Beadle's Half Dime Library (no. 306) (1883 06 05)
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CULL ys | e~ \ eit tee x CRM WA TO es = ~’. ORAAGo aN a a - Faas vo \ . Bf Fi a ee Ul aoe a san Ul ia! nt! Ll lS WD “= PTS $2.50 a year. Entered at the Post Office at New York, N. Y., at Second Class Mail Rates. Copyright, 18838, by BEADLE AND ADAMS, June 5, 1883, Single PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY BEADLE AND ADAMS, Price, Vol. XII, Number. No, 98 WILLIAM STREET, NEW YORK. 5 Cents. No. 306, NECK-TIE NED, THE LARIAT-THROWER; or, THE DUG-OUT PARDS. t BY MAJOR HENRY B. STODDARD, EX-SCOUTT. oa i 4 Enews ys Wy SOME { tanh \ ! YH xi Xi } WS D i) ye, Rs: ‘ GETTING WITHIN ALMOST ARM’S REACH THE SIOUX RAISED HIS HAND TO CRUSH OUT THE LIFE OF THE HATED YET FEARED LARIAT KING, -
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! ‘ 2 Neck-Tie Ned, the Lariat-Thrower. Neck-Tie Ned, THE LARIAT - THROWER ; OR, THE DUG-OUT PARDS. A Romance of the Alkali Country. BY MAJOR HENRY B, STODDARD, EX SCOUT. CHAPTER I. THE SIOUX SMOKE LANGUAGE. THat portion of Colorado lying about the South Fork of the Republican river, and close to the lines which separate the Centennial State from Nebraska on the north and Kansas on the east, is very broken, North of the old ‘‘ Dead Man’s Trail,” which, a quarter of a century ago, was the favorite route to Pike’s Peak, are the Rickaree Forks, where many an Indian has gone to the presence of the Great Manitou and where, not three decades ago, a handful of United States troops stood off a dozen times their number of savages for three days, until relief was brought by the scouts sent out to notify the main body of the danger to which the detachment was exposed. At the place mentioned the “river ”—hereto- fore a mere rivulet struggling through its bed of sand—widens out, forming quite a respectable lake of a mile long and a quarter that in width. The valley—the bluffs on either side of which area gun-shot apart—is full of luxuriant herb- age, aud abundantly frequented by the smaller game of the prairie, while the lake teems with wild fowl, although fish are unknown. On the western side of the valley the bluff rises abruptly to the hight of thirty feet or more and piercing it near the — is a dug-out— a cave dug into the side of the bluff, the ground forming the roof being supported by a few cross-pieces of wood, transported many a mile, and entrance being had by a series of steps hol- lowed out of the alkalicaked soil. The en- trance is barely wide enough to allow a. person of moderate weight to squeeze through, and is closed with a door made of half a dozen thick- nesses of buffalo-hide which is impervious to either arrow or bullet. Two loop-holes to the right of the door as one enters afford light to the inmate and means of defense in case of attack. Once inside, the appearance of the apartment is quite respectable, as it widens oub to the di- mensions of a room twelve feet square, primi- tively, although comfortably, furnished with numerous robes scattered about. A quantity of jerked beef hangs in one corner while a bar- rel alongside holds an ample supply of water. There are no signs of fire, and it is well there are not, for there being no chimney, the occu- — of the place would be smoked ont in a urry were he to build one. And here lived Ned Parkhurst; although few of bis comrades would recognize him by that title. The sobriquet ‘‘Neck-Tie Ned” obtains universally among his associates of the plains, won by his unerring use of the lariat, lasso, or riato, as it is indifferently called. With this snake-like weapon in his hand anything within a circle of forty feet of Ned was as ‘surely his prey as if dead, skinned and hung up in his smoke-house, or scalped and lying at his feet. : The lariat—now so familiar to the cowboy on the plains—that Ned used was fifty feet long, of braided horse-hair, and as strong as an iron chain while as flexible as silk, The small loo at the end through which the noose traveled, was ‘‘ parceled,” as the sailors say, with a piece of hide, the inner circle of which was worn as smooth as ivory through constant use, while braided in the end that was held in the hand were several long strands of hair, which, no less coarse and no less black than the material composing the lasso, were nevertheless of a far different nature; being a few of the trophies which Ned had snatched from the heads of his red enemies as they lay strangled at.his feet. The black line, encirc- ling the bronze of the dead Sioux was Ned’s sign-manual, and as wellknown to the members of that tribe as if they had seen the whirling cord settle over the victim’s head, and heard the dull thud when it tightened and landed the wearer of the ‘‘ Neck-Tie,” as Ned facetiously called it, far on the other shore. He had served his aprtentione? in Texas, and rarely, if ever, missed his mark. ‘“‘ Fresh meat’s gittin’ skurse, Barker, and ’m goin’ over ter th’ Rickaree an’ try fur a goose— / os Sane me?” said Ned to his partner, old Si arker, one evening in the year 185-. ‘*Fresh meat be durned!” grimly replied his companion. ‘‘Jerky’s good ‘nough fur me. *Sides, what yer thinkin’ on? Goin’ to light a fire, be ye, and bring down the whole b’ilin’ o’ Injuns onus? Ned, ye’r’ a consarned ijut, sometimes, an’ ye know we see’d sign this arternoon. I’m with yer in believin’ that none o’ the tribe knows nuthin’ about these yer pre-mize-ez, but seems how ef they see smoke, they’ll smella rat. Ibe in fayor o’ sort o’ lyin’ quiet an’ hikin’ out fur our critters, up stakes, an’ gittin’ fur quieter quarters. W’ot’s the use 0’ stayin’ here eny longer, anyhow? We'd orter left when bea- verin’ was done, an’ we would ’a’, only fur yer cussed par-var-si-tee, Think ye’ll git even with the Sioux fer ole times, hey? Ned, ye make my ha’r turn gray!” and grumbling, Barker turned away. The grayish appearance of the cliffs wasso nearly imitated by the mud plastered over the closely fitting door and loop-bole shutters, that, as Barker said, nothing could be detected twenty paces away; the step also being carelessly cut, and seeming but the effect of rain, The site—if the word can be used in this connection—of the dug-out had been selected with care. On the Western plains, the landmarks being so few and indistinct, whenever the Indian finds water he collects with much trouble a large pile of stones and rears a monument four or five feet bigh upon the most elevated point in the vicinity. This water-sign, as it is called, can be seen for miles in the clear atmosphere of the prairie, and often points out water which would otherwise be passed by, and water being a very scarce com- modity on the plains, is too precious to be missed. Just over the dug-out stood one of these monuments and the only descent to the water, marked by a buffalo-trail leading to it, was some distance off, and Ned had displayed much forethought in choosing his location, judging that the Indians would not approach the pile of stones, once having seen it, but would take the trail to the valley. He perceived that, leave what thickness he might, of earth as a ceiling, the earth would naturally sound hollow under the pony’s hoofs, and betray something unusual to the ever-suspicious Savare. Ol man, ye’r’ gittin’ wuss and wuss, every day. Soon as we git our furs cuten the eache, I’m goin’ to send yer ter St. Louis ter bo’rdin’- school. Tar! tar!” and Ned walked off toward the lake, where thousands of water-fowl were splashing and quacking in the evening sun, @ grass, as he approached the stream, was near breast high, and he had no difficulty in getting within easy range. He was armed with his rifle, and the knocking the head off of a duck or goose was child’s play; yet he hesitated. He knew that Old Si, so well versed in Indian warfare, was not in the habit of causing false fears, and that without sufficient ground, he would not object to Ned’s proposition, Still he hated to give in, and selecting his game was about to fire when, a dark something far off to his right, perceived yet hardly seen, caught his eye. Down into the protecting grass he cow- ered like a flash and turned his gaze in the direction of the mystery. Far to the southeast hung a film in the air, which looked like smoke Mee which could hardly be. Such could only produced by fire which kindled was instant- ly smothered. But it was only too clear to Ned, what it meant. He recognized the Sioux signal, and, knowing as he did that he and Si were alone in that country, felt that their lives were interested in the smoke conversation now being held. The Sioux Indians, when they wish to com- municate with any others of their tribe who may be in the vicinity, collect a quantity of dry grass, buffalo-chips, or anything that will burn. Setting fire to this collection they wait unt 1 if commences to blaze freely when they smother it by holding a buffalo-robe tighfly down over the flame. The result is the collec- tion of a quantity of dense smoke under the hide which by lifting one corner is released. The length of time between these releasings of smoke as well as the amount allowed to escape form a language which can be read for miles and which is easily understood by the versed observer. “OP Si war right,” muttered Ned, between his clinched teeth, and looking anxiously around, he awaited the answering signal. CHAPTER II. . THE DISCOVERY OF THE DUG-OUT. pngimg not kept long in suspense. distance, where he had first perceived ! in res = Sry ays ig) 7 Sg ; the smoke, clouds of the vapor kept arising at irregular intervals and of different density. **Vookin’ fur water, an’ got scouts out, hey?” continued Ned, keeping up arunniug conversa- tion with himself as do most men of solitary habits. ‘‘ Hope they won’t light upon this yere place. JERUSALEM!!” This emphatic exclamation was called forth by the appearance, right alongside the water- sign on the bluff before referred to, of a mcunt- ed warrior, in full paint and slight costume, who sat as a statue, looking toward the south. He was soon apparently satisfied that the sig- nals were as he interpreted them, so, dismount- ing from his horse he proceeded to gather a quantity of grass and to place it at the side of the stone pyramid where it would be sheltered from the wind. The mass of inflammable mat- ter was quickly ignited and as soon as it burned freely was covered with the piece of buffalo- hide which served as a saddle for the scout. One, two, three puffs of smoke were allowed to escape, and interpreted by the scout to mean “* Water here.” Ned’s finger was on the trigger of his rifle and his eye glanced along the brown barrel more than once yet’ he hesitated to fire, fearin the presence of other Indians inthe vicinity an that they might be attracted by the report. So he waited. e judged that the warrior would soon descend to obtain water for bis horse and himself, and therefore crept carefully through the grass until he reached a point within a few feet of the trail which led to the water from the bluff. Here he waited. The Indian, after carefully stamping out the fire that still smoldered, turned to his pony which grazed near by, mounted, and rode slow- ly to the buffalo-trail, which wound its sinuous track down the side of the bluff, and began to descend. Neck-Tie Ned, completely hidden by the tall grass, quietly laid his rifle down, untied the buckskin thong which attached his lariat to his belt, on his left side; prepared his noose which he beld in his right hand; grasped the end of the rope in his left hand, holding it with his little and third fingers, and allowing the coils to hang over his middle and index fingers, keeping them in place with his thumb, and crouched for his prey. Down the bluff came the Indian, casting his lances hither and thither, but suspecting no anger. He rode slowly by Ned, on down to the water. Scarce had he passed the spot wuere Neck-Tie was concealed when the latter arose. Circling over his head the snake-like riato hissed uietly through the air and then darted out in the direction of the mounted warrior. Settling over his head onto his shoulders, a jerk at ex- actly the right time, tightened the noose around his neck, while a second vigorous pull choked in its beginning the yell that was rising in his throat and dragged him violently to the ground. A leap and a bound and Ned wasalongside bim. Placing one foot on the breast of the dismount- ed warrior, he strained heavily on the rope. The’eyes of the Indian fairly leaped from their sockets, a bloody froth issued from his mouth, he settled back and Ned’s thug like Neck-Tie had again done its work, and another savage had gone to the Happy Hunting-Grounds, Ned loosened the noose, removed the rope, coiled it nicely up, attached it by its thong tohia belt and then scalped his victim in a manner that showed thorough familiarity with bis work. ‘*T allers takes off the rope before I skleps ’m” said Ned. ‘‘It don’t bloody the riato ang saves mussin’ up the consarn. Now ye ainted devil, I'll jest put yer carcass inter the ong grass fur fear o' diskivery, take yer pony away alittle an’ then bike out fur camp. Time I_wuz warnin’ Si ’bout this yere rumpus. Kinder seems like we ’u’d hev ter hunt our hole till them red-skins leaves these parts. They'll never find out the dug-out.” Ned stooped to take up the corpse when ‘ping ” came an arrow passing between Neck- Tie’s right arm and bis body, and burying it- self deep in the breast of the dead Indian. Ned turned, grasping his rifle as he did so, At full gallop, riding away, having seen that bis shot had failed, was an Indian who had crept down on Ned, and nearly ended his life and this story. He crouched low on his horse and, his blanket—stolen from some massacred emigrant—floating in the wind, bis magnificent head-dress of war eagle-feathers flying out in disorder, urged his steed to its highest speed. Nouse. Scarce a second elapsed from the time that Ned caught sight of the chief till the crack of the rifle came. The bar-» in dropped into his hand, his eye “slid” along ace, his finger touched the trigger and, to the report camea yell from the >
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want ter ‘ We'll beat ’em yet. — savage as, shot through the body, he fell from bis horse, which nee away to join the first wild herd it could fin “I'll hev your skelp, ef I goes under fer it, measly skunk that yer be fer tryin’ to shute me in ther back,” growled Ned, regardless of the fact that the country seemed to be teeming with Indians, and off he started. He reached his quarry, ran bis knife around the scalp lock | and with a sudden jerk laid the skull bare. ‘Bout time ter hunt the ranch. Two skelps ’s better’n a wild goose any day,” congratulated Ned, and started toward the bluff, ‘** How is it that Ned has never been killed?” was asked over and over, and over again, from one end of the plains to the other, He was the most venturesome of all the trappers. Care- less, taking no precautions against surprise and escaping dangers in some unexpected manner in a way that seemed almost miraculous. And 20 if was now. He walked along without even looking back whistling and adding up the num- ber of scalps that he had taken during the last six months. Gliding along like some large, copper-colored snake, an Indian, with hate gleaming in his eyes, with his tomahawk in his hand, kept ap- proaching closer and closer. Getting within almost arm’s reach he raised his hand, straining every muscle, thew and sinew to its bighest ten- sion, that the steel might sink deep through skull and brain, and crush out the life of his | hated yet feared foe. Another step forward until Ned cleared the tall grass and stepped out into full view of thé dug-out. Another step forward, and the tomahawk gleaming high in the air was about to cleave downward, when there was a dull thud, the Indian sunk to earth, and as the report of a rifle rung on the air, a | little cloud of smoke rolled up lazily from one of the loop-holes of the dug-out, and was quickly blown away. Old Si Barker bad saved his part- ner’s life for not the first nor the twentieth time. Imperturbable and cool as ever, Ned turned, and before the’ death-gurgle had fairly died out of the red-man’s throat, had snatched the scalp- lock from his head. As he rose from his stoop- ing position he glanced across to the opposite bloff. A yell arose from thatdirection as he did so, and the war-band of Indians rode into sight, saw their companion lying on the ground, and lashing their horses, started for the entrance to the valley, leaving a few of their number to watch Ned. He had but a moment for reflection. “Ef I go ter the dug-out the red-skins ’Il dis- kiver the sekrit. Ef 1 stay yere, ’ll be massa- creed, W'ot in thunder ’!] I do?” The question was quickly solved, for Old Si, throwing open the door, stood on the ledge, and | called out: **Come 2 age tc! ye thunderin’ ijut; do yer skelped and me starved out? Hike, ye fool, and durned quick!” . It was “ a ground-hog case,” and Ned had to go. He was barely in time, for as he climbed into the door the troop of savages thundered into the valley and gave an exultunt yell, as they saw their supposed victim disappear into what they were positive must be bis death-trap, as well as that of his companion. They did not know their men! CHAPTER Ul. CORRALED IN A DUG OUT. WARNED by the fate of their comrade, the Sioux halted some distance above the dug-out and out of range. By a series of holes pierced through the earth for some distance, and run- ing to points ten or twelve feet in the bank on either side of the fort—for such it might well bo called—the whole valley was laid visible to Ned and his companion, so that the savages were in full view. f ; “Wot be the varmint a-doin’, Ned?” queried Old Si, as he puffed away at his pipe as uncon- cernedly as itt there were not an Indian within a thousand miles. ‘“* Holdin’ a korkus an’ decid- in’ how to perceed to adjourn this yere meetin’? I’m a-thinkin’ that thar’ll be a mi-nor-i-tee re- port from this -yere side o’ the house ‘fore the meetin’ adjourns!” and the old man chuckled at his joke. ed, in the mean time, was engaged in a mys- terious examination of a plaited cord, carefully rolled up in a coil and hung on a stout forked stick, being also tied firmly ia its place. It was about the size of his little finger and made of strands of green raw-hide. As Si spoke, Ned went to one of the loop-boles, which was covered with a 5 eet le thickness of hide, swinging from the top. The bide had been taken when green, soaked in water to aE ye OM ! Neck-Tie Ned, the Lariat-Thrower. | been. pursued in making the door. make it more pliable, sewed in four’ thick- nesses and then dried in the sun. It was as hard as iron. The same course had At the lower edge of each of the hanging shutters, | which covered the loop-holes, a notch in the shape of an inverted V bad been cut about half an inch in length. This was to enable the marksman to see the sights of his rifle, for as he rested the weapon on the sill and pushed the muzzle through the loop-hole, the piece of hide swung out, allowing the gun to pass, and making the notch cut a hind sight, Looking through the loop-holes over to the op- »osite. bluff, Ned saw that it was deserted. Snowing the position of their enemies, the lookouts. stationed opposite had_ evidently thought it useless to mount guard longer and had joined their comrades in the valley. Going to the holes which commanded the valley, in a northerly direction, the trapper soon got the Indians in range and saw that they were dis- cussing the best means of attack. The sun had already set and twilight was fast disappearing. Ned knew his enemies well enough to be fully persuaded that they would not long delay the expected advance. He was also satisfied that one or more of his foes was lurking in the grass in front of the dug-out; 50, calling Old Si, he determined to give him or them a surprise. It was scarcely fifty yards from the bluff to where the tall grass commenced, and to reach this grass Ned uow determined. His first move was to divest himself of every particle, of clothing which bore any striking color, and when through with his toilet, he stood clothed in a complete suit of dust-colored buckskin, which was almost the identical hue of the dirt of the walls around him, Old Si, with many grumblings and growlings, vainly endeavored to dissuade him from his “ durned foolish mas- squee-ra-din’.” . (Whenever the old man struck a long word—the use of which he was very fond of—he pronounced it very slowly and dis- tinetly), Showy. and carefully pushing the swinging- door—also hung from aboye—outward, Neck- Tie Ned slid silently down the face of the bluff, leaving Si at one of the loop-holes, rifle in hand. It was now so nearly dark that it was impos- sible for anyone to distinguish the young ranger as he crawled along the bank, for his entire body was of a color so similar to that of the bluff that it, made no visible outline. Ned’s mission was not, altogether a foolhardy one. He intended to gather what he thought might be valuable information, and at the s»me time take in a scalp or so.if opportunity should offer. Skirting the bluff for a few hundred yards, he was suddenly brought to a dead stop by the sound of borses’ hoofs. . Just in front of where he lay, stretched at full length under an over- hanging, ledge, the bluff bent a little in. the northwesterly direction, hiding the valley from him, although not from the dug-out. round this bend came the Indians in single file, and passing him by but.a few fest, halted. ‘Bf Old Si could see me now,” thought Ned, ‘“‘he’d think this was my last mask’raid, sure nuff.” There evidently was discord among the Iu- dians. One, who seemed highest in authority, urged the leaving of the horses where the were, and that the band should stealthily ad- vance and attack the dug-out, while others wished to await the day. It was at length decided to leave one of the youngest and most inexperienced braves in charge of the horses, while the rest should draw a cordon or line of sentries around in front of the dug-out, so that no one could escape. And so it was done, Ned. chuckling inwardly and congratulating himself that he had gotten out of what looked like a nasty scrape, so easily. The Indians had proceeded noiselessly down the valley to take up their posts and wait for daylight that they might investigate this mys- terious retreat of their enemies, leaving the ponies in charge of a young warrior, much against his will Like shadows the savages faded away into the night, while the weary ponies, straying a little from the bluff, began to crop the. succulent baffalo-grass which was so grateful after the long Sayts march. The solitary guard, grumb- ling at being left behind, strolled up and down, increasing the length of his beat until he was eee from Ned’s lair nearly a minute at a ime. Of this opportunity Neck-Tie was quick to avail bimself. Wrapped around his body was his trusty lariat, without which he never : I EEE ORS. stirred, and as the sentinel strode past, Ned quickly arose and unwrapped a half dozen of the coils. Rorming the loop he backed against the bluff and waited. Back soon came the young warrior, his anger toned down by the time that had elapsed since his comrades had departed, while his thoughts ‘had probably reverted to some dark-skinned maiden who awaited his return with bis first scalp to welcome him and cal! bim ‘‘ Brave!” Lf it was so it was his last dream on earth. The faint gleam of the stars was light encugh for Ned’s practiced eye, His wrist twirled high, over his head, the noose circled, lanched it- self and fell on the young Indian’s shoulders while at one and the same moment, with a leap like the wild-cat, Ned flew at his prey and plac- ing his knee between the copper-colored shoul. ders threw all his weight back on the rope. A gasp—a gurgle, and another scalp hung danglin at Ned’s belt, while a drop of blood gliste on his knee where it bad fallen! “Young feller, it’s durned hard, but war’s war, en’ all must take their chances,” philoso- phically remarked Ned, as he began to think of getting back to camp. Surrounded as it was by the twenty-five or thirty savages that com- posed the bend, it would be foolhardy to at- tempt to pass through the lines and scale the blutt undiscovered, so Ned decided to go on a small reconnoitering expedition before braving the unknown dangers to which he was ex- — posed, Taking a northly direction from the dug-out, he proceeded some little distance until he came to the trail leading to the top of the bluff which he took boldly, not fearing that there were any Indians there, Once on the plain above he cautiously moved away from the edge of the bluff, bending low so that his figure might not be seen against the sky by his enemies in the valley below. Turning again to the south he walked until opposite the water-sign which he approached with the same caution he had dis- played in leaving the edge of the bank. Arrived at the edge of the bluff he dropped flat and cautiously peered over. Nothing what- ever could be seen and the valley lay quiet and» dark. Filmy clouds overspread the sky and whatever light the stars had given was'obscured — now, Leaning as far over the edge as he dared, Ned, taking one end of his lasso in bis hand — swung it out and in until it struck the buffalo- hide door below, hoping that the tapping would attract Old Si, Rod this it soon did for a whisper was heard; ‘* Be that you Ned?” “Tt be. Vm going to try an’ swing in ter ther ol’ ranch an’ you ketch an’ yank me in as I cum down. Hear?” “Swing away; lll ketch yer,” The pile of stones masking the vicinity of water \ ; was very near the edge of the bluff, and, hav- ing been exposed to the storms of years was as solid as one piece of stone. Placing bis around the base of the monument and pulling the two ends until they were even, Ned found that he had a rope about twenty-five feet long which was amply sufficient to lower him the distance he bad to descend, and for him it was J \ f the simplest matter imaginable to swing him- ~ self over and keeping a tight grip on the two strands, let himself down slowly, The only fear was that the lariat might break, but Ned , did not fear his Neck-Tie, and in a moment more he was seized by the nervous grip of Old Si, who was so overjoyed to see him that he — scarce refrained from embracing bim. ‘‘Durned ef I didn’t think ’t the-Door, this time Ned. I see’d the sneakin’ Injuns filin’ down an’ could ’a’ dropped one or two but didn’t know whar youwar. So yer got another skulp? Well, bu’st my buttons ef yer ain’t a t’arer! But, hyar weair, corraled, an’ how we air gwine to git out bu’st me ef I know. But sit down, pard, an’ b’ist in a little - jerky an’ I'll look out fur the varmint, tho’ bu’st me ef they kin git in ter this hyar hole.” CHAPTER IV. BAITING THE TRAP, | As soon as Ned bad satisfled his hunger and | thirst he and Old Si began to cogitate regarding their present penned-up condition, They knew that they had no expectation of aid from the outside, for the party to which they belonged had long since left that section of the country for the forts, intending they had se during the winter. They had endeavored to persuade Ned and Old Si to accompany them but their efforts in that direc- tion had met with no success, As spring came on and the yo grass commenced to shoot, Ned knew that the buffalo would travel south,, ~ . ? * e c £.-< to dispose of the furs — ar Katie-Bar- ‘ , <i e ot ue ¥ = 4 oy ae ; a! ee |
