Beadle's Pocket Library (no. 14) (1884 04 16)
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Copyrighted, 1884, by Brapix sawp Apams, Entered at the Post Office at New York, N. ¥., as Second Class Mail Matter, April 16, 1854. 2.50 Published Weekly by Beadle and Adams rhe } Vol, I, ay ear. No, 98 Sorelle’ gas New York. y ive Seats, No, 14, *\ The Boy Claude Duval: 2 a + gaward L. Wh, yey AUTHOR OF *le» ** DEADWOOD DICK,” > ETC, ee WILD IVAN,
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Wild Ivan, the Boy Claude Duval, Wild Ivan, THE BOY CLAUDE DUVAL. BY EDWARD L. WHEELER, AUTHOR oF “DEADWOOD DICK,” “* DOUBLE DAGGERS,” ‘BUFFALO BEN,” ETC,, ETC. CHAPTER I. GoD's HAND—THE BOY ROAD-AGENT. Over the Black Hills country, rough, rugged and us, and over the adjacent grazing savan- nas to the north and nor'west, swept with merciless fury a wild autumnal storm, Not such a storm as we experience frequently out East, but a genuine Western “hurricane,” to be found in no other por- tion of the American continent. Astorm of fierce,shrieking, resistless wind and pour- ing, beating rain; astorm of flying sticks and stones; thunder roaring and pounding frightfully within the tes of heaven, and jarring mother earth with the shocks not unlike those of an infant earthquake; and most of all those fearful glares and hissing flash- es of lightning, so peculiar to the Black Hills country. It was a wild, tercible night, and one whose inky blackness lent additionat horror to the crashing hour. In a narrow defile between towering, craggy moun- tains, sheltered from the deluge of rain, a score of men were croucaing about a sputtering, oe cam fire, that had evidently been kindled out of rain-soak- ed fuel—a score of men so rough, silent and grim as fo seem carved from the dull, dripping rocks around em, They were clad in the mountaineer’s pictures costume, and were well supplied with belt weapons, while rifles of the latest and most improved pattern stood stacked under a sheltering ledge close by. In face this odd collection of humans were heey: grizzled and repulsive—-in form they were brawny and muscular. Not a man was there but looked a formidable foe to attack; not a man was there who would hesitate at bloodshed to further his own particular aims, They were a band of desperate, reckless ruffians, the enormity of whose crimes had exiled them from the settlements and mining towus of the far West- ern border, clubbed and sworn together as brothers, with aims to destroy. rob, plunder and devasiate—a veritable, terrible, and sworn Brotherhood of Death. ‘Around the camp-fire were gathered these Broth- ers, silent and grim, drawing closer to the struggling blaze, as a gust of wind sent its spray of rain in under the overhanging ledges—a strange group set . in extraordinary surroundings. Through the gorge at their feet dashed a noisy mountain stream, swelling and increasing in size the longer the deluge of rain continued. Half a mile down the lonely defile, had darkness not obscured the vision, it might have been observed that the walls of the gorge narrowed still more, un- til they formed the ba: of the rushing torrent. It was by wading up this stream, then, that access ang comes to Boyes of aghast at e op end o e gorge the passage was Hokek by a considerable waterfall, that leaped down from the crags above. It was toward the rushing stream that the outlaws occasionally directed anxious glances, for as the rain continued to fail, the waters rose rapidly and soon the banks were full to overflowing. One of the Brothers uttered a curse of vexation as the moments wore by and the storm raged on. “Why don’t the colonel come?” was his growling interrogatory, addressed to no one in cular. “Ther stream’s full now, an’ ef he ain't past ther rapids, et’s gude-by, Bill Blood!” * Yas, et’s time he war here, Wagner, " assented a “ Ouss ’a’ the storm; 8’ et couldn’ Rill we got through with Me tosiven.” “Don't be growlin’ afore et's time!" retorted Wag- ner, savagely. ‘‘Mebbe the game ‘Il slip thru our fingers yit; so thar's no use 0’ squealin’!’ An’ ef Bill Blood don’t cum—f” “We won't feel like payin’ our debts to Red Kit an’ his band, I hope no harm bas befell the colonel.” bal 9 n’ thar had? who'd be captain?” demand- ed a low-browed ruffian, whose name among his evil associates was Blue Bob—and one of the Broth- erhood’s most cruel an/ heartless tools, a8 man upon whose head the hand of time had left the silvered hairs of five-and-fifty winters. “Who'd be capt'in?” repeated Wagner, grimly. “Waal, ter all events, /’d probably be capt’in, seein’s I'm lieutenant now.’ Down in ceaseless torrents poured the chill autum- nal rain; hoarsely roared and crashed the shudder- ing peals of thunder, and vividly flared and flashed the vivid lightning; while the roar of the furious torrent through Death’s Defile only added to the confusion and terror of the wild night. “I'm afraid et’s all up wi’ ther colonel, boys!” ge Wagner, rising from the fire and stepping rom under the ledge that he might gaze up at the black, pouring sky, across the face of which zigza chains of lightning incessantly Vas But a furi- ous ‘shower of rain drove him quickly back under shelter “Ther stream’s altergether ter much ter stem, now, and like ‘nuff our capt’in’s bin washed away. “Don't b’lieve he’d attempt ter cum thru, wi’ sich a storm ter face,” replied Blue Bob, lighting a fresh pipe. “Ther cunnel’s nobody's fool, an’ knows what's what. Bet he’ssafe in Bear Trail, this blessed minnit.” “Tl bet he ain’t!” yelled Sandusky, leaping to his feet, excitedly. “‘ Listen! d’ye hear them?” They did hear them—two faint yells from far down the channel of the Little Madrass, which the flerce roaring of of the elements nearly drowned out—thé cries of a human being, who in this furious night was stemming the stream, rushing and bank-full ag it was, “Tt’s ther colonel, by thunder!” saculsted Wag- ner, and a dozen or more seized brands from the fire, and, fanning them into a blaze, rushed down the bank to its narrowest limits, where knee-deep inthe water they awaited their master's coming—for a fierce and disciplined master was this Colonel Bill Blood over the wild, lawless spirits who compiised the Brotherhood of Death. erly waited the outlaws, their eyes peering for- ward into the gloom, their hands ready to help the flood-rider ashore. And soon within the glare reflected by their torches’ blaze, appeared upon the seething surface of the stream, first the head of a horse, with steam- ing nostrils and distorted Cec em the head and shoulders of a haggard, wild eyed man, who held a bundle of something across one shoulder with his right hand, while his left clung to the mane of his steed beneath the muddy water, A wild cheer of welcome rung out from the brazen lungs of the Brothers, and three of the boldest sprung into the flood, swam out and pulled the ex- hausted horse and its double burden ashore. Once out of water and under shelter of the ledges, the horse and rider were seen to better ad- peat aid 4 aeuioel the lower part being cov- was v ered with a bushy beard—the upper part with @ black mask.
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Wild Ivan, the Boy Claude Duval. ‘8 The eyes were black and pearing: the lips grimly | which flashed from her eyes—oyes that one would set and resolute, the hair extreme length. As such was Colonel Bill Blood behek. His dress was ordinary buckskin, with leggings and moccasins, and a broad-brim*“slouch hat that nearly hid the gleam of his evil eyes from view. In his arms he carried a heavy bundle, well wra ped in blankets, and this he gave overinto the hands of Wagner and Blue Bob, while he threw himself out of the saddle. “Ugh! this is a cursed fine deluge!” he growled, shaking himself like a great mastiff, and drawing near the sputtering fire. ‘‘Come! stir up this blaze, and fetch me some whisky!” “Hain't hed enough wet, yet, eh?” grinned San- dusky, as he piled on fresh fuel, and dispatched one of the Brothers into a cavern in the rocks for the de- sired beverage. ‘‘ How in all nations did ye stem the rapids?” “The devil only knows,” was the gruff response. “But for the horse I should be in purgatory ere now, I suppose!” “ Bet ye would. Didn’t judge you’d cum thru, on account o' the storm.” “Neither I should, only there’s work ahead. day after ter-morrow, which needs our whole attention.” “Sof What's ther shape of it?” “Tt’s an overland wagon train coming into the hills. There are five families, and all are well fixed in the world’s goods. Three families are Jews, and have upwards of five thousan’s worth of treasure. We must intercept them at the ford of Bell creek, thirty miles this side of the Belle Fourche.” “ And you've got Red Kit’s gurl?” “Thave. She's thar in yonder bundle, We shall now have the secret of Red Kit’s treasure—or her brown and of tifer” One of the Brothers now came from the cave with a flask of liquor, and tipping it up to his lips, the colonel allowed a goodly portion of the contents to run down his throat, after which he carelessly tossed the bottle into the seething, boiling stream, and it was borne away. The stimulant seemed to affect him instantly, for he straightened up, and glanced over the assembled crowd with an unwavering eye. ** Are all of Division Iirst present?” he questioned, “All,” replied Sandusky, “Then we will proceed to business. Wagner— Blue Bob!” _* Yes, colonel.” “Bring the girl here, into the light,” The two ruffians obeyed, dragging the bundle close to the crackling fire. “Cut away the blankets!" ordered Blood, and his command was quickly executed, and then was re- vealed to the eager, cruel gaze of the Brotherhood a pretty, girlisb form and a fair, sweet face, such as had never been their lot to behold. A maiden of not over seventeen years, lay before them, bound hand and foot. her clear blue eyes staring at them re- proachfully, her sweet face shadowed with an ex- ression ot pain—her 'fair-complexioned face, with its: crowning wealth of soft, golden hair, and those lustrous eyes as blue as a smiling summer's sky. The impression made upon the ruffian crowd of spectators at this unexpected picture of loveliness, could not be less than favorabie; but_they were bonnd. together by a terrible oath as Brothers of Death—no leniency or pity found root in their hearts for the weak and innocent, : And this fair, innocent girl was a prisoner in their power, and they were here, her oath-bound enemies, re no big ee neo pee pon Kige 80. t Aha! pretty chit!” & e colone 8 eyes gleaming, ‘rishly “so the waters of the Little didn’t drown you, neither, eh? Didn't know but. the condemned torrent would wash us away, at one time; but old Buckskin is pretty sure of foot, no miatter where you put him.” | The girl did ‘not reply, except by a look of scorn not think capable of expressing anger. Blood saw her compress her cherry Mps, and that she was determined to be courageous to the last. “Oh! you needn't put on any airs, Miss La Rue!” he sneered, his white teeth showing in a disagreeable attempt ata smile. “‘I have got you in my power, and your life depends on how ac conduct yourself. kK around you, and you will behold the terrible Brotherhood of Death, who have held a reign of ter- ror in this country for the last six months. These present constitute the First Division. Four other divisions are scattered about this nor’-western coun- try—two of them within the limits of the Black Hills —and all are under my immediate control and pay.” Alice La Rue shuddered, but remained silent, “These men,’’ continued Blood, with cool deliber- ation, “‘are a banded es of brothers, who are bound by an oath of blood to obey me. They will eagerly do my slightest bidding. because they well kuow that my labor is alone for the interests of the Brotherhood. Is this not so, boys?” “Ay! ay.’ assented the crowd, in one i shout, that awoke no ecboes, but was nearly drowned by the rorring of the elements, “You see!’ the colonel went on, triumphantly. “They all love me as a brother. Now, Miss La Rue, it is my unpleasant duty to ask you to make known to us the hiding-place of the treasure that Red Kit, your father, stole from our stronghol’ near Silver Lode. You know that it is rightfully ours—you fur- thermore know just where it is, and must tell us!" “But I won't!” replied Alice, decidedly. * You made my father a prisoner in your den, and when he got a chance to escape, he captured some of your {ll- gotten treasure and brought it with him. You killed my poor sister Eloise because she refused to tell the secret—” “And PU murder you 7y inches!” hissed the colo- nel savagely, bending over the helpless girl, and glaring at ber with the ferocity of an enraged beast, “TI have ye cut to pieces and strung on a rope for public exhibition, before you shall cheat me out of that treasure!” : “You may do allof that and more!” replied Red Kit’s girl, firmly, “but I shall never—never—nerer tell you, where to find the treasure!” “We'll see!” eaid Blood, grimly, straightening up —‘* we'll see, Blue Bob, you generally are a pretty fair carver, and carry stiarp tools. Cut off the little Jinger of that cir?s left hand |" As this order came from the chief’s lips, all eyes were centered upon Blue Bob, He was known to be a cruel, heartless instrument of torture in the hands of the Brotherhood, and was never known to shirk a duty. But the old man hesitated now, and his hand sought his belt, slowly and zchecteee “Goa on, you old devil!” yelled Colonel Bill, grasp- ing a revolver from Sandusky’s belt, and cocking it—" go on, or I'll bore a hole through your thick skull, and throw you into yonder stream!” Apparently frightened at his superior’s harsh lan- 1age, Blue Bill crawled forward and dropped upou is knees by the side of the fair prisoner. “Off with the little finger of her left hand!” re- pen the colonel, pee: “No flinching, you old uzzard, but af with it, Tsay!” Blue Bob bent. forward, and then there was a piercing shriek of pain, a grating, crunching sound, after which the old ruffian leaped to his feet helding aloft a severed finger from Alice La Rue's band. “Good! Now, will you tell us the hiding-place. of the treasure?” demanded Colonel Bill, with a grin of exultance, “No! no!" almost screamed the girl, her blue eyes flashing, darkly. “You can cut off every finger I have, and then my head, but 1’) not ‘ell!’ “We'll see, you young she-cat—we'll see about that, I’ve handled worse cases than that. You Blue Bob, cut off her foot at the ankle—the left foot!” —~ A murmur of horror escaped the outlaws’ lips, This was even beyond their limit of cruelty.
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4 Wild Ivan, the Boy Claude Duval. But the bioody weet was not done! Blue Bob had knelt again, knife in hand, and was preparing for the terrible deed, when suddenly the whole heavens were illuminated with a blaze of hea- ven’s fire, there was a frightful clap of thunder, and a fresh enna of rain. Involuntarily the ruffians started forward with a | ery of alarm, for they saw Colonel Blood totter away | and fallin aheap upon the bank of the stream, blood | streaming from a hole in his forehead. And ere they could reach him the flood with re- sistless fury had swept his corpse away. “ God's Hand !” a wild voice cried, and turning, the startled ruffians beheld a youthful figure standing in the light of their camp-fire. “Such is the vengeance pe tog meted out to your captain, with his flery and!” A boy coeara was the speaker, judging from the sound of voice and the sovenumes of his form, and yet the ruffians almost feared to approach him, despite their numbers. ‘ e was clad in a hunter's costume, which had eyi- dently seen considerable service, and was armed with a neeeins rifle and belt weapons, all of hand- some pattern and finish, A slouch sombrero was set upon the back part of his head, while his face was covered to the chin with a mask. “ Devils an’ demons!” cried Wagner, the lieuten- | ant. ‘Who are you, an’ what do ye want here?” A wild laugh came from the youth. “Iam a1 outcast, murderer, swindler, thief, rogue and blackleg, just whichever suits you best. [have all the pecullerities of a fiend—as the Boy Fiend [ am widely knownin som? parts ofthe West. Iheard of this Brotherhood of Daath, and came to join it; but seeing as Death has been too much for the chie of your Brotherhood. I wouldn't mind filling the posi- tion just vacated by Colonel Bill Blood!” The ruffians held ashort consultation together. A captain they must have, but since Colonel Bill's tragic death, none were so eager for the position, After several moments’ rapid conversation among themselves, Wagner turned to the Boy Fiend, and said: % By swearin’ an oath o’ cy emt an’ quaffin’ a | cup 0’ Auman blood, you can become our captain. = Sc seg is open ter ye. Blue Bob, bring the | nk. | The Boy Fiend came willingly forward, while Blue | Bob went on his errand. He soon returned with a silver cupful of something whose odor "Saw gie it to be indeed blood. This he handed to the mysterious youth, who took it with- out a tremor. Then in concert with Toby Wagner he repeated | the oath of initiation. We will not give it here; it was but.a mockery and blasphemous insult to the name of God. | After finishing the oath, and while standing there | in ths awful roir and din of that pouring night, the Boy Fiend—for fiend he must be to go unwavering through this ordeal—raised the cup of blood to his pean drained it at a single dranght. un Te was the Brotherhood in possession of a new chie' CHAPTER I. OLD AVALANCHE ON THE RAMPAGE. Soutn of the shimmering waters of the Belle Fourche, or North Fork of the Big Ghegengs river trailing along across a vast savanna or level plain, through the mellow sunlight of a beautiful Indian summer afternoon, was an emigrant train, composed | of six wagons, drawn by stout and ugly-looking | a and driven by big, raw-boned bordermen, | with three excentions, these being a trio of Germans, fresh from the Faderland, who were in the employ of the Jew families, three in number, who comp half of the train. Of the Americans there were two families the name of Stone and Resville, the third wagon occupied by one Thomas Jefferson J rs, a very strange and mysterious person, who obtained permission to accompany the train. Rare indeed was it when he was seen outside of his ‘ schooner.” Seclusion and strict reserve seemed to be a part of his existence. ence che Stone famally thers "Choir: prety, daughter, ne, 'e and their pretty . Edith, a young lady of about eighteen. Of the Resvilles there were four—father and mother and two stalwart sons by the name of Hal and Lew. Of the Jews there were ten in number, buf as our | story has comparatively little to do with them, we will not tarry for a description. The whole caravan was in the cl of that vete- ran guide and Indian-hater of the Northwest, Alva Lanch Hogg, or as he is more popularly known, Old Avalanche: and a better man could not have n chosen for Avalanche was familiar with every foot of the ground over which the route lay. In company with Colonel Stone, he was riding a little way in advance of the toiling train, as we look down upon them. And an eccentric appearing in- dividual was this same Avalanche. He was of me- dium stature, with well developed form and clean wiry, muscular limbs, and looked to be a person 0! uncommon strength. Though well along in years, he was still supple and active as a man of two-score and five; his skin was tanned to a dusky brown from long exposure to the sun and wind, and in face and general appearance he was as grizzly as \4 could be. is countenance, cleanly shaven, bore the livid scars of many a conflict; his raven hair reached to his belt-encircled waist; his piercing black eyes still retained the brilliancy of youth. ears were gone, however, which made a defect that would | ca ise him to be recognizable in any crowd. no matter under what circumstances. is dress was buck- skin throughout, and he was armed with a hand- somely-mounted Evans rifle, and belt weapons of ‘or pattern. His horse, though a scrawny, gray animal of uncertain age, still bore evidences of pos- sessing immense bottom. Colonel Stone was a man of five-and-forty years, with handsome form and kindly face; but about his | eyes he ever wore a stealthy expression, which could y be best defined in the single word, *‘ hunted.” His horse was a handsome thoroughbred animal, and the colonel’s ease and grace in the saddle pro- claimed him a finished equestrian. * Yas, I've been over this r lattytude, afore!” Old Avalanche was saying, as they j along side by side. “Bulls in ther Mosesrushes, yas, Slid down hayr on top o' a hailstarm of thunder'n’ light- nin’, oncet, in pursuit o' a pesky band o’ Sooks—durn their ornery pelts! War tryin’ ter entwine my fin- gers inter ther skulp of Old Crazy Hoss. but he'd bin usin’ tew much lard ile, an’ squarmed away. An’ now ther old sardine hes waded ther everlastin’ riv- yer, an’ I’m cheated out o’ my vengeance." “Been to Deadwood, I dare say?”’ said the colonel, carelessly. “Yast reck’ I hev. Didn't stay long, though. Hed immeget bizness in ernuther part uv the tor, so | climb onter ther fust breeze that along, an’ flew away. Annibilated twenty hundred Injuns that same dey; too.” “Phew! Avalanche, that’s purty steep, ain't it, now!” “Zackarier Zebulom, no! Why, thet ain’t a sar- gumstance—hain't more’n a flea-bite on ther rump uv an ellefanty. Why, sit, one day w'en Tan’ my jint war up in Montany, we war sot onter in ther middle uv a big perarie by fifteen ag red-skins, all armed wi’ clubs and spears, an’ sir solid, actooal fact, wi’out stretchin’ matters ther billionth part o’ an inch, we just cleaned out them ar* heeth- yan in five minnits, by ther watch—we descend- roarin’ simoon o’ demolition, utchiful—fact! An’ et tuck meé 6ix rs ter bury ‘em; buried fron els 16 Peng fodder.” . wolves “ Wonderful!’ rem su ‘ B, }
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Wild Ivan, the Boy Claude Duval. 6 “Phere won't be many reds left after a while, in the | event of such slaughters. But whom do you mean by ru I pardner, I suppose?"’ *“Yas—Florence Night-in-a gale; never see’d her, did ye? Florence ar’ a re smart anamile for a goat. Hain’t see’d her fer an age, tho’, Guv hera whalin’ fer knockin’ ther false teeth out o’ an old ma’den in Lar'mie the uther day; hain’t seen her since.” “T sup’ there is no danger from the Indians between here and Deadwood, is there?” “No; since old Sittin’ Bull vamoosed, thar’s no reds as dare go on ther war-path. Mought ge a dig frum outlaws, tho’. Plenty o’ ’em in the Hills.” “ Ha! is that so? I had not thought of them. Do you apprehend any danger?” and the colonel glanc- ed uneasily back at the first “schooner,” in which were his wife and daughter. “ Ken’t most allus sumtimes tell how fur a mule kin reach wi’ a hind fut, till ye let her try!’ was the grim reply. ‘‘Nuther kin ye most allus tell when ye're goin’ ter stick yer fut in a hornets’ ca- boose: Mought git a serenade from the Brother- hood o’ Death most ay minnit, now. ' “The Brotherhood of Death?’ “Yas; never heered o’ et, did ye?” “*No—never, to my recollection!” . “Wal, they’re jest about ther wust gang 0’ cusses this side o' PRA fer a fight, an’ they never take no prisoners. hey est annihilate ‘em ter oncet, an’ hev it dun with. S’pect Colonel Bill Blood ar’ ther cruelest demon o’ humanity in these hyar boreal longytoads an’ lattytudes.” ** Bill Blood!” ‘The colonel started strangely as this name fell up- on his ear; but he controlled instantly whatever emo- tion it ‘ht have caused within his breast. *“*D'ye know him?" queried Old Avalanche, eying the colonel sharply. “Have heard the name, somewhere!" was the brief reply. “ Heard o’ Deadwood Dick, no doubt, too?”’ “Yes—heard and read about him, A most remark- able “pegs I should say, for this age."’ * Yas, Dick’s a cuss, bet on that. Now ef I warter add ter ther great firm o’ Old Avalanche & Co., Great Injun Annihilaters, wi’ a view ter increesin’ our de- structive an’ extirpatin’ propensities, | shed scoop in Deadwood Dick. Why, sir, I heern tell as he could serape ther complexion off 'm a niggero wi’ a rifle ball at a distance o’ twelve rods. But thet hain’t no more’n a drop o’ benzeen in er pot o’ porridge, ter sum o’ ther shutin’ ther Annihilation hes done.” “Probably not. For instance, where you slaugh- tered those fifteen million of Indians, you must have done some extraordinary shooting!" * Purty fair, Langer urty fair!’ On across the plain toiled the caravan lazily, through the joysome sunlight, the prvi! tramp of the mules, the shouts and chatter of the rivers, and the rumble of the heavy wheels, all charmingly add- ing to the strange, happy spell of nature. As far as eye could reach in any direction, stretch- ed the boundless prairies, meeting with the blue sky afar off on the smoky horizon. A fresh flower- scented breeze fanned gently up from the south, and as it ted the nostrils of Old Avalanche he gave a delighted sniff, and said: “*Thet brseze cums frum the hills, I'll bet a skulp. D'ye smell them flowers? Zh m say Black Hii sart’In sure. I shouldn't be surprised ef we sighted be oe sundown: Bell creek ford ken't be fur off, puther,” ‘We will camp there, then, eh? queried Colonel Grafton Stone. » “Not ef this limb o’ boreal extarmination be “Et “See here!” The colonel grew instantly excited. “You are keeping som from me, guide. You fear an attack from this Brotherhood of Death?” “Who in thunder sed sof’ demanded the ott man, in evident surprise; ‘not this chip o' extar- er I'll sw'ar. G’lang, Prudence, ye durned rute!"” And the application of the Annihilator’s spurs caused the scrawny, feeble-appearing animal to very suddenly rear u hind, in a manner that caused a yell of laughter to emanate from the drivers. “Whoa! Prudence, whoa! Condemn the ornery old ’oss! But a fine anamile ar’ this self same Pru- dence, in battle, colonel—as purty a behaved critter as evyer chawed grass, Jest yell Injun in her ear, w'en any o' the heethyan abound in her vicinity, an ye'll see music—you bet! Why, sir, thar was the time w’en we got surprised by Sooks over on Sweetwater plain, We see’d ther skunks a comin’ afore they see’d us goin’, an’ thar war a race, bet yer bussum- studs on that. But one o’ ther p’izen imps tuk an notion inter his skull ter send an arrer arfter us, an | et struck fa’r an’ squar’ in Prudence Cordeliar’s tail.* Then, oh! Moses in the Bullrushes, ye jest orter seen her, cunnel—ye jest orter seen that horse! Great ham-bone! She give er screech wuss por ary full-blooded Comanche red-skin, an’ stretch this off hind fut o’ hers out right suddint-like:—an’, cunnel, et’s an actooal sworn-to fact, sir—thet kick tore loose a shoe an’ sent et like a streak o’ greased lightnin’ a-whizzin’ back thru the air, an’ it struck thet a te an’ bu'sted his skull, an’ then bounded off an’ basted anuther, an’ as I'm a live thunder- — o" demolition, et kept on till et jloor ed thirteen njuns {” Colonel Stone could not do better than laugh at the eccentric guide’s broad yarn and the grim way in which it was given. “But laying asid joking, Avalanche, do you ap- prehend any trouble!” “Wal, yas,” replied the veteran, after a moment's cool deliberation; “ I shedn’t wonder ef we encoun- tered a small breeze o’ difficulty 'twixt hayr an’ the Hills, tho’ et ar’ mighty unvart’in whar, “Twon't be a bad ijee ter be prepared fer a little skewrup, anyhow.” cting upon this rather meager advice, the col- onel rode back and issued orders to ali the teamsters and those within the wagons to be ready for instant emergency, as there was a liability of attack from the mountain outlaws at almost any moment, As the colonel was busied thus, the eyes of Old Avalanche were never off from him, and the expres- sion of his lips was certainly rather grim. ‘*Yes! yes!’ he muttered to himself, as he saw the colonel turn-his horse over to one of the teamsters while he ay ae within the sheltered wagon— “thar’s sum devilment afoot. or this ‘ere leg 0” ex- termination ar’ out o' calkylation. Thar’s a purty gal as ever breathed air in thet waggin, an’ they're darned keerful not ter let her git a word wi’ any one, Ef thet ain’t s’picious, I'm no jedge o’ puddin’!”* And the old man turned his attention to things in front of him. The train moved along; fresher and song ene the breeze; the prairie became gradually more hilly and broken. “Thar’s anuther dubious leg o’ mutton—thet Tom Jageers!” soliloquized the Annihilator, as if takinga mental inventory of those behind him. Ther chap appears kinder friendly toward me, an’ yet I ken’t anylize him, He’s more uv a puzzle than an Injine squaw hitch ter a white man. wich ar’ harder ter beat than Goldsmith's old Maid!" The afternoon wore rapidly away; the sun began to sink close to the smoky horizon; far ahead was a dark line, which was suggestive of timber when viewed by the naked eye. ' “ How mooch far vas ve pe vrom der blace vere we sdop?” bawled one of the German teamsiers, growing impatient. “Shust apoud dree miles unt a half!’’ returned Avalanche, in excellent imitation. ‘Then yonder dark line is Bell creek ford, ehy’? «
