Beadle's Half Dime Library (no. 1159) (1905 03)
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eg + ee Jislalelelateltata) vr Seal 2 oo yp eo pa MArcH, 1905, DIL TE yal ee teNy SIT RE MADEN AMAIA Priva lees katecusvincescesessdononsveithes riladpnenssny > cadeioltes sentient Ra. sad ; Wg ake as, Tae ESE ee DO. Publishers, PRET aa (JAMES SULLIVAN, PropriKror), oie ca n Vol l . C . . s ‘MIDNIGHT JACK, THE ROAD-AGENT: CHEYENNE) No | 159 Published Every ® " ?79 Pearl Street, New York, GOPHER GID, THE BOY TRAPPER OF THE Cc. HARBAUGH, AUTHOR _OoF “ NICK 0’ THE NIGHT,” “‘ HIDDEN LODGE,” ‘‘ NIGHTINGALE NAT,” “ DANDY JACK,” “ KIT HAREFOOT,” ETO,, ETC. (SSN S Wa Bes SS i), aS My, 2) ae LEE YY Z Se oh ; a> * ZA ¥, week LUI Ae Len
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fae 2 —o — Midnight Jack, THE ROAD-AGENT ; R, Gopher Gid, the Boy Trapper of the Cheyenne. A Story of the Sioux Country. BY T; C. HARBAUGH, AUTHOR or “wick 0’ THE NIGHT,” ‘‘ HIDDEN LODGE,” “NIGHTINGALE NAT,” ‘DANDY JACK,” “KIT HAREFOOT,"’ ETC., EPO, CHAPTER I. THE WHISKY-SMUGGLER’S MISHAP. t TNCHPIN lost !—wheel off !—broke-down!” In a dark little valley, lying nearly midway between Fort Sully and Deadwood, and not far from the Cheyenne river, one of those curses of the Far West, a gin-trader or smuggler, had inet with an accident. The rather cumbersome vehicle which his double mule team had drawn from the banks of the Missouri, had not only lost a linchpin, but the wheel in rolling off had upset the wagon, to the irretrievable damage of the spindle. The face of the trader was a iudicrous ad- mixture of wrath and despair. Volleys of oaths fell from his lips like intonations of musketry, end the manner in which he contemplated his misfortune, told plainly that he had not the power of setting matters aright. “ Now, what hev I done to lose a linchpin at the very time when they ar’ a-dyin’ fur whisky at Deadwood?” he said, mournfully. ‘‘ Must a man what tries to make an honest livin’ be ruin- ed by a bu’sted spindle? An’, just as I said be- fore, when drinks is on the rise at Deadwood, an’ when everybody is lookin’ fur me an’ the eargo? Things was Ned along swimmin’-like, an’ | war countin’ up he profits when, kerchuck! went the wheel, an’I came down like a specu- lator’s hopes. Whoa!” and he bestowed a savage kick in the flanks of the nearest wule. ‘Turn yer head the other way, an’ don’t look round, with a twinkle in yer eye as if to say, ‘Sarves ye righ’, Tanglefoot!’ The way uv the righte- ous is hard, or words to thet effect. One hun- dred and sixty dollars’ wu’th of whisky; an’ were down when the boys is as dry as a her- n’! To emphasize his wrath, the whisky-smuggler es © wagon heavily with his clenched and. The blow seemed to relieve his perturbed spirits, and he further soothed them by taking a long draught from a demijohn, which be fished from the mysterious depths of the wagon. The shadows of a brief summer t ht were falling about the unfortunate man. e trail which he had been following toward the west was one not unknown to h for more than once he had carried a cargo of the vilest brand of whisky over it. He knew the country, too. not wholly unfrequented by road-agents and marauding Indians, to whom his cargo would prove the richest of prizes. With the butt of a revolver visible above the waistband of his heavy duck trowsers, Timon Moss, or Old Tanglefoot, as’ he was called, from the character of his following, surveyed the wreck of his wagon. He was a. broad-shouldered, heavily st man, of te pia A whose face did not belie his occupation, His eyes were small, and almost hidden by bloated ‘cheeks, between which rose the reddest of noses—thé trade-mark of Bacchus. His spuypenis consisted of a faded cavalry ket, minus the trimm which, open in t and much:too short, displayed the dirty bosom of a check shirt. He wore dark-brown trowsers of heavy ducking, the nether ends of which were stuffed into the tons of a pair of for- ble boots, run down at the heel, and split at toes for the ease of multitudinous corns. A slouched hat completed the smuggler’s attire, and the shock of dark hair which peeped from the er Pt mourned the lengthy a@com however, were eine vant muggler of the ee en ee : as- sistance, if he would duvive in hie nefarious busi- ness. And Timon Moss had thriven. True, he had but he had amassed quite a tle fort in precarious trade of e ous of Ww - mening” ot a coy Seat official had winked. Just where he Midnight Jack. kept his money nobody knew; but not a soul doubted that Timon had, notwithstanding his own ruinous habits, a snug fortune to which he could retire at any day. Besides his cargo of liquid death, Old Tangle- foot ed many other things to ~Deadwood— sorry es on which he charged an extortionate reight, and not a few letters. Therefore, on the day when the breaking of the spindle on the very spot of all others be- tween Fort Sully and Deadwood which the smuggler hated and feared, he had much of this miscellaneous matter on rd, During the trip the demijohn had been emptied several times, and Timon had treated no one, either. “J must git out o’ this valley of misfortune somehow or other,” the iy 5 wee said, seeing | i the shadows deepening about him, ‘‘Jest four miles further on, an’ the old wagon might ’a’ broke an’ be hanged. Bless me! if Pll stay hyar to-night! Why, hyar’s whar the Sioux fell on Brady’s boys, an’ took their scalps, an’ also hyar’s the spot where the regulators pulled Red Bob an’ pard up.” The memory of these lawless occurrences was enough to stimulate Tanglefoot to action, and, unhitching the mules, he inaugurated a hunt for a piece of timber, which he hoped to transform into a drag to serve in lieu of the wheel. Armed with an ax, Timon was not long in finding the desired stick, and when with the aid of sundry straps and chains he had secured it to | his satisfaction, the last stréak of day left the valley, and the pale light of the stars took its place. Then with a self-congratulatory pull at the demijohn, Timon hitched up the mules again, tossed the. useless wheel into the wagon, and sprung to his accustomed place, The swearing, the cracks of the villainous whips over the heads of the oe beasts, and their desperate efforts to pull the vehicle for- ward again, made up a scene never witnessed peiory by the hills that surrounded the little valley. - ag Git ep! you stubborn Injun-colored brutes!” cried Timon, who, sorcery = on the seat, was dealing his mulés inhuman blows with the cut- ting lash. ‘‘ Must the righteous suffer thus jest because whisky is risin’ at Deadwood, an’ the stock’s nearly exhausted? Ob! murder! go on, Jest four miles, an’ ’ll give ye all the feed on p But he cursed, struck and pleaded in vain. The heavy drag obstructed bg , and though the faithful mules pulled with all their strength, they could not draw the wagon over ten feet at an effort. “Thirty miles from a bushel of gold, an’ bu’sted!” roared the smuggler in despair, spring- ing from the box and throwing the lines at his team. Then he threw his hat upon the ground, and executed upon it a dance which might have suggested the idea which seemed to afford an avenue to peepee: Bless me, if I don’t ligh*en the load! They do that when a ship’s in trouble at sea, an’ the a8 Timon Moss jest now is in a fearful strait. tpeter an’ soda! the thing is reasonable, I kin fix up a story between hyar an’ Deadwood, Fell in with Midnight Jack or the Sioux, either one will do, but the Midnight Jack story will look more likely. This load really belongs to Injun-land.” ‘ Say ith the thought of lightening his load giving a triumphant twinkle to his little dark eyes, Timon sprung into the wagon and cast his eyes around upon his motley cargo. ; Ten whisky-kegs,with a single exception full to the bung, formed the pereetnes part.of the load;- then there were sundry boxes and packages, onsigned to citizens of Deadwood, among them = legs of a billiard table, and the nucleus of a library which ‘‘ some eastern chap ” was going to start in the mining town. “Can't throw any «f the licker overboard!” Timon said, with settled emphasis. ‘‘Thar’s them confounded books, consigned to that long- ha’red chap who says that our great grand- mother was an ape. I'll tell him that the In- at took ’em from me to start a sarculatin’ ib on the Pawnee Loup, an’ if he objects to the statement we'll lay ’im out with his boots on. A library at Deadwood!” and Tanglefoot laughed as the consignment was pitched over- ched, : onl re ie Peds vein tenia it were consign- “Two hundred pounds lighter, my long-eared rds!” ejaculated Timon, over sheer florid ace the evidence of his exertion was pouring. ‘Now a last pull at my straw-colored: bird, an’ then I'll say ho! for the sun-dance or ho! for Deadwood. 1 cam’t make up my mind.” — Old Tanglefoot’s hands flew eagerly to the demijohn incased in a network of split willows, and he was in the act of lifting the often-touch: ed nozzle to his lips when a human voice made him start, ; “Tsay, stranger, ain’t ye losin’ a right smart bit o’ yer carge?” The voice, while it uttered the words just written in the style of the frontier, was not rough, like an ill-bred man’s, but musical and sweet as a child’s. The demijohn almost dropped from Tangle- foot’s hands, and he retreated from the boyish countenance whieh, full of health and good-hu- mor, appeared at the rear end of the wagon. "You appear to be losin’ a good bit of yer load, I say,” said the same pleasant voice again. ‘‘ What is up? an’ whar ye bound?” “Bound to start these mules!” was Tangle- foot’s reply: ‘*T lost the cargo on purpose, fur I’ve broke down. I say, youngster, ye're devil- ish inquirin’; but git out an’ leave me alone.” But the face did not stir. If Timon had look- ed closely he would have seen the mischievous eyes laughing at the figure which he cut, “Git ont an’ help yerself to what I’ve drop- d!” said Tanglefoot, imperatively, and then e added to himself: ‘“oTwon’t do! It might spile the Midnight Jack story.” The next moment with his hand on the butt of his ‘‘navy,” Timon Moss glided across the kegs toward the boy. ‘Say, what’s yer name?” he asked, gruffly, “T puess it’s Gopher Gid, an’ I’m not afraid o* anybody in the Cheyenne country.” ‘Ain't, eh?” hissed Timon. ‘Wal, the rea- son is because you’ve never met Old Tanglefoot before. Do ye ever go to, Deadwood?” ‘*Been there once!” answered the hoy, whe showed signs of retreating from the basilisk eyes of the whisky-smuggler. ‘‘ Then, by the spirit of Bacchus! ye’ll never go thar ag’in!” The revolver full cocked and tightly griped by hands that had wielded it before, shot front its sheath, and the boy with a cry of fright dis- appeared in an instant. Can’t git away that easy!” grated Timon. “Blast my cargo! if you shall go to Deadwood an’ spile the Midnight Jack story, Things hev got kind o’ desprit with me!” The whisky-smuggler leaped from the wagon as the last sentence fell from his lips. His murderous eyes instantly caught sight of his intended prey, and, with a roar not unlike that of a jungle tiger he darted forward. But thenext moment the western villain exe- cuted a sudden halt, for a loud cry came down from the shadows above: ‘“Whoopee! I’m the Screamin’ Eagle of the Smoky Roost! ’m a genuine death on his pale hoss, an’ I kin whip my weight in Injuns an’ wild-cats twenty times a day. Clar the track} [’'m the Thunderbolt of the Dark-edged Cloud! a ~ reg’lar skyscraper!” uch were the words that halted Old Tangle- foot, and, revolver in hand, he looked up, as if he expected to see the leap upon hiv from the hills overhead, CHAPTER II. THE KING OF THE TRAIL, Timon Moss, the whisky-smuggler, while in- venting a story with which he hoped to explain the absence of much of his motley © upon his arrival at the capital of the Black Hille, ve audible utterance to a name well known in the Great West at the time of which we write. Let us turn to the owner of the cognomen, Midnight Jack was a prince Among daring road-agents. He was noted for his uniform successes, his devilish bravery, and his hatred of double dealing. The various trails leading from the govern- ment stations teh the Missouri to the Blaok Hills: comprised operating. grounds, and more than one stageless and mailless agezt had made his appearance at Deadwood, with the _ the old story of misfortune which had become an old song. Tall and handsome, affecting the dress of the Sicilian brigands, with a mass of dark hair fall- ing to his shapely shoulders: this Ess of the road was the most 'y-mentioned man in Dakota. He was sill y , and the plun dered agents whose lives he had spared said that he wi}’nothing mere a mere ber.» of tz omg $e
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a never seen in Deadwood, en costume, his personal nce was well known to ev- ery citizen. hey knew that there was a oem erat on the left-side of his soft sombrero- ike hat—that he wore a cavalry-button on his right shoulder, and that a few links of a gold eeneennnes hung from his coal-black courser’s vit. : Thus described, let us seek Midnight Jack, and for ourselves learn something of thi: west- ern Claude Duval. About the time when the ungenerous linch- pin cast Old Tanglefoot a wreck in the little valley, Midnight Jack rode upon the trail not many miles from the scene we have just left. He sat like a born horseman in the handsome Mexican saddle, and as he looked‘to the east, he removed his hat and pushed a mass of silken hair wack from his forehead. His arms consist- ed of two heavy revolvers, whose butts pro- truded from his belt, and: a handsome Ballard repeating-rifle—a weapon as famous as its own- er—was swung upon his back. “The old curmudgeon has passed this place with his cargo,” the road-agent said, in a yoice unlike that which highwaymen are popularly supposed to possess. . ‘I don’t want to plunder him of his whisky to-night. If he was going the other way it would be another thing—dust and bricks on board, Let him take his carge out and sell it. When he comes back, I’ll tap the mine,” Midnight Jack’s'eyes glittered with anticipa- triumph over the whisky-smuggler who at that moment was cursing the ill-luck of a break- down, and the next minute as he freed some of his steed’s dark mane from the thralldom of the bridie-rein, he continued in a disappointed tone: ‘““Times are dull, Quito,” and he patted the horse’s neck to see the large and beautiful eyes turned affectionately upon him. ‘‘ If something lucky doesn’t turn up soon, we'll go down anc try the Santa Fe routes awhile, There’s where they catch the silver coveys, and the pretty Mexican senoritas with more beauty than chink. Wouldn’t Deadwood rejoice to know that we had left the country? Why, they’d illuminate the infernal town, and drink themselves crazy. Well; we'll give them notice of our removal by posting it on the trees.” ; The road-agent addressed his horse with a grim humor that exhibited itself in his eyes, and the darkness fell about him as he spoke. He had halted in an open p2rt of the cone and the stars, as they glowed brilliantly in the heavens above, showed him the trail which he had made dangerous for some distance east and west. ; “Nothing here to-night. We'll go!” The Dakota brigand was about turning Saar when the crack of a whip not unlike the shrill report of a distant rifle fell upon his ears, and his eyes at once lighted up with the excitement that attends his callin E. ; ‘‘Not so barren after all, Quito,” he hastily whispered to his horse, and galloped forward to a tree which, not far away, stood lone- ly beside the trail. Then, with one of the huge revolvers cocked, in his right hand, Midnight Jack kept his eyes Sseuat: down the road, over which some kind of a vehicle was lumbering. Louder and shriller resounded the whip sever forone moment at rest, and a puzzled expression of countenance settled on the road- agent’s face as he rose in his heavy wooden stirrups, eager to see the approaching team, All at once a wild cachinnation, followed by a series of fiendish yells, drowned the reports of the whip, and the situation was instantly ex- plained to the road-agent. At the same time his horse gave a low snort indicative of disgust which attracted the rider’s attention. qiaren ‘“‘ Indians, Quito!” ejaculated Midnight. “They've struck a prize to-night, and they're making merry over ff When the wild Sioux turr teamsters, look out for fun!” The wagon—for the noise told the keen senses ef the road-agent that but one four-wheeled vehicle was approaching—continued to rattle over the not very smooth road, accompanied by real Indian yells. At last and almost suddenly it came in sight, and Midnight Jack saw a scene for which he was not whoily unpre * E caeeted th ‘i dona ed m were e and’s eeinOe each of the hindmost beasts ~ half- naked Indian, whose hands ae articles en- tirely strange to them—w p and lines, Nor was this-all. At least ten savages were . into the bed of the vehicle, dancing like fiends, and filling the air with those wild sounde which | “Miénight Jacks og often assailed the ec> of Midnight ack, They had evidently imbibed liquoz in +c ‘nm. considerable quantities, and they*were’ pushing each other about in their drunken orgies, threat- ening to overturn the wagon or frighten the mules; already ungovernable, into a runaway. Midnight took in the situation in an instant. ‘‘ The red devils have stolen our trade, Quito,” he said, between clenched teetli, and with a smile. ‘‘ They’ve turned road-agents-—infringed on our patent, as it were. I don’t intend to stand it. Dve declared war against the whites, and I might as well begin it with the reds. You mean, dirty skunks! VTL put an end to your frolic by giving you tickets to dead land.” The wagon lumbering over the road had now reached a point almost directly abreast of the still unseen road-agent, and, as his hands shot up, a navy” tightly clutched by each, bis well- known ‘halt! spoken in deep thunder-tones, fell upon the ears of the carousing Indians. In an instant of time, as it seemed, the orgies were hushed, and the savage who had the lines, rising in the stirrups, la the lead mules up- on their haunches, and prepared to leap to the ground, But the quick eye and trigger of Midnight Jack saw the action and checked it suddenly, The stricken brave fell back upon the mule, shot through the eye, while his companion with the whip, kissed the road before the report of the first dead shot had died away. Now ensued a scene of confusion and of— death! The terrible doom of their comrades appeared to sober the remaining Indians in the eb pean | of an eye. ‘There was a rush for the sides anc end of the vehicle, now standing stock-still in the road, but death overtook them before they could escape. The few who left the vehicle did so with bullets in their bodies, and never moyed after they alighted on terra firma. Midnight Jack shot with the coolness of a Gatling. The revolvers cracked with automatic precision, and a red-skin always plunged for- ward with the flash. It is doubtful whether the astonished Indians caught sight of their terrible foe; but that they knew who he was was attested by their haste to get beyond his deadly aim. But without hope. The deadly pistols of the Road Terror con- | tinued to pour their leaden messengers into the wagon, until the last red reveler pitched over the dash, and quivered in the agonies of death beneath the heels of the mules, ‘Playing road-agent doesn’t pay when In- dians try it,” smiled the victor, looking at his deadly work as he calmly proceeded to re- charge the chambers of his pistol. ‘‘If I could meet with such fun as this every night, here l’d stay, away from the Santa Fe trail, even though there be no plundtr in the sport.” When he had reloaded the formidable wea- pons he rode up to the wagon, speaking kindly to the team as he d by, and looked around | upon the half-naked savages lying in the road. ‘“<T kind o’ piled them in the wagon, I guess,” he murmured, approaching the vehicle, over whose side he leaned. The brilliant stars revealed a phasis sight, for the wagon seemed filled with dead, But something besides the hideous red faces suddenly attracted the road-agent’s attention, and with a dazed ‘‘It, can’t be!” he thrust one arm forward and pikes a sang aside, “« By the gold of Ophir! 8 gr !” he cried, and with the exclamation ringing from his lips, Midnight Jack leaped from the saddle and land- ed in the wagon. A moment sufficed to hurl the dead Indians to one side, and when the bandit rose from a stooping Cg he held a female figure in his arms, and was looking into the whitest and the casew face his handsome eyes had ever be- eld, It was so white it was deathlike; there were no signs of life about it, anda flash of resent- ment. lit up Midnight Jack’s eyes as they wan- oe from it to the Indians lying dead on every side, In the excitement of the moment, the bandit did not notice that the girl’s ankles were bound togothen he was ng into the white face, he looked, own face assumed a wild expression; the ruddy color departing, left it as white as the one he held in his arms. ‘* Merciful Heavens!” he cried; ‘I cannot be’ mistaken. If she is really dead, I'll exterminate’ the, whole Sioux nation. I'll make their land a land of blood. Ah! Golden George will never earry out his threat now. Better dead, Dora, than his. But, why did you come out here? ; acms} Dll leave the road now Wake up! o your eyes and tell me about fa- ther. m I cursed yet? Are you dead in my eave it forever, The red devils shall curse the night they killed Midnight Jack’s sister!” CHAPTER IIT. THE INDIANS WIN, “rn wipe out the whole Sioux nation .. this deed of blood!” ‘ Midnight Jack set his teeth hard behind this vow. He still stood in the unknown wagon amid the dead Indians, and with the inanimate form of his strangely found sister in his arms, As yet the girl exhibited no signs of life; the beautiful face, cold and marble-like, met his gaze with no return of expression, save that forbidding one of death, If the road-agent had laid his: pistol hand over the heart he would have detected. a faint movement which would caused his own to leap for joy. But, in his anger and his thoughts of dark revenge, he never thought of this. After awhile Midnight crawled from the wagon with his beautiful burden, which he de- posited gently upon a rich, soft plat of grass that seemed to invite its sleeper. Then he methodically but quickly unharnessed _, the mules, and with a word and a blow sent them toward the valley where other scenes con- nected with our story were occurring. This done, the road-agent threw the dead Indians from the wagon and sought eagerly but vainly for something that might tell abous his sister. An empty whisky-keg was the only thing lef in the wagon, an sparks of living fire when he thought, of th cruelty to which his sister had been subjecte by the drunken fiends. But he had slain ther in the midst of their fiendish triumph. Ther were twelve red scoundrels less between Sully and Deadwood. While engaged as we have just déscribed, nol an audible word dropped from Midnight Jack's lips: but his flashing eyes spoke volumes, All at once he began to toss the bodies back into the wagon, nor did he stop until the twelve lay ina ghastly heap in the bed. en he drew a piece of “keil” from his pocket and wrote on one side of the vehicle these words: ** Killed by Midnight Jack. This is but the beginning. Uncle Sam won't have to feed the Siouw much longer. Blood for blood !’ It was the oath—the vow—of one of the brav- est men who ever touched a trigger, or sat a road-agent’s horse, Midnight Jack was satisfied with his writing. and as he turned again to the lithe figure repos ing on the grass he said: ‘I mean every word—every letter of that inscription!” When he remounted his charger which had watched its master with almost human interes een leaves—when she was a little zirl; and— Jess me! what was I saying? Isn’t she a girl et?” ; A faint but pleasant smile illumined the road- agent's face as he gazeupon the cold, less features of his charge. + “Yes, she died before the evil days had time to fasten upon her. become of her in this Godless country? But what brought her away out here, anyhow? [’d give my very life to know.” + Talking in this and a like strain, th. _oad- agent did not seem to note the progress of his horse; but he suddenly spoke to the ani: which came to a halt in a beautiful spot not far from the banks of the Cheyenne, Indeed, if the bandit would have sent his gaze before , through the little gap almost directly him, he might have seen the moonlit waves of the tortuous western river. Several hours had with the red-skins who had faied so badly Ly his deadly pistols. The queen of night ha risen from her couch, and was flooding the land of Indian and bear with her soft silvery light which gave the trees a new foliage, and the wa- ter newer beauty. If the valley in which Midnight had halted was beautiful at night, how much love bo Halted tip herr shnde wedk: toot eehints te nm up Ay yn , t many flowers and birds? tor ied the bandit’s eyes flasha . on: _ Mercy! what would have - ssed_ since his encotn.<t) \ A te
