **Oh, salvation! somebody’s goin’ to be eternally y? ed Arkansaw; ‘‘and\ nobody’s’ to e but me—ah! there, by the wives of Solomon!” This exelamation was caused by sight of a number of canoes that came gliding from the swampinto the dently captives. Of this there could be no doubt, for the Li of the burning swamp lit up the surface of the White Earth with the glare of the noonday sun, revealing the very features of the savages in the boats. The red-skins paddled across the river, and landed a few rods above where Arkansaw stood. Here they held a short consultation, when about half of them, with the two captives, re-embarked in the canoes, and turning down the river paddled out of sight. As they passed before him, Arkansaw saw that the cap- tives were young girls, and he felt certain that one of them was Elwe, of whom Silver Star had told him. The savages that landed took their way back to- ward their camp in the woods, and Arkansaw again found himself alone, waiting and watching for the ar," Knight and his erg tr on. he fire, by this time, had spread down toward the its red beams across the water river, an un, wall of the forest trees. It shone against the blac a hs ay the old man’s face with a white, gairish “Great Gehoviah;” he finally exclaimed; “I do wonder if Silver Star and Sparryhawk ‘ll git roasted in that lake of fire? Mighty Moses! that is a grand, awful and—”’ He felt something touch his belt, and lookin around, he saw a great bony hand lift his knife an revolver from his belt from behind, A cry burst from his lips, and turning quickly, he found self face to face with the Sioux chief, White Crane. Silent as a shadow had the conte approached and taken the weapons from Arkansaw’s girdle, while he stood awe-stricken by the flery spectacle before him. But the instant their eyes met, the old scout’s fist was aimed, with lightning quickness, at the face of the chief; but the latter was on his -_ warding the blow, he clenched with his oe, ¢ And together the two men went down in a hand-to- hand nme ga py in each other’s embrace like maddened tigers. white CHAPTER XVI. A LITTLE LIGHT ON THE SUBJECT. Ciaspep in each other’s deadly embrace, Old Arkansaw and the renegade chief, White ne, rolled from the shadows of the woods onto the beach that was now lit up with the glow of the burn- ing swamp. No tree was between them this time. It was a fair, open-field fight with no weapon save those that Nature had given them. No blows were struck for they were hugged u so close that it was impossible to strike, even their arms not been locked about each other’s forms. First they were in one t, then another— now up and then down, whirling a=c spmning around in rapid ¢volutions, their feet kicking up clouds of sand and div. They iy ye in compara- tive silence, for each seemed afraid the other had friends near. Nothing save their heavy breathin and an occasional groan as they fell could be heard. They seemed so nearly matched in strength that for several minutes it would have been impossible to have told who would be the victor. It was evident, the way they fought, that endurance was to settle the conflict. Both men were wiry and supple for men of their age and ungainly a ag ages mae For fully two or three minu the struggle con- tinued, but, finally, Arkansaw succeeded in break- ing the Indian’s locked arms, and in seizing him by the throat. This closed the red-skin’s breathing apparatus in a twinkle, and by a sudden movement the scout gained a tion astride of his foe’s ey and set about choking him to death in a systematic way. Panuitt ! ‘nu-iff!” came whistling from the In- dian’s lungs in a startling manner. Arkansaw loosened up on his throttle and allowed him to get his breath. “‘’Nough, old ejiot, "nough,” again blurted the pirae ont in a tone that Martled” Arkansaw, who exc “ng med: Lord! did I hear aright?” “Yes, I'll cave, Arky, was the Indian’s reply. “Kit Bandy, by the holy juggernaut!” and the old rani) lea from the trate body of his old end, “Yes, Arkansaw, I am Old Kit Bandy,” said the chief, White Crane, rising to his feet and shaking the dirt from his body, and feeling of his throat’ as if to assure himself it was all there. “Well, what in the tarnation do you mean by pitchin’ into mein that way, Bandy? Are you crazy?” No. i wanted your skulp, you white vagabone. I didn’t recognize — at fust; and, Lord-ee! I shud- der when I think how nigh I come to killin’ you, Arkansaw.” river. In the foremost one he saw two women, evi- nal, ugly chief, White Crane, That, I say, is what's “Yes, now you did, didn’t ye, ye sweet old honey- t mug? Another minute and I'd ’a’ had the stuffin’ choked out of ye. Ireckon you see now you're no match for Old Arkansaw, don’t you? You're a handsomer man, I'll admit, but you can’t hold wind enough to tussle with me, can you?” * pshaw, Arky! I war re playin’ with you as a cat plays with a mouse, and I’m awful gladI found out if war you, or your scalp ’d’a’ ornamented the lodge of the Ingin gal that sings in my heart, and that’s to make glad my soul and cook my corn-dod- gers. Great horn—-I mean waugh!—I’m the great war-chief of the Si-ox nation, and I can haraly rep my hands off your fi hair, Arky. Oh, I fee devilish, bloodthirsty feel like a_ hurricane with nothin’ totear up root and branch. Waugh!” “You look somethin’ like a sick ecat, Kitsie. dancin’ ‘long a marsh, But what hurts me is to find that you, Old Kit Coimmpus Bandy, are that infer- killin’ me now.” ‘*Tt’s a fact, Arkansaw, nigh as I come bein’ your last attack of cholera morbus.” ‘** But how is it you’re playin’ red-skin and white~ friend and foe, to whites and Ingins alike? Why, Kit, you’re two-faceder than the very old devil his« self!’ Do you know this won't win?” “Tt has won, Arkansaw, and if you'll jist keep that clap-trap in be gad head still, itll win ag’in; and some day I'll let you into a leetle secret of my own that'll start the hair on your bald pate in a holy, second. Now, Kit Bandy’s not sleepin’ round like some folks I know: and if that blamed wife o’ mine should find out that White Crane’s her own husband, she’d go through me sizzin’ hot, don’t ye cee? No, Arkansaw Ab , you jist keep a stiff upper li *bout this, and if ever occasion should require that scalp you before some of my braves, and bear it like Gotamozin when the s broiled him for breakfast one mornin’. You'll git your reward, if you do, in the Hereafter, and that'll be somethin’ in your favor. Why, I’ve been a kind ofa one-hoss war-chief these two years, and I'll tell you how I come to be one, and what I’ve done, some of these days, if I don’t scalp ye before then. I've given you this light on the subject so’s you needn't roake a fool of yourself hereafter. You see a little paint, a feather or two, and a change of my duds in- side out, along with a blanket, makes a different lookin’ bird outen Ka-rietofer Ka-lumbus Bandy.” “Witches and warlocks, yes! it makes you the ugliest, orneryest, punkin’est-lookin’ old curmudgeon that war ever tted to dis: e the human family. If you’d let your wife know that White Crane is her husband she’d lay herself out and die without a groan. Good heavens, Kit! go wash yer face, and fix up your clothes and take them feathers out of yer hair, or I'll be cussed if I don’t bounce ye ain. “Staking the old scout’s advice, Kit went down to the river, washed the paint off his hands and face, combed his hair out with his fingers and changed his. clothing inside out. When he had thus made his toilet he looked like another being when he went back to where Arkansaw awaited him. Gathering up their side-arms and rifles, the two compared notes since ng, and, after a short consultation, concluded to follow the Blackfeet whe had oy down the river with the girl captives. Both Kit and Arkansaw felt positive as to who the- girls were in the power of the Blackfeet, and as Sey d not been gone over half an hour they had hig popes of over g them soon. e pursuers moved along briskly and silently for men as loquacious as they were, and, contrary to their most ine hope, they came in sight of a canoe sooner than they had any reason to expect. “That’s the rear guard,” said Old Kit, “and the other ‘ns are not fur ahead,” “Not fur,” replied Arkansaw; “but when we overtake them there’ll be so many of them we caut manage them, I’m afeard.”’ : ‘We can wait and watch our chances, Arky.” They moved on and finally came in sight of all the canoes. They were strung along a rod or more apart, and in the second one from the lead were the captive girls bowed down with grief and sorrow. As Arkansaw had P greasiec) they had overtakem the enemy and found themselves at a loss to know how to act. The river was not over seventy yards wide, and as the canoes were in the middle of it the Blackfeet were within easy pistol-shot; but should they fire upon the savages and even kill three or four, it would put the survivors on their and in alk probability cut off all chances of rescuing the maidens. “Horn of Joshua!” exclaimed Old Kit, “if you'll fetch em over here two at a time, Arky, I'll sali- vate the hull b’ilin’ in a twinkle.” “Yes, Kitsie, you are a re r sallyvator, you are, for a fact; but sup ullo!” Something fell in the water near the hindmost. canoe with a loud splash, ca the Indians, as: well as our friends, to start. saw the waves circling out from where the object fell, and while all eyes were watching these, one of the savages utter- ed a groan and began floundering about the canoe in terrible distress. The great excitement pre- vailed among the = and the canoes began to “bunch” up around that with the wounded war- rior, when a perfect shower of rocks began to rain upon and around the red-skins, “By the horn that knocked old Jericho!” ex- claimed Kit, ‘‘do you see that, Arky? Thar’s some- body on t’other side of the river bombardin’ them near canoes with stones. Hear ‘em rattle and thump ag’in’ the canoes! Jewhiz! ain’t there a lively scratchin’ among the red rovers of Satan? That’s fun, Arky; the red dévil-catchers don’t know which side them dornicks are flung from. Who do you suppose ’s doin’ that?” “Friends, of course,” averred old Arkansaw; “but what do you say, ole beauty, let’s open our battery on ’em, too. I believe we can run ‘em aground, or make ’em surrender. I can shy a stone, Bandy, as true as any boy that ever punched a glass outen a meetin’-house winder.” “ All right, Arky; we can have some fun if not more,” replied , and groping about the twe gathered up some rocks and an “shelling ’' the pee canoes with no little effect. his was a new mode of warfare to the red-skin and for awhile they seemed perfectly bewilde and panic-stricken.. They knew not from which shore the missiles came, but rallying, after a mo pre aly thought, they opened a random fire on both ores. Every warrior in the rear canoe was killed or
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, peice exviti painful wounds, Once the red-skins made an attempt to land upon the north shore, but a shower of stones drove them back, and feeling sure that they had discovered the side from which the danger came, headed for the south shore. Now was Kit and Arkansaw’s turn, and the way they rained stones upon the advancing Blackfeet was equal to a masked battery, and the warriors were forced back into the middle of the stream in confusion, F Up to this time the canoe with the captives had been held off to one side out of danger, and as it had not been attacked, the Indians conceived the idea of using it as a defense, and placed it, with the wounded watriors, in the center of the little fleet. As this laced the maidens in as much danger as their cap- ors, the assault ceased and the boats pulled out rap- idly down the streain. But Kit and Arkansaw fol- lowed. “Gol blast them!” exclaimed Arkansaw, punch- ing Kit in the ribs, ‘‘ didn’t we give them goss, Kit- sie? Splendid shots—splendid fun! I could live on it.”’ * Yes, but they’ve got the wind on us now, by run- nin’ them gals inamong’em, But, horn of Joshua! wouldn’t f give my interest on the moon to know who them fellers are over on t’other side?” **T can tell you one thing: they’re enemies to them Blackfeet,” answered Arkansaw; “but look thar, ses that—blessed if them pizen tarantulas ar’n’t goin’ to halt on that island and wait for reinforce- ments.” yes, confound ‘em; now that'll be against us; but then we can hang round here jist as long as they can stay over thar. Them gals we want, and them gals we'll have, or die deader ’an old Noah.” “Second the motion,” added Arkansaw. The island upon whick the Blackfeet took shelter from their unknown enemy was covered with drift- wood and a sparse growth of tall willows, affording a very good temporary shelter. The river was also wider at this point, and allin all, the savages were well protected—particularly from a repetition of the assault with stones, All at once quiet reigned on the island, save now and then a groan from the lips of one of the wound- ed warriors, Kit and Arkansaw sat down and poked their fun at each other, quarreled a little in their way, and upon the whole expressed their mutual regret in the sudden ending of what promised to be a lively ad- venture, \ An hour had passed in this manner. The moon was sinking low in the west. Shadows were deep- ening in the woods and stealing along the shore. The croak of a bull-frog and the chirrup of a cricket were the only sounds that now disturbed the night. But suddenly, a sharp scream pierced the air, It ‘Was 2 Woman’s voice : The old bordermen started to their feet. Their hearts Jeapod into their throats. They listened, and to their ears came that same shrill, sharp voice that ore to it : , “* A-loc-okal! a-lee-okal!” Looking os the river above the island,/Kit and Old Arkansaw discovered that which startled them, Upon the water, standing erect, her feet surrounded y a dark nimbus, was a woman floating at the will *f the current, down toward the island. “Horn of Joshua!" cried Kit, laying his hand on * one arm; “’tis she, Arkansaw, Sabina andy!’ CHAPTER XVIII. ** And it’s over the river and over the sea,” Hettice and Elwe, after leaving their male friends, were so_excited as to become to be- wildered in the Spirit Swamp; and in this re- dicament had they wenteset into the power of the yery ones they were endcavoring to elude. It was their scream that rung over the swamp at the time Sparrowhawk and Silver Star discovered the swamp enfire. It was at this moment that they were cap- tured by the Blackfeet and hurried from the burning swamp to the river, and thence down that stream to the island whither they had been followed by the si- lent footsteps of anxious friends. ai and sorrowful, indeed, were the girls. Elwe had never seen an Indian before, and the sight of them filled her poor heart with'’fear. Hellice re- mained sad, silent and sorrowfulin her wondrous beauty. Not wae er she mourn her own fate, but that of her brother; and, too, her thoughts dwelt much upon that gallant, noble youth, Silver Star, with a strange unrest in her young heart. they escaped? Accepting the ‘bright side of the question, she convinced herself they had; and then across her mental vision, blo out all hope, would those awful flames of the burning swamp, x her imagination until she could almost hear the suffering cries of her brother and Silver Star coming from out the fire. tthe Indians were twelve in number, though one of them had been killed by their unknown assailants, end over half of the others wounded—one or two dangerously, Of the latter, one was suffering un- told agonies from a broken head. Every breath he drew was marked by a groan, and the administra- tions of his friends failed to give relief. Being inthe Sioux country, the Blackfeet acted altogether on the defensive. “They were not strong Soret attempt any demonstrations of revenge, now that they were aware of enemies being upon their trail, however great was their desire to avenge the death of their comrade. eget Sow number was a white man who appeared, at es, to direct (he movements of the party through a young chief {5 whom he called Bounding Elk, and who spoke Eng- lish tolerably well. The face of the white man, Hellice saw, was covered with a mask of false whis- kers. He also wore, as a mask to his person, no doubt, a long blue military overcoat and a slouched hat. His voice was entirely strange to her, but to Elwe it was vaguely familiar. It was like a voice one hears in.a dream. Somewhere the little lady had heard the voice, but she could not recall the place nor the person. Having landed and sought the shelter of the island, a rude tent was hastily constructed for the captives | out of sticks and blankets; and anxious to be out of sight of their hateful captors, it was a great relief to the girls when the thin walls of the lodge shut them, from view. The captives, locked in each other’s arms, now gave way to tears. Insilence they wept and sobbed until that resignment of heart came which can only be reached through the flow of scalding tears. ‘It seems as though I were born for sorrow and suffering, Elwe,” Hellice finally said, as she dried her tears and endeavored to calm her emotions. “Oh, my poor, dear friend,” replied Elwe, with a tremulous, broken voice, “‘ one so young and full of peace and love should not suffer so, I know you 1ave not sinned, Hellice; you are too pure, too ‘no- ble, to sin. Neither has your noble brother.” “Tf all thought so, Elwe, brother and I would never have been hiding away in the saueky solivade of the Spirit Swamp,” responded Hellice, her voice growing stronger; ‘‘and yet, I would not have you understand this to be an admission of wrong—of guilt. That which sent us fugitives here never trou- bled me, for I felt certain time would change all; but it is that which has come to my ears since that troubles me, Elwe.” “Oh, my poor friend, I do wish I could comfort youl” replied Elwe; “ i thought you were so happy in your secluded home.” * Allis not gold that glitters, Elwe. Ofteu I have gone, dressed in male attire, with brother, who was also in disguise as my father, to the different trad- ing-posts around for supplies, and while there have I heard the name of Osman, the Outlaw and Robber, spoken by everybody with apparent fear and re- vengeful- hatred” “Then you are afraid of that bad, wicked man, Hellicet’”’ asked Elwe. ‘*No, Iam not so afraid of him as I am troubled of other things—suspicions that a chain of circum- stances has given rise toin my mind. But I cannot tell now, Elwe—perhaps never—what they are. I will say this much, however: they are connected with the very same facts that_ have made Sparrow- hawk the avowed enemy of Silver Star. My suspi- cions may be all wrong; in fact, I pray Heaven they are, and that all may be proven out clear, even though brother be dead.”’ At this instant the sound of voices outside ar- rested the girls’ attention. They listened in breath- lessly silence. They heard the disguised white man saying: uit will be death, Bounding Elk, to attempt to ‘eave here without reinforcements. The friends of the Es are after us. It is not Sioux, for Sioux would not have attacked us with stones,’ a es, Sky Traveler, sur enemies are on the watch,” replied Bounding Elk; ‘‘ we must send run- ner back to Blackfoot camp for other warriors to come drive pale-faces away.” “'That’s easier said than done,” replied the white man, “for we’re cooped up here now with nothing to eat; and if the Sioux should get after us we'd lose our 8.” “Sky Traveler is wise,” responded the Indian; “when the moon go down—dar ess comes—mebby runner git away then, and go for friends.” “That's what I've been thinkin of doing, Bound- ing The moon ‘ll soon go down, then one of us must get ashore some way or other. But our lynx-eyed enemies are shrewd, They will watch our movements close.” “Waugh!” suddenly exclaimed the chief, for at this juncture a sudden commotion among the red- skins arrested their attention, and hurrying to the upper side of the island they soon discovered the cause. : ding erect upon the water and floating down toward the island at the will of the current they sawa white woman, Her feet were concealed in some dark a 4 Meg a canoe, nor in anything the astonished red-skins could make out, “ Ah!’ exclaimed Sky Traveler, as she drifted nearer, “I recognize that creature. She's a crazy white woman—a wild roving thing with a shattered mind, She'll land here, perhaps, and if she does, maybe we can use hor to advantage.” unding Elk turned to his warriors and inter- preted the white man’s words, at the same time giv. orders not to harm the woman whose mind the Great Spirit had clouded. The woman continued down toward the island and athe Sencnee the upper side. With the agility ofa cat she bounded ashore from her queer-looking boat, then turning, pulled the craft from the water by means of an upright post planted in the center. o the astonishment of the gaping crowd, they saw that the boat was nothing but an umbrella which the woman closed with a snap, and then turning to the crowd gathered aroun’ her gazing upon her with pavege curiosity, exclaimed: “Well, [reckon as what you'll all know me the next time you see me, won't; you? “ strikes me I know you now,” said Sky Trav- eler. ‘Well, it don’t make a whit’s bit of difference whether Aang know me or not,” the woman replied indignantly; ‘‘my name is Ellen Sabina Bandy. I am the lawfully wedded consort of old Kit Columbus | Bandy who deserted my bed and board through pure, undefiled cussedness; but, please gracious, noble red-men, the day’li soon dawn that will witness ; My revenge—sweet, glorious revenge.”’ ‘Mrs. Bandy,” said the di ised Sky Traveler. “‘T am astonished to hear that Kit Bandy’s a marri man.”’ “Yes, these twenty years, the old Bedouin; but, please practons, he’s not bad much rest since he left me without provocation.”’ ‘*Is he in the vicinity now, Mrs. Bandy?” “I don’t know; I met him t’other morning up the river, but before I could git him haltered, the owda- cious old scamp jumped and rundikea Turk. But, vlease cious, he’ll never come that on me again. *ve a little shootin’-iron here that’ll fetch him in from tawif he ever attempts. sich a game again,” and she thrust her hand in her bosom and displayed the butt of a pistol. The Indians were wonderfully pe with this odd specimen of female humanity, and Deneee: with that sac: edness with which the Indian rege 8 such persons, that she was crazy,sbke was allowed the perfect freedom of the camp and island. A groan from the hn ge of the suffering Indian sud- denly arrested the old woman’s attention, and prick- ing up her ears, she exclaimed: hat’s that a-groanin’?”’ “A wounded Indian,” said the white man. ** Good!’ exclaimed a ‘*for here goes. I’m a doctor as well as a wronged and injured wife. I practice a little as I go along to pay expenses,” and swinging her dripping umbrella to her shoulder she strode away across the island to where the wounded | Indian lay writhing in his agony. | ‘Well, where are you ailing, red-skin?’’ she in- quired, bending over the warrior. “He's got a broken head,” explained Sky Travel er; ‘“‘and I don’t think thar’s any hope for him, Mrs. Bandy.” ‘Well, if he’s got to die,”’ she said, “die itis; but I'll give him an easy send-off. I allers like to see one shuffle off this mortal kile gracefully. Nothin’s so becomin’ to a man as to die gracefully.” The woman took from her sachel a small vial of white powder and emptied some of the contents into a small blue glass tumbler. This she diluted with water from the river, and then poured the whole down the red-skin’s throat. This done she sprinkled some of the powder on the wound. “There now,” she remarked, with an air of one who had done a gracious deed, “ you'll feel easier, I reckon; you'll not be bellerin’ much more to-night, if ye ever open your chops ag’in this side of the day of geen “I hope you haven't killed him, eld woman,” said the white man; for almost instantly the arms of the suffering warrior dropped limp at his side, and he went off into a aes, peaceful slumber, “Kill him?"’»shouted the doctress; “I don’t kill, lease gracious; 1 cure! Butoh, howI would like a dope old Kit Bandy till he’d sleep and dream like a lotus-eater where golden gardens glow! If thar’s any others that would like treatment let him say so. The Blackfeet were astonished by the yaaaie influence the woman had exerted over the wounded warrior, and another Indian who had received a severe cut from a stone, advanced and asked the old woman to administer to his injuries, which she did; and in a few minutes the Indian, under the influence of the opiate, was entirely out of his misery. Thi; second successful treatment gave Sabina a very exalted place in the minds,of the Indians, notwith standing the sneers and contempt with which the white man regarded her and her performances, Catching sight of the captain's tent, the old doc- tress, with her womanly curiosity, advanced, and in attempting to draw aside the blanket that covered it, tore the whole top off the structure, letting the moonlight in upon the girls, who, with white sad pepe glanced up at the old woman with a little ery of surprise. “Great constellations !"’ exclaimed Sabina, pla her arms akimbo, and stari first upon the Fans and then at the Indians, “if here isn’t a pair o a ——_ pre I never set eyes on old Kit Colum iy n!” Sky Traveler, as the Indians, for some reason or other had named the white man, laughed sarcastical ly at the surprise expressed by the woman. “And I see they're captives—been weepin’,” con. tinued Sabina. ‘‘Oh weeks! shams on you! The wrath of an angry God will be visited upon you! Oh, irls, you pretty little darlings! who are you, any- ow? and where did you come from? D me{ r things, hear them sob! Don't weep, darlings, or Aunt ina’ll comfort you, and pray for you, J know these men won’t hurt angels such as you; but then ""—and she gave herself a jerk, and ed a fierce look around her—‘‘men ave mean, cruel heartless critters. I was young and beau once like you, gals—folks said I was the belle of Black- be Ridge, but the deceit of man robbed me of my charms and made me a poor, lone, des Oc WO- man; but, please the gracious Mawster, a day of 0) is comin’!”" The old woman sat down and conversed freely with the girls for several minutes, though Sky Traveler took a position where he could hear every word. In fact, the villain did not feel easy with her about, but then, being dependent upon : feet, he dare not insist upon her removal through fear of inctrring their leasure. However, the woman said no to which the renegade could take the least a, notwithstanding her words gave the girls great hops and comfort. A noise outside finally drew the woman away from the and going to where the Indians were, she dound dete overhauling a lot of plunder
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16 Silver Star, the Boy Knight. taken from the cabin of Sparrowhawk. Among the things that excited most curiosity was a Spanish itar. The red-skins handled it asif it had been a ubble. They put out their fingers slowly and cau- tiously and touched it—starting back with a smile, eit ear and half fascination, at the sound it gave ‘ort Sabina watched them for some time, amused at their childish curiosity; but finally she advanced, and taking the instrument from their hands, ex- claimed: Wisdom of Solomon! you don’t know what that critter’s madefor,I see, Please gracious, I can make her sing a perfect streak.” Tipping her bonnet back, and rolling her eyes up in a thoughtful manner as if to recall something fa- miliar, she ran her fingers over the strings, produc- ing a combination of sounds sweet and harmonious, The Indians started back, then advanced only to re- coil again with a strange commingling of fear and fascination. “Ah! sneered the disguised white man, “T see you are a musician, Mrs, Sabina.”’ ‘Yes, sir, lused to be a splendid musikan, and I could xing like a lark, and dance like a fairy. Many’s the time old Kit Columbus Bandy’s sot and talked *bout my wap oe flashin’ ‘long the strings like rip- ples of sunshine, and my voice soundin’ like the sweet breathin’s of a Moorish maid, and my figure floatin’ like a dove’s on the waves of the music as I whirled and circled in the tangled mazes of an Old Virginny reel. Oh, that day is past now; but it’s a fact, there wasn’t a girl in all the Yuba valley that could hold a candle to me dancin’ ‘ Jim-along-Josie ’ and.in cuttin’ a ‘ on-wing.’ But that dispoiler of maiden innocent, Kit C. Bandy, come along and spoilt it all; but please gracious, my friends, I—” Here the old woman struck the strings to give ex- pression to the violence of her feelings, and before he discord had died away her fingers began running over the strings, and to the surprise of the renegade, calling forth sounds of wild, strange melody, The maidens, as well as their captors, were surprised by it. Never, in all their lives, it seemed, had the heard such enchanting music. Perhaps it was all the more wonderful for being in such a strange con- trast with their desolate surroundings. Sky Travel- er was compelled to unbend in his arrogance to the old woman, and advancing, he listened to the music as though its notes brought up some happy re- collections of the t. The red-skins, too, gathered around the music and listened as though trans- ported by the rapturous sound. The very air seem- ed rife with enchantment, and it was several minutes before any one stirred, When the old woman saw that the spell was wearing off—that her auditors were stirring—she lent the music of her voice in an accom ment with the tar, and again riveted the attention of her audience. The music was a wild, weird refrain, and as its last soft note died away, and the savages, in silent wonder, lifted their eyes, a change seemed to come over them—a dark mist seemed to obscure their vision and blend light and shadows in one general darkness, The moon had sunk behind the horizon, and the haze of autumn made the starlight dim. Sky Traveler cast a glance around him and then “Now, red-skins, is the time to act. It'll not be long until daylight, I believe I will go myself to the Blackfoot pore He took his rifle and walked down to the water’s edge. The chief went went with him. The water gave forth a dim, phosphorescent glow. Sky veler searched for a canoe, but failed to find They had all been tied up ‘to the willows upon land- . The renegade and chief made the circuit of the but found not a single boat. Every one of them had been mysteriously and silently spirited away. An oath burst from the ped of the white man. one. a mad bull he went back to the center theisland. He tore aside the top of the maidens’ tent and stepped inside, It was empty. He sound- the alarm. sa 2ee of dismay burst from the lips of the war- rs, Foaming with rage, Sky Traveler went charging across the island with drawn pistol. ‘Where is that accursed woman? I will murder the it! She is the cause of all!” But was not there, but from far down the river came a voice singing in plaintive tones the words: - “It’s over the river and over the sea, And it’s over the water to Kit-si-ee,”’ CHAPTER XIX, WALLED IN, From the shore Kit Bandy and Old Arkansaw watched Sabina untilshe had reached the island and poapppeeter among the shrubbery. “Now, Arkie,” said Kit, mening his friend upon the shoulder, ‘if them Ingins don’t scalp that wo- an inside of half an hour, we can board thatisland. she'll create a diversion among the s that'll jist set em crazy, if she’s at_her- — she alers The way the water runs I be- we can wade to the island, and if so, we can make it like a flirt.” “*Wal, the old woman’s havin’ a tion now over thar, judgin’ by the racket, and I’m ready for ar don’ care what it is,so thar’s fun and 1.’ The two the The moon had just gone wild strains of music were now and, j by the silence o the moment, and the two scouts entered the water and pressed to- ward the island. To their surprise they found the | side by side they finally reached the island. “*Now, Arkie, you hold yourself here as a reserve force, and I'll advance and feel the enemy’s strength and open the battle,” whispered Bandy, to whom Arkansaw replied with a nudge of the elbow. Upon his hands and knees the old scout crept care- 5 toward the center of the island. (3) y The strains | bina’s music drowned all sounds he created, | 2 and so he soon found himself within twenty feet of | the red-skins, who were grouped around the musi- cian. Spying out the captives’ tent, as he eg < orid he made his way to the rear of if, lifted the blanket and put his head inside. The maidens were so enraptured by the presence and accomplishments of old Sabina that they, too, were totally unconscious of the presence of any one till a hand touched Hellice’s arm. though it had been the touch of a serpent, and ut- tered a little ery that would have been heard by the Indians but for the noise eutside. A voice in a whisper at once quieted her fears. “Silence, gals,’ it said, ‘I’m a friend—come ae RY quiet as shadders—foller me—I’m Kit ndy.’’ A sailed ran through the captives’ frames, and swal to their feet. Without a word ora single doubt in her mind, Hellice placed her little hand in the extended paw of the old man, and permitted herself to be drawn from the lodge, grasping Elwe’s hand as she passed out. Together the three crept down to the water's edge and with no little noise, for the girls were ter- ribly excited. They found Arkansaw in waiting, and at once proceeded to embark for safer quarters, The red-skins’ canoes lay at their right, and placing the girls in one of them, Kit stepped in also, expect- ing Arkansaw to follow. But instead, the borderman pushed their boat,out into the stream, remaining upon the island. As there was no time for Kit to in- quire into his movements, the old man took up the paddle and sent the long canoe gliding down the stream, Meanwhile, Old Arkansaw was busy. He cut the pees of three canoes and sent them adrift, and poarded the fourth one and attempted to follow Bandy and the girls. Every vestige of light had now ne ha and Arkansaw could scarcely see the forward end of his canoe; but, confident of overtaking Kit, he pulled rapidly along the south shore for several minutes; | ut, to his surprise, failed to come up with his | friends. To hisfear and wonder, however, he sud- denly became aware that a canoe was following him. He could hear the dip of a paddle and the swash of the water around the gliding craft, and it now be- came a question whether it was Kit and the girls whom he had got in ahead of, or whether it was In- dians following him. He dare not run the risk of a challenge under the circumstances, and so hugging the shore closely, he continued on down the river. Finally he ran in close against the bank, and sto ping, threw himself prostrate on his back in the canoe. Thedip of that following paddle sounded near, and a canoe came creeping alongside of his so close that the sides rubbed together. At the same moment Old Arkansaw felt the ers of an ex- tended hand come in contact with face, and his mouth being broke open he seized a finger of the in- guisitive hand and closed his vise-like jaws upon. it. A ery escaped the unknown lips, and a voice yelled out in sudden pain: “Shoot, Silver Star! the devil’s got my hand in—” “Hold up, Silver Star!—it’s me—Oid Arkansaw Abe,” said the old borderman, rising to a sitting sture be ey a is!’ exclaimed the familiar voice of the Boy ht; “that was Sparrowhawk’s hand you were swallow.”’ 7 pardon, § hawk; ’s’posed it war the tentacle of a y the love of Moses boys, I’m glad to meet you; but whar the deucelyou ny’ ‘* We were I in one of those canoes you sent adrift from the , waiting our chance to bounce the Indians,” replied Silver Star; ‘‘we swam there from the north shore, and were never so mad in all our lives as when you sent us adrift. I fairly gnaw- ed the boat; but believing vou were there to rescue the girls we a quiet and followed you; but I see you have not the girls.” “No; Old Kit Columbus Bandy took ’em and lent out with ’em like oiled lightnin’. "I thought I’d over- take ’em, but haven’t for some reason or other. They must ’a’ landed back up the stream.” “Kit Bandy!’ exclaimed Silver Star; “has that man those girls in his power?” ‘Yes; and a royal —_” “He is an infernal old traitor, Arkansaw! he is in mane with the Sioux Indians!” Silver Star interrup- ted. “Wal, he isa queer old e r, Silver, but I guess he’s all right; we'll risk it anyhow.” “You will find he is not when too late, Arkansaw: I would rather see those girls in the power of the Blackfeet than of Kit Bandy, for then there would be some hope for them.”’ “Tf what my friend here ¢ells me is true, Arkan- saw, and I do not doubt his word, Bandy is an in- famous old scoundrel, deep-dyed and_ two-faced,” added § hawk, with a calm deliberate tone, Well, md aye af t them angels, and th Ve e or no 's em and the fust thing for us to do is to fantom up. I’m really glad to meet you, boys, for I war afeard you’d got cook the swamp to-night. Let's git onto terra firmy and git our bearin’s. How’s your wounded shin, Silver Star?’ She started as | owing back the lump in their throats, they rose | SRLS TTT TIS UE Are | “Tt is not well, though Iam using it just the same,” The three went ashore, and after a few moments’ water shallower than they had hoped to find it; and | deliberation, set off in search of Kit Bandy and the maidens. Meanwhile, Old Kit and his fair companions were some distance from there and theriver. Fearing discovery, the old man landed as soon as he was fair- ly ous of gunshot of the island, though it was the very worst thing he could have done, for the canoe being found by the Indians, put the red-skins upon their trail. ; ‘Now, little *uns,” the old man said as he pulled the canoe ashore, *‘ we'll all hop out and make fur tall timber on the double-quick. Old Arkansaw’s east ln about, but I’m afeard we’ve got lost from nim.”’ He assisted the girls to land, and then, placing one upon each side of him, and drawing an arm of each in his, he set off into the woods at a brisk walk. Not a word was spoken for fully an hour, and even then the silence would not have been broken had it not been for the labored breathing of the maidens. “Horn of Joshua!” exclaimed Kit, all of asudden, “*T expect I am husselin’ you little critters ‘long too fast, ar’n’t 1?” “Tt am getting so tired!’ replied Elwe, in a short breath. ‘““We have traveled very fast,”’ said Hellice, pant- ing. Son, dear! I’m ashamed of myself, gals,”’ said Kit, in a tone of contrition; “*I never once thought but what you could go as fast as me. You see, ’'m not up to weemen-folks like some fellers are. I’ve see’d a deal of life—rough-and-tumble life—but I never had any ’sperience with angels sich as you. Here, now, let’s set down and take a good rest.’ They sat down upon a fallen log, when old Kit sagen ba the girls with a volley of questions. The maidens were amused at the old man’s odd ways, whimsical expressions and the tenderness with which he inquired after their comfort. He as- sured them that they need have no fears—that he would die for them, if need be—that the highest honor ever conferred upon him was the privilege of fighting for woman’s life and honor. The distant howl of a wolf suddenly broke the rend of their repose, and sent a shudder through the forms of the girls. ‘*Don’t let that skeer ye, gals,” said. Kit; ‘‘thar’s not wolves enough to eat you this side of the Rockies, as long as my head’s hot. If you are to be eat by a wolf, ’'dlike to be the wolf; but, by the horn of Joshua! I wish daylight ’d epee the ep “Yes,” said Hellice, ‘and with the darkness, per- pane, would gosome of the terror thatis born of night.’ * And others would come, little woman; daylight *ll reveal to you the fact that I’m a terror—as ugly an old sinner as you ever sot eyes onto. And it’sa fact, gals, I used to be married to—” “Yes, your wife was on the island to-night. At least she called herself Sabina Bandy. It was she who bewitched, with guitar and voice the Indians,” said Hellice. “Yes, gals, that was her—Ellen Sabina Bandy, one of the most relentless old souls that ever dashed a skillet into one’s diogony, or raked bowler from taw. he’s a perfect ky Mountain screamer, and all Satan’s host can’t he’d her off. She routed me years BGO, hoss and foot, and I'll be blest if she arn't to keep up the pursuit like the ghost of adi creditor. Oh, she’s pizen! she’s a terror by the clock, even if she did you gals a good turn by holdin’ the Indians while Arkansaw and me lifted you out of danger; but if she’d ’a’ known that she war goin’ to place you ‘uns in my company she’d ’a’ seen you fryin’ afore she’d’a’ done what she did. Horn of Joshua! if she knowed I war settin’ here with a purty galon each side of me, I'll bet she’d bu’st every pucker-string "bout her garments, for it’d be just like her.” “ She seems to have some accomplishments,” said Elwe; ‘‘she is a splendid musician.” “Oh, yes, and she’s a ’complished dictionary of red-hot words, too. Oh, sich a tongue! Why, she’s act’ly put two hundred words to the minute at me, hissin’ hot. I’ve see’d her tongue smoke with friction it run so'fast.” “T am afraid you do your wife injustice, Mr. bags A ” said Hellice. “Mebby I do, little one, but jist wait till you meet her when she’s in a weavin’ way, and hear her buckle right down to work, and if you don’t give up she’s a c per-on-the-Wabash Til vote m & fraud and a failure. She’s the jealousest critter that war ever born, and if you’d see me in the day- light you’d laff yourselfs into fits to think that any one’d be jealous of as ugly an old stick as I be. Why, I am tall as a bean-pole and angular as a sick elk: I've got amouth like a tunnel and ears like a jack-rabb t, and my face’s all tracked over with crows’ feet. That’s how I look, and I’m not afeard of either of you gals fallin’ in love with me.” Thus Old Kit’s sengne ran on incessantly, It helped the maidens forget their danger, and more than once were they forced to laugh outright at his odd ches But, this was just what the old man wan He knew nothing would beso con- ducive to confidence and good cheer as a revival of their droop: spirits; and as they resumed theit tet A he w them into conversation, and ert ey were aware of the fact they were miles front OST leteaeh Ge Geean lec Aiilsk: kind, Shale: Chae ay wD, A e bars of light quivering athwart the Casters sky burst into flame. Morning, with the fresh ripe ce of the woods, was upon them. it concealed the girls in a thicket where the warm sun could bathe their white, fair faces and delicate forms, and went in search of some game | | .
