Beadle's Pocket Library (no. 53) (1885 01 14)
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SEGOND EDITION. im 4 i 9 : 5, by Brapie anp Apams. Entered at the Post Office at New York, N. ¥., as Second Class Mall Matter. Jan. 14, 1885, 2.50 Published Weekly by Beadle and Adams Price, a*Year. No. 98 as a fg New York. { Five Cents. No. 58, ; o/ CCoaasasbOOS RIFLE, THE Sharpshooter; oR, The Boy Detective of the Black Ranch, BY EL Wheeler, © = Loa SS = - : Sasa The gun was handed to Goid Rifle—in a moment heyhad sighted it, fired, and som: gu ; i upon hie feet, igh , : sia
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were in the skin and fur t shoot, and not only the Pcl ti nd is . - , the mi mm the fo; r ¥ i promised to be prese 2 Gold Rifle, the Sharpshooter. Gold Rifle, THE SHARPSHOOTER; R, The Boy Detective of the Black Ranch. BY EDWARD L. WHEELER, AUTHOR OF THE FOLLOWING HALF-DIME LIBRARIES: Nos. 1, 20, 26, 28, 82, 85, 89, 42, 45, 49, 53, 57, urc., Bro. CHAPTER I, THE CHARMED GOBBLER—GOLD RIFLE’S SHOOTING. Tue bright hot summer on the ee had gone, followed by its next brilliant-hued neighbor, autumn, and winter had spread her mantle over the prairies and mountains of the Far West — showered her feathery-white flakes down so copiously that the wilderness was, as it were, impassable except with | the aid of snow-shoes. A terrible storm had fallen furiously over the Northwest, for four days preceding Christmas, and when the bright, yellow sun slanted her rays across the plains of white, after so long an absence, it seemed like a loving smile on Nature’s deathly face, and millions of sparkling diamond-like particles were born in the glorious illumination of God’s shining countenance, ; The day promised to be a fair one, with clear skies, and warmth enough in the sun to obviate the bitter wintry sting which bit the nose of the early trapper, and caused all the animal kingdom of the mountains and prattiegs > keep as much to shelter as possible. The streams were all frozen over, solid, and everywhere stretched that desolate waste of purest white. ery little of life had there been on the frontier during the last week—I mean out on the wide savan- nas, where the snow had fallen to the depth of four or five feet on the level. Most of the wild, roving spirits who make the plain their home—trappers, hunters and outlaws—hid hied themselves either to the settlements, a few of which were scattered along the course of the Northern Pacific Railway, in Dakota, or to their individual retreats, wherever they ight be. ere was one little settlement where a larger share of this floating population had gathered, dur- er storm—a ‘staticn where the Its only life and commerce le. Fifteen or twenty dwelling cabins, and a tavern block-house and smithy was all there was of the Settlement. all purposes, s westward from the Settlement. At the Settlement, on this c clear morning, i Ages a buzz of exc’ ent. The eVent of the great holiday be a turkey Settlement, bi in ] had They were as handsome, well-behaved and well. drilled a squad of Uncle Sam’s boys as held a fort in the aval dl and naturally great ial pear ca were born of their participation in the ‘‘shoot.” | At early after-dinner hour, they had arrived with their band, on the spot, and all in the Settlement were congregated on the white snows of a level rairie, a few hundred yards north of the station, here were men, women and children, of almost every cast of countenance and attire; some mounted upon horses—others standing calf deep in the snow. By noon the excessive sharpness of the weather had melted beneath the smiles of the sun, and it was quite comfortable out, except under foot, Besides the soldiers from the fort, there were present many hunters, trappers and scouts who had won and lost fortunes in the fur business. The range for shooting was three hundred yards, with Remington rifles, breech-loaders, sixteen shot, A turkey was to be ‘‘stooled” at the far end of the range, and each man who had entered to shoot, at the cost of a ‘‘quarter,”’ had three chances to knock the bird over, if he could, and carry off tha fowl as his prize. Of course some unlucky ones must be the losers, but that was where the sport came in; and the man with the steadiest nerves and best practice stood the best show. The “shoot” was under the management of a couple of backwoodsmen who had raised the tur- keys, and had taken this method of securing a good round price for them, About two o'clock the sport commenced, with a rand blare of music from the military band, which 1ad volunteered its services for the occasion, An old trapper named Strong led off on the first fowl, but failed to disturb a feather, or even the composure of the turkey. The white covering of the prairie made it bad for good shooting, and as a consequence the f wl at the end of the range stool a good show of not being hit at all. “By gracious!”’ exclaimed the man Strong, as he heard the announcement that he had not created a gobble from the turkey, “thet aire ther wu’st shootin’ I evyer did, fera fact. I’m generally su w’en et cums ter turkey shutes, ef I do say it, an no one ‘ll allow as Zeke Strong ever lied jest fer bein’ famuss.”’ “Get out, Strong! You’re no good as a shot, and everybody knows it!” retorted Jay Toleman a outh rising twenty years, the son of the chief rader of the Settlement, and an acknowledged erack-shot. ‘‘You’re ’way off yer groove when you tackle anything beyond a mink-trap.” “Oh! you needn't blow, you young cuss of @ bull. ae growled back Strong, angrily, for he did not ike to be told that he was behind the ayerago, “T’'ve seen them as ked shute ye el’ar out an’ out, an’ not half-try. Thar’s thet Tiger Trpok, ther, out. law—I've heerd sed he could brush’a speck off ’m a, fly's eye-winker at a distance of three hundrod yards.” “Oh! shut u yer lyin’, you old snake, if you don’t want to git knifed. I hain’t in no mood for yer chin, ter-day. I cum here to win tal? cussed turkey, an’ I’m guin’ ter do it, that’s me! oleman said, with a contemptuous glance at the poor shoot~ ing of a trader who had overloaded, his corporosity with corn-juice. Jay Toleman was, as mentioned, the sonof J aco Toleman, the proprietor of the trading-post in the ettilement The elder Toleman was a rude, ruffianly customer, and it was but natural that he ghowld bring his son ‘coleman, as he approached bis majority, had developed into a des- pore racter, who was equ feared and hated y the bordermen. He was : nly and ‘ul, and carried with meets eras 2, hin t » more disgusting tothose Heicame inc t when no- “ot UE he worked, 1 waste des Of tees Pre nnon
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Gold Rifle, the Sharpshooter, 38 one knewit; yet he always had plenty of money, and suspicions had often been aroused that be got it un- fairly, though just how no one, of course, knew, He was frequently away for several days from the Set- tlement, but no one knew whither he went—few cared beyond a natural curiosity. y fe was of medium hight, stout of limb, and large- ly developed in muscle, with a face that was darkly indicative of his evil nature. There was nothing to attract in his make-up, yet he had the name of being quite a lady's-man, when he mingled in society, such as the far frontier afforded. Some half a dozen trappers followed Strong in his attempt to knock over the turkey, but beyond the loss of a few feathers, the bird remained unharmed. Jay Toleman at last took the stand with a satisfied smile, and raising his long rifle, shot tne turkey’s head off, with as much composure as though he had been firing at random, A cheer went up from the soldiers and the crowd, as an Indian brought in the neatly decapitated bird, for it was an extraordinary shot, considering that several expert marksmen had-failed. “There! didn’t I tell ye?’ cried young Toleman, looking triumphantly around. ‘I cum ter clean out ther turkey-coops, an’ that’s my first shot, Hay, down there—put up another turkey!” Another bird was speedily put up accordingly, and several shots were fired, some of which brus: red the bi_u, but failed to knock it over, When it came Toleman’s shot, he settled the mat- ter with one bullet. And so the shooting went on, the young crack-shot winning every time, much to his own elation and the disgust of the crowd, Such shooting was beyond the average—incomprehensible, Many of the trappers refused to shoot against such odds, and withdrew from the contest, but there were enough others confident in their skill, to keep the en/ree full, and the shooting eipon Ae But Tolman won every time, and at t the only remaining fowl was put upon the stool, He was a monstrous turkey gobbler—the largest any of the spectators had ever seen. He had a body several times larger than that of the average domesticated goose, and the owners announced his weight to be seventy-five pounds! He Neh | was a noble and aristocratic old fellow, with a cisdainful gobble, as he took the stand, and a cheer went up for him from the crowd.* The excitement over the handsome fowl was intense, and large sums were offered the owners, for the bird, alive, all of which were declined. The backwoodsmen declared that he was only to be had by the lucky shooter. And a hundred or more chances were sold on him, both men and women entering for the sport. The last one on the list of entries, was the young bully of the settlement, Jay Toleman, and yet he bragy that he shouid be the one to tumble over the giant gobbler, During the prevalent excitement, a horseman had approached from the west, and silting in his saddle, weet eeeen surveying the crowd, and the prize gobbler. He was not one long to remain unnoticed, for soon many curious glances were leveled at him. About Enon ‘ears had passed over his head, but these years h; n busied in perfecting and devel- oping what was now a handsome form, stout, pli- able, and athletic, capable of celerity, great strength - and endurance. | There was grace, too, in the body and its carriage, elses to the eye. In face, the young st er was ordinarily good-looking, in the way ve war - looks at peauey i it was a plain, every-day face, Lo a facts, according to the v jus papers of Yankton, Dako . Tvrett AvrHoR, ’ ’ s oe << a” + - $ we ’ » ’ ee Pe ee a tures; yet study might have revealed outlines in the face, in the hazel eyes, and the firm mouth, de- noting many manly qualities worthy of possession— expressions of character that were noble and hon est; of ambition to obtain eminence, of courage, of fearlessness, and of firm will that was unchangeable when in the right. The stranger was clad ina serviceable hunting cos- tume of buckskia, liberally fringed with mink fur, around mink cap, and knee-boots upon the feet. He was mounted upon a wiry little white mustang, of — spirit and wicked eye, and _ his saddle and its accouierments were handsome. In_ his belt were revolvers, a knife, and field telescope, at the back of his saddle a bow and quiver of arrows were attached; while, resting across the pommel in front of him, was a gold-plated Remington repeat- ing rifle. It was a remarkable-looking weapon, ibe barrel and all the steel parts being heavily plated with gold, and polished until they shone brightly. The sight at the muzzle of the barrel was set with a flashing diamond! Toward this young stranger and bis remarkable rifle many inquiring glances were leveled, but he sp- peared quite undisturbed, and watched the shootir for old King Gobbler, which was now begun, bu under rather unfavorable auspices at the best. For a gray pallor Lad gradually stolen over the heavens, and a fine powdery snow was sifting cown, rendering the shooting uncertain, as the target was boa discernible at a distance of three hundred yards. Shot after shot was fired without the least reward, for the King Gobbler stood picudly upon the stool, with his great fan-tail outepread, and occasionally ones a ponte of indignation as the bullets Ww past, ‘weg Rapidly the contestants thinned down to a little bunch, and _ still the turkey remained untouched, and the excitement grew in its intensity, What mystery was this? asked these astonished ree ~ ‘Was the old Gobbler possessed of a charm- ed life It was an enigma, and whcn even Jay Toleman fir'- ished the last of his three shots, unsuccessfully, loud expressions of wonder were heard on every side, while the young bully cursed and swore in a fright- ful manner, 3 "s over, fellers!”’ cried one of the owners cf the gobbler, ‘ Three hundred and thirty three shits plugged at thet aire turk, but nary a o.e tuk effect. Allow me ter remark, gentlemen, that thet fow] bas bin put up at five different shoots, but nevyer got hit yet. He bears a charmed life, an’ is two years old, Any one else wanter “es their luck fer a quar- ter, aside frum them as has shot?’’ “Hayr! I'll shoot again!” growled young Tole- itt tinct a quarter. ‘I was too nervous br - ore, “Can't help that, young feller; you’re notentitled ter ernuther shot, no more’n the rest, Sum feller as hain’t plugged come for'a’d. Hey, you gold rifle chap, can’t you hit thet gobbler?’ “Guess so," was the reply of the stranger. *‘ Thet ain’t half a shot; can stand on my head and knoek that gobbler’s phiz c fi? A loud yell went up at the ext acrdinary boast. “Oh! you needn’t Jaugh and smile in your sleeves, fer I can do it!” asserted Gold Rifle confidently. __ “Tl bet you fifty dollars you can’t!” shouted Jay Toleman, who had been imbibing whisky rather freely, and was getting immoderately excited. ‘' I'm ther best shot on ther border, as ye can see by my pile of turkeys here, an’ I'll bet ye can’t hit that old salamander yon ef ye try a month o’ Sun- days!” ae Tigie ; ‘ Tain’t onthe bet myself, but just to show ye that you've been brought up out o’ your sphere of useful- Dy f e wonders that can be accomplished by “scientific squintin’, I'll put on my spurs and show, e,” Gold Rifle said, sliding from bis saddle, rifle in Tana, e much is the bill of fare, boss?? Sere 6) awh: se ‘ PE ape oe - : ~ ere PGE 9. +
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4 “Twenty-five cents, young feller,” replied one of the managers. ‘““Whew! That knocks me down to par, then!” Gold Rifle said, with a wry look. ‘* Bu’sted, ye see; hain’t seen a quarter fer anage. Tell ye what I'll do, though; I'll give yea verbal mortgage, afore the crowd heer, on my rifle. Ef Ishute the gob’, both rifle and.gob’s mine; ef I fail the rifle’s yourn.” “Agreed! eagerly accepted the managers, “You're to stand on your head.” “Tf you like, and will furnish me a piece of board to keep my head from sinking into the snow.” The preparations were made amidst the greatest excitement. Bets were made, some having courage enough by the Gold Rifle’s coolness, to bet that he would win, although the majority were next to positive that his attempt would be a grand failure. Even if he were so expert as an equilibrist, that he could balance himself on his head, how would it be possible for him to fire a rifle with any accuracy? he question was not long to puzzle the won- derers. Gold Rifle, as the young stranger had been quickly named, rapidly made preparations for his feat. A large, wide piece of board was a ttt down upon the snow, and upon this Gold Rifle took his position. An Indian boy stood close by, with the gold rifle, which was cocked and ready for use. After glancing at the dimly discernible gobbler, and smiling at the applause of the crowd, he knelt upon the boaré and raised his body in to the air, and in a moment was perfectly balanced on his head, his feet erect in mid-air, his hands free. The rifle was handed him—in a moment he had sighted it, fired, and somersaulted back upon his feet, while will and loud rung the huzzas when it was seen that the bullet had dropped the King Gobbler! Later the fowl was brought in, and it was found tkat his head had been severed from his body. And Gold Rifle was victor. CHAPTER II. A VILLAINOUS ACCUSATION—JOSH HEMPERHILL. “ Heiio, Tolem1n! whar aire ye, now?” shouted the man, Zeke Strong, who was hugely overjoyed that some one should be found to carry off the big ‘obbler, aside from the young bully. ‘“ Hain’t ther tt shot on ther border now, sire ye?” “Tm a little off to-day,’’ was the reply, in rather a crestfallen manner, *‘ but 1 kin do more surprisin’ feats than that.” The enthusiasm over Gold Rifle’s wonderful shot was intense.* Captain Bass, of the military, came forward and locked arms with the young stranger, and led him around and introduced to him s 1ch as would be eli- ible acquaintances, for Captain Bass was but thir- yy, and a prime good fellow, who liked to see cvery- body social with everybody. While they were making the rounds, three men were standing apart from the main crowd, some- what, and engaved in watching narrowly the young sharpshooter, upon whom nearly all eyes were level- ed, in admiration, But the eyes of these three men emitted only glances of suspicion and hatred; evidently the Boy Sharpshooter was not a stranger to them. One of the trio was Jacob Toleman, the father of the young bully. He was a little, dried-up, villain- ous-looking man, with ill-attendance to his personal habiliments, and a furrowed, evil countenance that spoke but too strongly of excessive drink. He had a shrewd cast of eye, however, which would have impressed one with the opinion that he was clever at potting or bargaininz—a man of few scruples. he second of the trio was Omerhaun, the gun- * Indeed, many of the far western papers wrote lowing articles on it, giving of course the hero's © name, while we only deal for the present wit’: the title by which he was so widely known, bes a » Gold Rifle, the Sharpshooter. smith, who manufactured or repaired firearms in his smithy. which was situated in a dark, gloomy gorge, not far to the west of the settlement, e was a man something very nearly after the pattern of Jacob Toleman, except that he was stouter, and had even a more disagreeable, hang-dog look than the trader, Boover Legree, the third of the party, was, at a glance, a first-water border ruffian, bristling with weapons, dark, wolfish-looking, brawny—one of the heavy villains, sometimes so admirably represented on our principal theater stages. Besides his personal appearance, which was brutal and A sears") in the extreme, he possessed all the requisites of a ruffian—was a whisky-guzzler, a very wildcat on a fight, and of a quarrelsome nature. Few men cared to cross him, for when enraged he was a fearful man to handle, He was considered by some to be very rich, having done, and still doing oe most successful trapper business in the Terri- ory. Each of these three men eyed the young sharp- shooter with savage glances, occasionally exchang- ing confidences. ‘The kid’s the very image of your man, Toleman,” Legree said, with an oath, which he always used in speaking as a “finisher” or “starter.” ‘‘Ken't e see it in his durned countenance», cl’ar as randy ?”’ “TY dunno,” replied Toleman, dubiously. ‘ Mebbe you’re right, but I can’t see much resemblance.” “But the gun gives him away, I tell ye,’’ put in Omerhaun. ‘‘I made thet plating an’ put et on thet gun, five years ago, when we war in Kentucky. Don’t ye suppose I’ve got eyes, ye fool?” “ Well, suppose that is Walter Wagner's kid— what then?” “Sure enough—what?”’ sneered Legree, biting fiercely at his brigandish black mustache. ‘If tus young feller inherits a whit of Wild Walt’s daro- ogi eld negt or he'd be a hard customer to at- ack, “Ye'r’ right, Boover. Wild Walt war wuss ner any painter; an’ I kin see a dozen p’ints o* our old cap- tin in ther young galoot yonder. Jest ye watch him more, will ye? He’s ready ter jump out o’ his hide inter a fight, under a minnit’s notice.” “Yes, he has undoubtedly been trained by Wild Walt, and_ knows his P’s and Q’s. D'ye s’pose he recognized us?” ‘No! He war ter young, an’ then we've all changed our titles since five years ago. But I'll bet ther boy war sent heer on our trail, Wild Walt ‘Il never forget ther past.” “O’ conrse not. We must blot et fer him, tho’!"’ replied Toleman, grimly. ‘Ten thousand in gold . ain’t ter be sneezed at.” “T’d like ter sneeze at et. ef ’twould put et inter my coffers!’ averred Legree. ‘ The boy’s got to be tumbled over, or we’re no good.” “Tve a plan worth a dozen o’ yourn!”’ Toleman, senior, said, digzing with his fingers among the roots of his hair, in a speculative way. **You notice about the feller, nada a slight re- semblance, in form, to the outlaw, Tiger Track?” Both Lecree and the gunsmith started, and gazed at Gold Rifle, who was now standing conversing with Capt. Joe Bass, ' aE Thar is some resemblances in figger,” assented gree. “* An’ Tiger Track’s face, ye know, is allus behind . amask. What else d’ye want ter make an outlaw out_o’ the boy, yonder?” 7 Sa ae you old rascal, what ye plumbin’ r “Til illustrate,” replied Toleman, with an evil smile. ‘Ye see, that cuss yonder may’s well be put out o’ ther way, as we couldn’t make him tell whar Wild Walt is, no more’n we ked a grindstun. Thare- fore, et’s.our line duty ter put him whar he ‘ll be an angel, instead uv anenemy. I'll get Jay, my son, to accuse him o’ being Tiger Track, and by joinin’ in —— | {
