Beadle's New York Dime Library (no. 1036) (1900 05)
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00 a Year. 10 Cents a Copy. $1 N. Y., Post Orrics. +» Publishers, New York. a] 1d (JAMES SULLIVAN, PROPRIETOR), Street, 379 Pearl yl Uf Lf reper y IVERS & ¢ | 2 | ° bs | a a i | & & < i] E < | st | 2 | | 8 | a z 5 Fat we Nn < Qi i | om I & z | mq (© BY Bzapir & Apams Published Every Month. 4 DEATH-NOTC Ho, 1036
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ne being a yout ~~ Death-Notch, TELE DESTROYER oR, - The Spirit Lake Avengers, BY OLL COOMES. CHAPTER L THE LEAGUE OF EIGHT. * Amos M®REDITH?” “ Here.” “ Richard Carter?” “ Here.” “David Hawes?” ae Here.” ' “Phelix O’Ray?” ** Here, bedad!” “ Frank Harriott?” “ Here.” = i George Olsen? “Omaha, the Friendly?” ‘*Here.” ‘All are present,” said the leader of the party, Fred Travis, In fact it was unnecessary to call the roll to apprise that little band that not one of its mem- bers was absent. But it was done in observance of a code of regulations which they had adopt- ed before setting out upon the trail. All were young men, none being over three- and-twenty years of age, and two or three somewhat younger, but all, like true sons of the border, were possessed of hardihood and strength, and their hearts were burning with a terrible fire of revenge. Each one carried a rifle, a side tomahawk and hunting-knife, while from the bosom of their hunting-shirts peeped the polished pistol-butis. They stood beneath the umbrageous covering of an oak, each sg be oy his rifle, and wait- ing the orders of his leader; but, ere those or- ders breaking up their night’s bivouac beneath the great oak tree, there suddenly came the sharp report of a rifle, followed by a low cry— the unmistakable death-wail. The Hight Avengers gazed from one to the other with inquiring glances. ‘¢ Without a doubt another accursed red-skin has pg said Fred Travis. ** Yes; but who fired the shot?” asked young Hawes. ‘ Does the Omaha know?” “Does not Death-Notch, the Young Scalp- Hunter, lurk within these woods?” The Ave arted at mention of this name of one whom none of them but the young Oma- ha had never seen, yet of whom they had heard most amazing reports. He was represented as of Titan proportions and power, cunning as a fox and subtle as a serpent—a deadly enemy to the human race, going and eoming like one of supernatural powers and bearing the heart of a fiend. Human lives and human scalps were said to be the sole object of his search; and that upon a thousand different trees in the forest bordering the Little Sioux river, might be found the totem of this mad destroyer—a notch cut with a tomahawk upon the trunk or limb of a tree, each notch repre- senting a victim; and where the notch was found there could be found also a decaying oo or bleaching skeleton, 0 wonder then that the Hight Avengers started when the Friendly mentioned the name of Death-Notch. ‘‘ Friend or foe,” replied Travis, firmly, ‘‘ we roust do our work, ere Death-Notch twice the destroyer that he is, he must not stand in the way of our vengeance; nor shall he. Oma- ha, the duty devolves upon you to ascertain what that shot meant.” The Omaha at once glided from their midst as silently as a shadow, while the band in per- fect stillness awaited his return. A few mo- ments passed when a low whistle was heard. “That is the Omaha’s call,” said Travis ; “advance!” The little band moved AWAY, to the woods, and soon came to where the Indian was standing within the shadows of a wide-branching tree. _ “ What discovery, Omaha?” asked Travis. The young Indian ig aes at the ground. fesse ear concelale erase, vy the form of a Sioux warrior, dead and sealpless. From a oe in ‘the left. cheek the warm blood was flowing. ‘‘Death-Notch has been here!” simply said the Friendly. ‘Behold his totem!” _ Every eye was turned in the direction indi- eated, and upon the trunk of the tree near Swi & where the dead warrior lay, sre saw a small mead tant te. cut with a hav iet, and so re- cently that the sap was still a b { ad warrior BAC the and the sky overcast with clouds. among the weeds and | | oozing from the | moment silently before | id ha . dread signet. ag dey x the bouquet o | ‘Was she there to 4 ; an The New York Library. which it was — some of the band felt, Travis exclaimed: ‘Well, trail or no trail, we must on to our work. So forward all!” In single file the little band set off through the forest. History has recorded the horrors of the Spirit Lake Massacre, in the spring of 1857, A de- tachment of braves of the great chief, Inkpa- ducha’s force, under Young Sleepy Eyes, de- scended upon the settlements in the vicinity of the lakes, killing and burning all before them. At the time of the attack these young men were away several miles southward, hunting, but when they returned they found their homes destroyed and their friends all gone. Tien they formed a compact which afterward ren- dered their names noted; they swore to track the merciless foe to death, and rescue their friends, if any still existed. For days had they traversed the treeless prairie and trackless wilderness, guided by the never-failing and indomitable Omaha. And now, as they moved on, and the sun mounted higher into the heavens, the air became hot and sultry To the Aven- ers these were forebodings of a storm, still they pressed on, and when the sun stood upon the meridian, they stopped by a little stream to rest and refresh themselves from their meager supply of food. hile thus engaged the sharp clatter of hoofs broke suddenly upon their ears. The next in- stant a youthful horseman came galloping from the shadows of the woods and swept like a dart across the little valley before them. The horseman was a mere boy. He could not have been over sixteen, and was as fair and deli- cate in features as a maiden. Masses of lon dark hair fell in ripples to his horse’s back, anc dark, lustrous eyes looked sharply from between their long silken lashes. A little red cap with a single white feather surmounted his head. blue jacket handsomely wrought with threads of gold clothed the beautiful rounded shoulders, slender form and well molded arms, The collar lay open, revealing a full, snow-white chest and throat. ; The only weapon he possessed was a small, silver-mounted rifle, which he carried in front of him across the withers of the raven-black pony he bestrode. ‘i The youth, seemingly, did not see our young friends, but galloped across the valley and aS into the woods beyond. z ‘Och, but he’s a royal lad,” exclaimed young O’Ray. “Sich a form; sich hair; sich eyes, ay! be the petits Mother, he must be a young god ave the woods.” ‘‘He was a fine-looking youth,” said Amos Meredith. “ A young ranger, I suppose,” added another. 7 in ” gaid Fred Travis, ‘‘say what you may of that youth, I would venture my tite, almost, on the cast that it is a female.” “Then,” said Omaha, starting suddenly up, “if that is the case, Death-Notch is a female, for you have looked upon phe face of that ter- rible young Scalp-Hunter! CHAPTER II. THE LOVERS. A scorn of log-cabins surmounting a bold stony bluff, overlooking the Little Sioux river. comprised the settlement of Stony Cliff, I had first been established as a small trading- post by a party of French Canadians, and from year to year a family or two had been added to its population until it now numbered something like a hundred souls. Men had brought their families there and established themselves per- manently, engaging principally in hunting and the fur trade. A few, however, followed the immoral calling of whisky-traders. Another rad a gun-shop and variety-store, and a few tilled a number of acres of ground near the set- tlement. ; ? Although Stony Cliff bore a. disreputable name, as most all these frontier posts generally do, it Was not entirely wanting in morals. had passed laws of its own, established a school and church, and strenuous efforts were m to | But | sent to take up your head-quarters at the settle- ’ bring all within the pale of Christianit in this it had failed in many instances, as the progress of our story will show. c At noon on the same day that our stiey opens, a young girl stood alone upon the banks of the river, within the shadow of a clump of trees, - an a league below the settlement. he was not over seventeen years of ar ae queenly and graceful in proportion, ee lovely in every feature. Before her q he rivera little canoe was rocking upon the biel and in it lay the maiden’s hat and ww! xaeet eons cnet Was a, the sound of a 25073" spieiamne. 6 ; ere r $oeee d “Well, Sylveen, he is a heels , dash shing young cavalier, yet i haye no ‘ of him ot Vol. I- step broke suddenly upon her the figure of th d from th ae e of a youth a rom the ows of the woods and stood. fore her. He was a handsome lad, of not over eighteen or nineteen Ptege and, in spite of his youth, was possessed of all the developments of a man. Indeed, such perfection of manhood was seldom found in a He was of medium hight, with massive chest, muscular limbs, dark eyes that sparkled with the light of a wild, da: spirit, clear-cut features and a well-defined meet covered. with a wealth of short, crispy curis, j He was dressed in a clean, neat-fitting gark os 2 hunter, and carried a rifle and hunting- cnife, The maiden did not start with surprise at sight of him. On the pg age 6 her face lit uw with a light of love, and, advancing towar him, she said, in a petulant tone: ‘“Oh, Ralph!.why have you kept me waiting so long?” “Twas not aware that I had, sweet Sylveen,” he replied, in a low, pleasant voice, stooping and kissing her upon the warm, flushed cheek. ‘Why, yes, Iph ; I have been here for more than an hour,” Sylveen responded, “Tm sorry I kept you waiting, my love; but then if you will look at that shadow, Sylyéen, you will see I am here at the appointed hour.” Sylveen Gray glanced at the shadow, and laughed softly. Obed know, Ralph; you are always true to me,” she said; ‘but I am so impatient.” “You must try and grow out of that, Syl- veen.” “T have tried, Ralph; but anxiety for safety keeps me in a fever of excitement time,” “Do not, I implore you, dear Sylveen, keep yourself uneasy about me. It is my solace—the oe hope of my future happiness, to know hat you love me—that you are my own dae 4 Sylveen. But, I would be still more happy I know you were not fretting about my safety, Rest assured that I wit) not be so reckless of Nig happiness as to thrust my head incattious- y into needless dangers.” igs “But, Ralph Fe know,” Sylveen gent persisted, ‘‘ at eath-Notch, the Scalp-Hun' er, is in these woods, and that he favors none in his terrible vengeance.” : Ralph St. Leger smiled at the maiaen’s re- marks, and replied: . ‘“‘T have never yet seen Death-Notch, Sylveen, nor have I ever met a person that has seen him. Ts he not a myth?” ‘No, Ralph; several of the settlers have seen him at a distance,” said Sylveen. ‘‘ They said his face was that of a mere boy, but thet he was a giant in stature.” : Again Ralph St. Leger.smiled. He was a youth whose education and natural good sense overbalanced | all ious belief and re-. rts, despite the fact that he was a borderman imself, a trapper-boy and free rover of the prairie. eos: a wee “Well, dear, I may confess that there is such a person as he whom they Death-Notch. I have seen his totem—the death-notch—upon a tree where lay a lifeless savage. But, I have reason to believe that Death-Notch is the white man’s friend.” = ‘*T wish I could only think so myself, Ralph for just yesterday one of our settlers was‘found dead near the village. There was a deep wound on his left cheek, and a fresh notch cut on @ little sapling near where the body lay. Death- Notch had slain him,” ge ‘What was the settler’s name?” asked Ralph, ol Pardou.” our the ‘A French Canadian?” e TY ” ‘Perhaps Death-Notch may have held some grudge against him?” 5 “T cannot say, as to that,” re Sylveen, “but. I do know he keeps Stony Cliff in a per: petual state of excitement,” } ‘ » “Not any more so, I Suppose, than I under’ stand he keeps the Indians,” said St. Leger. “ Perhaps not; but Ralph, will you n m- ment?” and its excitementa, and I ask nothing more besides than an occasional interview with my darling Sylveen.” “That you ever have, dear Ralph, un: less my uncle forbids me leaving the setthe ment. “Has he threatened to do so, Sylveen?” ‘No; (alge I meet” you, and of laté he has intimated to me that he had chosen from his acquaintance a young man who he thought would make me a good husband,” phe Ralph’s brow darkened, : E: ‘‘ Did he mention his name?” he asked, “Yes; it was Scott Shirely,” — A md va No, never, dear Ralph, and—” | ‘ tb ete the sentence, for, at this ie eee see “Sylveen, I can mot. I love the wild woods 8 ~F - S j
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No. 7, Out upon the river they saw a canoe comin down from the settlemens. In it were seate % two men, one of whom was Sylveen Gray’s a 7 uncle and guardian, Abel Hatch, and the other My Scott Shirely. ’ : Sylveen started violently at sight of them, and turning to her lover, said: ‘‘T will have to leave you, dear Ralph. You fmow uncle Abel does not like you, and this meeting I desire to remain unknown to him.” - “Yes, go, dear Sylveen. In two days I will be here at noon again. Good-by.” He stooped and kissed her, then turned and 1 glided away into the deep shadows of the wood, ; while Sylveen entered her canoe, and started on ' her return to the village. a. Forseveral minutes Ralph St. Leger pursued : his way onward through the woods, keeping . Se within the deepest shadows. Finally he came to 6 little thicket of undergrowth, in the center of which stood a low, scrubby oak. ; Pausing, he gazed carefully around him, then ing the shrubbery he entered the thicket, und was lost from view. ‘ -A few moments later, a powerful Indian warrior, with tomahawk in hand, crept from an adjacent clump of bushes, and half crouch- . |) ing, stole into the thicket directly on the trail Ai =|) ene of St. Leger. There was death in the basilisk =a eyes of the savage, and, as the moments wore on, a low, half-suppressed wail suddenly issued from the depths of the thicket. Then followed an ominous silence, which was finally brokén by the sound of Spe retreating from the undergrowth, And still,a few minutes later, another figure emerged from the woods beyond, paused and gazed with starting eyes. upon the thicket. It was the figure of an Indian, but kis face wore no paint, nor evil, cunning ex- pression, It was ers the scout and guide xf the Young Avengers! For several moments he stood and gazed upon and over the thicket; then he placed his fingers 30 his lips, and produced a succession of peculiar sounds, and forth from the woods issued seven ‘orms. They were those of our friends, the Young Avengers. What discovery, Omaha?” asked young Travis. f “A white youth entered the thicket. A powerful Sioux warrior followed him. A death- wail; retreating footsteps, and then silence. Death is in yon bushes. ‘eae Sa & —_ i) ? : ae kau Sh: —_— he xe ue SNM e ij pay Se ote > See ee ee ee : je AR at +i et 5A - we Come.” The Friendly led the way into the thicket, "all followed by his white companions. SS en _ Under the drooping boughs of the oak they co | _ wime to a halt. sp seas “ There!” exclaimed the Friendly. : ne All eyes were at once turned in the direction co | (eee indicated, and saw, lying upon the earth among the deepest shadows, the lifeless form of a Bioux warrior. He was scalpless. Across the | oe left cheek was a deep wound, from which the — = '. blood was still pouring in a hot current. > ‘‘Death-Notch has been here,” said Omaha, and he pointed to a fresh notch cut on a low bough directly over the fallen warrior. CHAPTER IL THE DESERTED HUT. Tr was sunset. Ominous clouds were D age up the western sky like the dark line of a ant mountain. Electric flashes shot along fo craggy edges of the somber clouds, followec ly the dull, Sali rumble of thunder. The wind was rising and pavers. in fitful gusts through - the forest, shrieking like a demon over the hilis and through the valleys. A fearful storm was brewing, yet on through tae dark aisles of the forest pressed the little band of Avengers, guided by the indomitable = _ Qmaha. The bellowing thunder, the vivid ic lightning, the howling wind and roaring trees, to them was but the spirit of adventure. As - they continued on, however, the darkness be- game so intense that their red guide was com- ed to resort to the moss on the trees in order keep his course. : . “This is getting to be tedious traveling, Omaha,” said Fred Travis. ‘ How far is it to the deserted cabin of which you spoke?” “ Not far,” was the laconic reply. _ The party pressed on in silence for nearly an hour after nightfall, when they came to the e edge of a little glade. In the center of this wea ning, a prolonged flash of lightning showed the a log cabin standing solitary and alone. : It WEA pimcet idden from view by tall, rank weeds that grew to the very threshold, and which was evidence of itself that the. building kad not been inhabited Py aay one for years save Rf bats and owls. ild ivy clambere - over the outer walls and over the roof, exclud- ing the sunshine, thereby making it damp and moldy within. It was a desolated, deserted rin, whose history was unknown to our party. nly Omaha knew, before that night, that such a wile existed. In’his wanderings abroad from »y ‘the Hudson Bay | Sac river and § the place to see that no enemy had preceded them to the inviting shelter, Omaha entered the cabin, followed by his friends. Their footsteps sounded dead on the damp puncheon floor, and their voices echoed hollow and sepulchral through the room. By means in their possession a fire was hastily struck. Its light revealed a yawning fire-place in one end of the building, and in a very few minutes a roaring fire was burning upon the hearth, its cheerful heat dispelling much of the gloom from the place. The Young Avengers were now enabled to obtain a fair view of the interior of their re- treat. The cabin was of goodly dimensions, strongly built of heavy logs. There was a loft in it made of heavy slabs or puncheons, as was also the floor. The building was divided into two compartments by straight-edged slabs set upright across the center of the house. There was an opening in the center of this partition that was used as a door, but was unclosed. There was a rude table and some rickety stools in the room, and around the walls were numerous gun-racks, which gave evidence of the place having once been the house of a party of hunters, The outer door was closed and securely bolted. Then the little party gathered around the great stone hearth, to eat their supper and talk over their morrow’s work. At length the whole party relaxed into silence and listened to the howling storm without. It was truly appalling. Only the Omaha was on the alert. : In the heavy, ponderous door there was a wicket which opened and closed with a strong slide set in grooves. This the young Indian used as a look-out, and there was scarcely an interval of ten minutes but a careful survey was méde of the yard in front of the cabin, the broad glare of the lightning enabling him to command a fair view of the glade. The moments wore on, and finally every voice within the cabin became silent. This lasted several minutes, when all of a sudden Omaha sprung to his feet and advancing to the door, opened the wicket and gazed out. The Young Avengers were startled by this sudden movement. They knew that Omaha’s sense of hearing was never at fault, and from his actions they believed he had detected the presence of something not altogether right. For a moment the Friendly stood with his face pressed close to the wicket, then he with- drew, closed the opening, and turning, walked slowly and calmly back to the fire. ‘IT have something to tell you, friends,” he said. “What is it? Has the storm blown over?’ “No; Death-Notch, the Young Scalp-Hunter, is at the door!” CHAPTER IV. STARTLING INFORMATION, AFTER her interview with Ralph St. Leger, Sylveen Gray entered her canoe and started on her return to the village, She was at once discovered by her uncle, Abel Hatch and Scott Shirely, who were com- ing down the river, and who at once headed their canoe directly toward her. In a few mo- ments they were alongside of her canoe. Abel Hatch was a stern-looking man of some fifty years of age, with features and eyes that were not altogether pleasantin their expression. His companion, Scott Shirely, was a young man of some five-and-twenty, tall and handsome and possessed of a form and air that reminded oe x a young and dashing cavalier of the Mid- e Ages. © His eyes were coal-black, as were also his long wavy hair and heavy mustache. He was dress- ed inakind of flashy uniform, cay boots and a broad-brimmed hat from which a red plume hung down over his shoulder. He was ky occupation, representing, as agent, r et . He made his head-quarters at Stony Cliff. Here he had been engaged for over a year, and had made the fur trade a lucrative one for the hunters and trap- pers that comprised the majority of the popula- tion of Stony Cliff. He also employed a num- ber of sub-agents who traded and hunters at a distance from the village. These agents were mostly French Canadians, and a rough set of men.. ‘““Where now has my truant little ward beeu?” asked Abel Hatch, as they ran alongside of Sylveen’s canoe. Sylveen blushed scarlet, and before she could reply, or recover from her embarrassment, Scott Shirely said; ~ “Mr, Hatch, if you are going on down the river to your bear-traps, I believe I will return wie bah no if she ae no objections.” _ ore Sylveen could utter a protest against his intention, in case she had any desire to do so at all, the young fur-trader arose to his feet on e his canoe. : ve and Shirel: Pa th the Indians” Death-Notch, the Destroyer. faces cove 3 she would much rather have been alone with her own thoughts than in the company of Scot’ go +“ - pe, Sylveen,” he said, apologetically, ‘that my company will not be distasteful to you.” : “Oh, no, not at all, Mr. Shirely,” replied Sylveen, with a slight tinge of sarcasm in har voice, ‘‘T am quite fortunate, then, in dropping into your company, Miss Gray. Times are very, very dull at Stony Cliff just now. If it was not for the little excitement kept up im consequence of Death-Notch’s doings, and by the freebooters under the notorious Pirate Paul, I’m thinking the Cliff would become as dreary as a rainy day.” “Have you heard any new reports about Death-Notch to-day?’ asked Sylveen. ‘‘ Nothing since poor El Pardou’s death.” ‘*‘ And what of Pirate Paul?” “He is said to be about,” said Shirely, and he fixed his eyes on Sylveen’s with a strange light shining from their depths. _Sylveen, however, did not notice the expres- $.0n, ‘“ Who has seen him?” she finally asked, “T have,” replied Shirely. “You? Is it possible? When did you see him, Mr. Shirely.” “ To-day.” Sylveen uttered a little ery of fear. ‘But, Sylveen, why is if that your lover,” continued Shirely, ‘‘does not visit you at your home?” Sylveen started as though a nt had hissed in her ear. Her face grew deathly —_ her dark-blue eyes flashed with indignation, and her lip curled with scorn and disdain. ‘““What do you know, Scott mural of m lover? Have you been eavesdropping ike a— “Nay, nay, Sylveen,” the rs agent rev plied, in a regretful tone; ‘‘ but there is one whose duty it has been to keep on the alert. I¢ is not generally known, Sylveen, that you have been meeting Ralph St. Leger in secret inter- views; but why, Sylveen, does he not come to see you at Stony Cliff?” - ‘He has his own reasons for not doing so,” replied Sylveen, oy ge *“ Yes, indeed, he has, Sylveen. He knows it would not be well for him to be caught in the village, for there are those there who would recognize him as Pirate Paul, chief of the prairie robbers.” “What!” Sylveen almost shrieked; ‘‘ Ralph St. Leger, SB goer ewe ” epiied ss: “ie ‘Tis even so, Sylveen,” replied Shirely ; bu the maiden was too satan absorbed in her eno- tions to notice the latent meaning in histone. “Oh, my God!” she fairly moaned; “surely you are jesting, Mr. Shirely.” “Tam not, Sylveen. I would not trifle with. the feelings of one so pure and honest-hearted as. you. But time will convince you that I 27 the truth; and when ow. love for ee 1 St. Leger has turned to hatred, then will I-hope myself to gain that love which the young prairie freebooter has dared to Py ‘Mr. Shirely, I am ever so much obliged to you for this information if it is true; but not until I know positively that such is the case, will I believe that oneso manly and open-heart- ed as Ralph St. Leger appears to be, could be se in due time,” re- of such a erime.” he proof shall be given for over a bernoeg | ss consequently But, Sylveen, let us plied the young fur-agent; “ more pleasant. Have there has been aspy on know whereof I speak. talk of somethin, made the acquaintance of the aew family la’ come to Stony Cliff?’ ; “You allude to the Gregory family, do you not?” asked the maiden, h her thoughts seemed to be far away, *: Yes,” replied Shirely. “T called yesterday to see them. They ap- pear to be fine people,’ “There is a young woman in the family, is there not ?” ‘Yes; Miss Martha Gregory. But her health is very poorly and she is unable to be out of her room half the time. She seemed greatly shock- ed by the news of £1 Pardou’s death at the hands of Death-Notch.” “She did ?” questioned Shirely, and there was a. little strangeness in his tone. “Yes,” replied Sylveen, ‘I suppose she i somewhat nervous and unused to these horrors of frontier life.” By this time they had reached a point where the bluffs rose u on each side of the river, re to the hight pies covered of a hundred feet. Atdif. traded in ric
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SS a re gee en the top of the bluff and there found themselves within the outskirts of Stony Cliff. The cabins were scattered over several acres ‘of the bluffs, the forest forming the eastern and southern boundaries, and being located in a bold curve of the river, it formed the other two limits of the settlement. Sylveen went home, and after she had thought and cried over what Scott Shirely had told her of her lover, she composed herself and went over to see her new neighbors, the Gregorys. She found Miss Martha Gregory an agreeable and amiable young lady of some twenty sum- mers. She was very pretty, with large, mourn- ful eyes, which a great portion of the time were concealed by a pair of green goggles worn on account of the weakness of her eyes contracted from a late spell of sickness. Her face was a little thin and pale, yet bore ample traces of its natural beauty. Sylveen at once became struck with her lady-like appear- ance and gentle and affable manners. She spent | gloomy, rendered doubly so by the deep sha- most of the afternoon with Miss Gregory, and | dows of the forest through which lay his course. became so impressed with her in every respect, | Now and then the lightning shot in vivid flashes that, before she went home she had made a con- | down through the tree-tops and lit up his grim, ‘fidant of her. and told her all about her own | bearded face. - troubles of that day. He was wrapped in the folds of a water-proof Miss Martha expressed great a at Syl- | blanket, and wore a broad brimmed hat that veen’s story, and did all she could to assuage | was slouched to his shoulders. His hands and her sadness of heart. They talked on for some | arms were drawn securely ap under his blanket, time, when Martha finally asked: giving the animal the reins and permitting it to S o told you, of Ahbeog that Ralph St. | take its own course, which it did to his rider’s Leger is the notorious Pirate Paul?” satisfaction. ‘Mr. Scott Shirely, the fur-agent. Probably This was evidence of itself that the horse was you have met him.” well accustomed to the path it was following, “Oh, yes. Heis the handsome young fellow | and surely that bearded stranger’s mission must with the killing black mus 2 and red | have been of great importance, or why would plume!” we have ventured out upon such a wild, stormy “The same,” night as this? ‘Oh, I dare say all the young girls will be n he galloped, now looming up like a Colos- dead in love with him yet,” and Martha laughed | sus into the lightning’s glare, now fading away, merrily. as it were, into the blinding darkness that fol- Despite her sadness of heart, Sylveen laughed | lowed. But as he continued on, lights in the too, and admitted to herself that Martha was | Indian village burst upon his view. _ A smile of just such a girl as would make all happy around | joy passed over his grim, bearded face. He fe spurred on. <A ‘savage picket challenged him. ‘“T have heard, Sylveen,” continued Martha, e never slacked his pace, but gave a low ‘since we came here that your uncle had | whistle hy which he was known, and galloped chosen Mr. Shirely asa husband for you. Is it | on, straight into the. Indian town, following its | the case?” . crooked streets with the same. familiarity with “Tt is, Miss Gregory.” which he had traversed the forest. “ And is thereno way of averting your uncle’s Finaliy he drew rein before a large conical will, in this matter?” structure, whose oe team and central position “None now, Martha, unless it is proven that | told him it was the Council Lodge of the tribe. Ralph St. Leger is not Pirate Paul. Uncle Abel Dismounting, he hitched his foaming, panting is a very obstinate and selfish man, and I think | horse to a stake hard by, and strode up to the | ho is actuated in this matter by cupidity, for he | door of the lodge. Here he uttered a low has intimated to me that Shirely is a wealthy | whistle, then the flap-door was raised, and he man—heir to a large fortune in Montreal.” was admitted into the lodge. Miss Gregory uttered a little cry of surprise, There were two persons in the lodge, Inkpa- and Sylveen noticed the color come and goin | ducah and a fellow chief. The latter held a her face, and saw her compress her a as if to | glowing torch in his hand that lit up the lodge. keep back an outburst of emotion. It was sev- The white man threw aside his dripping hat eral moments before she spoke, then her voice | and blanket, and took a seat facing the central was lower and more earnest in its tones. lodge-pole. ‘*Sylveen,” she said, I must admit. that I am “The gods frown angrily prpight, my red pf curious person; and now I am going to make | friends,” he said, in the dialect of the Sioux. a confidant of you, and it will be all for your | ‘‘ Le Subtile Fox, the Great Spirit is angry,” ewn good. Our coming here is not without a | replied Inkpaducah, speaking in the figurative poe My name is not Martha Gregory, | language so characteristic of the Indian orator. t [have assumed that name because it is the | ‘‘ He speaks in tones of thunder, and hurls his name of the femily Ilive with. Like yourself, | lances of fire down upon the earth. He knows I am an orphan, and I have been wronged as | that death is in the forest, and has puta cloud ethers are now trying to wrong you. But, 1} over the brow of the heavens, and causes it to will prevent them; but you must know me |} shed tears upon thé earth, to wash out the only as the daughter of PeterGregory. I can | stains of blood, and hide the trai] of the Sioux thwart any project your uncle may put on foot | from the eyes of Death-Notch, the Young Scalp- for your marriage with any one to whom you | Hunter.” are opposed. Remember that. I will also tell you, Sylveen, that Stony Cliff and half of its men are at my mercy, cage they know if not. And here,” she continued, taking Sylveen’s hand in hers, and slipping a beautiful and curi- ous wrought gold ring upon her finger‘ I give you a ring which will be a charm against prairie pirates.” Sylveen seemed not a little puzzled by her words. “Tt is true, Sylveen, however absurd it may sound to your enever any person sees that ing and starts and stares at it as one would at @ ghost, mark my words, he is a prairie pirate! If he should inquire where you got the ring, tell him it was a present from a friend. But do not, I ane you, tell him you received it of Martha Gregory, nor repeat one word of which T have told you.’ ; Though she was strangely impressed by Miss Gregory’s words, Sylveen promised that she would not hint one word of what she had told _ er no rage had Mart res told ~ ei was a charm against prairie robbers than she became sorely Sopattents to try its re- puted magic wer upon Ralph St. Leger whom Sco Shirely aneiriee was the had rious Pirate Paul. . ee CHAPTER V. DEATH IN THE COUNCIL LODGE. warriors whose cheek bears » | white renegade; “ but for From Springfield to Okibogi and Spirit lakes, Inkpaducah’s minions under Young Sleepy Eyes laid waste life and property indiscriminately. But when the neighboring settlemerts and mili- tary authorities peg forward to chastise the | 1ey fled from their old haunts | barbarous foe, t and sought safety within the fastnesses of the woods and hills ‘bordering the Sioux river, | where we now find them, and where they re- | mained until their final retreat beyond the Mis- | t g H souri. The Indian village was some fifteen miles from Stony Cliff, and although the Indians and whites were on hostile terms, the former had never molested the settlers. Still, however, they had made many demonstrations of a threat- ening character, and consequently kept the whites in a constant state of uneasiness. Toward the Indian village, through a storm | that was raging, a solitary horseman was riding at a furious speed. It was night, black anc Before Le Subtile Fox could reply, the door was opened and a chief, wrapped in a blanket to wotect him from the driving rain, entered the odge and took his seat in the circle. soon followed by another and another, until the circle was almost full. As the rain was de- scending in torrents, each one came wrapped in his blanket, which was thrown hood-like over his head to ph tg his paint and_ feathered head-gear. Some of them, on taking their seats, did not remove their blankets, and cout? only be disitnguished by each one’s totem, which was wrought in bright colors wpoe his blanket. Inkpaducah glanced over the party assembled and said; j “My young chiefs are all in but one, Red Antelope is still absent. But he will come soon —ugh, he is here now.” Red Pte © entered the lodge, enveloped from head to foot in his long, pray blanket. “The council is full,” said Inkpaducah; ‘let any one speak who has anything to say.” ‘Then I will ask you,” said the renegade Le Subtile Fox, who, it was easy to see, wore a mask of false whiskers, “if Death-Notch has been in your camp again?” ‘No; he dare not come within our village. But he prowls through the woods and strikes my braves down when they go alone to shoot the deer. Gowhere you will, his terrible death- noteh may be seen np trees of the forest. And to-day comes the wail of another of my bs Hunter.” the totem of the oath Notch isa is 12 y creature,” said the . — : af eee = « ¥y The New York Library He was | the * i" . : | strong in the council,” “Well, a band of eight strong and brave, and calling themselves The Spirit Lake Avengers, are in the woods. ‘They come to avenge the death of their friends slain | by you at Okibogi and Spirit lakes. Omaha, the white man’s friend, is with them!” The brow of the chief became clouded, and his eyes flashed with a revengeful fire, while a | low exclamation escaped the lips of his com- panions, and their breasts heaved with emo- tions of revenge. Let the young Omaha sing his death-song,” the old chief at last broke forth; ‘‘ the blood of a hundred cf his friends reddened the snows of last winter, and their scalps are drying in the lodge of the Sioux. Sleepy Eyes, with a score of picked warriors, are upon the trail of Death- | Notch. They will meet the Omaha and his | white friends in the forest, and when they re- turn they may bring the scalps of these Aveng- / ers as well as that of the terrible Death- Notch.” ‘Ugh !” ejaculated one of the savages in the cirele of forms. It was red Antelope, who still kept his face concealed with his blanket. ‘Why does Red Antelope grunt?” asked the head chief, turning upon the savage with an in- dignant s¢owl. ‘Does he feel envious of the fame of young Sleepy Eyes? (rv does he doubt the verde of Inkpaducah? Let Red Antelope speak. The chief addressed arose to his feet, and drawing his blanket closer over his face as he did so, advanced to the center of the lodge, and putting out his tomahawk, struck the central pole twice with the keen edge of the weapon, cutting a deep notch in the stake, ‘““Ah!” exclaimed Inkpaducah, indignantly; “Red Antelope answers my questions by cut- ting the totem of Death-Notch upon the central pole, Is he a coward—a weak squaw? Does he fear Death-Notch ? Let him speak.” ‘‘Inkpaducah,” said the shrouded Red-Ante- | lope, in a tone that caused the counselorsto start, ‘‘ you and your warriors are a set of fools. Red Antelope lies dead on the outskirts of your | village by the hands of Death-Notech. The de- | stroyer is at hand. He is even here in your | council-lodge! Behold him !”. cried the su _ posed warrior, flinging aside his blanket ; “J | am Death-Notch !” A cry of terror pealed from the lips of the savage chieftains, and they started to their feet, But, at the same instant, they found themselve) in blinding darkness. | The supposed Red Antelope, dashing to thi | earth the torch that lit up the lodge, instant threw his thick, water-soaked blanket over it. Then arose a fearful yell, followed by direful confusion—a terrible struggle in the dark. Dull, sodden blows were heard, mingled with the crack, crack cf a revolver, cries of agony, and shouts of pie ge | In the midst of the conflict, where chiefs | struggled and grappled with chiefs, thinking that each was their detested foe Death-Notch, a figure glided from the council-lodge, and leapin, | onto the back of Le Subtile Fox’s horse, dashe away through the village, night and storm inte the almost impenetrable darkness of the woods. The village was aroused. The cries of the chiefs sounded high above the roar of the rain and the rumble of the thunder. Forth from their tents the warriors camé¢ pouring to the council-lodge,Then they learned that. Death-Notch had been in their silage and had occupied a seat in their council. Upon the central pole was: pointed out bis totem, the death-notch, whieh he had cut with his own hand before their own eyes. ) “Let Le Subtile Fox speak. His voice is : ersons, young men, A dead chief, and two wounded ones, lying in. this evidence— ' the counetl-lodge confirmed | Death-Notch had been there, ee CHAPTER VL A NEW DANGER. ‘ DeatH-Nortcu is at the door.” The words fell frorm Omaha’s lips like a thun- | derbolt from a cloudless winter sky. The | Yourtg Avengers started to their feet and gazed | in speechless surprise at the door, as if expect- | ing to see the young destroyer burst in upon : 20m, The shock had come unexpected, pooh yr their number assured them of their abili defy his power, they were thrown into a state of great suspense and anxiety, through their expectancy of standing face to face with the dreaded "Gis Sealp-Hunter. a | But. while °y hus stood with their Eh fixed upon the door, they were startled by a sound in the adjoining room. It was a dull, | sodden sound, like that which would be pro | duced by the fall of a heavy body. They fixed their eyes upon the ion door, then Saheank from one to the other scaed Fe ely. - : Had Death-Notch entered the ew but that "a ~ ively. : e door by a wocres ’ t 7 i '
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6 figure appeared in the doorway. But it was not Death-Noteh To their surprise, it was the form of a young Indian, whose gaudy head-dress be- spoke the insignia of a chief. e.was a Sioux, painted and plumed for the war-path, He was a tall, powerful fellow, with a broad, evil face, upon which rested a malicious, sinister smile; and his small black eyes seemed half-closed, as if dazzled by the light of the fire that was roar- pepe the hearth. e stood directly in the doorway, with his asuscular arms folded over his massive chest, in token of friendship and peace. There was some- imposing in his powerful, handsome form, and his fearless, easy attitude, and for a moment our friends regarded him with a look of mingled surprise and admiration. nm the hand of Omaha was seen to steal slowly toward his girdle, and a cloud of scorn and indignation to settle upon his dusky face. Then his ips were seen to part, and with all the 4isdain and insult which he could throw into his foge, he asked: Ugh! what does young Sleepy-Hyes, the dog of a Sioux, want here?” “Scalps!” was the prompt and laconic reply of the haughty chief, as a grim smile swept over his broad, sensual face. The hands of our young friends quickly flew to their belts; but, despite this hostile manifes- tation, young Sleepy-LXyes never moved a mus- cle, but seemed to be totally oblivious to the movement. Omaha’s native vindictiveness was beginning to rise to a point almost beyond restraint. ‘* Let the friends of Omaha,” he said, address- ing his friends, ‘‘ look upon Sleepy-Hyes, the maurderer of their friends, and say whether he gull stand there and defiantly tell us he is here £or scalps.” Still Sleepy-Eyes never moved a muscle, but vtained his silent, disdainful attitude. To our white friends it now became evident hat Onaaha was the object of his contempt, and inat he was waiting the address of an enemy aere worthy of his august recognition. Ved Travis addressed him in the Sioux dialect, «£ whieh ho was master. * “What does the young Sioux chief seek here done?” he asked. Young ge Ae kig drew himself up to his tull hight. His breast swelled out, and, with a flight toss of the ‘plutaed head, which indicated is recognition of young Travis, he replied: ‘*These woods are the hunting-grounds of the Sioux. He has a right to go where his will dic- tates. What do the young pale-faces seek here on our hunting-ground?” “Shelter from the storm was the object that brought us to this cabin,” replied Fred, eva- ys i ‘* But — carry arms,” said the chief, glanc- ing at their rifles leaning against the wall; “and a dog of an Omaha keeps you company.’ A fierce, bie “ao light shot from the eyes of Omaha. His fingers tightened upon the haft of his tomahawk, and but for. the look which Fred gave him he would have struck the chief down. He had learned forbearance of the white man; and, turning on his heel with a contemptuous smile, walked away. But of all this the young chief seemed totally uncon- scious, showing with what contempt an In ards an enemy of his own race, ee. said Travis, ‘‘is our friend and ide. ‘But why do the young white braves wander so far from the lodges of their fathers?” “Go ask the waters of Okibogi and Spirit lakes. Listen to the winds whispering to the forest-leaves of what. they saw when the Sioux and Dacotals were there, Our fathers are dead, and their wigwams are in ashes.” ‘‘Then the children of the white braves have come to avenge their death ?” said Sleepy-Eyes. “We have not harmed the hair of a Sioux’s head,” replied Travis, ‘‘ We have come to as- certain whether the Sioux carried any of our friends away into captivity.” ‘*Go then toour village and see,” returned Sleepy-Eyes, and there was an undercurrent in his tone and looks which our friends did not fail to understand, - Death-Notch was altogether forgotten by the whites. They su ed at once Omaha had mistaken Sleepy-Eyes—who had entered by some secret age—for the young Scalp- Hunter. But it seemed a little strange to them that Sleepy-Eyes should appear so overbearing and cag unless it was a vail to conceal his Ba ears. vage : The storm without was growing fiercer each moment, go of rain, mingled with hail, to fall in a sullen and continuous roar upon the roof. , . ‘* Perhaps,” said young Travis, determined to show the chief no favors, “ i can tell us whether you have any of our friends captives, it ; ro ean if I refuse, what then?” asked the 2 ee ee ee eee a — The New York Library. Vol, L aca sual face of the young chief. He madenoreply | hawk rose and fell with deadly precision um to Travis’ remar from the passage. friends’ surprise to see a second Indian appear Then what was our young | in the doorway, from the shadows of the adja- | / and the few that were alive and able, fled from cent room. A dark suspicion rushed suddenly across our young friends’ minds, and that suspicion was soon verified when they saw this second savage step aside and a.third one appear, followed by a fourth, fifth, and so on, until ten grim and hideous Indian warriors stood before them, tomahawk in hand. Fred now knew the cause of the chief’s inso- lence, and realized what a terrible blunder they | had committed. Without a doubt the cunning Sioux had en- | sconced themselves in the dark loft, or adjacent room, before they had entered the cabin, and yet with such cunning and caution that not the least sign of their presence had been discovered | by the keen, watchful eyes of Omaha. An indiscriminate massacre now seemed im- minent. their weapons, and one movement toward their recovery would be the signal for the Indians to strike. In the breast pocket of his hunting- shirt, however, Fred Travis carried a small pistol, and in order to get hold of it without awakening suspicion, he calmly folded his arms across his breast, permitting his hand to slip into his pocket as he did so. At the same instant the same thought seemed to have inspired his companions, and instead of | manifesting a fear corresponding with their | danger, they assumed an attitude of ease and indifference. . . ! There were several moments of silence, during | which time the two lines of enemies stood eying | each other, the savages with faces aglow with | fiendish triumph; the whites with faces that wore the calmness of brave men when their lives stand in imminent peril. Sleepy-Eyes was the first to break the silence. The young men had laid aside most of | } a novelty. ‘female. The tide of battle turned in a moment. ** Death Notch! Death-Notch!” burst in ae. cents of terror from the lips of the savages, the hut, and sought safety under cover of the nightand storm. The conflict was ended. Six of the ten savages lay dead and dying. Thrée of the Avengers were seriously wounded, and but for the cramped position in which the sav- ages were compelled to fight with their toma- hawks, some of the Avengers would have un doubtedly been slain. In a minute, almost, after the confliot, most of its terrors were forgotten by the Young Avengers, in the startling realization »f their gage in the presence of the terrible Deat (-Notch, he who had burst in during the conflict ad rout ed the savages. R Not a little surprised were our friends to set that the young Scalp-Hunter was c/ abouf medium size, and wore a regular hunteg-garb of buck-skin. His head-gear, however, was quite It was a steel cap, not altogether unlike the morion worn by the warriors of the middie ages. To this cap was attacksd a beaver which entirely concealed the face. But masses , of long, rippling black hair fell down hig back, and black, fiery eyes gleamed through tt«, boles | of his mask. Fred. Travis’ mind at once reverted }o the youthful horseman he had seen thut day jn the forest—the same whom Omaha liad said was Death-Notch, and whom he had said was a The being before him szemed larger than the horseman; but then he was dressed differently. And there was that same wealth of raven tresses, regal head and swelling chest. But were they one and the same person Our young friends seeing that he offered them no violence—in fact, had proven a friend in the most dangerous moment of their jives— supposed at once that he was some eccentrie He spoke to Fred Travis, who stood directly in | being, more daring than wise, front of him. ‘* Will the young pale-face still say he will keep Sleepy-Eyes a prisoner? Or does his bravery grow weak at the sight of my warriors?” Fred felt as keenly the retort of the chief \as he did the peril of his situation; but with cred- itable promptness he replied: ‘*T care not to idle words with Sleepy-Eyes, but if he has come here to quarrel with us, he will never loave here alive with his warriors.” savage’s lips, and but: for wey might have heard the click of in retorted: Ee Sleepy-Eyes quarrels not with an inferior et confusion 'red’s pistol- “ But he will sealp innocent women and chil- dren, like a sneaking coward,” replied Fred, indignantly. The youth saw what was comin —that a conflict was inevitable—and he resolve to resent in words, at least, the insults of the subtle savage. “ Ugh!” aig the chief. speaks now li tongue.” These were the last words the contemptuous chief ever uttered, There was a flash before his eyes, the crack of a pistol, and he fell dead with a bullet-hole through his forehead. "Then arose a savage yell, mingled with the battle-cry of the Young Avengers, and the next instant the two lines seemed to dissolve into one. Knivesand pistols leaped from their concealments, and tomahawks flashed in the light of the fire as they rose and. fell through “The pale-face without rung t shrieks of the dying and the clash of steel. —_— CHAPTER VII. THE CONFLICT AND ITS RESULT. Tr was a fearful moment there, within the) and was seen to sta death of deserted hut. Stung to fury by the their chief, the savages poy hard upon the Young Avengers. But the latter were trained, strong and skillful, and while they managed to ward off the blows of the savages, they made every shot and thrust count, S@mie grappled and fought hand to hand, but, with his toma- hawk in his hand, Omaha struck right and left with terrible precision. It seemed impossible that men could fight so hard and long, and none of them 1, but for several minutes the conflict seemed about equal, None had fallen, yet several were wounded on both sides, for the floor was getting wet and slippery with their blood. : Suddenly, above the din of the conflict and roar of the storm, a wild voice was heard with- out demanding admittance to the cabin, each shout eg accompanied by a heavy blow upon the cabin Goor. ment. The door yielded, and a figure rushed \—the figure of aman. In one hand he held a to . in the other one of the then most deadly wi ms of the day, a Colt’s revolver. t er weapon report after report rung out, and, as an accompaniment, the toma ~ ite Tae or ke a weak squaw—with a crooked | the air; and high above the roar of the storm | os cries of the combatants, the is bosom; but to his threat, the chief | Hunter,” | se and wonder, | pore was the Scalp-Hunter enabled to d But this lasted only for a mo- , strange. ae SSS. ee a Fred Travis was the first to speak. ** Your coming was very opportune.” “ Glad to hear it,” said the stranger, in a tone that was soft and musical asa woman's. ‘ But then you were pressing the red devils closely, my poung friends.” ‘Pardon me, but may I ask who you are?” The masked avenger made no reply, but rais- ing aloft his tomahawk, he struck the wall twice with its keen edge, and chipped out a small A low, silent and mocking laugh escaped the | notch thereon. ; this ah 1 ‘*Do you understand that?” he asked. “Tt is the “ As such I am known,” replied the avenger, though I hope I am not as terrible a creature to you as I am reputed to be to the whites. The whites are my own race and friends; but the Sioux—curse them!—I am mad-crazy with hatred and vengeance toward them!” The young es: Noein did not remove his mask, but passed his hand over it occasionally, to see that no part of his face was exposed, But, despite this eccentricity, the Young Aveng, ers became decidedly easy over the true char- acter of Death-Notch. That he was young thera was not a single doubt. That he was a deadly foe of the savages was no more than they had anticipated, and those fabulous stories of his colossal size were proven to be **moonshine.” ~ A ery of pain from one of the Avengers drew the attention of his companions from Death. Notch, and they at once proceeded to ascertain the extent of each one’s injury, and dress the wounds as well as their surgical skill would ad- mit.. In this they were assisted by the youn Scalp-Hunter, whoshowed that he had a heart capable of the tepderest of human sympathies, ‘he wounded being cared for, the ban removing the lifeless savages from the cabin; and while thus engaged, the crack of a rifle was suddenly heard without. A bullet whizzed into the room through the open door, and Death- Notch was heard to utter a low, quick gasp, ger and sink to his knees. he door was instantly closed and barred by Omaha, while Fred Travis sprung to Death« Notch’s assistance, exclaiming: ; ‘* My God, young friend, are you shot?’ ‘t Not bad,” was the laconic reply of the you Scalp-Hunter, as he arose to his feet. “cy aide however, receive quite a blow from an ounce ball of lead; but there was insufficient powder behind it to do its work. See there.” As he ke, he drew from the bosom of his hunting-shirt a battered bullet, and handed it to Fred for inspection. There was no trick about it. It was a genuine leaden ball, still warm with the heat of the powder and the frio-- woThe sigkt of this bullet filled th e sight 0. 18 e e young k with no little - aoe ; the It looked a little Death-Notch saw that our friends were pur: zled, and at once drew their attention ge He ne i a the exciter ¥ and the Lake Avengers found themselves anger of a leaden ball? a: Ao yy iz Ad A Fe ath-notch of the young Scalp 1S — from the