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te and he wished to replenish the store of dried meat that he always kept in his dug-out and which had been attacked so often by the hun- gry trappers during the winter, that sad inroads had beer made upon it, Besides this the young trapper was an in- veterate Indian-hater, and with good reason. Raised on the borders of the Llanos, or Staked Plains, he had seen, during one wild night’s work, his father and his mother shot down by the Sioux on one of their southern excursions, the home that had sheltered him so many years a prey to the flames, and his infant sister carried , shrieking, in the arms of a chief. How he had escaped he hardly knew. The friendly darkness had aided him, and a thorough know- ledge of the country enabled him to reach the nearest fort and give the alarm. But a few days elapsed until his sister was re- stored to him, the troops having overtaken the savages, and dealt them a salutary lesson. The child was adopted by the wife of one of the offi- cers, while Ned became the protege of Old Si, who had reared him as his son, and taught him all the mysteries of a trapper’s life. They were firm friends, and knew it, and spent no time in idle protestations. As Ned grew up he passed his teacher, and became more of an adept than Si. He was quicker, thought more rapidly, and could plan and execute with a rapidity which dazed his mentor, who, however, felt no jeal- ousy, but rather prided himself upon having such a ready pupil. Ned had left his lariat hanging over the pile of stones as he swung into the door, knowing that he could at any moment, by pulling on one end, allow it to slip around the place which held it and fall over the bluff. Glancing at the ends which were attached to a peg alongside the entrance, an idea seemed to strike him, which he immediately communicated to Old Si. The latter opposed him strenuously, as, in fact, he usually did; but the dispute ended as their discussions generally terminated, by Ned carry- ing his point, and overruling his companion. , untying the rope from the pin which held it, he said a few words to his companion, and prepared to swing out of the door and climb to the bluff above. This, for such an athlete as Ned, was proved but child’s play to him, and he soon was some distance from the edge of the bank, and retracing his steps toward the trail agi he had reached the plain from the valley. What plan did he have in thus returning into the danger from which he had so recently escaped? The conversation with Si had proven that it was a hazardous undertaking that called him from the dug-out this second time; but Ned cared for nothing that did not contain a a of danger. \ Cautiously creeping into the valley and care- fully approaching the spot where his late victim lay, a few moments’ listening convinced him that nothing had been discovered, and that the rest of the Indians were still holding their silent and sleepless watch. The body of the youth lay quiet in death, and to lift it upon his shoulder was but a light task for Ned, the dead brave being a mere stripling, the son of the chief in command of the war-party, as Ned learned through the few words he had caught while were forming their plans. ely staggering under the weight he bore, Ned turned to the north and struck boldly along the trail. Knowing, as he did, that the Indians had concentra their forces around and in front of the dug-out, he feared to en- counter no foe in the direction he was pursuing. A few moments’ fast walking brought him - the end of the lake and to a point where the stream which emptied it was but a few yards across. Wading through this rivulet, Ned again turned south and, carefully this time, brushed through the tall grass until he arrived at a point cppomte the dug-out, and on the other side of the body of water which lay in front of it. Here he stopped and laid the corpse on the ground while he began looking here and there, guiding himseh by the piles of stones on the bluff, which were just discernible. At length he found what he was in search of, and which proved to be one of those depressions in the earth, so many of which are seen on the plains, known as a buffalo-wallow. These have been described so often that a repetition would be useless. f ; Ned carefully examined this wallow, and identified it by a piece of stone half-buried in it, nearly in the center, and then returning to the where be had first halted, shouldered the ead boy again, carried him to the wallow and “ chucked ” him down. a **Lie thar, yeskunk, ‘Ye’ll make a good bait Neck-Tie Ned, the La to trap the rest o’ the gang, an’ that’s more use than yer ever war a-livin’.. An’ now I'll ¥ back ter camp an’ snooze fur awhile, fer I’m dead played out.” It was no difficult matter for him to regain the plain and to lower himself over the bluff, and, after drawing his rope down after him, he closed the door carefully, and requesting Si to keep watch for a time, although such precaution seemed useless, so safe were they from attack, the young hunter threw himself on a robe in the corner and immediately fell fast asleep. It is now time to explain the mystery of his last movements. When the comrades of Ned and Si had left them, they had taken the wagon which had carried the stores for the winter’s camp, having loaded it with furs. Everything that might be of use to the two trappers who remained behind had been left, among such articles being a half-barrel of gunpowder. Not caring to place so dangeraus an object in the dug-out, for fear of accident Ned determined to bury it, after removing sufficient of the con- tents to provide for present use, and looking for a suitable locality-hit upon a buffalo-wallow opposite the camp. He knew that if he buried it here, the t could be easily found when necessary, and also that the grass in the bottom would grow rapidly and conceal all evidence that the ground had been disturbed. The barrel was made of oak and completely water tight, et he took the additional hy Syn of giving ita coating of tar, of which they bad a store, and of wrapping it in several old buffalo-hides, Then it was buried about three feet deep. One of Ned’s principal maxims was: “In time of peace, prepare for war,” and it was owing to the fact that he so continually prac- ticed this maxim tbat he was so successful a trapper and scout. He was rarely taken un- awares, and seemed, in some mysterious man- ner, ever to be prepared foy the greatest emer- gencies. Following his usual plan, then, of anticipating anything that might occur, before burying the wder he had prepared a surprise for any of is enemies who might chance to come in his yey. Taking an old single-barreled pistol which he had, be loaded it with powder alone, and re- moving the bung from the end of the barrel of powder, had inserted in its place the pistol-bar- rel. A line of rawhide was then laid in a nar- row trench of the bluff, and then over a pulley up into the dug-out one end of it being attached to the trigger of the pistol. The latter was then cocked, a box carehally placed over it, the earth thrown in, the sod replaced and sprinkled and ina few days nosigns could be seen tha the earth had been disturbed. Ned trusted to his good fortune, to chance, or to some ingenisus device to collect any attack- ing party of savages in the vicinity, and that a strong és on the cord would explode the pis- tol, ignite the powder and cause a stampede if nothing worse. Ned slept on; the old scout dozed, arousing him- self occasionally to glance from one of the loop- holes or to listen, but nothing seemed stirring— all was as quiet as the grave. The sky became clear again, the stars shone out and the valley was to some extent visible. Soon the horizon began to brighten, the glitter of the stars faded away and the rays of the morning sun shot up into the sky, heralding his coming. Old Si kept continual watch, bis vigil at length being re- warded by the sight of one of the lookoutson the opposite bluff, who, leaning far over the edge of the bank, seemed to be straining his eyes toward something that lay prone on the ground not far from where he stood. At length he seemed satisfied that all was not right, for, calling his comrade, they talked and gesticulated rapidly for a few moments and then turned and rode rapidly toward the descent into the valley. aving reached the ponies, which were feed- ing along the banks of the stream, many of them being rae we they evidently became more distrustful and after searching a few mo- ments gave a loud ‘‘ whoop.” In response to this there was a general rustling in the tall grass opposite the dug-out, and Old Si, handling his rifle nervously, evidently ached to try a chance shot. From any such action he was, however, deterred by Ned, who had arisen by this time, and who angrily expostulated with him. - “ Yer’ll sp’ile the hull scheme, Si,” angrily ex- claimed Ned. ‘‘ Yer see that ther Injuns hez got excited an’ ef yer git ter shutin’ at ’em yer'll change the'r ideers. Injuns kin only hev one ideer at er time, so jes’ let’em hatch out this yer’ one an’ we’ll see sum fun.” _ In obedience to Ned’s wishes, or rather com- mands, Si reluctantly dropped his rifle and stood / . ‘ a ; r riat-Thrower. watching through one of the lookout holes to see what might transpire. The Indians had evidently been warned that something unex- pected had occurred, for soon, some distance up the valley, the whole band was seen to gather, and after a short consultation, scatter in all di- rections, evidently in obedience to a command from the chief. The two warriors who had been posted on the bluff opposite the dug-out left their borses with the rest of the herd, and, keep- ing well under the shelter of the opposite bank, began slowly to walk in the direction of the ob- ject which had attracted their attention when daylight first showed it to them. CHAPTER V. A REPORT FROM THE MINE. So it seemed asif Ned’s bait were going to draw the prey into the trap. In the corner of the dug-out hung the innocent-looking piece of rawhide cord, a pull at which would, if Ned’s arrangements had been well made, ignite the wder—fifty pounds or more—in the barrel Paried under the ground where lay the body of the young warrior, and hurl everything and every person in its vicinity to destruction. Cautiously, as if fearing a foe in every blade of grass that trembled in the morning wind, every leaf that fluttered in the breeze, the two war- riors approached the spot, while the two menin the dug-out made no sign. The wallow was in psy range, yet the trap- pers wanted a larger haul. As the Indians ap- proached the dead savage warily, their lives were in the hands of those who watched them, yet they were unharmed. They knew that the ank had opened and closed mysteriously upon the white men, and influenced by that super- stition that is so deeply implanted in the breast of all Indians, they were awed and troubled. Still more so by the mystery surrounding the object toward which they were bending their steps. Lying in the center of the buffalo-wal- low, the body was partially hidden from the depression in which it lay, and although they suspected that it was a dead comrade, yet they could not assure themselves of the fact, and of the identity of the body they were entirely un- aware. Made bolder by the dead silence which sur- rounded them, they quickened their steps, ar- rived at the body, and, turning it over on its back, recognized the son of their chief, with the fatal mark encircling its neck. A wild yell was quickly answered from different directions, and rgetiul of all danger, the whole red band came trooping to the call, followed at a little distance by their chief. ; And then ensued a scene of mingled rage and terror impossible to depict—rage against the slayer of their comrade—terror at the mys- terious manner of his death. Many of the band recognized the mark of the strangling noose around the dead boy’s neck, for on many a field, when the fight was over, they had seen it. But now their superstition was aroused. The sud- den disappearance of Ned into the very side of the bluff, which seemed free from all openings; the unaccountable taking off of the boy brave when the face cf the bank where the trapper was supposed to be hidden was watched and guarded by the entire band—all this was be- yond their power to understand, and their ter- ror was augmented by the inexplicable problem which confronted them. The whole war-party was moved by one com- mon impulse—that of a desire for revenge and a wish to seek a solution of the mystery the had encountered. A savage yell and a brand- ishing aloft of their weapons testified to their anger. Then there was silence as the aged chief stepped forward and took up his station by the side of the body of his dead son, the warriors pressing closely about him to catch what he might have to say. In the dug-out Ned’s blood was aflame. In that low, hoarse tone which a man’s voice as- sumes in times of great excitement, he addressed Old Si, grasping him by the arm and dragging him to one of the loop-holes, while he took up his station at the otber. | , “See!” he hissed, ‘it is Deer Trail, the slayer of the old man and my mother. Unconsciously he drifted into the use of better language as his thoughts reverted to his boy- hood days and to the tender care that had nurtured him. : : “ At last I’ve got the tiger in reach. _ Si, take hol’ 0’ th’ string an’ as my rifle cracks pull, dern ye, pull-as if yer whole life depended on’t. I'll put a bullet in ther ‘ varmint’s hide, an’ send him ter kingdom cum; but, don’t yer pull till yer hear’s ther rifle speak. I must wait my chance.” "
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ee a eet lay the body of the youth who was to have succeeded his father, which under their feet lay death and destruction, to be exploded when a nervous twitch, from the band of Old Si, should release it from its confinement, In the dug-out were Ned and his partner—the young man with his rifle resting in the loop- hole, his eye glancing along the barrel, his brows set in a savage frown and his whole frame strung with a tense impatience as he awaited the parting of the crowd of Indians that he might catch sight of the chief he held in such deadly hatred;—in the corner was Old Si, stern as fate, cool and calm and unmoved as if he held a kite-string instead of the lives of Heard men. With the cord in his hand he stood braced ready to pull and apparently in- different whether the signal came in a second or in an hour. He was and would be ready at any moment. : Lifting his hand aloft the aged chief com- manded silence and impressively pointed to the corpse at his feet, ‘* My children,” he began, his voice, stolid as he was, trembling somewhat despite his efforts to the contrary, ‘*many suns have we hunted together—many moons watched by the camp- fire. We shared the same dangers—enjoyed the same repose. There was confidence in our ranks and we believed in each other, “The bonds of our friendship were strong and [had hoped to bequeath them to my son who, 1 thought, would succeed me in your hearts. “That bope is gone. My enemy—your enemy who is there ”—with a sweep of bis band indicating the western bluff, and taking a step in that direction, while the circle of Indians opened and fe back—‘‘has killed my son, and in him has killed me—” It was his last word on earth. A stream of blood spurted from his breast, he made a half-turn to the left, staggered and fell dead across the body of his son, while for a sec- ond the rest of the band gazed awe-struck at each other, and, as the report of Ned’s rifle rung on the deathlike stillness of the valley, turned to seek safety in flight, but it was too late. The ground under their feet trembled, yawn- ad, cracked in a thousand places, and through thesé many mouths the earth vomited such a volume of smoke, fire and death that the sur- face for yards around was sent hurtling into the air, carrying with it the entire band of war. riors. Si had pice the cord, the explosion bad fol- lowed and the Indians were blown into eter- nity. The concussion was tremendous, and when the smoke cleared away the sight pre- sented was a terrible one, Far and-wide the valley in the vicinity of the wallow was covered with human remains—legs, arms, trunks and heads being strewn in ever direction. The yawning chasm leftin the eart where the barrel of gunpowder had been stored gave evidence of the terrific force of the explo- sion, while not an Indian was left alive to tell the tale. So closely huddled together had they been that the explosion had affected them as one man and the slaughter had been complete. ‘Wal, lad, ye’r’ about even, be n’t yer?” said Old Si to Ned, as the latter stood gazing out of the loop bole, seemingly horror-stricken | by what he had seen. ‘‘Hven! Ob, yes, Si, more than even,” re- turned Ned in that strange new language which seemed unfamiliar yet was familiar to him. ‘The old folks are avenged an’ I kin git back ter camp an’ giv’ up huntin’ red-skins, Seems as tho’ th’ ol’ hankerin’ fur skelps is gone sence ther’ bizness blowed up, an’ I’m sort 0’ sick o’ th’ bull outfit,” Ned had mixed much with the officers and their wives at the fort, and his language of the lains was more than half assumed. Besides, his sister had an ennobling effect on him, and often begged him to give up his wild life and return to civilization. ‘“‘Gittin’ squeemish be yer? Tell yer, Ned, yer mus’ brace up, fer this yer’ll never do. This las’ bit o’'strat-e-gee war a grand piece 0’ bizness and I’m proud o’ ye; but yer don’t want ter let up now. Less go down an’ see ef ther ‘hull D’iliv’ o’ Injuns went under, sure ’nuff.” would bring. arternoon, Ned, an’ take the critters with us.” They soon arrived at the scene of the ex- plosion and here the havoc wrought was even more perceptible than from the dug-out. The ground was torn and rent in every direction; headless, armless and legless bodies strewed the turf far and wide, while a sickening stench of burnt flesh burdened the air and made the mere act of breathing a difficult one. Lying in the bottom of the bole, having been blown straight up into the air and having fallen back again, lay the body of the chief. His arms and legs were twisted and blackened, while his head was in no ges manner injured. Ned stood and gazed at the red-skin who had wrought such ruin in his home. A look of cruel satisfaction overspread his features and with a gleam of savage joy he leaped into the trench hollowed out by the explosion, snatched his knife from his belt, made a circular sweep around the top of the skull and wrenching the scalp-lock off held it high above his head, shak- ing it at Si and laughing a fiendish laugh which it scarcely seemed possible could proceed from the lips of the person who had stood looking out of the loop-hole in the dug-out a few mo- ments before. The man had given way to the brute. Old Si was soon off on a scalp-hunting expe- dition of his own, but met with scant success as the fire from the tite bad so singed and scorched and seared everything that but few locks were left. Fatality alone bad served to throw the scalp of the chief into Ned’s hands. He, too, anxiously searched among the debris for the young chief. Every trophy trom that hated race was of inestimable value to him and he bent eagerly over the ground in his search for his prey. A blood-curdling yell startled them to their feet, and looking off to the left they saw a band of savages on the edge of the bluff exactly over the dug-out! CHAPTER VI. VAMOSING THE RANCH. THEY were evidently a portion of the tribe that had attacked the dug-out and bad either straggled off from the main body or had been scouting in a different direction. With the sound of the war-whoop, Old Si had sunk into the grass, while Ned, with a back- ward spring, landed in the hole made by the explosion, where he lay, peering over the edge and watching the movements of the enemy. Old Si wound his way into the tall grass and there stopped. Ned saw him sink on one knee; saw his rifle raised, the flame and smoke leap from the muzzle, heard the pw crack and simultaneously saw the foremost Indian of the troop throw up his arms and fall backward to the ground while his companions hastily turned and fled to a safe distance, followed by a bullet from Ned’s rifle, which sung harmlessly over them. As soon as the Indians disappeared Si came stalking back to where Ned was fortified and stepped down into the hole, behind him, A short consultation decided that they should await events where they were until dark, at least, as it would be dangerous to attempt to reach the dug-out now. The trail lay close along the bluff and an Indian arrow might stop them in a peculiarly unpleasant way before they could find shelter, Si had a little jerked meat stowed away in one of his capacious pockets and this they leis- urely chewed while interchanging their views regarding their situation, One guarding, the other crawled to the lake and refreshed himself with a deep draught of water, after which they felt weil enough to ‘‘ whip a ton o’ Injuns,” as Old Si quaintly put it. Each man then produced his pipe—the hunt- er’s solace—and lying on their backs with the sun shining broad in their faces, they smoked as serenely as if inside the walls of the strongest fort on the plaiss. Protected as they were by the walls of their artificial embankment they were in no real danger, although how they would escape from the trap into which they had fallen would be difficult to say. Lying on the sloping sides of the hollow, one facing east, the other west, they commanded a view of the en- ‘ tire crest of the bluffs on both sides of the val- ley, and nothing could descend thereiu without being perceived by the one or the other, Ned was so situated that the water-mark was directly in his line of vision and upon that he kept a sharp lookout. He knew that the Indian shot by old Si must have fallen right alongside it, and suspected that the others had not ridden far off, and that one or more of them would soon return on a reconnoitering expedition. Nor was he wrong. But a short time had elapsed when he saw, peeping around one side of the pile of stones, the painted head of a savage. 