Beadle's Half Dime Library (no. 153) (1880 06 29)
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hy : lallatafalaladlalal me | ie! yp a irs ‘Copyrighted fh 1890 by BEADLE AND ADAMS, Single Price, Number. No. 98 -WILLI 5 Cents. BY OLL GOOMsEs, AUTHOR OF ‘‘VAGABOND JOE,” ‘‘ KEEN-KNIFE,” “LASSO JACK,” “‘SCAR-FACE SAUL,” ETC., ETO, WNIT SUM at My SMAI i Pye | RUN tH = WHOSE LIPS A WILD. WEIRD LAUGH LIKE THAT OF A SATYR TRAILED OFF INTO THE NIGHT.
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Eagle Kit, THE BOY DEMON; OR, The Outlaws of the Gold Hills. BY OLL COOMES, AUTHOR OF “'VAGABOND JOB,” “ KEEN-KNIFE,” *“LASSO JACK,” ‘‘SCAR-FACE SAUL,” ETO, CHAPTER I. THE MEETING AT LONE PINE. Upon the head-waters of the Big Cheyenne river, and under the sullen brow of the hills of the great mountains stood a lone tree which had become known’ thereabouts as “The Dead Pine.” Thete was nothing peat: ularly noticeable in this tree more than in any other dead pine, but it had. become designa- ted the ‘Dead Pine,” from the fact that it stood upon historic ground and at. the converg- ing-point of three or four different trails that ‘threaded the sinuous windings and darksome valleys of the great hills. There, in times past, had the Indian chiefs of the north-western tribes met in council to smoke the pipe of peace or plot and plan bloody treachery; there had the white freebooter and the red marauder sealed their compact to rob and murder; there had many a hunter or trapper watched the lonel night away: there had many a weary gold- bunter rested, slept and dreamed of wealth and wer; there had the soldiery of the nation vouacked, and there our story opens, It was a sultry night in the month of June. A-camp-fire burned under the vine-clad boughs ‘of the Pine. Six men sat and reclined around the fire, smoking, conversing and en - They were all bearded, ——— - ing fellows—just such as one would dec on sight were a party of outlaws, Scarcely any two of them wore clothes of the same hue and fabric, yet in the — of their dress there was a remarkable simi iy even to the rakish broad-brimmed ha @ cut of their velvet short-coats, the wide-open shirt collars and EE topped boots with heavy rowels. hey were all well armed, yet from their wareless indifference to their situation it was evident that they apprehended no danger, or else were totally ignorant of their surroundings. Back from camp six horses were lariated out to grass, evidence that the freebooters had halted for the night. But what»had b ht ‘them there? Was it by appointment they had meét at this old rendezvous, or were they on the bi > Pom quest of plunder? nand we will learn. It is the leader, ‘the notorious Doe Middleton, who speaks as he reclines upon his blanket looking moodily into the glowing fire. there was no mistake in the ley Ag Heng igeon Baron's train | ‘will be along in a day or two. Let's see; they . eft Fort Pierre two weeks since.” “What route were they to take?” asked a. zomrade. oe “They were talkin’ of followin’ the Wapsa “So, ho! Then it is time they were gittin’ . Why, they’re overdue now. ebby the. changed their course, or got onto the ‘wrong trail? “Bo likelihoods of that,” replied Middleton, “for they’re under the guidance of that notori- Sau Sooneree boy-ranger, Nebraska Ned, and he ws every foot of these prairies.” “Then we may not have as unanimous a thing of it as we thought, Doc,” remarked an outlaw; ‘for you'll remember that boy has nipped our calculations in the bud more than wnre in the past two years.” “We must have that outfit, boy or no boy,” @eclared the captain; ‘‘it’s the best in point of horseflesh that crossed this country. sides, we must assist our old friend, Handsome Dan, as we promised, in his matrimonial de- ns. “Of course, it wouldn’t be a full strike ‘less there was a woman in the case, and—” “Hark!” exclaimed Middleton, starting up and looking from one to the other of his com- anions in a startled manner. ‘* What's up; captain?” . + * Did one of you cough just then?” “No,” was the general response. A dead silence fell upon t ; when to party «heir ears came the balf-smothered “ te-chew! te-chew !” of something over their heads. In a moment every man was upon his feet De EEE Ln Eagle Kit, the Boy Demon. | with his eyes uplifted searching the Dead Pine. But the long, dead limbs being thick and hung and overspread with an impenetrable festoon of n vines, they were halle to see any living thing through the darkness and density of the tes that ensbrouded the tree as if to pro- t its nakedness from sun and storm. “Ha! ha!” laughed an outlaw, ‘‘ we’re surely ttin’nervous, boys; it_weren’t nothin’ but a t or a chipmunk sneezin’ at us.” “Chipmunk or) bat, baboon or angel,” ex- pr the captain, ‘‘it’s got to come down and show itself, even though it be at the cost of the Dead Pine.” 2 As he spoke the freebooter took a firebrand, and, laying it against the foot of the tree, kin- dled it into a glowing blaze, and then stood back to await the result. The surface of the pine being coated with a pitcby exudation, that had been hardened by exposure to sun and wind, the flame seized hold of it with fierce avidity, and like a-serpent be- gan to encircle and creep up the tree, snapping and crackling under the green vines and send- - bs dense volume of k smoke into the sky. _ Ten feet from the ground a number of limbs put out from the main trunk of the tree. These the fire soon reached and seized upon, and soon a dozen tongues of flame were darting ont throug: the green ng erat AE pay be and spariding through the interstices likea gorgeous hinese lantern—glittering and glowing as if a million of fireflies were tangled in the dark n meshes of ivy and morning-glory. ; Half of the lower portion of the tree was soon in flames, still no living creature could be ‘seen. The outla however, still remained with their eyes fixed upon the burning tree, for the spectacle. presented was attractive in the ex- treme. The green vines trembled and writhed in the flames. Blue ton of fire darted out here and there from the end of a ty. or limb. ks showered down among oa ing wil ng vines, while on up the main trun still crept the devouring flame. Toward the top of the tree the vines were not so thick and dense, and as the fire ascended the light shone ouf more clearly. uddenly something near the top of the tree was seen to move. y were the conjectures as to what it was, but presently a wild, impish face was seen glaring down upon them from the very top of the pine. “By headamet it’s an owl!” exclaimed one of ber amg though his voice betrayed an in- ward fear. **Tt’s a panther!” declared another, “ The furies, men,” retorted the captain, ‘‘ it’s neither—it’s a human face—the face of an imp of darkness!” “ Ho! ho! a spy, eh?” ‘* Exactly,” responded the captain, drawing his revolver, ‘it’s one of those young boy dare- | devils that haunt these hills and prairies like | an accursed greens but I will end the sub- | ject with that impish-looking little cuss.” aN create don’t shoot; ou’ll spoil some rare sport. tire: 2 soon feteh him. “Tm tto wrest our secret his | breast, but then he cannot us,” Mid- dleton returned his revolver to 3 The figure of the spy was so small that it was concealed behind the slender trunk of the tree- | top. The face, wreathed ina mass of tangled hair, was that of a boy—it was a face that wore a wild, ghastly appearance as revealed in the light of the pine. ot a word esca the mysterious youth’s lips as he looked down upon the excited rob- bers; but at length he raised his eyes and set up a sharp, quavering whistle that rung strangely MDE the vant he's Deglatn’ tonplpe] **By the stars! he’s n pe lusty as a katydid,” observed one of the reshootera.. a es, or is givin’ a signa! to friends,” replied another. Be-| Before any action could be taken a fierce’ | scream, that seemed to come from the realms | of darkness, burst upon the outlaws’ ears; then from the purple gloom of the sky, a great winged | monster with glarin be settled down over the young spy like the shadow of doom. ; Fora moment it bung in ce above the boy’s head, beating the air with its great somber wings; then, with a wild scream.it lunged off into the gloom, bearing in its dragon-like talons a human burden from whose lips a wild, weird — like that of a satyr trailed off into the night, All this had transpired in so brief a of time, that, ere the startled freebooters had re- covered from their consternation, the mysterious boy was gone from the tree—borne away on what to them seemed a demon's wings. ‘*Gods of fable!” burst from the lips of the outlaw leader, ‘‘ do my senses deceive me?” “T reckon not, captain; I think we have all looked upon a ss of demons of darkness,” ‘* Boys,” said the captain in a tone that be- trayed at seriousness, “‘ you have all heard the In > story of the Boy Demon of these hills; have you not?” “Ay, ay; eet replied a companion, ‘not only have I heard the story, but [ have looked ‘upon the elfish face of the Boy Demon, and seen him borne away upon vampire wings!” CHAPTER IL. HAIL FELLOWS WELL MET. ONLY a few faint shafts of quivering light still lin above the distant mountain peaks. fain shadows were gathering in the valleys and deepening in the woods bordering Beaver Creek, a tributary of the Big Cheyenne. Those mysterious voices so liar to the forest after nightfall had begun their weird and melancholy song, but above them. all the sound.of human voices in conversation might haye been heard. Two persons were moving rapidly down Bea- ver Creek. Both were young men—in fact, mere boys. Neither was'over eighteen. They wefe drdssed in buckskin’ suits the style of the, border ranger, Both were well armed with tols and knife. One of these youths was the noted boy ranger, Nebraska Ned; the other his friend and com- rifle, pis- panion, Dick Rodman, Both were fine specimens of physical manhood, rather prepossessing—free, dashing young spirits that be no fear, who knew no danger that they would not face. As they moved a and the shadows thick- ened around them, Nebraska Ned glanced to- ward the west and said: “We're going to be late, after all, Dick, in getting into camp.” “Well, they say it is better late than never,” replied Dick, ‘‘ but I shouldn’t care how late we were if, when we did reach camp, we could turn over those stolen horses to their owners.” The camp referred to was that of a of gold-hunters under Daniel Baron on their way to the Black Hills; it was located some five miles further down the Beaver at the mouth of a little stream called Honey. Creek. Two days before the train bad to camp there for the night, and de the close and careful watch et over the corral, two horses were found the next morning. That they had been stolen by Indians or outlaws there was little doubt, and so Nebra:ka Ned and Dick Rod- man, who were acting in the p ia of guides and scouts to the train, were bes oe ed in pur- suit of the thieves. In order to follow the trail across the prairie they were compelled to go on foot, but, after following the outlaws two days, they found it was so much time lost with- out the shadow of a chance of recovering the horses, soithey turned about and began retracing their toward eamp. ' “Some of that notorious Doc Middleton’s gang nats og horses, L dare say,” Nebraska Ned de- , ‘‘and we have got to look out that he does not capture the whole’train. Were it not for those ladies with the party I should not feel so much concerned about our safety. I’m always nervous when there’s v omen in a that I’ve charge of—ah! some one on the other side of the creek! ick! ’sh /” The two youths came to a halt in the shadows of a clump of trees. On the o te side of the stream they saw a man standing by a small Indian canoe. He was a stranger to the boys and so they concluded to remain in concealment and watch his move- ments. He was rather an odd-looking person- age of perhaps years. He was tall and angular with long — limbs, a smoothly shaven face, and with Keres like eyes glancing furtively out from under their shaggy, beetliny brows. His nose was of Roman type, his chin was long and ky oe , his mouth was of un- usual proportion, and lips thin, compressed. and s _ py tobacco-juice, His hair was rather long, of a y-gray color and tossed carelessly back behind a pair of unusually large ears. He was dressed in a suit of gray—includ- ing a long linen duster that reached to his very heels. On bis feet were a pair of heavy-soled shoes; on his head was a soiled silk tile. In one hand he'carried a 4 ae A pee carpet-sack; in the other a heavy, knotty cane. . ‘Wal,.isn’t he the oddest, comicalist-lookin’ old rooster you ever saw, Dick?’ asked Ned when they had regarded the stranger’s general appearance, ; tl lls
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: : —— i ll ‘that looked ‘ Blowed if he isn’t an outlandish lookin’ old seed,” responded Dick; ‘ but, see, he’s goin’ to Jaunch that canoe and I expect he’ll come over on this side.” True enough the old stranger pushed the canoe into the water and then taking up his cane and e t-sack was in the act of stepping into the eraft, when another man glided from the bushes behind and seizing him by the shoulders, ex- claimed: ‘No you don’t, stranger; that’s my boat.” The old man star es if a bomb-shell had exploded by his ear, and without turning his body he glanced back over bis shoulder, and with glaring eyes stared the mn in the face for full a minute before he ke. Then as a scowl settled upon his brow, he drawled out in a slow, contemptuous Manner: ie now, what are you?” ‘“'T, sir, am Professor Carl Jimrack, astrono- mer, geologist and naturalist,” was the response ; “now who be you?’ “Judge Zelotes Prosper, from the’ State of Car’lina.” “ Hail fellows well met,” whispered Ned to hiv friend; “I'll bet both lied like pirates about their names and profession, for they look more like river dead-beats than judge professor.” Professor Jimrack was the opposite of Judge Prosper in form and looks. He was short and stout built, with a round fat face, a ruddy com- Pn wre a ey snr form; and a pair of eyes mischievously cold and scrutinizing- ly through their half-closed lids. After the judge had made himself known, Jimrack said in tone: “Then, sir, ’d have the court understand that she’s out of both her Jongitude and latitude when she undertakes to we boat.” Carine fying inte a pasion; "you g intoa ; you to tramp on my toes or by the sword cles P'l fade ou quicker’n a hound can lick a skillet. I’ve n judge o’ Car’lina too long to let a little, ole pussy cuss like you stand up an’ accuse this ‘ere court o’ bein’ subsedized. erfessor, the oleanders and oranges bloom anrually over the graves of a dozen men that undertook to tamper with the judicial rooster, and as this is our fust meetin’, and as we may meet ag’in, I warn ye to tread keerfully. Iam up here for recreation—to tone up the judicial bench o’ Car’lina in the stiff, who e air 0’ Dakota. I don’t want to anybody, but if ’m crowded and r’iled up, I’m worse than a nest o’ moccasin snakes and I'll fight; that’s the kind o’ a star I be, perfessor.” : ‘Yes, yes; a star of lesser m tude—a sort of a fly-speck—a blot on humanity’s sky, as it were,” replied Jimrack. ‘* Perfessor, you aggervate the court—that’s clear pie AF ee want to that back, or, by the sword of Damocles! I’)i show your scien- tific eyes a cluster o’ stars that beats the nubular theory all outen the solar system. I are a war- hoss, sir, sich as never smelt the smoke o’ battle afar, for IT aré always in the smoke on the aenng and though we’re here alone in this Da- otian forest, by the shaddo’ of the palmetto, I'll issue an injanction agaidst your imperti- nenee and erect a Corinthian column over them sleepy, turtle eyes o’ yourn that you’ll—”. words were interru by a stinging blow in the face from the of the professor, that sent him reeling backward several paces; but, recovering his equilibrium, he uttered an imprecation, lunged forward and returned the professor’s compliment in a blow with his sledge-hammer fist that sounded clear across the creek. This was the signal for a “ mill,” and for fully a minute the two comical, whimsical old stran- gers stood upand pounded each other in a lively and somewhat scientific manner. To the boys under cover on the opposite side of the creek it was the most er and ludi- crous affair they had ever witn ; but when they saw the men were in dead earnest, and that their encounter threatened a serious. result over a trifling matter, Nebraska Ned suggested the propriety of interfering and separating them. But at this very juncture—before the boys could stir from their tracks—a rifle on theirside of the creek rung out, and Judge Ze- lotes Prosper uttered a groan and sunk at the feet of his adversary—shot down by an unseen foe! ‘*My Lord!” cried Nebraska Ned; “ murder- ers are near! It must be Injuns or outlaws! Come, Dick, let us avenge the death of that strange old man, whoever and whatever he may have been.” The two young rangers glided from their covert in the direction whence the shot had ccent of Damo- Eagle Kit, the Boy Demon: come, but before they had turned to go they | saw Professor Jimrack turn and flee into the woods as if pursued by a demon, leaving the | body of his late enemy lying prostrate upon the | white sand. ” By this time it was nearly dusk. The boys were compelled to exert the utmost care and | caution for fear of running into ambushed dan- | ger. They had proceeded but a short way, how- ever, when suddenly a horseman ed past them at a rapid pace, going west. “There goes the assassin!” exclaimed Dick. Yes, Dick; did you recognize his face?” “T did not.” ‘* Well, I did, and it bears the evidence of guilt; but, good God! can it be possible that that man committed a: murder? Dick, there’s a mystery "bout this; we must go back and find out who that dead man: is, for I don’t believe he gave his true name.” “ Neither do I; Ned; but I can’t imagine who that murderer could be.” tnob “Tt was—” and Ned whispered the name i a ear, as if afraid to speak it ‘The boys returned to the creek, crossed over on.some driftwood and hurried back to/ the scene of the late pugilistic encounter; but to their surprise and ‘disappointment the body of Judge was gone! There were blood- stains on white sand, and a plain trail showing where the body bad been dragged a into the woods by some one whose tracks had concealed by ing ‘the dead body over them. , The astonis'! “This beats me, Dick, all out of time,” said Ned; ‘‘ but I reckon that professor come back and dragged into the woods in order to rifle his body. The chances are, however strange it may seem, that the assassin and old Jimrack are in league, and that they have hounded this old man to his death. The ce of those horses from our corral may part of the scheme to effect this murder. Dick, I can’t give this matter up till I know more about t. Come, let us search the woods for Prosper’s body, and if we should run across J make him give an account of himself.” They turned into the woods and began the search. It was now so dark that they could follow no trail. They wandered cautiously up and down the creek—all the while kept wor back into the timber. For two hours they kept up the search but could see or hear nothing of the dead or living. Their labors seemed a ho less. task, and they were m the point of iving up the search when they discovered the a glow - a entte meses some bushes in under a high, pro They listened wd heard voices in conversa- terlarded with an occasional low, sup- pressed laugh. oo must know who are there, Dick,” said ' Upon their hands and knees the boys crept noiselessly through the shrubbery until they reached the curtain of vines: that separated them from the unknown. | Putting out his hand Ned quietly pushed the n drapery aside and looked through upon a surprised gree’ scene that and startled lim. He saw two men seated under a papas a engaged: in a desultory conversation. half empty bottle'sat between them. The eye of one was ba with a red silk handker- chief. The face of the other was black and swollen almost to hideousness. But, notwith- standing the battered condition of these two men’s faces, Ned: recognized the one with the bandage as Judge Zclotes r, well and alive, and the other, Professor Jimrack—to all ap ces the warmest of friends! young yangers were astounded by this discovery. It deepened the mystery which seemed to surround these two strange men and their still stranger conduct. CHAPTER IIL. LOST IN THE FOG. ** On, heavens, help me!” This appeal came from the lips of a young girl who sat upon her horse in the heart of a great prairie, the picture of hopeless despair. A dense black fog hung over and around her. The sun was obs as if by the shadow of desolation. A silence that seemed born of the tomb was in apcmecnes a with the gloom. All day the heavens been filled with a darksome mist and in a moment’s time almost— without the least warning—it had settled around the fair Mabel Vane and shut off all view of the surrounding plain, even concealing ee ee ae aaa a is approaching, and o) r 3 the camp of her friends from her bewildered gaze; and as she was following no trail, and as she had paid no attention to her course—being but a few minutes ride from camp—she found herself lost in the dreary, impenetrable fo~. She called aloud to her iriends but no voice auswered. She turned her horse’s head and rode awayin the direction that she believed would e her into camp. She rode on for more than an hour, but disappointinent stared her continually in the face, The solitude of the plain and the density of the fog seemed to increase every moment. The v girl’s heart sunk heavy-in her breast and in despair she gave up all hopes of ever finding her friends. be rex: drew rein and sent up a fervent appeal for Heaven’s guidance. Her sagacious horse seemed imbued with her own sad spirit. It pricked up its ears, sniffed the air and pawed the earth with uneasiness and impatience. Oh; why do they not signal to me?’ the maiden at length burst forth in the bitterness of her d ir; “I shall die here, in this dreary, dreadf fog. Oh, how foolish I was to ven- ture away from: camp at all!, Poor papal he will be distracted! This fog is growing thicker and darker every momen know! it must be may the—” lamentations were here interrupted by. a sound like that of some one w ing. She bent her head and listened. <A light of hope flashed in her great brown eyes. horse turned his head and listened too. From out the fog came the joyful sound of a m , boyish whistle, and a moment later a erry diminutive human figure comer ped from the gloom. It was the of a boy clad in a aw suit of buckskin and carrying a _ . , re sight of the fair Mabel Vane, the lad stop- ped short in manifest surprise and stared at her with bis big black eyes as though confronted by an apparivion. Mabel returned the look with equal surprise, for never in her life had she looked upon such a small specimen of oe: assuming — im nee, From appearance he must ekean sixteen or ayveutian years of age; yet it was evident to Mabel that he was a human dwarf—not deformed or repulsive as most of those unfortunate beings are, but per- fect in form and limb, with a handsome, hy ARN boyish face. He had a healthy, hearty look his movements were as easy, agile and graceful as those of a young panther, and it was evident that he possessed the strength and endurance of a young bear. ‘ Whew!” the little fellow whistled, as he dropped the butt of his gun to the ground and struck an attitude of ic surprise ; ‘‘ who under the hidden sun have we here?” ‘* My name is 1 Vane,” the maiden re- ed, her heart in a flutter of excitement; “and I am lost on this irie. I do hope you can set me right so that I can find my friends,” “Where do you b’long, Miss Ma r the boy asked, advancing a little closer. “$ camp is at the mouth of Honey Creek,” she replied; “I left camp for a few minutes, ride, and I am sure I was not a quarter of a miie from camp when this fog descended; but I had not noticed the way I had come, and so I have been. riding and riding aud can’t find my friends,” ; ** Whirlwinds and bats, girl!” the little fellow exclaimed, ‘‘you’re more’n ten miles from Honey Creek, but as I am bound for that holy spo come along and I will see that you’re lande safe in your friends’ camp. I s’pose it’s Major Dan Baron’s train you b’long to? “ Yes, sir; but may I ask your name?” ‘Oh, you can call me Kit—Eagle Kit ’s what most of ’em call me, but then it don’t make much difference what I’m called, for I’m a sort of a knot of insignificance—a kind of a human wart—a wild, battish sort of a boy that don’t give a flash of sunshine for the biggist outlaw that rides these prairies.” “I think [have heard Major Baron speak of Eagle Kit,” said Mabel, “and I think you do yourself injustice. Where do you reside?” ** Upin a hole, cailed the Erie, on a mountain k. I live there with an old Ingin called mab. The eagles, and the owls, and the mountain ts are my companions, and I ex- tI begin to look eagle ow -goatish, but, if I lo say it, miss, I’m boss on the shoot and can jist Jay King David in the shade throwing a stone—. Hullo! there comes a hossman! Reckon it’s one o’ your friends huntin’ you.” True enough, a horseman rode out from the gloom that hung over the plain toward them. He was mounted upon 9 mus*ane pony Cressed