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“This is the place for you, Dora,” the»road- agent said, addressing the fair girl, whom he had carpiéd'to this bewitchiig’spot. ‘I'll visit your grave every day and death shall be the rtion of the fiend who ventures to despoil it. ow-for the.secret home. 1 saw it the other day, though it was well hidden. The boy has not come Pack yet, I think, for Isaw him down new Brier Ford at sundown, and he had no horse, either. However, he’s an innocent-look~ ing cuss I take it; perfectly harmless!” _A few moments later Midnight Jack leaped to the ground at the foot of a rugged hill cov- ered=with a dense undergrowth and apparent! inaccessible. But his keen eyes descried a path which seemed to lead to the top, and up this he sprung. ; A few bounds brought him to a strong door fixe seemingly in the hill, and adroitly con- eealed by a variety of wild grapo-vincs which hung from above, “T knew it was here!” said the road-agent, sa‘isfied with his exploration. _‘‘ Ifow I'll see if the youngster is at home.” : The door, being unlocked, vielded to his touch, and a dark opening appeared. He drew slight- ly back and wita a cocked revolver in his hand called: ‘Halioo! my boy! If you're at home come ont, for Pve a bit of business to transact with you. 7 His voice seemed to penetrate every corner ’ of tie cavernous place, but elicited no response, This did not surprise Midnight Jack, for, as we have already heard him remark, he did not ex- poct to find the ‘‘ youngster ” at home. Midnight entered the hole in the ground, and struck a lucifer which for several moments il- uminel the place, showing him that it was ihe dwelling of a human being, for several rude irticles of furniture lay around; as well asa lot of new skins, a pickax and a spade. ca ay roe See articles the young road- ageut hailed with delight, and before he cast the match, burned to his fingers, on the floor he > spruug upon them, “Pll bring them back, my boy,” he said, as if addressing the owner of the implements, and a raoment later he reached the door. ' A glance showed him his horse at the foot of {he hill. At the faithful animal’s feet he had dwposited the burden he had sorrowfully borne from the battle-ground on the Deadwood trail. But, for the shadows, he could not see it now. A broad ray of moonlight fell upon the vines that covered the entranee to the hill-home, and as Midnight Jack, with page and pick on his shoulder, emerged from the place, he uttered a ery which was an oath, Something ha | whizzed past his cheek, and he turned to see the barbed end of an Indian arrow otruding from the vines; the iron shaft had amet itsalf in the planks.of the concealed oor, f “ Thunder and rifles!” ejaculated Midnight Jick, and as the impiements glided from bis hands, he drew his repeating rifle. ‘‘ The red devils are going to give me more exerciso. Well, * tay shall find that I am eager to keep up the work I began to-night.” Another shaft cut short the sentence, and the ron Lagent saw that it sped upward from the dpths of the little valley, and just beyond his horse which, with head erect, had snuffed the . p owling foe. 4 a “Text open with bullet$ soon!” grated the + yoad-agent, through clenched teeth, and then, ‘ ‘witha thought of the g rl, he sprung down the ay “. Injuns to be foes?” ‘he stony expression cn Midnight Jack’s fece relaxed, and the boy opened his eyes in wonder when he saw the two men shaking hands. ‘*We hed a quecr tussle to-night,” the Sky- scraper said, glancing at Gopber Gid. “ That old rotgut-peddler lost a linclyin. He tried to cuss it back; but it war the most wasted cuss- in’ you ever heard of. Then, as I said, he cot at tho boy thar who came up to heip ’im; but jest about thet time the Thunderboit cf the eae Cloud drop close ‘by ’im. We emptied his cargo—knocked in the heads of his kegs—and left ’im with two of his mules. He war usin’ the strongest kind o’ language. It war amusin’ to hear’im. Did you ever meet FES CEON, Midnight?” ‘*He knows me, at any rate!” was the re- sponse, and Gopher Gid detected a faint smile at the corner of Midnight’s lips. ‘‘ That man is nof wholly a braggart.. He is a desperado,” **Thet bloated toad?” cried Rube Rattler, in tones of mingled disgust and astonishment. py oe, you ever hear of a Sioux molesting him?" 0. “Did you ever see him driving along with an t Indian sitting on the same seat, as brotherly as ss you please?” ** Never did.” ‘“*Then you haven’t been on this trail long,” observed the road-agent. ; » * Not a great while, Midnight. Hev ye see’d sech things?” ; “Frequently. Old Tanglefoot or Timon Moss, as he would be called in decent society, it he ever moved in it, is known to every Sioux in the West. He has drank with Red Cloud and Setting Sun; he has hobnobbed ‘with the lowesi dogs of the tribes. To-day he is a king among dogs; to-morrow a dog among kings.” He’s got a divarsity of talent,” said the Westerner, and as he turned to the boy he finish- ed: **You’ve got a mean fellar to deal with, Gopher. a say “The greatest villain in the country!” said Midnight Jack. ‘I’ve seen him in the great village of the Sioux. Why, Red Cloud actually dubbed the hound a cbief at one of their sun- ee. dances. I never molested him; it wasn’t policy.” 3 ‘““He said he would pay us back fur bu’stin’ = his kegs! But I guess the Thunderbolt of. the AE by Dark-edged Cloud kin stand the payment ofthe =~ 4 — debt. When any man runs a’gin’ me he strikes ee a post, ; ie Midni ht Jack was still angry; the loss of his Ra 2 newly discovered sister caused him to shoot “3 lightning glances toward the north-west and he began to grow impatient. “Tl go with you to the eends of the world arter the gal!” broke in the long bordermnn. “ve nuthin’ to keep me hyar;no family, The boy—why, he kin remain hyar til we come » back. Gopher, jump off the critter and let Mid. night take the saddie.” sal Birg ‘ Not till I look to my own horse!” interposed the road-scourge, before Gopher Gid could spring from the beast. ‘*He went dewn at the first fire, and I told him to lie still;” and he walked to the spot where kis black horse stil - lay; but a glance atthe rigid form and the glaz a eye told him that he would never ride the faithful animal again. With clenched lips and eyes flashing anew, the bandit came back to the two spectators. “Tl take the mule, boy,” he ec kg and Gopher Gid slid to the ground. “* With a fresh trail ahead, we will overtake the reddies before _ they reach the big village. I have mydoubws © _ whether’ Tanglefoot was going to Deadwood. — The great sun-dance of the Sioux is near at hand, T guess he never misses such an affair as that.” The self styled Sky-scraper and Midnight Jack now made hasty preparations to depart on the trail of the flying Siomox, The boy watched them with diseppointment _ in his fair eyes, and at last, unable to still his — nother moment, i to Midnight. — d help ie like to alon dabd tata Sos os
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a youth saw that the-thought amounted almost to & conviction. “Stay hyar, boy,” said Rube, before Gopher Gid could respond to the road-agent! to take you, durn my hide if I wouldn’s, but it’s too risky! An’ keep both eyes peeled, too. Ye’ve heer’d about Old Tanglefoot? He’ll be back this way.” “He will, assuredly,” declared Midnight Jack. “If you want to so. the years of man- heod, don’6 fall int» his hands. He’s a bloat. whisky-soaked by the contents of a thousand ‘tp kegs; but bis mind is as strong as ever, only the pe devil is in him bigger than Pike’s Peak.” The night was well advanced when Midnight Jack and his companion bade the unsatisfied boy farewell, and he stood in the darkness like a youth in a dream, listening to the canter of their niules, Before departure Midnight Jack had superin- tended the burial of his horse and the slain say- ages, so that their bodies would not taint the ai nosphere so near the boy’s hillside home, ia _ #Hfe’s not a bad-looking man!” were the eS) & words that, dropped from Gopher Gid’s lips. Nias * But he’s made this road a terrible one to a ‘travel. They'd hang him in a. minute at Dead- * wood, an Lif bs values hi; scalp he’d better stay out of Red Cloud’s land. Whore did his sister come from, that he should finl her here? I don't believe he has one. Ll go up to the hole in the hill now, and get some sleep. ' It is no ay lonzer a secret home. I was a fool to follow old a: © Tanzlefoot. It made me too many acquaint- ; ances, [am known now. Hadn't I better take up my traps and leave? I was areal gopher be- fore I fell in with that rattle-brained man, and MiAnicht Jack and Tanglefoot.” The youth who wa; falking thus as he went up the narrow path that lec through the under- rowth to his hidden home, was not at his ease. ie as he secret of his socluded home had been dis- 4 - covered; other fect than his had actually crossed re the thresiiold; he was no longer safe in the rich trapping grounds of Dakota, ae ‘Pd like to sea your sister, ays sho’s alive!” he said, pausing in the low door- : ' way before he shut the portal. “I haven’t seen dy _ &@ white cirl’s face for a year, and I'll never see Pe gts yours, Dora, [im thinking. Dora—what’s your ie rd snane?—ld like to see you! Midnight Jack’s . sister. That sounds funny!” Tai 1 noone The boy could not repress the low laugh that ‘ bubbled to his lips, and while it still sounded he mee Ts shut thedoor. — 4st ee. A tight which ho struck inside revealel the ia Ae interior of the place where he had.dwelt unmo- Be 3) Ba lested for more than a year, There were steel- i 5 traps of many sizes, and a good display of pis- tols and rifles, with a lot of pelts, the products of his trapping. But now his hidden home had been discovered, not only by those who would befriend him, but by the vindictive Sioux, as he had reasou to be- Midnight Jack, if lieve, ‘ “You will not find me here when you come back, Rube,” he said, speaking out his thougits, as he discussed a frugal: meal alone. “Pm go- ing to hunt new trapping-grounds, so far awa from here that Pll never think of Miduight Ja and his sister.” The look that covered the boy’s face as he ke, told plainly that he had come to the..con- velusion to levve the grounds where his solitude had been disturbad by scenes which he could never erase from his memory. _ He finished the meal, and carried the light to his tra untan eyes on the portal, aWas it a bear? or had that man whom Mid- the door; but he knew that the chain $e- ett — or tl ia I “Vd like | Midnight Jack. shoulder seemed to be against the door. \ | Then came in sight the semblance of a human head, and the next moment Gopher Gid saw the hideous face of Timon Moss, whose two lit- | tle eyes danced like dervishes in their cells, It was the most loathsome apparition that the boy-trapper had ever seen; Bat it did not unnerve his arm. He raised the revolver, and fired at the living targe. At the same moment the candle went out, and left him in almost palpable gloom. CHAPTER V. BOUND FOR SIOUX LAND. Ir was still dark, but the roseate flush of dawn was not far off, With the flash of Gopher Gid’s revolver, Old Tanglefoot’s head disappeared as if a battering- | ram had been applied to the cranium.” For a long time the little hermit stood in the gloom at the side of the door, waiting for a re- appearance of his foe. Far above him glim: mered multitudes of stars, and the boy watched for that haunting head to show itself between him and one of the glittering worlds. But, without, all wasstill. The prowling co- yote withheld his bark, as if obeying the com- mand of some dreaded master; the night owl, even, was still. ‘ Atter waiting for two hours with his heart beating audibly in his bosom, the boy began to think that his shot had disposed of his foe. Constellations went horizonward with their nightly regularity, and their light began to pale before the advancing step of morn. A sigh of relief welled from Gopher Gid’s heart. - “He'll know better than to poke his head into a lighted room whose door is chained!” he said, a victorious twinkle in his eyes. “If I didn’t send the bullet into his head, I at least left my mark somewhere on his face. Why I never dreained that he would follow my trail so soon. Midnight Jack is right; Timon Moss is a veritable demon.” If Gopher Gid had known that his words were ren upon the ears of the man he had men- tioned, he would not have made preparations to inquire into the result of his nocturnal shot as soon as rej broke. * Squatted like a toad, and with his repulsive ‘face rendered doubly hideous by a long red streak across one cheek which bled profusely, | Timon Moss sat behind some bushes which grew near the door of the cave home. In one hand he held the ungainly but dread revolver which we-have already seen in his ipe. He peered through the bushes at the oor, waiting patiently for his prey to venture 0 : \ r ; Midnight Jack had not given the man a wrong .character. There were but few persons who real- ly knew him, left; the vilest of the vile, with the nature of the hyena coupled to a brutishness that ruled more than one Indian camp, Timon Moss had no equal, Whether engaged in the sale of smuggled whisky, or_at meine A sun-danee, clad in the paraphernalia of a Sioux chief, which rendered his squatty figure the more ridiculous, he never lost sight of one thing—hatred of the weak, His brutality had more than once call- ed forth Red Cloud’s interference in his behalf; for the brutal kicking of Iudian children and Indian dogs had put his worthless life in jesop- ardy. And this desperate specimen of humanity could bring certain Government officials into disrepute by some revelations which it was in his power to make! : Msi) e had not tarried long on the spot where Rube Rattler and the boy trnpper_had demol- ished his cargo of evil spirits. You touched Tanglefoot’s heart through his whisky; and the loss of that was enough to arouse all the tiger- ishness of his nature, He turned his back upon Dead:vood with an oath that would have driven the color from Gopher Gid’s face could he have heard, and threw oimself upon that trail which bad led him to the cave home of the boy who had incurred | his uncompromising anger. His fiery eyeballs saw the morning dawn with a pesegan forthe pretty streaks of grayis ig. Ms : Pn C 3 - He knew that Gopher Gid was thé sole teviant of the hole in the hill, and ready for the work .| in which he reveled, the spider waited for the At last. the door slowly opened, and the | last _ do owly opened, 1 ae \whisky-smuggler saw the anxious face A ; SO SSS rrr res . eniied ;. | Suddenly the stick was withdrawn, and a He had no attributes of manhood’ goin’ u “They call me Squat } & the boy trapper. ‘‘ Leastwise, he isn’t huee to ede tell me this. Aha! Tanglefoot, that ball | assed ie too near your face. It wasa gentle reminder - mY for you to keep your distance, and ts knock \ when you come visiting.” tom Another step qd Gopher Gid stood beyond the threshold of h¢ “abitation, and so near that; ; : the eyes of Tangk:-ot seemed todart their fire upon him, Suddenly the tiger in wait crouched nearer to ’ the earth, and then, \vith a roar not unlike that . ae, of the jungle king, he sprung up and at‘his_ an prey. i - Gopher Gid heard the cry, and turned to see the bushes bend before the leaping foe, and to. find himself crushed back before ‘he could lift the pistol clutched by his right hand. The twain went over together, the weight o the smuggler bearing his young victim to th a ground. ee ne ga Gid struggled with-all his strengtt which, when exerted to its fullest capacity made him no mean match, for a brief time, for the clumsy man, They rolled down the hill together, over and ever, like amateur wrestlers; but the strength of Tanglefoot was bound to win. ae The boy tried in vain to yo from the smug- C gler’s embrace; but it was like the hug of the she bear, and the fumes of bad liquor-almost overpowered him. As Gid went back the re- volver was torn from: his hand, nor could it be regained. Tanglefoot used no weapon, and when they reached the foot of the hill, Gid found 1 Toei himself lifted in mid-air and held out at arm’s- length by the panting ogre. . Yor several moments Tanglefoot said nothing, but continued to glare at his prize. ** Caught!” he cried. ‘‘ Nobody who ever done Timon Moss a wrong ever got away in the end, It war fun to bu’st the whisky-kegs; but the oe laugh will be on the other side of the face afore the game is played cl’ar out. Say, whar’s that jinted individual who did most of the breaking, i my delicate child? He called himself the one Screamin’ Eagle of some kind 0’ roost; but bless sear me ef Lever see’d “im afore! What! ain’t yer iia goin’ to jog Chaw a little talk fur King Ti- Me mon, er, by the ghost of Hamlet! I'll shake yer mossukins off.” As if to show Gopher Gid_that bis last threat was not an idle one, Timon Moss shook kim yn- til his bones seemed jumbled up in his body. «Se “ Thet’s at an instance!” said the smuggler, . . laughing at the pain which he could see his shake j om had caused. ‘It’s a kind o’ preface; all books ¥ 49 eda hev one; but ’ma volume what has two er three. Now you'll talk. _Whar's the Eagle?” “Tf he was within. gunshot you’d have‘foun out,” returned thé boy, with a good deal of spirit. ‘‘ Ido not know where he is.” oR ei Gone off, eh?” es. Y *‘ Alone? I heerd.a good deal 0’ shootin’ while ‘ a I war comin’ hyar. Who did it?” | ub deat, “Midnight Jack,” » a NaN, re, Gopher Gid peered engenly. into Tanglefoot’s face to note the effect of his reply. _ . el ara ee ‘started a little; that was all. . aoe re “Whar is he now?” Svihe caw j “T don’t know.” * aa Gopher Gid’s answer seemed to nonplus the avenger of the spilled spirits; he was at. his tin- ger’s-end for another question. fix atay All at once he broke forth with one that a malicious twinkle into his little eyes, eS “Say, Gopher, did you ever see a sun-dance?” _ The be stared a moment, and said, * No.” ‘Heerd of them, eh? ‘ ‘T have.” Eis RBS. ‘They're goin’ to hev a big one up at Red Cloud’s town,” said Tanglefoot. hos: fur the Injun what kin hang the longest. The red boys ar’ comin’ from the Icdges of the Teton as Sioux, an’ thar’ll be more Injuns thar than you > kin count, Sixty hosscs! jist think of it! “Thare ll be some 0” the tallest a ad ever see’d in ay Injun camp. Rain-in-the-Face hung fovr heur | once; but they'll beat his time all holler. Ir 7 oe; P ’ The Tost sentence told Gopher Gid that bk would in pee pbeimtaaritl be compelled to accom: eo oot to the scene of barbarousfese = LVivy. en : ; Se yan RA ohare ‘‘Arn’t you afraid to go?” the young trapper ventured o ask, ~ a A eee ‘Me?’ and Tanglefoot leughed boisterousby. V2 a ‘What! Timon Moss afeared to gototheInjun towns? He’s been thar afore—a_ king among > dogs, Why, I'm a Sioux chief when I’m thar. tin’ B’ar; not_a melodic 5 tee ¥ 4 he ahs Lunghi ab boy! anise ots beter’ ter" you laughin’ at, boy?)