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They found him to be a person of more than or- . dinary character. His anguage was guarded, but showed evidence of some educational refine- ments and good thoughts. But when asked shy he pursued such a course of vengeance, he | replied : ‘I can not help it. This may seem an absurd assertion to you, butit is true. There are times, however, when my soul shudders with horror at the deeds of my vengeance. Then again my heart becomes fired uncontrollably with that maddening passion. i a welcome resort of safety under the strong | arm of the red-skins, whose will they always aim to keep so pliable that it will readily bend to their own purposes. ; The country in and about Stony Cliff was in- | fested with a band of these prairie freebooters, I can not fight it back, It | comes upon me like the spasms of one addicted | to periodical attacks of insanity. this, I feel that I have a just cause for my deeds of revenge. tifles me in my course. And there are other savages yet to feel the weight of my vengeance, ee! as I have felt and suffered the weight of their 4 barbarity. The cries of a tortured mother and a angel sister ring in my ears in fancy as they did in reality, for long bitter weeks, while in the 4 hands of these red fiends. And’as I was com- pelled to witness their suffering, agony, and be shame, so shall their captors witness my re- iz venge.” Yet, for all | And { think sometimes, however | absurd that thought may be, that Heaven jus- | led by a notorious scamp called Pirate Paul. The depredations of this band had been less frequent at Stony Cliff than any other settle- | ments along the river below, and for overa year Pirate Paul had reamed over a goodly por- tion of the western. territory, creating as much fear and excitement, almost, among the settlers as Inkpaducah and his host. Buf, most singular about this never be traced to any den or stronghold, and their ubiquity seemed marvelous. However, it what was | was generally believed ‘that their head-quarters | were somewhere in the vicinity of Stony Cliff. A deep silence followed this revelation of sor- | row and vengeance. alike touched with pity and revenge. The Avengers felt that their own fates were in a ie manner connected with that of the young gp 1 Enter, and at once made known to him the ob- jeci that had led them into the country. When he had heard their ny of the murder of their friends at the lakes, Death-Notch ex- pressed his heartfelt sympathies for them, and promised to aid them, as far as possible, in their endeavors to rescue their friends. Yet, despite these kind-hearted manifestations, he would not reveal his features. For over an hour the storm continued to rage in all its fury. Finally it began to break away, and by midnight the heavens were clear and the stars were shinin, moon came up, and then Death- 7 the Young Avengers, and said: : ae “ Friends, the storm is over. We are only ie | eee about ten miles from the Indian village, and if aa \ we remain here any longer, the savage, or who- ever it was that attempted my life a while : - ago, will bring the whole Sioux tribe upon us.” te ‘*Then we had better not delay a moment in tech turned to ’ << seeking other quarters,” said Fred Travis. in council, Pirate Paul and his men, numbering | ory ?” ye — ia *. The little band at once proceeded to act upon | in all fifteen, were in council, also. The apart- | *“Young—about twenty. She’s handsome, og ; '. Fred’s suggestion, and procuring their weapons, | ment in which these freebooters sat was a spa- | and got sweet blue eyes, pretty ripe lips, and a +i ie ‘they left the deserted hut. It was, however, cious subterranean ge bearing the handiwork | heavenly form.” "¢ x with great difficulty that the three wounded | of the great Architect of the Hills. ) ‘Quite a vivid description,” laughed Pirate ;*% youths journeyed through the forest without | It is the hour of midnight when we would | Paul; ‘but what seems to be her objection to — assistance. conduct the reader through mazes of tangled | Shirely ?” ie foe . Death-Notch advised them to proceed at once | forests, and dark, echoless hill chambers into | ‘Don’t know. Acts as though she’s knowa a % oe ‘to Stony Cliff, where the wounded would be | the hidden ranche of Pirate Paul. | him before.” : ‘"saf@ and receive the proper attention. The vil-| Around a rough deal table upon which were | Pirate Paul started, and Finchley noticed that lage was some fifteen miles away, and acting | cards, dice, bottles and glasses, we see the rob- | he became uneasy. a upon the masked youth’s advice, they bent their | bers sitting. Each of them, forsome reason or | ‘‘ Finchley,” he at length said, “I want you te Bed _ _ footsteps in that direction. other, has a red head-band around his brow. —- a close watch upon the movements of that = The Scalp-Hunter was to accompany them | To this is attached a small, white vail that | girl. She may be an enemy of mine, and at a . several miles, when his homeward course would | hangs down over the face, so that we cannot see | tempt to defeat my meetings with Sylveen lead him in another direction. the features, Upon each of these vails we see a | Gray. If I find that such is the case, then will As they moved slowly onward, guided by | red figure, and by these figures the robbers | I do what I have long contemplated: c A Omaha, Fred and the mysterious Death-Notch | know each other instead of their names. They ) Sylveen away by force, and compel her to wed ei followed on a short distance behind, conversing | seem to adhere to method and form—a form as |; me.” = a ~ in low tones. They had journeyed in this man-; old as that of the Senatorial Council of the | “Til keep a watch out, Capt’in Ralph,” re- -_ o ner several miles when those in front discovered | Roman Inquisition. turned the robber-spy. : that Fred and Death-Notch were nowhere in| Pirate Paul was known as Number One, and; ‘‘Then hasten Beck to the Cliff, and — ee ; _ sight or hearing. So they stopped and waited | the flaming figure upon his vail told which the | me from time to time of the movements of the 3 for them several minutes, but they did notcome | captain was. They sat around the table in the | settlers.” es ap. | order of their numbers. One being first; and | ‘All square, Cap. Good-night,” replied the . Meanwhile they. were startled by what seemed | although there were but fifteen present, the last . py and rising from his seat, he glided away se to be the ws Sg of a pistol. The sound was be- | number was Seventeen. Why was this! Glance | through the cavern like an eel. 5 hind, though some distance away; | around that circle of form and you will see that | Pirate Paul, the young robber chief, now sat 5 _ There was something singular about Fred’s | Seven and Ten are missing. alone, and he at once became deeply absorbed in absence and about that shot. What did it all | They are not boisterous in their conversation, | thought. As the moments wore on, he r eo mean? Surely they had not got into trouble | They speak in guarded tones, as though afraid | his elbow on the table and his head on his palm. . with a band of skulking Indians, or other sounds | of being overheard. Cards and dice seem to | In this position he fell asleep. ae would have been heard. Was it possible that | occupy the minds of the robbers as we enter; but Something like half an hour had passed, when” ~ & Death-Notch had dealt foully with Fred ¢ as the moments wear on, they hear a clear a figure wrapped in a blanket, with a white vail . The Avengers sent Omaha back to. investi- young voice say: | over the face, stole on tip-toe from the shadows : ooo eh eete, But he m returned and Fred was not **Number Ten seems to be detained for some of the cavern toward the sleeping robber. an. ee, with him. His face wore a clouded expression } reason or other.” ) When within reach of him it stopped, and from is abd j that spoke louder than words to hiscompanions, | __‘‘ Give him time, Captain Paul,” said Number | the folds of the blanket put out a small, white” i Fred Travis could not be found ! Three. ‘ You know it’s a long way to Stony | hand. 4 2 —_ Cliff.” It was a -woman’s hand, without a doubt. pac CHAPTER VII. ; A low, half-suppressed laugh “followed this | Carefully it lifted the vail that covered the face , a THE HIDDEN RANCHE. ! | remark, | of Pirate Paul, and the figure gazed upon the i, ie For more than a century past, white rene-| ‘Probably the settlers are on the alert, or | handsome features of the robber, expressionless = gades, outlaws and prairie pirates have been one | some one is at the cabin, and can’t get away,” | in slumber. * eae ? of the most active elements of evil of the fron- | said Five. ‘‘ Never fear. Thespy will be here For a moment the figure remained thus, ap- a tiers, and have been almost as detrimental to the | at the proper tine.” | parently transfixed by the face of the y advancement of civilization as the red-man bim- ; ving become the dregs of moral society Se 2h ~ and not being able to live without violating the a Jaws of their country, flee from the vengeance of that law to the frontier, where they can have ample scope for their wicked inclinations. And rae here within the dominions of the red-man, they — gather into bands, and although there may bea : wertain code of honor among themselves, that lnonor does notextend beyond their own dens. nd ide ber eae raids upon the settlements mt \ nt parties, these freebooters are sel- es ee at ~S , Every heart had been | bright and sparkling. The | Not : pelt. See seg Shara usually composed of a class of men | ‘ who, iy roaaiye aparity They had been traced by experienced scouts to the river’s bank within a mile of the village. Here they had always taken to the water and further traces of them could not be found. It was very strange, too, where they went to. In fact, the whole thing was clothed in a bit of mystery that the shrewdest detective and most skillful scouts could not solve. In the meantime, Pirate Paul was apprised of every miovement they made, and laughed to scorn their-every attempt at finding him. By a systematic procedure, and the assistance of a number of able spies, he was always ready to defeat their plans; and upon one occasion he managed to implicate his pursuers as the real robbers, themselves. On the night following that of the storm, a number of the settlers of Stony Cliff were met in. consultation with several settlers of Clontarf’s Post—a settlement some fifteen miles down the | river. The settlers of the latter place had, on the night before the storm, sustained a heavy rob- | bery, and on the night of the storm two or three persons had been robbed at Stony Cliff. The settlers of Clontarf had tracked the rob- bers within two miles of Stony Cliff, when the storm came on and obliterated every sign of their trail. The two parties were met in order to take some steps for a more general and thorough vee for Pirate Paul’s den than had ever been made. But, at the same time that the settlers were ‘Yes, if he hasn’t turned traitor, like El Pardou,” said Six. ‘*In that case,” replied Pirate Paul, “ we'll serve him as we did Pardou: take him to the woods and hang him, and put Death-Notech’s stamp upon him. But then I think we need have no fear.” ** Not a bit o’ it,” growled Thirteen, “ for he’s comin’ this blessed minit.” True enough, footsteps were heard descending a flight of steps, and a moment later the person - question appeared in their midst, with vailed ace. It. the spy, Number Ten. “Well, you're back at lost,” said Pirato Paul. ot, was the laconic reply of Tem “Any pews Si cndees co aa pirate band, it could ! Saat yi 3 oe | h, the Destroyer. 7 ‘Lots of it. The settlers have been in deli. eration as to Pirate Paul and Co. The Clon. | tarfers are terrible wrothy over that little | affair.” ‘* Ah! what else ?” Say that Scott Shirely, the Hudson Bay | agent, has discovered and revealed to Sylveen | Gray the fact that her lover, Ralph St. piss is Pirate Paul.” | Again the robbers laughed. . a Go on, Ten; what else ?’ asked the impatien® | chief. “They blame Death-Notch of El Pardou’s | death. They say the Gregory family have some little cash and valuables. The search for our | ranche will begin just as soon as Scott Shirely and a party of his traders and trappers return from the Omaha an where they’re gone for peltries. Theseven Young poe under the Friendly Omaha, are still at the Cliff, though they are yet in a terrible stew about their cap- tain, Fred Travis, I think they callhim. They’ve | been searching all day for him ; they think he _ has fallen a victim to Death-Notch.” | Well,” said Pirate Paul,” we'll have to lay quiet for a while. At least, until that general ) search for our ranche is over with; and we had | better arrange it so as to take a part in the search, But while those avengers are about, we'll have to becareful. That aha is a cun- ning chap, with an eye like a cat and a nose like a hound. After all is quiet, we'll wait on the Gregory family and see about their cash and valuables.” After some further remarks the council of robbers broke up. The vailed men arose from their seats, and sought their couches in various arts of the cavern. Pirate Paul and Number en, however, still remained in a private consul- tation. “Now, Finchley,” said the robber chief, when they were alone, *‘ tell me what you learned of Sylveen Gray—whether Scott Shirely is “yf to win her from her robber-lover, er. “It’s hard tellin’, captin. Miss Gray is no | fool. True, soa bee Be her that you, capt’in war Pirate Paul—that is, Ralph St. rine bub | she don’t seem to believe it. She and + | tha Gregory are thick as a swarm of bees, and I | heard Miss Martha tell her that she did not like | the looks of Scott sage . “What kind of a looki g girl is that Greg irate-chief; then it turned and glided away ig © direction it had come. And Pirate Paul slept on, CHAPTER IX. 4 A BLOW IN THE D LET us now return and look after Fred Travia, whom we left with Death-Notch, in a preceding _ ter. oun and the m us ES ve conve: -witho baci any ae “ce can rou
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———— taken upon myself an oath never to enter a white settlement until I have unburdened my heart of its load of vengeance. Besides, there is another person in this world claiming my presence and protection.” “ Ah! a wife, or sister, perhaps?” thought Fred, but he did not give expression to his thoughts. He did not wish to appear inquisitive, so evaded the subject by at once introducing another. They moved on, conversing in low tones; but Fred noticed, finally, that Death-Notch’s voice was changing—that he spoke in a quick, ex- sited tone. At length he camo to a sudden halt, and said: “My God, Travis! It is coming on me again! Goon and leave me. Imight—” “What is the matter, Death-Notch?” asked Fred, startled by the unearthly expression of his voice, and the dull scintillation of his eyes through the holes of his mast. “Tam going mad, Travis, mad!” replied Death-Notch, grasping a limb, as if for support. ‘Oh God! such a passion is awful. It is not one of physical or mental debility, but a fit—a fit of revenge. I can not keepit back. Go, leave me, uick—quieh, Travis!” “But, Death-Notch let me stay and take care of you.” “Ho! ho! a legion of demons couldn't hold me, You have beon with mo already too long. When I am aivay from all white faces, save hers, then 1 am human, unless a savage is about. But faces that are white and voices like my own recall days that are gone—they excite me—put that awful devil in my heart! Go, Travis, go, go, go!” : / Filled with that species ‘of terror which one experiences when in the presence of a madman, Fred, in obedience to the strange youth’s re- quest, turned and prished rapidly on in pursuit of his friends; though he was loth to leave the mysterious Death-Notch alone, for fear harm would befal! him while laboring under his vio- lent attack of madness. During his halt with the youth, Fred had per- mitted quite a distance to grow. between him and his friends: and now, as he fled onward from the mad Death-Notch, he suddenly became aware that he wasoff their trail. Stillhe pressed an, in hopes of coming up with them soon; but im this ho was disappointed. He stopped and listened for them, but he could hear nothing. He was in the act of calling to them, when the quick, heavy tread of moccavined feet broke m his ears. Hesupposed at once it must be eath-Notch following him, and as he did not wish to encounter the mad youth, nor use severe raeans of protection sone him, he sped on toward Stony Cliff. Still, that ominous footstep sounded behind him, and he renewed his ex- ertions; yet, despite his efforts, his pursuer gained upon him each moment. ey At length he felt his strength beginning to fail, and that swift patter, patter of feet filled him with terror. It was a precarious situation to be thus pursued by a friend—a mad, crazy friend—who was seeking his life—the life he had been instrumental in saving at the deserted Imt. Travis pressed every nerve into the effort, and exerted himself to the utmost. But, stead- ily, those pursuing feet came nearer and nearer, Fred turned at last, and drew his pistol. “Back! back!” he shouted; “is it you, Death- Notch?” : “Yes! yes!” echoed an unearthly voice. Fred raised his pistol on the shadowy form he saw approaching through the undergrowth. He pressed the trigger as it came nearer, There was a flash and asharp report. . Still the figure came on. The bullet had missed Fred grappled with the form. A sharp strug- gle ensued, but it lasted only for a moment. Then young Travis sunk unconscious under a crushing blow upon the head. Had Death- Notch dealt that blow? CHAPTER X. ' A MIDNIGHT DRAMA. : Tue hour was utidnight. The Little Sioux river, swollen by the recent rain, was plunging madly on, bearing upon its turbulent, ti robbing bosom immense bodies of driftwood and debris. There was a sullen roar of the waves as the beat and churned themselves to a foam, in their mad endeavors to break beyond the confines of their channel. Tuis, however, they will soon do—in less than an hour—when the little, over- gorged streams have poured their united mites into evi river. “ “Forth from the deep shadows of the woods bordering the stream, there suddenly emerged a buman form, bearing in its arms a heavy, life- ed og d, and he e stopped, an several moments. Upon the bank of the angry river gazed up and down for by lay a large log upon which the figure no i. sud- | "Before her lay a stall ‘silver-mo — oN wet a eta Neder emer aa ome Si Nee ee ee ee Sa Se a ee ee eee ee ee ee eS ee eee a eee | brow of Grecian mold and | shoulders, | She was dressed in a frock reaching only to | anda murmur of thanks her knees, and made in a style | with her form and pay. A little straw hat, v ae \y ater ¥ Oi r) cee ker’ ew ey a ee oe a? —$—»-__w denly issued from the solitude of the woods. | while in her belt she wore a small stiletto-iike Then, forth from the dark, deep shadows of the | knife, tangled forest came a grim, gaunt wolf. The prowling brute stole near the log upon which the figure had deposited its burden, and sniffed and snarled around it, then, as with af- fright, ® seampered away into the shadows of the wood again. 3ut it soon returned; nor was it alone. A dozen of its grim, gray associates came along. Around the log the wolfish pack began to gather, as if preparing for a banquet, Their sharp barks and lortg howls awoke the silent echoes for miles, and called other friends troop- ing to the spot. Soon: a score of dark, shaggy forms were She handled the paddle with t skill and | dexterity, and sent the little craft flying up the | stream, rt ia within the shadows of the western bank. A bright, healthful glow was upon her soft, rosy cheeks, and a sparkling light in her dark ey és. Lightly the little canoe danced over the waters, while its fair occupant kept a close watch around her, as if exzecting some one, or as if on the iook-out for danger. aoe continued to pad- dle her canoe on up the stream, never permitting her vigilance to relax for a moment. At length her. eye was arrested by a number seething and plunging like a vortex about the | of dark specks sailing in the air, some distance log. ‘Why were they there? What quarry were they about to attack? Still they continue to close around the log, nearerand nearer, their glowing eyes scintillat- ing like beads of fire floating athwart the dark- ness. At last one of the brutes ventures to shut his: glittering teeth upon the object upon the log, but at the same instant they all recoil like a receding wave, and a groan—a human groan issues from the center of that circle of ravenous beasts. A human being is lashed upon the log! Who was it? And who with the heart of a demon had been so cruel as to put a fellow-being in such an awful position? The wolves soon recover from their affright. They rally, and again begin circling around the log, gradually closing in toward it. They are cunning, and feel their way with caution, Another groan bursts from the lips of the un- fortunate being. Again the wolves recoil, but they soon close in again. They are growing bolder. They are closing for the attack. The doomed man—for man it is—seems to un- derstand his danger. He struggles to free him- up the river. They were buzzards. nd the | forest beauty knew that their presence was | attracted there by something below—something that promised them a feast. They might be only following a party of sav; ages like the sneaking wolf, for by instinct these birds have learned that the trail of a war-party is invariably marked with bloodshed and desert ed quarry.’ ; The maiden permitted the canoe to come to 4 stand while she watched the circling birds. She saw, at once they were coming closer and closer, and seemed to be following the course of the river. She felt satisfied that it was some object on the bosom of the stream that the filthy birds wero following. It might bea lifeless carcass, or, perchance, a convoy of savages going down ‘the river. Startled by the last thoug t, and grasping the paddle firmiy, she ran her, canoe close in shore, and concealed herself under the drooping willows in a little cove, from whence she could still command a view of the river, some distance above, She saw the buzzards still approaching—at times almost settling down to the tree-tops, then starting up again as if with affright. She now self; he tries to break the thongs that hold him | felt sure they were following a party of Indians, down; he hears the roar of the river hard by; and now he feels their hot breath upon his cheek; he cannot defend himself—he can only cry to Heaven for help. But he seems deserted and listened intently to catch the dip of their ee or some sound that would confirm her relief. y, But she heard nothing. The birds came closer by all—even Heaven. For now a huge beast | and closer—now so clear that she can see their fastens its fang: upon his arm, and tears at the | bald heads and naked coral necks bent down- tender, quivering flesh. Oh, what a piteous cry bursts forth upon the air! But, there is no pitying ear to hear ib. The wolves have nothing to fear., They seem to know it, and close in for their feast. But hark! what thunderous noise? It comes like the booming roar of breakers dashing over astony reef. It is water! The swollen waves ward toward the bosom of the river. Something is there. She can see it rounding the bend of the stream above her. It was a large log floating on the surface. As it comes nearer, a ery bursts from the lips oi the forest ewe A and _ horror is stam upof her fair, sweet face. Upon the log she sees 4 human form lashed. It is the form of a man. of the river have broken from its banks, and | It is bound upon the back, while the white, are sweeping madly along the shore in one | white face is staring heavenward. But there is mighty, resistless flood, bearing everything be- fore it. The wolves utter a cry of affright. They turn from the object of their banquet to flee. But they are-too late. The flood grasps them up in its strong embrace, and the away on its foaming bosom, But they are not alone, the torrent, is that human form still lashed to the log. CHAPTER XI. A WHITE, WHITE FACE. no motion in it. It is lifeless! . ¢ CHAPTER XII. ee AN ANGEL OF MERCY. LikE a graven.image, the forest beauty sat are carried | with eyes fixed on the terrible sight before her —a man, apparently dead, and lashed upon @ In their midst, tossing and rolling upon | floating log. As the terrible purest came nearer, she saw that the unfortunate being was a white man—a mere youth. His arms were bent_backward, and bound in a painful ition. His clothes were soaking wet, and his dark hair was tangled Tne scene changes. It is midday. The sun | over his head and neck in dripping masses, looks down from a clear sky. The air is cool and bracing, and comes laden with a fresh per- fume, sweet as the delicious fragrance of Araby or Ind. The forest is redolent with its songs of | unfortunate youth there, and nature—who has not heard them in the wilder- ness? It was like walking through a wildwood just from the bands of the Crea forest, where, but the night before, winds wrestled with the giant tre spent its fury aud might, and sunk back within its channels. ; ; Not a sound could be heard nor a living object, The place seemed tenantless—an unin- r to traverse that | formation. the storm- | a large buzzard es, and where | motionless head of the youth. death and mystery stalked abroad, And the | ened with . strange horror and epee for the river, which had broken from its confines and | next inst she ex e fil rushed and roared across the lowlands, had | bury ie the Human pity ne kindness asserted their ower within the breast of the maiden. She ee at once some cruel foe had placed that e resolved to free him. But would it be of earthly use? Waa he not beyond human aid#—dead? , The maiden gazed iptently at him for this in-_ le down on the log, by the Her soul sick: ted to see thy bird in eyes of the dead. But a tho struck her—she would prevent the mu- tilation of that fair, boyish face. . She grasped her rifle and drew back the ham- mer. Just then she saw the vulture crane its. Re } .* J Be To her horror and disgust she saw . seen. habited solitude—unpressed by the foot of man | neck and peer down into the pale, upturned — or beast—a hallowed temple, er the home of in- visible spirits. face before it, with an almost human interro- gative look. Then it uttered a startled cry But this was not the case. There was life | spread its great somber wings, and rose alott within the forest and upon the river. As the sun declined westward from his noon- into the air. . A cry of joy burst involuntarily from the tide meridian, a small bark-canoe shot suddenly | maiden’s lips. To her the bird’s actions spoke out into the river from the mouth of a little creek, over whose waters the dense foliage formed a dark, green archway. ver In the little craft was seated a maiden, who had scarcely passed her sixteenth summer. She was a being of rare. loveliness—sylphlike in | of the floating log. dark and | blade from her belt, and hastily severed the ~ A | thongs that bound the beautiful young stranger form and feature. Her eyes were dark lustrous, and shaded by long silken lashes. wealth of dark hair was gathered back from a rmitted to flow ie nm ” rippling waves down over ler snowy neck a harmonizing ly the labor of her own hands, crowr er po Rae ine Maa Pace igh oe = ; Wines = + 2 r Se Jainer than words. The youth bound upon the og was not dead! t did not require a second thought to decide the maiden’s course of action. A few stro of her paddle carried the little craft anny & She drew the keen little in his awful position. 5 He was Spey unconscious, and it required great effort of the maiden to lift hip. Soro in canoe. But she accomplished it with saf c to Heaven issued her tremulous lips. The next moment she was driving be a tag tag Saag the river. to the mouth of the bi She soon came outh of greek troup which. se. : river, a few minutes befor red a . ve . My ety, ere from rs * ‘ +
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Lath 2 dtd cpa dl
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“ gonseious face befuore her. 10 —— archway, sweet and cool as an Arcadian aisle, she headed her tiny craft, and plied the paddle with all the vigor her delicate frame possessed. Ever and anon she gazed down into the un- It was boyish in feature, yet manly in expression. It was hand- some, and wore a look of refinement; and the maiden’s heart beat wildly and joyfully in an- ticipation of the moment when those eyes would open and those pale lips speak to her. On she drove the canoe. She had traveled oyer half a mile, when she turned abruptly to left, and entered the mouth of another stream. This she followed through dark forest and under tangled foliage for some fifty rods, when she suddenly burst into a little sunlit glade, in the center of which stood a little vine- embowered cabin. : It was a lovely spot—a miniature paradise. Flowers grew on every side, while the whole was compassed on all sides by the dark, green forest. Running her canoe ashore, the maiden landed, and, tripping along the little glade, entered the cabin with a familiarity that told it was her home. Ina moment she returned, followed by a young man whose features bore a striking resemblance to her. It was the youth that me Bylveon Gray, the day previous, near Stony Cliff. It was Ralph St. Leger! His face did not look so bright as when we first saw him. Itwasa little pale and ha; rgard, and his eyes were heavy and hollow, as though he had just recovered from a spell of sickness. ‘““Where did you find the young man, sister Vida?’ asked Ralph, as together they crossed the ‘glade. “On the river, Ralph, lashed to a floating log. Some person must have had a demon’s heart to bind him there. He is so young and _ handsome, and I know he is not a bad man.” They came to the canoe, and as gi Sé. Leger gazed down upon the face of the un- conscious youth in the canoe, his face turned very pale, and he started slightly. But his sis- ter did not notice his emotion. She wastoo ab- _gorbed in emotions of her own over the young stranger’s welfare. ‘ ‘“ Ah! @ stranger,” said St. Leger. “Yes,” responded Vida, ‘and think you there is any hope for him?” ‘There may be. I will carry him to the cabin, and we must do all we can to restore him Ralph stepped into the canoe, and lifting the ~ wneonscious young stranger in his strong arms, parried him to the cabin and placed him on a ft couch, linge 7 “Now, Vida,” aid Ralph, ‘you will have to be spry. We'll have abor Jong and hard to bring him to life. While { chafe the limbs and bathe his brow, you prepare some strong herb tea for etdtinnlanta, see, little Vida, the hand- some face of the strauger has awakened a won- derful interest in your young heart.” . Tears of joy gathered in Vida’s eyes. The long lashes drooped upon the olive cheeks, and a crimson flush swept over her pretty face. She made no reply to her brother’s remark, but turned away and was soon busy in another apartment, preparing stimulants for the young, unconscious stranger. CHAPTER XIII. ‘a NEW-EXISTENCE, ‘Wuen Fred Travis recovered from the stun- ning blow, which he was sure had been dealt him by Death-Notch, he first became conscious of the fact that he was lying upon a soft couch while dark walls surrounded him. He could not recall his situation. His senses were confused and bewildered, his brain was feverish and ex- cited. Weird visions of demons were flitting before hiseyes, and now and then he could see a colossal shadow pass before him. He was conscious of existence, yet he was in doubt as to the state of that existence. His surroundings did not seem of earth. He had surely passed into another sphere. His senses struggled to assert their former power, but qoeietntaw like a vague charm held them asunder .-@ charm that no effort of his own will could break. =, But, suddenly, a sound like that of a footstep broke upon his ear, and that strange spell was broken, and reason. with Fred Travis had as- gerted its throne, Hestarted up and gazed in confusion around him. He felt of his aching, throbbing head. A Ramage was upon it. But where was het He gazed around the room in which he lay. It was almost dark, yet ne was enabled to see its outer walls were made of logs. Before htm hung a curtain that separ- ated his room from one more commodious. He drew aside bec pick and looked out into the apartment. He started with surprise. The room was flooded with the light of day and furnished with the elegance of an Oriental boudoir! The walls were covered with woven hangings of a vich, harmoni - | found the lifeless bodies of Indians. I owers and fruits fresh a little window lay a stringed musical instru- | ment. ; | Fred Travis was dumbfounded. He could | scarcely believe the evidences of his own eyes. Whose home was he in? Surely he had been transported to some other realm. No wildwood a could be so comfortable and luxurious as that, He starts. He héars a soft foots entering | theroom. He drops the curtain, and lays back | upon the couch. e gees a shadow flit across | the curtain. It was the shadow of a woman. | Was it an angel? | He had scarcely asked himself the question when the sound of music broke upon his ears, | sweet, harmonious and dulcet-like in its strains. | Some one was playing upon the instrument he had seen lying upon the ottoman. The air was solemn and slow, and awakened every emotion in the young man’s breast,” He listened to the music entirely enraptured. Suddenly the clear, sweet voice of a woman entered into the melody with a harmonious accompaniment, and to Fred | it seemed as though an angel’s voice was pour- | ing out its inspirations in one holy, enchanting strain. He listened for several moments. The | music had now descended to one of those low, dying chords which the ear devours so eagerly, and he could no longer resist the desire that | tempted his heart. He lifted one corner of the curtain, and gazed, unobserved, upon the sweet, fair face of the young singer, Vida St. Leger. For fully a minute he feasted his eyes upon | her form and face, his very soul entranced, not | only by the rapturous melody of her voice, but the loveliness of her features. At length he sunk back upon his couch, his heart in a tumult of emotions. And now his mind became actively engaged in thought, | Somewhere he had seen that fair face before. Was it not in his dreams? He at long. One by one he recalled the incidents of the past | two days. 1 He started suddenly with a arange shudder. | It was the same face as that of the youthful horseman that he and his friends had seen the | day before, galloping through the woods in male attire—the same whom Omaha had said was Death-Notch! But, that such a fair, delicate creature could be so terrible a being as the young Scalp-Hun- ter, ued utterly preposterous. But, who was she? Surely not a demon in angel disguise, ‘At last the music ceased, Then Fred heard her footsteps approaching him. The curtain was drawn aside, and the eyes of Vida St, Leger met those of her invalid protege. Kee She startéd slightly on seeing. hiS*eyes were open, and gazing up into hers with a conscious light; but, quickly recovering from her’sudden emotion, she said: “You are better, I see, young stranger.” Her voice thrilled Fred’s heart with renewed strength and hope. ‘Indeed, faix maiden,” he replied, rising to his elbow, ‘‘I knew not until a few minutes ago that I was in existence since I was stricken down in the forest. But, how came I here?’ “Are you strong enough to hear a long story?’ Vida questioned. “Yes,” he replied, ‘I feel strong as ever.” Vida then seated herself near his couch, and narrated to him the terrible position in which she found him; how she had rescued him from the log and carried him home in her canoe, and how, for the remainder of that day and the night that followed, she and her brother had stood over him and labored to rekindle the spark of life that still lingered within his body. Fred was astounded by her narrative. He knew nothing of the terrible ordeal through . which he had passed after he was beaten down on the night of the storm. It was well that he did not. In the kindest of words he thanked and blessed Vida for her goodness of heart toward him, They talked on—one subject led to another, and finally Vida asked: ‘How came you to be beaten down uncon- scious in the woods? Surely it was not done by an Indian, or he would never have left his work ) undone, nor taken the trouble to tie you to alog | and send you adrift.” ‘*-You have heard of Death-Notch, the young Scalp-Hunter, have you not ?” Fred asked. Vida grew pale, and fear seemed to take pos- | session of her. “Yes,” she replied, “I have ofttimes heard of him, and the name fills me with or.” “Tt was he that beat me down,” said Fred, and he watched the face of the maiden closely. A little ory burst from her lips. 4 ““Death-Notch is a terrible being,” she said. ““T have never seen him, but within a stone’s throw of our cabin his terrible death-notch is on two or three trees, under which heres Ralph | more on brother’s account than my own, for he. Pe imavare The New York Library. various kinds, and a vase of flowers that diffused | their sweet perfume through the room. A beau- / pang, tiful cornucopia ear upon the wall and was | filled with fragrant from the wildwood: Upon a low ottoman near | Fred, apologetically ; | calling is unknown to me. | istrue, but only sufficient for our sustenance, = | concealed from. me. | ed with his absence. “Oh, sir! she exclaimed, as with a sudden _ “I wish you had never asked me that question.” : “T beg a thousand pardons, dear girl,” said apologet ‘you need not answer my question if it is distasteful to you.” ‘*I would like to answer the question if I could,” Vida replied sadly, ‘‘ but my brother’s e bunts and traps, it am afraid that there is something he is keeping ( He is away from home most of the time, and when I ask him where he has been, and about his success, he evades both questions. But he is the only friend I have, and ET love him with all the fervor of a sister’s heart, and I know he loves me. During the ~ eight months we have dwelt here in this seclud- ed spot, you are the first person who has been in our house besides ourselves ; and yours is the first white face, besides brother’s, that I have seen for months, although the settlement of Stony Cliff is only twenty miles from here, But Iam afraid to go there.’ ‘“Why so?’ asked Fred. . “‘T love my brother, as T said before. And £ have a suspicion of what he follows, and to you I shall confide my suspicions.” “You can do so, dear pil, with perfect safety. Not one word will I breathe to a livin soul. I would not—I could not betray the hab barry ng te from death.” i, thank you! thank you!” she cried, joy- fully. “It is so nice to inves one in hones ‘es - _ can confide; and I hope brother will yet explain away the secret which I feel certain is connect~ } My suspicions, however, are that he is one of Pirate Paul’s robbers, if he is not Pirate Paul himself.” , : “What have yen upon which to base your opinion, besides his refusing to account for his constant absence from home?” asked Fred. = “T have found letters in his pee directed — to Pirate Paul, but ggg: cipher, But, hark! J hear a footstep. Brother is coming!” She dropped the curtain and turned aside, while Fred again lay down upon his couch. - Then he heard the door swing open and footstep cross the threshold. He heard the sis- ter’s kind and welcome greeting and a kiss. Then he heard the brother say: “You are looking both troubled and pleased, my little sister, y is it? Is not your hand- some young patient better?” a did net hear her answer, foi that yoice froze his blo@# almost with terror. < it was the voice of Death-Notch, the g Scalp-Hunter ! CHAPTER XTV. THE MAGIO BING. _ + Tapy met at their old trysting-place—Ral St. Leger and Sylveen Gray. ase + Ralph was looking a little pale and toilworn while Sylveen’s face wore a bright smile an her heart was throbbing wildly under the emo tions of anxiety and fear—anxiety to test the power of the ring which Martha Gregory had gives her, anda fear that it would prove ber andsome boy-lover a prairie pirate, as Scott Shpely nae tes him to be. r their. i lveen said: * You look tired and ex Bates Ralph.” “T am a little tired, dear ylveen,” the youth replied. ‘TI have traveled far this morn. , in 5 E g . is ‘(Just to meet me, Ralph?’ queried the maiden, a tender light beaming in her eyes, 9 “Yes, sweet Sylveen. To keep my promise with you. I would let nothing detain me, un less it was death.” _‘*You are very true to me, dear Ralph. But, do you never grow tired of your hunter lif: wandering through the forest alone?” ‘“‘T cannot say I am entirely alone, Sylveen. Your presence is ever before me to cheer me and give me bright hopes for the future.” Sylveen nestled closer to the manly form of ~ her lover, She could not doubt his hon OCLs: heart. His free, open countenance spoke p r than words could have done of his innocence, The Hudson Bay Agent must have been mis- taken about his being Pirate Paul. The onl thing that seemed strange to her about Ralp was in_ his refusing to go to the settlement to live. But ‘she accounted for this through a boyish bashfulness and_ reticence, poten Bs | appeared like one who had been reared company of refined society. Her greatest fears for him were of Death- ~ Notch, for almost every day came fabulous stories of that terrible being’s vengeance, then, there is no end to border superstition and she prayed that those stories might be without any foundation. ey talked on for some time. They talked of their love, and some nonsense, as lovers will; and finally the subject changed to that of the’ Prairie Pirates, and during its discussion Syl veen watched every expression of be ee lover’s eye and every lineament of his features, But she saw no trace of sae neers or A ii the power Oi A Cee Goked, enstorttl talecaale ix Yah de Feat in Ts your brother a hunter and trapper” | zaitted her Kittle hand to steal slyly’