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& Wiid ivan, the Boy Claude Duval. asked Lew Resville, a handsome young fellow of twenty, as he came trotting alo de of Prudence Cordelia. “Yas, that’s the place,” the guide replied, his brows knitting slightly. “I'd give a skulp ef we war ten miles beyant thare, tho’. Great Zebulom Zackariaher! Bulls in ther Moserushes! look! look! may I ba teetota!ly atomized inter insect fodder, ef thar don't come Florence Night-in-a-gale—my Jj’int— 4 part o’ ther great destractive Avalanche 0° annihi- lation. Whoop! hurrah! stop the train! ther's hay- doogins o’ danger ahead, thar!” he train was instantly brought toa standstill; in- tense excitement prevailed; every man seized his weapons, and the women screamed in terror. And all because of the guide’s cries, and the ap- pearance of an bf Pa ing animal of the goat species, who was swiftly epyennouing from the di- rection of the river, its unmerciful bleats becoming more audible each moment. “Thar! thar!” yelled Old Avalanche, as a bang of os fifty horsemen dashed out from the dark ine of timber, “didn't I tell ye Florence knows w’'at’s she’s about, every time? Yonder cums either Deadwood Dick and his band, or else the Brother- hood of Death, wich aire wuss. Order, hayr! Be lively; swing ther waggins inter a circle; look ter yer pop-guns; git reddy, fer ther's goin’ ter be a thunderstarm o’ demolition, now, Every man, wo- man an’ brat ter thor frunt!”’ Brief and quickly given were these orders, and as quickly were they executed, for now life depended upon speedy action. * Ani none too soon were arrangements made, for {inside of five minutes the euemy had arrived near enough to pour in a deadly volley upon the few de- fenders who had thrown themselves, in readiness to meet the attack, behind the wagons! CHAPTER II. DEATH AND RESURRECTION, “Horna! hooray !'"’ shouted Old Avalanche, who had dismonnted from Prudence Cordelia’s back, and was petting his remarkable goat, fondly; “sock et to em, my cherubs—put in yer work, now, ef ever!" The volley from the outlaws had been without ef- fect, as none of the emigrants were wounded, But there were full fifty of the terribl+ Brotherhood—a mixture of whites, half-breeds and full-blooded In- dians—and all wera armad to the teeth, Avalanche saw this at a glance, and how utterly useless it would be for them to resist; yet they could not submit and be murdered in cold blood; they must fight to the last, and make every bullet a death-warrant. Fearlessly, in front of the grim savage band, rode a youth clad in buckskin, and masked, but of him the veteran guide know nothing—only that he was evidently the leader of the Brotherhood in this par- ticular raid, But there was one pair of eyes that, when they fell ge the boy leader, in a sharp, scrutinizing glance, lit up with a sudden fire of recognition, and the owner of those eyes, Colonel Grafton Stone, could baraly repress an exclamation. “ He here!’ was the muttered ejaculation—“ he here! and I thought and hoped that he was dead!" After the first volley the outlaws reined in their horses toa walk, as if waiting for the emigrants to fire. But a word from Avalanche prevented this ac- tion; his keen observation had apprised him that the outlaws were all armed with long-range pea- rifles, and that they were yet safe from being harm- ed by the emigrants’ fire. But those within the corral stood in readiness for instant action; every man and woman was aware of the peril which threatened them—all hands, young and old, stood with grasped weapons, determined to resist to the very last. “ Well, le, what’s to pay?” demanded Giles Reaville, who stood nearest to Avalanche, his rifle leveled across a wagou-wh Aire we gola’ to git eut o’ this scrape or ain’t Wor” “You've struck me now, Giles—ye’ve encountered the great thunderstarm o’ demolition in ‘er deefi- kilty, thistime. Zebulom Zackariaher! et looks as ef thar might be swadso’ fun prisently. Luke! thar cums ther dratted galoots, now! To arms! fel- ler-cityzens; ever’ one select yer pardner, an’ wheu ye hear me say fo, lat "em scoot !" True enough, the approsahing outlaws had again struck their animals into a gallop, but an instant af- ter the emigrants divined their intention, They were surrounding the corral. “Great whales that swallered Jonah!" cried Ava- lanche, as he perceived move; * it’s all ap wi’ us now, sure's thar's sport in ther toothache. Say yer prayers, fur— Here they cum!” F Having circled completely around the train, at a given signal the enemy now dashed forward, their yells of triumph calculated to inspire the little band within the corral with terror, and to intimidate them’ for action. But bravely they stood their ground, and out of the volley of their fifteen rifles they emptied ten saddles, and severely wounded two others of the Brotherhood. “Good! good! Thet's ther talk thet decides olec- tion! Them’s ther kind o' argyment as ¢ake, J tell you. Poke et to ’em, b’yees! let ’em scoot!" yelled the irrepressible Avalanche, and as loudly os he elled there rose a fierce animal scream from old rudence Cordelia, who was rearing and plu 6 in the excitement of the moment, and seare! ‘or some place where she could escape from tho corral. “Steddy! steddy! old mare! shave yerself, ye durned brate; none o’ yer funny-business ‘round here!” shouted the guide, as he fired a telling shot into the ranks of the outlaws. But, although full a score of them had gone down, and more were falling, the ruffians pressed on, Soon they closed fiercely in upon the little corral, and with their revolvers mowed down the emigrants one by one. Avalanche was the last to fall, and as he went down beneath the fire of the Boy Fiend, a howl of pain escaped his lips—a bleat and & sor- rowful whining came from the two faithful, loving animals he had left behind. When Ae fell, the terrible battle of death was over. Around within the little circle, between the corraled wagons were stretched the lifeless forms of the eml- rrants—the Jew families and the teamsters; the Rosvilles and the Stones—with the exception of Edith, who was yet crouching Inside her father’s wagon; and Old Avalanche and Tom Jaggers, who had fallen side by side; Poor Edith! a bound and helpless prisoner within the colonel’s wag, she had, perforce, witnessed the ruthless slaughter, and her pure young heart bled for the defenders, even though she could not raise a hand to defend them or herself, “They're all done for!” cried the Boy Fiend, look- ing over into the corral, ‘so get to work ar these wagons apart, and secure the plunder!"" And sliding from his saddle, he approached and ered between the curtains of the wagon within which Edith Stone was crouching. “ Hello! here'sa girl, as Illve! This way, Wagner, here's a prize worth more than all the rest.” The leutenant quickly came in answer to the young chief's call, and gazed in upon the terrified _ maiden, “A gal, true enough!” he exclaimed, his eyes lighting up with admiration. ‘Cum out here, miss, an’ let's get a fair squint at you, By all that’s holy, you're pretty “She's bound and helpless,” said the Boy Fiend, springing into the wagon. “Some of these emi- gran : ts have held her prisoner, What's your name, girly” Edith did not replys she could not, for the horror of her situation held h was CO er 8 hless. er brain waa _
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a _ ae Wiid Ivan, the Boy Claude Duval. ¥ Wild Ivan—for this was the name the young ruffian had given to the Brotherhood. “ out and tell me your name, or it'll be the worse for you!" 2 her alone, chief!" cried Wagner from the outside, ‘Don’t ye see she’s too skeered to speak? She'll cum to her oats, by an’ by.” “T'll bet she will, when I get her to the camp!” re- plied the youth, a grim smile wreathing his lips. ‘Fetch my horse, lieutenant, and I'll be off with her. You can finish the job and return to head-quarters at your leisure. The girl won't keep long in this | atmosphere.”’ “You'd better not go alone, chief!” “Bah! what have Ito fear? Bring me my horse, I say.’ The lieutenant replied by besngine, Se horse close to the wagon, and ecising Bateh in strong young arms, Wild [van vaulted lightly into the saddle, * Fetch everything of value, including the animals, Wagnor!” were his orders; then he plunged the spurs Into his animal’s flanks, and dashed away. A wiki and reckless rider was this strange youth who had LAicenoy ivf ae himself at the head o the Brotherhood o! th, and the outlaws paused at their worl: of plunder, to watch him s) away over the pr But thoy had not long to watch, for soon he had vanished from view within the dark line of timber that markod the location of Bell creek ford, just as the setting sun throw her last lingering rays athwart the level scape. Then tho Brothers turned to their work of pillage. Each wagon was ransacked and plundered in turn, and drawn asido, and then the lies of the butcher- ed emigrants.were robbed of weapons and ammuni- tion, and such articles as-were considered of value. The mules and horses were Nned together, aud then the torch was applied to the wagons Having with this latter act completed their work, the outlaws secured their booty to the backs of the eaptured mules, and mounting their own animals, set out toward their stronghold. Behind them they left death and devastation; only two live objects pppomnes around the ill-fated spot after the outlaws’ departure, and these were the old companions of Avalanche in many a stirring battle the scrawny horso and the ugly goat. Even the did not approach beyond a certain limit. Deat seemed to have terror for even them, for they kept at asafe distance from the outstretched stiffening bodies, the mournful bleats of the goat and whinnies of the borso sounding weird and lonely on the prairie, over which the night was rapidly ry still and black. And it must have been full two hours after the outlaws had quitted the spot, that a figure might have been seen to slowly rise to a siting Dos ture among the dead, and gaze around through the thickening gloom, ss Wal, by ther great whale thet engulfed Joner, ef this ain’t wuss nor ey graveyard at midnight,” drawled forth a cracked, wheezy voice. “ May I be teetotally annihilated ef I ain’t ther only ressereckted human in ther crowd. Hello! what ther dickens aire them?” The wagons had burned down to the ground, and the few blazing timbers remaining sent a faint glow around into the darkness, and visible within this light were two moving objects. “Great Zebulom Zackariaher!” burst forth from among the dead, “ef they ain’t my Prudence Cor- deliar an’ Flor’nce Night-in-a-gale! Here, ye dasted brutes—this way, xe emery Jints o’ ther Annihila- tion. Yer parc ar’ better ’n six dead men yit. Walk up an’ s ‘ . Pand Old Avalanche leaped lightly to his feet, while his pets trotted joyfully forward, manifesting their pleasure by loud bleats and whinnies. Sha ee 0” demolition ain't — angelicky yit!”’ gravely announced the ee eet iad bat can ante the other of his companions, “ tho’ thar’s enuff layin’ around loose, hayr, as hes gone ter say ther cattyohasms, S‘pose I moughbt hev bin an ordained white-winged flutterer afore this, ouly. I tuk er notion ter just a minute afore thet young Brotherhood assay: ter plug et ter me. um; et ar’ orful ter see w'at damage a bail-starm o' destruction kin do, Every consarned one gone to meet Gabbriel, ‘cept ther Bal, an’ thet young rusia has got her.” Selecting a burning brand from the fire, the old man went carefully around among the dead, a grim expression distorting his wri features, and when he had reached the last body, he turned tothe goat who had followed close at his heels: “Tt’s no use, Florence, my deer; they’re all oon along ther river-road tew Jordan, an’ we can’t © ‘em no good, not ef we war ter shed a bushel o’ briney tears over ‘em. Asides, thar’s the gal, an’ ef thar’s vartue in patience an’ porkypines, ther Anni- hilation firm uv Old Avalanche an’ Co, ar’ goin’ ter resky her, or turn up et’s varysome toes In ther at- tempt. Cum, Prudence, gal, let's be off. Can’t stop fer burial now; sum day mebbe we'll cum back an' creamate w'at bones the wolves leave;"’ and while thus 5) the old man mounted the sorry-look- ing horse, and followed by his eecentric Sompanicn, the goat, rode rapidly away toward the ck Hills, that lay miles away to the south. We will not accompany him, but will return to the camp of Death which he has just quitted. Not ten minutes after the guide’s departure there was another stir among the dead bodies that dotted the prairie, and again a figure rose to a sitting pos- ture and gazed around, This time it was nel Grafton Stone, who had risen as it were from the dead. During the battle a bullet had plowed a fur- row across bis temple and stunned him, but he had recovered consciousness about the same time Old Avalanche bad arisen to greet his animal compan- ions. For reasons of his own the colonel had chosen to be ecunted among the dead, until after the old veteran's departure, *Tvan has captured the girl,” he said, gazing into the gloom in the direction which Old Avalanche had gone, “‘and that accursed guide has gone in quest of her! Furies take the old wretch! I believe he has mumpocted. more than he let on, all along. Ifl can only get a word with Ivan, all will be well. 1 wonder how the boy got at the head of that gang of cut-throats? Can’t be that Bill Blood is dead?” The colonel rose to his feet, and gazed at th ony discernible bodies lying around him, stark and 8) 5 “ Betsy has gone under!" he muttered, gazing at his a ered wife, ‘ene + anor. ‘ “st “ Betsy was a pretty goo ner, and he! me take pov h of the girl: but, thon I suppose siete as well die one time as’ another. can't stop to mourn over her. anyhow; I must be off and hunt up Ivan and the girl.” And suiting action to the word, he turned away, and strode off through the gloom. Hardly had his footsteps died out, when for a third time that night there was a_ commotion among the dead, and the ee sy Tom Jaggers spi to his feet, and skulked away, evidently in pursuit of the colonel. After that the scene of the massacre was destined to remain undisturbed, until those sneaking vultures of the prairie—buzzards—and the inevitable snarl- ing wolf, gathered around, preparatory for a grand feast on the lifeless flesh. In the mean time where were the young outlaw, Wild Ivan, and his fair captive. After leaving the Brothers to their work of plun- der, the youth dashed swiftly away over the plain, his to the top of his speed. He rode without using the rein, for his arms were clasped closely about poor Edith, who was half-dead with terror, for she realized that she was being borne my into captivity. the epure We poy Bi the His em to ‘ore ak
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8 Wild Ivan, the Boy Claude Duval. Then, into the whitened face of the helgont maiden he darted a nt of malignant triumph. “Ah! my gd little T expected to take so rich a prize when I attacked that train, today. I sup- posed you in another part of this hemisphere. Ah! ii start; you do not recognize me, it seems! But know you—oh! yes; I never forget a face that I have cause to remember like [ have yours!” “Can it be you—Ivan?” gasped the pallid girl, her eyes dilating with horror. “Oh! yes, it is Ivan, my bird, and you tremble at tinding yourself in my power, You well know what merey you may expect! No reply did Edith make—it was not in her power just then, The flying outlaw now left the prairie, and dashed into the timber that fringed Bell’s creek, and in a short time his horse was swimming the deep but narrow stream. It was when in the middle of it that he heard a shout, and looked back to behold another horseman, pees a himself, riding swiftly down the bank in pursu’ “Furies! that man is Deadwood Dick! What can bring him so far up north? And what does he want of me—the girl? No, by the heavens, he shall not have her!"’ the young ruffian muttered. “Hallo! halt there, pilgrim!’ came a shout over tke water, in the unmistakable voice of the road- agent of the Black Hills—the dauntless, daring Deadwood Dick. ‘Slow up, if ye don’t want me to salivate ‘can i But Wild Ivan sent back a yell of mocking de- fiance, as with a mighty leap his steed cleared the opposite bank of the stream, and bounded away among the cottonwoods. “Oh! so that’s your game, is it?’ muttered Dead- | wood Dick, with a lowlaugh. ‘Well, all right. If you think you can show me your heels, so be it. Reckon that gal will be my property before I am many hours older,” and urging his own thorough- bred upon the bank, the young Prince of the Road vave him free rein, and away darted the animal, treading the forest aisles with the ease of an old ex- perienced trailer. Once the timber was left behind, and the level pee stretched away toward the mountain-capped orizon, then the race had fairly begun. “On! on! Flash! Do your best now, beauty!"’ whispered Dick, patting his own animal on the neck as he flew over the yielding turf; “extra feed for you, old boy, if you fetch me within lasso’s length of yon flying lan.” nd now it was a race in dead earnest! CHAPTER IV. THE ROAD-AGENT GALLANT. Ox—on over the prairie sped Wild Ivan, with his beautiful prize clasped close to his breast, his steed urged down to a dead run under the cruel torture of the Mexican spurs. Nor did he have aught to kee him in the saddle save the stirrups in which his booted feet rested; he seemed a part of the flying animal, so fautlessly did he keep his seat. And swiftly in pursuit came the young knight of the road, Deadwood Dick, his own spirited black urged to his utmost speed. It was a wild, strange race through the shadows of night that began to steal silently over the earth—an exciting race to both pursuer and pursued. “On! Flash!" spoke Dick, assuringly; “you are doing handsome, old boy, and we will soon overhaul this accursed prairie pirate, whoever he may be. But, next to you, Flash, I must own that I would like to own the horse he rides, for it is a well-bot- beast. On, Flash! on!” And the noble black seemed to understand what was devolvent upon it, for away it bounded afresh, with ears laid back and head outstretched, and eyes ming wickedly. eid Wild Tyan, as he glanced back, now and then, perceived that the road-agent was gaining percept ibly. though yet he was over a gunshot behind. Curses on the fellow!” the youth muttered, using the spurs more savagely; “he seems bound to overtake me. Yes, and he is Deadwood Dick, and I owe him one for relieving me of oy purse on the Cheyenne stage road. I wonder what can bring him so far out of his scene of operations? Maybe it’s got too hot for him around Deadwood, and he has come up here to sojourn while it cools off?" Then, the young outlaw cast a malignant pany down into the face of the helpless captive in his arms—a glance so impregnant with evil passions and cruelty, that poor Edith shuddered. “Oh! but it will do you no good to tremble, my fair cousin!’ he leered, mockingly. ‘*Nor need your heart flutter with the hope of escape, for I will cut your throat from ear to ear before T will yield you up to this hounding road-agent, or any one, whomsoever. Youare mine! mine, and you shall see how carefully I will guard you. Only a year ago ron refused my offer of marriage—scorned the nand that though blood-stained would have fought fire and all the furies in your defense. And your refusal made me what I am—a boy fiend—drove me recklessly into the depths of crime and disgrace, but I swore to be revenged upon you, and how little I thought the hour of vengeance would dawn so m! * How little I thought of you as being out here in this wild Northwest; but I reckon matters got too hot in Cleveland for the gay and festive colonel. And is that western gallant, Tornado Tom, still searching after you? Success to the idiot, if he ever finds you—which he never will.” “Oh! Ivan!” gasped the frightened girl, “you will not harm me—you will spare me, won't you? never injured you in any way!” **Didn’t you? Well, I and you look at it in two different ways, then. And as to harming you, I'll not to do anything of the kind. My revenge will be complete when we are husband and wife.’ “Oh! no! no. I cannot marry you. I do not love you—I would not marry you for the world.” “You wouldn’t, eh? Well we'll see about it. [think I shall be able to persuade you. Young asTam, | have a faculty of breaking stubborn spirits, that would be a credit to a man of maturer age!” And the young villain laughed, mockingly, while he urged on his foaming steed, with voice and spur. On flew the pursued, and on came the pursuer now gaining rapidly, for when the horse of Wild Ivan fad exhausted its endurance and was momen- tarily losing, the black charger of Deadwood Dick was apparently as fresh as at tho beginning of the chase, And it was not the intention of the road- agent to spend tho entire strength of his animal. Across the pommel of his saddle lay a handsome Evans rifle in the grasp of his gauntleted hands, and m: re than once during the race had its muzzle cov- ered the flying outlaw, but each time it had been lowered, while an expression of vexation would eome into the piercing black orbs of the pursuer, Try as he might. he could not obtain a sight without risking the life of Wild Ivan’s captive. “JT am going to venture one shot, anyhow, if it kills or nol”? muttered Deadwood Dick, at last. “TI guess old Posey, here, can reach out that far;” and again the rifle came swiftly to shoulder, and the un- wavering gaze of the road-agent crept along the sights. The next instant there was a flash and a re- rt which aroused the prairie echoes, and the bul- Rt sped on its vengeful mission, It struck the arm of the flying outlaw at the elbow, shattering the bone and throwing it out of joint; and so sudden was the shock that with a howl o it backward discov was bear- ing down too close upon him to risk dismounting to