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“6 ee - Tanglefoot’s question, he must have con If Gopher Gid had been com led to woeey. to essed that he was thinking that Drunken Hog, when applied to his captor, would be more appropri- ate than Squatting Bear. But he did not express his thoughts. ‘Well, I’m goin’ to the Injun show,” said Timon, suddenly, ‘an’ I a’n’t goin’ alone, either,” That sentence removed the little trapper’s last doubt. He was to be carried by that merciless man into the largest Sioux camp in the West, thero to be ‘subjected to a fate already, no doubt, selected by his captor. fin was powerless in the hands of Timon Moss. “il bear my fate bravely,” Gid said to bim- self, ‘I trust the time is coming when I'll get the upper hand of this demon in human skin, and then let him look out, So,,’m going to witness one of those wild Indian sun-dances! I wonder if Rube’s trail will lead him to Red Cloud’s village? After all, we may meet sooner than I expected; I may ye‘ get tosee Midnight’s sister.” . Timon Moss now proceeded to secure his cap- tive who no longer fought the tide which had set in against him, ‘“-You will do me one favor?” said the boy, Tn course I will!” was the answer. ‘‘ What is it?” ‘“Shut my door and fix it as I tell you.” ‘What! you don’t axpect to come back, I hope?” was the quick vetort, ‘‘But, I'll fix the shanty, fur thar may be some things thar that Vll want when J come back,” Timon shut the door of the cave home and left Gopher Gid there while he went around the hill, from whose further side he soon sper pared, leading two mules, the late lead ones of his team. “All aboard !” he shouted, with a cheeriness which possessed no humor for the silent, thought- ful boy on the ground. “The beasts make good time when I once git them to b’lieve that they'll soon git to kick some Injun boys,” Gopher Gid was tossed astride of one of the nervy little apimals, and his legs were made fast to the dusty sides. His saddle was a Government blanket like Tanglefoot’s, and as the smuggler threw him- self upon his steed, he cehined id’s bridle-rein and uttered a sharp ‘git ep!” which made the roules start forward like arrows projected from a Cheyenne bow, Awny, over the trail they went. her Gid glanced over his shoulder once at the hill home which he was leaving forcibly after a lon ee there; and could hardly realize his situation till he turned to look into the ish face of Timen Moss. = Take a good look at your hole in the pround, my peewee, fur ye’r’ never comin’ back to its traps and skins.” .Gid’s eyes flashed fire. Never? He would see about that. - CHAPTER VI. THE JAWS OF DEATH. ‘‘’Wr're nearin’ a lunatic asylum, Jest lis ten, boy.” ‘the oce that Timon Moss turned to the boy who rode beside him had a mischievous smile, and his snaky eyes shone with a malicious twinkle. Ths twain were riding over a level stretch of ground, pretty well timbered, and romantic in appearance, They had left the Cheyenne river behind, and were evidently herrea! an {ndian villaze which seemed to lie just over the low hills that rose before them. Sounds of the most discordant nature shook the evening air,.and struck harshly upon their tympanums. Among the many noises, savage voices and the beating of Indian drums could be distinguished. The greater part of the week had elapsed since the occurrence of the scenes narrated in the foregoing chapters. Timon Moss and his boy captive had journeyed not fast, it is true, but nevertheless quite steadily in a north-west- erly direction. Gopher Gid had found no avenue of escape; the whisky-smuggler had watched his captive with the eyes of a hawk, and the boy had at last become accustomed to the ceaseless vigil, and apparently given up hopes of freedom. - * What do ye think of the music?” asked Old Tanglefoot, when the boy had listened to the bedlamic din for seve moments. ‘Not as ag re opery; but it strikes the Injun ear t Ms war the bi Midnight Jack. parts. _The blue-coats toed the scratch like men, an’ it War a pity to shoot ’em down as we did. Gopher Gid started as the little pronoun that told so much fell upon his ears. “Were you there?” he asked. “Whether I war or not, I know all about Custer’s last fight,” was the reply. . “ The In- juns call him Yellow Hair. es, I war thar! Vhat are you goin’ to do about it, my pee- wee? The speaker was leaning toward the boy, and his bloated visage was thrust against him. ‘*-You dare .ot go down to Deadwood or Fort Sully and s'.y that!” he said, returninz the sav- age ice with defiance. ‘*Hevn't 1 been thar fifty times since?” ~ sput not as a man who helped to butcher Custer and his men.” ** Mebbe not,” Timon Moss grew slightly pale. ‘* You'd tell.on me if you war thar now?” he said. That I would.” “Then you'll never tell.” Gopher Gid thought he would never forget the look which Timon Moss bestowed upon him as this threatening sentence dropped, syllable by syllable, from his lips. Timon had added fresh repulsiveness to his name inthe eyes of the boy-trapper. As one who had assisted in the massacre of the gallant Custer and his troops he .was to be hated the | more, and from that hour Gopher Gid longed with new desirefor the turning of the tables, by which he might have an opportunity of aveng- ing, even in part, the butchery on the Rosebuc As the twain advanced the din from the un- seen village continued to salute their ears, and they reached the summit of one of the tumuli to behold a sight new to the eyes of one, old to those of the other. ; Apparently at their very feet one of the largest Indian villages of the West. Every- where in the fading light of day could still distinguished the birchen-wigwams. It was the home of some of the noted chiefs of the Sioux nation; and, as-Tanglefoot had said, from this village the vanquishers of Custer had marched, and to-it they had returned, ladened with the trophies of that historic little battle-field. ** Keep close to me, boy,” said Tanglefoot, as, with a quick jerk of the rein, he bropght Gopher Gid’s mule close alongside, ‘‘ Take everything in good-humor. Ef the Injuns rile you a little, don’t let o1. They’re not lookin’ fur me, on hossback.” The young trapper knew the meaning of his captor’s emphasis, and the real destination of the cargo of whisky which he helped to destroy was now cleared up. ; Tanglefoot and his captive entered the Indian town ata point which did not at that moment seem to be inhabited. But their arrival was soon made known by the mangy curs that fre- uent the sa villages, and as they advanced the number of a increased. Timon Moss his charge to a part of the village from which the bedlam seemed to rise, and almost suddenly they emerged upon the great square,’ where more than one famous sun-dance ahd act of cruel torture had taken lace, r In the center of this square rose a pole about thirty feet in hight, and from the top dangled innumerable buck-skin ropes, the other ends of which lay on the ground, giving them an ap- pearance of being nearly fifty feet in length, Hundreds of Indians of both sexes swarmed about this pole, whose use we shall presently witness. Not a white face was to be seen, and the boy trapper instinctively drew back when he first looked upon the sight. ** We're the only wiitoaicue hyar, unless—” Timon Moss paused, as if to allow his eyes to -~wander over the savage scene before them. ‘* Unless,” he finished, ‘‘ thar be painted faces what don’t belong to the reds,” His words caused a thrilling thought-to flash through the little trapper’s brain. Per Rube Rattler and Midnight Jack had reached the Sioux village in pursuit of the In- dians who had carried off the hunter’s sister. Did Timon Moss think of them when he quali- fied the sentence which he had just spoken? But Gid was not permitted to debate the men- tal question, for their besa oe was soon espied, and they found themselves surrounded by scores of Indians, clad in wild paraphernalia for the ‘brutal rites soon to Wild shouts of pleasure welcomed Timon Moss back to the Indian town. Tawny arms instantly caught his nether limbs, and the over- joyed Indians would have jerked him from the saddle if he had not commanded them to desist. Timon shook the Indians off, and addressed them in a tone which caused the drums to cease beating. 4 He told them that the cargo of whisky intend- ed for them had been seized by a lot of whites and destroyed.» In words that drew a smile to Gopher. Gid’s lips, he declared that he had fought to the bitter end, only to be overpowered after slaying some of his assailants; that he had escaped even while the noose was dangling over his head. All this was received with shouts of triumph by the eager listeners, and when Timon turned his face upon Gid, the boy thought his time had come, ¢ I’m not goin’ to give yer away,” his lips rn ea ‘Ye wouldn’t see the sun-dance ef id. Then he turned upon the Indians and waved his hand toward the captive. ‘The boy is Squattin’ B’ar’s!” he said. ‘ Hie skin is white; but the Sioux will respect it be- cause it is tied to the white chief’s. The fire- water is gone; but it will soon flow in the big village. Whar’s Red Cloud, Settin’ Sun, an’ the other chiefs?” “Red Cloud has gone to the forts to talk to the blue coats. Setting Sun is here.” The speaker who pushed his way through the crowd halted before Tanglefoot with the latter part of the sentence falling from his lips. Gopher Gid saw, before him a magnificent- looking Indian, of middle age, whose feathers were numerous, and whose dark arms were en- circled by shining bands of copper. There was a manly, intelligent look in the Sioux’s eyes and his. pose was one which an artist would have noticed with delight. This Indian was Setting Sun, one of the youn- gest as well as the bravest chiefs of the nation —a man who could tell in graphic language how Custer died. “While our brother is away the one thousand lodges of the Sioux are under Setting Sun,” continued the chief, with the haughty dignity of aking. ‘‘Squatting Bear and his little white friend have traveled long. Let them seek food and rest. The dancing square is not yet read for the sun-dance. For t days our people have fasted; to-morrow the dance begins, and after that the greatfeast. Squatting Bear may eat, for he is our brother b adoption.” ut p’r’aps the boy “Oh, ’m not hungry is,” said Tanglefoot, with a glance at Gopher Gid who saw nothing but the stately es of Sun. “ But, what I. want to know is - ag white men have been in these parts late- Squatting Bear will go to Climb-the Hill’s lodge, he will find two white scalps upon which the blood is still moist!” was the reply. Did her Gid start and fix his eyes more steadfastly upon the chief? . Did all color leave his face and a sigh well from his heart ‘for the fate of Rube Rattler and ere, ek Jack? ‘Killed ’em, eh?’ ejaculated Tanglefoot, with fiendish glee, ; “They will stay forever in the country of the ill had Sioux!” was the went ~ Climb-the- sworn that he wo e two scalps. before be danced the sun-dance which is to-morrow. We are all. here. Some of our brethren of the Arickarees are here, and two Teton Sioux came two sl o from the north, Let Squatting Bear look! He can see the pole and the buffalo- hide ropes.” Tanglefoot turned to Gid ‘Come, boy,” he said. ‘‘I’ve got a lodge hyar, an’ we'll satisfy the inner man. Tw-mor- row the fun begins.” The Indians at once perceived that the whisky sneeke was on the point of leaving, ard be- gan to make way. tting Sun stepped aside and said in an undertone: ; : ‘Tf the boy is Squatting Bear’s friend, why does he tie his legs to the mule?” These words which fell upon Gopher Gid’s ears sent a thrill through every fiber, and tha glance which the chief gave him made him for a moment wish to throw himself into the tawn arms, and find protection on the Sioux’s b i. But the next instant the crowd suddenly surg- ed Hs agree the animal which the boy bestrode, and he felt the pressure of fingers on his thigh. “So the old fellow caught you!” whispered a thrilling voice at thatimmortal moment. ‘' up your courage! we're all here—in the very jaws of death!” , Gopher Gid’s heart seemed to still its throb- bings; he turned and cast a hasty look at his side, but saw nothing save a sea of red faces whose owners were crowding back to get be- yond the heels of the mule. But he had not dreamed; the startling words — ee ee * + Sar pe A dle MA ae ii ath sy ¥
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a ee: ¥ -. t na : yolk 4 ion, hota tn wee ne ee a ee ee ee 5 : okie . 2 ¥ . 4 a 3 * 2 at oe : ria mn a es, had ‘actually fallen upon his ears, and he had ized the voice as—Midnight Jack’s. t did he mean by ‘‘ we are all here?”— did his words in any manner refer to his sister —to that girl whom the boy had such a curios- ity to meet? f ; “Clar the way! er the mules will elevate their heels an’ bu’st a head,” suddenly cried : Tanglefoot, and Gid found himself riding through the dusky crowd, while tho Indian drums and whistles were once more raising their ear-splitting din, , It was a thrilling moment for the boy. He could not resist the temptation to look back. But he could see no Indian face that resem- bled ths road-agent’s. ; “T might have been.mistaken!”’ he said to | himself. ; Mistaken? no! Gopher Gid. ax Look at that’ young Indian who is keeping ; pace with your mule. See how he eyes you, an glances madly at Timon Moss. That man is Midnight Jack! CHAPTER VII. A TUSSLE IN THE DARK. Tre torches flaring over the dancing grounds of the Sioux village revealed the motley crowds 2 surging to and fro in the grotesque ceremonies that precede the opening of the grand sun- dance. The wild music of the Indian drums still disturbed the ear, and ever and anon the . shrill yet musical notes of a bugle rose above } the din. The blower of this Instrument, -so strangely out of plage in an Indian camp, was a boyish fellow whose rotund appearance was indicative of lusty health; the pierceing blasts that he blew told the story of sound lungs, and os he flitted hither and thither over the square he attracted more than usual attention. His cheeks were always distended, for the bugle never left his mouth for a moment, and he blew as if his life hung upon the effort. A beautiful silver bugle 1, was that Mouse- | skin held to his lips; it had sounded the last } charge of Custer’s immortal squadron in the { valley of the Rosebud, and its present possessor ; tould tell how. the blue-coated bugler had clung " te his horn, even after death had stolen into his heart. Mouseskin-had won the horn; it was his; } and he blew it with that pride which made him obnoxious to more than one Indian in the town. Gopher Gid heard the blasts so lustily blown by the young Indian, but he paid no particular attention to them. A military bugle in a say- age camp was no mystery to him, and his hands w tight as he muttered: “There’s another thing that reminds me that I am among the butchers of Custer and his men, But there was another person to whom the ever-sounding bugle conveyed much that, was mysterious, e have said that the Sioux village contained about a thousand lodges. This is a fair esti- mate, They were arranged in a rude circle, and faced the mene whose four corners were marked by the lodges of the Paha chiefs, nd gages Tiger Tail, Setting Sun, and Hungry ol, . ' -$tending in one of these stoutly-built birchen habitations, with her face pressed against a crevice, through which came the light of the distané stars, and the hubbub without, was a young Indian ot gta ; , She was clad in half-civilized garments; her beautiful hair hung in wavy splendor down her back, and her feet, small and Cong tate in- cased in moccasins which had never been made for them—they fitted loosely, and in no graceful a - manner. ; It was to this creature that Mouseskin’s bugle sent strange emotions. ‘“ What can it mean?’ she asked herself, in a low voice, while the most piercing of all the blasts was sounding in her ears. ‘It sounds jike the bugles they have in the army; but I never heard that wild blast at father’s fort.” The words were spoken in good English which denoted gentle breeding, and a strange look : fifed the speaker’s i oe “Fiush, Weeping f!’ said a voice so near the girl, that she started back into the gloom of the nage with a light-ery of terror. ‘* Weeping Leaf?” she echoed; “I am not an Indian, They dyed my skin while I was raving mad; and, to CCmaRAEED make me like them, red and barbarous, they have named me Weep- ing Leaf. Do I regret that I have come to such a fate? No! I came to this courtry on a good ; mission—to find my brother cursed by a father on and driven from home to become a vagabond, age ¢hey say, somewhere between Omaha and the tes. at as ‘ae eae a i a ee ee ee EE aS Le | —_ coast. Father, retired on half pay, and proud of faithful service, is soon to go beyon the scene of bis one great grief. I told him that I weuld bring Jack back for forgiveness; but he | praise and, hiding his face in his hands, cried hat Jack was dead—filling a scoundrel’s grave somewhere in this lawless country. ‘* But I know better,” she continued, with trust- ful emphasis. ‘‘He is not dead. I am herea captive, not only painted and dressed like an Indian girl, but called by an outlandish savage name. They shall not always keep me thus; I will find that brother. I will pay the red fiends back for the attack they made on our wagon. They have warmed a viper in Dora Lightway— one whose aims are to find her banned brother, and to deal them blows of death. I did not know that that captor of mine was so near, and still I might have known that I would not be left unguarded, Ay; stars! look down and see that I am not an Indian, because my skin is red —look down and hear the yows of vengeance which well from my heart every minute of my captivity !” As she uttered the last word she moved to the crevice again, and turned her eyes upward to the brilliant orbs of the vasty sky. Louder and clearer than ever came the blast of the bugle. : It sounded so shrill that the girl started. The Indian boy was nearing the lodge; he was srobably making a tour of the village, frighten- ing the curs from their surreptitious feasts of stolen bones, and drawing curses from the in- firm and bedridden red-skins. ** Who blows that bugle?” the girl asked, curi- ously, trying to catch sight of the blower; but the next moment a dark figure rose between her and the stars, It was the burly body of the guard, and his action told the girl that he had purposely ob- structed her line of vision. The next bugle blast was broken by the voice of the Indian who stood against the lodge. "Dog! will you give your mouth no rest?” said the guard, angrily. Mouseskin stopped suddenly and, removing the bugle from his lips, looked fixedly at the savage who hed palcsesned ig ye Ps os ouses e deman with an authopiiative pomposity that smacked not a little of the ludicrous, He stepped forward as he spoke, his bugle in his left hand, a drawn dirk in his right. “His master speaks!” was the quick rejoin- der. ‘‘ Little dogs must not try to bark like the big 0 s. Ma they make up in many barks what they lack in noise,” “The horn is Mouseskin’s! He got it where the Yellow Hair fell with allhis warriors, Was Feel-th.