Beadle's Pocket Library (no. 17) (1884 05 07)
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f Ne Copyrighted, 1884, by Buapix anv Apans, Entered at the Post Office at New York, N, ¥., as Second Class Mail Matter. Vol. IT #2.50 Published Weekly by Beadle and Adams, Price ' ' "i a Year. No. 98 Winr1AM St., New York. Five Cents. Y SPY, dia pas. NICK WHIFFLES AND CALAMITY.
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ne Oregon Sol; NICK WHIFFLES’S BOY SPY. ———— BY CAPT. J. F. C. ADAMS. CHAPTER I. A ‘CONDEMNED DIFFIKILTY.” “‘ Wren a man has got to say yes or no, and can’t for his life make up his mind which he orter say, then I allow he’s ina condemned diffi- kilty ; but, when you’re in such a kentry as this, where the varmints are all around you, it’s the best plan to be ’spicious of ’em all.” Thus spoke Nick Whifiles, with the old smile lighting up his honest, homely countenance, in reply toa remark of his friend, Oregon Sol, a brother trapper, as they balf-reclined on the face of a large flat rock, far up in the wilds of the Northwest, one pleasant summer day, a number of years ago. ‘‘There’s my gran’father,” continued Nick, ‘« who used to be the most ea pra old gen- tleman that I ever knowed. I remember one day, when a man come along and offered to sell him a piece of land that he said was just the place to raise elephants onto, to sell to the cir- cus companies. The old man borrowed the money on a mortgage, and paid him his price fur the land, and then went out there to begin raisin’ them little pets. When be got there and come to locate his land, he found it was right in the middle of the Wisconsin river, where the water was twenty-four feet deep. That set the old gentleman in high dudgeon, and he come tearin’ back ag’in, and went for that swindler; but, when he found him, the chap axed bis par- don on account of the little mistake that had been made, and said that the tract he sold him laid a mile north of the spot where be had sup- posed it was, My gran’father swallered it all and went back ag’in as happy as he could be, and when ke come to make sure where it was, he found that the only way to reach it was by taking a ballom and going a mile and a half u in the air. When my gran’father come bac agin, he was never able to find the man he bought the land off of, which was a good thing fur the man, and it helped to make the old gen- tleman ’spicious, and that’s why I ain’t ready to say that this yere young Blackfoot is an honest boy, though he does look as innocen} in the face as a spring chicken.” “That's jest it,” assented Oregon Sol, as he oe a mouthful of tobace>-juice, with such skill as to knock a fly off the ear of the dog Calamity that was stretched out dozing at their feet; “thar’s whar the condemned diffikility, as you call it, comes in. Sometimes I look into the face of Marunyo, the Indian boy, and I think if ever there was a young lamb goin’ round onto two legs, that ‘era chap is bim. You remember down on Dent’s Bay, a month ago, when we war fishin’, he swam out at night, fur over a mile, and to tell us that a party of them cussed Modocs, led by Captain Jack, was waitin’ fur darkness so as tocome down and Oregon Sol. raise our ha’r. No mistake, Marunyo kept us out of a mighty bad scrape that time, and I felt like axin’ his pardon fur ever thinkin’ anything wrong "bout him. Then ag’in, thar didn’t noth- in’ come to make me feel shaky, till a week or two ago, when I war ne’r among the lava-beds and see’d Marunyo hobnobbin’ with these same Modoes that are the meanest cusses that ever went unscalped.” “Wal, we've got to watch him mighty close, that’s all,” replied Nick. ‘Most of the Whiffles family was of a’spicious nature, They always had a ’spicion that thar was something extron- nery in the way of smartness ’bout me, but when I growed up, my mother said it was one of them s’picions that never was confirmed. The schoolmaster, howsumever, said I was a blasted fool, the first time he sot eyes onto me, and that spicion was confirmed. There was my aunt, too, that had her fust beau when she was seventy-three years old. She was so ’spicious that she was too young to keep company, that she made it a practice to set the dog on that ee pensioner when he come to see er. “ Did he keep it up?” “Wal, yes—that is till he hadn’t any more seats left to bis breeches, and then, when he was layin’ in bed to get ’em mended so as to begin over again, she run off with his father that had been a widower for more nor forty years.” “ But ain’t you a leetle inclined to be ’spici- ous yourself?” asked Oregon Sol, who, on this lazy summer afternoon, was disposed to humor the loquacity of bis friend. “That depends upon sarcumstances,” was the reply. ‘One time, when two other chaps and me war arter the same gal, I'd a ’spicion that one of ’em played a condemned mean trick on both of us. He wasasort of a—” “ Hello what’s up, Calamity?” Nick’s yarn was cut off abruptly, for the dog, that hitherto had seemed to be in sound sleep, suddenly raised his head and gave out a faint whine, the meaning of which was evident enough to the two trappers. It meant that some one was approaching and that it behooved them to be on the watch. . It was curious to notice the action of the two trappers the instant the dog uttered his warn- ing. Sitting upon the broad rock, as they had been for the last hour, they were exposed to the bullet of any treacherous Modoc or Blackfoot that might creep up to them, - But they knew their latitude pretty well, and the instant the sagacious dog apprised them of what wascom- ing they slid off the rock as silently as a couple of serpents that had been basking in the sun, and screening themselves in the bushes, awaited until the precise nature of the danger should develop it self. Calamity, having uttered the man and risen to his feet, stood with his nose pointed toward the north, indicating that that was the direction from which the stranger was coming. Nick Whiffies had seen signs of Modocs during the last few days, and it had made him rather uneasy, for it was only about a hundred tiles to the north of this that he and Oregon Sol had their cabin or head quarters, from which point they made excursions through long leagues of a eT nmneeenemmenenemnemnemmmamemennestm
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Oregon Sol. roy surrounding territory. Such a distancé was a trifling one, and if the treacherous Modocs were thus close, there was reason to believe that they would pay the cabin their respects before they returned, After rising to his feet, Calamity stood utter- ly motionless for two or three minutes, when he suddenly stretched out again, with his nose be- tween his paws, as if he wished to finish the nap which had been interrupted. All right,” exclaimed Nick Whiffles, as he witnessed the conduct of the dog. “‘ That shows that there ain’t any of the red-skins jest now that are tryin’ to bore a hole into our carcasses, Come, Sol, we may as well git into that sunlight ag’in and share it with the purp.” As the two trappers moved toward the tab- ular mass of stone, a figure emerged from the bushes upon the opposite side and approached them. Without exchanging any greetings, Nick and Sol took their stations behind the rock and awaited his coming. It was the figure of a handsome, lithe, and graceful Indian youth, dressed in Indian cos- tume, witha face of remarkable beauty. He had the dark, flashing eyes of the red man, and the long, dark, sweeping hair worn by that race; but his features were more regular, and there was a certain grace and ease in his bearing that would have drawn attention even among the most noted warriors of his own people. He carried a knife at the girdle, a long sil- ver-mounted rifle in his right hand, while his face was covered with paint—not of the hideous style generally adopted by the red-skins, but in the form of a dye. “Wal, Marunyo, you seem to be all ina hurry,” said Oregon Sol, extending his band to the young Indian as hecame up. It was evi- dent that he was a “brother” to thé two trap- rs. “Yes,” replied the youth, speaking with an accent as pure as bis own, ‘‘I have much to do. The red-men are still seeking wrong, and Ma- runyo bas many miles to travel to get to the mountains abead of the Modocs.” “ Ain’t you in the mountains now?’ asked Nick Whiffles, who did not understand precisely his meaning. ‘‘That reminds me of an uncle that I once had that built him a house with a door back and front, and one day he made a bet with his wife that he could get in without her seein’ him. Wal, my aunt took the bet and the old fool went out the door, She s’posed he meant to stay away till she got tired of watch- in’, when he would slip in and win the bet, so she made up her mind that she wouldn’t be cotched that way, and she watched all the rest of the day, but when night come he hadn’t showed himself yet. That made my vir- teous aunt as mad as thunder, and as she was ettin sleepy, she hired a man to watch, with a fie musket, and told him to shoot the first chap that he found tryin’ to steal toward the house. She was always tender-bearted, was my aunt, and she told the feller on guard that be must make sart’in and kill the burglar at the first fire, soas not to make him suffer too much. Wal, they didn’t see him that night, nor the next _ one, nor the next month, nor next year, and |. muy aunt concluded that the old feller was gone sart’in sure, and she went in mournin’ a year, and then began to receive the devours of a ri goods clerk, that got four dollars a week, cash, and things was pretty near in shape for them to get spliced, when who should come walkin’ in the back door one day but my uncle, who ex- plained that in order to get into the bouse with- out her seein’ him, he made a trip around the world. He did surprise her, and won the bet; but the Whiffles were always a smart set of folks.” CHAPTER II. THE YOUNG INDIAN TRAILER, THE young Indian, like all his race, knew how to bear pain and suffering without murmur or complaint. He seemed accustomed to the whimsicalities of Nick Whiffles, for although he was in great haste, and bad only turned a little out of the way in order that be might exchange a word or two with his friends, he showed no impatience, while the old hunter was indulging in one of his characteristic reminiscences, When Nick had finished, and before be could start off on another, Oregon Sol put in bis question: **Don’t talk in riddles, Marunyo—but tel] us what the row is this time. You spoke of the Modocs—what have they been doing ?—ecalpin’, murderin’, shootin’ and skulpin’, 1 s’pose; but what has that to do with you?” The young Indian pointed to the northward, toward the far horizon, where the blue cloud- like outline of a chain of mountains could be seen against the azure sky. It was a spur of that mighty chain which, extending from the arctic to the southern ocean, branches off in vast ridges, some of them extensive enough to make independent ridges of themselves, As the two trappers followed the direction in- dicated by Marunyo, they knew that that blue streak of elevated Jand was in British America, Both had bunted the otter and beaver there, when in the employ of the Hudson Bay Com- pany, and if Marunyo meant to imply that he was engaged upon an errand that would take him there, both knew that a number of days must elapse before they could see his face again, ‘‘Wal, we see where you're pointing,” said Nick Whiffles, after waiting a moment for the red-skin to speak, ‘That reminds me of what my grandmother once did, when I was ona visit to her. You see the old Jady—” “The Modocs are bad people,” the Indian has- tened to say, in order to arrest the threatened anecdote; “they are traveling northward to- ward the Saskatchewan.” ‘But they belong just the other way,” said Oregon Sol, pointing to the s uthward. ‘Them Modoes belong among the lava. beds of Oregon, I s’pose because it looks so much like the in- farnal country round there, that they feel at home.” t ‘But some of them are traveling northward,” replied Marunyo; ‘‘there are enly a few, but they are bad, and Marunyo must follow and see what they do, He will be back ina few days, and then perhaps he will have a-story to tell.” ‘It won't do any good, if you have,” replied) Sol, ‘while Nick is about. I’d like to see the
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4 man that could get the start of him in tellin’ a yarn. I think that when the last messenger comes, Nick will ax him to hold on a few min- utes till he tells bim a little story about his ran’father, or uncle, or some of his relations. ut, Marunyo, ain’t you going to tell us any- thing about this trouble?” “Not yet,” replied the Indian youth, who did not seem to relish this jocularity. ‘“‘I go, but soon will be back,” And without any further words, he turned on his heel, and moving northward in thedirec- tion in which he had pointed, disappeared the next moment in the wood and bushes beyond. And leaving Nick Whiffles and Oregon Sol to themselves for a time, we must follow the In- dian spy upon his errand, which was destined to prove the most eventful of his life. It was late in the afternoon that he left the company of his two friends, and without once looking behind him, he moved with a peculiar, loping gait directly through the wood, like one who is certain of the precise destination toward which he is hastening. He carried his insepar- able rifle in his hand, and although his head was turned neither to the right nor the left, bis senses were on the alert, and be could not have failed to detect any suspicious sound or sight near him. For something like a mile the route led along a ridge, when a stream of water of considerable siza was reached, Instead of advancing to the edge. Marunyo cautiously made his way back to the top of the ridge, and after some maneuver- ing, managed to secure a position which afford- ed quite an extended view of the river in both directions. Lying flat u tended forwar m his face, with his body ex- over what was here an over- hanging bluff, tbe Blackfoot youth spent some. fifteen minutes in scanning the extensive field, which was spread out before his vision, Roving hither and thither, his eye at last rested upon a point about a quarter of a mile distant, and upon the opposite side of the stream. Only the sharpest vision was able to detect a faint col- umn of smoke rising from some spot within the wool, when the fire itself could not be seen. “We is there,” said Marunyo to himself. “Captain Jack and Flat-Nosed Billy have comea long ways from the lava-beds with the two cap- tives. They must be very valuable, or they would not carry them so far into the woods, But they mean that no one shall steal them away, nor that they shall escape themselves. But Marunyo is on their path, and he shall fol- low them, if the trail leads him beyond the head-waters of the Saskatchewan,” Marunyo remained a few minutes longer gaz- ing fixedly in the direction of the Indian sign, as if he hoped to detect something more tan- ble. but failing to doso, and as the day was rawing rapidly to a close, be carefully made his way down from the ridge, and drawing a small canoe from its concealment, launched it upon the river, sprung in and sped away like a swallow, He headed straight toward the camp-fire, and as he was paddling against the current he cross- ed over to tbe other side, and ran in as close to the shore as possible, so as not only to take ad- vantage of the more slowly-flowing water, but to run so much less chance of being seen. Having secured the position he was seeking, he made his progress much more gradual than it had been in crossing the river. It looked in- deed as if he was seeking to defer his arrival upon the scene of the camp until after night had fairly settled over mountain and stream. Not much need was there of bis waiting, for already bad the sun sunk out of sight in the Pa- cific, and the moon, half-full, shed a dim, uncer- tain light upon the river, while the little cance crept along in the bank of deep shadow, with the silent, insidious motion of a phantom of the night. Why was it that Marunyo, the young Black- foot, was so carefully following the boat con- taining the two Modocs and their captives? It was not the first time that these woman-thieves had stolen white people and either murdered or made off with them. And knowing this, why should the young Blackfoot take such an extra- ordinary interest in the fate of these two par- ticular ones? None understood more thoroughly the charac- ter of the two men whom he was following. Flat-Nosed Billy was one of the most treacher- os dogs that ever bore the name of man, and the later crimes of Captain Jack, who crowned his life of infamy with the hellish assassination of General Canby, are so well known to our readers, and so fully reveal bis nature that no further description is needed in this place, Marunyo could have advanced to the camp, where these two Modocs were masters, and he would have been received asa friend. He had indeed performed mure than one good office for the chieftain, in bis capacity of spy, and was entitled to his gratitude. But, that made the danger none the less, Cap- tain Jack was now on a long journey from his home in the lava-beds, and was doubtless keep- ing a sharp lookout to see whether he was fol- lowed or not. For any one to attempt it was pao equivalent to a deliberate commission of suicide, This will explain the extreme caution of the Indian spy, who, as he found himself in the im- mediate vicinity of the camp, ceased paddling altogether and sat for a few minutes intently listening. All was still, and reaching up, he grasped an overhanging limb, and drew the little boat against the bank, The next instant, he had drawn the prow up on the land, so skillfully concealed that: it could not be seen by any one passing up or down the stream or bank, At this moment there was no more than a hundred yards between the Blackfoot and the camp, and he advanced, with the stealth that he used when moving at midnight among the hostile warriors atnong the Klamath lakes. Still this particular portion of a scont’s recon- noissanee is not considered the most difficult nor the most dangerous by any means, and it did not require Marunyo a long time to gain a posi- tion from which he was afforded a complete view of the camp, The sight that met his eyes would have awak- ened painful emotions in the heart of any one except a Modoc Indian. In the middle of a
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Oregon Sol. § small natural clearing along the river was kin- dled a small fire, over which Flat-Nosed Billy was stooping. devoting all the energies of his mind and body to cooking a piece of meat, large enough to afford a good meal for half a dozen men. Captain Jack, the Modoc leader, was stretch- ed out flat upon his back, with his feet crossed and himself sound asleep. As he lay, the light was reflected against one side of his face, show- ing its horrible repulsiveness, which was on a par with that of Flat-Nosed Billy, who was ugly enough to give a brave man the fever and ague, the first time he looked upon him. But Marunyo had seen these two friends too often to feel any great interest in them at this moment. Two others helped to make up that little party, in whom his interest was of the profoundest nature, One seemed to be a middle-aged woman, ex- ceedingly well dressed, and with the air and appearance of a lady of wealth and refinement, she was seated on the sloping side of the hol- low, and the light shining full in her face show- ed how great her terror was of the two wretcbes, who, for the time, were the arbiters of her fate. Her wild looks wandered from one to the other, and then at intervals her eyes dropped, and her moving lips showed that she was footing at and speaking to her companion, whose head rested in her lap. Marunyo strove hard to gain a view of the face of this lady, but the position of the head made his view very imperfect. The face, as re- vealed now and then in the fitful flashes of the camp fire, showed that it was one of great beauty, and the outline of the figure, as seen in the arms and shoulders, spoke of youth, symme- try and grace. An observer ‘would have sup- posed that the relation between the two was that of mother and daughter, and such, we may as well state at this point, was the fact, Crawling as near the camp as was possible, the Blackfoot loy flat upon his face and watched with an intensity of interest which it would be hard to describe, Fiat-Nosed Billy, whose face and features fully justified the sobriquet, devoted his whole attention to the vension which he was cooking, apparently unaware that any one else was in the vicinity. He had raked out some live coals from the fire, and with the meat impaled upon a number of green twigs, kept turning it over and over, so that the process of boiling was as perfect as it could well be. All at once be ceased his culinary attempt, and gave utterance to an exclamation intended to signify that the work was completed. The exclamation seemed to be understood by the others, for the elder lady looked toward him, and Captain Jack instantly rose to a sitting position, and in his characteristic man- ner, demanded his share. Flat-Nosed Billy, in obedience to his noble leader, cut off about one- half of the large piece and tossed it to him. The Modce chieftain caught it up like a dog and be- a ag it with the rapacious greed of a wolf. , A couple of small pieces were flung to the ladies, Flat-Nosed Billy reserving a large-portion for himself, which in a very short time disap- peared down his capacious maw, and he looked around, as if he were abie to dispose of the rest of the animal, if it were accessible, But Marunyo scarcely bestowed a glance up- on the repulsive looking Modocs. His eyes were fixed upon the two ladies, and he watched their movements with a depth of interest that can scarcely be imagined. At a word from the elder, the younger raised her head from her lap, and began eating the food which had been given them. It was plain that they bad Jittle or no appetite for the feast; but evidently ate from a conviction of necessity, The younger was dressed in a dark, handsome traveling suit, so that she was as well provided for this enforced journey as if she bad made vol- untary preparation. Her dark hair flowed around a handsome oval face, and the flashing black eyes spoke of one, who lacked not the will but the power to exterminate these two scamps from off the face of the earth. Could any one have seen the face of Marunyo, the young Blackfoot, as, lying upon the ground, he watched the countenance of this lady, he would have suspected that the young warrior was smitten with a stronger emotion than mere friendship for her. His eyes seemed riveted up- on her every movement, and when at Jast they turned from ber to Captain Jack, they flashed with such a deadly hatred that that redoubtable chieftain might well have trembled had he been aware of the same. Not rasi: or impetuous, the young Indian did arash thing. His rifle seemed of itself to creep into position, and almost ere he was aware, he was pressing the trigger—the aim being drawn on the Modoc chief. Crack! went the hammer, The cap only ex- ploded, The rifle had “‘ missed fire.” That miss had saved Ceptain Jack’s worthless life, but it imperiled the life of the daring young Blackfoot. With a clear consciousness of bis danger, Marunyo drew backward like a snake to cover; then rising, started on a run, closely foilowed by Flat-Nosed Billy, but ere long threw him off the trail, and again headed for the river, By a long and circuitous route he picked bis way through the wild, rocky region and ap- proached the camp-fire from a direction almost opposite to that he had followed at first. He caught the glimmer of the camp-fire when ata considerable distance, but upon coming nearer found no one near it. The appearance of the wood and embers showed that the party had been gone some time. Marunyo was considerably disappointed, al- though be had Vee expected something of the kind. He saw that he had nothing to do except to resume his pursuit, which he did without de- lay. His canoe, concealed with such care, was drawn from the bushes, launched into the wa- ter, and again be started up the stream, with greater speed this time than before, Up the stream he paddled, with hands that seemed never to tire, his senses all alert for “sign” and to avoid a surprise. At length he was confronted by a waterfall of considerable dimensions, around which all comers bad to make a “ portage.” The Blackfoot had — around the cataract, and was picking his way toward the water