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» contour—had imparted tints of perfect bodily health, Her eyes were soft | Wild Ivan, the Boy Claude Duval. 9 retake the girl; therefore, with his pistol-hand use- | and bewitching in their hazel hue; lips ripe and red less, nothing remained but flight, and cursing furi- ously the youth—a human fiend, indeed—drove the urs deeper into his animal's bleeding flanks, and oe away into the thickening gloom. Deadwood Dick did not follow further than to the Pa where Edith had taken her unceremonious tum- | ble. Here he reined in Flash, and dismounting, found Edith sitting upon the grate, rubbing her head with her hands, which she had managed to ex- tricate from their bonds. “Hal did you get santo p the fall?” asked Dick, erg hag bounding forward. : “No, thanks to pee my head received a slight bruise,” replied Edith, fa’ “Well, yes, miss—a sort of one, as men look at it. My warfare, however, is against men, instead of wo- men!’ was Dick’s pleasant reply. “I am the ¢co- styled notorious road-agent Prince of the Black Hills ~Deadwood Dick, at your service.” * And you don’t make war against women?” **Proudly I a4 no, miss—nor ever did!” “Then you will let me go free, if I wish?’ “ Assuredly, and it will afford me great pleasure to conduct you to whatever post you may name, from which you can find transportation to ‘your home, wherovo> that may be.” “Ohi sir, i thank you!” cried Edith gratefully. “But I kvow not where to go. Ihave no home that I know of. For several years I have been a prisoner in the power of a cruel uncle and aunt, who sold my home and ot me away while my father was ab- sent on a tour through Europe.” “Indeed!” Dick gave vent to a prolonged whistle. “So there has been a plot afoot against you, eh? Who was the young cuss who was carrying you off?” Edith hesitated. It might not be well for her to make this road-robber her confidant. She was wholly ignorant of the ty. pe of aman he was. He might be worse than Wild ivan for all she knew. “That was the chief of the outlaws who attacked our train, and massacred the emigrants,”’ she re- plied, evasively. “So? Ithought Bill Blood was chief of the Bro- therhood. But perhaps he has knocked under as all of us shall have to do, some of these days. I fancied you knew this young chief, personally, though I am unable to tell why.” Edith did not reply, only by a shudder. ““T was a witness of the massacre,” continued Dick, ‘but being alone and unaccompanied by my men, I was unable to render any assistance to the train, for it would have been certain death for me to The seventeen years t' passed over her head developed her beautifully. They had perfected her lithe little form into an admirably rounded to hersweet roguish face the as a cherry, and hair of chestnut brown, and jong and wavy; it is little wonder that Deadwood Dic gazed at her with something akin to admiration— she was so bright and beautiful, “Without complimesting you, I should say that no one but a heartless ruffian could be other than a friend to you,” he said. “But come! nightis falling around us, and we must necessarily be moving. You say you have no home, Let me then offer you the hospitality of my home, until you can determine upon your future movements.”’ Thus spoke Deadwood Dick, as he stood leaning upon his rifle in the gathering darkness; and simple- hearted Edith Stone gazed at him wonderingly, Nie was so wholly different from anything she had ever imagined a robber to be, that she felt she could free- ly trust him. What was this strange fluttering in her heart, when she gazed into those eyes that gleamed so handsomely through the holes in the black mask? Why was it that his presence seemed so pleasant to her, though he was naught but a stranger, whom she had known but afew moments? Ah! this was a question she could not answer. “You are very kind, sir,” she replied, ooking thoughtfully at the ground—‘‘so kind that I fear shall never be able to repay you. Of course had I another place to go, it would be preferable to me, rather than to go into an outlaw’s stronghold. But alas! I see no other way than to accept your kind in- vitation. In the course of afew days I may come to a decision what is best for me to do.” “Very well, Miss—” “My name is Stone, sir—Edith Stone." “Very well, Miss Stone: any time you may choose to leave us, I will furnish you an escort either to Deadwood for Bozeman, from whence you will find trains my rg almost every day, Now, then, I guess we had better set out for the Castle. These plains are not safe, once night sets in,” “Tam ready, sir, as soon as you cut these bonds that bind my feet.” “Ah! why didn’t I think of them before?" and with asweep of his knife Deadwood Dick severed the cords, and then assisted Edith to her feet. ‘* Now, miss, if you will occupy my saddle, I will walk mond, and we shall reach the Castle before day- ight. a Edith would have offered some objections to his going afoot, only that he arranged the saddle and placed her in it, and then stalked swiftly away into the night. Flash followed at his heels, and thus it was that Edith found herself being borne off under the protection of a road-robber—the last of all men whom she would at any other time have accepted as an escort. ’ For several hours Deadwood Dick led on without pausing, over broken prairie that finally ended among the mountain foothills, where low, scraggy patches of timber predominated. Here he halted, and waited for Edith to come up. She saw that the steady march had fatigued him, by “i heaving of his chest and the shortness of his reat “You should have ridden in my place; or the ‘horse could have carried us both, and thereby saved you so much labor,” she said, anxiously, But he shook his head with a smile. “Rather than have Flash do double duty, I would undertake the burden myself!’’ was the reply, “and as for my riding and allowing you to go afoot, that is out of the question. We have not a great way further to go, and then we will be at the Castle.” After a short rest he led the way into a deep and narrow canyon, whose rock-sides rose perpendicu- larly to a great hight. The Wottom was covered with heavy timber, through which Flash picked: his ray casily: seeming to take pains not to go undo? limbs low enough to harm his beautiful charge. When hours had passed, as Edith supposed, Dead- wood Dick stopped beside a ledge of rocks that toys
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10 “ Wild Ivan, the Boy Claude Duval. ered heavenward, and seizing a rope that dangled down from far above, he gave it a violent jerk, then turned to Edith. “You will dismount here,” he me assisting her to alight, “Rub Flash down well, Ceripo "—to a dark, dwarfish Yellow, who had suddenly emerged from the glooin, “ and see that he has proper care.” The man nodded, and led the horse up the pass, As he disappeared, Edith was greatly sur ed to seea large open tub or car descend at her feet, into which Deadwood Dick hanced her to a seat. “This is my chariot!” he laughed, seeing her amazement, “It is a car lowered 4 means of a huge crane, from the plateau, two hundred feet above. This is some of Cambre's ingenuity. Cam- bre's my lieutenant, you know.” Edith didn’t know, but accepted the explanation with good faith, The car now began to rise slowly, ¢1d continued to ascend for several moments, finally sto; ping in mid-air, Overhead o huge arm reached out, anc to this the car was suspended. The arm now. how- ever, began to swint; around, the bucke' descended and was safely set down in the center of a large level plateau, on which a reflector from a lamp set in a niche in the mountain-side threw a flood of light. Edith saw a score or more of men grouped in dots here and there—dark, masked men, and she trem- bled when m7 thought of the strange position sho was in. ‘*Here we are!”’ Deadwood Dick exclaimed, pleas- antly, as he helped her from the car, “* at Castle —, four hundred feet above the plains, high and dry. Come this way, Miss Stone; I see Leone, now, com- ing to meet me!” d Edith followed, little dreaming that her ad- vent was to be the cause of much bitterness—of sor- row, jealousy, and pain. CHAPTER V. THE CHEROKEE GIRL AVENGER. ** Jim Crow shot a man. An’ shot him all ter pieces, An’ all thar was left o’ him War a cupple little greasers. So hop along, skip along, Do just so—’ Awp here the singer suddenly ceased and peered around him, as if ing the approach of an enemy. But he evidently found the surroundings to action, for he resumed his occupation, whistling merrily, It was rather an odd scene to which we introduce reader. Through the heart of a tree-environed dell at the of a deeo mountain gorge, noisily rushed an infant stream of water on its way to the great prai- ries tothe north. A man sat upon the bank gazing idly into the waters, a quizzical expression upon his He was a lank, long individual, well along in life— undeniably a mixture of Yankee and native Mis- sourian, and about as comical a looking genius as one will often meet. Sallow and angular in feature, with hair, eyes and beard all of a decided blonde east; legs and arms Jong and unwieldy; and attlred in adress of homespun, fancifully relieved by gay ribbons; such was a pen picture taken at a glance. He was well armed with revolvers, knife and rifle. His only occupation, as he sat perched there upon the bank, a) to be watching the water, which rushed swil down the gorge over its rough rocky bed. creating weird music that echoed and re-echoed up the dull gray walls that towered on either hand. Yas, Chris Columbus diskivered America!” mut- tered the uncouth individual, reflectively, ‘an’ got put inter ther jeeographies fer doin’ it. ‘Twar a great lift fer Kit, an’he wore his laurels like an ugly mule wears a sour expression onter his eoun- tenance, An’ now thet I, Josiah W. Hogg, ex- cluded member frum Legislature, poet o’ Powder sho ecowled darkly u River Range, an’ own cousin ter Wawkeen Miller an’ sech shinin’, flickerin’ lights o' ther tical nea as Moar, Shakespear an’ Oakey all, hey skivered an infantile streamlet, I ken’t see but w'at I shed enjoy ekal honor wi’ ole Kit Columbus an’ his crew. “No, thar can't be no doubt but you’re ther fust diskiverer uv this riverlet, Josia’, an’ when ye've fol- lered it tew its source, as Moar sez; “*Yer fame shall rise ter mount’ins hi’, Whar buzzeth the bee, an’ flyeth the fly.’ “A great feller was thet Moar— Héllo/" Josiah suddenly ceased his tical effusions, as the sound of footsteps ted him, gn tg 3 quickly behind him he saw a female fig- ure glide from the undergrowth and approach him. But what was most alarming, he perceived that sho carried a cocked revolver iu her hand, ready for in- stant use. “Holey Jerusalem!" burst from the poet's lips; ‘who in thunderation ar’ this petticoater? An in jun gal, true’s Mary hed a little lamb, whose fleeco war whites as snow, an’ everywhere—”’ Fearlessly the girl came forward, and paused by the poet's side, her flerce black eyes glaring down at him in evident anger, She was nota full-blooded Indian girl, but a half-breed, as was apparent from her feature. and complexion, which was light and clear. In face and form she might have been called handsome, but in her jets eyes there was a stern glare that was a repulsive feature in itself. She wus clad in the costume of an Indian princess, and wore jewels upon her fingers that must have cost large sums. Her whole attire was characteristic of elegance, and the rifle at her back and the silver- mounted revolvers and scalping-knife in her belt were all of improved pattern and finish, To Josiah she appeared rather a savage-looking queen, however. “ Ugh!" she articulated, in better English than is generally encountered among the half-breeds, and m the hunter—for, despite bis tical mania, J was an excellent hunter and rapper. “ i ” * Yes, ma’am; uwgh/" replied Josiah, rising and doffing his hat. What will your ughship haves” A startling burst of laughter pealed from the girl's lips, and for a moment her face was lit up by a le; but the next instant its expression was as dark and stern as before. ‘What d'ye larf at?’ demanded Josiah indignant- ly. “ What d’ye cum here for—what d’ye want—who on ‘arth be your” “Tam Sue!" was the omg be **Sue,eh? Any relation ter Eugene Sue? 8" not. Had a gal once named Su 6 sued mo fer gr britches 0’ promise, an'I cum purty nigh hevin’ ter sew boots in a penitentiary, ter boot. Composed a few lines onto her, too, thusly: ‘* Oh! fickle gal I loved so well, Thou'rt homelier than a liberty bell; Yer heart ar’ altogether peth, Ter sum poor man you'll be the death. But ’twon't be me—it won't be me; T ain't sich a fool as I uster be!’ “Them lines used) her entirely up, an’ she died o' Cerro Gordo sperm-oil Snouingitie cdid, fer a fac’.” “Tike all the pale-faces, your tongue wags on & pivot,” was the half-breed girl’s grim comment, “Oh! yo don't like that style o' ephusiun, hey? web here’s anuther, Tune, ‘I Want yer be an An- gel’: ** Oh! T hev got a brother, Whose name ar’ Avalanche, Kin fight like cross-eyed Injun, An’ screech like a Comanche. He's scrum ous on his muscle; Kin draw the briny tears, As he sits an’ tells ther story Of how he lost his ears,’ * oO : } ! ’ | |
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Wild Ivan, the Boy Claude Duval. 11 “Ugh! worse and worse!" cried the girl. “‘ White bunter a Vig fool! Better go herd cattle.” **Ken’t see it, my— “* Darling chit o’ walnut shade, Whose beauty God in glory made,’ * Kent see it. A man wi’ my poetical perpensities kin do better than herdin' swine an’ horned critters; asides, I've diskivered a riverlet here, an’ ther fame o' ther thing will emulate me ter a seat in ther Sev- ate. But, erg way, Miss Susan—hain’t related ter Susan B. A., I s’pose? What ar’ yer business with me? My name ar’ Josiah William Hogg, at yer service—Hogg in all cases being spelt wi’ two or more ‘g's '!" “Ugh!"’ The hunter's words seemed to arouse the girl into her old state of anger, ‘Sue is a Cherokee rl. Her father was a white trader—her mother a Yherokee queen. Sue comes hither on the trail of an enemy—ono who has ruined her life and then fled, leaving her with a fatherless babe. Sue drowned the puny brat because it was his. Then she fled from the reservation, to visit vengeance on the head of her pale-face betrayer. You, white hunter, must tell me where he is!" “Oh! Lordy gracious!” gasped Josiah, in genuine amazement. “I don’t know, gal—don’t know no more about yer use nor did the boy *t stood on *Wagh! the white hunter lies! He is trying to fool Sue, because she is a Cherokee, But he shall tell, or she will shoot him, and take his ag ol And up came the revolver on a level with the poet’s head, much to Josiah’s consternation. 4 Now, lookee heer, gal, thar’s no use o’ yer gittin’ up on yer eare, fer I swow ter gracious I don’t know nothin’ about yer feller. Tell me his name, an’ I'll think ef I ever stumbled across him; that’s fair, now, ain't it?” “Yes, fair," replied the girl, slowly, ‘You are a man with a long tongue, yet Sue will trust you. Ivan Stone is bis name. It is to hunt bim down to death that the Cherokee girl left her ple and came here where the mountains grow wild, and the pale-faces are plenty.” “Tvan Stone, hey? Wal, zal, I never heerd o' sech a er that’s true‘as the gospel. But as Moar sed— *“*No man frum the ‘arth tew sky above Kin ‘scape ther tickle o vengeful love;’ an’ now, ef you'll jump inter harness wi' me, we'll hunt up this Stony chap, ether, I’m sum on ther trail, 7 tell an'ef ye’ll just show me whar ter find this ’coon, I'll show him to you, blamed if I tera What say you? Shall we enter inter part- nership?” "Hark ! suddenly whispered Sue, clutching the poet by the shoulder; ** ! some one is coming * ther burnin’ deck!’ up the . ick, come into the bushes!" Yat Sithout pe for Josiah to rise, she drag- ged him across the di into a par of underbrush, * Jeewhitka—-" gasped the astonished hunter, but her hand was clasped forcibly across his mouth, “'Sh! not a bit of noise, or Sue will scalp you!” was her warning. Then they crouched silently in their covert, and sentted, the eyes of Cherokee Sue gleaming savage- \y: The echo of a horse's feet rung through the gorge, growing plainer each moment, and soon a horseman came into view, riding at a swift gallop. He was none other than the young chief of the Brotherhood of Death, the Boy Fiend, Wild Ivan! A startling hiss esea) the half-breed girl's lips, as wih Plercitg gaze fell upon him, and she trembled, olently. “Tis he!" she whispered, savagely, “he, the young devil wlio wrecked my life!" vp hunderation! is that the weasel? Hold on—just let me put an electric liver-pill inter his constitu- tion—" “Nol nol” Sue checked the impetuous poct's movement, ‘The time has not come. Let him go. We will follow; we will track the wolf to his lalr, and there corner him, Then, you shall see the Cherokee girl's Re. ne oa “You're a gosh-dratted fool!” declared Josiah, bluntly. ‘ Not much would [let him glide off thet way. As Danyel Webster sed— “* Send yer bullets fair an" true, Sock “em in, cl’ar all way thru:’ which ar’ jest w’at Ished do. Let ther cuss escape, an’ like’s not ye’ll never git yer Forty eyes glued on- ter him agin. Let me squinchellate him.” “No! Sue bas said it. She will follow like a shadow. The white hunter can go with her, if he will hold his tongue.” Wild Ivan pete swiftly up the gorge, unaware that one of his biiterest foes was crouching so close upon his trail. He had not returned to his strong- hold after losing Edith Stone upon the prairie, but had camped in among the foothills until day once more dawned, choosing to thread the mountains by daylight rather than 1 y darkness, And, too, he half feared to return and announce to the Brotherhood the loss of his captive. Without interruption he was allowed to pursue his way, and when he had varished from view arounda bend in the gorge, Sue turned to Josiah, quietly. * Come!” she said, her eyes shining in a peculiar way, “itis time for us ‘ogo, Will you follow where the Cherokee girl leads?” ‘Ter ther ceath, gal, as ther feller sed when he tied hisself ter ther rear uv a lightning express train, because he hadn't no money ter pay his fair, As Burns sed: “**Man proposeth and woman disposeth ;' 80 ef y’u're disposed ter foller that young gentleman I pd “yet ter do likewise. Off brakes, ring ther bell, an’ off we zo; I'm reddy.” “T will go abead,.” Cherokee Sue said; ‘you fol- low at my heels, without a word.” “Karect, As Jim Shakespeare remarked; “*On! on ter greet ther battle, Check wi’ fire ther foe's advance, Let ther bullets ip and rattle, An’ ye'll see the cusses dance.” Without reply the balf-breed girl stole from the underbrush, and stealthily made her way wp the gorge, her soft footsteps arousing no echo—her movements like those of a cat. Evident it was at a glance that she had heen reared in Indian cunning, and care had been taken in her education’to make her at hcme upon the trail as well as off. Her tread was firm and swift, and ker car- riage proudly erect. And despite his oddity Josiah Hogg was no “slouch " upon the trail, either. He handled his huge feet as lightly as did his Sg companion, and his eyes penetrated every re- cess in the walls of the gorge—his ears were on ila alert for hostile sounds. Thus the two followed swiftly but silently up the gorge through which Wild Ivan had ridden on his way to the stronghold. “Many horses been up this way last night,’ said Cherokee £ue, as they passed over a stretch of sand, in which was a confusion of imprints of horses’ feet. “ yonder they take to the creek;"’ and sho pointed ahead to where the walls of the canyon nar- notes in to the water's edge. ‘Rapids up there, * How d’ye know?" demanded Josiah, now dubious as he saw that his calculations of being the first dis- coverer of the stream were all knocked endwise, “Pears ter me you know a tarnal sight fer bein' an Injun critter!” “Know rapids up there,” waa the response, “ See foam—that tells. e'll have to wade.” “Thunderation! that's too bad, I allers did hate | ter git wet feet,”
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lace where it was custom- 6 to the stream, and the into the water without They soon came to the ary for the outlaws to t. half-breed girl led the wa hesitation, Josiah finally following suit with many ejaculations and poetical quotations. The water was only alout knee-deep, but very swift and muddy, so that it was with considerable difficulty that a footing was maintained. Several times Josiah went down, sousing himself all over, but Sue kept up boldly. But tha further they went the swifter and deeper ew the stream, the roaring water now reaching to their waists. Finally the gir) stopped, her attitude one of listen- ing—her eyes wild and gleaming. “ What's up?” demanded Josiah, shivering in his cold bath. ‘* Lookin’ ter see "f ye can’t find deeper water?” “Ugh! no! we must turn back,” was the low, cautious response. “ There are horsemen coming down the stream |" : CHAPTER VI. THE ROAD-AGENT HUNTERS. Our upon the boundless prairie, not many miles from where had occurred the massacre of the train, in alittle grove of cottonwoods that hid the course of a deep, yawning chasm from view, was a camp- fire burning brightly, around which were grouped two-score of men, attired in the picturesque costume of the frontiersman, and armed with repeating-rifles and handsomely-mounted belt-weapons. A few were grizzly old borderers, with long beards | and wriukled faces, but for the most part the camp- ers were young men whose ages ranged all the way from seventeen to fiv+-and-twenty years. He in command was a tall, handsome fellow, with fair complexion, hair and mustache, steel-gray eyes and well-cut features, while his form was strik- ingly developed in muscle and sinew. Captain Norris Setan had been educated by an offi- cer of the regular army, and was a perfect scout and ranger, often venturing into danger where older heads would have hesitated to go, but ever coml out crowned with success, It was his quiet bo never to have lost a battle, and he had participated in many, both among Indians and their worse brechren, the white savages who infested the re- jon. In Captain Setan’s command he counted two of | the first scouts on the border—Jolly Jack and Scott Sherwood, both of whom were hoe in the thirties, and thoroughly experienced trailers, who had won their namo in the Lava Beds war. Jolly Jack was a great strapping fellow, iron- framed and muscular, with a round, ess face, of jovial expression, brown eyes and hair, and agen- eral disposition of geniality. Sherwood was a grim, tactiturn fellow, who never made many words over an affair; an excellent scout and 5 onl gg and a thorough good fellow, once ‘ou knew him. He was dark of complexion, with an immense sweeping mustache of jetty hue, black eyes and hair, and a moody, grim_expression of counte- nance, that was becoming in him. He now sat upon along loz in front of the fire, smoking his pipe and gazing into the dincing blaze, evidently in a deep reverie. Close at hand was his inseparable compan- ion, Jolly Jack, while the remainder of the men were Jounging around in various attitudes. ptain Norris had just come in from the depths of the timber, and stood leaning against a tree, close to the fire. “Tt wouldn't be a bad idea to station a guard, boys,” he was saying, in his pleasant, cheery way. “To my notion, these prairies abuund with roving bands rec * cs sopraene even though Sitting Bull has gone north.’ d “ That be ee be, capt’in,” coincided Jolly Jack, with a nod ap’ . “I saw plenty of Injun signs sine the route to-day, though I said noth- ing erbout it.” Wild Ivan, the Boy Claude Duval. “ And I saw the same,” added Sherwood, quietly. “Tl vouch that there’s plenty 0’ Sioux in this vicin- ity. Probably we could not remain here many days ithout hi ’ of ’em!”’ “Then we must have sentinels ted !"" cried “We surely wish to lose no men by the sav: when we shall need them all to com- pete with Sir Deadwood Dick. Kelloggs, you may choose three men besides yourself, and guard the camp, I will see rem are relieved at midnight.” Accordingly, four of the band were stationed off in the forest, where the light of the camp-fire could not roach them. Captain Norris paced to and fro in front of the fire, nervously impatient at something, though he spoke not for a long time. ; Finally, the veteran Mountain Mike, broke the si- ence: “*Bout time we heered from Rivers, ain'tit, cap- | tain?”’ “Yes, pasttime. We should have heard from him two hours ago. It isn't six hours’ ride to the hills, and he has m gone twodays. I cannot account for his delay.” “Mebbe he got nabbed on the trail!" “Bosh! Lem Rivers is too smart to be caught aoe: He will probably turn up before another ny. oF hope so,”’ growled Sherwood. ‘I'm tired of this camping down, here and there, waitin’ for some one else to spy out the game.”* “Them words fits my dickshunary to a capital dot!” added Jolly Jack. ‘*‘ We ain’t seen a red nig- gur, even, ter shie our respects at. It's almigh monotonous to one o’ my caliber.” And this 5 ar we was manifest in nearly every face upon which the firelight fell. “IT know it, boys,”’ was Setan's quiet reply, “ andT don’t like it any better than the rest of pm. But I have followed Deadwood Dick up into this country for the purpose of capturing him, and obtaining the reward of two thousand dollars, the price offered for his delivery to the proper authorities, at Dead- wood: and I’m going to do it, if [have to accomplish the task alone and unaided!" “Bravo! With that spirit you'll weather yer wes and we'll help ye!” eried old Mike, enthusias- ically. At this ag es there was the tramp of a horse’s Pruden ; Jes’ stop, wull yor" shouted ths odd rider, pe ling back on the ine with all his apparent strength. ‘‘Good-mornin', ae et Fe appear kinder duskish. Seen anything ‘round these parts uv a you orn porn o’ Eve's rib, who war kerry! nt off a pal,'ee during the last two da: “Hain't, eh? Wal, thet’s too bad. Ye see they | hed a massyker down hayr, a few miles, thes arter- noon, an’ me an’ the gal got slighted—thet is, warn’t killed, A you rolber chap carried off ther gal, an’ I got orried off. on ther back uv old Prudence Cordeliar, heer. So I'm huntin’ for ther lad—Wild Tvan ’s his name, an’ he ar’ ther new cheef uv ther Brotherhood o’ Death.” Saeee this is all newsto me. Who are yon, id man?" “Me! What! didn’t ye nevyer heer tell o' Old Avalanche, ther Great Injun Annihilator—ther orful, devastatin’, destructive hailstarm o’ subversion, w'at 6 like lightning thru these boreal lattt tudes an’ longitoads—ther giant snow-slide o’ Nor-