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oe : " hard of her lover. then raised it to his lips. The ring caught his eyo. He gazed at it fora moment, then an exclamation of. surprise burst from his Eps. ; 7 “Sylveen,” hoe asked, ‘‘ where did you get De that ring? It’s hers—my darling, sainted—” He did not finish the sentence. Sylveen tore herself from his embrace, and while her face 7, livid with scorn and indignation, a cry lip He pressed it gently, t came from a broken heart welled to her 03, “ Sylveen! Sylveen!” the youth cried, “‘ what is the meaning of all this?’ “Ralph St. Leger!” she almost shrieked, ‘*vou have deceived me! You are a robber—a prairie pirate—you are Pirate Paul himself!” “Sviveen, stay! One word, I implore you! yl veen! Sylveen!” But Sylveen was deaf to his entreaties. With a cry that deepened into a sob of anguish, she furned and fled toward the village. ** My God, what is the meaning of all this# fi acclaimed Ralph St. Leger, in agony of heart. m Ss Some one is deceiving Sylveen, or else Heaven lias forsaken me! Sylveen, oh, my darling Syl- . veon! this mistake shall be rectified! I swear this! And I dare the vengeance of Stony Cliff itself; and my enemies, whoever they are, shall vwuffer for this!” He jerked his rifle to his shoulder, turned and strode away into the woods at a rapid pace, a But scarcely was he lost from view in the a depths of the undergrowth when the lithe figure of an Indian glided from a clump of bushes hard by, and stole away directly on the trail of the young hunter, at > Fe ers eat tie dt CHAPTER XV. RED ELK ON THE WAR-PATH, Tut wildest excitement prevailed within the ere village when it. became known that th-Notch had been in their midst—in their council-lodge; had stricken down one of their leaders, and then fled on the horse of Le Subtile ox. The body of the young chief, Red Antelope, whom those in the council-lodge supposed the terrible Death-Notch to be, was soon brought in. He was scealpless, and bore the death-notch iy of his slayer. : The fury of the savage band became great. They surged to and fre like maddened beasts. They uttered their fearful war-cries and grap- pled with imaginary foes. It was some time before Inkpaducah could restore order and assemble his chiefs in council again. When he did, however, Le Subtile Fox was still among them, feeling thankful that Death-Notch had let him off with no further loss than that of his horse. The old chief addressed the council with all the eloquence of which he was master. He rtrayed in vivid colors the destruction that Poath- otch was visiting upon his people. He invoked their immediate vengeance, His hearers responded in cries that asserted their readiness for action. Le Subtile Fox also addressed the assembly in p few pointed remarks that seemed to have = more influence upon the savages than the chief’s Be peech. This was probabl ‘because the chief had stuck to the truth, while the wily renegade had ‘soared away into eloquent falsehoods, so veadily devoured by the Indian warriors. Le Subtile Fox remained at the village. until Se ee he had accomplished his mission, and learned the course the Indians intended to pursue; then we took his departure from the place. The night wore away, and on tho following orning several war-parties were dispatched in Ai directions to assist the party already absent gnder oe Sys in the search for the terrible Death-Notch. But before night one of the parties returned yith the remnant of the young chief's party, gnd the body of the young chief himself. From the lips of the warriors the Indians =f Jearned of the conflict abthe deserted hut where A eee Bleepy-Eyes was slain. vonfirmation of Le Subtile Fox's story of a new foe, calling theniselves the Eight Avengers, _ bemg in the country. And terrible foes they threatened to be, for the affair at the deserted = © hut was their first blow, and Sleepy-Hyes their =. first victim. > “War, war to the knife!_.Vengeance! ven- ce!” were the cries that passed from lip to ‘tip of the savage fos; and the following morning a dozen different parties were sent forth in every direction. One under the daring chief, Red Elk, was sent down the river toward Stony Cliff to imtercept the Eight Avengers, if possible. His warriors numbored about a score, and were the flower of the tribe in point of bravery and physical strength. They were painted and plumed, until they appeated hideous, and were armed with the best weapons in all the tribe. These men took their departure on foot, and after doummeying through the forest until they eame to the river, they changed their direction and followed the course of the stream. aie At a rapid pace they pushed on, and the day ote was balf gone when m- ae up the river. s There was an in sssured the savages that i They also received a’ they observed a dian in ity rea | was a scout who had. been sent out from the / here, then Omaha wil give up that heisa better town a day or two previous. Red Elk’s party at once made their presence known, and soon the scout was in their midst. | _ ‘* What news does Creeping-Vine bring from ) the camp of our enemies? asked Red Elk. ‘The pale-face ‘enemies are abroad. They are called Avengers, and are led by a dog of an Omaha. Death-Notch still prowls through the woods for the scalps of the Dacotah and Sioux.” ‘“* Has Creeping-Vine the Omaha?” ‘He has; and has heard them talk. He lay hid under some old leaves when they broke camp. = are now searching fora friend whom they lost on the night of the storm. They fear Death-Notch struck their friend down.” seen the pale-faces under “Then Death-Notch strikes down the pale-’ faces, too?” ae Yes.” ‘‘Where now are those calling themselves The Eight Avengers?’ “On the march. To-night they will encamp on the Hunter’s Island, below Eagle Rock.” ‘“ How does Creeping-Vine know this?” ‘*The pale-face Eve out his plans and marks out his ,course before he starts. I heard the Avengers say where they would encamp to- night, before they left their camp this morning.” “Then,” said Red Elk, a glow of triumph beaming from his small, evil eyes, ‘‘ before another sun rises, the scalp of the Avengers shall hang at the girdle of Red Elk and his war- xiors. We will entrap them, as the pale-faces entrap the beaver.” , When the wily chief had thus expressed him- self, he moved on down the stream toward Hun- ter’s Island, followed by his warriors. CHAPTER XVI. OLD SHADOW, Just at daybreak a little party of seven per- sons broke camp in the forest south of Stony Cliff, and headed their way up the Sioux river. it was the Spirit Lake Avengers, now led by the friendly Omaha. Those wounded at the de- serted hut had so far recovered as to be able to set forward on their journey again. They had been kindly treated while at Stony Cliff, and had received urgent invitations to remain; but the unknown fate of Fred Travis proved a xeen spur to their anxiety and impatience, and bf at once set out in search of him. They had already hunted the forest through in the vicinity of the deserted hut, and as they could find no trace of him, they tho he might have been taken captive by the Indians and carried away to their village. If so, they hoped to be in time to save him. e Omaha being well acquainted with the topography of the country through which they were journeying, they moved with expedition. At a distance of a good day’s travel from where they broke. camp, there was an island in the river, which they aimed to reach ere sunset. But in this they were disappointed. dark when a point opposite the island was reached. And now they met with another ob- stacle between them and the island. For the want of a canoe some hours would be consumed in constructing araft. But it was their only recourse. Searching along the bank for drift- logs, they were so fortunate as to find a raft, already constructed, lying lodged against the river bank. : It showed signs of having been recently made! number of old, dry logs been placed par- allel with each other, and in this manner lashed together with green barks and withes. The logs were very large—some of them three feet in diameter. Half of this thickness was submerged in the water. : At first, Omaha thought there might be some- thing tricky about the raft, but a careful exam- ination set aside all his fears. As the raft was not made fast, they supposed it had been floated there by the late floodfrom some point above. _ Boarding the rude affair, the Avengers towed it out into the middlo of the river, then per- — Sito aoe down, - en a ee a onal rent, ag the upper side of the where it could not be dried een . The island was a small tract of-sandy soil, covered with a dense growth of willows. It was elevated several feet above the highest water mark. In the center was a bare spot of sand, covered with the ashes of a recent camp-fire. The island was a favorite camping-place of the hunter, trapper, Indian, or, whoever hap- pened to be Mae yf i, these parts, on account of the natural advantages offered as a_protec- tion against the sudden surprise of an enemy; and, at: date of our story, it was known as Hunter’s ad. As the Avengers did not deem it safe to strike a fire, they ate their supper from the remnants of their morning meal. en the repast was over, Omaha made a careful circuit of the island, ; “You think, then, an enemy could not sur- prise us here?” asked Meredith, when the Friendly It was, and inthe center of this was a wide, flat stone ; | Death-Notch, the Destroyer. | | ) : / inno Sale cs | | den surprise and blank astonishment written | haps, some forty years of age, dressed in a sult j | | scout, and— “Then, laddy, I guess ye’ll have to knock under to yer granddaddy.’ The Avengers started to their fect, with sud- upon their faces. The last voice was that of a stranger who had 5 eth in their midst as silently as though he had been dropped from the clouds. He wasa tall, lean, lank individual, of, per- of greasy buck-skin. Hishead was surmounted by a coon-skin cap, from which tho hair was worn off, and which appeared like a bald poll. His face was angular and cadaverous; his nose prominent and slightly Roman, and his pray eyes small, yet glittering like two coals of fire beneath their shaggy brows. His free, careless and reckless air was suggestive of one of the old type of brave, jovial old trappers of the Nor’west. He carried a fine-looking rifle, a side toma- hawk, a knife and a brace of pistols, and as he appeared before the band of Avengers, he dropped the butt of his rifle to the ground, and, clasping his hands over the muzzle, assumed an easy, reclining attitude. For a moment our young friends gazed upon this odd specimen of humanity in silent venta 4 : and before either of them could spe — j asked: ‘* Arn’t I a stunner, though?’ sont ““T must admit you are,” replied Amos Mere- dith, confusedly; but who are you, anyhow?’ ie Wal, I can’t say for surtain, as to that,” re- plied the stranger, with a comical smile; ‘‘ but guess I’m a rantankerous ole cuss that’s been rippin’ over this little patch o’ yearth called Nor’ America for somethin’ nigh on to forty- five years. I’m a lad ©’ leisure and pleasure; hunt a little, trap a little, and spice the now and then with an Ingin skulp. I’ve no weemin-folks to cry arte: me—oh no—nor wash me duds. I generally wear a suit till they git dirty; then I throw myself into the river and flammix erbout awhile, and come out clean ag a new-polished rifle. but, as ener wae we should continoo to sojourn togethe ll me enny thing, so ye call me in time for a leg of turkey or a hump o’ venison. Over or. the Platte they called me Lanky Joe; down on the “Big Muddy” they called me Dageer yes and Rattlepate; and up on the Republican Fork they call me Ole Shader.” “A very suggestive name, considering not only your anatomy, but the silence with which you oo among us,” said Frank Harriott. “‘And faith, ould feller, let mees ax if there are enuff ave yees to make a shader?” said Phe . lix O’Ray. , now, youngster with the boggy tongue, do ye s’pose yer — to have a laug at my expense? If so, all hunky, I like sport like a tortle does sunshine, and I know you're a jolly set. But I’m just such an old scalp-pole as nature made me, and it’s durned doubtful whether ’d make a shader, or even a grease- spot, if I was rubbed out, But I’m wiry as an ole black-snake; and what Ole Shader’s eyes can’t see ain’t wuth lookin’ arter.” As he spoke, the old hunter glanced warily toward the upper side Of the island quite fre- quently, This apparent uneasiness did not escape the notice of the young men, and, despite his See 4 and boisterous voice, they @ hended that all was not right. But Sore either of them could make any remark or in- quiry, the old fellow’s tongue set off again: “T reckon as what ye young culis think ’'m a ; noisy ole rattlepate; but, the fact o’ ’t is, iffs 4 second nature tome to keep blabbin’ and clat- | terin’ away like an ole woman or a blue jay. ; But, then, thar’s policy in tongue-talk some- times. *Specially in the present case.” ‘What do you mean?” asked yo Mere- — ; dith. ‘‘Isee there is an undercurrent in your conversation.” ‘* Wal, now, that’s what I’ve been drivin’ at;” said Old Shadow; ‘‘and now "—and his voice fell almost to a whisper—‘ if ye lads don’t want rted. : Indians about?’ one of them asked ; “Bet yer hair ot. So close that one big leap will bring twenty tomahawks onto yer noggins “2 “You're surely jesting!” exclaimed Dick Carter. : “Not a bit o’ it. But ye can do wae boys; but Ole Shader leaves S ‘oo hot ’round here fur me—too much brim, stone.” ; “T can’t see where a foe could : be concealed so close to us,” said Trank Bartote “But if there are Indians about, we had better a take to the saps SE ho ere ; ares oe as ye
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12 —— gn sna a eee een Heavens!” exclaimed Harriott; ‘‘is it pos- “Verily I say unto ye, it is the case. I see’d ’em make the raft, and heard ’em_talk ‘about it, and ‘ail what it war fur. They tmow’d ye .were comin’, and intended to stop on Hunter’s Islan’. A red varlet they ‘alied Creepin’-Vine brought ‘em the news, Creepin’-Vine overheard you fellers say whar you intended to stop, and I hearn the _durn ups settin’ their traps to cotch ye. They left Creepin’-Vine over on shore to give the signal fur the attack to begin, in case ye war unkeerful enough, as the reds snpposed ye would be, to pack ’em over here in t ratt. But Creepin’-Vine will never give that signal.” As he concluded, the old hunter tapped his irdle in a significant manner. The scalp of reeping-Vine was dangling there! “Now,” he continued, “thar’s my canoe. Take it and run yerselfs over to the east shore, then one o’ ye bring it back arter me, I'll stay and talk away here like a rip and blazes, and make the dodrotted knaves think yer all sot up with the extract o’ sod corn.” ‘“‘Hadn’t one of us better remain with you?” ask eredith; you might get into trouble.” “ Never mind me, bo I'm ole greased lightnin’ on a ron or swim, and if I wunce git started thar’s no bullet or arrer as can catch me, So git, boys, and go easy as a shader.” @ young men took up their rifles, and cross- ing the island to the lower side, entered the old hunter’s canoe, while the hunter himself sat down and began singing the old familiar border song that ran thus: “The possum he grinned at the ole hedgehog,; At the ole hedgehog, at the ole hedgehog; The ‘possum he grinned at the ole hec gehog, *Way down by the Squantnm river,”’ etc. *“ He's an odd genius,” said Frank Harriott, as they pushed out into the river, and permitted the caios to drdp silently down-stream. In a few moments they had effected a safe and noiseless landing on the east bank of the river. Then Omaha returned with the canoe, and brought Old Shadow over from the island. ““Yah! haw! haw!” laughed the old hunter, “it’s a good un on’em pizen varlets, by cracky itis! And now I'll give the signal that Creep- in’-Vine, the former owner 0’ this ’ere scalp, war to give. A—yi! a—yi!” the last two cries echoed through the ‘woods, every eye was. fixed upon the raft that lay plainly revealed by the moonlight. In- stantly there was heard a fluttering in the water, then a score of dark forms were seen to rise from the stream around the raft, and leap onto the island with a yell that resounded for miles and miles, Across the island they swept, their uplifted tomahawks gleaming in the moonlight. But their triumph was soon turned to disappoint- ment and rage, for they found their enemy was gone—the birds had flown. Old Shadow chuckled with suppressed laugh- ter, and rubbed his horny palms with glee, and for awhile it seemed as though he would be un- able to restrain his emotions. CHAPTER XVIL A VOICE FROM THE FLAMES. Tax deep-laid plan for the surprise and mas- sacre of the Lake Avengers, b. Elk and his warriors, proved a decided failure, and when he found his enemies had escaped, his savage fury kmew no bounds, To have attempted to follow the whites then would have been an act of folly in violation of _an Indian’s usual precaution, He suspected tho Avengers had not only outwitted them, but had laid a trap for their destruction. So he resolved to stay on the island till morning, then take up the trail of the enemy, and follow. So guards were —— on each side of the island, the ono that stood on the upper side taking his position on the raft. Owing to the circular form of the island, and the willows upon it, the guards were unable to see each other from their posts; neither could they be seon by their friends from the center of the island _ Red Elk being beyond rifle range of either shore, order a fire lighted.. He wished to hold a consultation with warriors, and wanted a light by which to read the expression of each one’s face, and note the impression that his elo- - quence would have upon them, So, in obedi- ‘eace to his desire, a fire was built upon the . large, flat stone in the center of the little sand a Some of the warriors now filled the bowls on the head of their tomahawks with tobacco, and vo air. ® great Sioux, and followers of mistaking It was the voice of Death-Notch, the terror all, ‘the, -skin and the fear of the oo) the small mouth of a cavern. had come, but when the upper side of the island was reached, all was silent as the grave. Upon the raft, however, a fearful sight met their eyes. The guard was hanging, head cownward, over the edge of the raft, dead. His head was scalpless, and across his cheek was a deep gash. By his side a fresh noteh was cut on one of the logs! tt was the token of Death-Notch, the young Scalp-Hunter, A yell of terror burst from the red-skins’ lips. They leaped upon the raft and began searching it over for the terrible foe. But, to their sur- prise, the logs parted and began floating away, compelling them to beat a hasty retreat back to the island. The withes that bound the logs to- gener had been eut asunder by the young Scalp-Hunter, with the intention, no doubt, of destroying their chance of escape from the is- land, without taking to the water. The doubly defeated savages had not a doubt but that Death-Notch had made good his escape from the island; nevertheless, they made a hasty search for him, but in vain. Stung to fury, they gathered around their camp-fire again, New fuel was added to the flames. The light leaped out in strong, red beams, and fell with a lurid glow across the grim, demoniac faces of the savages. Red Elk was the sole embodiment of rage. His expedition, that at first promised so fruit- ful, was proving a wretched failure. He ad- dressed his warriors in a fierce eloquence, every word of which added new fuel to the fire of their revengeful hearts. It was some time be- fore the storm subsided. Then, with malignant scowls, they all bent their eyes upon the fire, as if actuated by a single impulse. Then they start. A low groan issues from the pe’ depths of the crackling flame. It is human, and seems to jar the fire, for a million sparks went upward from its bosom, ‘as though a stone had been dropped into its center. Appalled, the savages start back. Another ‘oan issues from the fire. A column of sparks oat upward, wavering and crackling in the currents of air. The savages start to their feet—recoil. “Tt is well, fiends,” shrieks a hollow, ghost- like voice. The burning fagots leap and dance in the fire. The flame waves and splutters spitefully. Sparks, millions of sparks, float: upward. he red-skins stand aghast. A spirit was within the fire. It spoke, and crackling flames and snapping sparks were breathed forti The ty pat grow bolder. They now ad- vance closer to the fire and begin circling around it, gazing with starting eyes into the flame. They see nothing. Mysterious terror fills their hearts. “ Red-skins, why do you stare at me?” the voice came from the fire. “I am the it that will consume you when Death-Notch hun pons scalps at his girdle. I am angry. rable.” The —— began to leap and quiver on the stone. 6 flame wavers and the light flickers and flashes. Smoke and sparks float upward. The savages stand paralyzed with terror. Red Elk has no power of eloquence to break that fearful spell, for he, too, is rooted to the spot with mysterious awe. At length there isacalm. The flame gathers strength, and the light flares out on the painted, terri faces around it. A minute passed. Again the sparks begin to rise from the fire, and the flame to quiver. Thespirit was moving within it. Then there was a sudden crash, anc the air was filled with flying firebrands, red-hot coals and hissing spar: every direction had the camp-fire n hurled, right and left into the very faces of the red-skins; then all was darkness. The savages took to the river, and swimming ashore, fled away into the forest with absolute terror. Half an hour later a human figure stood in the center of the island. Over the face’was an iron mask, a. Tt was Death-Notch, the young Scalp-Hunter! At his feet, leading down under the island, was ave The wide, flat stone, upon which the savages had built their camp-fire, concealed the operfing from their view. , There, in the cavern under the stone, had Death-Notch been concealed—having entered the cave through a small opening under the edge of the island, where if had escaped the savaaee eyes; and there, under the flat stone, had the young Scalp-Hunter worked upon their fears in the manner we have already shown. CHAPTER XVIII. \ AN UNWILLING EAVESDROPPER. . 4 Fi ait fears J eS. DS: ihe uy a a The New York Library. | Val. L __ after the conflict at the deserted hut. Bug then young Travis could not drive from mem- ory’s ear those wild, hoarse notes of the mad. / prow. when he—Death-Notch—begged him to |, flee rom him in the woods. Would not Fred’s face excite him again, and | throw him into that fearful state of uncontrol- lable madness? The thought was anythi pleasant to Fred, and ave tate than caping from the cabin. But this he found would be impossible. The cabin had but one door, and near this the brother and sister stood. The youth bent his ear and listened. He heard them talking, and learned that he himself was the subject of their conversation. ‘Yes, Ralph, he is better,” he heard Vida say; “he has entirely recovered consciousness, and thinks he is well asever. But he is weak and must not be disturbed.” , ‘No, no, Vida,” he heard the brother re- spond; ‘‘he is your patient; you have saved his life so far, and your injunctions must be strictly regarded.” ‘for, althoug | her capture,” she said; ‘ how Miss ip Lae ees |. 3 know not. . when I saw and da “Oh, Ralph!” and Vida’s eyes grew bright with some inward emotion; but, suddenly re- membering that Fred was awake, she checked the words. that came to her lips, while the dar silk eyelashes drooped shyly on her flush cheeks. “What is it, Vida?” asked Ralph St. Leger. “You are feeling unusually joyous; have you caught it from the young stranger?” ‘Sh, Ralph!” she said, placing the tips of her pie, dimpled fingers to her brother’s lips; ‘“*he is awake and may hear you. Come, sit down. You look tired and careworn, ou must. be hungry. Ralph St. Leger threw himself upon the otto- man, while Vida stole softly back to Fred’s couch, and, drawing aside the curtain, gazed down upon the youth. He slept. She moved lghtly away, and was soon en- § ed in the preparation of the evening meal. Vhen it was ready, Fred was still asleep. She would not disturb his slumber. She would take him food when he awoke, Ralph eat his gupber silently and thought- fully, Vida watched him closely. She saw at once that something uncommon rested upon his mind; and after supper was over, and the table cleared away, the brother and sister seated themselves near the door, furthest from the in- valid’s couch, and entered into conversation. ** Ralph dear,” said Vida, ‘“‘you are in trouble. Your very looks and actions say so. yarn ‘Vida, my love was spurned to-day by one whom I taven most early.” ae ‘**You loved, Ralph? This is news tome. You surprise me.” Yes, no doubt, sister. But there is a maiden at Stony Cliff whom I met and loved many days o And to me she pledged her heart and d, but to-day she re- voked that pledge and stp. my love, Sheac g Pirate Paul.” cused me of bein, Vida started and uttered a little cry. “ Brother,” she said, “Ihave even thought so myself.” Y! . “My God!” he exclaimed; “‘is it ible that you link my name with that of a villain, Vida?” “How can I do otherwise, brother? For nearly a year have we lived in this secluded spot.' Your comings and goings have been wrapped in mystery to me. ou tell me nothing, unless it is of the terrible deeds of Death-Notch, or of some robbery committed by = cone etre . ea have you been so silent, if you no sh me to couple absence with that of some evil?” goed var Fred Travis has heard every word, He did not approve of eavesdropping, Sut there was a mystery about this brother and sister that he wished to solve. To Vida he saw her brother's doings were entirely unknown. He had caught a glimpse of Ralph’s face through the curtain. He saw the resemblance it bore to the maiden’s. He was an satisfied that he was Death-Notch, the Scalp-Hunter had kept his face masked at the hut, voice was the same as that of Ralph St. er. But might not he be the Pirate Paul, too?’ ‘* Sister,” said Ralph, after awhile, “half of my life is a blank. er since our parents were slain by the accursed Sioux, under Le Subtile ‘ox—since I witnessed the torture and shameful treatment of our mother and sister—I have been insane half of my time. And were it not for you, Vida, to soften my heart, to live for, to love, I believe I would go entirely mad, And since Sylveen Gray—she whom ? with all the affection of a true heart—has spurned my love, it seems as though this life of mine is a bitter one, But, sister, do you re- member the ring that mother wore ere our home. fell under the savages’ blows?” “Yes, yes, Ralph.- I could never forget it. Tt was a gold ring, with such a curious some precious stone. But what of mi?” ‘*Sylveen Gray wears that ring.” A cry burst from Vida’s lips. : ‘‘ Tt must have been taken from mother after - a 7, have loved — Acide as eee PMN ES
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- bring about a reconciliation, if possible. With- | . ina ' done. Y ha 7, pans nt the same time accusing me of being Pirate Paul. There is some mystery connected with ‘hat ring.” , “There must be; but, tell me; Ralph, why it is, if you are not a robber, that you tell me so Mittle of your hunting excursions?” “ Vida, are you sure your patient is asleep?” The maiden arose, and going to Fred’s couch, aeew aside the curtain. “ Yes, he still sleeps soundly,” she said, steal- | hack to ker brother’s side on tip-toe. “Then I will tell you something, sister,” Ralph said. ‘“‘ Revenge is what leads me from home, and keeps me away. Upon those who slew our | father and tortured to death our mother and | sister have I sworn to wreak a terrible revenge. Heaven seems to justify. me in my course. tan excite rmuvyself to madness by thinking over our friends’ suffering and shame, and when I am mad this world is almost a blank tome. Ido most terrible acts. The sight of one of those savages who destroyed our home crazes my brain. I cannot control my anger. A demon’s | power and fury are infused into my body. I am vaguely conscious of all I do, yet can not restrain my acts, and there is nothing that I fare not do, It is not insanity that crazes my brain, but a spirit of revenge. It isa singular | and terrible state into which I am thrown, but | [ can not help it. It comes like a dream in my | sleep, and my acts aré all involuntary. I have | no control over myself; but, God seems to guide | and protect me while laboring under those ter- | sible attacks. But one thought of you, sister, or of my adored Sylveen, would drive the spell | away. It is curious—nay, mysterious—what freaks and ills the human race is addicted to. Phe sight of a strange white face sometimes rows me into that awful state of madness. It wil bring up old memories of days gone by, when we were so happy and joyous with a father and. mother. Then will rise the demon | faces of their murderers, and my spirit maddens | for revenge. -And, Vida, I hear much of Death- Notch, and his terrible deeds of vengeance on | the red-skins, Time and again, sister, have I | recovered from one of my terrible fits to find a | scalp at my girdle. By thinking, as you would over a dream, L-can recall a vague remembrance of how it came there. But to make a long story short ,it am Death-Notch, the young Sealp-Hun- ter, as the Indians have seen fit to name me.” A low, half-suppressed cry burst from Vida’s lips and an expression of fear overshadowed | her features. Ralph’s revelations had startled | her. From his own story she at once believed he 1vas aaagect to attacks of fits, and yet he had endeavored to make her believe it was but ex- sitément. She felt no uneasiness for herself, but for the handsome, invalid youth lying behind the curtain. What if her brother should become ° mad at sight of him? As she asked herself the quastion, she glanced uneasily and involuntarily toward the curtain. Ralph ‘réadily divined her shoughts and fears by her actions, and continued, | assuringly ; * You need have no fears for him, Vida, TI soe your heart has become deeply interested in vi¢t youth’s welfare,” ‘Oh, Ralph!” she cried, blushing crimson, *itshocks me to think of Death-Notch—that | yta.are that terrible being!” . ‘LT have kept the fact from you for your own od. I know it is an appalling mood that at ines possesses me,” ‘Yes, brother, and I fear it will be the death of FA yea. said Vida, _ “God, holds our lives in his hands. Iam his | vervant, and as he wills I am satisfied. But, | Vida, Lhave settled my mind upon one thing. | I must see Sylveen Gray once more. I must put her love, sister, this world will be a half- Siank to me. If sho will listen to my story, be- fieve that Lam no Pirate Paul, and will renew | ser promise to wed me some day, then will I | leave this wild, secluded home, wherein love as | well as revenge is keeping me. Once away from the hateful presence of the Indians, J know this spirit of revenge will be forgotten, | But I hardly know how to act now.” “Ralph, I wish I could advise you in your trouble. But, for the sake of your sister, be | zayeful of your life, When you are gone, I will | have no.one to care for me,” Tears gathered in the eyes of Ralph St. Leger. | He drew his little sister toward him, put back | the long, dark. ringlets from her brow, and | planted a kiss upon it. ) In the mean time, Fred Trayis was an atten- | ive listener to the startling revelations of Ralph | ge , and the words of tenderness spoken -_-by the brother and sister. He felt ashamed of After a few moments’ silence he heard the brother and sister renew their conversation. ‘ Brother,” said Vida, “I believe now you are | his silence, but he could not help it, | not Pirate Paul, but I cannot say I am pleased | ? to know you are Death-Notch,’ “Tam Beare: over the . However, hopetully | come gittin’ yer | whoopin’, thievin varlets.” ’ + a —————— ee | ing through the woods. ‘red Travis convalesced rapidly, within the sunshine of Vida’s smiles. He walked with her in the cool, silvan wood; rowed with her upon the creek, and talked and sung with her unt& | the emotions that were ripening in their yo | hearts gushed forth in confessions of love ont joy. | From the moment they had first gazed into each other's eyes, a feeling far deeper than mere | friendship was awakened in each young heart. This continued to grow upon them, until it a last found expression in words of love and de votion. To these lovers that solitary cabin seemed an Arcadian bower. They thought but little of thé dangers that so troubled the mind of Death- Notch and kept him on constant watch. Th was no vain show nor formality in their love. It was a pure and holy love in which the noblest emotions of the human breast held power. It was near the close of the third day of Fred's | sojourn at the Lone Cabin—as Vida called the place—that the young lovers were seated upon the bank of the little stream which formed the | western boundary of the glade. the return of Death- They had long expectéd Notch, and Vida had begun to chafe in spirit at ! cr "sin es absence. But. Fred spoke werds of ch eer to her and endeavored to comfort her mind and keep it upon something else. In her lap lay a Spanish guitar, upon which she had | been playing for him, and now, as the twilight | Shadows began to gather over the w with their evening voices and solemn inspira- | tions, Fred asked her to play again. The maiden took up the instrument and struck a sweet, inspiring air, her own rich voice joim- ing in the melody in a clear, rippling cadence. The music was delicious, and the beautiful singer modified the tones of her own voice and that of the instrument to harmonize with the soft, vibrant air that carried the sounds away through the forest aisles in strains of ravishing sweetness. The air was a familiar one to Fred, but he had never heard it sung with such inspiring _melody. It brought up recollections of a onoe- | happy home and dear faces that were now no more. Tears welled up into his eyes, as his thoughts went back over old, sweet memories. The snowy fingers of the forest beauty flashed over the strings of the instrument unnoticed by him. But, as her voice rose and fell in those sweet, melodious strains, his breast rose and fell with the emotions it stirred within. At es the music grew slower and fainter, and finally faded away in silence in a low, dy- ing chord. ‘red raised his eyes to those of the lovely girl. He saw she was sitting motionless as a ca image, her lips slightly parted, and her face set | with an expression of terror. The guitar was in her hands, and her fingers upon the strings; but it was mute. Vida’s eyes were fixed with a terrified fare upon the opposite side of the creek, and Fred permitted his own eyes to turn in that direction, and to his horror he saw the dark green foliage parted in @ dozen places, and the grim, painted face of an Indian warrior appeared each opening. CHAPTER XX. A TURKEY-HUNT. “Huo, lads! Git outen this! The suu’s up and shinnin’ it over the hill like sixty, and has been for an hour, Time for sncozin’s up, and we must be scratchin’ gravel for new diggin’s, and— “The *possum he grinned at the ole hedgehog, reo ole fedeobor: at the ole hedgehog, The ‘possum he grinned at the ole h gehog, *Way down by the Squantum river,” ete, Thus spoke and sung Old Shadow, as he made his appearance in the midst of a number of forms that lay stretched in slumber beneath the arching boughs of the surrounding trees. It was morning, and the rising sun had just gilded the tops of the forest trees. The old trapper had been on guard, and as daylight bad relieved him from duty, he made his pipearenice in camp before any of his companions had awakened. In a few minutes the avengers were on foo’ moving about to exercise their cramped limbs and to drink in the fresh morning air. i ‘* Wal, I hope you feel as fresh as a new cut,” said the old scout; ‘‘ but ‘it makes the blood leap in my ole carcass when I think how nigh ye yer poles shaved by them are r “Well Ishould judge we all felt considerably refreshed and rested,” said Amos Meredith, “but I suprpse you feel none the better for your night ines.” = “ Ho, the dickens!” exclaimed the scout; feel as fresh as a.) bar arter a night's raid ina -pig-pen. Y>: ye, it’s nuthin’ for Ole ie thar’s ope too. I'm a OT Spe — 1%
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t4 a t strikes mo er agp the skulp that a roasted | utes, both combatants kicking, striking and | drown worth a cent, and has now come to dog “That's the right cackle,” replied the old hun- | ter, ‘so [ll go out and snatch in an old gobbler, er alump o’ venison, and you ’uns can strike a fire to knock the stiffness outen it. “Pérhaps one of us had better accompany ou?’ said young Harriott. “Oh, the deuce, no,” replied the hunter, sling- | tng his rifle over his shoulder and strolling off | into the woods, humming to himself ‘‘ the old hedgehog.” Old Shadow was a true type of_the woods, a born Indian-fighter and hunter. He had one | fault, however; he was never still, but where others seemed to succeed by silence and precau- tion, he seemed to excel by his recklessness and eareless habits, or, in other words, mere acci- | dent. After leaving the Avengers, he pushed on quite rapidly a mile or more from camp before he began looking for signs of game. At length he came to a little creek whose shores he care- fully examined. He saw turkey tracks in abundance where they had gone down to the water’s edge to drink. Seating himself under cover of some bushes where he could command a fair view of the sur- rounding, he took from his pocket a. small, hol- low bone which he placed to his lips and pro- duced a succession of sounds in exact imitation of the hen-turkey’s call, Then he listened, but heard rothing. He repeated the call, and, almost instantly, there came to his ears the far- eff gobble, gobbie of a turkey. But the old hunter shook his head doubtfully, | and after a moment had elapsed he uttered the eall again. i he was answered. *Durn my ole riggin’,” he exclaimed to him- self; ‘‘that’s not gimuwine, or my hearin’ and be don’t amount to shucks. No, siree, bob-tail, that’s not a_turkey’s gobble. It’s a blarsted red-skin’s gabble, and it’s hard tellin’ what the lopin’ varlet is arter. He may be tryin’ to git me into trubble, and he may take my call or the ginuwine article. Ili try it in.” ‘ e repeated his call. It was answered imme- diately, and the sound seemed to be nearer than before. “No, it’s not a turkey’s answer,” he mused; so ‘far as the imitation’s consarned, itll do, but if my head’s level thar’s too long an interval be- tween each gobble. If it’s a red he’s soning up the crick, and I propose to set him up, if he comes nosin’’round me; fur ’'m hungry. as a buzzart, and when I’m hungry Old Shader knows his temper isn’t assweet and mild as an | gle no—‘ and the possum he grinned ’— Ke » See here, old fool, keep still if ye want Ingin ar The old hunter having thus enjoined silence upon himself, stole from his covert, crept down to the water’s brink where he carefully ensconc- ed himself upon some drooping foliage, Here he awaited the transpiration of events. The sound of footsteps in the water soon caught his practiced ears. He glanced down the stream and saw a savage wading up the creek. He was stepping with all the caution he could muster, with eyes and ears on the alert. Old Shadow chuckled and rubbed his hands with glee in anticipation of a fight with an In- dian, which he relished more keenly than a leg of roasted turkey. The cunning savagé came on, but the old hun- ter could form no idea what’ he meant by his stealthy movements. He was surely not trying to steal upon a turkey. “No, siree!” Old Shadow og par? exclaimed to himself; ‘‘the varlet means deviltry. I see it in his snaky eye—he’s arter scal Just at this juncture the red-skin stopped within three steps of him, and craning his neck, uttered the shrill gobble of the male turkey. “Now fur the tug,” thought Old Shadow, and he at once gave utterance to the “cluck, cluck, cluck” of the hen turkey. Then he saw the savage turn, and parting the foliage, peored into his very face. ‘‘Mornin’, Mister Red-skin,” was the cool, laconic salutation of the old hunter.’ The Indian uttered an indignant ‘‘ Ugh!” and asped his tomahawk, but, before he could p it, Old Shadow’s long muscular arm shot out from shoulder and bis bony fist was planted between the red-skin’s pres Like a en weight, the savage fell full length in the water. Before he could regain his feet, the old hunter fallowed up the advantage alread ned by his adversary by the p-lock and ith Ss eens partly mond the bl ‘th he was y mn y the blow that felled him, the savage made a ef- fort to regain his a nt of strength he Se ete hen» the old hunter, but, - | floundering about until they were completely They fought in silence, neither showing a fear of the other by uttering a sound that could be heard fifty yards away. The strength of the savage, however, soon began to grow feebler. This Old Shadow no- | ticed more readily than the savage did himself. The old hunter had managed to keep the upper side, and the red-skin’s head under water most of the time. Strangulation was telling fast upon the warrior. No weapons were used, Al- though the old hunter had plenty of chances to do so, he wished to test his physical powers in conflict with a savage, who, he saw, possessed not only the advantage of size, but age—he be- ing in the very prime of manhood. And the savage seeing the inferiority of his foe’s long, lank form and wrinkled face, would show no humiliation to him, though he were in his death-throes, by begging for mercy or call- ing for help, even were it near. Such is the pride of an Indian’s spirit. This struggle lasted but a few moments longer. Victory crowned the old hunter. The savage ceased struggle, his muscles relaxed, and he sunk down, limp and lifeless, at the scout’s feet in the water. “Thar now, whew!” ejaculated the hunter, with an air of relief; ‘‘ durn yer lop-sided mug, I guess ye won’t go gobblin’ round these diggin’s / soon ag’in, disturbin’ of one’s prospect for a square meal, By flunky! if I’d had a fair break- fast o’ juicy venison to leant ag’inst, ['d bu’sted yer snoot the fust dip I ave ye, ye red, rovin’ varlet. Guess I won’t dirty my knife with ‘ae’ filthy skulp—leave it for the buzzards to do, and— * The possum he grinned at the ole hedgehog, At the ole—’ But, see here, Ole Shader, thar’s danger 0’ makin’ a fool o’ yerself, and if yer want a tur- key, let that eternal, everlastin’ ole hedgehog oth us chastising himself, Old Shadow waded from the stream, and procuring his rifle, pro- ceeded a short distance down the creek. Here he again concealed himself near the water’s edge, and producing his bone, began calling for turkeys. A* a Spee gobble” was soon the result of his. calis; and presently a large, fine gobbler, with arched neck, inflated wattles and trailing wings, came strutting proudly, yet cautiously, into view from the woods an the opposite side of the creek. It ped within easy gunshot of Old Sha- dow, and the next instant his rifle had cracked, | and the deceived bird was flopping about in his | death-throes. Old Shadow in the act of Ste from his ambush and was stepping into the stream to wade across after the turkey, when he involuntarily started back, with sudden surprise. But it lasted only for a moment. The cause of it was | the presence of the body of his late savage foe, floating on the surface of the water before him. | But without giving the lifeless form a second lance, and being eager to secure his game, | ie stepped into the water and began wading across. ; But at this instant there was a quick plash in the water, then the old scout felt his legs seized : by the arms of the supposed dead Indian, and his feet jerked suddenly from under him. Then began another terrible struggle in the creek, | but this time the savage had the advantage. CHAPTER XXI VAMOSING THE RANCHE, It was night—night within the robbers’ hid- den ranche. Lights were burning on the rough | deal table around which fifteen men were sit- | ting, wearing their numbered masks. No bot- tles nor cards ornamented their table. Matters of graver importance were before them. | “Well, what news have sig for us to-night, Ten?’ asked Pirate Paul of hi spy: ‘* Nothing more than that we're in a fair way to get our necks haltered,” was the spy’s* cool d How? how?” asked a dozen voices. ‘t Well, sirs, there’s a. spy watching our move- ments—in fact, knows exactly where our ranche is—was in it but a few nights ago.” The robbers started violently, and a cry of surprise burst from their lips. “Do you know who that spy is?’ asked one. “Yes. It is a woman.” “A woman!” burst from the lips of the as- tonished outlaws. . “Yes; one of the new-comers, Miss Martha is ye I heard her See Gray that Scott Shirely was her husband.” ; Another exclamation of surprise, mingled with suppressed laughter, burst from the lips of the masked villai . Hains. 7 ‘“‘How’s that, captain?’ asked one; “‘didn’t know you were a married man.” enveloped in ashower of flying water and spray. | Sn “Nor I either,” replied the outlaw chief, “I thought I had tumbled that mulatto wench into the deepest hole in se Ss. La river where thd age og gg hn ters of the St. Lawrence ever dead, i, agd he has a It appears that the rhe and ranche, we have got to do two or three things. The settlers think we are on a fur trading expedition—so we are. Now we want to trig up, @ la Indian, as they would say in fashionable circles, capture Sylveen Gray and that Martha Gregory, as she calls herself. We will then carry them to the Indian village. There I will compel Sylveen to wed me, and Miss Martha I will give to Red Elk, for T have womised to take the red idiot a white wife. lartha will suit him I know, if he keeps his eyes out of reach of her finger nails. Devilish curious I never recognized her before.” *“' When had we better make the Indian move you propose, captain?” asked the SPY. ‘““This blessed night. It won’t do to delay the matter; for if that woman is my old flame, she may let the cat out and have the whole vil- lage upon us. So let us begin our toilet at once,” There was a general stir among the robbe and for the next hour they were usily engaged in. donning their Indian costume, which they always kept ready for such emergencies. Those that had long hair had it cut close to the skull, with the exception of the indispensable scal lock, and then painted a dirty red. Their h and faces were also given a good coat of paint, which was declarative of their being on the war-path. When the toilet was completed and they had thered around their table to drink a parting umper, one could not have told—not knowing —but. that they were Indians. From long asso- ciation with the red-men, they had learned their language, habits and movements to per- fection, and it is not likely their disguise would be penetrated. t length, when all were dressed and armed for the departure, Pirate Paul said: “ Now, boys, let us Jean out for tall timber.” The lights were extinguished, and the next instant the grim, shadowy forms of the pirates were filing away through the black, echoless chambers of their hidden ranche. CHAPTER XXII, SYLVEEN’S MISTAKE, Two days following Sylveen Gray’s last in- terview with Ralph St. Leger, ske and Martha Gregory were strolling leisurely along the river, near the lovers’ old trysting-place, engaged in conversation. Sylveen seemed sad at heart, and her emo- tions did not escape the notice of Miss Gregory. ‘““You seem sad at heart of late, Sylveen,” she said; ‘‘ why is it, dear? Has your lover de- serted you?” “No, Martha; I have deserted him.” “You don’t say! aes Sylveen?’ and Miss Gregory turned pale. “Have you fallen in love with Scott Shirely ?” **No; but you remember what you told me about this ring, do you not?’ “Yes; I told you it was a charm against prairie pirates.” “Exactly ; and*so I became anxious to try it upon Ralph St. Leger, whom Shirely had told me was Pirate Paul. I met him at our old meeting-place, under this very tree. He saw the ring. He staried and stared at it as though it had been a ghost, then made some excited inquiries in regard toit. What Shire- ly had said about him, and what you had said about the ring, led me to accuse him of being Pirate Paul; then, turning, I filed from his pres- ence. But, oh, Martha! my poor heart is break- ing. Ican not give Ralph up, though he be Death-Notch himself!” “No, you shall not give him up, Sylveen,” ex- claimed Martha. ‘There is some terrible mis take in this ring matter. Although I know not what “occupation Ralph St. Leger follows, I know, beyond a doubt, he is not Pirate Paul nor one of his gang,” you said a robber would, “But he acted as when he saw the ring. “That may all be, Sylveen; but, it’s a mis- take I had not calculated upon, Ralph may have known something of that ring long before it came into possession of him who gave it to me, But, rest assured, Ralph is not a robber.” “Oh, Heaven! then } have committed an un- pardonable error I fear. I may never see Ralph again.” : “TJ will do all I can to bring about a wage J v “ and reconciliation,” said Martha; ‘but, veen, has Scott Shirely pressed his suit for your hand lately?” - ‘He has asked me to be his wife Tepentedly: ; one. But I do not love him. Ilove Ralp Still uncle Hatch is anxious that I should marry him—insists upon it, and says I will have to choose between him and poverty. Idonot know what to do, Martha.” : “Tell Scott Shirely to look at that ring the next time you see him. Ask him if he remem- bers the maiden he | gi it to, in Quebec, scarce- ly a year and a half ago. Ask him whether ve Up whether or not = = dh “Ip 7 : aria aa!