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¥ “Captain Jack thinks there is none now to 38 Oregon Sol. again, for the purpose of taunching his canoe, when he was startled by catchirg sight of a light twinkling among the stunted trees and rocks that here lined the river. He paused on the iastant, and layiag down his canoe, started upon @ cautious reconnoissance of this new camp-fire. The result was the discovery that Captain Jack and Flat-Nosed Billy bad made another halt, which, from all appearances, was intended to last until morning. Having satisfied himself upon this point, Marunyo retraced his steps, un- til he had reached a point below the falls, where he paused at what seemed a suitanle place, and began building a fire for himself. This, to say the least, was a singular proceed- ing, but it was followed by something still more singular and startling. An hour after the start- ing of the fire, the one single figure might be seon stretched out in front of the blaze, wrapped up from head to foot in his blanket, and to all appearance, in adeep, heavy slumber. Still the fire burned vigorously, for a goodly quantity of wood had been heaped upon it, and the Black- foot lay with his feet turned toward the em- bers, as if he meant to continue comfortable un- til morning. About midnight, the figure of a Modoc Indian crept as silently as a shadow from the darkness of the undergrowth, and advanced vutil he had reached the outer rim of the circle made by the blaze, where he paused. Here as the light fell upon his repulsive features they showed him to be no other than Captain Jack, who, in a crawl- ing position, raised his rifle and pointed toward the unconscious figure. It required only a second for him to make sure of his aim, when he pulled the trig- ger. There was no ‘flash in the pan” in his case, and the bullet sped true to its mark, fired, as it was, no further than twenty feet away. Having discharged his rifle, the Modoc chief- tain straightened up and stood looking steadily at the prostrate figure for full a minute. “Marunyo has died the death of a traitor,” he muttered, ‘but he was a good warrior, and IT will not scalp him, Lf -will leave him there for the wolves to eat.” And, with this Christian-like expression, he moved away toward his own camp, satisfied that he had ended all trouble from that quarte*. He had scarcely disappeared, when another figure emerged from the darkness, and, advanc- ae to the prostrate figure, pulled the blanket aside, This action revealed that, instead of a man being within, there was nothing but a simple log of wood, skillfully arranged with the moc- casins at one end, so as to resemble the figure of a sleeping person. It was Maruoyo himself who had played this rather sharp trick, and a grim smile lit up bis face, as he replaced his own moccasins, and threw bis blanket over his shoulders, prepara- tory to moving further away, where, if he ehose, he could spend a few hours in sleep, without the risk of being broken in upon by his enemies, follow him; he believes that the Drooping Lily has no friends to save her. Let Captain Jack look out!” CHAPTER IIL. A BIG “YARN,” “T's a condemned diffikilty, I allow,” said Nick Whitiles, in reply to his friend Oregon Sol. ‘I’ve ciphered over it many an_ hour, and always come out where I went in. I think I’ve heard my gran’father speak of the same diffikilty at the time ha was Governor of New York. He found that he bad promised one office to thirteen different burglars, and the all swore they’d have his life if he went bac on his promise. And he knowed they’d do it, and you see there was where the trouble come ‘Be He couldn’t see bis way clear out of the z=, ‘But how did he get out?” asked the trapper. “Heavens! how should I know?’ replied Nick. ‘I didn’t start to tell you a story, but only a diffikilty that he got into. Some of these days V’ll tell you how he got out of the scrape, but only one thing at a time you know.” “ But what has that todo with what we're talkin’ *bout?’ ‘‘ How in thunder should I know? I didn’t say thatit had any thing todo withit. But you see that it’s gettin’ well intosummer, and if we’re goin’ to see any of them Hudson Bay fellows, we’ve got to be moving northward. They was down on the Saskatchewan last year long before this time, and if we loaf about here much longer we shal] miss ’em altogether.” ‘““Wal, ’'ve been tryin’ to coax you off fura week past, but I couldn’t get you started,” re- plied Oregon Sol, determined that the blame should rest upon tha right shoulders, ‘‘ I s’pose the Blackfoot will go with us.” ‘“T wouldn’t bet much onto that, fur if he’s gone off on a tramp there’s no telling when he’ll come back ag’io, Some of these days he won’t come back at all, and then we'll have to go alone. That ’ere Marunyo is a very venture- some young lad, and is bound to get into trouble some day. He always reminds me of the time I was with the brigade on the‘ Red River of the North.’” As Oregon Sol himself had been in the em- ploy of the same company, and had been with Nick Whiffles a great deal of the time, he re- marked that he did not see what there was in such employment to remind him of the young Blackfoot. *“‘T can’t help it, if you don’t see what it is,” replied the whimsical trapper; ‘‘it ain’t the fault of some people if they’re born without any brains, though my old schoolmaster used to think if was. We had a good party of us at that time, and now and then we come ’cross some odd people. There was the Raven of Red River, and lots of otbers, not to mention the young Injun warriors, that arterward proved to be gals of the female sex. We had some lively adventures, then, me and Calamity and my horse Shagbark; and there was a nice lot of folks that I helped get out of the hands of the varmints, by getting into their hands myself, and having somebody to help me out. But we all come out right side up in the end, as I hope
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Oregon Sol. 4 we will do in this ’ere case. Do you know what I think that young Blackfoot is drivin’ at?’ suddenly asked Whiffles, forgetting all about bis promised reminiscences, and thinking ates of the new suspicion that had come into his head, “ How should I know?” replied Sol. ‘How can I tell you what you're thinking ‘bout, when half the time you don’t know yourself?” “1 ’spicion that he’s arter some gal that some of the red-skins have run off with. If that’s the case, why, we’ve got to jine in with him and go too.” ‘“* Why so?” ‘Cause on account of the gal in the case. Nick Whiffles ain’t the man to stand back when there’s any caliker that needs his help. It was always a weakness of the Whiffles family, and it ruined some of ’em, There was one uncle, the great traveler that rode all over Africa and . Asia and New Jersey ia a gig, because he was afraid he would be blowed up if he traveled on the cars orin the steamboats, He was at the Cape of Good Hope one day, when be beard that a young lady, belonging to a young ladies’ boarding-school that had just started, bad got lost among the bushes and hills to the north of that place. You understand that the young ladies’ institute had been started among the Hottentots, or Hotpots, or some such name, and as she had engaged to do the washbin’ and ironin’, they couldn’t very well spare her, though it didn’t need such an inducement to start my uncle off, for he was, like the rest of the W hiffles family, ready to break his neck any time for the sake of helping along some female woman of the gentle sex. ‘So my uncle only waited long enough to turn a collar that he had been wearing for three or four months, when he jumped into his gig and started for the country, where he had been directed to go to find the interesting young lady. I beard him remark afterward that the greatest bother he had was with the roads, which didn’t seem to have been paved or repair- ed for a long time. One time, he met a car- riage comin’ toward him, and started to turn out. The road was the sloping side of a moun- tain, so that, when he started, he kept on turn- ing out, till be and his animile had rolled three or four thousand feet down the side to the bot- tom. Uncle said he didn’t mind the fall, and the roiling over several hundred times, ’cause he was used to that; but he was afeard that the chap that he turned out for might think he done it on purpose, and didn’t know any bet- ter ‘But did he find the young lady?’ asked Sol, who seemed disposed to humor his propensity for talking. ‘* You don’t suppose he’d turn back when he had made uphis mind to do a thing of that kind? That sin’t the style of the Whiffles fam- ily. There’s Calamity, when he fixes bis teeth into a bear, Injun, or other animile, there it’s bound to stick. So, as I was going to say, my uncle spit on his hands and weut at it again. All the Hoppenhots that he met be stopped and inquired about the young lady. They was the most all-firedest stupid set that he ever see’d, * Some of em purtended that they couldn’t un- derstand what he wanted, and the others was so dumb that be had to shoot’em afore they’d te)l him what they know’d. ** But at last he l’arned ’nough to find out that she had been seen a couple of miles further on, where the elephants and lions were rather plen- tier than was healtby, and so he got in his rig again, jerked his lines, and started off on a jog- trot for the place, determined more than ever to git the gal.” ‘“* Did he carry any weapons with him?” “Oh, yes; he alwavs had two muskets under the seat of the gig. One of ’em hadn’t any lock or stock, and the other badn’t any barrel. But take the two together, and they made one good gun, and he felt that he could get along if the elephants didn’t shove in onto him too fast. ‘His animile kept up bis trot till he bad gone more vor two miles, and he was looking around for some signs of the female, when his hoss gave a shy to one side, so sudden-like that my uncle turned over on his head, with his feet p’inting up in the air. He was rather fat and heavy-like, and he could sleep on his head as well as an other way; and so, instead of righting himself ag’in, he laid still, with his head down, bis feet up, and his hoss jogging-like, till he could look round and see what it was that had skeered his animile, for he know’d it must be something onusual to do that. ‘*]t was a good time afore he see’d anything to account for the skoer of the critter, but at last he see’d it, and what do you s’pose it was?” Oregon Sol scorned to notify his friend again that he bad not the remotest conception of the novel phase of the story he had set out to tell, and Nick Whiffles resumed: ‘* What he observed was three lions and three elephants galloping afterhim. It was a remark- able coincidence that there should be the same number of each kind of animals, but such was the solemn fact, and they were all headin’ to- ward him, He managed to straighten up and twist ’round, so as to get on the rightend, and then he whipped up his hoss to make ‘im trot a little faster in the hope of gettin’ away, but it was a principle with that hoss not to go an faster than that one gait, and so my uncle stopped yellin’at and whacking him, and looked round at the animiles that were keeping him company. There was three elephants on one side the road and the three lions on tother, causes you know them critters don't hang to- gether very well, and they was all holdin’ back waitin’ fur the others to begin the fight, so as to git a better chance. ‘* My uncle was a-lookin’ at the front elephant, when he noticed the critter wink bis eye ina queer way athim. When the animal had done it two or three times, then the great traveler see’d what it meant. It was the same elephant he had seen in a circus company in the State of Connecticut. It was ata time that my uncle was driving a load of hay to town, when the elephant slipped ‘long behind him and eat it all up, and when he drove on the scales to get his hay weighed, he looked round and found it all gone. “Wal, of course, the elephant felt very tender toward my uncle, and he meantall this winking’ to let him know that he was his friend, and ud
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& Oregon Sol. come along to stand by him and help him. That made the traveler feel a good deal easier, and he kept jogging ‘long, willin’ to wait till the others got ready to make the attack. ‘He did not have to wait long, when one of the lions gave a es and made a jump. He went up pretty high in air, and just as he was about to ’light, the elephant that had gone into rtnership with my uncle, cotched the lion on is tusk which went straight through him, and held him pinned fast. About the time this was done, the second lion was in the air and he cotched him the same way on his other tusk, so that he had them both fast, where they couldn’t do anything.” “ But, you said there was three of ’em. What bad become of the other?” ‘*He was an awful fool. He might have knowed better, but, I s’pose when he saw them two lions stuck on the tusks of the elephant, he thought there warn’t nothin’ in the way to hinder bim from havin’ a fuir show at my uncle; so he give a big howl and licked his chops, and made a bigger jump than either of the others. I allow that things did look a little shaky ae then, but you’ve heard how smart some elephants are, and this one went a little ahead of any that I ever heard tell on, and if it hadn’t been my own uncle that told me the story, I would have thought there was some little mistake about it, But, as I often beard him tell it, there couldn’t have been. The ele- phant waited till the third lion was pretty well up in the air, whea he whirled ‘round quick as a flash, threw up his tail, and caught him on the end of that. Then he had all three, you see, and the other elephants were kind of partners of his and they traveled off with him, so that my uncle was left alone to continue his journey after the young lady.” ** Did he cotch her?” ** Wal, the old gentleman never finished the rest of the story; when he got that far in it he always dropped off tosleep. The Whiffles fam- ily were always great on sleeping. 1 once, had an aunt that made a bet-—’ “Never mind about that yarn now,” inter- rupted Oregon Sol. seeing there was little pros- t of Nick Whiffles ever reaching the end of stories, ‘' You said we war to make a start northward to-day. It’s past noon now, and it’s time we war on the move.” Nick seemed to rouse himself to a sense of his duty, and coming to his feet with something of the vim and activity of earlier years, he called to his dog, Calamity, that had wandered off in the woods somewhere, In a moment the saga- cious canine came trotting forth as if he knew that something rather unusual was expected of him, and the two trappers, with the brute lead- ing the way, moved off through the solitude, for a hundred yards or more, when they reached a fantastic-looking structure made of skins, logs, bark and branches of trees put together with no little skill, forming a cabin with an interior of something like a dozen feet in every direc- on. This was the cabin home of Nick Whiffles and ee Sol, when on their trapping expeditions in the far Northwest. Its position was so se- cluded and well concealed that it had never yet beeu disturbed by the visits of any Indians, nor white men besides themselves. Here they had made their head-quarters for several winters, and there was something in the lonely life so attractive to both that they oc- casionally extended their stay until far into the summer, only visiting some of the frontier forts for the purpose of disposing of their peltries, and procuring ammunition and a few necessaries. The trappers paused only long enough to fill their powder-borns, and bullet-pouches, when Oregon Sol mounted his little black pony, and Nick Whiffles bestrode his faithful beast, Shag- bark, and, with Calamity trotting beside them, they turned their faces northward, and began their long and eventful journey, CHAPTER IV. A LOST SNOB, Lavina the scene of their trapping opera- tions for the last few months, Nick Whiffles and Oregon Sol headed directly northward, and con- tinued that course for the remainder of the afternoon. Mounted on horses as they were, it would have been impossible for them to have kept up their journey over the wild, broken ground for any length of time, but for the fact that they were following a sort of forest trail, that had been used often enough to mark the route with just enough distinctness for their animals. As was generally their custom, the intelligent’ dog Calamity kept ahead of the others, picking the way, and holding himself in readiness to ive due warning of the approach of any danger. he trappers relied almost entirely upon him, and scarcely spoke of or gave a thought to danger. From what has already been said, it will be understood that there was really little occasion to think of danger, for they were already so far north that they were practically out of the range of danger. When one approaches or crosses the boundary line between the United States and British America, he has little to dread from the red-skins whom be encounters. The more warlike and vengeful are further south, and although he runs the risk of being annoyed with thieves, yet if is notapt to be anything more serious. The precise cause of Nick Whiffles and Oregon Sol moving northward at this particular junc- ture, was not to follow or meet the young Blackfoot, as might have been inferred from what has already been told, but it was in order to keep an engagement mude almost a year be- fore, with an agent of the Hudson Bay Com- pany, whom he had met at Fort Alfred. This man was evgaged in purchasing furs and peltries from Indians in Oregon and British America, and wished to employ Nick and Sol to visit a section of which he bad heard consider- - able, in order to ascertain whether it was worth while for the Company tosend half a dozen trappers down into that region. As the section referred to was somewhere near their own hunting-grounds, the trappers gladly undertook the job. They had month in a thorough exploration of the terri- tory, finding it possessed only of medium ad- spent a |