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4, in a sor$ of a military overcoat, high-topped boots and slouched hat. ‘“‘lie’s a stranger,” replied Mabel, a feeling of rneasiness ‘stealing over her, at sight of the youch; brigandish-looking horseman. The man rode up to where the girl and boy stood, drew rein, politely lifted his hat and ke to Mabel, then turned his eyes and shot a erce contemptuous look at Eagle Kit. “ Fair girl,” the stranger then said, ‘‘ what meags your meeting here with that imp of darkness—that Dwarf Demon?” The man’s looks, his tone, and his me i words struck terror to Mabel’s heart. In a faltering tone she replied: *Qur meeting was accidental.” Indeed!’ Then my meeting with you, fair girl, is provideutial; and with you too, Boy Demon!” said the man, fairly hissing:the last words between his set teeth. “You're an outlaw! you're an outlaw!” shrieked Eagle Kit in a wild, piercing voice and, ick as a flash, he his @ and cocked it; but the man was on ‘the alert, and whipping out a revolver leveled it upon the wf Together pistol and rifle rang out on the mal air. A cry burst from the boy’s lips and he sunk atthe feet of Mabel’s horse, while, from the lips’of the man rung a demoniac laugh as he reeled in ‘his saddle as though and clasped his hand to his temple across which ran the red track of the boy’s bullet. Acry of terror burst from Mabel’s lips, and she turned her horse to flee, but before she bad e a hundred yards, the outlaw, who had but slightly wounded, dashed alongside of her, and seizing her horse’s reins, said: “You must go with me, miss.” “ With you? where?” cried Mabel. “To the mountains yonder—this way.” *T will not! I will not!” shrieked Mabel, * Oh, but must, though! The death of that Dwarf Demon will not compensate me for the days that I have been here watching for him on this prairie. You're better off with mo than to have been led off to the den of thatimp, for I tell: you he is half devil.” Mabel Vane heard but little of the murderous scoundrel’s talk, for, half-unconscious, her brain paralyzed with terror, she sat upon her horse unable to move, unable to speak, while the out- law, leading her horse, turned and rode away. It was some time before the maiden d fully realize her situation—that she was really a captive in the power of Eagle Kit’s murderer. Then her brain grew — and her heart sick- ened. She would have fallen from her saddle but for the support of the outlaw’s hand. And through all this dreadful trial the bright, Joyful and happy face of the manly little Kit, as it looked up at her from the tall grass so full of boyish pride, was before her; and in her mind she now pictured that same bright face, goentl in death, staring up into the gloomy sky wit no friendly hand to close the lids over those big black eyes—no friendly hand to give the little body sepulture. ughts of escape never entered Mabel’s She rode along with downcast eye, tak- was mind. ing no note of anything around her. like one in a stupor. In the cour-e of two or three hours the fog finally lifted, and gathering into clouds broke asunder and let the rays of the declining sun fall upon the face of outlaw and captive. The light seemed to revive the maiden’s mito ae . She raised her eyes and looked around. sigh escaped. her li She felt that she had looked for the last time _— tive t green rairie. She had a presentiment of death—of a ving tomb. Before them not far away she saw the moun- tain range clearly outlined nst the pale red sky. Behind them an interminable prairie stretched back into the twilight shadows of the coming night. The situation was a sad one indeed sedtn al Mabel: the mountains before them prom the outlaw a refuge, and her prison. The sun at ena went down behind the mountain range; the shadows of evening added new horrors to the soul of Mabel Vane; but swiftly and in silencethey rode on, to, at length, enter a dark a in the foot-hills that gradu- ally narrowed and deepened into a black defile. Through this desolate pass they were making their way; the sound of their animals’ hoofs on the stony way gave back ghostly, hollow echoes. Nocturnal wings whistled and whirred over- head. Strange voices seemed to be calling to each other from the hills in the distance; but amid all those strange sounds of night a shrill, sharp voice suddenly rung out clear and start- lng: ‘steal away ‘bout ten minu Eagle Kit, the Boy Demon. ** Halt, there!” The demand came from before the outlaw and | his captive. They involuntarily drew rein. The freebooter rasped his revolver in a nervous hand. A slight form glided out from behind a rock into the defile before them. ‘‘Bagle Kit!” burst from Mabel’s lips, for dark as it was, she recognized the little fellow in flesh and spirit. ‘‘The Boy Demon!” cried the outlaw. Then the double report of firearms rung out upon the night and rolled and crashed through the hills in thunderous reverberations, while, from the hills above, a wild maniac scream came trailing down to the ears of Mabel Vane followed by a sound as if of beating the pliant air or of death. With this moment of terror, unconsciousness | came to the relief of the maiden’s brain, andshe | want to tell fell fainting from the saddle in the presence of death. CHAPTER IV. THE BOY RANGERS’ NEW ACQUAINTANCE. We left Nebraska Ned and Dick Rodman, the Boy ae watching the movements of the ous Prosper and Professor Jim- rack, The is found themselves in a quan- dary as to what they sbould do—whether con- tinue their watch, make their presence known, or steal quietly away and resume their o ayere & but, while revolving the subject. in their minds Prosper and Jimrack took a drink from the bottle that sat between them and then stretched themselves out before the fire and becamesilent. They had evidently “‘ turnéd in” for the night. They occupied mr! tM on opposite sides of the fire, and, although both appeared to pass off into a quiet slumber at once, the boys could see that neither one was asleep. Every few min- | utes Prosper would half-open his unbe»daged eye and steal a glance at the motionless Jim- | rack, and peeey Jimrack would peer from the folds of his blanket at the ‘* Judge.” From these movements it was quite evident that the two men had not, by any means, per- fect confidence in each other yet. Prosper n to snore in a manner that was | indicative of unfeigned slumber, and a few | moments’ later Jimrack rose to.a sitting pos- ture, then to his feet and, casting a glance | around him, stole quietly away into the dark- ness, Presently Prosper started from his sleep and | finding his companion gone, gave utterance to | an imprecation unbecoming the mora) dignity | of a judge. seemed a favorable moment for the Boy Rangers to introduce themselves to the redoubt- | able Zelotes Prosper, and rising to their feet they pressed their way through the foliage and confronted him, hats in hand. ‘By the jumpin’ General Jackson!” burst | from the astounded man’s lips, as he raised the | bandage from his eye as if to aid the right, ‘‘has my companion, Perfessor Jimrack, dis- solved into a pair of young bucks?” “No, sir,” replied Ned with a smile, ‘‘ your friend left before we @ ; we saw him 0.” “Vam sap that man! He's the dam-aged- | est old Gordian Knot 1 ever un’took to wrassel | with, and if he trifles much more with me I'll — the daylights outen him quicker nor a nd pup can dress a skillet. But, lookey here, my young kids, give an account’ yerselfs. Might either of you be Nubraska Ned, the Boy Ranger?’ “‘That’s who I am,” responded Ned. ‘Sword of Damocles!” you are the v cat- tapillar I seeketh—put her there, boy, and have the distinguished honor o’ shakin’ the hand o’ Judge Zelotes Prosper 0’ Car’lina. Ha! ha! ha! aw d—impled little prairie bot, whar ye been eepin’ yerself?”’ “Been looking after you ever since that un- seen foe shot you down on the bank of the creek this evening.” ‘* Hepsidam! then you see’d that?” “Yes—also, your meeting and trouble with Jimrack.” ‘* Don’t mention that affair; it war ad ce to the jurisprudence of the nation; but then, by the sword of Damocles, Pll fight re Bengal imp of darkness afore dirt can be das ed in my peepers. The rs are a family of fighters as well as scholars. The oleanders and oranges bloom annually over the graves of a dozen fellers that tried to come contempt upon this court. No, sir, they can’t enny of ’em climb this judicial rooster. But, boy, what d’ye at, hollow wings | eting the shadows | | Grayson went West, and everybodys’ | think of the helletrope that attempted to shoot me? D’ye think it war Ingin or outlaw?’ ‘Neither, judge,” replied Ned, “but I did think it was some one in league with Jimrack.” “ Alligators and moccasins! that _couldn’t be, | Ned, I reckon; for, it war old Jim, himself that pulled me off into the woods and seein’ | war only stunned by the assassin’s bullet, poured some of his liquid reginerator down my throat and in a little while I pulled into land again. Then we come off here, built a fire, had a social chat—a drink from his bottle—then a ditto, and then to bed. But he’s gone, that’s sure, and mebby the pussy old bloat ’ll come ‘round in time; if he don’t, put it down that youw’re right and Perfesser Jimrack is a treason- able, treacherous old reprobate. But say, Ned, d’ye know I’ve been wantin’ to see you?’ “You intimated as much awhile ago.” “ Well, it’s a fact, and now that we’ve met I ee what I want, and then you can tell me whether I can have it or not.” “Very well; go on,” and the three seated themselves by the fire. Fixing his lone eye on Ned, Prosper began: **Six months ago, John Henry Grayson died —died in—well, he died that’s certain. Before he the rubicon of life he called a friend of (so I am told, now mind ye), one el Gamaliel Blower, to his bedside, and told him he’d been a little wild-oaty in the pear -tiee he’d. not alers done a regular daylight, Sunday business, and therefore wanted to unload bis breast of his sins for fear he’d swamp gittin’ over the Jordan ile ain einaeenedeing aul notice s wrong-doi 4 to Colonel Blower, but Tit jist narrate that as what'll be pertinent to our case.” ‘‘Fifteen years before he died, John Henry e gounte California; but it turned out that be war Sante Fe where he married a beaucheful little gal, with just Spanish blood enough in her veins to make ita frisky fandango for Jobn Henry. A child was born to them—a pretty, sweet little thing that John H, fairly worshiped, and see- ing as what he did, that prickly ash of a wife of his, whose love’d turned to hate, ups and leaves him with the baby, and fled to un- known. John Henry hunted the South-Westover for his gal-baby but found it not, and so, nighly distracted, be returned to his former home and thirteen years after’ards died, leavin’ the snug little fortune of one hundred thousand dollars to his daughter, but if she couldn’t be found it was to go to some charitable institution.. But. here let me pe upon your minds thata few days before J. Henry demised, he heard that his cac- tus-burr—I mean his wife—had died in Omaha; and so he made a special request that his execu- tor, Colonel Gamaliel Blower, investigate mat- ters; and if his daughter Iona was living, spend half of his fortune to find her and place her in ion of the other. Wal, Blower ee the matter far enough to ascertain that the dead woman had been living for some years in Dakota, and it is supposed her child, if living, is somewhere here yet. Now, as 1 war comin’ to this country to see the sights and recuperate my health, a friend of mine who war acquainted with John H. Grayson’s affairs, writ Colonel Blower ’bout it and told him I war a good, hon- on Secgeiee would be a good man to help him out. Blower writ me a letter and asked me to assist him, saying the finder of the gal’d git one thousand dollars: Now, I never saw Colonel Blower, but we arranged by letter to meet at Fort Scully the last of this month. You see ’'m several days ahead of time, but I thought I’d go tolookin’ around a little afore the colonel come, and if I should find the gal, ’d come in for the hull reward. I don’t want ye to think I’d take any advantage of the colonel —I’d die first—it’d be unbecomin’ in a judge. But to business: now, hearin’ as what you're the boss vagabond of these prairies, I thought as what you might know of some stray gal, or at least help me hurt her up. Of course, she’s either living with the Ingins, or some white hunters or settlers, if she’s eoeey ee Dakota at all. Now, what do ye ow “ Well, I know a few girls here and there in mere but I aye or the life of me, say whether your girl is among my acquaintances,” ered Ned; ‘and, as to Ne a you in your resent, I already have on jo g Major. Baron’s. train through to the Black Hills. Even now the train awaits our coming, not. over five miles away, and I assure you we must be moving.” “ Well, I believe P’ll go with you, and still I hate to go off and leave Jimrack. But then the dam-aged old shad-belly had no compunction *bout leavin’ me like an Arab, and so I guess
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a I'll go with you, and put Jimrack down as a boss fraud.” “All right, judge; come along,” and they all started rapidly down the Beaver. The night was dark, yet the way was perfectly familiar to Ned. They were nearing their destination, when the report of firearms fell upon their ears, It came from the direction of the gold-hunters’ camp. 7 “Lam afraid the folks are in trouble,” Ned had to confess. ‘Tt sounds a little warish down there,” added the judge, ‘‘ but I thought the Ingins were on a peace-footin’, hereaways?” “They are in one sense of the word, but there are a few outlawed Ingins bidin’ away in the mountains and consortin’ with white out- laws and robbers, and with them go hand in hand in robbin’ and plunderin’ the un ted. Doc Middleton’s gang are now operatin’ in. this t of the country.’ ' “I'll put an injunction on_ their. b in’ apparatuses if they come within the ju Cc tion of my court,” observed the jud, “Tm a dreadful ugiy mess for a violator of the law to stumble Why, boys, the oranges and oleanders bloom annually over the mounds of twenty men who saw fit to buck against the mandates o’ this judicial rooster.” The three moved on and soon came in sight of the: Camp, or rather the glow of the camp- fire, for the camp had been located in a dry swale, cor what is more properly termed a ‘‘ buffalo wallow,” so deep that only the tops of the tilted wagons could be seen above the level of the plain. One end of this depression ter- mina at the very brink of the waters of Honey Creek. It was about a hundred. rods to the edge of the nearest timber. / There was a silence hanging over the camp that to-Ned seemed like the of over- shadowing danger, and . cre around to where he could obtain a view of the interior of the camp, he saw enough ata glauce to con- vince that there was something wrong—that the camp was in a state of siege, although an enemy could not be seen., He saw the horses and mules were all corraled inside of the wal- low, and that the wagons were arranged so as to afford a means of defense. nds,” Ww the young ranger, ‘‘ and we may have no little i ’ into, camp. feel confident Ingins and outlaws are | the wal- low, guardin’ every approach and waitin’, for a favorable moment to strike. But Pm. goin’ to crawl into camp if it costsame my life.” “And when you're safely there,” added Dick Rodman, “ T’ll follow suit.” “You will have to be very careful, judge,” warned: Ned; ‘Sif you are not. accustom Ingin cunnin’ and border da , I'd, advise you torremain under cover of ‘the woods until you-can enter with some degree of safety.” “Don't let my safety worry you, Ned; this citee knows ee like — mee faced a tors, ahd moccasin swamp angels, and knows no dat. and knuckles downto no outlaw that ear a crime on his soul ova: pistol in. his belt, The oranges and oleanders bloom yearly over the dumping- grounds of-more than a score of sinful; varlets that undertook to kick against -this dispenser of justice.” No, no boys, don’t worry bout, me; Ne ahead and tell yer folks that Judge Zelotes rosper, 0’ Car’ ‘ll come after while like a team of speckled a cane-brake.” Ned left his friends and crept cautiously down to the creek and then under cover of its bank he reached the mouth of the * buffalo wallow ” and the camp of his friends in safety. A shout of joy greeted his return; but, sad and terrible indeed was the news, to bim, that Mabel Vane was missing—that she bad gone riding that os oe had not returned, though careful search been made for her before night «set |in, and signal s had been fired every few minutes. Mr. Vatie, Mabel’s father, felt’ Satisfied she had fallen into the hands of the outlaws who, during the night, had made an upon the camp, but had been repulsed for the time ’ Ind few minutes Dick Rodman made his ap- pearance in. safety. To him Ned broke the news of Mabel’s absence as gently.as possible, for well Ned knew by Dick’s own confession that he loved the pretty. little Mabel. Poor Dick was nearly distraeted, by the news, and. it was.all Ned could do te-restrain bim from rush- ing madly off in search of the maiden. e Boy Rangers now became eager andanx- ions for the appearance of Judge Presper. in’ along gators in Eagle Kit, the Boy Demon. i the hours wore on and he did not come. The boys grew uneasy. ortunately the robbers did not renew their attack that night.. Morning dawned and nota soul, friend or foe, was Lo be seen outside of the camp. The continued absence of Judge r called for action on the Boy Rangers’ part. They felt it was a duty incumbent upon them to look after the old_ man, and shouldering their rifles they made their way from the swale and pro- ceeded to where they had left Prosper, the night before, But on arriving there they could find no trace of him whatever, While they stood in a clump of undergrowth, deliberating as to what they should do, they saw a villainous look- ing outlaw witha knife between his teeth, creep- ing toward a low, flat rock whose shelter he was evidently trying to gain, but for what pur- pose they had no idea, As he was plainly ex- posed to the boys’ gaze, it was evident that their presence was unknown to him, but his move ments were so sly and stealthy—the look on his face so. murderous that Ned felt satisfied the villain meant mischief to some so he re- solved to nip the game in the bud; but, just as he raised his rifle to his shoulder, he saw the head and skoulders of a man pop up from the opposite side of the rock the outlaw was trying to gain; he saw the man settle his elbows on the rock and level a pair of glittering little Der- rings full upon the outlaw, and then beard him call out: ‘‘Avaunt, Satan! Ihave met the enemy and he’s mine!” ‘*Old Judge Prosper, as I live!” whispered Ned, excitedly. And old Prosper it was, true enough, with his left eye still bandaged, his face Frnised and iepebucnwamtersmasstencd tinteeietee oceupying a posi m liberate coolness and reckless abandon; but the look he fixed upon the outlaw with his lone eye was fierce and deadly. “Dick,” whispered Ned, ‘‘just look at that old man; I tell bas he’s a singed cat. He knows more than we think—heis a mystery.” The outlaw was not only taken by surprise, but at as great a disadvantage as he bad intend- ed to take the judge.’ He was still twenty feet cap ieceheech cued. dastnea-eeeieatireian fale upon n i move through fear obi invoking certain death frem those murder- ous little derringers. “Rise up thar, William Riley,” commanded old. Prosper;:‘‘and. go along with me! Don't trifle now—I'm ugly as a hungry alligator.” The.outlaw rose to his feet, ** Hands up, William!” commanded the judge, and when the outlaw obeyed, he went on: “ Now, sir, I’m. to disarm you; but fust let me say, if you twitch a muscle I'll plug you quits nor a hound pup can lick a skillet. 1, r,am Judge Zelotes Prosper, of Car’lina—none 0’ yer long-haired «pilgrims. The oleanders and oranges ‘bloom; annually cver_ the. grayes .0’ chaps that offered contempt. to, this court, and I repeat oe if you bat an eye I'll lift you outen th ag a and— Great Hepsidam!” is exclamation was caused by a yell hard by in the.woods, and turning his eye, the judge saw four men in Indian disguise yaoning toward them with tomahawks in.hand, “Quick, Rodman!” exclaimed Ned, seeing their old friend’s peril, ‘‘ quick or the judge is a dead man!” CHAPTER. V. THE WINGED MESSENGER. As the echoes from the rifle of cag Kit and the pistol of the outlaw rung through. the bills, both Mable Vane and her captor toll from their saddles, the one in a swoon, the other with a bullet through his braiu; but, before the body of the maiden had reached the ground the form in the waverin £ ed like a winged 5 A great, black rock "hung over her. She tried to collect her thoughts and recall the past. Suddealy a voice fell spon her ears. It broke the spell t enchained hermind. She rose te a sit posture. Before her sat the little form of the human Eagle Kit. She recognized him at a glance. ’ Involuntarily the girl sbrunk back with a shudder. She recalled what the outlaw had said of the Boy Demon; and the overhanging rock with its damp mold, its lurking shadows, and the dull glow of the fire seemed confirma- tory of what her captor had told ber. , “Ho! by the p’izen monkshood!” exclaimed the dwarf, the moment he saw that Mabel had recovered from her swoon, “I’m dyin’ glad to see you rekiverin’, Miss Maple Vane. I’ve been awful eered.” sk . His and voice dispelled all fears from Mabel’s breast. ‘* Where is he?—the outlaw?” she asked, look- ing around her. ‘Dead, gal, deader’n last year’s daisies,” was the reply; ‘‘ the lopin’ ra lion didn’t kill me on the prairie to-da as I did him; but, it was a close shave, mi *yesee that welt ‘long this cheek? That’s where his bullet kissed me; but I war only stunned. You see, there’s not much of me and the wind from_a sparrow’s wing’ll kick me over; but then, I’m ole boss when it comes to makin’ trouble for road-agents and robbers. I’m little, I know, but them as fools with me ’cause I’m a dwarf finds they’re kickin’ a to o. Besides I have an vite > that no other boy that ever lived had. When they git me mad I take wing and fly.” “What do you mean by that, Kit?’ asked Mabel. The boy turned and uttered a low, quavering whistle, when, at once, the rustle of mighty wings was heard at one side and, from a dark niche in the great rock under which they were sheltered, a monstrous bird descended and settled by the side of the boy and uttered a strange, jar cry. ; An exclamation burst from Mabel’s lips, for i low of the fire the bird look- emon with its great beak, its monstrous talons and fierce gray eyes. “Tt won’t hurt you,” assured the boy; “it’s my dear, ole pet ea, le, Whirlwind; and [I tell ou he’s a. noble ole bird and knows more tian t do. He came from South America, He was captered when a little codger, and I'll tell how it came. My father lived in South America where he married a nicelady. He was engaged in catchin’ wild horses and tamin’ them. One day when I was a little two-year-old shaver, and bigger than a kitten, I todd!ed out o’ the cabin door, when, down swooped a mighty eagle from the Andes, took me in his talons and carried me off to feed her young with; but just as that eagle descended to her nest, a man among the crags hard by shot the old bird and saved me. One of the young eagles he took | alive, and that eagle is my Whirlwind. [6 ep world “with a double-geared habeas | with father, and as he saw’whose child I was, of the dwarf, Eagle Kit, leaped through the | shadows with the paility. of a. panther and non her helpless form in his arms and broke the fall that otherwise might have been fatal. _. The riderless horses whirled and dashed away in terror through the pass. , A great bird—a monstrous eagle—perched itself ‘upon a projecting cliff and, craning: its nes peered down upon the boy and inanimate Night fell black, moonless, starless, for the sky | was overcast with gray, fleecy clouds. When Mable Vane. recovered from her un- consciousness the dull glow of a light was the first thing that met.her gaze, . Her mind, how- ever, was still in a confused and bewildered state. Her head was,.throbbing. with pain But | She soon realized she was in a strange place | l rigged a ened that the hunter that saveidl me was a orth American Ingin who had: goue there he took me home; but when he got there he found my mother had died with terror and grief for she never expected to see me alive again. A year after father was killed and then old Macomah, the Indian, was_all the friend I had except Whirlwind. “Mucomah came back to this country and brought me and Whiriwind with him. He came back because he had a lovely daughter here that he worshiped, but he found when he got here that his daughter had been deceived, betrayed and murdered by a bad white man, who claimed to be a hunter and scout. This broke Macomah’s heart, and he songht the solitude of the hills, where us three have lived for several years. Once in awhile Macomah goes to the agency fer food and ammunition; but he is alers stil and silent and sad—alers on the look-out for the man that killed his child, and if they ever meet one or to’ther ‘Il have to die. But ye see me and Whirlwind’s grown up from boyhood together, and sich a bird he is! Why, he brings to the Erie, as we call our cave, rabbits and birds and fawns and young ante- lopes—oh, lots of things that we use for food, And, sir, one day he came sailin’ in with a full een antelope that beat anything ever heard OL. “ The eagle, I have always heard,” sad Mabel, “is the strongest bird that fties.” ‘Yes, and a gentleman that I met once told me Whirlwind was the largest bird in the world.of the kind. But, one day, after he brought that antelope in, I went to work and harness atwixt his legs ond over his