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bs on rs, < [ot x “was heard on the * youn “Whoop, by crash!" he exclaimed, “ ye bet gay prospe No. 7, d. “Know him? Alas, to my sorrow! I, Syl- voen, am his lawfully wedded wife, whom he deceiviad, betrayed and tried to murder.” “Martha, is this really the fact?” “Tt is, Syiv2en. He gave me that ring, so vou see why '. gavo it to you, for when he thought he had drowned me, he knew I had the ring on my finger; and by his seeing it had come to light again, I thought it might frighten the villain.” “Then he is a pirate?” ‘Yes; he is Pirate Paul!” A little ery burst from Sylveen’s lips. “Yes, he is Pirate Paul,” continued Martha, ** And Lam here to dog his footsteps and bring him to justice. But the hour has not yet come for me to strike.” “But, how did you find out that he is Pirate Paul?” “Through a dear friend—E!] Pardou.” “ The victim of Death-Notch?” “No, the victim of the robbers themselves, hey mistrusted him of being a spy, and having murdered him to avert suspicion, marked him and the tree under which he was found, with Wie totem of Death-Notch.” “'Phon von know where the robbers’ hidden isn is?” ‘ “fT do. Thave been in it, and ere many days ass, it shall be made public, _Shirely does not tnow that I live. He would kill me if he did. My love for him has turned to hatred, and I am here for revenge. But, Sylveen, here is a slip pf paper anda pencil. Write a note and leave Mi here for Ralph. Ask his forgiveness, and for euother interview.” “He might uever come for it, Martha.” ‘He was hore yesterday and tho day before. fle may como yet to-day. He cannot give up ?is love for you, dear Sylveen.” ‘“Tiow do you know he was here, Martha?” ““T have a spy on Shirely’s track. He saw f'alph here. He saw him go each time and look hito that hollow tree, as if half-expecting to find somothing there.” “Tt is our old post-office,” cried Sylveen, a light of hope beaming in her eyes. ‘I will write him-a note and leave it here. Oh, Ralph! -Ralph! L[hope you will forgive me!” She took the paper and pencil and wrote a nofe, which, with a prayer of hope, she de- posited in the hollow tree. ‘jthen the two wended their way back to the village. In less than half an hour later, that note was rend, but not by Ralph St. Leger. CHAPTER XXIII, THE STRUGGLE IN THE CREEK. Tnx two foes grappled tin a deadly embrace ~ tvristing themselves together like twining ser- yrm‘s, in pliant and subtle folds. So swift were Gai r movements and evolutions that their bodies gered incorporated into one, For awhile no oie cou'd have told how the battle went, for diey fought at times beneath the water, and at other times they were enshrouded in a cloud of 4fa)0 and spray. For several minutes the conflict waxed hot. It was evident, too, that the strength of both was fsiling, for this conflict was less desperate than it frst hed been. Still, neither of them had drawn a weapon, and the struggle would have ta be decided by main strength. Suddenly, however, several figures emerged trom the shadows of the Woods, and gazed down on the struggling foes. They were savages, and a gleam of surprise and vengeance flashed from their eyes when they discovered the cause of the contusion in the water—saw their comrade ir. combat with the old hunter—saw that the tide of victory was slowly but surely turning iw favor of the white man, Quickly one of their number sprung into the sroek and began wading to his friend’s assist- ance, but, at the same instant, the rush of feet 1 opposite bank—a figure shot through the air, and landing on thesavage, bore him down in the water, Jt was the friendly Omaha, while upon the bank, facing the savages ey the opposite side, stood the Avengers, with their rifles leveled full at the breasts of the red fre." ; A bloedy conflict was only averted by a yell of triump bursting from Omaha’s lips, closely followed by another yell from tho lips of Old Shadow. " ~ The savages recoiled, and not wishing to en- ge in a struggle, the Avengers did not follow 16m a $e "8 a Single shot, Omaha and Old Shadow at once made their anteete eee io an the creek. A scalp was at Omaha’s girdle and a glow of triumph in his dark ting Old Shadow bore no trophy of his con- ct, but he was gasping with exhaustion. “Rather a tight place you were in, Shadow,” paid one of our friends, “tt war now, but the cunnin’ varlet has i cbir dockyments, That war twic’t he Nistarbed aaa Death fur grub, the low-lifed hound o’ + fe RS 3 ee ae plenty. and feel much like ers and all.” Omaha waded across the creek and procured the turkey, and then they all returned to where the Avengers had lighted a fire. It required but a few minutes to dress the game in hunters’ style, then it was roasted to a crisp brown, and a goodly portion of it eaten with a sharp appetite and keen relish. After the meal was completed and the rem- nants of the turkey stowed away for future use, Old Shadow expressed his readiness to fight his way through to the Indian village. The little band soon resumed its journey, and as the day advanced, the keen eye of Omaha detected a fresh trail in the igen aig There were the hoof-prints of two or three horses, and a number of moccasin-tracks. Both Omaha and Old Shadow agreed upon their being made by a party of white men; and they all had rea- son to believe it was a party of robbers, pushing for the Indian village. The Avengers at once proposed to follow the trail, believing it would a more practicable route to the Indian village than any other, for if it was the trail of enemies they would natur- ally select the best and nearest route known to them to reach the Indian stronghold. Omaha took the trail, and like a beagle freed from the leash, he led his companions forward at a rapid pace, The day wore gradually away. It wanted an hour of sunset when a low whistle broke sud- denly from Old Shadow’s lips. The party came to an instant halt. “What now, Shadow?” asked one of tho boys. * Ah, that’s it,” he replied; ‘you fellers are young and limber; yer hearin’ may be better than mine. Yer eyesight may be quicker and stronger than mine; age is goin’ back on me in them faculties that were onc’t as clear and bright as a May mornin’, but then I conceit that the sense o’ smell is better in me than in any man on the border, all hounds included. And now, as sure as my skulp’s over a warm head, there’s a camp-fire close about. I detect the fumes cf smoke in the air, and afore we go a foot furder, prepose we reconnoiter our sifua- tion. What's yer virdict, lads?’ ‘* Reconnoiter,” was the general response. ‘‘That’s the cackle; if thar’s enny reds er- round, we'll set ’°em up!” exclaimed the old hun- ter, and bringing the butt of his rifle heavily to the ground, he broke forth: “The *possum he grinned at the ole hedgehog, At the ole—” : But here a gesture, significant of silence, from Omaha, arrested his singing, and the next mo- ment he had relapsed into silence. CHAPTER XXIV. AN INTRUDER IN CAMP. More than an hour before sunset a party of about twenty persons went into camp in the solitude of the dense woods bordering the Sioux river. Most of the pare fact, all bu two —were dressed and pain as Indians. ‘cheir movements, their bs and equipments were purely Indian, but the anatomical construction of the facial outlines told that they were white men in disguise, The other two persons were females, They were captives, too, for their hands were bound before them and their heads were bowed in grief. They were young women, but exceed- ingly handsome, yet depressed in spirit and fa- tigued with journeying. ~~ n the background two horses were cropping the foliage. Their backs showed saddle-mar];;, and had, in ali probability, been ridden by the ee females. ' The white Indians are lbungine about in atti- tudes of listlessness and security. They seem to fear no danger. The savage they know is tneir friend, and there are no write parties around of sufficient strength to endanger their situation. So they cai rest with impunity there beneath the panoply of the green forest trees, while their fair captives.may chafe in spirit over their confinement, for tt witimexail them nothing. a A camp-fire is burning at one side, and one o the pale Indians is busy around it, broiling veni- son for their supper. It requires but a few minutes to prepare the meal, and when it is an- nourced as ready, the hands of the captives are freed from their bonds. Then tender slices of the venison are brought to them, not on a silver tray, but on args green leaves. One of the captives accepts the proffered viand—the other re! Ss it. “You had better take it, dear Sylveen,” whispered Martha Gregory to her young friend; “it will give you strengt i need, doatest. what bee i retty, sad-hearted Sylveen Gray took the venison and ate it, and etter all it pe a iruite delectable to her taste. It added strength to her body, and in so doing it strengthened her ho of being rescued trom Pirate Paul and Ins minions, who had effected their capture that. _} F os SSE ated ‘spot. They falter. EE SEE te EERE Ce Pi SR SE eee ee es woods near Stony Cliff. The disguised men ate their supper in silence, then resumed their lounging attitudes; some en- gaged in smoking, others in silent thought. Suddenly the whole band starts. Something like the sound of music reaches their ears, drift- ing through the forest aisles in notes faint as those of an Eolian harp—so faint as to be almost inaudible. z ‘What the deuce is it, anyhow?” asked Pirate Paul. ‘Music, captain, sure as you’re a sinner,” re~ plied one of his men, listening eagerly. “Whew!” ejaculated another, “this must be aradise itself. The angels. are tuning their .arps.” The next instant every man is upon his feet, Those enchanting strains. make srengely anxious to know from whence such melody comes. ‘“We can’t all leave at a time, boys,” said Pi- rate Paul, glancing in a significant manner at a. captives; ““part go at a time and we'll last onger. Seven or eight of the pirates resumed their positions of ease on the ground, while the others stole away in the direction from whence the music seemed to come. As they move on and on, the sound gradu- ally grows plainer, clearer and sweeter. They move with the silence of phantoms, almost entranced by the ravishing sounds that come to their ears. Surely it is an enchanted Their wicked hearts grow cowardly. Something so sweet and heavenly in that music makes them feel as though they were approaching a hallowed spot with unclean spir- its. Finally they pause. But the music swells out, nearer and sweeter than before. They can not resist its seductive inspiration. It fascinates them. It draws them on and on, until the stand upon the banks of a little stream, enchan ed by what they sce. A little opening or glade is before them. In the center of it stands a little vine-embowered cabin. A narrow path leads from the door through an archway of flowers and ae vines, They run their eyes along the path, an just before them, where it touches the creek, they see two persons seated—a girl and a youn man. The former appears to them like an an ina dream. In her lap she holds a Spanish gui- tar, over whose strings her little white fingers are fluttering like snowflakes, calling forth these sweet, melodious sounds. They wero enraptured; and that they migh? have a fairer view of the place and its inhabi- tants—that they might bring these sweet strains of music nearer, they parted the foliage and re through upon the twain of lovers, Vida it. Leger and Fred Travis. Leaving them to gaze enchanted upon the wildw beauty and her lover, let us return to the robbers’ camp, where Sylveen Gray and Martha Gregory are prisoners. As soon as the captives had finished their meager supper, their hands were rebound, They wero then Beat: in a small bower constructed for them of boughs and blankets. Here tho two women sat and talked over their misfértuno and probable fate. Sylveen was sad at heart and low-spirited, while Martha was hopeful of being rescued, and defiant to her cap- Ts “Suddenly, however, their conversation was disturbed by a stranger voice that seemed to be = rapeanag - the camp, and singing, in a leud, jolly tone, the words: “The ‘possum he grinned at the ole hedgehog, The ole hedgehog, the ole hedgehog: The *possum he grinned at the ole h , *Way down by the Squantwn—” “* Halt, there!” suddenly rung out the voice of one of the robbers, and the peremptory demand was accompanied ‘with the click of a gun-lock. Oid Shadow, for he the intruder was, ceased singing, and confronted the white Indian with apparent surprise. ‘By the royal voice of the woods,” he ex- claimed, ‘if you ain’t a sassy cuss, now! Whe are ye, ennyhow?’ ‘Me Ingin,” replied the outlaw, attempting to counterfeit bad English. . “Now, ole buck, I'd hate to tell ye that yer tellin’ a snug little lie, but, neweceialoan it’s a fact; youarea ginuwine, downright, flat-footed, bare-faced—” a _ “Be careful, idiot!” exclaimed the indignant a pirate; “ you might utter yer death-war- rani “And you be keerful, ole gee or Tl th h ye like an ounce chunk o’ lead. Ole Shader, I'd have ae know, ye villainous bull-pup, and if I onc’t flit across a man’s vision, he’s go his pass for the sulpher di err -“¥ou’re an old, blab-mouthed fool,” retorted the robber, mens bolder as his friends gath- ered. around him. ‘You. measure others’ grain in yer own bushel, I see,” replied the old hunter: ‘but, Mister, what's in that bower?” - ca poe of your business,” returned the indig- nant ro : Sgr ee ee
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16 | not very prepossessin’ at present, but then, the mud ‘ll soon wear off.” ; The young men could hold back no longer, and burst into a roar of laughter. But their joy was soon turned into disappointment, when | Omaha, who had gone to see after the captive maidens, returned with the news that they were not in the bower, nor could they be found any- where about. They had either fled with affright, or had been spirited away during the conflict. But, which- ever it was, our friends had no time for specu- ‘Well, what’s that to you?” “Why, ye durned sap-headed scamp, ye stole 3m!” ‘ “You tell a—” The pirate did not finish the sentence, for the fist of Old Shadow was planted directly between his eyes, causing his heels to describe a semi- | tircle through the air. The outlaw was a large, burty fellow, and no | doubt. possessed of twice the old hunter’s | strength; but, with all the grit of an old hound, | lation over it, for at this instant they saw Pirate the latter grappled with his adversary before | Paul and his men returning through the woods, he could regain his feet. | and not wishing to run the risk of an engage- The other robbers gathered around the com- | ment with such a superior number of foes, they batants to witness the certain annihilation of beat a hasty retreat into the woods. the impertinent old hunter; but they soon had | # conflict of their own to prosecute. For the | CHAPTER XXV. first blow from Old. Shadow was the signal for | A NIGHT OF TERRORS. the Avengers to make their appearance. TrRROR-stricken, Sylveen Gray and Martha One discharge, however, of the Avengers’ | Gregory had fled from the bower the instant firearms caused the robbers to flee with terror. ) the Avengers had made their charge upon the They attempted to rally when they saw the | robbers, going in a southward direction. Al- number of the foe, but were so closely pressed | though their hands were bound, they soon gained that they were compelled to continue their | the cover of the woods and then stopped. By flight, leaving two or three of their number be- | placing their hands close together, they were \ind dead. | enabled to untie their bonds. The victorious Avengers did not pursue them ) They now hastened on, and not until the sha- } fas. No time was to be lost, for they had seen _ dows of twilight had begun to gather around th: robbers under Pirate Paul leave the camp a | them did they halt to rest or consider the few minutes before, and knew not how soon | course they were following—whether it led to- they would return, So they turned to assist | ward new danger, or toward safety. .They Old Shadow; but neither he nor his foe was to | at once found that they were entirely ignorant Pi be seen! | of their course, and felt certain that new f : _ They saw at once, however, where the leaves | dangers would beset their path during the and ground were tore upin a broad path ex- | night, or before they could reach a place of tending down a steep inclination that nef security. lorminated in a perpendicular embankment. | “Martha,” said Sylveen, “I fear we have e combatants must have rolled over this | not bettered our situation. Those that attacked cliff, and had, in all probability, been dashed to ) the robbers were friends, undoubtedly. I think ttoms. | [recognized them as a party of young men who j The Avengers hurried to the edge of the pre- | spenta few days at Stony Clift,® ‘ipice and gazed down for their old friend. “ Tf we had taken a second thought we might A ludicrous and doleful sight met their view. | have been saved of all this night’s wandering The cliff was about twenty feet high, and at | about_through the woods,” replied Martha, the bottom was a pool of stagnant water, whose | ‘‘ but I was so taken with the thoughtof escape yottom was a soft, oozy slush of black mud. | that I-never considered the consequence of our In the center of this pool lay the robber on | haste. However, it may be best after all, for his back, and astride of him sat Old Shadow, | those that attacked the robbers may have been completely covered with mud, his cap off, and | defeated.” ; his hair straggling in muddy, draggled tresses “That's all very true, Martha, so let us hurry down over his face and eves, on and get as far as possible from here before ; The robber was struggling desperately, though | darkness sets in. ..No telling what terrors this ? every movement he madé served to settle his | night may bring forth.. Death-Notch may be body deeper and: deeper in the water and mire. | in these woods to-night.” be Slowly and. regularly as ‘‘clock-work” Old | | Théy hurried rapidly on. They might have Shadow’s bony fist arose and fell with a sodden | taken bearings by the last faint gleam of the sound in thetace of the robber, while he gave | setting sun, but they were too greatly terrified vent to an ejaculation of vengeance between | to think of that. ey thought only of pubang P each blow. ; distance between the pirates and themselves. } “Pll smash (whack) your durned (whack) |- The twilight soon deepenedinto darkness mug for (whack) you,” he exclaimed, “ Me lopin’ | rendering the gloom within the forest almost yhack) gal-thief ye. (whack), and [Pll Varn | impenetrable. But, the moon soon came up, Whack) ye how to (whack) insult a (Whack) | and although the trees above them shut out its | rays from their path, the darkness became mitigated, and they: were enabled to move'on with less difficulty and fear. But, already their minds were in a high state bs, of excitement, and af every sound. they would } pizen big thief?” ; | start with fear, expecting to see, the next in- “Tl admit you're the best man, stranger, so.| stant, the terrible Death-Notch a before lease let me up, or I'll suffocate.” ~ \ them. This fear was agony itself, but there “That's the right cackle, old. snoozy; say on was no help for them now. They must breast that way. Yecan’t say enny thing that’ll tech | it through. : ® tender spot quicker.” They moved on, and at length emerged into a = “Tf you're as hard all over as your cussed fist, | little opening where the moon’srays fell full and i _ you've no tender spot "bout you. . unobstructed upon the earth. eir | ere lay : Whack, came the old hunter's fist in the rob- | across this gee F They never pause, but press ’ ber’s face; causing him to bellow and beg for | out into the glade which they see is clear. mercy. _|.When half-way across it, hoof-strokes break = Then speak in a more perlite manner "bout | upon their ears. They neyo and look about my fist, ye vagabone ye.” | them with a mingled feeling of hope and fear. The robber, seein, that no one came to hisas-| Forth from the shadows of the woods they see sistance, and that the hunter had the advantage. ahorse appear. It is riderless. But it is bridled, of him, was compelled to. submit to his terms, and moves not like a horse escaped from its und as he begged manfully and politely, as Old | master. Jt seems to obey the volition of some a Shadow termed it, was permitted to raise his | invisible power. . ; Sa Pe head out of the mud and water. Still theold | It is moving atright angles with the fugitives’ yentleman arter (whack) this, too!” ‘*See here—stranger,” the robber managed to pn Nlubber out, ‘‘I—I beg your—pardon.” Bet ' Old Shadow paused to gain breath. ‘So, hol” he exclaimed, ‘‘ye beg, do ye, ye hunter maintained his seat meee his body, and | course. It pricks up its ears and shies slightly |, \eaning slightly forward, he laid the tips of his | at sight of them. But it soon falls back into its index Bre ae aoe ana with one oe half | former course, as if reined there by that invisi- Nosed, he said in a reproving tone: ble rider. _ . oe es ‘*Now then, you big gawk ye, I perposeto | An old borderman would. have suspicioned ‘ewes let ye go, hide and ha’r, but, let me give ye a | something wrong about that horse, but not so f jeotle advice, Go and repent, wash yer 2@, | with the maidens. a LE ; and keep yer nose clean; and if ever the devil ‘*It is one of the robbers’ horses, is it not, Syl- & or his angels tempt ye to steal anuther gal, or | veen?”’ asked Martha. ne, - tall a gentleman a liar, think o’ this mud- uddle | _“ It looks like one of them—the one you rode, oe Soins _and yours truly, and then say, ‘Git ye behind Martha,” replied Sylveen. ac, : me, Satan,’ then go hum to your dad. Now, “T believe I sry? _ , temember this advice.” - AES We The old hunter arose as he concluded his ad- ul he ee cy and permitted the pegs t Ecan his feet, a th 2 and slink aw ng the shrubbery. - " When he ee out of sight Old Shadow waded | hand, calling kindly to the animal. It turned from the pool, ascenc m3 the cliff and rejoined head slightly t D 1oved on. Mar- SS wert his friends, the most dolefulsight imaginable. He | tha stepped —_ to intercept it, and when she es . saw at once that the youths were fairly con- | came within reach of him, she put out her hands | ss wulsed with suppressed laughter, and ‘coolly | and seized the reins: but at this instant herright rue paid; | of oes te gee disputed—a rider appeared on Se _“Varf, lads, dh ake agin N i eaperie the back of Wie anata as if by magic. It was fs Hang: spoil : ‘larf. It’s one an Indian warrior stp a @pences 07 Li ‘ ai wart wore. to ond di Marth piaed 9.cr7 one started back. But ce. Yes, larf her out, lads. I know I’m | her. — a ul ery al | Sa aa ee, ae ea . ah Cae = ag? 0g ; rer y ‘ eh a = tis The New York Library. = placing her rudely across the withers of his: orse, galloped away into thé shadows of the woods. Sylveen realized her lonely situation, and with a shriek of terror she fied across the opening and plunged into the illimitable darkness. Poor girl! her situation was terrible now, Au agonizing sense of her loneliness was now added. to her fears and terrors, and a feeling of de spondency came over her. But with light foot steps and heavy heart she hurried on. Suddenly there was a broad, bright flash be- fore her. She stopped. Her further progress wasarrested. At her feet rolled the silent waters of the Sioux river. Half despairing, the maiden sunk down and covering her face with her hands, gave way to a paroxysm of grief. What should she do? What could she do toward getting out of that interminable wilderness? Then she endeavored to think. She recalled the facet of Stony Cliff being situated upon the river. A ray of hope was kindled within her breast when she thought that by following the course of the stream, she would reach the vil- lage. She arose to her feet. She gazed up and down the river to see which way it was flowing. Then a clond of bitter disappointment came over her. She knew not whether she was below the village or above it! Then, something lying at the edge of the wa- ter attracted her attention. It was an empty canoe. She walked down the bank and entered it. She was tired out with walking and conclu- ded to risk herself in the canoe and journey down the river. Taking up the paddle she headed the craft in the proper course and began her journey, keep- ing close within the shadows of the east shore. She plied the paddle vigorously and with no little skill. The little craft went skimming over the water with great rapidity, yet for its size it seemed to draw considerable water, and dip slightly at one end. The heart of the fair girl began to take cour- age. She felt almost certain. she was traveli in the right direction to reach the village, an with this hopeful assurance of a speedy escape, she pressed on. But, suddenly, there came to her ears, the di of paddies. She ceased paddling and listened. True enough, a canoe was ascending #he river. She leaned forward and endeavored to see through the gloom, but, all along the shore it was black as chaos. But out in thé center of the river where the moon’s rays fell unobstructed, there was a narrow belt of light, and within this she saw a canoe, with two oceupants, coming up the river. They were Indians. This she could easily seé by the plumes in their -heads. They were sitting in the attitude of intense list- ening, and from this Sylveen judged they had heard the dip of her paddle, ; With great presence of mind, the maiden ran her canoe close in shore where the darkness was intense, yet near where a single patch of moon- light, two or three feet in diameter, fell upon the water so bright that all the moon’s rays seemed brought to.a focus there. Sylveen could still see the savages. They were moving slowly up the stream, still listen- ing as if in doubt. &he felt im hopes thoy would pass on, But they did not. eilr savage curi- osity was arrested and it would have to be satis- fied ere they continued their journey. Suddenly the hoarse croak of a frog was heard, almost under the very poe of her canoe. There was something so shrill and rasping in its notes. that it caused her to start violently. Then she heard a quick flounder, a splash in the water, a low gasp, a dull, sodden blow. She felt her canoe rocked by the waves and intently into the gloom to see what uced. those waves. A dull, phosphorescent gleam showed her two forms engaged in a silent death- struggle at the very — of her canoe. What were they? Were they human? Surely they were. She could hear dull blows, a wheezing and gasps. 4 ey did not struggle thus—so silently, se eadly. P a was Paralyzed with terror, She sat motionless and listened to the silent death-strug- gle. Aft last her terrible thoughts found ieee unt expression in the words: “Oh, who is it? who is it?” ** Death-Notch!” The answer came in gasps—like that of a strangling being who had tried to raise his voice to a warning shriek. It paralyzed Sylveen with terror. She could not move a muscle. She sat like one in a trance, a graven image. . The struggling, however, soon ceased and alk. became as ominously silent as though the spot had never been called into creation. Then the silence was broken by the dip of paddles. She turned her head and saw the canoe with the savages agent 8 directly toward her. > wa from them, or the terrible young Scalp-Hunter, seemed impossible. There was no avenue of escape open to her. The river-- bank was high and shelving. ; . Driven almost to desperation, she decided to — “~ Nocsiser than throw herself benesth suffer unknown horrors or endless pice as. ies er Sa eee ¥ She gazed "down at the black waters beneath sc} 4 pot ns art a OF .
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wos *: — aywoer “Fr. Bo SE ac ; rhastly, set | were heading j y ras with te Fightnees of Sales Sic ake Te se | ao Canine pee tran her Bat she was a aoated Say wit re ie moonlit space, | could not move. She believed that Death- | cealment. padremained long enough for her to rec jonger, and a cry of terror pet ote” | approach her. They are within ten feet of her: No, 7. Death Notch, the Destroyer. 17 } her. Her eyes fell upon the little patch of moon- | CHAPTER XXVI. | blow, a wail ofagony. Something has attacked light upon the water, DANGERS INCREASE, | the two Indians—has slain one of them! It re- She started. She saw something float from | Tat her lover had been slain by Death- | quires a second thought to tell her what it is. the borders of the darkness into the patch of light. It was a human face upturned to the | The head she saw must have been severed en- heavens, and floating “just above the surface | tirely from the shoulders, and with face up- of the water. Nobody was visible—it was alone—nothing but a white, ghostly face, across the forehead of which there was a streak of blood. Notch, Sylveen Gray bad not a single doubt. | Death-Notch! | The struggle with the savages lasted only for | a moment, then all became silent as the grave. turned, the ghastly spherical object was floating | The darkness conceals all from view. Sylveen ; ) | away. can see nothing of the canoe nor the savages— Her scream, however, had caught the ears of | they have vanished, and gradually her fears ! the two savages in ,the canoe, and now they | give way and hope revives, ’ aN eo Se eee é ( RS BES ee ete ii \ “ , = WH oS NS ss SS SX lids yi; Hi Vi OLD SHADOW SAW THE SAVAGE TURN, AND, PARTING THE FOLIAGE, PERR INTO RIS VERY FACE.- Page 14, Tt was a face ever so ghost] Several minutes pass by—minutes of silence, then she ventures to move out from her con- But, her canoe moves heavy and sluggish—something is clinging to it! She and death. It re- | so terrified—so paralyzed with fear—that she ‘kness. But, it _it | Notch was still concealed within reach of her, “OZNIZE and ibat the first a wee , : A : it. It was the face of her lover, Ralph, St, j St_ movement she made would | turns and sees a white, white face peering over the rim of the canoe upon her, She hears the savages continued to | word: : 7 * Sylveen!” in the water, a beavy | The voice sounded familiar to her, though ig bring the terrible creature upon her. er. She sat motionless, The er poor heart could ” burst from her lips. n she hears a quick rush
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‘flow, as it were, into one chamn “4, 18 ooo e——OOOOSEE > —— = | seemed almost exhausted and despairing. It | was Ralph (t. Leger’s voice she was certain. | fhe was silent with the mingled feelings of hope | wre ayiveen®. egal ted the voice, “ iti | Sylveen” again repea @ voice, “ it is I—Ralph St. Leger.” A cry burst from Sylveen’s _ Tt was Ralph, and he was well and alive. The | next moment. he had thrown himself into the canoe, and, regardless of his plight, folded his sweetheart to his breast, and imprinted kisses of ) rove upon her tremulous lips. Both were speechless with joy. Neither | thought of their last meeting and how they had parted. Love was all-powerful now. . When the first raptures of that meeting were over, each one expressed in words his and her | joy of that meeting. Then many questions were asked and answered. The struggle under the | eliff Ralph thus explained: “T was concealed in the water, waiting for | Che two savages coming up the river. Suddenly | { heard the dip of paddles coming down the tiver, and when you, sweet Sylveen, ran your | ) ranoe close in shore, where I was concealed to elude the savages, I knew it was you; and when the frog croaked so near by, I discovered it was & savage concealed under the Pas of your | eanoe. I grappled with him, and—” ‘* Ah!” interrupted Sylveen, ‘‘ then it was you who spoke the name of Death-Notch.” ‘Sh, dear what I hear a footstep on | the shore!” exclaimed Ralph, in an undertone. | They relapsed into silence, but heard nothing | raore of the footstep. Ralph seized the paddle | and drove the canoe rapidly down the stream, } At length he spoke of the many dangers to | which they were exposed, and then added: | “ Sylveen, it is not far to my home. I will | take you there to-night, for ‘you are many miles | from Stony Cliff. My dear little sister Vida | will be ever so glad to see you.” ‘¢ Your sister!” exclaimed Sylveen; “‘ then you | are not alone?” ‘*No, dear Sylveen, but since you accused me pf being Pirate Pau!, I have been worse than alone—I have been miserabie.” : ‘Then you did not receive the letter I left in the old holiow tree?” ‘‘ Letter? No, Sylveen, I found none there, though [ have looked in that tree a dozen times | since we parted last.” “‘T put one there, Ralph, asking your forgive- ness. Some one must have found it.” “Then you have become convinced that I am innocent of your charge?” “* Yes, Ralph, and I hardly deserve your for- giveness. But {was misled. ~The young woman Who gave me the ring you saw upon my finger that day said it would be a charm against prai- rie pirates. Shesaid if any one evinced rise . at sight of it, and made inquiries about it, as you know. you did, Ralph, I could set_ him down #3 a prairie pirate. And, as Scott Shirely had tcld me you were Pirate Paul, I thought Miss u Set hy ring confirmed the Looe “Scott. Shirely accused me of being Pirate Paul? The merciless villian! I am satisfied from letters I found directed to Pirate Paul | sil written in cipher, that he is Pirate Paul iy mself.” : Yes, he is, Ralph; this I know, for it was h» whe carried Martha Gregory and I away. But why, Raiph, did you start so at sight of | Wat ring?” ‘Tt was my dear mother’s ring, and was | taken from her by her murderers, the Indians, | oe two years ago. I re T knew it at a ae ‘om. whom did your donor receive it, Syl en} “rom Scott Shirely, whom Martha Gregory . ays is her husband.” There was a momentary silence. It was too dark for Sylveen to see the expression of ven- zxeance that swept over his face. They talked on about Pirate Paul, Death- | Notch, and upon other topics. Still they were | happy and joyous, despite the dangers that sur- | rounded them. In the mean time Ralph worked ey at the paddle, and at length he turned from the river | into the mouth of a smal! creck that was ren- | dered black as Hades by the arcading foliage of | ‘the trees along either shore, After following the windings of this stream for some time, the canoe touched the shore, and Ra! = said: _“ Weare at home, Sylveen.” _ Ba assisted her ashore and conducted her | across the little glade toward his cabin. A sweet, musical voice hailed them as they | ap roached the door. It was Vida’s voice. ph onded to her grecting and then | eonducted Sylveen into the cabin. The room was lighted up with an oil lamp that burned on the table, where supper was waiting Ralph's | raturn. “The youth introduced. his little sister to_his fair protege, and the maidens’ apie seemed to | ' Fred Travis was out when the brother came e. but he soon made his appearance with rifle in hand.» ripe =. Isee you are much better, my young + aid alpb; “but why are you out in | os 4 ~ , vine ele = : &. ‘5 i so late?’ “T was scouting arouna your little Eden,” said Fred. ‘Vida and I saw a number of In- dians around this evening.” Ralph started, and for a moment that terrible fire of vengeance seemed ne. within his breast. Buta word from Vida broke the awful spell. tr Yes, brother,” the sister said, ‘‘about dark we saw as many as a dozen Indians on the south side of the branch. But they made no hostile demonstration and soon retired, But supper is waiting you, brother.” ‘Then let us et for I presume Sylveen is as hungry as I,” said Ralph. The little company sat down and partook of | the viands prepared by Vida, and it was not a meager supply, for the wildwood furnished not only game, but various kinds of delicious | wild fruits. After supper was over, Ralph said: “T will go out and look around the place a few minutes to see that we are in no danger.” He took his weapons, and having excused himself, left the cabin. Sylveen now narrated to Vida and Fred the story of her capture by the prairie pirates, the attack of the Avengers, her escape, the recap- ture of her friend, her own adventures upon the river—in fact, everything that had trans- pired from the time of her capture up to that moment, “Was there a young Indian with those that attacked the robbers?’ asked Fred, after he had heard her story. “‘T think there was,” replied Sylveen, ‘‘ Iam almost positive it is the same party of young ea an boys that spent a few days at Stony ‘They must be my friends!” exclaimed Fred; “and if they are, I hope they will happen this way; but if they do not, I will have to look them up to-morrow.” a Oh p? The exclamation burst simultaneously from the lips of Vida and Sylveen, for at this junc- ture a strange sound rushed athwart the dark- ness without—a sound that thrilled the trio with sudden alarm. ‘* What was it?’ passed from lip to lip; but no answer could be given. Fred arose and going to the door, looked out. All was silent, nor could a living object be seen. He grew uneasy, but he did not permit a look or word to betray his thoughts or feelings. They talked on, but were guarded and silent. The dark eyes of Vida looked trustingly and con- as Ata those of her lover, glance spoke the language of love plainer than words could have done. The moments wore on. Ralph did not return, The door stood ajar and the least sound floated in to their ears. An ominous silence had settled around the place, but suddenly that strange sound broke upon their ears again—a sound like the flapping o great wings. Fred arose, and taking a rifle, went out into the yard. He could see nothing, and mdved out and around the cabin—continuing still out- ward until he had reached the woods. Vida and Sylveen sat alone, with wildly- throbbing hearts. Neither spoke; a silence as ominous as death settled around them. All at once, as if actuated by a single im- uulse, both of the fair girls turned their eyes oward the curtained recess that Fred bad occu- pied during bis ilimess.. Both were sure they ad detected the low, suppressed breathing of something, either human or beast, behind that curtain. er ee They sat transfixed with inmost horror. There was an intuitive foreboding of some awful dan- ger hanging over them... lt-struck them both as a gust OL wind would have done. They listened with their hands pressed upon their breasts to still their palpitating hearts. They were-not mistakén—there was something breathing behind that curtain! Terror is an awful agony to suffer. It, e breath toeoéme blanches the cheeks, and causes the D toedlne bo late, the lips to part and th hard. ? Thus appeared the maidens. their eyes upon the curtain, unab unable to move. _ ‘ ; : They see something touch the curtain—some- thing darts through it. It is the glittering blade of a long knife. Then they see a downward flash—a rent is cut in the curtain, and—they see no more. There isa rush of feet, The light oes out. They are in darkness, The door is mmed violently shut. They are prisoners. And then a yell, that seems to issue in chorus from a thousand throats, makes the night hide- ous as it echoes and re-echoes in demoniac shrieks through the dark, wooded aistes. Where now was Fred Travis? where was the ¥ sit with © to ery out, of congeniality | young Scalp-Hunter? Alas! where, indeed?> : CHAPTER XXVIII. THE V COMPACT. How long Pirate Paul and his men would have stood fai Dh el So iy Wi “swoot cia af er fice an the The New York Library. AE EE AS AS OE SS CINE © 2 ETT Vol. arm of yours | tones of her harp, there is no telling, had thay not been suddenly startled by the repoad, of fire: arms in the direction of the camp. armed they at once beat a hasty retreat, and reach cantp to find it entirely deserted by all but three of their comrades, who lay dead upon the ground. Their surprise and indignation knew no bounds. Pirate Paul cursed himself for ever permitting so many of his men to leave the camp. He cursed the fair being whose sweet voice he had permitted todraw them away, and swore an oath of vengeance upon her. That the camp had been attacked by whites, there was not a doubt, for the three dead men were unscalped. But while they stood lament- ing, in oaths and execrations, over their misfor- tune, in loss of men and captives, a human figure emerged from the undergrowth and approached them. That he was human was all they could make of him, for he was incrusted in a layer of biack mud and dirt from head to foot. ‘“* What the devil is this? Who, or what are you?” asked Pirate Paul. - “lm Griff Morton, I am,” said the doleful igure, “FWiends- and furies! How came these mon slain? How came Pa in such a plight? Whe did it? Speak, Griff Morton.” The robber narrated the whole transaction— the attack of the Avengers, and his own adven- ture in the pool, thou he turned the tables, and made himself the hero of that conflict. Pirate Paul ground his teeth and swore with rage—swore that he would wreak a bloody re -venge upon the agents of his loss. In the midst of his fury, an exclamation sud denly burst from the lips of one of his men. He had discovered a y of Indians appreaching them, and no sooner did Pirate Paul see them, than a shout of io, burst from his lips, that was answered back by the savages. The latter were Sioux party under Red Elk, with whom Pirate Paul was on intimate terms of friendship. In a minute the two parties were together. The three dead pirates at once attracted Red Elk’s attention. “Has Le Subtile Fox had trouble?” he asked, “Yes; a pack of white hounds, cailing them. selves Avengers, attacked my camp while most of my men were absent, and slew three of the guard, and excaped with two captive white aac one of which I intended for you for a wife. “Tt is bad,” replied Red Elk; ‘the Avengers are cunning. Red Elk set a trap for therb, but = were like the wolves that scent danger, and stole away. Death-Notch, too, is in thé woeds.” “Seen him lately?” asked Pirate Paul. ‘“But last night he arose from the heart of our eerie Bee as he arcse in the council-ledge on the night of the storm, when he fled on the horse of Le Subtile Fox.” “He is a terrible creature, chief; and these Avengers will soon be more terrible than he, They must be bunted down and burved with 2 , ‘Le Subtile Fox speaks the-truth.” j Ray let us to work, chief, Shall we go ¢* ther? ‘What does the white chief say is best?” Can you bend two bows as as one?’ ‘‘Red Elk is strong, but he can bend one b6 easier than two.” “Then if we work together we'll be as two bows; we will be strong, and the enemy can not defeat us; but if we go separate, we'll be as one bow—easy bent.” f “The white chief speaks the truth. is willing to join hands with him ” Then from this moment Jet cur vengeance be- gin. The settlements must fall if we would reach the strongaim of ont enemies.” “Le Subtile Fox should have been a red chief. His brain is quick, .-Hismind islong and reaches far ahead, must fall; his horses be ridden away and his cat tle slain; fhen he can not live as the red man does in the open woods, and by his rifle and Ww “Then we can begin our work near here. But a short distance away stands a little cabin that J never kn@éw was in existence till to-day. It must be the home of some old trapper. There is a beautiful white squaw there She would make Le Subtile Fox or Red Elk a nice wife.” “The white chief speaks truly. She is beat tiful as an angel.” “Then you have seen her?” “To-day my braves discovered their wigwam for the first time. A cunning pale-face lives there.” “Did you intend to destrey the cabin and capture the beautiful white girl?” ‘When night makes everything into sha- dows, then will we strike. While the white squaw sung to her pale-face lover by the creek, four of my braves eatered their cabm and con- cealed soamenliee. Le Subtile Fox can take the pale squaw fo slave. scalps. es _ Ah, you mean bustness, chief,” rep¥ind Pt- Fate Paul, ‘Cand by the time we can bury these dead men it will be darls—time to Work—thougs _ us I; ite Red Elk The white man’s wigwams_ Red Elk wants only -