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aa Oregon Sol. 9 vantages, and were on their way northward to make their report according to agreement. The fact that the general direction they were following was the same as that taken by Ma- runyo, had occurred to them, as well as the consequential fact that there was a strong pro- bability of meeting; for a party of such ex- poniennes hunters as they, were pretty certain detect each other, if they came anywhere near each other, But these facts did not influence them in the least in the direction which they took. Ma- runyo. had used his canoe, and they could have changed their course without trouble so as to keep muck nearer the river than they were do- ing. Bne conclusion of both hunters was that if the young warror wanted to see them, it was his place to hunt them up, and not theirs to hunt bim, Nick calculated that it would require some three days of traveling before they could reach Fort Alfred, which was on British soil, and was one of the posts of the Hudson Bay Company. There they expected to find the gentleman in question, and to complete the engagement made with bim. As the afternoon advanced, there was quite a perceptible change in the temperature. They were so far northward, and it was yet so early in summer, that the only bg to enjoy the sun- light in all its fullness was by stretching upon the face of some rock, where there was no wind or shatow to disturb, which, it will be remem- bered, Oregon Sol and Nick Whiffles were do- ing at the time they were introduced to our readers. It was quite chilly now, and the wind that struck their faces, as they ascended the top of some ridge, or crossed some unprotected space, had a stinging, cutting sharpness about it, as if it came from the regions of eternal ice and snow which could be seen towering aloft in the western horizon. It lacked an hour yet of sunset, when Nick Whiffles reined up bis horse, and waited for a moment until Oregon Sol could come up beside him and do the same. They were on the top of an eminence some hundred feet in hight, which was covered with stunted pine, and from which they gained quite an extensive view of the sur- rounding country. Accustomed as the men were to the majestic scenery of the West and Northwest, they seem- ed impressed by the peculiar sublimity of the region in which they now found themselves, They sat for several minutes motionless and silent upon the backs of their steeds, their eyes wandering over the wonderful expanse stretch- ing out before them, ears of the rough, dangerous life of the Northwest showed themselves in the next ac- tion of the. two men, who, glancing only at the prominent features of the landscape, began searching for signs of life. While Nick Whiffles’s keen eye roved off to- ward the east, Oregon Sol, with scarcely less keen vision, scrutinized the eastern and north- ern territory. Both were successful to a certain degree, for, gome two or three miles distant on the slope of an elevated ridge, ‘smoke could be seen rising from among the trees, which grew here very close together, proving that quite a goodly-sized camp-fire was burning there. His keenest scrutiny failed to reveal any signs of persons, so he could only conjecture whether they were Indians or white men. Indeed he had no great interest to know, for he could ro imagine that he had any concern with em. “Now, that ere is what I call odd,” suddenly exclaimed Oregon Sol, when the eye had spent several minutes in scrutinizing the country about them. . ** What's that?” asked Nick Whiffles, turning his bead upon hearing the remark. “Why, look at that feller off yender,” he replied, pointing to a small stream less than a quarter of a mile distant. Looking toward the point indicated, Nick saw the figure of a man standing on the bank of the stream, gazing toward them. His dress showed that he was of the same race as themselves, but he seemed to be entirely alona and without horse, dog or even boat. He held a rifle in one hand and was leaning back against a tree, as though be imagined the two hunters were about to paint his Panis and he was willing to stand there all day and bear their scrutiny. “Tt ain’t a Hudson Bay or Nor’wester,” re- marked Sol, when they had scrutinized him for some minutes. The sight of a man of their own race in a solitude like this was such an unusual occurrence that the trappers resolved on a closer acquaint- ance. They were onthe point of starting to- ward him, when Sol called the attention of his friend to the fact that the stranger had already made a move iv their direction. It was not until the stranger began moving toward them that they observed his immense size. He was fully six and a balf feet in bight, not more, with his body filled out in propor- ion. The distance between the parties was so slight that it took the men only a short time to pass it, For most of the way he was invisible in the wood, but in a short time he made his appear- ance at the bottom of the ridge and walked toward them, ““How do you do, Mr. Nicholas Whiffles?” he demanded, as he approached and extended his hand. ‘TI guess you don’t remember me,” **Can’t say that I do,” replied the trapper, peering inquiringly into his face, as he reached down and took his hand. ‘‘ You’ve got a sweet, interestin’ face, by ,gracious, you have; but I don’t call to mind that I ever see’d it before.” The large, heavy-framed stranger enjoyed the wonderment of the two hunters for a few min- utes, and then explained: “Tt was at Fort Alfred last summer when you came up there and made the agreement with Captain Green to come in this summer and give your report about some place where be thought there was a chance of finding some extra bea- vers. Iam Mr. Fitzsimmons, that was attached to the bogede in the character of a scientific guide, “‘ What are you doing here, then?’ “ Tm lost,”
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10 Oregon Sol. There was something so Indicrous in the idea of this large man, after announcing himself asa scientific guide, adding, directly on the heels of it, that he was lost, that both Nick and Sol in- dulged in a hearty laugh, while he remained as serious and solemn as if listening to his own funeral discourse, “ Where is the brigade?” asked Nick. “ Heaven only knows. Science has sent them all to the dogs, where I’m afraid I’m going, too, unless science gets over the drunk it seems to be on just now.” ‘ne man rattled on so incoherently about sci- ence, and the dangers that it had inflicted upon him, that the trappers for a time were disposed to believe that he was some lunatic that bad broken loose and had wandered off into this part of the world, _ Mr, Fitzsimmons was an Englishman, who had been in the employ of the Hudson Bay Company for a couple of years, most of the time having been spent in their office in London. The pic- ture of robust health and vigor, he suddenly formed the idea that his health was failing and he came on a visit to the wilds of America for the purpose of recruiting. He was a man of wealth and respectability, and, desirous that his position and ability should be recognized, he announced himself as “sur- veyor of the brigade,” and proceeded to enter upon bis duties at once. Such an office as ‘surveyor of the brigade ” had never been heard of before, and as he did not interfere with the others in the discharge of their duties, his conceit was not interfered with, and he was permitted to rave about science to his heart’s content. . His principa] business seemed to consist in consulting a small pocket-compass, which he brought with bim from England, and in making observations of the stars daring the evening. As Nick Whiffles afterward learned, Fitzsim- mons started out with the brigade, and for sev- eral days they had no trouble with him, but at the end of that time he insisted that some defer- ence should be paid to his scientific attain- ments. “T carried the compass with me,” said be, in srelaining tbe circumstance, ‘and I knew bow to box it, and at night I could read the stars in the sky and tell ’em just where they was; but that Captain Green is—” “But you hain’t told us how you and the unre’ come to be apart,” Pe in Oregon Sol. “Tt was all their fault,” replied Fitzsimmons. “‘Tlet them all have their way without trying to interfere with them, till I observed how com- pletely they were violating the laws of science every day. One morning Captain Green re- marked that he was anxious to reach a place called Blackfoot Rock, which laid due north of us. Upon hearing that I took my compass and showed him the way the needle pointed, and that instead of going north, as he supposed, he was proceeding almost exactly east. I explain. ed the whole thing to him, and when I got through what do you suppose he did? He just laughed, and said that compass business was played, ever since Chris Columbus started for the East Indies, and by following the compass, fetched up against America instead, I asked him if he was sure that Blackfoot Rock was exactly north, and he said there was no doubt of it. Then [told him that I would go afoot, and he would see how much sooner { would get there than he. He replied that he would be ver. glad to make such an arrangement—and so started,” “How long ago was that?” “Nearly four days, and it seems to me that it is about time I came across that Blackfoot Rock, which I heard described very accurately, and which I’m sureI would identify the minute I saw it. Do you know where it is?” “Oh, yes; we've been there often,” “ How much longer will I haye to travel to reach it?” “ Wal,” replied Nick Whiffles, ‘IT thinkif you keep up a pretty good gait, you might do itin three or four years, They say a man can git around the world in that time and come back to where he started from.” “But you said you were on your way to Blackfoot Rock, dian’t you?” . “T’'m on my way to meet Captain Green and his brigade,” replied Nick Whiffles; ** but I ex- ected to doit at Fort Alfred. Howsumever, if he’s started for the other place, that’s where Pm Rolng “Then I'll go with you, and let the compass alone for the present.” “We'll be glad to have you, of course,” re- plied Nick, with his old smile; *‘ provided you don’t undertake to play the guide for us. You- Il excoose us from trustin’ too much to a chap thet is going southeast all the time, and then swears it’s due north,” The Huglishman was too much chagrined at the ludicrous mistake he had made to run any risk of repeating it, and he replied that, in de- ference to the superior knowledge of Nick Whiffles, ke agreed not to raise his voice a sin- gle time in opposition to any plan or schemes of ay And thus the two parties “‘ consolidated” at once. CHAPTER. V. WHIFFLES IN DANGER. Now that the destination of Nick Whiffles and Oregon Sol had been changed from the fort to the station or rock, the distances was thereby so much lessened that they calculated upon reaching it by the succeeding evening, pro- vided that nothing unexpected fiterveried to prevent, After the two trappers had made a rather careful survey of their surroundings, they con- cluded to camp where they were, at the base of the ridge. There was a stream of water near at hand, from which they were confident of en- ticing all the fish that were necessary for their supper. There was little danger to be apprehended from the Indians, as the trappers were almost too far north for that; but the fact that Captain Jack and another Modoc, at least, had gone northward, was enough to prevent that feeling of absolute safety which otherwise wou'd have characterized Oregon Sol and Nick Whiffles, By the time the arrangements had been com~- pleted, it was growing dark, and leaving Sol and Fitzsimmons in charge of the camp, Nick a —
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thing for supper. j The stream was really nothing more than a brook, across which be could easily leap at any place. The water was quite shallow and clear, and there was no doubt that it was plentifully stocked with fish; but, in the dim-gathering twilight, as be walked slowly along the bank, peering into the water, he felt that peculiar dis- satisfaction, with each place at which he balted which will sometimes come over a person, Just as he was about to cast the life, it struck him that the very place for which he was searching was a little further on, In this manner he advanced several hundred yards from camp, until, smiling at bis own childishness, he paused where a projection of land produced an eddy in the stream, and where he was certain of finding all the fish he could need, “What do you say, Calamity?’ he said, ad- dressing his dog, that had been walking con- tentedly bebind him; “shall we settle and begin work here? I guess.” The trapper had furnished himself with all the bait he could neéd before starting, and it required but a moment for him to complete his preparations. It was a favorite custom with him when fish- ing at nigbt to kindle a fire upon the bank of the stream. This was always sure to bring the fish around bim, and be insisted that he always caught much larger ones than otherwise. In accordance with this custom which he had followed so long, he proceeded to gather sticks and twigs, and in a short time had a big fire burning close to the edge of the water and throwing a light far up and down-stream. “That'll fetch em,” he remarked to bis dog. “We'll soon have a supper that ‘ll suit all hands,” He was not mistaken. He had scarcely thrown in his line when it was seized by a large fish, which was promptly landed upon the ground beside him, The same thing was re- peated again and again, and he had soon vecured ali that the three could possibly dis- jose of, x This done he ceaeed fishing, and picking up those that he had captured, proceeded to string them upon a branch forthe purpose of carrying them back to camp, when the dog Calamity showed by his actions that he desired to bear a hand in the business, To gratify him, the trapper permitted him to take the end of the branch in his mouth, and although the weight was quite heavy, the pup galloped away as delighted as if he were pro- viding himself with the choicest dinner possible after a prolonged fast. Understanding as well as did his master what was required of him, he sped straight to camp with his load, and was there before Nick left the little fire which he had kindled. ‘No need to burry,” he said, to bimself, with a grin, as he stood examining his rifle by the firelicht. ‘It’ll take a few minutes for ’em to br’il them floppers, and by the time Oregon Sol has ’em ready, I reckon he'll find me a little closer nor lam now. I don’t think it would do to give that ’ere Fitzsimmons the start on either Whiffles moved off up-stream in quest of some- of us. I hauled in eight or ten pounds extra on account of the length of his stomach. The W biffles were always blessed with a purty good appetite, but I don’t b'’eve that ‘ere English- man has had anything to eat for two or three weeks, and when that’s the case it’s pretty hard to gauge a man’s appetite.” Somebow or other, as Nick Whiffles stood here dallying with his gun and loitering behind until bis friend could make some progress in the preparation of bis supper, he was conscious of a curious feeling that he bad noticed several times before, but only upon rare occasions, It was a gathering and increasing conviction that some one else was near him in bis solitude, It was this same strange sensation that had warned him of the approach of danger more than once, and that caused bim to suspect even now that something unusual impended, Looking up-stream, the surface of the water gleamed in the firelight, as it flowed by in majestic silence, while bebind and across, the darkness was dense and impenetrable. A low solemn murmur filled the air, as if it were the sighing of the vast solitude, Just above the tree-tops, the faint figure of the moon could be seen in the clear sky, its light so faint as to produce no perceptible effect upon the river and forest. Nick Whiffles had trod the wilds often enough to become inured to such scenes, but there was sometbing to-night that impressed him, as he bad rarely been.im- pressed before, ‘ Leaning his long rifle upon the ground, he folded his arms over the muzzle, and looked out upon the firelit stream beyond. As be stood thus, with the camp-fire burning bebind him, his long, gaunt figure was brought out in bold relief, and viewed from the opposite shore, was of startling distinctness, He was wrapped in reverie—reverie of the past. He was recalling the many eventful and checkered scenes through which he bad gone and ia which he had borne such a prominent part. He saw again the figures of those with whom he had been associated—the beautiful, the grave, the gay, the old and young, the curi- ous and strange—as they filed before bim in a phantom-like procession. But deep as was bis meditation, he could never forget himself entirely, He always realized where he stood, and so it was, that when a faint, almost inaudible sound struck upon his ear, he instantly straightened up and listened. “T heerd something onusual * then,” he said, to himself, in a whisper. “1 knowéd there was something in the wind to-night, Yas, there "tis agin.” It was a soft, faint rustle, as if made by some one stealing through the forest, but it sounded up the stream, and he knew it came from the surface of the water. “Tt’s an Injun paddle,” he added, a few. min- utes later. ‘I’ve heerd the same sound too many times to mistake about it, Whoever it is, he’s coming this way, and I’ll wait till I see who it is that’s off on a pienic excursion to- night.” . Gradually it became more distinct, and the trapper knew that it was approaching ata leisurely gait, Hecould tell to amoment, when
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a2 z it would reach a point opposite where he stood, and still watching and listening, he calmly awaited its arrival, None could know better than did Nick Whif- fles, how prominent a figure be would soon be to the inmates of the strange canoe, standing as we have shown directly in front of the fire- Le he but, for all that, he made no move toward shifting his position, so as to place himself out of range of the strangers, who could so easily pick him off with their rifles. He felt no mis- vings, and was content to wait until they should reveal themselves, “Pm purty well up north,” he said to him- self, “‘ The cold weather in these parts seems to freeze the nateral deviltry out of a red-skin, though there are some of the animals that it would take a month in the middle of an iceberg, with them as stiff as a gun-barrel, before you could trast’em, They may be strangers to me, but,” he said, with something of pride in his _modulated voice, ‘I wonldn’t be afeard to wager my gun here that they’ve heard of Nick Whiffles of’en. The Whiffles family always con- trive to make themselves heerd tell of, in some way or other. When they ain’t governing some State, or making speeches in Congress, they’re catching beavers or sarcumventing red-skins. The canoe ‘I! be in sight the next minute.” So it proved; for while he stood facing up- stream in the darkness, the form of a canoe all at once shot into view, as it entered the broad, faint line of light thrown out by the fire. For a few seconds the trapper stood motion- less, and then, as he discerned the two Indians that sat with'n, be instinctively stepped back a pace or two and clutched his rifle, ** Modocs!” he exclaimed to himself; ‘‘they’re a treacherous set, and I don’t like’em, and them is two of the worst of the whole lot, What are they doing so far north as this? They don’t belong here, and I feel like ordering ’em off our trapping-grounds, back to their own lava-beds.” ; He had recognized the two red-skins as the arch villains Captain Jack and Filat-Nosed Billy, He had seen them before, and he always felt, as he ‘had declared, like sonding a bullet through the head of each. Captain Jack, the notorious leader, was seat- - ed in the stern with all the dignity and import- ance of a king, while his companion was using the paddle in a lazy, listless manner, as though he had the whole night before him in which to perform a journey of a few miles, Upon seeing the trapper they had been turn- ed toward shore, and the next moment the prow touched the land, and Flat-nosed Billy step d out. “ How does my brother, the great hunter, do?’ he asked, as he extended his hand, which was taken rather reluctantly by Nick, who re- ied: F “ Purty well; I hain’t had to call in a doctor lately, and you look as though you wa’n’t trou- Died with biliousness or loss of appetite your- self. “ Modoc warrior much well,” replied the In- dian in rather good English, “Pm glad to hear it; hope you’ll continner to fee] so. A man with a sick stomach ain’t of \ Oregon Sol. Re Pn ee ee ee ee much account in this world, He’s sart’in to git in some condemned diffikilty. It was the Whif- fles famiiy that made that diskivery a good many years ago, afore I came into this trouble- some world. But, Flat-Nose, ain’t you a leetle out of your latitude, in coming so fur north?” “The Modocs go where they wish,” was the pompous reply. ‘‘ Captain Jack and me have been on a big hunt. Now we go back to home in the mountains, Why comes my brother so far from home?” ““My home is anywhere in the Northwest,” returned Nick,.with a sweep ofhisarm, ‘Iam on my way to Blackfoot Rock to meet the brigade of the Hudson Bay Company.” “Then you go home?’ was the next question, whose quick eagerness did not escape the notice of the trapper. “That depends upon sarcumstances, It would bother any of the Whiffles family to tell where they'll be or what they’ll do next week. Mebbe Tl come back, and mebbe won’t, If you'll call on me next winter, I’ll let you know.” “Does my brother come alone, so far north?” contined the Modoc. “‘Sometimes be does, and sometimes he doesn’t. Leastrate I ain’t apt to go fur with- out Calamity and Shagbark. “But they do not meet my eyes,” said Flat- Nosed Billy, looking about him, as if he ex- pected to see them come out of the darkness and approach the camp, ‘No; they never was very good on meeting a feller’s eyes. Fact is, they don’t meet me very often, onless I go to meet ’em myself.” “* Qood-night, my brother,” added the Indian, as he stepped back in the canoe and picked up his paddle again. ‘“Good-night,” replied the trapper, with a fatKerly wave of his hard, bony hand, “ may you have sweet dreams, as the virtoous always desarve.” During this conversation, if will be noticed that Captain Jack said not a word, nor did he show any disposition to joinin, All the time, he sat motionless in the canoe, looking at the two, as if he considered it beneath his dignity to take part in such frivolous employment, Ashe took no notice ot Nick, the latter was equally considerate in ignoring his presence, al- together, directing his words entirely to his companion, although he kept one eye upon the leader of this detestable gung; and, as the canoe slowly glided away in the darkness, he stepped back, in the most natural manner in he world. Seemingly, there was no object in making such a movement, but there was, never- theless, “Tf I had only knowed it was them,” he thought, ‘‘I wouldn’t give ’em such a good chance, and they ain’t a-goin’ to git it ag*in. There’s some condemned diffikilty that them varmints bave got into I allow, to fotch ’em so fur north as this. Wonder now if they ain’t the scales that Marunyo has been follerin’? He started off this way, and them’s just the ani- miles to be in that sort of business. I hope the Blackfoot has learned what it is, for I bain’t got anythiug partic’lar on hand with the brigade. I would just as lief spend a week ip sarcum- ventin’ them red-skins as not.” f -
