Beadle's Half Dime Library (no. 34) (1878 03 19)
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LT aad Vol) Ti: Sia Oregon Sol; OR, NICK WHIFFLES’S BOY SPY. BY CAPT. J. F. C. ADAMS. CHAPTER I. A “CONDEMNED DIFFIKILTY.” ‘‘ WHEN a man has got to say yes or no, and can’t for his life make up his mind which he orter say, then I allow he’s in a condemned diffi- kilty; but, when you're in such a kentry as this, where the varmints are all around you, it’s the best plan to be ’spicious of ’em all.” ; Thus spoke Nick Whiffles, with the old smile lighting up his honest, homely countenance, in | reply to a remark of his friend Oregon Sol, a brother trapper, as they half-reclined on the face of a large flat rock, far up in the wilds of the North- pay one gee summer a number of years ago. x There’s my gran’father,” continued. Nick, ‘‘ who used to be the most onsuspicious ‘ old gentleman that I ever knowed, I remember one day, when a man come along and offered to sell him a piece of land that he said was just the place to raise elephants onto. to sell to the circus companies. The old man borrered the money on a mortgage, and paid him his price fur the land, and then went out there to begin raisin’. them little pets. When he got there and come to locate his land, he found it was right in the middle of the Wisconsin river, where the water was twenty-four pads cade ae o% the old ntleman in hi u n ood he come Poin’ heck ag’in, and went for that swindler; but, when he found him, the chap axed his par- don on account of the little mistake that had been made and that the tract he sold him laid a mile north of .the spot where he had suppos d it was. My . gran’father swallered it all and went back ag’in as happy as he could be, and when he come to make sure where it was, he found that the only way to reach it, was by taking a balloon and going a mile and a half up ih the air. When my gran’father come back ag’in, he was never able to find the man he bought the land off of, which was a good thing fur the man, and it helped to make the old entleman ’spicious, and that’s why I ain’t ready to say that this yere young Blackfoot is an honest boy, | wrong ’bout him, Then € , him TE A So ut! tt Vt! a tn! ot Pn LI (ms ili Copyrighted in 1878, by BEADLE AND ADAMS. BEADLE AND ADAMS, PUBLISHERS, No. 98 WILLIAM STREET, NEW YORK. though he does look as innocent in the face asa ing chicken.” ejected a mouthful of tobacco-juice, wit ll as to knock a fly off the ear of the dog Calamity that was stretched out dozing at their feet; “‘thar’s whar the condemned diffikilty, as you call it, comes in. Sometimes I look into the face of Marunyo, the Indian boy, and I think if ever there was a young lam ma round onto two legs, that ’ere chap is him. You remember down on Dent’s Bay, a month ago, when we war fishin’, he swam out at nigh fur over a mile, and to tell us that a party o: them cussed Modoes, led by Captain Jack, was waitin’ fur darkness so as to come down and raise our ha’r. No mistake, Marunyo kept us out of a mighty bad scrape that time, and I felt like axin’ his pardon fur ever thinkin’ anything ag’in, thar didn’t noth- in’ come to make me feel shaky, till a week or NICK WHIFFLES AND CALAMITY, we es y Terris lis Nu ORR- SoH M:. iN \ SN Price, 5 Cents. two ago, when I war ne’r among the lava-beds and see’d Marunyo hobnobin’ with these same Modocs that are the meanest cusses that ever ws: Eneees “as we've to watch him mighty close that’s all,” replied Nick. “ Most of the Whiflles family was of a ’spicious nature. They always had a ’spicion that thar was something extron- nery in the way of smartness "bout me, but when I growed up, my mother said it was one of them ’spicions that. never was confirmed. The schoolmaster, howsumever, said I was a blasted fool, the first time he sot eyes onto me, and that ’spicion was confirmed. There was my aunt, too, that had her fust beau when she was seventy-three years old. She was so.’spicious that she was too young to keep company, that she made it a practice to set the dog on that Revolutionary pensioner when he come to see “Did he keep it up?’ “Wal, yes—that is till he hadn’t any more seats left to his breeches, and then, when he was layin’ in bed to get ’em mended so as to begin over again, she run off with his father that had been a widower for more nor forty “ But ain’t youa leetle in- clined to be ‘spicious your- self?’ asked Oregon Sol, who, on this ] summer after- noon, was disposed to humor the loquacity of his friend. ** That depends upon sar- cumstances,” was the reply. “One time, when two other chaps and me war arter the same gal, I’d a ’spicion that one of ’em played a con- demned mean trick on both rasta = _ _ a sort of a—” ello what’s u Ca lamity?”’ A Nick’s yarn was cut off abruptly, for the dog, that hitherto had seemed to be in sound sleep, suddenly raised his head and gave out a faint whine, the meaning of which was evident enough to the two trappers. It meant that some one was approach- ing and that it behoved them to be on the watch. It was curious to notice the action of the two trap- pers the instant the dog ut tered his warning. Sitting upon the broad rock, as they had been for the last hour, they were exposed to the bullet of any. treacherous Modoc or Blackfoot that might creep up to them. But they knew their latitude pretty well, and the instant the sagacious dog apprised them of what was coming they slid off the rock as silently as a couple of ser- pents that had been basking in the sun, and screening themselves in the bushes,
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~ 2 > Beadle’s Half-Dime Library. — awaited until the precise nature of the danger should develop itself. Calamity, having uttered the moan and risen to his feet, stood with his nose pointed toward the north, indicating that that was the direc- tion from which the stranger was coming. Nick Whiffles had seen signs of Modocs during the last few days, and it had made him rather uneasy, for it was only about a hundred miles to the north of this that he and Oregon Sol had _their cabin or head-quarters, from which point they made excursions through long leagues of surrounding territory. Such a distance was a trifling one, and if the treacherous Modocs were thus close, there was reason to believe that they would pay the cabin their respects before they returned. ; After rising to his feet, Calamity stood utterly motionless for two or three minutes, when he suddenly stretched out again, with his nose be- tween his paws, as if he wished to finish the nap which had been interrupted. “ All right,” exclaimed Nick Whiffles, as he witnessed the conduct of thedog. “ That shows that there ain’t any of the red-skins jest now that are tryin’ to bore a hole into our carcasses, Come, Sol, we may as well gitinto that sunlight ag’in, and share it with the purp.” As the two trappers moved toward the tab- ular mass of stone, a figure emer from the bushes upon the —_- side and approached them. Without exchanging any greetings, Nick and Sol took their stations behind the rock and awaited his coming. It was the figure of a handsome, lithe, and graceful Indian youth, dressed in Indian cos- tume, with a face of remarkable beauty. He had the dark, flashing eyes of the red-man, and the long, dark, sweeping hair worn by that race; but his features were more regular, and there was a certain grace and ease in his bearing that would have drawn attention, even among the most noted warriors of his own people. ie carried the knife at the girdle, a long silver-mounted rifle in his right hand, while his face was covered ee eae of the hideous style generally adopted by the red-skins, but in the form of a dye. ‘“Wal, Marunyo, you seem to be all in a hurry,” said Oregon Sol, extending his hand to the young Indian, as he came up. It was evi- dent that he was a ‘‘ brother” to the two trap- rs. H ee Yes,” replied the youth, speaking with an accent as pure as his own, ‘‘I have much to do. The red-men are still seeking wrong, and Ma- runyo has many miles to travel to get to the mountains ahead of the Modocs.” “ Ain’t you in the mountains now?’ asked Nick Whiffles, who did not understand precisel his meaning. ‘‘That reminds me of an uncle that I once had that built him a house with a door back and front, and one day he made a bet with his wife that he could get in without her seein’ him. Wal, my aunt too the old fool went out the door. She s’posed meant to stay away till she got tired of watch- in’, when he would slip in and win the bet, so she made up her mind that she wouldn’t be cotched that way, and she watched all the rest of the day, but when night come ho hadn’t showed himself yet. That made my vir- toous aunt as mad as thunder, and as she was ttin’ sleepy, she hired a man to watch, with a ig musket, and told him to shoot the first chap that he found tryin’ to steal toward the house. She was always tender-hearted, was my aun and she told the feller on guard that he m make sartin and kill the burglar at the first fire, so as not to make him suffer too much. Wal they didn’t see him that night, nor the next one, nor the next month, nor next year, and my aunt concluded that the old feller was gone sart’in sure, and she went in mournin’ a year, and then began to receive the devours of a dry- goods clerk, that got four dollars a week, 4 and things was pretty near in shape for them to get when who should come walkin’ in the back door one day but my uncle, who ex- - plained that in order to get into the house with- out her seein’ him, he made a trip around the world. He did surprise her, and won the bet; a the Whiffles were always a smart set of olks. CHAPTER II. THE YOUNG INDIAN TRAILER. Tue young Indian, like allhis race, knew how to bear pain and suffering without murmur or complaint. He seemed accustomed to the whimsicalities of Nick Whiffles, for although he ‘was in t haste, and had only turned a little out of the way in order that he might exchange a word or two with his friends, he showed no impatience, while the old hunter was indulging in one of his characteristic reminiscences, When Nick had finished, and before he could start off on another, Oregon Sol put in his question: * Don’t in riddles, Marunyo—but tell us what the row is this time. You spoke of the Modocs—what have they been doing?—scalpin’ murderin’, shootin’ an skulpin’, I s’pose; bu what has that to do with you?” The young Indian pointed to the northward, tow the far horizon, where the blue, cloud- like outline of a chain of mountains could be seen against the azure sky. It was a spur of that mighty chain which, extending from the arctic to the southern ocean, branches off in vast ridges, some of them extensive enough to make independent ridges of themselves. . As the two trappers followed the direction in- dicated by Marunyo, they knew that that blue streak of elevated land was in British America. Both had hunted the otter and beaver there, -when in the employ of the Hudson Bay Com- pany, and if Marunyo meant to imply that @ was en upon an errand that would take him there, both knew that a number of days must elapse before they could see his face “Wal, we see where you're pointing,” said Nick Whiffles, after waiting a moment for the red-skin to speak. ‘‘ That reminds me of what my grandmother once did, when I was on a visit to her. You see the old lady—” ‘‘The Modoes are bad people,” the Indian has- tened to say, in order to arrest the t ~eatened anecdote; ‘ they are traveling northwai toward the Saskatchewan.” “But they belong just the other way,” said i Sol, pointing tothe southward. ‘Them Modocs belong among the lava beds of Oregon. Is’pose because it looks so much like the in- farnal country round there, that they feel at home.” “‘ But some of them are traveling northward,” replied Marunyo; ‘‘there are only a few, but they are bad, and Marunyo must follow and see what they do. He will back in a few days, and then perhaps he will have a story to tell.” “Tt won’t do any , if you have,” replied Sol, ‘‘ while Nick is about. I'd like to see the man that could get the start of him in tellin’ a yarn. I think that when the last messenger comes, Nick will ax him to hold on a few min- utes till he tells him a little story about his dah peel or uncle, or some of his relations. ut, Marunyo, ain’t you going to tell us any thing about this trouble?” ; ‘Not yet,” replied the Indian youth, who did not seem to relish this jocularity. soon will be back.” And without any further words, he turned — = pees cgt ng te northward in the cal ion in which he poin disappeared the next moment in the wood and bushes beyond. And leaving Nick Whiffles and Ore Sol to gears bei a hoe Rn nope hg be e Indian yy upon hiserrand, which was ined to prove the most eventful of his life. It was late in the afternoon that he left the company of his two friends, and without once looking behind him, he moved with a jar loping gait, direy through the wood, like one who is certain of the precise destination toward which he is hastening. He carried his insepar- able rifle in his hand, and, although his head was turned neither to the right nor the left, his senses were on the alert, and he could not have failed to detect any suspicious sound or sight near him. For something like a mile the route led along a ridge, when a stream of water of considerable size was reached. Instead of advancing to the edge, Marunyo cautiously made his way to the top of the ridge, and, after some maneuver- ing, managed to secure a position which afford- ed quite an extended view of the river in both directions. ; Lying flat u his face, with his body ex* tended forw: over what was here an Over- sharpest on was able to detect a faint col- umn of smoke rising from some spot within the w when the fire itself could not be seen. “' is_ there, Marunyo to himself. “ Captain Jack and Flat-Nose Billy have come a long “a from the lava-beds with the two cap- tives. ey must be very valuable, or they would not carry them so far into the woods. But they mean that no one shall sieal them away, nor that they shall escape themselves. ct “J go, but | ess ye | ing a sharp look-out to see whether he was fol- But Marunyo is on their path, and he shall fol- low them, if the trail leads him beyond the head-waters of the SaSkatchewan.” ib remained a few minutes longer gaz- ing fixedly in the direction of the Indian sign, as if he hoped to detect something more tan- gible, but failing to do so, and as the day was wing rapidly to a close, he carefully made his way down from the ridge, and drawing a small canoe from its concealment, Jaunched it up- on the river, sprung in and sped away like a swallow. He headed straight toward the camp-fire, and as he was peddling ainst the current he cross- ed over to the other side, and ran in as elose to the shore as ible, so as not only to take advan- tage of the more slowly flowing water, but to run so much less chance of being seen. Having secured the position he was seeking, he made his progress much more gradual than it had been in crossing the river. It looked in- deed as if he was seeking to defer his arrival upon the scene of the camp until after night had fairly settled over mountain and stream. Not much need was there of his waiting, for already had the sun sunk out of sight in the Pa- cific, and the moon, half-full, shed a dim, uncer- tain light upon vhe river, while the little cance crept along in the bank of deep shadow, with the silent, insidious motion of a phantom of the "et y was it that Marunyo, the young Black- foot, was so carefully following the boat con- taining the two Modocs and their eaptives? lt was not the first time that these woman-thieves had stolen. white people and either murdered or made off with them. And knowing this, why should the young Blackfoot take such an extra- _ ordinary interest in the fate of these two par- ticular ones? None understood more thoroughly the charac- ter of the two men whom he was following. Flat-Nose Billy was one of the most treacher- ous dogs that ever bore the name of man, and the later crimes of Captain Jack, who crowned his life of infamy with the hellish assassination of General Canby, are so well known to our readers, and so fully reveal his nature that no further description is needed in this place. Marunyo could have advanced to the camp, where these two Modocs were masters, and he would have been received asafriend. He had indeed performed more than one good office for the chieftain, in his capacity of spy, and was entitled to his gratitude. But, that made the danger none the less. Cap- tain Jack was now on a long hap date Biba his home in the lava- , and was doub lowed or not. For any one to attempt it was Bbout equivalent to a deliberate commission of 2 This will explain the extreme caution of the Indian Spy, who, as he found himself in the immediate vicinity of the camp, ceased pad- a altogether and sat for a few minutes in- listen ing. es still and reaching up, he an overhanging limb, and drew the little boat against. the bank. The next instant, he had drawn the prow up on the land, so skillfully concealed that it could not be seen by any one paming up or down the stream or bank. At this moment, there was no more than a hundred yards between the Blackfoot and the cam he advanced, with the stealth that he waed liens moving at midnight among the hostile warriors am ¢ Klamath lakes. Still this cular portion of a scout’s recon- noissance is not considered the most difficult nor the most dangerous by any means, and it did not require Marunyo a long time to gain a posi- tion from which he was afforded a complete view of the rot The sight that met his eyes would have awak- ened painful emotions in the heart of any one except a Modoc Indian. In the middle of a natural clearing along the river was kin- dled a small fire, over which Flat-Nosed Billy was roe devoting all the energies of his mind and body to cooking a piece of meat, large enough to afford a good meal for half a dozen men, Captain Jack, the Modoc leader, was stretch- ed out flat upon his back, with his feet crossed and himself sound asleep. As he lay, the light was reflected t one side of his face, show- ing its horrible repulsiveness, which was on a par with that of Flat-Nosed Billy, who was ugly oe alee give a brave man the fever and ague, the time he looked upon him. But Marunyo had seen these two friends too often to feel any t interest in them at this moment. Two others helped to make up that