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gual Wild Ivan, the Boy Claude Duval. —ther great cantankerous, roarin’ hurricane o’ extermination? Didn't ye nevyr heer tell o' this wee acheevement? Wal. sir, I hev ther honer ter tor—thet Be thet same Avalanche—thet same extirpa same unhealthy disease; an’ this ‘ere’s my boss, Prudence Cordeéliar, an’ thet 'ar’s my goat, Florence Night-in-a-gale—both o' 'em j'ints o’ ther at fa- muss meteorical wheel o' Annihilation, thet swoops around like ther secont hand on a three-dollar lot- tery watch!" “ Hurra! here’s a curiosity!" cried Jolly Jack, and a general laugh ran through the ranks of the road- agent hunters. “Old Avalanche, eh? It seems to me I've heerd of you before, pilgrim,” replied Setan; * but I cannot say just where. Who and what is this Brotherhood of Death, of which you 5) of? “Great Zebulom Zac er! hain’t ye heerd about them, nuther? Must be ye're strangers in this lattytude.” # we are, comparatively. Where we have camped, here, ends our knowledge of this northern country. Wecome from wood City.” “Phew! ye don’t say sof Wal, I'll be figgered! What on ‘arth fetched ye up hayrt” “ We are road-agent hunters, old man, in search of one notorious rascal and outlaw who calls himself Deadwood Dick. We've chased him up here, and are now waiting for one of our spies to report his whereabouts.’’ “Moses in the bullrushes! An’ yowe got an ijee ye’re goin’ ter capture this wood Diek, hev yer “Yes. Once we find his stronghold, we'll spend a tral one what _— sen ey = ok “ Wal, stranger,ef ye cote Fy tiferous galoo why, may I be prdat h blistered sy ther heat frum pur UE Nee all!’ “Why?! “'Ca'se how's you'll never lay yer paws onter him —never /” and the Annihilator emphasized his decla- ration by giving Prudence Cordelia a dig in the side, which caused the worthy beast to suddenly rear up behind, much to the disgust of the goat, who stood in close proximity to the iron-shod heels. At this juncture the sharp report of a rifle and a mee ¥ 1 came echoin: Psough Oe forest aisles. a eaven! the -skins ve attacked the is!’* cried Setan. “Great bam-bone that dislocated the jaw of old Venus!” cried Avalancbe, simultaneously, and the next moment he galloped into the timber in one di- rection, while the eccentric goat shot off in another. “Skeered out, by Coristmas!"’ declared Jack. “Far from it,” grimly replied Sherwood, “ You might be proud if you stood in that old target's shoes. He’s a ‘ hailstarm,’ as he says!’ *To arms! boys, to arms!" cried Captain Norris, and his order was instantly obeyed, “Kick out the tire, and dodge into the gloom.” No seoner said than done; then the road-agent hunters waited breathlessly for the issue. ‘The wood was wrap} in profound silence. Not a step was h , not the rustle of a leaf. A dead blank seemed to have fallen, that was sugges- tive of imminent peril. Each of the rangers stood with rifle in hand, waiting for the enemy’s onset. But no further attack was made, and this deepened bie ee ee Ben, the densely ont oe é grove; a hu lurking savages m con- cealed within the shadows. Nor was the Jeast sound heard betraying the whereabouts of Old Avalanche. Evidently he had cleared out, as Jolly Jack had intimated. ‘*Mebbe it was only one of the guards firing off his gun at some suspicious object,” suggested Norris, ro uneasy ere etbe nit!" was Scott Sherwood's grim re- " rs steady, and you'll soon see plenty oF uns!" : it proved that his words were prophetie, for a few moments later @ flash and a report came from 138 his rifle, and a shrill screech of pain resounded on the still night. “That tells the tale!" the scout said, quietly, and so it did, for by the blaze that issued from the rifle » more than one of the rangers beheld a tufted head and savage face, in the gloom among the trees. The truth was quite evident—the savages were creep ing stealthily upon them | “Keep your eyes peeled, and use your revolvers at short range, boys!" ordered Sherwood, quietly; for Captain Setan was suddenly missing from their midst, ‘ Have you seen the captain?” “Here I am,” Setan replied, from tho where he lay. ‘Go on, Scott; I leave you mand,” ‘In God's name, what is the matter, captain?" the grim scout demanded, springing to Norris's side. But there came back noanswer, The barbed sh ft of an arrow protruded from the young commander's breast, and—he was d. ad! Sherwood saw this at a slance, and a groan escap- ed his compressed lips. * The poor boy is dead!" he said to Jolly Jack, as he arose with tears trickling down his checks, * Pass the word to the rest, and tell them to hold firm for his sake. Our lives depend upon vigilanes!" Jolly Jack obeyed, and a so wall went up from the rangers. All loved their brave captain with brotherly affection; most of them had followed his lead for several years, during which time he had been a faithful friend and a fearless captain. “The boys take it hard,” whispered Jolly Jack, as he stole back to his comrade's side, * What took him off—a bullet or an arrow?" Sherwood did not reply; he was too full for ut- terance. But his fingers tightened fiercely about his rifle, while his dusky orbs peered into the gloom, searchingly. And thus matters stood at the end of an hour. Neither the road-agent hunters nor their savage un- seen foes changed their position; the darkness was growing even denser; the silence that wrapped the grove was grim and meaning. Every ranger stood ready for instant action: Sher- wood stood by the side of his fallen captain, like an avenging shadow. “Great ham-bone that dislocated Venus’s lower jaw!" cautiously exclaimed a voice, and turning, the — peeved the form of Old Avalanche standing round com- y. “W'at on ‘arth’s tuk ther conting down?" “He is dead,” replied Sherwood, hoarsely—“ killed by an arrow!" “Zebulom Zackariaher! is that so? Poor feller! didn’t captur’ Deadwood Dick, after all. Any 0’ the rest ne under?” “Lucky! thar’s about twenty million o’ Purple Eye's niggurs layin’ around loose in these yere woods, I killed six by way o’ amoosement hayr.” Why don’t they pitch in an’ find what kind o° material we're made of?’ queried Jolly Jack. “Dunno! ‘Pears ter me they're waitin’ fer a sig- nal, w'at ain't a-comin’.”’ “A signal?” “Yas. I shedn’t wonder ef I devastated the sun of a gun as war ter give the signal, an’ they’re walt- in’ fer him ter be ressereckted.”* r “ Are we surrounded, then!” * Bullrushes in Moses, yes—on every side, Even this great Norweegan snow-slide o' demolition wouldn't make a punctuation pint in ther infarnal gan, ” < Where's your horse and goat?” “$"pect they’re outside on ther pemnrsg, waitin’ fer ther music ter begin, when Epon 1 see ’em cum dancin’ in, like hot peas on a cold griddle.” A cracked at. this instant, and was followed | Sheena death-yell of an Indian. And then arose U} the air of the still autumnal night, a chorus of flendish yells and exultant war-whoops,
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i4 Wild Ivan, the Boy Claude Duval. and a cloud of arrows and volley of bullets camo in upon the beseiged whites, while from all sides pour- edadense swarm of the vengeful red-skins, their howls making a perfect Pandemonium. “Stand firm, boys!" rung out the clear voice of Scott Sherwood; * make every bullet count—then club your rifles and use your knives. Courage! cour- age! and we'll sweep the cussed imps from the face o’ the earth!’ CHAPTER VII. JEALOUSY VERSUS LOVE. Eprra Strong, as we have said before, followed | Jateau toward a cavern- | Deadwood Dick across the ous opening in the mountain-side, little thinking of what misery, jealousy and pain, her coming was | I d two routes—one by coming up in the car, and the estined to causs, or else she would never have shown herself within the road-agent’s stronghold, As they advanced, a bevy oe girlish figure came forward from the grotto, and looking but beautiful creature,with fair complexion, shining eyes, and waving reddish hair, and a hand- somely rounded ac the one a road-agent could truly worship, and Deadwood Dick sprung for- ward and caught her in a rapturous embrace, cover- ing the ripe rosy lips with passionate kisses. Rea 4 beauty!’ he exclaimed, ‘I am glad to get “And I am glad to have you back, Eddie; but what female have you brought here?” and the young wife shot an inquiring glance toward Edith, who aused in front of them—a wild- | _ “Please take that advice to yourself, my charm ing cavalier,”’ spoke Leone, just a trifle bitterly; but ck noticed it instantly, and shot her an amused glance, though he made no reply. After through several airy chambers, which were unoccupied, they struck into a narrow , turning off of which they entered Dead- wood Dick’s own svit—four rooms in all and con- nected by natural archways, The first room was made to answer the purpose of dining-room and par- lor, and was taste’ eal ed with neat furniture and t, while a bright burned to oue side, the smoke escaping through a hole overhead. While Leone was in the adjoining apartment pre- ri the evening repast, wood Dick seated fim f and chattec ers with Edith. He ex- plained to her the interestin; ints of their wild aerial retreat; also that it could reached only by that, other by a precipitous rugged mountain- : beter lower led ten miles re debouching among t gorges. Eaith in turn narrated a few eventa of her west- ward journey; and the longer she conversed with the gentlemanly young road-agent, the more favor- ve! she was im with appearance, eir te’e-a-tete was at length interrupted by the | announcement that supper was ready, by one of tae coored waiters. Graciously Deadwood Dick conducted Edith to the white-spread table, taking a seat directly op ite, A repast of corn-bread, roast venison, ligbt wine was upon the board, in addition to fruit and sweetcake, much to Edith’s surprise, for she little expected to find these luxuries in a road-agent’s camp. ‘Where is Leone, Sam?" asked Dick, quickly no- ticing the absence of his wife. “Dunno, Mars'r Dick,” replied thy negro, with a fs, 8 8'pec’ she’s done gone off to her room a-cry- *, gar!’ by, a curious spectator, “This is Miss Stone, a young lady whom I rescued | from a young cuss who calls himself Wild Ivan—-the new chief of the Brotherhood of Death, of whom I told you last night. Miss Stone, this is my darling little wife—my Leone!" And as he spoke. Harris gazed at her he loved so well, with proud admiration. j In With the two girls standing in his presence, he | ‘* oun ! Deadwood Dick was out of his chair in could see how much prettier—at least, in his eyee— | a twinkling. ‘* What in the deuce was she crying was Leone than Edith, how much more womanly | about?” “Couldn't say, mars'r,”’ was the reply, but the My and bright. man gave a glance toward Edith that our hero com- it! “T am happy to meet you, Miss Stone,’’ Leone i sald, advancing and extending her hand; but there | prehended in-tantly. H wasaring in her voice that impressed Edith un- “Oh?!” he said, “I guess [know. You will please i e@ favorably. “I trust we shall be friends, for Ihave | excuse mo, Miss Stone, while I go and fetch back the Hh none of sex for companionship—but, then, whom | truant.”’ i could I for more than my Road-Agent Richard, | ‘Certainly,"’ replied Edith, and then he hurried away. “None other, I should say,’’ returned Edith, can- Edith saw with her keen ption how matters i didly. “You seem to think a great deal of each | lay. Leone was jealous of e attention her h i her.”” had innocently paid to her, a 8! r,as a due Hi “Which we do,” assented Dick. ‘Leone and I | courtesy to a guest. Of this there could be no doubt. Hy could not get along without each other. But, come | And yet Edith could not see what cause her hostess fu —et us go to the Castle, where no doubt we will find | had to be jealous. She had no more than expressed her honest gratitude to Deadwood Dick for saving uy food awaiti: for I am as hungry as a starved wolf,” a 4 her from a horrible fate, to which she would have i And offering an arm to each of the girls, the Prince | undoubtedly been consigned had Wild Ivan succeed- i of the Road escorted them through the cavernous | ed in carrying her to his stronghold. ty entrance into an immense grotto that pierced the And if it was all that had fired the passions of the | y ) mountain with great chambers and cells like a ver- | little wife, was she to blame? > if itable honeycomb, The floor and walls were smooth Deadwood Dick hastened toward Leone's room, a i and level, and the ceilings, far above, were densely | pained and yet amused expression about his mouth, ite hung with grotesque stalactitic figures and pendent “The little Jealous chit,” he muttered; ig this is i, vines, whose flowers exhaled a faint, delicious per- | the way matters are going I shall be sorry— } fu He pushed into ne’s chamber, which was tastily furnished and hung. A bed stood in one cor- ner, but Leone was not upon it, as he had expected. . Neither was she in the room, “This is strange,” Dick muttered ung. the plac-, and running along a passage that led to the me, In the first chamber a long row of rudely-manu- factured tables were stretched across the floor, from which two negro waiters were clearing the remnants f c of the evening meal, sil “This is the general dining-room for the boys,” ii Dick neg as they went along. “ Besides, éach neral rendezvous-chamber of the road-agents, a BD. one of them ha; a separate apartment for sleeping, on’t'see where she can have gone, asin this grotto there are a hundred or more natural In the main room a number of the band were . cells, paverel of which we ave 8 arranged into dun- gathered about the tables, engaged at a game of geous for the accommodation of pi Look | cards. out that you commit no offense so that we shall be “Has my wife passed this way toward the pla- com 7 bret” was the question Dick put to the to lock you up, Miss Stone ’--with a gay | io = pyle laugh, .
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“No, captain. Has not been in this direction since ‘ou went with her and the other gal,” replied Jambre, respectfully, The young chief turned back, a frown visible upon his brow, for he had removed his mask on reaching the plateau, “Ive half a notion to let her get over her sulks, and return when she pleases, dashed if I ain’t!"’ he muttered; but then vender remembrances hed across his mind, and with a pain of anxiety tugging at his heart he kept on, One after another of the grotto honeycombs he explored, by the aid of a blazing torch, and at last, in the remotest one of the whole lot, he found the object of his search—Leone! She was lying prostrate upon the cold, pea rocky floor, enveloped ina cloak of furs, and so! bing bitterly, her little figure violently agitated with her emotion. Harris knelt by her side and placed his hand gen- tly upon the throbbing head—the little head with its wealth of brick-hued hair he loved so well. “Leone!” he said, tenderly, ‘* what is the matter? Why have youcome here in this damp, lonesome place, crying? Come! let me help you up, and then you must tell me the cause of your grief.’ There was no answer—only the prostrate girl sob- bed the harder. And sitting there by her side, Dead- wood Dick cursed himself for not having allowed Ivan Stone to carry off his prize, But he reproached himself the next moment, when he thought of the sweet, gentle, confiding maiden he had ‘ae left. Still she was nothing to bim—not a millionth part as much as his jealous little darling here, who lay sob- bing before him. “Come, Coe Ne he continued, raising ber head and shoulders into his arms, and kissing away the tears that trickled down the whitened cheeks, “ look up, won't you? Don’t cry so. What have I done? Are you jealous because [ chatted with that stran- er? Oh! Leone! you shouldn't be, for you know that Llove you better than my life—that I worship the very ground you—"” “Stop!” she cried, so suddenly that he was star- tled. She had struggled from his arms to her feet, now; her tears had ceased to fall; she stood there, with white, parontel face and shining eyes, and he wondered that he had never known how royally beautiful she was before, ‘Stop, Edward Harris!” she repeated, sternly; ‘let this matter drop bere. You return to your supper.” Then she turned and swept are. Dick did not attempt to follow her this time, but took another route back to the chamber where he had left Edith, He saw that it would be useless to reason with her, He felt that she would return to a sensible view of her foolish freak and be sorry; and with these thoughts he returned to the supper-table. Kdith was waiting, having eaten nothing while he was absent; so they ate in company. Very little was said, however. Edith was somewhat constrained in her speech, remembering what had occurred; Dick was grim and out of humor, and resolved that Leone should fh Rg further cause for jealousy if he could ip it. i After he had partaken of the repast, he left Edith and went off into the men’s quarters. At least, Leone should not have cause to say again that he a at the side of their yd eg th amused herself fora while in looking over some books, of which Deadwood Dick had quite a collection, Leone came in presently, and helped Sam to re- move the tea service. Her face was very pale, and her eyes red and swollen. Edith saw it in a moment, and gliding quietly to Leone’s side she threw her arms impetuously around her neck. “You are bag rg of me, ain’t you, dear Leone?” she said, kis: ng the white ps of the young wite, ‘Jealous, and without cause, too, Oh! don't | her jealousy. Wild Ivan, the Boy Claude Duval. 16 be, please. You have nothing to fear from me, and Iam sure your husband loves you dearly.” Leone put her off almost fiercely. “Don’t!” she said, deprecatingly, and there was a menace in her tone, “I want nothing to do with you. Leave me—go/” And she stamped her foot imperio . Fright- ened at the deadly gleam in her eye, Edith turned away and began looking over the books again. A fear now assailed her that the jealous wife in her ce 4 do her harm—might murder her while she slept, And the more she thought upon the subject the stronger grew her fears, until she was all trembling and agitation. What should she do? Something, surely, before it should be too late. And but one plan offered itself. ; She would FO to Deadwood Dick and make known her fears, and he would protect her—he, whom she thought so grand, and handsome, above all men, With this view in keeping, she left the chamber in which they had dined, and spec through the dark assages and apartments of the grotto. But not aking the main route, it was nearly an hour ere she saw a light to one side, and found herself in the ren- dezvous chamber, where the whole of the band, un- less it be with exception of outposted guards, were gathered, Edith stopped in the center of the room, terrified at the many masked faces turned toward her. But Carlos Cambre, Deadwood Dick's gentlemanly lieutenant, came Lig forward to her relief. ‘*Excuse me, miss; but you are looking for some one, eh?” “Yes, sir. I was looking for Mr,—” “ Harris—Deadwood Dick?’ Where can I find him? I thought he P “Thank you!” and Edith hurried away, glad to escape the gaze of s0 many curious eyes that gleam- ed through the masks. She soon emerged onto the wide level plateau. To her great surprise, she perceived that day had al- ready dawned, and the morning sun was lazily out of the hazy prairie horizon, far to the east. From the plateau a person was afforded a fine view of the landscape—the mountains that rolled away until they merged into the prairie, which rose and fell in little bills and hollows like the restless waves on the ocean—the — deep trailing canyon far, far below, and cascades and moun ured their waters into it, All this, as revealed un- er the mellow morning sunlight, seemed inexpres- sibly lovely to Edith, who was a great admirer of beautiful scenery. Deadwood Dick stood at the edge of the plateau ing moodily down into the canyon, below, an id not hear Edith's approach until she laid her little white hand upon his arm. “Mr. Deadwood Dick!” He started at souud of her voice, and gazed down at ber, almost angrily. “What! you here, Miss Stone? I thought you were enjoying a comfortable sleep.” “T was afraid to go to bed, sir, your wife tiger Fe so rudely, She hates me, and I fear will do me jury. “Pooh! Leone would not harm a mouse, She'sa little jealous, that’s all. It is the had learned that she was of a jealous nature, There, now, back and you will find sleeping accommodations the room next to the dining-room, Have no fear that Leone will trouble you, for she will soon get over her. s) ag But these words did not agree with the Prince's real opinion. Something told him that Leone had taken matters more deeply to heart than he had calculated—that she was not so easily conquered of in-torrents that —
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i6 Wild Ivan, the Boy Claude Duvai. And had he, as Edith turned back toward the tto, seen a slight ficure dart into the poneny en- nce out of sight, with pallid cheeks and desperate gleaming eyes, he might have been more assured in ef, CHAPTER VIII. FIGHTING LIKE DEVILS, Yes, some one was coming down the stream, as the two trailers could plainly hear the splash of horses’ feet in the water, and, too, but a short dis- tance off. “We must turn back!" repeated Cherokee Sue, grimly, and throwing herself at full length, she al- owed the rapid stream to bear ber toda # Having no other mode of escape at hand, Josiah followed her example, althongh he was loth to get more drenched than he was. And they were nota moment too soon, for Wagner and twelve of the Brotherhood appeared in sight. “I’m mighty sure I heard voices!” the lieutenant was saying, while he peered around, inquiringly. “Can't be that some meddlesome hunter followed Ivan, can it?” “Might be, easy enough,” We Blue Bob, with anoath. ‘Don’t see any one, tho’.” “What d'ye think "bout ther boy’s story 0" losin’ the gurl?’ demanded one of the outlaws, as the band followed down the bend of the creek. “ Reckon he’s honest enuff, thar,” was Wagner's response, ‘He knows ‘twon’t do well fer him ter play shenannigan on us, fer he's watched.” Presently the Brothors left the stream, and gal- loped swiftly away down its banks, through the morning sunlight. As soon as they were at a safe distance, two drip- ping figures also crawled ashore, and proceeded to wring the muddy water from their garments. “Gol darn the skunks,”? muttered Josiah, grimly, “Tallow thar's more action than poetical grace in this ere thing, as ther feller sed when he rid the steer ter town, Isay, you Cherry Key, w'at’s yer natteral views onter ther matter?” “Ugh!” replied Sue, grimly—‘‘ water nothin’—do ranger good. Drove back once. Try again:—mebbs succeed this time.” a What! ye ain’t goin’ ter stem thet creek ergin, aire ye?’ 0, ht yes. Sue will go alone, if white hunter am “Git out. Who sed I was afraid?” “Good! come! We keep on tryin’ till we get through! Ugh!” the half-breed girl n began to wade care- tully up the swift course of.the Little Madrass, Josiah dogging close at her heels, as if his life depended upon keeping her in view. “ Great ham-bone thot dislocated ther whale’s jaw w’'at masticated old Jonar! hayr cum ther yelpin’ red whelps—hayr cum ther ornery famished Arabs o’ ther perarie!” yelled Cld Avalanche, as the red- skins poured in swarms from out the black night. “Lay fer ‘em, boyees!"’ But the little band of road-agent hunters needed nourging. They fought like very devils, The crack of revolyers—the groansand shrieks of the dead and dying—the yells of the infuriated savages, and the rall; by oe of the rangers—all combined to make eous. a in the fight were Old Avalanche, Scott Sherwood, Jolly Jack and Mountain Mike, and their blows were dealt with dead] Peg ee Grad ians dropped off, and but for thelr superiority of numbers they must have titute. G tree One by Still the mad fight waged on. Scott Sherw saw how matters were going, and that there was no limit to the savage horde—that there was no hope for life or victory, unless the: could make a and escape. And how was this to be done? The answer soon came, and in an unexpected manner. High above the rolls of the savages came a startling series of shrieks and screams, followed by howls of rise and consternation, and one side of the red-skin circle suddenty parted; and then, by the light of continuously flashing weapons, was seen tho strange, scrawny beast of Old Ava- lanche, taking a uve. part in the affair with his heels and teeth, and driving the frightened enemies before her; and Going ears service was the vicious, ugly goat, of whom the Annihilator took so much pride. Avalanche saw the two additions, Sherwood saw them, and the blood-blinded rangers saw them, and a great yell of joy welled out upon the night—a yell that bespoke encouragement and victory. And the little band now seemed inspired with re- newed strength, for they made a mad, flerce rush upon the bloodthirsty foe, and fought with clubbed rifles and ringing blades of steel. “Hurra! Aurra!” bellowed Old Avalanche, from the bottom of his dungs, as at the same time he split open an Indian’s h with a murderous tomahawk —that’s it, beauties! Let’em hev, Prudencs; baste it to ‘em, tiful Florence! Whoopy! lay fer’em, b’yees—they’re sellin’ out cheap, now. Only a hun- dred or so left, an’ we'll close out ther lot at cost. Great Zebulom Zack! yes!” Sudéenly there was the crack of several rifles from beyond the red-skins’ ranks, and part of them were obliged to turn and defend themselves from an attack in the rear, This gave the desperate road- agent hunters an advantage, and they followed it up fiercely—some, even fought who were tottering on the verge of the grave, from streaming wounds. Tt was a terrible scene, a terrible hour! “Courage! boys; help isat hand!” rung out words of cheer in the clear, stern voice of Scott t herwood; “ strike true and fast, and victory is soon to be ours.’ “Great ham-bone that lodged in ther whale'’s di- gestive organs, yes!’ shouted Avalanche. “Wipe et to ther dasted ornery scullions. Hey, Prudence, - durn’d old beast? at d’ye say? Less squeal- n’, if ye please, an’ more beef-steak. Thet's it! dis- tribute yer heels superflewous!”’ The firing continued on the other side, which gave our friends renewed hope, while it also tended to alarm the savages, full a hundred of whose number were stretched out under foot. Following up the advantage, the rangers were now the attackers, and with desperate resolve they pressed forward. . All were more or Jess wounded, with the exception of Old Avalanche, who had not as yet received a hurt. Soon the red-skins n to find quarters unpleas- antly close, and just as the victorious rangers were contemplating a final stroke, there was a yell froma score of savage throats, and & gencral scatter. Victory was awarded the little band, but at what H cost Of their once formidable band of forty, on twelve remained to tell the tale of the bloody bat- tle, The rest were lying dead among the sav hardly distinguishable for the blood and smoke that smeared their faces. Twelve were left, counting in Sherwood and Old Avalanche—fourteen, counting the Aaaihilatoes bag animals, who had done such raiseworthy service. .* And after he savages had fled, they stood staring Si eee; fee eg ap the gloom, grim and silent. erw was first speak! “We've won. mates!" he said, wiping the Basie i afew exclaimed mons down on us before another iy ah “You're just tal ry kin’, strange : ) - 4