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Oregon Sol. 18 He stood back in the gloom away from the | camp-fire, listening to the sound of the paddle of the Modoc, as it grew fainter and fainter each moment, and then as be was about to start on his return to camp, his atteotion was arrested by the sound of another oar being dipped into the water .t no great distance from where he stood, This, too, came from a point somewhere up-stream, and was much closer than was the other canoe when he first detected its approach, oe to the precaution which was taken to guard against being discovered. ‘‘That chap knows how to swing the paddle,” said Nick Whiffles, as he stood and listened. **Onless a man has got as long ears as 1 have, he ain’t apt to hear’im, Tkere’s some deyvil- ment on foot, as sure as the world, and [ think it’s time that I found out suthing about it. He's close on hand now.” A few moments later the second canoe shot to view, following almost precisely the tracks of the first, and the first glance showed that it was occupied by but one single per- son, who was the young Blackfoot warrior, Marunyo, “Just what I thought,” said Nick Whiffles to himself, again stepping forward in front of the fire. ‘‘ That’s what the red-skin is doing—fol- lerin’ up them cussed Modoes, and if he keeps it up much longer, he'll be likely to come back with his scalp left behind him. How is my brother, Marunyo, to-nigbi?’ he asked, as the Indian sprung out and took bis hand, “ Have you seen Captain Jack and his men?” he asked, ins rt the question, “See’d em both, Shook hands with Filat- Nosed Bill, and my arm has felt ever since as though I’d been stroking the back of a rattle- snake, You're follerin’ ’em, Maruvyo, and now what p’ison diffikilty is on foot?” The Blackfoot then narrated all that has al- ready been told the reader, After telling of the trick he played upon the Modoes, by which be made them both believe that he bad fallen a victim to their hatred, he explained that he re- sumed the pursuit and continued it in a more cautious manner, when, by some inadvertence which he could not understand, he lost the trail altogether, and only to-night was he enabled to get upon it again, and it was due to accident more than anything else, that be bad found them again, He had not been able to catch a glimpse of them in the darkness and was not positive that he was really pursuing the right men, until his suspicions were confirmed by what the trapper had told him. When he learned further that the two Modoes were alone in the canoe, he was completely astonished, and scarcely knew what to make of it. “Then Drooping Lily and her mother have been killed!” he exclaimed, in a voice of an- ish. KC Not quite so bad as that,” replied Nick ‘Whiffles, who was enabled to comprehend the situation more correctly. ‘tThey’ve took them precious animiles with ’em to the place where they mean to keep ’em; fur a few years or till kin. get a good big ransom for ‘ew. the They've fixed things so they can’t gitaway, and Captain Jack and Flat-Nosed Billy has started fur hum ag’in. Mebbe they wouldn’t have done it if they’d knowed that you hadn’t gone uoder yit.” “Then I must turn back and bunt for the place where she is hid, for Marunyo can never go back to his bunting-grounds and leave Drooping Lily behind,” 7 ‘Struck, I allow,” remarked Nick, with a grin; ‘’spected it afore, That’s right, how- sumever, ’cause I used to act that way myself,” “*Can’t my brother, the great hunter, go with me?” asked the Indian, with such a wistful, pleading look in his eyes that the heart of the rapes was touched. ‘* Would like to, by mighty, and I guess I will, but I can’t do it rightaway. I tell you, Marunyo,” he added, ‘ you know where Black- foot Rock is, don’t yer?’ The young warror replied in the affirmative. ‘“*?m on my way to that air, *spect to be thar by day arter to-morrer, as l’m under an en- gagement to meet the brigade. You can do what huntin’ ‘round you’ve gof time to do; then: strike fur that place, and Oregon Sol and me will join forces with yer, and make a dead set for the Drooping Lily, as you call ber.” The eye of the Blackfoot sparkled. Nothing could bave suited him better, unless it was a pledge from Nick that the junction should be made at once, ““GQood-by,” he said, faking his hand, “* When the sun goes down the second time after to-day, Marunyo will meet his brother at Blackfoot Back, sty then shall come the rescue of Droop- ing Lily. “You don’t think so much of the old Jady as the young one,” said the trapper, still holding the hand that rested in bis own, And then he was proceeding to give him some advice upon love matters in his quaint, original way. Naturally talkative, he seemed to enjoy hearing bimself speak just now, while the Black- foot, impatient as he was to get away, repr: his emotions, and listened with the deference of aslave receiving the commands of his lord and master, Thus they stood face to face, with their hands clasped and the camp-fire smoldering between them and the forest, when there was the slight- est possible rustling in the bushes in the rear of the trapper, It might have been made by the hopping of a bird or the falling of a leaf—so slight and faint indeed was it, that neither of the two men paid any attention to it. But it had a deadly meaning: and within the next minute the outlines of a crouching Indian were revealed in the shadowy gleam, os he stole forward with the slow, cautious, and. perfect silence of the creeping panther, He was exactly bebind Nick Whiffles, whose — large frame could easily obstruct the view of Marunyo, as he stood listening to the words of the hunter, As he advanced still further in the dim twi- light of. the camp-fire, and his bideous face re- flected the features of the Modoc, Flat-Nosed Billy, it could be seen that he carried a long, gleaming knife in his right band. The wolfisb, eager glance that he cast upon the form of Nick Whiffles left no doubt of his pur, to bury the knifein his back the instant he should approach nigh enough,
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14 Oregon Sol. CHAPTER VI. FOOLISH MERCY, “I pon’? know a mighty heapsabout you,” said Nick Whiffles, still holding the hand of the ya pty Blackfoot in his own, and looking down ‘in b is face in his quaint, fatherly way. *‘ There be some things in your actions which rn free to say ain’t as cl’ar to me as I’ve see’d the sun sometimes in the middle of the day. But sich leetle diffikilties ain’t worth the bothering over, when a man has got them diffikilties that are p'izener than them, Now, I don’t know who this here Drooping Lily and the elder gals be, but, from your re me I powerfully ’spect that they’re of the female sex, and you're in love with the younger one. I’ve been in love myself,” he added, with a sigh like that of a pair of blacksmith’s bellows, ‘‘and T’ve heard my father say that he was once in love with my mother, a good many years ago; but he got over it ag’in as soon as they hitched together, There’s nothin’ like hitchin’ teams to cure a feller of love—which is the reason that Nick Whiffles don’t get married. He’s been iv love one hundred and eighty-four times, more or less, and there ain’t any doubt but, at this minute, there’s about double that number of female ladies down in the clearings that are in love with him, and the only way he can keep from marrying ’em is by coming oat to the trapping-grounds, so as to keep away from ‘em. As long a3 a woman sighs and hankers arter you, she thinks a good deal more about you than she does arter she’s got you, and that is why I steer clear of the females when I fiad that my booty is beginning to distarb tha’r peace of mind, and prevent tha’r eating more nor eight or ten pounds a day of pork and beans. I Aa arunyo, that you’re wonder- ing what all this talk means, and what it has got todo with Drooping Lily, and mebbe you’re getting a little impatient to be off.” Fiat-Nosed Billy, the Modoc, by this time had reached the point nigh enough for him to strike the fatal blow. He was still in a crouching tion, and grasping the murderous-looking nife in his hand, he began rising slowly to his feet, so as to gather the force necessary to drive the blow home. Still Nick Whiffles was talking, in his humor- ous may with the Blackfoot before him, with no suspicion of the deadly enemy in his rear. The latter had almost straightened himself, and was already drawing his hand back, with all the concentrated hatred and treachery that ‘comes natural toa Modoc, when there was a sudden growl, a whirring rush, and a dark body bounded like an immense ball, from the dark- ness, and the next instant Flat-Nosed Billy rolled over upon the ground, with the teeth of Calamity, fastened upon bis throat. The sudden, overwhelming shock caused the knife to fly out of his hand, and be went backward with frightful violence, the dog cling- ing to him with an immovable gripe. The wretch struggled and clawed with his bands in bis efforts to get free of his merciless enemy, Fiat-Nosed Billy was a terrible-looking object, as he lay struggling on his back, with the mastiff at his throat. The fire-light falling upon his face, showed his black eyes protruding hor- ridly, while the checked respiration caused him to gurele and gasp like one who was strangling to death. With the rushing charge of Calamity upon the Indian, Nick Whiffles had wheeled with the suddenness of lightning, while Marunyo stepped cautiously back in the darkness, as if to prevent eee being identified by the red-skin upon the ground, “Oh, it’s a little diffikilty between Flat-Nosed Billy avd the pup,” replied Nick Wohiffles, who fully understood what it all meant, and did not fail to appreciate the inestimable service done him by his dog. “It’s allers a principle of mine never to interfere with other folks’ quarrels, I may say that it’s the principle of the Whif- fles family, ever since my uncle, the traveler, got into a p’ison diffikilty in India from poking his nose into other folks’ quarrels, He was rid- ing along one day in his gig, when he espied two tigers fighting alongside the road. It made hie feel bad to see the way they was clutchin’ and clawin’ each other, and he hollered to ’em to stop; but seeing they was too busy to take any notice of him, he i drove his hoss and gig right atween’em, ‘hat sorter parted ’em, you see, but it didn’t pay my uncle very well, oth the tigers went at the hoss he was driv- ing, and ten minutes later, by the watch, there wasn’t anything left of bim but his tail and one shoe. My uncle had put on his spectacles and leaned back in the gig, expecting to see the two beasts scatter like Satan, when they was shoved apart; but when the hoss-meat began to fly, and one of the legs hit him in the face, he coneluded it would bea good idea to adjourn bis post of observation to some tree, and so he did; though when he got there he hadn’t any clothes left on him but bis shirt-collar, and the button was off that. ‘Since that time, the Whiffles family have been opposed to interfering in other folks’ diffi- kilties. Me and the pup have traveled through the woods a good deal, and I don’t like to hender his enjoyment, and he does seem to enjoy put- ting bis teeth in the throat of a Modoc.” This lengthy observation was uttered with all the deliberation natural to the trapper, and while he stood within a half-dozen feet of the combatants, with the Modoc struggling despe- rately to save himself from the horrid death that threatened him. The wretch saw that his only escape was in the mercy of the master, for the dog with his teeth closed like a vise in his throat, showed no disposition to relax his deadly gripe, which must speedily end in death, unless released very soon, So he turned his protruding eyes toward the hunter, and moved ove hand in supplication. Nick Whiffles was not cruel at beart and never eould be. Accordingly, when his would-be-as- sassin made the apveal for mercy, he stepped forward, and spoke sharply to Calamity. ‘“Let bim go, pup, let him go! Because he got bimself into a p'ison diffikilty, and »xes us to let him out it won’t do vo refuse, Let him go, pup, let bim go!” Calamity had been taught from his earliest outh to obey his master implicitly. He had earned more than once that the hand that
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—— could cherish and lift up could chastise with severity when it was deserved, and a word or look from his master was always sufficient to insure instant attention; but he never hesitated as much as he did now to render that obedience and it required a repetition of the command and a threatened blow before he unclasped the powerful jaws and stepped back. The would-be assassin was so near death that Nick stood looking at bim a second or two, fully believing that his mercy had come too late; but after some choking and gasping he revived, and assumed a sitting pees porwr J his hand to his throat, and glaring with murderous hate upon the canine that had inflicted this terrible injury. spying his knife near at hand, he reached out his hand to take it, but Nick Whiffles antici- pated him, by planting bis foot upon it. “‘T guess not, Modoc,” he said, as the red-skin looked up inquiringly at him. “That ere knife got you into a pison diffi- kilty with the dog, and I’d advise you to 1:t it alone arter this, I say, Flat-Nose, what did you meau by coming up behind me in that style, when it was only a little while ago that we shook hands?” After some hard swallowing and choking, the Modoc was able to speak, and he told the following lie, which did not deceive the trapper for an instant. “Marunyo, bad Indian. He tried to kill aay tain Jack, and Captain Jack send warrior Billy to kill him.” Nick Whiffles might well have asked why, if he were seeking the life of the Blackfoot, he should steal up behind another person with a drawn knife; but be concluded for the present that it would be better to affect a belief of this transparent falsehood. “Tf such was your idee, Modoc, the Blackfoot is here, and you may have your knife and take it out with him, for he is here; while I look on and see that you both have fair play.” As Marunyo heard these words, he stepped forward with his knife in hand, ready and eager to settle their “‘ diffikilty ” then and there. But such is not the style of Modoc warfare. He doesn’t wish to meet bis enemy face to face. It must be under the guise of a flag of truce and while one lies concealed in his lava-bed, or when he can steal up behind him, as had just been at- tempted, hen Flat-Nosed Billy saw the dauntiless oung warrior standing before bim, with his Enife clasped in hand, he shook his head. “ Billy sick,” he said, rubbing his throat and a ie sick indeed, ‘he can not fight to- day. He meet Blackfoot warrior some other day and fight bim with knife and gun. He go now to great chief, Captain Jack,” Modoc,” said Nick Whiffles, speaking with impressive earnestness, “if it ever run in the Whiffles family to thirst for a fellow pore? blood, it isn’t in the branch that I have the horior to represent. It has fallen to the lot of this ‘here rifleof mine to send many of your race to their happy hunting-grounds, but I kin truly say it was never done onless it had to be, and I can’t help thinking that there’s many a tim when surciety would have been more benefit - Oregon Sol. 15 if I bad aimed and pulled trigger instead of rest- ing it in the hollerof my arm, I never bad any doubt about it, when the red-skin consarn was a Modoc, for though there ain’t more nor about a hundred of ’em, counting in the squaws and pap- pooses, yet that’s just a hundred too many, for the good of the Nor’west. Fact, by mi lity! There’s sure to be some p’ison diffikilty with em tell the last one is wiped out from the face of the yarth. “Flat-Nosed Billy, your name is a blamed sight more bandsomer nor your face and heart is, You're one of the most p’isonest noosances of a lot that are all p’ison, and it goes ag’in’ my conscience to show you mercy, when you've tried to sneak up bebind me and stab me in the back. The rattlesnake allers sends you word afore he strikes, and once in a while you find a red-skin that does the same, but he don’t belong to the Modocs, But as I obsarved a minit AZO, 1 don’t banker arter your blood, so you kin go.” . The Indian stood motionless while receiving this scorching at the bands of the trapper, and when it was finished the base wretch bad the effrontery to advance and offer bis hand to the trapper, as if desirous that be should forget the dastardly crime, which he had come so nigh perpetrating. But Nick Whiffles recoiled and shook bis head. **T’ve allers tried to live in such a way that my dog there could respect as well as love me. He wouldn’t do neyther if be should see me shake hands with a Modoe, and as it is, itl] take some time afore he’ll forgive me for dragging him away from your throat. Take my advice, Modoc, and clear out afore it’s too late.” Flat-Nosed Billy did not repeat his proffer, but turned on his heel and disappeared in the wood without giving utterance toanother word. CHAPTER VII. MODOC WARFARR. As the treacherous Modoc moved away, Nick Whiffles turned to his dog: ‘*Foller him, Calamity, fur a little distance, but don’t you tech him onless be turns to come back, and then you kin put your teeth in his throat, an’ Jet em stick.” ; As the sagacious dog ery away like a shadow, the trapper turned to Marunyo, with bis old, quizzical smile. “T guess the purp won't furgit, but if he should happen to think the Modoc was meditat- ing about coming back, I won't scold him too hard; and now, Blackfoot,” he added, more seriously, ‘‘]’ve got a word with you, it don’t run in the Whiffies family to speak with two tongues except my uncle, the traveler: whosaid he found it necessary now and then in his travels. In the first place, I want to know whether you knowed that p’ison Modoc was creeping up behind me afore I turned round to see how he and the pup was making out?” Marunyo started as if he had shot, as well he might at such a pointed question. Be- fore he could reply, Nick added: t adae “Pll allowit’s coming to a ty sharp pint to put such’ a question, but) I may as well tell you that there are some things about ‘you that V. don’t understand and-don’t exactly like, In first place, every time I see you you'ré in