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4 — No. —_— I do not see why darkness is necessary for two score Indians to capture a girl and boy.” “a if life of plied the diplomatic Red Elk. 1) 4 waiting for darkness we can save the | warrior, it will be well to do so,” re- | “Yes, yes, Red Elk, that’s all true; but here, | boys, let us perform the last sad rites for these poor devils, by putting them under the ground.” It required bu siain over the forest. eee Then these human demons took up their line of march toward the home of Ralph St. Leger. CHAPTER XXVIII. DEATH-NOTCH IN TROUBLE. AFTER leaving his cabin, Ralph St. Leger made a careful circuit of the hut, then moved out toward the woods, Here he caught sight of | a shadowy figure moving away before him. He followed it, for, without a doubt, it was a skulk- ing enemy. It led into the woods, where the t a few moments to inter the | pirates in shallow graves, hollowed by | means of knives and their hands; but by the | time ib was accomplished darkness had gathered | | sad. | my arm,” replied the insulted chie |} him fear me as he would Death-Notch, the darkness was so intense that he was not enabled | to follow it otherwise than by sound. But he could hear the footsteps very plain. They were heavy and massive, unlike that of an Indian | : : } | arms twitched as with convulsions. The power warrior, yet it was the footsteps of a prowling enemy. Out some fifty yards in the wood, Ralph was suddenly startled by a quick step at his right. He halted. At that instant he hears a “‘whirr” Death-N otch, the Destroyer. _ iv derful boy. He broke into a mocking, defiant augh. ‘* Shoot your arrows, you red fiends,” he said. | ‘Fill my breast with them. Then they will not burn as my. hatred of your accursed race does!” * Waugh!” exclaimed the young chief. ‘A bird in a cage will sing sweet, when its heart is and the young pale-face talks brave to con- ceal the pain that burns within its breast.” *“Wild-Wind’s tongue is crooked as the ser- pent’s trail,” replied our fearless boy. Wild-Wind, the young chief, sprung toward the captive and dealt him a severe blow upon the head with the bow he held in his hand. “Let the pale-face feel but half the weight of f, “and let rs youn gt Aaa a ““ Wild-Wind is a coward, or he would not strike a prisoner,” replied the youthful captive; ‘*he is a weak squaw, a sucking wolf.” Again Wild-Wind dealt him a blow. But this was more than human nature—at least, such a nature as Ralph St. Leger’s—could stand. The eyes of the youth flashed with a deadly fire of resentment. The great veins in his neck stood out like cordage. e face became set witha terrible expression. The breast heaved and the of Titan’ seemed infused into the frame of the captive. His arms are pressed gradually apart. His bonds snap in twain, and he stands free be- fore his enemies. But it is only for a moment. over his head, then he feels something encircle | Before a savage could move—with the swiftness his form like the folds of a huge serpent. He feels this band drawn suddenly tight. His hands are pisioned at his side, He struggles but his efforts only tend to tighten the clasp. He is jerked to his knees, then he is thrown prostrate upon the earth; he is within the toils of a lasso, a captive. A dozen savages close in upon him. He struggles with the desperation of a madman, but the heavy blow of a club strikes him half-unconscious. ; The scene changes. It is still night, and in the forest a camp-fire is burning. Tts ra 8, reaching outward and upward, strike upon the n foliage of the trees, seeming to transform hem into gray rock towering aloft and forming a deep ch whose grim, stony facade was, apparently, dappled with sunlight, yet whose opening was lost in the darkness above. Around this camp-fire half a dozen sava are moving hurriedly to and fro, their grim faces aglow with deimoniac triumph. The cause of their excitement is readily manifested. Be- fore them stands a white captive, whose hands are bound before him, and the ends of the thongs securely attached to a =e The captive is Ralph St. Leger. is head is bare; he is stripped of everythin but his trow- sers and hunting-shirt. He is rfoctly resigned. There is no look of fear nor dejection in his fine dark eyes. He regards the vengeful spirit of his captors indifferently, and a smile of admira- | tion passes over his face when he sees they are | preparing for his torture. A number of arrow-points are thrust into the fire, and a strong bow got in readiness for use. Then a savage warrior points to these and tells the captive what they are for, and, by mocks and jeers, endeavors to make him show some signs of fear. But the captive boy heeds not his words. ‘““The young pale-face is like the young tree against which he stands,” said the savage, grow- ing indignant at his success as a mocker; ‘‘he hears not the voice of the wind. But when the ax is cutintothe bark, it is made to feel. It will wither and die. The pale-face bey shall feel. The —. was @ young warrior about the age of the captive. He was the child of a chief —was brave and daring, and honored for the scalps he had taken, He was small and slender, et agile as the panther, and strong asa young ion. As he concluded his threat, the young chief turned, took up a bow, plucked an arrow —whose point was ablaze—from the fire, and applied it to the bow-string. ; He then stepped backward, drew the arrow almost t? the head, and sent it whirring at the breast of the captive. The barbed and blazing point pierced the hunting shirt of the captive who flinched not. The weapon had only pass i in until the barbs were concealed behind the shirt, yet it must have punctured the skin, for a little jet of smoke puffed outward, while the shaft of the arrow ee downward, still clinging within the shirt by its bar The savages watch the face of the captive for some manifest sign of pain, but he never fiinches, The features do not relax their firmness of ex- “pression. ? Another apsasey Woe" nd was plucked from the fire and shot into the breast of the captive. Lit- tle par smoke curl upward from the bosom of hunting-shirt. It had a pungent odor, not unlike that of burning flesh. Still the cap- Mea Dioches not, but smiles defiantly in the face ts) foes, arrow was shot into his breast th the feathered shafts, and : to smoke and - erisp with ‘There was something , : mysterious—in the fortitude of this vo ee ; | | of a dart, he | | | | asps the shafts of the arrows in. his breast with one hand, and tearing them out, hurled them, shafts forward, at the nearest sav- age. Then seizing a heavy, half-consumed fire- brand, he swung it aloft and swept the as- tounded foe down before him. The end of the club burst into a flame, and as it swept through the air like a hissing stream of fire, it threw a ghastly light over the features of the now mad avenger. The red foes regained their feet and pressed hard upon him. Knives were thrust at his breast, beat glanced off as though they had come in contact with the breast of a brazen image. Foremost among the savage combatants is Wild-Wind. But the eye of Death-Notch has marked him. He presses toward him; he reaches him; he seizes him ina grasp by the throat that causes his eyes to s and his tongue to protrude. With the. other hand he seizes him by the loin-cloth and raises him above his head, as though he had been a mere child, and with all his strength he dashes him with crushing force into the fire.. Then he utters a wild, terrible yell, and with a bound he gains the darkness and freedom of the woods. Bleeding, blinded and burned, Wild-Wind was Cie from the fire, and he at once slunk away into the forest, while the warriors bound- ed away ia the pursuit. But the footsteps of the young pale-face were silent as the wind, and the baffled savages soon returned to look after their disabled young chief. But they found him not. On the ground where he had fallen lay the savage first brained by the terrible firebrand. His face was turned upward; his head was scalpless. His arm was outstretched and raised slightly from the ground, while the index finger was pointing, in &@ manner as natural as life, to a Jittle tree upon which was cut a fresh notch! | The savages knew at once what it meant. The young Scalp-Hunter had been there! CHAPTER XXIX. AN AMUSING ADVENTURE. Lirrie did Fred Travis dream of the i he that were fixed upon him the moment he Jeft the door of the St. Legers’ cabin. But he had scarcely reached the woods when a scream fell upon his ears. It came from the cabin, and he knew the girls must be in trouble, so turning about he ran back to the house. As he near the door he saw there was no light within, and he heard the excited voices of savages and the terrified screams of Vida and Sylveen. The brave youth made a dash at the door, but it was blocked with savage forms. He at- tempted to cut his way waren bat in vain, The foe closed in upon him antl beat himdown. The next minute he was helpless in bonds, and was compelled to witness, with all the agony his heart could suffer, his adored little Vida and Sylveon Gray conducted from the cabin and hurried away toward the woods. Then he, too, was compelled to rise, and fol- low his captors away, but in a different direc- tion from that taken by the maidens and their captors. few minutes more and the home of Ralph and Vida St. Leger was in flames. Fred was conducted due northward by about | shrubless slo wooded valley close to the edge of a treelem, of ground that arose gradually several hundred yards, where it again joined the timber. This beautiful opening faced the south, and was covered with a growth of short grass. Fred was lashed to a tree so that he could sit down, and availing himself of this favor, he leaned his aching head against the tree-trunk — was soon absorbed in his agonizing reflec ‘ions. What a fate had been his! Where now were the Avengers? Where was Death-Notch? and, above all others, where was Vida—his darling little Vida? As the savages were entirely dependent on their rifle for food, a warricr was dispatched at once in quest of game. It was their scout, He was a tall, lithe-looking fellow with an eye of steel and powerful muscles. Sarees | the hillside opening, he entered the deep woods beyond. He had traversed its shad- ows but a few steps when a low clump of bushes before him suddenly parted, and a white, angu- lar face confronted him, and a gruff voice said: ‘** Hold on thar, ye durned red vagabone, xe hold on, I say, or down goes yer meat-house, Quick as a flash the savage dropped himself upon the ground, thereby bringing a large fal- len log between him and this unexpected ene- my. Old Shadow, for he the white man was, was in the act of leaping over the log when he dis- covered the muzzle of the Indian’s rifie, and_his dark eye gleaming along the barrel, leveled at his breast. Before he could fire, however, the old hunter dropped himself on the opposite side of the log. In this position they lay as silent as thongh they had been shot, each one waiting the movements of the other. It was rather a novel situation for the two deadly foes, and, as it so happened, neither of them possessed other weapon than a rifle and knife. The former they could not use in their present situation, and the latter was of no use ~ in a hand-to-kand encounter. tratagem was the only expedient. Either one could have sprung to his feet and fled before the other had time to fire, but, where two such foes meet they never turn—never fiinch before the tomahawk or rifle, even were it certain death te stand. Several minutes passed by. The Indian lay as silent as the log, but the white man became restless and impatient, but finally broke off on his favorite song, “‘ The old hedgehog, etc.” ““Ugh!” burst from the savage’s lips when he bad concluded his song. “Ye durned red hog,” retorted the hunter, “what ye gruntin’ at round thar? Show yer greasy skin if ye want it punctuated. I’m Old Shader, old p’izen, or old ennything, and Pll] et a picayune that I kin whale a dozeno’ ye. Jest show yerself, red-skin; come, trot out, ole hoss, and show yer dirty self. . “Waugh!” replied the savage, indignantly, ‘Heap much big blow round there. White coward, pale-face dog barkin’.” “Compliment’ry, thenk ye, red-skin,” said Old Shadow, maneuvering about so as to geta shot or thrust at the savage, but wherever he attempted to peep over or around at the cun- ning red-skin, he woukl see the muzzle of his rifle just coming into view, The old hunter knew that the savage was pos sessed of a patience that would keep him there a week, rather than make eny risky demonstra- tion. Onthe other hand, the savage was well aware that the white man would soon grow im- atient, and resort to some trick to dislodge im, so he had cnly to remain on the defensive to insure himself of speedy action and. certain victory. The Sioux had estimated the old hun- ter’s patience and daring rashness by that of the general average of white hunters. In so doing he had underrated the old hunter’s ex perience. For some time Old Shadow tried to draw tha sevage out, so as to enable him to getashot. The log was entirely too large for him toreach over and feel for the savage with his knife. Once he elevated his cap on his rifie in hopes of - drawing the foe’s fire, but he raised it balf an inch teo high, and the savage saw the gun-bar- rel under it. “See here, ye cowardly bugger,” ‘he at last exclaimed, ‘ Sg don’t leave over ina lifly Pll squash the eternals outen ye.” Ugh! all blow—no do,” was the rejoinder. By tapping slightly upon the log, the old scout found it was_ hollow, and so, bracing his feet against ¢ small bush, he applied his shoulder te the log, and, with a es a ort, succeeded in rolling ittoward the Indian. He had hoped by so doing to roll it on the he was too cunni to be ht thu da puteee cau andr . it himetf in the a dozen warriors, who seemed to fear pursuit, | ed as the log advanced, yet kep and traveled Feed rapidly. The shadowsof the | same position behind the log. . forest did not deter them in the least in their | The old hunter to roll the log out haste. In fact darkness was preferable to them, | into the opening that sloped downward to the = under its friendly cover, they had little to | In . ‘camp. Here the savage contrived to ear, : t i ‘ BA , At daybreak, however, they came toa halt to| They were now within fair view of theIn- seek the rest and refreshment that even a sav- dite Sesate, which was not over three hundred | age needs at times. They stopped in a little | yards away, savage could easily beve S piers hota ‘ : 2 ae ase = x SK “
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oF ee peepee eee on the upper side of the opening, ‘ees upon the dark hollow He starts, ing 20 The New York Library. —_— — —— called friends to his assistance; but, as he was contending with a single foe, such an act would have been a mark of cowardice, in an Indian’s view of the case. Old Shadow was fully aware of his close prox- imity to the enemy’s camp, and he knew, if they discovered their friend’s situation, curiosity would bring them there atonce. Consequently, he knew he would have to bring matters to a epeery. termination. But how was be to do it? e had, so far, found the savage ready for any emergency. However, a thought soon struck him, bringin a smile to his knotty face, and, as he proceedec to carry it into execution, he began humming his favorite song. He cut a long, tough switch that was within reach of him, and with his knife in one hand and the rod in the other, he was ready for work. “See here, Ingin, ‘round thar,” he said, ‘arn't ye gittin’ a leetle tired o’ yer sitchua- shun?” A grunt was the only response, “ Say, reddy,” continued the scout, ‘tall up like a little man. You've tasted a hain’t ye? Now tell me if, when ye war a boy, yer dad had ever treated ye to hickory ile?” Ugh!” was the only response. But it was enough. . It told the old scout exactly where he was lying. Now. look sharp, ye nasty..beast; ’'m goin’ to tan yer jacket for ye.” As he concluded, he raised the switch aloft, and brought it down over the log with all his power. Being tough and pliable, it lapped easily around the log, and, being of sufficient length, its end came down across the naked back of the red-skin ‘with such stinging force that it caused him to fairly’ bounce, and forced a low cry from his lips. The savage knew not front whence the blow came, and for an instant = grappled, with staring cyes, at an imaginary 0e. The old hunter followed up with another blow that forced a genuine yell from the sav- age’s lips. He knew now from. whence they came. ‘*T know it’s orful ticklish, red-skin; but ye’ll have to take it, or shin out. Ye’rea bad boy, e are.” “ Warrup!” *‘ warrup\” came the switch over the log and on the red-skin’s back, causing him to yell till be could have been heard for miles, It was a new torture to him—one that his silent fortitude could not stand. The savages at the camp heard his cries. They could sée him writhing about against the log, but could not tell the cause of the trouble, “The log concealed Old Shadow from their view. However, they started up the hill to their friend’s assistance; but, at this juncture, they saw something on the edge of the opening that caused them to fall back again. Still Old Shadow plied his switch, indulging at the same time in a fit-of laughter, Onee he was sure he heard the Pr a langhter of some one else; but if must have been fancy, for Me szemed to come up from the ground beneath im. pa , The savage finally made one desperate effort to leap over the log upon the hunter, but the descending switch struck bim fair in the face and sent him reeling backward. ; Springing quickly to his feet, he turned and fled, half-blinded and with bleeding back; to- ward the camp. _ With his face convulsed with laughter, Old Shadow arose quickly to his feet, and, instead of firing upon the fleeing wretch, he put his shoulder to the log and started it rolling down the smooth hillside directly on the path of the savage, The log moved slow at first, but soon gathered momentum and went whirling in rapid evelu- tions down the slope. It did not overtake the savage, but gave him hot chase, and, keeping on, it went crashing over the shrubbery on the edge of the glade, and finally came to a stop in the heart of the camp, one end of it stopping within half an arm’s length of where Fred Tra- vis sat bound. - Great excitement. prevailed in the Indian camp, not only over their friend’s adventure, but the appearance of nearly a dozen of whites It was the Avengers. The savages crept to the edge of the glade to watch the movements of their foe, _ For the time being Fred Travis was left alone —or, rather, was not under the eyes of his cap- tors—but he was so firmly bound that no effort of hisown could ever loosen the thongs. He saw what a golden opportunity was. afforded him for escape. Bunt, alas! who was there to _ Atth juncture his attention is attracted by rup of the cricket in the hollow log that had just dashed into camp. ~He fixes his an face, ¢ d with dirt and i per uman face, red) irt and mu - therefrom. ‘ surprise, a He can. ely suppress a cr That ete had Ben ae re hollow log! was Tamiilar the face of Death Notably there t Ce ee eee eS Se ge i Ke Te CHAPTER XXX. FRED MEETS HIS FRIENDS. THE finger of the young Scalp-Hunter was upon his lips, significant of silence. Fred saw at once what he meant, yet it seemed a miracle that’ he could have been carried there alive without a mangled and bruised against the sides of the log. But he saw that the hollow was small—that his body filled it so closely that it could not be dashed against the sides, but bad turned with the log, After he had recovered from the blindin dizziness, consequent on being whirled arounc and around so often and rapidly, he began an examination of his situation. The first thing he saw was Fred, and at once made his presence known in the manner already described. When he was sure Fred understood his inten- tions, he drew his knife, and, reaching out, severed his bonds. Then he glided from the log, and the next instant the two passed into the woods, and not until they were out of gun- shot did the savages realize the state of affairs in the rear. A few of them gave c’iase, but, by a circuitous course, the fugitives reached the sum- mit of the hill, and were there joined by the Avengers, Great was the joy of these youths on their re- union with their young captain, whom they had given up as dead. Fred introduced Ralph St. Leger to his friends, but said nothing of his being Death- Notch, But, from OQmaha’s actions, Fred mis- trusted that his suspicions were aroused. The Friendly and Old Shadow were deployed as scouts to watch the movements of the enemy in the valley below, and after Fred and his com- panions had compared notes, and talked over their adventures since the night of the storm, Ralph took him aside and said: “It is useless, Fred, to presume that you do not know the fate of Vida and Sylveen.” A sigh of intense agony escaped Fred’s lips. ** Yes, Ralph,” he said, ‘tI saw, them carried away before my eyes, and [ was helpless in the red demons’ power—helpless as a child. It is agony, torturing agony to think about it.” “ Why is it, Fred?” ‘* Why is it ?” repeated Fred, startled by the tone of Ralph’s voice. ‘Yes; why is itagony to you ? I know Vida was a stranger to you before you came to our cabin, but perhaps Sylveen Gray—-” “T admit, Ralph, your sister’s existence was unknown to me before the day she saved my life, but without ber existence now, life to me will be an agony.” «You love her, then?” ‘*T do, Ralph; I love her as no manever loved a@ woman before,” ** You may think so; but did you confess your love to her?” “ I di Ld ‘And tried to win her affections from me— her only friend?” “No, no, Ralph; God forbid! T could not help loving her, and my love is reciprocated.” “Fred,” and the young Scalp-Hunter’s voice wus low and half-choked, “I would do nothing to make you and Vida miserable. But she is young, and did I believe there was a tithe of de- ception in your heart—that you were deceiving her--I would shoot you dead. But I have a better opinion of you, Fred, and now you bave only to prove that you love Vida as you say, by hazarding everything for her rescue,” a “That will I do, even with my life,” replied ravis, “And I will ever be by your side, Fred; for as you love Vida, so I love Sylveen Gray.” ‘Together, then, we follow the foe, and you shall lead the Avengers, if you so desire,” ‘No, Travis; you are their chosen leader, Lead on, and as a scout I will render yu every assistance I can. Of course the girls have been carried to the Indian village, and we will have to hasten there and do the best we can toward their release.” ’ Here the conversation ended, and the two | Vol. i: aerate within five miles of the Sioux vil- age. Again they came toa halt. Scouts were sent out toward the town to reconnoiter the situ- ation, and calculate their chances of rescuing the prisoners. Omaha and Old Shadow were the scouts sent forward, but soon after their departure, Ralph went too. It was dark—pitchy dark—when the two scouts came in sight of the town. A. hun- dred camp-fires marked the location of the place. and showed our two friends the round, conica lodges, and the dusky forms of warriors stalk- ing about or standing before the fire, like bronze statues, In the background were hitched a number of ponies, bridled as if for instant use. The two scouts decided to separate, with the intention of making a circuit of the encamp- ment, each one making half a round. They were to meet at a designated spot on the oppo- site side of the town, ‘‘ compare notes,” ard re- port at once to the band, Old Shadow went around to the left of the village, and with his usua] daring, he moved rapidly and skillfully on, yet he was compelled more than once to conceal himself to elude dis- covery by the. shadowy forms of Indian sevuuts.. that he saw stalking about through the night. He pressed on, and —s came to a liitle wooden defile that caused him to make an ab- rupt detour to the left. It carried bim over a mile from the town; and at the point where he would pass around the head of the defile was a little glade through which ke would have to pass, He entered it without hesitation and pressed toward tbe opposite side. Just then a dark figure sprung from a clump of bushes and seized him by the throat. It was a savage warrior of giant proportions and herculean strength. The wiry old trapper struggled desperately for freedom, but he was no match for the power- ful warrior, who had possessed himself ot every advantage at the beginning. With -both hands griped upon his throat, the giant savage held the old trapper at arm’s- length and pressed his fingers gradually tighter upon bis jugular. Old Shadow saw that all was up with him. He was on strangled to death, anid eve movement of his body added to his pain, e grew weaker each moment. His eyes started from their sockets and his tongue from his mouth. A purple haze was gathering before his eyes. Feebly he clutched at the-arm of the savage, who now seemed magnified into a being of colossal stature, To the old scout the dark belt of timber around the glade seemed spinning around and around, Direful sounds—shrieking demons and wailing winds rushed athwart the night. And from the borders of darkness—the wocds—he sees a dark, shaggy form appear. It comes with a lumber- ing gait. The orbs of fire gleam from the shag- gy mass like the eyesof doom. Themoonbeams falling upon it give it a weird and terrible ap- pearance, But there is still life enough left for Old Shadow to see what it is, A buge black bear, The beast is ‘wounded. He is mad. Froth and blood are dripping from his mouth and nos- trils. The feathered shaft of an arrow protruded from his side. He comes on toward the combatants. Old Shadow can see him, but the Indian cannot. His back is toward it. The bear approaches and rears up on his: haunches behind the savage. He reaches out with his fore arms and grasps the savage in a. deadly bug, and buries his white, glittering fangs in his naked shoulder. Old Shadow is’ saved }” A shriek burst from the lips of the savage. He relinquished bis hold upon the old hunter's throat and attempted to turn upon his new ad- versary. But hecould not. The beast held him ina more powerful embrace than he held the old hunter. Together they rolled to the earth. Old Shadow gasped for breath, and stagger- youths joined the Avengers, to whom Fred | ing, fell to the earth. He soon regained his made known the fact that Ralph St. Leger would accompany them on their journey tot indian village. , At_® sigual from the young captain, Omaha and Old Shadow came in, when a general un- derstanding was had all around. Fred Travis was to lead as captain of the band. The party now numbered ten, and with the exception of Old Shadow, were all young, active and brave; but, where the old hunter was want- ing in youth, he exceHed in bravery and experi- ence, The savages in the valley were soon seen to be ——— away into the forest, evidently trying to elude the Avengers. But the latter had no desire to follow them, Their anxiety for the rescue of those of their friends who might be captives at the village set aside all offensive measures, P So the little band took up their line of march northward, Omaha and Old Shadow were de- ployed as scouts, while Ralpb St. Leger acted in the for to him every foot of ity of guide Foca Blaser Se Et ee a Bere ee Pee ta hes ee ios Dt » the be ea Re , = % : 4 nthe pit soe strength and breath, however, and rising to his e | feet, exclaimed: **Whew! that’s better. But, durn the b’ar, he come nigh bein’ too late, the lazy, pokin’ lummix. Go in thar,on yer muscle, ole b’ar, I'm ina hurry and can’t stay enny Jonger fool- in’ round here. Squiz the darned varlet’s carcass till his eyes bung out, ole b’ar, but Pll leave while my credit’s good, so I will. by gum.” The old scout ee up his rifle, and turning, left the bear and savage down in their death- struggles, and hurrying across the opening, plunged into the dark, green wood beyond. CHAPTER XXXIT, A DESERTED VILLAGE,
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No. 7. nen ae ee ana ROGER ae a walked boldly up and seated himself on the log by the gil though he kept his hand on his te wk The cunning sentinel seemed to be a little sns- picious of the scout, and iexning forward he red into his very face. maha’s tomahawk was buried tc the eye in his brain, and with scarcely a shudder, the Sioux sunk to the earth. This deed was done so silently thatit suggested a daring adventure to the scout. He divested himself of his own clothing and donned that of the dead Sioux Si moccasins to head-dress, Then a fow skillful touches of war-paint—which the Omaha always carried—changed him into a Sioux, and with the guard’s blanket around his shoulders, his rifle in his hand, the youth turned and strode into the village with a boldness that served its purpose and aroused no suspicion. The savages ; the village in no littleexcitement. They seemed upon the eve of some event of unusual charac- ter Omaha soon found that his disguise was per- fect, yet he did not betray the least sign of curi- osity. He kept constantly on the move, passing from lodge to lodge to ascertain whether or not there were any captives in the village. He found nothing, an once had he not been a little desirous of know- {ng what the savages meant by the hasty and excited stirring about. Had it only been a tem- porary encampment he would have at once con- sluded they were going to break camp, but it being their permanent village he was thrown = a quandary, from which he resolved to re- eve himself. He mingied with the largest parties, and in moving about with them, finally found himself near the tent of the Great Medicine. This dig- nitary he knew was a white man. He had 24 learned it from one who had once been a cap- » tive in thé hands of the Sioux. He was satisfied he was a cowardly villain, who, knowing the sacredness with which he was guarded, never a i? dreamed that an enemy could possibly get into | his tent. Acting upon this belief, Omaha raised the flap<loor and entered the lodge. The Medicine-man sat upon a deep pile of skins, enveloped in the folds of a curious yet pipe on the head of his tomahawk. e scarcely moved his head when Omaha en- tered, but, when the latter addressed him in a how tone, he glanced quickly up at him, as if he strated his disguise through the medium of Pie -yoies: Then he replied in a tone that was low and guttural in its accents. But now it was Omaha’s turn to stare. The Medicine-man seemed to notice his embar- rassment, and began pufling away at his pipe until his bead and face had disappeared from Omahe’s sight, in a cloud of smoke. 4* What ae the ‘a sodas of the great fina edicine?” the man of herbs asked. “He comes for words that will cure his heart of the dread of Death-Notch, the pale-face that hunts for Sioux scalps.” _ “Then the young warrior’s heart is coward- ” i “T have taken many scalps in battle, and ; does not every heart tremble at the name of Death-Netch? “Yes; the young Scalp-Hunter is a terrible foe, yet he is but mortal. Arrows or bullets te wol! ‘aimed will slay him. But you are notin ae fear of him. You are disguised. to the Sioux—you are Omaha, the he te his tomahawk; but, before he could raise it, the Medicine laid his like a Sioux that I might slay you. Go back to those that await you, and tell them that there - are many captives here, and that Inkpaducah is preparing to move his village at daybreak.” ‘Omaha waited for no further orders or infor- mation, but left the lodge and soon worked him- self from the village. A few moments later he heard a savage yell, which satisfied him that Death-Notch’s presence nue upon. Look, Omaha, at that lodge-pole. It i bears a notch upon it, Jcut it there! I am a Death-Notch! Go leave me quick; you look so VR bad been discovered. \ Out in the forest, at the appointed place ; Omaha and Old Shadow met. ey exchanged ‘a few hasty words and then began their retreat to the camp of the Avengers. As they moved on, each told the other his adventures, and when Old Shadow learned of Death-Notch being in the Indian village, he said: _ “ Whew! bet a picayune b’ar ’ll fly while that - eritter’s in camp; but, enny diskivery of the ; Death-Notch said they were there,”” ra eine 's the cackle!” the old hunter exclaimed, “and we'll have ’em or bu’st.” th ohig scouts arrived in Ral: ear car eae aa D The Friendly gavs him a muttered reply, and, as retreat would likely arouse suspicion, ho | You are an | ea The next instant | | their information to their friends. When ath-Notch, the Destroyer. 21 -— — Omaha narrated his adventure with Death- Notch in the lodge of the Medicine, « smil. was seen to play about the lips of Ralph St. Leger, but none save Fred Travis and Omaha knew its | import. ow arose the question: how were the cap- tives to be rescued? The question was easior asked than answered, for the enemy were | ifty | to one, and would have to be attacked within | their own stronghold. However, the captives mnst be rescued at all hazards, and the little band resolved to make the atte: pt that night— near morning, So a guard was posted, and the band lay down to get a few hours’ rest and sleep before the time | But no sleep came to the | eyes of one of the party. Thoy all lay upon the | for the ordeal came. | hard earth, thinking of the ooming conflict and its probable result. | to base a single hope of victory, but men under were hurrying to and fro through | such circumstances are determined and desper- | They never let a fear or doubtstay a reso- | ate, lution. Each one of the little band, unle°: it was Old | Shadow, had pictured to himself the rescue of » | | friend—either a sweethe.rt, sister or mother. | Even Omaba had hopes of meeting friends taken | captive by the Sioux in their raid upon the | Omaha country. would have departed at | When the hour for action had come, every | man was upon his feet, with rifle in hand, and under the guidance of ) toward the Indian village. As they neared the town they were not a little. aappeiaad at the deep silence that prevailed around the place. Not the bark of a dog could be heard, nor the glimmer of a dying camp-fire seen, All was wrapt in profound silence and darkness. . There were, however, voices in the wilderness, The sharp bark of a wolf hanging | on the outskirts of the village, the ‘‘ who-who- | hoo” of the owl, and the wailing of insects could ' | | oung brave want in the | souri river. — be heard all around. ‘*Durn my ole riggin’!” exclaimed Old Sha- | dow, ‘‘ things seem a little dull and glum down thar. I reckon as what Death-Notch put a dam- per on their spirits when he caved in the clam- | Shell of their ole Medicine humbug, and they've all gone into mournin’ over it.” “Ugh!” ejaculated Omaha, ‘that silence | mean something else—something unusual.” beautifully wrought blanket, and smoking a | J & ‘‘ Tt is singular that not a sound can be heard from the village,” said Fred Travis. ‘All in bed, I reckon,” said Old Shadow, ‘‘and Td give a picayune to knock the bottom out and heave the whole caboodle into the sulphur diggin’s. But see here, boyees, I'll e a leetle feel down to’r’ds the camp and see what’s a “Very well; we will remain here till you re- turn,” said Travis. The old scout took his pqerter:: and some- thing like half an hour had elapsed when he was heard coming toward them, singing: “The "possum he grinned at the ole hedgehog, At the ole hedgehog, at the ole—" “Hark, there!” suddenly demanded Phelix O’Ray, ‘“‘yees will arrhouse the whole Inging counthry wid that Bell-cieppee ave yourn. Dem it, man, what do ye mane ‘Givin’ vent to the exuberance of my spir’ts’ Iam, young Ireland,” replied the scout. ‘‘ Well, what discovery, old friend?’ asked Travis. “The red varlets have gone—every cuss 0’ ’em—weemen, men, brats and all.” ‘*‘ What! broke camp?” exclaimed St. Leger. “Yes; Death-Notch’s doin’ must hev’ hurried ‘em up a leetle. They went westward, and my pinion is theyll not stop this side o’ the Big P y- ‘** Boys,” said St. Leger, and his voice was sad and low, ‘“‘ I am afraid it will be a long time ere our hopes are realized, if they ever are. But, what say you, Avengers? Shall we take up their trail and follow them, or not?’ “Follow them!—trail them to death!” cried Fred Travis, and his words were repeated by every tongues, CHAPTER XXXIL ON THE TRAIL. morning, the _ For two days they traveled, without pemning in sight of the main column of the savages, bu the freshness of their animals’ hoof-prints told that they were not far in advance; and, occa- Sionally, a scout was seen scouring over the plain at either the right or the left of the trail. On the second night the pursuers camped in pers and ag aes — in aaa uresque range of bluffs overlooking the Serubby oaks of some fifteen or 2 C- They had * ‘ttle upon which | ld Shadow, they set off | | | twenty feet in hight, interlaced with wild | grape-vines and rs, covered the face of the bluffs, and extending down into the bottom, | blocked from view the entrance to the defile. Once within the defile, it could only be left by _the way it was entered, for the cliffs on a | sides were Po we ges toe and in some places helving. It was dark when our friends veached this secluded spot. For fear of danger. thoy did not strike a fire. It is well they di not, for Omaha, who had been put on guard, soon made his appearance in camp and said: “We are in danger. Three score of Sioux warriors haye encamped on the plain near the mouth of the defile.” ‘* By snakes!” exclaimed Old Shadow, “ that's a fact, for I can sniff the smoke o’ their camp- fire this blessed minit. Ah, there goes a red | varlet’s bazzoo,” ‘‘I'm afraid we're in a close place,” said Ralph St. Leger. ‘Bet a picayune on it, Ralph,” said the hunter; ‘‘if they don’t know we're here now | they'll find it out purty soon in the mormin’, er ye may take my mouth for a fly-trap.” **T presume we have not been as cautious as | we should have been, if we have let savages coop us up in this defile,” said Fred Travis. “Wal, Ill tell ye, younker, we can come Death-Notch on’t and cut our way out of here ruther than perish. But jistJay low and things may all work out right yit.” And, acting upon this advice, guards were | posted wherever there was the least chance of a savage approaching; then those not on duty lay down to rest. The night wore away, and morning dawned | clear and bright; and as the sun glanced | across the plain, the Avengers saw the | that menaced them. Fully three score of sav- age warriors were encamped on the plain, close up to the little clump of oaks that stood like a door at the mouth of the defile. Their animals were picketed to grass west of the Sa. A row of lances, stuck in the ground, were aligned in a semicirele about the camp, and at the foot of each weapon lay its owner's side-arms and horse-equipage. They were upon the war-path, This our friends could tell by their paint and the absence ) - females. But why had they encamped ere? Our friends saw them build small fires and broil venison upon them. This done, they eat their meal in silence. Then some strolled out along the base of the cliffs, while others lounged about in listless, idle attitudes that convinced | the Avengers they had gone into temporary en- campment for, no telling how long, nor what purpose. This was an unfortunate state of affairs fo.) our friends. They could not make their exig from the defile by a rear romus. If the would escape at all, it must made throug’ the defile where they had entered, in the very face of the foe. Toward noon several of the warriors had | mounted their ponies, took up their lances and gallo away toward the south. "Blast ’em!” muttered Old Shadow, “the | royal ole devil’s in ’em red-skins, boys. We're elected for a day or two, ennyhow. Them | lopin’ hounds are goin’ off ona hunt. They’ve proberly diskivered a herd 0’ buffalo.” “Time will tell,” said Ralph St. Leger. ‘We | have only got to be quiet and patient. If the rig do not discover our trail leading into | the defile, we may escape them.” ' An hour or more had passed when a yell of a savage triumph was heard far over the plain. | Our friends turned their eyes in the direction from whence the sound came, and saw the war- riors that had left camp returning. They were | leading two riderless horses, and on the point of |a lance two reekin scalps were dangling. words of what td ' These spoke plainer | taken them from camp. The horses they led were of the new American stock, spirited and mettlesome, and had evidently belonged to white men. When the savages entered camp they were eeted with a joyous shout. They drew rein, t their apoare in the ground and dismount- ed. They tethered their ponies at grass again; | but the two captured animals were retained in camp to be admired and commented upon. — walri | ing animals ‘toa f . and rode in a circle about the camp, ut- rs é e an] 5 & i) very at of our fiend ter bim!” claimed Old Shadow ee, oo ale | as said the youths |