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ae -not dead, I’m bound to find her. Wild Ivan, the Boy Claude Duval. hearty voice, and turning, the rangers beheld four res coming aes "Red Kit La e, by thunder!" Sherwood ex- claimed, springing forward and grasping the hand of a man of giant proportions. “Yes, Red Kit, sure enough, boyee. But what in the name o’ John Rogers, ever brought you up here, Sherwood?” “We came with Captain Norris, Kit, in search of Deadwood Dick.” “Youdid? Wal, may I ever be mother-in-lawed. That’s the identical object that fetched me up hayr —this road-agent cuss." * You're fishin’ after the reward, then?” “Nary. I'm fishin’ after my gal, Alice, When Deadwood Dick vamoosed, my gal also disappeared. So, natterally, I concluded thet ther dasted galoot ki mapped her, an’ ef I find thet he did, gol darn bis picter, I'l manufacture him inter coyote food.” “Who have you got with ye, thar?” “ Well, they're ruther a split up lot. One's a fel- low called Tornado Tom; anuther is a gentleman called Darrel, an’ t’other’s a queer sorter chap who calls hisself Tom Jefferson Jaggers; dunno what bis rofession is, Picked ck here a ways—got he other two at Bear “Great ham-bone that floored Jonah!’ cried Ava- lanche, springing forward, ‘ Reckon aforesed Jag- gers aire one o’ my party, as got massykerd. Give us yer paw. How d'ye git ressereckted?y War deader'n a door-sill, last I see’d 0’ ye.” Jaggers laughed Regn “It seems you and I both pares dead, old man,” replied the long, gaunt ind vidual, with light hair and cadaverous face, whom the Annihilator had singled out. ‘‘Also another of the lot—Colonel Graf- ton Stone.” Here an exclamation of rise escaped the foreign-looking gentleman Red Kit had called Dar- rel, but whose real name he afterward affirmed to be Stone. For traveling use he assumed the name of Darrel as a disguise. ““ Stone—Colonel Grafton Stone, did you say?"’ he repeated, emeen ‘That is what I said,” repeated Jaggers, indiffer- ently, though all the while he was sharply serutiniz- ing ‘he other with his little ferret eyes. And was this Stone accompanied by his wife and one whom he calls his daughter, sir?” “He was. His wife was killed, and the young lady carried off by a young robber, chief, whom I overheard his companions call Wild Ivan," The man Darrel violently, “ Jyan, you say—Wild Ivan?” oy, Ss Tui “By Heaven, this makes two valuable discoveries, Elkton,” Darrel said, turning to the young frontiers- man, whom Red Kit had designa as Tornado Tom. “We are in possession of important clews, at least, and have ground to work on—more than we have had, previously." “Right, Mr. Darrel. The difficult part of the un- dertaking is gradually dissolving, and if the girl is Poor Edith!” “Tam led to believe that this Grafton Stone is a grave offender, from your conversation!"’ remarked Jaggers, in an inquisitive way. him u Trail.” pe. he ~% He is the abductor of my cbild, and e forger of my name.” “Indeed! then he is more of a criminal than I ex- poms, though I had not formed a very favorable a - him, Should thinic you would have adver- m.”” “Sol ne : givéreeed him . tee wank, Dat have neglected Oo do so out here, Ww pay man who will cause his arrest, however, five hundred dollars, and as much more for the recovery of my lost RAE oy: will? Very well, I will remember your case, In the mean time Red Kit and the rangers were en- 17 gaged sorting out those of the valiant little band who had fallen in the battle, from among the dead savages. A huge grave was hollowed out, and therein the r fellows were laid, handsome Cap- tain Norris being the last to be consigned to the humble tomb. Jolly Jack then made a pathetic and effective rayer, after which the grave was filled in, coverin orever from sight of man those whose lives h been full of deeds of valor—whose death would bring sadness to many a home and fireside. ieee then turned to those gathered around ™m, “Mates!” he said, hoarsely, ‘“‘we have done our last work for our loved friends. There is no more we could do if we were to stay. Therefore, I pro- pose that we get out of this ” “ And whither will ye go?” asked Red Kit. “Into the Hills, Our work lies there. We should have been there this morning. only that we were awaiting the return of Rivers, our spy.” “Well, where you go, goes Red Kit," replied the giant, “for ef Mr. Deadwood Dick's got my gal, he's the ag here lam purtickler anxious tu see.” “So it, then. All who intend gcing into the Hills, be kind enough to say so. Jolly Jack, you go and see if the horses have been distur’ fa Jack hastened to obey. Old Avalanche had Saath and mounted Prudence Cordelia, on whom and the roat he was lavishing many voluble praises for their valuable assistance, ‘Great Moses in ther bullrushes, Prudence! I'm jest proud o* Pha conduct—an’ 0’ ere too, Flor ence, dear! Why, it war sublimely beauchitul ter see i mow away ther red scullions, an’ make yer man 5 a8 fit representatives o’ ther great Ann! ion!’ _Jolly Jack soon came running back, somewhat ex- citedly. “They're gone—every durned beast!" he cried, with an oath, “Bout as lexpected.”’ said Sherwood. ‘ Weshall have to walk to the Hills.”’ There was no help for it, and without delay, the whole a set forth. But as soon as they were well out of the grove, it was discovered that the An- nibilator had deviated from the main course, and was speeding away to the southwest, on the back of his war-horse, Prudence, Strange to say, Florence Night-in-the-gale had still remained with the command, which was sufficient argument to convince one and all that they had not seen the last of the eccentric old fellow. What were his plans or intentions, no one could guess. After a day’s steady yop the little band reached the lower foot-slopes of the Black Hills range, where Tom Jefferson Jaggers took leave of them, followed by Mr. Darrel and Tornado Tom. Ina gorge, where loneliness and gloom were notice- able characteristics, Sherwood ordered the camp pitched, and it was while the men were busy in pre- mang that something occurred of a start nature, CHAPTER IX. MATTERS AT THE GROTTO—JAGGERS! Arter Edith had gone back into the cavern, Dead- wood Dick to and fro across the plateau, a dark frown upon his brow, a nervousness in his tread that oke great mental agitation, “ Curse the hour that ever induced me to bring the girl here!” he muttered, a trifle flercely, ‘It looks like the total wrecking of my happiness. I cannot have her here, where she will constantly be a thorn in Leone’s path. What am I to do, then?” It was a knotty problem, but one thing was posi- tive, and that was, that the fair girl must be some- how removed from the Castle, For full an hour Dick patrolled the plateau, then he returned to the to, grim and moody. He met Leone in one of the passages, talking with Car-
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Baa ——— arr SS ae nas ree ‘ae 2s a —— ee Poe i a Ly er be ie ee i8 Wild Ivan, the Boy Claude Duval. los Cambre, but on without deigning to notice her. Shs was looking and . In his own luxuriously-furnished chamber he was undis- ; yet several times, while in a drowsy state, he was conscious of some one bending over him— conscious that a pair of warm lips were pressed to his in a passionate caress; but when a few minutes later he would rouse up and look around, the owner of those lips would be gone. But it gave him unbounded satisfaction that she still loved—his red-haired, heroic little Leone—that she had not allowed her mad jealousy to uproot the love in her heart; and when he finally left his couch, it was with a strong hope that the barrier between them had been broken—that the cloud of doubt no longer obscured the horizon of their life. In the adjoining room he found Edith engaged in reading from his books. She looked up with a winning smile as he entered, while a crimson flush went rioting over her pretty “Tam looking at the picture-books to pass away tima,’’ she said, making room on the rude settee be- side her, “It is terribly lonesome here without any one to tal Won't you sit down?” “No, [think not, Miss Stone. My wife is jealous, you know, which ought to be explanation enough.” “Oh! yes, Lhad forgotten. But surely there can be no harm in your speaking to me?" “Not as we look at it, Miss Stone; but she might see volumes of oe in one single word. Jeal- ous eyes are not noted for correct interpretation, you Know.” “I don’t know,” replied Edith, with a little laugh, “for I was never jealous, unless—” She looked quickly down at her book and began to finger the leaves nervously, while Deadwood Dick passed on, seeing her painful confusion. He saw how it was, with his quick intuition. She would have said, had she completed the broken sen- tence: “ Unless it is of your wife—Leone!” And this was the truth of the matter. Edith ww secretly in love with the dashing, gal- lant Prince of the Dick could not believe it had gone quite so far as this: yet, what was he to understand by her blushe: ber oo and last of all, this uncomple' anlase? It looked asif he had unwittingly entangled him- self in a web of intricate weaving, from which there was no visible means of egress. Three days passed, and it was the morning of Edith’s fourth at the Castle. In the last two days she had only eenght an occa- ss Boibae of Deadwood Dick as he flitted in and out of the grotto. Leone came at meal-time and ordered the arrange- ment of the repast, and then departed, scarcel ut on this fourt my husband. He is a base deceiver, and you are the one who won him away; so for your reward taka this!"” And springing fiercely upon ‘poor Edith, the infu- wife drove a piltering Kuifo at the unsuspect- ing girl's bosom. it before it touched the flesh, a wronched it to one side—and turning, Leone beheld a tall, Jank stranger by her side—a man in bless x gray eyes gleamed a light that made her moble. And that man we have met before, in the name of Thomas Jefferson Jaggers !” _ Ab this same moment, while Deadwood Dick was Sig A teau outside pr Pi ipa ed he. nae aro! eutenant, roa’. with a dozen o' the band at his heela. Surprised, as he had issued no orders for their de- paxtare from the grotto, the young chief stopped in he center of the plateau and waited for them to come up, his brow darkening. “ How is this, leutenant; where bound?" he de- manded, seeing that the outlaws were armed. “* Who gave you orders to leave the Castle?” “No one, captain,” replied Cambre, flushing un easily beneath the stern gaze of the Prince of the . “It is not our intention to leave the strong: hold, but it becomes our painful duty to put you un- der arrest!” Deadwood Dick leaped back with an oath, a What! put me under arrest? Are you crazy, man?” “No, captain. I never was more sane than now. It rd by Madam Leone's orders, and they are imper- ative. “Who commands here, I'd like to know—Leone or Deadwood Dick?” “Leone, at present, captain. You are our prison- er, and I hope ou will not put us to unnecessary trouble. Probably a few days will fix things." “Nol It will never fix things!” Deadwood Dick cried, his eyes blazing. “I am commander here, yet, Tl have you know. Back to your places, every mother’s son of you! The first one moves to lay a hand on me is a dead man!”’ And out came the Mien Se paral revolvers, In a twinkling, and to a level, at cock, “Gol? he commanded, sternly, his voice hoarse with passion, “or your blood be on your own | heads!” “No, captain, we will never es replied Cambre, acne you go with us. At him, boys! take him vel" The road-agents sprung determinedly forward, and threw themselves upon their chief—he fired three shots, each of which meant a death; then they over- powered him, by force of numbers, and bore him to the rocky floor, where he was securely bound, hand ant Gon a have d to-d “Curse you, you have your grave, ay, lieutenant!’ came from Dick's lips, as he realized that he was indeed a prisoner among his own men, “One traitor lieutenant paid the penalty of death in Deadwood ; the second shall as surely follow. Re- member! “TI will not forget it, captain. I am sorry, and would not have you call me a traitor, for no truer man to-the band than I will you find. but you have wronged her, whom you should love better than life, and we as men could not refuse to obey her orders!" Dick made no reply, and without her ado he was lifted and borne into the grotto, Alo iroaae he was carried, ee, Joo into mountain, A torch had been left Seok na creving tae nm prepared There were furs for him to lie on, and furs upon the rocky floor, Also, a few chairs and a rude stand relieved the place of some of its cheerlessness. The cell was one of the remotest Ip the grotto, and out of the way of all discovery, in a dark by-way;
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Wild Ivan, the Boy Claude Duvai. 19 therefore there was no hope of being liberated by one who might be opposed to his {mprisonment, with, for instance. And it was with a heavy heart, and a bitter cooling toward Leone, that Deadwood Dick threw himsel: upon his couch, and anxiously waited for something to occur that would relieve the monotony of his un- pleasant situation, ity It was indeed the ferret-eyed Thomas Jefferson pay who had saved Edith’s life by warding off the descending blow of Leone, as in her jealous fury she would have committed a murder. She started back with acry of alarm as she per- ceived that it was a stranger who had interfered. “Who are you!” she gasped, growing faint and digey ** What do 4 want?” ae want a good deal, young woman!" Jaggers re- coolly. “As to who I am, I’m. called homas Jefferson Jaggers, the Sleuth-hound of Cin- cinnati!’’ “You are a detective, then!’ Leone almost screamed. “Exactly, ma’am; but you needn't yell loud enough to inform them road-agents out on the plateau. I am an officer of the U. 8. Secret Service, if you wish to know so bad, sent here to obtain a reward offered tor the capture of Deadwood Dick.” smile passed over Leone's features, for she doubted not that even then the was incarcerated in his lonely cell. “You are bold to come here,” she said, trying to rince of the road escape the grasp which he had placed upon her arm. |“ Release me, sir, or [ will spreaen for assist- ance! “Not yet, my dear; and if you scream it will be your last vocal demonstration. Remember! for I mean alll say. Why were you attempting to knife this young lady just now?!” “Because I Aote her!’ replied Leone, in a fierce tone. “She is an adventuress, who has come here and—and stole away the love of my husband, Vl kill her!’ “Not just at present. The girl is under my charge, so are you. Now I want you to In- form me where I can lay my bands on this gay and festive road-agent husband of yours—Mr. Deadwood Dick? “11 do nothing of the kind! Find him if you can; I'll not tell you.” on Perhaps you can, miss,” Jaggers said, turning to ith. * I don’t know,” replied she, falteringly. Had she known of Dick's immediate whereabouts, she would have hesitated at giving the information. + r that neither of you have any idea has become of the rascal,” Jaggers growled with a sneer. ‘“ But 'llirap him, never fear. And once I have safely bagged him, V’ll call upon Scott Sherwood and his band to help me take the remain- der of the gang. Until then you are both my pris- out onto the plateau.” oo hong the Me ee you not?" a yes. sir. And I am soglad you have come,” replied 3 Halth, “Will you take me back to Cleve- “Still better, Miss Stone, I will take you to your father, who with a scout named Tom Elkton, or lo Tom, is in these mountains, somewhere, in search of you. But, come, let’s get out of this be- fore thes@ road-agent devils discover us. Come, y' woman.” " - “And still retaining a grasp upon Leone's arm, the | ‘cerning Edith,” he muttered. ter, for I anticipated a devilish row, But all seems now, let me take a look at pis Ss ¥ here Deadweod— secret service man pushed along out of the room in- to adark passage which Edith, who followed close behind, had never paneteated before, Jaggers led on through a series of tortuous, nar» row passages, high of ceiling, but exceeding rough under foot. Finally he stop) before a niche in the wall, pushed Edith in first, and then following with his risoner. After several hundred ems windin ravel, they suddenly emerged onto the wood mountain-side, down which led a path evidently worn by bears in their descent for water. Down this the detective burried his prizes, as if anxious to quit the neighborhood in a hurry. After he had disappeared, a man rolled out of a clump of bushes close to the grotto-entrance, and stood gazing around him. And that man was nono other t redoubtable Old Avalanche! CHAPTER X. THE BOY FIEND AND ALICE—AVALANCHE RES, We will return to that date when we saw Wild Ivan passing up the water-course of the Little Madress, on his way to the stronghold of the Brother- hood, and will follow him thither, After errs oe horse into the rapid stream a WwW: . the junction ere the shores were form noe walls, pe arenes a waters for pee a mile, along a ijone the stream eper and swifte p growl deeper a) r, until a rapids was reached in a part where the channel was wide, stee and filled wit reat huge rocks, against which the waves made a din of weird music, and dashed t selves into foaming caps. ‘The rapids were about a half-mile In length, and after passing safely through them, the young out- law soon arrived upon the shore on which was situ- ated the camp of the Brotherhood. Several of the band were genes Rime 4 around a camp-fire as Wild Ivan rode up, while a dozen or more were in the saddle, ready ‘or departure, *“ Where away. lieutenant?” the Boy Fiend asked, as he perceived that Wagner and Elne Bob were among the rest. ‘* What's afoot, now?” “A band o’ road-agent hunters ar’ reported among ther foothills, conta e an'I thought it best to look after them,” replied Wagner, * But where's ther gal ye took from the traint” Wild Ivan flushed angrily at being thus ed, but told his story in a light that created the minds of his listeners. Without any comment, Wagner set out from the camp on his mission, fol- lowed by his chosen Brothers. Later, they forced Josiah Hogg and Cherokee Sue from the channel, as we have previously shown. Wild Ivan dismounted from his horse as soon as they had gone, and entered a cave among the crags, where some half a dozen of the band were play! cards, while others, still, were st floor on their blankets, fast asleep. “Hey, Bostwick, where are ou?” he cried, au- shontiaairees aes I answer 2 - call, a man ae ng gray , an , piercing eyes, appeared, “ Here, you old ed ig raid this wound upon my right elbow, for it has been cared for only once sinco yo, eve, Be careful, and cause me no pain, or ll reak your thick skull.” ma uestion- in ‘ta Yes, bit ~ man renee ap) eae hum- leness, and cutting away a ion 0! yo outlaw’s sleeve, he dried the“ahattered arm, wit a skill few could equal. Once the troublesome limb was bandaged and sup- ported in a sling, the Boy Fiend was. himself and rising, he glared around him, (observing man 8) 5 ‘ But none of the Brothers paid him the Icast atten- ion, “They have luc not set much in store con- “3 xy “So much the tet. utet, And, whom Bill Btood brought from retched upon ee:
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20 Wild Ivan, the Boy Claude Duval. Red Kit’s girl, they call her, Where is she, Bostwick —the girl?” “In thar, captain,” the surgeon replied, pointing to an inner cave that opened off from the first one. Without waiting for ceremony, the outlawed youth strode into the chamber, and glanced around him, Upon a couch of skins in one corner Alice La Rue wa; half-reclining, but she sprung to her feet the moment she beheld her enemy, for she knew that {ld Ivan was her enemy even when he had been in- itiated to chieftancy the night of Bill Blood’s death. A gloriously fair, beautiful girl was she, with a soft, pe Oat eg and long, waving hair like iden sunshine, and eyes partaking wondrously of e@ blue depths of heaven, while in her face sweet- ness of temper and the sunny nature of innocent girlhood were expressed, and yet those calm, blue eyes had power to transform to a deadly glitter, when her anger was aroused. She sprung to her feet now, her fair face flushed, her lips compressed, her eyes gleaming darkly. “ Ha! is this the fair creature who holds the secret of Red Kit’s treasure?” said Wild Ivan, mockingly, as he advanced, “ By my oo are tes yf “And you are ugly and repulsive!” flashed Alice, scornfully, * ay. do you come here to torture me, you young villain?’ “Torture you? Ismy presence then such a source of excruciating ny? Once you didn’t think so!” At this the girl turned white. **You need not throw out your hints, you wretch!" she replied, trembling as she spoke. “I know you full well, even though you wear that mask.” “On! you know me, do you?” the Boy Fiend re- torted, a little surprised. “Well, so much the bet- ter, You can better judge what mercy to expect.” “T expect no mercy from you, cruel brute that ou are. Iam only a helpless girl and powerless to efend myself, but there is One in Heaven—an All- wise Ruler, who will phen the wrongs inflicted upon the weak and innocent!” ‘Possible? We'l, maybe you're level, there, my beauty; but as long as I’m doomed for the fryin’- of Satan, anyhow, what use is there of my tting 2p now?’ Afew more tough crimes added to my ta’ lets, won't make the sulphur smoke any denser, nor the flames tickle any the harder!” shuddered, “You are a demon, I believe!’ she cried, marvel- ing at the baseness of one so young in years. Yes—a fiend, they call me,’ was the laughing response. ‘Maybe I deserve the title of the Boy Fiend, for I've been steeped in crime since I ran away from the Cadet school, That was before I came to the Black Hills, and met and fell hopeless- ly in Jove with you.” “Ugh! the thoughts of being loved by such as &re disgusting!” cried Alice, putting up her deprecatingly. “Yes, perhaps. But I love thee still, my lily of the _ forest, and now that the oppor—” He did not finish the sentence, but stepped for- ward a pace, his evil eyes gleaming triumphantly. “Back! monster—touch me not!” cried Red Kit's daughter, commandingly, and her hand pped among the folds of her dress. “‘Keep off, or it will __ be the worse for you.” “Oh! you cannot frighten me by pretense of drawing a pistol, my heroic maid!” sneered Wild Ivan, sarcastically. “Such ruses won't work.” And the next instant he had leaped quickly for- ward and caught her around the waist with his un- injured left arm, while with his whole force he en- deavored to bear her back against the couch of But nervyed to desperation, the 1 struggled back and torre each work- ee eS ee ene and out into the quarters occupied by the Brothers, thence into the open air. With yells of astonishment, the outlaws gave chase, yelling for her to stop. She reached the outside and glanced quickly around her, undecided how toact. Four or fve tel- lows, who had been lounging around the camp-fire, saw her, and leaping to their feet, were h ap- preaching. Every avenue of escape seemed cut off, except one. The Little Madrass, with its rushing waters, lay at ber feet, and upon the shore was beached a canoe. With a cry of defiance the heroic girl bounded forward, pushing the boat out into the stream and springing in, taking care to throw herself on her face in the bottom, The strong current caught the frail bark as in a mighty grasp and bore it away with alarming ve- ocity. A swarm of ruffians, howling like demons incar- nate, poured out onto the banks, the Boy Fiend among the foremost, for he had only been moment- = stunned by a bullet-wound, close upon his tem- ple. “Catch her! stop the boat!” he Py swearing furiously. ‘“‘A hundred dollars for that young wench’s bead!” Spurred to exertion by this offer, three of the Bro- therhood sprung upon horses and plu’ them into the stream in pursuit, while others sent bullets after the flying craft. But all in vain. Very naturally, the water moved faster than was within the power of the horses, and the canoe ke pace with the water, so that pursuit was utte) useless, seeing which, the ruffians returned to camp. Wild Ivan was in a terrible passion, and acted like amadman. Finally, he mounted his own beast and turning into the stream, set off down the gorge. Twice within the last twenty-four hours he had lost a prize, and this last was worst blow of all, for it would depreciate him in the — of the Bro- therhood, with whom he desired to keep on amiable terms, as their chief, for a while at least. In the mean time, where was Alice? As soon as she could no longer hear sounds of - suit she sat up in the canoe, and seizing a dle, managed to keep it near the center of the turbulent stream, which bore it on with guest bg meer On—on the bark sped, with its fair burden; then, on rounding a bend, she beheld to her horror the foaming, roaring rapids She had not thought of them before, but now the peril of her situation dawned upon her in an in- stant. Alice was no coward, and with a firm hand on the paddle, and Serer 4 erect in the little craft she steered her way with the skill of an experienced raftsman, dextrously avoiding covered rocks that were more to be feared than those protruding out of water, She was midway in the roaring rapids, and peer- ing ahead for rocks, when she suddenly discovered two human heads and faces upon the uneven surface of the water—heads from which the eyes were protrud- ing strangely. And a shudder of terror crept over her when she perceived that they were coming toward her—up the stream | “Great ham-bone thet kerflummixed old Joner!" exclaimed the Annihilator. as he down the hill in the direction in which de ve Jaggers:had gone with his two charges. “ Hayr ar’ sumthin’ ter smell arter—sumthin’ ter chew yer cud on! Mis- ter Thomas Jefferson Jaggers a-totin’ of two females out frum a hoel in the mountain. An’ w’ars that hoel lead to, in the name of Zip Coon? Ar’ this neers a cattycomb, or sich, or tat g ¢ old man approached the fissure-like ; and peered ahe All was dark and silent within as the grave,