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_ Orego Sol. little party, in whom his interest wasof the pro- foundest nature. One seemed to be a middle-aged woman, ex- ceedingly well dressed, and with the air and ap- arance of a lady of wealth and refinement. Bhe was seated on the sloping side of the hol- low, and the light shining full in her face show- ed how great her terror was of the two wretches, who, for the time, were the arbiters of her fate. Her wild looks wandered from one to the other, and then at intervals her eyes dropped, and her moving lips showed that she was look- ing at and speaking to her companion whose head rested in her lap. Marunyo strove hard to gain a view of the face of this lady, but the position of the head made his view very imperfect. The face, as re- vealed now and then in the fitful flashes of the camp-fire, showed that it was one of great beauty, and the outlines of the figure, as seen in the arms and shoulders, spoke of youth, symme- try and grace. An observer would have sup- that the relation between the two was that of mother and daughter, and such, we may as well state at this point, was the fact. Crawling as near the camp as was possible the Blackfoot lay flat upon his face and watched with an intensity of interest which it would be hard to describe. Flat-Nosed_ Billy, whose face and features fully justified the sobriquet, devoted his whole attention to the venison which he was cooking, apparently unaware that any one else was in e vicinity. He had raked out some live coals from the fire, and with the meat impaled upon anumber of green twigs, kept turning it over and over, so that the process of boiling was as perfect as it could well be. All at once he his culinary attempt, and gave utterance to an exclamation intended to signify that the work was completed. The exclamation seemed to be understood by the others, for the elder lady looked toward him, and Captain Jack instantly rose to the sitting position, and in his characteristic man- ner, demanded his share. Flat-Nosed Billy, in obedience to his noble leader, cut off about one- half of the large Modoe chieftain caught it up like a dog, and be- ant devouring it with the rapacious greed of a wo A couple of small pieces were flung to the ladies, Flat-Nosed Billy reserving a large por- tion for himself, which in.a very short time dis- appeared down.his capacious maw, and he look- ot around, as if he were able to dispose of the rest of the animal, if it were accessible. But Marunyo scarcely bestowed EF poiiey up- on the repulsive looking Modocs. eyes were fixed upon the two and he watched their movements with a depth of interest that can scarcely be i imagined. At a word from the elder, the younger raised her head from her lap, and eating the food which had been given them.. It was po that they had little or no appetite for the feast, but evidently ate from a conviction of necessi- ty. "The yo was dressed in a dark, handsome traveling suit, so that she was as well provided for this enforced journey as if she had made vol- untary preparation. Her dark hair flowed around a handsome oval face, and the flashin black eyes spoke of one, who lacked not the w but the power to exterminate these two scamps from off the face of the earth. Could any. oes neh oven the face Of MARINES, the youn oot, as, lying upon the ground, he i om the countenance of this i he would have ar age that the young warrior was smitten with a stronger emotion than mere friendship for her. His eyes seemed riveted up- on her every movement, and when at last they turned from her to Captain Jack, they flashed with such a deadly hatred that that redoubtable chieftain might well have trembled had he been aware of the same. Not rash or impetuous, the yo Indian did arash thing. His rifle seemed of itself to creep into position, and almost ere he was aware, he was pressing the trigger—the aim being drawn on the Modoc chief. Crack! went the hammer. The ploded. The rifle had ‘‘ missed fire. That miss had saved Captain Jack’s worthless life, but it imperiled the life of the daring young Blackfoot. ith a clear consciousness of his danger, Marunyo drew backward like a snake to cover; then rising, started on a run, closely followed by Flat-Nosed Billy, but ere long threw him off the trail, and again eaded for the river. By a long and circuitous route he picked way through the wild, rocky ion and ap- cap only ex- proached the camp-fire from a direction almost piece and tossed it tohim. The | be 3 opposite to that he had followed at first. He caught the glimmer of the camp-fire when at a considerable distance, but upon coming nearer found no one near it. The appearance of the wood and embers showed that the party had been gone some time. Marunyo was considerably disappointed, al- though he had wey expected something of the kind, He saw that he had nothing to do except to resume his pursuit, which he did without de- lay. His canoe, concealed with such care, was drawn from the bushes, launched into the wa- ter, and again he started up the stream, with greater speed this time than before. Up the stream he paddled, with hands that. | seemed never to tire, his senses all alert for “sign” and to avoid a surprise. At length he was confronted by a waterfall of considerable dimensions, around which all comers had to | make a‘ ; The Blackfoot had around the cataract, and was picking his way toward the water again, for the purpose of launching his canoe, when he was startled by catching sight of a light twinkling amon e stun trees and rocks that here lined the river. He paused on the instant, and laying down his canoe, started a cautious reconnoissance of this new camp- e The result was the discovery that Captain Jack and Flat-Nosed Billy had made another halt, which, from all ap ces, was intended to last until morning. © Having satisfied himself upon this point, Marunyo retraced his steps, un- til he had reached a point below the falls, where he paused at what seemed a suitable place, and been. PUNE fe - for himself. , to say the least, was a singular proceed- ing, butit was followed by something still more singular and s ing. Anhourafter the start- ing of the fire, the one single e might be seen stretched out in front of the blaze, wrapped up from head to foot in his blanket, and to all appearance, in a deep, heavy slumber. Still the fire burned vigorously, for a goodly quantity of wood had been heaped upon it, and the Black- foot lay with his feet turned toward the em- rs, as if he meant to continue comfortable un- til morning. About midnight, the figure of a Modoc In- dian crept as silently as a shadow from the darkness of the undergrowth, and advanced un- til he had reached the outer rim of the circle _ And, with this Christian-like expression, he moved away toward his own camp, satisfied fies he had ended all trouble from that quar- I’. He had scarcely disappeared, when another emerged from the darkness, and, advan- om to the prostrate figure, pulled the blanket e. This action revealed that, instead of a man being within, there was nothing but a simple log of wood, skillfully arranged with the moc- casins at one end, so as to resemble the figure of a sleepin rson. It was Marunyo himself who had played this rather sharp trick, and a grim smile lit up his face, as he replaced his own moccasins, and threw his blanket over his shoulders, prepara- tory to moving further away, where, if he chose, he could spend a few hours in sleep, with- out the risk of being broken in upon by Nis ene- es. “Captain Jack thinks there is none now to follow him;rhe believes that the Drooping Lil has no friends to save her. Let Captain look out |” CHAPTER III. A BIG “YARN.” “Tr’s a condemned diffikilty, I allow,” said Nick Whiffles, in seed to his friend Oregon Sol. ‘I’ve cipher over it many an_ hour, and always come out where I wentin. I think I've heard my gran’father of the same Jack ! | only of the new suspicion that h head York. He found that he had promised once office to thirteen different burglars, and oe | all swore they’d have his life if he went baci: on his promise. And he knowed they’d do it, and you see there was where the trouble come in. He couldn’t see his way clear out of the fix.” ** But how did he git out?” asked the trapper. ‘‘ Heavens! how should I know?” replied Nick. “T didn’t start to tell you a story, but only a diffikilty that he got into. Some of these days ll tell you how he got out of the scrape, but only one thing at a time you know.” oar oor what has that to do what we're talkin’ ut? ‘* How in thunder should I know? I didn’t | say that it had any thing to do with it. But you see that it’s gettin’ well into summer, and if we're goin’ to see any of them Hudson Ba fellows, we've got to be moving nodihiwend. They was down on the Saskatchewan last year long before this time, and if we loaf about much longer we shall miss ’em altogether.” “Wal, Pve been tryin’ to coax you off fura week past, but I couldn’t get you started,” re- plied Oregon Sol, determined that the blame should rest upon the right shoulders. ‘‘I s’pose the Blackfoot will go with us.” ; “T wouldn’t bet much onto that, fur if he’s gone off on a tramp there’s no telling when he'll come back ag’in. Some of these days he won’t come back at all, and then we’ll have to go alone, That ‘ere Marunyo is a very venture- some young Jad, and is bound to get into trouble some day. He always reminds me of the time I was with the brigade on the “‘ Red River of the North.” As Oregon Sol himself had been in the em- Roy of the same company, and had been with ick Whiffles a at deal of the time, he re- marked that he did not see what there wasin such employment to remind him of the young Blackfoot. “‘T can’t help it, if you don’t see what it is,” replied the whimsic trapper; “it ain’t the fault of some people if they’re born without any brains, though my old schoo used to think it was. We had a good party of us at that time, and now and then we come ’cross some odd people. There was the Raven of Red River, and lots of others, not to mention the young Injun warriors, that arterward proved to be gals of the female sex. We had some lively adventures, then, me and Calamity and my horse Shagbark; and there was a nice lot of folks that I helped get out of the hands of the varmints, by getting into their hands myself, and having somebody to help me out. But we all come out right side up, in the end, as I hepe we will do in this ’ere case. Do you know what I think that oung Blackfoot is drivin’ at?’ suddenly asked Whiffles, forgetting all about his promised reminiscences, and thinking come into his ‘How should I know?” replied Sol. ‘“‘ How can I tell you what you’re thinking "bout, when half the time you don’t know, yourself?” “‘T ’spicion that he’s arter some gal that some of the red-skins have run off with. If that’s the case, why, we’ve got to jine in with him and go too.” ‘Why so?” ‘Cause on account of the gal in the case. Nick Whiffles ain’t the man to stand back when there’s any caliker that needs his help. It was always a weakness of the Whiffles family, and it ruined some of ’em. There was one uncle, the great traveler that rode all over Africa and Asia and New Jersey in a gig, because he wes afraid he would be blowed up if he traveled on the cars or in the steamboa He was at the Cape of Good Hope, one day, when he heard that a young lady, belonging toa young ladies’ boarding-school that had just started, had got lost among the bushes and hills to the north of that place. You understand that the young ladies’ Institute had been started among the Hottentots, or Hotpots, or some such name, and as she had engaged to do the washin’ and irom in’, they couldn’t very well spare her, though it didn’t need such an inducement to start my un- cle off, for he was, like the rest of the Whiffles family, ready to break his neck any time for the sake of helping along some female woman of the tle sex. is maaeete only waited long enough to turn a co that he had been wearing for three or four months, when he jum into gig and started for the country, where he had been directed to go to find the interesting young lady. I heard him remark afterward that the test bother he had was with the roads, grea’ diffikilty at the time he was Governor of New | which didn’t seem to have been paved or repair-
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4 Beadle’s Half-Dime Library. tom. Uncle said he didn’t mind the fall, and the rolling over several hundred times, ’cause jae was used to that; but he was afeard that the chap that he turned out for might think he done t on purpose, and didn’t know any bet- ter. ‘“‘But did he find the young lady?” asked Sol, who seemed disposed to humor his propen- sity for talking. “You don’t suppose he’d turn back when he had made up his mind to do a te of that kind? That ain’t the style of the Whiffles fami- ly. There’s Calamity, when he fixes his teeth into a bear, Injun, or other animile, there it’s bound to stick. So, asI was going to say, my uncle spit on his hands and went at it / All the Hoppenhots that he met he stopped and inquired about the young lady. They was the most all-firedest stupid set that he ever see’d. Some of ’em Mesteintwn that they couldn’t un- derstand what he wanted, and the others was so dumb that he had to shoot ’em afore they’d tell him what they know’d. *“But at last he ’arned ’nough to find out that she had been seen a couple of miles further on, where the elephants and lions were rather plen- tier than was healthy, and so he got in his sig again, jerked his lines, and started off on a jog- ttt aig the place, determined more than ever to e ‘Did he carry. any weapons with him?’ “Oh, yes; he always had two muskets under the seat of the ‘fe e of ’em hadn’t any lock or stock, and the other hadn’t any barrel. But take the two together, and they made one ood gun, and he felt that he could get along if the jhants didn’t shove in onto him too fast. “ His animile kept up his trot till he had gone more nor two miles, and he was looking around for some signs of the female, when his hoss gave ashy to one side, so sudden-like that my uncle turned over on his head, with his feet p’inting up in the air, He was rather fat and heavy-like, and he could sleep on his head as well as an other way, and so, instead of righting himse ag’in, he laid still, with his head down, his feet up, and his hoss jogeing-like till he could look round and see what it was that had skeered his animile, for he know’d it must be something onusual to do that. “Tt was a good time afore he see’d anythin to account for the skeer of the critter, but a last he see’d it, and what do you s’pose it was?’ Sol scorned to notify his friend again that he had not the remotest conception of the novel phase of the story he had set out to tell, and Nick Whiffles resumed: ~- ““What he observed was three lions and three ele ts oping after him. It was a remark- able coincidence that there should be the same number of each kind of animals, but such was the solemn fact, and they were all headin’ to- ward him. He managed to straighten up and twist ‘round, so as to get on the right end, and then he whipped * s hoss to make ’im trot a little faster in the hope of gettin’ away, but it was a principle with that hoss not to go an faster than that one gait, and so my uncle stopped yellin’ at and whacking him, an looked round at the animiles that were keeping him company. There was three elephants on one side the road and the three lions on t’other, ‘cause you know them critters don’t to- gether very well, and they was all holding back waitin’ fur the others to begin the fight, so as to git a better chance. “My uncle was a-lookin’ at the front elephant, when he noticed the critter wink his eye ina way athim, When the animal had done FS two or three times, then the great traveler see’d what it meant. It was the same elephant he had seen in a circus company in the State of Connecticut. It was at a time that my uncle was driving a load of hay to town, when the elephant diiped ‘long behind him and eat it all up, and when he drove on the scales to get his hay weighed, he looked round and found it all e ec Wal, of course, the elephant felt very tender toward my uncle, and he meant all this arn to let him know that he was his friend, and ha ‘come along to stand by him and help him. That made the traveler feel a ; deal easier, and he kept jogging long, willin’ to wait till the others got ready to make the attack. “‘ He did not have to wait long, when one of the lions gave a yelp and made a jump. He e was went up pretty high in air, and just as ‘He was an awful fool. He might have knowed better, but, I spose when he saw them two lions stuck on the tusks of the elephant, he thought there warn’t nothin’ in the way to hinder him from havin’ a fair show at my uncle; so he give a big howl and licked his chops, an made a bigger jump than either of the others. I allow that things did look a little shaky just then, but you’ve heard how smart some ele- phants are, and this one went-a little ahead of any that T ever heard tell on, and if it hadn’t been my own uncle that told me the story, I would have thought there was some little mis- take about it. But, as 1 often heard him tell it there couldn't have been. The elephant waited till the third lion was pretty well up in the air, when he whirled ‘round, quick as a Rash, threw —— tail, and caught him on the end of that. en he had all three, you see, and the other élephants were kind of partners of his and the traveled off with him, so that my uncle was le alone to continue his journey after the young lady.” ; “ Did he cotch her?” “Wal, the old gentleman never finished the rest of the story; when he got that far in it he ana drones off to oe The Mfc pie je ily were always great on sleeping. I once an aunt that thade a bet—” fore **Never mind about that yarn now,” inter- rupted Oregon Sol, seeing there was little pros- t of Nick Whiffles ever reaching the end of is stories. ‘‘ You said we war to make a start northward to-day. It’s past noon now, and it’s time we war on the move.” , Nick seemed to rouse himself to a sense of his duty, and coming to his feet with something of the vim and activity of earlier years, he ed to his dog, Calamity, that had wandered off in the woods somewhere. In a moment the saga- cious canine came trotting forth as if he knew that something rather unusual was expected of him, and the two hi! des with the brute lead- ing the way, moved off through the solitude, for a hundred yards or more, when they reached a eo ona | structure made of skins, logs, bark and branches of trees put together with no little skill, forming a cabin with an interior of something like a dozen feet in eve ion. This — Rape — pk Nick Whiffles and nm Sol, when on their ing e tions in the far north-west. Its poaition “a's SO se- cluded and well concealed that it had never yet been disturbed by the visits of any Indians, nor white men besides themselves. Here wet had made their head-quarters for several winters, and there was something in the lonely life so attractive to both that they oc- easionally extended their stay until far into the summer, only visiting some of the frontier forts, for the purpose of disposing of their peltries, and P ng ammunition and a few necessaries. ‘he trap paused only long enough to fill their powder-horns and _bullet-pouches, when bn Sol mounted his little black pony, and Nick Whiffles bestrode his faithful beast, - bark, and, with Calamity trotting beside them, they turned their faces northward, and began their long and eventful journey. CHAPTER IV. A LOST SNOB. LEAVING the scene of their trapping opera- tions for the last few months, Nick Whiffles and Oregon Sol headed directly northward, and con- tinued that course for the remainder of the afternoon. Mounted on horses as they were, it would have been impossible for them to have kept up their journey over the wild, broken — for any length of time, but for the fact hat tT were following a sort of forest trail, that been used often enough to mark the route with just enough distinctness for their animals. As was generally their custom, the intelligent dog Calamity kept ahead of the others, picking the way, and holding himself in readiness to ve due warning of the approach of any danger. e trappers relied almost entirely upon him, - scarcely spoke of or gave a thought to anger. From what has already been said, it will be understood that there was really little occasion to think of danger, for they were already so far north that they were practically out of the range of danger. When one approaches or crosses the boundary line between the United States and British America, he has little to dread from the red-skins whom he encounters. The more warlike and vengeful are further south, and although he runs the risk of being annoyed with thieves, yet it is not apt to be one ing more serious. : e precise cause of Nick Whifflesand Oregon Sol moving northward at this particular junc- ture, was not to follow or meet the young Blackfoot, as might have been inferred from what has already been told, but it was in order to keep an engagement made almost a year fore, with an agent of the Hudson Bay Com- pany, whom he had met at Fort Alfred. This man was engaged in purchasing furs and peltries from Indians in Oregon and British America, and wished to employ Nick and Sol to visit a section of which he had heard consider- able, in order to ascertain whether it was worth while for the Sage oS to send half a dozen trappers down into that region. s the section referred to was somewhere near their own hunting-grounds, the trappers gladly undertook the job. They had spent a month in a thorough exploration of the terri- tory, finding it possessed only of medium ad- vantages, and were on their way northward, to make their report according to agreement. The fact that the general direction they were following was the same as that taken by Ma- runyo, had occurred to them, as well as the consequential fact that there was a strong pro- bability of meeting; for a party of such ex- eg es hunters as they were pretty certain detect each other, if they came anywhere near each other. But these facts did not influence them in the least in the direction which they took. Ma- runyo had used his canoe, and they could have changed their course without trouble so as to keep much nearer the river than they were do- ing. “ihe conclusion of both hunters was that if the y warrior wanted to see them, it was his place to hunt them up, and not theirs to hunt m. Nick calculated that it would require some three days of traveling before they could reach Fort Alfred, which was on British soil, and was one of the posts of the Hudson Bay Company. qrsuiion, said 4 coanplove the ena tenncnt tune and to comple een men with him. yaa As the afternoon advanced, there was quite a perceptible change in the temperature. They were so far northward, and it was yet so early in summer, that the only way to enjoy the sun- light in all its fullness was by stretching upon the face of some rock, where was no wind or shadow to disturb, which, it will be remem- bered, Oregon Sol and Nick Whiffles were do- ing at the time they were introduced to our readers. It was quite chilly now, and the wind that struck their faces, as they ascended the top of some ridge, or crossed some unprotected space, had a stinging, cutting sharpness about it, as if it came from the regions of eternal ice and snow which could be seen towering aloft in the western horizon. It lacked an hour yet of when Nick Whiffles reined up his horse, and waited for a moment. until Oregon Sol could come uv beside him and do the same. They were on the top of an eminence some hundred feet in hight, which was covered with stunted pine, and from which they gained quite an extensive view of the sur- roun ing country. Accustomed as the men were to the majestic scenery of the West and North-west, they seem- ed impressed by the * sublimity of the region in which they now found themselves. They sat for several minutes motionless and silent upon the backs of their steeds, their eyes wandering over the wonderful expanse stretch- out before them. ears of the rough, dangerous life of the North-west showed themselves in the next ac- tion of the two men, who glancing only at the prominent features’ of the landscape, began searching for signs of life. While jek Whiffles's keen eye roved off to- ward the east, Oregon Sol, with scarcely less keen vision, scrutinized the eastern and north- ern territory. Both were successful to a certain degree, for some two or three miles distant on the slope of an elevated ridge, smoke could be seen rising from among the trees, which — here very close together, proving that quite a goodly-sized camp-fire was burning there.