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. your war-paint, and you havea habit of wan- dering down in the Modoc country as though ‘ou was on good tarms with’em. [ll allow toat the way yon stood up afore this sarpint, when there’s some signs of a condemned diffi- kilty atween you, showed that you’ve got the clear grit, You seem a leetle amazed at the way I’m talking, and mebbe you’ve got cause to be, but it’s best that we should understand each other, and I tell you that Oregon Sol and me think about alike on such things, and [ allow that the Englishman, Persimmons, would think the same, if he had enough sense to think as deep as that. Mebbe you're allright, and meb- be you ain’t; I give you warning that if it a that you're true-blue, I'll take off my at to you and ax your pardon; butif you try any of the Modoc style of busivess, you needn't expect the marcy he got. I guese now we un- derstand each other, and I hope there'll be no diffikilty atween us.” Marunyo stood like a carved statue during the utterance of these words. Several times he ap- peared on the point of speaking, but something appeared to prevent him, and as silently as the assassin he turned about and disappeared in the ‘loom. ¢ ‘““Mebbe I done him onjustice,” mused the trapper, as be found himself alone, but that’s the gne onpleasant thing that belongs to the life of the hunter and the guide. Love the boy enough to wish to save him, if he has the heart ofa Modoc, and the few words I said may be the means of keeping him from some deviltry that be hasin mind. It hasa bad look for him to stand facing me, with that Flat-Nose creep- ing up behind me and he never seeing him; but if I didn’t hear him, Pil allow. that it’s possible that he didn’t see him. It may be all right, and it may not,” As he turned to retrace his steps to camp, he caught a faint rustling near him, and turning his head, saw his dog, that instantly took his lace at his side. It needed but a glance from Fis master to learn that he had not molested the assassin. “Sorry for you,” said Nick, as the two moved off together; “it allus grieves my heart to interfere with your pleasure, aud I know that you feel mighty disappointed ; but cheer up, pup, and console yourself with the thought that mebbe the day of reckoning is very close at hand. There ain’t any diffikilty in this world but what there’s some way out of it; the only trouble is that we can’t allus see it, When my father had his house burned down three times he said there was some good in it, although he never was able to see exactly how it helped bim along, as twice when it burned he hadn't got it insured, and the other time the insurance com- pany bursted up afore he could get his pay out of ’em, but the advantage then was that the in- surance men made a good thing of it. “ A Modoc willallus act out his nature, and I make you the promise, pup, that the next time Flat-Nosed Billy tries to play that trick onto me, I won't interfere atween you and him, and T hope that. will satisfy you, Calamity, and don’t let mo see you s' g any more over a like this. - ‘See here,” suddenly exclaimed Nick, ‘' we’ve Oregon Sol. . been a little longer away from camp than we expected, and, I don’t believe there’s any supper left by this time. It won’t be a bad idea for us to take a little with us anyway. lt required but afew moments to draw as many fish as be needed from the stream, and stringing these upon a stick he carried them back to camp, where, as may be supposed, his Geumpanions were beginning to wonder at his elay. Oregon Sol was stretched upon the ground smoking his shor’ clay pipe, and with bis chin resting upon his hands, with his elbows jammed into the earth, and his eyes fixed upon the glowing coals, he looked as though he felt per- tectly comfortable and happy. Fitzsimmons was stretcbed in a lounging po- sition with his side toward the fire, while he was attentively examining his microscope, as though it still contained mysteries which he was unable to fathom, “The wonders of science are illimitable,” he said, as if speaking to bimself, but meaning that the others should hear his words. ‘‘Igno- rant and coarse-minded men may scoff and ridi- cule, but they areonly deserving of pity, be- cause they are incapable of compreheuding all the beauties of the glorious field that spreads out before them, and in which they may wander at will.” “Don’t them chaps ever git in any diflikilty by going south in that field, when they think they’re going north?” inquired Nick Whiffles, as he sat down and began raking the coals pre- paratory to broiling his fish. The Englishman turned, and after looking with severe sternness at him for a moment, said, in his majestic way. ‘Don’t meddle with things of which you know nothing.. Statements from ignorant men are always pitiful and ridiculous.” ‘*] didn’t make any statement, Persimmons; I only axed you a question; and I didn’t know that science made people onpolite. When you got lost iu the woods, while off on a scientific trip, and. axed me and Sol the way, we took pity on you and showed it to you, and saved you from starving, Howsomever, you won't run any. risk in going off for a month now, fur 1 s’pose it’s according to science that a barrel of fish will last a man a month, and that’s about what you've got under your jacket now. It’s lucky that I thought to catch a few extra ones, or L shouldn’t bad any supper.” “Tf you’d sent ’em on ahead you wouldn’t,” said Oregon Sol. ‘I was kept so busy cooking ’em that [ badn’t much chance at anything, ex- cept the bones, and when there wasn’t any- thing more. left, he remarked that fish wasn’t as plenty in these parts as he heard tell, but he guessed he had enough to stay his stomach till morning.” “Do you feel anyways faint?’ continued Nick. Whiffles,. looking toward the disgusted Britisher with an exEnpospn of great solicitude, Fitzsimmons waved them away, and made a reply which he intended to close their mouths and crush them completely. ‘“Tt’s a well-settled fact in science that men who have large brains and who use them much, require a great quantity of phosphorescence,
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Oregon Sol. 17 such as is furnished by fish, The wonder to me is that two such gross-minded beings as you should ever feel the need of fish at all. As for me, I crave it constantly.” ‘* Which nobody can deny,” said Oregon Sol. “T never see’d such a craving afore. A couple of men like you would breed a famine in this Northwest if they stayed here one season.” The Englishman saw that it was useless to at- tempt to chaff” with this wag, and so he be- stowed his peculiar attention upon the little in- strument, with its dancing needle, which he held in his hand, Nick Whiffles turned toward his companion, and as he ate his fish, related what bad occurred up the river while be was absent. Oregon Sol was greatly dissatisfied with the account, He knew Nick Whiffles’s many peculi- arities, but he did not suppose that any of them extended to the point of sparing the assassin whose arm was arrested just as he was in the act of driving the weapon home. Furthermore, he believed it was a mistake in permitting Marunyo, the Blackfoot, to know that he was under suspicion, asit would put bim on bis guard and make it the more difficult to detect him in his treachery. The trapper was unable to appreciate the charity that really prowiyiee Nick Whiffles to do this. He did not see that the notification was made with the express purpose of saving the young warrior before he implicated him- self. However, it was done now was enough of a philosopher t regretting it. “Are you sartin that Wlat-Nosed Billy or Captain Jack won’t sneak up to us during the night?” he inquired. “We'll fix it so they ean’t,” was the reply. “T}1 put Sbagbark in one place, your avimal in another, and let Calamity superintend the whole business, and if bim or any other Modoc can git by them, he’s welcome to the scalp of Nick Whiffles, which they are his sentiments.” “ And I may as well express my sentiments,” said Oregon Sol, in a low, but earnest voice, ‘‘which they are that if this is going to be your way of treating Modocs you and I have got to part company mighty quick.” Nick Whiffles smiled as he made reply; “That's all right, Sol; I told the varmint that I knowed I’s making tool of myself as well as he did, and there won’t be any more such business oing on, so don’t let us hear any more about t. Ihad enough diffikilty in getting the other pup out of the sulks, without bothering over ou, Oregon Sol finally yielded to the imperturba- ble good nature of his old friend, and as the night was pretty well advanced, the arrange- ments were completed for turning in. Tne two sagacious animals were stationed as Nick Whiffles bad hinted he meant to place them, and Calamity was made to understand how great responsibility rested on his shoulders. “T don’t know what we'll do with bim,” re- marked Nick, when these arrangements were all made and they bad. come back tocamp. He re- ferred to the Englishman, who was still stretch- ed upon the ground, studying his compass and Oregon Sol o see the folly of | “He's big ’n’ugh to know how to take care of himself, but then he don’t seem to know 'n’ugh after all.” Very properly the scientific Britisher paid no attention to such ill-mannered slurs as these. He concluded that it would not pay to do so, and so he riveted his attention upon the little dancing needle before him. The trappers did not hesitate to wrap them- selves up in their blankets and stretch out upon the ground, where they almost pg bent 4 sunk into deep slumber which, unless disturbed, was certain to ast until morning. The Englishman continued to find instruction and delight in the little instrument before him for an hour longer, when he began to droop, and his head sunk upon the arm; so that when midnight cnme all three were sound asleep, and with no buman being standing guard when they had received such evidence of their enemies being in the neighborhood. At midnight the camp-fire was so low that the three figures were only dimly visible, as they lay stretched upon the ground. The trappers rested as quietly as infants, but Fitzsimmons emitted a snore that must have been audible for a hundred yards, and more, upon such a still night. If was its steady rise and fall that pre- vented its awaking the other sleepers. Thus matters stood when another figure ap- peared upon the scene in the shape of the dog Calamity, who came from the wood like a shadow; with a slow, measured tread he advanc- ed to where his master lay, and thrusting down his nose, rubbed it against his face. “Wal, pup, what is it?’ asked Nick Whiffles, arousing himself on the instant. It would be hard to explain in what particu- lar way the dog made his reply, but he did it so effectually that it was fully understood on the instant. It may have been (and very probably such was the fast) that the act itself of arousing Ba master indicated that something was amiss, Nick reached over and touched the shoulder of Oregon Sol, who opened his eyes at once, **) guess some of the varmint are about,” whispered Whiffles, and without another word the two crawled away in the globm, where they rose to their feet, “ Tadn’t we better wake him?” asked Sol, re- ferring to the Englishman. “Not just yil; they must have beard him snoring as soon as they got within a mile of camp, and if he should stop all at once they’d. know that we’d found ’em out.” Sol coincided with these views, and ibe | the sleeper undisturbed, the trappers separate taking nearly opposite directions, : Calamity accompanied bis master, and had gone less than a bundred feetwhen he paused and stood like a dog pointing game. The trapper did not speak, even in the lowest whisper, But looked and listened. Tbe gloom was too great even for such keen eyes as his to penetrate, but his ears notified him that some one was advancing directly toward him. As noiselessly as a shadow he stepped aside, and the next second a figure passed close enough almost to brush against him. Nick did not dis-' turb him, but waiting to see whether there was
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Oregon Sol. any more, and finding none, followed him. He moved toward the camp-fire. The strange Indian advanced in the same cautious manner until be was within a few feet, when be assumed a crouching position and be- gan stealing toward the form of the sleeping Englishman, Nick Whiffles waited until there could not be a possibility of a doubt of his intention, when he acted promptly and effectually. A sharp crack of the rifle, and the red-skin, witb a howl, fell prostrate on his face, stone- dead, his outstretched arms touching the person of Fitzsimmons, who continued sleeping as soundly as ever. “Watch out, pup,” said Nick, as he hastily reloaded his piece, and then advancing to the camp, he. stirred up the fire. “ Nothin’ on my side of the house,” remarked Oregon Sol, as he came forward, and both trappers leaned over and scanned the figure, pe the additional light thrown out by the em~ ers, “By mighty!” exclaimed Nick, as he identi- fied the tribe of the red skin. ‘‘it’s another Mo- doe, assure as I’m alive. What are so many of ’em doing in this part of the world?” “And it aia’t Captain Jack nor Fiat-Nosed Billy, neyther; but it’s one of them same var- mints, sart’in sure. Where do you s’pose he’s come from?” ‘Ha has been sent here by them two critters that went down the river in the canoe. Flat- Nose was afeard to come himself, and so he sent this wretch.” Tellin’ him, I s’pose, that if he didn’t make out to get his knife into you, you’d set him onto his feet and give him a chance to try in. Nick only smiled at this thrust, for he knew he deserved it; and after scanning the features of the assassin for a few minutes longer, he re- marked: “Never see’d bim afore; have you, Sol?” “Yes, [remember him. He and three others murdered a family of settlers—man, wife and four children—near Klamath Lake, last sum- mer. I happened to be in that neighborhood, just then, and started in pursuit of ’em; but they all got off in the lava-beds, where it was no use to try and follow ’em.” “Tf you didn’t see bim, how do you know that he’s the animile?” ** Don’t you obsarve that scar that runs across his face from one eys to the corner of the mouth on. t’other side, taking in the lower part of the nose, on its way? There’s Scar-Faced Charley, that is marked different, and this is the only one in this tribe that has such a scar. I’ve carried to the river and consigned to the rapid current, which speedily carried him beyond all human sight, This done, the trappers returned to their po- sitions by the camp-fire, where they stretched out and went to sleep as before, and seemingly forgetful of the frightful tragedy in which they had so recently acted a part. Fitzsimmons did not open his eyes until after daylight, when the others were stirring, and as they told him nothing of what had happened, he does not suspect, even to this day, how it was that Nick Whiffles was the means of saving him from a sudden and terrible death. Atan early hour the three resumed their gurney, northward, on their way to Blackfoot ock, CHAPTER VIII. THE FUR BRIGADE. THE sun was low in the sky ona beautiful day in summer when a party of hunters, trap- pers and voggeurs, to the number of fifty odd, ran their half-dozen large canoes close to the shore, and springing out, began their prepara- tions for the night encampment. They were in British territory, and were on their return to Fort Alfred, haying been absent from the post for several months, employed in making their tour along the Saskatcbewan and tributaries for the purpose of gathering in the furs and peltries that their agents had been col- lecting during the winter months. They had secured a large and valuable collec- tion, too, most of the canoes being piled high with the soft, velvety furs, which offered the most pleasant of couches, where, at night in midsummer, the air was cool and bracing. In some of the boats there was scarcely room for the rowers, while the rich burdens bore all down in the water within a few inches of the gunwales. On the morrow the hardy woodmen expected to reaeh the fort, and this halt was, as we have intimated in another place, in accordancsa with an agreement made between Nick Whiffles and Captain Green, the leader of the Hudson Bay Brigade, The mutual pledge was given, half a year before, that on this night the company of trappers were to encamp at Blackfoot Rock, or, in case they could not make it in time, Cap- tain Green agreed to have a representative upon the spot, fo receive the message of Nick Whiffles and Oregon Sol, and pay, them the stipulated price. y a coincidence that was remarkable, when the length of the time is considered, the brigade, as they were termed, had struck the place on the very day agreed upon, and Captain Green was not alittle pleased at. the neat.manner in which it had been brought about. q 1 heard him spoke of a good many times, as one Of the two score and a half of men, there was ia n of the worst skunks in that little tribe, that WN eS hain’t got anything else in it but skunks. He got that hurt when be was trying to murder a white boy, as.cotched up a hatchet and gave him a wipe across the face that laid him out fur atime, Wonder if there’s any more of them critters *bout?” “Guess not. I think he’s been sent here; but if there be any more, we kin depend upon Ca- not one who did not know what his duty was, and who did not set about it at once. They were as busy as bees, and it was.a pleasant sight to note the perfect system that reigned over all. While some devoted themselves to the care of. the boats with their precious,car- goes, guarding against any mishap of the night, lamity more nor on ourselves.” They decided to remove the body, which was gan cutting down and gathering fuel for the “ in the way of storm, wind or thieves, others be- ri \
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Oregon Soi large camp-fires that were soon kindled, and throwing outa broad, cheerful circle of light in the darkening gloom of the night, Sill oth- ers could be noticed bringing cooking utensils and boxes containing the most indispensable condiments from tbe boats, and perfecting their arrangements for the preparation of the food for the wolf-like appetites of these brawny Anaks of the Northwest, Captain Green, the director and head of all this bustle and work, stood near ove of the camp-fires, watching the movements of bis men, and exchanging a word now and then with a young gentleman standirg beside him. The Jatter was the son of the commandant of Fort. Alfred, and was a ‘‘city chap,” who bad come from London in the same. vessel that brought over Mr, Fitzsimmons. He had little taste for the life of the backwoods, and had de- clared almost before he bad seen the frontier post over which his father presided, that he meant to get back to London and civilization as speedily as possible. As several months must necessarily elapse before he could return in the supply ship of the Company, he consented to go with his friend Fitzsimmons on a tour with the brigade. At the time the scientific gentle- man got lost, young Swoper was tempora- rily absent on a bunt, or he would have got lost with bim, Swoper was rather conceited, and treated the hunters with such undisguised contempt, that he was not popular with them, and even Cap tain Green only endured bim for the sake of _bis father. They bad not much liking for Fitz simmons, but he was not as offensive in bis manner as the young cockney. Captain Green stood somewhat apart from the others, and he would bave preferred to stand alone, but as he was about the only one who would hold any converse with Swoper, and that young gentleman was there, he could not well afford to dismiss him. The captain had just made some response to some observation of bis companions, when the latter exclaimed: “ Helloa, ere is my friend, as sure as I'm alive. I’m dooced glad to see’im, but who the dooce Aare them beggars that he’as with ’im?’ ‘*Be careful,” admonished the leader, as he turned and recognized the men approaching. “One of them is known as Oregon Sol, a some- what celebrated trapper, and the other is the famous philosopher and hunter, Nick Whiffles, that you have heard me speak of so often,” “79—’o! and that’s the man,” replied the cockney, elevating his eyebrows with surprise; **he don’t look like much of a feller.” As the trio approached, there was. naturally hand-shaking al around, and an exchange of courtesies between the two Londoners who had been separated for the past few days. Then fol- lowed several introductions, and while Oregon | Sol sauntered off to exchange greetings and re new acquaintances with the members of the brigade, and those who remained behind paired off, Fitzsimmons. and Swoper, and Capiain Green and Nick Whiffles, the young cockney showed considerable curiosity regarding the famous frapper philosopher, and asked nu- merous questions of Fitzsimmons about him, 19 : He kept his eye upon him, and when he saw the captain pay him a bandsome sum of money, in recoguition of his services, he seemed to think it was a suitable occasion to open a conversation with him. ‘‘And so You trappers work for money, do you? Al thought you trapped the woods and shot bears and trapped beavers and halligators, and I don’t know what not, for the love of the thing.” Nick Whiffles turned about and looked steadi- ly at the young man a moment, as if to take bis measure, ft required but a few seconds for him to do so, when he made answer in his drawling way: ‘Bears and beavers would be easy ’nough eotched, if they was all as big fools as you are. But as there ain’t a beaver in the Norwest but what has more brains than ycu. have, you see there is more work than play about it. Fact, by mighty!” Captain Green and Fitzsimmons both Jaughed at this rather persoral reply of Nick, uttered with such an irresistible waggishness, Swo flushed, and showed that he was angered. In- stead of laughing the whole thing off, and back- ing out of such an unequal contest, he was on- ly the more eager. to overthrow bis antagonist. ‘You are doubtless unawere hof whom you're hadaressing, sir. Al would ’ave you know that hI'merbert Swoper, son hof the commandant hot Fort Alfred.” ““You be, eb?’ returned Nick, scanning bim from head to foot. ‘‘ Colonel Swoper is a man, every inch of him, and when you tell me you’re his son, I can’t help thinking what a ‘double shame you commit; for you derive distinction from your ancestor, as it were, and bequeath cisgrace to your posterity—that is, if you ever have any, which the good Lord forbid!” Young Swoper was compelled to hear the snicker’of bis friends again, and he bastened to drown it in some more origina) observatious, The hight of his ability enabled him to ask a few questions in the way of quizzing, as he had frequently done at home among his companions. This, the resort of the weakest wits, be proceed- ed to carry out, by making bis questions as ir- relevant and absurd as possible, in the bope of compelling the trapper to appear ridiculous, “Do you gentlemen ’ave good appetites?” ‘‘Good. appetites allurs run in the Whiffles family, but the biggest hogs lever see’d wasthe Englishmen that sometimes come over with the Hudson Bay folks. Howsumeyer, appetite is a good thing, which Providence ginerally gives to poor folks, so that they may like what they eat, while the rich don’t often have it, ‘cause they ~ may eat what they like,” : “You are quite a remarkable philospher,” said Swoper, in mock compliment. ‘Such a man as you ought to travel and let the world see more of you.” Nick Whiffles shook his head. “The objection to that is that I'd see more fools than I would wise men, Out here in the woods, when I don’t meet one of my own race and color sometimes for daysand weeks, I begin to thiok that there ain’t a great many fools and seamps of my own race arter all; but the minit Tapproach a dozen or twenty white men, I’m