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Wild Ivan, the Boy Claude Duval. 21 “Quare kind of a place. Lucks as ef thar ht mig’ Speerita = — eee rits ee A Lng At be eae) ey ng- aggers cum out 0” , an’ that looks as if he war reskin them gals. Old Ava- — ye devastatin’ old ase o' ther peraries— ye destructive Injun eppydemick, shall ye rum yer smellin’ horn inter thet crypt? Shall ye whistle like a bullstifferous boreal breeze o’ extarmination inter thet burrer o’ hog-gobblins an’ decayed speerits?”’ Evidently such was his final conclusion, for he un; stealthily forward into the dense gloom that the narrow passageway. “Zebulum Zachariaher an’ all the he-rines 0’ mod- ern Grease! this ar’ wuss than livin’ in ther sun- shine o’ an ft ype countenance !"’ growled the scout, as he felt his way along, occasionally falling Pores over o Sine ae geod 3 a #€0! niggero a total eclipse o’ the sun. Not quite so bad as I encountered up in Idaho, onc't— no! not quite, Et war actooally so consarned thick wi’ blackness that my old mare Prudence got stuck, an’ thar we sot as immover'ble as a balky mule, un- | til ther sun riz an’ penetrated ter us, an’ thawed erway ther night. An’ ther black reflections o’ thet night didn’t wash off our countenances fer a week— fact, by gracious!"" And the old man chuckled or to himself as if | 8 he hugely wate the thoughts of such a situation. For some coming nearer each moment. The passaze was very narrow at this point—two persons could not pass without touching each other. The Annibilator percctred this, and with a grim chuckle drew his knife, and awaited the enemy's coming. One or the other must die. Nearer came the man; he was growling some un- intelligible words to himself, of whose import Ava- lanche was ignorant. At last they were but a pace apart; then the veteran guide leaped forward and bore the astonished road-agent to the ground. There was a short struggle, then a hollow groan, and springing nimbly to his feet, the Annihilator continued his journey. He, now, however, exercised more caution, and his footfalls were soft and stealthy as a cat's. Leaving the narrow passage soon after his en- counter with the road-agent, he sped along through a large chamber, where the echo of his tread was alarmingly loud. But he kept on, passing from one chamber into another; seemingly there was no limit to this inner-mountain honeycomb. The darkness was intense, but his eyes hecame so used to it that he could faintly distinguish objects a few feet before his face. Suddenly he made a discovery as he entered a narrow corridor. Far ahead shone like a star a jet of light. It was at the end of the passage, evidently, aud redoubling his stealth, the old man hurried on until at last he was within afew rods of it, Then he was able to determine whence it came. CHAPTER Xt. OUT OF BONDAGE—MERMAIDS. “Great ham-bone thet wrecked ther constitution ov old Joner!"” came involuntarily from the Annihi- lator’s lips. Just in front of him was a natural dungeon in the rocks, whose entrance was grated by a door of stout iron bars, The t emanated from a torch within this cell, which, thrust into a crevice of the wall, showered its bright light down upon a figure stretched upon a couch skings—none other than the imprisoned Prince of the Road—Deadwood Dick. And OM Avalanche recognized him at once, though several months had elapsed siace he had last seen him, while making a descent upon a Dead- wiGrest Zebulom Zackariaher! et’s ther dasted me he worked his way along, cautious. | ly, but at last he came to a standstill. Footsteps | were abe, Mg within the mountain, and | young road t chief, sure's bald heads ar’ pe- coolier ter old men!” the old adventurer muttered, leaning upon his rifle, and gazing meditatively to- ward the cell. ‘‘ Deadwood devastatin’ disease ay ‘ood ter interview his lordli- ness, S'pect "twouldn’t be any harm, onless he raised a boreal breeze!" It was several moments before he could decide whether it was best to apprise the young chief of his presence or not. Certain it was that Deadwood Dick was imprison- ed, and if not by his own band, whose then?—if this was not his stronghold, whose was it? The den of the Brotherhood of Death? No! the old man was sure that their haunts were located a few miles fur- ther east by north, as the crow flies; this then must be Deadwood Dick's own stronghold, or else he was a captive in the power of some other mountain gang of outlaws—for the northern wilderness was thickly infested with roving bands, The old guide thought over matters in his grim, quiet fashion; then stepping forward, he paused be- fore the iron grate, taking care to let his hands rest near his pistol belt, “Hello! young chap. Great ham-bone that clog- ed up old Joner’s windpipe! what aire ye doin’ thar? One'd a’most think ye was a prisoner!” Deadwood Dick leaped quickly to his feet. arous- ing from a drowse, into which he had fallen. His first jrapeessicn was that Leone had come to taunt him, and he steeled his heart to meet her calmly; but a second glance at the rough izzled face out- side the grating, convinced him of his error. ““Who are you?” he demanded, coming to the limits of his chain, “How did you come here? What do you want?” “One questyun at er time, Mr. Dickey 0’ Dead- wood, an’ ye shall be ans’ered, ef et takes till Grant its our next presidency. In ther fust place I am he general masheenry o’ that great acheevement notable as Old Avalanche, ther Great Injun Annihi- lator—ther awe-inspirin’ hailstarm o’ extarmination —ther dread infectious devastation ephydemic o' ther peraries. ager § read o’ me in ther rimmer an’ hymn books, ain’ e? I've two other - wheels o’ ther Annibilation, who aire not mekeuths in gear wi’ ther main construction, namely—m old mare, Prudence Cordeliar, and my ram us genus capery dorg, Florence Night-in-a-gale. “Secondly, I kim inter this consarned cattycomb thru a dasted nasty hoel in ther rocks, thet Tommis Jeff Jaggers went out o’. Thirdly, am in heer on a devastatin’ experdishun. wi’ a v’ew ter ext ing whatsumever I lay claws on—most uv all, s'archin’ fer a gal named Alice La Rue, an’ anuther ‘n’ named Edith Stone!” “Are you indeed Old Avalanche, the great scout?” cried Deadwood Dick, in surprise. ‘I have often heard of you.” “Ye have, eh? Wal, I presume s0, and y’u’re re- utation hain’t slouchy, my gay young cockolorum. t. what aire ye doin’ thar—rustycakin' for yer gel or rete a n’ i Renee “Tama prisoner, old man—in my own stronghold. The men whom I deemed true as stb, have Scr against me, and you see me locked up bere like a common thief!” replied Dick, bitterly, his handsome face darkening. “Phew!” Old Avalanche whistled, in rise, ““A prisoner, hey? I allus sed thar warn't much *onor amung thieves, an’ as thar aire allus an illus- —— tera ene lu ay 3 time ages I an’ Be. lykes war nin’ gold out over arfish last summer. gin war a fust-class pilgrim all ‘cept bis fingers. He would let ‘em becum magnetic—thet aire, w’en they layed onter a thing they stuck thar, ef ye warn't cluas by ter holp bim ¢lisentangle ’em,
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. and liberty.” _ turned to Deadwood Dick, who had resumed his re- " recaived a stunning whack beside the left ear that | 22 Wild Ivan, the Boy Claude Duval. An’ one day he got ‘em froze fast ter my rifle, a | There is one whom we must not leave behind us— white shirt, an’ fifteen ounces 0’ pure ariferous, an’ | one who claims my protection.” “ Yer red- headed wife, hey?” hevin’ ter suddenly depart fer Deadwood, hw nater- ally war cumpelied | ter take ’em along. Hain’t seen him since.” Deadwood Dick laughed heartily at the old veter- an’s story. He enjoyed hearing such yarns, and the companionship of just such odd characters as this notorious Annihilator. “That was bad, old gent. But are you not risk- | ing a good deal in coming here? If any of my band should discover you, you’d get bounced away in | double quick time.” | “Yas, no doubt; but this ‘ere devastatin’ eppy- demic ain’t on ther sick list yet. S’pose likely you'd | not be averse to leavin’ thet cell, eh? ‘Pears ter me ye’d sagaciate better out inter open air, whar a bo- real breez? c'u'd git at ye an’ purify yer gizzard.” “Tt would be agreeable, it’s a fact,” replied Dick, brightening a little. ‘But it is useless to think of getting out, when there are two locks between me Old Avalanche did not reply. He was busily en- H gaged in scrutinizing the padlock, which, with a stout-linked chain, fastened the gate. After a mo- mentary survey, he produced a piece of wire from a | buckskin pouch at his back, and bent it in the shape of a key of ths skeleton pattern. It failed to work on the first trial, and he was rebending it, when the | sounds of footsteps came echoing through the cavern, * Quick! get out of sight!” whispered Dick shrilly, and obeying the injunction Avalanche glided back into the blackness of the corridor through which he come, And not a bit too soon, for in another moment Carlos Cambre appeared, bearing a steaming repast of roast Leas earn ms 9 upon a server, and a bowl of fragrant coffee, which tickled the nostrils of the hid- ig (Se ee teeg tantalizingly. nlocking the door, the lieutenant entered the cell and deposited the tray upon the table, and then clining position upon the couch. “There, captain, is your meal, We do not mean to starve you, even though we hold you in durance,” Cambre said pleasantly. “You might as well withhold the grub and done with it!” was the cold reply. “Tam a prisoner, and bread and water will do.” “T will spsak to. my lady, and mayhap she can accommodate you!"’ sneered the other, as he backed out of the cell. “ We are not at all particular what eat. Then he would have locked the door, had not he | stretched him prostrate and insensible upon the hard, rocky floor. “Moses thet got bull-dozed!"exclaimed Avalanche, rubbing his fist dolefully. ‘Thet feller’s head war harder ’n ary niggero’s c’u'd ever be, by gracious! Nizh erbout dislocated a knuckle fer me} Jact! An’ | that cannot be. “No! Nevermore shall these men call me Dead- wood Dick, their chief. Once, old man, I had a band of as daring, faithful spirit; as ever rode a horse, but they were gradually killed off until the last one was gone. I added to my force, at each loss, such men a3 I thought would serve me true; but it’s an old Western saying, ted to Jack Barronnett, ‘ that there's no settin’ hen’s nest wi’out a bad egg ia it,’ and it has comp true in my case, But I forgot! | “No! she has a claim upon me no longer, Ava- lanche. It was by her orders that I was imprisoned in this dungeon, and it was the last act of her love forme. Hereafter our lives must be changed—our paths must diverge. In going with you from this rotto, I leave all behind for her use. Would to God could bury the past within these walls, too, But Come! we will go for Miss Stone, and then leave the cavern by the hs you came." “ Great ham-bone that corrupted Joner! Ther gal | ain't hayr, boy, ef et’s her ye mean;"’ and then, in as few words as possible, the Annihilator related what is already known to the reader—how he had seen Jaggers, with Edith and another female, with red hair, descend the mountain side. It was startling intelligence for the road-agent chief, for, although he had firmly resolved to for- ever separate himself from Leone, be did not wish any harm to befall her. ‘And this Jaggers—who is he?’ he demanded, ea: “Zebulom Z.) I hain’t ther infernalest idear, boyee, onless he’s a detective, which he looks like. T kinder smelt a rat when he war wi’ our train.” After a little more conversation, Veadwood Dick decided to go in search of a rifle, only lacking this, by having appropriated Cambre’s belt weapons. He was not gone long, soon returning with his own complete outfit, which he had fortunately discovered in his own chamber. Then, with Old Avalanche, he set out on his de- parture from the grotto. On the way, the Annihilator, in his quaint style, related all of importance concerning the massacro of the emigrant-train, and the battle of the road- agent hunters with the Indians, dwelling particu- larly upon the astonishing prowess of old Prudence Cordelia and Florence Night-in-a-gale. sine they emerged trom the grotto onto the mountain-side, much to Deadwood Dick's surprise, awk had never known of the existence of such an outlet. After a short consultation, in which it was decided to hunt up Jaggers and his two companions, Old Avalanche struck into the bear-path trail, that ran obliquely down the mountain-side, and trotted brisk- ly along, Deadwood Dick following at a safe distance behind, for he did not wish to encounter Leone. It was a discovery of a startling nature that Alice La Rue made, and for the moment she could not credit the perfectness of her vision; but it did not take her long to assure herself that they were really human heads and faces, there upon the misty surface of the rapids, and live heads and faces, too. For as her canoe glided closer, a yvoice—unmistak- ably that of a man—sung out. lustily: “Hello! whar ye goin’, gal? Seen anythin’ o’ a couple 0’ miser’ble jackasses as were fule enuff ter stem this yere stream? Hold up! don’t git skeert. We're human, w'at’s above water. This critter aside me aire Susan BR, Anthony, a Cheroky gal, an’I’m Josiah William Ross Wallace Hogg—ther great poet o' ther Powder river range; Hogg in all cases bein’ spelt wi’ two g's!” . Alice screamed, and endeavored to guide her canoe to one side, in order to avoid coming in contact with the two frightful bodiless objects, but they antici- i her, and also changed their course to intercept er. “Ye needen’t be erfraid,” reiterated Josiah, blow- ing and spluttering like a porpoise, while Sue's eyes gleamed like coals of fire. ‘ We ain’t no elerfants, nor merm’ids, nor nuthin’ o' ther kind, We're jest two ordinary mortals, as ar’ tryin’ ter penetrate Wild Ivan’s camp. Sue, hayr, hes got a hornit ter buzz in ther young feller's ear. As Moar sed;
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* ther trail o' ennything, an’ he was boun Wild Ivan, the Boy Claude Duval. 23 “* She's got er ag'in’ him, Ter ther Se ae him, An’ wi’ skulpin'-knife she'll skin him, Ther dirty beast he is!’"’ And the hunter gave a huge ay in which Sue joined, much to Alice's horror, for t oy apy 80 strange and grotesque that she could not well be- lieve them human, With almost superhuman strength she forced the canoe to one side, hoping against hope that she could get past them, “ Keep off! keep off!” she screamed, and raising her paddle she swung it aloft, and brought it down fiercely upon the four hands that would bave grasp- ed hold the edge of the canoe. There was a how! of pain, and the next moment she was safely out of reach of the two water-figures, and spent ing swiftly along through the misty, spray- ing rapids. Srocks now became fewer, and the water less swift, and finally the canoe glided along so serenely that she took her seat, and managed its course at ease. “Thank God Tam out of that peril—out of Wild Tvan’s cruel clutches!" she gasped, as she was borne along, and she couldn’t see no signs of pursuers. “If T can only get out onto the prairie where I can get a glimpse of the sun, I shall know which way to start to find Deadwood.’ For perhaps an hour she floated around, having only occasionally to use the paddle to keep the canoe steady. Presently the gorge began to grow a trifle wider, and ina few moments more her boat glided alo between two level tree-fringed shores, upon one 0: which she was horrified to discover several Seneew, which were res ae undi ishable on accoun of the falling ht, ee about and arranging camp, while others were building a rousing fire. And one man was at the water’s edge, making his ablutions, She cou'd not hope to pass without discovery. CHAPTER XII. IN THE GLADE—CHOOSING FOR LIFE AND DEATH. Otp Avalanche and Deadwood Dick descended the mountain-side rapidly. The old scout found that Jaggers had not kept to the old bear-path, but had diverged and gone more directly down the declivi- tous hill, lea’ a trail, however, that was followed Dick followed at a short distance in the rear, as much on the alert, perhaps, as the Annihilator him- self. “Thet Jagrers is a cuss!” Avalanche remarked, as they went along. “He ar'a pestiferous beast, noted fer as many pecoollarities as a frolicsome goat—like my Florence Night-in-a-gale, fer illustra- tion; thet is, ef he’s a detective, an’ sumhow et strikes me he is.” ‘*What grounds have you for such suspicion?” asked Dick, thoughtfully. “Ken't eggsactly explain, boyee, only I've got a consarned ijee thet he belongs ter thet set o’ durned scullions as make er livin’ by pryin' inter other peo- = bizness. I once knowed one o’ them fellers up Wyoming, an' he war a teetotal cuss, ef evyer thar was one. “His name was Tom Plummer, an’ yer Led him on ter rut et out. Buthe got arter thet young road-agent, Jack Sheppard, Jr., an’ one mornin’ we found his head a settin’ on top o'a fence-post, but couldn't find nary a shadder o' his carcass! * Jack eran: Junior, eh?" —— Dick, as they t,at a motion from the guide. “*Ionce read in a yellow-covered book of J: Sheppard the hit happen Is this Junior a chip from the old lock? “Great Zebulom Zack, yes. He beats all cusses for true cussedness thetevyer I litonter. But, drop- in’ thet subject, hayr we be at a lattytude an’ igytoad constigeous ter our beasts an’ birds o° pre a pg ek hess, nae? og down eaten “ hake 6 ther old hoss kicks geograffl an’ ruther think she do,”’ -y ni * any do you think they're in this thicket?" de- manded Dick, peering into the dense wilderness of young mr sy which were grown so closely ether as to render a passage between them exceedingly difficult. “Why dolI?_ Waal, as ther hen sed o' ther skunk, Ismeli'em, Just open your nostrils an’ inhale a good sniff o’ thes ‘ere boreal atmosphere,” Deadwood Dick obeyed, but could scent nothing but what was ae to the woodland—nothing calculated to betray the presence of humans other than themselves, “Ye don’t smell nuthin’? questioned Avalanche, watching narrowly. ‘ Wal. thet’s because yer pow- ers o' perfumery aire faint. Now, w'en ye've lost yer ears, like this devastatin’ old disease o’ ther pe- varies, yer smellin’ faculties wull become more acute. Now, /smell terbaccer smoke, which tells me thet Thomas Jeff. Jaggers aire in thes ’ere thicket— so come erlong, an’ we'll investigate matters.” * But hold, scout; if this man is a detective, Ima; be the very chap he is searching after; besides, mene no desire to come in contact with Leone, my wife.” ‘Bosh! fiddle-dee-dee, boy; you'll cum around all right wi’ ther gal; an’ as fer thet Jaggers, he'll not give away any o’ his free lunch while yer uncle's soarin’ in ther boreal atmosphere. Come along; nore 0’ rer funny_ bizness;" and the next moment the Annihilator had plunged into the thicket, Deadwood Dick followed with some reluctance, for he dreaded a meeting with Leone; with Jaggers it was different. He was a man, and could be dealt with accordingly. He dreaded to meet Leone, for fear he should be harsh and cruel, where heretofore he had been kind and loving—for her one act had imbittered his heart toward her, and he no longer looked upon her as a true, faithful and loving litle wife. Avalanche pushed ahead through the brush and thicket of saplings with grim determination, and at last came into a very small opening in which, as he had prommeeied, Jagger and the girls were seated— the detective puffing away reflectively at his pipe, while Edith and Leone were occupying positions in front of him. : But he sprung to his feet with a curse as the vete- ran Annihilator and Dick made their debut, and there also came a cry of astonishment from edith and Deadwood Dick's wife—the first a cry of sur- prise and joy—the other acry of surprise, wonder and indignation. * Hello! halt, there!’ commanded J. rs, draw- ing and cocking a pair of formidable-looking revoly- ers, ‘ What do you want? Ha! by my soul! it is Old Avalanche, the guide!” “Yes, Thomas Jeffersonian, et's thet same old contagious eppydemic—ther whoopin’, roarin’ boreal disease o’ devastation w'at patrols these ‘ere hemis- ferrical lattytudes an’ longytoads.” And the old man stalked fearlessly forward, fol- lowed by young Harris, despite the fact that the muzzles of the two grim six-shooters were leveled upon them threateningly. “Well, what brings you here?’ again demanded Jaggers, his tone not the most. pleasant imaginable, “ And who is that ra fellow with you?” “T can best answer that last question iigrim |" replied Dick, fearlessly exposing himself, “IT am that notorious young reprobate people call Dead- wood Dick, the Prince of the Koad, at your ser vioe,?? as Had a bomb exploded at his feet just then, or an angel descended from cloudland, the detective could have been more astonished. * You Deadwood Dick?" he gasped, turning whira and red by turns,
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‘old Horse Greeley’s advice—only be sure an’ turn 24 Wild Ivan, the Boy Claude Duval. bet | happen to represent that amiable young gen- tloman,” was the laughing reply, something of Dick’s old reckless self returning at the moment. x Apparently, the intelligence affects you disagree- ably!’ “No, young man; on the contrary, it affects my purse quite agreeably; forif oa are Deadwood Dick, then I, as a detective of the U. 8. Secret Service, and by that peeled vested in me, do arrest you for high- iA robbery and high-handed murder!" aying which, the Secret Service man advanced a pace, then paused—hesitated, as he caught a glimpse of the strange fire that burned in the eye of Dead- wood Dick—a fire that seemed poisonous. **Great ham-bone thet dislocated ther larnyx of Old Joner}” came from the Annihilator, “ Jest punc- tuate whar ye be, Tommis Jefferson, ef ye valley thet aire cranium ther Lord bequeathed ye. Jest step onter a period or a exclamation pint, an’ let | thet suffice, ef ye don’t expressly desire ter rub yer constitution ag’in’ a snag: fer I'm tellin’ ye thet Dick’s a cuss—a regylar, dubbel-axion compressed brick, infused wi’ ther essence o’ distilled devil an’ white lightnin’! Why. sir, thar’s the time over in | Deadwood, when old Nig Warley spit in his face, ‘ca'se Dicky hayr refused ter absorb moisture, an’ jes’ ’s true’s ther boyee stands thar, sir, all he did war ter wink thet left eye o’ his’n, an’ Warley war knocked stiff wi’ a stroke o’ paralysister, and kedn’t move till Dick winked his right eye, when he war all htag’in, fact!” one parson laughed, and that was Dick. He stood facinz Jaggers with that provoking dauntless- ness characteristic of him, one hand taid upon a re- | volver butt, the other hanging by his side. He was calm and cool, even when facing death. Jaggers stood undecided—Edith and Leone had rung to their feet, the former pale and anxious, | the latter watching even as the eagle watches its prey before making a downward swoop. Avalanche | occupied a side position in the scene, and his hand also gripped a revolver, for hs was resolved that no harm should come to young Harris, to whom he had taken a sudden liking. ] “Well, what are you going to do about it?” de- | manded Dick, after a full minute’s silence. ‘The | situation is becoming monotonous. If you have an | idea you would liks to take me, why sail in and do it—if you are confident that you cm!” “You are my prisoner. Five thousand dollars is the mee set upon your head, and I have been sent | out hero to arrest you for your various crimes!” re- plied Jaggers, impressively. “‘ You will find it to your advantage to yield without attempted resist- ances. “* Yes, marm!" was thelaconic reply. ‘* Wouldn't you like nee to bind and gag myself, and go and de- ver myself to the Deadwood authorities, statin that you wera entitled tothe reward. Woul?»'t tha be nice, now?” And Deadwood Dick's wild laugh literally made the welkin ring. “Task nothing of the kind. All I want is that you offer no resistance. Asa gentleman, you will grant my request.” “Come on, then, and test the qualities of a thor- ough Black Hills gentleman, if you think to find fools plenty, sir detective,” replied Dick, coolly. “That man who will tamely yield to another, be he villain or saint, is a cowardly dog, in my opinion.” Great ham-bone thet perpared Joner’s obituary! an’ mine, too!” declared Avalanche; “a feller 's ken’t hold his own side o’ ther whiffle-tree ain’t cast fer these peraries. Tommis, I'd advise ye ter adopt yer heels terward ther settin’ sun.” “Tam not taking advice at present, old man!” Jaggers replied stiffly. ‘Come! sir road-agent, will you elve up without useless resistance?" ‘*When the crows come home, yes!” mded Dick, with a chuckle, ‘‘ Now, see hree, detective, this case is — plain. You, as a representative of justice, are desirgus of adding my name to your list | of bats wo and I, as a free and easy -F0 road- agent—though, henceforth I lay no claim that profession—am equally desirous that you shall not; which leaves only one way to settle the case.” “Exactly. And that way is—"’ * Death! It must be either your life or mine, If the lot fall to me, I'm willing to pass in my checks. Life no longer holds any fascination for me, since the treachery and baseness of yonder woman, my wife. If i are elected to death, you must chaw her down like aman. Do you accept?” “Yes, Name the plan.” “Tt isthis. Here area full deck of cards. Ava- lanche will shuffle them; then we will each draw until one of us gets the ace of spades. The other man must then place a revolver muzzle in his mouth, whereupon the lucky winner will pull the trigger.” Jaggers bowed. He was desperate—somethin seemed to tell him he was going to win; it was life or death, anyhow. Old Avalanche shuffled the cards, and placed them | upon an old stump. “Thar ye aire, gentlemen. Pull away, an’ ther Lord go with ther unlucky one as don’t git ther spades." Jaggers reached forth and took the top card, with alaugh, It was the Queen of Diamonds. Deadwood Dick took the next, and thus the draw- ing continued. The pack began to diminish in size very rapidly; still that fatal ace of spades remained undrawn, “Great ham-bone thet wrecked ther constitoochin o’ Joner!" gasped the Annihilator, watching with most intense interest. ‘Pull thet spade, Dicky, ef ye vally ther stars an’ stripes. Don’t let thet Jeffer- sonioan git it, or ye’re a goner, sure’s thar’s insects in thes ‘ere air” “Tt matters little to me who gets it, old man,” re- puss Dick, carelessly. ‘‘As I said before, life no longer ‘holds that fascination for me that it once did. We've all got to contribute to the great eternal debt, some time—a few hours, days or years make but lJit- tle difference to one whose life another has rendered unhappy.” “*Thet's ther moral an’ the religious truth, boy,” replied the Avnihilator. “I’ve known incidents already ~whar henpecked husbands would go an’ | swaller bed-bug p’izen or arsenic, or sum sich, jest ter relieve ’em o’ their domesticated deefikilties. Sad aire the fate o’ ther man who hitches himself inter harness wi’ a female woman—sadder’n a two- year old bumble-bee w’at’s bin takin’ a Turkish bath in sour buttermilk, or a South Car'liny 'tater-bug thet’s underwent a course o° bulldozin’ by Kansas shoppers—y7s, sires /” Edith and Leone were intensely interested and most anxious spectators. Leone perceived now, for the first, that her jeal- ousy and unwomanly act had rendered Deadwood Dick perfectly reckless—that be was angry, and re- garded her as little better than a traitor; and then came the sweeping knowledge of her wild passionate love for him, and the fear that she had gone too far —too far for her to hope for redemption. But what could she do? Jaggers had bound her hands and feet, and she was unable to move. In desperation she turned to Edith, who stood close by, pale and Sembiing hoping against hope that Dead- wood Dick would draw the fatal ace of spades, “Girl! Leone whispered, an awful horror wellin, up into her eyes, “you love that man—my husband; I know it, so make no denial. For the love of God, then. snatch away the cards, and prevent a murder. Quick, or you will be too late!” Edith heard and heeded, even though she was growing faint and dizzy. She sprung forward to do the act of mercy—the last act for him she loved so well, but, grim and im- movable, the Annihilator stood in her path and put her back. “No ye don’t, gal!" he said, in his rough but kind