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$- Oregon Sol. 5 His keenest scrutiny failed to reveal any signs of persons, so he could only conjecture whether they were Indians or white men. Indeed he had no great interest to know, for he could not imagine that he had any concern with them. ‘Now, that ’ere is what I call odd,” sud- denly exclaimed Oregon Sol, when the eye had spent several minutes in scrutinizing the coun- try about them. ‘* What’s that?” asked Nick Whiffles, turning his head mpoe hearing the remark. ‘“ Why, look at that feller off yender,” he re- plied, pointing to a small stream less than a quarter of a mile distant. Looking toward the point indicated, Nick saw the figure of a man standing on the bank of the stream, gazing toward them. His dress show- ed that he was of the same race as themselves, but he seemed to be entirely alone and without horse, dog or even boat. He held a rifle in one hand and was leaning back against a tree, as though he imagined the two hunters were about to paint his portrait, and he was willing to stand there all day and bear their scrutiny. “Tt ain’t a Hudson Bay or Nor’wester,” re- marked Sol, when they had scrutinized him for some minutes. The sight of a man of their own race in a soli- tude like this was such an unusual occurrence that the trappers resolved on a closer acquain- tance. They were on the point of starting to- ward him, when Sol called the attention of his friend to the fact that the stranger had already made a move in their direction. It was not until the stranger began moving toward them that they observed his immense size. He was fully six and a half feet in hight, if not more, with his body filled out in propor- tion. The distance between the parties was so slight that it took the men only a short time to pass it. For most of the way he was invisible in the wood, but in a short time he made his appear- ance at the bottom of the ridge and walked to- ward them. ““How do you do, Mr. Nicholas Whiffles?” he demanded, as he approached and extended his hand, ‘I guess you don’t remember me.” “Can’t say that I do,” replied the bode ring inquiringly into his face, as he reac own and took his hand. ‘‘ You’ve got a sweet interestin’ face, by gracious, you have; but if don’t call to mind that I ever see’d it before.” The large, heovy frened stranger enjoyed the wonderment of the two hunters for a few min- utes, and then explained: ‘*T was at Fort Alfred last summer when you came up there and made the agreement with Captain Green to come in this summer and give our report about some place, where he thought {ere was achance of finding some extra bea- vers. [ am Mr. Fitzsimmons, that was attached tothe brigade in the character of a scientific guide.” “What are you doing here, then?” “ Tm lost. ” There was something so ludicrous in the idea of this large man, after announ If as a scientific guide, ad , directly on the heels of it, that he was lost, that both Nick and Sol in- d in a hearty laugh, while he remained as serious and solemn as if listening to his own funeral discourse. ‘ ‘“‘ Where is the brigade?” asked Nick. “Heaven only knows. Science has sent them all to the dogs, where I’m afraid I’m going too, unless science gets over the drunk it seems to be on just now.” e man rattled on so incoherently about science, and the rs that it had icted w him, that the for a time were to believe that he was some lunatic that had broken loose and had wandered off into this part of the world. ’ ently rae a sey re mey who had been in the employ of the mn. Company for a couple of years, most of the time having been nt in their office in London. The pic- ture of robust health and vigor, he suddenly formed the idea that his health was failing and he came on a visit to the wilds of America for the purpose of recruiting. @ was a man of wealth and ec mes ef and desirous that his position and ability sho d be phi br he announced himself as “sur- yeyor of the brigade,” and proceeded to enter upon his duties at once. Such an 0 as ‘‘surveyor of the brigade ” had never been heard of before, and as he did not interfere with the others in the discharge of their duties, his conceit was not interfered with, and he was permitted to rave about science to “< his + + art’s content. His principal business seemed to consist in consulting a small pocket-compass, which he | | brought with him from England, and in making | observations of the stars during the evening. / As Nick Whiffles afterward learned, Fitzsim- , mons started out with the brigade, and for sev- eral days they had no trouble with him, but at the end of that time he insisted that some defer- ence should be paid to his scientific attain- ments. “T carried the compass with me,” said he, in | pee pa ioe 6, the circumstance, “and I knew how to x it, and at night I could read the stars in | | Just as he was about to cast the line, it struck | him that the very place for which he was search- the sky and tell’em just where they was, but that Captain Green is—” “But you hain’t told us how brigade come to be apart,” put in ‘“*Tt was all their fault,” replied Fitzsimmons. “‘T let them all have their way without trying to interfere with them, till I observed how com- pletely they were violating the laws of science every day. One morning Captain Green re- marked that he was anxious to reach a place called Blackfoot Rock, which laid due north of us. Upon hearing that, I took my compass and showed him the way the needle pointed, and that instead of,going north, as he su , was proceeding almost exactly east. le i ed the whole thing to him, and when I got ou and the regon Sol. through what do you suppose he did¢ He just | laughed, and said that com business was played, sre since ee ye cx epty Megas 36 for the East Indies, and, by following the compass, fetched up against Ameri figs Bs I asked him if he was sure that Blackfoot Rock was exactly north, and he said there was no doubt of it. Then I told him that I would go afoot and he would see how much sooner I would get there than he. He replied that he would be ve glad to make such an arrangement—and so started.” ** How long ago was that?” “Nearly four days, and it seems to me that itis about time I came across that Blackfoot Rock, which I heard described very accurately, and which I’m sure I would identify the minute I saw it. Do you know where it is?” ‘*Oh, yes; we’ve been there often.” ‘* How much longer will I have to travel to reach it?” ‘“ Wal,” replied Nick Whiffles, ‘‘ I think if you keep up a pretty good Feit, you might do it in three or four years. They say a man can git around the world in that tithe and come back | to where he started from.” e | pleted, it was growing dark, and leaving Sol and Fitzsimmons in charge of the camp, Nick Whiffles moved off up-stream in quest of some- thing for supper. The stream was really nothing more thana brook, across which he could easily leap at any place. The water was quite shallow and clear, _and there was no doubt that it was plentifully stocked with fish; but, in the dim-gathering twilight, as he walked slowly along the ring into the water, he felt that peculiar . dissatisfaction with each place at which he halt- ed which will sometimes come over a person. * ing was a little further ott. this manner he advanced several hundred yards from camp, until, smiling at his own childishness, he paused where a projection of land produced an eddy in the stream, and where ye ba certain of finding all the fish he could need. ‘What do you say, Calamity?” he said, ad- dressing his dog, that had been walking con- tentedly behind him; “shall we settle and begin work here? I guess.” The trapper had furnished himself with all the bait he could need before starting, and it required but a moment for him to complete his preparations. It was a favorite custom with him, when fish- ing at night, to kindle a fire upon the bank of the stream. This was always sure to bring the fish around him, and he insisted that he always caught much larger ones than otherwise. In accordance with this custom which he had followed so long, he proceeded to gather sticks and twigs, and in a short time had a big fire burning close to the edge of the water and throwing a light far up and down stream. - tll fetch ’em,” he remarked, to his dog. Mad soon have a supper that ‘ll suit all an He was not mistaken. He had scarcely | thrown in his line, when it was seized by a large fish, which was promptly landed upon the ground beside him. e same thing was re- peated again and again, and he had soon se- ont all that the e could possibly dispose of. This done he ceased fishing, and picking up those that he had captured, proceeded to string them upon a branch for the purpose of carrying them back to camp, when the dog Calamity | showed by his actions that he desired to bear a ‘‘But yousaid you were on your way to Black- | foot Rock, didn’t you?” “Tm on my way to meet Captain Green and his brigade,” replied Nick iffles; “ but I ex- pected to do it at Fort Alfred. Howsumever, if he’s started for the other place, that’s where I’m going.” “Then I'll go with you, and let the compass alone for the present.’ “We'll be glad to have you, of course,” re- Lat Nick, with his old smile; m0 Sa sige ou on’t undertake to play the guide for us. You- ll excoose us from trustin’ too much to a chap thet is south-east all the time, and then swears it’s due north.” The Englishman was too much chagrined at the ludicrous mistake he had made to run any risk of repeating it, and he replied that, in de- ference to the superior knowledge of Nick Whiffles, he agreed not to raise his voice a sin- gle time in opposition to any plan or schemes of “ And thus the two parties ‘‘ consolidated” at once. CHAPTER V. WHIFFLES IN DANGER, Now that the destination of Nick Whiffles and Oregon Sol had been changed from the fort to the station or rock, the distance was thereby so much lessened that they calculated upon reaching it by the su ev » pro- vided that nothing unexpec interve to prevent. After the two trappers had made a rather careful survey of their surroun they con- cluded to camp where they were, at the base of the ridge. There was a stream of water near at hand, from which they were confident of en- ticing all the fish that was necessary for their supper. There was little danger to be apprehended from the Indians, as the trap were almost too far north for that; but the Fact that Captain Jack and another Modoc, at least, had gone northward, was enough to prevent that fee iz of absolute safety which otherwise would have characterized Oregon Sol and Nick Whiffles. By the time the arrangements had been com- | hand in the business. To gratify him, the trapper permitted him to take the end of the branch in his mouth, and although the weight was fate heavy, the pup galloped wank as delighted as if he were pro- viding him with the choicest dinner posetbie, after a prolonged fast. Understanding as well as did his master what was required of him, he sped straight to cam with his load, and was there before Nick le the little fire which he had kindled. “No need to hurry,” he said, to himself, with a grin, as he stood examining his rifle by the firelight. “It'll take a few minutes for ’em to br’il them floppers, and by the time Sol has ’em r , I reckon he’ll find me a little closer nor lam now. I don’t think it would do to give that’ere Fitzsimmons the start on either of us. Ihauled in eight or ten pounds extra on account of the length of his stomach. The Whiffles were always blessed with a p appetite, but I don’t b’’eve that ’ere man has had anything to eat for two or thr: weeks, and when that’s the case it’s pretty hard to gauge a man’s a ite. mehow or other, as Nick Whiffles stood here dallying with his gun and loitering behind until his friend could make some progress in the preparation of his supper, he was conscious of a curious feeling that he had noticed several times before, but only upon rare occasions, It was a gathering and increasing conviction that some one else was near him in his solitude. It was this same strange sensation that had warned him of the approach of danger more than once, and that caused him to suspect even now that something unusual impended. ing Pont an the surface of the water gleamed in the firelight, as it flowed by in majeptic silence, while behind and across, the dar. was dense and impenetrable. A low, solemn murmur filled the air, as if it were the ng of the vast solitude. : Saat above the tree-tops, the faint figure of the moon could be seen in the clear sky, its light so faint as to produce no pares tible effect upon the river A forest. Nick Whiffles had trod the wilds often enough to become inured to such scenes, but there was something to-night n -
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6 pressed before. Leaning his long rifle upon the ground, he folded his arms over the muzzle, and looked out upon the firelit stream beyond. As he stood thus, with the campfire burning behind him his long, gaunt jfigure was brought out in bold relief, and viewed from the opposite shore, was _ of startling distinctness. He was wrapped in reverie—reverie of the past. He was recalling the many eventful and checkered scenes through which he had gone > | out of your latitude, in coming so fur north?” “The Modoes go where they wish,” was the | ‘Captain Jack and me have | and in which be had borne such a prominent part. He saw again the figures of whom he had been associated—the beautiful, ths grave, the gay, the old and young, the curi- ousand strange—as they filed before him ina phantom-like procession, But deep as was his meditation, he could never forget himself pocrely. He always realized where he stocd, and so it was, that when a faint, almost inaudible sound struck upon his ear, he instantly straightened up and listened. “T heerd sige, Reno fra then,” he said, to himself, in a whisper. ‘1 knowed there was something in the wind to-night. Yas, there "tis ag’in. ” It was a soft, faint rustle, as if made by some one stealing through the forest, but it sounded up the stream, and he knew it came from the surface of the water. “Tt’s an Injin paddle,” he added, a few min- utes later. “I’ve heerd the same sound too many times to mistake about it. Whoever it we Foe coming this way, and I'll wait till I see who ae that’s off on a pic-nic excursion to- radually it became more distinct, and the trapper knew that it was approaching af a leisurely gait. He could tell toa moment, when it would reach a pam Seposee where he stood, and still watching listening, he calmly . awaited its arrival. None could know better than did Nick Whif- fles, how prominent a ages he would soon be to the inmates of the ge canoe, standing as we have shown directly in front of the fire- light, but, for all that, he made no move toward | shifting his of range of the strangers, who could so easily pick him off with their rifles. He felt no mis- idvings, and was content to wait until they should reveal themselves. “Tm pi well up north,” he said to him- self; ‘‘ the cold weather in these parts seems to freeze the nateral deviltry out of a red-skin though there are some of the animals that it would take a month in the middle of an iceberg, with them as stiff as a gun-barrel, before you could trust ’’em. They may be strangers to me, but,” he said, with something of pride in_ his modulated voice, “I wouldn’t be afeard to wager my gun here that they’ve heard of Nick Whiffles of’en. The Whiffles family always con- trive to make themselves heerd tell of, in some way or other. When they ain’t governing some State, or making speeches in Congress, they’re catching beavers or sarcumventing red-skins. By eee abe i sane tbe ner viper t it proved; for while he stood facing u stream + the darkness, the form of a canoe at at once shot into view, as it entered the broad, faint line of light thrown out by the fire. ‘or a few seconds, the trapper stood motion- less, and then, as he discerned the two Indians that sat within, he wong Fi ae back a pace or two and clutched his A ““Modocs!” he exclaimed to himself; ‘‘ they’re a treacherous set, and I don’t like ’em, and them is two of the worst of the whole lot. What are they doing so far north as_ this? don’t belong here, and I feel like ordering ’em o our trapping-grounds, back to their own lava- He had recognized the two_red-skins, as the arch-villains Captain Jack and Flat-Nosed Billy. He had seen them before, and he sare felt, as he had declared, like sending a bullet through the head of each, : Captain Jack, the notorious leader, was seat- ed in the stern with all the dignity and import- ance of a king, while his companion was using the paddle in a lazy, listless manner, as ppowen he had the whole t before him in which perform a journey of,a few miles. Upon seeing the trapper, they had been turn- ed toward shore, and the next moment, the prow touched the land, and Flat-Nosed Billy Bae out. * ‘How does my brother, the great hunter, do?’ he asked, as he extended his hand, which was taken rather reluctantly by Nick, who re- plird: position, so as to place himself out ose with | | moment, and thén as he was about to start on himbelf, seat ste in fron “Durty well; Lhaia’t had to call ina doctor ; fire. “That’s what the red-skin is doing—fol- qos look as though you wa’n’t trou- a biliousness or less of appetite your- “ Modoe warrior much well,” replied the In- dian, in rather good English, “Pm glad to much account in this world, He’s sartin to git in some condemned diffikilty. It was the Whif- fles family that made that diskivery a good i Beadle’s Half-Dime Library. that impressed him, as he had rarely been im- | lately, and | | | | though I'd been strokin many years ago, afore I came into this trouble- | some world, But, Flat-Nose, ain’t you a leetle mpous reply. non a big hunt. in the mountains, far from home?” ~ ‘My home is anywhere in the North-west,” returned Nick, with a sweep of his arm. ‘‘I am on my way to Blackfoot Rock to meet the briga e of the Hudson Bay Company.” “Then you go home?” was the next question, whose quick eagerness did not escape the notice of the trapper. “That depends u bother any of the Whiffles famil they’ll be or what they'll do next week. Mebbe Tll come back, and mebbe won’t. If you'll call on me next winter, I'll let you know,” “Does my brother come alone, so far north?” continued the Modoc. “Sometimes he does, and sometimes he doesn’t. Leastrate I ain’t apt to go fur with- out Calamity and Shagbark.” “But they do not meet my eyes,” said Flat- Nosed Billy, looking about him, as if he ex- pected to see them come out of the darkness and approach the camp. ow we go back to home Why comes my brother so No; they never was very good on meeting a | feller’s eyes. Fact is, they don’t meet me very | often, onless I go to meet. ’em myself.” ‘“‘Good-night, my brother,” added the Indian, as he stepped back in the canoe and picked up his paddle again. ‘*Good-night,” replied the trapper, with a fatherly wave of his hard, bony d, “may you have sweet dreams, as the virtoous always desarve.” During this conversation, it will be noticed | that Captain Jack said not a word, nor did he show any disposition to join it. All the time, he sat motionless in the canoe, looking at the two, as if he considered it beneath his dignity to take part in such frivolous employment. As he took no notice of Nick, the latter was equally considerate in ignoring his presence al- together, directing his words entirely to his companion, although he kept one eye upon the | leader of this detestable gang; and, as the canoe slowly glided away in the darkness, he stepped back, in the most natural manner in the world. ingly, there was no object in making such a movement, but there was, nevertheless. a only knowed it was them,” he thought, ‘‘I wouldn’t give ’em such a good chanee, and they ain’t a-goin’ to git it Tia There’s some condemned diffikilty that them varmints have got into I allow, to fotch ’em so | fur north as this. Wonder now if they ain’t the scamps that Marunyo has been follerin’? | He tartan t off this way, and them’s just the ani- miles to be in that sort of business, I hope the Blackfoot has learned what it is, for I hain’t anything partic’lar on hand with the brigade. I would just as lief spend a week in sarcum- ventin’ them red-skins as not.” He stood back in the gloom away from the msarcumstances, It would | to tell where | camp-fire, listening to the sound of the paddle of | the Modoc, as it grew fainter and fainter each his return to’ camp, his: attention was by the sound. of another oar being dip the water at no great distance from where he stood, , too, came from a point somewhere -and was much closer than was the u other canoe when he first detected its approach, Owing to the ution which was en ing discovered. t Fistened. into en That chap knows how to swing the said Nick es, as he stood and “Onless a man has got as long ears as I have, he ain’t apt to hear ’im. There’s some devil- ment on foot, as sure as the world, and I think it’s time that 1 found out suthing about it. He’s close on hand now.” A few moments later the second canoe shot to view. feng almost precisely the tracks 0 the first, and the first glance showed that it was occupi Siok one eye ia penne who was the young Blackfoot warrior, Marunyo. “ Just what I thought,” said Nick Whiffles to ping forward in front of the ' more than an | Situation more correctly. lerin’ up them cussed Modoes, and if he keeps it up much longer, he'll be likely to come back with his scalp left behind him. How is my brother, Marunyo, to-night?’ he asked, as the dian sprung out and took his hand. In ear it; hope you'll continner to | “Have you seen Captain Jack and his men?” feel so. A man with a sick stomach ain’t of | he asked, disre rding the question. “Seed ‘em both. Shook hands with Flat- Nosed Bill, and my arm has felt ever since as the back of a rattle- snake. You're follerin’ ’em, Marunyo, and | now what p’ison diffikilty is on foot?” The Blackfoot then narrated all that has al- ready been told the reader, After telling of the trick he oy upon the Modocs, by which he made them both believe that he had fallen a victim to their hatred, he explained that he re- sumed the pursuit and continued it in a more cautious manner, when, by some inadvertence which he could not understand, he lost the trail altogether, and only to-night was he enabled to get upon it again, and it was due to accident ing else, that he had found them again. e had not been able to catch a glimpse of them in the darkness and was not positive that he was really pursuing the right men, until his suspicions were confirmed by what the trapper had told him. When he learned further that the two Modocs were alone — in the canoe, he was completely astonished, and scarcely knew what to make of it. “Then Drooping Lily and her mother haye been killed!” he exclaimed, in.a voice of an- guish. ‘Not quite so bad as that,” replied Nick Whiffles, who was enabled to comprehend the They’ve took them precious animiles with ’em to the place where they mean to oe ’em, fur a few years, or till they kin get a good big ransom fur ’em, They’ve fixed things so they can’t git away, and Captain Jack and Flat-Nosed Billy has started fur hum ag’in. Mebbe eey wouldn’t have done it if they'd knowed that you hadn’t gone under yit.” “Then I must turn back and hunt for the place where she is hid, for Marunyo can never o back to his ra adh and leave si uy sai d Struck, 1 allow,” remarked Nick with a grin; ‘‘’spected it afore. That’s right, how- sumever, ’cause I used to act that. way myself.” “Can’t my brother, the great hunter, go with me?” asked the Indian, with such a wistful, poste look in his eyes that the heart of the apper was touched. “Would like to. by hty, and I guess 1 will, but I can’t do it right away. I tell you, Marunyo,” he added, ‘‘you know where Black- foot Rock is, don’t yer?” The young warrior replied in the affirmative. “T’'m on my way to that air, ’spect to be thar by day arter to-morrer, as I’m under an en- gagement to meet the brigade. You can do what huntin’ ’round you’ve time to do; then strike fur that place, and Oregon Sol and me will join forees with yer, and make a dead set for the Drooping Lily, as you call her.” The eye of the Blackfoot sparkled. Nothing could have suited him better, unless it was a pledge from Nick that the junction should be made at once, “ Good-by,” he said, taking hishand. ‘‘ When the sun goes down the second time after to-day Marunyo will meet his brother at Blackfoot Rock, and then shall come the rescue of Droop- ing Lily.” i You don’t think cigemg ence he gid ee as e one,” sai e r, still holdi the Band that rested in his yale And then he was rocging 0 give him some advice sh love matters, in his quaint, original way. Naturally talkative, he seemed to enjoy hearing himself spéak just now, while the Black- Ww. foot, impatient as he was to t away, repressed his emotions, and listened with the deference of a slave receiving the commands of his lord and r. Thus they stood face to face, with their hands clasped and the camp-fire smoldering between cies ad the forest, Fk oe thers i Sgt e om pe possible the bushes in the rear o the trapper. It might have been made by the ~ hopping of a bird or the falling of a leaf—so slight and faint indeed was it, that neither of the two men paid any attention to it. But it hada pages f meaning; and within the next minute the outlines of a crouching Indian were revealed in the shadowy gleam, as he stole forward with the slow, cautious, and perfect silence of the creeping panther. He was exactly behind Nick Whiffles, whose large frame could easily obstruct the view of Marunyo, as he stood listening to the words of the hunter,
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As he advanced still further in the dim twilight of the camp-fire, and his hideous face reflected the features of the Modoe, Flat-Nosed Billy, it could be seen that he carried a long, gleaming knife in his right hand. The wolfish, eager glance that he cast upon the form of Nick Whifiles left no doubt of his pur se to bury the knife in his back the instant e should approach nigh enough. CHAPTER VI. FOOLISH MERCY, “T pon’? know a satelty nee about you,” said Nick Whiffles, still holding the hand of the young Blackfoot in his own, and looking down in his face in his quaint, fatherly way. ‘‘ There be some things in your actions which I’m free to say ain’t as cl’ar to me as I’ve see’d the sun sometimes in the middle of the day. But sich leetle diffikilties ain’t worth the bothering over, when a man has got them diffikilties that are pizener than them. Now, I don’t know who this here Drooping Lily and the elder gals be, but, from your deseription, I powerfully ‘spect that they’re of the female sex, and you’re in love with the younger one, J ve been in love myself,” he added, with a sigh like that of a pair of. blacksmith’s bellows, “‘and I’ve heard my father say that he was once in love with my mother, a good many years ago; but he got over it ag’in as soon as they hitched together. There’s nothin’ like hitching teams to cure a feller of love—which is the reason that Nick Whiffles don’t get married. He’s been in love one hundred and eighty-four times, more or less, and there ain’t any doubt but, at this minute, there’s about double that number of female ladies down in the clearings that are in love with him, and the only way he can keep from marrying ’em is by coming out to the trapping-grounds, so as to keep away from ’em. As long as a woman sighs and hankers arter you, she thinks a good deal more about you than she does arter she’s got you, and that is why I steer clear of the females when I find that my booty is beginning to distarb thar peace of mind, and prevent thar eating more nor eight or ten pounds a day of pork and beans. I s’pose, Marunyo, that you’re wonder- ing what this talk means, and what it has got to do with Drooping Lily, and mebbe you're getting a little et to be off.” Flat-Nosed Billy, the Modoc, by this time had’ reached the point nigh enough for him to strike the fatal blow. He was still in a crouching »osition, and grasping the murderous-looking snife in his hand, he began rising slowly to his feet, so as to gather the force necessary to drive the blow home. , in his humor- Still Nick Whiffles was ous way, with the Blackfoot before him, with no suspicion of the deadly enemy in his rear. The latter had almost straightened himself, and was already drawing his hand back, with all the concentrated hatred and treachery that comes natural to a Modoc, when there was a sudden growl, a whirring rush, and adark body bounded like an immense from the dark- ness, and the next instant Flat-Nosed Billy rolled over upon the ground, with the teeth of Calamity fastened upon his: throat. The sudden, overwhelming shock caused the knife to fly out of his hand, and he went backward with frightful violence, the dog cling- ing tohim with an immovable gripe. The wretc] struggled and clawed, with his hands in his efforts to get free of his merciless enemy. __ Flat-Nosed Billy was a terrible-looking object, as he lay struggling upon his pei with the mastiff at his throat, The fire-light falling Seon his face, showed his black eyes protrudin, r- ridly, while the checked respiration him to le and gasp like one who was strangling to dea With the rushing phate of Calamity upon the Indian, Nick Whiffles wheeled with the suddenness of lightning, while Marunyo ste cautiously back in the darkness, as if ts foes himself being identified by the red-skin upon the ground. ** Oh, it’s a little diffikilty between Flat-Nosed Billy and the pup,” replied Nick Whiffles, who fully understood what it all meant, and did not fail to iate the inestimable service done him by his dog. ‘It’s allers a principle of mine never to interfere with other folks’ quarrels. I may say that it’s the principle of the Whif- fles family, ever since my uncle, the traveler, ot into a p’ison diffikilty in India from pokin, fis nose into other folks’ quarrels. He was rid- ing along one day in his gig, when he espied two tigers fighting alongside road. It made him feel bad to see the way ee was clutchin’ and clawin’ each other, and he hollered to ’em Oregon Sol. to stop; but seeing they was too busy to take any notice of him, he jist drove his hoss and gig right atween ’em. at sorter 7em, you see, but it didn’t pay my uncle very well. oth the tigers went at the hoss he was driy- ing, and ten minutes later, by the watch, there wasn’t any thing left of him but his tail and one shoe, My uncle had put on his spectacles and leaned back in the gig, expecting to see the two beasts scatter like Satan, when they was | shoved apart; but when the hoss-meat begun to fly, and one of the legs hit him in the face, he concluded. it would be a good idea to adjourn his post of obserwation to some tree,:and so he did; though when he got there, he hadn’t any clothes left on him but his shirt-collar, and the | button was off that. “Since that time, the Whiffles family have been opposed to interfering in other folks’ diffi- kilties, Me and the pup have traveled through the woods a good deal, and I don’t like to hender his enjoyment, and he does seem to enjoy put- ing his teeth in the throat of a Modoc.” is le y observation was uttered with all the deliberation natural to the trapper, and while he stood within a half-dozen feet of the combatants, with the Modoc struggling desper- ately to save himself from the horrid death that threatened him. The wretch saw that his only escape was in | the mercy of the master; for the dog with his teeth closed like a Ree M abnale tet gens no disposition to re is dea pe, whic must speedily end in death, iailels velenped very soon. So he turned his protruding eyes toward the hunter, and moved one hand in supplication. Nick Whiffles was not cruel at heart and never could be. Accordingly, when his would-be as- sassin made the ap for bap RR stepped forward, and spoke ig gh Calamity. i Because he “Let him go, pup, let him go! got himself into a veon diffikilt: , and axes us use. Let him to help him out it won’t do to re go, pup, let him sae Calamity had n taught from his earliest on to obey his master od gee lh He had earned more than once that the hand that could cherish and lift up could chastise with severity, when it. was deserved, and a word or look from his master, was always sufficient to insure instant attention; but he never hesitated as much as he did now to render that obedience and it required a repetition of the command and a threatened blow, before he unclasped the powerful jaws and stepped back. The would-be assassin was so near death that Nick stood looking at him a second or two, full believing that his mercy had come too late; bu after some choking and gasping, he revived, an assumed a sitting position, pressing his hand to his throat and glaring with murderous hate upon the canine that inflicted this terrible in : bape thi his knife, near at hand, he reached out fhe b to tenn? yet ra Whiff ta antici- pated an oot upon it, fo od poe not! Modoc,” he said, as tiie red-skin looked up inquiringly at him. “That ere knife got re into a p’ison diffi- kilty with the dog, and T’d advise you to let it alone arter this. I ry borage ose, What did you mean by coming up behind me in that style, when it was only a little while ago that we shook hands?’ wee 4 aa After some hard swallowing and choking, the Modoc was able to speak, and he told the following lie, which did not deceive the trapper for an instant. “‘Marunyo,. bad. Indian... He tried to kill Lanioun Jack, and Captain Jack send warrior B ny to kill him.” ck Whiffles might well have asked why, if he were seeki the life of the Blackfoot he should steal up behind another nm with a drawn knife; but he concluded for the present that it would be better to affect a belief of this gorge eg falsehood. ‘Tf such was your idee, Modoc, the Blackfoot is here and you may have your knife and take it out with him, for he is here, while I look on and see that you both have fair play.” As Marae heard these words he stepped forward with his knife in hand, ready and eager to settle their ‘ diffikilty ” then and there. ut such is not the style of Modoc warfare. He doesn’t wish to meet his enemy face to face. It must be under the guise of a flag of truce, and while one lies concealed in his lava- or when he can steal up behind him, as had just been at- tempted. When Flat-Nosed Billy saw the dauntless oung warrior standing before him, with his knife clasped in hand, he shook his head. 7 “Billy sick,” he said, rubbing his throat and looking very sick indeed, ‘‘he can not fight to- day. e meet Blackfoot warrior some other day and fight him with knife and gun. He go now to great chief, Captain Jack.” “Modoc,” said Nick Whiffies, speaking with impressive earnestness, “if it ever run in the iffes family to thirst for a fellow being’s blood, it isn’t in the branch that I have the honor to represent. It has fallen to.the lot of this here rifle of mine to send many of your race | to their happy hunting-grounds, but I kin trul say it was never done onless it had to be, and can’t help thinking that there’s many a time when surciety would have been more benefited, if I had aimed and pulled trigger instead of rest- ing in the holler of my arm. I never had any doubt about it, when the red-skin consarn was a Modoc, for though there ain’t more nor about‘a hundred of ’em, counting in the squaws and pap- ger yet that’s just a hundred too many, for he good of the Nor’-west. Fact, by mighty! There’s sure to be some p’ison diffikilty with ’em tell the last one is wiped out from the face of the be _‘*Flat-Nosed Billy, your name is a blamed sight more handsomer nor your face and heart is. You’re one of the most p’isonest noosances | .of a lot that are all p’ison, and it goes ag’in’ my conscience to show you mercy, when you’ye tried to sneak up behind me and stab me in the back, The rattlesnake allers sends you word afore he strikes, and once in a while you finda red-skin that does the same, but he don’t belo to the Modocs. But as I obsarved a minit don’t hanker arter your blood, so you kin go,’ The Indian s motionless while recei this scorching at the hands of the bare a when it was finished the base wretch had the effrontery to advance and offer his hand to the ae as if desirous that he should forget the via? y crime, which he had come so nigh per- petrating. 7 But Nick Whiffles recoiled and shook his head, I’ve allers tried to live in such a way that my dog there could respect as well as love me, e wouldn’t do neyther if he should see me shake hands with a Modoc, and as it is, it’ll take e time afore he’ll forgive me for dragging him away from your throat. Take my Sitio, Mo- doc, and clear out afore it’s too late.” Flat-Nosed Billy did not repeat his ping but. turned on his heel and disappeared in the wood without giving utterance to another word, CHAPTER VII. MODOC WARFARE, As the treacherous Modoc moved away, Nick Whiffles turned to his dog: “Foller him, Calamity, fur a little distance, but. don’t you tech him onless he turns to come back, and then you kin put your teeth in his throat and let ’em stick.” As_ the. sagacious dog glided away like a shadow, the trapper turned to Marunyo, with his old, quizzical smile. : “TI guess the purp won't forgit, but if he should happen to think the Modoc was medita- ting about coming back, I won’t scold him tco hard; and now, lackfoot,” he added, more seriously, “I’ve got a word with you. Tt don’t run in the Whiffles family to speak with two tongues except my uncle, the traveler, who said he found it necessary now and then in hi travels. In the first place, I want to know whether you. kngwed that p’ison Modoc was CLESEDE up behind me afore I turned round to see how he and the pup was making out ?” Marunyo started as if he had shot, as well he ae at such a pointed question. Be- fore he could reply, Nick added: “Tl allow it’s coming to a pretty sharp at to put such a question, but I may as well tell ya that there are some things about yor that don’t understand and don’t exactly like. In the first place, every time I see you you're in ed war-paint, an you have a habit of wan- ering down in the Modoc country as though yon ae on tarms with ’em. I'll allow t the way you stood up afore this sarpint, when there’s some signs of a condemned diffi- kilty atween you, showed that you’ve got the clear Lou seem a leetle amazed at the wa, talking, and mebbe you've got cause to & but it’s best that we should understand each other, and I tell you that Oregon Sol and me think about alike on such things, and I alicw that the Englishman, Persimmons, would think the same, if he had enough sense to think as deep as that, Mebbe you're all right, and meb- be you ain’t; I give you warning that if it roves that you’re true blue, I'll take off my don; butif youtry at to you and ax your par
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Beadle’s Half-Dime Library. any of the Modoc style of business, you needn’t expect the marcy he got. guess OW we un- derstand each other, and I hope there'll be no diffikilty atween us.” Marunyo stood like a carved statue during the utterance of these words. Several times he ap- peared on the point of king, but something appeared to prevent, and as silently as the as- i pa he turned about and disappeared in the gloom. ‘‘Mebbe I done him onjustice,” mused the trapper, as he found himself alone, “‘ but that’s the one onpleasant thing that belongs to the life of the hunter and the guide. I love the boy enough to wish to save him, if he has the heart of a Modoc, and the few words I said may be the means of keeping him from some deviltry that he has in mind. It has a bad look for him to stand facing me, with that Flat-Nose creep- ing Mt behind me and he never seeing him; but if ’t hear him, I'll allow that it’s possible that he didn’t see him. It may be all right, and it may not.” : As he turned to retrace his steps to camp, he ay a a faint rustling near him, and turning his head, saw his dog, that instantly took his lace at his side, It needed but a glance from bis master to learn that he had not molested the assassin. “Sorry for you,” said Nick, as the two moved off together; “it allus grieves my heart to in- terfere with your pleasure, and I know that you feel mighty arta ag but cheer up, pup, and console yourself with the thought that me be the day of reckoning is very close at hand. “There ain’t any diffikilty in this world but what there’s some way out of it; the only trouble is that we can’t allus see it. When my father had his house burned down three times he said there was some good in it, although he never was able to see exactly how it hel him along, as twice when it burned he hadn’t got it insured, and the other time the insurance perga goo! bursted up afore he could get his pay out of ’em, but the vantage then was that the insurance men made a thing of it. * A Modoc will allus act out his nature, and I male hig the promise, pup, that the next time Flat-Nosed Billy tries to play that trick onto me, [I won’t interfere atween you and hi him ‘and I hope that will satisfy you, Calamity, and don’t let me see you sulking any more over a trifle like this. “See here,” suddenly exclaimed Nick, “**we've been a little eg away from camp than we expected, and, I don’t believe there's any supper left by this time. It won’t be a bad idea for us to take a little with us any- way. It required but a few moments to draw as many fish as he needed from the stream, and stringing these upon a stick he carried them back to camp, where, as may be sup , his companions were beginning to wonder at his delay. Oregtit Sol was stretched upon the ground smoking his short clay pipe, and with his chin resting upon his hands, with his elbows jammed into the earth, and his eyes fixed upon the lowing coals, he looked as though he felt per- ectly comfortable and happy. Fitzsimmons was stretched in a lounging po- sition with his Band ch Bon! fire, Mle oh bg attentively ex ing roseope, as it still contained mysteries which he was un- able to fathom. “The wonders of science are illimitable,” ho said, as if ing to himself, but meaning that the others should hear his words. ‘ Seber and coarse-minded men may scoff and ridicule, but they are only deserving of pity, because they are incapable of comprehending all the beauties of the glorious field that spreads out wear them, and in which they