5 little of his face was exposed that no fair mark was offered and Ned withheld bis fire, and throwing his pipe aside, he motioned to bis companion to do the same, lest the smoke might betray their whereabouts to the keen-eyed warrior. The latter evidently thought that they were in the tall grass and which he could not see without approaching closer to the edge of the bluff, so throwing himsel! flat on his stomach he began to crawl, slowly ana cautiously, toward the brink, At length the top of his head ap- peared in the short grass which grew on t »lain above, and he eagerly surveyed the valley elow. Notasign of human life was visible to him and he leaned over the bluff still further, looking up and down the valley. This carelessness was his death-warrant, As he leaned far over, Ned, resting his rifle on the edge of the bank which had been thrown up, took a long and careful aim, fired, and sent his bullet through and through the skull of the incautious savage. He sprung up convulsively, turned as though dazed, leaped bigh in the ai and fell head-foremost into the valet beneath, where his body crushed against the ground with a sickening thud. “Sorter reckon them Sioux’ll be a leetle more keerful, herearter,” chuckled old Si, as he watched the effect of the shot, “Ef they want ter ty eny more ac-ro-bat-is-tic perform- ances, we kin help ’em out. But, Ned, this yer’ place is a-gittin’ mi’ty hot. S’posin’ we u stakes an’ git, We'll take them thar critters we've captured, an’ ridin’ a couple, drive. the rest inter ther fort. We kin sell ’em fer right smart o’ money, I’m thinkin’, an’ we kin do nothin’ hyar. We'll stop at t’uther ranch an’ git our critters and hike out. We kin leave ther dug-out ter take care o’ itself. What does yer say?” ' ‘““T’'m with yer, Si. Seein’s how we got ther critters, it ‘pears to be ther best thing we kin do. We'll take to ther grass an’ work our way down ‘to ther ponies, drive ’em close under the bluff on the west side thar, an’ ther Injuns can’t see us. Ef yer’ll come down ter ther trail, Pll clime up an’ see whar ther Injuns air. One or two more shots ’ll skeer ’em clean outen ther country.” Carefully looking along the line of bluff to discover any lurking enemy, the hunters, find- ing the coast apparently clear, quickly left the shelter of the trench and gained the tall grass, which hid them completely from view, as they bent over and went at a quick trot in the diree- tion where the ponies continued to graze. Arrived in their vicinity, in obedience to Nea’s request, Old Si took up his position in the grass opposite the trail, while Ned quickly crossed the run, reached the bluff and began to ascend the path leading to the plain, down which the Indian had ridden the evening be- fore. Nearing the top he slackened his steps and, bending nearly double, ascended very slowly. When almost at the summit he fell flat and drew himself along carefully by his bands. His head reached the level of the plain; he raised on his elbows until his eyes were above the grass and there, not three feet from his nose, was the painted and scowling face of an Indian. The scowl on the countenance of the latter quickly changed to the most supreme astonish- ment as he encountered Ned’s gaze. The latter always armed with that presence of mind. which is so invaluable when sudden danger arises, did not stop to think twice, His rifle was in bis band, and swinging it around, be dealt the Sioux such a blow on the head that the latter saw a million stars and lay stunned and confused, and before his seat- tered senses returned, N.d’s knife was plun to the hilt between his shoulders, his legs and arms stiffened out in a convulsive throe and he lay dead, without even having opened his lips from the time bis glance had first encountered tbat of the trapper, Dragging him beyond the edge of the bluff out of sight of the plain, Ned, having scientifi- cally removed his scalp, proceeded to investi+~
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that the opportunity was a most favorable one to escape with their horses, He quickly rejoined Si, and informed him of the state of affairs, gathered the herd of ponies together, fastening them in bunches of six by the lariats hanging to many of the primitive saddles of the Indians, and started south, paus- ing in front of the dug-out only Jong enough to fasten the robe-door securely and to cut away the dirt around the holes, which served for atepe so that they could not be used. he scalp was taken from the dead Indian, lying there, by Old Si, while Ned was engaged in destroying all traces of habitation, and when he was through the closest observer would not have detected any suspicious signs, and no passer-by could have detected the slightest evidence that overhead was a comfortable and commodious shelter which, at the same time, was fort like in its strength. The work having been well and thoroughly done, Ned swung into his saddle and riding alongside the herd of captured ponies kept it headed close in to the overhanging bluff, while Old Si, riding in the rear, urged the horses for- ward at full gallop. They rode thus for several miles, the course of the stream which they had followed being marked only by water-holes and these at rare intervals, the bed being in the spaces between, merely dry sand. At length they reached a int where a raviae intersected the main val- i Soe here the cavalcade halted. eaving the horses in charge of his companion Ned dismounted and proceeded up the ravine on foot, for a mile or more, where stood a ruined cabin, built by some enterprising hunter who, with more courage than brains, had thus defied the Indians on their very stamping- ground. He was not left long in the ene of his home, for a night attack was quickly followed by his death and the ranch had only been saved from the flames by a heavy thunder-storm, which, unusual in those latitudes, arose oppor- tunely, drenching everything in the vicinity, For some reason or another, the Indiuns had not molested the cabin since that night for some time, ab which latter period Ned had appropri- ated it to his own ends and purposes. . Shortly after he had taken up bis abode there he became aware of the approach of a band of Sioux which intended camping there for the night, attracted by the presence of a magnifi- cent spring which gushed from the bank in the rear of the hut, for such it really was, the brook formed by it trickling close to the building run- ning down the ravine for a few yards and then pong “ira in the earth in the mysterious man- ner adopted by Colorado streams. Ned wasina quandary. The cabin had been built over a natural depression, which, with a little labor, had been transformed into an excel- lent and quite commodious cellar, and this Ned had appropriated to his own use as a stable for the two horses he had brought from the fort, and here they now were. The ravine, after running up a few hundred yards, came to an abrupt stop, avd in that. di- rection there was absolutely no exit, the steep banks precluding all idea of escape. From the other end was now advancing the band of Sioux, and there was Ned and his horses in the middle! The question was how to get out of the scrape. Among Ned’s most intimate friends at the fort which he most frequented, and which was also the home of his sister, was a young physi- ’ cian, who, recently having received his diploma, had not yet gotten over that spirit of dare-devil récklessness with which all medical students seem to be imbued, and he was constantly play- ing the most unheard-of pranks, in many of which he was aided aud abetted by our hero, Edward Parkhurst. 4 CHAPTER VII. A TRICK AND ITS RESULT. _ One of his most successful efforts—resulting in the frightening of an old semi-civilized In- dian into temporary lunacy and half idiocy— was performed with Ned’s assistance one dark night in July. Blowing strong from the south, the wind increased in violence toward midnight until it became almost a gale, while the rain fell in torrents. It was as dark as Erebus, and, to use a familiar expression, ‘‘ you could not see your band before your face.” ‘ Ned, in anticipation of the coming event, bad | tan been treating the aged Indian with much kind- ness for several days past, and had so won his gratitude that Tish-a na-o was willing to do any- thing for him. On the night in question, look- ing up ‘‘ Old Tish,” as he was always called, Ned took him to the place where he usually slept, it being an outbuilding that was at the present time unused, having been originally built for a kitchen, but found too small as the number of soldiers at the post was increased. “Tish” was very grateful for this unlooked and unhoped-for shelter, so, when about mid- night, he was awakened by Ned, who was roll- ing about the floor in (apparently) the greatest agony, and asked to go for the doctor, he only too readily assented, and wrapping the bianket, which had served for his bed, about him, pro- ceeded on his errand of mercy. ‘ Scarce had he disappeared through the door, when Ned’s colic disappeared as if by magic, and rising to his feet with a broad grin on his face, he stealthily followed the steps of the savage, who, buffeting the wind and the rain, struggled on his way to the doctor’s quarters. Arrived there, he found all dark, and, guided by feeling and instinct, groped along the build- aig UO he reached the door, when he knocked oudly. Scarcely had his knuckles left the door when the latter swung open, mysteriously and silently, and there, right in front of him, wi'h arms outstretched; with grinning, cavernous jaws; with luminous eye-sockets, stood a skele- ton, each rib and limb outlined in a dim, wav- ering light, with a dancing, tremulous smoky appearance glancing over the whole figure, and without moving hand or foot, advanced slowly toward him, One look was enough. A wild yell and the Indian fell to the ground in a fit that came near carrying him to the land of skeletons for good and all, and it was with the utmost difficulty that the doctor and Ned succeeded in ators him, only to find that his mind bad been injure by the shock, . From his mutterings it was easy to learn that thoroughly superstitous as he was, he thou ht that he was too late; that Ned had died in his absence, and that it was the ghost of the de- ceased that thus menacingly confronted him at the doctor’s door. The trick was a simple one, but well calcu- lated to frighten the untutored Tish-a-na-o nearly out of his senses. The young doctor, like most recent graduates, was the owner of a skeleton, of which he was immensely proud, and which he kept hung up in a closet in his bedroom. But one or two persons at the fort had seen the skeleton, among the number being Ned. One evening, when the plan to frighten poor “Tish” was concocted, the doctor took Ned into his room, proceeded to rub each and every bone of his pet with phosphorus, turned out the light and there, one mass of mysterious, sickly light, stood the skeleton. nowing as he did what it was, the sight nearly paralyzed Ned, whose discomfiture was much enjoyed by wetting a matcb and then marking the wall in the dark, except that it was, naturally, much hightened. Ned’s delight at the success of the trick was unbounded and he begged Dr. Saunders to give him a supply of the devil’s fire as he not inaptly termed it, "The doctor willingly acquiesced and gave bim a small vial, containing several sticks of the chemical, immersed in water to prevent spontaneous combustion. And the recollection of this gave Ned a clew as to how he could escape the threatened in- vasion by the Sioux that evening when escape seemed impossible. Hastily preparing a broad plank that had once served as a portion of the door, by rubbing a mixture of grease and charcoal over it, he took his bottle of phosphorus from a corner where is was hidden and rapidly sketched the outlines of a skeleton on the black. Under Dr. Saunders’s tuition he had become quite an artist, so succeeded in producing quite a respectable skeleton. He then placed the board against the wall, just opposite thé opening where the door had formerly been, closed the shutter of the solitary window and awaited results. c Outside, evening was rapidly approaching, while in the hut it was as ‘‘dark as a pocket.” Nothing could be seen of the illuminated skel- eton, for Ned had placed the side containing it toward the wall of the cabin, stationing himself alongside his work of art. Tae Indians, six in number, rode rayidly up to the cabin, dismounted and turned their mus- | Neck-Tie Ned, the Lariat-Thrower. ’ ; loose, after hoppling them. Toey drank at the spring and then approached thé cabin. All was still as night and they suspected no danger, so the foremost boldly strode into the single room. There was an instant of silence and thena wild yell, that was startling in its intensity of terror, rung on the night air, and the affrighted savage, tearing through his astonished com- panions, never stopped until he reached the ponies. His amazed comrades, thinking him suddenly bewitched, gazed after bim in awe, and then turning, resolved to enter the cabin and investi- gate its hidden mystery, so advanced in a bunch. Arrived near the door they halted, overcome by unknown fears, and peered anxiously inte the darkness, and there, glowing with an un- natural weirdness, stood precisely such an ap- parition as had so terrified Old ‘‘ Tish.” One look was enough and overcome by their | ever present superstition the band, yelling, fled as if possessed of many devils while Ned leaped to the threshold of the door, lasso in hand, and bending a little, lanched it. True as the arrow to the mark it flew and caught the hindmost Sioux fair below his Adam’s apple where it settled and tightened under Ned’s steady and ever-increasing pull, until he lay strangled and dead under the noose. The rest of the band, numbering four, not casting in their stampede, a look bebind, reached their cayuses, tore the hay hopples from their legs, and dragging the first of their number whe had entered the hut, after them, on his horse, dashed down the ravine and off on the prairie for miles. Ned’s repetition of the phosphorus trick had succeeded beyond his most sanguine expecta- tions and bad left him richer by a scalp and a pony—naming the prizes in the order of their value to “‘ Neck-Tie.” Nor was this all of the advantage gained. From thence on for all time, the vicinage of Ned’s retreat was inviolable, for no savage would venture within some miles of the sup- posed haunted spot. ; All of the band had seen the apparition. One of their number had disappeared without utter- ing a cry or giving a sound that he had been immolated. The warrior who had first seen the luminous skeleton was a hopeless and raving maniac, These were sufficient for the rest of the band who still retained their Jives and their senses, and they firmly believed 1! °t the ghost of the aged hunter whe had built .be cabin, was now the terrible guardian of his former home. So Ned was safe in his cabin, and utilized it always afverward, whcn at the dug-out, by turning the cellar into stables, where he quar- tered his two horses. so managing matters that they should not suffer either from hunger or thirst during his enforced absences. But he has been left Jong enough on his expe- dition to the cabin after the horses, while Old Siis patiently avaiting his reappearance, and the thread of the story has been broken at con- siderable length, and must be taken up again without further delay. Arrived at the cabin, Ned, with a grin of pleasure at the recollection of the trick be had layed on the unsuspecting Indians, descended into the cellar, threw open the door, and was greeted with a whinny of pleasure by the tw noble brutes which wandered at will within the confines of their habitation. Ned loved his horses, and always treated them with that kindness which a generous mau always shows todumb domestic servants, an“ ,. was faithfuliy served in return, his steeds al ways seeming to work with more willingness when their master bestrode them than when a strange hand held the lines. Having groomed and watered the animals, Ned mounted his favorite, Black Bess, and fo!- lowed by the other without leading-rein, rode at a rapid pace down the valley toward the river, where Old Si waited with the captured herd. Arrived at the point where the ravine was merged into the larger valley, Ned gave a quick glance around. Nothing was in sight, and the entire space covered by Neck-Tie Ned’s rapid glances was bare of human or animal life, The herd of horses, with their keeper, had disappeared as completely as if the earth had opened and swal- lowed them up, as it swallowed the river which flowed below. Ned’s heart ceased to beat, and leaping to the ground he eagerly scanned every blade of grass, a o
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every particle of disturbed earth that lay before him in the neighborhood of the stopping-place, but uselessly. The feet of the captured herd had left only undistinguishable marks, and Ned was about to begin a wider circuit in search of something like a trail, when— Ha! he hasaclew. Cut in the side of the bluff, about the hight of a man’s head when on horseback, was a rude imitation of an arrow, with the head pointin south, while in an extraordinary flourish flowe an uncouth ‘‘S” just below, which was imme- diately recogni by the young fellow as Old Si’s sign-manual. Ned’s heart beat high once more, for he ini- agined that his companion, thinking it better to move on with the cavalcade, and let the other eon bad continued in the direction of the ort. This was partially true, and ‘‘ Neck-Tie ” fol- lowed, while away on the other bluff a pair of black eyes malignantly and exultingly followed his course, Ned rode on unsuspectingly. CHAPTER VIUTI. AN AMBUSH FOR MR. PARKHURST. In the mean time what had become of Old Si? Left in charge of the cavalcade, he sat for a time, leisurely surveying the landscape and humming, beneath his breath, the old-time song of California: “You're gazing now on old Tom Moore A relic of bygone days.”’ Finally he descended to the ground, stretched his leg and took a step or two eastward toa point where a better view of the valley, north and south, could be obtained, and from there gazed long and earnestly in the direction whence they had come, Suddenly he stooped, shaded his eyes with his hand and peered closely at certain dark but in- distinct forms that rose and fell with a swaying motion, like the balancing of a ship upon a gen- tle swell, and which grew more and more dis- tinct as oe rapidly approached along the west- ern brink of the bank which was yet steep and unscalable. ‘Injuns, Jehosophat!” ejaculated the old hun- ter as he arose from his stooping position and hurriedly drew near and under the shelter of the bank. ‘‘ An’ not the same band o’ Sioux we seen back yonder. No time to warn Ned. Guess that lad’s cute enuff ter take a hint, so yer’ goes,” and the old man, with a sweep of his hunting-knife, made the marks in the bluff which had attracted Ned’s attention. It was evidently better to drive on the ponies and let Ned follow at speed than to waste valu- able time waiting for him, and this course was adopted by Old Si. He did not much dread the band of Indians that he had discovered, for be knew that they could not follow straight down the bluff, but must make a lengthy detour so as to avoid the ravine in which was Ned’s cabin and which in-ersected their course, He therefore urged the captured band of nies forward at full speed, following close be. ind and “‘encouraging” the laggards wivh his stinging ‘‘quirt,” the sha ars gait thus assumed soon taking the band of horses far below the ravine into-a more sheltered spot where there was ample grass and numerous water-holes for the horses to drink. Here they halted. Soon after the cavalcade had swept out of sight a new actor appeared on the scene in the erson of a young buck, gaudily attired yet not in full war paint. He was on the eastern bank ofthe bluff and was not mounted, evidently having left his horse some distance back on the prairie to graze with the rest of the band to which he was attached, as it was not probable that he would be afoot so far from any permanent Indiin village. As he stepped to the edge of the bluff, Ned rode into view, and stopped, and as he did so the wary Indian threw himself flat on the ground and watched the Shake nate trapper who, after seeing and correctly interpreting Old Si’s directions, turned south and rodeaway at a moderate rate of speed. This then was the situation. Down the val- ley, four or five miles, Old Si and the band of horses were resting; up the valley was Ned, riding and leading his spare horse, while on the eastern side was a solitary Indian watching Ned and on the western the band discovered by Si approaching at a rapid gallop, but beginning to diverge somewhat to the west, as if the presence of the intersecting ravine were known to them. \ A lorg whoop from the savage on the eastern bluff roused Ned from a reverie into which he Neck-Tie Ned, the Lariat-Thrower. } had fallen and wherein a certain dainty little beauty of the fort figured prominently, and he gazed startled, in the direction of the sound, but there was nothing in sight. Certain that he had not been deceived, he sat, holding his horse in readiness for instant flight, yet undecided as to whether or no he had better attempt to fathom the mystery, a few moments deciding him that the danger was not so press- ing but that he had some minutes to spare. a moment more he discovered something moving slowly, to and fro, on the eastern bluff. A sometbing which did not seem much larger than the beaver-skin cap he wore and which ap- peared either to be suspended in the air or held up on a ramrod, arrow or such-like object, the distance from one side of the valley to the other being too great to readily distinguish anything with certainty. ‘*Some Injun trick, I reckon,” muttered Ned, ‘an’ Pll jest wait here, an’ see the thing out. It ll give Old Sia start anyhow,” and master Ned, with the coolness for which he was noted over the plains, threw himself from the saddle, and, lying on the grass, awaited develop- ments. He was close under the western bank; so close that had he stretched his hand he could have touched it, but his entire attention was concentrated on the bluff opposite where the mysterious waving of the mysterious object continued without ceasing for an hour or more. Suddenly a second object appeared alongside the first and was violently agitated. This was becoming interesting and Ned sat up, then stood up, wondering what on earth it all meant, while his horses grazing near by, and too well trained to stray looked up at him and snorted as though there were danger in the air. It is the unknown in this world (and the next) which is most to be dreaded and so if was in this case, the mystery of the whole proceeding dazing Ned, and, despite himself, rendering him nervous and timorous, until he almost persua- ded himself to mount and ride away after his partner and, returning with him, endeavor to solve the enigma which confronted him. From such action, however, he was deterred by a circumstance which, as far as he was con- cerned, settled any action on bis part. “Tf they were out on the plain,” mused Ned, dropping into that more educated form of speech that was natural to him, ‘‘ I sbould think that they were trying to lure those inquisitive creatures, antelope, to them; but that seems hardly possible. Yet how explain it? They are not surely trying to decoy me over there— I’m too old a bird for that, and am not—” A crash and a groan, and Neck-Tie Ned fell to the ground as though shot through the heart. One of the band of Indians that had warned Old Si to leave that place had crawled to the edge of the