-Sky there?” This last was uttered in a tone that roused the ire of the Indian guard. : a ie 'way, or Feel-the-Sky will kick the croak- ng frog! ouseskin’s eyes flashed at this, and Feel-the- Sky advanced to bestow the threatened kick, ll at once, like a panther preparing for a spring; the noisy Sionx boy dropped to the ound, and the next moment threw himself eavily upon the guard. Dora Lightway, the girl captive, heard the collision, and saw two figures writhing and struggling in the dim starlight. F eL-the-Sky went down before Mouseskin’s assault; he was completely thrown off his feet, and the combatants fell ooh against the coe. ea, various skins from the walls upon e girl. “This may prove a providential battle for me!” ejaculated the captive, with hope for a moment lighting up her eyes. ‘“‘I pray thee, Heaven, that thou mayest send me deliverance. Ah! me! how they struggle! The one seems but a boy; he can be no match for Feel-the-Sky, my captor!” Like two mastiffs contending for victory, the red-skins fought just without the birchen lodge. The advantage was with the boy whose sudden charge had taken his adversary at a disad- vantage, and he was exhibiting more agility than one of his physique might be supposed to OSSES8S, ‘“Ah! me, a groan! a blow! the knife of ene is at work!” Dora said, with a shudder for the sounds which assailed her enrs. Then a strange silence came into the lodge. The battle was over, but, who had won? Perhaps both the combatants lay dead? A half-hour of mental torture passed away, and Dora put her hand through the crevice; it touched the rude bar which secvred the door. Holding her breath, she: worked silently at this till it fell and then sho easily stepped out. 7 ta thrill of joy shot through the heart of Mitintt Jdack’s young sister. The stars were above her; the lodge of cap- tivity behind! It was a moment the emotions of which can- not be described. Near her lay the body of a man, and near to it another dark heap, but much smaller. ‘They have both fallen!” This is what Weeping Leaf said to herself. The sounds before her told her that safety lay in the route that stretched in the. opposite direction, “Heaven guide my feet!” she fervently cried. A shrill bugle blast at her very side almost lifted her from her feet. With a cry of horror she turned and saw Mouseskin on his knees, blowing with all his might. he sight decided the soldier’s daughter. “T am not free with that Indian here!” The next moment she sprung upon the boy ae the intention to do or die, and pushed him ack, At the same time she snatched the silver bugle from his lips, and struck him heavily with the singular weapon. ** Now I am free!” she said, and still clinging to the bugle-horn, she turned from the scene, and ran beyond the cordon of wigwams, The thought of escape lent new speed to her limbs, and she was just entering a line of cot- tonwoods that stood like stately sentinels in the starlight, when a figure rose from the ground in her very path. In an instant she saw the plumes of an In- dian warrior, and halted with the famous horn drawn menacingly back. But her right arm was caught before it could descend, and she saw a grotesque red face peer- ing into hers, ‘Go!” said a voice, and Dora was pushed on in no very gentle manner. But the next words sent a thrill through ev ery fiber of her frame, ‘Only a poor, sneakin’ Injun gal! I don’t . hev dealin’s with thet kind o’ truck. I’m hyar arter A white ‘un, an’ ’ll make the dogs open thar eyes afore to-morrer night. For I’m the Screamin’ Eagle of the Smoky Roost! a reg’lar sky-seraper!” ora stood still like a person rooted to the ground with amazement, She was afraid to breathe. The man near her might be a friend! wee CHAFTER VIII. READY FOR THE WORST. ‘“WHo ar’ ye look n’ at? Move yer boots, er the Screamin’ Eagle—no! the Red Jingo of the Little Big-Horn will accelerate yer pace!” Weeping Leaf, or -Dora, saw the figure step forward as these words smote her ear’, “He cannot be my friend,” she muttered. “To him let my skin be red and not white. He’s a white mah, despite his disguise—one of those renegades I have ofteh read about.” Again the girl fled, and left the strange being alone in the path which she had lately tra- versed. ‘‘T mustn’t let my tongue slip any more,” mused the man, thus left near the edge of the cottonwoods, ‘I must be a wolf jest like the rest of the pack. I’m the Red Jingo; the Screamin’ Eagle of the Smoky Roost is lost till I git out o’ this pickle. I war huntin’ red s, what a nice one I could hev picked up; but | ok to get the white ‘un, the sister of that young devil, Midnight Jack,’ “ And we will ge her!” ‘Holy Moses!” exclaimed the speaker, start- ing from the apparition Le against the nearest as well as one of the largest trees ‘*War I talkin’ aloud, Mid—no! Runnin’ Wa- cr? “Slightly!” was the reply, as the two In- dian-like figures came together and grasped hands. ‘“ You were talking about a girl—did she here?” ; ‘Yes; an-Injun crittur. Hev ye been to the tree?” e‘No! It stanas in a dangerous locality,” waz the low response. ‘‘ Many of the Indians a sham fast; they have'caches in the wood. Out yonder it is full of them, stealing out for amor+ sel. Deny an Indian’s stomach when food iy nigh, if you can. But the pistols are safe in the tree. Jt is not a cache; we will not need them to-morrow,” “Tf they should find ’em, thar’s no one in the camp who read.” ‘‘ Ah, but there is, Rube.” “Who?” ; “Old Tanglefoot!”
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B “« And the boy?” “ He would not betray us.” ‘No! be would not; but that bloated spider— that tanglefooted—” Ared hand fell admonishingly on the speak- . er’s arm. _. ‘*& Bbtle too loud, Rube,” said a low voice. “Too nuch English jn our tones. We'd better Midnight Jack. “T hey!” was the. interruption. ‘‘The red dogs run a knife through the thick muscles of the breast—right hyar—an’ put ina good wooden skewer. ‘To this they tie one of these ropes, an’ then they,dance about the pole, an’ fall back with their full weight. It’s terrible! Some- times the muscles give’way soon; but if they’re extra tough they hold out fivehours. It’s a the Sioux were a from the 1} uttering cries which confirmed Rube’s explanation of the first yell. Men, women, children and dogs howdy < PS {4
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y ~ thetr. been able to p “They're fools!” ‘““Whot Midnight an’ the Eagle?’ “Yes. But what rht ’em hyar?”’ “The same thing that brought me, I sus ro aoe pag face that ever left old Sully in a Con ” of ae white gal” ~ s “Yes; but come on. I'll tell the story as we walk. Im tired; jest got.in. I rode ‘all da without stopping. Am I on the right trail? Is the girl in the rin, od How eagerly Midnight Jack leaned forward to catch the answer that fell from the lips of the agnay Iman over whose head towered a crest te) Midnight Jack. ‘Every soul in an Indian town must be pres- eh a sun-dance—captives and all?’ said Mid- night. * *Thet’s the, rule,” was the Eagle’s answer. ** Tanglefoot will hev the boy out to-morrer, and onless—” “Unless what, Rube?’ “‘T don’t want to think of it.” - “Keep nothing back. You fear that Dor was the cause of Feel-the-Sky’s death—that there is a rivalry here for her.” “Thet’s. i idnight,” said’ Rube. ‘ We it ' don’t know who gave the Indian his death dig. Ef we did, we might see suthin’ what we can't feathers! But it was so incoherent that it | see, jest now. As it is, we’ve got to wait.” tormented him. . . d ‘*Am I never to find you, Dora?’ he said. ‘Does another man hunt you for your Lab ped | morrow, But there’s one-who won't trouble us.” | face? If so let him stand clear of Mi Jack.” That the dumpy man was Old Tanglefoot the road-agent was certain. His companion was straight and well-built, and was attired as many sg were, in acavalry jacket and blue panta- oons. The name Golden George was not unfamiliar to Midnight Jack. It told him that another foe had risen against him in the very heart of the Sioux ee He did not follow the twain; but saw them disappear. oe Pin afraid we'll have two men to shoot to- _ morrow!” he muttered, between clenched teeth. “ Well, let it come. Midnight Jack will wade through blood to bis sister.’ ‘Thinking of his companion, he resolved to re- turn to their lodge, and hastened from, the un- comfortable spot. : The Indians on every side were rapidly seek- ing their wigwas again,full of the scene which they had just witnessed. All at once Midnight Jack noticed a figure standing statue-like at the side of a lodge just ahead. The starlight fell full upon him, and the road-agent saw that his face was turned away. “* Now, Golden, T’ll turn the tables!” said Mid- night, and the next moment with the tread of the panther he had glided over the well-trodden ground to the person's side. The heavy “navy ” was clutched in the road- agent’s hand, and before the imperiled person was aware of his presence, the-muzzle of the pistol was thrust against the back of his head. _ “ There’s death at your brain, Golden George!” whispered Midnight Jack, as his left hand drop- ‘péd on the startled man’s shoulder and _pre- vented him from turning round. ‘One word -of warning and Pll burst your brain-pan. You area man of your word—so am I. § leave this Indian town immediately—nor to in- terfere with me here—or by the gold of Ophir! TI kill yon now where westand. No cringing! Swear! or tho bullet!” The man attacked never tured his head; but his eyes flashed hate and murder, and he said through clenched teeth: “Curse you, Midnight Jack, I swear.” ““ Now, go! Don’t stop to tell me that I’m in a tigint nace, . It’s the tightest, I was ever in, a nil get out, Keep your word, Golden rege. With the last word the revolver and hand ght _. ‘were withdrawn, and Golden George moved off without a reply. fin _“T wasn’t mistaken!” Midnight Jack mur-' mured, looking after the retreating figure. ‘‘ It’s na fu question of time. One of us will have to out for number one.” Then he added after a pause: 3 “The boy! I had almost forgotten him. I wonder if i understood my words? Tangle- foot intends toserve him like the wolf serves the weak fawn. When did that villain spare a cap- tive foe?’ . ~ “Yes, when, Midnight?’ - The rosd-agent turned. | | Swear to | dei | e other, someday. Now, Tanglefoot, look |. Rube Rattler stood before him, and the next | instant the two friends met again. CHAPTER X. . THE SUN-DANCE. ‘Tas fearless adventurers walked silently to and entered. ; : _ There, standing in the gloom, they talked in low whispers, ’ ‘Rube had made an important discovery. The dead Indian had been Dora’s captor; this he had learned by following the three young bucks “from the square, but beyond this he had not roceed far, Still, he was inclined to the opinion that the girl yet remained in the from their beds “Yes,” grated Midnight Jack; ‘‘we must, in all probability, go through the sun-dance to- | “Golden George?” ‘* Golden has departed.” “‘Left the camp entirely?” ‘“Yes. I know him; he keeps his word invio- late. We have but Tanglefoot to deal with.” ‘* He’s the only one.” ‘**And now I'd rather harbor the thought of facing twenty Sioux than him, to-morrow.” **T’'m not goin’ to cross the river till I come to | it,” with a smile which his companion could not | see, A minute later the two friends had fallen back upon their scanty pallets, and soon nothing | but the regular breathings of the sleepers was heard in the gloom, : They did not see the burly figure that craw]- ed from the rear of their lodge, and some dis- tance away rose erect like a man. It walked hurriedly through one of the nar- row Indian streets and entered a commodious lodge which bore a resemblance to the tepees of the chiefs, “‘ Boy?” said the man in a low tone, ‘-Go- pher, ar’ ye still with me?” : / ‘* Yes,” came a boyish voice from the darkest | corner of the tepee. ‘es Good !? ‘“What was the commotion about? Won't you tell me?” “Two Injuns fell afoul o’ each other—that was all; and one got a knife in his heart,” laugh- | ed the burly man. ‘ You will see more than a sun-dance to-morrow, boy.” ieee If Tanglefoot could have seen.the expression that came to the little trapper’s face as he utter- | ed the last sentence, his snaky eyes would have shone with unwonted light. ‘More than the sun-dance?” muttered the boy. ‘‘Whatcanhe mean?” | As Tanglefoot parted the buffalo-skin cur- tains to let fresh air into the close tepee, without ning to explain his dark sentence, Gopher Gid resolved that he would not humor him by seeking an explanation when the new day was so near, turned over, and went to sleep, “More than the sun-dance—yes, a devilish sight more!” said Tanglefoot, with inward glee that seemed to do good, ‘Ill treat the m uns to a sight afore another sun-down that'll em with joy, an’ make up fur the loss of my cargo. e first flush of dawn that stole up the val- ley of the Cheyenne found Red Cloud’s village astir. : The gaunt and hungry natives—for their | ‘three-days’ fasting had rendered them Jean and | lee eee Ang Sig from their tepees, or rose | the open air, and at once | began to exercise their vocal powers to the dis- | comfort of many ears. ; ‘ The inveterate drums were brought forth to swell the bedlamic din; but the little Sioux’s | truntpet no longer joined in the tumult, Mouseskin, not to be outdone by his people, made an early pppeerahne, but without fis ao | gle. He looked ill at ease—his scanty habili- | ments still bore traces of that combat which had cost one Sioux warrior his life; and the peor > observer would have noticed that the we nin had tried to remove the evidences of that affair. ; Happily for Mouseskin he was not suspected, and, Phecringd by the loss of the trumpet, he | moved here and there almost unnoticed. As Setting Sun had promised, the mystery | surrounding Feel-the-Sky’s death was first | taken up; but the red detectives found them- | selves at fault from the first, and soon gave over | the hunt. - ones : “TY kin put my hands 2n the killer,” said -Tan- | glefoot to himself, ‘‘an’ before night I’m goin’ to unmask ’im out thar on thesquar’. Midnight, yer end hez come, and you'll] never knock in an- other whisky-keg, my gentle Screamin’ Eagle!” | O Seclthe shee takactics “Gontaves aio. | fro ’s last fight did not render Setting Sum anx- | eae Sat’ ©; ' ious to discover his murderer, and by noon the terrible sun-dance opened. The entire population of Red Cloud’s town thronged about the square, in the center of which the ~ of torture stood, Midnight Jack and Rube stood shoulder to shoulder not far from the spot where Tangle- foot and Gopher Gid, seated on Indian ponies, watched the scene, The twain saw that the poy? feet were bound together under the belly of the little beast which he bestrode, and they noticed, too, that the ani- mal’s head was entirely bridleless. ‘* He’s fixed Gopher to stay with him!” whis- pered ng a. when an opportunity offered it- self. ‘The little chap takes it coolly, just as if he sat in the middle of a United States regi~ ment. He’s getting interested in the proceed- ings. He has forgotten we are all here.” “hen the ker’s eyes wandered through the savage crowds that were visible on every side. But the only white face that greeted him was Gopher Gid’s, Old Tanglefoot, the gin-smug- gler, was arrayed in full Indian dress, one side of is face painted blue and striped with white, the other colored striped with black. This discoloring rendered his face perfectly hideous, and his expression was not softened by yellow an -his ever-restless eyes. Timon Moss had earned the insignia of savage rank that he wore—won it in that bloody bat- tle on the Rosebud, where the best and bravest of our little regular army fell. The ceremony of the sun-dance opened at that moment when the god of day reached the meri- The heat was almost unbearable; the scorching beams came down upon the naked backs of the Indians with terrible force, and there was no shady shelter at hand: At a given signal six young bucks sprung into the open space and seized the ropes that dangled. from the top of the pole. Gopher Gid noticed that blood was streaming in profusion from knife-cuts on their backs and breasts, Several were accompanied by friends or assistants, wh« assisted in passing the thongs into the gashes under the tough sinews, and out again, where they were knotted to the main ropes, so that they would not slip out. ¥ » Then theself-torturers were left to themselves, | and the dance began to the uproar of the Indian _ drums and whistles, and the yells of the excited spectators. Ever and anon the young braves: would throw themselves back from the Bs as if they sought to tear the hardened sinews out, and these displays of endurance were re- ceived with cries of delight from every side, For several hours this disgusting ceremony vd. Gopher Gid took notice of every- hing that around him; he watched the show of endurancein the ring until he turned his face away with a shudder. At last a cry announced ‘that one of the actors had broken through the flesh and fallen to the ground; ther he lay like one dead the sun, Another fainted from sheer exhaus- tion, and was released amid the plaudits of bis ‘friends, but the remaining four promised to eclipse Pept yt ice, *Thar’s my chance!” ejaculated Rube Rat- tler as one rg self-torturers was borne from the scene of his terrible ordeal. ‘‘ We've got to do suthin’ to keep our reputation up. The do; hev been eyein’ us fur hours, sayin’, ‘ Why « you fellarsshow yer grit? Keep an eye on Ta: lefoot. Ef they'll let us alone, Vl beat -the-Face’s time all holler!” hs So Before Midnight Jack could restrain his com- nion he was modding toward the pole, in his pant a bloody knife which, with Pe y fond terfeited Indian yell, he had drawn from ; neath the old cavalry jacket that loosely fitted his lank hae a Wild applause greeted Rube when he was recog” by the Indians as one of the.visit~ ing Teton Sioux, and in the presence of all he thrust one of the bloody wooden skewers be- neath the garment and made it fast there. Hig revived the fainting four hanging half ead from their torture ropes, and he f cally threw bimself back as if in proud conscicus- ness of his stréng sinews. ee Old Tanglefcot’s eyes flashed when he recog- nized the new man atthe sun-dance, == “Is the keg-breaker crazy?” he murmured. | ‘Why, he needn’t make a-shewin’ of his grit, Bless my blossoms! if he’d do thet if he knowed thet Timon Moss was so near!” be Rpoyeed - On, on went that mad sun-danee, siia'tha a ve rept wést d as if reluctantly. the Eeptiaue te tees irrsganrsebialieF under the broiling heat of . ariti~ m the c ; took thelr Places, but the Red Jingo stillheld out. es ; See EN