may wander at will. ‘Don’t them chaps ever git in any diffikil by going south in that field, when The think they’re going north?” inquired Nick Whiffles, as he sat down and be raking the coals ory to broiling fish. e Englishman turned, and after looking with severe sternness at him for a moment, said, in his ere, op way: “Don’t meddle with things of which you know nothing. Statements from ignorant men are always pitiful and ridiculous.” “‘T didn’t make any statement, Persimmons; I only axed you a question; and I didn’t know that science made people onpolite. When you t lost in the woods, while off on a scientific frip, and axed me and Sol the way, we took pity on you and showed it to you, and saved you from starving. Howsomever, you won’t run any risk in going off for a month now, fur I s’pose it’s according to science that a barrel of fish will last a man a month, and that’s about what you’ve got under your jacket now. It’s lucky that I thought to catch a few extra ones, or I shouldn’t had any supper.” ‘*Tf you’d sent ’em on ahead you wouldn’t,” said Oregon Sol. ‘‘I was kept so busy cooking ’em that I hadn’t much chance at anything, ex- cept the bones, and when there wasn’t any- thing more left, he remarked that fish wasn’t as emeeg in these parts as he heard tell, but he guessed he had enough to stay his stomach till morning.” ‘**Do you feel anyways faint?” continued Nick Whiffles, looking toward the disgusted Britisher with an expression of great solicitude. Fitzsimmons waved them away, and made a reply which he intended to close their mouths and crush them completely. “* Tt’s a well-settled fact in science that men bcs wa large brains, Ve oe a coy much, requ a great quantity o osphorescence, such as is furnished by fish. the wonder to me is that two such gross-minded beings as you should ever feel the need of fish at As for me, I crave it constantly.” ‘* Which nobody can deny,” said Oregon Sol. “*T never see’d such a craving afore. couple of men like you would breed a famine in t North-west, if they stayed here one season.” The Englishman saw that it was useless to at- tempt to “chaff” with this wag, and so he be- stowed his peculiar attention upon the little in- strument, with its dancing needle, which he held in his hand. Nick Whiffles turned toward his companion, and, as he ate his fish, related what had oc- curred up the river, while he was absent. Oregon Sol was greatly dissatisfied with the account. He knew Nick Whit es’s many i- arities, but he did not suppose that any of them extended to the point of sparing the assassin whose arm was arrested just as he was in the act of driving the weapon home. Furthermore, he believed it was a mistake in rmitting Marunyo, the Blackfoot, to know hat he was under suspicion, as it would put him on his guard and make it the more difficult to detect him in his treachery. The trapper was unable to appreciate the charity that really prompted Nick Whiffles to do this. Hoe did not see that the notification was made with the express purpose of saving wie young warrior before he implicated him- self. However, it was done now, and Say ei Sol was enough of a philosopher to see the folly of regretting it. ‘Are you sartin that Flat-Nosed Billy or Captain Jack won’t sneak up to us during the night?” he inquired. “We'll fix it so they can’t,” was the reply. “Pll put Shagbark in one place, your animal in another, and let Calamity superintend the whole business, and if him or any other Modoe can git by them, he’s welcome to the scalp of Nick iffles, which they are his sentiments.” “ And I may as well express my sentiments,” said Oregon Sol, in a low, but earnest voice, ‘which they are that if this is gots to be your way of treating Modocs, you and ve got to part compen mighty quick.” Nick hiffles schiled ne he made reply: “That’s all right, Sol; I told the varmint that I knowed I’s i ime: of myself as well as he did, and there won’t be any more such business going on, so don’t let us bak? any more about t. had enough diffikilty in ing the other. pup out of the sulks, without bothering over you. Oregon Sol finally yielded to the imperturba- ble good nature of his old friend, and as the night was pretty well advanced, the arrange- ments were completed for turning in, The two sagacious animals were stationed as Nick Whiffies had hinted-he meant to place them, and Calamity was made to understand how great responsibility rested on his shoulders. “‘T don’t know what we'll do with him,” re- marked Nick, when these arrangements were all made and they had come back to camp. He re- ferred to the Englishman, who was stretch- ed upon the d, studyi his compass. * He’s big ’n’ugh to know how to take care of himself, but then he don’t seem to know ’n’ugh after all.” Very properly the scientific Britisher paid no attention to such ill-mannered slurs as these. He concluded that it would not pay to do so, and so he riveted his attention upon the little dancing needle before him. The trappers did not hesitate to wrap them selves up in their blankets and stretch out upon the ground, where they almost immediately sunk into deep slumber, which, unless disturbed, was certain to last until morning. The Englishman continued to find instruction and delight in the little instrument before him for an hour longer, when he began to droop, and his head sunk upon the arm; so that when midnight came all three were sound asleep, and with no human being standing guard when they had received such evidence of their enemies being in the neighborhood. At midnight the camp-fire was so low that the three figures were only dimly visible, as they lay stretched a. the ground. The trappers rested as quietly as infants, but Fitzsimmons emitted a snore that must have been audible for a hundred yards, and more, upon such a still night. It was its steady rise and fall that pre- vented its awaking the other sleepers. Thus matters stood when another figure ap- pares upon the scene in the shape of the dog alamity; who came from the wood like a shadow, with a slow, measured tread he advanc- ed to where his master lay, and thrusting down his nose, rubbed it against his face. 7 Wal, up, what is it?’ asked Nick Whiffles, arousing himself on the instant. It would be hard to explain in what particu- lar way the dog made his reply, but he did it so effectually that it was fully understood on tke instant. It may have been (and very probably such was the fact) that the act itself of arousing his master indicated that something was amiss. Nick reached over and touched the shoulder of Oregon Sol, who opened his eyes at once. ¥ ess some of the vaimint are about,” whispered Whiffles, and without another word the two crawled away in the gloom, where they rose to their feet. “ Hadn’t we better wake him?’ asked Sol, re- ferring to the Englishman. ‘“Not just yit; they must have heard him snoring as soon as they got within a mile of camp, and if he should stop all at once they’d know that we’d fourd ’em out.” Sol coincided with these views, and leavin the sleeper undisturbed, the trappers separated, taking nearly opposite directions. Calamity accompanied his master, and had gone less than a hundred feet when he paused and stood like a dog pointing game. The bos al did not speak, even in the lowest whisper, but lcoked and listened. The gloom was too great even for such keen eyes as his to penetrate, but his ears notified him that scme one was advancing directly toward him, As noiselessly as a shadow he stepped aside, and the next second a fi close enough almost to brush against him. Nick did not dis- turb him, but waiting to see whether there was any more, and finding none, followed him. He moved toward the camp-fire. ; The strange Indian advanced in the same cautious manner until he was within a few feet, when he assumed a crouching position and be- en stealing toward the form of the sleeping Seg ick Whiffles waited until there could not be a possibility of a doubt of his intenticn, when he acted promptly and effectually. A sharp crack of the rifle, and the red-skin, with a howl, fell prostrate on his face, stone dead, his outstretched arms touching the person offFitzsimmuns, who continued sleeping as sound- ly as ever. “Watch out, pup,” said Nick, as he hastily reloaded his piece, and then advancing to the camp he stirred up the fire. ‘*Nothin’ on my side of the house,” remark- ed Oregon Sol, as he came fo and both trappers leaned over and scanned the figure, by e additional light thrown out by the em- rs. * BY mighty !” exclaimed Nick, as he identi- fied the tribe of the red-skin, ‘‘it’s another Mo- doc, as sure as I’m alive. What are so many of ’em doing in this of the world?’ “‘ And it ain’t <= Jack nor Flat-Nosed Billy, neyther; but it’s one of them same var- mints, sartin sure. Where do you s’pose he’s come from?” “‘He has been sent here by them two crit- ters that went down the river in the canoe. Flat-Nosed was afeard to come himself, and so ne Tchie bien T aipose, that if he didn ellin’ him, I s e didn’t make. out to get his ienife into. you, you’d set him onto his feet and give him a chance to try in,” Nick only smiled at this thrust, for he knew he deserved it; and after scanning the features of the assassin for a few minutes longer, he re- marked: ‘Never see’d him afore; have you, Sol?’ “Yes, [remember him. He and three others
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murdered a family of settlers—man, wife and four children—near Klamath e, last sum- mer. [happened to be in that neighborhood, just then, and started in pursuit of ’em; but they all got off in the lava- , where it was no use to try and follow ’em.” pI you didn’t seen him, how do you know that he’s the animile?”’ ‘*Don’t you obsarve that scar that runs across his face from one eye to the corner of the mouth on t’other side, taking in the lower part of the nose, on its way? There’s Scar-Faced Charley, that is marked different, and this is the only one in this tribe that has such a scar. Ive heard him spoke of a good many times, as one of the worst skunks in that little tribe, that hain’t got any thing else in it but skunks, He got that hurt when he was trying, to murder a white boy, as cotched up a hatchet and gave him a wipe across the face that laid him out furatime. Wonder if there’s any more of them critters bout?” ** Guess not. I think he’s been sent here; but if there be any more, we kin depend upon Ca- lamity more nor on ourselves.” : They decided to remove the body, which was carried to the river and consigned to the rapid current, which speedily carried him beyond all human sight. This done, the trappers returned to their po- sitions by the camp-fire, where they stretched out and went to sleep as before, and seemingly forgetful of the frightful tragedy in which they had so recently acted a part. Fitzsimmons did not open his eyes until after daylight, when the others were stirring, and as they ld him nothing of what happened, he does not repent, even to this day, how it was that Nick iffles was the meansof saving him from a sudden and terrible death. At an early hour the three resumed their Sper northward, on their way to Blackfoot CHAPTER VIII. THE FUR BRIGADE. THE sun was low in the sky, on a beautiful day in summer, when a.party of hunters, tra pers and voyageurs, to the number of fifty odd, ran their half-dozen large canoes close to the shore, and springing out, began their prepara- tions for the night encampment. They were in British territory, and were on their return to Fort Alfred, having been absent from the post for several months, employed in making their tour along the Saskatchewan and tributaries, for the p of gathering in the furs and peltries that their agents had been col- lecting during the winter months. » They had secured a large and valuable collec- tion, too, most of the canoes being piled high with the soft, velvety furs, which offered the most pleasant of couches, where, at night in midsummer, the air was cool and bracing. In some of the boats there was scarcely room for the rowers, while the rich burdens bore all down in the water within a few inches of the gunwales. : On the morrow the beseth or oetaom expected to reach the fort, and this t was, as we have intimated in another place, in accordance with an ent made between Nick Whiffles and Captain Green, the leader of the Hudson Bay Brigade. The mutual pledge was given, half a year before, that on this night the company of trappers were to encamp at Blackfoot Rock, or, in case they could not make it in time, Cap- tain Green agreed to have a representative upon the spot, to receive the message of Nick hiffles and Oregon Sol, and pay them the stipulated price. M a coincidence that was remarkable, when the length of the time is conside the brigade, as they were termed, had struck the on the very Gay Cone upon, and Ca) Green was not a little pleased at the neat manner in which it had been brought about. Of the two score and a half of there was not one who did not know what his duty was, and who did not set about it at once, They Were as busy as , and it was a pleasant sight to note the perfect system that reigned over all, ile some devoted ves to the care of the boats with their Eg car- oes, guarding against an ishap of the nigh fn the way of storm, iad or thieves, prin a n cutting down and gathering fuel for the arge camp-fires that were soon kindled, and throwing out a broad, cheerful circle of light in the darkening gloom of the night. Still oth- ers could be noticed bringing cooking utensils and boxes containing the most indispensable condiments from the boats, and perfecting their arrangements for the preparation of the food Oregon Sol. 9 for the wolf-like appetites of these brawny Anaks of the North-west. Captain Green, the director and head of all this bustle and work, stood near one of the | camp-fires, watching the movements of his men, and exchanging a word now and then with a young gentleman standing beside him. The latter was the son of the commandant of Fort Alfred, and was a “city chap,” who had | come from London in the same vessel that | brought over Mr. Fitzsimmons. He had little taste for the life of the backwoods, and had de- | clared almost before he had seen the frontier | post over which his father presided, that he meant to get back to London and civilization as | speedily as possible. As several months must necessarily elapse before he could return in the supply ship of the Company, he consented to go with his friend Fitzsimmons on a tour with the brigade. At the time the scientific gen- tleman got lost, young Swoper was tempora- rily absent on a hunt, or he would have got lost _ with him Swoper was rather conceited, and treated the hunters with such undisguised contempt, that he was not —— with them, and even Cap- tain Green only endured him for the sake of his father. They had not much liking for Fitz- simmons, but he was not as offensive in his manner as the young cockney. Captain Green stood somewhat apart from the others, and he would have preferred to stand alone, but as he was about the only one who would hold any converse with Swoper, and that yo gentleman was there, he could not well afford to dismiss him. The captain had just made some response to some observation of his companions, when the latter exclaimed: “Helloa, ’ere is my friend, as sure as I’m alive, I’m dooced glad to see ’im, but who the dooce hare them beggars that he ’as with ’im?”’ eee eeree: a the leader, as he turned and recognized the men approaching. “One of them is known as Oregon San a some- what celebrated trapper, and the other is the Fae philosopher and hunter, Nick Whiffles, x tas have heard me speak of so often.” : a and ao — upeit 2: i the cockney, elevating his eye-brows surprise ; “he don't look like much of a feller.” As the trio os ype there was naturally hand-shaking around, and an exchange of courtesies between the two Londoners who had been separated for the pastfewdays. Then fol- lowed several introductions, and while Oregon Sol sauntered off to exchange greetings and re- new acquaintances with. the’ members of the brigade, and those who remained behind paired off, Fitzsimmons and Swoper, and Captain Green and Nick Whiffles, the young cockney showed considerable curiosity regarding the famous trapper philosopher, and asked nu- merous questions of Fitzsimmons about him. | He kept his ape vee him, and when he saw the captain pay hima handsome sum of money, in recognition of his services, he seemed to think it was a suitable occasion to open a conversation bab er tra; k f a so you trappers work for money, do you? Al thought you tramped the woods and shot bears and trapped beavers and halligators, and I don’t know what not, for the love of the Nick Whiffles turned about and looked steadi- ly at the hia man a moment, as if to take his measure. required but a few seconds for him to do so, when he made answer in his drawling way: ‘Bears and beavers would be easy ’nough cotched, if they was all as big fools as you are. But as there ain’t a beaver in the Nor’-west but what has more brains than you have, you see there is more work than play about it. Fact, ES Cap Green and Fitzsimmons both laughed at this rather personal reply of Nick, uttered with such an irresistible waggishness. Swoper flushed, and showed that he was angered. - stead of laughing the whole ows Song and back- ing out of such an unequal contest, he was on- ly the more eager to overthrow his antagonist. “You are doubtless unaware hof whom you're hadaneasing, sir. AI would ’ave you know that hI’m ’erbert Swoper, son hof the commandant hot Fort hAlfred.” “You be, eh?’ returned Nick, scanning him from head to foot. “Colonel Swoper is a man, every inch of him, and when you tell me you're his son, I can’t help thinking what a double shame you commit; for you derive distinction from your ancestor, as it were, and bequeath disgrace to your posterity—that is, if ha ever | have any, Which the good Lord forbid baad | snicker of his | drown it in some more origi Young Soper was compelled to hear the iends again, and he hastened to observations. The hight of his ability enabled him to ask a few questions in the way of quizzing, as he had frequently done at home among his companions. This, the resort of the weakest wits, be proceed- ed to carry out, by making his questions as ir- relevant and absurd as possible, in the hope of compelling the trapper to appear ridiculous. bi you gentlemen ’ave good appetites?” “‘Good appetites allers run in the Whiffles family, but the biggest hogs I ever see’d was the poausnmen that sometimes come over with the Hudson Bay folks, Howsumever, appetite is a good thing, which Providence ginerally gives to poor folks, so that they may like what they eat, while the rich don’t often have it, ‘cause they may eat what they like.” ‘* You are quite a remarkable phil her,” said Swoper, in mock compliment. “Such a man as you ought to travel and let the world see more of you.” Nick Whiffles shook his head. ‘The objection to that is that I'd see more fools than I would wise men. Out here in the woods, when I don’t meet one of my own race and color sometimes for days and w I i to think that there ain’t a great many fools and scamps of my own race arter all; but the minit IL approach a dozen or mee he men, ’'m sure to run ag’in one of them chaps that are like the skunks—good for nothin’ except to smell sweet and strong. No matter if it’s the brigade away up here in the Nor’-west, that fool is sure to turn up. But then [had an uncle once that was a great traveler.” “ Ah—a! ” acs did. What part of the world ae, i neon t, I d when h ** Every may say, and when he come back he wie book abut tx, There was Chi- na, now, I call to mind what he said about that.” ‘You do, eh? what did he write about that?’ “ He said it was the land of contraries. That flowers didn’t have any smell, and that female ladies didn’t wear any petticoats; the roads didn’t have any carriages, and their ships were like our canoes, without any keels; the old men fly kites, and thar compasses all p’int south, though, fur that matter, they don’t p’int north in this part of the world, as Persimmons there has found out. When a man in China gets puz- zled he never scratches his head, where if you take off your hat you insult a man, and when — want to go in mourning you put on white ““Well done,” added Fitzsimmons, enthusi- astically; ‘‘ there’s more in your head than there looks to be. You’ve come in contact before with men who have made some investigations in sci- ence and history. What you've said I can cer- tify asbeing truth.” ‘Sorry you said that,” replied Nick, ‘cause I never had any doubt of what my uncle, the traveler, writ till Peon throwed it on by what you’ve just said. I hope this other pup won’t say he agrees with me, for then I'll be sartin that some of the Whiffles family have tolda lie.” “*T guess you two gentlemen had better let Nick alone,” laughed Captain Green, who thor- oughly enjoyed the discomfiture of the two would-be wits. ‘“‘ You can’t make anything off pete oy Some the more you try the worse you ca “hI aren’t ’alf tried,” replied Swoper, pom- usly; “if Mr. Whiffles aa a man of some ucation, AI shouldn’t be afraid to measure swords with ’im; but it’s’ard to talk to a man that ’asn’t the brains to comprehend you.” ‘*Then I s’pose you allus Save an onecommon diffikilty in rae Beton, any one,” said the trap- per, “specially if he’s a man of sense. Some olks are ithe wisest when they’re asleep or “Do you hever hindulge in the luxury of dreama?™ asked Swoper, ca’ him up in- stantly. ‘‘What do you know of dreams ‘“*T don’t pretend to much book- arning,” said Whiffles, more seriously than before; “ but a man can’t come to my age, even though he spends most of his time in the woods, t Varning something. God and Nature are allus before com. and he sees ’em when his eyes are shet; they foller him everywhere, and he can’t forget ’em in his sleep. You ax me what I know "bout dreams, and I can’t say that I know much, ‘eause nobody does; but my dreams are mostl leasant, which I fear yours ain't, ‘cause it es a on and a clear conscience to make ’em so. Dreams are the visions we are awake to when we're asleep. They’re the life of death; the — that the blind see; . the sounds that the deaf hear; the language