bluff, having ridden with bis com- rades close to the bank; had weighted his raw- hide saddle with a buffalo-robe and had dropped it plumb on Ned’s head as he stood gazing in the opposite direction, bis heavy beaver-skin cap alone saving bis skull from being crusbed in. A yell of mingled triumph and exultation arose from the opposite bank, a quarter of a mile away, as Ned fell, which was answered by the band on the western bluff, and the savages, having dismounted, walked to the edge of the bluff and looked down upon their fallen foe, who lay prone and lifeless twenty feet below them. Their enemy was at their mercy and they proceeded to consult as to the best means of securing his scalp if he were dead and to make him 9 prisoner if he were alive, There was no descent into the valley for miles in either direction and the question was how to reach Ned’s body without retracing their steps or riding over the distance that se arated them from the lower route, Signals from the band on the other side showed that they were ina like quandary and were power- less to reach the victim unless they should ride several miles also. p The entire party, comprising both those on the eastern and those on the western bluffs, did not number a dozen warriors and the two bands were about equally divided, five being on the side where Ned lay, and now in deep and ear- nest consultation as to how they should reach their prey. They had recognized Ned, who was hated and feared all through the Sioux country and were determined not to depart without the much-prized trophy which is the proof of the prowess of the braves to their admiring village maidens, squaws and old men who are too aged to take the field and bend the bow, or wield the tomahawk with the younger braves. The matter was soon decided and one, of the f * mee ee lightest and slimmest of the warriors, stepping forward, placed the noose of a horse-hair lariat beneath his arms, so arranging it that it would, not draw too tight and was lowered by his com- rades over the bluff to the ground below, where, loosening the loop, he stepped forward to Ned’s side and placed his hand on the latter’s heart, opening bis hunting-sbirt for that purpose, A gleam of exultant and malignant cruelty overspread bis painted features as he detected a faint beat, and with a guttural “* Ugh” addressed to his comrades above and a nod be proceeded to arrange matters so that Ned could be drawn up by the same means that had sufficed for his captor’s descent. Dragging the inanimate body of the wounded trapper close under the bank, he attached the lariat under bis arm-pits, around his body and looking up was about to motion to bis comrades to haul away when he perceived that they were in considerable of a commotion, gazing at the opposite bank, and talking and gesticulating in much excitement. There was evidently trouble in the band on the opposite side, for there also seemed to be much gesticulating and excited conversation, although it seemed to be confined to the warri- ors composing the group as they pas no atten- tion to their surroundings and had ceased to gaze with interest upon Ned and his captors as aon had pre’ iously done, ; he dispute seemed to be confined to two of the savages for they confronted esch other closely, shaking threatening fingers in each others’ faces and menacingly clutching their tomabawks and keen scalping-knives, while the attempting to dis- —_— others, although apparently suade them from anything ii appear to be making any very strenuous efforts to restrain them from shedding each other’s blood, should they be so inclined, so fond of the sight of the red fluid is our bronze brother of the plains. ; The excited controversy continued at some length, until at last, the ungovernable rage of the Indians burst all bounds, and they flew at each other as one tiger in the jungle leaps upons the other, or as two buffalo-bulls with lowered heads and fury-gleaming eyes rush into a col- lision that makes the earth tremble, But qniek as they were, the one who seemed to be highest in authority in the band was quicker than they, for he, having been warily watching their every move and weighing every word, sprung between them and with uplifted tomahawk commanded them to desist; which command, so much a respecter of their chiefs are they, was instantly obeyed by the two com- batants, Then motioning the two to stand a little back from each other the young chief addressed them. Hewas aware, he said, that insults had passed, which only blood could wash away, but custom was sacred and,if there were to be a duel to the death, one or the other must have the choice of weapons. Which one, must be decided by lot, as neither one of the two had been particularly the aggressor, and, stooping, he plucked two blades of grass of differen length, which he held out in silence to the ene- mies of the moment, He who stood to the south reached forth and drew his bit of herbage on which hung his life, the other following with a like movement, and measuring with bis eye the difference in length of the green spears that gave the choice, The first who had drawn gave a savage yell, leaped back and drawing his tomabawk from its resting-place flung it far away onto the plain where its keen edge buried itself in the earth to the handle, and the deadly instrument there stuck, quivering, and this determined that the duel was to be fought with knives; so the other party to the fray likewise threw away his batchet, rid himself of all likely to incum- ber bim during the coming combat and sprung to the edge of the bluff, naked and as Nature made him, save for the breech-clout which bung at his loins and the stripes of paint that streak- ed his, by no means prepossessing visage. His opponent was soon ready, and, outlined against the sky, the actors in this fearful drama stood up like silhouettes, while Ned, recovering his scattered senses, gazed, an eager spectator, thankful for his brief respite from the thongs that would surely bind him a little later on, yet not daring to move. Tt was the work of a moment, The warrior who had woo the choice was evidently more skilled in the use of the knife than bis adver- sary, and, narrowing the distance which separ- ated them, stood, stooping and twisting and turning and writhing, until be saw an open- ing, and d shed under the other’s guard, aes a ke violence, did not - ‘
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= An upper blow of the left arm under the other’s right, a quick twist of the heel into the ankle of the leg, a sinuous turn, and, as the other staggered, a quick thrust, a deadly plunge of the keen blade, and the warrior, stabbed in . the left side to the vitals, shrieked his death-cry, q turned in a dizzy circle twice around, and then, ,* collapsing, fell, an inert mass ot bloody flesh, i into the void below, crushing out what life was left in a deadened crash. CHAPTER IX. | A SHOT FOR A LIFE. INDIAN stoicism admitted of no display of emotion, so that little feeling was manifested by the spectators of this combat, which would not have shamed the gladiatorial days of Old Rome, The anticipation of the magnificent capture that they had made; of the welcome they would receive when, returning to their village, they would bear with them the terror of their race— ‘Neck-Tie Ned; the hope of inflicting upon him Ss the severest tortures that Indian ingenuity ‘ane could devise; all these tended to distract the q thoughts of Ned’s captors, and well-nigh ren- Le dered: them oblivious of everything else. Bc So they prepared to drag him to the top of iam ‘the bluff, there to tie him securely upon a wiry a? : mustang and bear him away to their village in the North, where he would be sport for all the urchins of the tribe, and would prove, by his unshaken stoicism, that he could die as he had lived—a man. a In the mean time Old Si, far below, was “ git- tin’ onrestless,” as he putit. ‘Lime sufficient had : elapsed for Ned to have rejoined him, and know- q ing of the presence of the Indiansand Ned’s ever- , | hey carelessness, be feared that something ad happeued to his pal, and finally became too as uneasy to remain quiet any longer. zs Leaving the ponies quietly feeding, therefore, i he mounted his mustang, turned bis head north, - and retraced his steps of a few hours before, | urging his willing steed to a steady lope, and keeping a sharp and watchful lookout along the bluffs ahead, . ire As he drew near to the place where Ned had ! met with his disaster, his quick eye discovered the little band of Indians, outhned against the ie sky, long before he could be seen, and stopping his mustang he slid into the long grass and, with i a swinging trot, rapidly approached the scene to of the Indian duel, of which he was an interest- i ed witness, and the result of which pleased him greatly. So engrossed were the savages in the fight ‘ that he was able to approach within a hundred yards of his partner, and there he halted, non- ; ; ae and at a Joss how to proceed. He feared : fire lest Ned’s life should pay the forfeit, and 9 he waited, trusting that some unforeseen occur- es rence might arise which would aid him in com- ae ang fo a conclusion as to how he ought to act. he Indian who had Ned in charge, baving akg carefully adjusted the noose, removed Ned’s fe knife from iis sheath and signaled to his com- | |» -gades above to “haul away,” and Neck-Tie hs swung into the air liké a bale of cotton hoisted Bibee by a derrick, the savage below aiding by ‘‘ boost- ' ing,” and enjoying himself by sticking the : int of Ned’s knife into the soles of the latter’s 1 eet. Ned was a pretty husky kind ofa lad, and the " lift was a heavy one, so his ascent was very ‘ag gradual; the four muscular savages on the bank ‘a above straining and tugging with all their — The sight of his partner swinging there, help- less, like a bale of rags, was too much for Old Si, so leveling his rifle plumb at the breast of the Nh Indian, who, nearest to him, was pulling on the 4 rope, touched the trigger and the faithful rifle ‘5 spoke quick in reply. iq The bullet sped true to its mark, struck the { savage at whom it had been aimed fair in the breast, went through and through his body and | severely wounded the one next behind him on the rope, both of the men releasing the lariat ey and falling back in a heap oe the others, the 4 result being that all tumbled together in a con- a fused mass upon the sward. A more astonished set of copper -skinned brethren it would be difficult to imagine, and not the least so was the one who had aided Ned’s ascent by puncturing his feet with the knife- f Y point. ; ee The rope being released Ned fell heavily back I > and as the Indian was right under him, the wes 3) hundred and eighty pounds of the trapper, com- = _ ing suddenly and unexpectedly on his shoulders, | ~~ grushed him to the earth in a heap, and from ‘a that moment he was a dead Indian. “ Ned’s senses had been completely restored gome time before the hoisting process began, * A j | -Neck-Tie Ned, the Lariat-Thrower. | : eo and when his journey through the air com- menced he had all of his wits about him, and, as the crack of Si’s rifle was as familiar to him as the old man’s voice, he comprehended matters in an instant, and was immediately ready for action, As he fell, therefore, he was prepared for the shock, and, bracing himself, drove his feet down into the upturned face of the Indian, thereby adding to the force of bis fall, and then leaping on his foe, he held him firmly with one moc- easined foot on the warrior’s neck until he loosened the noose which held him fast. Slipping the horse-hair loop around the sav- age’s neck he rolled bim over on his face, gave a pull or two with his foot between the shoulders of the prostrate man and added another to the long list of dead that bore Neck-Tie’s fatal mark when they left this world, And so the horse- bair lariat of the Indian bad been the means of his own death. Old Si had meantime reloaded, but there was nothing to fear; the Indians—at least those who had escaped—were far over the plain by this time, and were plying cruel quirts to their fly- ing steeds to increase their speed, while the Indians on the opposite bank vented their rage in impotent cries, being too far off to harm the trappers and unable to descend into the valley even had they dared. ‘¢ Another added to the number of times you saved my life, Si,” said Ned, speaking with much feeling and emotion, ‘ Will I ever, I wonder, get anywhere near even with you?” ‘‘ Jest yer let that hen sot, lad,” returned the oldman. ‘“ Thar’s no question o’ debts between us. But gether up yer traps, ther hull country’s a-swarmin’ wi’ Injuns, an’ we must make tracks fer ther ranch an’ let ther cayuses go. Come me Old Si was right. The only thing to do was to return to the dug-out and fortify themselves again, while waiting for a better chance to escape and reach the fort. A whistle from Ned brought his two horses trotting up, and having secured his rifle and knife, Ned mounted one while Si took posses- sion of the other, and with another trophy in the shape of a scalp dangling at his belt, Neck- Tie led the way, at full gallop toward the dug- out, not daring to leave the horses in their usual quarters at the haunted cabin. The band of Indians on the other side of the valley followed their movements and rode along as rapidly as they could, endeavoring to keep pace with them, but finding their ponies far in- ferior in point of speed to the magnificent ani- mals ridden by the two trappers. As they rode along, Si explained to Ned that he had cut the sign of the arrow in the bank with a barb, thereby denoting that there were Indians in sight, but this fact Ned, with bis usual carelessness, had overlooked and thereby gotten into trouble, The Indians they had been fighting last, evi- dently belonged to a hunting-party as was dis- covered by the arrows found in the quiver of the dead savage strangled by Ned, for in hunt- ing the buffalo the red-men use no barbs on their arrows, they being merely pointed that they may the more readily be withdrawn and used again, something that is very difficult when the arrow is held in its place by a barb. With the horses they had, it would have pos- sibly been easy to escape from the warriors that they had encountered, but everything tended to the belief that a large war-party of Sioux was scouring the country, and signals would be sent out which, in the event of there being any Indians to the south, would have re- sulted in an ambush and a possible massacre of the trappers. For this as well as other reasons, it was deemed best to defer their departure for some days. Nothing of note occurred during their hur- ried ride to the dug-out, until they had nearly arrived, when a shout of triumph from the scouting-party on the bluff warned them to draw rein and reconnoirer, for the Indians, being so much higher placed, commanded a view of that portion of the valley which, by a bend in the bluff, was yet hidden from the trap- ers. r What was the cause of this sudden outburst from their foes? Had they seen others of their band coming down the valley and so near that it was but a question of afew moments that they would attack? A short time would reveal and so Ned and Si sat like statues on their horses, awaiting developments, until the’ whiz of an accurately-aimed arrow startled them into action., It was a narrow escape and only the stout belt worn by Neck-Tie saved him from a seri- - ous, perhaps a mortal, wound, and as it was the point of the arrow remained sticking in his side to be withdrawn by Ned, examined and handed to Si with the remark: ‘ Huntin’ arrow.” Scarce had the words left his lips when a second missile flew past bim and lodged in the bank near by, but it had scarce found a resting- place in the earth before Ned, turning his borse with a sharp pull, wheeled into the tall grass where a waving of the herbage showed him that the attacking-party must be and rode right down on the would-be assassin. A few bounds of his horse brought him close and he bending low suddenly escaped a third arrow aimed at bis breast and gave chase to the bowman before the latter could fit another dart to his bow-string and the Indian sought safety in flight, looking back at the Fate that was pursuing him so relentlessly, with terror in his es. He soon left the grass and took to the open, and, knowing that bis life depended on it, ran with the speed of a startled deer up the valley, whence arose a thundering shout, and where were gathered the band to which he belonged, numbering some fifty bucks with the usual com- plement of squaws, ponies, etc., that go to make upahunting- party. | Ned pressed closer with swinging lariat in his hand, while from the hunting-party a dozen warriors rode out to intercept bim and, if possi- ble, save the life of their hard-pressed compan- ion, who was using his best efforts to reach them. It was nip and tuck but Ned’s Missouri bred mare was the favorite in the race and soon brought him within reacbing distance of his victim, and, measuring the distance with his eye, he langbed the fatal noose. It hovered over the fleeing Indian for a moment like some great hawk circling over a brood of chickens and then swooped over his head onto his bare and brown shoulders, As the noose settled Ned took a turn with the end of the lariat around the horn of his saddle and reined in his horse, who, trained to hold the strongest Texan steers, settled back on his baunches and braced himself for the shock, With a twang like a bow-string the cord tightened, the shock of the sudden pull throw- ing the Indian off of his feet and jerking him bigh into the air, while bis neck cracked like a pistol-shot, so suddenly was it broken, and Ned, turning his horse, and dragging his prey after bim, started back down the valley at full speed, the corpse of the dead savage bounding after like some great red football. But Nea’s “vaulting ambition” had “‘o’er- leaped itself,” tbis time at least, for the fore- most of Indian antagonists were within reach- ing distance and he received a touch of his own medicine. A brawny brave, pressing eagerly forward, got within reaching distance and skillfully threw bis lasso on to the ground so that, witha well-timed lift, the hind-legs of Ned’s horse be- came entangled in the noose and he fell beavily to the ground, throwing his rider high into the air, and off into the grass at one side, the latter breaking bis fall and saving bim from any seri- ous injury. Before be could rise a half.dozen of the In- dians were on him, and although he fought des- pereray' using his knife with terrible effect, and although Si’s rifle cracked twice with deadly results, the young mepye was at length over- powered, a blow from the side of a tomahawk stretching bim senseless and leaving him cap- tive in the hands of his enemies, who aiokly bound him and left bim lying there while they gave chase to Old Si. The aged trapper was, however, too well mounted and they quickly desisted from the chase, seeing that his Seen horse could easily outstrip their tired ponies, already worn out from a long buffalo-hunt held that morning, and returned to Ned whom they found just re- covering his senses. The events of the day had been numerous and stirring, and the trapper felt faint and thirsty, but did not deign tofshow a sign of his weakness to his captors. The sun was getting low in the West and he supposed that no move in any direction would be made that night, par- ticularly as he saw that the squaws had come up with the camp-equipage and were preparing the tepees, while the rest of the warriors gath- ered around him and, with malignant glances testified to their undying hatred. A glance around showed Ned that they were almost opposite the dug-out, the existence of which, however, was apparently unknown to the Indians, and, ro it would have been impossible for Ned to have located it, had it not
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been for the water-mark which stood directly above, and pointed it out distinctly to any one familiar with the secret of the dwe ting. Soon the lodge-poles were unloaded from the ponies; a blazing fire was built and huge chunks of meat were roasting, or rather burning before the flames, while the bucks lounged about, smok- ing and interchanging ideas, leaving the squaws jto attend to all of the work. It is no part of the Indian policy to weaken a jprisoner who is intended for the torture, and, although Ned’s feet remained securely fastened by strips of rawhide, the thongs that bound his hands were loosened, and he was given as much water as he could drink and a huge piece of meat with which to stay his hunger. Ho was well aware that he was thus treated with apparent kindness only to enable him bet- ter to withstand the torture and that the In- dians fed him as the cannibals feed their pris- oners—to make them fat; yet as the idea of es- cape was the uppermost in his mind, he ate heartily and felt much refreshed and strength- ened after his meal, and prepared for any emergency that might arise, His only anxiety was to communicate with his partner and he managed to secure a piece of deerskin on which he marked with a piece of eharred wood: ‘Stay here, X days,” and threw to one side without being observed, If Si found it he would obey the injunction and remain at least that long awaiting Ned’s return and then would take means to relieve him, so Ned, relieved in mind and body and at- tached by the wrists to two guards, was soon in a sound and peaceful sleep. ee a CHAPTER X. RUNNING THE GANTLET. THE morning broke clear asa maiden’s tear, and not a breath of air was stirring; the smoke from the Indian fires rising straight toward the blue vault above, while all was bustle and con- fusion in the camp, as preparations for departure were hurriedly pushed forward, the squaws, naturally, doing all the work, while the bucks ' gorged themselves with the proceeds of the pre- ceding day’s hunt. hen all was ready, the Indians who had charge of Neck-Tie Ned mounted him upon a wiry mustang, tying his feet underneath with a iece of lariat, while bis hands were loosely bound together. To prevent any possibility of escape, a thong of buckskin was fastened to the pony’s muzzle, the ends of which were held bya mounted guard riding on either side of him. A good night’s rest had completely restored the young trapper, and exceyting a slight pain in his head where the blow of the tomahawk had felled him, he felt as well as ever, and ready to take advantage of the slightest circumstance which might offer, although at present, there did not seem to be the slightest prospect of escape. The entire body was soon in motion, and struck rapidly north in the direction of the main encampment, which, judging from re- marks interchanged by his guides, Ned imagined to be about a day’s ride distant. With the exception of a short halt made at noon to allow the mustangs to graze and rest for a time, no stop was made until evening, when scouts were sent in advance, the main body remaining quiet until their return. Soon they came back with the information that all was well, and the cavalcade moved on, reaching the temporary village soon after dark, and riding in emidst’a perfect Babel of sound, in which the yells of the warriors, the screams of the squaws, the cries of the children, the _ yelping of dogs, and the whinnying of horses all % mingled and strove for the mastery. * The scouts bad conveyed the intelligence of Ned’s capture to the village, and all was joy and exultation over the capture of their enemy, whom thev so much feared and hated; for he had been the scourge of the red-men ever since he had first taken up his abode on the plains and waged relentless war against the tribe that had destroyed his home and murdered his parents. The savage nature was more fully aroused when the pony bearing the cerpse of Ned’s last victim was led into the village. Two lodge- poles, the smaller ends trailing on the ground, the — ones being fastened on each side of a pony, had served for a bier, the body being wrapped in a blanket, and secured between the les behind the pony. The dead man had been prominent.in his tribe for his savage cruelty as well a for his cunning, and was a great loss, having been the strategist as well as the leader in many of the Indian raids against other tribes, And so whem his death , me was made known the rage was fearful, and only more intensified by the sight of his body. His family, more than all the rest of the tribe, were