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22 == Sp ee ee mal by the hits and threw it back upon its | haunches, others seized the savage, and, drag- ging him to the earth, bound and gagged him fore he could give the alarm. Not asound, Hkely to create suspicion, was made. But, what now were our friends to do with him? His non-apnearance would soon bring friends into the defile insearch of him. Then escape would be inn possible. maha was put on the watch, and he saw thatthe savages on the plain had turned their heads and were watching the savage that was rid- ing over the prairie, though now and then they would glance anxiously toward the chaparral at the mouth of the defile. “What do ye say to do with the blarsted skunk, boys?’ asked Old Shadow; ‘come, reels out yer ’pinion, fur we’ve not a minit to ose. “No, time is precious, This Indian must be ot out of here af once, or every red-skin will upon us.” ‘Thats the cackle, and I perpose we send him outen here a-flunkin’, replied Old Shadow. “How will we do it?’ asked young. Har- riot. ‘‘ Bind him on the back of this hoss, put a burr under the critter’s tail, turn him loose, and let it go outen the defile.” The savage seemed to have understood the old hunter’s words, and the look he fixed upon him wg x5 caused him to wince. “Tt will be our only chance, boys,” Fred Travis said, in reply to the old hunter, “and if it works successfully, the attitude of the savage on the horse may draw the attention of his friends so as to give us an opportunity to escape from the defile, and hide ourselves in the adja- cent chaparral.” ‘“Nhat’s the cackle, Freddy,” said the hunter; ‘now, let’s lift the stinkin’ sinner to the hoss’s back. There, up he goes—steady, hoss! Here, one o’ ye pull off the critter’s halter and bridle to tie the varlet an with.” The bridle and halter were taken off the tremb- ling beast, and while St. Leger held him by the muzzle, the others bound the savage to the beast’s back. When the task was completed, the animal’s head was turned down the defile, then one of the avengers gave it a cut with a keen switch that sent it plunging in madness and affright . down the stony valley. Like an arrow it shot from the chaparral out onto the plain, and, with glowing eyes and di- lated nostrils, 1t dashed through the camp of the savages, trampling down the warriors that ap- peared in its path, and plunging wildly and madly on over the prairie. The savages stood dumbfounded and amazed. They could scarcely realize the perilous situa- tion of their friend, nor the manner in which he had gotten into such a dilemma. The change from the free rider to the helpless, bound pris- oner, as it were, was made so quick that they could attribute his situation to no other source than his own free and fearless will. They believed he put himself in that position to amore startling display of his feats of horsemanship and wonderful daring, but, when his eries for help rung out over the plain, they pposed he had become entangled in the gear- ings of the animal. Wild with excitement, some of the warriors dashed away on foot in ‘pursuit of the flying steed, while those that took a second thought mounted their ponies and spurred away. Omaha, the look-out, at once reported the run of affairs. The camp was deserted by all but half a dozen warriors. _ “+ Fiet us wait until the others are out of gun- shot,” said Ralph St. Leger; ‘then we can make a charge upon those in camp, drive ‘them off, and mount some of their best ponies and flee.” : ‘‘Bravol” exclaimed Old Shadow; ‘ you’ve got the right vim about you. A hoss will be quite an item to me, while to a hoss I'd be a mere shader.” At this juncture Omaha informed them that the savages were a quarter of a mile away in — itof the flying steed and its hapless en. ies “Then, forward, boys,” exclaimed young Travis; ‘make your aim certain, and your choice of a pony good.” . Like shadows the Avengers glided from the defile, through the chaparral, and out onto the 1) Then followed the clash of fire-arms, mingled with yells of terror and shouts of victory. ‘The savages that do not fall under the Aveng- prs’ fire flee across the plain, while the white foe dash through their camp toward their - thay did not approp | =F wild, bot chase at | a halt the Missouri river, over five miles away. the riders. After an exciting ride the river was reached, but its banks offered our friends no advantages of defense; and, with a fearlessness and daring so remarkably characteristic of the true border- men, they spurred their animals into the turbu- lent current of the great river, and, after a fearful struggle with the waves, succeeded in swimming to the opposite shore, though the current had carried them over a quarter of a mile down the stream. But, before they had scarcely put the river between themselves and ne foe, the latter appeared on the opposite shore. With a yell of defiance, the fugitives pressed on into the dense Nebraska forest. The savages, burning mad with a thirst for vengeance, pressed their animals into the water, and swam the river also, and continued the chase. For several miles now their course lay through a wooded valley, and our friends did not ride in a body nor line, but scattered out, so as to make their trail more difficult to follow. But, in so doing they endeavored to keep within sight of each other, After an hour or more riding through the woods, they debouched into a great Nebraska lain, stretching away for leagues and leagues into the hazy distance. Death-Notch was the first upon the plain. He drew rein. from the woods on either side of him, until all were present but Old Shadow. They waited for him, but he did not come, and the party were sorely uneasy about him. Seeing he cid not make his appearance, Ralph St. Leger asked: ‘“Who of you, boys, saw him after we scat- tered out?” “ Faith and mees see’d him once, and it was far behind he was,” said Phelix O’Ray, “‘for it war a sorry ould divil of a baste he war riding. He war using heel, whip and tongue to make the critter keep up, but about played out he war, sure now. ees s’pects the red niggers hev got the poor old bag-ov-bones.” “Too bad, too bad,” said Fred Travis; ‘ but hark! I hear the yells of the red demons—they are in the woods—they are after us! Let us away.” They again turned their animals’ heads west- ward and rode on. Ever and anon they looked back in hopes of seeing Old Shadow emerge from the woods. But their hopes were in vain; he came not. But they did see the savages come out of the woods on their trail. They were over two miles away, yet our friends could see that they were not pursuing under whip, but riding leisurely on. Our friends aimed to keep the same distance between themselves and the savages. This they were enabled to do, however, without riding as hard as usual. The sun declined awe westward. It wanted an hour of sunset when they discovered that the savages had given up the pursuit entirely—that they were nowhere to be seen. There was some- thing or: ral about this—something which induced them to believe it meant them no good. It was now sunset, and they were debating the subject of going into age Some were in favor of continuing on, but before they could decide upon either course, they suddenly dis- covered a dense black smoke rolling heaven- ward far behind them. “ What does that mean?’ asked one. “Look,” said Omaha, pointing down at the ground. All saw at once what he meant. Although it was midsummer, and the plain was covered with a growth of green grass, the old fog, or last year’s growth, still remained, and was dry and combustible as tinder. It was this old grass that their savage pursuers had fired, and the light breeze was carrying it directly toward them. There was nothing to be feared from this fire but suffocating by the hot, fetid smoke. ‘ The green grass would keep the flames in check, from sweeping onward like an irresistible wave, but the smoke arising therefrom would soon cover the face of the great | seat and make it impossible for one to live and breathe under it. This the savages knew, and they had fired the prairie with the intention of smoking the Avengers across the plain, and in all proba- bility, into some trap which they had or would have prepared. : As the shadows of night continued to gather, the light of the burning prairie began to shoot athwart the sky, and roll in dull, lurid waves mat pine them ith no aire rapidity, Fi us press on, 8, a e faster,” sai syoung Travis; “if the ine should gain strength, it will scatter the smoke over the should come to a water-course, we might halt agave; gs e dangers of the fi not consent to desert my pony to | a - - ctw i Lj PB One by one his companions came | who pets and suffocate us. If, however, we parang The New York Library. ee Vol. f. The young Avengers headed directly soare | of the fire, now that it has carried me beyond e plain, to the river’s bank, was an unbroken waste of smooth, level prairie, covered with a growth of tall grass, that brushed the knees of immediate peril:”™~ ‘‘Nor I,” repeated his companions. _ They galloped along at a slow pace, convers ing in an undertone, when, suddenly, their jaded animals pricked up their ears and sniffed the air uneasily. ‘* Boys,” said Death-Notch, “ there is danger about. These animals—” He did not finish the sentence. A terrible sound rushed suddenly athwart the darkness. It was a sound resembling the roll of thunder~- deep-toned and awful—low at first, but gradn- ally gathering volume of sound. But it wasnot thunder. The sky was clear. Besides that, sound seemed rolling along the face of the earth. There was no doubt of this, for they could feel es ug ground trembling under their animal#? oofs, CHAPTER XXXII. A BUFFALO-CHASE, THe day was two-thirds gone. The sky wu clear and the sun shone hot and sultry. The great Nebraska plain lay glimmering wit waves of heat, as though an internal fire was burning beneath its surface. A herd of buffalo along a small stream that found its way into the Platte river, was the only object to be seen upon that plain. The shag, beasts were panes. with heat. Some were wal- lowing in the creek, others lolling beneath @ fringe of willows, while others were rummag* ing about in the tall grass with restless impa- tience, They seemed to rest in perfect security, for not even a skuiking coyote was to be seen. Far away upon the crest of a prairie wave, however, a pair of black eyes weie cagerly watching them. They were the cyes of an Inc dian warrior. But, why should he be watching the buffalo? He kept his black, covetous eyes upon thems for several minutes, and when he had assured himself that they had not detected his presence, he turned and crawled away through the grass, and when the crest of the hill concealed him from view of the buffalo, he arose, to his feet and continued a few paces further on, when he came in sight of a band of mounted warriors drawn up in line in the valley below. With his hand the Indian motioned to them, whereupon the whole party, numbering some thirty, galloped up the hill and drew rein before their scout. The latter quickly communicated to them the osition of the buffalo, and the way by which hey might be approached as near as possible, without giving the alarm. The savages were not all red-men. There were whites and half-breeds in the party, but they were no less savage and brutal-looking than. their companions. They were all well- mounted, and their trappings showed that they were a hunting party. Some carried rifles, sig lances, and a few carried lassoes of Trew: ride. No ‘sooner had the scout given the situatio, of the herd, than the whole band moved caw tiously around the hill, thereby availing then. selves of every possible screen that would enable them to approach nearer the buffalo without being seen. As they were to the leeward of the herd, they succeeded in getting within two hundred yards of them when an old bull detected their presence, an with a snort, he dashed along down the creek with a low bellow, arousing his companions from their noontide siesta. Then forth from the coo! shade of the willows and the water, the buffalo went pouring in one continual stream, their hoof-strokes sounding like the sullen roar of thunder, For fully a mile along the creek the huge, shaggy beasts came charging out from among the willows with a snort and bellow, and swept away over the plain like a mighty wave, rising and falling with the undulations of the great prairie. With whoop and yell the savages gave pursuit ressing their ani forward at the top of heir speed, For over a mile the chase continued with but little advantage to the pursuers, for upon such a hot, sultry plain it was impossible for either man or beast to exert themselves to their ut- most fora great length of time. And among those thousands of shaggy forms it was impos sible for the weak ores to hold out with the stronger, and soon the pursuers saw that strag- glers were falling in the rear. There were bot cows and calves among the lagging, but the latter were the most desirable of all for food. The savages pressed on, and two or three fine calves were soon secured, but it was a prand hunt, and not until darkness fell would the chase close. The herd spread out over the plain with 4 front of a mile, and as the shadows of evening came on and -the air grew more vibrant, the pounding of the hoofs on the plain fairly shook it to its center. Still the hunters, peewee on. One by one the — herd fell. The trail lay strewn with carcasses; some had been shot and others impaled with lances. The chase once over, the hunters will ic ter a yg ae aheadar< A ‘veri, ae
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f the , affright. No. 7, until there are but three or four now in pur- | suit. One of these is a white man—a huge, | burly fellow of giant strength. He carries a heavy lasso in his hand, and his eyes are set ma fine young bull. He has been watching it for some time with the intention of lassoing | t. | i In their headlong flight the beasts dash | through a marshy slough, and the feet of those | before trample it into sucha mire that a num- ber of the stragglers were ‘‘ swamped.” Here the white renegade was successful. The object of his eye sunk partly in the mire, and barore it could extricate itself, the fatal noose had encircled its neck. He then learned, for the | first time, that it had been the object of two or three of his companions, who rushed up to claim | it. But the renegade’s claim was undeniable, and he forbade his friends slaying it. his, and he then and there avowed his intention of leading it back to the camp alive, as a witness | of his skill with the lasso. This was something new as well as novel, and his companions assisted him to secure the young beast while it was still tangled in the meshes of the rope and the mire. ; At this juncture a new party of savages made its appearance, coming from the east. There were about a dozen of them, and friends of the hunters. In their midst was a white prisoner. It was Old Shadow. An understanding was at once had between the two parties. Many and dark were the scowls of hatred cast at the old hunter, and a murmur of vengeance was upon every lip. After some further consultation, one of the late party of savages arose to his feet and ad- dressed the warriors in words of great elo- quence. Old Shadow was the subject of his | a, and he proved to be the identical savage t at the Avengers had bound upon the back of the horse in the defile of the Iowa bluffs. He recognized Old Shadow as the author of that rilous ride, and called the attention of his friends to his arms and legs, where the thongs | had bruised and eut the flesh. A how! of vengeance burst from the crowd as he concluded his speech, for he was a warrior of no little distinction, and was regarded as the | most daring and skiliful horseman in the whole tribe. “Tot Swift-Riaer say what shall be done with the pale-face villain,” said one of the hunt- -party. et 8 Rites be punished by the plan his own brain invented to torture me,” replied Swift- Rider, glancing at the young buffalo struggling ay or bation burst from every li A cry of approbation burst fro ip. Byen- tne ae of him who claimed the buffalo acquiesoed in the punishment. “Dod durn yer red pictures ’’ Old Shadow ex- claimed, indignantly, “yer a pack o’ wranglin’, maw-mouthed dogs and cowardly coyotes! I can lick the hull caboodle o’ ye and not ha’f ” “Fwo or three savages seized him and dragged him rudely toward the buffalo, at the same fimo .uttering terrible threats, in which.‘‘scalp- | knife” sounded the most ominous to the hun- K ‘‘Wal,” he said, ‘‘ who keers what ye do, ye blubber-heads. Ye needn’t make so much noise about a littlo thing as this.” A blow warned him to keep silent, which he managed to do»but it was more trying to him poem the idea of being bound upon the baffalo’s ac He was dragged into the slough and thrown rudely across the animal’s~back face upward, end his head resting near the beasts shoulders. His arms were drawn backward in a painful s0sition and firmly lashed with a strong lasso. ‘is legs were bound in a similar manner; then arope was passed over his breast and around the beast, thus doubly securing him, After adling a few triumphant taunts and eers to their cruel work, the ropes that held 8h ‘oung buffalo a captive were severed; then the beast’s haunches and sides were pricked with the keen points of knives, and smarting with this inhuman treatment, it struggled to its feet and plunged furiously forward with a bel- jow of pain and fear. es A few desperate lunges carried it from the ough onto solid ground. Here, by mad cavort- ng and leaps it tried to dislodge its rider, but in vain. ; A yell of savage triumph burst from thé lips red 3, and filled the animal with The next instant it was thundering at a breakneck speed over the prairie, with its helpless human burden. _ “By Heaven!” exclaimed the old hunter, “this is a leetle more than I keer about... I’m afraid, Ole Shader, this’ll set ye up. But better this way than in the hands of them varlets, Ya-h, buffler! ya-h, have mercy—have feelin’, and ie it’s no trubble to tote a ole = me—ya-h, buffler, for God’s sake, d of ” It was | g | — beast was har sigts jou. of * brok j new terror at} a CHAPTER XXXIV. A FEARFUL CHASE. with no little surprise and fear. That deep, thunderous noise rolled nearer and nearer, and not until they had heard a savage yell did they discover it was a mighty herd of buffalo being pursued by dusky hunters. ‘Tt is buffalo, boys,” said Ralph St. Ledger,” ‘‘and I'm afraid we're directly in their path.” the west. We are in no danger.” This assertion was found to be correct. The vast herd swept close past them and on away into the darkness that hovered over the great plain. ae : | The prairie fire by this time was coming | umes of smoke were settling over the plain. No time was to be lost, and so the Avengers swept | sharply on. An hour or more had passed, when suddenly a cry from Omaha’s lips brought the party to a stand. The Friendly pointed away. to the right, where the faint, phosphorescent glimmer of | water could just be seen. | The party at once headed toward it, and soon found themselves on the bank of what is known in the langrage of the prairie as a buffalo-wal- | low. It was a large circular spot, hait an acre in extent, and sunk several feet below the level | of the plain. Atone time it had been full of ’ : : | | | west, rode away ati a slow pace. For a moment the Avengers hesitated, filled | “Ugh!” ejaculated the Omaha, ‘there are | many buffaio coming, but they will pass us to | down rapidly on their left, and blinding vol- | | in captivity and suffering. | secret from his friends by Ralph’s request. | upon the youth’s movements. At times he saw | able to control that demon of madness that at water, but the hot suns and dry winds had | ; evaporated, it until there was but a small pond | , left in the center of the basin. P | This waliow would afford them an admirable retreat from the prairie fire for themselves and | animals, and so they at once entered it and rode | | down as Close to the water as possible. pains then picketed them within the ‘‘ wal- ow” by means prepared by their former own- ers. They now ascended from the basin to its edge to see what progress the prairie fire was making. It was still over a quarter of a mile away, but | a slight breeze was rising and carrying it along | quite rapidly. | Nothing could be seen of their late foes. / | Stretched its lurid length across the plain. ) For several minutes the Avengers stood and | gazed in silence upon the fire that came steadily | on until it was less than a hundred yards from them. Then they turned to retrace their foot- steps to the center of the basin, but, at this junc- ture, a sound broke forth on the stillness of the | came a human cry, mingled with the pounding of hoofs upon the plain. The Avengers seemed rooted to the spot. They listened with blank amazement stamped | upon their faces. | night-air. The ponies in the wallow pricked up their ears and sniffed the air with affright. ‘* By Heaven! some one is perishing in the flames!” exclaimed Fred Travis, excitedly. ‘* Hark! [ hear hoof-strokes,” added St. Leger. He had scarcely spoken, when, forth from the | darkness into the light of the burning prairie, | rushed a fearful sight. It was a black, shag mass—a beast whose hoofed feet beat loudly | upon the plain. It was a solitary buffalo. exterminate the whole Sioux race. But I must eyes were glowing like coals of fire, his nostrils | break myself of this vindictive spirit of reve ; were dilate and ungovernable passion, or 5 will never out, and white foam stood upon his flanks was flying in flakes from hisside. He was mad, He rushed between the Avengers and the fire. He was not over twenty paces from them. | They could see the terrible’ expression of his eyes, and upon his back they saw a human | form! They could see it was bound there, and they could see the cords that held it. The light of the burning prairie flared across the u . ed face. It was haggard and rendered ghastly in the glare of the flames, yet they recognized it. It was the face of their dear friend, Old Shadow! é “To horse, boys!” eried Death-Notch; “it is Old Shadow! To the rescue!”~— : Not a word was added, Each man flew to his | pursuit of the buffalo and its helpless rider. darkness, pr heels of the maddened buffalo. . The prairie fire was far behind. Only 4 red glow in the heavens could be seen; and only the moving shadow before them guided the Avengers in their pursuit. It was a wild, fearful midnight chase. CHAPTER XXXV. te wil Sapa th! ag shone was da: 2 e m sun from a cloudiees sky, bathing the great plains of Nebraska in its golden radiance. A clump of cottonwoods on the banks of_ the Platte river, across od ar dag the Dismounting, they watered their wearied | | make our chances of rescuing our friends all the | more difficult, will it not?’ layed about Ralph’s lips, “perhaps Death- $3 will make his appearance and help us | out.’ might ey stopped and listened. To their ears | Agaim that human cry wailed out upon the | with terror, his tongue was — an pene On, Vie Destroyer: All, was silence and gloom save where the fire | | ; / | . Far over the plain, deep into the labyrinths of the Avengers, close upon the | have seen them become irritated, and lect their | to this on the grounds of its being too near the. horse, and in a moment was mounted and in hot 23 of cottonwoods, and heading toward the north- They were white men, and ten in number, They were the Avengers. In their midst was Olid Shadow. He was well and unharmed, and. though somewhat bruised and sore, was as full of life and jollity as ever. ; He had been rescued from the buffalo’s back by his friends, after a long and painful chase; and now he spoke of the adventure as oye of the most perilous of his life on the prairie. The party was following the trail of the In- dians, who it had every reason to believe held Sylveen and Vida captives. Fred Travis and Death-Notch rode in the of the main body. They did not enter into excitement of their adventures with the same freedom as their companions, The sweet, fair face of Vida—innocent ang child-like in her purity of heart and mind was ever appealing to the heart of young Travi# i While to Death- Notch, fear, anxiety and suspense were two- fold, because he had both Vida and Sylvean te share his affections and love. Not one of the Avengers, besides Fred and Omaha, ever mistrusted Ralph St. Leger of being Death-Notch. Fred ead kept the fact a the meantime he had preserved a close watch he acted a little strange, but Ralph seemed to be times took entire possession of him. “T have great hopes,” said Death-Notch te Fred, as they journeyed on, ‘‘that we will come up with the main column of savages soon. At the further extremity of this prairie a range of wooded hills sets in, and in among them I be- lieve the Indians will pitch their lodges.” “In case they do,” responded. Fred, ‘it will “True, Fred; but, when we find our friends are alive and captives, we will have time to cak culate our chances of rescuing them. There will be some way to effect their release. If not by stratagem, perhaps we can make a charge into their camp, and then, if we fail,” and a smile Fred almost shuddered, but managed to con- ceal his emotions from Ralph, and said: ““Do you feel as if you were going to have one of Sep attacks?’ Iph Jaughed in a low, pleasant tone. ‘* Not in the least,” he said. ‘It is no mental debility, Fred, but just the result of an ungov- ernable passion—an exciting mind and revengs- ful spirit. You have no doubt seen men labor- ing under the same spells as I do at times. You passion run away with their judgment, and, while under these fits of madness, ee will de things—even commit murder—for they have no control over their actions. This is my case ex- actly, though I can excite myself into there passions when I try. Yet it takes no effort ¢¢ my own to make me mad with revenge, when f see before me one of those accursed savages this slew my friends.” ‘Your hatred of them must be very bitter,* said Francis. “Tt is, Fred; so much so that I would like te worthy of the love of Sylveen Gray. But, I never told you why I hate the Sioux so. A few neat ago my father was a rich planter in the outh, and had a happy, pleasant home. There were three children of us, two girls and a boy, We had received a very liberal education, when father took the ‘northern fever,’ and concluded to try his fortune on the rich praires of the North-west. He came up to look at the country, and made known hisintention to the few whites he met in the territory. He was encouraged in his intentions by a young man, then @ resident of the country, and not only did he ex- tol the ape He of the land, but pointed out te father a beautiful location. But father objected Indians. To set aside all fears from this source, he took father to the head chief, from whom ke received a promise of everlasting friendship. Father came north upon these assurances. He Olive and Vida an Olive was a Fs : ora d
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, assingular,” replied Fred; ‘‘but I hope you will _ proach from these points. encampment, and growing un i Sdintehimentit. that. tereetoned:bit _ for this v * “ sity md a) . 3 ‘the bills was » belt of Stade aeons me Death-Notch, and I believe Heaven justified my course. However, it was a long time before I escaped with Vida from the Indians’ strong- hold, but when I did, I began my work, and from then dates the working of Death-Notch, the young Scalp-Hunter. In the mean time I mot Sylveen Gray and loved her. _My love be- ing returned, we met often, though I never went to Stony Cliff. ‘But, now, I feel as though I should give up the life I have been leading, not only for my own sake, but the sake of those who love me.” ‘““Yours has been a hard fate, Ralph, as well ve no occasion to endanger your life again, and that fate hassomething better in the future for you than it has had in the past.” ““T hope so, too, Fred, but, whenever and wherever I meet that treacherous white villain a my father to the Indians, he shall 8. ‘He deserves to, Ralph, if he has not met his just dues ere this.” ‘*No, ho has not, anless it has been lately ; but what is up now? { see Omaha has dismounted, and is examining the trail.” The two rode up. They found the red scout was examining the trail to ascertain how re- cently it had been made, a What do you make of it, Omaha?” asked ne. ‘Tt has been made since the dew was on the grass,” replied Omaha. ‘Then we must be close on the heels o’ the sneakin’ varlets,” said Old Shadow; ‘‘so let’s spur up, boys, and git along a leetile faster, for I waut to git to liftin’ h’ar, so I do.” “Tako it easy, Shadow,” said young Carter; ‘we'll catch up with them soon enough.” The party rode on until they struck the range ef the hill spoken of by Ralph, about sunset. Here they encamped, and on the following morning scouts were thrown out. They soon returned with the surprising in- formation that Inkpaducah and his tribes had pitched their lodges in a deep valley, about two miles away. This decided the future course of ‘the ean eke and they at once moved to a place of concealment, covering their trail as best they could. Remaining hidden until darkness again set in, the whole ~ then set off toward the Indian village, guided by Omaha. From a commanding point they were enabled to see into the new town, that was lighted up with numerous glowing camp-fires. . The location was a good one, affording many matural defenses, og poate dy a 1 e | The New York Library. rounded the villaze ran high above the tops of | boughs and pendent creepers the forest trees and was outlined against the appearance of a huge banyan an oak, sky like the summit of some grim old battle- | Ru A bird could not move athwart its sum- | mit without being seen by those in the valley | defense, and the glory that seemed opening to | the centra | ward emotion. There was something unearthly in the a pear- | then he replied: ly, and the colossal proportions of | seen at Stony Cli ed the strange apparitions | whom you and your friends are in search.” allop along the,hights in silence; then, as they } Groped from View against the dark horizon, | there followed a silence equal to that of death. | out, striking every heart with terror. “The sound | { Vol, f. ve it more the umerous parasites, such as the wild grapo- vine, wild cucumber, and wild ivy, had seram- bled up the trunk of the tree, and creeping out | upon the branches to their extremities had ii. clined downward to the earth again, thus fornv ing a curtain of green foliage around the tres, ‘and an inclosure of several yards in diameter. This inclosure presented the interior appearance of a huge ors ion, the tree-trunk representing central pole. Within tho walls of this natural inclosure wer: ouped seven persons. They sat before a sma’l Foremost in the council was Le Subtile Fox, | fire whose light revealed their faces and the ex who, as the reader has no doubt already in- | pressions of anxiety upon them. It was a par! ferred, was Pirate Paul, though he went dis- | of our friends, the Avengers. Two of the band stood on guard outside o! weight in their council, and he was now listened | their retreat; these were Omaha and Old Sha to as one gene of the powers of prophecy; | dow. 1e had told them that the day would | bridled and saddled, and their dripping flank: | told that they had been ridden hard an from the persecutions of their enemiesin a beau- | and that quite recently. In the background stood nine horse} and fast Their hoofs wert muffled in pieces of woolen blankets, that were wrapped around and under the hoofs, and con: fined at the pastern. All the Avengers were present except Ralph St. Leger, and for him i now waited. He had gone to the village of the Sioux to make a reconnoissance, and Jearn, if possible, whether Vida and Sylveen were held captives there. The night was far advanced when he returned. His f2ce, ashe appeared before his companions, | wore an expression of sadness and ee Ag ta ment which Fred Travis readily interpre himself. “You are back safe, young friend,” said Amos Meredith, as Ralph made his appearance under the oak, .~ ** [believe so,” replied St. Leger, with a smile. “Did you succeed in getting into the Indian village?’ asked another, “Yes; I spent all of half an hour wandering about in the place without detection.” “ Doggone wonder ye didn’t git yerself set up, with a dig in the ribs,” remarked Old Shadow. **T would not have stood much chance had the Indians not been so busy watching the phantom horsemen.” , “Phantom horsemen? What do you mean?” “The horsemen that galloped with muftled hoofs along the ridge,” “ You allude to us?” “Yes. The savages saw you riding along the rocky hights and became terror-stricken, ; Tsaw you myself, and 1 must admit you presented a wonderful appearance. Outlined against the sky, you seemed magnified into beings ten-foll our size, and as the muffled hoofs of your orses oe sound, you appeared lik: giant phantoms in the air; and it was a fortu- nate occurrence for me, for I was getting ivt+ pretty close quarters about that time.” : A low, silent laugh followed Ralph's story The Avengers had ridden along the ridge in «1° der to reach the point where they now ww", They had muffled their animals’ fect that tte sounds of their hoofs would not be heard, nevi once dreaming of being brought out so promi | nent against the sky to the savages’ eyes. “Well,” said Fred Travis, burning with ina cate to hear from his.darling Vida, ‘‘ wlvy iscovery did you make? Are they—the girly - there?’ ’ : Ralph bit his lips, as if to keep back some in- ‘or a moment he was silent, ‘* No, they are not there.” = The features of young Travis became clouded horse and rider seemed like beings of giant pro- | with disappointment, and for a moment a death- | like silence pervaded the placé&. . Death-Notch was the first to speak. “No; Vida and Sylveen are not there. But there are other white female captives there, and among them is a Pa. women whom I have , and whom Sylveen called Martha Gregory. The others are no doubt cap- tives taken at the Spirit Lake Massacre, and of ‘No doubt of it! no doubt of it!” exclaimed several of tho Avengers; ard the muttered words of sister, mother, or friend, might have been heard spoken in whispered accents. » youths were free in expressing hopea of | Eui how © were they to do it? This was the question that — the speedy release of their friends. passed from lip to lip without an answer. : ness—other sounds were heard issuing from the | There was not a doubt in the minds of Death- , Notch and Fred but that Vida and Syiveen had | been ‘slain. If not, where were they? , There | was nothing that admitted of a bcpe of their | having escaped from their captors, and a new | spirit of vengeance seemed to have fired ‘the tho startling news that Death-Notch had been in | hearts of both the youths. Still they did not | give way to despelt cntirely.. Tiicy thought tlie The chiefs shuddered with terror, and Le Sub- | maidens might poscibly have been hidder : somewhere, or that Ralyt hed missed them in the village; and, after some cdchtcration as to * pepe Lee _ | had ee er ee by Ba the woods some two miles the , riors; if so. she ,’ Inllinn vilago, was large tee wes brapebing. casa away their future course, they ceme to a conclusion that was likely, if successful, to give them some information. It was to release Mertha Gre vi Yn us a and learn from her whether Sylveen and / 7 h’s” o< F Ln omega piF* tea could give some clew =f 7 s/
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the rere. vA the hours wore on, a number of the war- - -yiors sought t _ about the » No. 7. chances. : They spent the remainder of that night under that great, green pavilion of nature, and the following morning, at an early hour, they were in the saddle, and moving further away from the Indian village, for daylight would undoubt- edly reveal their present location to the enemy, A few miles north of the Indian town, the forest ended in a Jong expanse of prairie. The Avengers had just reached this plain, and were about debouching from the forest into it, when they made a discovery that caused them to draw rein instantly. Over two hundred In- dian warriors were encamped on the edge of the prairie, not over thirty rods from them. A single glances told our friends it was a war- rty. Their horses were picketed near by, and their spears were aligned in a circle about their camp. : The hour was still that of early morn, and it avas evident from their movements that the sav- ages were preparing to move. They were dressed and painted in all the paraphernalia of the war-path, and were all young and atuletic- jooking warriors. But they were not Sioux. There were those among our friends that could distinguish the warriors of three distinct tribes, the Omaha, the Sac and Fox tribes. For fear of discovery, Fred Travis enjoined extreme silence upon his friends, but Omaha, seeing who the strangers were, heeded not this taution. Giving his animal the reins, he gal- lopad from the woods and rode directly toward the enemy’s camp, manifesting signs of friend- ehip as he did so. ; “By thunder, that red younker ’ll git the hull aaboo lle into trubble!” exclaimed Old Shadow. ‘‘ Lot us see what he means,” added Travis. Tha Avengers remained under cover of the #0013, watching in breathless anxiety the re- salt of Omaha’s conference. The friendly rode into their camp, and was soon surrounded by the warriors. A short con- aultation ensued, when a shout from the lips of the sivages pealed out on the air. It wasawel- come shout, and our friends knew Omaha had been received as a friend, A moment later Omaha wheeled his horse, and riding back to where his companions awaited him, said: “Let my white friends have no fear of the warriors yonder. They are our friends and the enemies of the Sioux, and are marching upon tmeir village. They will help the Avengers to rescuo their friends.” i Tho whites would have doubted the motives of the warriors had it been reported to them by guy other than Omaha. But the friendly wasa tried friend, and they knew that no subtle cun- ning or treachery of the red-skins could cir- cumvent him, and, with a shout of joy and t ess for such timely friendship, the lit- tle band rode from the woods and approached _ the red-skins’ camp with open hands, significant of peace. ; : I They were received in camp with no tittle ceremony of honor, taking it in an Indian view, and were welcomed with prolonged shouts. : The Avengers dismounted. Then the Bc me of piace was brought out and smoked, and peace and friendship between the two parties were astablished. A conference was now held, Omaha repre- senting our friends and the leader of, the sav- ages the tree tribes under his command. The rescuo of their friends by the one party, and vengeance by the other, were the motives that had brought them there, yet they pledged them- selves to work together. When the conference broke up it was with the understanding that they were to attack the Bieux village the coming night; and that the ition of the enemy’s Camp, and the passa {oading into the valley, might be thoroughly understood, a scout from each party was sent out to make a reconnoissance of the topography wf the valley CHAPTER XXXVIIL. THE ATTACK. Nigut again fell over the land. The moon was not yet up, for it was early. See Sven dotted, like twinkling stars, the dark valley in which was located the village of Inkpaducah. Tall, dusky figures went stalking about the camp, wrapped in blankets and robes. Others in groups about the fires, smoking and talking. ey did not feel entirely secure there in that valley, which seemed to have been created for their especial favor. They had not forgotten the phantom Hopbemnes of the night revious, nor that Death-Notch had been in eir camp and slain a warrior. — Double guards had been posted around the valley, and every point of approach made, as plieved, impregnable. heir couches, while others sat and talked and wild, riotous / Destroyer. — white man’s voice. and was approaching their camp. How an en- emy -could have gained admission to their stronghold unseen, was a mystery to the say- ages. : They bent their ears and listened. The voice was coming nearer, and they could hear that it was singing a sprightly air. There were whites among the savages, who had heard that voice before, and recognized the words he was sing- ing. They ran thus: ** The ‘possum he grinned at the ole hedgehog, At the ole hedgehog, the ole hedgehog; The ‘possum he grinned at the ole hedgehog, *Way down by the Squantum river.” Then from the gloom beyond the radius of the camp-fires issued a long, cadaverous-look- ing white man, whose rapid strides soon car- ried him into the midst of the astonished red- skins, “Hullo, my beauties!” exclaimed the bold in- truder, with apparent indifference; ‘‘ how goes it, ennvhow? Dull times out here in Nebraska, ain’t it? Skulps and whisky are purty skeerse, I trow, eh, lovelies?’ The savages sprung to their feet and flocked around the daring pale-face, giving vent to various exclamations of curiosity and mistrust. ‘‘ Stand a leetle back, here, idiots:” yelled the old hunter, as they gathered too close about him to feel at ease; ‘‘did ye ever see a white entleman afore? I’m not a seahoss, nor a engolly tiger, but J’m Old Shader, Esquire, and Ill fiit_across yer vision, fust thing ye know, ye gapin’ knaves,” “Ugh!” ejaculated an Indian; “ole rattle- tongue—heap talk—no sense.” ‘“Be cautious, red-skin, how ye handle yer words, or [ll spot ye. I’m here on bisness, and T don’t want to idle words with you common herd. Trot out yer ole chief,, as I wish to give him a bit 0’ advice.” “Waugh! the chief is here,” said Inkpadu- cah, pushing his way through the circle of sava- ges and confronting the old hunter with a haughty scowl. ‘Let the pale-face say what he has to say.” “Whew! A little crusty!” ejaculated the hunter, softly; ‘‘ but then, ole hoss, ’'m here on bisness. I hear you have got some white cap- tives here; some you took at Spirit Lake, and some at other places.” . ** What is that to the pale-face?” demanded the chief. “7 want ’em, and now if ye'll jist trot ‘em out and let us leave in harm’ny, why, Ill say no more "bout it, and ye’ll save ye're ole hide o” git- tin’ a hole punched through it, mebby.” A contemptuous smile swept over the face of the chief, and there was a vindictive gleam in every savage eye, *'Phe pale-face is a fool,” returned the chief, “to think that Inkpaducah will accede to his demands. Not even the pale-face hunter shall ever leave our village alive.” ‘‘Bah! Git out; ye’re laborin’ under an orful mistake. Unless ye release the hull kit o’ pris- oners in yer hands, be they red or be they white, and that within ten minutes, your vil- lage will run red with blood, and scalps will fly like snow-flakes, now mind ye.” : “The pale-face speaks as though he was a ost.” “Tam a tough ole coon, Inky, and can whal- lop, at least, half a dozen sich ole rats as you are, but then, my ole dear, I've over two hun- dred friends waitin’, this blessed minit, to open fire on your little burg.” “The pale-face’s tongue is crooked; he lies.” “That's it!” ejaculated the hunter, ‘“‘T allers hev the luck o’ gittin’ called a crooked-ton in spite o’ my great regard fur the troot ; but then, Inever have swallered the lie, nor, - be cussed, if J will!” As the last. two words fell from the old hunt- er’s lips, his fist was planted fair between _the chief’s eyes. The -skin fell to the earth as tho h e had been shot, while a cry of tri- umph, that was almogt deafening, pealed from the old hunter’s lips. Then, from out the darkness along the base of the hills, within the ; arose another yell, that was mingled with the crash of fire-arms and the flutter of over two hundred of feet, as they came swarming into the Pillage. Old Shadow’s words had proven true. The enemies of the Sioux, the Omahas, the Sacs, the Foxes, and the Spirit Lake Avengers, were up- on them. The Sioux were taken completely by rise, but they soon recovered from the first shock, and gave battle, and then began a terrible struggle in the very heart of the village. The eight avengers stood together, and, side Bente ought eae to ie — — ‘ re ensued a nary struggle, but the whites and their red friends were victorious, and succeeded in forcing their way into the lodge. They found several captives therein, one of whom was Mar ry others were all young women, and the affecting .cene that followed the entrance of the Avengers into the in I 25 friend. Howéver, there were but a few short moments in which to exchange words of love and ting; but, in the meantime, Death- Notch learned from the lips of Martha Gregory that Vida and Sylveen had not been captives there at all—that they were not in the village. With crushed hopes and bleeding heart, Ralph bade his companions follow him with their friends, and they, at once began their retreat from the village. The allied savage forces were gradually pressing the Sioux back toward the eastern side of the town, therefore our white friends had but little difficulty in gaining the cover of the forest on the western side of the place, making their exit from the valley through a narrow defile which the Sioux guards de- serted to join in battle. Here those of the Avengers that had found friends, were enabled to obtain a few minutes’ talk with each other, ‘“And you are sure, Miss Gregory,” said Fred Travis, “that Sylveen Gray has not been im this village?” “T am certain of it,” replied Martha; * the last I saw of Sylveen was on the night: I was captured.” ‘red groaned in spirit, and turning to Death- Notch, said: ‘Ralph, I am afraid Sylveen and Vida have been slain.” Ralph made no reply, but the silence that fel- lowed told that he was terribly agitated, and for a moment Fred was afraid he could not ree strain his emotions. ; The conflict lasted several moments in the village. The Sioux, however, were finally driv- en from their stronghold and compelled to seek refuge among the rocks and undergrowth at the base, of the hills on the east side of the village, where the women and children had already gone. The allied victors now fired the wigwams, and with a number of horses, several prisoners and some plunder, they began their retreat from the valley, guided by the light of the burning town. The victory had been a decisive one, aud for- ever broke the power of Inkpaducah. And the allied tribes felt that their disaster of a few months previous had been nobly avenged, and with their prisoners and: plunder, at once set off on their homeward journey. The night of the battle, however, the eight Avengers camped in the forest with their red friends,.and on the following morning they sep- arated, each party taking its own course. : The Avengers turned their footsteps toward Stony Cliff, most of them feeling happy over the rescue of their friends. Fred Travis and Ralph St. Leger, however, were sad at heart. They feared, and in fact every thing went te confirm their fears, that the objects of their hearts had been slain; yet they entertained a faint hope that the girls might have escaped and returned to Stony Cliff. If not, they must have perished in the wocds, At noon the party made afew minutes’ halt. Travis and &t. races stood aside talking about Sylveen and Vida, for they were never out of their minds a minute, and the agony of fear and suspense was growing upon them. They became restless in spirit and mind. Their conversation was finally interrupted by the appreach of Martha Gregory, who asked a moment's conversation with them. It being readily granted, sks asked: “When did you last see Sylveen and Vida, Mr. St. Leger? Ralph told her, and on learning that they had been together after her—Martha’s—capture, a suspicion entered her mind in an instant. “Then,” she said, “if your cabin was attack- edon the night of their disappearance, I am satisfied the Indians never took them. I havea suspicion of where they are, if alive.” ‘Where? where?’ exclaimed the youths. “Tn the den of Pirate Paul!” A cry of bitter agony burst from their lips. They would much rather have known the girs were captives in the power of the Indians than in power of the robbers. Then they are lost!” exclaimed young Travis, “for the den of Pirate Paul, you know, has baffled all our attempts to find it. St Leg- er, this is awful, torturing, agonizing. What shall we do?” “Search for them, Travis—séarch, until we are gray.” “You need have no uneasiness, young men, in regard to the whereabouts of Pirate Paul's den, Within an hour after we reach Stony Cliff, I will lead you into his den!” “You are jesting, ey jesting, Miss Greg- ory!” exclaimed Fred, half- hopefully. “Tam not. I have been within the robbers» den. Ihave kept its location a secret for reas ons of my own. But, I shall do so no longer.” * Then is some hopes of sa‘ is saving them 3 yet,” said St. Leger, “if poor little Vide has hs not fretted herlifeaway.” d “God that they are both alive and un- harmed, Ralph! But, let us not tarry here toe be of great impor-