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»- Tv em & 1]: OL ge we ee _ - —— for breakfast. He was gone over three hours, but when he returned he brought venison enough, al broiled, to last them a week. “Why, Kit!” exclaimed Hellice, ‘we were afraid you were in trouble, you were gone 80 long.”’ “I war afraid you’d be uneasy, little ‘uns; but I shot a deer down the country, and roasted a good share of it by a desarted camp-fire, and it took me Some time to doit. And I’m sorry to tell you, little ‘uns, but I’m awfully afraid thar’s Ingins "bout here, Lam, by the horn of Joshua!” ; “Oh, dear! will we never get out of danger?’ cried we, ‘“*In course we will—you’re out of it now; but the only diffikilty is to keep out. But, Pl look well to ugals. I'd jist as lief lay this old body down right ere fightin’ for you gals as any thing else on earth. It'd do my soul good to die for a pair of pet angels jist like you uns. Bless my stars! I’m not hand- some, I'll admit, but blamed if I can’t fight like a wild-cat, But here now, gals, take a hold of this meat and eat like a pair of hungry cub bears—it’ll do you good. I’mawful glad I struck that Ingin camp-fire, for we won't have tomake a fire to attract attention,” Z ; The three ate their breakfast with a keen relish, and after the meal was concluded, Kit said: ** Now, little ‘uns, I’m goin’ to run out and make a keerful reconnofSsance of the situation, and sée that thar’s no sign of red-skins about before we venture out! If tharisn’t we’ll shape our course to’rd the nearest tradin’-post.”’ He went away, having first moved the girls to a concealment under a ledge of high rocks with an open valley before them. He had been gone but a few minutes when a huge gray wolf came ccs across the valley, and striking their trail, stoppe and sniffed the air, then gave utterance to a low, whining wail that gradually changed into a sharp set ery that grated harshly upon the ears 0 e timid girls. And it was immediately answered by_a neighbor wolf from up the valley, and present- ly he, too, came trotting down, and joined his com- panion; and then together the two set up a discord- ant yelping and howling that seemed to come from a hundred different throats, “Oh, dear!’ exclaimed Elwe, with a shudder, ‘I wish Kit would hurry back. Iam afraid those hor- rid beasts will attack us, Hellice!” “ Be of good cheer, sweet sister,’ said the noble Hellice, ‘‘ God will watch over us in the future as in the past. He has been mapeotings. kind to us,” “T know it, Hellice,” replied Elwe; ‘‘ but when I think of my situation now and of but a week ago— think of how my friends—hundreds of miles from here—are mourning my absence, and perhaps my Nees I cannot feel otherwise than sad.” “T do not doubt you, Elwe; but just’as soon as we are out of our present dangers, I will tell Kit Bandy all about Sar mysterious abduction, and I know he see t you are taken safely back to your friends. Orif brother Pau—I mean Sparrowhawk, ped with his life we will see that you are taken home,” A smile of joy lit up the fair face of Elwe at the mention of Sparrowhawk's name, Hellice did not fail to notice’ it, despite her own embarrassment caused by her almost speaking the nume of her bro- ther—a name at which she shuddered. A dozen wolves skirmishing around them, with others coming, began to ee both the girls with a strong sense of fear, and by the time Kit had re- pga score of the shaggy, snarling beasts were The old man frightened them off, but they soon returned reinforced, and the stronger they became the closer they advanced, and the bolder bes, w. : fast and wither the riotin’ varmints,” old Kit finally exclaimed, ‘‘ they act as though detarmined to have some angel meat for dinner; but they'll have to chaw some tough sinner afore they git at the relishes, now mind. Don't you be skeered, little uns. they’re cowardly critters, even if they do pre- sent * bold front and hungry maw. If 1 only dare shoot a few of them the others ’d go away; but I’m afraid to fire my gun fer fear it’s report ‘ll bring a pack of Ingins down upon us. Thar’s a pack of the is hen Pony ond I wish ~ lory aes these un em u chaw their heads ig hye to their tarnal heels.” ai 5 was apparent to the more observant Hellice pa, Kit Bandy felt more uneasiness than he was willing to manifest. In truth the old man did every- thing within his power to conceal the real danger that menaced them, for there was not only danger in the presence of the howling pack before them, but of their frightful din attracting Indians to the Spot to ascertain the cause. Already he recognized fact that it would be suicide to attempt to leave their retreat, for the wolves would at once close in }fixound them. As it was, the rock protected them 0 side; and Kit knew that a wolf was slow to sk a person from before. Like a coward, they usually attacked in the rear, Hour after hour wore away without any material gein the situation, though, to Kit, it was obvi- vy wing worse all the time. Noon came and Dassod. and as the sun declined westward, the old man began to manifest some outward uneasiness. He knew that, with the coming of night, the wolves would increase in number, and attack them. To Set away with the maidens was next thing to im- le, for here and there upon the surrounding and ledges, lynx-eyed, ‘baby ves lay keeping a watch upon the valley. “Gals,” the old man finally remarked, “I've got to git out of this or the Ingins ard wolves together will gobble us np. I’ve got an idea in my head that I thik UW work like a charm—in fact, I think it is Silver Star, the Boy Knight. our only salvation. I’m goin' to pen you women up here, and then run for help, or draw the wolves aries or do somethin’ to save you.” bs h, dear! is it possible that we are in such a des- perate situation as that, Kit?’ cried Elwe. “Now, don't go to takin’ on, Elwe; for the love of Moses keep cool and brave. I can’t stand it to see tears—they melt me right down. But I'll make leg rest assured, and now I’ll show you how "ll do it.’ He laid aside his rifle and went to work. Before them the valley lay strewn with broken rocks from the size of a man’s head to blocks as large as Kit could lift. The largest of these the old man gath- ered up and began building a barricade ix front and around the maidens, the ledge serving as the rear wall. Stone after stone he carried and layed up in regular layers, the top layer breaking joints with the lower. He selected the smoothest and squarest stones, so that when his work was comple there was not a hole large enough for one of the girls to put her hand out. The structure was almost as solid as reck could make it. The top of the wall came square up against the shelvi ledge, and bow so firm that a hundred wolves could not move a stone, The old man was highly pleased with his work and notwithstanding he had to quit his labors seve times to fight the wolves, he felt that the girls were safe for the time pepe. “What do you think of that for an angel-cage, gals?’ he asked, when done. “The wolves cannot reach us here, I feel certain,”’ said Hellice. ‘‘ Oh, Kit! you are very good and kind to us,” “Tm glad to know you feel safe; and, now, ['m oin’ to make a break and git out of this. ° I may e@ gone all night—mebby longer, no tellin’. If can’t find friends enuff to git ag through to the fort ora post I'll go clear the fort for soldiers. Now you must be brave, gals, and keep up cour- age. When you feel like eryin’, sing; when you feel like screamin’, pray. God ‘Il hear you. He will not turn a deaf ear the prayers of a pair of angels, I know, for He’s often heard and granted even Oid Kit Bandy’s prayers. The wolves ‘ll be apt to come up to the wall and tear and cavort around like a pack of hornets locked out of their nest; but let °em cavort. Laugh at ’em, whistle at ‘em, but don’t git skeered. You have venison enough to last you two or three days, and here is one of my hunting-knives to slice it with. You can "muse yourselves, if you want to, ticklin’ the noses of the wolves with the knife when they come up sniffin’ round the cracks. Now, it'll soon be dark and gloomy here, and the music you'll hear won't be as sweet as that dispensed by Sabina on the island last night; but, just assure yourselves you're right, and laugh and sing and pray for all that’s out. I’m goin’ to try and scale t cliff, for I know the wolves can’t foller me, only by goin’ around a long way; so good- by girls, and may God keep and protect your sweet ttle souls,” ‘*Good-by, Kit; Heaven speed you!’’ came from within the stony barricade. The next moment the nimble-footed old man was scrambling up the steep meee en and the girls real- ized thet they were alone with the wolves, The beasts set up a frightful noise when they saw a part of their quarry climbing the rock, and po je forward like a wave, as if to follow him; but, failing in this, they turned and attacked the maidens’ de- fense with the ag A of demons possessed. ars thus night fell upon the valley and over the d. CHAPTER XX. A BITTER DISAPPOINTMENT. In the shadows of night alone there were a thou- sand horrors to the frail, timid girls penned up by the stone wall there in the deep solitude of the for- est: but the great mass of wolves now fighting and snarling around them filled their young hearts with new-born terrors. They could see, through the eracks in the wall, the eyes of the beasts sp eae about like beads of fire in the darkness; they coul hear their teeth grinding and grating upon the rocks as they endeavored to gnaw their way through the wall; they could feel the hot breath of the beasts upon their very faces breathed through the openings in the wall; and when the moon came up they could see the pack of sh forms crowding and leaping and figh ting around them like the black sedi- ments of a boiling caldron, Trembling and frightened the girls still shrunk from the terrible sights and sounds. They could not converse for the noise arougd them was so loud that they could not make each other heard, and locked in each other’s embrace, they shrunk cowering against the ledge, watching with wildly-staring eyes before them. They remembered Old Kit’s injunctions and tried to sing, but this seemed mocke They pray- ed gone and fervently, and in this alone was there relief. A peculiar, scratching and snarling sound sudden- ly caught Hellice’s ear, and casting her eyes down- ward she uttered a wild scream. Under the bottom of the wall—just within their retreat—she saw a pair of blazing orbs. She knew what they were. The eyes of a wolf. The beast had made a hole almost mee enctKe to admit its body, by digging in under e Ww. ‘** Oh, my God, Elwe!”’ she screamed in Elwe’s ear, Moning qeneres are undermining the wall! One is al- most in!’’ Elwe could only reply in sobs that seemed to issue from her very heart. Hellice happened to think of the knife Kit had iven them, and taking this she advanced, half-bend- ng, toward the wolf, that was slowly twisting and 1 working its way into their retreat. She raised the knife but her heart failed her, and she sageres back half-fainting. Still the hungry beast ed and growled and writhed in its desperation. Inch by inch it was working its way in. Hellice rallied her courage. She saw at once that for this beast to enter would be to admit others, and summoning all her courage and strength into one desperate effort, she again advanced, and this time drove the knife into the beast’s shaggy neek. A frightful and half-human cry of ny burst from the animal’s throat; but, Hellice had now over come her timidity and fear, and a desperate resolve took possession of her—fired her very soul and gave the strength of a giant to her body, gain and again she plunged the knife into tl animal’s neck and in a moment more it was dead, the body blocking thé hole it had made. Hellice now felt that she was, indeed, a heroine. Her act of daring inspired her with hope, and she endeavored by brave words, to infuse some of her own new-born spirit into the breast of her little com- panion. Thus the hours wore on. The girls finally discov. ered that the ravenous beasts outsidé*were devour- ing the body of their mate wedged under the wall, They could smell the hot, sickish odor of blood and hear them rending the quivering flesh. Presently the head was drawn outward and the hole was again open. But it remained so only for a moment, for another wolf thrust its nose under the wall and at- tempted to enter. But Hellice dealt it a blow with the knife that caused it to retreat with a cry of pain. One after another of the determined brutes attempt- ed to enter, but all promptly received the same ter- rible reception at the hand of the brave Hellice the moment the green, glaring eyes appeared within. On the whole, the situation was grad devel- oping into a kind of a fascinating horror to the maid- ens. They had begun to feel more self-confidence— experience a sense of relief in the midst of when suddenly the clash of firearms, the wild shouts of men and the screams of wounded wolves made the night hideous. Then the glare of burning torches lit up the valley, and like frightened sheep the wolves went scam away across the little plateau into the woods yond, ‘Oh, Elwe!’’ shouted Hellice, clapping her hands with Jo ; ‘friends have come! friends have come!”’ “Oh dear! Good old Kit has brought them!” ex- claimed Elwe, her pretty, childish face aglow with tremulous joy. ‘‘Just see the wolves scamperi away, Hellice! and hear the men shooting them See! they have torches! Oh, I do wonder rowhawk and brave Silver Star is with them?” “No doubt of it, sweet sister, and if so, won't this be a joyous meeting? Look! the light is co: nearer—its rays are streaming into our prisen— can see your face, Elwe. Oh, what horrors there a . darkness; but we'll soon be safe and free, dear end,’ “Our ined have been heard, Hellice, as Kit told us t ey would be. I shall never forget to pray for the old scout. What a brave, odd, stormy old fellow he is—ah, listen! they’re —they’ve come up—what strange voices, Hellice!” Hellice advanced and peered out through a crack in the wall. She staggered back and almost fell under the shock she received. “Oh my God, my God, Elwe!” burst from her lips, ‘“ What, Hellice—what is it, sister?” cried Elwe. “Oh, ay poor little friend!’’ Hellice replied, in a E ered cry, ‘‘they are not friends—they are = We are lost! lost! God have mercy upon us " CHAPTER XXI. TAKING UP THE TRAIL, THE ring of horses’ hoofs broke clear upon the morning air, as through the valley of the White Earth four men rode at a wild, breakneck Upon the breast of one of them burned a silver star—upon the face of each burned a light of wild anxiety, as he urged his foaming beast forward with a cruel impatience. He who rode in advance was none other than Silver Star, the Boy Knight, and those who followed him were Sparrowhawk, Old Arkansaw and Kit Bandy. All were headed for the valley wherein Bandy bad Jeft Hellice and Elwe imprisoned from the ravenous wolves. After Old Arkansaw had fallen in with Sparrow- hawk and Silver Star, the three in ho of finding Bandy and the girls, continued on down the river until they wére met by a company of soldiers under Captain Bland. The latter did not know whether Arkansaw and the Boy Knight had escaped or not, the night of the attack upon the peninsula, but determined to know it, if they were alive, they had set out in search of them, And during the search they came suddenly upon a party of five mounted savages, the leader of whom, a young chief, seemed to have assumed the mantle of the supposed dead Silver Star, for he was not only mounted upon the Boy ht’s white horse, but wore his bhelme. earried his fine repeating breech-loading rifle, and sported the youth’s spy-glass—all of which had been captured on the penin '. very savage was killed, and the property of the Boy ight recovered, which proved a fortunate event, for the next night they met the youth, Bandy. Arkansaw and Sparrowhawk, and were enabled t. soon as they were mounted, the four struck out up the valley to the relief of the maidens, the soldiers returning to the fort, Kit having assured the oe tag that the four would be a sufficient foree te bring the girls in with safety. to arte each with a horse from the captured ou As
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18 Silver Star, the Boy Knight. A feeling of wild pov took possession of our gallant young hero when he was once more permitted to mount his favorite horse and go plunging away over hill and valley—and that, too, to the rescue of the fair Hellice and Elwe. Nor was Sparrowhawk any less exuberant in spirit. He, too, sat his horse with the air of a wild and dashing young cavalier going to do battle for his lady love. Kit Bandy assured the young men that the girls would be found safe, though surrounded by dangers; and it was with the greatest anxiety and burning impatience that they galloped forward. n down steep declivities, over rough, rocky valley and deep ravines—through the mazes of tangled wild-wood—on with a never-ceasing gait they Plunged headlong at the risk of their lives. The spirited horse of Silver Star being possessed of far greater speed than the Indian ponies bestrode by his friends, the lad took the lead, old Kit guiding him upon his course by a wave of the hand. he sun was nearly an hour high when old Kit \ suddenly called out: “Bear to the right, Silver Star, and draw up when eu reach the little valley with a ledge of rocks on e right.” Silver Star wheeled around to the right and a few rods further on drew rein under the shadows of an almost perpendicular cliff. Kit and the others came up and drew rein by his One glanee around him, and at the base of the rock, and a groan escaped the old man’s lips. It told a fearful tale. “Oh, great horn of Joshua!’’ he exclaimed, in a spirit of agony; “we're too late, boys! the girls are one! There—right whar you see that tumbled- own mass of rock is where I left them, Oh, Lord! oh, Lord!” Sparrowhawk rew white and fairly reeled in his saddle, while Silver Star, throwing himself to the ground, wept with bitter and heartfelt disappoint- men A deep hush fell upon the valley, that was only broken by the panting of the hard-ridden horses. Kit dismounted and examined the place where he had left the girls. He felt satisfied the wall had been pulled dewa by human hands, and was about to speak to his companion on the subject when Arkan- Baw asked: “What means these bones, Kit? They’re not hu- man, are they?” ; ‘*No, they’re the bones of a wolf that'have been stripped by the teeth of others. But who killed it I unable to say. There is not a doubt inmy mind, Sseeuueres, but that the Ingins have been here— that they slew the wolf and took the girls, “Ah’s me! I fear not, Kit, look here,” said Ar- kemaaw, and he picked up a strip of cloth which otal neg at once recognized as a piece of his ter’s dress. “Oh, merciful Heaven!” the young recluse ex- elaimed, bitterly, sorrowfully; ‘that tells the whole herrible story: my poor sister has been devoured by the wolves!”’ Silver Star subdued his outburst of grief and be- gan searching the ground for further evidence of the maidens’ death. Out several steps from the rock he found a little blue kid boot—one he had seen upon Elwe's foot, It was torn and bg fe Further on he found a piece of a shell-comb and a pearl button and finally a tangled, disordered ringlet of hair, which Sparrowhawk decided had come from his sister’s head. It, too, was dabbled with blood, and dispelled the last hope from the brother’s heart. He sat down and gave way to the bitterest emotions, while Silver Star walked off to one side where he congel brood over his grief alone. and Arkansaw continued to search the ground for further evidence, although there was not much doubt in the mind of either but that the torn shoe, the bloody ri settled the question of the girls’ terrible fate. **T left them rig t thar,” said Kit, indicating the oye “and I built up a firm wall around them that seems impossible for wolves or bears_to have moved. You can see the size of thestone Iused. I was just as honest in the belief that they were safe, as I ever was in anything in all my tumultuous life. { done the best I could. We could never have got away alive, that I knew; but I wish now that I'd stayed and died with them: or, if it ’d_ been me in- stead of them it ’d been better. I’m old and almost in’ my last trump, while they were young and of life, and had somethin’ to live for, Ah, me! me! a I don’t. doubt, Kit,” said Sparrowhawk, seeing how badly the old man felt, ‘but you did the bes you could, and that is better than any of the rest of us could have done; but, oh, heavens! itis a sad and terrible blow.” ** At, what’s this?’ suddenly called out Silver Star, whe had stolen back to the ledge, and whose keen eyes—through a mist of tears—had discovered some marks on the smooth face of the overhanging rock. Arkansaw, turning and stooping slightly, glanced at the marks indicated, with brows contracted. “Tt’s some kind o’ readin’,” he said, “jist like’s on the rocks in New Mexico—inskriptions that no- body. can read. “No, it’s not! no, it’s not!’ shouted Old Kit. 8, by the holy horn of Joshua, here is light— ton the subject! Glory to King David! Sound hosannahs; the gals are not dead!” A thless silence fell upon the little party. The words of the old man were too good to believe— sounded like hollow mockery—sacrilegious. every eye turned toward him, and saw him ce a, ag his long ean finger, toward the words that had been scratched with the point of a knife, upon the smooth surface of the rock, His let, and the other articles of dress | } lips opened, and as his finger traced each word, he | read aloud: “Indians tearing down wall. Follow trail. * HELLICE.”’ There was no longer any doubt in the breasts of the little party, and a shout, wild and prolonged, rung through the woods. Old Kit tossed his cap in the air and in mad de- light fired his revolver at it. He hugged Old Ar- kansaw and shook hands with the boys, while tears of pure joy ran down his brown, wrinkled face. Sparrowhawk and Silver Star, too, evinced their feelings in demonstrations and in antics quite as childish as Old Kit’s, Finally, Silver Star vaulted into his saddle and shouted; the end of the earth!” ‘**Hold on thar, youngster,” cried old Kit, in an expostulating way; ‘“‘you don’t want to git frantic and bu’st yer b’iler. Git intirely over yer excite- ment afore you start out, for we're now goin’ on a trip that'll require the greatest silence and know- ledge and everything else. I know you’re hard to beat for a boy, but then you go off half-cocked once in a while, Isee. If you’d see’d as much of married 4 exclaimed Old Kit, and he was about to put spur and hurry forward when Silver Star, rising ,to hi knees, motioned to his companion to stop. In the valley before him, not over a quarter of @ | mile away, he had discovered the Indians! CHAPTER XXII, THE SPIRIT OF THE WHIRLWIND, For fully ten minutes Silver Star and his horse lay prone upon the earth; but when the Indians had | passed from view bebind a ridge, he rose to his feet ‘* Mount, boys, and let’s follow the red thieves to | life as me, you’d be calm, sober and sedate as the | Sphinx, I'reckon you're not in love with both of ‘em gals, be you? Heavens, boy, if ye are, ye must be equal to old Solomon, who divided his love up ‘mong seven hundred wives. Heavens! he hadn't nary Sabina ’mong the gang, or else he’d ’a’ thought one was too many. Oh, I do wish the Ingins would steal that old woman off; but then vhe Ingins are no fools if—if—’’ “You have been,” Arkansaw added. ** Well, boys, facts are facts, and it’s no use tryin’ to fool with the argumentative end of a mule; so we might as well be upon the move. The fust thing wanted is the trail, and then if we don’t double on ’em it will be funny.” Old Arkansaw left his pony in the care of Silver Star and struck out in search of the trail, going in a circuit around the little valley. He had not been out more than ten minutes when a sharp whistle announced the discovery of the trail, and going to where he was, the four at once took their departure. The steps led north, and all but Silver Star; whose ankle would not permit of fast walking, took their turn in walking and following the trace. They tray- eled on until the river was reached, when the trail ended; but satisfied that the Indians were Blackfeet heading for their own country away to the north- ward, the pursuers: crossed the river and took up the trail on the opposite shore, Continuing north, the steps passed from the val- ley of the White Earth, beyond its wooded bluffs and out into the almost interminable expanse of prairie stretching toward the Big Cheyenne river. The plain was a succession of short, wave-like ridges and narrow valleys, without a shrub or spear of grass uponit. Just the night before a fire had swept over it, leaving it a black, trackless waste, without an object to break its dreary monotony to be seen upon it. ing to follow it. On the contrary f was so plain that they could follow it at a brisk gallop, and did so with Silver Star, upon his trained lead, The enemy or most of them, were afoot, though the tracks of horses could be seen now and then in the yielding soil. As to the number of the red- skins, there was no way of: determining, inasmuch as they traveled Indian file—stepping in each other’s tracks. The October day was warm, dry and windy. The blue haze of Indian summer, thickened by the flying black ashes of the burnt plain, rendered the heavens dark and sullen, Now and then great clouds of ashes came sweeping over the waste before the wind, twisting and writhing, rising and falling, like shape- less demons, and almost blinding the pursuers, and rendering it difficult to breathe, Still they pressed on, Silver Star now kept his glass to his eyes most of the time, for it was difficult telling what moment they would come upon the Indians among the short, choppy waves of that tur- bulent ocean of prairie. The little cavalcade presented a bon re gra | ance as it swept on over the plain. The black dust settling upon the men’s faces rendered them dark and grim. Silver Star, stillin advance, leaned slight- upon the trail. In one hand he held the rein, in the other his spyglass. Aé his back was slung the trusty breech-loader with which he had won fame as an unerring shot, Kit and Arkansaw presented a ludicrous appear- ance, as, mounted ree the low, short Indian ponies, their long legs dangling almost to the ground, they galloped along. Old Kit would have his fun and crack we jokes de- i e the solemnity of the occasion and the feelings of his friends. No one could grow sad and melan- choly in his company, even had it been their desire to do so, Thus they moved. Ever and anon Silves Star started up and swept the plain before him with his glass; Those following had nothing to do but urge their ponies on after the noble gray and his young master. The sun ae red through the dark mist, had crossed the meridian, and Silver Star was riding a few rods in advance, when all of a sudden both horse and rider sunk to earth as if stricken down by an invisible hand. “Great horn of Joshua! what does that mean?’ The trail of the savages was plain enough in the | black ashes, and there was no need of a man walk- | | too great a odds, 1orse, taking the | | I'll have to do the best I can, that’s all. | fearless old man had been accepted as a friend or | going to lose his scalp, or be permitted to depart im to see far with the naked eye; besides, there was no | ly forward in his stirrups with his keen eyes fixed | and spoke to his trained animal, and the next in stant it was up also. Then his companions rode uf to where he. stood. ° ‘Have you eurekaed them, Silver?’ asked Kit. ‘“‘T have seen the Indians, if that’s what you mean,” replied Silver Star?” **Good! bravo!” exclaimed Sparrowhawk; “ have they got the girls, Silver Star?’ **T couldn’t tell whether they had or not, Sparrow- hawk; there were about thirty persons all told. Four of them were mounted and every one of them wrapped up in blankets from head to foot.” ‘* Well, dod-drot the luck,” growled old Kit; “but the chances are that the gals are bundled up on the hosses; but how are we to git ’em?”’ ‘* Charge upon them,” suggested Arkansaw. “That would be sheer folly and sure death,” re plied Silver Star; “‘ thirty of them and four of us are We have got to try and circum- vent them.” ‘That's it, by the horn of Joshua} The fust thing to be did is to find out whether the gals are with them, and the only way that can be done is to- go right in among them. Ill do the goin’, too— mM&ke them believe I come into their midst a pur- pose—that I never mistrusted them of wrong in the world. Mebby by doin’ the thing up brown, I can bluff them into believin’ me a friend, if there’s no one there that knows me. If they conclude to take me off oy, hoss and peel my pate, why, you can jist bet theyll have haydoogins of fun afore they git through. If they let me go, well and good, and if they conclude to waltz me home with them—vwell, But I’m willin’ to die for them gals, I don’t keer how it comes. You see I can cackle the Blackfoot tongue like sixty, and that'll help me out, I'll git away ‘round ahead of them, and then turn tail and come | anaes 8 down’from the north like an innocent snow- ake,” ‘That'll be a dangerous ex Old Arkansaw, ‘and it’s Rr, 8 that’ll save your life, You loo tles on that hoss.”’ ‘Thanks, Arky, for the complishment; and.) should I never get back, understand that I give and | bequ'ath all my right, title and interest in my wife Sabina, to my beloved friend Arkansaw Abe, to be his’n till death does them part.” The boys enjoyed a laugh at Arkansaw’s expense,.) then, after‘a few words more, Kit mounted his pony | and set off upon his dangerous journey. He took a} circuitous route to the leftin order to come in ahead | of the red-skins; while Silver Star and the others} followed along upon the trail. : : It was about two hours before they again came in| sight of the red-skins, and when they did, found. | them stopped upon a hillside gathered around Kit) Bandy. who sat upon his horse swinging his arms) and gesticulating in an excited manner. Now and} then a yell sounded across the plain, and for severak) minutes it was a_ question of doubt whether the riment, Kitsie,” said. } rer nateral beauty ike the god of bat- oe. Even Kit himself was in doubt whether he was) va a Some of the Blackfeet seemed favorably | disposed toward him, but the majority were flerce| and vindictive, | Kit noticed that there was one white man among, them, though he was £0 disguised, and spoke so low to the savages, that he could see nothing familiar about him. The discussion as to the disposition of the whit man—old Kit—was finally settled by two savagis assing a rope’ around his legs an we it unde he animal’s belly. He was to be taken along, prisoner, and when the party rerumed its march, 8} red-skin led his pony, and two others with lance tl hi walked close behind. _| he Upon entering the band Kit met with a bitter dis) i appointment, for he found that Hellice and Elw@ &? were not there; and nowas he rode along, a captive; 88 he had ample time to reflect over his own predic.# he ment and the probable fate of the girls. He wo rig dered if the latter could have fallen into the hanc# th of Sioux instead of Blackfeet—if not; whether theg po had been killed, and those words written upon tl r rock by some one else. He looked at every girdl?) 4m but saw no scalps. z And they moved on—the savages silent, Ki thoughtful. More than an hour had passed. 1! & wind was still blowing, and a thousand little whi! winds—marked by columns of black dust—we) twisting upward into the sky in every direction © NS they moved rapidly across the plain; w and om then all would dissolve into a strong wind and roll f perfect billow of ashes down before #t as blinding # *°F the dread simoom of Sahara desert. of aia The savages were in a little valley when one | ry these terrible gusts came whe se 4 down the plai rolling a boiling, seething cloud before it; and in thé Fen very midst of this cloud a snow-white horse ap f ed—galloping with the wind. se A ery burst from every savage’s lips, and, as eve - eye became fixed upon the phantom horse that w po apparently, floating upon the breath of the storm sirange fear took poseeneion of each breast.
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O's © ctre fey sw yf. FF #£* pony. This filled the hearts of the savages Silver —_—— ba Oh, horn of Joshua!” exclaimed Old Kit, ‘‘ that’s a spirit of the whirlwind—the hoss of old Jupiter!” he savages made yo reply, for they did not un- derstand a word he said. Alleyes remained fixed upon the horse movin, along with the cloud; but, suddenly, it disappearec as if by magic. The cloud moved on, leaving the bare ridge before them plainly outlined against the sullen-browed north. written upon every face, and even while they stood discussing the subject in excited tones—the horse again appeared—rose up out or the crest of the hill | before them, and turning its head, looked down up- onthem. A moment later a little cloud of smoke burst from under the animal’s neck; and while the clear, startling report of a rifle came ringing down the plain like the voice of doom, a savage uttered a | ery of agony and reeling in his saddle dropped his oan upon his breast and fell dead at the feet of his ony. “A thunderbolt of the avenging spirit of the whirlwind!” cried Old Kit, with uplifted hands, while he threw all the terror into his looks that human emotion could express. He spoke the Blackfoot Star, the Boy Knight. replied Kit, keeping a sharp look-out for the white | horse. It was not more than ten minutes before the ani- mal appeared on the hill about three hundred yards to the east of the ‘* Hold, Silver shouted the old man at the top of his iron lungs, and the wind bore his words to the ears of the ap | avenger. The savages exchanged glances. Superstition was peared upon the back of the white horse. An exclamation burst from the lips of the savage. “There, now, you see, don’t you, red-skins?” asked Kit, laying it off with hands; ‘“‘you see don’t you, what’s been doin’ the devilment with your ducks? Do you see that rider on that horse? Do you see that star on his breast? Gods of Olympus, ngins! that’s Silver Star—a jewel, plucked from the constellation of Jupiter, and he can deal out thun- derbolts and chained-lightnin’ to you fellers till the cows come home. That hoss he rides is winged Pegasus, and when. he runs he jist makes things smoke.. Oh | or give me death—liberty, if ye please.” tongue, and his words and looks did not fail to have’! their desired effect. The disguised white man growled a fearful oath in his beard. For a moment the savages stood spellbound, terror-stricken; but a word from the renegade roused them. A footman leaped into the vacant saddle of his fallen friend, and then, with a yell, the four charged up the hill whence the death-blow had come. But when they gained the crest of the ridge the spot where the white horse had appeared—it was not to be seen. They galloped up and down the ridge, but nowhere could they see it. Meanwhile, ose on foot moved on and joined the horsemen on the hill. A short halt was again made and the white horse discussed. Old Kit sat a silent listener to the theories ad- My gi regarding it, a broad, grim smile upon his Finally the savages moved on. They had just reached the next valley when, lo! bettas. ar of the crest of the hills, rose that same white horse. A cry of excitement burst from the lips of the red- skins, and then a dozen rifles were raised and fired at the phantom horse, But the animal never moved, for it was fully three hundred yards away, and the worn? bullets fell short of the mark. hill, but, before they had gone a dozen rods, the foremost one fell from his horse dead, and the pony dashed away over the plain in affright. In a black whirlwind sweeping over from the west the white horse Meenpeared: The remaining mounted savages scoured the plain | girl in your lives, nor pared a human head. ain the mounted savages charged upon the | fora mile or more around, and returned with the | . wame old story—vanished! But, even while they were telli 7 the terrible white horse out o The savages shrink back poet eee ant — : a, the wind, at the } eport of their rifles is swept back over their heads, a puff of smoke is seen i the their story, u the hill to ther “The hands of the Blackfeet are against the pale-face,’’ said the chief in a concilia- tory tone.”’ ‘That's it—I knowed all along you were just try- in’ to bother me—just like a jolly Blackfoot. I'll bet you fellers are the stuff for breeches. Never stole a I can pany: tar, hold! Peace, boy, peace!” | ' ter over in his mind. 19 But the keen eye of the Boy Knight did not fail ta | catch the look of his companion, and the strang@ expression that overspread his handsome face, There was a meaning in it, deep and mysterious, He saw that the name of the outlaw affected hin» visibly, and as he rode along, he pondered the mat- It had been strengthened by i = experience with the strange recluse of Spirit ; Swamp. Could such a thing be possible, the young Then, for the first time, the form of a rider ap- | | Osman, the Outlaw himself? it’s awful, red-skins; so give me liberty | not lifted | knight dared to think, that he—Sparrowhawk—wags God forbid! “Yes,’’ said Old Arkansaw, in reply ‘to Bandy ‘Tve heard of this man, Osman, the Outlaw, an I've thought it thunderin’ queer that you men can’t} find his den.” : “Well, yes, it seems so; but, hasn’t Silver Star and others been huntin’ and watchin’ for him thig year and more?” questioned Bandy; and again Spar« rowhawk turned and gave Silver Star a look that continued to weave that web of mystery around the young man’s life. “And what good’s it done?’ asked Arkansaw; “why don’t the military come out and rummage the country and find the freebooter, and hang him and be done with it?” “T think, Arkansaw, we'll have the honor of break-- ” | in’ that outlaw’s nest up. I think if we had fun yis’ | terday, on the prairie, we'll have haydoogins of it ip | not see’d one stirred since cld see the light shinin’ through your eyes that shows a | Christian soul. Peace on earth and good will to all men is written on the tablets of your great, bouncin’ big hearts, Purgatory isn’t near full of sich brave warriors as you be, by a long shot. So now, Ingin, let us part good friends, lovers—sweethearts. Give my love to your family and folks; tell them I’d like to see them in—ahem!”’ With all this flattery and sarcasm, the meaning | and intent of which the red-skins accepted in good faith, Old Kit turned his pony’s head and rode away, | though he never felt such fear in all his life of being shot in the back. He dare not look back for fear | such an act would betray a mistrust and provoke a | shot. He rode slowly on, biting his lip and fairly “seringing;’’ but, finally, he passed beyond the range of the enemy’s guns, then he put spur and alloped on up to Silver Star, his face contorted and 1is whole frame fairly shaking with laughter. “By the horn of Joshua!’ he exclaimed, ‘ that war a leetle the best performance I ever seen, Silver Star, since ole Sabina undertook to whoop her own shadow, thinkin’ it war another woman foolin’ ‘round ““T put in some good shots, considering the wind, didn’t I Kit?’ demanded the young Knight of the Prairie. “ Plumb-center; knocked a red-skin Jordanward | every time; and dogged if I didn’t begin to feel on- easy ‘bout my own carcass when they trigged me | out a Za Blackfoot, and left me alone on a hoss.”’ with a cry of alarm, raise | white horse’s neck, and another mounted savage | tumbles from his pony, mortally wounded The empty saddle is soon filled, and for the third time pursuit is given to the white horse; but, even before they return—while they are searching in one direction—the dread slayer appears from the clouds of ane in another direction, and repeats his deadly work. “Oh, horn of Joshua!” exclaimed Old Kit Blackfoot tongue; ‘I tell you, red-skins, we'll murdered! at is the spirit of the whirlwind. I tell ye, andIe +t he’s got his back up—is mad "bout your keepin’ me haltered up here. You'd bet- bi = me 0. gn e will deceive the avenger,”’ said the leader o. the red-skins; and then Kit was taken from his suit of one of the dead in the all be horse and tricked out in the Storer ‘eren my. All the rest of the sav - mounted, leaving Kit alone en horseback-on ox eres bioasa 8 or ler eye of the ee, : see slayer of the Spirit,” said the chief, as the nae moved on, mesic Old Kit really felt uneasy, for, dressed as he was he knew it would be no easy matter to distinguish him from a savage, any distance, So it was with great anxiety and uneasiness that both he and the savages watched for the appearance of the white horse again; and when it rose in view on the right it was not discovered until a bullet had pierced the brain of the savage walking just in front of Kit’s and, turning to the prisoner, one of ly mai " he pale-face is an evil spirit; bullets will not “Well, I’ve no fault to find with the bulle if skins, but I have with your treatment; and it nn don't let me £° every mother’s brat of you'll be er than Ole Tamanund in less than two hours. t avenger is my guardian angel. His hoss is as the wind, and his rifle—well, it will speak 6 for itself “ Then let the scalp of the pale-face atone the ath of our braves that his friend has slain.” All right, red-skins, go in on your muscle; but remember you provoke the white horse follow you till the last of you are dead. ere’s no *bout this; but if you'll free me, the white shall not slay another of your braves. I have Let the pale-face prove his words, and go free.” Thar, now, red-skins, that sounds delicious,” -“ “ wrapped in a blanket, then placed upon a | ‘‘Bah, Kit! Icould tell them long legs of yours far as I could see you; them legs are what saved you. But the girls are not there, are they?” “No, and the Lord only knows where they are, we 99 “They must be dead, Kit,” with a tone of bitter disappointment. “Wal, I can’t tell ye whether they are or not. It’s the queerest case I ever come across in my life; but we're not goin’ to giye it up yit—not if the court knows herself. Them Ingins we follered right from the place where I left the gals, and it’s my solemn opinion they let the girls out of their retreat, be they ead or alive. But, Jet’s git around to the boys; I see them peekin’ up over the hill yander as if eager to havea finger in the pie. Ah! see them noble | Loes marchin’ away northward! I'liswear I never saw one white hoss and a chunk of a boy knock the satanic tigerosity outen thirty Indians as slick as you did outen them fellers. tif they’d all been mounted you’d not had it so easy. Oh, it was a ge etory, splendid sight. I ae it. Why, y, you could pick off every one of the critters afore they get near across the plain.” “I know it; but I don’t want to, Kit; I have no de- sire to shed human blood unneeessarily. What I de- sire most, now, is to know where them girls are.” They rode on and: soon joined Arkansaw and Sparrowhawk. The latter was bowed down with grief and disappointment when he learned that the maidens were not with the Indians. Without delay the party rode back to the river and there went into camp; but early the next morning they were on the move up the stream. As they rode away through the early dawn, Arkan- saw said: ~ Now, boys, where will we strike next?” ‘Straight for the camp of those Government Sur- ve yers,”’ Old Kit answered, with decision. a Do you really think it'll pay us, Kitsie?” Shouldn't wonder a bit; I don’t believe them boys are the clear quill—in fact, I almost know it; so doyou. They are all nicely trigged out for sur- veyin’, but, by the horn of Joshua! I can’t melt into the confidence of that pair, Herman Braash and emer pag ll ou don’t mis' ou, Mr. Band ‘ei y' trust them, do y M . ae I don’t, eh? Mebbe you know more "bout it than to—that this country’s been infested with a of outlaws under Paul Osman, don’t you?” Ptah At mention of the name of this robber-chieftain, Sparrowhawk started and fixed a quick, strange look upon Silver Star who rode at his side. But, in- stantly recov himself, he glanced ahead, spoke ~ his pony and began humming a low, plaintive air Arky,”’ replied Kit; ‘‘now you know—or ought | | down the stovepipe hole upon me. a day or two. In fact, when we reach that sur- veyers’ camp, if we don’t stir up a hornets’ nest, I’ve abina Bandy locked me up in the bedroom anc poured a swarm of beer An outburst of The ughter followed. party rode on and finally came in sight of the | little grove on the hill wherein the surveyors were | encamped. Not a sign of life was visible abeut it; but, not sure that it was deserted, Kit halted the party in the timber at the foot of the hill, and rode orward alone to make a reconnoissance. He soon reached the little grove crowning the hill, and disap- peared in it; but a moment later he came out again, and waving his cap in the air motioned the others to advance. The three rode up the hill and entered the moite, wherein they found Kit Bandy and his wife Sabina seated side by side upon a fallen log, engaged in a low conversation. But, the surveyors were gone, and again the hopes of Silver Star and Sparrowhawk sunk in their breasts, j CHAPTER XXII. KIT TAKES THE COMPASS. Ovr friends took dinner in the grove, then mount- ing op? set off upon the trail of the surveying party. Old Kit, having the advantage of a horse, felt re- joiced at leaving his wife behind; but, hardly had he spoken his mock farewell, ere Sabina led a sorrow- looking old mule from a thicket hard by, and mount- ing if came on and joined the party, a smile of triumph beaming upon her face. “Please gracious, Kit Columbus Bandy, you’ve dodged me for the last time,’ the old woman ex- claimed, pounding her mule with her umbrella. “Oh, horn of Joshua!” groaned Kit, looking the sadness he could nct express. A compromise was efiected between the husband and wife, for the time being, and all rode along har- ae eye The trail of the surveyors was plain, the wheels of their wagon wore mage Herne ease in the soil. They forded the White rth and passing from among the wooded hills and bluffs entered the open rairie. Here the trail was more difficult to follow. he autumnal fires had not visited this part of the Rees let and a coat of thick dry grass covered the n. PiThe keen eye of Silver Star, accustomed to the trail, was called into play, and so the pariy moved. on, and about the middle of the afternoon the sur- veyors were discovered, heading northward, about a mile away. Silver Star and Old Kit deployed themselves to the- right to observe the movements of the party. sia § rode around—keeping in the low grounds—until. they had gained a point where they could command a fair view of the whole corps of surveyors. The wa- gon was being drawn by four good mules, and fol- owed by an escort of some ten mounted men. In advance was a man carrying along pole with a red flag, and several shorter ones with white flags. Far behind were two men, and between these and the wagon were two more—all mounted but the last two. ““Oh-ho!” exclaimed Kit, after he had taken a look at the party through Silver Star’s glass, ‘‘do ou see the movements, my boy? Do you see Unele Sam’s devoted servants?” “Yes, I can see them with the naked eye; but they are surveyors, Kit. We areon the wrong trail.” ‘“Well, what makes you think so, Silver Star?” “That's easy enough determined. That man in front is the flag-man; those two behind the wagon are the chain-bearers—you can see them at work— and those two seer ind are the engineer or sur- veyor and his assis’ t. With the glass you can see his com and staff easy enough.” ‘“That’s all so, boy, and you\can see their ree and pistols, too. I tell you that’s a clever trick to fool the unsophisticated; but it won't = with me- worth a cent. I’ve seen men go into the pulpit in ministerial robes, and yet be the hired servant of the devil. Now, Silver, I, Kit Bandy, know that there are no surveyors in this country or else they'd be es- corted b e mili . Old Arky and me made them fellers’ pa t t’other day, and we see’d all wasn’t right then. No, that surveyin’ business is. all a blind, and I'll bet ten to one that the gals are in that wagon.”
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20 og ou must have positive proof of the fact,” the Bi t r “! Knight. have, Silver; the girls are in that wagon |” “Then, by ious, Kit, I—” ““Now, hold on, Silver Star—set down and ih was announced. A few minutes later, Sabina Bandy came ‘ peg ging ’’ into camp upon her old mule. e outlaws jeered and hooted as she came up, but the or her ap an end to this by inform- ing them that she was the woman who had liberated im. ‘““Why have you come here, Mrs. Bandy?” the out law asked, advancing to where she had drawn rein and dismounted. “ Because I wanted to tell you that old Kit Bandy, my lawfully-wedded husband, is in love with one 0: them gals in your wagon. That’s exactly why 7 come.’ “How do you know there's girls in that wagon?" ‘Why, I heard ole Kit say so; and as he’s got hig ole big nose into every thing, I reckoned he knowed; and as I was sayin’, he’s in love with one of them ig and will raise the old fury till he gits her inte is clutches; but please gracious, I, his broken- hearted wife, have detarmined he'll never take an- other woman to share his bed and board as long ag my head’s cold, and my tongue can wag. I follered you a-pu to tell you to be on your guard or he'll £0 rede Pa camp this blessed night. Double and thribble your guards round them He heat me once; now I’m goin’ to spend the rest of my life n’ to beat him.” ‘Iam under great and lasting obligations to you, Mrs, Bandy,” said the ouilaw captain, “for givizg =
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ae me this timely warning. I fully pies fei go with you in your worse than widowhood, and will endeav- or to give you a decree of divorce the first_oppor- tunity by putting a bullet through that old Bandy’s brain. Now, Mrs. Bandy, I extend to you the hospi- tality of our camp, such as it is, for the night. Itis going to rain, I fear, and will be a bad, dismal night ra woman to be out.” “Tm a poor, lone woman and have got awful rude and sunburnt riding around after Old Kit Bandy; but the man that does question my gree name is @ dead main, so I reckon I don’t care if I do stop with you as long as thar’s other weemin-felks in your eompany.’’ “You may share the wagon with our lady friends if barred was the poner ens, freebooter’s nate “ % on’t know as young, flippety- pety gir care "bout ’sociatin’ with an old Soman, but I’m as , a as they dare be, Mr. Brassher, and if they on’t like me they can git out with their ‘ristocratic manners and pride, If you fellers ‘ll jist look after em, my mule, I'll be obleeged to you.” Considering what she had done for him, and her warning as to Bandy’s designs, the outlaw captain could not find it in heart to mistrust the crazy old woman of any di upon his confidence; and so he conducted her to the wagon, and raising the cover hanging over the forward end, he said: “ Girls, if you wish a few minutes’ exercise, you have the privilege of getting out and walking around. Mrs. Bandy, here, will kee you company.” “ Yes, j come, ra out and take a little prom- enade with old Aunt Sabina Bandy,” added the old woman, “Oh, Mrs. Bandy!’’ exclaimed the captive maide starting up as if with joy at the sound of the ol woman's voice. “Ah! Isee you recognize Mrs. Bandy—have met before,”’ said the outlaw chief, in surprise. ‘Oh, yes,” said Sabina, ‘I’ve see’d ’em both afore; gad ar’n’t they pretty hax aip be Mr. Brack? No won- der Old Kit Bandy’s nighly distracted "bout them.” The faces of the maidens wore a look of hopeless d ndency. Their eyes were red with weeping, and their bodies weak and sore with long zonfine- ment. Gladly rere accepted the invitaticn to a walk, and getting out of the wagon, each accepted an arm Mrs, Bandy and moved slowly away toward the Met an armed guard keeping a strict watch upon em. Iu the course of an hour the three were taken back to the wagon and placed therein. Mrs. Bandy’s tongue ran incessantly, Old Kit being the chief ob- ject of discussion, As the robber chief had predicted, the deep-blue haze of Indian summer thickened into lowering clouds, and about dark a slow, drizzling rain set in, This made the outlaws all the more uneasy, for it would be an advantage to Old Kit Bandy’s opera- tions, while it would be a disadvan tothem. To thwart Kit’s plans, however, should an attempt to release the girls be made, the outlaw chief conceived an ve which he at once proceeded to carry into ex- ecution. The stream before them was about six rods wide, three feet deep, and rather swift; and into the very eenter of this the wagon, with the women, was drawn, to be left for the night. When old Sabina saw what was intended, she thrust her head out under the canvas cover and shouted: “That's it, Mr. Brasket; I'll bet my Jerusalem mule Old Kit ‘ll not find us here this t.” The water came within two or three inches of the wagon-box, and rushed and roared under and around ft, and through the spokes of the wheels, with a noise that made Hellice and Elwe dizzy. “Oh, dear!” cried the pretty Hellice, “‘ what if the rain should raise the river and flood the wagon?” “Then we’d be drowned—out of our troubles, Hellice,” was little Elwe’s consoling reply. we mustn’t talk about ving oy more, or you know Aunt Sabina told us Silver Star 4 whawk are alive and near us.” ‘Please Fracious |" exclaimed the old woman, “there is a little heart in love.” Hellice blushed crimson—corroboration strong! ‘*Men are deceitful critters,’ Sabina went on. “T've had enough of them, children, in a matrimo- aial way. Man's love is all moonshine.” all men are not like your husband, Mrs. re i Please gracious, I should hope not.” Boon prived ae — Braash rode over to oe wagon bringing the captives’ supper on a large tip and some coffee in a stone jus. He spake a few aad then returned to the shore. The women ate, with a keen relish, the dry biscuit, Yoasted venison and fish and drank some of the Sa yh ia food gave them strength, both in body Sabina narrated the adventures of Silver Star Bandy on the burnt prairie the day before, awd also their adventures of that day, concluding with her own part in the play in liberating Herman “Oh, aunt; did you liberate him?’ 4 h, aunty! why yo ” asked Elw an and dra’ them closer to her, “I done # children,” said, | he ares en,” she ES r arms about tt just I wan to rescue you—’sh! now, don't scream nor git the fidgets.” “Oh, you are sc kind, Mrs. Bandy! You were tal in rescuing us the other night,” replied in a whisper. Yes, and I was a afraid that that white man, eiled Sky Traveler by the Indians, would be here t and spoil please Silver Star, the Boy Knight. 21 brave we'll get out of this. I hada plan for dry | ed it into a | land figured out; but now I've c water-plan, and 1 know it will work; but it'll take mone nerves, silent tongues and steady hands.” “Oh, Mrs may I am afraid there is no possible chance for us. Three weak, nervous women could do little against this current—surrounded by vigi- lant outlaws.”’ ‘* Ah, me!” said the old woman, in a tone that startled the girls, “I see your woman’s instinct has | failed to penetrate my disguise. You think me what I ap be—a weak-minded, old, rattle-brained woman; but, such is not the case, scream, nor fly to pone girls, for I’m going to tell you something; I am no more a woman Shan = it Bandy is; Lam a man—J am Pike t Tee “The detective?’ exclaimed Hellice. “The detective,” said the eccentric genius, CHAPTER XXvV. THE DETECTIVE’S PLAN. Ir was several minutes before the girls could be- come reconciled to the fact that Sabina Bandy was, ? in reality, a man; and it required every effort of the | little old detective to keep them from expressing their surprise in excited tones. He would not have told them who he was had it not been to inspire con- fidence in the dangerous plan he was about to sug- gest for their release. To Hellice the name of Pike Thomas was not un- known. ‘By reputation she knew him well, and his presence there under the circumstances gave her re- newed fears instead of hope and confidence, Not a moment was to be lost, and the detective enforced this upon the maidens’ minds. The darkness in the wagon and out was intense. The patter of the raindrops upon the wagon-cover. and the wash and surge of the water under an around their prison were the onl turbed the night. It was a dismal, gloomy one. Pike Thomas listened intently upon all sides to as- certain whether or not there was any one about the | wagon besides those inside; and when assured there was pots he turned to the girls and said: ‘Now, ropes in the rear end of this wagon, as you doubt- less noticed, and they’re what suggested a way of escape forus. You'll admit, now, that if we had a | canoe, it would be an easy matter to sail out of here, | wouldn’t you?” eee certainly; but we have no canoe,” replied we. “But, my dear girls, we have a canoe /” “You are jesting, aunt—I mean Mr. Thomas.” *T’m not; this umbrella of mine is one of the cu- test contrivances you ever saw, andisa combined tent, umbrella and canoe. It will keep your feet and head both dry. It’s made of rubber and covered with cloth on the outside. Clear round the edge is a thin rubber sack, which can be inflated with air by | | just back of the d greenish blowing in it,and is then a perfect life-preserver. One | papeue of less than one hundred and fifty | un weight could not sink it, and so there'll be no aan in one of us going at a time. It’s made oe ls, [assure you—with ribs of whalebone and s and was made in New York a purpose for me. Now in this must we escape.” “Tt will be dangerous, Iam afraid,” said Elwe, “even though it’s possible, I’m so afraid I hay’n’t the courage.” “We of Mae want to live a life wusser’n death, th these outlaws. They’re murderin’, thiev- | itives from justice—the followers of ’ outlaws— Paul Osman. offer you a chance of escape, girls; will you accept it?” “We will—we will do the best we can. We have ony. the once to die, anyhow,” Elwe decided. e little old detective at once went to work with the ropes and lariats. He had to work in the dark. but he seemed possessed of the eyes of a cat, for all went along harmoniously. He tied all the ropes to- ther he could find, and then measured their com- ined woman- nose to the end of the outstretched hand making a . The length proved to be a little less than two undred yards—not as long as desired, but as much as could be managed easily and quietly. ‘ The next thing to be done was to open the canoe, inflate the life-preserver and then launch the craft. All this occupied but a short time, Thomas having cut the wagon-cover in two and turned it back to give him room to operate. The drizzling rai faces of the maidens, cooling their brows. Thomas attached one end of the rope to the han- dle of the umbrella or now more properly, the mast of the boat, and then placed it e water. The a end of the rope was made fast to a wagon- W. “Now we're ready,” he said, ‘“‘and I'll go first so as to be at the end of the rope to assist you when | here you come. Of course we'll all land on the same spot, and this tin ll do for a paddle to swing ashore with after the rope is all spun out. I'll sen it back in the boat. en I land, it will be on the north shore; now min@aor we might git se ted. Don’t speak above a whisper, and work as tle hands and hearts never worked before. Don't take time to get scared; just think that to fail will be death, or what is a thousand times worse. Now mind, my little ladies; pray silently for God’s help, and I know He will hearyou. The sullen roar of the drizz rain will be in our favor. Got sent the rain, KS, ves who + may God speed you. ro) of ¢ =r tate his canoe, and the next moment was Now don’t sounds that dis- | irls, listen; there is a lot of Jariats and | fashion—from the tip of the | la em lit- | — ait the — at the pict of ialy current. carefully-coiled rope pa out rapi througk. the hands of the mulitins told the strength and swiftness of the current. Ere the latter were aware of the fact, the — n girls | was all out and drawn taut. The strain wagon-bow was great, and for a moment the ; were afraid it would yield under the weight tugging at it. “It must be caused by the current beating against | the canoe,’’ said Hellice, ‘‘ or else the old man is pul * ling toward the shore, making an extra strain upos the rope.” Whatever it was, however, pulling at the rope, a suddenly let go, and the rope hung free and | The maidens now began drawing it in hand over ban It was fully five minutes before the end of the wet, rey gad rope was reached, but it came up with the. canoe in tow. ‘*Now, Elwe,” said Hellice, “you go next and f will follow.” Elwe drew a heavy blanket hood-like over head. and shoulders, kissed Hellice and then stepped out. into the canoe, and ge og Ae og her knees, clas ed the post in the eenter h trembling han Then Hellice permitted the rope to slack, an’ the tiny barque glided away upon the bosom «f the rain-dimpled river through an Egyptian gloon. Left alone, Hellice fclt that every minute wir im hour. The current of the river seemed to grow more sluggish and the rope to pay out more slowly. Her excited fancy conjured up strange sounds. She could hear the robbers on the shore singing ribald songs and hee ag Their voices sounded’ demoniacal, She drew a blanket over her head to shut out the sounds and keep the rain off. A rifie-shot on the south shore er rung out, sending a chill to the maiden’s heart. nen silence: followed. In her fear and silent horror, Hellice suddenly discovered that the rope was all out, and the wagon- bow creaking under the strain upon it. She knew by this that Elwe was at her Searpbyis end, and when the strain upon the rope slackened, she again commenced drawing it in. While thus engaged, she felt something: m. against the upper side of the wagon, wit ch: force as to almost upset it, and at. the same instant a stream of light shot across the river, apd the sound of horses plunging into the water followe Looking toward the south shore Heilice saw Her man Braash mounted upon Silver &tar’s white horse, carrying a lantern and followed by five other mount- ed men, spurring directly toward engi With a ery of horror the maiden and sunk back cowering with terror © next mo- ment the light of the outlaw’s lantern flashed into the wagon, revealing to his startled gaze the form of but; one captive; but bending his vb slightly they fell up- on the round, cylindrical tube of a revolver thrust. through a slit in the weap side of the cover, and agon. © the rope, weapon he caught jhe. glow of a pair of unripe eyes! CHAPTER XXVI. BETTING THE ‘‘ BURGUNDY.” Herman Braass and his followers felt keenly the loss of their Mexican friend, and the trick perpetra- ted upon them by, their enemies, But it served te redouble their vigilance, and the idea af leaving the wagon in the center of the stream seemed acap- ital one to all—that it insured the captives against. release by Bandy and his followers. Astrong guard was posted on each side of the river. Shelters of blankets were constru What w was left in the Yy was brought out, and those off duty proceeded to prepare themselves for the worst. They drank, sung and danced; they told ribald seq ta ya cursed the authors of their ills. Sabina dy received the praise. of some, and the vile anathemas of others. To allude to her mule or her pig umbrella was to provoke an outburst of ughter. And thus the hours went by until the sharp. shrill voice of a guard was heard challenging. somebody. In a moment every Man was upon his feet; but a few seconds later, he whom we have known as Professor Daymon came marching into a at the head of about twenty-five Blackfoot In: ns. “Why, professor, I°l] swear I’m surprised to see | you here!” exclaimed Herman Braash. rain sifted down into the hot, flushed | “No doubt of it, captain, but we were afraid besa not get through with your force, and so we urned and came up here to meet you. We did not | expect to find you here, for it was my understand- ing that you were to cross at Buffalo Pass.” ‘Well, it was our intention to cross there,” said | Braash, “but the fact of it is, Kit Bandy and that infernal Boy Knight are the cause of our being. ** Judas Iscariot! and so are they the cause of over being here also,” cried Daymon, and he went on and | narrated their adventure on the prairie with Kit and. Silver Star. Then Braash recounted his adventures. “Well, did Lever!” was Daymon's only ai pe * Oh, it beats an I ever heard of, prof: The old devil himself is no match for Sandy and that ev & It is the experience % Fs abe and the cum ing of youth combined, and if they’ve a — Satan himself; for I'll swear, like vultures, no donb all ocr bg that Herman Braash is time. If they get their eyes on them
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4AX°O 23 + "Il be “ining ag 4 sharp, for they’re anchored he wagon out in the middle of the river with ards opposite, on each shore.” “That’s a splendid idea, captain. Like a balloon in the air, water leaves no trail. Heavens! howI did wish for a balloon or wings yesterday! That’s fs way to travel if you don’t want Silver Star and it Bandy to follow you.” ** Well, now, protessor,’”? remarked Braash, fa- cetiously, “‘it seems to me Silver Star did strike the trail of your balloon the night you dropped the girl and dumped Akron.” i ** Just so, Cap;‘but didn’t you say you were taken prisoner to-day?’ demanded Daymon, evasively. ‘““T did—yes, and was released by Bandy’s wife.” ** What? by that old vagabond of a woman?” “ Could not find it in my heart, Daymon, to speak so very disrespectfully of an old woman—especially one who has befriended me.” “ Oh, 7 generous, gallant soul; do you know why she liberated you? have you any idea?” ‘Jealousy, I think; she’s got it into her head “that Kit’s in love with one of the girls. But, by the “wa; Ys pre Sabina’s a guest in our camp to- Indeed?” exclaimed Professor Daymon, gazing ground him. “Yes, we gave her permission to share the wagon to his with the girls and—” “You did?” exclaimed Daymon, springin feet as if he had suddenly become aware of sitting @n a hornet’s nest. “Why, yes; what of it, professor?” “You are an ass—a fool, captain! I'll bet there 4s not a girl in that wagon.’ “Bah, man! how could they get away guarded by @ strong current and six men?”’ “Didn’t I tell you, captain, that I blamed that ‘very old, meddlesome woman of liberating the girls the night we were on the island? And didn’t F tell you about her old umbrella canoe?” “Yes, and by gracious, she’s got that umbrella with her now!” exclaimed Braash. ‘Then I see through the whole thing, captain; e liberated * dee as a part of their plans. She ‘knew she could win your good graces—knew you were a lady’s man by the kink of your hair; and now I'll bet you the price of fifty bottles of old Bu dy that there’s not a woman in that wagon.”’ *T’ll take the bet,’ said Herman, springing to his t and ordéring a lantern lighted and half a dozen dhorses brought up. While these arrangements to settle the bet were egy mae the report of a rifle rung out through tbe darkness. Then a man came running up an- , nouncing: “Cap, I believe there’s something wrong over *bout the wagon.” With an oath the captain vaulted upon the back of Silver Star’s horse, to which he had become great- ly attached, and, accompanied by five others, plung- ed into the river and rode over to the wagon. Raising the light above his head, its beams re- vealed one side of the wagon-cover stripped from the bows. He looked into the box. He Mad won the Burgundy, but that was all, for only one of the wo- amen was there. His eyes caught sight of the rope ha over the side of the wagon-box, and then they fell upon that pair of green burning eyes and leveled revolver upon the opposite side. An oath burst from his lips, but it was immediate- ly followed by hed Mogg The revolver cracked, and ree in his dle, the outlaw fell from the ani- mal’s k into the river. Then a wild yell rose from around the je and was aarp mg wag tye 8 the i nate 1"? of revolvers, the of robbers and the plunging o: horses in the ‘ier. pate’ **Hurraw, boys!” shouted a voice which might ehave been recognized as Old Kit Bandy’s; “ pepper Fiat Gola give them goss and glory! hurrah for Co-lumby! Yoop! yoop! avaunt! you purga: torians!”’ “Hellice? Elwe?’’ called an excited voice amid the din of conflict; ‘tare you here, girls? It is me, Silver Star—come quick! fly!’ “Oh, Silver Star!” cried Hellice, starting up at the sound of that voice which had echoed so often through the chambers of her young heart within the past two days; ‘‘I am alone—Elwe is gone!” Silver Star had caught his horse as the outlaw fell from the saddle, and in an instant was upon its back. As Hellice advanced toward him, he reached for- ard, and throwing his arm about her waist, lifted her from the wagon to a seat before him on the horse. Then he turned the animal down-stream, and riding a short distance in that direction, finally turned, and going ashore, escaped into the woods on the north side of the river. Meanwhile, Old Kit, Arkansaw and Sparrowhawk had routed the robbers and were masters of the sit- ‘ uation for the time being; but the Indians and out- laws were now sw: to the scene of conflict, shouting and yelling firing their guns until it seemed all the legions of perdition had been turned yoose. Our three friends knew it was useless to con- tend with this infuriated host, and Supposing Silver Star had escaped with both the gis) they left the raft upon which they had reached the wagon from , @bove, and escaped ashore. Phe outlaws and savages reached the wagon and found it deserted. The voice of their leader was si- —_ in the struggle, and in this they realized a terri- le defeat. Herman Braash had been slain! CHAPTER XXVILI. THE WAGES OF SIN. Buryprnc darkness surrounded Elwe as the cur- down upon the bosom of the frail canoe bulged vent carried her rapi Stream, The sides of in and Silver Star, the Boy Knight. out with the pressure of the water, and at times threatened to collapse; but upon bended knee, with her eyes closed and her lips moving in prayer, the young girl remained until she finally discovered that she was no longer moving—that she had reach- ed the end of the rope. A voice, at this juncture, startled her, It was that of Pike Thomas, detective. He stood in water to his armpits. Elwe recognized him. ‘I'll push you ashore, little one,’’ he said; “I found the water quite shallow, and to make assur- ance doubly sure, I coneluded to wade out here and help you.” ‘*Oh, you are so very kind, Mr. Thomas.” “ Thanks, Elwe, thanks.” He pushed the canoe ashore and assisted the maiden to land, and then, was about to let go of the boat when the report of a rifle came from up the river. He listened intently. A light piereed the gloom near the ford. He saw it moving out toward the wagon. A moment later there was a pistol-shot and a groan, It was followed by the sounds of a desperate wah gr “By Judas!” exclaimed the detective, “Kit and the boys have got around and into a rub with the robber. Poor little Helliee! I’m afraid she'll not fare as well as you, Elwe.”’ Elwe sobbed with fear and grief as the terrible sounds of battle rung through the dismal night. The detective took his boat from the water and conducted the girl back in the woods, converted his canoe into an umbrella and placed it over his fair eharge to keep off the drizzling rain. The sounds of the conflict soon died out, and all became quiet; and now over the spirits of the two came the terrible doubt and anxiety as to the result of the struggle. The little old detective paced to and fro before the maiden, ever and anon stopping to listen. But all was quiet. “T don’t think they’ll attempt much to-night, even if they were victorious,’’ remarked Thomas; “‘ but, for fear of danger, we must be moving out of this vicinity—ah! listen! ’sh!”’ The sound of something creeping from the river oe: — shrubbe f\terd pl nly Toarth sound- e a huge serpent dragging its length along up- on the earth. As the chills began to roll down the detective’s back he drew his revolver, Suddenly the noise Ceased, but was followed by a feeble groan and heavy breathing with a rattling in the throat. “By Judas! it’s somebody, and he’s hurt, who- ever he is,’’ whispered Thomas to Elwe; ‘‘do you hear him breathing and rattling in the throat? He’s bleeding at the lungs. Ah! Criminy! I wonder if it’s friend or foe?” Elwe made no reply, but clung trembling at Thomas’s side, Finally the detective uttered a low; whistle, but there was no response. It was so pitchy dark he could not see his hand be- fore him. e breathing continued, with now and then a groan that had within it the unmistable evi- dence of genuine pain. ““ Who be you?—man or red-skin?” asked Thomas, in a low tone, A groan, a rattling cough and expectoration fol- lowed. Then a voice answered: ‘““Who’s there? I am dying—I am Herman Braash.”’ ‘““* Vengeance is mine, saith the Lord,’ whispered Thomas to Elwe; then he advanced and bent over the form of the prostrate man, It was Herman Braash, wounded and dying. " The outlaw captain, after falling into the river, had presence of mind to keep himself from drown- ing, and hag upon his back had allowed the cur- rent to carry him down the river, when he ened ae his way to shore and crawled into the w 0 die. \ “Captain, you got it at last, did you?” asked Thomas ‘“Who are you?” asked the outlaw. *‘ Pike Thomas, detective, alias Sabina Bandy.” The ontlaw expressed no surprise, but replied: ** You deceived me.” “The life of a detective is one of deception, Braash; so is that of a robber. Iam sorry that you are wounded, Braash. You are wanted, but then—” “T must soon answer at the bar of God,” inter- rupted the outlaw. 3 Yes, yes; that is all very true. Perhaps you'd like to unburden your soul, Braash, of some of your crimes before you die.” “Where is Sparrowhawk?” asked the outlaw. *T can’t tell you—” “‘T am here!” exclaimed a voice, and Sparrow- hawk, Kit Bandy and Old Arkansaw stepped from a thicket and stood by the side of the dying robber. “ Please ious !’’ exclaimed Thomas. “Horn of Joshua! it’s Sabina! Oh—” “The cat’s out, Kit,’ interrupted the detective; “T had to tell the girls that I was not a woman, bu Pike Thomas.” ‘“Fiends and furies, Kit!’’ exclaimed Arkansaw, “have you been actin’ the 'tarnal fool *bout that wo- man all this time? If you have say your prayers, man, and be quick.” “Did I understand you to say Sabina Bandy is Pike Thomas?” queried S whawk. “ Yes, sir, at your Servlos,** responded the detec- tive. Had it been daylight it would have been seen that Sparrowhawk’s face turned deadly white. “You are wanted, S whawk, by this man,” continued the detective; “time's | ous, Bandy; you and Arky can settle hereafter. Sparrowhawk advaneed and inquired of Braash what he desired to say. It was plain from his tone that he was greatly agitated. * You are Paul Osman, ain’t you?” asked Braash. ‘Who's Paul Osman?” cried the detective; “ by the eye of Jupiter, I’ve a pair of handcuffs for him. “*T am Paul Osman,” nded rahe ile i with a strange, deep voice; ** and the gyves are no made for my arms while I am living!’ ‘Great horn of Joshua!” exclaimed Kit, while a | little ery burst from Elwe’s lips. “ Oh, salvation!” cried Oid Arkansaw, ‘is it -pos sible, boy, that you are that terrible robber, Osman, the Outlaw?” “He is Paul Osman,” spoke up the dying robber- chief, ‘‘ but 7am the Outlaw!” ** Ah! how’s that?’ €emanded Thomas, somewhat surprised, ‘Raul Osman,” replied Braash, “lived once in Texas. There he was known asthe Boy Sheriff, or, Deputy Osman, for he held the appointment of deputy-sheriff of C—— county. He soon became a terror to the outlaws and robbers, of whose band I wasamember. To get rid of our foe we went te work and implicated the Boy Sheriff with us— roved that he; while pretending to be an officer of Race; was in league with the robbers. By haré swearing we got him convicted and he was sentenced to death. By this change he became known as Os man, the Outlaw, instead of the Boy Sheriff. \H¢ was placed in jail to await the day of ba 8g | but, before that day came he, with the help friends, escaped from prison one night, and with his sister fled the country. The name of Osman, thé Outlaw, became known from the provinces tq Mexico. Everybody knew he had escaped, and every detective west of the Mississippi was | for him. But, cunning fellow that he was, he h hid himself away in the Spirit Swamp.” Here the outlaw stopped to clear his throat of the accumulations of blood from his lungs. rise was written upon the faces of his auditors, but noé one moved or spoke through fear of missing a word, Presently Braash continued: “It became too hot for me in Texas, and so I moved my quarters to the hills of western Dakota. Here have I been the leader of a band of desperate men, Soon after coming here we discovered that Paul Osman, the Outlaw and fugitive, was hiding away here somewheres. The idea struck us as favor; able, and we started the news that the Boy Sheriff had turned 4 in Dakota at the head of a band of robbers. I did it to shield myself, for 7, mysel/, was the leader of the outlaws. Paul Osman is as innocent of rahiige, Samwe and in Texas as any living man. The Texas affair was a conspiracy against him to get rid of him; for he was a terror to our profession.’ ‘Bless God! glory to the horn of Joshua!” ex- claimed Old Kit. ‘I knew there was a cloud hang- ing over your life, boy; and yet I alers knew you were a brave, noble soul. Gracious! I heartily con- gratulate you, boy.” *And here, too, Sparryhawk,” added Old Arkan- Sas. A sly little figure crept through the dark, placing her little hand in Sparrowhawk’s said: ‘*Heaven be thanked, Sparrowhawk. Oh, that Hellice were here to hear this—to know that you are not guilty!” ; Sparrowhawk d the maiden’s hand and lift- ing it to his lips im ted a silent kiss upon it, **T knew the truth would come some day, Elwe,’ he said. “I can now’go forth a man and fear no one. But for my sister I would never have hid away in a dismal swamp as if I were guilty.” “ Why a PS whiney — rp en a pao Sparrowhawk, Braash, e was innocent of do he 1 injury?” Detective Thomas asked of the dying robber. “Twas not to blame for that,’ Braash replied; “that was the work of Professor Daymon and the Blackfeet,” “That just reminds me; who is Daymon?” ‘He is a noted gambler and blackleg,”’ confessed Braash, a little bitterly; ‘‘ I would not be here had I not been serving him. He lives in St. Louis, and was formerly one of my Texas band. He conceived the idea of making a fortune by usurping the righte of another, and since he has been false to me in one matter, and I am to die, I shall make a clean breast of all. Two years ago he and aman named Akron had found out that one Emma Clark—an orphan girl—who was born in Tennessee was heir to con- siderable ny ple in that State—” “By Jui ” exclaimed the detective, rubbing his hands in glee, ‘that is the very case that Ban Fac! I have been working up for ‘over ade esc ght begins to dawn. Goon, Herman—pardon my inter- ruption.” “The heir could not be found. She had been knocked around from place to place after her mother’s death until all traces of her had disappear- ed. But it appears that Daymon had known the history of the whole case—that he had waited and watched its development, and when the heiress was wanted he resolved to furnish her in the person of his own daughter. But, he had first to get rid of the rightful heiress. He did not want to kill her, but 9p her far out of the reach of detectives, to be held n case she was needed. Tome Daymon agreed to deliver the giri for safe-keeping, such as might be expected in a robbers’ den. On the night of the twentieth of October he and Akron left St. Louis in a balloon with Emma Clark, a/izs Elwe Bland—” ‘Holy horn of Joshua!’’ cried Kit Bandy, and for a moment the greatest surprise and excitement pre vailed. Elwe burst into tears as she stood listening to the story of her strange abduction. “They kept the girl under the influenee of cliloro form di the whole long journey through th heavens, was a servant in the oy a
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Silver Star, the Boy Knight. mma’s foster-father, Henry Bland, and was madly love with her; but, she havin e grew revengeful, and formed a conspiracy with aymon to pee er. Of course, Daymon prom- =f Akron that the girl should be his, and at the game time had agreed to deliver her to me. }s the one that chloroformed her and carried her to the balloon which was filled with gas in the rear of sone tall buildings in St. Louis. rejected his love, | The air was cold and damp, and the night's exposure | and the pangs of hunger forced the little party to | make a halt for breakfast. They were now in the | | Vicinity of the Buffalo Pass crossing of the Big Chey- Akron | Daymon had made | many balloon ascensions; he was well-versed in the | laws of the upper-air currents, and so he had no difficulty in making his arrangements. The hight of | {lie twentieth the air-current was favorable, and having tapped a gas main in the city he inflated his balloon, and left there, unknown to a single soul in the city. But now began his troubles. e air-cur- rént was not very strong and they moved slewly. All night and the next day they floated slowly in this direction. Early on the night of the twenty-first it became apparent that the gas was fast escaping and the balloon settling to earth more than a hundred miles from his destination. And then came the “cowardly act on Daymoh’s part. He proposed to Akron to throw the girl overboard to lighten the bal- 4o0n. But to this Akron would not hear. They quar- eled, and Akron threatened to ‘blow’ on Daymon, fhey were now over the timber of the White Earth fiver, not far from the Sioux village. Finally they ttled the matter, Daymon agreeing to lower mma and Akron from the balloon by means of a rope, as the balloon was almost down the earth. They quarreled as to who should be let down first; but Da. mon had his way, and the girl was lowe ‘first. lieved of this much of its burden the bal- Joon began to ascend very rapidly. Akron wanted Daymon to open the valve and keep the balloon down until he was out. the balloon continued to ascend, and finally came to blows. Daymon was much the largest man, and etting the better of his companion threw him from é balloon—murdered him!’ * Oh, horn of Joshua!”’ groaned Old Kit, ‘**Daymon sailed away,” continued Braash, “ and the next pe a In an appearance at my ranch, hav- ing landed within twenty miles of it. hen he told me what he had done I Was angry, for he had acted cowardly in leaving the girl as he did. Moreover, I gave him assurance that, instead of the girl being devoured by wolves, as he believed she would be, she hadi been rescued by no other one than Sil- ver Stur, the Boy Knight; and I was right. The way I knew the Bo: ight was in the vicinity of the Big Deer Trail that night was this: we knew there was a mysterious personage wandering about through the country known as the Hidden Spy and Mysterious Spy, that was keeping a watch upon me and my band, and also the Indians. Now, in order to pet rid of our worst enemy, Silver Star, I wrote a note and signed it Hidden Spy, i ge him to be on the look-out in the vicinity of Big Deer Trail or where it enters the White th woods, as Paul Osman, the Outlaw, would be there up to some mis- chief. Sewing was giv me RO he. ge a pecting a ng, he went down e place desig- nated. I was late in getting there with my Indians and men; but in time to Rive chase to the Boy Knight. But upon that white horse of his he al us. We knew he had the girl, and from that time on began searching for her. The Blackfeet are friends, and came along to aid us. In the camp -of the Sioux we had a re eee? of one of our band. Her name is Nathelah, and she is the wife of one of the—”’ “ Great God!” cried Sparrowhawk, as his thoughts reverted to his stolen interviews, his love affairs and “talk with this fair, treacherous girl-woman. “Rrom the lips of Sparrowhawk,” Braash went on, ‘ whom Nathelah had woven a spell around, we learned that Elwe Bland, or Emma Clark rather, was in his hidden home. From Old Arkansaw, the day he visited our camp with Kit Bandy, we learned -mough to lead us to the cabin of Paul Osman, where not only was Emma found, but another fair and tovel , the sister of the Boy Sheriff. »: “Gol, infernalated old bastion that I war!” indig- nantly exclaimed Old Arkansaw; “if anybody wants'to he can shoot me!” “T told you that you’d ought to ’a’ had a section of your ole tongue cut off. Skinflintic Daymon had muddled your brain with liquor, and galled youu with his map and levthermal lines till you didn’t know yourself. All t g’ography of yours ‘ll be on the desert air.”’ “Oh, that thar was a real Sabina, Kit, to handle you!" sighed Arkansaw. “Never mind sparring now, boys,” said Thomas; ‘les Captain Braash finish his story. Go on, cap- = etive. * Wow are you made no reply. feeling, captain?’ repeated the de- te | Hl there was no Again they quarreled, as | Thomas reached | ‘down ond took the man’s hand in his and felt his | ‘ That's all, boys,” he said; ‘Herman Braash is the character of the man, this announce- ment like a shock upon the ears of the bystand- ems. Ejwe crept closer to the side of Sparrowhawk, and a silence sealed the lips of the others. All felt the awesome spirit of the presence of Death. CHAPTER XXVIII. DEATH THE AVENGER. Daviuent found Kit Bandy, Arkansaw, Sparrow- hawk, Thomas and Elwe Bland miles from the scene of thelr night's adventures. It was still raining “ enne river, where the broken hills and dense wood- ed valleys afforded good hiding-places, and selecting one in a narrow defile under some shelving rocks, Thomas, the detective, proceeded to strike a fire. Kit and Arkansaw shouldered their rifles and went | off up the valley in search of game, while Sparrow- hawk went down in the direction of the wiver, leav- | me. Thomas to take care of Elwe. he detective and maiden, drawing their seat up close to the cheery fire, engaged in a conversation. “This camping around and dodging and hiding ! will soon be over with, Elwe,’’ said the detective, | who had, during the night, changed his female gar- ment into that of his own sex. **T hope so, Mr. Thomas,” Elwe replied. “The Lord does favor one sometimes. Now we | have been hunting for you for over two years, and had got trace of some one supposed to be you | who had been taken into Dakota; and so here Kit and I came, and, in disguise as Indians and old wo- men, have we been searching among all the tribes, and hunters, and settlements; and now, at the eleventh hour, ary comes a balloon and you right into our hands, grand ‘heiress, Miss Emma Clark, for that is your name. Now, if Silver Star and Hellice can on y be | found, then we'll be all happy.” Oh, I ray poor Hellice A safe!” said Elwe. lum Oh, but you will em | . | | “ She’s In good company if she’s with that Silver | Star. I tell And then there’s Ol best detective that ever caught a road-agent ora robber, The government just keeps him on the plains all the time. And then there’s Old Arkansaw Abe, the scout; he’s another good one, and—” xg Oh, Mr, Thomas!” suddenly cried Elwe, “ there comes that terrible man!’’ Looking down the defile Thomas saw, to his fear . and surprise, the villain, Professor Daymon, coming toward them. He was alone, but Thomas knew not how many Blackfeet were close behind, and an ex- clamation of fear esca his — The villain had not discove our friends yet for bed pe were bent upon the ground as if following a | Detective Thomas took up his big umbrella and opened it. Then he femoved the ferule or thimble from the end of the handle and turned the umbrella | = that it screened him and Elwe from the outlaw’s view. About this time Daymon looked up. He saw the round, black object under the ledge, and a shudder ran + cele his frame. He had seen that black shield before and heard of it often. It was the shield of the Silent Slayer, from the center of the shield—from the handle of the umbrella—there was a flash and a report, and Professor Daymon fell. Elwe uttered a little cry of fear and terror. “There, the doe up with that sleuth-hound,” coolly remark the detective, inserting another ae into his ingenious rifle, the handle of his umbrella-canoe. A aed minutes later, Sparrowhawk, hearing the report@f the gun, came prying back up the ravine, and was startled at sight of the Gead body lying in the ravine. But a few words explained all, an the mystery of the Silent Slayer was a myster™ n¢ longer. While Thomas was explaining the workmgs of his combined umbrella, canoe and rifle, who should come riding down the valley but Hellice Osman upon Silver Star's white horse. ‘She was followed by Old Kit, Arkansaw and Silver Star, the first carrying a quarter of a deer slain by the Boy Knight. He turned to flee, but | — what, that boy’s a host in himself, | d Kit Bandy. Why, he's the | In a moment Hellice and Elwe were in each other’s arms, lenaing and weeping for joy. " eens wk advanced and Silver Star’s | an “ Sliver Star, you have proven yourself a brave and noble boy; and yet the time been when I would gladly have en your life. It was because you were a mortal terror to me. I knew you were constant Osman, the Outlaw; and Iam Paul Osman, but I—” Kit told me all, Sparrowhawk; but can you blame me, innocent as you are?” “T cannot, Silver Star.” “Tt will make us all the better friends for having been enemies by mistake to each other.’ han life-long friends.” And the two shook Breakfast was soon over with, and then the little party took their departure for the fort. They knew not what moment the Blackfeet and outlaws would be upon them. But, thanks to an overruling Provi- dence, they were all permitted to reach the fort in safety after three days and nights of toil and vigi- lance—after months and years of heart-burni and fear amid the wilds of the Great West. CHAPTER XXIX. THE REWARD. We will not attempt to follow the fortunes of our characters after leaving the fort and seeking their respective homés far and near, for there was little that happened that would interest the reader. We pass over a period of five years and take the reader into the beautiful valley of the Niobrara river. About a hundred miles from the Missouri a number of farms and cattle ranches broke the dreary monotony of the valley, and. nestled in among the green cottonwoods were the pleasant, on the hunt for the hiding-place of Paul | 23 happy homes of the pioneer families. There wasa lavish display of wealth and refinement about a little snow-white cottage that stood near the dim road along which strangers seldom passed. Honey- suckle and wid tugetebern vines were trained over the doors and windows in magnificent wrea The door was approached through a long arbor cypress and prema = 2 picker and flowers of eve kind and hue lent their perfume to the beauties that little paradise. Two weary-looking horsemen traveling westward | called at this cottage, and hitching their horses at the gate advanced to the door and asked for a has of water. They were both rather old men, travel- worn and dusty. A pretty little woman with a baby in her arms, and a smile upon her bright, happy faee, brought them some water in a polished tin cup, and as she handed it to one of them, she looked him straight in the eyes and uttered a scream. ‘Good Lord!’ exclaimed the other man, “ Kit, you've skeered her to death.” “ Holy horn of Joshua!’’ exclaimed the astonished old traveler, ‘‘ Arkie, that’s one of the girls.” Dropping her tary o the woman, with tears of joy fm her eyes, rushed forward and throwing her arm@ about the neck of one, then the other of the dusty, worn travelers, kissed each with joy, while her face glowed with a radiant love. “ Arkie!” cried Kit Bandy, glancing from the cradle to the glowing face of the beautiful young mother, “don't you know her? Look, comrade, don’t you know her?”’ Arkansaw rubbed his eyes and looked at the woman then at Kit and exclaimed: “Tt is Hellice—Hellice Osman. Bless God! give me just another shake of your hand, child.” And the two old men stood over the little woman and the baby and talked like children with their eyes full of moisture and their hearts throbbing ace a y, we never dreamed of meetin’ you, Hel- lice,”’ said Arkansaw; “we s'posed we'd never see ay again after you left the fort that time. Oh, oses! it don’t seem possible?’ “Ts that your baby, Hellice?”’ asked Old Kit. “Yes, sir,’ replied Hellice, a light of joy beam- ing in her eyes. ‘Well, well, such is life. Arkie, it seems as though the glories of this world has been denied us,”’ sighed Old Kit. ‘The Lord’s will be done, Kit,” replied Arkan saw. * Kit,” said Hellice, “ you and Arkansaw look tired. You must stop with us—you shall go no further this day. 1 know Frank will be rejoiced to see you. He speaks of you every day of his life.” Pe o’s Frank, Hellice?’’ asked Old Kit, seating himself and removing his cap. ‘Frank Clayton—my husband.” i and Arkansaw both shook their heads and “Don’t know him.” : “Why, yes, you do,’* laughed Hellice; ‘‘he is Sil- ver Star!’ ‘Ah! we might ’a’ known that much, Arkie. You know I told you five years ago—well, it don’t make any difference, after all. Come here, you little Silver Star, till I eat you up for ‘fe’ father’s sake,” and Kit took the baby up as if it had been a bubble liable to vanish in an instant. “And Sparrowhawk.” continued Hellice, ‘‘ and | Elwe are married, and living just down the road aways.”’ “Blessed news!’ shouted Kit. this is a taste of glory—to meet these young folks. And Elwe married Sparrowhawk? Well, well, I'd *a’ swore once that she and Silver Star ’d . But laws! you can’t tell icy ‘bout love. It dips around like the needle of the com before it set- tles. But where is Silver Star, Hellice?” “Back in the field. I will ¢all him.” She took a tin horn from a shelf, and going to the “ Why, Arkansaw, , door blew two or three sharp blasts upon it. | friends,” said Silver Star; “ A few minutes later a man with a long beard, and a tall manly figure came galloping up to the door upon a white horse. “* Ah, blessed if there ain't that same white horse, ee ci ans te one - it’s not the boy we new,” sai it, as he saw the man roaching. Silver Star came in. He knew the old men at ight, and then and there occurred a joyful meeting. ‘Iam rejoiced to meet you, my dear, beloved old ve heard of you buv once in three years, and came to the conclusion that or had disappeared from the scene of action, 5 ere have you been, and where are you bound ‘or?’ *“ We've been down in Texas and Kansas straight» | ening out some kinks; and now we are on our way | to the upper Missouri to work up another case not awe that of ae: ine at ~ y, m ends, you are get too 0 a 4 eclared. such hardships,” Silver Star di ; “No, we love it; and we expect to die in the “Well, at any rate, you must stay a week with us —a month—a year, for that matter.’ “We'll stay awhile with you, Silver Star, to rest and recruit <9 in your little paradise,” said Kit, “Oh, if I could have such a home and ail its | oa ures, seems to me I'd be content to settle down. But, why murmur’? I have chosen my lot, and ak though it is wild and adventuresome, I love it. I¢ affords me pleasure to make others happy. As for the future, let me exclaim with the poet: “* Ah, me! for us all some sweet h lies Deeply buried from human eyes THE END.