aroused to a pitch of ferocity that was demoniac in its fierceness, and the insults that they showered upon Ned were calculated to drive him to desperation, had he not steeled himself to bear them. The prisoner was, however, protected to some extent, by his captors, who prevented any serious injury befalling him, and was soon safe- ly ensconced in a lodge situated near the middle of the village, when, bound hand and foot with thongs which cut deeply into the flesh, he was thrown like a log to pass the night, while a chosen guard watched him closely, so noted was his prowess, so famed was he for actions of skill and of strength. The next day the council was held in the great lodge, and here the chiefs assembled to deliberate on the fate of the captive and to de- cide upon the manner of his death; for that any other punishment could be inflicted was out of the question—death, and death alone, could atone for the many victims be had snatched from the ranks of the Yanktonnais Sioux. _ The council was a full one and the delibera- tions long and ample, the conclusions being— torture and death at the stake. Ned heard the result announced with that coolness which he had preserved throughout the proceedings, yet there was a deep-seated anxiety in his heart, which, while not apparent on the surface, was none the less felt, for he saw not one ray of hope to glve him courage to face the coming ordeal. He realized that, as the torture was to com- mence on the following morning at sunrise, he had less than twenty-four hours in which to plan, mature and put into execution any scheme for escape, and that when he was returned to his prison, the watch would be doubled and not the slightest loop-hole afforded for avoiding his terrible fate. He noticed, with a mingled feeling of joy and ain, as he was led from the Medicine Lodge to is quarters, that his horse was staked among the Indian herd, and, whistling as he passed, was glad to see the intelligent brute raise his head and recognize him with a whinny of re- cognition, as it tried to break away from the lariat-pin and reach him. Again he was thrown into bis prison and left to his own reflections while a cordon of sentries surrounded the tepee, and rendered flight impossible, even hadwhe been free from the bonds which galled and cut his flesh at wrist and ankle. Thus the greater part of the day passed, re- lieved from its unbearable monotony only by the entrance of one of his guards bearing a bowl of water and a dish of stew that might have been dog, for all that be knew to the con- trary, yet of which he partook with a relish; so strongly does Nature assert herself among the most unusual surroundings. About four o’clock in the afternoon, Ned, who had fallen into a troubled doze, was awakened by en unusual clamor and excitement in the village, and although he did not imagine that he was immediately concerned, yet he was somewhat interested in what might be going on, so called one of his guards who was standing in the opening that served as a door, and asked him the cause of the tumult, He soon learned that he was somewhat inter- ested in the occurences that were taking place outside, for the guard, in no spirit of kindness, informed him that the squaw of ‘‘Cloud that Sails,” as the Indian he had lassoed just before his capture was called, had demanded that, previous to the torture, the white prisoner be given up to her and her friends, that they might wreak a little preliminary vengeance, and to this request the chiefs had acceded, The old hag hud therefore called together her family, relatives and friends, the whole num- ber comprising nearly the whole village, and announced to them that, as the prisoner had been released to her for a short time, she pro- posed that he should be made to run the gant- let, a proposition which was hailed with accla- mation on all sides, while each and every one of her listeners burried away to arm themselves with whatever instrument they could find, provided it was something that would not in- flict a mortal wound. The sun was about an hour high when Ned was led out to undergo this species of savage cruslty, which sometimes leads to the victim’s death if he be not agile, swift, strong and de- termined, At a glance he saw the ordeal which he must undergo, A long lane had been formed, the ‘ Neck-Tie Ned, the Lariat-Thrower. . 9 walls of which were squaws, young bucks who had not yet attained the dignity of warriors, young girls and boys and a swarm of children; all armed with every instrument of punish- ment that could be devised or which the instinct of cruelty could invent, Some had partially blunted arrows with which to prod the runner as he passed; others had bows with which cruel blows could be in- flicted; others again had pieces of wood which, though not very heavy, could inflict a severe bruise, while otllans held thongs of rawhide, weighted at the end with small pebbles and with pieces of sharpened flint plaited in. Stationed about the middle of the lines were the squaw and immediate family of the dead man, while at the further end, and scattered along the outside of the human lane were the bucks of the tribe, ready to prevent any at- tempt on the part of the V pacts to escape. Ned stood and surveyed all of these prepara- tions with a smile of contempt, while his ap- - pearance was the signal for a storm of cries and yells all along the line, while the participants shouted to the guards to loosen their prey, a ~ young urchin stealing up behind and inserting a thorn into the calf of the trapper’s leg a good half-inch, without causing him to wince, His bonds cast off, Neck-Tie was stripped to the waist, and left for a moment to chafe his wrists and ankles that the blood might flow more freely and enable him to use his limbs to better advantage. He stood thus for a moment, studying the situation. The course he must follow led up the side of a gently-sloping bill, and once at the top of the declivity, he would be safe from any further attacks by those composing the gant~ let, and this he hoped to reach with only a few cuts and bruises. At one side, near the brow of the bill, the Indian mustangs were feeding, and with a thrill of joy he saw his own steed standing al- most alone and loosely tethered. Far down the line he could distinguish the malignant counte- nance of the old squaw, and gleaming in her hand he perceived, balf hidden in the folds of her blanket, the glistening blade of a tomahawk. The old squaw meant, should he reach her post without being tripped up and half beaten to death, to inflict a death-blow upon bim as he a and thus avenge the death of her bus- and. , Ned’s mind, after this discovery, was quickly made up. He stooped and rubbed bis ankles vigorously for a few moments, straightened up, and, glancing far over the hill, gave utterance to a loud yell of astonishment and pointed in the direction in which he was gazing. Every eye followed the direction of his finger, and taking advantage of the diversion thus af- forded in his favor, Neck-Tie bounded up the lane with the velocity of an arrow, and had traversed fully one-third of the distance he had torun before the participants in the ‘‘ sport” had recovered from their surprise, His ruse had so far succeeded that he had es- caped all danger from those who formed the first portion of the line, and loud were their cries of vexation and rage as they found themselves cheated of their prey, while the older warriors outside the line shook their sides in stolid amusement at their discomfiture. But Ned was not yet out of the toils. Blows were hailed on him from every side; feet were put out to trip bim up and thongs of buckskin were stretched from one side of the lane to the other to throw bim down. Cruel wounds were inflicted by the blunted arrows, and raining down on his bead was a shower of blows from clubs and blows that dazed and confused him, yet he kept on, straight as a plumb-line, in the direction of the goal. : Streaming with blood from numerous wounds, dripping with perspiration at every pore, Ned stumbled, staggered and nearly fell as a severer blow than usual fell upon his unprotected head, but recovering himself, be rallied, turned, grasped the club from the youth who held it, and thus partially armed, darted on his way. But now the greatest danger of his course confronted him, for he reached the spot where were gathered the immediate famil of his Jast victim, and they were blind with rage and thirsting, as only can thirst the savage, for his heart’s blood. Ned realized that the moment of defeat or victory bad now arrived, and, bracing himself, with a mighty effort he sprung forward with re- newed strength and rapidly approached the squaw who held aloft the gleaming hatchet. Quick as he was, she dealt him a blow on the left shoulder that cut through skin, flesh and muscle and caused the crimson fluid to gush
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~. 10 forth in a blinding stream, yet even this did not stop the indomitable trapper, for, drawing a deep breath, he uttered a shrill whistle which echoed far and wide and reached the ears of the intelligent animal for which it was intended. Then pausing and half turning, witb a super- human effort and a mighty bound he cleared the heads of those surrounding him and stood freed from the howling crowd, while confront- ing him was a single stalwart savage, who alone barred his path, the rest of the braves being at the end of the line, where they could better see the ‘‘ finish.” Raising his club on bigh Ned brought it down on the head of the burly Indian, his skull crush- ing beneath the blow as if it had been an egg- shell, when, bounding over his prostrate body, Ned sped on to where bis willing steed, having torn the picket-pin from the turf, was galloping to meet him. A word, a caress, and he was on the animal’s back, and with no saddle, no bridle, tearing ever the prairie at a rate of speed which bade fair to soon carry him far from the Indian vil- lage and away beyond the reach of the wolf- like ~—e who had already mounted and were swiitly giving chase to their escaped prisoner. The night air revived Ned, and, with words ef encouragement to his bonny black steed, he sped on through the gathering shades of the night to the spot which had so often sheltered him ‘before. CHAPTER. XI. THE MASSACRE, On through the rapidly disappearing twilight; on over the wide-spreading prairie; on, with rattlesnakes gliding swiftly out of his pathway, while coyotes howled on either side-and gaunt forms of gray wolves scampered off into the dis- tance, and the miles fied behind the Missouri raare and her rider as the hours slipped by and the free air blew fresh in their faces. os the North Star well over his right shoulder, the young trapper pursued his course as unerringly as does the sailor on trackless seas with the aid of his unfailing friend, the com- pass, and soon the landmarks that were familiar to him drew in sight, and Ned knew that an- ether sun would see him close to his home. A slight breeze, blowing from the northeast had arisen by the time the Great ns a ha made half the circuit of its orbit, and, borne upon its wings, Ned heard the thundering of the unshod hoofs of the pursuing mustangs: the foe was still on the trail and would pursue him to the bitter end. Swerving now to the right, now to the left, the brave black steed avoided with an instinct that seemed almost human the various pitfalls in the shape of prairie-dog holes, that ever and anon obstructed her course, while the small owls which inhabit these domiciles in common with their diggers and the rattlesnake, flapped their wings in the young trapper’s face as he sped over the plain, and seemed almost like ghostly visitants of the night. - The way now led over more broken ground and here the gallant animal that had saved Ned’s life was forced to relax her speed and pick her way more cautiously as the night in- - folded the earth still more closely in its shadowy pinions, for a false step or an untrue hoof would result in serious injury either to borse or rider. The wind blew steadily; the coyotes shrieked out their almost human laughter; the sound of the pursuing hoofs grew fainter and fainter un- til it was lost altogether in the distance; the night grew darker and darker as the long @ grasses waved a mystic welcome to horse and rider as they swept by, until, at length, worn out by loss of blood and nervous tension, the young trapper lost consciousness, and, clutching at the mane of his faithful steed, fell heavily to the earth and there, seemingly deserted by God and man, lay prone and senseless, while bis tired borse stood, with drooping head, close by, and waited for some word of command from its master lifeless at her feet. “Scouts report Indian sign in the neighbor- hood, sir,” said Sergeant Watson to the lieuten- ant commanding a detachment of the —th cav- alry, which was out on a scout from Fort Doug- las. ‘‘ What are your orders for the day ?” “Detail a squad of not less than ten men to proceed north, at once, sergeant, and reconnoi- ter in the vicinity of the Forks, Let the rest of the company remain as at present and await their return. From what I can learn the In- dians are present in force, and we must return to the fort for reinforcements.” Neck-Tie Ned, the Lariat-Thro The day broke ae , and the first rays of the rising sun, striking full in Ned’s face, roused him from the deathlike sleep into which he had fallen, and raising bimself on one elbow he glanced around and endeavored to collect his scattered senses... Like a flash the recollection of the preceding day came back to him, the occurrences of that awful time being the more vividly recalled to him by the sight of Black Bess grazing quietly near, she having rested and drank deep from a water-hole in the near vicinity. Rising he staggered to the water, drank a deep draught, washed himself and bathed his wounds, and though stiff and sore, felt much relieved from the deathly faintness of the pre- ceding night, and able at a moderate gait, to proceed onward toward his destination some ten miles distant. Whistling to Bess he therefore mounted with difficulty and proceeded in the direction of the dug-out where he hoped that Old Si would still be awaiting him and where food and rest would give bim new strength and vitality. He was not, however, forgetful of the possi- bilities, and after riding a mile or more left his horse in a narrow ravine and eautiously mount- ed a solitary butte near by to scan the surround- ing country and verify his fears, if such were to be the result, or abolish them altogether, hoping that the former was to be the case. Alas! his hopes were born only to be frus- trated, for not two miles distant proceeding at a leisurely pace, but following his trail with un- swerving accuracy, came the band of Indian ursuers who had well-nigh ridden him to the Neath the night before. They, doubtless thinking that in his exhausted condition he would be unable to continue bis desperate ride, and believing that it was only a question of time when he would once more fall into their hands, a prey to weakness and to hunger, were leisurely following his trail, rest- ing their ponies, and ready to give chase ata moment’s notice to the bitter end. Seeing that should he ride on a few mo- ments would bring him in full sight of the band and realizing how weak and unprotected he was, Ned’s courage, for a moment, nearly for- sook him, but only for a moment, bis indomit- able nature asserting itself on the instant, Descending hastily to the ravine where he had left his horse, and removing the lariat which still encircled her neck, and which, with much pleasure he recognized as being his own, he pointed south, slapped the mare on the haunches and, in a tone of voice which she well understood, said ‘‘ Go!” The intelligent creature regarded bim wist- fully fora moment or two, as though desirous of remaining and i ae his perils, and then with a shake of her head gave a gentle neigh and trotted off toward the south, not to — until she bad reached the haunted cabin, an leaving a broad and well-defined trail behind er. Ned then remounted the butte and lying prone upon the turf, watched the advance of the savage band, little knowing that he was to be the sole spectator of a drama which only too often reddened the pages of history in the earlier days of frontier warfare. The Indians rode slowly on, keeping their mustangs at a moderate trot, following the trail which lay clearly defined before them, aird soon reached the spot over which Ned was lying, he not daring to project his head, but listening with all his ears to catch whatever might be said relating to him. For a moment the band was at fault and one or two of the warriors dismounted to examine the trail, but soon discovering that the horse had proceeded in a southerly direction they remounted and were about to follow, when a loud “‘Ugh!” from one of their number caused them to halt. } Ned’s heart, for a moment stood still. He Fin at he was discovered and gave himself up ‘or lost. But it was not his presence that had attracted the attention of the savages, for they hastily withdrew into the shelter of the ravine that cut into the valley below the butte on which Ned lay a dismounted and hobbled their ponies care- fully. At a rough estimate Ned judged that there must be in the neighborhood of a hundred of them, and he was nearly tempted by his curi- osity to look over the edge of the butte, even at the risk of discovery, to try and learn what had distracted the attention of the savages from the trail which a had been following so eagerly, but he dared not. igh up as. he was, however, he commanded ’ ' } ? wer, — —o an extensive view of the plain surronnding him, and without rising to bis feet, could see for a long distance in all directions, and soon the mystery wassolved, for, riding carelessly along up the valley, came a little band of soldiers, their arms and accouterments glistening in the sun, while they chatted and laughed with each other, utterly oblivious of any impending dan- ger. Ned would have given much to have been able to warn them, but he was powerless, for the slightest move on his part would only serve to betray him without ia any way aiding those whom he desired to warn, so that he was com- pelled to lie dormant, while the soldiers rode straight on into the jaws of death. The savages, having disposed of their horses and having left a few of their number to keep guard over them, to prevent their straying into the valley and thus betraying them, slipped out into the valley like so many shadows and en- tered the tall grass which completely concealed them. Im single file they marched, or rather crept, along, until the foremost one reached a point a hundred yards or so from the place of depart- ure, and here they halted, the line thus extend- ing along the path which the soldiers must follow, and being only a few yards from it. All unsuspecting the squad, under command of the sergeant who bad reported the presence of Indians to bis lieutenant, rode along, think- ing that the alarm must have been false and that there were no Indians in the country except those which existed in the imagination, when suddenly one of the foremost horses stop short and, throwing up his head and snorting with affright at some unknown danger. The soldiers halted and threw their guns to a ready, but it was too late, With a yell that was calculated to chill the blood in the stoutest heart the horde of savages arose and poured such a flight of arrows into the little band of gray-coats as nearly darkened the'sun, the two ends of the dusky line closing in to the bank and forming a crescent which completely bemmed in the soldiers. The first flight of arrows had killed four of the men aren and grievously wounded the others; but the survivors, back to back, and hugging the bank, fought with the desperation of a forlorn hope, more than one of the Indians falling beneath their shots, while several, with more courage than discretion, who had ad- vanced within reach of the heavy sabers, lay biting the dust, cleft with clean blows from crown to chin. They fought more like gods than men, but skill and courage could avail nothing against such numbers, and, one by one, they dropped from their saddles, and fell dying or dead to the ound, until of the little band which had rid- en so carelessly and so gayly into the valley, but one was left, and he the leader. He still fought on with the desperation of despair, and at last seeing that the last of his comrades had fallen, be wheeled his horse, charged where the savages were gathered the thickest, and describing a terrible moulinet with his sword, hewed and cut and slashed his way through the. crowd, and sped away over the plain, followed by a thousand arrows, none of which, however, struck a vital part, he seeming to bear a charmed life. Ned, who bad been a breathless onlooker dur- ing the entire combat, the savages being too in- tent upon their pans work to notice him, drew a long breath as he noticed the successful charge of the sergeant, and its result, but the next moment a cry rose to his lips, which he barely suppressed in time to avoid betraying himself. The horse ridden by the soldier, a magnificent bay charger, was evidently not prairie wise, for he had not run a hundred yards before he put his fore-foot in a burrow of some sort, and toppled over, throwing his rider, half-stunned, to the ground, and turning nearly a complete somersault, In a moment the savage horde was upon him, but before they reached him he was on his feet and stood at bay, his terrible saber in his terri- ble right hand, bis eyes flashing defiance, and his teeth set in grim determination, The savage respects courage, and the Indians gazed at him in admiration, but only for a mo- ment, and then they rushed upon him, the fore- most paying for their temerity by falling to the ground with either a severe thrust or cut on some portion of their bodies, while the soldier stood his ground like a rock, ; His revolver was empty, and he had nothing but his sword to depend on, and right bravely did be wage the fight until an act of cowardice
Page 11