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26 The New York CHAPTER XXXTIX, THEY ROBBERS’ HIDDEN RANCHE IS FOUND, Tux retreat of Inkpaducah and his warriors from the valley of the Sioux, gave the settlers ot Stony Cliff some assurance of future peace; not only from the savages, but also from the robbers, who would now have no immediate | source of protection when closely pressed, nor | succor in timeof need—when a large settlement or emigrant train was to be plundered. The greatest sorrow, however, had fallen up- | on the settlement in consequence of the mys- terious disappearance of Sylveen Gray and Martha Gregory. The settlers had not a doubt but that the girls had been captured and carried away by the In- | dians, but every attempt toward rescuing them had proved unavailing. At last Scott Shirely and several of his hunter employees in the fur business volunteered to go in search of them. They went, and, after several days’ absence, re- surned with ans. But had the honest-hearted settlers once ners that Scott Shirely was Pirate Paul, and that his employees were his followers, they would have also suspected them of spiriting the maidens away, instead of returning them, But they never dreamed that such an apparent gen- tleman as Scott Shirely could be guilty of such wickedness, for he had worked his ropes so cun- uingly and quietly that there was no opening for any suspicion. . Blated over their success in thus deceiving the | aettlers, Shirely and his men grew less fearful of their den being discovered. On the night following that of Pirate Paul’s departure from the Indian village, the robbers | and talking | were in their den, drinking free over their late adventures. But there were sey- eral vacant chairsintheranche. Death had been in the ranks of the freebooters since we last saw them in council in their stronghold. flee’ f wore no masks, for they no longer enter- tained fears of any one happening into their ranche, and recognizing them before they could | make their escape. “Well,” said Pirate Paul, ‘‘our four friends | that were slain during our expedition were good boys, and I feel the loss of them greatly. But, then, we have made the settlers believe that they fell in the search for the girls, and so, after all, we have gained something by their death. Tt is a good thing, too, that we got rid of that Martha Gregory, or she would have blowed us higher than Gilderoy’s kite.” Who was she, anyhow, Cap?’ asked one of | his men. ‘Well, she thinks she is my wife. I got an | of a preacher to go through the | old bumbu eeremony when I was over in Canada. The little fool thought it was all right, but when I got tired of her, I dropped her into the St. Lawrence yiver, and supposed I was entirely rid of her, and, as her husband, that I would inherit the vast little fortune to which I knew she was heir, But, the old saying of a bad penny returning, has been verified in my case. However, I thin she is safe now where she will give me no fur- ther trouble. It appears that El Pardou, the chap we came Death-Notch on, was a cousin of hers, and a spy upon our track.” “Good thing we hung the traitor when we did,” said Griff Morton. ‘“Yes: and the settlers believe to this day that Peath-Notch slew him,” said Finchly, the Spy. ‘ Well, let’s try and keep them thinkin’ so; but vouldn’t [ give a land titlein Jerusalem to know who Death-Notch is,” said another. “You may know, to your sorrow, soon enough, pid fellow,” laughed Pirate Paul; “but I am jatisfied as to who Death-Notchis. In the first a he is the son of that rich fellow that came om the south about two or three years ago, ind whom I succeeded in getting into the tlutches of old Inkpaducah. You know, after I ot him into the wien! 8 I took a number of itinns and captured the whole family. The tld man we killed, but the mother, two daugh- tars and a son we carried captives to the village. Che mother and her oldest daughter the Indians worked to death, and the youngest girl’and the son they ado ted. But after awhile they escap- ed, and that boy I believe is Death-Notch, and the lord of the little hat where we first saw that dark-eyed girl that played on the guitar. They have grown older and changed considerable since I last saw them, but then I know they are the children of that Southerner, Homer St. Lezer. I suppose the = has determined to wreak vengeance on those that spoilt their fun 4m the north, but—” “He seems to be doing it, toe,” interrupted ane of the robbers. ““ Yes; I reckon, however, he has forgotten the face of Le Subtile Fox, for I was disguised then. I wish now I had the ring I took from his mother, and gave to that young baby-face, Martha Gregory, as she calls herself. It was a very costly ring, and would look very nice on of her daughter whom I pro- the snowy “ se to “ Hist!’ suddenly exclaimed one of the rob- te Paul; bers; ‘'I was sure I heard a footstep.” “Fancy, fancy, Finchly,” said “you're getting nervous.’ ‘T tell you I did hear a footetep?” out any tidings of the missing maid- | | “Then search the cavern,” replied the cap- Finchly arose to obey, and while he is en- gaged in his search, let us change the scene for | a few minutes to another point. CHAPTER Xt. WITHIN THE ROBBERS’ DEN. On the same night that the robbers were in their den in consultation, a party of nearly | twenty persons went into camp on the banks of | the Sioux river, about five miles above Stony | Cliff. It was the eight Avengers and the friends they had rescued from the Indians. They could easily have reached the settlement that night by a little after dark, but they had no desire to do of that night—before it became known in the village that Martha Gregory was safe. Avengers left to take care of the females, the rest of the men, guided by Martha Gregory, set off down the river toward Stony Cliff. They traveled on in silence, and when the vil- lage appeared in sight on the bluffs outlined against the southern sky they came toa halt. A scout was now sent forward to make some | reconnoissance, and in the course of half an hour he returned. “How is it, Omaha—all quiet?” “Yes, the settlers are asleep. abroad.” ** Then we may as well continue our journey,” | said Miss Gregory. And so they moved on, and soon entered a narrow foot-path that wound along the river bank at the base of the bluffs. It was a difficult path to follow in the dark, but, by carefully picking their footsteps, they finally found them- selves opposite the village, and in the pathway leading up the acclivity from the river to the cabins. “Now which way, Miss Gregory?’ asked Death-Notch, | ‘* A few steps further on,” was the woman’s response; ‘‘ but we can not reach the place on account of that projecting ledge. two canoes that we can use.” The canoes were unfastened and the little party at once entered them. They then turned own the stream, and running around a pro- jecting point of the bank, turned in shore again | and landed. Martha again took the lead, and with the assistance of the vines and bushes that grew No one is ascending the acclivity. Up about fifty feet from the water’s edge they came to a halt on a narrow table-rock. Long parasites and moss hung like a curtain down the face of the cliff above them. Martha Gregory parted this curtain at a certain point and said: ‘** There, nen ee is one of the entrances toa the reg 8 irate Paul.” $s By eaven!” exclaimed Travis, in an under tone, ‘then itis directly wider Stony: Cliff!” “Yes,” replied Martha, “and the main en trance—the one at which the robbers usually enter—is in the very heart of the village. It is | under the large building occupied by the fur company. A trap-door in the cabin opens into that passage!” “This beatsme!” said St. Leger; ‘ itis strange the settlers never found it out. But I feel satis- fied now the girls are in this den.” ‘“We will soon know. Follow me,” said Martha Gregory. ‘* Are you sure you understand the place?” ** Perfectly. y friend, El Pardou, showed me all through the place once when the robbers were away.” “* Then tend the way, and we will follow.” Martha glided into the dark opening, closely | followed by the Avengers. In her hand the guide carried a piece of fun- fow-fire—whose dull glow enabled her compan- ions to follow on without difficulty. CHAPTER XLI. THE CONFLICT IN THE CAVERN: ing the return of the man sent to search the of them all. foreboding of danger in the very atmosphere around them. But they breathed easier when they saw their scout returning, and had heard him report ‘‘ all right,” though he had been as deeply imbued with fear as any of his men. ‘‘ No,” Finchly still persisted, ‘‘I would have sworn that I heard a footstep—ah! there it is again! There is some one in this cavern besides ourselves!” True enough, all heard the foo this time. There was no fancy about it. ey turned their eyes in the direction from whence the sound emanated, and saw a human form emerge from the darkness. It was the form of a wo- man. <A shawl was thrown hoodlike over her head, but, as she advanced, this was permitted to drop te her shoulders, and the face and form so. They had a mission to perform under cover | Their horses being secured, and two of the | But there are | from the face of the cliff, the party began | gus or decayed wood—known in border lore as | cavern. Fear had suddenly taken possession | There was something strangely | Library. THE robbers sat motionless and-silent, wait- | “ Only fancy—weak nerves,” said Pirate Paul, | | do my work better this time. | eyes. Vol. I, of Martha Gregory stood before the astonished | robbers. **Woman or devil, whichever you be, is it possible you are here?” exclaimed Pirate Paul. ‘*Tt is possible, my truant Pirate Paul. Nor is it the first time that [have been withia your den.” ‘But, by heavens, tt shall be the last time!” roared the indignant robber chief; “‘ you have dogged my footsteps long enough. ou shall not leave this ranche alive. I will sink a knife into your heart, instead of sinking you in’ tke St. Lawrence.” “You threaten me, base, cowardly wretch You tried to murder me once, villain, and~* “Yes, and I will not be a fool again. I will Men, seize her J" The robbers started toward her. “Back, cowards!” she fairly hissed, and ther't was something so terrible in the look she flashed upon them, that caused them to recoil. ‘Seize her, seize her, [I say ” yelled Pirate Paul; ‘‘ do not let her escape. But the men still refused to obey his cora- mands. The robber chief grew wild with in- dignation and fury, and drawing a pistol, he leveled it at Martha’s breast. But he never had time to pull the trigger: The combined report of eight rifles rolled in awful reverberations through the chambers of the cavern, and Pirate Paul fell dead, as did also three or four of hig men. Then, from the darkness of the cavern rushed the Avengers with a yell that drove ter- ror to the hearts of the surviving robbers, who, like hunted beasts, fled hither and thither through the cavern, lage by the Avengers. The crack of pistols, the groans and shrieks of the dying and the triumphant shouts of the vic tors rolled in deafening intonations fromd cham: ber to chamber of the great subterraneanvault. But the conflict lasted for only a few minutes. The robbers were all slain. or driven from the cavern, terror-stricken. When the conflict had ended, the Avengers gathered around the rob- bers’ card-table, whereon burned a lamp. “What next, boys?” asked Amos Meredith, elated with victory. “Let us search for Vida St. Leger and Syl- veen Gray,” replied Fred Travis. ‘ Miss Greg- ory, where is that prison-room you spoke of? Lead us to it.” Martha took up the light and bade the Aveng- ers follow. As she moved away, she passed the lifeless body of him whom she once ealled husband. He lay upon his back, his face upturned. She wena” glanced at it, and then, as a sigh, that almost deepened into a sob, issued from her lips, she moved on. After traversing several chambers of the cav ern, their further progress was suddenly dis puted by a heavy wooden door. A cry of joy burst from the lips of Ralph St, ger. gc must be the door of their prison,” he said. ‘‘Tt is the door of the prison,” added Martha, Ralph beat upon the heavy door with his fist and called in frantic tones the name of his sister. A voice was heard within. It was Vida? voice. She had recognized the tones of her half distracted brother. ‘* Sister—Vida, is it you?” he cried. “Yes, we are here, brother—Sylveen and I.” ‘* Oh, it is Ralph!” the lover heard Sylveen ex claim. ‘Lend a helping hand, friends,” cried Ralph; ‘let us burst down the door!” There was something unearthly in the youth's Fred Travis saw it and knew that thaf demon of madness was seizing upon him. But, they all pressed upon the door, It yielded, and burst inward. There, in a brilliantly-lighted and well-fur- nished room, were Vida and Sylveen. Like cap. tive birds fluttering forth from their prison-cage into the air, so the maidens rushed from their prison-room to meet Ralph and Fred, The angelic faces of the maidens stayed the storm that was rising within the breast of Death- Notch. His heart was overcome with the emo- tions of joy, and he clasped his sister and sweet- heart alternately to his breast. From the lips of the maidens the Avengers | soon learned how they came to be there, in the robbers’ den, After their capturo at the cabin, the Indians turned them over to the robbers, who brought them there under cover of night. ** And I must say for the robbers,” added Syl veen, ‘‘ that, although we have been held cap tives, we have been treated kindly and with re spect, but how long this would have lasted $ know not.” ‘Not much longer,” said Martha Gregory- “for Pirate Paul has been away from here sing your capture, until to-night,” ‘‘Then, thank God, our arrival is opportune! said young Travis. Sylveen and Martha greeted each other with the fondness of sisters, and, after I gra had been exchanged all around, Martha ree the ee and said: ‘Now follow me, my dear friends, and I will conduct you from this fearful place.” She did not go the way they had entered, but followed a passage leading in an entirely site direction, and soon came to a flight of steps. Up these steps she led the way, but e He af — =
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4 ~ ¢ ‘ ss _..— yeader, yet we can ‘ physical or mental debility, but of a highly ex- Wo. 7, wrap-door at the top suddenly disputed their Martha showed the men how it was opened, and they proceeded to work. It required sever- | al moments to remove a combination of bolts and bars, when the door was swung downward on iron hinges. ‘ The party now ascended through this aperture, and found themselves on the floor of a large log building—the head-quarters of the robbers, who concealed their real character under the guise of fur-agents and traders. j The party tarried but a few moments in the cabin, and on issuing therefrom, found them- selves in the heart of Stony Cliff, whose honest | settlers were all fast asleep. : The party, however, soon made their presence known to the settlers, and the whole village was | quickly astir, filled with joy and surprise—joy over the rescue of Sylveen and Martha, and sur- rise over the discovery of Scott Shirely being | irate Paul, and that his den was within their very midst. Omaha and Old Shadow were sent out after those left in camp up the river, and when they returned with the female friends of the Avengers, they were welcomed to the hospitality of the place, and cared for with all that kindness char- acteristic of the honest-hearted men and women of the border. And the Avengers, one and all as well as their friends, were made to feel at vase and at home. Two weeks passed, and found them still at the village, resting and preparing for a journey to— they scarcely knew where. But these two weeks were fraught with great interest, joy and happiness to the sojourners at Btony Cliff. Fred Travis and Vida renewed | / | farther ascent, | | their love vows, walked in the cool forest aisles, rowed upon the river, and talked and sung as though their young hearts had never felt the pangs of grief, nor bitterness of despair. Nor were Ralph St. Leger and Syiveen Gray less happy in each other’s society—the cheerful light of each other’s eyes and the music of each ther’s voice. And there were other joyous hearts besides, There were lovers in that little band of Aveng- ers, and sweethearts were among those rescued from the Indians, and theirs was a love strength- ened by long months of cruel separation, despair and suffering. If to them the night had been dark, the morning was all the more radiant. Sylveen Gray was greatly surprised, if not a little horror-stricken, when she learned that her lover was the terrible being, Death-Notch; but when she as well as the settlers had learned the cause of his vengeance, and that he was not so terrible as was reputed, they could not censure him for the course he had>pursued, in wreaking retribution on the agents of his sorrow. - Ralph did not, however, tell them of the great atate of semi-consciousness under which mst of his terrible deeds had been performed. But, by keepin; aloof from the war-path, and in tho presence of his adored Sylveen, he eTectually | overcame that terrible passion of mad revenge, which was proof of itself, that it came of no citable temperament that had been cultivated in its freaks, instead of being restrained. One thing, however, stands ye to be explain- ed in connection with Death-Notch. It will be yemembered that, on the night of the storm at | the solitary hut in the forest, he drew from the | bosom of his hunting-shirt a flattened bullet, which had evidently been aimed at his heart by a lurking foe; and also when taken prisoner by | the savages, near his own cabin, how the inhu- man foe sought to torture him by shooting burn- | jng arrows into his breast, and how he bore this torture with unflinching fortitude. The whole secret.of this wonderful fortitude was this: ba- neath his hunting-shirt he wore a steel jacket, made something like the evat of mail worn b the warriors of the Middle Ages. This jacket had onc: been his father’s; the latter had once | bven a member of a secret organization in the South, and the steel jacket and iron mask worn by Ralph, and to which his life was owing on more than one occasion, were a part of the re- a worn by that secret order. Thus the mysteries connected with Death- Bgigh sand explained, which were no mysteries CHAPTER XLII. THREE YEARS AFTER. Ir was early morning, when a band of eight persons, habited as hunters, stood héweath the umbrageous shadows of a great forest oak, They were all young men, yet the faces of | some were overgrown with heavy beards, and | others were just ‘‘ arene ” their first mus- | tache, and one of them was beardless and | bronzed, but he was an Indian, . These men were the bone and muscle, if you | will moony the term, of the flourishing little | settlement of Fairview. They were away from | home then on a few days’ hunt, enioying’a holi- | a oy the field and plow. | _ We have met with these persons before, dear . scarcely recognize in those | ded, manly faces, theoncealmost boy- pires of the Spirit Lake Avengers. But it | through the woods, sa geal | The young hunters gazed inquiringly from one to the other. It brought up recollections of | the morning when they stood on that very spot change, for they were just emerging into man- hood when we first saw them upon the trail of the red-man. But, three changes in the lives of these young men, and as | ears have wrought wonderful they now stand there in the great forest under the oak, ready totake up their homeward march, one of their number suddenly ex- claims: “* By George, boys! don’t you remember this very spot and this very tree?” 3 All gaze around them, and a light of recogni- tion beams in every eye. “Yes,” says Fred Travis, ‘‘it is the very tree under which I called the roll of the Lake Aveng- ers three years ago.” ‘‘Thrue yeare, Squire Travis; and right here we stood when we heard, for the first time, the cry of one ave Death-Notch’s victims,” says Phelix O’Ray. “‘ What changes time has brought to us all,” replies Travis; ‘‘it seems impossible that, after three years of constant dangers almost, we are | all permitted to meet here together again. It is— The sentence was broken abruptly off by the crack of a rifle ringing suddenly and sharply and heard the report of Death-Notch’s rifle and the wail of hig victim echo through the woods. * Ah, there is some one besides ourselves in these woods,” said Amos Meredith; ‘‘I hope Death-Notch has not turned out again.” | “Tt must be some hunter,” said Dick Carter. He had scarcely uttered the words when there suddenly broke upon their ears the voice of some one singing, in a lively air, the words: “ The ‘possum he grinned at the ole hedgehog, At the ole hedgehog, the ole hedgehog; The ‘possum he grinned at the ole hedgehog, *Way down by the Squantum—” ** Old Shadow, as I live!” burst in joyous ac- cents from Fred Travis’ lips, as the old hunter emerged from the woods before them. “Bless my oe ied Load hunter ee regarding our friends with surprise; ‘* who’ eihbaant it? Here [ find ye, lads, after three years’ separashun.” ; “Yes, yes; here we are, Shadow! Give us our hand, old friend, and tell us where you’ve n and how time uses you,” “Oh, ’'ve been rompin’ around over this little patch o’ yarth, doin’ a leetle huntin’, sealpin’, and sich like. But, lads, time’s beginnin’ to oe up my face like fury, and I can't knock a ngin double as easy as I used to; still I ain’t worn out yift. But I got to thinkin’ over ole times and conkluded to run down to Stony Cliff. Thar they told me the eight Avengers had started a new settlement called Fairview; so [ thought I'd run over and see you.” “Glad, very glad, to see you, Shadow. You must go to the settlement with us, The women- folks will be very happy to see you, too,” said Travis. “Wal, I'll go down and see how yer gitting along’; D eath- Notth?” ‘* We left him at Fairview to look after things while we were absent. But let us be off.” EI ae § hastened to where their horses were bridled and packed all ready for starting, and Omaha having resigned his animal to hunter, they set off for home. : it was nearly sunset when they hove in sight of a number of neat-looking log cabins nestled down in a little valley that was industry and pie Bae! ated Old Shadow, ‘what's but whar’s the lad ye call e old teeming with “Whew!” ejac | that?” “Fairview,” replied Fred. : “The deuce! whew, but ye’ve got a leetle Paradise o’ yer own. Jist look at the corn-fi'lds and the herds 0’ stock! Who'd ’a’ dreamp it ten years ago? Ah, me! this tells me that time is oofin’ it on, and life with me is drawing to a close.” “So it is with all of us, old friend, and you may live many long, happy years yet,” said red, sore “Yes, yes, Travis,” replied the old” hunter; “but Is’pose ye fellers are all married, ain’t ye?” * All but Omaha, Phelix O’Ray and David Hawes. You see that cabin to the right of the roup? That is where Amos Meredith lives with is wife. The one next to it is where Ralph St. Leger lives with his wife and baby.” Baby?” exclaimed the old hunter, and his eyes sparkled with a childlike joy. ‘‘God bless é little critters! I allers loved ’em, and it’s been menny a long day since I dandled one on my knee, But who lives in this little cotta; ee us here, with vine-kivered porch, and— “That is my house,” replied Fred, ‘‘and there comes Vida, aay wife, to meet us,” Py gg ne ; — xe sy ta on leetle angel?. ¥ vis, what a ppy so ye must he a palt Picnctees tting be 47 Paciric Pets. By Jos. E. Badger, Jt....0. 48 Ipano Tom, By Oll Coomes...............: 49 Tue Wotr Demon, By Albert W. Aiken... 50 Jack Rasarr. By Jos. E. Badger, Jr...... Beadle’s Dime Library is for 8: Nowsdealers, ten.onois per } vor soos ee : bpelze conta peak
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a 986 Tron Wrist, thie Swordmaster, / READLE'’S*| )IME*[IBRARY. Published Every Wednesday. Each Issue Complete and Sold at the Uniform Price of Ten Cents. No Double Numbers. BUFFALO BILL NOVELS. . By Colonel Prentiss Ingraham, 994 Buffalo Bill’s Lone Hand. 989 Buffalo Bill’s Marked Bullet. 984 Buffalo Bill’s Life Raffle. 979 Buffalo Bill’s Relentless Trail. 964 Buffa!o Biil’s Invincibles. 960 Buffalo Bill’s Blue Belt Brigade. 956 Boffelo Bill’s Volunteer Vigilantes. 950 Buffalo Bill at Bay. 943 Buffalo Bill’s Block Game. 936 Buffalo Bill s Black Pard, 927 Buffalo Bill’s Bluff; or, Dusky Dick the Sport. 921 Buffalo Bill’s Quandary: or, Velvet Bill’s Vow. 915 Buffalo Billand the Surgeon-Scout. 909 Buffalo Bill’s League; or, Red Butterfly, 904 Buffalo Bill’s Tangled Trail. 900 Buffalo Bill’s Rough Riders. 895 Buffalo Bill’s Secret Ally. 890 Buffalo Bill’s Life-Stake. 882 The Three Bills: Buffalo bill, Wild Billand Band- box Bil]; or, The Bravo in Broadcloth, 874 Buffalo s‘il’'s Buckskin Braves, 869 Buffalo Bill’s Road-Agent Round-up, 863 Bultfalo Bill’s Death Charm, 457 Buffalo Bill’s Royal Fiush. 851 Baffalo Bill's Double Dilemma, 845 Buffalo Bili’s Redskin Ruse, 830 Buffalo Bill's Bovs in Blue, $826 Buffalo Liil’s Sharp Shooters, 822 Buffalo Bill’s Best Bower. 816 Buffalo Bi'l’s Red Trail. 812 Buffalo Biil’s Death-Knell, 794 Buffalo Bill’s Wirming Hand 787 Buffalo Bill’s Dead Shot. 781 Buffalo Bill's Brand. 777 Buffalo Bill's Spy Shadower. ' 769 Buffalo Bill’s Sweepstake. 765 Baiffalo Bill's Dozen; or, Silk Ribbon Sam, 761 Buffalo Bill’s Mascot. , 757 Buffalo Bill’s Double, 750 Buffalo Bill’s Eig Four; or, Custer’s Shadow. 7483 Buffalo Bill’s Flush Hand. 739 Baffalo Bill's Blind: or, The Masked Driver. #35 Buffalo Bill and His Merry Men, 731 Buffalo Bill's Beagles: or, Silk Lasso Sam, 727 Buffalo Bill’s Body Guard, 722 Bulfalo Bill on the War-path. 716 Buffalo Bill's Scout Shadowers. 710 Buffalo Bill Baffled: or. The Deserter Desperado. 697 Buffalo Lill’s Buckskin Brotherhood, 691 \‘uffalo Bill’s Lind Trail; or, Mustang Madge. 667 Buffalo Bill’s Swoop; or, The King of the Mines, 58 The Cowbsy Clan; or, The Tigress of Texas, 653 Lasso King’s League; or, Buck Taylorin Texas. 649 Buffalo Biil’s Chief of Cowboys; or, Buck Taylor 644 Buffalo Bill’s lionanza; or. Si ver Circle Knights, 362 Buffalo Bull’s Grip; or. Gatn Bound to Custer, 829 Buffalo Bill’s Pledge; or. The League of Three. 189 \Yild Bill's Gold Trail; or, The Desperate Dozen. 175 Wild Bill’s Trump Card: or, The Indian Heiress, 168 Wild Bill, the Pistol Dead Shot, By Buffalo Bill. 973 The Dread Shot Four. 969 Texas Jack, the Lasso King 829 The Ranca King Dead-Shot. 820 White Beaver’s Still Hunt. 807 \Vild Bill, the Wild West Duelist. 800 Wild Bilt, the Deada-Center Shot, 639 Buffalo Bill's Gold Kong. 599 The Dead Sh ot Nine; or, My Pards of the Plains, 414 Red Renard, the indian Detective. 401 One-Armed Pard; or, Borderland Retribution, 897 The Wizard Brothers: or, White Beaver’s Trail, 894 White Beaver, the Exile of the Platte. 319 Wild Bill, the Whirlwind of the West. 304 Texas Jack, the Prairie Rattler. 243 The Pilgrim Sharp; or, Tbe Soldier's Sweetheart, 88 Gold Bullet Svort; or, Knights of the Overland, 53 Death-Traiier, the Chief of Scouts, By Leon Lewis, Ned Buntline, ete. 773 Buffalo Bll’s Ban; or, Cody to the Rescue. 682 Buffalo Bill’s Secr.t Service Trail. 629 Buffalo Bill’s Daring Role; or, Daredeath Dick.. 517 Buffalo Biil’s First Trail; or, The Express Rider, 158 Buffalo Bill, Chief ¢f Scouts. 117 Buffalo Bill s Strange Pard; or, Dashing Dandy. 92 Buffalo Bill, the Buckskin 5 BY HAROLD PAYNE, 883 The Man from Mexico in New York. 872 The King-Pin Shark; or, Thad Burr’s Ten Strike. 81 The Tenderloin Big Four 853 The Quaker Cit, k, $44 Tracked to Chicago. 8386 The Policy Broker's Blind. 829 The Frisco Sharper’s Cool Hand. 821 The Tramp Shadower’s Backer. 813 The Sham Spotter’s Shrewd Scheme. 806 The Grand Street Gold-Dust Sharpers, 798 Detective Burr’s Luna ic Witness 792 The Wall Street Sbarper’s Snap. 784 Thad Burr’s Death Drop. 742 Detective Burr Among the New York Thugs. 734 Detective Burr’s Foil; or, A Woman's Strategy. 728 Detective Burr, the Headquarters Special. 4 Detective Burr's Spirit Chase, Detective Burr’s Seven Clues, 698 Thad Burr, the Invincible; or, The ““L ” Clue, 690 The hless Detective. 680 XX, the Fatal Clew; or, Burr's Master Case, BY COL. THOMAS H. MONSTERY 995 The Czar’s 8 236 ene on Sam; or, The Monarchs of the Show, 150 El Rubio Bravo, King of the Swordsmen, RY J W. OSBON. «9B Sha , the Sport Detective, Beamer ta | BY CAPTAIN HOWARD HOLMES. 929 Gentleman George, the Showman Sport. 912 Genteel Joe’s Lone Hand. 903 The Train Detective. 896 Kent Keen, the Crook-Crusher. 888 Nightshade in New York. 879 Falcon Flynn, the Flash Detective, 871 The Crook Cashier, 859 Clew-Hawk Keene’s Right Bower, 847 Hiram Hawk, the Harlem Detective, 840 Major Bullion, Boss of the Tigers, 831 Shadowing the London Detective. 817 Plush Velvet, the Prince of Spotters, 803 The Bogus Broker’s Right Bower. 788 The Night-Hawk Detective. 779 Silk Ribbon’s Crush-out. 766 Detective Zach, the Broadway Spotter. 751 The Dark Lantern Detective. 736 The Never-Fail Detective. 724 Captain Hercules, the Strong Arm Detective, 711 Dan Damon, the Gilt-Edge Detective, 701 Silver Steve, the Branded Sport. 694 Gideon Grip, the Secret Shadower. 684 Velvet Van, the Mystery Shadower. 678 The Dude Desperado 871 Jason Clew, the Silk-Handed Ferret. 664 Monk Morel, the Man-Hunter, 654 Sol Sphinx, the Ferret Detective, 612 Red Pard and Yellow. 608 Silent Sar, the Shadow Sphinx. 592 Captain Sid, the Shasta Ferret, 579 Old Cormorant, the Bowery Shadow. 569 Captain Cobra, the Hooded Mystery. 559 Danton, the Shadow Sharp. 550 Silk Hand, the Mohave Ferret. 543 The Magnate Detective. 532 Jack Javert. the Independent Detective. 523 Reynard of Red Jack: or, The Lost Detective 512 Captain Velvet’s Big Stake. 505 Phil Fox, the Genteel Spotter. 496 Fe cecal Redfire, the Two Worlds’ Detective. 487. Stmshine Sam, a Chip of the Old Block, 480 Hawkspear. the Man with a Secret. 458 Coldgrip in Deadwood. 460 Captain Coldgrip, the Detective. 453 Captain Coldgrip’s Long Trail, 447 Voicano, the Irisco Spy. 441 'T'he California Sharp, 434 Lucifer Lynx, the 4 onder Detective. 421 Father Ferret, the Frisco Shadow. 413 Captain Coldgrip in New York, 407 Captain Coldgrip’s Nerve; or. Injun Nick. 400 Captain Coldgrip; or, The New York Spotter. 392 The Lost Bonanza: or, The Boot of Silent Hound. 382 The Bonanza Band: or, Dread Don of Cool Clan. 874 Major Blister, the Sport of Two Vities. 865 Keen Kennard, the Shasta Shadow, 352 The Desperate Dozen. ‘ 847 Denver Duke, the Man with “ Sand.” 340 Cool Conrad. the Dakota Detective. 885 Flash Dan, the Nabob, or, Blades of Bowie Bar, 821 California Claude, the Lone Bandit, 204 Broadcloth Burt. the Denver Dandy. 941 The Shadow Sport from [risco. iY WIiLLKANM HH. MANNING. 948 The Red-Gloved Detective. 931 Frisco Frank at Glory Gulch, 920 The Montana Miner in New York. 908 'The Doomsday-Den Detective. §99 The Double-Quick Detective. 893 Yellow Gid, of Dark Divide. 885 The Expert Detective’s Shake-up, 875 Trapping the Race-Track Judge. 864 The Police Special’s Dilemma, 849 The Genteel Sharper’s Combine 841 Graydon'’s Double Deal. 838 The Sport Detective’s by 823 The Athlete Sport About Town. 808 TheCrook-Detective’s Pull. 790 Plunger Pete, the Race Track Detective. 782 Royal Rock, the Round-up Detective. 774 Steve Starr, the Dock Detective. 764 The New York Sharp’s Shadower. 738 Detective Claxton, the Record Breaker. 714 Gabe Gall, the Gambolier from Great Hump, 703 Spokane Saul, the Samaritan Suspect 692 Dead Shot Paul, the Deep-Range Explorer. 655 Strawberry Sam, the Man with the Birthmark. 646 Dark Joh, the Grim Guard, 638 Murdock, the Dread Detective. 23 Dangerous Dave, the Never-Beaten Detective. 611 Alkali Abe, the Game Chicken from Texas, 596 Rustler Rube; the Round-Up Detective, 585 Dan Dixon's Double, 57o Steady Hand. the Napoleon of Detectives 568 Wyoming Zeke, the Hotspur of Honeysuckle. 551 Garry Kean the Man with Backbone. 539 Old Doubledark, the Wily Detective. 531 Saddle-Chief Kit, the Prairie Centaur. 4 521 Paradise Sam, the Nor’-West Pilot. i 513 Texas Tartar, the Man With Nine Lives. 506 Uncle Honest, the Peacemaker of Hornets’ Nest. 498 Central Pacific Paul, the Mail Tram Spy. 492 Border Bullet, the Prairie sharpshooter, 486 Kansas Kitten, the Northwest Detective. 479 Gladiator Gabe, the Samson of Sassajack. 470 The Duke of Dakota. 463 Gold Gauntlet. the Gulch Gladiator. 455 Yank Yellowbird, the Tall Hustler of the Hills, 449 Bluff Burke, King of the Rockies, : 442 Wild West Walt, the Mountain Veteran i 437 Deep Duke; or, The Man of Two Lives, 427 The Rivals of Montana Mill 415 Hot Heart, the Detective Spy. ; 405 Old Baldy the Brigadier of Buck Basin. 267 Colorado Rube, the Strong Arm of ee fon 279 The Gold Dragoon, vr, California Bloodhound, BY NED BUNTLINE, 657 Long Tom, the Privateer, 633 The Sea Spy, | 621 The Red ivateer; or, The Midshipman Rover, 5S4 Fire Feather, the Buccaneer g. 617 Buffalo Bill's First Trail. 861, ae ore ssa I ae bi | Sa wet 2 e Idiot § ‘a Jer Captain: or, Th Ski dit; 2, Th, Queen of mbsto e smu White | ALBERT W. AIKEN’S NOVELS. 7 Dick Talbot Series, | 991 Dick Talbot at the Mines: or, Kentuck, the Sport.. 988 Rocky Mountain Rob. 976 Overland Kit; or, The Idyl of White Pine. 741 Dick ‘valbot’s Close Call, Fi 737 Dick Talbot in Apache Lend. 733 Dick Talbot. the Ranch King. 729 Dick Talbot’s Clean-Out. 725 Dick Talbot in No Mon’s Camp. | 354 Dick Talbot; 01, The Brand of Crimson Gross | 86 Dick Talbot; or, The Death-Sbot of Shasta, ; Aiken’s Fresh of Frisco Serica. q | 825 Fresh, the Race-Track Sport. 660 The Fresh in Montana: or, Blake’s Full Hand. ; Fe 652 Tie Fresh’s Rustie at Painted City. : ee. 647 The Fresh at Santa Fe; or, The Stranger Sharp. 5 - | 656 Fresh, the Sport: or, The Big Racket at Slide Out, 537 Fresh Against the Field; or, Blake, the Lion, Re. 497 The Fresh in Texas; or, The Escobedo Millions, $ 461 The Fresh of Frisco on the Rio Grande, + 97 The Fresh in Big Walnut Camp; or, Bronze Jack [ | : | Aiken’s Joe Phenix Series. a / 965 Joe Phenix’s Mascot. 959 Joe Phenix’s Double Deal. 954 Joe Phenix in Chicago. 949 The Doctor from T+ xas; or, Joe Phenix's Clue. Pc: 944 Joe Phenix’s Right Bower, ee. : 865 The Female Barber Detective; or, Joe Phenix in - EX Silver City. ar. 799 Joe Phenix’s Great Blue Diamend Case; or, The = New York Sport at Long Branch. 793 Joe Rhenix’s Decoy; or, The Man of Three. 760 Joe Phenix’s Lone Hand. 749 Joe Phenix’s Big Bulge, 745 Joe Phenix’s Mad Case, ee 708 Joe Phenix's Siren; or, The Woman Hawkshaw, a 700 Joe Phenix’s Unknown; or, Crushing the Crooks ; 681 Joe Phenix’s Specials; or, The Actress Detective ee 637 Joe Phenix in Crazy Camp. a ; 632 Joe Phenix’s Master Search. : a a 628 Joe Phenix's Combin: ;cr,the Dandy Conspirator x 620 Joe Phenix’s Silent Six. ; we 601 Joe Phenix’s Shadow; or.the Detective’s Monitor a a 419 Joe Phenix,, the King of Detectives. ae - 161 Joe Phenix’s Great Man Hunt. 112 Joe Phenix, Private Detective; or, The League, 79 Joe Phenix, the Police Spy. Aiken’s Miscellaneous Noveis. 980 The All-Around Athlete, | 940 Captain Jack, the Scalper : | 985 The Hawks and Wolves of New York * 932 Detective Gordon’s Grip. ~ Caf 926 Old Sunflower, the Silent Smiter. | 928 Old Sunflower, the Hayseed Detective. ; 901 The Hotel Swell-Sharp; cr, The Siren. Shatiower, ; 892 The Countryman Detective. bs 876 Gold Button Sport; or, The Miner Sharps: ) 842 Teton Tom, the Half-Llcod. P 835 The King-Pin Detective. 814 The New Yorker Among Texas Sports. > 775 King Dandy, the Silver Sport. a 758 Gideon's 4 at Babylon I ar. . " 717 Captain Pat McGowen, tl e Greencoat Deteetive, - i 674 Uncle Sun Up, the Born Detective. _ 670 The Lightw eight Detective. : ‘ , 665 The Frisco Detective; or, The Golden G.,te Find, 613 Keen Billy, the Sport. >. 607 Oid Benzine, the * Hard Case”’ Detective. Bde 504 Fire Face, the Silver King’s Foe. 586 The Silver Sh arp Detective. 5 577 Tom, of Calif ornia; or, Detective’s Shadow Act, 25 570 The Actress Detective; or, The Invisible Hand. . . OS 562 Lone Hand, the Shadow. — 520 The Lone Hand on the Caddo. P 490 The Lone Hand in Texas. 14 475 Chin Chin, the Chinese Detective, cal 465 The Actor Detective. ; 440 The High Hor.e of the Pacific. 423 The Lone Hand; or, The Red River Recreants, 408 Doe Grip, the Vendetta of Death. ‘ af 381 The Gypsy Gen tleman; cr. Nick Fox, Detective —— 876 Black Beards: o1, The Rio Grande High Horse» tere 870 The Dusky Detective: or. Pursued to the Ena. , Shark 363 Crowningshield, the Detective ioe ee ‘ 820 The Genteel Spotter: or The N. Y. Night Hawk. i 252 The Wali Street J'lood; cr, The Telegrarh Girl. : ‘ 203 The Double Detective: or. The Midnight Mystery, Be hes | 196 La Marmoset, the Letective Queen. * Ne 101 The Man from New York. f ; 91 The Winning Oar: or, The lakecpe s Daughter. 84 Hunted Down: or, The League of Three. ' Be. | 81 The Human Tiger: or, A Heait of Fire. = ; ae , 75 Gentleman George: or, Parlor. Prison and' Street, =— j © The Phantom Hand; or, The 5th Avenue Heiress, ese fe 56 The Indian Mazeppa; or, Madman of the Plains, 1B | 49 The Wolf Demon; or, The Kanawha Queen. a S 42 The California Detective: or, The Witches of N.Y. = 31 The New York Sharp; or, The Flash of Lightning, . ae 27 The Spotter Detective: or, Girls of New York. ict ae NEW ISSUES. a 1000 Buffalo Bill’s Grim Guard. By Col, Ingraham, ae 1001 The Brand-Burnersof Cimarron. By JobnW. . - Osbon. 1002 Silver City Sam. By Jos. E, Badger. a= 1003 Gold Date or, Dick ‘Talbot in Utah. By Albert. _ ae W. Aiken ; 004 Buffalo Bill’s Death Deal. By Col. Ingrabam. | 1005 oot-Hills Frank. By Jos. EB. Badger. mie | 1006 The Sea Cadet. By Col. P. Ingrabam, 1 a pte! s : JUST ISSUED. * ; . 996 Injun Dick, the Shasta Dead Shot, By Aiken. ed 097 Botany Wee ~~ Sport from Hard Luck, By Jos, EK, er, Jt. : aa | 998 Captain Seawall, Privateer. By Ned Buntline. ate {999 ‘The Velvet Hand: or, The Iron Grip of Injun. eee Dick. By Albert W, Aiken. See A new issue every hee eng ‘ THE DIME LIBRARY is for saleby a
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‘ 2. ; ; BY JOSEPH E. BADGER, JR. 928 Old Sobersides, the Detective of St. Louis, 925 White-Horse Wheeler, the Revenue Detective, 918 The Double Edged Detective. 907 Maverick Mark. the Man from Nowhere. 898 Silky Steele, the Stay-in Sport. ae 834 The Spotter-Sport’s Neck-Tie Party. gs 870 High-Water Mark; or, Silver-Tip Sid. oS 862 Riata Rob, the Range Champion, 855 The Cuwhoy Chief’s Sure-Shot. ee $48 The Rival Red-Hat Sports. - 837 Curly Kid, the Cheyenne Sport. 824 The Soft Hand Detective, es 815 The Soft Hand’s Clutch. q ~ 809 Dan Duan, the Soft-Hand Sport. “i 796 The Frisco Detective’s Thug-Tangle. ne “89 Sam Cary, the River Sport. aes, ‘80 The Dead Sport’s Double. 471 Prince John, Detective Special. 763 Dandy Don, the Denver Detective, 754 ‘ithe Man from Texas; or, Dangerfield, the Doctor Detective. %44 Sweepstakes Sam, the Silver Sport. 720 The ret Six; or, O!d Halcyon. ss 712 The Man of Siik. ‘ ‘a 705 Bantam Bob, the Beauty from Butte. A 698 Kent Kasson, the Preacher Sport. 683 Bob Breeze, the Rounder Detective, , 675 Steel Surry, the Sport from Sunris¢, ie 668 Solemn Saul’s Luck Streak — 661 The Get-There Sharp. a 651 Silvestip Steve, the Sky Scraper from Siskiyou. > 645 Gopher Gabe, the Unseen Detective. 6386 Dandy Darling, Detective. 627 Mossback Mose, the Mountaineer, Ss - 617 The Grip-Sack Sharp's Even up. pees 597 Big Bandy, the Brigadier of Brimstone Butte, 588 dy Sands, the Sharp from Snap City. 576 Siiver-Tongued Sid; or, Grip Sack Sharp's Sweep, “es 564 The Grip-Sack Sharp; or, The Seraphs of Sodom, Z 655 Grip-Sack Sid, the Sample Sport. i B47 The Buried Detective; or, Sail’s Six Sensations, ae 541 Major Magnet, the Man of Nerve, = $35 Dandy Dutch, the Decorator from Dead-Lift a. 527 Dandy Andy, the Diamond Detective. mrt 614 Gabe Gunn, the Grizzly from Ginseng, 604 Solemn Saul, the Sad Man from San Saba. 495 Rattlepate Rob; or, The Roundhead’s Reprisal " 488 The Thoroughbred Sport. # 474 Daddy Vead-Eye, the Despot of Dew Drop. tiny 466 Old Yongh and Ready, the Sage of Sundown 458 Dutcb Dan. the Pilgrim from Spitzenberg, 443 A Cool Hand; or, Pistol Johnny's Picnic. 438 Oklahoma Nick. 433 Laughing Leo; or, Sam’s Dandy Pard. 426 The Ghost Detective: or. The Secret Service Spy. 416 Monte Jim. the Black Sheep of Bismarck. ss “09 Rob Roy Ranch; or, The Imps of Pan Handle, eS 40% ''he Nameless Sport. S “ 895 Deedly Aim, the Duke of Derringers. ~ 887 Dark Darg, the Ishmael of the Hills. & $72 Oaptain Crisp, the Man with a Record, as $67 A Royal Flush; or, Dan Brown’s Big Game. : 360 Jumping Jerry, the Gamecock from Sundown, = 255 Stormy Steve, the Mad Athlete, ‘ se 851 Nor’ West Nick, the Border Detective. f 345 Maskea Mark, the Mounted Detective. ra 339 Spread Hagie Sam, the Hercules Hide Hunter, 331 Chispa Charley, the Gold Nugget Sport. = 817 Frank Lightfoot, the Miner Detective. = 292 Moke Horner, the Boss Roustabout, 986 Pistol Johnny; or, One Man in a Thousand, 283 Sleek Sam, the Devil of the Mines, 257 Death Trap Diggings; or, A Man ‘Way Back 249 Elephant Tom, of Durango. 2 241 Spitfire Saul, King of the Rustlers. ee 233 The Old oy of Tombstone. a x =~ 201 Pirate of the Placers; or, Joaquin’s Death Hunt bee 480 Old °49; or, The Amazon of Arizona, a 470 Sweet William, the Trapper Detective, : a 465 Joaquin, the Terrible — pe 154 Joaquin, the Seddie King. ee 5) 441 Equinox Tom, the Bul'y of Red Rock. eS 119 Alabaina Joe: or, The Yazoo Man-Hunters, 205 Dan Brown of Denver; or. The Detective. Ae Big George; or. The Five Out law Brothers, } EY cs Casitas Cool Blade: or, Mississippi Man Shark. > 747 Doubie-voice Dan's Doublo Disguise, 715 Double-Voice Dan on Deet, 702 Double-Voics Dan, the Aiways-on-Deck Detective $96 Double-Voice Dan, the Go-it Alone Detective, 689 The Sparkler Sharp. 676 Hurricane Hal, the Cowboy Hotspur. 669 Oid True Blue, the Trusty. Giant Sport; or, Sold to Satan. $58 rant Piug Unly. the Rough and Ready. 648 Gold Giove Gid, the Man of Grit. 641 Aztec Jack, the Desert Nomad, 631 Colonel Cool, the Santa Fe Sharp, 602 Captain Nameless. the Mountain Mystery, 671 Old Dismal, the Rangs Detective. 645 Hustler Harry, the Cowboy Sport. we BY GEORGE C. JENKS, ine Arizona Detective. bos Silver Sam, the Shasta Sport. 880 The Silver Sport’s Double, 868 The Race-Course Detectiye, seed Detective. —~ orden, the Twister Detective, > . fis on Bi a hy ca « BEADLE’ )IME*|IBRARY. z Fublished Every Wednesday. Each Issue Complete and Sold at the Uniform Price of Ten Cents. No Double Numbers. BY WILLIAM R, EYSTER, 916 Two Dead-Square Sports. 902 Soft Velvet, the Man from Sandrock. 891 Genteel Jim, Sport-at-Large. 881 The Clubman-Crook’s Cat's-paw. 867 The Frisco Sport. 852 The Stranger Sport’s Shake-up. 828 Kirk King, the Man from Kirby. 818 Gentleman Dave, the Dead Game Sport 783 The King-Pin Tramp. 767 The Sport of Silver Bend, 718 Uncle Bedrock’s Big Bounce, 707 The Rival Rovers. 687 Double Cinch Dan, the Sport With a Charm. 677 Mr. Jackson, the Gent from Jaybird. 659 Gilt-Edge Johnny; or, Roldan and His Rovers, 650 Lucky Lester’s Lone Hand. 634 Old Handcart’s Big Dump, 622 The All Around Sports. 603 Desert Alf, the Man With the Cougar. 590 Gentle Jack, the High Roller from Humbug. 578 Seven Shot Steve, the Sport with a Smile. 568 The Dude Detective. 558 Hurrah Harry, the High Horse from Halcyon. 549 Belshazzar Brick, the Bailiff of Blue Blazes. 533 Oregon, the Sport Witha Scar. 503 The Dude from Denver. 478 Pinnacle Pete; or, The Fool from Way Back. 459 Major Sunshine, the Man of Three Lives, 429 Hair Trigger Tom of Red Bend. 402 Snapshot Sam; or, The Angels’ Tat Racket, 396 The Piper Detective; or, The Gilt Edge Gang. 875 Royal George, the Three in One, 356 Three Handsome Sports; or, The Combination. 833 Derringer Dick, the Man with the Drop. 268 Magic Mikes, ~he Man of Frills. 229 Captain Cutsiceve; or, The Little Sport. 214 The Two Cool Sports; or, Gertie of the Gulch. 182 Hands Up; or, The Knights of the Canyon. 160 Soft Hand, Sharp; or, The Man with the Sand. 145 Pistol Pards; or, The Silent Sport from Cinnabar BY NED BUNTLINE. 657 Long Tom, the Privateer. 633 The Sea Spy. 621 The Red Privateer; or, The Midshipman Rover. 584 Fire Feather, the Buccaneer King. 517 Buffalo Bill’s First Trail. 861 Tombstone Dick, the Train Pilot. 122 Saul Sabberday, the Idiot Spy. 111 The Smuggler Captain; or, The Skipper’s Crime, 18 The Sea Bandit; or, The Queen of the Isle. 16 The White Wizard; or, The Seminole Prophet. BY JACKSON KNOX—‘* Old Hawk.” 838 Old Grips Still Hunt. 827 Detective Walden’s Web. - 778 The Butler Detective; or, Old Grip’s Grip 770 The Showman Dete tive. 762 Old Grip, the Detective. 740 Captain Clew, the Fighting Detective, . 732 The Hurricane Detective. 643 Castlemaine, the Silent Sifter. 616 Magnus, the Weird Detective. 606 The Drop Detective. 595 Wellborn, the Upper Crust Detective. 582 Joram, the Detective Expert. 574 Old Faicon’s Double. 561 The Thug King; or, The Faleon Detective's Foe, 548 Falconbridge. the Sphinx Detective. 536 Old Falcon’s Foe; or, The Detective’s Swell Job. 515 Short-Stop Maje, the Diamond Field Detective. 509 Old Falcon, the Thunderbolt Detective, 501 a ar Steve, the Retired Detective, 494 The Detective’s Spy. 485 Rowlock. the Harbor Detective, 477 Dead-arm Brandt. 457 Mainwaring. the Salamander. 462 The Ciscus Detective. 451 Griplock, the Rocket Detective. 444 The Magic Detective; or, The Hidden Hand, 424 Hawk Heron’s Deputy. 886 Hawk Heron, the Falcon Detective. BY J. 6. COWDRICK, 752 The Suspect Spor! of Daisy Drift. - 626 Dueats Dion, the Nabob Sport Detective. 612 Sheriff Stillw ood, the Regulator of Raspberry, 598 The Dominie Detective, my : 591 Duke Daniels, the Society Detective. 580 Shadowing a Shadow, : 565 Prince Paul, the Postraan Detective. 557 The Mountain Graybeards; or, Riddles’ Riddle. 519 Old Riddles, the Rocky Ranger 499 Twilight Charlie, the Road Sport, — 472 Gilbert of Gotham, the Steel-arm Detective. 452 Rainbow Rob, the Tulip from Texas, 436 Kentueky Jean, the Sport from Yellow Pine. 422 Blue Grass Burt, the Gold Star Detective. 890 The Giant Cupid; or Cibuta John’s Jubilee. BY EDWARD WILLETT. 483 Flush Fred, the River Sharp. 368 The Canyon King; or, a Price on his Head, 348 Dan Dillon, King of Crosscut, 337 Old Gabe, the Mountain Tramp. 327 Terrapin Dick, the Wildwood Detective. 815 Flush Fred’s Double; or, The Squatters’ League 808 Hemlock Hank, Tough and True, 208 Logger Lem; or, Life in the Pine Woods, 289 Flush Fred’s Full Hand. ; 274 Flush Fred, the EE es Sport. 248 Montana Nat, the Lion of Last Chance Camp. 222 Bill the Blizzard; or. Red Jack’s Crime, 209 Buck Farley, the Bonanza Prince. ; 129 Mississippi Mose; or, a Strong Man’s Sacrifice. BY CAPTAIN MAYNE REID, | 67 The White Squaw, 234 The Hunter's Feast. | Tho Stalp Hunters.” A Romauee of SE PO AG gt ea BY COL. PRENTISS INGRAHAM. 911 The Blue Blockader; or, The Coast Grayhound. 906 The Cuban Cruiser, 854 The Ocean Gipsy. 834 The Wild Steer Riders; or, Texas Jack's Terrors, 810 The Rival Monte Cristos. 805 The Last of the Pirates; or, Doom Drivem 801 The Water Wolves’ Detective; or, Trapping the Grave Ghouls. 791 The Coast-Raider’s Death-Chase. 748 Arizona Chariie, the Crack-shot Detective. 704 Invisible Ivan, the Wizard Detective. 685 The Red-skin Sea Rover, pi 679 Revello, the Pirate Cruiser; or, The Rival Revers 472 The Red Rapier; or, The Sea Rover’s Bride, 662 The Jew Detective; or, The Beautiful Convict, 640 The Rover’s Ret ibution. 635 The Ex-Buccaneer; or, The Stigma of Sin. 625 Red Wings; or, The Gold Seekers of the Bahamas, 615 The Three succaneers. 610 The Red Flag Rover; or, White Wings of the Deep. 605 The Shadow Silver Ship. 600 The Silver Ship; or, The Sea Scouts of '%6, 593 The Sea Rebel; or, Red Rovers of the Revolution, 587 Courad, the Sailor Spy; or, True Hearts of °76, 581 The Outlawed Skipper; or, The Gantlet Runner. 560 The Man from Mexico. 558 Ma. k Monte, the Mutineer; or, The Branded Brig. 546 Tre Doomed Whaler: or, The Life Wreek, ~ 530 The Savages of the Sea, 524 The Sea Chaser; or, The Pirate Noble. 510 El Moro, the Corsair Commodore. 493 The Scouts of the Sea. 457 'The Sea Insurgent: or, The Conspirator Sen, 446 Ocean Ogre, the Outcast Corsair. 435 The One-Armed Buccaneer. 2 450 The Fatal Frigate; or, Rivals in Love and Wak 899 The New Monte Cristo. 393 The Convict Captian. 377 Afloat and Ashore; or, The Corsair ee 369 The Coast Corsair: or. The Siren of the 364 The Sea Fugitive: or, The Queen of tne Goast, 341 The Sea Desperado, ; 336 The Magic Ship; or, Sandy Hook Freebooters. 825 The Gentleman Pirate ; or, The Casco Hermits, 318 The Indian Buccaneer; or, The Red Rovers. 307 The Phantom Pirate; or, The Water Wolves, 255 The Pirate Priest; or, The Gambler’s Da’ . 246 Queen Helen, the Amazon of the Overland. 235 Red Lightning the Man of Chance. ; 224 Black Beard, the Buccaneer. 220 The Specter Yacht; or, A Brother’s Grime, 210 Buccaneer Bess. the Lioness of the Sea, 205 The Gambler Pirate; or, Lady of the Lagoon, 198 The Skeleton Schooner; or, The Skimmer. 184 The Scarlet Schooner: or. The Sea Nemesis. 104 Montezuma. the Merciless. 103 Merle, the Mutineer; or, The Red Anchor Brané. EY PHILIP 8S, WARNE, 802 Dan Dirk, King of No Man’s Land. 583 Captain Adair, the Cattle King, 567 Captain Midnight, the Man of Craft. 544 The Back to Back Pards. 522 The Cham pion Three, 502 Bareback Buck, the Centaur of the Plaina, 472 Six Foot Si; or, The Man to “ Tie To,"" 431 California Kit, the Always on Hand. 404 Silver Sid; or, A “* Daisy *’ Bluff. 380 Tiger Diek’s Ple e: or, Tne Golden Serpent. 359 Yellow Jack, the Mestizo, 338 Jack Sands, the Boss of the Tewn, 299 Toree of a Kind; or, Dick, Despard anéthe Sport. 251 Tiger Dick vs. [ron Despard. 207 Old Hard Head: or, Whirlwind and'his Mare, 171 Tiger Dick, the Mau of the Iron Heart. 114 The Gentleman from Pike. 80 A Man of Nerve; or, Caliban the Dwarf. 54 Always on Hand; or, The Foot-Hills Sport. 29 Tiger Dick, Faro King; or, The Cashier's Crime, 4 The Kidnapper; or, The Northwest Shanghai, BY CAPTAIN MARK WILTON. $23 Hotspur Hugh; or, The Banded Brothers, $11 Heavy Hand; or, The Marked Men. 805 Silver-Plated Sol, the Montana Rover. 291 Horseshoe Hank, the Man of Big Luck, 285 Lightning Bolt, the Canyon Terror, 276 Texas Chick. the Southwest Detective. 271 Stonefist, of Big Nugget Bend. 266 Leopard Luke. the King of Horse-Thieves 263. Iron-Armed Abe, the Hunchback Destroyer 258 Bullet Head, the Colorado Bravo. 237 Long-Haired Max; or, The Black ‘ashe. n 227 Buckshot Ben, the Man-Hunter of Ida 223 Canyon Dave, the Man of the Mountain, 219 The Scorpion Brothers; or, Mad Tom’s Mission 202 Cactus Jack, the Giant Guide. 194 Don Sombrero. the California Road Gent. 176 Lady Jaguar, the Robber Queen. RY OLL COOMES. 619 Kit Bandy & Co , the Border Detectives. 148 One-Armed Alf, the Giant Hunter, 99 The Giant Rifleman: or, Wild Camp Life, 43 Dakota Dan, the Reckless Ranger. BY COL. THOMAS H. MONSTERY, 236 Champion Sam; or, The Monarchsof the Show 150 El Rubio Bravo, King of the Swordsmen, ; BY DR. NOEL DUNBAR. 919 The Sea Scout; or, The Patriot Privateer. 886 The King of oks. poe 858 Number One, the Dead-set Detective. 30 Duke Dempesd, the Gaaiiiee Dies Duke , the Gambler Du em 804 The Detective in Rags; or, The Grim Shadowes, 500 The True-Neart Pards. = eat a new issue every Wednesday Ser Beadle’s Dime Library is for sale by @ A Newsdealers, ten cents per copy, or sent” Oe receipt of twelve cents ear” . ’