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6 Eagle Kit, the Boy Demon. back and under his win —and takin’ hold of it, | made him fly from the ledge, s’posin’ he’d jist hop down a little ways, but Tl declare if he didn’t sail off with me cown the valley and went five miles afore he lit. Oh, but I was skeered! I jist shut my aves and hung on for dear life. P’izen! how the wind did whistle as we shot through the air, I jist made up my mind I'd not try that ag’in, but then I got over my skeer and one day hitched on ag’in and away we went down the valley a flukin’. I got so at last, I kind o’ liked the fun, and Whirlwind seemed to like it, too; and I kept on till I got him so’s he’d go jist «bout as I wanted him to. But he can’t carry me very fur, and now when I want.to go a long ways, I make him skim along the prairie vo’s Ican touch my toes on the ground and in that way I can outruna horse. That’s jist the way I got in ahead of you and that robber to-night. irlwind was circlin’ in the air when [ met you on the prairie in the fog, and as soon as I recovered from that shot and see’d you're gone, I whistled Whirlwind down, took lold of this rig and if ever you see’d a small boy yanked on tip-toe—half carried and _ half dragged—across the prairie it was this kitten, You see Whirlwind can’t soar up’ards ‘ith me, but by startin’ from a high point he can give me a long ride before he gits down. See, he’s biggern, be, Miss Maple.’ 1e boy stood up by the eagle. The bird was the tallest; the bird was the largest. “See whata reach his wings has,” and he threw awide his arms, which movement was imitated by the bird extending his great wings at full width. “T know now why you're called the Boy Demon,” said Mabel. Kit burst into a peal of merry laughter. ‘‘ Oh, yes,” he said, ’'ve been makin’ it livel for the robbers and road-agents lately, and reckon they call me bad names; but Boy Demon or Boy Angel, I’m the boss outfit to give them trouble. But, Miss Maple, we’re not safe here, andif you’re willin’ to trust me, we’d better be off to the Erie, as I call my home.” ‘Kit, I trust you with all my heart, and am ready to go with you,” replied Mabel adjusting her hat and shawl. The two at once left their retreat and moved away through the After an hour or two’s *inding and twisting among the valleys and defiles they began the ascent of a steep moun tain, U'p and up they climbed, passing through a dark, narrow, dripping tunnel—a strange freak of nature—on up into the very clouds of jeaven. At length y reached the Erie, a dry cave in the mountain side, where they were lindly received by the old Indian Macomah, who pre them a supper of dried venison and broiled pigeon. Mabel passed the night comfortably as could be expected, and early the next morning when the sun burst through the mist she beheld, from the ledge in front of the Erie, the gold-lined clouds rolling and tumbling beneath and around her, inipressing her mind with the delusion of being afloat on the ethereal billows, The plain was shut off from view, but as the dey advanced the clouds lifted and revealed the low-lying foot-hills, the distant prairies and their wood-lined rivers stretching away into the radiant east. rotons | to Mabel’s side, the litle dwarf pointed out his eagle that was poised aloft on airy wing, a tiny speck in the sky. “You see Whirlwind’s takin’ his mornin’ ramble, and after while he’ll come home with the dews of heaven on his wings, and ten to one with a bird or animal for his breakfast. He’s a voracious critter, Maple, and it ’d make ye scream to see him drop through the air on some critter. T’other day he come whistlin’ in with a real white pigeon in his talons. It was a b:aucheful bird, but Whirlwind ’d squized the life out of it, poor pam f but I took it from him aud what do ye think I found ’round its neck?” ‘ A ribbon; I presume,” answered Mabel. ‘No, a th with a paper ’tached to it, and there were writin’ on the paper, but_as neither I nor Macomah could read I throwed’t away.” “Then it were a carrier pigeon Kit,” said Mabel. “A which?” “A earrier-pigeon —a pigeon that carries messages from one ie to another; perha they are used by the government officers in c ing dispatches from one fort to another.” “Gosh! I never thought of that before—ob, look! lock at old Whirlwind !—down he goes— jee-whiz! ain’t that boss?” Mabel’s eyes were on the eagle when Kit first spoke. She saw the bird close his wings and set, it’s on him now dart straight downward through the air with | freshments, and after while I'll come out and the swiftness of a falling meteor—down, so plant them critters under the oleanders and swift that the eye could scarcely follow him, he went half the distance to the earth, then he threw out his wings, wheeled in the air and then shot upward again and upon swift wing made his way toward the Erie. “He's got somethin’—that’s the way he does it,” said Kit; ‘‘he’s comin’ in and we’ll soon see what it is.” Closer and closer came the eagle upon whist- | Baron. ling wings. In silence the girl and boy waited | for him. his return. In a few moments he hovered above them, then slowly began to settle down until he reach- ed the rock at their feet. A cry burst from Mabel’s li “Oh! ho! yil” yelled Kit, dancing with glee, ‘*he’s got another of them white pigeons we war talkin’ "bout! Give it to me, irlwind, and let’s see if it’s got a pert ee sir, it by hokey! here’s a paper! here’s a a go writin’ onto it! It’s a messenger-bird—yocp, hi! read it, Maple, and let’s see what it says.” He took the paper—a tin from the neck of the dead bird, for the eagle had killed it, and unfolding it banded it to Mabel. There was writing upon it, but in such a fine hand that it was with difficulty she made out the following: “Send more men—we attacked_ Baron’s_train at mouth of Honey Creek and got licked. Come to- day so we can try them: to-night, for win we will. Our old leader, Captain Handsome, is with the train. Lost four men killed—several wounded. “ MrppLeton.”’ ‘By snakes!” exclaimed Kit, “that from that p’izen old outlaw, Doc. Middleton!” “ And the train to be captured is that of my friends!” said Mabel. “Yes, but they’ve got one lickin’ and may git another. ae 1 war on my way to put your folks on their guard when I fust met you. I had learned that much by playin’ spy on Old Doe at the Dead Pine meetin’.” ‘There must be one mistake in this m » said Mabel, reading it over; ‘it 5 old leader, Captain Han is with train.’ t & not understand it; it must be a secret cipher.” : “Tt may be, Maple, I can’t say; and it may m what it says.” ‘4 Tonight, they propose to attack the train again. , Kit! I must go at once and put them on their guard!” Kit burst into a peal of laughter. “Why, gal * see we've got the message, so the robbers ‘I! ignorant of Middleton’s wants; besides, it’s twenty miles to Honey Creek. Just you rest easy 1 see that your father gits this m afore the sun sets. P’r’aps he can tell what that ‘Captain Handsome’ means,” CHAPTER VI. WILD CASSANDRA. Wuen Nebraska Ned and Dick Rodman dashed from their.covert to the assistance of Judge Zelotes Prosper, their shout brought the four advancing outlaws to a halt. At the same moment a derringer in the hand of the judge flashed in the face of the robber, who, embold- ened by the presence of his four friends, had attem to leap forward and disarm the old man; but the latter was not to be caught in this manner, and the robber paid for his rash- ness with his life. As soon as the judge had di of the foe in front of him, he turned and leveled his re- volvers on the four advancing from the east. “Bang! bang!” went his unerring little weapons, and two of the foar went down, and seeing the odds were now against them the other two freebooters took to their heels. Old r uttered a yell of triumph and = a few random shots after the fleeing vil- ains. “Bravo! hurrah for you, judge!” shouted Nebraska Ned, as he advanced to the old man’s side. “Ho! ba! ha! Neddy, didn’t I put an in- unction on their deviltry tho’, quicker nor a ound pup can lick a skillet? y can’t come contempt on this ’ere court, not a bit of it. I didn’t come up bere to hurt anybody, but I will if they don’t show proper respect for the court. If they don’t like my decisions they’ve the right of appeal to the supreme judge. e@ oleanders and oranges bloom—” an say, judge,” interrupted Ned, “come, let us go into camp; I know you must be tired and hungry after your night of wild adventures in these woods. “Wal, I reckon the court will adjourn for re- | of Nebraska Ned. bit neatly folded— | oranges.” Together the three returned to camp. As they entered the swale Mr. Vane was the first one they met. Ned introduced him and Prosper. | Others came up and were introduced to the odd- looking old man. But there was one of all the arty that Ned was exceedingly anxious to in- _ troduce to Prosper, and that was Major Daniel But he was not in sight. Ned inquired ““He’s gone—left soon after you did this mornin’,” said one of the — ‘he declared he was goin’ in search of Mabel, and mountin’ his hoss rode away like the furies were after him. A look of disappointment overspread the face For a moment he stood look- ing away over the plain as if in deep thought. Then as be Te of a tiny speck ee along the w orizon, he turned to friends and said: “ Men, I am going to follow Major Baron.” His friends were startled by the manner in which he spoke, but before any one could reply he was gone. Ten minutes later the gallant young ranger was mounted upon his spirited mustang with his rifle slung at his back, and his revolvers with every chamber loaded, in his belt. Riding up to where Dick Rodman stood, he said: ‘Dick, I leave this train in your care. Guard it carefully.” Then he turned, leaped his mustang up the embankment and lo sharply away over the prairie toward the directly upon the trail of Major Baron. Not once did the brave, determined boy turn his eyes from his course before bim; but with brows contracted and ~ com , he urged his animal forward with eager impatience. He watched the foothills as they drew nearer and ss He counted the moments as they pass- The sun stood upon the meridian when he came toa little purling stream that had its source in the mountains. He stopped to let his horse drink, He was whistling thoughtfully to himself when suddenly a clear, ringing; lish voice called out to him: ‘* How d’ye do, Nebraska Ned?” With a start he raised his eyes. On the sum- re » A little knoll ~ trosght'S hs ape m surprise an t a smile to lips and the color to his cheeks. Upon a sorry- looking old horse,whose four feet were bunched pi see on lock, sat the figure of a young irl with a wild, wonderous face of remarkable Beauty. She 7 = — been Seen tee ears of age. er dark eyes were rous and y senha § Her Lair cig. long disordered masses down her back. Her com- — once fair, was bronzed to the hue of an dian’s almost, by exposure to the sun and wind. Her ments were plain yet neat, Her head was , as were her little feet and ly ankles also. $ y, Cassandra!” exclaimed Ned, “you little witch, is it you?’ “Yes,” she replied, her eyes sparkling with a roguish light, “it is me; hav’n’t I a right to be here?’ “Yes, but you are surely not aware of the surrounding en, ‘*T don’t care for the dangers,” she said a lit- tle a ; “Pll give you to understand, Mr. Ned, that I’m none of your delicate hot- house plants. I’m not afraid to ramble these hills over or use a pistol ifI have to. Ireckon you think like the folks at the — that I’m a rompin’ tom-boy, but I’m going to romp if body hates—” ** Cassandra,” interrupted Ned, ‘‘ you misun- derstand me.” “Ob, I do!” she exclaimed, and her whole countenance seemed to burst into a flood of joy and sunshine; “well, let it all pass, Ned—but say, where are *? over to the Reservation?” . ‘No, but I wish I were, and then I'd get to go home with you.” “We'd have a horse-race if you did, wouldn’t we?” the rude but honest-hearted little spirit said; “‘and oh! wouldn’t it be jolly for me to beat ao Nebraska Ned loved this wild, beautiful and unsophisticated pirl, and it was evident to all theé ner them that his love was ro- cated. She was the daughter of an Indian trader, Andre Markelle, who resided at the cy some ten miles south of where the ew Agen young e met. Cassandra, or Wild Cassa as sh Pee better known, was a wild, wayward girl, fearless and daring as any youth on the
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+ & Eagle Kit, the Boy Demon, prairie, yet withal sessed of a woman’s heart —a pure, kind and loving heart. Ned lingered at the side of the maiden ap- ee, forgetful of his mission; but at length e started from his blissful dream, bid her good- by and galloped on. Cassandra watched him out of sight, then she turned her horse’s head, plunged down the little hill, crossed the creek and started homeward. She had gone but a short distance when she discovered a man on foot hurrying down from the west as if to head her off. Drawing rein in a clump of bushes she watched the man. As he approached a mischievous smile played about her lips, and placing her hand in her pocket she drew forth a handsome little silver-mounted re- volver and pointing it at the man’s head, cried out: “* Halt! throw up your hands or die!” The man sto’ short and looked at her in amazement, The man was none other than the redoubtable Professor Jimrack. “Horned catapillars of Joppa!” burst from the astounded man’s lips, “‘ what in the nation are you? gal or boy? imp or impess?” ‘*T'm a road-agent,” was the cool and desperate reply, given in a tone of convincing firmness. ‘Road nothin’; you’re jokin’ now, gal, I know; Iam the noted Professor Jimrack here on a scientific expedition, and mustn’t be trifled with. Put up that pop-gun and tell me whose gal you be.” “ Professor Jimrack, I am your gal, if you don’t hold up your hands; you’re the man I’ve been watchin’ for. I mean what I say, sir; T’li shoot. ; ‘“Pshaw! I never see’d a woman in my life that could shoot.” 4 silts didn’t? well, do you see that bird yon- er “* Yes,” he replied, ‘‘a blind man could see it.” = Well,” said the girl raising her revolver and killing the bird, ‘‘ now do you see it?” Jimrack shru; his shoulders and said: “Holy stars! you’re a young wild-catess—a catamountess—a witch, bein’t you?” “ Hold—up—your—hands!” came the meas- ured reply from the girl’s lips, again bringing her pistol to bear on the old man. ‘ All right, up they go,” he exclaimed, resign- edly; ‘‘ I'd as lief be your prisoner as anybody’s. Every man. woman and child I’ve met yit in these diggins has taken me captive; but it’s all right, it’s all right. U’m yours to command, Jove and obey, gal. I’m a willin’ captive—them eyes of yourn have done the work for me.” “Then turn and move along that road before me,” she said, “‘and if you try to get away I'll Pop you over.” me on, sweet captor,” the professor re- plied, ‘‘come along, my Josey,” and he turned and started off down the valley. Cassandra rode along behind him, her eyes glowing and her lips com : but she could not restrain her emotions long, and she finally burst into a peal of bewitching laughter that rung in merry echoes through the valleys. Jimrack stopped and looking up at her in surprise asked: * Are ye madt stark, maniac mad?” “No, I’m jist jokin—I’m not a road-agent, old softy. I—I was just foolin’ you,” and again her voice rung through the hills around in peals of happy laughter. “ Tt’s too late now, gal, I’m your captive; you must take care of me. I’m willin’ to be taken —jist trot me right along.” “« Good-day, sir softy Jimrack,” she exclaimed, and with a wave of her hand, she dashed away, sae the professor alone in the valley, the worst dumbfounded and outwitted man ‘in the west. “ He-avens!” he snarled, “ that beats the speckled Jews all to thunder and Mars. Id like to know what kind of a rip-roarin’, hyena- laughing’, sure shootin’, little black-eyed ani- mal she is, anyhow? Somethin’ nateral history don’t mention. She ought to be in a cage, and —a thousand dollars by snakes! I’ve struck the right trail. Yum, yum, now, if that slum- ickin’ old Jack Drew war only here, we could lay for our game. Oh, never mind,my young wild witch,” and he shook his fist in the direc- tion Wild Cassandra had e; “never mind; you’ve had your day and 1'il have mine!” And the B irae turned and trudged off down the valley whistling to himself. CHAPTER VIL. A VILLAIN FOILED. Major Daniel Baron was a man of some thirty- five years of age. He was ee appearance, a fair education and quite a knowledge of the world; yet fortune seemed to be against him for he was comperatively a poor man. 7 your love—I could go on with a light, cheerfub However, the new gold fields of the Black Hills were inviting him to its hidden | wealth, and thither was he bound with the friends he had induced to accompany him. But the worst of all the major was in love—in love with Mabel Vane, and it was this regard for the | fair girl that impelled him forward to her rescue. But what reason had he to think she was in the mountains whither he rode so straight and fast? And wh him? It could not have been the spirit of rival- ry for Nebraska Ned loved Wild Cassandra, It could not have been for envy for Ned had none of that element in his composition. Major Baron rode straight for the hills and was lost in their shadows more than two hours before Nebraska Ned. Ashe entered the he glanced round like one looking for familiar objects. He reined his horse into a walk and whistled softly while his thoughts were busy. Finally the major turned to the left and en- tered a narrow defile which soon debouched into a little y valley or opening. Here he dis- mounted, turned his horse loose to and then laid himself down to rest under an cver- hanging rock on the edge of the valley. Here he Jay in deep meditation, The sun crossed the meridian; the hours went by. But at length he was started from his re by the sound of voices. He started up. He saw two persons coming down the valley—a girl and boy. An exclamation of joy burst from his lips when he recognized the girl as Mabel Vane. The boy with her was le Kit. Baron advanced to meet them. Kit drew his pistol for the man was a stranger to him. ** No, no, Kit!” cried Mabel, ‘‘’tis Major Baron —a friend! Ob, Mr. Baron! I am so glad to meet you; is father well? is the train safe?” Sbe ran forward and in her joy and excite- ment extended both hands to the major. “Yes, my little woman,” he replied, clasping her hands in his, and gazing down into her king eyes, ‘‘ all are safe, but we have been istracted by your absence.” **Oh, dear! I knew you all would be; but thanks to Eagle Kit, I was rescued from the outlaws. Oh, sucha dreadful, dreadful time as I have had!” “Come, sit down and tell me about it,” said Baron “No, indeed, major,” replied the girl, impa- tiently, ‘‘ we are anxious to reach camp before night. The train is threatened, and it is a long wa Honey Creek.” en she told him, in a hurried manner, of the intercepted message taken from the neck of the carrier-pigeon. The major betrayed no little surprise and un- easiness when he had read the paper; but then, asa smile played round his mouth, he said: ‘*Well, you need have no fears, Mabel; we have their message, So those at head-quarters will never know of Middleton’s wants,” **T don’t know ’bout that argyment,” said Ea- gle Kit; “they might have sent two messages; it’s best for us to be sure.” ‘‘Then take my borse yonder and go, Eagle Kit, and put the train on its guard,” command- ed Baron, putting the message in his pocket; “‘I will follow on with Mabel.” “Well, it’s just as Maple says,” replied Kit. “Tt will be satisfactory to me, Kit,” said Ma- bel, feeling the utmost confidence in Major an “do go at 6nce, and tell father I am well.’ Thus it was settled. Kit was soon mounted 9 the Baron’s horse, flying eastward through the hills and over the prairie. Major Baron watched the little mite of hu- manity out of sight; then, as a smile of inward a ge ees: his face, he turned to Mabel and said: ‘* Now let us move on, Mabel; we have a tire- some journey before us.” She took his arm and they moved slowly away, but no sooner had their journey together begun than she felt a strange uneasiness ak over her. She knew not why it was—she ha confidence in Baron. Mabel took no notice of the course they were pursuing. They conversed about the outlaws, the dangers of the plains, the hills, and in fact every be their surroundings . Finally turned the conversation upon a ion that Mabel had hoped might be evad- ed. It was love—a subject never failed to ae when alone with her. st 1,” he said, “‘we will soon be at our ourney’s end, and then all will settle down to busy life of miners. If I only had the as- surance of that for which I have sued so often— had Nebraska Ned followed | eart, and—” “Mr. Baron,” replied the little girl, seriously, ‘*] wish for your sake it were possible for you and I to be more than the best of friends to each other; but this cannot be, and I will tell you why, knowing you will accept my reasons as good ones: I love another.” “* Another?” he cried, as if her words cut to his very heart, while a look of pain settled upon his face that caused Mabe] to regret what she had said Fortunately, for her relief, she caught sight of a horse browsing Sree some bushes to their right, and changed the subject by calling atten- tion to the animal, which was bridled and sad- died. She recognized the horse at a glance by the red blanket rolled up and strap on the saddle behind as the one ridden by her captor on the previous day. ‘““T shall endeavor to catch the animal for you _ to ride, Mabel,” said Baron in his usual pleasant tone. Having seen her pleasantly seated under a tree, the major started off after the horse. The animal, whose feet were tangled in the rems hobtiled off as he appreached. He followed it up and was soon lost to the maiden’s view, be- lind a turn in the valley. Mabel was sorely troubled. She knew she had wounded the major’s heart, and a know- ledge of the fact pained her. However, she tried to dismiss the matter from her mind by diverting her thoughts to her father, Eagle Ki and he who was ever present in her mind an heart—Dick Rodman, the handsome youn ranger. Thus engaged she leaned her tir body and throbbing head back against thé tree- - trunk and closed her eyes. She sunk into a. doze from which she was started by the sound of footsteps. Bogen | her eves she saw a tall man with a mask, made of a handkerchief, over his face, standing over her. In his hands he held a red bianket outspread, and before she could utter a single note of alarm, he threw it over her head and shoulders, and then seizing her around the waist held the blanket firm against her efforts to remove it. Her cries to _ Baron died within the thick folds of the blan —her struggles were futile inst the strength of the man, who, lifting her in his aris, started away with her. After carrying her ‘some time, he came to where a horse was in waiting, and mounting the animal with the maiden his arms, he rode away. The pee girl made repeated efforts for liber- ty, and cajled for Major Baron’s help, but all was in vain. Only the hoof-strokes of the horse answered her. Her captor was silent and umh. ; And thus they rode on for miles. To Mabel it seemed an age since she had been shut up in the folds of that blanket. She was numb in limbs and body from her cramped position lying across the animal’s withers in the arms of her captor. But finally the man removed the blanket from ber head. She felt the cold airx upon her cheeks, but she could not see. It was night; darkness enveloped them although the moon and the stars were in the ~e A chilly air pervaded the pass through which a were moving. eigning unconsciousness Mabel endeavored to get a glimpse at her captor’s face, but failed; it was still masked. Suddenly the man started with a quick, nerv- ous movement and glanced back over his shoulder. Then he w rein. The far-off ring of hoof-strokes came to the ears of both captive and captor. he latter settled himself into his saddle, gathered the reins in his disengaged hand then spoke in a quick, sharp tone to his horse. The sound of his voice almost forced a cry from Mabel’s lips. ‘‘ Halt! surrender or die!” The voice that made this demand was un- doubtedly that of a female, who, enveloped in a cloak, with a pistol that glinted and glimmered in the moonlight in hand, rode from the ska- dows of a clump of bushes and leveled the weapon upon the breast of Mabel’s captor. Involuntarily, so it seemed, the man raised the form of his captive before bim asif to ward off the bullet of the unknown from his own ian His right arm being engaged in support- i abel prevented him from drawing his re- volver. Le Pve got you, girl-thief,” exclaimed that irlish voice, ‘you can’t conceal your big, sin- 1 body that helpless girl, and so don’t ou budge a hand or foot or ou square throw up: Pp tween the eyes, Drop that <i ood your bands!”