he voice of the chief was heard, loud above the noise of the fray, and falling back in obe- dience to bis words, the warriors in front of the soldier gave way until an open space was left, behind which stood the chief, with arrow fitted to his bow, which he raised and aimed at the breast of the soldier. The latter saw the action, and knew that his hour had come, but regarded the chief with a cruel smile of sarcasm, implying that a hand- to-hand fight would give him victory, and that the chief knowing this, had to resort to assassi- nation to win the battle. So for a moment they stood, glaring at each other, the chief, however, being unable to keep his eye fixed in that of the other, for the sneer- ing gaze was too much even for his savage stolidness, and then the bow-string twanged, the arrow flew straight to its mark and the brave soldier fell dead to the ground; a hero he lived; a hero be had fought and a hero he had died, A yell arose from the throng at the death of their last foe on the field and then th+ work of mutilation commenced, scenes ensuing that made Ned sick at heart and caused his blood to boil as he witnessed the indignities to which the dead bodies were subjected. The bodies of the nine soldiers were hewed and hacked, and cut and mutilated in every conceivable manner, so that at last they lay, scalped and completely unrecognizable; but the body and scalp of the sergeant were left un- touched, for his brave defense had won the ad- roiration of the Indians and they respected his body dead as much as they had wondered at his courage living. The work of mutilation was finished; quiet settled down over the scene of the late carnage; the savages, satiated for the nonce with blood, mounted their horses and once more picked up Ned’s trail, rode rapidly south to make up for the time lost in the massacre and left Ned alone with the dead, The young trapper, as soon as they were ata safe distance, descended the sides of the butte and stood, looking around in horror at the bodies scattered around, the only living thing in sight. CHAPTER XII. BESIEGED BY FIRE. For a few moments Ned stood alone on the plain, overcome with the horror of his surround- ings. Ordinarily he would not have been thus affected, but in his present weak state his nerves were all unstrung and he was not himself at all. As the sun rose higher and smote him with increasing fierceness, he realized that he was naked to the waist, for so great had been the strain upon his system during the past forty- eight hours that he was entirely unconscious of is Shy peat condition, and thought only of the predicament he was in. With a feeling as if he were robbing the dead he approached the body of the sergeant as it lay where he had fallen, and was about to re- move the loose jacket he had worn, when the sound of galloping hoofs startled him and he rose hurriedly and looked around, and saw that a riderless horse was coming toward him at a rapid rate of speed, stopping now and then to throw his head high in the air as he looked around and to utter a shrill neigh. It was the horse the sergeant had ridden, which had recovered from its fall and was now galloping about, looking for its companions, all ef which had been driven off by the Indians, some of whom had mounted them in preference to their own steeds. The horse came up to within a few feet of Ned and then stopped, snuffing the air suspi- ciously at the sight of a stranger. and was evi- dently about to seek in another direction when Ned’s lariat, skillfully tossed over his head brought him to a standstill. ! Ned held him fast, and after a few plunges in a vain endeavor to escape, he became quiet, when his captor approached and examined the saddle, where he was rejoiced to find a buckskin shirt tied to the cantle by the thongs usually laced there, and a small canteen containing brandy, a cup of which did him an Immense amount of good, ; Throwing the bridle rein of the horse over bis arm, after donning the shirt which he had found, Ned, preparatory to taking up his jour- ney toward the dug-out, began a survey of the field, and was surprised to find, lying in the tall grass, the dead body of an Indian, who bad | been overlooked by his comrades ia the hurry of departure, and lying by his side the rifle ie when who had preceded him down the valley. Nothing of note occurred during the first hour of his ride, and the deathlike stillness that brooded over the valley was unbroken by a Neck-Tie Ned, the Lariat-Thrower. single sound, save the beating of his horse’s | hoofs upon the green sward as he moved on ata swinging trot. Perhaps half of the distance to the dug-out had been traversed, and Ned’s spirits were beginning to rise as he approached bis destina- tion, when his attention was attracted by a small prone owl, which suddenly erose from the tall grass, a little distance ahead of bim, and off to the left. On the plains the slightest circumstance, tri- vial as if may appear to one not versed iv the ways of the prairie, is of greater or less impor- tance, and from every effect some cause may be traced, and so it was in the present instance. So, hurriedly stopping his horse, Ned leaned forward in his saddle, and listened eagerly for some sign, while his eyes glanced hither and thither in anxious quest of the suspicious object which his mind had already conjured up. It was not long until his ear caught a faint rustling sound, and bis quick eye detected the slight waving of the grass on the banks of the stream a hundred yards to the left and twice that distance in front of him, and he cocked his rifle, and sat with finger on trigger awaiting a better view of the moving object. Could it be Old Si, working slowly up-stream, or wasit an Indian straggler who was endeavor- ing to secure a beaver from the dam which those industrious creatures had built just below that spot? Ned was in doubt, or he would have sent a bullet crashing into the grass where he saw the movement, and solved the mystery then and there, A moment more and all doubt was at rest, for overtopping the grass by a few inches, he saw the tips of the eagle-plume head-dress worn by bucks when in full war-dress, and, a little later, the Indian rose to full hight, exposing bis head and shoulders above the herbage, as he looked over toward the water in his endeavor to catch sight of a beaver and to shoot it that he might make a juicy meal out of its tail. Ned’s rifle leaped to bis shoulder and the sight fell on the exeationt mark afforded by the broad, bare shoulders of the Indian, yet the trigger was not pulled. If there were any others of the band lurking in the vicinity, the report would surely attract their attention and bring them down upon him instantly; the Jasso was quieter and just as effective, so, slinging his rifle under his left leg, Ned uncoiled his lariat and rode down at full speed upon the unsuspecting sav- age. “The Tndian remained looking for bis prey for a moment, and then, as he heard the crashing of the horse pwc the grass, turned, saw Ned advancing at full speed, drew his arrow to the head, and hastily let fly a chance shot which flew wide of the mark, and then striking south he ran, as only an Indian can run, ata long, swinging lope, in the direction of the dug-out, Ned fol- lowing at full gallop, with lasso circling in the air. The Indian had evidently recognized his pur- suer andthe terrible instrument he wielded, for instead of running in a straight line he followed a zigzag course which offered anything but a fair mark to the lasso. Again and again Ned was about to lanch his noose but withheld his hand as the runner doubled and turned and twisted from left to right and from right to left, making it impos- sible to throw with accuracy. And so the chase continued, Ned making one or two vain endeavors to catch the wily savage but without success, until at length the dug-out came in sight a half-mile away, while a mile be- low it Ned saw the entire band of Indians which had pursued him the night before, and who, hav- ing followed his trail to the ravine where was situated the haunted cabin, and not daring to go further on account of their superstition, were sullenly retracing their steps up the valley. All reasons for concealment were now done away with, so Ned, coiling up his lariat, hung it a 7% ——— to the horn of his saddle, unslung his rifle, book a quick aim at the fleeing savage and fired,. As when running swiftly a shot rabbit turns innumerable somersaults, so it was with the In- dian, who, running at full spare as he was, and shot through the heart, fell head over heels and was trampled under the feet of Ned’s horse he- fore he lay quiet, so close to him had been the young trapper at that moment of the chase. Not pausing for a moment, Neck-Tie swept on until he arrived below the dug-out where Old Si, whose notice had been attracted by the shot, stood waiting, reined in his horse just beneath the door, threw up his rifle, and then standing on the saddle and reaching out his hands to ®i, was drawn inside the dug-out, just as the band of Indians came thundering up and sent a shower of arrows after him, which rattled harm- lessly against the buffalo-hide curtain that served as a door, A hearty grasp of the hand was the only greeting between the fricnds, and not a word was interchanged, forit was no time f-r senti- mentalities, the presence of the savages forbid- ding anything of that kind, and each man leap- ed to his loop hole and the two rifles spoke to- gether, while two riderless horses galloping wildly about showed how true had been their aim. ‘ The warning was sufficient for the Indians, and they auiekly scattered to the right and left out of range of the deadly weapons of the twe hunters, who having, for the time being at least, repulsed their enemies, had time for a little conversation, during which Ned related his adventures to Old Si, and the latter re- lated the fact of bis baving found the piece of deer-hide on which Ned had written his mes- sage. The old hunter, well versed in a rude sort of surgery, washed and greased Ned’s wounds, the only really serious one being the cut in the shoulder inflicted by the old squaw, it having grown sore and inflamed, rendering the arm s iff and nearly useless, but promising to hea) up in a day or so and leave the patient as well as ever. After his wounds had been thoroughly attend- ed to, Ned, at the old trapper’s earnest solicita- tion, laid down to take some much-needed rest and when he awoke it was long after dark, and the stars were shining pep ey in the heavens, while the dim figure of Old Si was barely dis- cernible as he stood like a statue at one of the — loop-holes keeping a vigilant watch. Ned chided him for not having awakened him sooner, but was assured that there had been no need, as there had not been the slightest sus picious sign which would necessitate his pres- ence, or he would have been called. Ned then took up bis watch, while Si rested, and as he stood at the loop-hole his attention was attracted by a curious, rustling sound just underneath the dug-out, the meaning of which he could not fathom, but which continued at intervals for half an hour or more, when he, fully persuaded that something was wrong, went to the door and, cautiously swinging ¢ the curtain out afew inches, looked down belov The night was a very dark one, the only light being from the stars, and the shadow from the bluff made everything on the ground close to it doubly indistinct, yet he could perceive that something was going on below, yet just what it was he was unable to discover, He was just about to arouse Old Si, when a bright light shot upright underneath him and _ a volume of choking smoke rolled up into his face, for the moment nearly strangling him and bringing on such a fit of coughing that the noise aroused the old trapper in an instant, and ° he anxiously inquired what was the matter. Ned had let tbe buffalo-hide curtain fall in- stantly but the short time it had been open bad sufficed to admit a quantity of smoke which half-filled the dug-out and rendered the matter of breathing one of some difficulty, and as the fire burned more fiercely the smoke became denser and denser until the inmates of the minia- ture fortress were in imminent danger of suffo- cation. * The Indians bad piled a huge quantity of ree grass up against the bank, directly underneath, the dug-out, and, after dampening it slightly had ignited it, hoping to either drive the occu- pants out, or smother them like rats in a hole, and it seemed at first as if the trick were going - to have either one result or the other. But the trappers were quick to act and has- tily stuffing G0 of furs ‘into the loop-holes they drew the hide-door close in against the dirt sides and lintel, secured it with a thong, and then, enveloping their heads in blankets, leaving only a breathing-place, took up their '
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12 sition at the lookout holes which ran ob- ote north and south, and of the existence of which the Indians were not aware, and thus bhi enabled to breathe with comparative com- ort. The fire was kept up for several hours, and the heat in the dug-out became almost unbear- able, while the hide that hung in the doorway + was shriveled and parched and shrunken so that it gave free ingress to the heat and smoke, al- , thougb it still hung in its place and kept out the ‘ flames. Finally the Indians desisted from adding fur- ther fuel to the fire, believing, no doubt, that the trappers were either suffocated or scorched to death, and as a slight breeze sprung up with the morning sun, the interior soon cooled and the smoke made its egress through tke openings al when the furs were secured from the loop- oles. This was the most severe attack that the dug- out had yet sustained and it was doubtful if it could resist another one like it; for should the door give way completely there would be noth- ing to keep out the smoke and flame and the place would be no longer habitable. The question was a serious one and Ned and Old Si consulted anxiously and in low tones what had best be done under the circumstances, The valley was teeming with Indians and any move made in daylight meant certain death, while even if they awaited the approach of night they were liable at any moment to stum- ble over some prowling red-skin. Besides, with nightfall would not the Indians -recommence their aggressive policy of the pre- eeding night and in that case would not the firelight preclude all possibility of escape? All of these questions were balanced and weighed by the trappers while they ate their morning meal and washed it down with hasty gulps of smoky water. CHAPTER XIII. WHITE VS. INDIAN CUNNING. Tue trappers preserved a perfect silence dur- ing the day, hoping that the Indians might be induced to venture into sight, and that they might be able to get in a telling shot or two, but the red-skins were cautious and kept well under cover, although through the lookout holes they could be seen gathering huge quan- tities of dried grass from along the banks of the stream, and carrying it toa point near the dug- out for use that night. All 01 this the two besieged were powerless to prevent, arid red watched the preparations with anxious forebodings as to what the night would bring forth, for think as they would, not a single chance of escape offered itself, and it seemed as if they must either be suffocated where they were, or else, leaping through the flames, die on the knives or from the piercing arrows of their enemies. Again and again they consulted, but both ‘were compelled to acknowledge that they were at their wits’ ends, and that unless something unforeseen happened, that their deaths were only a question of a few hours. hey agreed to one thing, however, and that ‘was that they would not die like rats in a hole, but if the worst came to the worst, would to- gether leap among their enemies and, fighting side by side, sell their lives as dearly as they could, vowing that their road to the other world should be marked by a trail of blood which would bring mourning to many an In- dian wigwam. The day wore on, and the inmates of the dug- yout sat listlessly about or strolled to the loop- holes to see if any opportunity for a chance shot offered, both being too nervous to sleep and only wishing that the time for action would arrive, as this waiting seemed interminable. Toward four o’clock, Si was munching a piece of jerked beef and pretending that he was enjoying it, while Ned was lying on a buffalo- robe in the corner, smoking and looking up at the ceiling, knitting his brows and thinking hard enough to give him the headache. Here- tofore his had been the guiding mind in all their schemes and projects, and of all the difficulties they had encountered, this was the first he had found insurmountable. He thought of the fort; of his friends there, his sister, of her whom he one day— Ha! as though he had received an electric shock, he bounded to his feet, and slapping the old man on the shoulder, executed a silent war-dance, and only wished he could give vent to his feel- ings in a whoor of sheer delight. Hehad solved the difficulty. As sooa as Old Si could dislodge from his Neck-Tie Ned, the Lari ros , ‘ windpipe the piece of jerked meat which had been forced there by the tremendous slap he had received, he — at Ned in open-mouthed astonishment, and then resumed his former occupation, remarking in an undertone: “‘ Crazy, by 2 page? ed paid no attention to the sarcastic utter- ance of the old man, but, moving the water- cask to the center of the dug-out, laid a short ene of board across it, and, mounting thereon, egan removing the planks that formed the ceiling, proceeding cautiously, and with as little noise as possible, until he had detached a half- dozen of the boards in the middle, leaving bare the earth above. Si began to grow interested but said nothing, neither was a word vouchsafed him by the young trapper, who proceeded quietly yet ex- peditiously with his work. Having laid bare a sufficient space of the ceil- ing, he descended from his perch, and going to one corner of the dug-out, began to turn over and remove a miscellaneous pile of skins that was thrown helter-skelter to one side, and soon unearthed the tools that bad been used in com- ga! the structure, consisting of a couple of natchets, a pick-ax, spade and one or two other common tools. Armed with one of the hatchets, he returned to the board on the barrel and with the shar edge began cutting into the dirt overhead, bringing the earth down in clods and raising a tremendous cloud of dust which set them both to sneezing, while Si, still preserving an un- broken silence, grasped his rifle and alternated between the loop and observation holes, re- doubling his vigilauce as his companion toiled away at the soil overhead. The work was slow and tedious, the soil being hard and the dust necessitating frequent stop- pages, and in a half-hour Ned was compelled to descend and give his place to Old Si, having in the mean time, excavated a hole toa consider- able depth in the ceiling of the apartment, if such it may be called. Ned's plan was to dig a way out overhead in- asmuch as it seemed impossible to escape by the natural exif and his partner readily saw that this was the only means left them to avoid the ordeal of fire being prepared for them as the sun went down. Alternating with each other they succeeded beyond their most sanguine expectations, and as dusk came on, a blow of the hatchet struck more than usually bard by Ned, was followed, as he withdrew the blade, by a speck of light and he knew that the surface was reached and that it was only a matter of a few minutes to open a passage sufficiently large to enable them to crawl through, and so desisted until darkness should settle down and obscure their move- ments. " The only fear was that the Indians might have posted guards on the plain above, but this they bardly thought probable, as the savage mind can contain but one thought at a time and they were fully occupied with their bon- fire. As the twilight disappeared, the rustling of the dry grass was plainly audible as the In- dians, hugging the cliff, placed the bundles un- der the door, and the trappers quickly enlarged the opening to a sufficient size, and, just as the torch was applied, crawled through, up out of the stifling atmosphere of the dug-out on to the prairie above and into the pure air of heaven, chuckling to themselves and laughing in their sleeves at the manner in which they had out- witted their foes. Ned had so gauged the distance of the open- ing from the front of the dug-out that pod reached the plain = behind the water-mar and there lying flat they looked anxiously around for avy one who might be in sight, but nothing was visible and they were about to rise and move on when Ned’s hand was laid on Old Si’s shoulder and he was pulled violently back to the ground without speaking a word. Laying his finger on his lips, Ned motioned to his comrade to listen, when the latter be- came aware of a deep, stertorous breathing somewhere in the vicinity, finally locating it on the side of the water-mark opposite to the one by which they were lying. | Leaving his partner lying there perplexed and wondering what all this might mean, Ned sinking flat on his stomach and worming his way over the grass like a snake, stole around the pile of stones, and projecting his head cau- tiously around, solved the mystery of the snor- ing in a twinkling, for doubled upon the turf lay an Indian in the soundest slumber, an odor of sutler whisky and a canteen lying by hig side, that had been captured from the soldiers at-Thrower, the day before, explaining the reason of his non-watchfulness., Ned could scarce refrain from laughter at this example of the influences of civilization upon the noble red-man, but returned to Old Si and explained matters to him entirely to his satisfaction. The sentry had proven remiss, and, having found the canteen full of fire-water, bad taken advantage of the first time he was alone to drink up the entire contents, and being totally unused to the fluid, bad succumbed to it at once, leaving his post unguarded and the trappers free to escape under his very nose. As the Indians bad desired to give them a baptism of fire so they determined that one at least of the savages should undergo the same ordeal; and dropping back into the dug-out, now nearly full of smoke, Ned secured with some difficulty, a tanned deerskin which was hung up at one side to be cut up and used as needed, for bridle-reins, etc. Returning to the surface he quickly cut the skin into several strips, one being about four inches wide and tapering toward the ends, to be used as a gag, and then he and Old Si walked boldly around the pile of stones, clap- ped the gag over the sleeper’s mouth and tied the ends firmly behind bis head, bound his hands and feet firmly with the buckskin thongs, little caring whether or no they cut into the flesh and then rolled bim like a log of wood to- ward the edge of the bluff where the flames from the tremendous pile of hay beneath were > high overhead, be Indian remained all this time totally un- conscious and did not make the slightest resis- tance, so completely was he under the influence of the fiery liquor that he had poured down his throat like water, Returning and getting their guns the two trappers came back to the Indian, rolled him a little nearer the edge and then, with a simulta- neous push, sent him headlong into the fiery gulf beneath. A tremendous cloud of sparks sprung into the air as his body struck the in- candescent mass beneath, and a mighty shout arose from the Indians, for they thought that one of the trappers must have chosen instant death to slow suffocation, and leaped into the sea of flame in order to end his misery at once. The whole band, which up till now had been hidden in the darkness beyond, rushed forward within the circle of light cast by the fire, and then the two rifles cracked, and, as two of their comrades pitched headlong to the ground, tbe rest of the save ges saw, looming up awful and mysterious in the smoke and flame—as it ap- peared to their superstitious eyes—the gigantic forms of the two epee who, seen indistinctly as they were, seemed very giants to the trem- bling red-men, and the whole number took to their heels in a regular stampede; and, tumblin over one another and into numerous boles an wallows, did not stop until miles lay between them and the scene of the almost incredible visions they had seen. Ned and Old: Si remained masters of the field and leisurely walked south to where the horses were stabled, Ned ee Black Bess muncbing her bay as unconcernedly as if she had never left her stall. The horses were led out, watered, groomed and saddjed, and_the trappers mounted and started for Fort Douglas, believing that for the present their troubles were over and that they would have a pleasant and prosperous trip into the boundaries of civilization. The steeds were fresh and willing, the night was cool and clear and as they swept over the prairie they conversed freely they had braved and passed until at length con- versation ceased and they rode on in silence, side by side, each one busy with his own thoughts, Ned’s anticipations for the future were of the brightest, for did not pretty little Nellie Brooks always treat him with marked preference when he was at the fort, much to the disgust of the young officers who swarmed about her, like moths around the candle’s flame? And was sho not always glad to see him and, apparently, loth to let hin go? y Ned’s heart was very soft and pretty Nellie had crept in there and so safely ensconced her- self therein, that he could not have dislodged ber even had he wanted to; and you may rest assured that he had no idea or intention of doing anything so foolish as that. He would not venture out on the plains an more, with his life in bis hand, but would as pretty Nellie to marry him, and if she said him vea, then there would be a happy wedding at the fort, and he would find a pleasant home of the dangers | a eee ee