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our testimony, we kin soon hev him higher'n Ha- man. See? en we'll buy his carcass, tie et ter thet hoss o’ his, an’ ther hoss °Il natterally pull fer ther retreat o’ ther lad, as I ken see et’s a smart ani- mal, We'll foller ther trail, an’ in thet way mebbe come across Wild Walt?” “A darned good plan!” assented Legree. “Td give a big pile ter git a tug at our rascally capt’in’s thrceate, choke me, ef I wouldn’t,” he plan seemed to satisfy the trio for in the course of a few minutes Jay Toleman was motioned for and given instructions by his father, Awhile later, the Boy Sharpshooter, Gold Rifle, was still conversing with Captain Bass, when the two Tolemans, Omerhaun, and Boover Legree sud- denly approached, and stopping in front of him, Jay Toleman cried: “Ha! ha! Mr. Gold Rifle, yer jig’s up, fer we four hev recognized you as the cuss who attacked us with a (oz-n outlaws down on Sleighton creek last winter. You are Tiger Track, the outlaw.” “You lie like a thief!” replied Gold Rifle, greatly surprised at the accusation. ‘ My name is Kit Wag- ner, and I come from beyond the Clay Bottom Stream!” “Bah! ye ken’t lie ter us, you whelp!” here inter- osed Legree. ‘We know ye, an’ yer jig’s up. ellers, grab thet cuss, ef ye’r’ after wantin’ Tiger Track, the outiaw and trapper’s foe!” Words like these acted like magic upon the honest but much-abused trapping element. They came forward, grim and threatening, backed by the soldiers, But quickness here proved superior to force. With a muttered ejaculation, Gold Rifle sprung upon his white mustang, which stood close by, and swinging his rifle right and left, regardless as to whom he hit, he dashed furiously down throuch the parting crowd, and over the southern snow-covered prairie, toward the distant fort. A yell of rage escaped the Tolemans and their friends, and running to their stacked guns the sol- diery possessed themselves of them, and sent a storm of lead after the daring sharpshooter, He was by this*time on a line with the turkey stool, and though none of the bullets struck him, his horse was hard hit, and dropped dead beneath im Pausing only long enough to take some papers from his saddle-bacs, the fugitive kept on over the snow-covered baa at a rapid speed, nearly equal to that which his horse had made, for there was a crust formed over t e snow sufficient to bear up un- oer his weight, which was indeed fortunate for the tive, ithout looking behind him, Gold Rifle ran on for some distance, as fast as his legs could carry him. Perhaps teu minutes elapsed. and then he paused and looked around. He was ina shallow valley or depression in the mip tah and had stopped at the edge of a dark motte of blasted pine timber. From. his position he was unble to lock back upon the settlement and shooting-ground, because of the intervention of the swell he had descended. For several seconds he stood gazing around him, along the valley, and into the dismal stretch of tim- ber, hardly knowing which way to turn. While he was standing thus, a man with an ax on his shoulder came tramping out of the wood. “Hello! Gracious! who’re you?” was the saluta- tion. * Look kinder as if ye war lost, or skeer'’d or in aperdickament, stranger. I swow ef ye ain’t a picter o’ my aunt Sallie’s boy, Jim. Jim’s a preech- er now, an’ they do say he’s sum on slingin’ Gospel. What's the matter, stranger?” ‘ -“Oh, nothing of much account,” Gild Rifle re- plied. “I’m trying to dodeea pack of fools who are Jaboring under the delusion that I am Tiger whee ae outlaw. Was ju t considering which way 'd best go. @ 7 “Ye don’t say so? Waal now, that’s tew bad, I a to breeches, I ’tarnally hate ter see one feller Gold Rifle, the Sharpshooter. 5 sot onter by a big passe] o’ roughs, for "tain’t right. Ef every man war only like my unkle Lke used to be up in New Hampsher’. He waz a good Christian, an’ allus used ter say his prayers every night afore he retired. S’pose ye’d like ter find a hidin’-place from them chaps w'at's arter ye, eh?” * Yes, and I must be moving.” replied Gold Rifle. “ Although I’m not Tiger 'frack, I do not want them fellows to get hold of me. _Good-by,”’ “But hold up, stranger, Two Thewils ar’ better? one, ef one on ’em’s empty, Jest ye tote yer carcass along after me. Ain’t often I kin doa feller a good turn, an’ I allus improve sech chances. Cum ria now, without a word, an’ I'll show ye a coopso safe that ye'll be pad ah ag Ye see I’m a man o’ charac- ter, an'I aint half so green as I look, tlo’'I am fresh frum Vermont.” And it occurred to the keen eye of Gold Rifle thet he did look most ridiculously “green,” for he was clear-quill, old-school Yankee, frcm bis boots to the top of his head, a distance of some six feet and four or five inches. He was ata glance a powerful man, but so awk- ward and unwieldy as to create a belief that he could be easily handled. But this belief would have gradually died cut to an cbservant eye. In fece the man was extremcly homely and ludicrous, while about his dress and manners was preserved all of the original and outlancish ways of his forefathers. And as he followed trustingly in the Yankee’s footsteps, Gold Rifle could but smile at the apparent clumsiness of the great fellow. “Dunno much about you, stranger,” the words came next, “but [reckon ye ain’t so bad, or yed show et in yer countenance. My name’s Jcsh Hem- erhill, Yeremember the Hemperhills wara great ‘amily up in Vermont, no doubt—great men, every mother’s son of *em—men of sound moral an’ man- ly cla-acter, sir! Ye kin find their autobiographies anywhar in thet State. Bein’ ther last male o’ ther family, ther hull avalanche o’ manly character nat- erly descends onter me. None o’ ther Hemperbiils war afraid ter work—could chop wood an’ drink hard cider from morn till night an’ never squeel, I tell ye. An’ as a mano’ character, et behooves me ter foller in their footsteps; so I kim out heer an’ hired out ter General Maynard for ten dollars a year an’my board, General’s a 'tarnal good feller, utwhen ye cum ter his darter. I swow she’s jest old peaches! Ruther sweet on me, too, fer she allus tells me she admires character in a man, t, cuss darn it, ther old general went an’ hired an Irishman, an’ he’s tryin’ ter cut around Miss May wi’ his gib- berish; but I’m solid in my b’lief thet she won's sacrifices good healthy character fer an Irish hod- carrier,” : *‘Of course not,” declared Gold Rifle, barely re- pressing a laugh at the Yankee's earnestness, “No woman of scund mind will stop to think of choosing between an ignorant Hibernian and a man of your superior qualifications.” This pleased Josh hugely and he talked an inces- sant flow of nonsense as h» led the way rapidly through the motte and ascended to the prairie on the other side of the shallow valley. But, ni did not interfere with his rapid locomotion, as Go) Rifle soon found. Evidently there was much in the fellow which had never been brought to light. In a measure he was ignorant of bis own strength and powers. ; . On rising to the level prairie again, Gold Riflo looked back toward the settlement, and saw that ho was pursued, as he had surmised, Ascore of the trappers had joined the now mount- ed soldiers, and all hands were now descending the slope into the valley. ‘We shall have to run for it, Josh!” the sharp- shooter said, “‘or those fellows will catch up with us. “No they won’t; but we'll run, as et’s yet two miles to the general’s,”’ aise oy
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6 Gold Rifle, the Sharpshooter. They did run, and Gold Rifle had to exert himself to keep up with the clumsy Yankee, On over the hard crust of snow they sped like a couple of startled deers, their heads bent forward, and pointing toward a handsome farm-house which was visible in the white dazzling expanse. Perseveringly the two men kept on, with a mile be- tween them and the pursuers, and at last they paren into the yard that surrounded the general's * house, And the pursuers still came on, CHAPTER III. DELIVER, OR DOWN GOES YOUR SHANTY, ‘ Here we are, stranger, at General Maynard’s, an’ a gosh-darned fine feller the general is, too. Clean essence from his forefathers, an’ as squar’ a feller as ever chawed his cud. Bet my character ag’in’ ther best’bushel o’ potatoes as ever grow’d, thet ther gene- ral wull give you a warm welcome, but ye see I ken’t jest say how’t'll be with Miss May, fer she’s cl’ar gone sweet over me, an’ hain’t got an eye-winker - fer any other feller, ‘less et ar’ thet dratted Irisher. Now, ef I befriend ye, like a man of character should, stranger, ye’re not to stick yer finger inter my pie, ner luk sweet at her, ner try ter coax her ar- ter ye, ner any conducements likely ter disturb my future prospects.” “You need have no fear of me, Jos,” warped Gold Rifle, smiling. ‘I don’t think I shall be kely pal a ae ther harmony of your courtship, Lead ahead.” Josh accordingly led the way up the front steps of the elegant farm-house, and into a spacious hall, which in grandeur was beyond anything Gold Rifle had ever seen, The walis and ceiling were beautifully decorated, and the floor carpeted richly, and furnished with mirror, hat-rack and coat-case, Josh led on, and they entered a grand parlor, where a cheery fire was blazing brightly, and casting forth a moderate warmth, Here in this parlor, were all evidences of wealth and taste. The apartment was richly furnished— with handsome chairs, tables and sofas, with costly carpeting upon the floor, and chandeliers pending from the ceiling. Pictures and portraits decked the walls, while strewn aout here and there were many adornments. In a word, the parlor was equal to many of our grand eastern salons, even if beyond, as you aa say, the scope of civilization. And it is not unfrequently in western travel, that the tourist stumbles upon these oases in the desert— homes where beauty, wealth and refinement reign, Looking around, Gold Rifle took in his surround- ings at a glance, and inwardly felt that he was in the wrong place—that he was unfitted for entree into such a palace. 4 A young lady was sitting at a piano. idly drum- ming the keys with her white fingers, while an old, white-haired, white-bearded man was ensconced in a great cushioned arm-chair near the fire, engaged in perusing a paper. He was probably among the sixties in age, buta fine-looking man wit \al—firm, erect of carriage, and large of build—one born to command, His eve was still true and unflinching, and his hand tremble1 not, showing that his nerves were still under control, He was attired ia the costume of a General of the Regular Army, and near at hand a sword was hang- ing unsheathed, which looked as if it hadseen a good many hard battles. The young lady at the piano was the person “a the eyes of Gold Rifle centered upon, after he h given General Maynard a searching glance. She was about eighteen years of age, surpassingly pretty; graceful. womanly in mold; her features wore clear regular and delicate, with cheeks tinted with the glow of health; a mouth sweet an1 tempt- ing, and eyes of hazel hue, shaded by heavy lashes, Her hair was lighter than brown—a sunny shade, and worn in its wondrous wealth down over the shoulders in an unconfined mass. Her attire was neat and stylish, and gazing at her in her budding womanhood, Gold Rifle felt his youn; heart beat faster, and a flush of enthusiastic admi- at came involuntarily over his own good-natured ace. Both General Maynard and his daughter looked up in surprise as Gold Rifle and the eccentric Josh emperhill entered the room, But both exhibited — courtesy when Josh had introduced his young charee, “General an’ Miss May, this ’ere’s a chap they call Gold Rifle, as ye mought jedge frum his gun hyar. I found him in a fix, pursued by ther sojers o’ your command, an’ all ther trappers an’ roughs this side o’ Dakoty line, an’ bein’ a man of solid basis character—a trail wich descended frum old Nebnchadnezzar Hemperhill, who died in fifteen hun- dred an’ forty—I fetched him along wi’ ther insur- ance o’ pertsction. Why, sir, thet same lad, he tells me, stud on his head and shot a turkey ter-day.”” i crore Maynard bowed, and gazed at Gold Rifle eenty. “Your name—what is it, young man?” he asked, his tones kindly yet stern. ‘* What is this Josh is telling?” ““My name is Kit Wagner, sir.”’ the Boy Sharp- shooter replied, ‘* though am I more generally called Gold Rifle, after my n, here. As to what your man here has said, it is mainly true. I have been and am now pursued By: those who participated in to-day’s turkey shoot, at the Settlement. Because I won the last turkey it seemsa feeling of enmity was created against me; and a youns fellow of about my own age, whom they called Toleman, ac- cuse.1 m3 of being Tiger Track the outlaw. His as- sertion was confirmed by a.quartette or so of his pals, and to save being lynched by the crowd I had to make adash for liberty. Back here apiece Imet your man, and he insisted upon