Page 30
BEADLE’S« H ALF- DIMEs LIBRARY. | Published Every Tuesday. Eetth Issue Complete and Sold at the Uniform Price of Five Cents, by all Newsdeatare. BY OLL COOMES. 146 Ek Bandy, Detective; or, Silver Star, the Boy Knight. 168 t Bandy tn Texas; or, The Young Mustanger, 208 Kit Bandy’s Catch; or, The Boy Hercules. 422 Kit Bandy’s Right Bower; or, Baby Sam,the Boy Giant 444 Kit Bandy’s eweens or, Little Buckskin, tne Centaur. 478 Kit Bandy’s Slick Scheme; or, Old Tom Rattler, 661 Kit Bandy’s Deliverance; or, Banner Bsn. 680 Kit Bandy’s Pard; or, Dauntless Dan, the Vreelance, 791 Kit Bandy Rattled; or, The Intant Giant. 7905 Kit Bandy in Red Ruin; or, The Young Whirlwind, 799 Kit Bandy’s Big Rustle; or, Saddle King Sam. 804 Kit Bandy’s Brigade; or, Dan, the Mountain Gulde, $27 Kid Pandy’s Brigade in Arizona, 989 Kit Bandy’s Star Engagement. 58 Jack Drew, the Nemesis; or, Eagle Kit, the Boy Demon, 82 Jack Drew's Drop; or, Little Hurricane, the Boy Captain, 02 Jack Drew in Deadwood; or, Prospect Pete. 27 Keen Knife on Guard; or, Antelope Abe, the Boy Guide, 81 Keen-Knuilfe, the Prince of the Prairies. | & Vagabond Joe, the Young Wandering Juw. } 18 The Dumb Spy. | 41 Lasso Jack, the Young Mustanger. 58S The Border King; or, The Secret Feo. 1 Delaware Dick, the Young Ranger Spy, 4 Wawk-eye Harry the Young Trapper Ranger 88 Rollo, the Boy Kanger; or, The Heiress as4 Sure Shot Seth, the Boy Rifleman. 48 Sear-F ace Saul, t!e Silent Henter, 178 Old Solitary, the Hermit Trapper, 218 Tiger Tom, the Texas Terror. 224 a Dick 4 or, Trapper Tom’s Castle, 228 Little Wildfire, the Young Prairie Nomad. 288 The Parson Detective; or, The Littl Ranger, 248 The Disguised Guide; or, Wild Raven, the Ranger. 260 Dare-Devil Dan, the Young Prairie Ranger. : ‘272 Minkakin Mike, the Boy Sharpshooter. 290 Little Foxfire, the Boy Spy; or, Old Culeb Arbuckle, 'B00 The Sky Demon; or, Rainbolt, the Ranger, 884 Whip-King Joe, the Boy Ranchero. 409 hercules; vr, Dick, the Boy Ranger. 417 Webtoot Mose, the Tramp Detective. 457 Wingedfoot Fred 3 or, Old Polar Saul. 468 Tamarac Tom, the Big Trapper Boy. 482 Stonewall Bob, the Boy Trojan. 562 Blundering Bastl, the Hermit Boy Trappa. 652 Don Barr, the Plains Freelance, 670 Norway Nels, the Big Boy Mountaineer. 77s ee Harry, the Wizard Rifleman. 828 Poker Jack, the Detective Sport. BY T. J. FLANAGAN, 909 Midshipman Dare, the Pirate Catcher, 925 The plunge, Conboy Captain. 883 ‘The Two Midshipmen; or, The) Corsair-Chaser’s Firat Cruise. BY DAN DUNNING, 46 Quiet Jack, the Secret Service Spy. 67 Mae and Jack, the Invincibles; or, The Diabolical Three, 75 Detective Daye’s Close Call. 84 Farrel Fox and His Girl Ferret. 898 Ferrel, Fox’s Sweep-Stakes, ! BY GEORGE ©. JENKA. 455 Git Thar Owney the Unknown, 492 Git Thar Owncy’s Pledge. 518 The Demon Doctor; or, Deadhold, the Kid Detective, 581 Double-Ourve Dan, the Pitcher Detective. 598 Flutes tae Singer Detective; or, Owney In a New Role, 608 The Pitcher Detective’» Fol: or, Dan’s Double Play, 616 The Ocean Detectives or, The Last Cruise ofthe Black Bear, 681 The Pitcher Detective’s Toughest Tussle. 736 Larry the Thoroughbred; or, Beaten on Every Side, 779 lron Hand, the Charmed Detective 854 Unele Sam’s Detective in Chicago, RY WM. @. PATTEN, 629 Vielet Vane, the Velvet Sport; or, The Jubilee ot Jacktown 66% Vtolet Vane’a Victory; or, The Jasper City Clean Out. 698 Violet and Daisy, the Posy Pards. '05 Violet Vane’s Vow; or, The Crafty Detective’s Craft, 24 Violet Vane’s Vengeance; or, The Wipe-Out. 80 Violet Vane’s Verdicts; or, The Game at Coffin City. At Violet Vane, the or Vidocg; or, Sport vs. Sport. 250 Violet Vane, the Vanquished, or, The Life Straggte. ! olet. Vane’a Vision; or, The Fiery Hand of Fate, 1489 The tHamond Sport; or, The Double Face of Bed Rock, ‘B19 os ge aiystery ; or, Five in One. ‘681 Daisy Pare the Sport from Denver. ‘BST Old Kombshell, the Ranger Detective. (604 Lron Fern, the Ma of Fire; or, Among the Vultures, ,619 The Boy Tramp Detective: or, The Double Grip Witness 641 Dismal Dave’s Dandy Pard; or, The Clue to Capt. Claw 1/651 Bound Boy F rank, the Young Amateur Detective 682 Wild Vulean, the Lone-Rarige Rider, '2714 Old Misery the Man from Missouri, 74 OClear-Grit Cal, the Never-Say-Die Detective. 89 Sam Sheridan, the Secret Service Special. 06 Oowboy Steve the Ranch Mascot. S820 Nobby Nat, the Tenderfoot Detective, ‘$86 Sharper Stoke’s Double Deal. 857 Spotter Bobin New York. 866 Spotter Bob’s Bowery Racket, BY COLONEL DELLE SARA, ' / 328 The Lion of the Sea; or, The Vailed Lady, 86 Cool Desmond; or, The Gambler’s Big Game, BY CAPTAIN FRED, WHITTAKER, 15 The Sen-Cat; or, The Witch of Darien, 29 The Dumb Page; or, The Doge’s Deughter, 48 Diek Darling, the Pony Express Rider. ico ee und Lasso; or, The Children of the Chaco. 154 e Sword Hunters; or, The Land of the Elephant Riders 159 The Lost Captain; or, Skipper Jabex Coffin’s Cruise. 200 The Boy Bedonins or, The Brothers of the Plamed Lanes 214 we ng, the Robber of the Rhine. 5d 9 Milo Romer the Animal King; or, Round the World, he r Tamer ; or, The League of the Jungle. a the Demon Rider, 95 a Joe's War Trail. ’ BY CAPT. J. F. 0. ADAMB, ye, the Great Shot of the West. Ned Hazel, the Boy Trapper. ; Nick Whifftes’s Pet; or, In The Valley of Death. H ‘on, The Seovt of the Yeilowstena, 1D Ola Zips Gablat ov The Urocnhorn in the Weeds: C r e Gre Wehtalng Jo the Terror of the air ‘ i“ ; ig Oregon Sol ov, Nick Whifies's Boy Spy, irie. , ‘am { or, Bess, the Female Trapper, nd His Peta; or, The Wild Huntress a BY T. ©. HARBAUGH, 28 Nick o the Night}; or, The Boy Spy of ’76. 87 The Hidden Lodge; or, The Little Hunter. 47 Nightingale Nat; or, Tne Forest Capitaine, 64,.Dandy Jack 3 or, The Outlaws of the Oregon Trail. 82 Kit Marefovt, the Wood-Hawk; or, Old Powder-face, 94 Midnight Jack ; or, The Boy Trapper. 06 Old Frosty, the Guide; or, The White Queen, 28 Kiowa Charley the White Mustanger. 189 Judge Lynch Jr.; or, The Rey Vigilante. 155 Gold Trigger, the ppere or, The Girl Avenger. 169 Tornado Tom; or, Injun Jack From Red Core, 188 Ned Temple, the Border Boy; or, The Mad Hunter. 198 Arkan“aw? or, The Queen of Fate’s Revenge. 207 Navajo Nick, the Boy Gold Hunter. 215 Captain Bullet; or, Little Topknot’s Crusade, 281 Plucky Phil; or, Rom, the Rec Jezebel, 241 Bill Bravo; or, Tie Rouge of the Rockies, 255 Captain Apoli«, tne King-Pin of Bowie, 267 The Ibuckskin Detective; or, The King of Road-agents, 279 O14 Winch; or, The Buckskin Desperadoes. 294 Dynamite Dan} or, Tlie Bowie Blade of Gochetopa. 802 The Mountain Detective; or, The Trigger Bar Bully, $16 Old Eelipse, Trump Card of Arizona, 826 The Ten Pards; or, The Terror of Take-Notice, 886 Big Benson; or, The Queen of the Lasso. 845 Pitiless Matt; or, Ked Thunderbolt’s Secret, 856 Cool Sam and Pari; or The Terrible Six. 6 Velvet Foot, the Indian Detective. 8S6 Captain Cutlass ¢ or, 1 he Beceaneer’s Girl Foe. 896 Rough Reb; or, The Twin Champtons of Blue Blazes. 411 The Silken J.aaso: or, The Rosec Ranch Robin. 418 Fellx Fox, the Boy Spotter; or, The Gold Gang of New York. 425 Texas Trump, tne Border Rattler. 486 Phil Flash, the New York Fox; or, The Mystery of Room 21. 445 The City Vampires; or, Ked Rolfe’s Pigeon. 461 One Against Fifty; or, The Last Man of Keno Bar, 470 The Boy Shadow; or, Fellx Fox’s Hunt. 477 The Exeeisior Sport: or, The Washington Spotter. 499 Mingle Sight, the One-Eyed Sport. 5602 Branded Ben, the Night ferret. 512 Dodger Dick, the Whart-Spy Detective, 621 Dodger Dick's Best Dodge; or, The Gotham Gold Gang, 528 Fox and Faicon, the Bowery Shadows, 588 Dodger Dick, the Dock Ferret. 548 Dodger Dick’« Double; or, The Rival Boy Detectives, 558 Dodger Dick’s Desperate Case. 568 Dodger Dick. the Boy Vidocq; or, The Gang of Three. The Two Sha dows; or, Dodger Dick’s Stop Game. 582 Dodger Dick’s Drop; or, The Man from Jersey. 594 Little Lon, the Street-Singer Detective. 610 Old Skinner, the Gold Shark; or, Tony Sherp on Guard. 626 The Champton Parda; or, The Lucifer of Silver Bar, 687 Bick Doan, the Dock Boy Detective, 645 Kit, the Pavement Sharp, 658 Billy Bantam, the Boy Beagle. G71 Jersey Jed, the Boy Hustler; or, Shadowing the Shadower. 685 Happy Hugh, the Boy Musician Detective. TO1 Photo raph F red, the Camera Co 715 Wide Awake Len, the Quaker City Ferret. FBZ Daiay Dell, the Pavement Detective; or, Trapping Big Games 742 Billy Winka, the Bell Boy Detective, 754 Billy Winka, the Poss Boy Shadow. ‘ 768 Eagle Ned, the Boy on Guard; or, Tne Camp Spiders, 780 Tonkaway Tom, the Red Wizard 827 The Bantam Sport. 848 Clip, the Battery Ferret; or, enact eeacrs Foul Play S97 Davy Doon’s Big Bounce. 905 Dandy Nugget, the Bo~ Shadow. 921 The Boy from Denver. BY CHARLES MORRIS, 118 Will Somers, the Boy Detective, 122 Phil Hardy, the Boss Boy. 126 Pileayune Pete; or, Nicodemus, the Dog Detective 180 Detective Dick ; or, The Hero in Rags, 142 Handsome Harry, the Boothlack Detective, 147 Will Wildfire, the Thoroughbred. 152 Black Resa, Wil! Wildfire’s Racer. 157 Mike Merry the Harbor Police Boy, 162 Will Wildfire tn the Wooda. 65 Billy Baggage, the Railroad ey de TO A Trump Card; or, Will) Wildfire Wins and Loess 74 Bob Roekett; or, Mysteries of New York. 79 Bob Roshets, the Bank Runner, 88 The Hidden Hand Ln Will Wildfire’s Revenge. 87 Fred HMalyard, the Life Boat Boy; or, The Smugglers, 89 Bob Rockett; or, Driven to the Wall. 196 saeeeees or, Bob Kockett’s Fight for Life. 206 Dark Paul, the Tiger King. 212 Dashing Dave, the eg Detective. 220 Tom Tanner: or, The Black Sheep of the Flock. 225 Sam Charcoal the Premium Darky, 235 Shadow Sam, the Messenger Boy, 242 The Two “ Bloods”; or, Shenandoah Rill and His Gang, 252 Dick Dashaway ; or, A Dakota Boy in Chicago. The Young Sharps; o1. Rollicking Mike’s Hot Trafl, 271 Jolly Jim, the Detective Apprentice. 289 Jolly Jhim’s Jobs or, The Young Detective, 98 The Water-Nound; or, The Young Thoroughored. 05S Dashaway, of Dakota: or, A Western Lad In Quaker City, 824. Ralph Keady, the Hotel Boy Detective. 841 Tony Thorne, the Vagabond Detective. 858 The Reporter-Detectives or, Fred Flyers Siizeard, BET Wide-Awake Joe; or, A Boy of the Times, 879 Larry, the Leveler; or, The Bloods of the Boulevard, O08 Firetly Jack, the River-Rat Detective. 28 The Loat Finger; or, The Entrapped Cashier, 428 Fred Fiyer, the Reporter Detective. 482 Invincible Logan, the Pinkerton Ferret. 456 Billy Brick, the Jolly Vaganond. 466 Wide-Awake Jerry, Detective; or Entombed Alive. 479 Detective Dodge; or, The Mystery of Frank Hearty, 488 Wild Dick-Racket; or, How He Fought for Honor. 501 Roota, the Boy Fireman: or, Too Sharp for the Sharper 566 The Secret “ervice Boy Detective. 596 Jimmy the Kid: or, A Lamb Among Woalves, 627 Tom Bruce of Arkansnsy or, The Wolf in the Fold. 655 Plueky Paul, the Boy Speculator. GT Bob and Sam, the Daisy Detectives. 09 The Curbstone Detectives or, Harry Hale’s Big Beat, 57 Detective Frank’s Sweep-stakes, 69 Ned Norman, the Gamin Broker, 81 Turkey Billy, the Shine’em-up Detective, 917 Flash Lightning, the Mountain Mascot. - BY ALBERT W. AIKEN, 11 The Two Detectives; or, The Fortunes ofa Bowery Girl, 76 Abe Colt, the Crow-Killer. 79 Sol Ginger, the Giant Trapper. oe Buck of Angels and Mis Boy Pard. New York Nat. A Tale of Tricks and Traps in Gotham. 8 New Leg ito Nick} or, The Fortunes of a Foundling, Nimble Nick, the Circus Prince. gro Taos Ted, tae Arizona § 1 rc hop Dh hl —) 0 Cool Colorado, the Hal -Breed Detective. 8 Cool Colorado in New York: or, The Cowboy"s Fighs BY CAPT. ALFRED B. TAYLOR O. 8. A. ‘uffalo Billy, the Boy Bullwhacker. uffalo B Bet} or, The Gambler Guide, 191 194 BY J. W. OSBON, 469 The Rival Glants of Nowhar’. 8 Cactus Burr, the Man from Hard Luck, 587 Old Buckeye, the Sierra Shadow. 564 Powder Phil, the Boy Miner, or, The Man Witheata Past 609 Bolly Dorrit, the Veteran Detective. 620 Little aigpestng’s League; or, The Mystery o/tne Island 688 Plucky Paul, the Boy Prospector, cee ye + See Dan, mete a ion re > Go ust Dan’s ath: or, Rec Roy, Regulate. 928 Gold-Dust Dan’s Snap-Shot. ‘ BY JOSEPH E. BADGER, JR, 2 Vellowsatone Jucky} or, The int: ery 48 Black John, the Road-Agent; or, The Outlaw's Retreaé, 65 Hurricane Gill; or, Mustang Sam and His Pard, 119 Mustan ay aod e King of the Plains. 186 Night-llawk Kit; or, The Daughter of the Ranch, 144 Dainty Lance the Boy Sport. 151 Panther Pauls or, Dainty Lance to the Resene. 160 The Blaek Giant; or, Dainty Lance in Jeopardy. 168 Deadly Dash; or, Fighting Fire with Fire. 184 The Boy Trallers; or, Dainty Lance on the War-@ath, 208 The Boy Pards; or, Dainty Lance Unmasks. 211 Crooked Cale, the Caliban of Celestial City. 810 The BRarranea Wolf’; or, The Beautiful Decoy. $19 The Black Rider; or, The Horse-Thieves’ League. 885 Old Double Fist; or, The Strange Guide 855 The King of the Woods: or. Daniel Boone’s Last fea 449 Kit Fox, the Border Boy Detective. 625 Chincapio Dan, the Boy Tratler. 677 Chineapin Dan's Second Trail. 688 Chincapin Dan’s Home Stretch. 698 Old Crazy, the Man Without a Head, TOS Licht-Heart Lute’a Legacy. 718 Lighi-lNeart Lute’« Last Trail. FSP Stlvachlade, the HeltBlods cr, The Border Béagte ob Bags Silverblade, the Half-Blood; or, The er 789 Silverblade, the Hostile; or, The Border Beagle’s Trafl, 748 Silverblade the Friendly; or, The Border Beagle’s Bay Pat BY 0. DUNNING CLARK. 185 Captain Paul: or, The Boy Spy of the Mountaina. 0 The Yankee Rajah} or, The Fate of the Black Sberea® BY LIEUT. Hi. D. PERRY, U. 8, N, 6 The Boy Runaway} or, The Buccaneer of the Bay, 17 180 The Sea Trailer; or, A Vow Well Kept. 192 Captain Kit; or, The Mystery of Montauk Polet, BY JACK FARRAGUT, = Ned, the Cabin Boy; or, The Witch of the Fort, 20 The Sea Sorceress; or, The Boy Skipper, BY CAPTAIN MAYNE REID, 7% Bine Dick: or, The Yellow Chie!’s Vengeance, $87 The Land Pirates; or, The League of Devil's island 187 The nomen Hand; or, Back woods Retribution. 289 The Gold-seeker Guide! or, The Lost Mountele, BY BRACEBRIDGE NEMYNG . 89 Taland Jim; or, The Pet of the Fusiiy, 91 The Captain of the Club or, The Rival Athietss, 01 Jack Harkaway in New York, MISCELLANEOUS AUTHORS, 4 The Wild-Horse Iunters, By Capt. Mayne Rett Frederick Whittaker, 9 Adventures of Baron Munchausen, 12 Gulliver’s Travels. By Dean Swift. _ 14 Aladdin; or, The Wonderful Lamp. 16 Robinson Crusoe, (27 Ilustratione.) 18 Sindbad the Sailer. His Seven Voyages. ° 2 22 The Sen Serpent; or, The Boy Rebinsom Crease. By Jusm Lewis. 88 The Ocean Bloodhound; or, The Red Pirates of the Carribecs. By 8, W. Pierce. 86 The Boy Clowns or, The Arena Queen. By # 8, Finn. BS Ned Wylde, the Boy Scout. By Texas Jack. ‘ 51 The Roy Rif'es; or, The none er Camp. By A: C.Tront 95 The Rival Rovers; or, The Freebooters of the Missiesipps By Lieut.-Col, Hazeltine. 98 Robin Hood, the Outlawed Ear); or, The Merry Men of Green* wood. By Prof. Gildersleeve. 105 Old Rube, the Hunter; or, The Crow Captive. By Captain . Hamilton Holmes. * 112 The Mad Hunter; or, TheCave of Death. By Burton Saxe, 124 Tippy, the Texan} or, The Young Champion, By George 6 ~ eran. 128 The Young Privateer; or, The Pirate’s Stronghold. By Harry Cavendish. 148 Sharp Sam } ot, The Adventores of a Friendlem Boy, By J. Al der Patten. 227 Dusky. Darrell, Trapper; or, The Green Ranger of the Yel. lowstone. By Edward Emorson. 6 Fearnanght the New Yirk Boy. By G, L, gtken. 86 Einar, the Guide: or, Davy Crockett’s Crooked ‘Trail By Ensign C. D, Warren. 298 Red Claw, the One-Eyed Trapper; or, The Maid ot the CHM — By Captain Comstock. G17 Peacock Pete, the Lively Lad trom Lesdville, By Liew tenant Alfred Thorne. 828 The Sky Petcetive § or, A Boy’s Fight for Life and Honore By Maior Mickey Free. 8560 Red Ralph, the River Rovers or, The Brother's Ree venge. By — wen ig a as nal Ls sili, 6 altimore Ren the Bootblack Detective. - gee Bela tact Toms or, Ben’s Double Match. ae BH, Morse, 876 Callfornia Joe’s First Trail. By onel Thomas : Hoyer Monstery. j 418 Riily Bombshell, the Cliff Climber. By F, 8. Winthrop, 475 The Black Ship, By John S Warner. 484 Comanche Dick and His Three Invinefeles, By Henry J. Thomas. B82 The Cowboy Duke. By Edwin Brooke Forrest. her Win wees begs ey ee agg ‘ite vatera, the Boy Ferret. By H. Enton. G82 The Dead Metectives Double, By Geraté Carlton, 721 Maverick Mone, the Arizona Detective; or, The Wizard? Urkos Pass. By 1! Lisenbee, 809 Don Danton, the Gent from Denver. By King Keene, of @& gia K © High, the Frisco Detective, By C. E. Tv. ce High, the Frisco Detective, By © ©. Grim Lodgers in Bag Alley 3 or, Citizen Rubi of Number S&eén.__ By Ben D. Halli ey Se ae 881 The Chicago Drummer’s Deal. By J. G, Betbupa, 841 Prince Chartle, the Cat’s- Paw Sport, Dy Mam a . uke '° 861 Billy Brine, the Swamp Fox. By Chas. F. S79 Blue-light Bill, the Sapphire Sport; or, The Dots ’ tive’s Lone Hand. By Ring Keene. A New Issue Every Tuesday, The Half-Di Library is tor sale by all Nenedeah* eonts per cory, ot cont by mall a revels af ix wenn qn a “3 day. i / ANA “ > aS (nliaeS te 6 € a = es Ree Pst * we wv iS ¥ my be <r a ‘Dawes wee eeagl wh 2 . Loy a’ Pat RS ~~ . SS ag hs, be- J =m = wy ¥ a 5 aren . | ‘*. ‘ =
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BEADLE’S« H ALF- DIME«[_IBRARY. Published Every Tuesday. Each Issue Complete and Sold at the Uniform Price of Five Cents, by all Newsdealeres BY EDWARD L. WHEELER. Deadwood Dick Novels. 1 Deadwood Dick, the Prince of the Road. 20 Deadwood Dick’s Defiance; or, Double Daggers. 25 Deadwood Dick In Disguise; or, Buffalo Ben. 85 Deadwood Dick in His Castile. 42 Deadwood Dick’s Bonanza; or, The Phantom Miner. _ 49 Deadwood Dick in Danger; or, Omaha Oll. 57jPeadwood Dick’s Eagles; or, The Pards of Flood Bar. 28 Deadwood Dick on Deck; or, Calamity 4 me, the Heroine =e | op ay Sanat pa] or, Corduroy Charlie, 0 woo ck In Leadville, 104 Deadwood Dick's Device; or, The Double Cross Sign. 109 Deadwood Dick as Detective. ‘2 129 Deadwood Dick’« Double; or, The Gorgon’s Gulch Ghost. 7S peaweod Beok’s Home tenes mimeaes = * endwoo ck’s g¢ Strike; or, A Game of Gold. 156 Deadwood Dick ot Deadwood: or, The Picked Party. 195 Deadwood Dick’s Dreams or, The Rivals of the Road, 201 Deadwood Dick’s Ward; or, The Black Hill’s Jezebel. oe ase! one ees poom Lo, Saeety Jane’s Adventure, ? woo ick’s Dead Deal. 221 Deadwood Dick’s Death-Piant. 282 Gold-Dust Dick. A Romance of Roughs and Towghs, a4 Deadwood Diek’e Divide or, The Spirit of Swamp Lake. cadwoo eh’s Death Trail 809 Deadwood Dick’s Peal; or, The Gold Brick of Oregon, 821 Deadwood Dick’s Dozen or, The Fakir of Phantom Flats 847 Deadwood Dick’s Ducats; or, Days in the Diggings. = Deadwood Dick Sentenced) or, The Terrible Vendetta, end woo ck’a Claim, 405 Deadwood Dick in Dead City. 410 Deadwood Dick’« Diamonds, 421 Deadwood Dick in New York; or, A “Cute Case.” 0 Deadwood Dick’s Pusat; or, The Chained Hand. ais Dead wend pick, pia “gee Crimson Crescent Sign, Deadwoo ick, dr.’s, Deflance, 458 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’4 Full Hand, 459 Deadwood Dick, Jr.'s, Big Round-Up. 465 Deadwood Dick Jr.’s Racket at Claim 10, 471 Deadwood Dick, Jr.'s Corral; or, Bozeman Bil}, od Deadwood picks eg ad Detective, ead woot ek, dr., In Deady ood, 491 Deadwood Dick, Jr.ts, Compact. 496 Deadwood Dick Jr.'s, Inheritance, Fes eee tale | to e?-8 = iginas. endwoo Ick, dr.’s, Deliverance, 515 Deadwood Dick Jr.'s Protegee. 6522 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’*, Three. 529 Deadwood Dick, dr.’s, Danger Dacka, 584 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Death Hunt. Bat Boakwood Ck, Fe the Wild Weat ¥ 1doog eadwood Pick, dr., the Wild West V: 549 Deadwood Inch, Jr., on His Mettle. $34 pendwand pieks Stes in Gotham, 61 Deadwood ek ry in Boston, 567 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Philadciphia. 572 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Chicago. 578 Deadwood Dick, Jr.. Afloat. 584 Deadwooe Dick. vr... in Penver. 590 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Deerce, 595 Deadwood Dick Jr. in Beelzebub’s Basin. €00 Deadwood Dick dr., at Coney Island, Se Bretecet ec: Sic gee eadwoo ck, Jr., In Detroit. 618 Deadwood Dlek. Jr.’ in Cincinnatt, Deadwood Dick, dry in Nevada. 680 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in No Man’s Land, ee pete pre ge gear ead woo ck. dr.. in Buffalo. 648 Deadwood Dick, dr.’a, Chase Acrosa the Continent 654 Deadwood Dick, Jr., Among the Smugglers. 660 Deadwood Diek, Jr/a, Insurance Case, 666 Deadwood Dick, Jr., Back in the Mines. 672 Deadwood Dick, Jr., tn Durango; or, “ Gathered In.” 6 Deadwoed Dick, Jr.’a Discovery; or, Found « Fortune, Deadwood dr.’a. Dazzle. 6 Dick, 690 Deadwood Pick, Jr.’s. Pollars. Jr., at Danger Divide, | 0S Deadwood Bick & Deadwood Dick, Jr.'s, Drop. dr., at dack-Pot. 04 Deadwood Picks 0 Deadwood Dick Irs in San Franelseo, 6 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’ Still Hunt. 722 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s Dominoes. Deadwood Dick, dr.’a Diagulse, 784 Deadwood Dick. Jr.’ Double Deal, 740 Deadwood Dick Jr.’s. Denthwatch. 747 Deadwood Vick Jr.'s, Noublct. I52 Deadwood Pick Jr.’s, Deathblow. 758 Deadwood Dick, Jr.'s Besperate Strak, 64 Deadwood Mek, Jr.’a, Lone Hand, 70 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s Defeat. 776 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’a, Resurrection. 82 Deadwooa Dick. Jr.’s Dark Daya, TST Deadwood Dick Jr., Defied. 7T9Z Dendwood Vick, Jr.’s, Double Deytee. ‘T9T Deadwood Ick, Jr’,«, Desperate Venture. Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Dinmond Diee, OF Deadwood Dick Jr«, Royal Flush, Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s Hend-off. Deadwood Diek, Jr.'s, Rival. 22 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Boom, = Deadwood Dick, Jr.'s, Scoop. $4 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’*, Proxy, 40 Dendwood Pick, dr’s, Clutch, Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, High Horae. 2 Deadwood Dick Jr., ot Devil's Guleh. 8 Deadwood Dick, Jr.'s, Penth-Hole Hustle, 868 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s Bombshell. 870 Dendwood Dick, Jr., In Mexico, 78 Deadwood Dick, Jr’a Decoy Duck. 82 Deadwood Dick, Jr. In Silver Pocket. 1 Deadwved Dick, Jr.'s, Dead-Sure Game, 98 Deadwood Dick, Jrs, Double Drive. 904 Dendwood Dick, Jr’a, Trade-Mark. 910 Deadwood Dick, Jr, at Tip-Top. 916 Deadwood Pick, Jr.'s Double-Decker. Dendwood Dick, Jr. at Dollarville, 984 Deadwood Dick, Jr.. at Flush Flats Sag Deadwood Dick, Jr.'s, ake-up. 946 Deadwood Pick, Jr.’«, Double Drop. 951 Deadwood Dick, Jr.'s. Right Bower. 957 Deadwood Dick, Jr.'s, Ten-Strike, 965 Deadwood Pick, Jr.’s, Gold-Dust. _ 9T1 Dendwood Dick Jr.'s, Oath, 9T7 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Death-Doom, 986 Dendwood Dick, Jr.'s, Best Card. 992 Deadwood Dick, Jr., at Gold Dust. - 998 Deadwood Dick, Jr.«, Big Play. Tort Deadwood Dick, "a¥. Branded. 1 - 1 Deadwood Dick, Jr.'s. Dutch Pard, 18 Deadwood Dick, Jr.'s, Big Four. BY ROBERT R. INMAN, - 1086 Dandy Pick’s Double. 3 Joes Bandy Dick, Detective. J BY MARCUS I. WARING. 1026 ake Three Gpotters. ‘The Street Spotters’ Weird Hunt. _ £053 The Three Spotters’ Dead Mystery. « Other Novels by E. L. Wheeler. 80 Rosebud Rob; or, Nugget Ned, the Knight. 84 Rosebud Rob on Mand; or, Idyl, the Girl Miner. 88 Rosebud Rob’s Reappenrance; or, Photograph Phil. 1x1 Rosebud Rob’s Challenge; or, Cinnamon Chip. 277 Denver Doll, the Detective Queen; or, The Yankee’s Surround 281 Denver Doll’s Victory; or, Skull and Crossbones. | 285 Denver Doll's Decoy ; or. Little Bill’s Bonanza. 296 Denver Doll’s end, or, The Road Queen. 868 Yreka Jim, the Gold-Gatherery or, The Life Lottery. 872 Yreka Jim’s Prize; or, The Wolves of Wake-Up, 8S5 Yreka Jim’s Joker}; or, The Rivals of Red Nose, 394 Yreka Jim of Yuba Dam, = 209 Fritz, the Bound-Boy Detective; or, Dot Leetle Game, 218 Fritz to the Front; or, The Ventriloquist Hunter. 244 Sterra Sam, the Frontier Ferret; or, A Sister’s Devotion, 245 Sierra Sams Secret; or, The Bloody Footprints, 258 Sterra Sam’s Pard; or, The Angel ot Big Vista. 258 Sierra Sam’s Seven} or, The Stolen Bride. 684 Kangaroo Kit; or, The Mysterious Minef. 889 Kangaroo Kits Racket; or, The Pride of Played-Out, 89 Death-Face, Detective; or, Life in New York. 96 Watch-Eye, the Detective; or, Arabs and Angela, 117 Gilt-Edged Dick, the Sport Detective 145 Captain Ferret, the New York Detective, 164 New York Nell, the Goy-Gir) Detective, 226 The Arab Detective ; or, Snoozer, the Boy Sharp. BRE baie Sania a ovaectecrint elley, Miekey & Uo., the Detectives of Philadelphia, 848 Manhattan Mike, the Bowery Detective, * 400 Wrinkles, the Night-Watch Detective. 416 High Mat Harry, the Base Ball Detective, 426 Sam Slabaides, the Bogese-Boy Detective. 434 Jim Beak and Pall, Private Detectives. 26 Oloven Neof, the Buffalo Demon; or, The Border Vultures, 82 Bob Woolf: or, The Gir! Dead-Shot. 45 Old Avalanche; or, Wild Edna, the Girl Brigand, 58 Jim Bludsoe, Jr., the Boy Phenix. 61 Buckhorn Bill; or, The Red Rifle Team. 92 Canada Chet 3 or, Old Anaconda in Sitting Bull’s Camp. 118 Jaek Moyle the Young Speculator. 2 125 Bonanza Bill, Miner; or, Madam Mystery, the Forger. 1838 Bossa Bob the King of Bootblacks. 141 Solid Sam, the Boy Road-Agent; or, The Branded Brows. 1%7 Nobby Nick of Nevada; or, The Sierras Scampa. 181 Wild Frank the Buckskin Bravo; or, Lady Lily’s Love. 286 Apollo Bill, the Trail Tornado: or, Rowdy Kate. 240 Cyclone Kit, the Young Gladiator; or, The Locked Valley. 278 Jumbo Joe, the Boy Patrol: or. The Rival Heirs. B80 Little Qu!ck-Shot}; or, The Dead Face of Daggereville, 858 First-Clasa Fred, the Gent trom Gopher. 878 Nabob Neds or, The Secret of Slab City, 882 Cool Kit, the King of Kids; or, A Villain’s Vengeance, 488 Santa Fe Sal, the Slasher; or, A Son’s Vengeance. 486 Scalakin Sam, the Sparkler; or The Tribunal of Ten. 918 Kit Keith, t e Revenue Spotter. 922 Sol Sharpe, the New_York Night-Hawk. 948 Ola Hayseed Among Bunco Mem 1001 Banty, the Denver Bootblack. BY J. C. COWDRICK. 490 Broadway Billy, the Bootblack Bravo. 514 Broadway Billy’s Boodle; or, Clearing a Strange Case, Broadway Billy’s ‘ Difikiity.” 65657 Broadway Billy’s Peath Racket. 579 Broadway Billy’« Surprise Party. 605 Broadway Billy; or, The ®«~ Detective’s Big Inning. 628 Broadway Billy’s Dea___ets or, The League of Seven. 669 Broadway Billy Abroad; or, The Bootbiack in Frisco, 67S prose wes Billy’s Best; or, Beating San Francisco's Finest. roadway Billy in Clover. 696 Broadway Btlly_in_ Texas; or, The River Rustlers. rondway Billy’s Brand. 711i Broadway Billy at Santa Fe; or, The Clever Deal. 720 Broadway Billy's F'ull Mand: or, The Gamin Detective, 785 Broadway Billy’s Rusineas. 788 Brondway Billy’s Curious Case. 758 Broadway Billy in Denver. 762 Broadway IJjttly’sa Bargains or, The Three Detective, 769 Broadway Bly, the Retriever Detecttve. [75 Broadway Billy’s Shadow Chase. : 788 Broadway Billy’« Beagles; or, The Trio’s Quest. 786 Broadway Billy’« Team; or, The Combine’s Big Pull. 790 Broadway Billy’s Brigade; or, The Dead Alive, 796 Broadway Billy's Quecr Bequest. 800 Brendway Billy Kefiled. 805 Broadway Billy’s Stenal Scoop. S10 Broadway Iiitly’s Wipe Out. S15 Brondway Billy’s Bank Racket. S21 Broadway Billy’s Biuff. 826 Broadway bily Among Jersey Thugs. S88 Broadway Billy’« Raid. S89 Broadway 844 Broadway 849 Broadway 856 Broadway 862 Broadway 868 Broalway * Billy’« Big Boom. Billy’s Big Bulge. Bily’s $100,000 Snap. Rilly’s Blind; or, The Bootblack Stowaway. Billy in London. Rully Shadows London Slums, S74 Broalway Riily’s French Game. SSO Broadway Billy and the Bomb-Throwera, 860 &llver-Maak, the Man of Mystery; or, The Golden Keys: 869 Shasta, the Gold King; or, ForSeven Years Dead, 420 The Detective’s App ce; or, A Boy Without a Name, 424 Cibuta Jonns or, Red-Hot Times at Ante Bar. 489 Sandy Sam, the Street Scott. 467 Disco Dan, the Daisy Dade 606 Redlight Ralph. the Prince of the Road, 524 The Engineer Detective; or, Redlight Ralph’s Resolve 648 Mart, the Nicht Express Detective. 571 Air-Line Luke the Young Engineer; or, The Double Case 592 The Boy Pinkerton; or, Running the Rascals Out. 615 Fighting Harr the Chief of Chained Cyclone. 640 Rareback Tteth, the Centanr of the Circle. 647 Tynewrlter Tilly the Merchant’s Ward. 659 Moonlight Morgan the‘ Pizenest ’? Man of Ante Baz, S87 Battery Rob. the Dock Detective. 894 Arizona Dick's W ipe-Out. 900 Jumping dack’s dubliec. a 906 Satety Sam, the Cycle Sport. ° 912 Train Boy Trist’s Hot Hustle, 918 The Trump Dock-Boy. : 924 Big Roots Bob, the Fire-Laddfe. #80 Huatler Ralph, the Boy Spotter. 985 The Ex-Newsboy Detective’s Cham. 941 The Bowling Green Detective’s Drop. 944 Cowhoy Chariie’s Double. : | 947 The Bowery W restler: ory. The Butcher-Boy’s Backer. | 958 Paddy’s Trump Card; or, Silver Sallie, the Girl Sport. 960 The Broadway Sports or, Fiver Fred’s Clear Case, 967 81000 Reward; % an i a alsa Sleek Scoop. 978 Bantam Billy, the Corker-Ferref. 978 Plucky Pat. the Street-Roy Detective. 989 Bieyele Bob’s Hot Scorch. 997 Becorcher Sam, the Detective on Wheels. 1004 Scorcher Sam’s Sweep-Stake s. 1009 ine Gir) Cyclist’s Winning Hand, BY ARIZONA OY, 1048 V Ret Bob from Cross Crick, 1088 von Bet Bob’s_Cireus, 1.981 Buffalo Bulls Fightin gees Th> Left-Hand Athlete. nal BUFFALO BILL NOVELS. i BY COL. PRENTISS INGRALAM 1052 Buffalo Dill in Lisguise. 1046 Goid Plume, ibe Boy Bandit, or, Buffalo Bill, the Pony Express Rider. J 1042 rittle Grit, the Pony Express Rider, 4 1040 Boffalo Gils Pony Patrol. 1018 Buffalo BIPs Texas Team, ‘ 1007 Buffalo Bill’s Sure-Shote. 1000 Buffalo Kills Deeoy Boya. 995 Buffalo Bill’s Drop; or, Dead-S 988 Buffalo Bill’s Lasso Throwers. Five. 975 Buffalo Bill’s Rifle Shota. 968 Buffalo Bill’s Rush fide; or, Sure-Shot, the High-Fiyen 964 Buffalo Ril’s Decoy ; of, The Arizona Crack Shot 95S Buffalo Bill's Mazeppa-Chase. 948 Buffalo Ris Snap-Shot ¢ or, Wild Kid’s Texen Tally 942 Buffalo Bill's Tough Tussle. 986 Buffalo BKill’s Boy Mascots or, Joe Jarvis’ Hold-ap. 929 Buffalo BUVs Crack-shot Parad. - 650 Buffalo BUl's Boy Parad; or, Butterfly Billy. 216 Bison Bill, the Prince ot the Reins. 222 Bison Bill's Clue: or. Grit, the Bravo Sport, BY BUFFALO BILL. 65 Deadly-Eye. the Unknown Sccut; or, The Banded Brotharhosd! 68 Border Robin Hood: or, The Prairie Rover. 158 Faney Frank of Coloraae; or, The Trapper’s Trost, ’ 1029 ‘The Phantem Spy. 1088 Kansas Kings or, The Red Right Hand, BY CAPT, ALFRED B, TAYLOR, U. 8. A. 191 Buffalo Rilly, the Boy Ballwhacker. 194 Buffalo Bill's Ret: or, The Gambler Guide, BY COL. PRENTILS INGRAHAM, 1087 The Artist Detective. 1064 The Gold, Witch's Shadower. 1081 The Texan Hustlers in Cuba. 1027 The Cowboy Raiders in Cuba 1025 The Flying } ankee or, The Ocean Outeast, 1028 The Cowboy Clan in Cai a. 1016 The Boy Bugler in Cuba. es 982 New York Nat’s Drop: or, Bx-FerretSykes’ Bold Game New York Nat and the Traitor Ferret. - New York Nat Trapped. New York Nats ‘Shree of a Kind. New York Nat’s Double. New York Nat's tn Colorado. New York Nat in Gold Nugget Camp. ) New York Nnat’s Deadly Peal. New York Nat’s Crook-Chase. New York Nat's Trump Card. New York Nat_and the Grave Ghouls, New York Nat’s Masked Mascot. New York Nat, the Gamin Detective. if Dick Doom’« Kidnapper Knock-Out, Dick Doom’s Ten Strike. Dick Doom’s Flush Hand. = Dick Doom’s Penth-Grip; or, The Detective by Destinys Dick Doon’s Destiny; or, The River Blacklog’s Terror. ! 784 Dick Doom; or. the Sharps and Sharka of New York, 788 Dick Doom In Boston; or, A Man of Many Masks. 798 Dick Doom tn Chiengo. { 728 Dick Doom in the Wild Weat. 808 Dick Doom’s Clean Sweep; cr, Five Links in & Clue . < Doom’s Peath Clue. 818 Bick Doom’s Diamond Deal. 819 Dick Doom’s Girl Mascot. 829 Dick Deom’s Shadow HMunt. 835 Dick Doom’s Big Haul. “~*~ 749 Dashing Charite; or, The Kentucky Tenderfoot’s First Trail, 756 Dashing Charlic’s Destiny; or, The Renegade’s Captive! T60 Dashing Charlic’a Pawnee Pard. e: 766 Pashine Charlie, the Rescuer. 497 Muck Taylor, King of the Cowboys. 78T Buck Taylor, the (omanche’s Captive. 748 Buck Taylors Beyst or, The Red Riders of the Rio Granas, Ana Fifty Others, . BY LIEUT, A. K, SIMS, 689 Tom-Cat and Pard; or, The Dead Setat Silver Otty. 622 Tom-Cat’s Triad; or, ‘ihe Affair at Ton:bstone, . 681 Tom Cat’s Terrible Tak; or, The Cowboy Detective 688 Tom-Cat’s Trinmph} or, Bleck Dan's Gr Combine. 546 Captain Cactus, the Chaparral Cock; or, Josh’s Tea Strike, 568 The Dandy of Dodge: or, Rustling for Millions. 576 The Silver Sports or, Josh Peypermint’s Jubilee, 6588 Saffron Sol, the Man With a Shadow 601 Ha py Hfana, the Dutch Vidoeg; or, Hot Timesat Round-Up 611 Bilds Barnacie, the Detective Hercules. 646 Cowboy Gid, the CattleRange Detective. 657 Warbling William the Mountain Mountebank, 4 Jolly voremianens — re Stenal Sam, the Lookout Scout. ; 689 Billy, the Gypsy &py: or, The Mystery of Two Lives,? 699 Simple Sim, the Rroncho Buster: cr. For Big Stakes. T12 The Mesmerls«t Sports or, The Mystified Detective, 788 Toltec Tom, the Mad Prospector. — 745 Kansas Jim the Cross-Cut Detective. 761 Marmaduke, the Mustanger Detective, 778 The Rustler of Rolling Stone. TS5 Lone Hand Joe the Committee of One. 801 Kent Kirby, the Hign-Kicker from Killbteh, 882 The Doctor Bete etive in Texas. 872 Two Showmen Detectives In Colorado, 987 The Texan Firebrand: or, Brazos Billy’s Snap.Shs¥ 961 The Tramp’s Trump-Trick. NEW ISSUES, 1064 Nandy Bick Decoycd. By Robert R. Inman. 1065 Bure Shot Seth, the Boy Rifleman. By Ol! Coomes, 1066 Co~ boy Chris, the Des tt Centaur, Ry WW, Wildez 1067 You Bet Bob's Jangie._ By Arizona Cy. 1068 The Crutse of the Sen Wo'f. By Col. Ingrabam. 1669 On Land and Fea. By Braceb:idge Hemyng* By Elite. % ‘ 4s | Desde es = Fate of jap Bis Capstese an eks Peco vy Robt. nian. 1073 Keen Knife, Prince Tithe Pratries. By Oil Coomea. JUST ISSUED. 1055 Red Raven's Redskin Ruse. By Col. P. Ingraham 1056 Cowboy Chris in Cinnabar, By Wm. W. Wilder. 1057 Gold @, the Sharpshooter, By Ed. L, Wheeler. 1058 Roderick, the Hover. By*T. J. Flanagan 1059 Ned Wylde, the Boy Scout. By Texrs Jack. 1060 Marlo, the Renegade, By Co!. Prentiss Ingham, 1061 Rilver Star, the Boy Knight. By Ol! Coome= Ry Bracebridge Homyng. 63 Wild Burs Weird Foe, By Wm.G Patten._ A New Issue Every Tuesday. az "a is for sale all newsdealers, t aoe not peo peter ot ci rents eee 9 =. “BEADLE AND ADAMS, Publishers, _ 22 William Street, New York., — ; . (ed, the Kansas Kia a -_ es - ~ ee io a
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Each Number ie ashy DUFFEL | Pm ts ee shugo 984 Buffalo! Bill's’ Life Raflle; or, T do on Buffalo Bill’s Best Bower; or, Montebello the|653 The Lasso Kin ; 7 ( ‘ 53 r g's kami or, The Tigers of Three. By Col. P. Ingraham, a ps ed | Gold King. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. Texas. By Colonel Prentiss Ingraham. sl 979 Buffalo Bill's cent. By Buyffato ‘Bill, ; A . ; ; ham. 07 Wild Bill, the Wild West Duelist; or, The Girl} g29 Buffalo Hi “Daring Role; or, Daredeath , . q 980 Buffalo Bill’s Blue lt Brigade; or, Stn- Mascot of Moonlight Mine. By Buffalo Bill, Dick, King of the Cowboys. By Leon Lewis. ~ flower Sam of Shasta. By Col, P. Ingraham. |807 Wild Bill, the Wild West Duelist; or, The Girl | 599 The Dead Shot Nine; or, My Pards of the{ J- 6, flalo ‘Bill's Volant Vi asiaes on. “Ekta Grande Ralph,’ the Cowboy Chief. "By Buf- Plains, By Buffalo Bill. & : : estrous Man’ in} AML: Col. P, Ingra-|-,., wi ae : Paes. ,| 517 Buffalo Bill's Fitst Tfail; or, Will Cody, the m 794 Buffalo Bill's Winning Hand; or, The Masked Pony Express Rider. By Ned Buntline, : -_ 950 Battalo - Bill at ‘a or, “rhe Gola Seeker's at a Sg the, Colorado Canyom “By Col, P. 1 44 ‘Ret Renard, the Indian Detective; or, The rue ee Doom. Cot, P, Ingraham. : 3 Gold Buzzards of Colorado, By Buffalo Bill. 3 787 Buffalo Bill's Dead Shot; or, The Skeleton Scout ; BT ee ’ \ 048 Buttalo is Block” or bye ‘The Mounted of the Colorado, By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. | 401 fs Mee pa Pardy or, Red Retribution tn a arog esr Overland. "By Col. P. Ingrar}7§1 Buffalo Bill’s Brand; or, The, Brimstone mernentene:) Be Sasa Pon “4 ham, The Wizard Brothers; or, White Beaver’s | § Sos’ ; C ) 397 Brotherhood. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham, Trail. By Buffalo Bill, 936 Buffalo Bill’s Black Pard: “or, ‘The Gold 777 Buffalo Bill's Spy-Shadower; or, The Masked 304 . = Boomers of the Big Horn, By Col. P.. Ingra- > White Beaver; the Exile, of the Platte; or, = feo “ham, ao ned bt. ie Sea lig ie Pes we A Wronged Man's Red Trail, By Buffalo ig 927 Buffalo Bill's Bluff; or, Dusky Dick, the|'” fy Teen 7 Py ¥ . Bill. ; | em a H Sport, By Col. P, Ingraham. * ' 362 Buffalo Bill’s Grip; or, Oath-bound to Custer. \— ‘anal : 21 ; Aap : . 1%69 Buffalo Bill's Sweepstake; or, The Wipe-out By Col, Prentiss Ingraham, — # ; S 92i Buffalo Bill's. Quandary; or, Velvet Bill's L Che B 1, Prentiss I h 2 : » Yow. By Cole Prentie: ittyretian: at Last Chance. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham.| 909 pufato Bill’s Pledge; or, “The League ot) # a 915 Buffalo Bi . ; : 765 Buffalo Bill's Dozen; or, Silk Ribbon Sam. Three. By Col, P. Ingraham. —!— ae | at. Se 0 Bill and the Surgeon Scout; or, Go- By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. 9 Ww . “. a; wan- go, the Redskin Rider. By Col. P, In- Nes Gedeaic. BEd. Mamaia Ge! “Bea beth Calley 31 wea anes Whirlwind of the West. By ‘3 graham. f s Mascot; or, ’ ¢ Alle Luft ‘ Victim No. 13. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. j 4 2 B eS r x he 304. T s Jack, th Prai Rattler; o ~ ar Cor brentias League; or, areH, usronnge 23.1 467 rave x x Double; wa The i Soo De- Queen of the Wild Riders, By ettalo BI if 2ctive y Col. Prentiss Ingraham : as . 904. Buffalo Bill's Tangled Trail; or, Gentleman = me 243 The Pilgrim Boj ot or, The Soldier's Sweet- ; Jack, “ y é . 750 Buffalo Bill's Big Four; or, Custer's Shadow. heart. By Buffalo Bill, Government Scout , rae opie th ong SEAR OE AAR BERR IST IO. P. | By Col, Prentiss Ingraham. and Guide. j SF i } 900: Buffalo.B 743.Buffalo Bill's Flush Hand, or, Texas Jack’s} 189 Wild. Bill’s Gold Trail; or, The Desperat “ Bnacpeshooters eae Pee Pichsiay mnprannne Bravos. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. Dozen. ‘By.-Col. P. Ingraham. Be 2 rea 895 B a 739 Buffalo Bill’s Blind; or, The Masked Drivér| 175 Wild Bull's Trump. Card; or The Indian : : ” ag aw Bh Se fapeataue ‘Texan's of Death’ 8 Cinein; By’ “Col. Prentiss Ingra- és eo By Col; Prentiss sas wh E * a 168 Wild Bill, the Pistol Dead Shot; or, Dagger ; Oo Ped "aa “Hage oe: or, The “edged 735 Buffalo Bill, and His Merry Men; or, The Don’s Double. By Col Prentiss sskgeodkote ote asd ome “ a iis :B ead - 8 ae in “Hood Rivals. By Col. Prentiss Ingra- 158 Buffato Bill, Chief of Scouts: OF. whe Doomed } J ae A tte 8; Buffalo Bill, W ii saTn ‘Doven. By Dr. Frank Powell. — ae fy aes Band-Box : The Bravo in Broadcl 731 Buffalo Bill's Beagtes; or; Silk Lasso Sam aie Pi ae f 34 By Col, P. a a 5 “By Col. Prentiss Ing sham. 117 Buffalo Bill's Strange Pard; or, Dashing ae 874 Buffalo Bill’s Buekskin Brayes; or, The Card Buffal Bill’ Body Guard; The Still Hunt eerey. the: Boop ye ete ee ‘BY ware 7 B e Card} 727 Buffalo 8 Body Guard; or, ie S Tun . burr. / Queen's Last Gane. By Col. P, Ingraham. ‘of the Hills, By Cold rentiss Ingraham. 02 Buffalo Bil, the Buckskin King:, or, The ei eed 869 ess 4 Bil’ >A ates et Rone Ups oy mee 22 quae. ORS ne ee or, ig Lasso Amazon of the West. By Major Dangerfield ysterious Maske an in Black. y Col. Sam, fill-o’ -the-Wisp 3y Col. P, In- Burr. io oth te cgi ee Stabe. |, 88 Gold Bullet Sport; or, The Knights of. the j 863 Buffalo Bill's Death-Charm; or, The .Man| 716 Buffalo Bil ut Shadowers; or, Emer- Overland.’ By Buffalo Bill. ae _- With the Sear. By Col. Prentiss ‘Ingrahar ald Ed of Devil's Acte.. By Col. P, Ingraham 4 ae ; ‘ ; “Gas : saPe = BY LO sranam. . : nc pea 2 Death Trailer, the Chief of Scouts; or, Life AS : a ‘\ 857 Buffaio Biil’s Royal Flush; or, The Pony R&/710 Buffalo Bill Baffled; oi, Phe Deserter Des- Pa and Love in’a Frontier Fort. By Buffalo Fb "pe >. ; ale Death-Run, By Col. Prentiss Ingra- perado’s Defiance, » By ‘Gol, .P. Ingraham, » Bill. , ty ame saeco 697 Buffalo Bill's Buckskin Brotherhood; or, eek Pc) ; a + # 851 Buffalo Bill's Double Dilemma; or, The Great Opening Up a Lost Trail. By Col, P, In- NEW ISSUES TO COME. * a Ingr | By Colonel rentiss Ingraham. » Albert W. Aiken, PI Dl a te Te DME LIBRARY is _ sale by all eeicalen, ten cents per copy, or sent by mail, pre- “paid, on re- ceipt of price. 000000000 000000060 000000000 000000000 0900000000 009000000