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Beadle’s HalfDime Library. of the dumb; and to me they’re dim gs of what is to come in that sleep which knows no waking. I’ve read somewhere that sleep was the twin brother of death—” “What do you mean by a twin brother?” was the exceedingly silly question of Swoper, in- tended to cast ridicule upon the ‘‘old man elo- quent.” ‘Tf your mother had been so unfortinit as to have a natural born fool, at the same time you come into the world, you and him would have been twin brothers, and the other one would have had the mostsense. And now, young man, let me give you a word of advice; you never will amount to much, and it ain’t your fault, cause it wasn’t born in yous you're one of them chaps that thinks it’s a disgrace to work. and I don’t doubt despise your own parents ’cause they doit. Idleness is the hardest work for them that ain’t used to it, and dull work to them that are. It’s a disease that soon eats into the heart, and corrodes your heart while it digs under your health. Depend upon it, that nothing is so hard to do, as to do nothing. Men years in working for the time when they needn’t work and then find that. the hardest work of all, and —but what’s the use in talking to a man that can’t understand?” And Nick Whiffles deliberately turned his back upon the two Englishmen, and a confidential conversation with Captain reen, as though his disgust was too great to permit him to look upon them even. They sauntered away arm in arm, as though they were the victors instead of the vanquished, though there can be but little doubt. that they were greatly relieved to escape the scathing they were receiving at the hands of Nick Whiffles. - CHAPTER IX. THE FIRST TRAMP. EARLY in the morning the brigade had eaten their breakfast, and were ready to start on their return to Fort Alfred. Captain Green was de- sirous of securing the services of Nick Whiffles and O nm Sol for the Hudson Bay Company, but the former shook his head. “Pye got a little private business of my own to look arter. If nothing pertickler comes up in the summer and fall—that is if I don’t run across any condemned diffikilties that I have to straighten out, Pl. turn in with you and try another season.” None knew better than Captain Green that it was useless to attempt to change the mind of Nick, and so he urged him no further, but bid- ing the two trappers good-by, told them that he should count with a t deal of confidence upon seeing them at the fort before a year should have elapsed. As the canoes pulled away up-stream, Nick and Sol stood upon the shore waving theix good- by. They were especially affectionate in their de- monstrations toward Swoper and Fitzsimmons, who had sense enough to forget the rough treat- ment they had received at the hands of the phi- losopher of the woods, and they returned the i iil the old fellow to be a brick r all. And so the parties separated. When the brigade bad passed the curve inthe river and was fairly out of sight, Nick turned about, and the two walked to where their horses were cropping the grass. Here they stood be- side them for some minutes debating as to their future movements. “T told the Blackfoot to meet me here this morning,” said Nick Whiffles, ‘‘and he hasn’t kept his ent as well as Captain Green and the rest of the men done.” ‘‘Mebbe he won’t come at all,” replied Oregon Sol, who had received the full particulars of the last interview between Marunyo and his friend. ‘‘ When a red-skin gits his up in that style, he’s apt to show it, and like enough we'll never see the red-skin ag’in.” ‘“That might be,” replied Nick, ‘if he was a inooine Injun; but it’s the condemned diffikilty far me to think all the time that he’s one of the true blue. There’s something in his ways that looks too much like a white man’s.” : Oregon Sol’s face wore a serious expression, He was silent a moment, and then looking up, he said: “Nick, ’ve never heard you that way afore. Vve had sech thoughts, but I never let ’em out cause they seemed so foolish like, but thar’s something else *bout Marunyo that works me more nor his looks do,” “‘ What's that?” inquired Whiffles, with no lit- tle curiosity. ' ‘‘ Sometimes, when he’s speaking, there’s some- _ thing that comes over me, as though I had heard that voice before. Dve had the feeling a good / many times, and it bothers me a deal, fur I can’t figure out where it was that I heerd that voice, nor how it is that it strikes me that way. Does it ever act the same with you?” Nick shook his head. “Never; I’ve had my doubts ’bout his being a reg’lar varmint, and Pve got’em yit, but I’ve never had a s’picion that I’ve ever see’d’im afore the time we run ag’in’’im, a couple of years ago. ‘“*T wish I could feel the same way,” said Ore- gon Sol, as if speaking to himself, ‘‘fur it’s one of them bo that sometimes keeps me from bene a at all. How long are you going to wait ere ‘We'll hold on a little while longer, and then, if we don’t see nothin’ of him we'll head south and leave word for him to foller. Calamity, I wish you’d go over on Blackfoot Rock and see whether the young man is in sight. You’ve been up there before and know the way.” The large shaggy dog that was sitting at his master’s feet, licking his chops, and patiently awaiting their decision, arose, eo about, and trotted toward the river. There was a solemni- ty in his movement and action, that proved that he was a canine little given to trifling, and with- out any evidence of the waggish disposition that was such a prominent characteristic of his master. Into the river went the dog, and dled as straight for the opposite shore, as if he was fol- lowing a ferry line that was stretched over his head. As he walked out upon the land he paused only long enough to shake his shaggy hide, when he disappeared behind the huge mass of rock tow to such a great hight. ‘Can he get to the ”” asked Oregon Sol, who had been attentively watching the move- ments of the sagacious creature. “You heerd me tell Captain Green how many times I have been up there myself,” said Nick, in reply. ‘‘ Well, every time I went up the pup went with me, and I guess he’s old ’nough to go it alone.” It was no light task for any one, man or ani- mal, to clamber to the top of Blackfoot Roc but the trapper never felt the least doubt abou the success of his favorite. Several minutes passed, and while they stood discussing the many excellences of Calamity a faint bark was heard, far up in the air, an looking up they saw the diminutive fi of the dog on the highest point of ‘Blackfoot Rock. At such a distance, he a scareely larger than a fly, but there could be no mistake about his identity. The creature retained his position perhaps ten minutes, during which he gave out his short, iar bark, some half-dozen times. ‘That means that he sees something,” said Nick, who understood the meaning of d as well as if he possessed the gift of speech. ‘ guess the B. oot isn’t fur away.” Shortly after, Calamity was seen breastin the current again, and, as he came out, an gave his hide a shake that sent the water and spray flying in every direction, Nick Whiffles put to him a series of questions, as searching as if the dog were submitting to a cross-examina- tion upon the witness stand. _ “ Marunyo is close by,” said the trapper, look- ing about, as if he e him to show himself at once; ‘‘ the pup has seen him, and we sha’n’t navtPhat’s the fact,” said Oregon Sol, ‘ 's the fae i ‘for there hen = selene ful figure e handsome, grace of the Black- foot emerged from the woods at this juncture, and he advanced straight to them, making a kind of military salute, to the two trappers. “Well, Marunyo, we came near giving you up,” said Nick Whiffles, as he took his d. ‘** We've been here all night, and was just talk- rb cana going away, when you showed your- self. he wr a has been a good many miles,” re- plied the Blackfoot, vLugneke of explanation, ‘and he has Lot shut eyes for a long time that he might meet his brothers.” This did not look as though he was very deep- ly offended at the plain words that had been ken to him by Nick, and the latter, with teristic good sense, determined to make no reference to it. “Wal, my son, the next question is whether all this tramping that you’ve been te us bout has done you any good. Have you l’arn- ed any ye the two females that Captain Jack and Flat-Nosed Billy took away with ’em in the canoe?” The black eyes of the young Indian flashed, as he made answer: ‘“Marunyo has followed them as the hound follows the deer. He has found the place where the Droopin Lily weeps.” ‘‘That’s the kind of talk that amounts to something. I s’pose the old lady is with the Drooping Lily?” Marunyo nodded in the affirmative. “*T obsarve that it’s the young gal that you speak bout, as though her mother wasn’t of much account. Don’t you forgit, yo man, that if that gal is the right kind of ile in calico she thinks a good deal of her mother, and it won’t do fur you to furgit all "bout the old lady when you're courting the young one.” arunyo showed considerable confusion at the pointed references of the trapper—but he made no allusion to them. He was too much occupied ten then with the question of the rescue of the ladies from the power of the murderous- minded Modocs. ‘“*Will the hunters go with me to save the Drooping Lily?’ ‘‘ And her mother, too,” added Nick, in his comical way. “You nod your head that you mean her—but it’s time you begun practicing in the way of showing some thought of her, even if you haven’t got it.” ick turned to Sol, as if he wished him to an- swer the question of the young Blackfoot. The former stood back a little, with his arms folded, and looking fixedly at the young man, as if studying his countenance and listening to his voice. When appealed to in this manner, he did not speak, but nodded his head to signify that he was willing tc do whatever his companion wish- ed him to do, and Nick Whiffles took upon him- self to reply for both. Laying his hand upon the shoulder of Ma- a he fixed his keen gray eyes upon him, and said: “Blackfoot, we’re going to trust xen: and when I say we, I mean the pup and Shagbark the pony, not to mention Oregon Sol. If you talk with two tongues, we'll diskiver it in time to put you in such a condemned p’ison diffikilty that you’ll never tramp the woods ag’in nor think you hear the voice of Droopin y sing- ing to you, when you’re looking at the stars. e’ve waited here on pu to meet you, and we are going to do what we can to git them females out of diffikilty, It’s airly in the day and if you feel like travelin’, go ahead, and we il foller.’ The war- t that covered the face of the Blackfoot could not conceal the expression of delight that came over it when he heard these words from Nick Whiffles, and saw from the manner of the two trappers that they were as ready as he to start on the expedition. Marunyo was without any animal of his own, and he needed none. Young and active, almos tireless in muscle and wind, he could travel as far, at a moderate speed, as the best horse that he could ride. As he moved away the hunters mounted their animals and followed after him in Indian file. Calamity took his place directly in front of Shagbark, the pony, and a few feet in the rear of the Blackfoot. “By this means he could give his master timely warning of any danger that the red-skin might lead them into, and Nick un- derstood the sagacious animal well enough to know that he would do it, as surely as if a hu- man being himself. Oregon Sol kept a rod or so in the rear, and an ordinary observer would have supposed it was on account of timidity; but Nick knew bet- ter. He was well aware that his old compan- ion was in one of his moods, and he respected his feelings ae a at such a time to make no attempt to disturb him. If Nick Whiffies could be waggish and humor- ous at times, he could be considerate also. He never willingly injured a person’s feelings, and in quizzing a person he did it in such a way that he could take no offense, unless, indeed, the other first attacked him, as was the case with Swoper, the Englishman, when the old trapper was as severe as any one could wish. He had learned, during his companionship with Oregon Sol, that the latter, like most peo- ple, had his secret sorrow. He had suffered a low in his éarly manhood, which had been the real means of his taking to the woods. Precise- ly what it was Nick could not tell, for he had never asked; but he needed no telling that it was the cause of these spells of absent-minded- ness, and moroseness, that came over his friend. At such times Nick generally left him alone. He felt enough sorrow and me thy for him to make proper allowances for hi change of mood, and he did not add to it by any unseemly jest or resentment upon his part. If the Blackfoot had iravelod so many miles a
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Oregon Sol. il during the days and nights passed—and Nick Whiftles did not doubt in the least that he had done so—he showed no signs of it, as he led the way with a free, bold step, apparently as fresh and vigorous as if he merely started out this fine summer morning for the purpose of stretching his legs. The trapper had seen thousands of Indians and some of the finest imens of mankind probably that ever lived, yet he was certain that he never beheld greater perfection of form, and grace of movement than was in Marunyo, who strode along before, seemingly unconscious of his beauty, power, and wonderful reserve of strength. “Tt seems onpossible that such a good-lookin; fellow as thatcan be a villain,” muttered Nic to himself; ‘“‘and yet that don’t make tio dif- ference, for here is me, the best-looking mem- ber of the Whiffles family, when I was young I was one of the worst boys in the kentry, though I’ve got over it now and am just t’/other way.’ After following a southern direction for many hours, Marunyo turned more to, the east, where the way was rougher and their progress was more cult. In some places it required con- siderable skill on the part of the horses to pick their way along the rocks and through the gorges and ravines. ‘ But the Blackfoot appeared never to hesitate or to be at a loss for the proper course to pursue. He led the way as though he had spent his life among the mountains and knew every step of the way. F f ’ '» “T s*pected he would aim for this neighbor- hood,” said Nick, who, having no one to whom he might talk, spent the time in talking to him- self. ‘‘Captain Jack knows this part of the country well enough to know where to hide his jewels. I s’pect that old sinner has stowed them rals away here, where he means to keep ’em till he kin get a big ransom for’em. That old dog is as smart as he is devilish.” As the day advanced Nick Whiffles proffered to Marunyo the use of his horse and urged upon him to ride awhile, but the Indian would not consent, and they continued plodding along un- til the day was nearly ended. . At night they encamped in one of the wildest places of the Teche sa walled in on every side by pee and broken eA that in scarcely any direction was it possible to gain a view of more than a hi yards. Nick Whiffles had been in this section but once before, and that was at least a dozen years previ- ous, so that, although he retained a general knowledge of its characteristics, yet, as he de- clared, he felt more like a stranger than he had felt for a long time. ‘‘ But,” said the Blackfoot, “we are now within a mile of where the Droopi ig Lily and her mother sigh and weep and pray for the coming of their friends.” CHAPTER X. AMONG THE MOUNTAINS. Nick WHIFFLES, understanding the nature of the business upon which they were engaged, had rovided himself and the others h a good unch at the hands of the brigade before they left Blackfoot Rock. This obviated all neces- sity of firing a gun, for some time at least to come, while they were in proximity to their foes. Silence and caution were the most im- portant requisites toward success just now, and the three men realized the truth to its fullest ex- tent. Marunyo proposed, as they came to a halt, that the ee not kindlea fre: but both Nick and Sol such a for encamping in the darkness, that they searched out a sheltered nook under the rocks, which was seeby tn0t of a cavern than anything else, and here they kindled a small fire, whic enabled them to see each other’s pe and Be pave en under- standingly of the position in whi ‘airsstood. Whiftles had heen from the remarks of the Blackfoot that he knew Pearly where the prison place of the captives was; but upon close inguiry he found that such was not the case. e had followed Captain Jack, and Flat-Nosed Billy to this section, but had lost them, and with all the skill at his command could not tell whither they had gone, or where they had been orevious to their departure for home again, dur- which the attempt upon the life of Nick Whi ee was made; but, SPREE that the spot he was seeking was somewhere in neighborhood, he had made a careful search without any success except to discover that when Captain Jack and his companion left, others remained behind to take their places. They were among the mountains somewhere, | and were doubtless guarding these women with the test care. “That's it,” said Nick, when he had drawn all these particulars from the Blackfoot. ‘‘ Ca tain Jack has got so much deviltry on his han that he has gone to tend to it, and has left two or three Modocs here to stand guard over the gals till he is ready to visit ’em ag’in. I say, Marunyo, do you know the name of these ec? % h it repl ‘* De Long,” was the prompt reply. “Old acquaintances of yee That is, did you know ’em afore they got into this little diffikilty ?” The answer to this was equally as ready: ‘Captain De Long is rich man; his home is in Frisco; he is fine man. He brings his wife and daughter in Oregon to see their triends; they stay here when the weather is warm in summer time; they go fishing; they hunt. Marunyo sometimes go with them. He goes off to start them a deer, and comes back and they are gone. Captain J ack has stolen them; he takes them far away in the mountains, where he hides them. en he will send word to Captain De pine he can have wife and Droop Lily for big sum of money; he wait a casita: and if captain not send the money, then he kill them.” ** And if he can git hold of the money before he lets go the gals, he’ll kill ’em then, too. He will, by mighty! That’s the Modoc of it; so the safest plan is for us to git them away while he is gone. R So I think,” said the Blackfoot, eagerly. ‘What think you?”