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——— > a a Roe eR eel A ge ene 9 LS A TE LES i ST _ 1 7 | Midnight Jack. ‘ He entered upon his fifth hour amid the yells ‘of the whole assemblage. Rakes _ Midnight Jack looked on in utter amazement. oe the man mad? Had he fainted? or, was he ead? ‘My pistols! I must have hidden them. in a dian cache!” : Setting Sun and the other head chiefs uttered exclamations of wonder, as they advanced up- on the Indian who had halted near Tanglefoot. The crowd, at once thrown~-into a state of great excitement, began to surge forward; but the voice of Tiger Tail drove them back. “Where did Mouseskin find silver pistols?” ‘demanded Setting Sun, as he jerked the orna- mented weapons from the young Indian’s hands. ‘In the hollow of the tree where the chip- munk hides,” was the response; but Mouseskin’s sleek countenance told to more than one looker- on that he had sought something more ‘substan- tial than a chipmunk’s quarters in-the hollow tree, The four chiefs instantly came together, and Midnight Jack saw his pistols passed around to elicit expressions of praise from the red lips, for they were silver-mounted and polished to a high degree. ‘A name in the white man’s talk!” suddenly cried Setting Sun, pointing to the inscription “MIDNIGHT JACK,” which was graven on the barrel of each. “When did the white man hide his pretty pistols in the hollow tree? Ah! our white brother ean tell us his name.” He turned to Tanglefoot as he spoke, and aoe the demon gleam of the villain’s eye- alls. volvers, and he leaned forward to take one, with a cry of triumph forming on his lips. ‘Pll tell you whose they ar’,” he said, as he took the weapon from Setting Sun’s hand, and straightened in the saddle. » ‘s Well do I knew these shootin’ irons!” and he held the weapon over his head; but his quick glance’sought out the man who stood near qui- oily as it seemed, waiting for his doom. holdin’ out!” ejaculated Old Se! onciieg in a e **Then go an’ look right into his face,” was the unexpected reply. Not an Indian ’ll tech ‘you, fur ye’re under Squattin’ B’ar’s pertec- tion. Thar! I’ve cut the foot-cords. Go an’ Jook at the skunk!” Gopher Gid felt a thrill of joy shoot through his heart as the cords about his feet were severed, “and he lightly sprung to the ground. ; ‘* White Fish is goin’ to look at the braves!” cried Tanglefoot, and a voice of approval replied ¢ trom the chief’s lips. , , '. Gopher Gid did not hesitate, but crossed the ‘space and halted beside the Red Jingo, whose body, thrown back, was trying the strength of the buffalo-cords. ‘Tanglefoot talked as if I would know the Indian,” said the boy curiously to himself. “Why, he looks like all Indians to me.” He was looking down into the red face upturn- ed tothe sun. The eyes were closed, the lips ]l fire the fuse now!” he murmured. ‘“T’ll dry and parchéd, the heels planted firmly on | do it kind o’ theater-like, too.” the ground. ; Then he rose erect in the stirrups, and his All at once the eyes opened, the lips unclosed, right hand was suddenly extended till the dyed fell upon G pher’s ears: finger pointed straight at the form of Midnight. “Thar stan’s afore us the man who hid the ~ and these low wor 8) ‘‘ Keep a stiff upper lip, boy! I’m the Scream- in’ Eagle of Smoky Roost—the Thunderbolt of | pistols!” he cried. ‘‘ He could not pull the wool ; ‘the Dark-édged Cloud—a reg’lar sky-scrapep!” | over bey air aed eyes. Come out an’ face the _. With a ery of astonishment Gopher Gid start- | music! An thar hangs the other, playin’ Injun, ed back, an’ foolin’ ye all!” ' A viper springing suddenly into his path Tanglefoot’s arm had described a crescent would not have startled him more, and he turn- | and the finger was now pointing at the Red . ed a white face upon his captor. | : - | Jingo, hanging apparently lifeless from the tor- **Hfe knows ’im!” ejaculated Timon Moss. | ture cord. ‘““ What! don’t you b’lieve me?” he flashed, turning upon the dazed chiefs. ‘‘Look over thar! Hevn’t some of you see’d that painted fellow afore? Thar! that’s right! Step out.an’ chin the music!” ; Midnight Jack had advanced a pace from his position. «*'The time fur the fun to bay is hyar. Now Th explode a bomb-shell in this durned Injun cam . ‘Aa ths last word from the white Indian’s lips, he urged his pony into the square, while he kept his devilish eyes fastened upon Midnight Jac } - “The time has come!” said the road-agent through clenched teeth, but he did not alter his ; position. : ‘ -who noticed it had ever seen before. - ¥es, the moment of death had arrived! “T am here!” he cried, in the Sioux tongue, : — “and yt are there !” <a CHAPTER XI. The road-agent’s right hand shot upward as eseiptags Flys. _ sHoT! 4 ' | he spoke the last sentence, and the final word - Mipmonrt Jack without apparently noticing | was drowned by the loud report of his revolvert ; wate enemy, drew his revolver. — The crack was followed Ri loud ery; the = At that exciting moment, perhaps, he wished | uplifted silver-mounted pistol fell over the pony’s for the beautiful and trusty weapons which he ‘had hidden in the hollow tree just beyond the - eonfines of the village; but he secretly resolved |. one in his right hand should not fail b the right moment, betraying that amazement which had Rube ss i. Gopher ‘ e. 3 Rube hung beavily on ‘the buffalo-cord, the iz hob sunbeams. pelting him in the face. His eyes St _ seemed ent ang through the long lashes he saw . ithe startled boy, andwatched the terrible drama " A er bout to begin in the square, — en 7im, gi chackled Tanglefoot, lane- ing at Gopher Gid.. “ , as ye’ve see’d the egy 4 afore. 1 let the hull Sioux head, and Old Tanglefoot, with a headlong pitch, went to the ground. Rube Rattler straightened he had witnessed the entire A - “Stand back!” said the -agent, calmly, wheeling upon the yelling red-skins, now surg- ‘ing forward. ‘‘ What is that white-livered dog that he should live a chief among the Sioux with his ha with our brother’s in an instant, for , ands reddened blood? Let him be thrown to the buzzards that watch in the sky for the carrion. Wiil bre- thren listen; or must Running Water, to defend the deed, which by Indian law, he has _righte- ously done, shoot them down, and then die him- self, knife in hand, upon them?” The road-agent’s words, uttered in good Sioux, had _a startling effect. They gs the excited crowds; the wild cries for blogd grew still; and Setting Sun ad- vanced toward the daring man. __ | “Go on!” cried the chief, ‘‘ We will listen to our Teton brother.” “T have but little to say,” was the response, the speaker’s eyes dancing with delight at the pou he had gained, ‘ epee hap ear came to our lodges long ago. He brought a cargo of fire-water among us. He lived with us till he pos oe one of our women; but we would not | call him chief. In the land of the Teton Sioux he began to steal; he treated his Indian wife badly, and one night he slew her in the little his nearest compan- | wigwam; not only that, but he slew a brother. ut's lipsas the savage | The red wife was Running Water's aster. Ho “swore revenge; he has ee LS P a SE ST SERFS a BES OS a EL EE I LTS PTTL From the first he had recognized the re- | - There was now a flash in his eyes, which few | night and day—he and his brother, the Red Jingo. They haye found him, and the fire- water chief lies dead before them. Itis the law of the red-man, that the nearest of kin must avenge. We have done that; in the camp of the southern Sioux we have ve Lasso our sister's os What say Setting Sun and the chiefs? as Running Water broken the laws that our fathers made long ago?” qe3 ‘* By the jumpin’ jingo! whata ch!” ejacv lated the Red Jingo, as Midnight Jack finished, and with folded arms, after the Indian fashion, waited for a reply. He was the observed of all observers; the central figure of the startling drama—a man rat to any eey F e stood erect in the hour of his victory, knowing that the lips which had almost de. nounced him to death were speechless. Beyond a slight murmur of rough applause that had greeted his speech, no sound followed it “Go on!” he cried to the four chiefs, who were looking undecided into each other’s eyes. Setting Sun glanced at Tanglefoot, who had not moved a muscle sinee his unceremonious de- scent from the saddle. “T say the same!” suddenly broke in a harsh. voice, and Rube Rattler sprung back from the cord which he threw away. ~ ‘‘ We have tracked the white dog down, an’ Runnin’ Water has | carried out the law of our people.” And to Gopher Gid, near whom his spring | ri landed him, he said, in a startling under- one: ‘We've got the winnin’ kerds, boy. I’m still . the Screamin’ Eagle of Smok Roost.” ‘The law of the Indians has not been brok- en!” said ioe Sun, at jast. ‘“Squattin Bear is not red. Red Cloud made him a chief; he got not his feathers on the war-path; he nev- er hung in the sun-dance; his blood is not Sioux blood; it is thinner than the blood of our people. What say our a Has our Teton brother broken the law?” An imperious wave of the hand accompanied the Indian’s question, and the wild yell that an- swered it told Midnight Jack that his terrible dernier resort was approved. He walked forw and unflinchingly took the extended hands of the ehiefs, and saw Go- pher (id staring at him with distended eyes. .““Shall the white dog lie on Sioux ground?” | said one of the older chiefs, bestowing a look of disgust upon Tanglefoot’s body. “No!” thundered Setting Sun. ‘‘ Let bim be carried up among the trees, that the flesh-eaters of the sky shall’not come to earth to deyour him. To the trees with him! Where are our people?” yen pat A few moments sufficed for some Indians to place Tanglefoot upon his pony, and, with a leam of oy, in his eyes, Gopher Gid saw him eaway?” | f The sun went down. . Its last rays saw the opening of the feast that follows the sun-dance: it saw Midnight Jack nae through the village, hunting for his sis- Y ra, / 7. Suddenly a hand was laid on his arm, and he beheld Mouseskin standing at his side. ‘ “Squatting Bear had friends; they are whis- © poring together. They say that the skin of our eton brethren is white, but they lie. They are mad; they swear to avenge the death of the white Sioux.’ ; ‘Not out of the fire yet!” muttered: the road- agent, and then he drew the boy aside. , “You are our brother?” : , _ Squatting ‘Yes; the babe rhe Indians lie. ouseskin,” aaa all the lodges, Mouseskin?” Bear once kicked “Where is the white * a that Feel-the-Sky brought to the wigwam The Sioux boy started at the mention of hig victim’s name, and glance around suspiciously. Then he came up to Midnight Jack with a look of trust in his eyes. fe oie Be “Will oe, ater keep the words that Mouseskin gives ?” asked the boy. ene Water will keep them,” was the reply. r en from the lips of the Sioux fell the story ‘of his fight with Feel-the-Sky; his discomfiture by. Dore followed, jee e jes Midnight listened without a word until tho | boy finished. ee “But the captive?” | SSeAe sci al “She it was who struck Mouseskin and took Been Ns sagen Reet ae The rond-egent started bale _ ould tho boy have spoken truly? Was his _
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PU ae * Indian dozs, his face could not conceal this fact. series of for the time being, she ‘young sister alone in the woods of Sioux-land, and Hable to fall into the hands of Golden ‘George? The thought roused Midnight Jack. ** Where is my. brother?’ “Down at the dog-feast.” ‘* And the white boy?” Before Mouseskin could reply there came from ‘the cottonwood forest the barking of myriads of ‘What means that, Mouseskin?” cried the roid-agent, grasping the red boy’s arm. “Tho white boy!” exclaimed the little Sioux. they have tied him to a tree, and sect the hungry dogs upon him.” be. road-agent could not repress a cry of ‘horror; if it did not. betray him to Mouseskin, it made the boy fix a strange stare upon his “painted face, And when he thought of the hundreds of gaunt wolfish dogs which he had seen since his entrance into the Indian village, and pictured in his imagination the awful peril that environ- ‘ed Gopher Gid, he darted suddenly away leav- ing Mouseskin bewildered in his tracks. - CHAPTER XII.. CUSTER’S BUGLE. “Ty I could steal back and get the drop on you, Midnight Jack! No! that would not be fair after my word. He forced it from me— ‘curse my stupid ears that would not hear his step! A man would give any promise that was wanted when a revolver was pressed against the hase of his brain. I'll keep my word, Mid- night, though, squarely, I am not bound by it; Tlf not molest you in the Indian camp. Do you know that Tanglefoot ha’ penetrated your dis- guise?—that you walk over a volcano? But, you'll get out, all right; the devil who guards ‘you will bring you through safely; he will reserve you for me—yes, for Golden George, Midnight. It’s only a question of time; we’ro bound to meet; my errand to this part of In- dian-land makes that meeting one of the cer- tainties of the future. Beyond that red town no promise binés Golden George. He is tho tiger unchained! he will possess that pretty face that left #ort Sully in a wagon not long ago—that girl who is hunting for the brother driven from home by a father’s curse! Mine! mine! my pretty bird; you shall be mine! The hand of Midnight Jack shall not keep you fron George Antill’s arms. Tho nabobs of _Dead- wood shall soon admire the child wife of Golden George, the Tiger of the West.”. ' Thus spoke the individual whom the road- agent drove from Red Clouc’s village in the summary manner which we havo already de- scribed. . ~ _ He stood on a hill whose summit overlooked _the wigwams appearing ghostly in the star- light. He was a handsome man; the opine ou fis igure, tall and graceful, was admirably pores ; his dark hair, now devoid of the oil which had help- ed tomake him a dandy in Deadwood, almost touched his shoulders, and the words as they fell from his lips possessed a soft intonation that proved that Golden George could play the lover when occasion required. He was widely known. mbled in the officers’ quarters; ip the CARES of the Nation’s wards he had icipated in many a wild orgy; a smiling fellow but a dead shot; a tiger when aroused. No one had ever eaught this free rover in a lie; he spurned a - falsehood} he made love as Golden Geor e, ond in the same character he went to the Pacifie coast and fought tiger openly in the gilded dens of Fy’isco. is Dora Lightway serped at Fort Sully on her way West. Her beauty had attracted the Ti- ger’s attention; but as he’ was engaged in a mes which bound him to the cloth . ed from his sight. But he was not long in following the venicle that bore her away. Ho ame up with it in the _ spot where we saw it last, still ladened with the ¢hastliest cargo that ever filled a Conestoga. . Tle saw the oath of vengeance which Midnight | + Jack oe agin bi vis of ee phe ond =, ies the +k trail to the spot o e secon tattle, and from that to the Sh expected to find the beautiful ; wt a! there. aud did not dream of meeting oux village. He . object of his ight Jack. with our story. , Be For a Jong “Ties he stood on the hill with the red-skins’ village nestling at his fect. ‘Tue fires. in the square were burning low, the dogs--those At Fort Sully he had | ne _ So much for Golden George's past connection . o Midnight Jack. gaunt canines that infest the Indian camps— were still prowling around, but quietly. “Have I missed her?” he thought. “Did I ride to this place to meet—Midnight Jack and not the little sylph? Tanglefoot says he knows of no captive in thevillage; and if she were here would he not know it? Must I go back and be- gin that trail anew? It would take mo from that old foe of mine, and it is written that we must meet and fight to the death. Why dela thattime? Why uot go back—down into the vil- lace and call him out? My word—ay, that’s it. | Golden Geonge keeps that!” “The red boys have taken him into the woods; | A moment later the hillock was deserted. *T will not go away! To-morrow is the sun- dance. Tanglefoot will tear Midnight’s mask off. I will wait for that event; then I will go back:” Not far from the hill the speaker came sud- denly upon a lithe-limbed horse, secured by a leathern tether to a young cottonwood. The cord permitted the steed to pick at the sparse herbage that grew about the roots of the tree, and a light whinny greeted the Sport. ‘““T came back soon, eh?” ejaculated Golden, pattihg the symmetrical neck of the black horse. ‘Left the village rather unexpectedly; was politely invited out, and accepted the invitation with alacrity, It was one of those pistol invita- tions, old chum, that you’ve seen. me give the boys. Ha! ha! ha!” ‘rom-among the low-hanging limbs of the cottonwood the Sport drew a light saddle, which’ he speedily adjusted to the horse’s back, and sprung into the leathern seat, _ . ‘*T don’t like this Indian guise!” he said, vexa- tiously, “I’m not at home in it, and then, Golden George is not obliged to wear it in Sioux- land, any way.” : _As be rode from the spot where he had found his horse, he threw off thé rough cavalry jacket which fitted his body, and drew a soft hat from his bosom; then a little water from the canteen that was hidden by one of the skirts of the sad- die removed the coloring’ from face and hands and as he passed the belt of timber and emer, upon a little open country, lit up by the rising moon, he was Golden George, the Sport, not the mock Indian of the Sioux town. a: OA) “The ret is still up in Powder Valley,” he said to himself. ‘‘Vll_ go down there. 