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_ — way. “No foul gougin’. Don't be oneasy, tho’, Fo pa ‘s ther lad thet’s sure ter flop ther ace, you Three cards lay upon the stump, and it was Dick's draw. Coolly, self-possessed, fearlessly he picked up one, Ae was the three-spot clubs. Jaggers drew the next, and there was a devilish jubilance in his face as he held up—the ace of spaces All saw it; Deadwood Dick bowed his acknowledg- ment of defeat, not changing a particle in color; Avalanche groaned—he had so missed his calcula- tions; Edith and Leone both screamed, the latter bursting into violent sobs. “You have won!”? Deadwood Dick said, calmly, draw. and cocking one of bis revolvers, ‘and my life shall pay the forfeit. Leone, my wife, may you Jead a happier life with some one else, and find a truer mate. Miss Stone—Avalanche, fare thee well and remember the poor fool clothed in the guise of Deadwood Dick!" Then, there, when the setting sun was shooting its last lingering rays of light into the thicket glade, the young Prince of the Road thrust the revolver muz- zie into his mouth, and motioned for Jaggers of the U. S. Secret Service to pull the fatal trigger! CHAPTER XIII. SAVAGE ALLIES—FATHER AND SON—REUNION, Anour the same hour that has witnessed the events last described, Wild Ivan, the Boy Fiend, was gallop- ing through the level tract of country at the base of the mountain foothills, mounted upon his thorough- bred black, his dusky face dark and grim, his Ii ay set in firm compression, his eyes gleaming evilly. What was he doing here so far from the strong- hee of the Brotherhood. Surely some mischief is afoot. And ere long its nature became manifest, for when the night-shades were yearn! around him thickly, and the young moon for the first thrust its crescent up over the western horizon, he drew rein in an Indian encampment, in the heart of a little motte of cottonwood timber on the prairie. A bright fire burned in the center of the camp, which was surrounded by some six or eight skin lodges, and gathered around the fire were at least a hundred savages, among whom two appeared to ex ert the power of chieftaincy, All were clad ia half- elyil garb, and well armed, and it was evident they were a party of loafing vagabonds detached from some other tribe of red-men. But the two chiefs seemed to recognize Wild Ivan, and one, who spoke wonderful English for a red- skin, welcomed the Boy Fiend heartily. “ Panther berry glad to see you,” he said, making room upon a log by the fire. “ Been keeping braves in waiting for three days—eber since got whipped by road-agent hunters,’ “Yes, I expected to find you here,” replied the ‘oung outlaw, running his eye over the assembled raves, ‘And I have come to talk with ye about these same road-agent hunters. We must clear them out!” “Ugh! Boy chief speak trufe berry much. White dogs kill many ob Panther’s braves. He take um scalps. He roast ’em!”’ ; “Good for he Rivers!" the young Fiend replied, enthusiastically, ‘‘and I have still another plan, You are of course aware of the existence of the so- called Brotherhood of Death?” “Yes, Panther heard much about de pale-face evils.’ “Well, Lhave been elected chief of said Brother- hood, in the place of Bill Blood, deceased. But I don’t like their style, and as they have an immense treasure somewhere, I propose to lay them all out, and then hunt the treasure, Listen! And then, in a low tone, the Boy Fiend unfolded his plot to the chief, who listened, eagerly, ion- Wild Ivan, the Boy Claude Duval. ally giving vent to his approval by a grunt or a nod. | ee Half an hour later, [van mounted hig horse and rode back over the route hehadcome. Occasional- ly, as he Eecres along, he would chuckle to him- self, and his eyes would gleam brighter. But by and by his thoughts were rudely vena abit remy j In passing through a Ss ig tch of timber, his horse was suddenly seized by the reins, and jerked back upon its haunches, nearly unseating the rider. Quickly be drew a revolver, but it was knocked from his hand an instant later, while a man stood by his side, one of the same deadly instruments in lis hand, leveled, and at full cock, “ Hold on, young man!” cried the stranger, resolve expressed in his tone, “* None of your pretcy capers. Just be quiet and reasonable, and all will go well!” The Boy Fiend started violently at sound of the man’s voice, and bent forward, endeavoring to peer into the face which the darkness hid from view, “Oh! you needn't look eo sharp; it’s me—your fa- ther!” declared the unmistakable voice of Colonel Grafton Stone. “I’ve been on the hunt for you ever since you massacred our train, and killed your own mother!” “Ha! did the old laey, turn up her toes, theny Well I'm sorry, but it couldn't be helped, you know!" was the young wretch's indifferent observation. “The Brotherhood of Death never do things by halves. Pity they hadn’t wiped you out at the same time, you old villain!” “You are kind in your wishes,” sneered the elder Stone, “They would have undoubtedly killed me, had I not played *possum, as Avalanche did, But, boy, have you seen the girl?” * The girl?” “Yes—ha! I remember, now; you took her from the train, before 1 fainted. What became of her?" “Oh! you refer to my amiable cousin, eh? Well, I know nothing of her, I got chased, and had to drop her. A young devil named Deadwood Dick ap- propriated her, I expect!" “The devil! I would not have lost her for a for- tune. Indeed, a fortune is dependent upon her re- covery.” “How d'ye mean? I fail to comprehend,” the young outlaw said, eagerly. “Listen, then, and 1 will tell you. When my brother went to Europe, he was only, well-to-do in the world, and left beliind him his daughter, at the time placed in a private boarding-s¢bool, where she was receiving the finishing touches of her education In Europe Milt was most fortunate in speculation, and in two years had secured a fortune of a million dollars. “Then I became envious, and laid a plan to rob him of a part of this wealth, Of our family there were three brothers, Milt, William and myself, and Milt proved to be the least scoundrel of the three. Bill came West, years ago, and as Bill Blood, a ruf- fian, achieved a reputation second to none, My pod- igree—well, it is not wholly spotless,”’ “For once you speak the truth,” replied the Boy Fiend, with a h less laugh. “ You are a devil on earth, and I’m no better!” * Well, however that might be,” continued the col- onel, ‘as I said before, I planned to obtain some of mis wealth which, as I looked at it, was rightfully mune, * He had left me in charge of his estates, on his departure for Europe, and by forging his name | converted them all into cash, stole his daughter, and brought her to our home in Cincinnati, and thence to Cleveland where you first met her. Milt returned and got wind of my villainy, and set officers on_my track; so I had to clear out and come West, You remember the young scout, Tornado Tom, who met the girl in Cincinnati and fell in love with her? He is along, also.” “Yes, curse him. Had he not turned her you head, I might have stood a better chance!"’ grow the wa savagely. “Well, nevermind, my son, With your co-o ra- tion, we can yet get the girl, and I will | the
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26 Wild Ivan, the Boy Claude Duval. purse of Milton Stone to its utmost mit, while you can take sweet revenge upon h-r for jilting you.” “Good! old man; it shall be as you say. But you must first pea ea me to my stronghold, where I have other work to do.” After some further consultation, the vile father was mounted upon the back of the horse behind his viler son, and the twain rode away toward the mountain stronghold of the Brotherhood of Death, We left Alice La Rue drifting duwn the Little Ma- drass, in sight of the camp upon the shore, and ina state of alarm at h+r situation. Her recent escape from peril had left her quite unmanned, and now she was again thrown into a state of excitement, Were those upon the shore enemies? This was a quastion of great moment to her. Friends she would gladly greet, but enemies she had no dasire to encounter. For a moment she checked the progress of her canoe with the paddle, at loss how to act. If she at- tempted to pass the camp she would be discovered. She could not retrace her way up the stream on ac- count of its swiftness; the opposite bank was high and beetling, so that she could not scale it. At last, in desperation, she drove the frail craft forward over the waters with a strong stroke, re- solved to make the venture of passing. But the man at the water's edge saw her, and gave a shout that brought his companions to his e, * Helto, thar!’’ shouted a man's voice; ‘slow up, gal. Whar ye goin’?" The thought suddenly flashed across the fugitive’s brain that they were a part of the terrible Brother- hood, and with firm, compressed lips she used her paddle the faster. On over the water the canoe shot, yielding grace- fully to the fair rower's strokes, “By Jerusalem!” cried Jolly Jack, who with Sher- wood, Red Kit and the other road-agent hunters, s'00d upon the bank and gazed in wonder at the flying oarswoman, “t's a durned lilkely-lookin’ white gal, sart’in sure. What on ‘arth kin she be doin’ up in this outlandish region?” No one answered; all were too intent in gazing at the beautiful maiden in the boat. But suddenly, as Alles half-turned her white, scared face toward them, Red Kit gave vent to a yell that made the mountains rine. “Tt’s Alice!” he cried, dancing around excitedly — “it’s my gal—Alica, surer'n preachin’, Stop her, some one!’ And the next instant the hunter leaped out into the stream, and swam desperately in pursuit of the canoe, yelling at the top of his lungs. Cheering him on, a number of the rangers set out on arun along the shore, adding their shouts to the howls of the swimmer, and thereby increasing the terror of r Alica, who, ignorant that she was pur- sued by friends instead of enemies, exerted herself to the utmost to keep her frail craft under swifter motion than her pursuers. “ Keep 'er a-goin’, Kitsie!"’ roared Jolly Jack, from the shore, * Ye’r’ bound ter win therrace! Great ——— cause none of them had seen her leap swiftly from the boat into the stream, over which the shroud of night had fallen; none saw her, and consequent! she was enabled to reach the shore, which at this point she found accessible. Once be age terra firma she breathed freer, and pausing she wrung the water from her garments. Across the stream which had here attained con- siderable width, she could distinctly hear the yells of those she ii to be her enemies, “Thank Heaven I have escaped again,” she mur- mured, shivering from the effects of her cold bath. “Tonly hops I can reach the es before day- be i, there danger is not so thick as in these moun- ains. P After assuring herself that noone had witnessed her escape, she stole silently away down the shore, which gradually grew wilder and was covered with thickets and scraggy timber. The darkness was intense and it was only by a sense of feeling that she could drag herself along, but she kept on, resolutely, resolved to move until her strength gave out. And it was not long until this climax was reached: and, utterly fatigued and exhausted, she was forced to pause and rest. Dropp! upon the leaves at the foot of a great cottonwood, she soon felt the drowsi- ness of coming slumber stealing over her, and unable to shake off the apa; it was not many moments ere she was sound asleep. How long she had slept she knew not, but she awakened with a start, to find herself in strange sur- roundings. She had been reclining upon a bundle of blankets, near a tg fire, that sent out great warmth, and over the fire a haunch of savory veni son was roasting, emitting a peculiar flavor that greeted her sensitive nostrils most ae The cooking process was under the charge of a sturdy, bewhiskered man, seeing which she glanced around to discover a group of a dozen others, in au- other a es of the camp engaged in earnest con- versation. One of these men came hastily forward when it was seen that she had aroused from her s!umber, and she had the satisfaction of seeing that they were none of the Brotherhood. And the nearer the man came the more familiar grew his looks, until at last she sprung to her feet with a glad, ne ba cry. “Wather! father!" “ Guess 90, gal!’’ and Red Kit clasped the fair girl in a loving embrace. - re never expect ter see ye ag'in, my rose- pud,’ * But, how came I here?” Alice demanded, in won- derment. ‘The last I remember was of drop ping down pow a pile of leaves under a great tree, where I must have fallen asleep.” “So you did, gal, an’I snook up an" fetched ye inter camp,” rep. ied Red Kit, dancing and capering about like an animated school-boy. Then followed explanations in general between rent and child, both of whom were overjoyed at heir reunion. Columbia! whar’s the gal?” Alice was suddenly and mysteriously gone from her seat in the canoe. “She's laid flat, Injun fashion!” cried back Red Kit. “But [’ll soon let her know she can't foolish wi’ her daddy.” | Rapidly he swam on, and unaided by paddle, the canoe merely rode along with the waves. Soon he was near enough to grasp a hold of the shell, and the next moment he g over into it with an ectant grin. But a yell of astonishment simultaneously pealed from his lips. as he made the startling discovery that the canoe was empty and— Alice was gone / “And where was she bY ‘This question none of the rangers could solve, be- Grim S20tt Sherwood and Jolly Jack soon came up and were introduced, and from the first it might have been noticed that Alice’s wondrous beauty and winning ways had made an impression upon the for- mer, for his eyes lighted when she chatted to him, and something of his habitual grimness wore away. CHAPTER XIV. NOT DICK—THE PARTING, “Hoxp on, for the love of God do not kill my hus- band, sir!” eried Leone Harris, as Tom J rg step- ped forward to perform his part of the death duel. * Have mercy—s him for my sake!” - No. madera eatine l ay rer a : one rs) umph ove 4 eatures, ‘‘I cannot desist. oven for sake. There is a reward of four thousand do offered for the head of Dead-
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Sone? and who has a better right to earn it, than IY” He sprung forward, and made a pass at the pistol, whose Pais was within the teeth of the young road-agent, but simultaneously there was the sharp report of a pistol, and the Secret Service man went to the ground In a heap. He gave only one gasp—then his features grew set in expression, his eyes glassy, and limbs rigid, and he was dead. But who was the assassin? This question was evidently answered as Old Ava- lanche restored a still hagnwinn, | revolver to his belt, * You /” cried Harris, grimly. “Great ham-bone thet Joner chawed ther meat from, yes!" replied the Annihilator, screwing his into a comical grin, ‘Et went agin’ my na- tur’ ter see ye drapped out o’ time, so I jest con- Faded ter electrify thet detective cuss. - No offense, ope." ns ly none on my account. But it was hard- ly fair play, takin’ the feller off in that style.” “ Ken't see it so, boyee, ‘All fair in love or war,’ they say. Anyhow thet’s w'at Sial Clisby told my brother Josiah, w'en he kicked him down-stairs be- cause he had stayed too late a-courtin’ Matilda Jane, an’ Josiah sed he waz pretty well convinced afore he reached ther fust landin’ thet it war.” “Is he really dead?" asked Edith, coming timidly forward, and gazi sorrowfully at the stiffening form of the Secret Service man. “Yes, Miss Eda—de’der'n a baked clam aire thet representative o’ ther U.S.S.S8. I put a punctua- tion p’int right in over his left temple, an’ he flopped his trump keerd, immegetly. Oh! I’m a rooster, gal - A treed devastatin’ disease thet sweeps like a small- sized earthquake over these boreal lattytoods an’ longytoads. Sorry ter displace ther ig sev ° Tormmises callender, but [hed ter give Dicky hayr a life insurance policy, ye parseeve. An’ ef them pretty eyes o’ yourn don't lie, I speculate you ain’t at all sorry ther boyee’s still among ther saints on earth. Hey, little galy—an' ther same ter you, Mrs. Deadwood Dick.” Edith blushed, and her heart beat faster, for she was conscious that the eyes of the young Prince of the was upon her. Why was it, that when- ever she was in bis presence her whole being was thrilled with such a strange ecstatic feeling—a grand overpowering sensation of joy—a sensation of hap- piness almost sublime? Poor girl! Hopelessly she had allowed herself to drift on, not for a moment reckoning the cost—her mad love for this youthful outlaw burning brighter each moment, and gaining strength when it should have been crushed out of existence. Ay, she blushed at the words of the old scout, but it was the blush of love—and her eyes lit up won- drously, as she replied: “T am very glad, indeed, that he has escaped so terrible a fate, even at the cost of another life!" And the glance that she darted at Deadwood Dick thrilled him, strong as was his command over his emotions, men are ‘‘ the sterner sex,” it is some- times rather hard to frown down the fascination of a pretty woman; and so Dick found it. Before him were two women. ris, rather, of opposite temper- aments; Leone, be loved with a tender, never-tiring devotion; Edith, he saw, loved him with girlish im- petuosity, and while he was secretly pleased, he was ved that no word, look or action should be given her as encouragement. “Tam thankful to escape death, my friends,” he said candidly. ‘I would not be human, if otherwise. Tt seems that my life of late has been one continu- ous series of pe, and surely I ought to be thankful to my God for all extended mercies, and I am, Henceforth may no spot be put upon the name of Edward Harris, for from this day he is no longer a road-agent—no longer an outlaw, if his fellow-men will let him alone. Avalanche, please bear me wit- ness to this declaration. “If they will let me alone,I pledge my word— Wild Ivan, the Boy Claude Duval. and God knows I never yet willingly broke it~ that I will leave them alone—them. the people. But if they strike me on account of the past, I will strike them back—to the dea h !” 3 mats Ike fer you, boyee! Great ham-bone thet demo: Joner! course I'll bear ye witness, an’ any one’t sez ye ain’t the durndest young ga- loot as ever rid a jack-mule, ’s a dasted ornery liar, an’ hayr’s ther great Norweegan snow-flake as kin back it—ther orful, cavortin', rampageous Avalancbe o’ annihilation thet cum down ter in- oculate ther disease o’ extarmination hayr'bouts, on ther back uv O Rory Borey Alice.” Deadwood Dick bowed, and restored his revol- ver to its holster, while be drew a keen knife in place. Stepping forward, he quickly cut Leone's mds, and assisted her to rise. “Thank you,” she said, simply. Something warn- ed her to make no display of emotion. ‘“ You are kind,”’ Then, when tears were swelling into her eyes, and she would have turned away, Deadwood Dick spoke to her—in the cold, measured tones she had feared—expected, yet hoped would not come—from him whom she now realizad she loved—sorehiped. “Leone,” he said babe her by that one word, “T would speak with you before vou go. Right here our paths in life must diverge; you to go one way, and I another. You need not ask me why, Leone, for you know full well. Your jealousy led you into the commission of an act that no true, loving wife would have done. I did not mind the La ge te —it was only the vee occasioned i, Bice thought that you had put me there. Had it been for your good, I would have willingly remained there a life- ime.” Here the voice grew hoarse, and a moisture gath- ered in his eyes, while Leone burst Into tears, “Oh! Ned. lam sorry—so sorry. Forgive me and take me back—oh! for the love of God, do not desert me|”” “In our separation I am not deserting yor. Le- one!” Deadwood Dick went on, calmly, though it was perceptible bow much he was agitated. “It was you who deserted me. I, too, am sorry, for my own sake and for yours. We were very py to- gether, until—until—until—” “This girl came and stole your love away from me!” burst forth Leone, hotly, “Oh! that the thing was dead /” It was Edith’s turn now to cry, for she well knew that she was the cause of this unhappiness, “Miss Stone did not steal my love away, Leone,” Dick went on. “That woman never was born who could win my love from you. You were blindly, in- sanely jealous, and owe this parting to r Cee will shoulder part of the blame, and so let us part. At the grotto you can find a home, and you know where my gold is concealed, Take it and my bless- ing, for it Is all I have to give you.” . * Oh! my God! do not leave me, husband,”’ sobbed Leone, piteously, falling upon her knees and bow- ing her head upon her hands. ‘1 am sorry, and acknowledge my fault. Fut I love you as much as Lever did, and it will kill me if you leave me.” “T fearno serious results, or I should not leave you. You are yet young, and life re up a bright future for you, for in leaving you, I give you your maiden liberty. Marry whenever it ap gp oy and have no fear that I shall ever enforce my claim.” Then, after imprinting a kiss upon the forehead of the weeping girl wife, he turned to Avalanche: “Old man, J am grateful to you, and would like to continue our acquaintance.” But as it is * heed duty to see to the safety of Miss Stone, I will leave you till you of her,”’ “Karect, Dicky, but I want ter see ye ag‘in, in a few days, fer I've a speculation I want ye ter fine me io, whar thar’s heeps o’ fun an’ money. me ten ka frum now at Bell creek ford, at Then we'll cuss and discuss matters at length.” “ Well, then, so be it. Now, good-by.” «