—to Oregon Sol. The latter was leaning upon his elbow, smok- ing his pipe, and had rallied from the gloomy reverie into which he had fallen. He nodded paced in acquiescence, and removing his pipe, ‘* Seems to be sartin that the critters are some- whar in this part of the world. With the help of the pup there we kin soon find out to-morrer, and then we'll sail in.” Nick Whiffles shook his head, as if he was not exactly suited with the reply. “‘Tt won’t do to go into that kind of business Sol,” he said; ‘it would make a condemned diffikilty, When one of the red varmints finds he can’t keep his prisoners, then he puts his tom- ahawk into thar skulls, and 1 reckon Marunyo here ain’t trying to get Drooping Lily, unless she’s got some breath in her body. ; _ The Blackfoot shuddered at_ the bare sugges- tion, while his fine dark eyes flashed. “Tt must not be; it must not be.” ‘“‘That’s my. opinion, Sol, and. yours, too, as you come to think over it.” “Of course,” returned the trapper. “ How many of the varmints do you s'pose there is keeping watch over the 4 “Two or three, I should think. We've got to get ’em away, or manage to steal on ’em so sly like that they won’t get a chance to kill ’em. It’s likely if they don’t ’spect some of us are about, they’ll scatter, and while one or two hang round the gals, the others will be off on a hunt or fish; that’s the way we want thi fixed, and we'll be a set of the cussedest fools if we don’t Po this little business through in the ight kind of style.” _“* We'll be gi Ae have some trouble in get- ting em down to Fr’isco; for you see it’s a long way from here, and we shall have the Modoes arter us all the way.” “That'll be the easiest part of the business; for I think when Oregon Sol and .Nick Whiffles aati the woods ey are at home, and if I can’t t row a pack of Modocs off the trail, if I’ve ’n’ugh start to git out of their sight fur half an hour, then I’ll commit suicide for grief, as an aunt of mine did when she met an ancient lady at a party who was able t6 drink three more cups of tea than she was, and that was better posted in the gossip of the neighbor- hood.” seei out that it’s likely some of us has follered. ‘im to this parent *‘I don’t believe the captain will, ’cause he never likes to be away from the main body of his tribe for a time; but it’s very likely that Flat-Nosed Billy isn’t many miles away from ase Captain J; course, sence Captain Jack has found out that this pertik’ler devil of his is sartin to re ——— na wet ara jist the aares 's going to send along to look out for us. He’ be a fool if he didn’t.” . “‘Rasy, now,” replied Nick Whiffles, with a erin and a deprecatory wave of the hand. “That ere little episode is buried in the vister of the past, as the poets say. Don’t fotch it up agin until arter this business is settled.” Oregon Sol understood the meaning of this hint, and perhaps it was this, or it may have been the recollection that Nick himself had been considerate toward him when he was in no hu- mor for jesting, that caused him to desist from chaffing his friend when sucha good opening was given. As it was, they settled down into a more seri- ous discussion of the prospects, and they per- fected all their arrangements for the morrow. It was agreed that at daybreak they should separate, and spend the entire day in reconnoi- tering through the mountains, unless they should sooner succeed in effecting their object. As it was believed to be more than likely that either the hiding-place would be discovered or some of the Modocs encountered, a system of si was agreed upon, which they were confident could be employ ed without their meaning being suspected by the red-skins. Above things, it was important that the presence of the three men in the mountains should not become known to the Indians. It was understood by each that, in case any unto- ward accident should reveal their presence to one of these devils, that same personage was to be wiped out without the least ceremony, ~- on the well-established adage that dead men te = this ti th dog Calamit i is conversation, the dog amity lay stretched near the fire, with his nose between his feet, and ap nay sound asleep; but all knew that he unde very nearly as well as they the important matter which they were dis- cussing. As proof of this, when Sol proposed to send the canine out on his own hook to prosecute the search for the Modoe hiding-place, the pup raised his head and looked at the er With an ex- pression that seemed as intelligent as thatof any person. ? Nick was inclined to adopt the plan when it was first suggested, but he afterward concluded to let him‘keep company with him. It was un- derstood that, if no important discovery were made, they were all to meet in the present place at nightfall; while, if any one should gain the intelligence that all were seeking, he was to summon. m3 Pi around him by one of the many si a upon. Thus matters were oun until a late hour, when all three turned in for the night. The fire was nearly out, and Calamity stretched himself in front of them, while the two horses were ing so close at hand that none of the sleep- any fear of being disturbed during the their enemies. e men were unusually tired, and they slept heavily, The sagacious dog seemed to un- derstand their condition, for he was restless and watchful. Could he have been seen in the dark- ness, it would have been noticed that he fre- quency raised his head and snuffed the air, as ough he scented some sort of danger which he did not precisely understand. : Then, after lying motionless for a few min- utes, seemingly asleep, he would suddenly start wikten ‘esnenl th emanate ane w aroun ee seve es, he would come back and lie down again. As yet no alarm had come from the two horses, that had ceased grazing, and were both reposing upon the ground, and Calamity, like his master, appeared to rely in some degree on a sagacity, to aid him in his duties as senti- nel. Thus matters went on until t midnight, when Shagbark gave out the slightest possible sound. It was not a neigh, nor a whinny, but spemaert.50 pene wees made by the motion of one of his hoofs, as he lay upon the groun . Slight as it was, it caught the ear of Calami- ty, a was on his feet as quick as a flash. In- stead of alarming the three men over whom he was standing guard, he whisked out in the dark- ness toward the spot where the two horses were stretched. ; 4 5 eee There was a certain friendly familiarity Te tween these two dumb servants of Nick - fles. As Calamity came up, he rubbed his nose inst the long head of Shagbark, who bent his nose down as if to invite it. Thus they remained for several minutes, com- amunicating with each other in that lan of their own which is so readily. od by each other, but which is a “sealed book,” and will probably always remain such, to the great- est human linguist. ‘ When this sort of billing and cooing had con- tinued some minutes, the dog turned about and walked away in the darkness, taking a direction ers night b
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12 Beadle’s Half-Dime Library. different from that leading to the spot where his three friends were sleeping. After his de- parture, all remained silent for several minutes, and then was heard a sudden fierce struggle, as if two animals had grasped in a deadly embrace and were rolling over and over among the stones and leaves, Once or twice a low growl, as if made by Calamity, might have been heard; and then all was still. ). Only a few seconds did this strange, savage fight continue, when the dog emerged from the dense darkness, entered the cavern, and resum- ed his place as sentinel. All this was done so quietly, that not one of the three men stirred in his sleep, or gave evidence of the slightest dis- turbance. e dog lay with his nose resting on his pony apparently in as deep slumber as any of them, but he was alive to the responsibility that rested upon him, and he had already proven how keen the vigilance was which he maintained in this lonely but dangerous region. The three men sorely needed such refreshing sleep as this, and the two horses reposing so quietly upon the ground were scarcely less fa- tigued, so that it was a fortunate thing for all that, as the hours of the night wore away, they suffered no further disturbance, and it was not until the morning sun sent its rays into the ravine, in front of their quarters that: they open- ed their eyes, and ro from their slumber. Nick Whiffles’s knowledge of his dog Calamity was so intimat® and perfect that he knew the instant he cast his eyes upon him, that something unusual had occurred during the night, and he de- manded of him what it was. The canine, by way of reply, led him a hundred yards, beside a mass of rocks and stones, where was stretched the lifeless figure of a Modoc. ‘“What I ’spected,” said the hunter, to his faithful ani ; “it?s been some of them var- mints that has happened down in these parts, and seeing our light has stole up to find out what mischief there was about. ou knowed we was tired and didn’t want to ’sturb us, so you oe him out yourself. Wal, it was very clever us, pup, though it wasn’t quite so clever to the varmint, as he would testify, if he had the chance, and I hope it’s done you some = I’ve noticed you’ve been sulkin’ for the ast day or two, on account of the condemned fool I made of myself in letting off Flat-Nosed Billy when you had him foul, but,” continued the trapper, as seriously as if he were pleading is own case in court, ‘I explained the whole thing to you, and wanted that to be the end of it. now, Pup, how do you waut it*to be?” Calamity frisked around in such a way that there could be no mistake about his good nature and his master smiled in a fashion which showed that he was fully as much pleased. “‘ That makes things square, then,” he added, as they began retracing their steps toward the cavern, or rather, camp; ‘‘no more sulking, pup, *cause you know T’ve told you afore of the ter- rible fate of one of the iffles family, that got so deep into the sulks that they had to hitch a couple of hosses to him to pull him out. Fact, by mighty!” When the little had assembled in their cavern retreat, and Nick Whiffles had told the doings of Calamity, it was decided to send him out on a little scout of his own, while the rest were engaged with their morning lunch. He could easily ascertain whether they were under surveillance or not, and it was all-important that the matter should be settled on the spot. The dog was gone scarcely half an hour, when he trotted to view in, his actions and manner showing that he had found ‘‘ the coast clear.” Nothing now remained to do except to set about the work that had brought them thither. No better place could be found for their horses, and they were left where they were, while the three men moved out upon their stealthy search, se ting immediately and moving with such oderiby that in tie space of three minutes all were lost to ight of each other. We leave and Oregon Sol for the resent, and follow Nick Whiffles and his dog Calamity as fortune had willed that they were ‘to open the curious events that were so soon to transpire. It may be said that each of the three devoted himself with all the energy and skill at his com- mand to finding out where among the moun- tains around them the captives were hid, for by this time they had all settled down to the con- viction that it was somewhere close at hand. Neither Marunyo nor Oregon Sol were in the best condition possible to prosecute his peculiar work. The former was so nervous over the certainty that he felt at being so near the ob- ject of his love, and the latter was so “ fluster- ed” at some strange thoughts that had begun to agitate him, that they were not likely to do themselves justice in the emergency that was likely to come upon them at any moment. And so it was fortunate that it came to the lot of Nick Whitfies, who was as cool and col- lected as he er was, to unravel some of the mystery by which he was surrounded. Nick, assisted by Calamity, spent many hours in the search, but when noon came and passed, neither dog nor master had made the slightest advance toward the discovery which all three were so anxious to make. Nick had not forgotten the system of signals that had been agreed upon, and now and then he communicated with yo and Oregon Sol, but from neither came any message denoting progress. Thus matters stood, and the afternoon was pretty well advanced, when Nick suddenly de- seried upon the rocks above him a small ante- lope that seemed to have paused and stood gazing into the depths below, without noticing es and dog who had fixed their eyes up- on him. Nick was debating whether it would be pru- dent for him to risk a shot, when he caught the faint sound of a gun, and he saw the animal make a sudden desperate leap, falling lifeless to the ground almost at his very feet! CHAPTER XI. A SUDDEN DISAPPEARANCE, THE instant the antelope fell, a crushed and shapeless mass, to the bottom of the ravine, Nick Whiffles stepped back, concealed himself, and waited and watched. He was not kept long in waiting, when he descried the Indian making his way among the rocks until he feached tha place where the creature lay, over which he stooped and be- gan cutting some, select portions to take away with him. ““He’s a Modoc,” said Whiffles to himself; ‘fand one of the very dogs I’m looking for. We'll foller him, pup.” This was a matter of considerable difficulty ; but the trapper was accustomed to such work, and he set about it with all the skill of which he was master. It was really Calamity himself that was the pursuer, Nick sending him ahead while he followed and kept himself out of sight of the Modoc, who would be much less likely to notice a quadruped than a biped. The route led up among the wildest fastnesses of the mountains, and Nick was beginning to mutter to himself, and wonder whether he was going up among the clowds to find his friends, when the dog stopped with a low, al- most inaudible whine. “*Tt’s there, is it?’ he exclaimed, looking about, and unable to see the Modoc, or any thing re- sembling a retreat or hiding-place. He was near the highest portion of the moun- tains, with rocks and crags and stunted pines all around him; but, if there was any place in which a man could hide, he was determined to “root” it out. The trapper had formed the conclusion, with- out any tangible ground to base it upon, that there were no more than three Modocs that had been left in charge of the captives by Captain : ack, —_ since the Ts sone of ne tamer uring the preceding ere e but $0; ahaa Mat Need Bill had returned. It followed, therefore, that if the guard could be eee in a regular fight, there was no reason why they should hesitate to attack them; but it was like assailing a party within the walls of a fort, where every advantage. was in their favor. In case the Modocs were driven to the wall, there was no question but what they would turn upon the females and put them to a horrible death. The object of Nic Whiffles, as @ consequence, was to get in the “rear” of the red-skins, or between them and the cap- ph and prevent any such terrible coup d’etat as this. ‘Where is the spot that that varmint disap- peared?’ he as of the dog, after both had stood several minutes, and the master was still ss to locate the vanishing-point of the red- skin. The dog replied in the most intelligible lan- guage at command. His nose was ted as rigidly as a ramrod toward the broken rocks that rose beyond and above them, and he gave out a low whine to signify that he was pointing at the very spot where the man had been last seen, “Tl be skulped if there ain’t another con- demned diffikilty,” growled the impatient tra yo “This must be the place where my uncle ound his real estate located among the clouds.” The only conclusion that he could come to was that the Modoc had clambered up oes the rocks and gone on beyond and_behinc them; but if such were the case, the action of Calamity was altogether out of keeping with the sagacity which he was accustomed to dis- lay. : Nick Whiffles scratched his head and looked at the dog, and then looked at the rocks and didn’t know how to explain it. : ‘‘ That’s jist the place for one of them critters to lay flat down on his belly and pick off a gentleman like me as he undertakes to walk in a a fashion,.and Ill be condemed if I want to try it. Why don’t you moye on, ul ?” d But the dog refused to budge an inch, and growing impatient at the passage of time, and the failure to accomplish anything, Nick cocked his rifle and moved cautiously forward. He literally felt every step of the way, keep- ing all his senses on the alert, for he realized, as fully as could any one, to what personal danger he was e é Scarcely twen ards of comparatively level surface’ remaine tween him and the spot where the massive rocks were tumbled upon each other in the wildest confusion, and Nick Whiffles had advanced three-fourths of the way across this without detecting anything un- usual, except that the dog Calamity seemed to be very uneasy. OTS z= He had remained standing like a pointer until his master had passed a few feet beyond, when he followed, but with such a hesitating step, and such manifest disapproval, that Nick’s con- science caused him to turn round more than once and debate within himself whether he ought not to turn back altogether, and seek some sheltered spot where he could sudy out the field more at his own leisure. He felt that the only reason his faithful friend changed his position was to keep him company, and protect him, if possible, from the peril that was increasing every moment. or m making a fool of myself,” he thiduglit as he stood motionless a moment, and then started forward in, ‘but there allus had to be someone in the Whiffles family to make a fool of himself for the benefit of t’other ones, and I may as well be one for the benefit of m _ He was still moving about, And carefully ad- vancing toward the rocks, when he suddenly pa upon vacancy and disappeared like a ash. Nick Whiffles fell a distance of about twenty feet into blank darkness, oak tah upon his feet and receiving a severe shock. @ was con- fused for an instant, but his shrewd intellect told him that in moving about and looking up- ward he had stepped into an opening, of which he had no suspicion, and which must have been used by the Modoc in going to and coming from his retreat in the moun With the trapper’s extensive now lace, of the ways and devilments of the Indians, it never occurred to him that the Indian had disappeared into the ground instead of above it. k Rallying his senses, he looked about in the darkness in the effort to gain some idea of where he was, Looking upward he could see the ir- regular opening over his head, through which he had just fallen, with the dog, C ty, peer- ing down in the gloom upon him, as if inquir- ing how his master had made out. ‘Oh, I’m here, pup,’ he said, in a voice = loud enough to be heard by the brute, “and I’m shook up a considerable, but it’s allthe same. I ess you'd better come down here with me, fur f think I shall need your help to get out of this condemned diffikilty.” He had scarcely said the words, when down came the dog, narrowly missing striking him upon the head and shoulders. Master and dog now being together, there was need of all the wits at their command, a fact which was fully understood by both. The trouble was that as they stood upon the hard, flat surface of the rock, they could not catch the slightest glimpse of any thing like daylight, in any direction, except by looking upward at the hole through which both had de- scended, but through which it was impossible to make their way again without outside assis- ce, “'That’s what [call a rather onhandy style of stairs,” said Nick Whiffles. ‘Twenty eet down at one step is inconvenient to persons with a weak constitution. It makes me think of the cellar stairs an uncle of mine once made. It was quite that style, and he said, when explain- ing it, that it would keep people from running down thar too often, and he wouldn’t have so +