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20 : sure te run ag’in’ one of them chaps that are like the skunks—good for nothin’ except to smeil sweet and strong. No matterif it’s the brigade away up here in the Nor’west, that fool is sure toturnup. But then I had an uhcle once that was a great traveler.” “ Ah—a! you did? What part of the world did he visit?” “Every part, I may say, and when he came back he writ a book about ’em. There was China, now, I call to mind what he said about that. ‘You do. eh? what did he write about that?” “ He said it was the land of contraries. That flowers didn’t have any smell, and that female ladies didn’t wear any petticoats; the roads didn’t have any carriages, and their ships were like our canoes, without any keels; the old men fly kites, and thar compasses all p’int south, though, fur that matter, they don’t p’int north in this part of the world, as Persiinmons there has found out. When aman in Caine gets puz- zled he never scratches his head, where if you take off your hat you insult a man, and when Aa want to go in mourning you put on white uds. ’ “ Well done,” added Fitzsimmons, enthusi- astically; ‘‘tbere’s more in your head than there looks tobe. You've come in contact before with men who have made some investigations in sci- ence and history. What you've said I can cer- tify as being trath.” “Sorry you said that,” replied Nick, “’cause I never bai any doubt of what my uncle, the traveler, writ till you throwed it on by what you've just said. I hope this other pup won't sav he agrees with me, for then Ill be sart’in ee some of the Whiffles family have told a le. “Tgness you two gentlemen had better let Nick alone,” laughed Captain Green, who thor- oughly enjoyed the discomfiture of the two would-be wits. ‘‘ You can’t make anything off of him, and the more you try the worse you catch it.” “RAL aren’t ’alf-tried.” replied Swoper, pom- sly; ‘if Mr. Whiffles was a man of some education, kl shoulin’t be afraid to measure swords with ’im; but it’s ard to talk toa man that ’asn’t the brains to comprehend you.” * Then I s’pose you allus have an oncommon diffikilty in talking with any one,” said the trap- r, ‘’specially if he’s a man of sense, Some ‘olks are the wisest when they’re asleep or dreaming.” “Do vou hever hindulge in the luxury of dreams?” asked Swoper, catching him up in- stantly. ‘* What do you know of dreams?’ “1 don’t pretend to much book-Parning,” said Whiffles, more seriously thar before; “ but a man can’t come to my age, even though he spends most of his time in the woods, without Yarning something. God and Nature are allus before him, and he sees’em when bis eyes are shet; they foller him everywhere, and he can’t forget’em in his sleep. You ax me what I know *bout dreams, and I can’t say that I know much, 7eause nobody does; but my dreams are most! pleasant, which I fear yours sin’t, ’cause it takes a good digestion and aclear conscience to make ’em so, Dreams are the visions we Oregon Sol. ere awake to when we're asleep, They’re the life of death; the sights that the blind see; the sounds that the deaf hear; the language of the dumb; and to ma they’re dim speakings of what is to come in that sleep which knows no waking. I’ve read somewhere that sleep was the twir brother of death—” “What do you mean by a twin brother?’ was the exceedingly silly question of Swoper, intended to cast ridicule upon the “old man eloquent.” “Tf your mother had been so unfortinit as to have a natural-born fool, at the same time you come into the world, you and him would have been twin brothers, and the other one would have had the most sense, And now, young man, let me give you a word of advice; you never will amount to much, and it ain’t your fault, ‘cause it wasn’t born in you; you’re one of them chaps that thinks it’s a disgrace to work, and I don’t doubt despise your own parents ‘cause they doit, Idleness is the hard- est work for them that ain’t used to it, and dull work to them that are. It’s a disease that soon eats into the heart, and corrodes your heart while it digs under your health. Depend upon it, that notbing is so hard to do, as to do noth- ing. Men spend years in working for the time when they needn’t work, and then find that the hardest work of all, and— But what’s the use in talking to a man that can’t understand?” And Nick Whiffles deliberately turned his back upon tho two Englishmen, and began a confidential conversation with Captain Green, as though his disgust was too great to permit him to look upon them even. They sauntered away arm in arm, as though they were the victors instead of the vanquished, though there can be but little doubt that they were greatly relieved to escape the scathin they were receiving at the hands of Nic’ Whiffies. CHAPTER IX. THE FIRST TRAMP, EARLY iv the morning the brigade had eaten their breakfast, and were ready to start on their return to Fort Alfred, Captain Green was de- sirous of securing the services of Nick Whiffles and Oregon Sol for the Hudson Bay Company, but the former shook his head. “Pve got a little private business of my own to look arter, If nothing pertick’ler comes up in the summer and fall—that isif I don’t run across any condemned diffikilties that [ have to straighten out, [ll turn in with you and try another season.” None knew better than ne Green that it was useless to attempt to change the mind of Nick, and so he urged him no further, but bid- ding the two trappers good-by, told them that he should count with a great deal of confidence upon seeing them at the fort before a year should have elapsed. As the canoes pulled away up-stream, Nick and Sol stood upon the shore waving their good- by. They were especially affectionate in their de- monstrations toward Swoper and Fitzsimmons, who had sense enough to forget the rough treat- ment they had received at the hands of the phi- ~~
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i Oregon Sol, _ 21 losopher of the woods, and they returned the signals, declaring the old fellow to be a brick after all, And so the parties separated. When the brigade bad passed the curve in the river and was fairly out of sight, Nick turned about, and the two walked to where their horses were cropping the grass, Here they stood be- side them for some minutes debating as to their future movements. “T told the Blackfoot to meet me here this morning,” said Nick Whiffles, ‘‘and he hasn’t kept bis agreement as well as Captain Green and the rest of the men done,” ‘* Mebbe he won’t come at all,” replied Oregon Sol, who bad received the full particulars of the last interview between Marunyo and his friend. “When a red-skin gits his back up in that style, he’s apt to show it, and like enough we’ll never see the red-skin ag’in.” “That might be,” replied Nick, “if he was a inooine Injun; but it’s the condemned difikilty ur me to think all the time that he’s one of the true blue. There’s something in bis ways that | looks too much like a white man’s,” Oregon Sol’s face wore a serious expression. He eps silent a moment, and then looking up, he suid: “Nick, I’ve never heard you speak that way afore. I've had sech thoughts, but I never let ‘em out ’cause they seemed so foolish like, but thar’s something else ’bout Marunyo that works me more nor his looks do,” “ What’s that?” inquired Whiffles, with no lit- tle curiosity. “Sometimes, when he’s speaking, there’s some- thing that comes over me, as though I had heard that voice before, I’ve had the feeling a good many times, and it bothers me a good deal, fur I can’t figure out where it was that I heerd that voice, nor how it is that it strikes me that way. Does it ever act the same with you?” Nick shook his head. “Never; l’ve had my doubts ’bout his being a reg’lar varmint, and I’ve got ’em yit, but I’ve never had a s’picion that [ve ever see’d ’im afore the time we run ag’in’ ’im, a couple of years ago.” - “*T wish I could feel the same way,” said Ore- gon Sol, as if speaking to bimself, ‘‘ fur it’s one of them Ws that sometimes keeps me from sleeping at all, How long are you going to wait here?” . Py ‘© We'll hold on a little while longer, and then, if we don’t see nothin’ of him we'll head south and leave word for him to foller, Calamity, [ wish you’d go over on Blackfoot Rock and see whether the young man is in sight. You've been gp there before and know the way.” The large shaggy dog that was sitting at his master’s feet, licking his chops, and patiently awaiting their decision, arose, turned about, and trotted toward the river, There was a solemni- ty in his movement and action that proved that he was a canine little given to trifling, and with- out any evidence of the waggish disposition that was such a prominent characteristic of his master, Into the river went the dog, and paddled as straight for the opposite shore as if he was fol- lowing a ferry-line that was stretched over bis head. As he walked out upon the land, he paus- ed only long enough to shake his shaggy hid when he disappeared behind the huge mass o rock towering to such a great hight, 3 ‘Can he get to the. top?” asked Oregon Sol, who had been attentively watching the move- ments of the sagacious creature, _‘“ You heerd me tell Captain Green how many times I have been up there myself,” said Nick, in reply. ‘ Well, every time I went up the pup went with me, and I guess he’s old ’nough to go it alone,” Tt was no light task for any one, man or ani- mal, to clamber to the top of Blackfoot Rock. but the trapper never felt the least doubt about the success of his favorite, Several minutes passed, and while they stood discussing the many excellencies of Calamity a faint bark was heard, far up in the air, and looking up they saw the diminutive figure of the dog on the highest point of Blackfoot Rock. At such a distance, he Sypsares searcely larger thana fly, but there could be no mistake about his identity. The creature retained his position perhaps ten minutes, during which he gave out his short, peculiar bark some half-dozen times, “That means that he sees something,” said - Nick, who understood the meaning of his do; as well as if he possessed the gift of speech, ‘ guess the Blackfoot isn’t fur away,” Shortly after, Calamity was seen breastin tbe current again, and, as he came out an gave his hide a shake that sent the water and spray flying in every direction, Nick Whiffles put to him a series of questions, as searching as if the dog were submitting to a cross-examina- ~ tion upon the witness-stand. ** Marunyo is close by,” said the trapper, look- ing about, as if be expected him toshow himself at once; ‘‘the pup has seen him, and we sha’n’t have to wait long.” “ That's the fact,” said Oregon Sol, “for there he is this minute.” The handsome graceful figure of the Black- foot smecges from the woods at this juncture, and he advanced straight to them, making a kind of military salute to the two trappers, ‘Well, Marunyo, we came near giving you up,” said Nick Whiffles, as he took bis band. ‘“ We've been here all night, and was just talk- ing, about going away, when you showed your- self, ‘“Marunyo has been a good many miles,” ree plied the Blackfoot, by way of explanation, ‘and he has not shut bis eyes fora long time that he might meet his brothers,” This did not look as though be was very deep- ly offended by the plain words that had been spoken to bim by Nick, and the latter, with characteristic good sense, determined to make no reference to it. “Wal, my son, the next question is whether all this tramping that you ve been telling us *bout has done you any good. Have you I’arn- ed anything ’bout the two females that Captain Jack and Flat-Nosed Billy took away with ’em in the canoe?” The black eyes of the young Indian flashed, as he made answer: ‘““Marunyo has followed them as the hound
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22 Oregon Sol. rr follows the deer. He has found theplace where the Drooping Lily weeps.” “That’s the kind of talk that amounts to something. I s’pose the old lady is with the Drooping Lily?’ Marunyo nodded in the affirmative. **T obsarve that it’s the young gal that you speak ’bout, as though her mother wasn’t of much account. Don’s you forgit, young man, that if that gal is the right kind of animile in calico she thinks a good deal of ber mother and it won’t do fur you to furgit all bout the old lady when you're courting the young one.” Marunyo showed considerable confusion at the pointed references of the trapper—but he made no allusion to them. He was too much occupied just then with the question of the rescue of the ladies from the power of the murderous- minded Modoes. “Will the hunters go with me to save the Drooping Lily?” “ And ber mother, too,” added Nick, in his comical way. ‘ You nod your head that you mean her—but it’s time you begun practicing in the way of showing some thought of her, even if you haven’t got it.” Nick turned to Sol, as if he wished him to an- swer the question of the young Blackfooc. ' The former stood back a little, with bis arms folded, and looking fixedly at the young man, as if studying his countenance and listening to his voice. When appealed to in this manner, he did not speak, but nodded his head to signify that he was willing to do whatever his companion wish- ed bim to do, and Nick Whiffles took upon him- self to reply for both, Laying his hand upon the shoulder of Ma- pati hag he fixed his keen gray eyes upon him, and said: id: * Blackfoot, we’re goipg to trust you, and when I say we, I mean the pup and Sbagbark the pony, not to mention Oregon Sol. If you talk with two tongues, we'll diskiver it in time to put you in such a condemned p’ison diffikilty that you'll never tramp the woods ag’in nor think you hear the voice of Drooping Lily sing- ing to you, when you're looking at the stars. We've waited here on purpose to meet you, and we are going to do what we can to git them females out of diffixilty. It’s airly in the day, and if you feel like travelin’, go ahead, and we'll foller.’ : The war-paint that covered the face of the Blackfoot could not conceal the expression of delight that came over it when he beard these words from Nick Whiffles, and saw from the manner of the two trappers that they were as ready as he to start on the expedition, Marunyo was without any animal of his own, and he needed none. Youngand active, almost tireless in muscle and wind, he could travel as far, at a moderate speed, as the best horse that he could ride. As he moved away the hunters mounted their animals and followed after him in Indian file. Calamity, took his place directly in front of Shagbark, the pony, and a few feet in the rear of the Blackfoot. By this means he could give _ his master timely warning of any danger that _ the red-skin might lead them into, and Nick un- derstood the sagacious animal well enough ta know that he would do it, as surely as if a hu- man being himself, Oregon Sol kept a rod or so inthe rear, and an ordinary observer would have supposed it was on account of timidity; but Nick knew bet- ter. He was well aware that bis old compan- ion was in one of his moods and he respected bis seelings enough at such a time to make no attempt to disturb bim. If Nick Whiffles could be waggish and humor- ous at times, he could be considerate also, He never willingly injured a person’s feelings, and in quizzing a person he did it in such a way that he could take no offense, unless, indeed, the other first attacked him, as was the case with Swoper, the Englishman, when the old trapper was as severe as any one could wisu. He had learned, during his companionship with Oregon Sol, that the latter, like most peo- le, had his secret sorrow. He had suffered a blow in his early manhood, which had been the real means of bis taking to the woods. Precise- ly what it was Nick could not tell, for he had never asked; but be needed no telling that it was the cause of these spells of absent-minded- ness, and occasional moroseness, that came over his friend. At such times Nick generally left him alone, He felt enough sorrow and sympa- thy for him to make proper allowances for his change of mood, and he did not add toit by any unseemly jest or resentment upon his part, If the Biackfoot had traveled so many miles during. the days and nights passed—and Nick Whiffles did not doubs in the least that he had done so—he showed no signs of it, as he led the way with a free, bold step, apparently as fresh and vigorous as if he had merely started out this fine summer morning for the purpose of stretching his legs. The trapper had seen thousands of Indians, and some of the finest specimens of mankind probably that ever lived, yet he was certain that he never beheld greater perfection of form and grace of movement than was in Marunyo, who strode along before, seemingly unconscious of his beauty, power, and wonderful reserve of strength. “It seems onpossible that such a _ good- looking fellow as that can bea villain,” mut- tered Nick to himself; ‘‘and yet, that don’t make no difference, for here is me, the best- looking member of the Whiffles family, when I was young I was one of the worst boys in the kentry, though I’ve got over it. now and am just tother way.” After following a sonthern direction for many hours, Marunyo turned more to the east, where the wav was rougher and their progress was more difficult. In’some places it required con- siderable skill on the part of the horses to pick their way along the rocks and through the gorges and ravines, . But the Blackfoot appeared never to besitate or to be at a loss for the proper course to pursue. He led the way as though he had spent his life among the mountains and knew every step of the way. “T pected he would aim for this neighbor- hood,” said Nick, who, having no one to whom he might talk, spent the time in talking to him- a
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ag Oregon Sol. 23 self. ‘Captain Jack knows this part of the | all these particulars from the Blackfoot, ‘‘ Ca country well enough to know where to hide bis jewels. I spect that old sinner has stowed them gals away here, where he means to keep’em till he kin get a big ransom for’em. That old dog is as smart as he is devilish.” As the day advanced, Nick Whiffles proffered to Marunyo the use of his horse and urged upon him to ride awhile, but the Indian would not ecnsent, and they continued plodding along un- til the day was nearly ended. At night they encamped in one of the wildest places of the Northwest—so walled in on every sida by mountains and broken forests that in scarcely any direction was it possible to gain a view of more than a hundred yards, Nick Whiffles bad been in this section but once before, and that was at least a dozen years provicus so that, although he retained a general nowledge of its characteristics, yet, as he de- clared, be felt more like a stranger than he had felt for a long time, But,” said the Blackfoot, “we are now within half a mile of where the Drooping Lily and her mother sigh and weep and pray for the coming of their friends,” CHAPTER X, AMONG THE MOUNTAINS. ‘Niox WHIFFLES, understanding the nature of the business upon which they were engaged, had rovided himself and the others with a good Jimmeb at the hands of the brigade before they ‘left Blackfoot Rock, This obviated all neces- sity of firing a gun for some time at least to come, while they were in proximity to their foes. Silence and caution were the most im- a ee requisites toward success ‘just now, and he three men realized the truth to its fullest ex- tent, Marunyo proposed, as they came to a halt, that they should not kindlea fire; but both Nick and Sol had such a distaste for encamping in the darkness, that they searched out a shel- tered nook under the rocks, which was really more of a cavern than anything else, and bere they kindled a small fire, which enabled them to see each other’s faces and to converse more understandingly of the position in which affairs stood. Whiffles bad supposed from the remarks of the Blackfoot that he knew precisely where the pee place ofthe captives was; but upon close uiry he found that such was not the case, e bad followed Captain Jack,and Flat-Nosed Billy to this section, but bad lost them, and with all the skill at his command could not tell whither they had gone, or where they bad been revious to their departure for home again, dur- bis which the attempt upon the life of Nick Whiffles was made; but, convinced that the spot he was seeking was somewhere in this neighborhood, he had made a careful search without any success except to discover that when Captain Jack and bis companion left, others remained behind to take their places, They were among the mountains somewhere, and were doubtless guarding these women with the greatest care. ; * That's it,” said Nick, when he had drawn tain Jack has got so much deviltry on bis hands that he has gone to "tend to it, and has left two or three Modocs here to stand guard over the gals till he is ready to visit ’emag’in. I say, ice i) do you know the name of these crit- ers? “De Long,” was the prompt reply. “Old acquaintances of ne ae ip That is, did you know 'em afore they got into this little diffikilty?” The answer to this was equally as ready: _ “Captain De Long is rich man; his home is in Frisco; he is fine man, He brings his wife and daughter in Oregon to see their friends; they stay bere when the weather is warm in summer time; they go fishing; they bunt, Ma- runyo sometimes go with them. He goes 2ff vo start them a deer, and comes back and they are gone. Captain Jack has stolen them; he takes them far away in the mountains, where he bides them, Then he will send word to Captain De Long that he can have wife and Drooping Lily for big sum of money; be wait a while, and if captain not-send the money, then he kill them.” ’ “ And if he can git bold of the money before he lets go the gals, be'll kill ’em then, too. He will, by mighty! That’s the Modoc of it; so the | safest plan is for us to get them away while he is gone.” “So I think,” said the Blackfoot, eagerly. “What think you?”—to Oregon Sol, The latter was leaning upon his elbow, smok- ing his pipe, and had rallied from the gloomy reverie into which he had fallen. He nodded his head in acquiescence, and removing his pipe, added; “Seems to be sart’in that the critters are somewhar in this part of the world. With the help of the pup there we kin soon find out to- morrer, pndoben we'll sail in.” Nick Whiffles shook his head, as if he was not exactly suited with the reply. ‘Tt won’t do to go into that kind of busine: Sol,” he said; “it would make a condemne diffikilty. When one of the red varmints finds he can’t keep his prisoners, then he puts his tom- abawk into tha’r skulls, and I reckon Marunyo here ain’t trying to get Drooping Lily, unless she’s got some breath in her body.” The Blackfoot shuddered at the bare sugges- tion, while his fine dark eyes flashed, “Tt must not be; it must not be.” “That’s my opinion, Sol, and yours, too, as you come to think over it,” “Of course,” returned the trapper, “ How many of the varmints do you s’pose there is keeping watch over the gals?” “Two or three, I should think. We've got to get em away, or manage to steal on em so sly-like that they won’t get a chance to kill ’em. It’s likely if they don’t ’spect some of us are about, they'll scatter, and while one or two hang round the gals, the others will be off on . hunt or fish; that’s the way we want things fixed, and we'll be a set of the cussedest fools if we don’t put this little business through in the right kind of style.” : ‘ We'll be likely to have some trouble in get- ting ’em down to Frisco; for you see it’s a long