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Wild Ivan, the Boy Claude Duval. Saying which the young man gave his hand to the Annihilator, who wrung it heartily, and then to Edith, who was weeping softly to herself. “@ood-by, Miss Stone,” Dick said, scarcely return- ing the warm pressure of her haud. “I um sorry your visit to the West has resulted so inauspiciously and hope that you will soon forget these painful matters.”” Edith did not reply. She was too full for utter- ance, and as Dic vont on to Leone, her sobs broxe out afresh, and she wept as though her heart _ would break. Dick took Leone’s hand in his, and again kissed her upon the forehead tenderly. “Do not ery, little woman,’ he sald, even though there were tearsin his own voice, “Bear up, and God will bless you, as [ always shall. Your wan shall ever b3 provided for, and I will some tir write to you. Thera, now, cheer up, and for the sake | of our little futura D2adwood Dick, ba brave!” Then came a last passionate kiss, and yearning em»rac3; then as the shaiows thick2ne1 in the val- ley ani crept up the mountain-sile, Daadwood Dick was gone—zong, and left behind him two sobbing women, who loved him witha wild love that was in itself a worship. It was som3 moments after his departure, that Avalanchs broks the spoll, in his ruds, uncouth way: “Come! coms! gals! Great ham-bone thet bull- dozed old Joner! thar’s no uss a-bellerin’ over one gona ‘coo. Thar's plenty o’ mors trout in ther stream o’ matrimonay, an’ two sich likely-lookin’ fe nales as ye aire, orter know how ter snatch ‘em bald-headod. Mosas3 in ther bullrushes! I've seon gals’ hearts bu'sted inter infinity, an’ then patche1 tergethar, jes’’s good as new. Thar war old Sally Usher, ferinstance. She war trotted inter ther Cu- pid's harness twenty-thres times, an' each husbant got divorced afore they had their ee ee out, on account o’ ther excassive length o’ her tongue. But ther gal kept a stiff upper lip, an’ last [ heerd uv her, she was ’ras‘iin’ wi’ Judge Binkerton, up in Yankton, fer her twenty-fourth!’ Naither Edith nor Leone made answer to this little speach. Both were too wrapped up in their own sorrow to pay heed to his words. Tha sob3 of tha agonizod women were so pitiful, | that Old Avalanch? was forced to turn away, a moisture in tha eyes that perhaps had not Seen dimmad with tears before in many a long year, “Don't cry, little woman,” he said, approaching and laying one great, horny pale upon Leon's head—“‘don’t take it so much to heart. Ther boyee loves you, I’m dasted sart’in, an’I an’ him aire goin’ ter be tergether a gude daal in ther fu- ture, an’ ef thet devastatin’‘ eppydemic ken’t per- suade him thet ye’re a repsntant luvvin’ angel, why ay Florence Night-in-a-gale ken’t butt—that’s “Oh! sir! wi/l ‘you then send him back to me?” the aged thing demanded, looking up imploringly, while tears coursed down her fair cheeks, “ You will try?’ lente rocky foothills were reached, when they paused for rest. As they did so, the old scout listened intently, and a Ly change came over his face, while he sprung to eet. “What is it?’ asked Edith, alarm driving away her grief. and the next instant he had glided away into the wilderness of bushes, like a dar! ° In a few mo nents he came back, grim and myste- rious, his tread as soft as a cat’s. “What is it?’ Edith repeated. “ Injuns | was the startling announcement, * Jn- Juns all around us |” CHAPTER XV. THE BROTHERHOOD NO MORE—‘* INJUNS,”” Witp Ivan and his father rode rapidly away to ward tue stronghold of the Brotherhood. “You spoke of this Tornado Tom in a casual way,’ remarked the Boy Fiend. ‘“ Way did you mention him?"’ * He, in company with my brother, Milton Stone— has come to this country In search of the girl, Edith, I heard of them as being in Deadwood, and that was a week ago. “They were not on your trail, then?” “No, but were scenting after me with the perse- verance of a pair of bloodhounds. I expect nothing else than that I shall stumble over them when I least expect it.” “Well, after we again get the gal, we can laugh at them,” replied the youth as he urged on his double- burdened steed. After a long ride through the gorge, and then through the rapids, the camp of the outlaws was reached, The Brothers outside the cave their chief with a scowling nod, but those gathered around the tables, inside, scarcely noti him, so apparently engaged were they in their games. td Blue Bob, however, saluted with a grim smile. He, of the wholes lot, admired Ivan. Wild Ivan led the way into the Inner cavern, and here he and the colonel were supplied with food, af- ter which the young chief left his parent to the en- joyment of his pipe, while he rejoined the Brothers at the card-tables in the outer cave. “Well, mates, what's the word?"’ he. asked pleas- antly, accepting a hand which Wagner had dealt him, with a bow. ‘ How has things went, and what is the prospects?” “Durned poor, captain,’’ the lHeutenant replied, half-savagely. ‘“ We never hed sech dull times when Bill Blood war boss, He allus hed sumthin’ a-stew- ee: thar war booty ter be bad for ther work for reeted the return of ‘Well you mustn't get discouraged, old fellow, I know things lie rather stagnant just now, but Ihave laid a trail for you to follow, and there’s heaps of money at the end of it!” “Eh? Say you so?’ and the outlaw's swarthy * Yes, rege a at ham-bone taet kerflummixed Joner, yes. Ef I don’t use my influence on ther boy, may I be eteraally bulldoze1. Thus sweareth an’ declareth Old Avalanche Hows on this ther twentieth day o’ October, 1877, Addy Dominix.” “Oh! thank you, thank you!” Leona cried gett “Tf you will, I will bless you. Oa! Eddie, why did you ever leave me?” And her sobs burst out afresh. “Thar! thar! no more cryin’, gal. Cheer up, an’ git back ter yer grotto. I'll give your spouse a good spinkin’ an’ send him back ter ye.” Than taking Edith by the arm, he silently mo- tioned her to follow him, and they quitted the thick- et glaie and hurried on down the mountain-side, ving Laone to her own grief, alone—alone! . out a word, for his mind was too busily oc- ie for speech, the Annihilator led on through blackness of the night—on until the ragged, face lit up with enthusiasm. ‘ Out wi’ it, captain, fer we're all ears fer good news.” “T thought you would be!” said Ivan, a cynical smile curling his lips. ‘“ But, before I tell ths good news, summon the rest of the boys, as what I have to say concerns them also.” Blue Bob was dispatched after the remaining out- laws, and soon they were in the cave and given seats at the table, ; “ Now, then, capt’in, give us yer infermation,” re- minded Wagner. ‘* Exactly,’’ replied the Boy Fiend; ‘ but hold! we cannot go thirsty over such luck. Blue Bob, in the chest in yonder cave, you will find three quart-bot- tles of old Bourbon orhiaky, which I dare say be- longed to your former chief. Haul them out here, along wi? glasses for the crowd, and we will wet our whistles. Accordingly Blue Bob brought forth the, liquor,
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Wild Ivan, the Boy Claude Duval. and the glasses were filled all around, with the ex- ception of Wild Ivan’s. A little cold water for me, Bob,” he said pushing the bottle aside. “ My brain gets confused when I swallow that liquid poison,” His was accordingly filled with water; then rising, e pri a toast in a neat little speech, which was heartily drank, all around, when a re- sounding cheer was rendered for the young chief. To which he bowed his thanks. “ Now, boys,” he said, “I'll out with what I have to say, in a few words. As you all know, the two girl captives we should have had, have escaped, but one of these—she whom we got from the train—we may have popes of retaking. You have all heard of Deadwood Dick, have you not?’ A general murmur of assent came in answer to the uestion, sar Well, the girl is inthe power of this same Dead- wood Dick, who, with his band of road-agents are hiding in this same mountain range. And, mates, it must be our ant ed to capture and put to death these road-agents, with the exception of Deadwood Dick, whom | can deliver up to justice, and receive a large reward for.” “ How large, captain?” “The whole amount of rewards offere1 for him by the government and private citizens figure up to the tune of fen thousand dollars "’ A yell of astonishment came from the assembled ruffians. * This is not all we shall gain, my boys!” the young villain went on, watching the faces around him that were flushed from the effects of the strong liquor, “They have in their possession money to the amount of over a million dollars, results of their general out- lawry and mining, which shall be ours, and go into our peamry Again a cheer went 9 from the Brotherhood, and at a motion of Ivan’s hand, the glasses were all re- filled and drank off with great gusto, “This will swell our big chest yonder in ther cor- ner, ‘til it bu'sts, captain!” cried Wagner, pointing toaniron-bound box which the Boy Fiend had never noticed before. “ Then that is the seaeury eh, lieutenant?” “You b-bet!"’ was the t ick reply, for the man was rapidly succumbing to the influence of the aged whisky, ‘an’ yere’s w'at k-kerries the key; but, it’s a-all Heht, ye kno’, ’c-’case the b’hoys ain't ‘feared ter trust me.” ‘Of course,”’ assented the young villain, conde- pais Se *vou're honest asthe day is long. But, come! fill up again; only one bottle is empty; let's have a hilarious time on our success that is to come; fill up! fill up! I say, and drive the cursed care away! And then, while the outlaws were freely puzzling down the strong liquor, Wild Ivan struck off into a wild, rollicking song of the mountaineer, But little the Brothers of Death heard of his mel- ody. One by one they dropped off into what appear- ed to be a drunken sleep. until, with Wagner's tum- ble from his seat, the last had yielded to the resist- less power of the liquor, 1 Then the Boy Fiend broke out into a wild fit of jaughter. * What! you have not murdered them?” cried Col- onel Stone, advancing from the innercavern. ‘They are not dead?” = “No, not quite, old man, but they don’t lack much of it. I'll guarantee they'll never see sunrise. But, come! let’s secure this treasure. and then depart, foe fa Sy pe - isonous! Wehded tar ‘ee! ina et of the . ments, the young Fiend produced a key, which fitted the Ee fron-bound chest, and in a moment he had the hasp off, and the lid raised, so that he could gaze ip. "ut, howl of rage escaped him when he discov- ered t duped? at the box was empty. Had he been cleverly With curses on his lips he at length prepared to leave the place. “We will get out of this,” he said, “and ane wor thing just as it is—dead fools and all. me |’? He led the way out into the open air, and selected two superb animals out of a dozen that were grazin along the shore. These were duly mounted, ant — and son set out down the stream, prairie- ward, “Now for the girl!” said the Boy Fiend, as they shed on, “I would like to find her, just now. ouldn’t I tame her though?” “You would kill her, in your savage ferocity!" - was the colonel’s reply. “TInjuns! all around us!’ repeated Old Avalanche, in his grim way. ‘Great ham-bone thet discombob- erated old Joner! I didn’t s’pose thet we'd encounter many o’ them, fer we licked ‘em like blue blazes, other night.” “Oh! what shallwe do?” cried Edith, tly al- armed. She had never seen an Indian, with the ex- ception of afew vagabond reds whom she had met on the way. ‘ What shall we do?” “Do? Moses in the bullrushes! Why, we'll jest git onter our muscle, an’ go fer ‘em like a great de- vastatin’ eppydemic o° cholericmorbus, e'll_an- nihilate an’ exterminate ’em like all creation. Ef I put a Coe o’ my electric whispers in their crani- um, theyll imagine a spasmodic ’arthquake has struck ‘em.” “Then you have no fear?’ asked Edith. “Fear? Noaher and ther shark, no! ye nevyer see’d old Avalanche afeard 0’ any ate short 0° a reflexion uv his own mug, which ar’ frightful, I'l allow. Once on atime, a woman o’ the female sex see’d me comin’ to’rd her, up in Yankton, an’ she war struck wi’ a fit o' whisk appopplexy—thet aire, she war purty drunk, an’ tuk me fer King Bacchous, or sum other sich name, an’ durn my ears, ef she didn’t faint clean away, “So fur, in fact, thet she didn’t cum to, an’ they hed ter pos’pone ther job o’ revivin’ her till the da: of ressureckshun., That ain't a sarcumstance, tho’. A feller in Denver, once, got so skeered at my ugly hiz, thet he war cured ontirely uv ther St, Vitus dance at which he had bin waltzin’ fortwenty years.” At this Juncture the loquacious old veteran sud- denly stopped and oy behind him, at the same time drawing his knife. Edith trembled in fear, for she felt that the mo- ment was at hand for a deadly conflict. But what was her surprise, the next instant, to see the Anni- hilator suddenly bound high into the air, and turning a complete back-somerset, land direct down in a mass of bushes, which grew a few paces in front of her. What did this eccentric move mean? She could not solve the problem, except that the scout had seen an Indian concealed there, and had taken this method to surprise him, A violent struggle was going on, and the hard breathing of the contestants was sufficient evidence that they were closely matched in strength, But at length there was a deep groan, and the An- nihilator emerged from the bushes, a grotesque grin elongating his comical face. i “ Great Page air thet She epi — sey ti 6 gasped, swinging a reeking in : Whoop! hurray fer Noaher an’ his shark. One less pensioner on ther U, 8. Government; one more stroke o’ vengeance fer these lost ears o’ mine!” “Oh! mercy! what is that?’ demanded Edith, as her eyes fell upon the bloody trophy of the battle. “Thet's a red-skin’s skulp, pe kinder wig wi’ which natur’ adorned him. I ventured ter lift it, But see here, gal, we must be gittin’ out o’ this, or thar'll be squinchalations o’ business pretty soon, Can ve shute a pistle?” “Teantry, sir. Oh! let’s burry!” ~ : “Don’t git ina perspiration,” warned Avalanche,
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ee ee _ swarmed a ‘Wild Ivan, the Boy Claude Duval. a morry twinkle in his eye, ‘or et might result dis- astrously. Hayr'sa pistle; take it, an’ w’enever ye see a hellion, Jet him haver right thru his Abece- darian, kerslap. Don’t hev enny skumpassion on ther greasy variets, fer they're not fit fer a skunk ter wipe his feet on. Cum on, now!” He handed Edith a cocked revolver, and then led the way on through the wilderness of bushes—on through the blackness of the night that had wrapped the earth in a dense shroud, * Keerful, gal, keerful; don’t step as ef ye was an elerfant tryin’ ter create a favorable impression. Fust ye know ye— Great ham-bone thet foundered old Joner! Thet's yer game, is et, ye durned greasy niggero!"’ and then followed a terrible struggle and thrashing around through the bushes. “Grab me by ther shins, will ye, ye red pot scul- lion! I'll show ye, / will, Luck out fer yer shins, fer thar’s Tojuns under fut. Thar, durn yor asted ornery picter, I'll bet ye'r’ beyond sayin’ kit- tychisms. Hayr, gal,” and again the scout grasped E.lith by the arm, and they pushed on. Suddenly Edith’s revolver cracked, and with a wild death-yella painted savage fell at her feet, his life-blood spreading ovor the leaves. “ Bully fer ye, gal! Disembodied his speerit fust pop! Sorry he squawked, tho’, fer it'll fetch swath- ers o’ ther cantankerous Rabylonians down on us ” True enough, the red-skin’s death-cry was ap- swered by yells from a score of throats, and the sounds of rushing feet wers heard approaching. ‘Here, gal!” cried Avalanche, leaping to Edith’s side and forcibly slinging her behind his k. “Thar now, slap yer embracers around my gullet, an’ freeze ter me like forty hornets after a Georg’y nig- ger, I’m goin’ ter break out o' this deeficulty, an’ bu’st thar harness, now, you bet!” And the next moment, with a revolver in each hand, and Edith on his back, he was bounding swift- ly down the mountain-side! CHAPTER XVI, THE END. On leaped the veteran scout, grim and resolute, bound to go through if it lay within his power—on with mighty springs and leaps; and right and left the revolvers cracked with deadly effact. Suddenly the flying Annihilator burst into a little glade where two men were cooking their evening meal over a bright camp-fire, apparently unaware of the close proximity of the red-skins. ‘Hello! Great ham-bone that debilitated Joner!” cried Avalanche, astonished at the unexpected spec- tacle— white folks, by the skylark o’ St. Peter. * Sayee! hg durned ejotts, settin’ thar like a hatch- in’ hen, up an’ dust, ef ye vally yere golden tresses. Thar’s a hull squirt uv Injuns behind, com- in’ on like a streak 0’ age electricity erlong ther back o'a sheared mule. Bounce, I say;” and then on bounded the scout, like a rubber ball, across the glade toward the opposite side, “Father! father!’ suddenly screamed Edith, catching a glimpse of the two men by the camp-fire. “My child—E1ith!” came back in joyful tones of recognition. ‘Come, Elkton; Heaven be praised; the old scout has rescued my child!" And the two men grasped their abe. seo and came olan, Font pursuit. while, close in their rear, rde of yelling Indians, thirsty for the blood of vengeance. Fortunately the darkness was too intense for the Snemy to gain anything like an accurate aim, and their bullets rattled harmlessly over the fugitives’ “Great ham-bone thet floored old Joner!” gasped the Annihilator, as Elkton and Milton Stone came alongsid>, “things begin ter look ripe fer dis- gec*ion, don't: they? . Thank heaven, thar’s the Lit- | fie Madrass, anyhow.” | “Then we can hope for aid!’ cried Elkton, ‘‘for the road-agent hunters are encamped on the other side. See! yonder is their camp-fire!” and he point- ed to the pepo side of the creek on whose ks they had suddenly emerged, “Whoop! ye durned ornery pimps o' Satan! Oum erlong now ef yer want ter breathe an unhealthy at- mosphere. Hello! ahoy, there, rangers! ef ye’re in a mood for wras’lin’ wi’ red niggers, show yer hand over this way!” Not a moment the three men paused, but plung- ing into the stream, they struck out for the other shore, which they Vaated in pateeys just as the savages burst into view on the bank they bad left. Sherwood, Jolly Jack and his followers had heard the Annihilator's shouts, and came forward to meet the fugitives and conduct them to camp, where, while hurried soa ag were being given, and promernnncs made for defense, Milton Stone took ime to embrace his Jong-lost child, who had passed through so much trouble since Jast be had seen her. “Them Injuns have got ern almitey grudge ag'in'’ us whites,”’ remarked Old Avalanche, as the yells of the red demons on the opposite side of the creck made the night hideous. “They’re goin’ ter put theyr fust fut for'ard ter oblitcherate us, an’ we've got ter luk sharp or they'll do et.” ‘Let the devils come!” growled Scott Sherwood in his rough way. ‘‘ We've got plenty o’ powder an cartridges, an’ hain’t stingy of ’em, neither. There is fifteen of us, and if we ain't good for a dozen reds apiece, we'd better go into bankruptcy!” Guards were, by Sherwood’s crder, posted all around the camp, and the fire was put out. The yelling of the red-skins thad ceased, and a strange silence hung over the night, suggestive of Geath, All the sounds peculiar to the mountain and forest had become inaudible; a faint prairie breeze wafted silently up through the walls of the lonely gorce. “The cusses are creepin’ up on_ us,” said Old Av- alanche, impressively. ‘“‘I know ’em better’n I do my A, B, O's. They're a dasted pestilence on ther face o’ this toadstool.” “Stand ready, boys!’ spoke Sherwood, grimly. “Strike true and hard when the time comes, An- other victory like that of the other night, and the hounds will not be so fast to fight!" And soon the moment arrived! With yells that were deafening the attack began from the land side, and a fierce battle raged, in which the road-agent hunters fought like demons ssessod. : But they had fearful odds to fizht against, The savages numbered full three-score, or more, and were constantly urged on by the shouts of three men in their midst—white men, too, judging from their voices, and Old Avalanche made it his business to single them out, as he fought on, Down went the howling red-skins before the ran- gers’ terrible repeating-rifles like chaff before tho wind; now it was easy to see how the battle would end. “At ’em, boys!” yelled Sherwood, striking death at every blow. ‘‘Capture those two white men and the disguised chief by their side, Aha! Tom Rivers, I recognize you, you traitor!” ; But, the battle raged an Sercely, and when death had met the last savage, but one captive had been taken alive. And he was the Boy Fiend—Wild Ivan! He was securely bound to a tree in the center of the camp, and then the victorious rangers rebuilt ey Ty ppb and set to work at clearing away the While engaged at the work, Milton Stone suddenly uttered a cry of pain, and knelt by the side of Colo- nel Grafton Stone, who had fallen in the battle. He was not quite dead, and he appeared to recognize the brother he had og Beeoy wronged. “« Forgive me, Milt,”* he gasped, faintly, “ aud.pra: for me and my boy. yonder,” with a motion towa: Wild Ivan. ‘We have both sinned—and—"
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Wild Ivan, the Boy Claude Duval. 31 The death-rattle in his throat checked further ut- terance, and in a moment he was dead, Milton Stone uttered a silent prayer over his body, then turned away, weeping. The dead were all clea’ away, and decently bu- ried, for Sherwood was not the man to leave even a without a grave. And, then, our little band ered about the camp-fire, and ‘‘ counted noses.” Only one of the rangers had been killed and four wound which, altogether, was a lucky termina- tion of a battle against such odds. Edith and Alice were safe, and the whole party soon were in excellent spirits. But, unexpectedly, something occurred, which caused another commo- tion. There was a wild Ayes arush of feet, and two fig- - come flying into the camp—a man and an In. Db girl. **Loo! roo!” shrieked the Cherokee girl, and in an instant she was at Wild Ivan's side, a gleaming knife in her hand, a wild fire burning in her terrible eyes. The young Fiend recognized her, and a groan es- caped his lips, but it was his last, for the next mo- ment the knife sunk into his black heart, and Sue swung his reeking scalp on high, uttering a triumph- ant war-cry, “Great ham-bone thet foundered old Joner!" cried Avalanche, springing forward. ‘ Josiah Hogg, my brother, true’s hens lay hen fruit!"’ “ Boge-actly, old hoss,”’ returned the poet, with a grim smile, ‘* But you're ther last coon I expected ter stumble onter. See hayr,” and he pointed to Florence Night-in-a-gale, who stood meekly at his side; “d’ye own this tarnal critter? I found ‘im back heer a ways, an’ he seemed ter recognize me, on account o’ them old days up at Death Canyon, when Wild Edna war thertrump card. As Mora sez—' “Thar! thar! none o’ yer poetry, Josiaher.’ Te- monstrated the Annihilator, imploringly. “Id rather be rotten-egged, any time, than ter hear it.” “Which shows yer poor appreciation o' ther fine arts,” grumbled the eccentric brother. Explanations were now demanded of Sue’s strange conduct, and in his droll way Josiah gave them, winding up with his avowed intention of marrying the girl. ? “ Ye'd better hitch yerself ter an a, squaw !”” commented Avalanche, in disgust. ‘ Ye're about er fit associate fer ‘em; wi’ yer poetical perpensities, you aire!” The body of Wild Ivan was removed, and Josiah and Cherokee Sue were invited to the hospitalities of the camp. After it was found that there were no further signs of attack, a sentinel was stationed, and the rest turned in for sleep. The next day Josiah and his dusky companion set ont for the North. A week was spent very rey in the camp of the road-agent unterk who had not yet t pron u their vain hope of uring Deadwood Dick; bu then, came a terrible blow which none had ex —which caused a feeling of grief in the camp. On awakening one morning it was discovered that Edith was not in the lodge where she and Alice usu- ally slept, and Tom Elkton caused a search to be made, And Old Avalanche was the first to discover aclew, Upon the bank of the rushing, roaring Little Mad- rass, he found a ribbon Edith had worn upon her hair, and also a handkerchief, inside of which was a is eye 1d t hurried back to the agonized ste the old scou' father, and the paper was read aloud t> the anxious friends clustered around. “Do not look for me, for the water will not give up its dead. You will ers am foolish, but I could not ive him up, 1 loved him so. I would rather die, for could not live without him, and be happy. Ava- lanche knows—it’s about Deadwood Dick. May God forgive me, as I know you will. Poor papa. *Eprra.” This was all, but it was enough to send a shock of sadness through the camp, One day later, a'sad and sorrowing man, Milton Stone started for Deadwood, eastw bound, while poor Tom Elkton, in whose heart had found firm root a pure devotion for Edith, plunged deeper into the wilderness, seeking for fresh adventure to drown out his sorrow. Old Avalanche and his goat also took their depar- ture, amid the good wishes of all the rangers, who had Jearned to regard him as a sterling friend. And about a week after the camp broke up, and the unsuccessful road-agent hunters set out for Deadwood. Shortly after their arrival, Sherwood married Red Kit's gg ome Alice. Their love-making was rather short, but both found a choice in each other, and it is for us to hope that they may ever be supremely happy, Atsunset, ten days after Old Avalanche bade adieu to Deadwood Dick, he might have been seen ridin leisurely through the timber skirting Bell cree ford, on the back of his faithful mare, and followed Wy his eccentric goat, Florence. At the edge of a little opening in the timber he suddenly drew rein, and gazed upon a striking tableau before him. In the center of the open space, standing had og y erect with folded arms, is that weird youth jn black —Deadwood Dick, while at his feet kneels a humble, penitent girl, with eyes upraised pleadingty. And their words are audible to the old Annihilator —words which cause moisture to dampen the cor- ners of his eyes, Cespite himself. “No, Leone, I cannot take you back, so do not ask me. I may seem cruel and heartless, but—" “You will take me back some day—I am gure of it,’ she said, rising, the light of faith and love peeing in her eyes. ‘‘ And I will wait for you. iss me, Eddie!" Quickly he catches her in his arms, and covers her face with burning kisses—then puts her almost sternly away from him, and blinded with tears she comes toward where the Annihilator bas halted. He places his hand upon her arm, and intuition teaches her who it is, even though she raises not her eyes, “Cheer up, gal, and be hopeful. Things aire workin’ fine. Great ham-bone that choked old Joner, yes! It won't be srs ON ' ‘Oh! God grant that it may not be long!” she sobbed, as she moved on, , Poor Leone! Deadwood Dick was seated upon his black stallion, and red traces about his eyes betrayed that he bh been crying, when the Annihilator ac him, “Hello! ye’re_ here, eh? Great ham-bone, that's one good thing, fer I hey somethin’ to say." Then followed a long conversation between the two men, and night had long fallen when, after shaking hands, as if to seal some compact, they headed their horses southwestward and galloped away, quitting the scenes of this narrative, which bad brought to three hearts such bitterness and pain. THE ED. _
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a BEA DLE’S POCKET LIBRARY. MAA AAAAAAA AA Ay 382 OCTAVO PAGES. PRICE FIVE CENTS. ooo oe ISSUHD HVEHERY WHDNESDAY. No. 1. No. 2. No. 3. No. 4, 14, 15. 16, 17. No. 18. +++ ———- Deadwood Dick, the Prince of the Road ; or, The Black Rider of the Black Hills. By Edward L. Wheeler. Kansas King; or, The Red Right Hand. By Buffalo Bill, (Hon. Wn, F, Cody.) The Flying Yankee; or, The Ocean Outcast. By Colonel Prentiss Ingraham, The Double Daggers; or, Deadwood Dick’s Defiance. By Edward L, Wheeler. The Two Detectives; or, The Fortunes of a Bowery Girl. By Albert W. Aiken. The Prairie Pilot; or, The’ Phantom Spy. By Buffalo Bill, (Hon. Wm. F. Cody.) The Buffalo Demon; or, The Border Vultures. By Edward L. Wheeler, Antelope Abe, the Boy Guide. By O!l Coomes, Ned Wylde, the Boy Scout. By ‘Texas Jack” (J. B, Omo- hundro.) Buffalo Ben, the Prince of the Pistol; or, Doadwood Dick in Disguise. By Edward L. Wheeler Ralph Roy, the Boy Buccnneer. By Colonel Ingraham. Nick o’ the Night; or, The Boy Spy of 76. By T. C. Harbaugh, Yellowstone Jack; or, The Trappers of the Enchanted Ground, By Joseph E. Badger, Jr. Wild Ivan, the Boy Claude Duval. By Ed. L. Wheeler. Diamond Dirk; or, The Mystery of the Yellowstone. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham, Keén-Knife, Prince of the Prairies, By Ol] Coomes. Oregon Sol; or, Nick Whiffles’s Boy Spy. By Capt. J. F.C. Adams, Death-Face, the Detective; or, Life and Love in New York, By Edward L, Wheeler. Beadle’s Pocket Library is for sale by all Newsdealers, five cents per copy, or sent by mail on receipt of six cents each. BEADLE AND ADAMS, Publishers, No. 98 William Street, New York.