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Neck-Tie Ned, the whither he would bear his bride and turn his every energy toward making her happy! And there would always be a room in the house and a seat at the table for Old Si, who had so many times saved his life. Indeed, he should insist that Si should become one of the family, for he was like a father to him, and he never could be happy if they were definitely separated. So they rode on, Ned’s horizon being roseate with happy thoughts, and as, after traversing the distance which lay between them and the fort, they rode into the yard, being welcomed as if arisen from the dead, he spied the little maiden coming toward him, if he flew toward her, and, imagining his anticipations were realized, he clasped her in hisarms and gave her a hearty kiss, who can blame him?” And as for her indignant—‘‘ Why, Mr. Park- hurst!” it was not as severe as it at first seemed, for the poor fellow looked so pale, and was sc weak from loss of blood, that no one could be harsh with him, and after escaping the Indians he was near being coddled to death by his sister and by Miss Nellie Brooks, who, the first_time they were alone, promised to substitute Park- burst for her own name, “ R-e-a-l soon!” CHAPTER XIV. RETRIBUTION. So Ned was soon to become a Benedict, and when the news spread about, many were the fe- licitations that poured in on the happy couple, Captain and Mrs. Brooks having accorded their most gracious assent to the marriage of the daughter with the general favorite, for on in vestigation his worldly goods were found to amount to a considerable sum, he having an in- terest in a herd of cattle in the eastern part of Texas. On arriving at the fort, Ned had immediately pcan himself at head-quarters and related the colonel in charge what he had seen from the butte that day, when the Sioux had massa- cred the soldiers and left none to tell the tale, so when, a few days afterward, the detachment returned to camp, the lieutenant in command was ordered under arrest to await court-martial for incompetency, and an expedition was or- nized against the Sioux village, where Ned lad so narrowly escaped, And now the trouble commenced, for Ned was the only person about. the fort who knew the location of the village and was requested to lead the expedition, when Miss Nellie, putting her little foot down emphatically, declared that Mr. Parkhurst should not go and that was the end of it, so there now, but finally the matter was adjusted by her father, who represented to her thata soldier’s daughter should not act thus, and she was finally induced to listen to a little reason. So one morning, at early dawn, a hundred as fine fellows as ever threw leg across saddle rode away over the prairie. The troupe followed the trail which Ned and Old Si had made in coming in and camped for the night well on their way to the dug-out, starting out early the next morning again and traveling all day at good rate of speed, reach- ing at night the ravine where was the haunted cabin, which was pointed out to the surgeon by Ned, they both enjoying a hearty laugh over the recollection of poor old Tish-a-na-o. Here a halt was called and the troop went into camp for the night, while Ned and Old Si scouted on toward the dug out, returning with the intelligence that all was quiet and that there was not a sign of Indians in the valley or on the plain. A quiet night followed and the next day all was soon arranged for the campaign, the sol- diers following in single file after Ned and his partner, the old trapper, who rode far in ad- vance and kept a sharp lookout ahead for any Indian scouts who might be straggling about. Past the ruined dug-On they rode, oe trap- rs stopping and gazing for a moment in sor- row at the ruin the fire bad wrought, then on to the trail and down into the valley whence the scene of the massacre was soon reached, the cavalcade proceeding at a quick trot over the intervening distance, Arrived at the scene of the fight a halt was made and such remnants as had been left by the coyotes and wolves, carefully and rever- entially gathered up, and inhumed in one com- mon grave, while a few well-spoken words by the surgeon constituted their funeral oration, and then the soldiers moved on tothe ravine which had sheltered the Indian mustangs, an disappeared. ‘ . ‘Ned’s plan comprised a system of retribution, az! ‘ . : 2 Pe . _ fie and although it seemed somewhat foolhardy, was acquiesced in by the officers of the regi- ment, who, Ranevieull youve fellows, were will- ing to add a littl. to the excitement of the day, although the danger was thereby doubled. Leaving the remainder of the party safely hidden away within the ravine, with strict injunctions not to move from there for two days, and then to station themselves accordin to arrangement, Neck-Tie Ned, with a picke band of ten men, chosen on account of the superior speed of their horses, rode off in the direction of the Indian village, and steadily pursued the route until within a mile or two of it, without a solitary incident marking the monotony of the journey. The fact that not an Indian was seen rather discouraged Ned and his companions, but they hoped that the tribe was only resting prepara- tory to some new deviltry, so, when within a short distance of the village, Ned, dismounting, stole forward on foot, and reaching the brow of the hill up which he had toiled so wearily in his race for life, was rejoiced to see the village still in its place, while the presence of numerous ag denoted that the warriors were not on the trail, but were resting at home. Returning to his companions, Ned reported the success of his expedition, and the little band encamped for the night, a vigilant watch being ‘kept throug. the night, but their rest being un- broken, so that men and horses were in excel- lent condition the next morning when day broke, Just after they had finished their hasty meal, chance favored them exactly as Ned would have wished, for a solitary Indian came wan- dering toward them, on the lookout for such small game as he might pick up on the prairie, and Ned, bidding his comrades mount and be in readiness, rode down upon the unsuspecting savage at full gallop. The youth was for some moments unaware of his approach, and then hearing the thunder of his horse’s hoofs against the green sward, turned, stood for a moment as if paralyzed, and then set off for dear life’s sake in the direction of the village. Ned toyed with him for a time asa cat does with a mouse, and then as the flying youth neared the brow of the hill which overlooked the Indian village, he gave free rein to bis mare and rode down on him, as though thrown from a catapult, while the trembling lad yelled with fear, thereby attracting the attention of nearly the entire band of Indians, But this was his last ery on earth, for the noose of Ned’s lariat choked off all further ut- terance, and, with a final gurgle in his throat, he fell to the ground exactly at the spot where Ned had made his desperate leap over the wall of human beings who compassed him about, and sought either his death or serious injury. In an instant the salege was in an uproar, and with cries and yells the warriors rushed to the pony which first almost to madness by then in the face of the assembled village scalpéd the yet warm head of the strangle boy, returned to his horse, coiled up his lariat, mounted and rode off at a leisurely pace, Not many moments elapsed, however, before he was compelled to quicken the gait of his horse, for the Indians were rapidly overhaul- ing him and by the time he rejoined his com- panions, his mare was stretching out at full gallop and his comrades were compelled to use the spur freely to meer up with him. Once fairly going the erain-fed horses of the soldiers had no difficulty in outstripping the grass-fed mustangs of the Indians, and, at Ned’s suggestion, they reined in their horses a little so as to induce the savages to keep up the chase, for when the pursuers saw that the pursued no longer gained on them, they were filled with Fresh hopes of overtaking them and rode stead- ily on. And so went the chase until the little band of horsemen in front entered the valley where for many days the bones of their comrades had lain, bleaching in the sun, and as they looked back and saw the band of savages still pursuin them, they drew rein still a little tighter sad allowed the distance which separated them to grow still a little less, until scarce a bow’s shot divided the soldiers from the savages and the latter were frantic in their efforts to urge their tired ponies to still greater efforts. At length the leaders swept past the butte on which Ned had Jain hidden during the hand-to- hand fight between the sergeant and his assail- ants, and instead of keeping straight on they Lariat-Thrower. v = ‘ 13 swerved to the left, made a semi-circle, and, as a line of fire broke seemingly from every blade of grass that lined the river, they rode inte the Indian ranks, already decimated by the iron hail, and began sabering right and left, while the cordon of steel closed closer and closer around the doomed savages. And now out of the ravine came thundering fifty more of the Jong-swords, as the Indians term the cavalrymen, and attacked the savages on the flank, while from the top of the butte a half dozen picked sharpshooters kept a sharp, lookout for all who attempted to flee and picked them off at ease, Old Si, in particular, excelling at this sort of sport. But few escaped and these were pursued far over the prairie by the swiftly mounted sol- diers, who returned to camp, drunk with slaughter, and threw themselves on the ground and dropped off to sleep, too tired to eat, There was wailing in the tepees of the Yank- tonnais Sioux when the story of the massacre was brought to the village by the few survivors who escaped to tell the woeful tale, and the ground was wet with blood in many a wigwam where wounds were self-inflicted as a sign of mourning, and to this day the fight on the ‘‘Rickaree is chanted in mournful tune and rhythm, as the elders of the tribe try to instil) into the bosoms of the young, the hatred that they have always felt for the whites. The lesson was a salutary one and the power of the tribe was for a long time broken in that a of the Union, the strategy displayed by ed having been crowned with complete suc- cess and leading to one of the greatest victories ever achieved over the vindictive Sioux. On the following morning the unpleasant task of burying the dead ee te and it was found that ninety-seven of the Sioux had perished outright while nearly fifty warriors remained risoners in the bands of the soldiers, and of the atter not one bad been killed, and the wounds of those injured were trivial in the extreme,* The captured Indians were mounted on their mustangs and surrounded beyond possibility of escape by the soldiers, when the cavalcade took up its march toward the fort, passing down the valley in front of the dug-out which was a sight pitiful to see. Ble The leaping flames had completely destroyed the buffalo-hide door and the hole made by the trappers serving as a chimney, the fire had been drawn through the dug-out as through the funnel of a furnace, the whole interior D completely gutted and destroyed and rendere entirely uninhabitable, many valuable furs hav- ing also been lost in the flames. Ko halt was made, however, and the soldiers pushed on, reaching the fort without misadven- ture and relating to their comrades the com- plete success of their expedition and awarding to Ned all praise for his strategy, while at dress- parade that evening he was called out, and publicly thanked for the services he bad ren- dered the Government, and the command of the scouts attached to the garrison offered to bim, which offer, Ned, seeing the future Mrs. Park- hurst shaking her head vigorously and holding up a warning finger, diplomatically declined, He was offered his pick of the Indian herd, however, and nothing loth, chose twenty of the best mustangs for use on his ranch, and one lit- tle black beauty for Nellie. In a few days there was a wedding at the fort and the whole garrison celebrated Ned’s hyme- neals, there being nothing to fear from the In- diaus after the late salutary lesson, and discipline for that day being allowed to become lax. The bride of course looked charming and the groom handsome and manly, while Old &i, togged out in his gala dress and swelling with joy and pride, was hardly recognizable; and is for ‘Old Tish,” the aged victim of the doctor's practical joke, he fell early in the fray from the effects of sundry bottles of liquor surrep- titiously obtained from the sutler, and was wheeled off in a barrow and incontinently dumped in a corner to sleep off the effects of his debauch, ty So, happily married and doubly enjoying the quiet of his wedded life after the tumult of his bachelor days, Ned settled down at the fort, occupying a vacant cottage in the officers’ quar- ters, and giving his whole time to raising cattle and filling Government beef contracts, while Old Si, his second father and his partner on the ranch, aided him with his advice and_ his occasional assistance and occupied a portion of Ned’s house where he was a loved and honored guest. *A fact THE END,
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By Bartley T. Campbell. 4A Brave Heart; or, Startlingly Strange. By Arabella Southworth. 5 Bessie Haynor, the Work Girl. By William Mason Turner, M. D. 6 Whe Secret Marriage. By Sara Claxton. TJ A Daughter of Eve; or, Blinded by Love. By Mrs. Mary Reed Crowell. 8 Heart to Heart. By Arabella Sonthworth. 9 Alone in the World; or, The Young Man's Ward. By the author of * Clifton,” ete. 10 A Pair of Gray Eyes. By Rose ge 41 Entangled; or, A Dangerous Game. y Henrietta Thackeray. 12 His Lawful Wite; or, Myra, the Child of Adoption. By Mrs. Ann 8. Stephens, ‘13 Madcap, the Little @uakeress}3 or, The Naval Cadet’s Wooing. By Corinne Cushman. 14+ Why I Married Mim. By Sara Claxton. 15 A Fair Face} or, Out in the World. By Bartley T. re 16 Trust Mer Not; or,A True Knight. By By Arabella Southworth. Margaret Leicester, is 1 es Sate 8s dol; or, The I)-Starred Marriage. B Mrs, Mary Reed Crowell. | Hate. By Mary Grace Halpine. ies 20 Orphan Nell, the’ Orange Girl; or, The Lost Heir. By Agile Penne. 21 Now and Forever}; or, Why Did She Mar- ry Him? By Henrietta Thackeray. 22 The Bride of an Actor. By the author of ** Alone in the World,”’ * Clifton,” ete. Claxton. 24 Wer Face Was Mer Fortune. nor Blaine. 25 Only a Schoolmistress; or, Her Untold Secret. By Arabella Southworth. 26 Without a Heart. By Col. P. Ingraham. i 27 Was She a Coquette? Courtship, By Henrietta Thackeray. rs. Ann 8. Stephens. 9 For Her Dear Sake, The Bouquet Girl, A Mad Marrixze, By Sara Claxton, By Agile Penne. By Mary A. Denison and Lilies. By Arabella Southworth. The Three Sisters. By Alice Fleming. A Marriage of Convenience 3 or, Was Hea Count? By Sara Claxton. All Against Her. By Clara Augusta. Sir Archer's Brides or, The Queen of His Heart. By Arabella Southworth. The Country Cousin, Rose Kennedy, 8 His Own Again; or, Trust Her Not. By o Arabella Southworth. q 39 Flirtation; or, A pote Girl’s Good Name. ’ By Jacob Abarbanell, (Ralph Royal.) 40 Pledged to Marry. By Sara Claxton. 41 Blind Devotion, By Alice Meming. 42 Beatrice, the Beautiful; or, His Second Love. By Arabella Southworth, ; 43 The Baronets Secret; or, The Riyal Half- WO We WwW Weoewd IF On BR Heo f Sisters, By Sara Claxton. Pode | 44 The Only Daughter 3; or, Brother against Wh Lover. Alice Fleming. Bek 45 Her Hidden Foe; or, Love At All Odds. | By Arabella Southworth. 4 46 The Little Heiress; or, Under a Cloud. | hse By Mrs. Mary A, Denison. 47 Because She Loved Wim; or, How Will Tt End? By Alice Fleming. 48 In Spite of Herself; or, Jeannette's Repa- , ration. ._By 8. R, Sherwood, 49 His Heart’s Mistress; or, Love at First Sight. By Arabella Southworth. 60 The Cuban Heiress; or, The Prisoner of La Vintresse. as Mary A. Denison, hee 561 Two Young Girls; or, The Bride of an Farl. By Alice Fleming. 52 The Winged Messenger; or, Risking All for a Heart. By Mrs. Mary Reed Crowell. nes Hope, the Actress, By William ason Turner, M. D. - 53. 54 One Woman?’s Heart; or, Saved from the | Street. By George S. Kaime. 55 She Did Not Love Him; wi Big ppd to | Conquer. By Arabella Southworth. 56 Love-Mad}; I P , © and—, Wm. Mason Turner, M.D 67 A Brave Girl. By Alice Fleming. 58 The Ebon Masks; or, The Mysterious Guardian. By Mrs, Mary Reed Crowell. 59 A Widow’s Wiles; or, A Bitter Vengeance. : 60 By Rachel Bernhardt. i* By Mrs. Jennie Davis Burton. 61 A Wicked Heart. By Sara Claxton. 62 The Maniac Bride. By Margaret Blount. 63 The Creole Sisters. By Anna E. Porter. 64 What Jealousy Did. By Alice Fleming. 65 The Wife's Secret, By Col Juan Lewis. f - - “he \ etn i . ‘ WA. > ; 2 2 t..3 P a 4 19 The Broken Betrothal; or, Love versus | 23 Leap Year; or, Why She Proposed. By Sara | By Elea- | or, A Strange | a 28 Sybil Chase; or, The Gambler’s Wife. By | Mariana, the Prima Donna; or, Roses | or, Betrothed, Married, Divorced | Cecil’s Deceit; or, The Diamond Legacy. . | 66 A Brother’s Sin3 or, Flora’s Forgiveness. By Rachel Bernhardt. | 67 Forbidden Bans, By Arabella Southworth. | 68 Weavers and Weft, By M.E, Braddon. | 69 Camille; or, The Fate of a Coquette. By Alexandre Dumas, | 70 The Two Orphans. By D’Enery. | 71 My Young ‘ite. By My Young Wife’s Husband. | 72 The Two, Widows, By Annie Thomas. | 73 Hose Michel}; or, The Trials of a Factory Girl. By Maud Hilton. | 74 Cecil Castlemaine’s Gage}; or, The Story of a Broidered Shield. By Ouida. x oe Black Lady of Duna. By J.8. Le > Fanu. | 76 Oharlotte Temple. By Mrs. Rowson. | 77 Christian Oakley’s Mistake. By the | author of ‘* John Halifax, Gentleman,” etc. | 78 My Young Husband; or, A Confusion in the Family. By Myself. 79 A Queen Amongst Women, By the author of ‘‘ Dora Thorne,” etc., ete. 80 Her Lord and Master. By Florence Marryat, 81 Lucy Temple, Sister of Charlotte. 82 A Long Time Ago. By Meta Orred. 83 Playing for High Stakes. By Annie | Thomas. | 84 Whe Laurel Bush, By the author of “John Halifax, Gentleman.” | 85 Led Astray. By Octave Feuillet. 86 Janet’s Repentance. By George Eliot. | 87 The Romance ofa Poor Young Man, By Octave Feuillet. 88 A Verrible Deed; or, All for Gold. By Emma Garrison Jones. A Gilded Sin. By the author of ‘Dora Thorn,”’ ete. 90 The Author’s Daughter, Howitt. 91 The Jilt. By Charles Reade. 92 Kileen Alanna; or, the Dawning of the Day. By Dennis O’Sullivan. Love’s Victory. By B. L. Farjeon. The Quiet Heart, By Mrs, Oliphant, 5 Lettice Arnold, By Mrs. Marsh. Haunted Hearts. By Rachel Bernhardt. Hugh Melton, By Katharine King. Alice Learmont,. By Miss Mulock. ' 99 Marjorie Bruce’s Lovers. By Mary Patrick. 100 Through Fire and Water, erick Talbot, , 101 Hannah. By Mss Mullock. | 102 Pee Woffington., By Charlies Reade. 103 A Desperate Deed. By Erskine Boyd. 104 Shadows on the Snow. By B. L. Far- jeon. By Mary i] J Lynn Linton. | 107 Poor Zeph! By F. W. Robinson. 108 The Sad Fortunes of the Rev. Amos : Barton. By George Eliot. 109 Bread-and-Cheese and Kisses. By B. L. Farjeon, | 110 The Wandering Meir. By Charles Reade. | 111 The Brothers Bet; or, Within Six | | 175 112 A Hero. By Miss Mulock. 113 Paul and Virginia, From the French of Bernardin De St, Pierre. { | Weeks. By Hmilie Flygare Carlen. ’ 114° was In Trafalgar’s Bay. By Wal- ter Besant and James Rice. 115 The Maid 4 ra aig SS 8 By Wm. Black. 116 Hetty. By Henr ngsley. ‘ 117 The YWwayside ‘Sroee: or, The Raid of Gomez. By Captain E. A. ‘Milman : | 118 Whe Viear of Wakefield. By Oliver } Goldsmith. | 119 Maud Mohan. By Annie Thomas. By Miss Jane | | of No-Land. By B. L. Far- Widower. By W. M. Thack- eray. 123 Am Island Pearl, By B. L. Farjeon. 124 Cousin Phillis. | 125 Leila; or, The Siege of Grenada. By Ed- ward Bulwer (Lord Lytton). ' 126 When the Ship Comes By j Walter Besant and James Rice. | 127 One of the Bh gg By James Payn. | 128 Whe Birthright. By Mrs. Gore. } 129 Motherless; or, The Farmer’s Sweetheart. By Colonel Prentiss Ingraham. 130 Homeless; or, Two Orphan Girls in New York. By Albert W. Aiken. 131 Sister against Sister; or, The Rivalry c? Hearts. By Mrs. Mary Reed Crowell 132 Sold for Gold. By Mrs. M. V. Victor. 133 Lord Roth’s Sin, By Georgiana Dickens, 134 bed Sy He Love Her? By Bartley T. Camp- (185 Siumed Against, By Lillian Lovejoy. mah ; 120 Thaddeus of Warsaw, Porter. | 121 The King Cie | 122 Lovel, the Home. Paid ne alte i= » ‘ 105 Whe Great Hoggarty Diamond, By | W. M. Thackeray. 106 From Dreams to Waking. By E. | 151 | 154 By Fred- | Crowell. 137 The Village on the Cliff. By Miss Thackeray. 138 Poor Waleria! or, The Broken Troth. By Margaret Blount. Margaret Graham. By G. P. R. James. Without Mercy. By bartley T.Campbell. Honor Bound, By Lillian Lovejoy. ts from Love. By Mrs. Harriet rving. Abducted; or, A Wieked Woman’s Work. By Rett Winwood. 10) , A Strange Marriage. By Lillian Lovejoy. Two Girls Lives. By Mrs. Mary Reed Crowell. A Desperate Venture; or, For Love's Own Sake. By Arabella Southworth. ; The War of Hearts. By Corinne Cush- man. Which Was the Woman ? or, Strangely Misjudged. By Sara Claxton. ; An Ambitious Girl; or, She Would Be An Actress, By Frances Helen Davenport, Love Lord of All. By Alice May Fleming. A Wild Girl. By Corinne Cushman, A Man’s Sacrifice. By Harriet Irving. Did She Sin. By Mrs. Mary Reed Crowell. Iie Loves Me Not. By Lillian Lovejoy. Winning Ways. By Margaret Blount. What She Cost Him; or, Crooked Paths. By Arabella Southworth. A Girls Heart. By Rett Winwood. A Bitter eg: pet or, A Young Girl’s Folly. By Agnes Mary Shelton, Lady Helen’s Vow; or, The Mother's Secret. By the Late Mrs. &. F. 'Ellet. 160 Buying a Heart, By Lillian Lovejoy. 161 Pearl of Pearls. By A. P. Morris, Jr. 162 A Fateful Game3 or, Wedded and Parted. By Sara Claxton. Whe Creole Cousins; or, False as Fair. By Philip 8. Warne. A Scathing Ordeal; or, May Langley’s Mad Marriage. By Mrs. Georgiana Dickens. A Strange Girl. By Albert W. Aiken. A Man’s Sin. By Rett Winwood. 167 The Mand of Fate 3 or, The Wreck of Two Lives. By Arabella Southworth. 168 Two Fair Women. By Wm. M. Turner, 169 Tempted Through Love; or, One Woman’s Error. By Lillian Lovejoy. 170 Blind Barbara’s Secret, By Mary Grace Halpine. 171 A Woman’s Witchery; or, Through Much Tribulation. By Sara Claxton. 172 Black Eyes and Blue. By Corinne Cushman. 173 The Cost of a Folly. Dickens. Whe Pretty Puritan. Daughter. Is Love a Mockery? or, Revenge is Sweet. By Arabella Southworth. Adria, the Adopted. By Jennie Davis Burton. For the Woman He Loved; or, Fate- ful Links. By Agnes Mary Shelton. The Locked Heart, By Corinne Cushman. Parted by Treachery. By Harriet Irving. Was She a Wife? or, The Proof of Love. By Rett Winwood Under a Clouds; or, A Daughter's Sus- picion. By Sara Claxton. 9 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 152 153 155 156 157 158 159 163 164 165 166 By Georgiana 174 By A Parson's 176 177 178 179 180 181 182 m, An American Queen; or, The Heart of Gold. By Grace Mortimer. A Point of Honor; or, Diamond Cut Diamond. By Lillian Lovejoy. Pursued to the Altar. Cushman, 185 Put to a Test; _or,A Fortune Hunter's Fate. By Georgiana Dickens. 186 The Terrible Truth ; or, The Thornhurst Mystery. By Jennie Davis Burton. 187 Outwitted by Herself; or, A Mother’s : Scheme, By Arabella Routhvorth. 188 Florette, Child of the Street; or, A Peari Beyond Price. By Col. Prentiss raham. A new issue every week. Tae Wavertey Lrsrary is for sale by all News- dealers, five cents per copy, or sent by mail on re- ceipt of six cents each. BEADLE AND ADAMS, Publishers, 98 William street, New York. 1838 184 By Corinne
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' ; , ¢ THE GREAT AMERICAN STORY PAPER! The Best Weekly of Popular, Entertaining and Useful Literature Published in America! Its Unrivaled Corps of Contributors ; Almost all of whom write exclusively for its publishers—embraces the following authors of world wide repute Gelenel Prentiss Ingrahana, @Gharles Morris, Major Dangerfie, surr Albert W. Aiken, @ll Coomes, T. C., Harbaugh, Oapt. Fred, Whittaker, c. Dunning Olark, Philip 8, ‘Warme, Capt. Mayne Feld, Buffalo Bill, Wiiliam i, Kyster, Joseph E. Badger, Jri, White Beaver, amthony .”, Morrie, Edward L. Wheeler, Buckskin Sama, Launce Pv ymts. Each and Al of Whom Give to BEADLE’S WEEKLY ‘their very Best Productions IN ALL THE VARIED VIBLDS OF BORDER AND WILD WEST ROMANCE— ADVENTURE, EXPLORATION AND SPORT— CITY LIFE, CHARACTER, COURTS AND WAYS— DETECTIVE AND ‘SHADOW REVELATIONS— STORIES OF THE GREAT DEEP, ete. ote. So that each and every number [s overflowing with readim~ of the most interesting and exciting nature; while in fte Special Depagmmenta sovering all the needs, and adding to the general interest and usefulness of the popular journal, BEADLE’S WEEKLY is the paver o \a others for your woekly reading and entertainment. Beadle’s Weekly is Published at the Following Rates: i Wor our Months........... ---++++++> Pia Pring $1.00 Two Copies for One Year..........---ssee+see0ue $5.08 Wins Mune: MMs. icc «uous var Grabareuecescscecr McQ itor tkmgte COWida f. | .. awe digipileded oft see deleven cts ci OGM BEADLE & ADAMS, Publishers, F 98 WILLIAM STREET, NEW YORE.