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Se 8 Eagle Kit, the Boy Demon. — —+ No sooner was this demand made than Mabel ‘No, indeed, my brave, fearless little girl,” sli {rom the villain’s arms to the ground. At the same instant the man attempted to draw Lis revolver, but the eye of the little cloaked | figure was upon him and as he raised his revolver there was.a flash, a report and-acry from the | villain’s lips, and he dropped his weapon from a. | shattered hand. Then, as he attempted to slip | trom his saddle so as to cover his body behind his l.orse, that unknown’s revolver rung out again with a clear “ping,” and the villain’s horse plunged forward with e, snort and almost human cry and fell dead—shot through the brain. As the animal sprung away from its master the man’s hat was knocked from his head, his mask fell from his face, and in the mellow moonlight the startled Mabel Vane saw that her ‘abductor was—Major Dan Baron ! CHAPTER VIII. TROUBLE IN THE PASS. MaBEL VANE was astounded by the discovery tiat her abductor was Major Baron; but ina 1:0ment all was clear to her. Her rejection of 1 is love was doubtless the cause that had turned tae aeons and lover into a villain and cap- ae t he might possess her even against her will. As the man’s wounded horse sprung away from him and left him standing uncovered in {ie moonlight, he shot a quick fierce look at liabel, and then at the cloaked figure on the berse he hurled.a fearful malediction, | Like a Crunken man, his bigest, torn, hand hanging #t Lis side, he then reeled back into the shadows of the bluff and Seep * A clear, ringing augh burst from the lips of the liftle cloaked figure on the horse before Mabel, that rung in startling echoes through th.; hills around, Mabel turned to her strange rescuer. from whose head and shoulders fell the mantle that enveloped face and form, revealing the face of a young girl—a wild, elfish-looking little crea- “Oh, mercy!” burst from the strange girl’s lips, and. she brought a little fist down into her aim with such force that it fairly cracked, *Tam_so sorry I didn’t kill that feller outright, for, tryin’ to steal sich a pretty little lady as you. are.” At this, juncture a horseman flying down the aoe drew rein before the maidens—glanced at dead.shorseyat Mabel Vane and then at the xix] upon the horse. “Nebraska Ned!” burst simultaneously from the two girls’ lips. “M ness! what does this all mean?” *he astonished Boy Ranger cried, “ “Tt means that J have rescued. that youn i:dy from the scamp that you’ve been ’bou Lreakin’ your neck to overtake,” was the reply Whe it is Wild Cassandra! girl ] it ssandra! girl, are you mad?’ fhe boy exclaimed, “Yes, sir, 1’m mad as a hornet,” was the re- spotise, ‘(and have been mad all day.” “Oh, Ned! she is a brave girl—she rescued ure from one whom we have always considered ec true geritleman,” said Mabel. “I know to whom.you refer: Major Dan “Tsn't it dreadful, Ned, that he should be such a man?” i “Yes, indeed; but where is he now?’ * He skipped. out after L,shot, bis horse and d him over the knuckles with a bullet,” sud Wild Cassandra, ‘and I’m mad now as.a uornet to think I didn’t plug him right through his wicked heart.” “He deserves it, Cassa,” replied Ned; ‘he isa bad man, although I never dreamed of the fact until I detected him tryin. to assassinate Judge Zelotes Prosper.a few evenings ago on Beaver Creek... When I found. he’d gone in search of Miss Vane I resolved to follow him. I could trust him no longer. On my way here I met Eagle Kit who toldme wrere you were, and also of the,message taken from the dead pigeon. That Captain Handsome, it struck | meat once, was Dan, Baron; and if so, then Dan Baron is the once notorious. robber-chief ewho infested the hills end prairies south of bere afew years ago. But I cannot imagine why he should want to murder Judge Prosper unless | he is afraid the judge will Roce bis villainous . neck in.the halter where:it, belongs., Kit’s.directions L,.was e By Eagle led to strike bis trail | replied the boy. ‘ Well, I was havin’ a little ride when I dis- covered that old scamp gallopin’ off with that lady, and so I made up my mind he’d got to disgorge, as they say at the Agency, and so I jist put old Lilac under whip and cutting across ot in ahead of the fellow and ambushed him, h, mercy! but old Lilac made the. gravel fly and the pass ring! I never rode so fast in my life—we. just ‘ sizzed.’” “Well, as you are a long ways from home, Cassa, and as there is danger of that gallant ! major finding his old companions in sin and giv- ing us trouble, we had better be getting back out of this defile.” ‘* All right, Ned,” replied the wild girl of the | hills, ‘‘ Jpss boost that young girl up here behind me on Lilac and we will go it a-kiting—make the old smoke.” Mabel was assisted to a seat behind the little heroine and facing southward the three began retracing their steps through the defile. The moon now in the zienth shed a soft, dreamy light over hill and valley, The night winds stirred the pines on the rug- ged range into a gentle murmur, Night-birds whirled in and out of the shadows —over the heads of the three young. people— upon whistling wings. Wild Cassandra’s voice ran incessantly. Hers was a wild, free spirit, She knew. no fear. Now and then her girlish vivacity would burst forth in peals of rippling laughter that would start a hundred elfin voices ringing in wildest glee among the rocks. They rode along in a walk, The eyes.and ears of Nebraska Ned were constantly on the alert. He on that he had now a double care upon his ands, Finally they. rode from the; defile into a wide and sparsely w pass running at rigbt an- gles with the defile. As they did so; a dozen rsemen rode from the black mouth of a defile on. the opposite side of the pass and fell in along- side of them. Neither party was awareof the presence of the other until..they were together; and ata glance Nebraska Ned saw that. the strangers were a party of robbers or outlaws. ' The pass being devoid of timber where they had met, the moon shone full upon them. : ae the stars ;above «us!” cried an outlawén astonishment, ‘* what outfit is this?.what have we, here?” Rorrat go" ; sty “Nebraska Ned and a pair of little butter- five !? answered another who had recognized e Boy Ranger had never been so completely taken by surprise before; He saw that they had, despite his precaution, ridden into atrap, from whence there appeared but little hope of escape, ; An outlaw rode up slonguice the girls, who were 1 little in the rear of Nebraska Ne , threw up the wide brim of his hat infront, and glared into their,faces with a leering smile, | . “Sir, co not insult those girls!” cried Ne Ned. laying his hand upon his revolver, “ Peace, youngster,” said an outlaw,. ‘or you'll never go gallavantin’ through these hills with sich pretty gals again; I only want to re- lieve-you sa! ayy double burden— “Touch one of us, you darned ole robber!” burst. from the line of the brave but. irreverent “and Pll knock your head off—jist you dare to!” “* Why, you little spitfire, you--” _ The .villain’s. words were here cut short. A ona in the hands of Wild Cassandra flashed in is: face, and with .a horrible gurgling cry};/he started back, clutched at,his horse’s mane, reeled in his saddle, and as his .horse dashed away in affright, hurled him violently to the earth. With an. oath a comrade,.of. the dead man Rog alongside Cassandra’s horse, seized it by e bits and jerked it back almost upon -tjts | nt Jump. Mabel, jumpi cried Cassandra, and ‘* Jump, Mabel,,.jump!”.crie andra, together the two si leaped to the ground, and like frightened fawns darted. across, the narrow, moonlit. -valley,, and) disappeared. among, the shadows, of the rocky bluffs, T “on Nebraska. Ned turned and. endeayored, to pro- tect the girls, but the GOae sree against him. An. outlaw rode up behind him and.dealt.bim a blow, that Gane, him out of; his saddle and stunned him so that he was made prisoner with- out further resistance. and,follow him up;.but I.am surprised to see | ...wo.outlaws,leaped from their horses and ran », Cassandra.” - ' in purs eS, you're, always surprised,” she said, | pyre th, ; ¥ ] é little petuiantly, “arn't you cisagpuinted this | bluffs grew, patches of, brushwo tia:of” y ut gt the,maidens,.__ ; e., base; of, the. high, perpen dion + into. whic i Cassandra and Mabel had fied. Cassandra led | the way as if accustomed to such adven- | ture. a her right hand she clutched ber | unerring little.derringer while with her left slic | parted the bushes before her. In this manncr | they dodged along through the undergrowth aud shadows for some distance. when they finaily came to an overhanging ledge where the darl- ness was. intense. ere they stopped and listened. Mabel was shivering with fear; Wild | Cassandra was calm and cool. The voices of the outlaws could be heard call- ing to each other out of the darkness. _ ‘ They’d better not foolaround us,” whispered Cassandra; ‘I’ve three more loads in my re- volver and I’ll make every onecount. I’m mad now, Mabel, and I’m not afeard of anybody, if he’s big as this mountain.” “Oh, Cassandra! they’re coming this way in search of us! they’re near us now,” exclaimed Mabel. ‘* Let ’em come, gals,” said. a .strange yet as- suring voice from out the shadows near them; ‘‘and they’]l be. the» wust surprised critters that’s lived since Noah’s ark sailed over. the mountains of Asia. .I are Judge Zelotes Pros- per, o’ Car’lina, gals, and I are a hull school 0’ speckled alligators in a fight. Jist docket yer case, afore this court and.t’ll see that you git a judgment—” are the flash of a moh 2 the hands of oe speaker, mysterious Judge Prosper, was fol- | lowed by a groan of agony and. the fall of a body: e of, the advancing.outlaws had paid the penalty of his villainy with his life; but the other one believing that Cassandra had fired. the shot, leaped forward into the darkness where, he had. seen the flash, but instead of seizing a maiden be found himself seized by the rude hands,of;a man, , The two foes grappled and the next moment were whirling,and crashing through the under- growth ina fearful death-struggle, CHAPTER IX. .., EAGLE KIT’S VISIT TO CAMP. THE situation in camp at the mouth of Honey Creek had not materially changed, after Ne- braska Ned’s. departure, from what it had been before. It is true, the place. still remained in a. state of siege.; An.outlaw,.or Indian could be seen here or there on the plainjor in the woods, evidently, watching movements at camp, Judge Zelotes Prosper ate a hearty breakfast with ,.the,emigrants, after which; he had. the pany physician dress and patch up his bruised and battered face.. But no sooner was this done than the odd old,stranger. announced; his. inten- tion of departing for the hills; that: too upon foot in the very face of surrounding dan- gers... Dick Rodman tried. to. prevail on him to stay, but he would listen to nothing, and finally took his departure, ' Dick Rodman had fully realized the responsi- bility resting upon him since Ned had left. He was fully sati that the outlaws had not re- linguished their determination to capture ‘the train, on would not until every effort had been There were two women in the party besides Mabel Vane; and for these a place of safety had Mr. Vane. was almost prostrated over the ab- sence of his child, He knew not certain what had been her fate, and, the strange conduct of Major Dan Baron and of Nebraska Ned had a tendency to still add to his. doubts and fears. Dick Rodman seemed to share Mr. Vane’s trouble with him. The boy’s eyes were ever fixed with an eager, impatient look toward the west... A dozen times he expressed the wish that he had gone in Ned’s place. It told its story— Dick loved the missing girl. The day wore slowly away. The sun crossed the meridian and shone hot and. sultry on the besieged, Nature seemed hushed in a painful silence. . Not a sign of life had been visible for hours outside of the ‘‘ wallow;” but all at once a large bird was seen sailing down from the direction of the mountains—now and then cir- Cling around and around and then darting for- ward,upon swift, wing. j Fy oon the great bird was directly over camp, where. it seemed, to stop and stand motionies: upon airy wings as, if. to search theinterior of the camp, then it glided forward and began circling downwarduntil it seemed it was going to light, when, with.a frightened,.scream, it shot suddenly away,and finally settled in a tree-top DALE 9.paHe SOREN FORD, G stay . To. the, plainsman, there is always a signifi- cance in the movement of birds; but in all his
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years of experience Dick Rodman had never seen such movements in a creature of the ‘ up- | per deep” as those just witnessed, At first-he took the bird for a vulture—one of those mon- ster-scavengers of the plain—but as it drew nearer he found he was mistaken, It was aa eagle, and a larger bird he had never seen... He | had shot many eagles, but they were mere | sparrows compared with the one he had just seen. ‘‘Pd give anything for a shot.at that mon- ster,” the boy said, as he watched it settle in the tree-top. J | At this juncture attention was called to a | horseman. that. rose. suddenly on a swell in the | prairie. He was riding at a high rate of speed, | and coming directly toward camp. Every, eye was turned with eager expectation toward the horseman. ‘‘ Was it Baron? was. it Ned¢’ were the questions that passed from lip | to lip. ; Suddenly, as. if coujured up from the earth, six more horsemen rose into view on the prairie between, the first rider and camp. At sight of them the lone horseman swung to the left and continued his wild ride. The six horsemen started in swift pursuit of him. ‘‘ By gracious! d’ye see that?” exclaimed Dick Rodsaan; ‘that. lone horseman. is.doubtless a friend who’s been comin’ to camp, and them six horsemen are outlaws. .1 see now why Baron and,Ned:and._ old. Prosper. were permitted to igo away unmolested; every man leavin’ weakened us that much, but now that some, one wants to join us they’re up.and,snortin’.. But they’re not gaiuin’. much..on the.lone.feller—on tryin’ to keep between him and camp.” The,pursued headed toward the timber. while the pursuers, strung oub like Indians behind, en- deavored;to head him, off. Presently three or four more horsemeu appeared on the plain and joined in the chase. fs Mr. Vane procured his field-glass and brought it to bear. upon the excitang racers.. Acry es- caped bis lips: ‘The pursued,” he said, ‘‘is a boy--a mere child, and the horse he rides is that of Major Baron!” He passed the glass toa friend. The horse was easily recognized as that ridden away by the major. ‘‘He’s dispatched a gnessenger to us,” said Vane, ‘oh may Heaven. help the lad! Perhaps he’s tidings of my child.” Rapidly the little fugitive gained upon his yelling pursuers; he. was in a fair way of out- riding them, and almost to the timber, when his horse, stumbled, and ..feli—shoeoting the little rider forward, to the earth, But, in an instant the lad was upon his feet ready to remount, but the horse did not rise, ; , “Mercy!” exclaimed Rodman, ‘‘the boy’s horse is down, and,tbe little ladis‘at them: de- mons’ mercy !, Men, we.must now aci—go.to the youth’s, assis ance for.he doubtless comes with a message, Ahi)see, he runs afoot toward the timber! he. isa brave lad.” True enough the little figure turned and ran toward the woods. ‘ The great eagle that had settled in the tree- top a few minutes before spread its mighty wings and soared upward—circled and whirled in the air like a bird. when .wounded yet striv- ing,to. keep awing, and finally settled upon an- other trée-top. : The boy disappeared in the woods. The outlaws swept oa—passed the wounded horse and glided into.the timber. : Then again that winged monarch of the air | swept into view. over the tree-tops and. over, the | very heads of the outlaws bearing in its talons a great burdea—a human burden! loward. the camp the great bird came on laboring wing, Qut of the woods burst the outlaw horsemen firi:.g into the aiy at the great eagle. ‘Great heavens!” cried Mr. Vane, ‘‘ that hor- rible,yulture has seized that child-fugitive and is carrying it away toa fearful, death!” Dick Rodman stood motionless and speechless, his eyes fixed upon the bird with an expression of horror therein. ; The great bird left the outlaws far behind, but it. was gradually eoming; nearer the earth as if borne down, by, its living burden. Within a, hundred paces of the. camp. it touched ‘the earth, released. its, prey and then with a frightened scream, rese into the air. in spiral circles till lost almest..in the, clouds: of | heaven, fe ve The outlaws in-epparent, astonishment. drew) rein-and, watched the bird rising henvenward. | ey seemed afraid to approach nearer tle fry Eagle Kit, the Bc y Demon. 9 camp for half a dozen rifles were ready to re- ceive them when they came within range. ‘“Great mysteries! what does it all mean?’ asked Mr. Vane, a puzzled expression settling upon his face. *““ Ay!” cried Dick Rodman; ‘‘I have it! I have it! It is the Boy Demon, Eagle Kit! Ah, there he comes!” A diminutive figure came gliding through the prairie grass and bounded like a rubber ball over the bank into the wallow. Then as it straightened up and glanced around the place and at the aston.shed crowd before it, it ap- peared like a veritable little imp from the fabled land of Lilliput, For,a moment not a soul stirred The little dwarf seemed to have filled all with speechless wonder. The boy was the first to break the silence; ‘* Hurrah!” he shouted in a tone of joy, “I beat them ole pirates after all, Folkses, ¥ are Eagle Kit, fresh from the mountains with news for you all, thanks to hoof and wing!” This broke the spell and the next mov.ent the human midget was surrounded by the besieged, eager with curiosity and wonderment. “What news have you, Kit?” asked Dick Rodman. ‘‘ News? why. Miss—Miss Vane. is, well and alive—lL rescued her from an old oullaw that’s hussellin’ her aay into— ** You monen ont one a Vane, asping the boy’s hand in bis, and looking Fie into his big, black eyes. ‘Yes, sir; L jist sent the old robber galley west, and saved Miss Maple and took her to the Erie and kept. her over night, I know I’m. a little wart of a lookin’ thing, folkses, but I’m wusser'n a small torpedo when I go off. Did you see my race with them jacksnipes awhile ago? and» my fly-over with Old Hurricane, my eagle? Gosh, but he’s the bossest bird that ever flapped a wing over Dakota.” , ‘“‘And so Mabel, my child, is. safe?’ repeated Mr. Vane, beside himself, with joy. ‘* She war when [left her M see me-and her was on our way over here when we mét a chap called Baron—Gineral Baron or sunthin’—” “Ah, it was Major Baron,” said. Vane. ‘*Well,J guess ‘twas ‘‘major.” He war out on the hunt for . Maple, and,when, we showed him a message we'd taken-from. the..neck. of a carrier-pigean that the bess. of the clouds, Old Hurricane, brought in: this morning, he war wonderfully worked up. So he jist puts the message down, in his pocket and told: me to mount his hoss and light out for this place and tell, you\that old Doc Middleton has sent for re- inforcements to|capture your train: As he war the biggest, and Maple didn’t care, why I conte.” ifts ‘‘ What. was.inthe message? .Whydid Baron not send it?” asked Dick Rodman, ‘* Well, let’s see,” said Kit scratching hiscurly head thoughtinlly, and, then he went on and repeated the message word for word as Mabel had read it to: bim The party was startled by the contents of the paper, as given them. from the boy’s memory. t.part, relating to Captain Handsome was the, most startling. Instantly each man search- ed the face of bis companions for. evidenee of guilt, TRU Finally. Mr., Vane exclaimed, unable to re- strain his emotions longer: “Who of our party is the ex-robber chief, Captain Handsome?” ‘TE will tell you, Mr, Vane,” said Dick Rod- man, his white. lips. betraying his inward emo- tion; ‘Captain Handsome is that man, Major Dan Baron!” CHAPTER X. A SILENT SLAYER. Dick Ropman’s words fell like a thunderbolt. upon the éars of his friends. | Not a man coulé— not a man dared refute the young ranger's charge against Major: Baron, although ‘there were those who felt that it was as preposterous as; it was unjust... Mr.» Vane, however; felt satisfied of the trathfulness of the charge. ‘He knew that Baron had:at‘one time spent several years in the West; and he knew not’ but that | those years had been spent as a robber-captain: ‘‘My child,” he said, again bowed down with grief, ‘‘is lost! Better that she were dead than in the:power of Dan Baron:? >. : “But, Mr. Vane\” said Dick, “he may shave been a robber once and yet an honest man now ;. and—” “ His going away, Dick; was vary! strange,” persisted Vane; ‘even Nebraska Ned mistrusted ' something wrong. No, I tell you that man has tolled us all here to our destruction.” ‘* Oh, pizen nightshade!” exclaimed ¥h'e Kit, wringing his hands in:sore distress, ‘‘if I have killed that poor little girl by givin’ her up to that man, 1’ll jump from a mountain peak and bu’st myself, Oh, dear! I thought I war doin’ everything up in sich a boss style.” ‘““My dear little fellow,” said Vane, sym- pathetically, ‘‘ God kno,,s you have done nobly —better than any other human, perbaps, could have done, Don’t grieve yourself, my _ Let us hope for the best. Nebraska Ned is out after Baron and may—” \ ‘* Yes, sir!” exclaimed Kit, ‘‘I met Ned, and told, bim where I'd left that major and Miss Maple, and away be went, lickey-tee-scoot.” “Then there is still.a hope,” said Ishmael Brown. “Kit, do you think there are many outlaws about?’ asked Mr. Vane. “ Not over''a, dozen, I don’t b’lieve. They're waitin’ for reinforcements, but if their comin’ depends on that arcane we took in, theyll never git here. Ye see themas are layin’ ’round on the prairie like lousy coyotes ‘ll let a feller leave calip cause it weakens yer force that raueh, but if a chap wants to get into camp they’l) bu’st their giblets to catch him as they tried to me. Fixed as you are here, six men can lick fifty robbers.” “T think myself that it will not require all of us to guard camp,” said Mr. Vane, ‘*and as the outlaws molest no one leaving, T have a mind to go.in search of my child.” ‘*T will accompany you, Mr. Vane,” said Dick Rodman. “ And here, too,” chimed. in the little dwarf, his bright eyes aglow with boyish eagerness, A consultation w ld: when it was decided that six men were sufficient to take care of the camp, and that the others might go and assist Vane-in the search for his Ode (mii In a very short. time the distracted, father, accompanied by Eagle Kit, Dick Rodman, John Perrin and Isaac F1eeman—all well armed and equipped—were moving westward. over the rol- ling prairie. ; Briskly they made their way mountainward, guided by the tallest peak before them. |... Not an outlaw showed his head anywhere upon the pe Eagle Kit proved himself a wonderful human mite. He was as merry and comical as a little clown. In his odd, humorous way be told many steries of daring adventure in which he and his eagle figured as chief actors.. His stories were of such an original character and told in.such a. happy vein of humor decidedly his own, that they did much to dispel the gloom and fear from the minds of his companions. It was nearly sunset. when they reached the foot-hills, and the shadows of evening were already gathering-in the valleys. An ow] flew from his retreat in the rocks and settling upon a tree, ogled and blinked at our friends in a comical way. .He was not over twenty paces from them. Eagle Kit stooping and picking up a stone, said: ‘| never ‘low an owl to stare me in the face that way—I hate owls—they alers make night so shivery with their te-whit-ti-hoo-00-00-0!” The last notes fell from ‘his lips in wonderful imitation of the hooting of an owl; then throw- ing back his hand the boy hurled the stone at the big-eyed bird, and true to its. aim the mis- sile went home, striking the owl in the head and Perri. : ‘““That’s nothin’,” ey a outh ina “pte t urricane that ite the ' They ‘resumed their: journey and. traveled slowlyand: cautiously on into the lonely hills. Iti was past midnight when. they suddenly dis- coveted a light:aeross on the opposite side of the river on whose “banks they. stood. It. was a mere flash like that made by a match—it lasted only a moment.
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10 Eagle Kit, the Boy Demon. ‘* A fire-fly,” said John Perrin. Ned’s throbbing brain could scarcely keep pace “T don’t know ’bout that,” replied young an. ‘‘ Wait for me here and I’ll know,” said Eagle Kit, and before any one could interpose an ob- jection he was gone. The dwarf crossed the river on some drift- wood and with the silence of a shadow made his way in the direction in which he had seen the light Coming to a certain point he caught the faint low and glimmer of a camp-fire in a valley alf a mile distant. He at once moved on to- ward it. As he came near he saw the form of a man moving about in the light. Within a clump of undergrowth some thirty from camp the little scout found three ee saddled and bridled—evidence of the fact that they were to be used again that night. And greatly to his surprise he found one of the animals was that of Nebraska Ned. He knew it despite the darkness. “That young feller’s in trouble,” he mused, creeping on toward the camp. Within a cluster of bushes not over ten paces from the fire the young scout came to a halt and searched the camp. Two men sat before the fire, and their evil faces, as well as their garbs, were sufficient evi- dence of their character. They were outlaws well armed aud equipped. Near them lay a human form, apparently bound hand and foot. It was Nebraska Ned, a helpless prisoner. From the general appearance of things Kit concluded that the freebooters had stopped there but for a short time. They acted very much as if they were expecting some one who was to be uided to that ae by the glow of their fire, or they could have needed a fire for no other purpose at that time. The outlaws seemed to have no fears whatever. They laughed and talked in a loud, boisterous spirit—occasionally addressing some jeering re- mark to the helpless young ranger before them, and who had in the past been such an obstacle to their free operations in plundering travelers and settlers. Finally Ned rose to a sitting posture and gazed into the fire. His face wore a sad, troubled look. ‘“J reckon you begin to realize, m crusader,” ald one of the robbers, addressin Ned, ‘‘ that your career is not one of continu pleasu t you can’t play the gallant to all the pretty gals that comes this way, shoot mountaineers with impunity and do as you please generally by moonlight on forbidden grounds. Just as soon as the rest of our boys come up we perpose to see how long you can stand on air with arope around your neck and over the limb of a tree.” ‘“T wonder what’s detainin’ them?” put in the other outlaw with an oath. A ery from his comrade was the only answer, as the man clutched at his head, fell backward at full length on the earth while a convulsive shudder ran through his frame. ‘*Kirk!’ Kirk!” cried the man’s companion, “ what ails you, old comrade? Are the snakes at- tackin’ you ag’in?” But Kirk made no answer. His friend raised his head: His body was limp, motionless and apparently lifeless, He’s ruptured a blood-vessel,” said Ned, who saw'the blood running from the man’s mouth and left ear. Suddenly the body of the outlaw began quiv- ering as if with convulsions. His jaws fell apart; he rattled in the throat. Bloody ooze rgled and sputtered from his lips. His body me rigid, then relaxed and fell in a lifeless heap. “ hizz!”’ Something shot past the ear of the other outlaw ahh went clipping inf the foliage be- ond. The robber dropped his dead comrade’s head; sprung to his feet, grasped his revolver and glared around like an animal at bay. A deathly silence reigned for full a minute, then followed a sharp, thud-like sound—the outlaw red to one side and fell like an ox in the shambles while a half-muttered impreca- tion escaped his li Then a little figure came gliding from the darkness, ran tow Nebraska lay and bend- ing over him severed his bonds. ‘Up, Ned, and knock a ‘crack in the air,” said the voice of le Kit. “ionly gotin a stunner on that last pirate—stone was too light and I couldn’t find in young a better a lar King David on that t’other iar, didn’t 1? Knocked him westward—but, come, Ned, let’s b’ist ves out of here. So quick had all this transpired that Nebraska with the occurring events, and ere he had fully realized the situation Eagle Kit and he were un- der cover of the darkness. CHAPTER XI. THE PURSUERS GO INTO CAMP. Ovt in the timber beyond the radius of lights Nebraska Ned and his little rescuer stopped. **My gracious, Kit!” said Ned laying his hand on the dwarf’s shoulder, ‘‘ I am completely as- tonished—dumbfounded.” ‘** Be you? what about?” ‘* You, and the way you rescued me.” ‘Oh, p’izen! that war jist as easy as grease Ned; I jist took in the situation and then I shied dornicks at ’em pi-rates like David, of whom the old missionary used to read to me out of his Bible, did at the giant Goliar; and I raked bowler fromtaw on the fust one; but didn’t git in a boss a on t’other chap and only muddled his brain a little. But, Ned, where’s Miss Maple? d’ye know?” . **T don’t, Kit; but she and Cassandra Mar- kelle are éither captives or wanderers in these hills. I was with them when set upon by a pack of outlaws. Cassandra shot one of them and then she and Mabel sprung from their horse and ran into the darkness. I was then over- powered, knocked from my horse and made prisoner, Those two robbers brought me here where they were to await the coming of their comrades. So God only knows where the girls are; but what news from camp, Kit?” In as few words as possible Kit told of his visit to ont and that four of his friends were waiting for him up the river awa The news fired Ned’s breast with burning im- patience. He was eager to be off to his friends. By this time the wounded outlaw had so far recovered from his blow as to be able to sit up. Bleeding at nose and mouth, he gazed around him in wild confusion. “Shall I shoot him, Ned?’ asked Kit, drawing his pistol. ‘*No, no; let the wicked wretch go with his miserable life. yey say to turn a singed rat loose it will take its friends and leave the neigh- borhood; and perhaps if we let that wounded robber go he will warn his friends that there is a little torpedo in these hills likely to explode at any moment, and they will profit by the warn- ing and seek other quarters. Let us be off, 1 ’ ‘** But what ’bout the hosses? Hadn’t we ought to cabbage ’em, Ned?’ ‘*'Yes, to be sure; my horse is among them.” They hastened around to where the three horses were hitched. Untying them, Ned mounted his own faithful animal and little Kit climbed into the big saddle un one of the other horses. The third horse Nebraska Ned led, and in this manner they made their way down the dark, wooded valley to the ford. Here, as they emerged into the mellow moon- light, a cry burst from the lips of Eagle Kit. ebraska Ned glanced back, and he, too, ut- tered an exclamation of deep surprise. On the back of the led horse was seated a man whose presence had been unobserved in the dense darkness! ‘“*Good-evening, gents!” said the man, with all the deliberate coolness of one who knew his presence was ba gene “ Great p’izen!” exclaimed Kit, whipping out a revolver. ‘** Put that pill-box away, boy,” the man com- manded, in an easy sort of a way. “I’m not gorin’ to swaller ye—I’m no hungry pirate—I are— “* Judge Zelotes P: r!” declared Nebraska Ned; ‘‘ why, my dear old dare-devil, I am truly glad to meet you.” * And so I you, boy. By the sword o’ Dam-ocles, Iruther expected the oranges and oleanders ’d be blowin’ over your grave afore another week the way things war goin’ once to- night, but I see you pulled through. Boy, I war nigh when you and them gals run into that hornet’s nest o’ outlaws to-night. And I did anf best for you, but in spite of me the var- nts got away with you and the gals. But you can jist bet your bottom spondulic I painted a little purgatory on one road-agent’s uicker nor a hound pup could lick a skillet. word o’ Dam-ocles! we tore up the shrub- bery like a pair o’ led bull alligators in a canebrake, A er mess hasn’t made 0’ any critter than I made o’ that brigand since Noah’s ark swung over the mountain peaks of ‘*Then the girls are captives?” ‘“« Yes, they be, Ned, ’'m sorry to say. The odds war too big for this court, and when I’d got through with my man the gals war gone.” ‘*How did you git onto that horse?” asked Kit, whose head was just visible above the pom- mel of his saddle. ““Why, I jist swung on as you started off as easy as a shadow flittin’ over astream. But, I sxy, boys, this is the dam-agest country for a judicial chap to rusticate in that I ever read of —dangers by the trillion—haye to a myself in battle-trim all the time in order to keep the Car’lina bench of justice from bein’ vacated.” The three crossed the river and turned up the stream. Judge Prosper’s tongue rattled away inces- ba ‘* Ned,” he finally asked, “‘have you see’d anything o’ that ole daisy, Perfesser Jimrack, since that night we fust met on the banks o’ the Beaver?” ‘* Nothing, judge; but I learned this evening from Cassandra kelle that he is in the neigh- borhood.” ‘““Dam-age his pictures, ’ve made up my mind that he’s not the ginewine goods—the clear quill; and I’ve been cross with myself ever since that night to think I didn’t smash in the ussy old cuss’s bay-winder. I’m of the opin- ion that he’s in cahoots with these robbers and road-agents, else he’d never desarted me as he did that night. But say, Ned, who war that gal that war ’ith Mabel to-night?” ‘*Her name is Cassandra Markelle—Wild Cas- sandra we call her. She lives at the Agency, and’s an all-fired pretty girl, too.” ‘Oh, ho! then you’re in love with her, be ou? eli, you remember I told you I war on he Jook out for a stray gal, the daughter of John Henry Grayson, and that I war to meet one Colonel Blower, and he and I war to look Dakota over, and if we found her set her u with a fortune? Well, s’pose Wild Cassandra’s our gal, and she escaped from the outlaws, what’ll you do?” ‘“*What should I do but congratulate her on her escape and good fortune? But then Wild Cassandra’s not the girl you’re after. She’s Father Markelle’s own child.” “That may be very true, and as I can’t da anything intelligently till Blower comes with all details and perticlers, ’ll jist amuse mysvlf, as I have been, ramblin’ around ’mongst these hills drinkin’ in the quiet repose o’ nature and sniffin’ the balsamic odors and—dodgin’ bul- lets.” “Did you say you had never met Blower?” “T never met him; a friend o’ mine told me *bout him—says he’s the handsomest man in face and form that ever smashed the heart of woman. Oh, I’m to meet the gallant colonel— am goin’ over to the fort in a day or two as the time arranged for our meetin’ there’s up soon.” “Tf you ar’n’t a little carefuller you'll not meet him this side of eternity,” said Fagle Kit. “Tm careful, my kid— don’t catch me runnin’ my nose into dangers needlessly ; but when I do git there, I’m wusser’n a speckled alligator in a canebrake.” “ Judge,” said Ned, ‘‘I want to ask you a question.” ** Let her slip.” “Do you know Major Dan Baron?” ‘* Never see’d him as I know of—why?” ‘It was he that attempted to kill you on Beaver Creek the other night.” “The dameet it was! well, then he must have the pleasure of knowin’ me. I reckon he must be some jolly old gambolier sailin’ under false colors—some huckleberry, I expect, that I’ve sent up some time or other to learn a trade. By the sword o’ Damocles! what if it should be Ho— well, I want to see that man, boys. If I'm a stumblin’-block in his way, it might be sich a thing as what I’ve business with him.” ‘Just so, judge,” replied Ned; ‘‘now I be gin to mistrust something of the real truth—you, are not what you appear to be.” ‘** Ho, ho, ho!” the old man laughed softly to himself, “so you think I’m an old bypocrite, do ye? Boy, yer mistaken; a truer man to na- ture, anda juster judge than I hasn’t sot in judgment over a constituency since the ark swung into harbor on Ararat.” Thus they rode on till a voice hailed them. They had come to Dick Rodman and his three companions in waiting for Kit’s return. A few words acquainted them with the situ- ation and also the new acquisition that had been made to their numbers. Great was the joy over the release of Nebraska Ned; and even those of the party who had once mistrusted the inimical Judge Prosper of double
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dealing, forgot the past and received him among them with a hearty good welcome. Scouts were sent over to watch the robbers’ camp in hopes that those e there by Ned’s late captors might bring Mabel and Cas- sandra with them; but in the course of an hour the scouts returned with the information that the camp was deserted. The pursuers, accompanied by Ned and Pros- per, now moved on, but owing to the darkness and rough condition of the country they were ‘finally compelled to go into oan toe wait for daylight. e place selected by Ned for a camp was at the foot of a steep, brushy hill A fire was lighted to dispel the gloom from their spirits as well as their surroundings. Guards were stationed at three different points to guard the approaches to camp. Mr. Vane sat down silent and sad, Judge Prosper took his position by the fire with the ease and familiarity of one accustomed tothe bivouac. He talke away constantly and his humorous stories, ridiculous assertions and whimsical expression flowed like a never-failing stream and drove away much of the gloomy depression weighing upon the hearts and minds of the party. “Many and many’s been the teching scenes in my court,” he finally remarked in extenua- tion of the conversation; ‘‘ but never war there sich a time as took place at what war known as the ‘Wharton murder trial,’ and I'll tell ye *bout it. Jonathan Wharton, a rich old planter, had been murdered, and one Harry Claxton was arrested for the murder on complaint of Jackson Hohn and se pete Martin, two nice young gentlemen of enviable reputation. And I might add that Harry Claxton was one of the most highly esteemed and beloved young men in all Car’lina, so when his trial came on the court-room was packed so full that everybody had to breathe at once and then the sides of the buildin’ swelled in and out’ ith every exhalation. It was awful, I tell you. Public sympathy was all on young Clax’s side, but the evidence was all on t’other side. Hohn and Martin swore p’int-blank as to seein’ him do the bloody deed, in a fit of passion. There wasn’t a single iota of rebuttin’ evidence, and so, many were the tears shed for poor Harry ton, when the jury retired. There could be no hel for him—none whatever. The jury was ou jist ten holy minutes—long enough to suck a emon and eat a glass o nuts. uick had they arriv’ at a verdict that all felt it must | ven, and that Harry must hang. A silence t must have equaled that o’ creation’s morn reigned in the room while the jury was takin’ their seats. Then followed the verdict o’ ‘not guilty.” Still the silence reigned, for every soul lieved he’d not heard aright; but when I, the judge, ordered the jury and the prisoner dis- charged, the storm bu’st forth. If you can imagine "bout how it was the day old Noah opened the doors of his ark and his sons and daughters and the beasts and birds therein rushed out and hand in hand and side by side went down the stony sides of Ararat into the green valleys of Asia Minor, singing and shouting, roaring and bellowing, howling and squalling, whistling and fluttering, wriggling and squirming, jump- ing and flying, you can form a faint conception of the scene in that court-room. Furniture was kicked over and smasbed, men danced on the heads of the seethin’ crowd; the jury was snatched bald-headed and hugged and pounded Me oP po &. they stood the judge on his head; men kissed each other and other folks’s wives, and the wives kissed everybody come-at-able but their own husbands; a hundred bottles lea into sight as if by magic and turned their bot- toms heavenward and shot their sparkling con- tents dancing and foaming down a hundred thirsty throats; ape Me ht men sidled up to the judge, and with that knowing, manly wink oe bave all doubtless witnessed, slipped a bot- le into i By | and bade me drink to the _ health of Harry Claxton; in less than an hour the sheriff had piled the jurymen in his office like so many sticks of cord-wood, all overcome with Harry Claxton’s health. I'd ’a’ fined every mother’s son of ’em if I hadn’t been taken down myself with a strange dizziness in my head and a weakness in my legs that I couldn’t account for on any other theory than that re- action war settin’ ih on a high-strung nervous system. Oh! it war a rip-rcarin’ ful L ou bet. car- ried the jury, and it wer’n’t healthy for Hohn have been rendered before the evidence was t Eagle Kit, the Boy Demon. and what do you s’pose he confessed?