'To-mor- ad night T'll come back and strike the right rai}. ; He now gave his horse the spurs, which he had clapped to his heels, and the animal cantered lizLtly away. Gently the village was left behind, and the queen of the skies saw the handsome Sport of Deadwood galloping ecross the 1 vely country which lay bewitching in hill, dale, and silvery stream beneath her gorgeous throne. ‘* Hist!” stopped suddenly and threw his 8 arpa oP bag % ie ‘*A horn, by my life!” ejaculated the Sport, @ look of surprise in his eyes. ‘It sounds like a military bugle; but there are no troops in these parts, I’m near no government station. They have wild stories about Deadwood, that the ghost of Custer’s bugler haunts this Indian land; but that’s all bosh-—old women’s twaddle. A horn it is~no! a trumpet—there it goes again. peed or not, that trumpet belongs to some regi- ment, ed te : _ Across the little valley that seemed to termi- nate abruptly in darkness, came the distinct niusig,of the bugle. . ~ The horse heard it and turned his head upon his master, as if to ask for a solution of the mystery. ; So it puzzles you, eh?” smiled the Sport, no- ticing his steed’s action, ‘‘ Don’t you think it’s 7 the bugler’s ghost sounding that last charge of the old Seventh Cavalry” Once more the notes came across the moon- lighted valley. : ‘It is beyond the timber; at the river, A company of cavalry, after all, perhaps; but from whose command?” already obeying the pressure of the spurs, when Golden suddenly drew rein. Another moment and he was on the ground holding in his hands a beautifulsilver bugle up- on whose shining surface could be seen the in- seription ‘Seventh Cavalry, U. 8 A.” The mystified look in the Sport’s eyes was complete; und he at that moment would have formed an ° big age study for the painter. . or many moments he could not speak; he | turned the little trumpet over and overin bis hands, read the legend a hundred times, andat last put it to his lips. “Pll blow a blast!” he thought. will bring the ghost back.” Then a musical call, weird but beautiful came from the mouth of the historic bugle, and Golden George listened with a smile at the echoes that came back from the wood. But another sound accompanied them: ib made the Sport snatch the bugle from his own lips and turn about. “What was that, horse?” he cried. ‘‘ Noecho, on my life. You heard it; ay, and so didI!” “Here!” came a voice from a spot not far away. ‘‘ You are white and to me you must be a friend. Heaven must have directed you to the trumpet. My weak hands could hold it no longer.” ; Golden George was advancing -with rapid strides upon the as yet unseen speaker, and al- most suddenly he came upon a girlish figure. . ‘*T am a friend to the helpless!” he said. “What? a girl! by my life! Heaven must havu guided me hither.” The next moment they met, and Golden George tock the outstretched hands of the sud- denly discovered one. } ‘* Ah! your face is white!” cried the girl, with joy, as he bore her toward his horse waiting for hits in the moonlight. “I blew with the faint hope that a friend would hear, and you came, Oh, many thanks for this deliverance! 1 am not to go back to the Indian lodges! I have a rotector now, No! Iam not an Indian gil, hey dyed my skii; they—" \ *T sée you are not Indian,” interrupted the Sport. ‘Your face shall not be turnea towara the. ams oy re ie : ene as He felt the lithe figure creep nearer to his heart; he saw implicit confidence in tho swim. ming eyes upturned to him.. He ey ““T know you!” he continued, looking down upon her, ‘ You are the little lady who stole the hearts of the young blue-couts at Fort Sully afew daysago.” _ . Py See A blush chased some of the pallor from the fair girl’s cheeks,. and her lustrous eyes fell, ‘‘T was there!” she said, ‘ Oh} the terrible “Maybe it scenes through which I have dsince!, But did I meet you at the station? I met so many kind a ed there that Iforget—” ; “We did not meet, but I saw yeu,” was the reply. ‘My name is Antill—George Antill—at — ‘your service,” “Mr, Antill—” <% “Pardon me!” he continued. you all, They call me Guiden the Missouri—I mean west of the river,” - “What!” cried the girl, starting up an ing ne he aren. ge ant ; rt, ¥ en George, the ge t wickeslent man in the Far West? The, <fficers’ wives told me to look out for you. reiful Father! did I leave the Indians to fall into your hands?” ADF dee eer 0 heey a mee ’ * So it seems, my little girl,” was the re . “* The ladies of Fort Sully don’t like me, and I don’t care that! for any woman in the wide world but Dora Lightway, That’s your BAEDS, Dee) | — star- I believe!” Si SS dae A ery of despair welled from Dora’s heart, - emia of the Sport’s fingers and his words sounded ike the knell of doom in her ears, With a powerful effort she started back, but Guides beers poaneet upon her | re hing tke and the next moment his eyes were flashing like a triumphant demon’s aboveher, = CHAPTER XML GOPHER GID ANDTHE DOGS, 11 “~~ ey George, beyond PN. a3: ; * . ie eA on & rae) "2 . wt
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° ———e o Vie SS ne A oe eee ae aoe ek 2 " ’ . ? .< + " { M4 Mg that for | | eee: oe eee -————— eC SE SE , ad : SP ER BELOIT S INT CT eee stein. one i, t Ree ee Midnight Jack. — “They're ‘mournin’ fur their roasted bro-| ing, all the time making night hideous with thers!” “Not for them,” said Midnight. “The In- | dian boys are setting them upon the boy!” “Gopher?” “* Gopher Gid!” _ © “T told ’im to go to the lodge and trust in tis,” said Rube, surprised. ‘‘ The Injun boys, you say } ** Hye: + one is a little devil.” / “There's ony one good one in this cursed camp, <7xl ’y just left him,” was the response. and th- speaker resumed before the puzzled bordere: cou... uttera word, ‘I don’t intend to leav'. ai +9 die thus, Rube. Go back, dis- arm suspivioy get the horses; you know ‘the corral; you snow where to lead them. Let no ass grow under you feet. We have much to do: we are still in the mouth of this human ! : ‘* An’ the jaws ar’ likely to close on us, too!” muttered the Eagle as he hurried from his partner, Night had closed about tle Sioux: camp, The inhabitants were greedily breaking their three days’ fast by savage attavx: si roasted dogs throughout the village. “ney seemed to care for nothing but the appea "ne of ravenous a But here and there some discussed the great events of the day—the tragic termination of the *sun-dance, and not a few mourned the loss of the man who had tickled their palates with copious draughts of whisky. Old Tanglefoot’s body had been borne from the village into the midst of the dense cotton- wood forest, There red arms had hoisted it far up.among the branches of a tree, and made it fast with buffalo-cords, The evening breezes had fanned that painted face, and the long, golden rays of the summer sun fell athwart i strange coloring. : Had the gin-smuggler found a coffin and a grave above terra firma? Ay, in the tree-top winds would rock him gently while he slept that long sleep of death, snd his last cargo of fire-water had been haulc 1 over the Deadwood ! a trail! ‘2 , But, let us to another scene, Gopher Gid, bewildered by the sudden ter- mination of the sun-dance, found himself com- Tene Rane ey en aay u idn ack, now known to the boy. es Pe Back io er lodge, boy!” said a voice A his ear. “Don't try to git away of your own ac- cord. We'll be arter ye to-night. Lie still an’ keop a stiff upper lip, We've got the trump kerticn lone hand, as it war!” ‘ Gopher did not jook into the speaker's face; he recognized the voice of Rube Rattler; a saying, ‘‘I will trust you,” he giaed tig and opt into the lodge which he had lately left as Tiron Moss’s prisoner, “This luck will not last forever!” he ejacu- lated. ‘‘I could esca could reach the cotton- woods and find the river, I could go back to the home in the hill. But I will not desert “them. Braver men never entered an Indian - samp—a luckier shot than Midnight’s was never ‘made, A tree for acoffin, Timon Moss! Ah! no more whisky-smuggling over this border. You said T’d never see my hole in the ground gain, \ Falso prophot! not one of my traps will eve B rst your vile fingers! Where is Mid- ~night’s sister? Ab! there is the puzzle! Is she oe Fane I peer a oe who ae a io A ah fe ceased, for the suuject grew deeper as he talked, and ho reaisWed. $0 bide the “ ‘mised coming of his twofriends, ~~ The sun went down; the darkness came and at last a slight noise drew Gupher to the cur- “ Déooived ” ho seid. “I thought [heard a er A dog, perbaps—” : At that momeut a dark figure sprung into the _ lodge and the little trapper went down before it. “o felt the naked arm of an Indian about hin. and the next moment the wigwam was _ fled with an unseen, jabbering crowd, Resistance was in yain; the boy was over- powered and almost before he could recover his scattered thoughts, he found himself being drag- ed unceremoniously through the street. The figures of his captors, as he saw them in the starlight, were : There were sixty or more, and their savage : knew no bounds. be Rut Gopher Gid saw more than that during journey. For each bo. ed at least two dogs. There were canines of all or yee sizes and conditions: the mangy cur, : rtd bull pated cs ieaping ey re- ome ry “of ‘wolves, | aa eee t ns ‘snarling, ! ‘tion to Gopher Gid. excitement of the temporary victory. “ se of boys of his own nee. | ry, there seem- | ig over one actually bit- | again by their yelps. The red boys tried to quiet the brutes, but in vain; their words and blows served to increase the tumult, and in this man- ner, surrounded by the noisy pack, Gopher Gid was hurried toward a fate which Indian in- On, on went the Indian boys with their hel less victim. Two of the stoutest—real little athletes—griped the young trapper’s arms, and genuity had devised. at a rapid pace he was jerked over logs and rattled across the open space, until, at last, the torturing band came to a halt. he middie of the cottonwood forest had been reached; and as the boy trapper was thrown to the ground, ex- hausted and with arms seemingly wrenched from their sockets, the dogs rushed upon him with yells of glee, But the red boys made an attack upon the animais and clubbed them back with- out mercy, so that Gopher Gid made % mira- culous escape from their teeth. In the midst of the boy’s conjectures as to the fate in store for him, he was jerked to his fect and lashed to the tree under whose wide- spreading branches he had been released, It took one-half of the Indian boys to keep the dogs back. The curs continually darted at his legs, and in their frantic efforts to reach them so excited the larger animals that the stout clubs of the urchins were constantly employed in belaboring them. : ‘‘ What if they should actually set the brutes upon me!” thought Gopher Gid. ‘I woull be torn to pieces in the twinkling of an eye, and Rube and Midnight still in the village uncon- scious of my danger. Oh! you scarlet imps! give me but a revolver, and the trail that I may ave to travel to-night will not be a lonely one, By the gold of Ophir! as Midnight says, I'd have company!” The tyin process did not last long. Gopher secured his legs to the stately cottonwood. “Are they going to give me a chance?” pee ed through his mind, ‘“‘ A good club would not come quien: and I’d agree to furnish meat for the next ig arg pl ' And the boy laughed flashed with delight as a stout, was thrust forward. “ Boy fight the dogs!” said the leader of the boys in tolerable English. ‘‘ If he kill ’°em ndians let ’im go; mebbe. White boy af to meet ’em?’ Wig “Afraid? No, you scarlet imps of Tophet!” was the response as Gopher’s hands closed about the cudgel, “If you want to try the muscle of Gopher Gid just whip your hounds off and come es. A series of fiendish laughs greeted this out- burst of defiance; but it was oi to be taken up. The crowd drew back and _ the boy saw that the largest dogs were now held in leash with buffalo-cords, a reserve, probably, for the cli- maxofthetorture. , Torches now began to light up the cotton- wood glade, and more fully revealed his situa- : He had been carried from the village without the ‘connivance of a single adult Sioux; but he did not know this. The In- dian boys had carried out the plot they had formed, and Mouseskin’s startling declaration to Midnight Jack was sterner in reality than even the road agent could imagine. A semicircls. was formed before the little trapper and one of the scarlet imps suddenly vicked up a cur and tossed him at the @aptive. But the quiet eyes of the trapper anticipated the dog’s destination, and down came the club while yet he was in mid-air. A death yelp followed the blow, and the little creature dropped to the groend to quiver for a moment in the agonies of death. Yells of boyish delight greeted this scene and the curs were hissed forward. They rushed up- on the captive as they would have darted upon a helpless badger; but the club which descended as Gepher Gid bent his ‘body eagerly forward sent them howling back, with several of their number on the dead list. ‘Ha! ha! not used to club tonic,” cried Go- pher Gid, carried away for the moment by the me back and try it again; there’s strength in Go- her’s arms to break every bone in your man ies. What! sneaking off whipped? There's real Indian courage in your coward dogs!” The last sentence was bestowed upon his grimly, and his eyes ong stick, green and human tormentors who were now engaged in forcing the curs to a renewal of the attack. Bu the degs were fighting shy of that formid- able cudgel: they retreated behind their half- naked masters, and would not be sent forward eurses and blows. | woes against the mad dogs. id’s arms were left free; but cords: At last the Sioux patience—no virtue at any time— me exhausted. “Tet the little dogs go back to their half- picked bones!” cried the voice of the boy leader. ‘ They are not Indian dogs; they come from the forts of the white soldiers. Now let the dog- fighter look to his pale skin. Cut the cords of the King d.gs/ Let them fasten their teeth in the meat of the white boy,” Gopher Gid braced himself for the ordeal. He saw the leashes slipped from the beads of the gaunt dogs, long impatient fcr the dread{ful attack, and then they darted forward with fury and death in their aspect. eg ‘‘ Heaven help me!” called the little trapper. ‘What can I do with fifty bloodthirsty Indian dogs?’ : What but fight them till they tear you picce- meal, Gopher Gid—till their fangs leave you a mangled lump of humanity at the foot of the cottonwood stake?, The reserve did not shrink from the combat, but sprung like famished wolwes at the boy. The foremost received a blow that smashed his skull and stretched him lifeless among his smaller companions, Then blow after blow was dealt, in rapid suc- cession, the savages pressing up with their torches, and urging on the dogs which had en- tered with glee into the mad conflict. Now the glade bee with a perfect bedlam of demoniac cries; the dogs avoided the club with animal dexterity, but the doomed boy managed. to keep their teeth as yet from his person, It was_a terrible battle, such us was never seen in the heart of Sioux land. With bloodless lips firmly pressed together, and eyes flashing but not with anticipated victory, Gcpher Gid o the death!” he said suddenly. ‘I am doomed to die! After all, Timon Mess is nota false prophet.”’ Up went that bloody cudgel for the last des- perate struggle, but it did not eescénd. Something seemed to have caught it among the branches of the tree. Astonished, Gopher Gid looked up, and the sight that greeted his eyes caused him for the nonce to forget the arey. of Gogs sas were charg- ss Ete upon him to finish the contést. hat did he see? ‘A naked arm thrust through the foliage from | above, and his cudgel gri by a t white pee gel griped by a grea \ CHAPTER XV, CAUGHT BY THE DEAD, ne face of the owner of that hand was not 2. . mtg Gid tried to wrench his club from the clutches of the ashen fingers, but his effort was not sufficient for the purpose, “Devil! ghost! give me my stick! The degs ~ ae me to pieces. Do you want me to die — us But the hand still held on to the cudgel, and the little trapper fell back with a ses ages, heart, The stick eoebes frem his fingers, an hung suspended from that ghostly hand. ‘Mercy! mercy!” shouted the boy, in the agony of that hour. ' _ The dogs rushed upon him, One wolfish animal sprung upen his breast, but, very ne nae to the energy of desyera- tion, he se the brute at the throat, and, with a strength that seemed supernatural, tore him off, and flung bim snarling ard mad amon his companions, Again and again the Lcasi. sprung to the contest, over the hcads of lis the “Back, dogs!” suddenly cried the leeder of the Sioux youths, in his/own torgve. ‘ V bite boy’s club. catch: gmong the limits. He shall have it to fight with.” With a yell that would have dcre credit to a full-grown warrior, tte Indisn Icy Ieamd among the dogs, and, at the risk «f ; ctting Jie own skin torn by their teeth, boat them ork with a torch and halted before Gcj ew. al ed but as often was he tLrust back by ‘Vs “White fighter shall rest!” he ts0% “Bins ‘brave as Sioux warrior. He shia aght acs with club which catch in tree,” * Gopher Gid did not reply. The battle » ith » Bue man endurance could £° no furthei., the Lrutal- ee *.