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mw a mn ie Oregon Sol. much pie stolen. When his wife had to go down it didn’t take her long, but it was onhandy bout pulling her up, as they had tolet down a hook and rope, and fasten it in her back hair ; but come, let us l’arn something instead of foolin away our time.” It was very certain that whoever spent their time in those underground quarters did not re- main around the opening, and Nick and Calam- ity began moving forward, groping their way along with great caution. By stretching out his arms, the trapper found that he was following a passage some six or eight feet in width; but, as it extended in both directions, it was uncertain whether he was going toward or from the point he wished to reach. Unaware of what pitfalls might be in front, he let Calamity take the lead, knowing that the instinct of the brute was far more reliable in a case like this than the reason of man. Perhaps fifty feet had been d in this manner, when a slight sound reached the ears of Nick that seemed ike the mono of Salers: J ny as it instantly ceased again, he suspec i was the voice of persons talking. He stood for several minutes listening, but not hearing it, he moved forward. By this time, he was out of sight of the opening, and look in whichever direction he chose, it was black, starless night. A short distance further~the dog uttered. a faint whine, as an indication that he had dis- covered something. Nothing, however, could be seen, and the twain. moved forward again for a few steps, when a faint lighting up showed they were approaching some sort of opening. “"T guess we're going to l’arti something,” said Nick to his dog, as he felt that he was upon the eve of making some important discovery. The light continued to increase as they cauti- ously advanced, and by-and-by he! detected the glimmer of something like a fire, but he could not make certain what it was until he had pene- trated some distance further, when he saw that a small wood fire was burning at one side of the cavern. Such being the case, was proof that those who had kindled it were not far away, though Nick for a time was unable to discoyer them. Still advancing with the silence and stealth of shadows, with his eyes and ears as wide open as they co be, the was seen to flash up sud- denly, as though some one had thrown additional fuel upon it. At this increased illumination, two were instantly revealed—the figures of two wo- men—Mrs. De Long and her daughter Juliette— those for whom Marunyo and the trappers were searching. They were strangers to Nick Whiffles, he hav- ing never set eyes them before, but the cir- ces under which he saw them could leave no doubt of their identity, and as he look- ed upon the beautiful face of the younger as re- vealed by the firelight, he could not wonder that Marunyo had fallen so hopelessly in love that he was willing to risk his life a hundred times over, for the sake of rescuing her from her dreadful captivity. 2h It was Juliette who had stirred the smoldering embers, and thrown some other sticks upon them, and the flame showed that the place where she and her mother stood was an expansion of the into something like a room, which had been fitted up as a sort of Indian lodge. The first effort of Nick, after recognizing the two, was to ascertain whether any other In- dians were in the vicinity. Looking hither and ron, he could see nothing of them, although that was no reason for se a they were not in the immediate neigh c ; After stirring and replenishing the fire,in the manner mentioned, Juliette sat down beside her mother, upon a flat stone, and he could hear the murmur of their voices, although unable to dis- tinguish a word. ick Whiffles, wrapped in impenetrable dark- ness, stood for fully fifteen minutes looking upon the two, and endeavoring to make certain whether he could open communication with them without giving the alarm to their jailer at the same time. He knew that one of these Modocs had gone ' down the opening a few minutes in advance of him, and the question was as to what had be- come of him, Finally Nick concluded to make an attempt to apprise them of his presence, and his desire to help them out of their “‘condemned diffikilty.” He therefore moved forward until he was with- in a dozen yards, and just beyond their sight, when he paused. At this very instant one of the burning fagots fell forward® and made a sudden increase of light, by the aid of which both mother and daughter caught sight of the hunter and his dog standing near them. Nick moved a few dace further back, where there was no possibility of his being seen, and Juliette gave a slight scream at sight of the | had scarcely done so, when the Modoc, who had stranger, and the trapper, fearful that their fright might defeat every measure looking to | their rescue, called out in a cautious under- | Calamity. yer, and ax you if you wouldn’t like to take a promenade out of this condemned diffikilty, and go back to your home ag’in.” There could be no mistake about the friendli- ness of that voice and person, and both mother and daughter were ready to leap for joy at the knowledge that some one had come to their rescue, even though that person was a stranger to them. . Before they could more than realize the dis- position of the trapper, the latter asked them, in the same guarded voice: “* Are there any red-skins close by?” **No,” answered Mrs. De Long; ‘‘you need not be afraid to come forward.” ““T ain’t exactly afeared of ’em except on your account. Me and Calamity kin generally man- age to take care of ourselves among the var- mints! but if any of ’em are hanging ‘round loose it’s best to know it.” As he uttered the last words, Nick Whiffles came forward by the camp-fire, and saluted the ladies with rough’ but genuine courtesy. “You both look purty well,” said he, as he looked from one to the other, as he gave way to his characteristic sense of humor. ‘‘ Tf young gals want to git pale and interestin’ like, thar ain’t nothin’ better than to keep out of the sun- light—though I think you didn’t come down here of your own. free will and accord. How many of the Injuns are here watchin’ you?’ he asked, abruptly. ‘There is nearly always one here or close by. but the rest are on the outside guarding that point,” replied Mrs. De Long. “ How many of them are there?’ ** About half a dozen.” ‘*Helloa!” exclaimed the surprised trapper; “‘T hadn’t counted on finding so many as that; but there was one of the p’ison noosances that come down here ahead of me. What's ’come of m? “He was here and passed on by toward the outlet. I do not think he is within sight or hearing.” a6 thought there must be some place where you could git out better than the condemned one by which I come in. It was only —— Lord saved me from breaking my neck.” ‘Oh, we are so rejoiced that some one has followed us here,” said the lady, devoutly. ‘‘ Ju- liette was in despair, and I was almost; but I told her that Heaven would not forsake us, and it has not. I am so glad we are going to be rescued.” ‘*Don’t be too sartin of that,” replied Nick Whiffles; “that’s the business that brought me and Oregon Sol,and Marunyo here; but the thing ain’t done yet, and may be it won’t be done.” CHAPTER XII. THE SURPRISING SURPRISE. Nick WHIFFLES was un because he knew that he was standing directly in front of the fire, exposde to the treacherous shot of any Modoe who might be coming in, while he was deprived of the power of returning or prevent- such a — ~f : ily explaining the position of things to the ladies, he deadened the light of the fire as much as possible, and [they moved back, until he was protected by the gloom from which he had first emerged. _ {| Now, gals,” said he, in his , business- like manner, ‘‘I want to ’arn just how things is. How do you get out of this condemned place?” Mrs. De Long answered the questions prompt- ly and with anpelligence. ‘“‘A hundred feet beyond the fire, the cavern opens into the outer air. The way is quite narrow, and night and day, there are three or four Indians on the look-out there. It is the only way by which this place can be left.” ‘The door then is to come in by and not to go out. That puts the matter in a condemn- ed shape, and there’s going to be a diffikilty afore we kin get out. If I was only on the out- side, we could haul you up through the hole overhead,—but as that can’t be done we'll have to take the chances—hello, pup, what is it?” He paused but a moment, when he said ina whisper, “One of the varmints is coming. Tl step ix out of the way, aud be keerful not to act so that they'll spect I’m about.” killed the antelope, came to view, bearing in his hand*some meat that had been cooked upon the outside. He threw a piece to each, and tone: . | then stood with his back to the fire and his eyes “Don’t be skeart; it’s me, Nick Whiffles and | We've come to make a call onto | fixed upon them, waiting to see them make their evening meal. Standing thus, he offered the best target possi- ble to Nick, who drew his rifle to his shoulder with the intention of firing, when he made-the mortifyine,discovery that in his fall into the cavern he had struck the lock against some ob- struction in such a way as to render it useless. Calamity appeared to comprehend the mishap. and made a move as if he were anxious to dart ahead and take the place of the bullet, but his master restrained him. The Modoc remained but a few minutes, when he turned about and sauntered away in the di- rection whence he came. Nick Whiffles waited until the sound of his footsteps had died out, when he came a little nigher. As he did so, Ju- liette moved to meet him. “You spoke of Marunyo being with you,” said she, in a timid voice; ““why is he not in the cavern with you?’ “* He is here.” It was the low 'sweet voice of Marunyo him- self that uttered these words, as he walked forth from the gloom and took his place beside the astonished Nick Whiffles, and the delighted Ju- liette, nee as he did so, that he had dis- covered the place where the trapper had made his descent, and after a careful examination of the spot he had learned the truth and had fol- ‘lowed, without waiting to summon Oregon Sol, as he should have done: Neither Marunyo nor Nick knew exactly where the egress from the cavern was, a herr a hasty consultation they decided to e the attempt to escape without any more delay. The plan agreed upon was very simple. ~ Mrs. De Long and her daughter were to move for- ward to the outlet, as if they had determined upon making the attempt on their own account exclusively. Upon reaching the outside of course wf would be sto by the Modocs, who would be likely to ga ut them in such a way as to enable the ladies to decide how great the force was that they weuld have to en- counter in making the rush, and if there were no more than three, Juliette was to = a sie and her two rescuers would al and ovérwhelm them. If there were more than three fully armed and waiting, the captives agreed to turn back in the hope of speedily gaining a better o ty, when the two men take the a ter disadvantage. t took only a few minutes to come to an un- derstanding, when the mother, taking the hand of her daughter, moved off in the direction tak- en by the Indian who had brought them their —— trapper and Blackfoot following close A few only and the made sucha curve that the light of the opening was seen. It was narrow an ee ing ina slanting direction, so that it would be a ee ae ee si Nick followed a short distance in the rear, and when the — a] about twenty feet from the opening, he ha! Marunyo standing immedi- ately behind him, with the dog at their feet, and calmly awaited the critical moment. Juliette was slightly ahead of her mother, and as she advanced further into the dim light than the other, the two men saw one of the Mo- docs approach and order her to turn back. She stood parleying with him; and her mother, with the h ‘fully, mad soi poss beyond her ame ocs at At this, the Indian placed oe oe and made such oe threa . : t they started earing tha 7 meant to strike them with the upraised toma- wk. lee ae and the one W. e same om meee Feo before them was that had shot the antelope and that had passed in ahead of the rescuers, At this instant Mrs, De Long made the signal to the latter that all was favorable. |: “Shoot him down,” whispered Marunyo. Nick Whiffles raised his gun, but recollecting the mishap that had befallen it, instantly low- ered it again, with the announcement that he was powerless to fire. Marunyo then threw up his own weapon, took a — aim and fired. e distance was so short that he cculd not
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14 miss his mark, and the Modoc, with a howl of | well-known war-whoop of the Blackfeet was ny, threw himself forward and fell flat upon og ea at the feet of the horrified Juliette De ioe Calamity rushed forward to finish the. red- skin, but by the time he reached him there was no necessity. The wretch was dead. . Nick and Marunyo hurried forward to close in with the other red-skin, but upon reaching the opening none was to be seen. Both stared around ina confused way for a few minutes, and then the one said; “They ain’t far away; ta make for the camp, while me and Calamity fol- ler along and watch for the varmints.” The Blackfoot obeyed on the instant, not knowing how soon some of the Modocs might return, while the trapper loitered behind with the — of covering their retreat as much as possible. It was already growing dark, and if their flight should remain undiscovered for a little while longer there was adie’ 4 proaped: of mak- ing good their inary ig or, at least, of securin a start which would be e to them. nafew minutes the fugitives were out of sight, and Nick found himself pushing his way along through and over the Es with no com- ion but Calamity, who had stood by him through so many ‘‘ duel ies” and dangers. ‘“‘There are some diffikilties which come toa come out, pup. You remember me tell- ing you about a great uncle of mine, that died on account of a diffikilty in breathing, caused by a rope that got drawn too tight around his neck ;—well, his going ous looked like one of them things that was all around; but it was found arterward that on the very day he was hung, a mortgage on his house was to be fore- closed, but the man that had jit went to courting the widow, and at the end of a respectable time —something like two weeks—married her, and on the whole you see it were for the best.” They were now ina k ravine, along which they were making their way, the hunter still talking in his iliar manner with his dog, when the latter gave out his whine of warning, and the trapper paused to see what the danger was. Nothing could be seen, look in whatsoever di- | rection he chose, and feeling much more anxious about his friends than he did about himself, he instructed him to go on ahead and help take care pin oe yen mi yahower some re. en am obeying, but never soe be siinRnonn an Nick Whiffles continued his way along through the ravine, that was becoming denser and dark- er every minute. He judged that he was still several hundred from camp, when he heard himself hail- “Stop there, my brother.” » ‘Looking up, he saw the of an Indian no more than a dozen feet t, stan: with his rifle pointed straight at his heart. - ing the uselessness of his own gun, Nick felt that he was fairly “That is you, t-Nosed Billy,” he said cool- ly, as he his captor. ‘‘I catched you awhile ago and let you off, and I s’pose you want to git me in the same diffikilty and sarve me the same way.” As Nick saidthese words he saw two or three other dark figures moving toward him, and he then felt he was cai eg gabe oy ‘‘ My brother must die,” said Flat-Nosed Billy, eagerly, as though unable to conceal his exulta- tion at the fortune that had placed the great hunter and trapper in his power. ‘‘ He hunt no more; Modoe catch; he die!” There was no doubt but what the devilish wretch meant to murder the man who had showed him such mercy when he had no claim to it. ‘“ Wal, Modoc, I b’l’eve you’ve got me this time,” he said, with a sigh; ‘‘ they said 1 wasa fool *o let you off, when I cotched you fair and uare, and there’s no doubt I was. Nick iffles tries to live so that he’s ready to go when he’s sent for, and if you’ve made up your mind that you can’t without having my life, why make your aim sartin and pull the | r— . k! went the rifle, but it was not that of the Modoc. The bullet went crashing rae his skull, and as he fell flat upon his face, the e the gals and | of incalculable advan. | | Indians. Oregon Sol and Nick Beadle’s Half-Dime Library. heard, uttered and repeated again and again, until it seemed that a hundred of them were Plunging toward the spot. The Modoes scattered in terror, and Nick Whiffles found himself alone. Looking around, he saw the fi of Marunyo approaching. ‘“Well done,” exclaimed Nick, as he took his hand, and warmly pressed it; “it was well done, I say. Flat-Nosed Billy has gone under, killed by your bullet, and you give out such a big lot of yells that they thought all the Black- feet this side of the Rocky Mountains had come down upon them, and sothey cleared out. Give us your hand, and I hope you'll forgive all the oncomfortable thoughts ve had *bout you.” “ All right,” said Marunyo, cheerfully ; ‘when the dog come in, we knew something was wrong, and I started back; I got here just in time, and all is well. They are all waiting in the camp; so let us hurry.” “Ts Sol there?” ““Yes; he staid to watch Drooping Lily, while I came to look for you.” ‘*Then we'll jine them right away.” It was in the wilds of Upper California that a party of five was encamped. They had ap- ies oom so near to civilization that they had ismissed all fear of pursuit or danger from the hiffles had | agreed to accompany the others to San Francis- | co, at. the request of the ladies, who insisted that | they should make the acquaintance of the hus- | | | band and father of those who had been in the hands of the Modocs. Marunyo had washed the paint thoroughly from his face, and the result was the astonish- ing discovery that he was a white man with not a particle of Indian blood in him! This had been known to the ladies, who had met him as a white man, and knew that he was acting as a spy in the interest of the settlers in Upper California and Oregon. is naturally swarthy complexion, black eyes and hair, and his experience in the woods, enabled him to counterfeit the Indian so completely as to de- ceive those pov themselves. By this means, was enabled to do more effective work for own race. After this revelation came a more amazing one, Oregon Sol had often noticed somethin in the tones of Marunyo’s voice, in his looks an uliarity of manner, that recalled his own Tittle boy, that. was stolen years before, ee party of Indians in northern Missouri, and of which he could never gain any tidi His loss had nearly broken the heart of the mother, and the father, to kill his own grief, took to the woods. Ves Sol quae out that SAY Owae realy: a white man, he uestioning hi osely, and the result was. = that he was ~ reality his long-lost son. The joy of the father at this knowledge can- not be imagined; and he declared that he only felt one —which was that his wife could not have been spared to see this day—but then she was in heaven Meme tye upon them, aud so it was all right after all. Marunyo, the accepted lover of Juliette De Long, and now a Fanart white man, gave up the wild life of the woods, and became a thor- abl ee being, the happiest of men. when he was enabled to call the beautiful girl his own—his cherished wife. Nick Whiffles and Oregon Sol were urged to make theit home with them; but they had ranged the woods so long, that it had become second nature to them, and they continued their hunting and trapping, in the t North-west, sometimes penetrating into Hudson Bay Terri- , and returning at regular intervals to visit spend a few days with the son and hus- band,*who has in these pages as the IN- DIAN SPY. THE END. The Sunnyside Library. 1 Latia Rooku. By Thomas Moore........... 10c. 2 Don Juan. By Lord Byron... .......... re 3 ParaDIseE Lost. By John Milton ........,.... 10c, 4 Tue Lapy or THe Lake. Sir Walter Scott... 10c. | 5 Luciuz, By Owen Meredith... .... ......0++- 10c. 6 UnpINE, OR THE WaATER-SPIRIT. 1 “om the German of Friederich De La Motte i ouque... 10c For sale by all newsdealers, or sent, postage mn on receipt of twelve cents for single num double numbers twenty-four cents. ADAMS, VICTOR & CO., Publishers, 98 William street, N. Y, THE NEW YORK Fireside Library. 1—Was She His Wife? 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DEADWOOD DICK. 1 Deadwood Dick, THe PRINCE OF THE Roap; or, THe Buack RIDER OF THE BLACK Haus, By Edward L. Wheeler. Yellowstone Jack; or, THz TRAPPER oF THE ENCHANTED GRounD, @By Jos, E. Badger, Jr., author of “Pacific Péte,’” ete. 3 Kansas 3; or, THe Rep Ricuat Hanp, By Buffalo Bill -(Hon. Wm. F. Cody). The Wild-Horse Hunters. By Capt. Mayne Reid and Capt. Frederick Whittaker. 5 Vagabond Joe; THE YouNG WANDER- ING Jew. By Oll Coomes, a Bill Biddon, Tra THE NorTHWEST. By er; or, Lire IN ward §. Ellis, The Fl Yankee ; or, Tue Ocran Ovurcast. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. Seth Jones; or, THE CAPTIVES OF THE Frontier. By Edward §. Ellis. BEADLE’S HALF-DIME LIBRARY. Every one of them “ Live” Stories by ** Live® Authors, a Complete Novel, at the extraordinary price of a HALF-DIME. a The Adventures of Baron Mun- chausen. Trapper.” 1 ‘The Two Detectives; or, Tre Fortunes oF A Bowery Girt. By Albert W. Aiken, author of ‘‘ The Spotter Detective,” etc. 12 Gulliver’s Travels. A Voyage to Lilliput, anda Voyage to Brobdingnag. Nat Todd; or, THe Fatre or THE Sroux Captive. A Sequel to ‘ Bill Biddon, By Edward 8. Ellis. 13 The Dumb Spy. By Ol] Coomes, author of ‘‘ Vagabond Joe,”’ ete. Aladdin; or, THE WoNnpDERFUL Lamp. 1 5 The Sea-Cat; or, THE WitcH or Darien. By Capt. Frederick Whittaker. 16 Robinson Crusoe. His Life and Surprising Adventures, (27 illustrations.) 17 Ralph Roy, The Boy Bucca- meer; or, THE FUGITIVE YACHT. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. 1 be Sindbad the Sailor. His seven voy- ages. From the Arabian Nights. ROBINSON CRUSOE.—No. 16. 19 The Phantom Spy; or, THE Por OF THE Pratriz. By Buffalo Bill. 20 The Double Daggers; or, DEAp- woop Diox’s Dmeriance. By Edward L. Wheeler, author of ‘‘ Deadwood Dick.” 21 Frontier Angel. A Romance of Kentucky Rangers’ Life. By Edward & Ellis, author of ‘*Seth Jones,”’ etc. : 22 The Sea Serpent; or, THz Boy Roprnson Crusor., By Col. Juan Lewis. 23 Nick o’ the Night: or, Tue Boy Spy or 76. By T. C. Harbaugh. 24 Diamond Dirk: or, THe Mystery or THE YetiowstoNe. .By Col. Prentiss Ingraham, author of ‘The Flying Yankee,” ete. 25 The Boy Captain: or, Tire Prrare’s DavucuTer. By Roger Starbuck. RE ies ies he Dace 27 Antelope Abe, the Boy Guide. By Oll Coomes, 2Q8 Buffalo Ben, the Prince of the Pistol: or. DEADWOOD. DICK IN Diseuise. By Edward L, Wheeler. By Each number THE DOUBLE DAGGERS.—No. 20. 29 The Dumb Page; or, Tne DoGr’s Daverter. B apt. Frederick. Whit- taker, author of ‘‘The Wild-Horse Hunters,” etc. 30 Roaring Ralph Rockwood, Tux Reckiess RANGER. By Harry St. George. 3 Bob Woolf, the Border Ruffian: or, THE Girt Deap-SHot. By Edward L. Wheeler, author of “ Deadwood Dick,” éte., ete. 33 The Ocean Bloodhound ; or, THE Rep PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEES. By Samuel W. Pierce, author of ‘‘ The Boy Detective,” ete., etc. - 3 4 Oregon Sol; or/Nick Warrries’ Boy Spy. By Capt. J. F.C. Adams, Ready March 19th. 35 Wild’Ivan, Tar Boy Ciaupr Dvuvat; or, THe BrorHeRHoop or DEATH. Dead- wood Dick Romance No. 4, By Edward L, Wheeler. Ready March 26th. Keen-Knife, THe PRINCE OF THE Prats, By Oll Coomes. A new issue every week. The Half-Dime Library is for sale by all Newsdealers, five cents per copy, or sent by mail on receipt of six cents each, BEADLE & ADAMS, Publishers, 98 William Street, New York. BUFFAL@ BEN.—No. 28.