—why, may the oleanders bloom over me afore the new moon if he didn’t confess that he and Hohn murdered Jonathan W harton,and bad endeavor- ed to fix the crime on young Claxton. But, somehow or other, before we could git the bracelets on Hohn, he got wind of his pard’s blow-out and nm on the country; and so ye see Jackson Hohn is wanted—wanted bad—a five thousand dollars’ worth. But if he should never be caught on earth, thar’s one consolation in knowin’ that he’ll be russelin’ around in pur- atory some day, like a bull alligator in a cane- rake.” As the judge concluded Nebraska Ned arose and said: ** Boys, it’s time to change the guards; who are the three that next go on duty? ‘*T for one,” exclaimed Judge Prosper, spring- ing to his feet. e judge was taken to the top of the bluff overlooking the camp and the man on guard there relieved. Scarcely had the relief been made at the dif- ferent points when a yell was heard on top of the hill, and before a man could have time to act, a crashing was heard among the weeds and brush covering the hillside and the next mo- ment roo r and some unknown foe came whirling and bounding in rapid evolutions down the descent into the glow of the fire, strug- gling in each other’s deadly embrace. CHAPTER XII. CAUGHT IN THE OUTLAWS’ TRAP. JUDGE PROSPER and his unknown enemy came up at the foot of the hill within the radius of light. Neither one had taken time or had had an opportunity to draw a knife or pistol, but had grappled cn sight, thereby making the conflict a test of physical prowess. Put no sooner, however, had Nebraska Ned got a glimpse of Prosper’s foe than he recognized im. “Hold on here, men!” the young ranger shout- ed, ‘you are not foes—hold on, I say.’ ree or four men seized the combatants and separated them. Prosper’s antagonist was nore vther than Professor Jimrack. By accident, so it seemed, the two men had again met in conflict. As the two foes rose to their feet with torn disarranged clothes and their hair on end and their faces flushed with excitement, they glared at each other in contemptuous silence. r was the first to speak. “You dam-aged old pot-belly!” he fairly hissed, ‘‘Il’ye a good mind to rid the earth of our presence.” ‘Tt takes a better man than’s in your clothes to hold a full hand with this scientific chap,” retorted Jimrack. ‘*You’re a handsome critter, perfessor, you are, by the sword of Damocles! You didn’t desert me t’other night, did ye? ye hav’n’t been skulkin’ ’round this kentry like ‘a coyote, have ye? Ye didn’t git boun quicker nor a hound pup could lick a skillet for sneakin’ ’round here while ago, did ye? didn’t like to git that bay winder smashed in, did ye? Oh, no! you're a holy nabob just out o’ fresh clover—a sweet- scented wall-flower from Jurusalem—a speckled —— ’mong swamp angels; that’s what you ** And you,” said the as thoughtfully ‘*are a small species of the genus jackass—no for braying.” * Perfessor, draw your peer and defend yer- self,” said Prosper laying his hand on the butt of his derringer; ‘‘this court brooks no contempt. The oranges and oleanders—” “Hold on here, gentlemen!” inte ted a voice, and three men, strangers to all but the Po Rangers came hurrying into camp. ebraska Ned reco them as men from the Agency—the spokesman of whom was An- dre Markelle, Wild Cassandra’s father. “‘Hullo, gentlemen,” said Ned advancing to meet them, “glad to meet you—what do you know of these men?’ “‘T know Professor Jimrack to be an honest, upright man,” replied Markelle; “he joined us to-day in our search for my lost child, poor little ra.” “Then there is some mistake here, gentle- men,” said Mr. Vane addressing the foes, “That’s what I think, and Jimrack’s that mistake,” said Prosper with a contemptuous look at the professor, then turning he walked away and seating himself on the o' te side of the fire, began whetting a long knife on the sole of his shoe From Nebraska Ned, Andre Markelle learned 11 that his daughter was in the hands of the out - laws. He knew she was in trouble when :ic failed to return home from her usual daily vice to the hills; and when Professor J'mrack ar- rived at the Agency and reported where he hic met her, Markelle became satisfied she hed iret with trouble and at once started in search of her. Mr. Vane and Markelle talked over their trcu- ble ether: their sorrow was mutual. ¥ ere is our Indian?” Professor Jimrack finally asked, seeing one of his party had not ap- “He'll be in by-and-by.” “What Indian? Macomah, my old friend and companion ?’ Eagle Kit asked, * Yes. ‘*Ho! good for Macomah!” the little dwarf shouted in glee, “it’s been a long time since he left the Erie. 1 reckon he’s got scent of the de- stroyer of his child; and if he has, boys, you kiw jist bet your last knife that he'll make it ploudy. Ah! here he comes now,” A powerful Indian with a red blanket abcut his shoulders strode slowly into oe. Eagle Kit advanced to meet him for it was his friend Macomah. Judge Le started up and with a furtive eye searched the Indian’s face. ‘*Macomah,” said the dwarf, ‘I’m awful glad to meet you here for it’s not of’en you eave our home. Why have you come down? to wreak that vengance you have nursed so long in your—” “Hush! hush!” the Indian said im ete “Eagle Kit forgets what Macomah has taught him—that the wind and the trees and the rocks have ears.” “Well, how’s Whirlwind, then? did he come home?” The Indian nodded in the affirmative as he fixed his little, black sunken eyes upon the fire with all the characteristic gravity and stoicism of the American Indian. Nebraska Ned finally sat down by Judge Pros- per and the two entered into conversation. “Tt pears as though the outlaws and road- agents are gittin’ the u e hand o’ things in these diggins, Ned,” sai osper. “Yes, they have been running ve their own way the last year. The Rocky Mountain Detective Association has been promisin’ to send that noted scout and mountain detective, Jack Drew, and a force up here to clear out Middleton’s gang; but it seems we’re only to have promises. You've heard of Jack Drew, hav’n’t ya judge?” Drew? it seems to me I have.” **He’s one of the greatest detectives in the West. He’s to the prairies and mountains what Allan Pinkerton is to the great cities of the East. But I think we've force enough now to cope with all the outlaws in these hills.” “T think so, Ned, and are anxious to be mov- in’, for I fear them gals are gettin’ furder and furder away every hour, and may git beyont human power to save ’em. I are anxious also, to know more ‘bout that , Cassandra— whether she really is Markelle’s child or not. I'll have a talk with him arter while "bout her, and if she’s not hisown born child mebbe she’s the very larkie me and Colonel Blower ’d like to find. the colonel comes ’round on time and I are not at Scully to meet him, as arrange- mints, he may pull out and Pl not git to see him. I ought to be onmy way to the fort this minute, but I can’t leave you folks till I know them gals are either d or out of them vil- lains’ power.” At this juncture Professor Jimrack rose and pd is over to where Ned and Prosper sat, said: “Gents, you'll please excuse me; but I over- heard your conversation jist now and—” ‘ “Oh-ho!_so you’re eavesdroppin’ are ye?” mded Prosper, ery og the professor, ““T heard you mention the name of Colone] Blower, and then say somethin’ bout meetin’ him at Scully.” ** Well, what’s that to you?” “‘T hope you’re not the man Blower’s expect- in’ to meet.” The judge sprung to his feet and glaring into the face of Jimrack as though a startling truth was forcing itself upon his mind, bl out: *“ Who the deyil are you?” “T are Colonel Gamaliel Blower,” replied the PReSword of “Damboclea! “and I," bolonel, amocies am Jack Drew,” said Prosper. There was ‘a momentary silence. The look of a guilty conscience was u the two men’s faces. They clas hands and burst into a peal of hearty laughter. 4
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' ecovered.a trail which he bad ba reason; to | e 12 Eagle Kit, the Boy Demon. —_—_———.-»— ! The crowd gathered around them in speech- | twisting its tortuous way among the dark-brow- less amazement, ed hills and beetling crags. “Colonel Blower,” said the judge, ‘‘what a | Macomah, Eagle Kit and Nebraska Ned acted dam—aged mess of fools you’ve been makin’ of | as scouts, keeping along the ridges and high yourself, man.” ground where they could see that no ambush “* Joe Miller, the d—dashed wag’s to. blame.| was laid for them. for it all. Hesaid Jack Drew the noted scout It was nearly sunset when the party debouch- and mountain-detective was the, handsomest | ed into a little circular valley with, high, peso man in America, when the fact is Jack Drew is ndicular bluffs. Here to their surprise, they the most ungodly, ungainly and homeliest-look- | found tueir advance cut off. The narrow out- ing man that ever caught a road-agentor sbot.a | let or rift at the head of the valley had been buffalo; if Joe’d told me the truth [’'d known | filled to the very top—forty feet high—with ye on sight. Gentlemen,” and the colonel turn- | huge stones and bowlders that no human power id to the astonished crowd, “let me introduce | could move. . The only way out of the valley to you Jack Drew, the noted scout and moun- | was by the way they had entered. It was time tain detective.” to,go into camp. A consultation was held. All “Ha, Jack, you old rascal,” exclaimed Ned, | were present except Macomah, and he was mo- grasping the man’s hand, ‘‘I always told you | mentarily, expected. Some were in favor of you were not what you pretended to be.” i } | encamping in the valley, but the more.experi- The next ten minutes were spent in shaking ; enced objected. They felt no little uneasiness hands with Jack Drew, for he Judge Prosper | over their situation for they saw that the outlet really was. All had heard of this noted man, | at the head of the valley had been quite recently and their previous acquaintance with Jadge blocked—no doubt by the robbers toenable them Prosper had nothing whatever to. do with meet- | to entrap their pursuers or else to cover their ing another man in the same person. own. retreat, by stopping pursuit for the time e faces of the two detectives still bore evi- | being. dence of their first encounter on, Beaver Creek It was finally decided to retrace their steps a as well as their last one; but now that they un- | mile or two and go into camp, but as they turn- derstood each other they were as warm, in | ed to separ the figure of a man in high-top their friendship as they had been bitter in their | boots, slouched hat, blue sbirt with open collar hostilities. ‘They frankly admitted that, skill- | and with a revolver in hand, boldly appenred fulas they were as detectives in ferreting out | on a ledge near the entrance to the valley and crime, in reading human nature and almost the | shouted out: very thoughts of man, they had been the vic- ‘Halt there, gentlemen! you bave, bearded tims of an innocent deception of a waggish the lion,in his den and the movement, of a finger friend who, knowing, the peculiarities and ec- | by any of you will be the signal for your de- centricities of both, described one to the other | struction!’ the very opposite of what. he was, So that one expected to meet a handsome, dashing fellow when they. met at, Scully, The fact of their having assumed fictitious names. completed the joke of their friend; which joke came very As he concluded, he pointed downward where along the base of the. cliff grew a. fringe of bushes and vines, and. through thisgreen foliage our friends saw half a score of gleaming rifle- barrels leveled full upon them! near resul in the death of the two detec- tives, ' CHAPTER XIU. “Well my dear Jack,” said the, colonel, after A TERRIBLE VENGEANCE. ; they had fu ly discussed the ludicrous attitude | A DEATHLY silence reigned within the littl they had maintained. against each other to such | valley, or what might more properly, be termed a ridiculous extent, “‘you have played the role | the craterjor mouth of an-extinct, volcano, for of Judge Zelotes. Prosper handsomely, and, told | the surrounding country had oneny appearance some monstrous lies, and amused. the bo s;,but , of having once bee disturbed by volcanic action. while thus engaged I’ve heen busy looking up | The outlaw on the ledge still stood, stock-still our girl, and, sir, 1 have found her.” in his defiant, attitud is eyes fixed upon our ‘The speckled alligators! ye don’t say!” friends, his revolver clutched. in bis, right. hand ts a fact; I run across a young, black-eyed | while. with, bis left he pointed down at. his con- witch the other day, and, sir, she pulled a der- | cealed friends whose,rifle-barrels gleamed mur- ringer on me—made me hoist my hands, outlaw | derously through the shrubbery. style, took me prisoner and marched me off | Our jfriends saw that ‘they were taken ata down the road. Of course, I war dashed will- | great disadvantage, in fact, that they: were at ing to go with her, for I wanted to. find out) the mercy of the outlaws, standing where, they who she was; but when she saw I was. willing , could be shot down like sheep. to go, she broke into a of bewitching | _‘‘ Drop your, guns and pistols!” was the next laughter and galloped off and left, me standing , demand from the villain on the ledge, seeing there like a stone statue Fepreeraey surprise that his advantage had impressed itself upon the and astonishment. The girl was Wild. Cassan- minds of the oueeumed party. , dra, and Wild Cassandra is the daughter of the ‘‘Say, mister, what d’ye take us for?” retort- dead John Henry Greys” a ed old Jack Drew, in hopes of .creating. a diver- ‘Well, I’ve been thinkin’ she might, be all | sion in the situation, that would.at least give along,” replied Jack Drew as we will hereafter | them a chance to fight for their lives: ‘if you'll know Judge Prosper, ‘‘ and haye been waitin’ a | come out ond. sire us a fair whirl we'll lick. the chance to speak to kelle. But now the,fust | hull o’ you cker nor a hound pup could licka thing’s to git the gal; then the next thing is | skillet, cd somethin’ else. You remember, colonel, some ‘‘ Ha! ha!” laughed the outlaw, defiantly, ‘‘a critter attempted to. shoot me the night we'd | mountaineer never begs quarter—he expects our fust acquaintance on Beaver Creek!—Well, | none—he gives none—and now—” I’ve learnt since that that critter wasone Major | He did not finish the.sentence for at, this junc- Baron—the leader of the trainnow encam at | ture some great, dark object roiled over the Honey Creek, Since that time if has also been | edge of the cliff above, and came thundering developed that Baron was once an outlaw chief | down the face of the cliff, starting,an avalanche and sailed under the. name _.of ok Hand- | of stone and. dirt directly over the heads of the some. He isnow atJarge in these hills in con-| outlaws. spiracy against Miss Vane, and I want to inter- “Took out, men!’ cried the villain on the view him. He’s an_old rooster,-sailin’, under | ledge glancing up.and seeing his danger; but false colors; and it seems that Iam in his way. | they were the last words he ever uttered. A He must know me—knows my business and | huge rock.crashed down upon him and fairly dynamite proclivities and thinks ’m after him. | ground him into a pulp. Perhaps I am.” Those concealed. at the base of the cliff leaped By this time the night was well advanced, | through their covering of foliage, to. escape the though not an eye had been closed in shimber. | rain of death, into pian view of our friends: In fact, no one was, sleepy, but all patiently | The latter instantly saw their advantage and awaited the coming of day. ‘ | hastened to improve it. With the first red streaks of morning dawn Drawing their revolvers they opened.a fire on every man ane boy was astir. Breakfasting on | the startled outlaws.. But the latter were not cold reat and aig Bene crossed the river and | cowards by any means. They knew i wasa began their tramp through the hills. | case of life or death and they met their foe in a ‘bout noon the eagle eye of little Kit dis- deadly struggle. ; For the next minute the ‘‘ ping” and ‘‘ bark” believé was the one made _ by maiden’s | of pistols and revolvers, the shouts of the com- captors, Nebraska Ned and Dick, Rodman were | batants, and the groans of the dying, started a of the'same opinion, and the finding of a faded hundred echoes -rolling and reboundivg and ribbon which Mr, Vane recognized as one worn | crashing through the bills. And in the midst of on his daughter’s hair, confirmed the opinion of | the conflict a little figure appeared on the ledge the three young rangers, and so the party at | where the outlaw had been crushed by the fall- once set out to follow up the trail which ran | ing stove, and waving a bright :cart above its through a narrow gloomy pass, winding and | head cheered the men on to victor re SY If was the figure of a girl—it was Wild Cas- sandra. Her. voice. and.presence gave new strength to the arms, and new , courage.to,the hearts of her friends, and they fought as men never fought before. In two minutes’ time the conflict. had ended. Taken as they were—notwithstanding they had eyery advantage. at first, the outlaw bend was totally annihilated. Every man was. either killed or wounded; but our friends had not gained a bloodless victory. Two of their part, had been. killed, and every man and boy, wit the single exception of Eagle Kit, had received wounds of a more or less-serious nature. As soon as. the. conflict had ended, Andre Markelle ran to.where. his daughter stood upon the ledge, breathing a prayer of thauks for her deliveranc. . “Oh, father!” cried the fearless, excited girl clapping her handsin ecstasy of joy. ‘‘Iamso thankful youlickedthem robbers! oh, but it was the jolliest fight lever saw! You just knocked them robbers a tumbling like as 1 heard ’em say they were going to fix you. Oh, but I wasina stew | when I couldnt get away to warn youl mn Cassandra,” cried Dick Rodman who had followed Markelle with Mr. Vane, ‘where is Mabel. Vane?” “T Jeft ber in the cave,” replied the fearless girl; ‘‘come up quick and belp her for there’s two old robbers in there yet—one’s the fellow IL wounded t’other night—come up, quick.” Eagle Kit clambered up the cliff to the ledge like a cat and was followed by Jack Drew Nebraska Ned and Dick Rodman, and guide by the brave little girl they entered.a dark cavernous retreat—the home of the robber band. They soon came to where a light was burning but no sign of human life was visible. “T left Mabel right here,” said Cassandra, a tremor in her voice. | Then, the thoughtless maiden called aloud. the name of tke absent girl, but only her own voice, wild and. weird, was echoed back to her.ears. “They have fled with her! Oh, poor Mabel! they have fled with her when the battle went pepinst their friends!” , his was undoubtedly the case, and while the outlaws with the gi! could not be far away, night had set in.and little could be. accomplish- ed in attempting to follow them for they had the advantage of knowing every secret pathway and hiding-place thereabouts, Hastening back to the crater the party report- ed.the desertion of the cavern,and disappear- ance of Mabel. The news fell like a thunderbolt on Mr, Vane’s ears, While discussing the situation, Jack Diew suddenly exclaimed: “ Look up yonder, boys!” Alblifted their eyes and upon the edge of the, crater saw a buman form: outlined against the sky, It was the form of an Indian. , ‘Ho!”..cried Eagle Kit, ‘that’s Mecomal! that’s Macomah! Jsn’t he the boss Ingin «f robber-land? Folkses, be’s, the bigh-muchaw uck that.started. that avalonche that smashed, that roarin’ ole. robber and, that routed them othes and gave us a royal ole victory!” ‘Thi ee cheers for Macemah!” yelled Colonel Blower, and right heartily dia his companions and the old mountein res] ond. Half.an bour later the Indian joined them in the. crater. “Git, gals?’ he asked. “Only one of them; the other was carried away by two wounded villains that. Cassandra says remained behind to guard the girls when the others went forth to do battle.” ‘Where little Kit:” Macomah asked. No. one answered for no one knew. .Withcut saying a word, the little dwarf had slipyed away in the darkness. Half an hour later Macomah had disappeared it silently and as mysteriously as the Dwarf emon. “'They’re a strange pair, a dam-aged strange pair,” said the old detective, Jack Drew, It was found impossible for our friends to leave the crater that night. Their dead must be buried and their wounded cared for, The letter. were. removed to the outlaws’ eave. Colonel, Blower actedsas surgeon, rés were. stationed .to watch the ep- proaches to. the.cave. Our friends were not out of all danger... Without extra precaution those of Middleton’s gang thet-lhad been. In ying siege to the train at, the mouth of Honey Creek night return.and taking advantage of some sceret..en- trance, pounce upon the party and wreak a ter- rible revenge for the death, of .their friends. in the crater.