my coming here, ut I think I had not best trouble you. If [goat es I may succeed in outwitting the pursuers, et.” ' ’ hd ahem you deny that you are Tiger Track, the out- aw? ‘*Most assuredly Ido. I never heard the name of Tiger Treck until a couple of days since. My home is beyond the Clay Bottom Stream, and [ am a stranger, hereabouts.”” “‘ Well, well! This is rather a remarkable cise!” the general observed, watching Gold Rifle as the hawk watches its prey. ‘“ You don’t look exactly like an ou'‘law, young man; and yet, in this decep- tive life, we are all liable to make mistakes. What do you think about the matter, May?” and the white haired veteran turned to his daughter inquiringly. “ T believe what Gold Rifle says, pap: ” May May- nard replied, with a slight color in her check. a3 her gaze met that of the Li 4 sharpshooter. “I am sure he does not in the least resemble Tiger Track, who you remember chased and tried to capture us, Lut a month ago.” ‘“* My opinion. exactly, dear. You say your nam? is Wagner, sir?” “* Yes, sir.” “*T had a friend b oung man, I hardly see your house; and they are ang that name, years ago. Now ow what to say for you, for ursuers are co hotly towarl the , too, for many ind ‘nities have been heaped upon both soldiers and trappers by Tiger Track and his outlaws. I don't believe they'll accept any explanation from even me, and it will be necessary for you to try your luck at escap- ing. f But, believing you to be what you represent, [ shall not let you go without friendly assistance. May, my dear, you may take this young gentleman to the Secret Corral, and give him a choice of the horses, Josh, you may remain with me, and we wi!l keep the rabble out of the house as long as possible,”
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ee Gold Rifle arose to follow May Maynard, but first turned to the general, a suspicion of moisture in his eyes. You are a good and noble man, sir,’ he said, shaking the extended hand warmly, “ and if it ever comes within ny power to do you a good turn, be- lieve me I shall improve the chance. I thank you all for the interest you have taken in me, and maybe it won't be long ere I can repay you.” * Nothing of the kind is required gout man, al- though I commend your spirit. R ght is right, in this world, and I have fought for it the whole of my life, and shall continue to do so as long as I have breath. Good-by, sir, and God grant you success,” Then Gold Rifle turned and was about to follow May from the parlor, but he was once more inter- rupted by the Yankee, Josh, who pulled him mys- teriously to one side, his rude countenance a puzzle of combating expressions. ‘“Neow, you see heer, stranger,” he began, in a hoarse whisper—“ aire you a man 0’ sound moral an religyus character? Be ye proof ag’in’ ther smiles an’ fascinashuns 0’ ther female sex? Ef yeain’t let me warn ye, that the devil fisheth best for the soul of man when his hook is baited with a cok 8 woman. Neow, young stranger, ef ye’re a man 0’ honorable character, ye won't look cross-eyed ner git spoony on my gal, Miss May, while she’s esquartin’ ye ter- liberty, Ye won’t whisper soft sentimental nonsenses inter her ear, ner feed her on sugar-plums?” “ Certainly not, Josh. You should put more confi- dence in me than that; and then, too, Miss Maynard is almost a total stranger to me.” “Yas, that’s so, sure’s preechin’, but, I swow ter breeches, ye ken’t put no dependence in boys an’ gals yon as ye uster c’u’d. They lack ther solid basis character. Thar, fer instance, ar’ thet Irisher, Pat Dolani ~m—hedn’t bin here three howrs afore he war castin’ sheep’s eyes at Miss ag Now, araneet, mind how ye conduct yerself, fer if I ever find thet ye tried ter win ther affections 0’ yon gal away frum me, I’ll skin ye alive!” And with a tragical scowl Josh turned away, and Gold Rifle accompanied May. The pursuing trappers and soldiers had by this time come up and drawn rein in front. of the farm- house. and knowing what was required of him, Gen- eral Maynard stepped out upon the veranda, fol- lowed by: Josh, All the soldiers, except Captain Bass, were drawn up in line, while the rest of the party, composed mainly cf trappers and traders, were scattered about, presenting rather a warlike spectacle. Cap- tain Bass, unable to restrain his men, rode forward and joined Josh and the general on the veranda, * Order, here!” Maynard cried, a fixe in his eye, and the true military ring still in his tone. \‘* What means this disorder among you privates?” “It means that we’re after an outlaw and thief— the ruffian Tiger Track, and he’s in your ranch!” re- plied Lieutenant Grey, a bitter outlaw-hater, who was leading the military in the place of Captain Joe Bass who had refused to act against Gold Rifle, “Order!” again thundered the general. “Tis false, the charge you fee against the young man. He is no more Tiger Track than I am, and! com- mand you to withdraw immediately to the fort.” “But we decline!” retorted Lieutenant Grey, with a sneer. “If you'll cover a traitor, general, we won't, and we're just the boys as is going to stretch up Tiger Track to the handiést tree.” “You cannot have the lad—he is not here!” said the general, seeing that it was useless to argue with so many insubordinate spirits, “You lie!” replied Grey, fiercely. ‘You are a traitor to your country, yourself, and you'll deliver up the boy, or we'll tumble down your shanty.” “T have not got the young man about my pre- mises.” declared the general. ‘Any three of you are welcome to come in and search!” “We won’t come a step, you old cuss!” shouted ‘whom he believed to be an honest man. £ Pye; e. i Gold Rifle, the Sharpshdoter. q the lieutenant, drawing a pistol. ‘Deliver, or down goes mn shanty!” “I'll deliver nothing!” replied Maynard, ‘You are at liberty to come and search, for by this time your intended victim is far away." And turning on his heel the veteran officer te-en- tered the house. With an oath of rage Grey raised his weapon to fire at the retreating form, but. before h¢ could. pull the fatal trigger, there was a sharp report, and a bullet from Josh Hemperhill’s révolver dropped the would- be assassin dead, A cheer of approval went up from the soldiers at the brave act, and motioning to Joe Bass to head them, they turned upon the Tolemans and the other ——— and drove them off at the point of their ayonets. This ended what might have been a serious mob, In the mean time May Maynard had led the way out of the parlor, into a kiteben, and down a steep pair of stairs into a deep cellar, Here she paused, and searching around for a few moments, a ea a candle from a shelf, and light+ ed it. By its illumination Gold Rifle was enabled. to see bis surroundings, and all he beheld were the heavily-planked walls of the cellar. : s uphit I see no way of escape from this hole," he said. ** Because you are not in the secret.'’ May May- nard replied, with one of her pleasant little laughs. “Here "—and she led the way to one side of the aece “Please push heavily against these two lanks.”” 5 Gold Rifle did so, and to his surprise they fell back, leaving an aperture of considerable size. Through this he went, according to May's orders, she follow- ing and closing up the hole. hey were row in a dark underground passage, about eight feet by eight in width and hight. “This pessage runs about two miles in under- ground,” explained May, as they hurried along over a hard ground floor. *‘It was constructed so that in the case of an Indian siege we could have some mode of escape, and it has an opening into a small prairie valley. Its existence is a secret except to my father and myself, and poor Josh, who thinks I am dead in love with bim. Ha! ha! ha!” They soon arrived at a point in the passage where. it was vandy wider, and here several handsome horses were feeding, attended by av Indian groom. May made hurried ex) lanations to the young sav- age, and then Wr Gold Rifle a warm pressure of the hand and bidding him God speed, she hurried back toward her home above the earth, w the young man selected a fine steed from the corral, and mounting, rode on through the wonderful avenue of escape, until he suddenly rounded a bend and rode out from behind a rock that hid the outlet. of the ee into the light and freedom of a little prairie valley. CHAPTER IV. LEGREE SHOWS HIS CLOVEN Foor ‘ CHARACTER.” Unver the charge of the soldiers the trappers and traders must perforce retreat, and they were driven quite back to the Settlement ere they were left eat and the soldiers withdrew toward the fo: By this time a larger share of the trappers had come to disbelieve the story of Gold Rifle’s being Tiger Track, but there were a portion left who ac- cepted the word of the Tolemans for it, A consultation was held between Boover Legree, the gunsmith Omerhaun, and the two eee soon as they arrived at the Settlement, in the cabin of the latter. % “Tt's a defeat all around,” Legree F poe) striv- ing to dampen his ferocious spirit by ecgnent quatts of whisky from a demijohn which upon the table between them. ‘Ther boyee’s gone, an’ we ain’t likely ter git a glimpse o’ him ag’in in a dog’s
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age, and that knocks all our fortune back frum Wild Wal “{ don’t b’lieve the feller ever left old Maynard's house!’’ sneered Jay Toleman. ‘That gal o’ May- nard’s put him away, while ther old cuss cum out- side an’ harrangued to us!” * Mebbe ye’re right, but ther galoot’s slid out afore this time ” “Of course,”’ assented the gunsmith, lighting his ipe. ‘‘ That young cuss is smarter than you think ‘or. He has got lots o’ Wild Walt’s bl in him, and I’Jl bet you won’t easy get ahead of him.” “We must contrive to, somehow. Where does this Clay Bottom Stream lay, which he mentioned?” ““ West of here.’’ replied Jay Toleman, ‘I have been there several times fer beaver, but didn’t get enough to make it pay. Tt is about thirty or forty miles, I reckon. over hill an’ plain.” ‘Ha! then it is somewhere in the neighborhood of Tiger Track’s stronghold, is it not?” “Yes—neer where the outlaw is hip ter hold his quarters. A story has been told frequently of a Black Ranch on the prairies, which is surrounded by a fence of plank sixteen feet high, and assumed to be the retreat of the outlaws. But I guess no one knows the truth of the matter.” “I'm not done with Tiger Tracl: ye, by a long shot!’ oathed Legree. ‘“ The prize he stole from my cabin on Lent creek ten years ago must be re- stored to me when I get a grip on the ruffian.” “The Tiger Track of ten years ago, and the Tiger Track of to-day cannot be the same,” suggested Jacob Toleman, “for the the claimant of the title to-day is represented to be scarcely more than a youth. Yet his skill in handling his men in a fight, proves that he must have been under the training of the older outlaw, who took the field shortly after our band broke up and scattsred.”” “Tt matters not. I b’lieve thet Agnes Wagner is still in the power of the Tiger Track outlaw band and if evyer God sees fit ter put her in the power of Boover Lagree, she'll find that she has a hard_task- master in the man shescornfully refused ere she be- came Wild Walt’s wife.” i “That has been a matter of long standing, Le- gree, and [ marvel that you still remember it!” “T shen’t ferzet my grudges till dirt’s piled on top o’ m3!” replied the ruffian trader, savagely. T wo dxys passed by in