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E’S | HALF-DIME Deadwood Dick, Tae PRINCE or THE RoaD Edward L. Wheeler. ellowstone Jack, Kansas King. The Wild-Horse Mayne Reid and Captain |'rederick Whittaker. Vagabond Joe, THE Youna WANDERING JEW. By Oll Coomes. Double Number, 10cts. Trapper. by E£. §. Ellis. By Col. P. Ingraham, By Jos. E. Badger, Jr. By Buffalo Bill. ili Biddon The Flying Seth Jones. By Edward 8. Ellis. Adventures of Baron Munchausen. Nat Todd. By E.S. Ellis. The Two Detectives, Gulliver’s The Dumb Spy. Aladdin; or, Tam WonperRFuL Lamp. By Captain Fred. Whittaker. (27 Illustrations.) By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. His Seven Voyages. By Buffalo Bill. By E. L. Wheeler. By Edward 8. Ellis. y T. OC. Harbaugh. By Colonel P, Ingraham, By Roger Starbuck. By Edward L. Wheeler. Antelope Abe, Txt Boy Guimprz, Oll Coomes, By Edward L. Wheeler. Capt. F. Whittaker, wood, THE RECE- By Harry St. George. Keen-Knife. By Oli Coomes. By Edward L. Wheeler. S. W. Pierce. RWwmOSCMIS HH POW By Oll Coomes, Robinson Crusoe, Katph Roy. Sindbad the Sailor. Khe Phantom Spy. The Double Daggers. The Frontier Angel, Whe Sea Serpent. Nick o° the Diamond Dirk. The Boy Captain. Cloven Hoot. PF Dore - - Buffalo Ben. The Dumb Page. Roaring Ralph Roc Less RANGER. Bob Woolf, The Ocean Bloodhound, By Capt. J. F. OC. Adams. By Edward L. Wheeler. By Frank S. Finn. By T. Cy Harbaugh. Ned Wylde, Tue Boy Scout. By Texas Jack. Death-Face, THE Derrectivr. By Wheeler. By J. J. Marshall. By Oll Coomes. The Phantom Miner. Dick Darling. Rattling Rube. Old Avalanche, Glass Eye. Nightingale Nat. Black John, THe Roap-Acent. By Badger. By Edward L. Wheeler. Burt Bunker, tue Trapper, C. E. Lasalle, By Archie C. Irons, By C. E. Lasalle. By Edward L. Wheeler. . F, C, Adams. y Buffalo Bill. Vhiffles’? Pet. Capt. J. F. C. Adams. Deadwood Dick’s Eagles, The Border King. Old Hickor The White Buckhorn Bill. The Shadow Ship. The Red Brotherhood. By T. C. Harbaugh. By Jos. E. Badger, Jr . J. Hamilton. Oregon Sol, Wild Ivan, The Boy Clown. den Lodge. dd ee | DEANE OOP sew So ~ om ow er Roving Ben. ORR WM OC DEQ EON OS DAI Oe WN HOO MAIOCH WN HOC SIO By E. L. Wheeler. t. Fred. Whittaker. arry St. George. By Edward L. Wheeler. By Capt. J. F. C. Adams. By T. C. Harbaugh. wm ODO Oat Omaha Oli. The White Buffalo. Jim Bludso Ned Hazel. Vi BOBO ES SAE re OS ~S vow Qt By Oll Coomes. rry St. George. dian. Capt. J. F. By Edward L. Wheeler. Col. P. Ingraham. W. J. Hamilton. Sr Se Se Se Se St Se Se Oe ihe ihe ihe hae ihe ahem aa oe ibn ihe GO GO -~ = Hurricane Bill. Single Hand, Patent-leather Joe. Robin Hood, Edward L. eeler. By Capt. J. F. C. Adams. By W. J. Hamilton, Gold Rifie. Old Zip’s Cabin. Delaware Dick, Mad Tom Western, Deadwood Dick on Deck. HMawk-eeye Harry. The Boy Duelist, Abe Colt, Taz Crow-KiL.er. Corduroy Charlie. Blue Dick. Sol Ginger, G Lightning Jo. Kit Haretootww Rollo, the Boy Ranger. the Girl Miner. Buckram. By Oll Coomes. By Col. P. Ingraham. A. W. Aiken. in Mayne Reid. prrr. By A.W. Aiken. By Edward L. Wheeler. Captain J. F.C. Adams. T. O. Harbaugh. merce pet nm tek eens eed pe eet te pm ee ee we ee Seinen ii tes tinea cE ht ee en ea rer aos BSOOOOS SOS GS WWW WS WWW HW Wek ahah aa} Fak aFa Fak DAD DDS Se Se ee Su the abe shan nha shin she ihe hn he he GS G9 G0 GS GS BS FO GD HO NDT DONNA NODS DONG a a td pd et ODE AM HS WNW OOS DI OQNHANW HSS SsbA hw e OS DAH ere wet t. J. F. C. Adams, aldo Browne. t. Mayne Reid. ridge Hemyng. G. Waldo Browne. and Pirates. By C The Dread Rider. Whe Captain of the Club; or, Tae Youna By Bracebridge Hemyng. By Edward L. Wheeler. Edward 8. Ellis. By T. C. Harbaugh. Lieut. Col. Hazeltine. Rival ATHLETES. Canada Chet, The Boy Miners. Midnight Jack. The Rival Rovers. Watch-Eye, THE Smapow. By E. L. Wheeler. The Outlaw Brothers. Marshall Robin Hood, The Tiger of Taos. 100 Deadwood Dick im Leadville; or, A SrRANGE STROKE FoR LIBERTY. Jack Harkaway in New Bracebridge Hemyng. Diek Dead-~Eye, The Lion of the Sea, Deadwood Dick’s Device. B Old Rube, THe Hunrer. Capt. Old Frosty, THE Gus. By T..G. Harbaugh. By James L. Bowen. BS SOMH HWW WH wakabag aga ag ay ayas TE RO KOCHI SURONRKOCORMOCRWNE A a oe eS eS ME By Prof. Gildersleeve. By G. Waldo Browne. By Col. Ingraham. By Col. Delle Sara. BH OVCSsIAn BRKWK OS WWKHKHKHHKHKHN KWwKRKL ON ee One-Eyed Sim, Daring Davy. i] i] ws 9 Deadwood Dick as Edward L. Wheeler. 0 The Biack Steed of the Prairies. Jack Hoyle. By Edward L. Wheeler. The Black Schooner. Roger Starbuck. The Wad Winer. By G. Waldo Browne. The Hussar Captain. Col. P. Ingraham, Gilt-Edged Diek. By_E. L. Wheeler. Will Somers, THE Boy Derecrive. Morris. NEustang Sam. By Jos. E. Badger, Jr. The Branded Mand, By Frank Dumont. Cinnamon Chip. By fdward L. Wheeler. Phil Hardy, Tur Boss Boy. By C. Morris. Kiowa Charley. By T. C. Harbaugh. Tippy, THe Texan. By George Gleason. Bonanza Bill, Mrvner. By Ed. L. Wheeler. Picayune Pete, By Charles Morris. Wild-Fire, Bossortue Roap, By Dumont. The Young Privateer. By H. Cavendish, Deadwood Dick’s Double. By Wheeler, Detective Dick. By Charles Morris. The Golden Hand. By Geo. W. Browne. The Hunted Hunter. By Ed. §. Ellis. Boss Bob. By Ed. L. Wheeler. Sure Shot Seth. By Oll Coomes, Captain Paul. By C. Dunning Clark. Night-Hawk Kit. By Jos. E. Badger, Jr. The Helpless Hand, Capt. Mayne Reid. Blonde Bill. By Edward L. Wheeler. Judge Lynch, Jr. By T. C. Harbaugh. Blue Blazes. By Frank Dumont. Solid Sam. By ward L Wheeler. Handsome Harry. By Charles Morris. Scar-Face Saul, Oll Coomes. Dainty Lance, THE Boy Sport. By Badger. Captain Ferret. By Edward L. Wheeler. Silver Star, THe Boy Knicat. By Coomes. Will Wildfire. By Charles Morris. Sharp Sam, By J. Alexander Patten. A Game of Gold. By Ed. L. Wheeler. . Lance and Lasso, By Capt. F.Whittaker. Panther Paul. By Jos. FE. Badger, Jr. Black Bess, Wm. Wiprie’s Racer; or, WINNING AGAINstT Opps. By Charles Morris. Eagle Kit, tam Boy Demon. By Oll Coomes, The Swerd Hunters. By F, Whittaker. Gold Trigger, THe Sport. T. C. Harbaugh. Deadwood Dick of Deadwood; or, THe Pickep Party. By Edward L. Wheeler. Mike Merry. By Charles Morris. Fancy Frank ot Colorado. Buffalo Bill. The Lost Captain. By Whittaker. The Black Giant, a J. E. Badger, Jr. New York Nell. By E. L. Wheeler. Will Wildfire in the Woods. Morris. Little Texas. By Oll Coomes. Dandy Rock’s Pledge. By G.W. Browne, Billy Baggage. By Charlies Morris. Miickory Warry. By Harry St. George. Asa Scott, Toe Steampoat Boy. By Willett, Deadly Dash. By Jos. E. Badger, Jr. Tornado Tom. By T. C. Harbaugh, A Trump Card. _ By Charles Morris. Ebony Dan, By Frank Dumont, TWhunderbolt Tom. By Harry St. George, Dandy Rock’s Rival. By G.W. Browne. Bob Rockett, tur Boy Dopnaer. By Morris. Captain Arizona. By Philp S. Warne. The Boy Runaway. By Lieut. Perry. Nobby Nick of Newada, E. L. Wheeler. Old Solitary. By Ol! Coomes, Bob Rockett, tHe Bank Runner. Morris, The Sea Trailer. By Lieut. H. D. Perry. Wild Frank. By Edward L. Wheeler, Little Miurricane,. By Oll Coomes. The Hidden Hand. By Chas. Morris. The Boy Trailers. By Badger, Jr. Evil Eye. By Frank Dumont. Cool Desmond. By Col. Delle Sara, Fred Halyard. By Charles Morris. Ned apaaples THE BorDER Boy, Harbaughr Bob Rockett, Tam Oracksman. By Morris. Dandy Darke. By Wm. R. Eyster. Buffalo Billy. By Capt. Taylor, U.S. A. Captain Kit... By Lieut. H..D. Perry,U.S.N. Captain Mask. By Philip 8. Warne. Buffalo Bill’s Bet. By Captain Taylor. Deadwood Dick’s Dream, By Wheeler. Shadowed, By Charles Morris. Little Grit, THz Wry River. By Ingraham, Arkansaw,. By T. ©. Harbaugh. Featherweight, By Edward Willett. The Boy Bedouitzus. By Whittaker. The Black Hills Jezebel, By Wheeler. Prospect, Pete. By Oll Coomes. The oy Pards. By Jos. E. Badger, Jr. Gold Plume, THE Boy Banprt._ Ingraham, Deadwood Dick’s Doom. By Wheeler Dark Paul, Tae Ticer Kina. By C. Morris Navajo Nick. ByT. C. Harbaugh. The Boy Herenles. By Oll Coomes. Fritz, THe Bounp-Boy Detective. Wheeler. Faro Frank of High Pine. By Eyster. Crooked Cale. By Ie. FE. Badger, Jr. Dashing Dave.” By Charles Morris. Fritz to the Front. By E. L. Wheeler. Wolfgang, Tar Rosser or THE RHINE. By Captain Frederick Whittaker. Captain Ballet, By T. C.Harbaugh. Bison Bill. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. Captain Crack-Shot, By E. lL. Wheeler. Tiger Tom, THe Texin Tarror. Coomes. Despard, the Duelist. By P. S. Warne, Tom Tanner. By Charles Morris. Sugar Coated Sam, By E. L. Wheeler. Grit, the Bravo Sport, Ingraham, Ozark Alf, Kino or THe Mountain. By Edward Willett. Dashing Dick. By OllCoomes. | Sam Charcoal. By Charles Morris. 226 Snoozer, THE Boy SHArp. By E. L. Wheeler. 22-7 Dusky Darrell, Trapper. By E. Emerson. 228 Little Wildfire. By Ol) Coomes. of Texan Adventure. By Bowen. evil. By Col. P. Ingraham, By Burton Saxe, 2 The Mad Hunter. LIBRARY. | Crimson Kate, The Yankee Rajah. Plucky Phil. Gold-Dust Dick. Joe Buck, of Angels, Old BRocky’s * Boyees.? Shadew Sam, Apollo Bill. By. Col. P. Ingraham. By ©. D. Clark, By T. O. Harbaugh. By. A W. Aiken. Buckskin Sam, By Charles Morris. By Edward L. Wheeler. Lone Star, the Cowboy Captain 3 or, THe Mysterious Rancurro. By P. Ingraham. The Parson Detective, The Gold-seeker Guide; or, Taz Losr Captain Mayne Reid. By Edward L. Wheeler. His Bear Pards, By Charles Worris. By Oll Coomes. Mountain. B Cyclone Kit, Bill. Bravo an By T. ©. Harbaugh. The Two ‘* Bloods?, The Disguised Guide, Sierra Sam, Merle, the Wid Giant George, By Edward L. ¥V By Col. P. Ingraham. By Buckskin Sam, Old Grizzly and His Pets. By Captain * Bruin”? Adams, Sierra Sam?’s Seéret. Milo Romer, Midshipman Mutineer. By Ingraham. Light-house Lige. Dick Dashaway. Sierra Sam’s Pard. The Half Blood, Captain Apollo. Young Kentuck. By Capt. Mark Wilton. The Lost Hunters. Sierra Sam’s Seven, The Golden Harpoon. By R. Starbuck, Dare-Devil Dan. Fergus Fearnaught, The Young Sleuths, Deadwood Dick’s Divide. By Wheeler, The Floating Feather, The Tiger Tamer. Killb’ar, the Guide, The Buckskin Detective, Deadwood Dick’s Death Trail, Edward L. Wheeler. The Gold Ship. Blizzard Ben. The Huge Hunter. Minkskin Mike. E. L, Wheeler. red. Whittaker. By J. F. C. Adams. By Chas, Morris. By E. L. Wheeler. By Edward §, Ellis. By T. C. Harbaugh. SrSr Grrr Sr Cue eee ee eee wt By Capt. Adams. By E. L. Wheeler, WWW HHWKHKWNKHKWHKWHW WKwwwnw wr Grr SOBA ONWRKOCD sew HOS te a By Oll Coomes. By Geo, L. Aiken. By Charles Morris, By Ingraham. By Capt. Whittaker. By Ensign Waren Co By Col. P, Ingraham, By Captain Mark Wilton. Edward §, Ellis, By Oll Coomes. By Edward L. Wheeler. By Charles Morris. Jolly Jim. By Buckskin Sam, Arizona Jack. Merle Wonte’s Cruise, Denver Doll. By Edward L. Wheeler. The Three Trappers. Old Winch, Tat Ririe By Ingraham, Major Carson, CHAR wWNWH OO Merle Wonte’s Fate, Denver Dolls Victor The Typo Detective. Indian Joe. The Sea Marauder. Denver Doll's Decoy. By E. L. Wheeler. Tenderfoot; Wry Men or Buzzarp Bar. By Billy Blue-Eyes. The Scalp King. By Capt. J. F. 0. Adams, Jolly Jim’s Job. Little Foxfire. Turk, the Ferret. Sancho Pedro, THz Boy Banorr. Major E. L. St. Vrain. Red Claw, tax Ons-Eyep Traprzr. By Captain Comstock. Dynamite Dan. Fearless Phil viILLE. By Edwa 296 Denver Doll’s Drift. 297 The Tarantula of Taos, Sam. By @ol. Ingraham, wo HWNWwWNWNWNWwKwLdNd DW aakaba¥abad ada daEsE DS a) By Major L. W. Carson. By Col. Ingraham, Mark Wilton. By Col. P. Ingraham. By Charles Morris, By Oll Coomes. By E. L. Wheeler. By T. C. Harbaugh. or, Tam Kine or Quarr2- By E, L. Wheeler, By Buckskia Water-Hound3 or, Tue Youre THOROUGBRED. By Charles Morris, & Toll-Taker, 300 The Sk or, RABOLT, THR y Oll Coomes. Leadville Nick EB. L: St. Vrain. The Mountain Detective. » THE Boy Sport. By Maj, ‘Liza Jane, Tae Girt Mmer. By EL, The Dead Shot Dandy; or, BENITO, THE Boy’Buéier. By Col. P. Ingraham. Dashaway, of Dakota LAD IN THE QUAKER CITY. Neck-Tie Ned, TH", Lariat? THROWER; or, By Major ‘Heury B. or, A WrsTER” Chas, Morris. Duae-Ovur PARDs. Stoddard, Ex-Scout. Whe Strange Pard. Keno Kit, tHe Boy Bueimr’s Parp. By Colonel Prentiss Ingraham, Deadwood Dick’s Big Deal. ward L. Wheeler. A new issue every week. ‘The Half-Dime Library is for sale by all Newsdealers, five cents per co t of six cents each. Publishers, 98 William Street, New York. By Buckskin Sam. or sent by mail on ADLE & ADAMS,