Page 24
Published Every Tuesday. Each Issue Complete and Sold at the Unifo BEADLE'S* H ALF- DIME*[_ IBRARY. BY EDWARD L. WHEELER, Deadwood Dick Novels. 1 Deadwood R0 Deadwood 28 Deadwood 85 Deadwood 42 Deadwood 49 Deadwood 57 Deadwood 7B Deadwood 77 Deadwood 100 Deadwood 104 Deadwood 109 Deadwood 129 Deadwood 188 Deadwood 149 Deadwood 156 Deadwood 195 Deadwood 201 Deadwood 205 Deadwood 217 Deadwood 221 Deadwood B82 Gold-Dust 2 809 Deadwood B21 Deadwood #47 Deadwood 851 Deadwood 262 Deadwood 405 Deadwood 410 Deadwood 421 Deadwood 480 Deadwood 448 Deadwood 448 Deadwood 458 Deadwood 459 Deadwood 465 Deadwood 471 Deadwood A76 Deadwood 451 Deadwood 491 Deadwood 496 Deadwood 500 Deaawooa 508 Deadwood 515 Deadwood 522 Deadwood 529 Veadwooa 584 Deadwood 589 Peadwooa 544 Deadwood 549 Deadwooa 654 Deadwood 561 Deadwood 567 Deadwood 572 Deadwood 578 Deadwood 582 Deadwooa 590 Deadwood 595 Deadwood 600 Deadwood 606 Deadwood 612 Deadwood 618 Deadwood 624 Deadwood 680 Deadwood 686 Deadwood 642 Deadwood 648 Deadwood 654 Deadwood 660 Deadwood 666 Deadwood 672 Deadwood 678 Deadwood 684 Deadwooa 690 Deadwood 695 Deadwood 700 Deadwood T04 Deadwood 10 Deadwood 16 Deadwood 7%22 Deadwood 728 Deadwood 784 Deadwood 740 Deadwood 47 Deadwood 562 Deadwood T5S Deadwood 764 Deadwood D 770 Deadwood pit Deadwood 82 Dead wooa TSZT Deadwoo 792 Deadwood 797 Dendwood 802 Deadwood 807 Deadwood 812 Deadwood $16 Deadwood 822 Deadwood 828 Deadwood 884 Deadwood 840 Deadwood 845 Deadwood 852 Deadwood 858 Deadwood 868 Deadwood 870 Deadwood 876 Deadwood 882 Deadwood 891 Deadwood 898 Deadwood 904 Dendwood 910 Deadwood 916 Deadwood 928 Deadwood 984 Deadwood 940 Deadwood 946 Deadwood 951 Deadwood 957 Deadwood 965 Deadwood Dick, the Prince of the Road, Dick’s Detiance; or, Double Daggers. mee in Disgaioa, or, Buffa)o Ben. ek in « Castle. Dick’s Bonanza; or, The Phantom Miner. Dick in Danger; or, Omaha Oll. Dick’s Eagles; or, The Pards of Flood Bar. Dick on Deck; or, Calamity 4 ne, the Heroine Dick’s Last Acts or, Corduroy Charlie. Dick in Leadville. 4 a a gm lee; pi The Double Cross Sign. ck as Detective. Dick’a Double; or, The Gorgon’s Gulch Ghost. Dieck’s Nome Kase; or, Blonde Bill. Dick’s Big Strike; or, A Game of Gold. Dick of Deadwood: or, The Picked Party. Dick’s Dreamy or, The Rivals of the Road, Dick’s Ward; or, The Black Hill’s Jezebel. hee Amery | or, “reas! dane’s Adventure. ck’a Dead Deal. Dick’s Death-Plant. Dick. A Romance of Roughs and Toughs, Glee ray A Spirit of Swamp Lake. ck’s Den ra Dick’s Deals or, The Gold Brick of Oregon. Dick’s Dozens or, The Fakir of Phantom Flate Dick’s Ducata; or, Dave in the Diggings. eke tee or, the Terrible Vendetta, ek’s Claim. Dick in Dear City. Dick’s Diamonds, Dick in New Yorks or, A “‘ Cute Case.” Dick’s Duat; or, The Chained Hand. DPiek, Jr.3 or, The Crimson Crescent Sign, Dick, Jr.'s, Defiance. Dick, Jr’s Full Hand. Dick, Jr.’a, Big Round-Up. Dick Jr.’s Racket at Claim 10, Diek, Jr.’a Corral; or, Bozeman Bill Dick, Jr.’a, Dog Detective. Dick, Jr., In Deadvuo Dick, Jr.’s, Compact. Dick Jr.’s. Inheritance. Dick, Jr.’a Diggings. Dick, Sr. Deliverance. Dick, Sts Threen ’ fo > Dick, Jr.’a, Danger Ducks, Dick, Jr.’«, Death Hunt. Dick, Jr, in Texas. Dick, Jr., the Wild West Vidocg Dick, Jr., on Hi« Mettle. Diek, Jr., In Gotham. Dick, Jr., In Boaton, Dick, Jr., in Philadeiphia, Bak Sn) Mises tk. Jr. oat. Dick. vr.. in Denver. Dick, Jr.’«, Decree. Dick Jr. in Beelzebub’s Basin) Dick Jr., at Coney Island. , Dick, Jr.’a, Leadville Lay. / Dick, Jr., in Detrolt, Dick. dr. In Cincinnati, Dick, Jr., in Nevada, Dick, Jr., in No Man’s Land, Dick, Jr., After the Queer. Dick Jr.. in Buffalo. Dick, Jr’a, Chase Across the Continent Dick, Jr.. Among the Smugglers. dra, Lnsurance Cane. dr., Rack in the Mines. dr.» tn Durango; or, “ Gathered In.” Jrva Miacovery; or, Found a Fortune, Jr.’a. Dazzle. Jr.'s. Dollars. Jdr., at Danger Divide.) Jr.'s, Drop. Jr., at Jack-Pot. dr. in San Francisco, ) Jrva Still Want. Jr’a Dominoes. Jr.’a Diagrutae, dr.’a, Double Deal, Jr.’«, Deathwateh. Jr.’s, Resurrection, Jr’s Dark Days. d Dick Jr., Defled. Dick, Jr.’a, Double Device. Dick, Jr’.«, Desperate Venture, Dick, Jr.’#, Diamond Dice, Dick, dre’ Nead-olt. ek, Jr.’a Mead- Dick, Jr.’s, Rival. Dick, Jr.’a, Boom, Dick, Jr.’«, Scoop. Dick, Jr.’a, Proxy. Dick, Jr.’a, Olutch, Dick, Jr.'s, sien Horse. Dick Jr., at Devil’a Guich, Dick, Jr.’s, Death-Hole Hustle Dike Jo's peeeel c r., in Mexico, Dick, Jr’a Decoy Duck. Dick, Jr. in Silver Pocket. Dick. Jr.’s, Dead-Sure Game, Dick, Jr/’s, Double Drive. Dick, Jr’s, Trade-Mark. Dick, Jr at koh tek i Dick, Jr.’s Double-Decker, | Dick, Jr. at Dollarvilie. Wieck, Jr.. at Flush Flats, Dick, Jr.’a, Shake-up. Dick, Jr.’s, Double Drops Dick, Jr.’s, Right Bower, \ Dick, Jr.’a, Ten-Strike, Dick, Jra, Gold-Dust. 971 Deadwood Dick Jr.'s, Oath, OTT Deadwood 986 Dendwood 992 Deadwood YOR Dendwood 1005 Deadwood Dick, Dick, Jr.’s,; Death-Doom, Dick, Jr.'s, Best Card, Dick, Jr; at_ Gold Duat, Diek, Jr.’*, Big Play. Jr., Branded. 1011 Dsadwo-d Dick, Jr.’ Dutch Pard. 1018 Deadwood Dic:., J«.’*, Big Four. HY ROBERT KR. INMAN 1086 Tandy Dick’s Double. 1024 Dandy Dick, Detective. BY MARCUS H. WARING. 1026 The Three S i 48 The Street tters, potters’ Weird Hunt. 58 The Three Spotters’ Dead Mystery. 5; ar | ’ ' ne re 80 Rosebud Rob; or, Nugget Ned, the Knight. 84 Rosebud Reb on Hand; or, Idy!, the Girl Miner. 88 Rosebud Rob’s pennpen rance} or, Photograph Phil. 121 Rosebud Rob’s Challenge; or, Cinnamon Chip. 277 Denver Doll, the Detective Queen; or, The Yankee’s Surround 281 Denver Doll’s Victory; or, Skul! and Crosabones. 285 Denver Déll’s Decoy ; or. Little Bill’s Bonanza, 296 Denver Doll’s Drift; or. The Road Queen. 868 Yreka Jim, the Gold-Gatherers or, The Life Lottery, 872 Yreka Jim’s Prize; or, The Wolves of Wake-Up, . 885 Yreka Jjm’s Joker; or, The Rivals of Red Nose, 894 Yreka Jim of Yuba Dam, 209 Fritz, the Bound-Boy Detective; or, Dot Leetle Game, 218 Fritz to the Front ; or, The Ventriloquist Hunter. 244 Sierra Sam, the Frontier Ferret; or, A Sister’s Devotion, 248 Sierra Sams Secret; or, The Bloody Footprints, 258 Sierra Sam’s Pard; or, The Angel of Big Vista. 258 Sierra Saim’s Bevens or, The Stolen Bride. 834 Kangaroo Kit; or, The Mysterious Miner. aroo Kit’s Racket; or, The Pride of Played-Out, th-Face, Detective; or, Life in New York. 96 Watch-Eye, the Detective; or, Arabs and Angels, 117 Gilt-Edged Dick, the Sport Detective 1465 Captain Ferret, the New York Detective. 161 New York Nell, the Boy-Girl Detective. 226 The Arab Detective 3 or, Snoozer, the Boy Sharp. 291 Turk the Boy Ferret. 825 Kelley, Hickey & Uo,, the Detectives of Philadelphia, 848 Manhattan Mike, the Bowery Detective. 400 Wrinkles, the Night-Watch Detective. 416 High Hat Harry, the Base Ball Detective, 426 Sam Slabsldes, the Beggar-Boy Detective. 484 Jim Beak and Pal, Private Detectives. 26 Cloven Hoof, the Buffalo Demon; or, The Border Vultures. 82 Bob Woolf; or, The Girl Dead-Shot, 45 Old Avalanche; or, Wild Edna, the Girl Brigand. 58 Jim Bludsoe, Jr., the Boy Phenix. 61 Buckhorn Bills or, The Red Rifle Team. 92 Canada Chet ; or, Old Anaconda in Sitting Bull’s Camp. ) 118 Jack Hoyle the Young Speculator. 125 Bonanza Bill, Miner; or, Madam Mystery, the Forger. 188 Boss Bob the King of Bootblacks, 141 Solid Sam, the Boy Road-Agent; or, The Branded Brows, 177 Raper Nick of Neyaday; or, The Sierras Scamps. 181 Wild Frank the Buckskin Bravo; or, Lady Lily’s Love. 286 Apollo Bill, the Trail Tornado; or, Rowdy Kate. 240 Cyclone Kit, the Young Gladiator; or, The Locked Valley, 278 Jumbo Joe, the Boy Patrol: or, The Rival Heirs. B80 Little Qu!ck-Shot3 or, The Dead Face of Daggersville, 858 First-Class Fred, the Gent trom Gopher. 878 Nabob Ned; or, The Secret of Slab City. B82 Cool Kit, the King of Kids; or, A Villain’s Vengeance. 488 Santa Fe Sal, the Slasher; or, A Son’s Vengeance, 486 Sealakin Sam, the Sparkler; or The Tribunal of Ten,' 918 Kit Keith, t « Revenue Spotter. 922 Sol Sharpe, the New_York Night-Hawk. 948 Ola Hayseed Among Bunco Men, 1001 Banty, the Denver Bootbliack. BY J. C. COWDRICK, 490 Broadway Billy, the Bootblack Bravo. 514 Broadway Billy’« Boodle; or, Clearing aStrange Case, 586 Broadway Billy’sa ‘Ditikilty.” Broadway Billy’s Peath Racket. Broadway Billy’s Surprise Party. Broadway Billy; or, The Boy Detective’s Big Inning. Broadway Billy’s Dead Acty or, The League of Seven. Broadway Billy Abroad; or, The Bootblack in Frisco. Broadway Billy’s« Best; or, Beating San Francisco's Finest. Broadway Billy in Clover. , Broadway Billy in. Texas; or, The River Rustlers, Broadway Billy’s Brand. 711 Broadway Billy at Santa Fe; or, The Clever Deal. Broadway Billy’s F'ull Hand: or, The Gamin Detective, Broadway Billy’s Buatness, Broadway Billy’s Curlous Case. Broadway Billy In Denver. Broadway Billy’s eteata or, The Three Detective. Broadway Billy, the Retriever Detective. Broadway Billy’s Shadow Chase. Broadway Blily’a Beagles; or, The Trio’s Quest. Broadway Billy’s Team; or, The Combine’s Big Pull. Broadway Billy’s Brigade; or, The Dead Alive, Broadway Billy’s Queer Bequest, Broadway Billy Baffled, Broadway Billy’s Signal Scoop. Broadway Billy’s pe Out, 815 Broadway Billy’s Kank Racket. 821 Broadway Broadway Broadway 889 Ka 89 Dea ae Bluff. 5 oh ily Amon ersey uge. Billy’s Raid, Broadway Billy’« Big Boom, Broadway Broadway Billy’« #100,000 Snap. Broadway Broadway B Broadway Broailway Broadway 860 Silver-Mask, the Man of Mystery; or, The Golden Keys. 869 Shasta, the Gold King} or, For Seven Years Dead. 420 The Detective’s Apprentice; or, A Boy Without a Name, 424 Cibuia Jonny: or, Red-Hot Times at Ante Bar, 489 Sandy Sam, the Street Scout. 467 Disco Dan, the Daisy Dude. 506 Redlight Ralph. the Prince of the Road. 524 The Wasinact Detective; or, Redlight Ralph’s Resolve 648 Mart, the Night Express Detective. 571 Air-Line Luke the Young Engineer; or, The Double Case 592 The Boy Pinkerton; or, Running the Rascale Out. 615 Fighting Warry the Chief of Chained Cyclone, 640 Bareback Reth, the Centaur of the Circle, 647 Tyrewrlter Tilly the Merchant’s Ward, 659 Moonlirht Morgan the * Pizenest ”? Man of Ante Bar 887 Battery Bob. the Dock Detective. 894 Arizona Dick’s Wipe-Out. 900 Jumping Jack’s Jubilee. 906 Satety Sam, the Cycle Sport. 912 Train Boy Trist’s Hot Hustle, 918 The Trump Ange sg O 924 Big Boots Bob, the Vire-Laddle. 980 Kuatler Ralph, the Boy Spotter. 985 The Ex-Newsboy Detective’«s Chum. 941 The Bowling Green Detective’s Drop. 944 Cowboy Charlle’s Double. 947 The Bowery W restler; or, The Butcher-Boy’s Backer, 958 Paddy’s Trump Card; or, Silver Sallie, the Girl Sport. 960 The Broadway Sport: or, Flyer Fred’s Clear Case, 967 #81000 Reward; or, The Rival Reporters’ Sleek Scoop. 978 Bantam Billy, the Corker-Ferret. 978 Plucky Pat. the Street-Boy Detective. 989 Bicycle Bob’s Hot Scorch, 997 Reorcher Sam, the Detective on Wheels. 1004 Scorcher Sam's Sweep-Stake a. 1009 Ync Girl Cyclis’s Winning Hand, BY ARIZONA CY. 1048 Vou Bet Bob from Oroas Crick. 1088 You Bet Bob’s Circus, rm Price of Five Cents, by all Newsdealers.. eR AIT BUFFALO BILL NOVELS, BY COL, PRENTISS INGRAHAM, 1052 Buffalo Billin Oisguise. 1046 Gold Plume, the Boy Bandit,; or, Buffalo Bill, the Pony Express Rider. 1042 Little Grit, the Pony Express Rider. 1040 Kuffalo Bill's Pony Patrol. 1018 Buffalo Bill’« Texas Team, 1007 Buffalo Bill’s Sure-Shotsa. 1000 Buffalo Kill’s Deeoy Boys. 995 Buffalo Bill’s Drop; or, Dead-Shot Ned , the Kansas Kid 988 Buffalo Bill’s Lasso Throwers, 981 Buffalo Bill's Fighting Five. 975 Buffalo Bill’s Rifle Shots, 968 Buffalo Bill’s Kush Ride; or, Sure-Shot, the High-Flyer, 964 Buffalo Bill's Decoy ; or, The Arizona Crack Shot, 958 Buffalo Bill’a Mazeppa-Chase. 948 Buffalo Bill’s Snap-Shot : or, 942 Ruffalo Bill’s Tough Tussle. 986 Buffalo Bill’s Boy Mascot; or, Joe Jarvis’ Hold-up. 929 Buffalo Bill’s Crack-shot Pard, 650 Buffalo Bill’s Boy Pard; or, Butterfly Billy. 216 Bison BILL, the Prince of the Reins. 222 Bison Bill’s Clue; or. Grit, the Bravo Sport, BY BUFFALO BILL, 55 Deadly-Eye, the Unknown Scout; or, The Banded Brotherhood) 68 Border Robin Hood; or, The Prairie Rover. _ 158 Faney Frank of Colorado; or, The Trapper’s Trust, 1029 The Phantom Spy. é 1088 Kansas King; or, The Red Right Hand. Wild Kid's Texan Tally’ BY CAPT. ALFRED B, TAYLOR, U. 8. A. 191 Buffalo Billy, the Boy Bullwhacker. 194 Buffalo Bill's Bet: or, The Gambler Guide. BY COL. PRENTISS INGRAHAM, 1087 The Artist Detective. 1084 The Gold Witch’s Shadower. 1081 The Texan Hustlers in ( uba, 1027 The Cowboy Raiders in Cuba 1025 The Flying Yankee or, The Ucean Outcast, 1028 The Cowboy Clan tn Cura. 1016 The Boy Bugler in Ouba. ~ 982 New York Nat’s Drop: or, Ex-Ferret Sykes’ Bold Game 926 New York Nat and the Traitor Ferret. Yew York Nat Trapped. i y York Nat's Vhree of a Kind, y York Nat’s Double. y York Nat’s in Colorado. ) York Nat in Gold Nugget Camp. York Nat’s Deadly Deal, y York Nat’s Crook-Chase. York Nat’s Trump Card. , York Nat and the Grave Ghouls. 865 New York Nat’ Masked Mascot. 859 New York Nat, the Gamin Detective. 858 Dick Doom’s Kidnapper Knock-Out. 847 Dick Doom’s Ten Strike. § 842 Dick Doom’s Flush Hand. s ¥ 272 Dick Doom’s Death-Grip; or, The Detective by Destiny. 5 VW7Z Dick Doom’s Destiny; or, The River Blackleg’s Terror, 4 284 Dick Doom; or, ‘the Sharps and Sharks of New York. 788 Dick Doom tn Boatons or, A Man of Many Masks. 798 Dick Doom in Chicane. : 7298 Dick Doom in the Wild West. j 808 Dick Doom’s Clean Sweep; or, Five Links in a Clue, 808 Dick Doom’s Death Clue. 818 Dick Doom’s Diamond Deal. 819 Dick Doom’s Girl Mascot. 829 Dick Doom’s Shadow Hunt. 885 Dick Doom’s Big Ueul. : 749 Dashing Charlie: or, The Kentucky Tenderfoot’s First Trali, 756 Dashing Charlie’« Destiny; or, The Renegade’s Captives 760 Dashing Charlie’« Pawnee Pard, 766 qoaning Charlfe, the Rescuer. 497 Buck Taylor, King of the Cowboys. 787 Buck Taylor, the Comanche’s Captive. 4 748 Buck Taylor's Boys; ot, The Red Riders of the Rio Grande, Ana Firty Others, r BY LIEUT, A. K. SIMS. 589 Tom-Cat and Pard; or, The Dead Set at Silver City. 622 Tom-Cat’s Triad; or, The Affuir at Tombstone, 681 Tom Cat's Terrible Task; or, The Cowboy Detective 688 Tom-Cat’s Trium ms or, Black Dan’s Great ‘ombine. 546 Captain Cactus, the haparral Cock; or, Josh’s Ten Strike, 568 The Dandy of dodge: or, Rustling for Millions. B76 The Silver Sport: or, Josh Peppermint’s Jubilee, 588 Saffron Sol, the Man With a Shadow 601 Happy Hans, the Dutch Vidocg; or, Hot Times at Round-Up 611 BU ha Barnacle, the Detective Hercules. = 646 Cowboy Gid, the Cattle-Range tive. 657 Warbling William the Mountain Mountebank, 665 Jolly Jeremiahys the Plains Detective. 676 Signal Sam, the Lookout Scout. 689 Billy, the Gypsy Spyt or, The Mystery of Two Lives) 699 Simple Sim, the Broncho Buster: or, For Big Stakes, 712 The Meameriat Sports or, The Mystified Detective, 7B8 Toltec Tom, the Mad Prospector. %45 Kansaa Jim the Cross-Cu Detective. 261 Marmaduke, the Mustanger Detective. 778 The Ruatler of Rolling Stonc, 785 Lone Hand Joe the Committee of One. 801 Keut Kirby, the High-Kicker from Killbuck. 882 The Doctor Dete etive in Texas. 872 Two Showmen Petectives in Colorado. : 987 The Texan Firebrand: or, Brazov Billy’s Snap.Shots 96L The Tramp’s Trump-Trick. NEW ISSUES, 1061 Silver Star, the Boy Knight. By Ol! Coomes 1062 Ths Left-land Athlete. By Bracebridge Hemyng.) 1068 Wild Bill's Weird Foe. By Wm. G Patten. 1064 Dandy Dick Deeoyed. By Robert R, Inman. 1065 Sure Shot Seth, the Boy Rifleman. By Oll Coomes. 1066 Cor boy Chris, the Des rt Centaur. By W, W. Wilder, 1067 You Bet Bob's Jangle. By Arizona Cy, JUST ISSUED. 055 ‘a Redskin Ruse. By Col. P. [ngrabam } lone fea Rey eras in Cinnabar. By Wm. W. Wilder, j 1057 Gold Rifle, the Sharpehootrr. By Ed. L, Wheeler. 1068 odemel:s nas Rover, Oy. a Laing 9 Ned Wylde, the Boy Scout. y Texas Jnck. 1960 Matie: the Renegade. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham, A New Issue Every Tuesday. The Half-Dime Library is for sale by all newsdealers, five ‘eonts per copy, or sent by mail on receipt of six cents each. BEADLE AND ADAMS, Publishers, 92 William Street, New Yorks!