the snow-bound northwest. The weather was biting cold, and the snow stiil remained upon the oceanlike savannas, a winding- sheet for nature. The winter had set in, in dead earnest, to all appearances, and it was to be asevere one, Very few hunters or trappers ventured far beyond their respective shelters, and ma‘ters on the plains were temporarily at a standstill, Only Jay Toleman had summoned up courage to venture forth into the wilderness of snow, giving as his reason that he had a “gang” of traps out, upon the South Fork, which must be looked after. On the second day after Christmas, ths border- ruffian trader, Boover Legree, mounted his horse, and rode down over the heavy crust to General Maynard’s, He often made it a part of his business to call at the farm-houss and chat with the pretty May aor naird, although his visits were ever unwelcome the general and his daughter. But, as he had never shown any of his villainous or disagreeable nature in their presence, and was as polite and gentlemanly as could be expected, his visits had been tolerated, for, being an influential man upon the border, the general was not desirous of crossing him, To-day, one of the keenest, frostiest of the prevail- ing cold snap, the trader found May Maynard alone in the cosey parlor, the general having ridden over to the fort, on business. Mvy was looking her loveliest in a stylish suit of some delicate brown material, with more color than usual to her cheeks, and a brighter luster in her papspecta o’ gettin’ the Gold Rifle, the Sharpshooter. hazel eyes. Gazing at her—at her lovely sylph-like form, her Ue carriage, and her pretty face, half-framed by her falling wealth of sunny hair, one could but be impressed with the glory of her budding womanhood, And the evil eyes of Boover Legree were fastened gloating upon ber while she sat at the piano, as he stood for a moment unobserved in the doorway leading into the parlor; he was contrasting her ex- uisite beauty and wealth of personal charms with that of the woman whom he had mentioned in the presence of the Tolemans-— es Wagner. “She is a fine woman and the possessor of beauty which is rarely found. Ah! but I'd give a king’s ransom to possess her, and make her furnish light to oy cloudy old heart. And, what’s to hinder?” and here a devilish glitter darted into the ruffian’s eyes, ‘‘what’s to hinder? Maybe 1 can win her con- sent, and [ have the plan all ready. Once I get pe my power, Agnes Wagner can go to the evil.’ The villain stood several moments, gloating over his intended victim, then stepped boldly into the room, a wheeled around with a little scream, as she bens his heavy tread, her face grown suddenly pale. “Oh, Mr. Legree, is it you? You frightened me by your abrupt coming.” “Eh? frightened ye, my dove?” the trader said softly, as a took» séay near the pianos set got lonesome up at the Settlement, and so ventured down here, where it is pleasant. Besides, I have a mission of merey to fulfill. Ha! ha! Sounds strange, does it not, to hear an old tough lile me talkin’ uv mercy? Well, ye see, I’ve got a heart after all, an’ hain’t quite so bad as I’m cracked up to be. “Ye re- member that feller we war after Christmas—ther one wi’ the Gold Rifle?” “Yes! yes! What of hm?’ May demanded eager- ly. ‘I was just thinking of him when you came in, wondering if—” “Tf what?” ‘Oh, no matter what? What you have to say of him, please say quickly, for I shall have to excuse myself from entertaining any one to-day.” ““ Well, ’tain’t much I’ve got ter say 0 Lezree replied, carceney “Ye see how it was. He got shot afore he kim in hayr, an’ he’s layin’ at ther precipice o’ déath nowin my old trappin’ cabin up on ther Clay Bottom Stream. He's give up ther ghost, and sent me fer ter tell ye, as he wants ye ter come; and so forth, and so forth!” “What! Gold Rifle dying, and asking for me, Mr. Legree?” May exclaimed, in great azitation. ‘ Im- possible!” _ *?*Tain’t impossible, no sech a thing, my lady. I jest cum frum there, only stoppin’ fer a minnit at the Settlement. He hes bin callin’ fer you fer over half a day, sayin’ as how he had an important secret ter confide ter ye.” ‘Where is this cabin? Could you direct me to it?” No, fer ye’d soon get lost in ther wilderness of snow. But, ef you'll araent my escort, I’llsoon have you at ther boyee’s bedside.” May arose from her seat and paced to and fro across the soft carpet a few moments in greatest perplexity of mind. She was half-inclined to believe that Legree was lying to her—that his story was only an invention by which to entice her away from home into his villainous toils. Her father had often warned her of him, and bade her not to trust him in the slightest, and as she thought of these warnings, she resolved to resist, and not believe his story. “Tf only on Christmas day you were Gold Rifl»’s bitter enemy, how comes it that you are sent by him on this mission?” she asked, stopping short, and gazing sharply at the trader. Legree flushed, and shifted uneasily in his chair, ther chap,” Ree —_—
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Gold Rifle, the Sharpshooter, 9 Ly on you see—” he began; then stopped as he caught the stern glance of May’s eyes. ‘*Bnough!” she said, with a contemptuous laugh. “Do not imperil the future of your soul by lying any further. I know your little game, now, Legree. Gold Rifle is no doubt in safe quarters, ere this, and as for your deliberate lie it has utterly failed. We . have been warned that you would show your cloven foot, and it has now come forth. There, Boover Le- gree, is the door through which youcame, You will please take your departure through it.” “No, my ng dove, I'll do nothing of the kind at present!” the trader replied, with a frightful leer. ‘Since you’ve found me out, — we may as well become better acquainted. hen I leave this ‘ere ranch, I’m goin’ ter fetch you along with me!” ‘Don’t you dare to lay a hand on me, villain. I am in my father’s house, and I command you to leave instantly, or I will call the servants, and have you forcibly ejected.” * Hal hal ha!” and Legree laughed loudly—“ that’s pretty well done, Miss Maynard. Your vocation should be that of an actress. Why, to my own knowledge, youdo not keep servants other than that Yankee, Hemperhill, who is as green as a cabbage- leaf, and araw Irishman who knows enough to get up hash, and that’s all. Do you for one moment imagine that I have the least fear of them? If so, ou are mistaken. I can lick both of them at a ‘ime.”’ “Then, shure, an’ ye’ll be doin’ what _yé niver did before!’ exclaimed a voice, and the Irish cook, Pat Dolan, step into the parlor, with a grin of delight at an anticipated fray. ‘‘Allow me ter interdooce mesilf to yez, Mister Legree —I’m Patrick Dolan, late- ly from the ould counthry—sacred be its name.” Legree started to his feet with an oath, as he be- held a brawny individual, fully as heavy as himself, and a man evidently of true grit. Dolan was a representative Irishman, with the a culiar expression of Hibernia written all over his countenance, and the intelligent Irish sparkle in his eyes. He was not a handsome man, yet possessed a kindly bearing which would have won him friends almost anywhere. “You see I am not unprotect-d, you ruffian!” mer, cried, triumphantly. “Dolan will fight for me!’ “ Arrah! an’ it’s yersilf as spakes the swate truth now!” assured Pat, advancing. ‘Shure, an’ hasthe oe omadhaun bin a-givin’ ye any o’ his slack, me lily?” “Yes, Pat, he has been threatenin, off, and I have ordered bim to leave he refuses to go.” ““Ah! thin Plt make him go, me little shamrock, Shure, an’ ef the Yankee has got the character, be- dad Pat Doolan has got the Irish arm, an’ out goes the spalpeen ay a blackguard.” And flourishing a club in his hand, the impetuous son of the Emerald Isle sprung toward Legree, who was evidently waiting for him. But the club was of no use, for in a moment the two men were in a bear-like hug, waltzing here and there over the carpet, Pat endeavoring to work the trader out into the hall and thence out of doors. But L was aman cf great strength, and he bent all his energy in trying to crush adver- sary. Pat however was made like iron, and all the efforts of the trader were for a time unavailing. “Och! yo murderin’ shnake!” roared Pat, prime » in his glory, “I'll show yo how they trate yer kind over at Ballyrack, on their ould soil. Shure, it’s sore heads I’ve given many a bla’guard, an’ I've not lost the twist 0’ me wrist yit. Hooray, js ‘het yer style?” —as Legree made an attempt to bite-‘“ochi I am no hog that would be after bitin’. Bedacent, an’ I'll kape up this jig ontill yer héart is sore as the nose av Widow Donovan's pi.” Around and round, twisting and squirming, the two men went for several moments; then Legree by to carry me 6 house, but his left hand that felled him erked awa; 6 forehea to the “oor. ‘’hen the ruffilan, with an oath, sprung toward May, who had retreated in affright. a dextrous movement andc a Pata blowin ** Now, you little tigress, l’ll have Ae without—” “A doubt!” finished a voice, and the trader was suddenly confronted by the stalwart form of Josh Hemperhill, and a pair of cocked revolvers. “Without a doubt, Mister Legree. Oh! yeneedn't look—et’s me, ef Iam as green as a cabbage leaf, Now, sir, you git, or I swow ter breeches ef sock 2 ter you fer kill. Lain’t a-foolin’, nuther, so you git!” Witn a frightful oath Legree turned and walked out into the hall, an expression of malignant hate upon his countenance. “Remember, May Maynard, I am not oe with you, yet, nor you either, you accursed Yank!” he cried, as he left the house, mounted his horse and rode away. Josh returned to the parlor and found Dolan just crawling; to his feet, with a wry expression of coun- tenance. “The bla'guard—the spalpeen—where is he?’ was the demand. “T pot him out, Pat, darned ef I didn’t! Jest as easy as chawin’ cheese. Ye’re a fighter, Pat, but thar’s ono essential ye sadly lack, an’ that’s good solid basis character!” : CHAPTER V. INTO THE WILDERNESS—JOSH’S NOVEL LOCOMOTIVE POWER. For several days after Legroo’s ejection from the Maynard farm-house, things moved along in their own channel. Little was done outside of the old general’s quar- ters, for he was a humane mean,ond not i eone to cause either man or beast to labor out in the bitter cold and freezing weather which prevailed. So that during this time of little-to-do, eccentric, uncouth Josh Hemperbill had plenty to pry time within the farm-house, for he paid Miss May the strictest attention, and in his own way tried hard to make a successful courting. Also, he was busied in keeping aweather-eye upon bis rival, the Irish- man, lest he should plant a seed of fascination in the eye of Miss Maynard. And so it happened that the two men-servants were quite a bore to poor May, whose maiden tastes and ideas took quite another channel from them, | and, although she had not the heart to offend by re- sisting the ridiculous protestations of Josh’s love. or the Hittle gallantries of Pat Dolan, she was often thoroughly disgusted with them. In one of these unenviable frames of mind, she eee her father, the white-haired old general, or relief. “ Well, well, my deary,.” the old man said with a smile; “I don’t know what you are to do, IT am sure, unless you send Josh away for a while, on some pretext or other; for I do not wish to offend the poor fellow, he having done me several ies turns. The ¢ loon would do almost — ing im re- i’ i Id be a “ t a m sure it wou rons df kill a moderate one, with a mtg to have Josh start at once, an hunted him up in the pantry, where he was inno- cently eng: in stowing away a half of one of Pat's New Year mince pies with evident huge delight The day bei sun, she _ resolv ~