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Eagle Kit, the Boy Demon. PURSUED BY A NEMESIS. The two outlaws left in the cavern to guard the captives, Mabel and Cassandra, while the others went forth to destroy their enemies b the trap set for them in the crater, were both wounded—one but slightly in the arm the other seriously in the hand. The latter was Major Daniel Baron whose wound had been inflicted by a bullet from the pistol of Wild Cassandra in the pass two evenings before when she had thwarted his attempt to abduct Mabel Vane. This consummate villain finding himself ex- had sought the companions ip. of his old riends in sin andcrime who gave hima hearty welcome back to their ranks; and when Mabel Vane was brought to the cave he felt he was the victor afterall. But all his gentlemanly and lov- er-like oe get me toward the girl had changed. What he had failed to gain by such a course he now resolved to possess in defiance of her feel- ings or wishes and the power of her friends. Allthe brutality, cruelty and deception . inher- ent in the man’s very nature began to crop. out. He would have strangled Wild if he had dared to, for to her he attributed not only the pain he was from his laecerated hand, but the frustration of his attempt to ab- duct Mabel Vane. , Having no doubt of the success of the trap set in the ¢rater for the destruction of those known to bein search of the girls, Baron was in fine spirits; ‘and’ when the crash of firearms rolled into the cayern striking terror to the hearts of the maidens, he paced the floor of the cavern with an irhpatient step and a sickly smile of fiendish delight upon his face. The girls were not ignorant of the trapset for their friends, and while the sound of battle still rung loud, Wild Cassandra vote: to her feet and before her guard could prevent it, she bounded away through the passage to the ledge overlooking the scene of conflict. The outlaw started in pursuit of her, but he soon returned without her, his face thé’very picture of horror. “« Where is that hyena?’ asked Baron: **GreatGod, captain!” replied the outlaw with chattering’ teeth, “‘the trap failed—the battle has gone against the mountaineers—every man has been shot down—even Lieutenant Dareall!” ‘* Ruffcorn,; you are jesting !” exclaimed Baron excitedly. “Tam not—hear those fellows shout! come, we must get out of here at once; they will soon come swarmin’ in upon us!” ‘* Ruff, mount a horse and take this girl—take her to the cave where our old head-quarters were in ’69 and a thousand dollars shall be your re- ward. I would not ask this favor had I the use of both my hands. Go, Ruff, and I wiil strike across the country afoot and meet you at the cave, Half carried and half dra the fainting form of Mabel was forced nes through the dark cavern into a narrow open rift that finally led into another cave or grotto where several horses were stabled. ; ser tte ane Se r »@ strong-li orse ui ped for its double burden. ie toad Mounting the animal, Mabel was taken up and placed in front of the outlaw, who, putting spurs, galloped away. Baron now found himself alone—an outlaw an outeast—a wounded fugitive without a soul in the world that he could call a friend. At least his guilty conscience made him feel so. His own perfidy, baseless passion, and deprav- ity of soul had driven a host of warm, admiring friends away from him, and his mind became so wrought upon by his guilt that in fancy he could hear the stealthy tread of an enemy in every sound or see a crouching form in every changing shadow. Out m the mountains he had good opportu- nity for reflection, as he moved on he scarcely knew where. He had journeyed B gh va a mile when a sound startled him. e stopped, he peered into the gloom with contracted brows, Then he started, for he was sure he saw the outlines of a moving form—a form that resem- bled that of an Indian. He was afraid to speak, for fear his voice might direct the bullet of an enemy toward him, and so he turned and moved on. Now and then he glanced back over his shoul- der and either in reality or in a highly wrought fancy, he knew not which, he could still see that shadowy form following him. Up hill and down, along dark valleys and through black defiles the ve on, and t it made no difference how fast he went, ow shadowy were his ways, how silent his Baron movements, that pursuing Nemesis was ever close behind. In spite of his efforts to the contrary, his crimes now came trooping up from the t in review before his mind. e faces of his vic- tims seemed staring. at him from every bush, from every rock. As one face in particular, that of a beautiful Indian maiden whose life and happiness he had desire yet came up before his mental vision, he started, glanced quick around him. To him there seemed a mysterious affin- ity between that dusky face and his phantom- like pursuer.. He quickened his pace—he broke intoarun. In his left hand he clasped a long knife, for his right hand was in a sling. Like a wounded deer close pressed by the hunter he sped on, until finally overcome with exhaustion, he crept into a clump of bushes un- der a projecting rock and stretched himself cay | upon the earth. And here he lay through the night shivering with terror—dreading to see the lightof day come again. But it came, and not until the sun was up, and the birds were singing did he ven- ture forth from his concealment. ‘ Cree hag One be Siranced to faoaten oa Bt ha Tot a water fed by a purling stream and gered around him with burning face and blood- shot eyes. Few of his late friends would havo kesnegnined the man as the gallant ‘‘ Major” Baron of a few days previous. But he it was with the brand of shame, terror and crime stamped upon every lineament of his features. His clothes were in tatters, his head was hatiess, his face lacerated and bloody, and his hand still ina sling. Dropping on his knees at. the organs the pool he stooped to slake his burning thirst; but he started back with a cry. ere his parched lips touched the water. The limpid pool seemed to rebuke and reproach of his crimes, for it reveal- ed tohis startled gaze a human face that was not his own, mirrored in its glassy depths. It was the reflection of a face. peering over the e above him. It was the face of an Indian. It was the face of Macomah, Without even moistening his shriveled lips, the fugitive rose quickly to his. feet, lea e pool like a startled buck and plunged into the woods on the o; posite a. A fierce yell that started the morning echoes for miles pealed from the lips of Macomah, and then down from the cliff he came bounding, and with glowing eyes, contorted face and crouch- ing form shot away through the valley in. pur- suit of Baron. The fugitive kept to the level valley until he saw his foe was gaining upon him, when he bore to the left and followed the spur of a ridge leading in among rocks and canyons, where he ho to elude the Indian. ithout observing them the fugitive finally close a party of a dozen persons who were standing under a cluster of stunted pines. These persons were our friends whom we left the night 5 revious in the crater at the entrance of the rob ’ cave. Jack Drew had seen the fugitive coming and imposed silence upon his friends, although he did not ize the man. Scarcely a minute had ela: after Baron - ed them ere Macomah, with arms and shoulders bare and bleeding from contact with bush and brier, his teeth set, his eyes glowing and his face regs knotted and seamed with the awful intens- ity of his savage vengeance, glided along in pur- suit of him. “By the sword of Dam-ocles!” exclaimed Jack Drew when mah had “it seems to me I have seen that fugitive before, notwithstandin’ he looks as tho’ he’d been fight- ing with a speckled alligator.” “* Jack, that was er gd Baron,” said Nebras- ka Ned, who alone recognized the fleeing man. ““Major Thunder!” exclaimed Drew. | “I have it now, sir; I know who that man is—it’s all clear asa bell; there’s a reward on _ his head, Gamaliel Blower—a big reward. Folks, you re- member I was tellin’ ™ a story t’other night *bout the murder of Jonathan Wharton, and the racket that war kicked up in court when Claxton,the alleged murderer was set free by the jury, don’t yout Well, you remember then that the main witnesses for the prosecution war one Hobn and one Martin? and that on his death- bed Martin confessed that he and Hohn did the murder? Well, with the le exception of my being judge, every word of story war true, and what’s more that man that just passed us is the murderer, Hohn.” “The nation you say, Jack!” exclaimed Colo- nel Blower. “T do say it, colonel: but Lord John Rodgers 13 if that big Ingin gits a holt of him he'll snatch him into eternity quicker nor a hound pup can lick a skillet.” ‘Oh, mebby if he’s taken alive he can tell where Mabel is!” exclaimed Wild Cassandra. ‘( True, very true,” said Mr. Vane, whose heart was breaking with grief for his lost child. eam party hurried forward fast as was possi- e. The two enemies, Baron and Macomah, were now out of sight. They had sped away like a deer and a hound before any one had time to speak. Nebraska Ned and Jack Drew left their friends and hurried on after them. They bad not gone over fifty rods when they heard a frightful yell in the woods before them, ‘“By. the speckled alligators,” said Old Jack, ‘*T reckon as what that yelp means that them —, have come together. ey ran on but could see nothing of the foes. But sudden} forms lying | and motionless. An exclamation burst from Ned’s lips. **Too late!” he said. ‘‘ Ay; they have balanced accounts and gone over the river.” Quiet in death, with a knife in Macomah’s heart and the iron of the Indian upon the throat of Dan Baron—the horrors of a terrible vengeance u the face of the one and a des- te fear on that of the other—lay the two as they came upon two human in each other’s arms silent ey had fallen. the rest of the came up, Andre Markelle became deeply affected over the death of Macomah ‘* He was the noblest Indian that ever lived,” he said; ‘‘ but all he has lived for the past’ few years has been revenge—revenge upon’ the de- stroyer of his happiness. This he has had; that man Baron was object of his vengeance, and now his soul has gone to join that of his daugh- ter in Spirit land. Poor Macomah!” ‘Thus Jackson Hohn, alias Daniel Baron, has paid the alty of all earthly wrongs, de- ceptions and crimes,” said Jack Drew, ‘‘ the ows has been cheated out of a victim and I out of a reward of five thousand dollars.” ‘* So be it,” said Colonel Blower. The two enemies were buried where they had fallen, and then the party resumed its journey eastward through the hills. All of their friends could now be accounted for except Mabel Vane and Eagle Kit. The latter had not. been seen or heard of since his mysterious disappearance the evening before; et all felt certain that he would turn up in due ime, and be able to give an account of his absence. The were not leaving the hills by the route they had come; They were following a way nearest to the open prairie which they reached late in the afternoon that day. All breathed an air of relief when they had emerged from the shadows and dangers of the hills; but the fate of Mabel’ Vane weighed pa: dase their minds and hearts. It had been previously understood that upon reaching the prairie with Cassandra and those who were suffering from wounds received in the battle in the crater, Nebraska Ned, Dick Rod- man and Old Jack Drew were to return to the hills and continue the search for Mabel, while the others continued on toward camp on ‘Honey This arrangement was carried into effect as soon as the prairie was reached, Old Jack and the Boy Rangers turning back; and when night eas they were again under cover of the lonely CHAPTER XV. JACK DREW’S STORY. Ir was the intention of Jack Drew and the Boy Rangers to return at once to the vicinity of the outlaws’ retreat, in hopes of finding some trace of Eagle Kit or Mabel Vane, or both; and if they failed in this their next was to watch the movements of the surviving robbers in hopes of tracking them to some other refuge where the boy and girl might be prisoners, Three of the wounded outlaws were left in the cave that they might inform their returning friends of the discovery of their retreat and the death of most of their ; To the disappointment of Old Jack and the boys, however, the sky became overcast with dark clouds soon after nightfall, blotting-out moon and stars and rendering it so dark they were finally compelled to go into camp.
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14 —e Eagle Kit, the Boy Demon. Under some low, stunted trees they stopped | — to talk compromise, and said: ‘Ingin, to wait the dark hours of night awa “Ts this your first visit, Jack, in these parts?” Nebraska Ned asked in the course of their con- versation. “Oh, no; I war here before Nebraska Ned ookey here, if you want to git down, I promise you on the word of a white Christian gentle- man |’ll not molest you. You see this crag’s too small to hold us both.’ ‘ Pale-face git down— | Silentfoot no harm him—Silentfoot good Ingin war ever heard of in these parts—some ten years | —no crooked tongue,’ was the Ingin’s fair prom- ago, and the most torturin’ hour of my whole exiaignoe war passed not over ten miles from ere.” “Indeed?” responded Dick Rodman; ‘‘ well, let us hear about it.” ‘“D’ve know whar Sentinel Buttes are?” asked the old man. ““Yes, indeed;' we’ve been on the Sentinel many a time.” ‘Wal, it war thar—at the Sentinel—that I had sich. a blisterin’ time o’ it, and it war this way: L war scout for the mili e ition sent out under General C——, to subdue the hos- tile Sioux under Sitting Bull. We knew we were in the-vicinity ofthe Indians’ encampment; but didn’t know exactly whar it war located, and as the red-skins had ten mento oar one we had to 608 little cautiously. So I told the general that ’d make my way to the Sentinel, mount it and if. I could: see the Indians anywhere, signal to him their position. |The géneral assented and away i went toward that rocky shaft risin’ up out o’ the summit o’ that butte like a weather- beaten, tower of Babel;' IE reached the foot of the butte, clamberei up: its steep side to the base. of. the stone shaft that rises almost.a hun- dred feet straight up into the air. “From the top of this shaft I knew I could see fifty miles, more or less, with a ; but I see’d at once it'd take some careful climbin’ to reach it, and, so I took off my coat, removed my belt and pistols and hid them with my rifle un- der some briers, that I might be as free of all in- cumbrances as possible. en { took a fresh chew 0’ tabacco, rolled up my shirt sleeves and be climbin’ the Sentinel. I stepped from niche to niche, swung from ledge to ledge—slow- ly, but surely I went upward. ‘ At length I landed pantin’ on the summit 0’ the Sentinel there to meet with the most start- lin’ sight Lever beheld. You see the summit 0’ the shaft is almost level and perhaps ten feet across in the widest place, and vist as I planted myself on one side of this crag, an Indian war- rior in war-paint. planted his self on theopposite side before me. “By. the avengin’ sword o’ Gideon! you’d a bu’sted yerselfs to ’a’ see’d us critters. It war hard to tell which war the wust s’prised. How we'd both got there without discoverin’ each other war. a complete = any We both in- voluntarily fumbled at our sides for war-tools but true as I’m sittin’ here, neither one o’ us had even a toothpick... In fact, the Injun had no — on ’cept his moccasins and. breech- oth, ‘* Well, we glared at each other ’bout one min- ute in perfect silence; then I begun to realize the ation: the Injin war one of Sitting Bull’s scouts sent to the top o’ the’ Sentinel to watch the movements o’ our soldiers. He wara whale, too—miuscled like a speckled alligator, and | had an inklin’ that he could: boss me in a re ag im gg ree ane pet the wren of ww ; but I swelled myself up, and p on sich a bold front that I guess I made him think that I could send him over that crag quicker. nor a hound pup could.licka skillet. At any rate, each seemed afraid to attack the other; for 1 knew, and of course the Ingin did, too, that there wer’n’t room on that peak for us | to fight out a hand-to-hand fight, and that we’d roll off and be smashed into crow-bait at the foot of the roek. “What in the name of Simon and Peter am I to do? Taxed myself. Just then I saw over the Indian’s shoulder the host of Sitting Bull encamped along/in a little ravine waitin’ for sur soldiers. I finally concluded to open a con- versation with the Injin. ‘Hullo, red-skin,’ I said. ‘Ugh! war his contemptuous reply: ‘Ye lidn’t ’spect me-here, did ye? I axed. augh! pale-face scout. come to watch Sioux,’ was his correct rejoinder. ‘ And I reckon you ‘jist come here to air your sweet-scented self? I shoved at him, ,‘ Now, Injin,’ I went on; ‘if you want to _ fight me right here wade into the canebrake— Vm your speckled alligator from the Dismal Swamp,’ and I rolled my sleeves higher. “The Ingin crouched slebtty as if to spring upon me, butt braced. myself for the charge; but I soon seen he war afraid 1 war goin’ to bounce. him, and war, bracin’ bisself. for the worst. And thus wemianeuvered. I war never in sich a pickle in my life, and I see’d I must out-gineral that Ingin some way or other if I ever got down from that crag alive; so I\re- . | ise, and yit I never knew an | but war a’ Ananiason liar. Ingin in my lifo down yit,’ I replied. ut back the warrior. ‘ Ar’n’t you a scout, Si- entfoot? I questioned. ‘Me jist like pale-face —he come watch Injun—Injin come watch him,’ was the honest response. ‘Well, what ye goin’ to do? I went on. ‘Nothin’ if pale-face don’t,’ he answered, stubborn as a mule. ‘ All right,’ I exclaimed, ‘I will set up here till we starve to death or the buzzards pack us off,’ and by way of emphasizin’ my remarks I swung my arm aloft and smote my palm furiously; but, boys, ° I had the Ingin there, for that very motion of my arm was the —— i upon between me and the general for a ‘forward movement.’ © And General C——, with spy-glass in hand ten miles away, read the sign;though the Ingin™ never mistrusted any thing at the time; but af- ter I’d gesticulated my arms ’round there for several minutes by way of strengthenin’ my promises to that red morning-glory, atd had communicated all that I wanted to to the sol-_ diers, the Ingin inte: an objection, and said: ‘Pale-face talk too much with arms.’ | ‘ All hunky,’ I replied, and I drop my arms . to my side and fixed my eyes on that warrior — to see that he didn’t give any signs to his folks; but he stood there stock-still all the time with his little snake-eyes glaring right imto mine, as if to read my though es ‘“ Now, boys, I never war afraid o’ any man on top o’ the sod, nor I don’t believe that Injin war, but we war both afraid of our situa- tion. Death was sure for both of us just as sure as we laid hands on each other unless one had every advantage which neither was likel to get, for wae Sha yare 5 trust ane et words and promises n you éan a enon alligator by the tail. So all we could Oo was stand with eye fixed steadily upon eye, and thus we did stand for over an hour. Knowin’ the dogged patience of the American Injin as I did, 1 war nnin’ to be afraid the heathen would wear me out, when, all to once he start- ed, his eyes dilated and a tremor of excitement seemed to shake his whole form. At the same time I thought I heard a slight noise behind me, and the fust thought that struck me war that another Ingin war mountin’ the Sentinel behind me. ‘*Thenit war, that my soul war tried. Great drops of cold sweat poured from my brow. I strained my ears to catch a true meanin’ of that noise. I dare not look back—dar’n’t move even an eye, and yet I expec every moment and hurled over that ie 6 I'd ’a’ give my right eye if I could have had it transplanted on the’ back of my head at that moment. I saw the Ingin was growin’ more excited and nervous eveity instant, and I made up my mind that he war gatherin’ his strength for to s ring, tiger-like, upon me. > “In that'l was’ not mistaken for all o’ a sud- dint a cry burst’ from his lips and at the same instant he shot through the air toward me; but I war not nappin’ and I onwie aside and just as he A Ne ts he Lg of the head. He not calculated on this movement, and the next thing he knew he war strugglin’ to maintain his equilibrium on the edge of the crag, but he didn’t maintain, for I | planted another cata blow at the butt of his ear that sent him ? over the cliff to destruction; and the scream that went trailin’ down through the air from his lips I shall never forgit to my dying day. TP A I po saet bead? the situation I glanced had been the The sol- around me and at once saw what cause of the Ingin’s attack upon me. | diers under General C—— were approachin’. They were not over a mile away. Silentfoot had seen them over my shoulder. ““When I descended to the ground I found | that Ingin all mashed into a pulp, and of all—” “ Hark! ’sh!” suddenly exclaimed Nebraska Ned, as a sound fell upon bis ears. They listened. Pore ayer hoofs swept down the valley past ém. A female cry came faintly to their ears. The three started to their feet. “My God! that was a woman’s cry!