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— The young savage lifted his eyes, and stared ne at the Fi egies hey seemed to retreat, affrighted, deep into their seckets, and all at once, with a startling + cry, he g back among his companions. ‘The Evil Spirit catch boy’s stick! It reach- | * es clear down from sky. Look! look! my bro- thers!” — ; The remaining youths, full of curiosity, not h. unmixei with fear, came forward. Torches he ey" blazed for a moment about Gopher Gid, and then retreated suddenly, their holders uttering .~ “tries of terror. There was a further exhibition oi of cowardice on the boy Sioux’s part; they turned and fled, frightened almost out of their wits by the hand which their superstition had ealled that of the Evil Spirit, under whose pro- tion Gopher Gid must be. But, all vid not immediately fly. The leader sprung forward again; but did not glance at the hand. He now had no dogs to beat back; the animals were flying with their owners, glad, no doubt, to escape from tho .erth-dealing club, of sharing the terror of their red-skinned masters. The Indian boy leaped to the foot of the tree. ‘‘Wachetoc, the Bad Spirit, cannot set the white boy free!” he said, showing the knife that glistened in his right hand. ‘‘ He has fought well; he shall live; but he must go away.” Then the knife, sharp and keen, cut.the cords that bound the boy’s legs to the cottonwood, and as he tottered forward like a drunken man, the liberator with a horrified glance-at the ghostly hand overhead snatched up his torch and ran away. wh : Free? Gopher Gid could hardly realize his good for- oe ‘tune.. His limbs, cramped by the cords, could ‘ not support the weight of his body, and he fell heavily forward where he lay among the dogs which his cudgel had slain. =, ‘‘T am free!” he exclaims. ‘‘The hole in the ‘hill shall see me yet. What is the use of des- ‘pairing while life lasts? That devilish hand has saved mo. Now if Midnight Jack and Rube ~were here! Hark! what was that?+the clulf uas fallen down!” The little trapper. dragged his bruised body to the foot of the tree, and saw the stout cudgel jving on the ground. The hand had released ‘That hand is dead now!” said Gopher Gid, tooking up, and seeing the outline of the mys- ‘terious arm above him, ‘‘ Did they not bury ‘Tanglefoot ina tree? Maybe Midnight’s bullet did not kill the old fellow. Ah! whatif that arm is his? But they lifted him high among the branches—tied him fast with buffalo thongs. i heard one of the party tell-the story after his return, Gopher Gid could not take his eyes from the hand tha’; dangled above his head. It was al- most. within his reach. The moonlight stream- ing through an opening in the foliage revealed it to him, but pertinaciously concealed the face which must be above. ; “Tt is Tanglefoot’s hand!” hoe suddenly cried. _ There is the broken finger. But, why does he nob speak—why not come doWn? Why not? . Hoe isdead! That is'it. He held the club un- til life becamg extinct; then it dropped from his hand. This must be so. I will feel the old chap’s pulse before I getaway. It will be some satistaction to know that Timon Moss hus smuggled his last cargo of whisky over the fronticr.” wr Eager to set his doubts at rest Gopher Gid stood on tiptoes, but could barely touch the fingers, He then drew the carcasses of several of the dogs ont of the fallen brutes to the spot, | and mounted the pile with better success. | * Ahal Pin higa enough now, thanks to my | - glub?” he cried, and this time his 1ingers touch- | pd the white wrist. | But the next moment a piercing cry welled from his throat, and siarting back he slipped _ from the carcass, to find himself swinging in mid-air, caught_in the strongest of man-traps. Eis touch had quickened the hanging hand into tite; if he had sprung a trigger in the wrist it, ' ~— would not have closed the quicker; and before he eould withdraw his fingers, he was in the power a ciate gieebly Se. Lota '-——ss The little trapper’s toes b rey touched the ground, and he tried in vain t. w. orch his hand me! , Ui the trap, and to drag the man from his perch in the tree. ae ‘ Out of the frying-pan into the fire!” ex- | _ glaimed Gopher, in no good humor. ‘I have caught my Pit The pce wenly den Pg : asicel a Tang oot really ' irate a EO Jan! you comedown? I am in your hands, pry: ' The leaves above him did not stir, there was no breeze, “T shall go mad!” cried Gopher Gid. *‘ Must I yell to bring the Indians back? They could hear me at the camp—Midnight and Rube! I will shout even though I rouse the devils at the dog-feast. Tanglefoot is dead! That cold hand belongs to no living being!” The boy lifted his voice and sent it through the forest; again and again, the shrill cry of ‘Help! help!” went down the grassy aisles of the wood, but elicited no response. From the direction of the camp came a series of yells that seemed curious to the entrapped boy. He grew silent and listened; he heard the Indian drums, the yelps of dogs, the cries of savages. ‘‘The orgies after the dog-feast!” he said, to himself. To be held in mid-air by the hand of a-dead man is not calculated to create pleasant sensa- tions, even in the heart of the bravest indi- vidual. Gopher no longer looked at the hand; his eyes ware other where; he was trying to make out the figures that had crept across a belt of moonlight and disappeared not far away. He had seen them for a moment; but in that ver period of time had recognized them as In- ns. Were they hunting in? Had the red boys told the story of the syoctral hand at the vil- lage, and was-he to tall into the power of the Sioux? ; The boy’s orbs were ;‘rained to keep track of the stooping figures now in sthe wood. Mid- night Jack and Rube might be among them, for — wore the garments of the Siowx, . ut the figures left him perplexed, mystified, despairing ! Daylight would soon come. Was that dread- ful hand to hold him there forever? Never was prisoner better secured than het ‘“‘T will end this!” he eried, ‘If I cannot pull my dead foe down [{ will climb up to him, | Who ever was caught by a dead man before?” Gopher Gid now tried to carry his newly formed project into execution. He swung him- self against the tree, and when he had estab- lished a good. momentum, he caught a limb with his only free hand and drew his body over it. But, his. other wrist was still griped by the deathly fingers! He paused for breath and then parted the leaves that hid the body of his captor from his sight. _ ‘Just as I expected!” he cried, starting back despite his worus. ‘Tanglefoot was not.killed in the camp. They put him alive in this trees! Ah! he could not come clear down; this rope held him fast; it lowered him to this place but would help him no further. Dead? dead asa herring.” - : ‘ The bloated but white face of Timon Moss as upturned to the little trapper. The Indians had washed it before burial, as if unwilling that the coward of the Rosebud should be buried with a scarlet skin, The little eyes were star- ing upward, expressionless, but shining still; the body lay upon two limbs, and the rope which reached far above and lost itself amon the branches, told the boy that it was fasten in the top of the tree. Tanglefoot regainei consciousness to find himse!f immolated in the von of the tree. - The Indians had spared tne -gin-smugeler his stuck in h is pele Th was | revolver, which sti soon dn Gopher Gid’s hands, on “Tt shall free me!” he cricd, es he snatched it forth and set the hammer. “ It shall unloek the trap that holds my hand.” _ asia With eyes that flashed for joy eis mje Gid leaned over the hand that clutched bis wrist. He thrust the muzzle of the revolver against the lifeless pulse and touched the trigger, _ _ There came a flash, a dull report, and the boy jerked his hand loose! i Vays, then The arm of the dead was still hanging rigid from the foliage, but the wrist was so shattered as to be scarcely able to support the weight of the hand that dangled from is : paced 8G by, Tanglefoot!” said the boy hero, leaping to the ground. ever. Now I'll see the cave in the hill again!” — But, he did not hasten from the spot. . ‘‘ They are over there in the camp!” he said. | ‘They were going to help me to-night—Rube said so. Should I desert them? Tha§ would be has helped m pode Ma oe glefoot’s_revol sehr | saved me Tangiefoot’s revolver. A mniiadiretedy ae Ec melee | the man who held it; the paint could conceal left hand, which caused a halt, “Tm rid of you for- | prised AK ’ whom Gopher Gid would risk his life, if he never has seen her!” A moment later the boy was gliding from the scene of his exciting adventures—hastening straight toward the Sioux village, to be near his friends whomight be in danger. **T wouldn’t be worth shucks if I left them now!” he said. ‘‘One good turn deserves an- other. Vm nobody in particular,. I’ve got no- thing to live for. Nothing? Ah, I wonder if a fellow feels like as I do when he’s in love.” The boy smiled to himself, even laughed; but he ceased abruptly, for, not twenty feet away, an Indian was drinking from a spring that bu bled from the ground. Gopher Gid cocked the revolvér in his hand, to see the savage leap to his feet and seize a re- peating rifle, od “Sett_ag Sun\” ne the little trapper, ; and then he touched the trigger. But the hammer fell with a sharp click upon the empty cartridge, and the Sioux chief uttered a cry of sarcastic triumph thereat. “Tl try again,” was Gopher Gid’s reply; but the same result ensued, With an exclamation of rage, the little trap- per threw the pistol at his feet. — He was at the mercy of Setting Sun, for he stood in the moonlight, asplendid target forthe ~ “‘Indian’s aim. “Shoot!” he said, aloud. ‘‘ Better to be killed by an Indian than die by dogs or a dead gin- trader’s hand!” : In re apa to his words, the chief’s face drop- my d to the stock of his handsome rifle. Gopher —* id saw his eyes scintillate at the butt ot the 7 barrel. ath te eg “Pil tace,death with my eyes wide open!” he thought. ‘I guess I'll never see you, Dora!” ‘Vhen came the clear, ringiug report of a rifle. ire It awoke the echoes of the romantic little —~ glade, in which Gopher Gid and his executioner ad anexpectedly met. ; . ° 2 a CHAPTER XV. THE DEATH-SHOTS. . SETTING Sun’s rifle was dashed from his gra and the chief sprung back with a tigerish cry ¢ ited rage. In his red right hand he bold. a knite A) whose long blade glittered in the light of the s moon, : PS oka . Gopher Gid, unhurt, stood bewildered in his tracks; but he did not. see the Sioux chief alone. From a clump of tall, bushes, not far. from the spring, a human figure had bounded likeapan- ther. This individual was now approac ing the Indian at a rapid gait, and the hand whi Mier. he stretched out held a formidable “navy,” Ne “Stand!” a stern voice said to Setting Sun, who, hardly recovered from his consternation, was waiting for the attack, knife in hand, “An. other step, and by the gold of Ophir! the Sioux ll have to elect another chiet!” ‘ - ‘The savage obeyed the summons, Wonder- ment beamed in his eyes, but he aid not move, - ae Jjoytul ‘ery burst from the little trapper’s TOAG, “Me... : ‘ ny ~ He now knew the mat Whose bullet, bad dash- ed his would-be-executioner’s rifle to the ground. “By the ey Tae voice—the well-known expression ‘ gold of Ophi-!” had fixed his identity. pi Sun braced himself mors firmly as that deadly pistol came nearer. He, too, knew the road-agent no longer; the flash of the. omeatold that Running Water was ae inten Sioux, but Midnight Jack of the Deadwood trail. “kk Instinctiyely the glistening knife crept men — acingly back; but the road-agent’s eyes caught the motion. — ‘\ eit, | AM “* None of that!” he said. ‘If you don’t want h the moonbeam fairies to get into your heed, Oma chief, you'll keep that knife still. I’ve got you, pate “4 is the pistol that has never missed its” rget, } ; Pty e chief glanced at Gopher Gid, who was — standing an amazed spectator on thes; ot where = he had first halted. Then be tvrred to Mid- night Jack and made a sinpular notion with hiv Wh ~ oN ‘By the gold of Ophir!” was tho response. “You don’ as it, chief? EAN)” 4 Loy “ie egg Oa ‘The sig, wos repeated. It low rea ne revolver, and the te tine two men sbakin spot whee he had see Setting Sun t “Come her At these words
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Midnight Jack. ——— “Lied?” repeated the youth. “‘ What did they say?” % They said that the dogs had torn you ve: meal in the woods. I believed them; we all did. But you are alive—worth all the dead men in the ground, By the riches of Ophir! I’m glad to see you here, chief.” Setting Sun fixed his eyes upon the disguised road-agent, ‘Say on, brother.” ‘*Not just here!” was the response. ‘‘ Stand still, boy.” , The red twain drew aside, and left the youth alone. He did not hear what passed between them; he only knew that they, so lately enemies, were talking like friends; and _ before they part- ed, he saw the chief’s hand point to the south- east, and heard him say: “She will be found there; that road is the broadest to her. My white brethren shall trail alone.” Then their hands met agate and Midnight Jack approached the boy. The Indian looked et arms quietly folded upon his ample chest. “Come, boy!” he said; ‘‘we have found a friend. He will keep the promises he has just made me. I know the trail that will lead to my sister; we will strike it at daybreak. The horses are not far off if Rube has succeeded. the gold of Ophir! I nearly shot a—” ‘e paused py tens and glanced from the wondering eye of the boy to the bronze statue planted firmly in the moonlight. Then he waved his hand at the Sioux chief- tain and grasping Gopher’s wrist, hurried him toward the forest where he had marrowly es- caped with his life. ‘I’m known to one half of ‘the tribe by this time,” fell from his lips, as they hastened over the ground. ‘‘Gods, boy! this has been the tightest rub of Midnight Jack’s life. Every- thing depends on Rube and the red-skin back yonder—the red-skin especially. Hold on! w where are we?” The road-agent stopped and looked about like a man ie I is bearings. He still held the lit- y his hand. tle trapper _-. “May Task one question?” asked the boy, look- ing Up into Lightway’s face. ‘ Well?” “Whatif Tanglefoot had unmasked you at - the sun dance?” * Death!” was the reply. could have saved us. The best shooting in America would haye amounted to nothing, Go- pher, abso.utely nothing. But,” with a flashing of ‘the dark eyes, “hé didn’t quite tell on us, eh “Nol and thank fortune that he did not.” The journey was now resumed and the twain plunged into the woods, They crossed the belt at its narrowest part, and came out upon a rocky ‘country thrower Mes a wel ere stream was mn en puvee and roar, ibe and the Indian us ve succeeded with the horses, whispéred Jack. ‘‘Over there is the spot. Let me go ahead.” For the first time since leaving the spring Mid- night Jack relinquished the young bein sedi hand, and armed with his favorite revolvers which ingenuity had lately returned to him in the Sioux camp, he glided toward a rocky hill, ‘and soon beyond Gopher Gid’s vision. _ There goes a brave man!” muttered the boy. “T.wonder what ‘ties link him to Setting Sun, Si , him tting ny bar Gid’s further meditations were cut | wort Wee ellen copckins of fevebon pang! bang! bang! > A came from beyond the The start ports hill neta Be snatching from his belt old Tanto pistol. which the road-agent had ith loaded oung ae brave bounded forward to the assistance of. _ friend. “sree 0 ot sr Re phere nde did not need help. seein ‘** Nothing on earth the next instant. _SEhen will the red. devils learn that Mi jan? ver mg te ba : ot boy at his feet, and then he quickly continued: _ “Tmore half suspected this. They over-_ in the camp; epee lying ere to | figures in the woods? These are the fellows. But they'll never form another ambush.” ever!” echoed Gid. ‘But are they all re? “All?” said Midnight, as if insulted. ‘‘Did any escape who filled the wagon down on the Deadwood trail? With these destroyers none ever get away,” and the now smiling Sioux- killer held(the beautiful pistols admiringly be- fore Gid’s Dye. : ‘¢ We'll wait awhile for Rube,” he continued. “My shots will bring him up he says; he knows the voice of my Indian-slayers. Hark! horses now!” The unmistakable sounds of a horse’s a proach. Midnight Jack sprung frem the rock, and crouching on its shady side looked into the “ree spot where the bodies of his red victims ay. . Presently a shadow fell across the trunk of ree, and crept toward the stricken ‘“‘'That shadow-caster an Indian?’ ejaculated the road-agent. ‘‘ Why, you're insulting the whole Sioux tribe, boy. Now, watch.” Then a low cry fell from Midnight Jack’s lips; the shadow straightened up and its maker came into view. ‘“‘ By the jumpin’ jingo! who did this?” cried a rough voice, and the speaker’s long arm was pointing at the red-skins. ‘! We heard yer shots an’ hurried up. Yonder ar’ the hosses; but we hed a time. Thar war wolves around the corral, an’ Injuns, too. We fought ’em both, an’ the three what felt the claws ov the Screamin’ Eagle, got pitched among the hosses,” The road-agent and the little trapper stood be- fore the speaker,\still arrayed in his Indian dis- guise which was sadly dilapidated, « - Rube was surprised to see Gopher Gid; but led the couple to three strong-limbed horses whose rope halter-strings were held by a young ndian. - ““The boy ar’ uneasy!” he whispered Rube at Midnight’s ear. ~‘*He said awhile back that he heard his horn blow, an’ he’d wade through blood an’ fight sin an’ death single-handed jest) to elutch that bugle erg’in.” The quartette were not long in mounting. Gopher Gid was seated behind Mouseskin, the Indian boy, who for fear of being denounced as the slayer of Feel-the-Sky had united his fortunes with those of our friends, and was leaving the Indian village—never to return? We shall see. - When all was ready the party set out, skirted the bank of the rapid river for awhile, and then left it to pursue its course alone. Feat at once a strange scund fell upon the ears of all. : “The horn!” exclaimed Rube. “Look at the Injun! he’s got the fidgets. There it goes erg’in ? ; : ‘Yes! yes!, Custer’s bugle. My sister is there!” cried Midnight Jack. « But the old borderer did not seem to hear him. “ Quick!” his rough voice cried, and his hand shot across the road-agent’s face in a futile ef- fort to seize the bri of Mouseskin’s horse. ‘Look! the red ry goin’ to run off. He’s mad! crazy! bewitched! Catch ‘im, Mid— thar! he’s gone!” x . The Screamin’ Eagle had spoken truly, for the Mey Sioux with one sweep of his right arm had flung Gopher Gid to the ground, and was array Bees. ‘in the direction from which the bugle-blast had proceeded. es Instantly the fala -agent’s pistol leaped from his belt, and a ball went whizzing after the young Sioux who seemed to have been rendercd arrest a's the sound of his lost trumpet. ‘‘Petch the boy!” cried Midnight Jack, and is horse, with a snort and a mad plunge, darted after the mad young Sioux. The poed agect leaned forward as if he could thus ee ‘steed to greater speed. He held the bridle in his left hand, and at his right side ungarevolver, 15 Fire flashed in his eyes. ; — Woe to Mouseskin if he distanced the western knight of the road and offered injury to the fair ! Reing who he believed had blown the piercing | On, on through moonshine and ‘shadow went ae CHAPTER XVE hie” Ge (A THRIL : “MEE TING. 2 Ruse Rarrier leaned forward and jerked the little trapper from the ground to a ition | pressi behind him errs. : Len could recover from his be- i. cs | co a ea ay 1 i ‘ 1 ned & _| stecess. Then he gave his steed the word, and away he went, carrying his double burden with apparent ease and willingness. - j ‘Don’t bother me with questions, boy,” skid the old borderman. ‘‘I want to come up with that Injun iwmp—I jest want to plant the bunched claws of the Sereamin’ Eagle over his eyes. He'll think I ama reg’lar sky-seraper!” With astonishing fidelity Rube kept in the wake of Midnight, who disappeared, for all at once the twain saw a horseman leisurely . awaiting them. They knew him at once, in the beautiful moonlight, and when they came up they saw that the road-agent was biting bis lips in evident bad humor. The cause was ‘plain. Mouseskin had eluded him, and Midnight Jack declared that the sound of the hunted hoofs had ceased as sud~ cony. as they had started from the place of am- ush. ‘‘We can do nothing till morning. We will rest here. Dora, my sister, cannot be far off. Maybe we will hear the bugle again before dawn. Let no one siéep.” The two guided their animals to a shady spot, and prepared to wait for the dawning of another day. e ears of each were eager to hear tho blast of the famous trumpet again; but hour after hour passed away and the silence remained unbroken. : Daylight came; the long arrows of light serge that quarter of Sioux-land, and a’ st the beams of the rising sun came to further beautify the scene. ‘“‘ Not followed yet!” was the ejaculation that fell from the road-agent’s li i eyes toward the Indian village wnich all had lately left. ‘‘ Setting Sun will keep his promise; he said that we should not be followed. If I had known day before yesterday that he was—” - “Go on, Midnight. I understand you,” in. beta dose Rube, catching the speaker’s eye. If 1 had known that, there might be life in Timon Moss to-day—” . , “Tm right down glad thet ye didn’t know it! id Rube. “Ill hev no opposition new.” The road-agent gave the gaunt speaker a queé, lance; the boy also darted a questioning look into his good-humored countenance, ‘No opposition?’ echoed Midnight. ‘‘ Are ee going to follow his calling—you a gin-tra- er? ‘‘Yes, when they run a telegraph line to the moon!” was the answer. ‘ Not thet, Midnight. My oes principles is to bu’st the kegs— like Gopher an’ me did fur Tanglefoot, I never liked the old fellar, anyhow. ‘Thar’s a widder on Washoe street, in Deadwood—Mrs. McGee, op wg me hs ne age a ee her ow’ry. Tanglefoot was the opposition party in the matter. Can’t ye see?” 5 Though his thoughts at that moment were far away, and with one for whom he would have | ani his life, Midnight Jack could not repress a. smile, The boy laughed merrily until a look from the. old borderer severely rebuked his levity. “Tt’s a fact!” blurted Rube. ‘The dow’r would check some fellars, fur any home wit six children is a boardin’-house, but I’ve gone ‘too fur to recede.” : “Gopher and I will congratulate you!” said Midnight, with all the gravity he could at that moment assume. ‘ But this is hardly the place to discuss love affairs. We have a work to per- form, Let us find the trail.” : ' “Pm with ye, thar!” r mded Rube. ‘“ Ar- ter ’while we'll talk about the widder.” The hunters now began to seek for that trail which each was eager to strike, and high noom found them pushing in a south-easterly direc- iion with an alacrity which seemed to insure _-_ walls were color; the stones arou him had been w: y some swift river of the Jong ago; the sun had never i veneeahs them, for "rg pg gre : clined to curl, had been brushed back from hie temples. His , as he turned his ~ garments were not of the best, — Bow:
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\ . ‘ U but the cavalry jacket which he had lately worn f ' into Red Cloud's camp bad disappeared, and he ae was clad in habiliments seen oftener at the ) United States forts and im the frontier towns than among the canyons of the uppsr Missouri Hy country, ; Rss) He cast a quick look bebind at the mouta of : the little natural cavern which he had just left, ani then moved down the old river bed, ve: * Don’t L kuow every foot of this old place?” rae ehh h*murinursd, * I’ve been here before. . There *ve precious few places in this country I am not. faunliar with, Toe girl’s in the best quarters, Soe’s a veritable tigress; but Pll make a lamb oub of her befors I make her Mrs. Golden George. I thought Pd bave to go East and court the girl there; but fortune brought her oub bere and put her right into my hands, What am I here for? Ah, yes! the agency, It is near at hand, and I want to see who are > aor mein I take Dora down to rest for a few ays.” vlden George was a goodly distance from the spot where fate had thrown Dora Lightway into nis bands, He was,conducting her south— to the dilapidated *‘ Indian Agency,” so called, but not now occupied by the government. But there were white faces there—a rough lot of tellows, an! aot a few villainous half-breéds, The gaimbler’s last visit to the agency had not ended in a tranquil manner. He had baen com- _ pelle i, in self-defense, to shoot a desperate char- i acter, and toen fly for his life. Since then ru- a mor had told bim that Nugget Noll had recoy- : ered. Lf he was now at the ‘‘ Agency,” George _ would avoid the spot; if not, hé could take Dora _ there and keep her until he wished to introduce _ __._. bis new sweetheart to Derdwood society, : Re ae On both sides of this canyon were great fis- sures tsat led to the land above, Some were dark, and half-filled with a species of brush wood that seemed to have taken root in the very rocks themselves, while a streak of moonlight balf- revealed others aud made them less forbidding, Tn the deus: little wood above, whose recesses 3 were impenetrable even at noonday, the Sport a4 had concealed bis horse, To mounc the animal a and gallop to within a mile of the “ Agency,” | ate dismount, and reconnoiter afoot, was Golden : 3 George’s intention, _.. With his mind on the pretty giri—his last Sweetheart—he began to climb the narrow stair~ way.. : he passed dark holes in the. As he went up sides of the walls. 4 : ‘* Strange country, this. These holes look like devils’ dens, Good places for a fellow like Nug- get Noll to wait for the man he hates,” - Gollen George thought alone of his antago- nist of bygove days, and not of the man who, _ lying on the ground above, was waiting calmly for Lis coming. At last the hand of the Sport reached the busvex, then his head rose above the level, and— se her cry of vengeance and a hand at his roat ; ; Ths Sport saw his enemy, and started back. His revolver fell from his grasp, and went roll- - ing dowu the stony way. There was another at his head—hebind it burned the devilish eyes of Midnight Jack! : Goldeu George saw that the road-agent was leaning over the chasm, and, quick asa flasb, be flung his arms up, knocked the‘ revolver aside, and threw his body back. ¥ A wild oath fell from italy Jack’s lips; _ but though his body was dragged over the edge of th» rock he did not loosen is gripe. - The two men began.to roll down the ravine, fo the amazement of.a brace of persons who hal suddenly appearéd above, ; _ But they soon disappeared, for the Sport’s _ foot canght on a rock and checked the momen- ~ tum; not only this, but it packed the deadly foe _ toone side, and they sbot into one of the cav- ~ ernous i pan if hurled there by some giant po at _. They seemed to roll a great way downward ~~) Still clutching each other, but ian they struck _ their gripes loosened, and they rolled apart, eed a moment silence succeeded the sudden if : - Then the voice of Midn ht Jac’ , was heard. “ We've met again, Gol . ; ’ #a yt vi i ag olden! Both of us shall never leave this pit of darkness alive: one of us You have lost pe Atal eres 90 have I. yougotaknifo? the gloom, “Yes!” came a voice from. Are you readypGolden?” 3 ady, Midnight.” ; So ae tT Awe: eh a 4“ | Unseen by each other the two foes dropped to ~ Midnight Jack. The darkness was so intense that neither could a his hand when placed within an inch of his ace, Tt was an awful moment. ; The rivals of the West—the road-agent and the Sport—the beau of the city and the Apollo of the road—had met to fight to the death. CHAPTER XVII. A DUEL TO THE DEATH, “Com, boy, we'll go down an’ look fur ’em, They’ve grappled like b’ars an’ hey rolied cl’ar to the bottom!” Rube Rattler and Gopher Gid, somewhat sur- prised at the sudden disappearance of the two foes, began to go down the fissures, They reached the bel of the cavern to find n signs of the men they sought, ‘* Queer!” ejaculated the Screaming Eagle, throwing a look of blank surprise into the little trapper’s eyes. ‘‘It beats my time all holler!” he silence that reigned around them had al- ready attracted our young hero, He was about to reply when the borderer sprung saddenly to the strong wall that rose above them and put his ear to a little fissure not wider than a finger. **Come byar, Gopher,” he said, in a startling whisper, that instantly brought the lad to his side. ‘*This wall is holler, like a tree. Thar!” Gopher started from the wall with a look of ‘astonishment. There were buman voices inside the rock; be bad heard them! ‘© Are you ready, Golden?” “Ready, Midnight.” **So am I,” For a mo nent Rube stared at the rock like a man suddenly bereft of his senses, “* This is the devil’s work, Gopher!” he gasped, seizing the little trapper by the shoulder, “ How did they get in thar? How? Why the rock opened an’ swallowed ’em, Did you hear, boy? They’re goin’ to fight to the death. We'll goupagin Ef the bole that let ’em in is oper, we’l) see snthin’ of thet death-scrimmage.” The next minute the twain were ascending. Meanwhile, in the gloom of the cavern into which fate had precipitated them, Midnight Jack and Golden George, face to face, yet unseen b each other, were approaching that combat whi could not be avoided. ; Midnight Jack did not advance; but remained where he bad stopped. He knew the aggressive nature of the man with whom he was dealing, Golden George, in such a position as this, would attack, _ But nothing indicated his coming. The road- agent put out bis band and touched a wall. ‘‘ Hal” he thought, as he bugged it closely. ‘‘ He cannot attack from one side at least!” and he waited on, By and by aslight sound disturbed the silence. It sounded like the fall of a pebble from an in- significant elevation. which rested lightly agalnust ~ wall above his flash of fire succeeded, It wag. the blades as the enemies struc at each other’s heart. — Midnight Jack did not relinquish the hold which he had obtaine!, Exerting all his a pe rosy ook diene his tee to the left, an uck again in the gloom, Bunt he miseal- culated the position of the Apoll Markee his knife struck the stone wall t handle and drop with a ring upo A laugh of devil ; _ No buman being ‘onslaught. The went backw The Sport was thr lid not fa B grea ‘ith the swift- a lo’s heart, and— iG 7 8 ETE OS OF eRe es Uwe Se a ee. SR Se eee es Of ow ee, ae eee commandant, But a swe t face andasw OS voice pleaded for bis release, and _ Hadtgt aero 15 A ery told him what had befallen George. His knife, too, was gone! The foes now grappled, In that Stygian gloom they went’ down to-rise again, and fight with. the weapons which Nature bad given tlem,. Now against the walls, now in the middle of tue cave, now up; now, down, they fought. But this could not always last. Midnight suddenly wrenched his foe from bim; be flung bim away and fell to the ground himself, As be did so sumetbing slid from un- a. der his feet—Golden’s lost knife. © see With a cry which be could 1.0t suppress, Mid- re night seized the weapon and listened. Beyond f a dull thud that had followed his last success, he heard nothing of the Sport. Many moments, knife in band, the road-agent waited fur a renewal of the combat; butitcame . not, : : Then he began to circumnavigate the cavern, his hand on the wall to guide him, Allat ouce he stopped and sprung back; his hand had touched the Fport’s flesh, — . _“*DP'm going to pass in my checks, Midnight,” said a voice in the gloom. ‘* You've got my a) knife. I know it; wut you needn't use it, There's nothing Jeft of my bead; you threw me plump against the wall. Midnight, I didn’t get to do zt; no, I caunot keep my word! Your sis- ter isin the canyon. Follow the bed westward to the petrified trunk of a’ tree, The cave is there, I left her'safe. Midnight, this tussle has bat been to the death. Where are you?” ‘ i ‘* Here, G Iden,” and the victor crept forward till he Lent over his foe—till he clasped the band of the dying man, ; Did you tell Dora that—” ae “* No, [ didn’t,” was the interruption; ‘ but she more than balf suspects, That girl bas come away out here tomake a manof you. Your father is dying; he wentsyou back, You ought to hear her tell how be took back the curse of exile; how—” » ‘Stop, Golden; let me think a moment, I am going back. 1 wish we hadn’t met thus,” ** No; tiat’s not the way to talk, We were born to figbt right here—that’s may port ines I'm going to quit talking now. Death bas clutched Golden George's last stakes. I—throw — down the—cards.” : ; Midnight Jack knew what was coming; he felt; a shiver run througb the hand he held, “Ae The death-gurgle troke the silence of tte scene, and the fingers of Golden George, the Sport, fell from the road-agent’s hand, All was over! eed ‘i The road-agent now turned bis attention to es- cape from the cavern, and all at once he heard a human voice, “This must be the place! Stay behind! Tl? drop into the hole, fur the Screamin’ Eagle of the Smoky Roost hes been in dark holes afore!” Midnight Jack uttered aecry of delight, and the next instant the friends met. ‘ - ‘*Look to the north, Dora. Up yonder is Siovx-land. Would you go back there?” ne “* Yes, to find the brother I bavesougbt. Jack, x if they had killed me—” Pee at ‘*T would not be bere within sight-of bse Sully. What did I write on the wagon which I loaded with dead Indians?—tbhat I would exter~ minate the Sioux nation! But you live, Dora, I thank Heaven I had not your death toavenge!” “Tt is good-by to the Youd nowP “No! it A tein ee 1 i a a a When M night Jack rode boldly into Fort Sully, he was at once put under arrest by the . ed the colonel to Tout to one lay: zen whoin - he had plundered, Then came the story of the father’s curse—tie exile~—the stirring scenes _ which we have witnessed in ike course of | this. ; # narrative, an¢—the relvase. n Ld f un
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Ses, 1 te BS inclusive. 1K te 88 Mepuaiar Wialogdes and yeramas in each book, Each volume 100 hime pagen, orm post-paid, om recelgt of price, TEN CENTS. BEADLE AND ADAMS, Publishers, 98 William St., N. Y. hese volumes have been prepared with especial reference to their availability for Wxhibitions, being adapted to schoots and parlors witt @ Without the furniture of a stage, and suited te SCHOLARS AND YOUNG PEOPLE of every age; both male and female. It ir fair to assume é@at no other books in the market, at any price, contain so many useful and available dialogues and dramas of wit, pathos, humor and sentiment _ Dime Dialogues, No. 1. Young America. For three males and two femaies, | Zhe Golden Rule. For two males and two Temates Josephine’s Destiny, For four females, one male. The Gift of the Fairy Queen. For severai femacs @eeting of the Muses. For nine young ladies, The Folly of the Duel, For three male speakers, Tatcen in and Done for. For two characters Baiting a Live Englishman. For three boys. Dogmatism, For three male speakers. Country Aunt’s Visit tc the City. Several characts# Tasso’s Coronation. Yor male and female. The Ignorant Confounded. For two boys. The Two Romans. For two males. Vashion, For two ladies. The Fast Young Man. For two males. Trying the Characters. For threé males The rehearwal. For six nore: The Year's Reckoning. Twelve females, one male. | The Happy Family. For several “ animaisa “ Which will you Choose? For two boys. The Village with One Gentleman. Forelght temaies.| The Rainbow. For several characters. the mes“ of May. For two little girls. and one male, How to write “ Popular " Stories. For twa maieg, The Tea-Party. For four ladies. The New and the Old. For two males, faree Scenes in Wedded Life. For male and famale. Dime Dialogues, No. 8. A Sensation at Last. For two males, 4 The Greenhorn. For two males. rs. Sniffies's Confession. For male and female. fhe Mission of the Spirits... For five young ladies, The Genius of Vlberty: Two males and one female, | The Three Men of Science. For four males, ‘obmobbing. For lve akers. @inderella_ or, the Little Giase Slipper. The Old Lady's Will. For four males. Re @ecret of Success. For three speakers. Doing Good and ‘Saying Bad, For perecds characters, | The Little Philosophers. For two little girs, How to Find an Heir, For five males, The Virtues. For six young ladies, A Connubial Eclogue. The Public Meeting. For five males and one femal The English Traveler. For two males. Dime Dialogues, No. 3. The May Queen. For an entire school, Dress Reform Convention. For ten females. Keeping Bad Company. A Farce. For five mate Courting Under.Difficulties. Two males, one tem4n, National Represettatives. A Burlesque, Pour mmied Escaping the Draft. For numerous males, Te Genteel Cook, For two males, Masterpiece. For two males and *wo females The Two Romans. For two males, The Same. Second Scene, . For two males. Showing the White Feather, kour males, one foun The Battlh Call. A Recitative. For one mals The Frost Bing. For ten or’ more persons. Starting in Life. For three malet and two female Faith, ei and Charity. For three little girls, Darby and Joan. For two males and one fem ™he . A Floral Fancy) For six little girls. The Enchanted Princess. 2 males, several femates Honor to Whom Honor is Due. .7 males and 1 femsis The Gentle Client. Several males and one female, Piureuciogy A Discussion. For twenty males. The Stubbletown Volunteer. 2 males and 1 female, A Sceye from “ Paul Pry.” For four males, The Charms. For three males and one female, Bee, Clock and Broom For three little pine. The ht way. A Colloquy. For two What the rSays. For two males. The Crimes of Dress. A Co! y. For two bop, The Reward of Bexevolence, . For four males, The Letter, . For two males, The For school or @ Sentiment, A ‘* Three “ersong’ ’’ Farce. and femal, The Eta Pi five boys and a teadiaer, tion Day. For several fumale chareceg®. in “Traps.” For serere! nalea. { feeder The Schoolboys’ : Foe tem buys PT GS