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10 to think that he was “ hitting one ” at the “‘ blarsted her.” Calling him one side, with a roguish glitter of fun in the expression of her hazel eyes, May approached him on her pro n. : “Josh, you have quite a notion of liking me, hav- 7 en’t “eh? why, bless oy heart, yes, Miss May. I swow to gracious ef ye didp’t cum near takin’ the breath cl’ar away frum me.” “That is because you were appropriating Dolan’s ies, Josh, which is very wrong. ow would you ike to have me make pies for you to eat, Josh?” “Oh! Jerusalem! wouldn'¢ that be O, K.?” and the Yankee’s face lighted up with a beaming grin. * You don’t mean it fer sart’in, do ye, Miss May?” “ Why shouldn’tI, Josh? You're a great good fel- low, and ought to have all the pies you could eat. You know the Fourth of July isn’t a great ways off.” sf Kr et, by Jimminy. Hedn’tluked that fer ahead, et ‘And the glorious Fourth isan auspicious day for celebration of the nuptials of a happy pair, Josh?” ‘*Hey—how’s that, Miss May?” _-“T say, the Fourth of July is a happy occasion. for one to get spliced.” ‘Whew! Jewhitaker Jewsharps, yes! Yer sol- ider than a brick there, Miss May!"’ ‘* Yes, and I see you appreciate my candor, Josh, Not many young ladies would exchange all these little confidences, but I believe that you'd do almost a ad for me, as you seem to love me—and— an — “So I do—so I would, Miss May—sure’s Methodist preachin’ ar’ full o’ glory! Lordy! Miss May, 'm a man of character—ther solid double basis, duplex article—an’ I'd wade through fire an’ blood for yer ‘sweet sake!”’ “Oh, no, Josh!”’—with a little outburst of merri- ment—‘ I don’t want you to wade through anything but snow. Now, will you promise me to do mea favor?” “On course I will, Miss May—anything ye’re a mind to ask. I’m allus a generous chap, ef lam a leetle bit green. Thar were ther hull Hemperhill family, down ter old Nebuchadnezzar himself, who war noted for their generosity—old Neb once give his ight hand away ter an old maid named Jones, an’ she died an’ left him a fortin’ o’ a milyun. Yer see ther streak o’ character dated back ter ther Antedi- luve itself,”’ **Yes, Josh; and now I tell you what I'll ask of i ‘ou remember the young fellow you brought re—CGold Rifle?” “Yeo: What o’ him?” “Well, I want you to go and hunt him up, and de- liver to himva note which I shall give you. You may have to be, absent a week, or even a month, before you find him; but after that you can have a whole winter to yourself in his pompan y. With your wea- Pe rack Oe supply yourself with food, and have jolly s) . $s om Miss May; but sense I’ve got a hankerin’ arter you, I kinder hate ter go away.” “Pooh! Don't bea baby now, orI shall say you've our character, Josh.” : “Then Dil go, Miss May, darned if I won’t! W’en e sling a shot at my character, like ther Hemper- lls of the olden time, I’m on my muscle,” So it was arranged that Josh should depart at once, and he was furnished with a fine equipment, consist- ing of a fur-trimmed suit of buckskin, a Sharpe’s army rifle, pistols, knife, hatchet, snow-shoes and cooking ul and by the time he was ready to start, he had a horse-load of traps. Best of all. he was supplied with numerous articles of food, among which were several of the coveted pies, which Dolan had spent time in preparing for New Year's, now but two days distant. Then mounting his horse, Josh bade a sorrowful adieu to the farm-house, and its occupants, all ex- gept Pat, to whom he gave a parting scowl, and set Gold Rifle, the Sharpshooter. out over the white prairie into the western wilder- ness. May Maynard had some doubts about sending him adrift in mid-winter, for it seemed cruel to her, but when assured by the general that Josh was a good shot, and not the one to either starve or freeze, she felt better, and her young heart beat faster, and a little beauty-flush came upon her cheek as she thought of Kit Wagner, the Gold Rifle, and the sur- prise that would be his on the reception of her sealed note, which it was Josh’s business to deliver. And Josh, as he rode away further and further inta the snow- bound wilderness, wore rather a grum ex- pression of countenance. 3 “ Neow et jest lucks to me like a kind uv a fraud!’ he soliloquized, shutting one eye, obliquely. **1 swow ef I don't b’lieve thet Miss May’s jest Bin humbuggin’ me, ter git rid o’ me. But mebbe I ain't right. Leasthow et looks crooked thet she'd want me to kerry a billy-doo ter thet aire Gold Rifle chap, ef she keers a plug o’ terbaccy fer Josiah Hemperbill.” The snow over which the Yankee directed his course, was formed into a heavy crust, capable of safely bearing up the weight of a horse;* it was easy traveling and there was chancé to make good progress. Josh, however, with a bitter doubt tugging at his honest heart-strings, was in no hurry to return to the farm-house, from which he had been banished in so neat a manner. “Tl hunt up thet Gold Rifle an’ keep my agree- ment with Miss May, anyhow,” he muttered, “fer thet’ll add ter ther strength o’ my character, I'll bet a copper thet Mias May’s laughin’ in her sleeve. now; but, sech is life, as old unkle Nebuchadnezzar used to say, when he corraled bugs on his pum’kin vines, An’ thar’s that blarsted Irisher, too—hain’t got no more character’n a lame gander, an’ h:’s rinnin’, too, ter think he’s got ther hull fi»ld ter imself! But, I'll bet Miss May *ll set back his im- perdence, fer I still b’lieve she hain’t got eyes fer n> one else but me.” Knowing that not enough snow had fallen since Christmas to obliterate a trail, Josh decided to 1>- air to the little valley in which Gold Rifle bad do- uched from the secret. passage, and here ther: were chances that he could strike a trail that would eventually bring him up to the sharpshooter. After about a half-hour’s ride he descended int> the valley in question, and found a faint horse trail sure enough, leading from the vicinity of the pas- sage along the valley to the westward. That’s Gold Rifle’s trail, kerect,”’ Josh muttered, running his eye along the valley, ‘‘but the next thing ar’ ter foller it. Ef it doan’t play out, ll swow ne lon’t foller it, an’ overtake Mr. Gold Rifle in a On looking at the sun he saw that it was declining toward the western horizon rapidly, but he resolved to push on and accomplish what distance he could before nizht came on, for the open prairie was a poor bivouae-place, and be hoped to reach some convenient motts of timber in time to camp. Therefore he rode on throuzh the clear sparkling winter’s afternoon, never deviating from the plain trail which the hoof-strokes of Gold Rifle’s horse had made upon the crust, riding at a swift gallop, as he had done, F Although Josh had been but a year inthe Far West, mingling among its strange mon, he had picked up a considerable smattering of prairie and woodcraft. He knew an Indian sign when he saw it, and had, on several occasio~s, scouted about and fetched In valu- able information to the fort, Consequently he had less fear in going into the wilderness than though he had no experience. ‘ a- * Dakota papers remark upon the thickness and strength of the snow-crust during the mid-winter of which we write. Upon the plains its like was never known eyen by the oldest hunters and trappers, : ee eee
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Gold Rifle, the Sharpshooter. 11 But now, as he rode along, his mind would go back to the Maynard farm-house, and to the conclu- sion that he had been designedly banished from the light of May Maynard’s beautiful eyes. “Bt’s a durned, doggoned shame,”’ he muttered, ‘an’ I'll tell Miss May so, see’f I don’t. She orter hev hed sum respects fer a feller’s feelin’s, even ef I did kum frum Varmont. Reckon I’m as good as any gineral’s dart»r, ef I am green and gawky, Thar war old Saltpeter Hemperhill fer instance, who in hes boyhood war calkylated to be as oe as they make ‘em: But thet ar’ feller bad ther true solid basis character, and darned ef he didn’t rise up ter be trustee o’ ther Skimmerville school—an’ now they do purtend ter say he’s runnin’ for Congress. So much fer character.” Following the course of the valley for a couple of hours, Josh then ascended to the level prairie, still directed by the snow trail. This he followed as rapidly as possible, and just at dusk sichted a motte of cottonwood timber ahead, which promised shelter forthe night. He was considerably fatigued, and without thought of danger, he rode briskly forward and entered the woodland, where but little snow had fallen upon the round, although the branches and boughs were Feavily laden with the flakes. Dismounting ina Sa a pa spot, the Yankee turned his horse at liberty, and began making preparations for an evening camp-fire, when he was suddenly and rudely interrupted. There was a chorus of savage yells, avd he was quic'ly seized, thrown to the earth, and bound hand and foot. As quickly as he could collect his scattered senses, he looked around, and ciscovered that he was in the power of a band of red-skins, some twenty in number, who wore war-paint upon their faces, and were of a savage, repulsive aspect. Moreover, Josh saw by their head-dress, and the faney carving upon théir- cheeks, that they were braves of the Sioux nation. Without offering any verbal explanation, the red- skins dragged their victim along through the wood- land by the heels, taking extra pains to take all the stones and stubs in their path, At last they reached a temporary Indian encampment of seven lodges, and Josh was placed, under guard, by a roaring camp-fire. 5 In ths course of an hour he was visited by a large, portly chief, accompanied by nearly the whole camp. The chief was well known to the Yankee, for he bad once participated in a hunt for the big war- rior ot the Sioux nation; and this chief was Sifling Bull, A fugitive from the Black Hills country, there were months when his whereabouts were really un- known, and these months were spent in dodging among the motte-islands of the great savannas of northern Dakota. “Wach! Sitting Bull has seen the white Yankee before,” the chief said, a sudden wave of recognition Le be over his grim countenance, so horrible inits ecorative paint. ‘‘He chas d the Sioux warriors from the fort, ere the snows of winter made the _ plhins white. Sitting Bull does not forget.” **No, ye’re darned right!’ Jesh retorted, with a grin, as be thought of the mentioned occasion. “Ye’re durned right, old Chair-bottomer. An’ now thet ye’ve got me,1 calkylate ye’ll be after skulpin’ me, or roastin’ me?” “ 3 “No! Sitting Bull has even a better sport for his warriors, A wild young buffalo bull has been cap- tured, and shall take the Yankee toward the setting sun, Sitting Bull has said it.” Along Jariat was fastened about Josh’s feet, and he was again dragred through the timber—this time to where the western side of the motte met the _ prairie, i Here the lariat as fastened to the hind legs of an untamed bull, and Josh was ready for rapid transit, Qnly about ten yards of rope intervened between , him and the heels of the bull, and things promised to be mutually interesting, The whole encampment of savages had by this time gathered upon the prairie, and #t a signal from Sitting Bull, there was a wild chorus of savage screeches, and the young bull gave a snarl of terror, and plunged madly away into the night, out over a boundless expanse of prairie, and dragging poor Josh ruthlessly along in the rear. CHAPTER VI. HUNTING THE BLACK RANCH. On over the wintry plain plunged the terrified young buffalo, with snorts and bellows, and atevery bound of the strong young animal poor Josh was jerked along, at a terrible specd—now on his back and then on his belly, in and out of hollows, over hummocks, and through bushes—it seemed that his infuriated war-horse would never stop. In vain he endeavorid to sit up long enough to grasp the rope with bis hands, which were now free, buteach time he was jerked back, and subject to the agony of his wild ride. It was fortunate that the snow-crust covered most of the rough spots over which they went, or he could not have retained his consciousness, during the first ten minutes of his journey. But, des;ite the snow, his clothes were torn and his skin blistered. The motte island encampmett cf Sitting Bull ard his warriors was left far behind, and the buffalo was heading due westward toward a Jong line of timbcr that goer upon the shores of the little Adder, Although it was a dark night, the groundwork of white had the effect to make objects at a con- siderable distance visible to the naked eye; henee, Josh discovered their approach to the timber when they were yet some distance away, and was now as- sailed with double fears for his personal safety. Of ccurse, should the bull attempt to 8 through the timber, all hope of bis esceping alive was lost; to be dragged along through the timber would Lo almost instant death. Nearer and nearer to the timber they approached, and Josh’s heir began to stand on end at the pres- pect ahead of him, when there was a sharp, ringit ¢ rifle report, a bellow of pain, and the bull went crashing forward to the ground. The impetus of the fall nearly jerked the wits out of Josh, but he soon recovered to find the buffalo floundering in death-throes at his feet, With his unloosened hands he soon had his feet at liberty, and rose to gaze around him, He was not a hundred ome from the edge of the timber, and yet he could see nothing of the where- abouts of any person from whom the death-shot aps have come. The bullet had struck the buffalo - “ lower part of the neck, and penetrated to the eart, “Waal, I’m ther luckiest cuss afoot, darn m socks ef I uin’t!’ Josh muttered, finding that }is strong Sharpe’s army rifle was still lashed to his back, and belt weapons all intact. ‘“ Reekon all I’m Jackin’ ar’ a boss an’ grub, an’ I swow ef I'm goin’ back ter ther general’s. ontil Miss May gits luv- sick over and sends fer me ter cum back ter her arms. No, siree: thar’s too much o’ ther old Nebn- chadnezzar Hemperhill solid basis character in me, fer that. Vl bet ther gal’s a-sobbin’ arter me now, these females are so capricious, unless—unless that ye tee Trisher is puttin’ on his graces. Blast it, why didn’t they send him cut hyar, too?” —— “Because two 6’ a kind jis too much even fer good nature to tolerate!’ spoke a pleasant voice, and a handsome form loomed up cee the c pew Hello} I'll be jugged ef et ain’t the Yankee, ‘osh!? : ; And no less a personage than Gold Rifle advanced to the side of the dead bull. : “Yes, an’ ver thet Gold Rifle chap I’m huntin’ fer!” cried Josh, with a broad grin of delight. ‘“ How d’ye do, anyhow? J’m as tickled ter see ye asl Ie
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12 would be ter see my boss, w'ich I left, back heer in ther bands of old Chair-bottomer—Sittin’ Buil.” “Ah! then it is to the red-skins you ow® this ride, eh? and a smile illuminated Gould Rifle’s face. “T thought so, whenIheerd you coming. I knew Sitting Bull was somewhere around on the plains, but was ignorant of his exact wherexbouts. But, oe brought you out here so far from the ‘ort “Jest in search for you!” Josh grunted, witha scowl, as he thouvht of May Maynard and the Irish- man. “ Ye see, Miss May sent me fer ter fetch yea ban at aa she’s goin’ ter marry me next Fourth o’ uly. “What, Miss Maynard marry you, Josh?” “On course she is! Iswow ef I ain't ther luckiest ‘coon in this kentry. Promised me this very morn- in’ afore we parted.” ~ “Get out! Yor shouldn’t take what she says to heart, Josh. She's only foolin’ ye, I guess.” “Darnation, no! She’s legitimately engaged ter me, an’ we’re goin’ ter hev frostin’ an’ firecrackers on ther weddiu’-cake An’ ef she tries ter go back on me, I’jl sue her fer britches o’ promise, I swow ef I won't ” “ Well, I wish you much joy already, Josh! Gola Rifle said, with a’smil:. “But you say Miss Maynard sent a message. Come along to my camp in yonder wood, and let me have it.” Accordingly, the young sharpshooter led the way over the prairie toward the gloomy line of timber, and Josh limped after him as fast as he could, for he was decidedly stiff from his rapid ride over the prairie. Never in all his boyhood’s coasting experi- ence had he ridden so fast over the snow with noth- ing between him and the snow but his clothing. It was something novel in its way, yet quite uninter- esting to the person concerned. They soon arrived at Gold Rifle’s camp, which was et ac in under the shelter of the timber, and con- iguous to the bank of a medium-sized stream known as th» Little Adder. A fire was burning brightly within a lodge of buffalo-skins, and it was a welcome sight to half-frozen Josh. ‘Here we are!” Gold Rifle cried, as they entered the cheery lodge where was warmth and the odor of cooking meat. “Now give me the letter from Miss Maynard, and you can warm and repair dam- eS, *Seems ter me ye'’re in an awful hurry ter git a letter frum one ye ain’t got no claim to.’ grumbled Josh, taking off one of his serviceable cow-hide boots and producing a crumpled envelope. ‘Thar it is, but I give ye ter understand thet ther gal ain’t yours no more’n the name o’ Hemperbill is.” “No, of course not,” Gold Rifle replied, receiving the note and tearing it carefully open, thinking the while of the sweet and pretty daughter of the gen- eral, who had helped him to escape, and whom he was with. in thought, constantly. The note was penned in a delicate, graceful hand, aod ran as follows, with the heading of date, place, ete.: “Mr. Waaner:— “Dear Srr:—I send you this note by our man-ser- vant, Josh Hemperhill, with the request that he will deliver it safely to you. In it I wish to make myself s0 bold as o extend you an invitation to a social gathering which will take place at our quarters on the 16th of January, that being the eighteenth anniversary of my birth. Your presence would be a@ source of much pleasure to father and myself, Josh you can_keep with you until you pay us the desired visit, Very truly yours, “May Maynarp.”” A flush of joy stole over Gold Rifle’s face as he perused the above—joy because of the honor con- ferred upon him by the Maynards, and because he was given the opportunity to cal unon and form a more thorough acquaintance with pretty May than had thus far been his privilege, : Gold Rifle, the Sharpshooter, “Tll gol” was his instant resolve, ‘‘and havea good time. If between now and then I cannot clear myself of being Tiger Track, it is curious. I have the whole thing pretty well seasoned for cooking anew, Ae led Josh th h “Waal!” growled osh, as the young s shooter slipped the note into his pocket—* what did my gal.write ter ye, Cap? ’S’pect she guv ye an in- vite ter our weddin’, eh?’ “She give an invitation to a birthday gatherinz, Josh, the sixteenth of next month. To-morrow is the first—New Year’s. And I mean to make the moments count, too.” “*Ye don’t say?—an’ did she put in any kisses or luv poetry fer me?” “Nary, Josh! She said you was to remain with me, until | get ready to go back to the general’s. So now, you've got to follow the trail I lead, for the next two weeks.”’ “Allright. I’m ther chap as kin do it. ef Ido say so. I swow ter breeches ef I don’t believe I eould outwalk ye!” “T haven't the least doubt of it, Josh. But we won't try. Now, then, it is necessary that you should know my business, as we are to be together, Look at this, and you will understand my callin here upon the prairies;" and pulling aside a strip o! the fur with which his buckskin suit was ornament- ed, the firelight glanced upon a plate badge of solid gold, with a star in the center, and an inscription on the plate, in beautiful design, which read: U. 8. GOVERNMENT, TO ©. A. WAGNER, In recognition of faithful services as a detective spy. Upon the other edge was an inscriptive date— “March, 187—” “Waal, by gosh, ef ye ain’t one o’ them detective chaps!’’ Josh exclaimed, in astonishment. ‘ Who'd ever ’a’ thought it? Thar war my old unkle Nebu- chadnezzar, who war once in thet line—uster set for a hull hour on a stretch, a-tryin’ ter detect w’ether mice got into ther grannery or not,” “Yes, | am a detective,’ Gold Rifle confessed, “and my business here is to break up Tiger Track’s outlaw band, and clean out a certain nest of devilt known as the Black Ranck—the stronghold of this same Tiger Track, by the way.” “Phew! ye don’t say sol Neow, why didn’t ye show yer cullers ter them galoots as war after ye, ther other i bie “That was because I did not care to have my busi- ness publicly known When 1 do, I shall Bey Aha General Maynard for co-operation in exterminating the gang. believe there were men among those that chased me, who are members of Tiger Track’s nd.” * ““Ye don’t say so! Waal! waal! an’ what are ye goin’ ter do, now, since you’ve added in a man like me, o’ solid duplex basis character?”’ “T am hunting for this Black Ranch. Very few upon the Dakota frontier know where it is, yet many strange stories are told of it, and the mysterics about it. It is said to be somewhere upon these prai- ries, but that a man might look for it a lifetime an1 not stumble upon it, Yet, I believe that [ am upon the trail of it, and hop> to find it, ere acne You can accomany me, and may be of some aid.” The evening meal of roasted deer-meat was now served up, and both Josh and the young detective did it ample justice. The fire was then replenished with fuel, and they turned in for the night. Early on the following morning they were astir, and after eating what was left from the evening meal, Gold Rifle furnished two mustangs from a bough-shed, in the timber, and both he and Josh mounted and set off, Gold Rifle in the lead, He headed their course, after leaving the timber. ar