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peng og ‘24 f way from here, and wo sbail have the Modocs arter us all the way.” “That’ll be the easiest part of the business; for I think when Oregoe Sol and Nick Whiffles git in the woods they are at home, and if I cau’t throw a pack of Modoes off the trail, if I’ve ‘ugh start to git out of their sight fur half an hour, then I'll commit suicide for grief, as an aunt of mine did when she met an ancient lady at a party who was able to drink three more cups of tea than she was, and that was better posted in the gossip of the neighbor-hood.” “Don’t you think that Captain Jack, if he hain’t already come back bere, will do so, arter seeing the Blackfoot, and arter finding out that it’s likely some of us has follered him to this place?” “1 don’t believe the captain will, ’cause he never likes to be away from the main body of his tribe for any time; but it’s very likely that Flat Nosed Billy isn’t many miles away from us just now.” “OF course, sence Captain Jack has found out that this pertik’ler devil of bis is sart’in to receive all kinds of favors, he’s jist the sarpint he’s going tosend along to look qutforus, He'd be a foo! if he didn’t.” ‘* Easy, now,” replied Nick Whiffles, with a in and a deprecatory wave of the hand. ‘That era little episode is buried in the vister of the past, as the poets say. Don’t fotch it up ag’in until arter this business ts settled.” Oregon Sol understood the meaning of this hint, and perbaps it was this, or it may have been the recollection that Nick himself bad been considerate toward bim when he was in no hu- mor for jesting, that caused him to desist from chaffing bis friend when such a good opening was given. As it was, they settled down into a more seri- ous discussion of the prospects, and they per- fected all their arrangements for the morrow. It was agreed that at daybreak they should separate, and spend the entire day in reconnoi- tering through the mountains, unless they should sooner succeed in effecting their object. As it was believed to be more than likely that either the hiding-place would be discovered or some of the Modocs encountered, a system of signals was agreed upon, which they were confident could be employed without their meaning being sus- pected by the red-skins. Above all things, it was important that the presence of the three men in the mountains should not become, known to the Indians. It was understood by each that, in case any unto- ward accident should reveal their presence to one of these devils, that same personage was to be wiped out without the least ceremony, upon = well-established adage that dead men tell no tales, During this conversation, the dog Calamity lay stretched near the fire, with bis nose between his feet, and apparently sound asleep; but all knew that he understood very nearly as well as they the important matter which they were dis- cussing. As proof of this, when Sol proposed to send the canine out on his own hook to prosecute the search for the Modoc _hiding-place, the pu raised his head and looked at the speaker wit Oregon Sol. an expression that seemed as intelligent as that of any person. Nick was inclined to adopt the plan when it was first suggested, but he afterward concluded to let him keep company with him, It was un- derstood that, if no important discovery were made, they were all to meet in the present place at nightfall; while, if any one should gain the intelugence that all were seeking, he was to summon the others around him by one of the many signals agreed upon. Thus matters were discussed until a late hour, when all three turned in for the night. The fire was nearly out, and Calamity stretched himself in front of them, while the two horses were grazing so close at hand that none of the sleep- ers had any fear of being disturbed during the night by their enemies, he three men were unusually tired, and they slept heavily. The sagacious dog seemed to un- derstand their condition, for he was restless and watchful. Could he have been seen in the dark- ness, it would have been noticed that he fre- quently raised his head and snuffed the air, as though he scented some sort of danger which he did not precisely understand, Then, after lying motionless for a few min- utes, seemingly asleep, he would suddenly start up, as if disturbed by some bad dream, After walking around the sleepers several times, he would come back and lie down again. As yet no alarm had come from the two horses, that had ceased grazing, and were both reposing upon the ground, and Calamity, like his master, appeared to rely in some degree on ees sagacity, to aid him in his duties as senti- nel, Thus matters went on until past midnight, when Shagbark gave out the slightest possible sound, It wasnot.a neigh, nor a whinny, but seemed to have been made by the motion of one of his hoofs, as he lay upon the ground. Slight as it was, it caught the ear of Calami- ty, who was on his feet as quick as.a flash, In- stead of alarming the thres men over whom he was standing guard, he whisked out in the dark- ness toward the spot where the two horses were stretched, There was acertain friendly familiarity be- tween these two dumb servants of Nick Whif- fles. As Calamity came up, be rubbed his nose against the long head. of Shagbark, who bent his nose down as if to invite it. Thus they remained for several minutes, com- municating with each other in that Janguage of their own which is so readily understood by each other, but which is a ‘‘sealed book,” and will probably always remain such, to the great- est human linguist. When this sort of billing and cooing bad con- tinued some minutes, the dog turned about and walked away in the darkness, taking a direction different from that leading to the spot where his three friends were sleeping. After his de- parture all remained silent. for several minutes, and then was beard a sudden fierce struggle, as if two animals had grasped in a deadly embrace and were rolling over and over among the stones and leaves, Once or twice alow growl, asif fede by Calamity, might have been eard, and then all was still, x cad
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nine Oregon Sol. 25 Only a few seconds did this strange, savage fight continue, when the dog emerged from the dense darkness, entered the cavern, and resumed his place as sentinel. All this was done so quietly, that not one of the three men stirred in his sleep, or_ gave evidence of the slightest dis- turbance. The dog lay with his nose resting on his paws, apparently in as deep slumber as any of them, but he was alive to the responsibility that rested upon him, and he had already proven how keen the vigilance was which he maintained in this lonely but dangerous region. The three men sorely needed such refreshing sleep as this, and the two horses reposing so quietly upon the ground were scarcely less fatigued, so that it was a fortunate thing for all that, as the hours of the night wore away, they suffered no further disturbance, and it was not until the morning sun sent its rays into the ravine, in front of their quarters, that they open- ed their eyes, and roused from their slumber. Nick Whiffles’s knowledge of his dog Calamity was so intimate and perfect that be knew the instant he cast his eyes upon him, that something unusual had occurred during the night, and he demanded of him what it was. The canine, by way of reply, led bim a hundred yards, beside a mass of rocks and stones, where was stretched the lifeless figure of a Modoc. “What I ’spected,” said the hunter, to his faithful animal; ‘it’s been some of them var- mints that has happened down in these parts, and seeing our light has stole up to find out what mischief there was about, You knowed we was tired and didn’t want to ’sturb us, so you wiped bim out yourself. Wal, it was very clever to us, pup, though it wasn’t quite so clever to the varmint, as he would testify, if he had the chance, and I hope it’s done you some ‘ood, I’ve noticed you’ye been sulkin’ for the fast day or two, on account of the condemned fool I made of myself in letting off Flat-Nosed Billy when you had him foul, but,” continued the trapper, as seriously as if he were pleading his own case in court, *‘I explained the whole thing to you, and wanted that to be the end of it: So now, pup, how do you want it to be?” Calamity frisked around in such a way that there could be no mistake about his good nature, and his master smiled in a fashion which showed that he was fully as much pleased. “That makes things square, then,” he added, as they began retracing their steps toward the cavern, or rather, camp; ‘‘nomoresulking, pup, cause you know I’ve told you afore of the ter- rible fate of one of the Whiffles family, that got so deep into the sulks that they had to hitch a couple of hosses to him to pull him out. Fact, by mighty!” When the little party had assembled in their cavern retreat, and Nick Whiffles bad told the doings of Calamity, it was decided to send him out on alittle scout of bis own, while the rest were engaged with their morning lunch. He could easily ascertain whether they were under surveillance or not, and it was all-important that the matter should be settled on the spot. The dog was gone rsh half an hour, when he trotted to view again, his actions and manner sbowing that he found“ the coast clear,” Nothing ‘now remained to do except to sot SeuEEEEEEEREEEEEEEREEEEEERee about the work fbat had brought them thither. No better place could be found for their horses, and they were left where they were, while the three men moved out upon their stealthy search, separating immediately and moving with such ceierity that in the space of three minutes all were lost to sight of each other. We leave Marunyo and Oregon So! for the present, and follow Nick Whiffles and bis dog Calamity, as fortune had willed that they were to open the curious events that were so soon to transpire. At may be said that each of the three deyoted himself with all the energy and skill at his com- mand to finding out where among the moun- tains around them the captives were hid, for by this time they bad all settled down to the con- viction that it was somewhere close at band. Neither Marunyo nor Oregon Sol were in the best condition possible to prosecute his peculiar work, The former was so nervous over the certainty that he felt at being so near the ob- ject of bis love, and the latter was so ‘ fluster- ed” at some strange thoughts that bad begun to agitate him, that they were not likely to do themselves justice in the emergency that was likely to come upon them at any moment. And so it was fortunate that it came to the lot of Nick Whiffles, who was as cool and collected as he always was, to unravel some of the mys- tery by which he was surrounded, Nick, assisted by Calamity, spent many hours in the search, but when noon came and passed, neither dog nor master had made the shghtest advance toward the discovery which all three were 80 anxious to make, Nick bad not forgotten the system of signals that bad been agreed upon, and now and then he communicated with Marunyo and Oregon Sol, but from neither came any message denot- fog progress. hus matters stood, and the afternoon was pretty well advanced, when Nick suddenly de- seried upon the rocks above him a small ante- lope that seemed to bave paused and stood gazing into the depths below, without noticing See Haier and dog who had fixed their eyes up- on bim. Nick was debating whether it would be pru- dent for him to risk a shot, when he caught the faint sound of a gun, and he saw the animal make a sudden desperate leap, falling lifeless to the ground almost at his yery feet! CHAPTER? XI. A SUDDEN DISAPPEARANCE Ti instant the antelope fell, a crushed and shapeless mass to the bottom of the ravine, Nick Whifiles stepped back, con- cealed himself, and waited and watched, He was not kept long in waiting, when he descried the Indian making his way among the rocks until he reached the place where the creature lay, over which he stooped and began cutting some select portions to take es with him, ‘‘He’s a Modoc,” said Whiffles to himself; “and one of the very dogs I’m looking for, We'll foller him, pup.”
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26 Oregon Sol. This was a matter of considetable diffi- culty; but the trapper was accustomed to such work, and he set about it with all the skill of which he was master. It was really Calamity himself that was the purszer, Nick sending him ahead, while he followed and kept himself out of sight of the Modoc, who would be much less likely to notice a quad- ruped than a biped. he route led up among the wildest fast- nesses of the mountains, and Nick was be- ginning to mutter to himself, and wonder wuether he was going up among the clouds to find his friends, when the dog stopped with a low, almost inaudible whine. “It’s there, is it?” he exclaimed, looking about, and unable to see the Modoe, or any thing resembling a retreat or hiding-place. He was near the highest portion of the mountain, with rocks and crags and stunted pines all around him; but, if there was any place ia which a man could hide, he was de- termined to ‘‘root”’ it out. The trapper had formed the conclusion, without any tangible ground to base it upon, that there was no more than three Modocs that had been left in charge of the captives by Captain Jack, and since the death of one of the number during the preceding night, there could be but two, unless Flat- Nosed Billy had returned. It followed, therefore, that if the guard could be engaged in a regular figh’, there was no reason wh they should hesitate to attack them; but it was like assailing a party within the walls of a fort, where every advantage was in their favor. In case the Modocs were driven to the wall, there was no question but what they would turn upon the females and put them to a horrible death. The object of Nick Whiffles, as a consequence, was to get in the ‘‘rear” of the red-skins, or between them and the captives, and prevent any such terrible coup d'etat as this. “Where is the spot that that varmint dis- appeared?” he asked of the dog, after both had stood several minutes, and the master was still unable to locate the vanishing- point of the red-skin. The dog replied in the most intelligible language at his command. His nose was ointed as rigidly as a ramrod toward the roken rocks that rose beyond and above them, and he gave out a low whine to signi- fy that he was pointing at the very spot where the man had been last seen. “T’ll be skulped if there ain’t another con- demned diffikilty,” growled the impatient trapper. ‘‘This must be the place where my uncle found his real estate located among the clouds.” ' The only conclusion that he could come to was that the Modoc had clambered up among the rocks and gone on beyond and behind them; but if such were the case, the action of Calamity was altogether out of keeping with the sagacity which he was ac- customed to display. Nick Whiflles scratched his head and looked at the dog, and then looked at the rocks and didn’t know how to explain it. «That's pe the place for one of them crit- ters to lay flat down on his belly and pick off a gentleman like me as he undertakes to walk up in a square fashion, and I’ll be con- demned if I want to try it. Why don’t you move on, pup?” But the dog refused to budge an inch, and growing impatient at the passage of time, and the failure to accomplish anything, Nick cocked his rifle and moved causianaly forward. He literally felt every step of the way, keeping all his senses on the alert, for he re- alized, as fully as could any one, to what personal danger he was exposed. Scarcely twenty yards of comparatively level surface remained between him and the spot where the massive rocks were tumbled upon each other in the wildest confusion, and Nick Whiffles had advanced three- fourths of the way across this without de- tecting anything unusual, except that the dog Calamity seemed to be very uneasy, He had remained standing Tike a pointer until his master had passed a few feet. be- ond, when he followed, but with such a esitating step, and such manifest disap- proval, that Nick’s conscience caused him to turn round more than once and debate with- in himself whether he ought not to turn back altogether, and seek some sheltered spot where he could study out the field more at his own leisure. He felt that the only reason his faithful friend changed his position was to keep him compeuy and protect him, if possible, from the peril that was increasing every moment. “TL s’pose I’m making a fool of myself,” he thought, as he stood motionless a mo- ment, and then started forward again, ‘but there allus had to be some one in the Whif- fles family to make a fool of himself for the benefit of t’other ones, and I may as well be one for the benefit of myself—” He was still moving about, and carefull advancing toward the rocks, when he a denly stepped upon vacancy and disappeared like a flash, Nick Whiffles fell a distance of about twenty feet into “blank darkness, alighting upon his feet and receiving a severe shock. He was confused for an instant, but his shrewd intellect told him that in movin about and looking upward he had steppe into an opening, of which he had no sus-
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Oregon Sol. 24 Coe mee picion, and which must have been used by the Modoc in going to and coming from his retreat in the mountains. With all the trap- er’s extensive knowledge of the ways and Ea earnge of the Indians, it had never oc- curred to him that the Indian had disap- peared into the ground instead of above it. Rallying his senses, he looked about in the darkness in the effort to gain some idea of where he was. Looking upward he could see the irregular opening over his head, through which he had just fallen, with the dog, Calamity, peering down in the gloom upon him, as if inquiring how his master had made out. “‘Oh, I’m here, pup,” he said, in a voice just loud enough to be heard by the brute, *‘and I’m shook up a considerable, but it’s all the same. I guess you'd better come down here with me, fur I think I shall need our help to get out of this condemned difli- ilty.” He had searcely said the words, when down -came the dog, narrowly missing striking him upon the head and shoulders, Master and dog now being together, there was need of all the wits at their command, a fact which was fully understood by both. The trouble was that as they stood upon the hard, flat surface of the rock, they could not catch the slightest glimpse of anything like daylight, in any direction, except by looking upward at the hole through which both had descended, but through which it was impossible to make their way again without outside assistance, “That's what I call a rather onhandy style of stairs,” said Nick Whifiles. ‘‘ Twenty feet down at one step is inconvenient to per- sons with a weak constitution. It makes me think of the cellar stairs an uncle of mine once made. It was quite that style, and he said, when explaining it, that it would keep people from running down thar too often, and he wouldn’t have so much pie stolen. When his wife had to go down it didn’t take her long, but it was onhandy "bout pulling her up, as they had to let down a hook and rope, and fasten it in her back hair; but come, let us l'arn something instead of foolin’ away our time.” It was very certain that whoever spent their time in those underground quarters did not remain around the opening, and Nick and Calamity began moving for- ward, groping their way along with great caution. By stretching out his arms, the trapper found that he was following a passage some six or eight feet in width; but, as it extend- ed in both directions, it was uncertain whether he was going toward or from the point he wished to reach. Unaware of what , pitfalls might be in front, he let Calamity take the lead, knowing that the instinct of the brute was far more reliable in a case like this than the reason of man. Perhaps fifty feet had been passed in this manner, when a slight sound reached the ears of Nick that seemed like the moan of waters; but as it instantly ceased again, he suspected that it was the voice of persons talking. He stood for several minutes listening, but not hearing it, he moved forward. By this time he was out of sight of the opening, and look in whichever direction he chose, it was black, starless night. A short distance further the dog uttered a faint whine, as an indication that he had dis- covered something. Nothing, however, could be seen, and the twain moved forward again for a few steps, when a faint. lighting up showed they were approaching some sort of opening. ‘*T guess we're going to l’arn something,” said Nick to his dog, as he felt that he was upon the eve of making some important dis- covery. The light continued to increase as they cautiously advanced, and by-and-by he. de- tected the glimmer of something like a fire, but he could not make certain what it was until he had penetrated some distance fur- ther, when he saw that a small wood fire was burning at one side of the cavern. Such being the case was proof that those who had kindled it were not far away, though Nick for a time was unable to dis- cover them, Still advancing, with the silence and stealth of shadows, with his eyes and ears as wide open as they could be, the fire was seen — to flash up suddenly, as though some one had thrown additional fuel upon it, At this increased illumination, two figures were instantly revealed—the figures of two women—Mrs. De Long and her daughter Juliette—those for whom Marunyo and the trappers were searching. They were strangers to Nick Whiffles, he having never set eyes on them before, but the circumstances under which he saw them could leave no doubt of their identity, and as he looked upon the beautiful face of the younger as revealed by the firelight, he could not wonder that Marunyo had fallen so hope- lessly in love that he was willing to risk his life a hundred times over, for the sake of rescuing her from her dreadful captivity. It was Juliette who had stirred the smol- dering embers, and thrown some other sticks upon them, and the flame showed that the place where she and her mother stood was an expansion of the passage into something like a room, which had been fitted up as a sort of Indian lodge, a