—per- haps Mabel Vane’s!” exclaimed Dick Rodman. e hoof-strokes died away in-the distance. Our friends were left in an agony of doubt and suspense, ‘I don’t want to git | that the woman’s cry the ‘Me no want to neider,’ Mabel Vane’s, for it was | The darkness was so intense that they could | not follow the horseman. | They could only sit down and await the com- | ing of the day. CHAPTER XVI. “LAST SCENE OF ALL.” Dick RopMAN was right when he suggested had heard might be abel’s indeed. The poor girl was still in the power of the outlaw Ruffcorn whom Baron had employed to an | her to some distant point. li day the outlaw,.had skulked among the shadows of the hills patting for the dark- ness of night, to cover. his flight, and when the night came it was so intensely dark that he was compelled to take an out-of-the-way course to et out of the hills because it was more familiar But when he reached the open plain he was com to stop. There were no land- marks by which to travel, and as.his cours now lay for miles across the prairie, he ‘had ‘o await the coming of day. The villain was y considerate of Mabel's comfort. He gave her his blanket to sleep upon and pevtect her fromthe cbilly night air... He treated her, in every respect, as kindly \as could be expected: but he offered her no promise—no hope or her life and liberty. y daylight next morning they were moving north-east across the plain,..Mabel,' by her own request, was permitted to ride behind the vvt- law on the horse’s Sapp. ( _ To their left and behind them lay. the: dark hills; to their right and before them an. interm- inable prairie rolled away in the distance broken nly by a single object, and that. was Sentinel Butte, the same upon which Jack Drew and the Indian Silentfoot had met years before. -There were, in fact, a group of several small buttes or mounds at that point, but the ‘‘ Sentinel” was ms one Someries for ~ hight .and shaft- ea rance of the rocky crag rising straight. from the top of the butte a fantied toch into the air. It was one of the strangest freaks of nature to be met with on the plain, and as seen in the distance reminded one of a Brobdingnagian giant keeping ward and watch over the plain. There was nothing, however, in the sight of the Sentinel to offer consolation to Mabel Vane; but as they grey it, she noticed a great bird circling in the air above it, and it occurred to her at once that it might be Eagle Kit’s Whirlwind, or Hurricane as he sometimes call- ed his eagle; and if it were, might little Kit, himself not be near? The thought kindled a spark of hope in her The outlaw noticed the bird, also, and mani- fested no little interest in its movements, for there was not an ovtlaw in the hills but what ted to be seized | had a superstitious: fear of Eagle Kit and his bird; for, where one was foun not far away. With his eyes upon the bird the outlaw rode ‘on with his captive. They were ing the Sentinel when suddenly a bullet, whis past the head of the robber and the report.of' a rifle rung out on the air. A little puff of smoke rising from the to his right, told the outlaw from whence the shot had come; but instead of trying to ride the unknown foe down, Ruffcorn turned to flee when he saw six forms rise up in the grass be- yond the smoke and glide toward it with an unearthly yell. They were Indiaus—outlaw Indians—and_ the allies of the white robbers. They had been hanging along the edge of the plain watching for whatever of human prey they could seize upon, They were ever ready to do the vilest and bloodiest work the white outlaws might ask them to do. Mabel saw the Indians and a shudder of ter- ror convulsed ber form. She knew not that they were friends of her captor, and that she and the villain were not the object of their excitement until she saw a little figure, scarcely a head taller than the grass, spring up and glide away like an antelope followed by five of the Indians. The sixth Indian came toward them. When within speaking distance they addressed each other ae ‘Eagle Kit, the Dwarf Demon will not escape this time,” the Indian said, regarding Mabel the other was | with a leering smile of curiosity, All was clear enough now to Mabel’s mind. The little figure she had seen running through the grass, pursued by the Indians, was Eagle Kit. It was he whose shot: came so near free- ing her from outlaw power. nwardly she prayed for the little fellow’s ee
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outlaw, drawing. his) revolver, > Eagle Kit, the Boy Demon. 15 7 eR: ‘Moh YY rere BS Sew le so ee Ce eee escape from 'the savages, but thechancesseemed | The three ‘advanced and shook hands with | unfortunately for the settlers and emigrants, Kit, who was reclining upon a blanket taken’! this notorious outlaw leader was permitted to agaiust him. The odds were six to one. Straight toward the Sentinel Butte the boy ran. e soon reached it—sped up the hill to the rocky shaft, then paused and looked back. The Indians were comiug close behind him. Like a young mountain goat the boy began to climb the rocky shaft. F ledge to ledge he sprung, sure-footed and true. .Up and up he went—up until he stood upon the top of the great stone giant. The Indian who had stopped to talk with Ruffcorn now hurried away to join his friends who were climbing up the Sentinel after the boys He wanted to bein at the death of the Dwarf Demon. ' “Hal ha! hal” laughed the outlaw. ‘I must see the end of that imp’s eareer, for he’s but a minute more to live, curse him!”. Scearcely had the last word fallen from -his lips when down from the clouds swept the great pet é of the boy, in. answér té a shrill, quavering whistle from his, little master’s,lips. It hovered for a moment above the Sentinel, then, oe its gréat wings it sailed slowly away, bearing with it the form of the boy!” A cry burst from Mabel Vane’s lips. “Curses, ten t ‘eurses!” hissed the ‘“That boy iis d of the devil, true.as God’s in Heaven! Ah! they come this way—would to heaven I could put a bullet through both eaglé and im Biaiahy toward the outlaw and maiden sailed the mig ty bird with its’ human burden, while back on the ‘summit ‘of the Sentinel stood the defeated Indians in dumb astonishment and su- perstitious fear. ; As the eagle approached Af outlaw it grad- ually settled nearer the earth. “ Bang! bang!” went tbe robber’s revolver; a number of feathers flew from the body of the bird, which uttered a fearful scream settled with its burden almost at the feet of the out- law’s horse; then leaving its burden.on the earth, it shot away upon whistling wings into the clouds. Frightened by. the rt of -its rider’s revol- ver, by the scream of the eagle and the flapping of its wings, the outlaw’s horse became t- ened and reared and plunged so violently that Mabel was jigs pg leap to the ene, Before the outlaw could quiet his horse a pis- tol in the hand of Eagle Kit flastiéd before him and he fell dead with a bullet through his brain, ‘““Whoa, pony, whoa!” coax the boy, springing forward and grasping the reins of the now riderless horse, ‘After some efforts in which the brave, plucky little dwarf was roughly handled?#he succeeded in uioting the eniena|, _* Now, Miss a: he exclaimed, excitedly, glancing toward the Sentinel, “bounce on this y}ro away at a lively ng the how. sa behind in a few minutes. ‘‘ Jollies!”., exclaimed Kit “as . they dashed away,.‘‘I’ve not been follerin’ that robber ever since he left the cave with you for nothin’ hageds tile Mapiod " ) Gal ‘*No, indeed, Kit;.and I cannot express my feelings of thanks to you for your noble service in my behalf,” replied the fair girl. ¢ hat’s’ all right, ple, that’s all ht.’ : rE etle more was said ‘until they had traveled perhaps — <9 when pe Baer 4 tf aple; L guess; we’re beyont dai now. I wish youd stop the horse, for T feel awful sick.” 3 Why, Kit, is that so?” Mabel: glanced back at the boy. His face was as white as.a sheet. “T guess that outlaw’s bullet hit me when. he shot at me and old Whirlwind,” he said, Then he slid to the ground. Mabel saw that the breast of his tight-fitting jacket was satu- rated with blood. : : “Oh, Kit!” she cried, “I am afraid you’re hurt badly.” ‘e At this juncture a shout greeted their ears and turning their heads they saw three men ap- proach over a/swell in the prairie. An exclamatiou of joy burst from the maid- en’s livs, for. she recognized the party as Old Jack Drew, Nebraska Ned and her lover, Dick In a moment the three came tp when Mabel ted them all with a kiss of joy and delight, then called attention to her little rescuer’s wounds. “Wild Cassandra and those wound from the outlaw’s saddle by Mabel. run at large and continue his depredations until In a minute’s time Old Jack Drew had re-| the year of 1879, when he was finally captured moved the youth’s coat and shirt, and upon the | in little frail body_found a frightful wound. The old man shook his head as he locked at his friends, and that simple movement of the head was fraught with a terrible meaning. It spoke plainer than words. A dead silence followed. ‘Mr. Drew,” the brave little dwarf said, ‘*1 ess that was the boss shot for me, for I b’lieve *m goin’ to die.” ‘Ob, no, no, Kit!” sobbed Mabel, ‘‘ you will not die!” “Well, if I do, tell Macomah to see that Whirlwind—” i ‘* Kit, Macomah is dead,” said Ned, though he regretted his words the moment he spoke, *“Macomah dead?’ the little fellow cried starting up ; then sinking back upon his blanket he sighed: ‘ poor Macomah!” Jack Drew went to work to dress the boy’s wound the best he could, although’ he-knew it would do no good, test A deep silence reigned while the old man was at work. Kit, after his wound was fait into a sleep from which he finally started outing: << ‘*They are comin’! they’re comin’ |” Then he snatched a whistle froin; his, pocket on placing it to his lips blew a shrill, quayering A shadow swe ned eae mot ay blood fell —_ mavens little w e hand. Raisin ir eyes'all beheld the great eagle, dos Pay pleomae on'ictreak tenga origiag e gray plumage on pping with blood. ; The boy saw the bird which seemed afraid to come nearer. : ““Whirlwind’s hurt too,” he said, ‘but then we saved Miss Maple.” He lifted his eyes to Mabel’s, and his hand to her said: ‘* Map! trouble lately but I hope you If you do, I can’t help you, ['m know. But I’m not afraid to leave this world I’m goin’ to Heaven, of which the missi that used to visit us talked to me about so . Fil not be a little dwarf u Seake WAS Wie ie See Dick; and then rh meet my fa and mother for lam told the were good Christians. But oh, how lonely it will be at the Erie for poor old Whirlwind—me and Macomah both gone away, and—” The boy burst into tears. Mabel sat down and 4g 2 bitterly. The three men stood on the scene through a mist of tears, and a scene it was— the desolate plain, the d boy, the silent weeping friends and the free eagle hovering to bear spirit of its little tting out patie had lots of have no more. side, out his hand again, saying: oodcby, Mabel.” ol Then he turned to bid tke others farewell, but his strength failed him, his hand fell at Kis si the light of those big, bright eyes went out, and | rt Kit was dead—the brave and manly irit | of the little dwarf had fled from its narrow tene- ment of oe i and sought its Eternal Home. ‘ Mabel ed her face imher bands and sobbed as though her heart would break, She had learned to love the brave and manly little boy with. all the fond affection of a sister’s love; and when she reflected that he had given his life for hers, the-blow fell with all the greater severity n fer, All that she could do for the poor boy now was to cross his little hands over his breast, and murmur a prayer commending his soul to the t Giver of life. = swnest knives te their hands a ve was. bollowed out and the body, w iaa blanket, was laid away to rest ines the great.prairie, under the blue sky, the green ass and the waving wild flowers—the clay, as it fell upon the body, being moistened with the scalding tears of Mabel Vane and her three male riends. f. ‘When these last sad rites were performed, the party took up its solemn line of for Hon- | ey Creek, and the great eagle hovering over the | spot where it had heard its’ master’s last. call, | rose in the air and wheeled off itito the clouds. Our four friends reached camp.-but) a: few | hours, behind the party that had gone on with | in the fight | with the outlaws. ee Doc. Middleton had withdrawn from the siege of the camp, having no doubt learned of the death of most of his men in the mountains; but | - gusted the gold-hunfers v all now \ go no a ‘they returned to their labors amid the ‘man as f orthern Nebraska, somewhere. For the next two days and nights, the villainy of Major Baron, the abduction of Mabel, the adventures of the partyin the hills, the death of Eagle Kit, and the performances of Professor Jimrack and Judge Zelotes Prosper formed the general topics of conversation. The two old detectives had,no trouble in establishing the paternity of Wild Cassandra. Andre Markelle, her foster father, furnished sufficient, evidence. to. prove that she was the daughter of John Henry Grayson; but the wild little maiden objec’ to leaving Her foster father and mother and her western. hdme to“in- herit_ hen father’s fortune. Nor were these alone her objections to leaving the West. She had pane her love to Nebraska’ Ned, the» gallant. oy Rangers and.he to. her ..was. more. than, all the wealth of Goleonda would have been.” It was arranged, ldwévef;' that,’ whenever ‘she reached \her-majority,,and , ed her -in- heritance it should be placed at her command, The death of Dan Baron and the exposuré of his deepaid pane Pagid amma, goo perp foul means, w m had failed, .so dis- his promises—w hich shw was tion= assurances of wealth in the Black that they -resolved to rther; arid so_ they turned southward 'y settled -in the valléy of the Nebraska. Ned and Dick Rodman remained with then until they had seen them safely and ; y located in their new hb bmn ex- citement of mountain and prairie. “Ned, how- ever, makes f. t visits to the A and the home of re Markelle; while Dick Rod- uently has business at the settlement on the Niobrara where he always receives a warm welcome, especially from betrothed, ~ preter Mabel Vane. Old Jack Drew, being a member of the Rocky Mountain Detective Association, returned south- west to the fields of his labor, while Colonel Blower went east to finish up his business as ad- ministrator of the estate of Jobn Henry Gray- son. Before the old fellows parted, however, they arr to meet in six months at Denver City, and m there make a trip north to the Black Hills and see what they could do toward ridding that section of outlaws and road-agents that bad for over a year defied the Vigilants and military. Old Jack’s concluding remarks on the subject were as follows: “If we git to ‘bobbin’ around’ up in that ee on ee a pair 0 i rs are loose among ’em, won’t we? We'll clean ’em out quicker nor-any:hound pup-bas licked a skillet since the Ark swung over the mouutains o’ Asia Minor, won’t we?” are replied the colonel, “we will, by 6, will,” the sword of Damoc f And it may be possiblé, kind reader, that we ce detectives wh | will follow those eccentric ‘old en they go upon that e i and if so, rest sare yon ail hear etre tg oi The Saturday Journal. “The Model Family Paper —AND— Most Charming of the Weeklies.” A r; in e thing; brigh Sart rent lgliaatae Srey 5 Serials, Taler, Romances, Sketches, Adventures, Biographies, wigs ow Essays, Poetry, otes and Answers to Correspondents Wit and Fun— All are features in. evéry number, from such celebrated writers as no. paper in America can boast of. ‘Phe SatvxpaY JourNaw is sold everywhere by newsdealers; price sia cents per number; or to subscribers, post-paid, at the following cheap rates, viz. Four months, one -dollar; one year, three dollars; or, two copies, five dollars, i@ i Address BEADLE & ADAMS, Publishers, 98 William Street, New York
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Every’ one of them “Live” Stories by *‘ Live” Authors, Each number a Complete Novel, at the extraordinary price of a HALF-DIME, 1 Deadwood Dick. By Ed. L. Wheeler. 2 Yellowstone Jack. Jos. E. Badger. 3 Kansas King. By Buffalo Bill. 4 The Wild-Horse Hunters. By Capt. Mayne Reid and Capt. Fred. Whittaker. 5 Vagabond Joe. By ll Coomes, 6 Bill Biddon, Trapper. By E.5. Ellis. 7 The Flying Yankee. Col. Ingraham. By Edward 8. Ellis. 9 Adventures of Baron M-inchausen. 10 Nat Todd. By Ed. S. Hillis, 41 The Two Detectives. A.W. Aiken. 12 Galliver’s Travels. 13 The Dumb Spy. By Oll Coomes. 14 Aladdin. 16 The Sea-Cat. By Capt. F. Whittaker. 16 Robinson Crusoe. 17 Ralph Roy. Col. Prentiss Ingraham. 18 Sindbad, the Sailor. 19 The Phantom Spy. By Buffalo Bill. 20 The Double Daggers. E. L: Wheeler 21 Frontier Angel. By Ed S. Ellis, 22 The Sea Serpent. Col. Juan Lewis. 23 Nick o’ the Night. T. C. Harbaugh. 24 Diamond Dirk. By Col. P. Ingraham. 25 The Boy Captain. By Roger Starbuck. 26 Cloven Hoof. By Edward L. Wheeler. 27 Antelope Abe. By Ol! Coomes, 28 Buffalo Ben, Edward L. Wheeler. 29 The Dumb Page. Capt. F. Whittaker. 30 Roaring Ralph Rockwood. By Harry St. George. 838i Keen-Knife. By Oll Coomes, 32 Bob Woolf. Edward L, Wheeler. 38 The Ocean Bloodhound. 8. W. Pierce 34 Oregon Sol. Capt. J. F. C.. Adams. 35 WildIvan. By Edward L. Wheeler. 36 The Boy Clown. By Frank 8. Finn. 37 The Hidden Lodge. T. C. Harbaugh. 38 Ned Wylde. By Texas Jack. 39 Death-Face. By Edward L. Wheeler. 40 Roving Ben. Jolin J. Marshall. 41 Lasso Jack. By Oll Coomes. 42 The Phantom Miner. E. L. Wheeler 43 Dick Darling. By Capt. F. Whittaker 44 Rattling Rube. By Harry St. George. 45 Old Avalanche. Edward L. Wheeler. 46 Glass Eye. By Capt. J. F. C. Adams. 47 Nightingale Nat. By T. C. Harbaugh. 48 Black John. By Joseph E. Badger, Jr. 49 Omaha Oll, By Edward L. Wheeler. 50 Burt Bunker. By C. E. Lasalle. 51 The Boy Rifles. By Archie C. Iron. 52 The White Buffalo. Chas. E. Lasalle. 53 Jim Bludsoe, Jr. By Ed. L. Wheeler. 54 Ned Hazel. By Capt. J. F. C. Adams. 55 Deadly-Eye. By Buffalo Bill. $6 Nick Whiffles’ Pet. J. F. C. Adams. 57 Deadwood Dick’s Eagles. Wheeler. 58 The Border King. By Ol) Coomes. 59 Qld Hickory. By Harry St. George. 60 The White Indian. By J. F. C. Adams. €1 Buekhorn Bill. By Ed. L. Wheeler. 62 The Shadow Ship. Col. P. Ingraham. 63 The Red Brotherhood. Hamilton. 64 Dandy Jack. By T. C. Harbaugh. 65 Hurricane Bill. Jos. E. Badger, Jr. 66 Single Hand. By W. J. Hamilton. 67 Patent-Leather Joe. Philip S. Warne. 68 The Border Robin Hood. Buffalo Bill. 69 Gold Rifle. By Edward L. Wheeler. 70 Old Zip’s Cabin. By J. F. C. Adams. 71 Delaware Dick. By Oll Coomes. 72 Mad Tom Western. W. J. Hamilton. 73 Deadwood Dick on Deck. Wheeler. 74 Hawk-eye Harry. By Oll Coomes. 75 The Boy Duelist. Col. P. Ingraham. 76 Abe Colt, the Crow-Killer. Aiken. 77 Corduroy Charlie. Ed. L. Wheeler. 78 Blue Dick. By Capt. Mayne Reid. 79 SolGinger. By Albert W. Aiken. 80 Rosebud Rob. By Ed. L. Wheeler. 81 Lightning Jo. By Capt. J. F.C. Adams. 82 Kit Harefoot. By T. C. Harbaugh. 83 Rollo, the Boy Ranger. Oll Coomes. 84 Idyl, the Girl Miner. E. L. Wheeler. 85 Buck Buckram. Capt. J. F. C. Adams. 86 Dandy Rock. By G. Waldo Browne. 87 TheLand Pirates. Capt. Mayne Reid. 88 Photograph Phil. Ed. L. Wheeler. No, 28.—Burrato Ben. 89 Island Jim. By Bracebridge Hemyng. 90 The Dread Rider. George W. Browne 91 The Captain of the Club. Hemyng. 92 Canada Chet. Edward L. Wheeler. 93 The Boy Miners. By Edward 8S. Ellis. 94 Midnight Jack. By T. C. Harbaugh. 95 The Rival Rovers. Hazeltine. 96 Watch-Eye. By Edward L. Wheeler. 97 The Outlaw Brothers. Marshall. 98 Robin Hood, Gildersleeve. 99 The Tiger of Taos. G. W. Browne. 100 Deadwood Dick in Leadville. By Kdward L. Wheeler. 101 Jack Harkaway in New York. By Bracebridge Hemyng. 102 Dick Dead-Eye. Col. Ingraham. 103 The Lion of the Sea. Delle Sara. 104 Deadwood Dick’s Device. Wheeler 1065 Old Rube. By Capt. H. Holmes, 106 Old Frosty, the Guide. Harbaugh. 107 One-Eyed Sim. By 8S. L. Bowen. 108 Daring Davy. Py Harry St. George. 1609 Deadwood Dick as Detective. By Edward L. Wheeler. 110 The Black Steed of the Prairies. By James L. Bowen. 111 The Sea-Devil. By Col. P. Ingraham. 112 The Mad Hunter. By Burton Saxe, 113 Jack Hoyle. By Ed. L. Wheeler. 114 The Black Schooner. R. Starbuck. 115 The Mad Miner. G. W. Browne. 116 The Hussar Captain, By Ingraham 117 Gilt-Edged Dick. By EH. L. Wheeler 118 Will Somers. By Charles Morris, 119 Mustang Sam, Jos. E. Badger. Jr. 120 The Branded Hand. Frank Dumons, 121 Cinnamon Chip. Edward L. Wheeler. 122 Phil Hardy. By Charies Morr 123 Kiowa Cnarley. TT. ©. Harbaugh. 124 Tippy. theTexan. Geo. Gleason. 125 Bonanza Billi, Miner. E. L. Wheeler 126 Picayune Pete. By C. Morris. 127 Wild-Fire. By Frank Dumont. 128 The Young Privateer. Cavendish. 129 Deadwood Dick’s Double. By Edward L, Wheeler. 130 Detective Dick. By Chas. Morris. 131 The Golden Hand. Geo. W. Browne. 132 The Hunted Hunter. Ed. 8. Bilis. 133 Boss Bob. By Edward L.. Wheeler, 134 Sure Shot Seth. By Ol! Coomes, 135 Captain Paul. By C. D. Clark. 136 Night-Hawk Kit. Jos. E. Badger, Jr. 137 The Helpless Hand, Mayne Reid. 138 Blonde Bill, By Edward L, Wheeler. 139 Judge Lynch, Jr. T. C. Harbaugh. 140 Blue Blazes. By Frank Dumont. 141 Solid Sam. By Ed. L. Wheeler, 142 Handsome Harry. By Chas. Morris. 143 Scar-Pace Saul. By Oll Coomes, 144 Dainty Lance. Jos. E. Badger, Jr, 145 Capthin Ferret. Ed. L. Wheeler, 146 Silver Star. By Oll Coomes. 147 Will Wildfire. By Charles Morris. 148 Sharp Sam. By J. A. Patten. 149 A Game of Gold. Ed. L. Wheeler. 150 Lance and Lasso. Fred. Whittaker. 151 Panther Paul. Jos. E. Badger, Jr. 152 Black Bess. By Charles Morris, 153 Eagle Kit. By Oll Coomes, 154 The Sword Hunters. F. Whittaker. 155 Gold Trigger. By T. C. Harbaugh. 156 Deadwood Dick of Deadwood. By Edward L, Wheeler. 157 Mike Merry. By Charles Morris, 158 Fancy Frank of Colorado. By Buffalo Bill. 159 The Lost Captain. By F. 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