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28 ; The first effort of Nick, after recognizing the two, was to ascertain whether any other Indians were in the vicinity. Looking hither and yon, he could see nothing of them, al- though that was no reason for supposing they were not in the immediate neighbor- hood. After stirring and replenishing the fire in the manner mentioned, Juliette sat down be- side her mother, upon a flat stone, and he could hear the murmur of their voices, al- though unable to distinguish a word. Nick Whiffles, wrapped in impenetrable darkness, stood for fully fifteen minutes looking upon the two, and endeavoring to make certain whether he could open com- munication with them without giving the alarm to their jailer at the same time. He knew that one of these Modocs had gone down the opening a few minutes in ad- vance of him, and the question was as to what had become of him. Finally Nick concluded to make an at- tempt to apprise them of his presence, and his desire to help them out of their ‘ con- demned diffikilty.” He therefore moved forward until be was within a dozen yards, and just beyond their sight, when he paused. At this very instant one of the burning fagots fell forward, and made a sudden in- crease of light, by the aid of which both mo- ther and daughter caught sight of the hunter and his dog standing near them. Juliette gave a slight scream at sight of the stranger, and the trapper, fearful that their fright might defeat every measure look- ing to their rescue, ealled out in a cautious undertone: ‘Don’t be skeart; it’s me, Nick Whiffles and Calamity. We've come to make a call onto yer, and ax you if you wouldn't like to take a promenade out of this condemned diffikilty, and ge back to your home ag’in.” There could be no mistake about the friendliness of that voice and person, and both mother and daughter were ready to leap for joy at the knowledge that some one come to their rescue, even though that person was a stranger to them. Before they could more than realize the disposition of the trapper, the latter asked them, in the same guarded voice: “* Are there any red-skins close by?” **No,” answered Mrs. De Long; ‘‘ you need not be afraid to come forward.” “T ain’t exactly afeared of ’em except on your account. Me and Calamity kin gen- erally manage to take care of ourselves among the varmints! but if any of ’em are hanging ‘round loose it’s best to know it.” As he uttered the last words, Nick Whit- flew came forward by the camp-fire, and Oregon Sol. saluted the ladies with rough but genuine courtesy. ‘You both look purty well,” said he, ag he looked frem one to the other, as he gave way to his characteristic sense of humor, “If young gals want to git pale and interest- in’ like, thar ain’t nothin’ better than to keep out of the sunlight—though I think you didn’t come-down here of your own free will and accord. How many of the Injuns are here watchin’ you?” he asked, abruptly. “There is nearly always one here or close by, but the rest are on the outside guarding that point,” replied Mrs. De Long. ‘‘How many of them are there?” ** About half a dozen.” * Helloa!” exclaimed the surprised trap- per; ‘‘I hadn’t counted on finding so many as that; but there was one of the p’ison noos- ances that come down here ahead of me, What's ’come of him?” ‘« He was here and passed on by toward the outlet. I do not think he is within sight or hearing.” “‘T thought there must be some place where you could git out better than the condemned one by which I come in. It was only the good Lord that saved me from breaking my neck.” ‘*Oh, we are so rejoiced that some one has followed us here,” said the lady, devoutly. ‘* Juliette was in despair, and I was almost; but I told her that Heaven would not forsake us, and it has not. Iam so glad we are go- ing to be rescued.” ** Don’t be too sart’in of that,” replied Nick Whiffles; ‘“‘that’s the business that brought me and Oregon Sol, and Marunyo here; but the thing ain’t done yet, and may be it won’t be done.” CHAPTER XII. THE SURPRISING SURPRISE, Nick WHIFFLES was uneasy because he knew that he was standing directly in front of the fire, exposed to the treacherous shot of any Modoc who might be coming in, while he was deprived of the power of returning or preventing such a shot. Hastily explaining the position of things to the ladies, he deadened the light of the fire as much as possible, and they moved back, until he was protected by the gloom from which he had first casing “Now, gals,” said he, in his hasty, busi- ness-like manner, ‘‘ I want to l’arn just how things is. How do you get out of this con- demned place?” Mrs. De Long answered the questions promptly and with intelligence. ““A hundred feet beyond the fire, the cavern opens into the outer air, The pas»
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Oregon Sol. 29 sageway is quite narrow, and night and dey, there are three or four Indians on the look- out there. It is the only way by which this place can be left.” ‘“‘The back door, then, is to come in by and not to go out. That puts the matter in a condemned bad shape, and there’s going to be a diffikilty afore we kin get out. If I was only on the outside, we could haul you up through the hole overhead—but as that can't be done we'll have to take the chances—hello, pup, what is it?” He paused but a moment,when he said in a whisper: “One of the varmints is coming. I'll step back out of the way, and be keerful not to act so that they'll ’spect I’m about.” Nick moved a few paces further back, where there was no possibility of his being seex, and had scarcely done so, when the Modoc, who had killed the antelope, came to view, bearing in his hand some meat that had been cooked upon the outside. He threw a piece to each, and then stood with his back to the fire and his eyes fixed upon them, waiting to see them make their even- ing meal, tanding thus, he offered the best target possible to Nick, who drew his rifle to his shoulder with the intention of firing, when he made the mortifying discovery that in his fall into the cavern he had struck the lock against some obstruction in such a way as to render it useless. Calamity appeared to comprehend the mis- hap, and made a move as if he were anxious to dart ahead and take the place of the bullet, but his master restrained him. The Modoe remained but a few minutes, when he turned about and sauntered away in the direction whence he came. Nic Whiffles waited until the sound of his foot- steps had died out, when he came a little nigher. As he did so, Juliette moved to meet him. ‘*You spoke of Marunyo being with you,” said she, in a timid voice: ‘‘why is he not in the cavern with you?” ‘* He is here.” It was the low sweet voice of Marunyo himself that uttered these words, as he walked forth from the gloom and took his place beside the astonished Nick Whiffles, and the delighted Juliette, explaining as he did so, that he had discovered the place where the trapper had made his descent, and after a careful examination of the spot he had learned the truth and had followed, without waiting to summon Oregon Sol, as he should have done. Neither Marunyo nor Nick knew exactly where the from the cavern was, but, after a hasty consultation they desided to ror — the attempt to escape without any more elay. The plan agreed upon was very simple. Mrs. De Long and her daughter were to move forward to the outlet, as if they had determmed upon making the attempt on their own account exclusively. Upon reach- ing the outside of course they would be stopped by the Modoes, who would be likely to gather about them in such a way as to en- able the ladies to decide how great the force was that they would have to encounter in making the rush, and if there were no more than three, Juliette was to give a signal, and her two rescuers would make a dash and overwhelm them. If there were more than three fully armed and waiting, the captives agreed to turn back in the hope of speedily gaining a better op- peseintty: when the two men could take the Lodocs at a greater disadvantage. It took only a few minutes to come to an understanding, when the mother, taking the hand of her daughter, moved off in the di- rection taken by the Indian who had brought them their food, the trapper and Blackfoot following close behind. A few steps only and the passage made such a curve that the light of the opening was seen, It was narrow and s0me dozen feet in hight, opening in a slanting direction, so that it would be hard fora stranger to dis- cover it from the outside. Nick followed a short distance in the rear, and when they were still about twenty feet from the opening, he halted, Marunyo stand- ing immediately behind him, with the dog at their feet, and calmly awaited the critical moment, Juliette was slightly ahead of her mother, and as she advanced further into the dim- light than the other, the two men saw one of* the Modocs approach and order her to turn back. She stood parleying with him; and her mother, with the purpose of acting out her part fully, made as if to pass beyond her daughther. At this, the Indian placed himself in the way of both and made such a threatening gesture that they started back affrighted, fearing that he meant to strike them with the upraised tomahawks. As yet no other Indians had appeared, and the one whom they saw before Neo was the same that had shot the antelope and that had passed in ahead of the rescuers. At this instant Mrs. De Long made the sig- nal to the Jatter that all was favorable. ‘Shoot him down,” whispered Marunyo. Nick Whiffles raised his gun, but recollect- ing the mishap that had befallen it, instant- ly lowered it again with the announcement that he was powerless to fre. ‘
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‘BO / Oregon Sol. Marunyo then threw up his own weapon, took a quick aim and fired. The distance was so short that he could not miss his mark, and the Modoc, with a howl of agony, threw himself forward and fell flat upon his face, at the feet of the hor- rified Juliette De Long. Calamity rushed forward to finish the red- skin, but by the time he reached him there was no necessity. The wretch was dead. Nick and Marunyo hurried forward to close in with the other red-skins, but upon reaching the opening none was to be seen, Both stared around in a confused way for | a few minutes, and then the trapper said: “hey ain’t far away; take the gals and make for the camp, while me and Calamity foller along and watch for the varmints.” The Blackfoot obeyed on the instant, not knowing how soon some of the Modocs might return, while the trapper loitered be- hind with the purpose of covering their re- treat as much as possible. It was already growing dark, and if their flight should remain undiscovered for a little | while longer there was every prospect of making good their escape, or, at least, of se- curing a start which would be of incalculable advantage to them. In a few minutes the fugitives were out of sight, and Nick found himself pushing his way along through and over the rocks, with no companion but Calamity, who had stood by him through so many * diffikilties” an dangers. “here are some diffikilties which come to a feller when he ain’t lookin’ for ‘eny,” said the trapper, apostrophizing his dog, ‘that make things all the better for their comin’. I allow that when I dropped through that hole ‘that I got shook up considerable, and I thought it was one of them diffikilties that wasn't going to help anybody along in the world; but you see how it has come out, pup. You remember me telling you about a great uncle of mine, that died on account of a dif- fikilty in breathing, caused by a rope that ‘ot drawn too tight around his neck;—well, is going out looked like one of them things that was bad all around; but it was found arterward that on the very day he was hung, a mortgage on his house was to be fore- closed, but the man that had it went to court- ing the widow, and at the end of a respecta- ble time—something like two weeks—mar- ried her, and on the whole you see it were for the best.” They were now in a dark ravine, along which they were making their way, the hun- ter still talking in his familiar manner with his dog, when the latter gave out his whine of warning, and :the»trapper paused to see what the danger was. Nothing could be seen, look in whatsoever direction he chose, and feeling much more anxious about his friends than he did about himself, he instructed him to go ahead and help take care of them. Calamity showed | some reluctance in obeying, but nevertheless he disappeared, and Nick Whiffles continued his way along through the ravine, that was becoming denser and darker every minute. He judged that he was still several hun- dred yards from camp, when he heard him- self hailed. ‘* Stop there, my brother.” Looking up, he saw the figure of an Indian no more than a dozen feet distant, standing with his rifle pointed straight at his heart. Recalling the uselessness of his own gun, Nick felt that he was tairly caught. “That is you, Flat-Nosed Billy,” he said, coolly, as he recognized his captor, ‘I catched you a while ago and let you off, and I s’pose you want to git me in the same difli- kilty and sarve me*the same way.” | As Nick said these words, he saw two or three other dark figures moving toward him, and he then felt he was caught in a trap. **My brother must die,” said Flat-Nosed Billy, eagerly, as though unable to conceal | his exultation at the fortune that haa placed the great hunter and trapper in his power. ‘‘He hunt no more; Modoc catch; he die!” There was nodoubt but what the devilish wretch meant; 10, murder, the man who had | showed him such wmercy’ when he had no | claim to it, ‘**Wal, Modoc, I b’lieve you’ve got me this time,” he said, with a sigh; ‘‘ they said I was a fool to let you off, when I cotched you fair and square, and there's no doubt was. Nick Whiffles tries to live so that he’s ready to go when he’s sent for, and if you've made up your mind that you can’t be happy without having my life, why make your aim sart’in, and pull the trig¢er—” Orack! went the rifle, but it was not that of the Modoc. The bullet went crashing | through his skull, and as he fell flat upon | his face, the well-known war-whoop of the Blackfeet was heard, uttered and repeated again and again, until it seemed that a hun- dred of them were plunging toward the spot. The Modocs scattered in terror, and Nick Whiffles found himself alone. Looking around, he saw the figure of Marunyo ap- proaching. ‘Well done,” exclaimed Nick, as he took his hand, and warmly pressed it; ‘‘it was well done, I say. Flat-Nosed Billy has gone under,. killed» by your bullet, and you give) out such a big lot of yells that they thought -
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——EeE——EE Oregon Sol. 3k. all the Blackfeet this side of the Rocky Mountains had come down upon them, and so they cleared out. Give us your hand, and Lhope you'll forgive all the oncomfortable thoughts I’ve had "bout you.” ‘All right,” said Marunyo, cheerfully; “‘when the dog come in, we knew some- thing was wrong, and I started back; I got here just in time, and all is well. They are all waiting in the camp; so let us hurry.” “Ts Sol there?” “‘Yes; he staid to watch Drooping Lily, while I came to look for you.” “Then we'll jine them right away.” It was in the wilds of Upper California that a party of five was encamped. They had approached so near to civilization that they had dismissed all fear of pursuit or dan- er from the Indians. Oregon Sol and Nick Vhiffles had agreed to accompany the others to San Francisco, at the request of the ladies, who insisted that they should make the ac- uaintance of the husband and father of those who had been in the hands of the Modoes. Marunyo had washed the paint thoroughly from his face, and the result was the aston- ishing discovery that he was a white man with not a particle of Indian blood in him! This had been known to the ladies, who had met him as a white man, and knew that he was acting as a spy in the interest of the settlers in Upper California and Oregon. His naturally swarthy complexion, black eyes and hair, and his experience in the woods, enabled him to counterfeit the Indian so completely as to deceive those people them- selves. By this means, he was enabled to do more effective work for his own race. After this revelation came a more amazing one. Oregon Sol had often noticed some- thing in the tones of Marunyo’s voice, in his looks and peculiarity of manner, that re- called his own little boy, that was stolen years before, by a party of Indians in north- ern Missouri, and of which he could never gain any tidings. His loss had nearly broken the heart of the mother, and the father, to kill his own grief, took to the woods. When Sol found out that Marunyo was really a white man, he began questioning him closely, and the result was the discovery that he was in reality his long-lost son. The joy of the father at this knowledge cannot be imagined; and he declared that he only felt one pang—which was that his wife could not have been spared to see this day—but then she was in Heaven, looking down upon them, and so it was all right after all. Marunyo, the accepted lover of Juliette De Long, and now a genuine white man, gave up the wild life of the woods, and be- came a thoroughly civilized being, the happiest of men, when he was enabled to | the beautiful girl his own—his cherished wife, Nick Whiffles and Oregon Sol were urged to make their home with them; but they had ranged the woods so long that it had become second nature to them, and they continued their hunting and trapping in the great Northwest, sometimes penetrating into Hud- son Bay Territory, and returning at regular intervals to visit and spend a few days with the son and husband, who has figured in these pages as the INDIAN Spy. THE END. ey Beatles Week The Best Weekly of Popular, Entertain- ing and Useful Literature Pub- lished in America! Its Unrivaled Corps of Contributors, almost all of whom write erclusinely for its publishers—embraces the following authors of world wide repute— Colonel Prentiss Ingraham, Albert W. Aiken, Capt. Fred. Whittaker, Capt. Mark Wilton, Joseph E. Badger, Jr.. Edward L. Wheeler, Charles Morris, Oll Coomes, C, Dunning Clark, Buffalo Bill, White Beaver, Buckskin Sam, Major Dangerfield Burr, T. C. Harbaugh, Philip 8. Warne, Willian R. Eyster, Antbony P. Morris, Launce Poyntz, Each and all of whom give to Beapie’s Wrexiy their very best productions in all the varied fields of Border and Wild West Romance— Adventure Exploration and Sport— City Life Character, Courts and Ways— Detective and ‘Shadow’ Revelations— Stories of the Great Deep, etc., ete. So that each and every number is overflowing with reading of the most interesting and exciting nature: while in its Special Departments, covering all the needs, and adding to the general interest and usefulness of the popular journal, BrapLe’s WEEKLY is tre paper of all others for your weekly reading and entertainment, Beadle’s Weekly is Published at the Following HRates: For Four Months ......--.ses-seecceeeeeeeeseee + 81.00 For One Year....--- Dads wdend nude eres ie 2) Two Copies for One Year. ...,..++-ser eres sere + 5.00 Singie Copies....-- -.-..ssees ees ° . 6 ceuts Supplied by all Newsdealers. BEADLE AND ADAMS, Pusuisners, 98 William street, New York, ;
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BEA DLE’S PocKET LIBRARY. AAA 32 OCTAVO PAGES. PRICE FIVE CENTS. oe ISSULD HVERY WEDNESDAY. No. 1. Deadwood Dick, the Prince ofthe Road ; or, The Black Rider of the Black Hills. By Edvard L. Wheeler. No. 2. Kansas King; or, The Red Right Hand. By Buffalo Bill, (Hon, Wm. F. Cody.) No. 3. The Flying Yankee; or, The Ocean Outcast, By Colonel Prentisn Ingraham, No. 4. The Double Daggers; or, Deadwood Dick’s Defiance. By Edward L, Wheeier. No. 5. The Two Detectives; or, Tho Fortunes of a Bowery Girl, By Albert W. Aiken. 6. The Prairie Pilot; or, The Phantom Spy. By Buffalo Bill, (Hon. Wm, F. Cody.) 7. The Buffalo Demon; or, The Border Vultures. By Edward L. Wheeler, 8. Antelope Abe, the Boy Guide. By O!l Coomes, 9. Ned Wylde, the Boy Scout. By “Texas Jack” (J.B. Omo- hundro.) 10. Buffalo Ben, the Prince of the Pistol; or, Deadwood Dick in Disguise. By E.iward L, Wheeler 11. Ralph Roy, the Boy Bucczneer. By Colonel Ingraham, 12. Nick o’ the Night; or, The Boy Spy of "76.. By T. C. Harbaugh, 13. Yellowstone Jack; or, The Trappers of the Enchanted Ground, By Joseph E. Badger, Jr. 14, Wild"Ivan, the Boy Claude Duval. By Ed. L. Wheeler, 45. Diamond Dirk; or, The Mystery of the Yellowstone. By Col, Prentiss Ingraham. 16, Keen-Knife, Prince of the Prairies. By Oll Coomes, No. 1%. Oregon Sol; or, Nick Whiffles’s Boy Spy. By Capt. J. F.C. Adams, No. 18. Death-Face, the Detective; or, Life and Love in New York, By Elward 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.