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Lo he Gold Rifle, the Sharpshooier. due north, and rode rapidly, the crust holding u beneath the strokes of the enimals’ feet. Josh fol- lowed close behind, for, although he was large, awk- ward and clumsy, he was by no means a poor horse- man, as Gold Rifle saw at once, About the middle of the forenoon they came upon asingle trail, headed in a northwesterly direction. Ra evidently several days old, and had partly up. “Where do you ’spect thet aire trail leads ter?” asked Josh, as he drew rein a ongside Gold Rifle. “White or Injun?” “White!” was the reply; “don’t you see the horse was shod?” ‘*Who's been along heer?” “That 1 don’t know. If I knew who is absent from the Settlement, I might better determine. Now, you see, the course we are following, I have no doubt is the true one to the Black Ranch, and yet this other trail probably leads there, too. Now, you must follow one, and I'll take the other.” It was accordingly arranged that Josh should fol- low the northwestern trail, while Gold Rifle kept straight ahead. He rode rapidly, and in three hours came up with Josh, where the two trails merged tato one. The northwestern route was only a roundabout way, to throw off scent. “We have the straight trail ‘fore us now, eh?” Josh demanded. “Yes, I should say. so. If nothing happens, we ner sight it before dark.” ey rode rapidly forward. The formation of the prairie was now perfectly level for miles to come, and the snow-crust stout, so that they were enabled to make fair pro, 5 The afternoon wore away toward darkness; the sun sunk toa level with the ocean of white, and awa to the north, on the crest of a prairie billow a dark speck grew visible to the searching gaze of the two horsemen. At first it was no larger thana pea; then it grew steadily until it had assumed and was gradu- ally assuming larger propowione, the further they advauced toward it. In half an hour they were near enough to define a great barn-like edifice upon the towering crest of a distant prairie billow, surrounded by a bigh fence of plank. And Gold Ritle gave vent to a shout of joy, and drew rein as he beheld all this, motioning Josh to stop, also, ‘*That’s the Black Ranch and stronghold of Tiger Track, undoubtedly,” he said, “‘and that is all we want to know at present. The next thing is to find a hiding-place, for I'm satisfied we'll have a chance to fight outlaws, soon!” CHAPTER VII. A BOY IN CAMP—A STORY OF MAMMA AND THE BLACK RANCH, Upon the day following Gold Rifle’s discovery of the Black Ranch upon the prairie, an Indian pon made its way to the Settlement, and came to a halt on the village square. It was not riderless, for a boy of some six or seven years, well wrapped up in furs, was seated astride of the saddle. .. One Ms one the villagers were attracted to the spot, and gathered around the lad with the greatest curi- osity. Ata panos the waif did not belong either at the fort or Settlement, yet here he was, alone and unaccompanied; and from whence did he come? He was fat and chubby of his age, with a stolid boyish face, a firm-set mouth, peculiar to see in one 80 young, and eyes as black as coal, and having the sparkle of the diamond. He did not appear to be frightened, as gradually a crowd gathered around him, but, rather, seemed to w tch the men with interest, singling out, with the wonderful intuition of childhood, the faces that were good and those which were evil. At first the villagers were at a loss what to do. but finally an old trapper broke the ice by approaching the little stranger, and beginning a series of ques- ons, / name, now, i8 “Well, my little man, who are you?” was the first interrogative. “I’m Jack!” was the reply, without any show of bashfulness; and, too, it was apparent, that the lit- tle fellow was intelligent beyond his age. “Jack, eh! Well, what else—Jack what?” “Dunno!” was the reply. ‘*Don’t know where you live, do you?” ‘* Yes, I do—at the Black Ranch. Mamma is there —b’en very sick but gettin’ better, Mamma’s avery nice woman.” ** As you are evidently a nice little fellow, who is your mamma?” ‘“*Mamma’s my mamma, sir.”’ “ Of course, you little man, but what is your mam- ma’s name?” “Dunno; fordot mamma’s name.” “That's too bad. You say your mamma’s at the Black Ranch? What kind of a pore is that?” “Great awful big house with high fence around!” exclaimed Master Jack, raising his hands high aloft ~ signify how big he meant, but could not ex- plain. “Ah! awful big house with high fence around? Bors, that corresponds with what we have previous- ly heard of the place. Well, my little man, what do er $° in this big house, and how many men is ere 7”? The boy hesitated, and looked theughtfully around. - ** Dunno what they do—lots of men; more’n they is here,” he replied, atlength, ‘ Men got guns,”’ ‘*What does your mamma do, boy?’ ‘*“Mamma she lays to ped most all day an’ crics, an’ at night they lock her up in the room.” * Ha! what is this, you little cuss?” cried a gruff pt and Jacob Toleman pushed forward, excit- e \y. “Hell and furies! How'd you ever get tlis far away from home?” and the ruffian trader laid a heavy hand upon the waif’s arm, and he began to ery in affright. Hold! stop there, Jacob Toleman!” cried an au- thoritative voice, and General Maynard rode for- ward. ‘‘Get away, you villain, or Pil have you ar- rested and put in irons, What right have you to lay hands on that boy?” ‘The right of a protector and guardian—the might of a grandfather!” retorted the trader, defiantly. “The little devil has wandered away from Lome, and I'll see that he goes back in a hurry.” “Then you bave to do with the outlaw’s Black Ranch, eh?” demanded the general. sternly. “No! the brat never saw the Black Ranch nor any one else, It is all a cussed lie about there being such a place,” 5 “ Oh! I dare say you know all about it. But we will not trust to your testimony in this case. The child is too young to know the meaning of a lie, and we will believe him in preference to you, whom we all rt so well. Step aside, sir, and let me question the lad!” - At first Toleman hesitated. and was inclined to disobey, but the drawing of the general’s sword had the effect to make him retire. The general then rode closer to the winter-waif. ‘Your name is Jack, eh, little fellow?” ‘* Yes, gir.” “ And your mamma's name—” “Dunno; fordot.”* “She is a prisoner in the Black Ranch?” “Yes, sir.” “Do you know this man?” pointing out the elder Toleman, “Yos, He bad man! He comes and say very bad, wicked words to mamma, dat make her cry.” ‘*Hal andis there any one else here among this crowd, whom you have seen at the Black Ranch?” “No!” replied the hemaaben a glance around. “Tiger Track he’s very to mamma, 80 she git Injun to send me off here. I fought o’ mamma's It is Mamma Mabel!”
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14 General Maynard started violently in his saddle, and gaz-d eagerly at the boy. “*What! what! Mabel—Mabel what, boy?” and the veteran was terribly excited “ Speak! what is the remai ider of your mother’s name?” “T don't know!” the boy replied, growing fright- ened. ‘‘Name jest Mamma 148? **Mabel! Mabel! my God, canit be possible!’’ Gen- eral Maynard muttered, running his hand across his eyes. ‘Gentlemen ’’—turning to the curious crowd, “*T believe that I am on the eve of a discovery that will enlighten me concerning a lost one who has been dead to me for the last ten years. I therefore claim the right to this boy, until I learn more defi- nitely what [ wish to know. Are you willing I shall tak> him with me?" ‘Ay! ay!’ was the rousing shout in concert, for the general was hichly respected by the large share of the settlers. ‘The boy is yours.” ‘and, my men, I may call upon you to assist in attacking this unknown nest of the outlaws, the Black Rinch. Can I rely upon your aid?” “Ay! ay! general!” was the eager response. “ We're with you, heart and soul.” Then General Maynard rode away toward his farm-houss, leading the horse which bore. Master Jack, by his side. When they arrived at the farm-house, little Jack was taken to the parlor, where May gave him a lov- ing welcome, and before an hour had passed he was uite at home, although he occasionally mentioned “mamma,” which showed that she, whoever she was, had a deep hold upon his childish affection. Nothing was said on the subject to the boy, but Muy and the general had a long talk about her and the Black Ranch. “It is undoubtedly my Mabel,” the old man said, bowing his head in his hands, ‘who has been lost to me these twenty years. Poor Mabel! to think that she is languishing in a barbarous prison, when she might be here, a comfort to my declining years.” “and who is this Mabel?’ May Maynard asked, yur interest. ‘*You never told me of her hereto- ore.’ “ Because I did not wish to bring up the past. May, you little know all the disgrace I have suffered in my younger years, and I may as wellgive you a brief of the’ story, to-day. Mabel was my first and «nl; daughter. Don’t start, my dear, for I will ex- plain about you, by and by, bel, as I said, was my first dauguter and also my only chill by mar- riage. Hor mother died upon giving birth to her, and Mabel was placed under the charge of a compe- tent nurse. “Daring the succeeding seventeen years, T must confess that I was little with my child; war, to- gether with a multitude of other matters, kept me away for a most part of the time. Yet I had a handsome home on the Hudson, which I had inherit- ed, and was able to rear my child in recto’ and give her all ths advantages of education. At the e of s+v »nteen she wa; the belle of her social cir- cle, and I began to entertain hopes of her making an eligible match. “About thit time I saw a chance for gigantic culations in Western railroads, and disposing of allmy Eas‘ern property, moved away to this coun- try. And it was the curse of my life, forin three short mounts I had nodaughter, she having secretly wedded + man of questionable charactor. and had fled. I heard afterward that he became the chief of a band of robbers, For the recovery of my ehild I searched and toiled until the outbreak of the great war between the North and the South; then havin; nothing to deter me, I rejoined the army and fough until victory was ours, and I had attained the hon- ors of generalship, which, thank God, I never dis- graced. Just a year or two before the war I took Fer one you as my own child, from the death- of a gallant old officer of the regulyr army, and have reared you under my mame, as you were such an exact image of what my Mabel once was, Your Gold Rifle, the Sharpshooter. real name ‘s May Faulklan 1, but you are welcome to mine own, until you make a choice of a husband and may God grant that your choice be crown with success.” “Yes, dear papa; but do you believe it possible that the Mabel of whom this little boy speaks, can be your long lost daughter?” ‘Yes, May, I do candidly believe that the prisoner of the Black Ranch, and my long-lost Mabel are the same. Indeed, the child, yonder, bears a striking mca pt to Mabel, as she looked when last Isaw er.” “ And, do you know, papa, there is another, whose features resemble those in yonder portrait—whichis of your lost daughter, is it not?” “Yes, that is a correct portrait of Mabel; and to what other do you refer?”’ “To the young man who was flying to escape the mob, on Christmas—Gold Rifle.” “Hat is thatso? I did not notice, Iam sure.” “Yes, I was'struck at once with the resemblance between the two, but I did not speak of it, as one often meets pers ns resembling each other who en- tertain not the slightest degree of relationship.” * Well, if this is so, I should lixe to see the young man again, for he may indeed be the child of my daughter by her outlaw husband, for it seems to me that the name of Wagner is not foreign to my mem- ory. Whether or not I have heard it in connection with the name of my daughter’s husband, Ido not know. After leaving home she was called Agnes. He changed his name, doubtless, after he became an outlaw."’ _ ‘Well, what do you propose to do in this case, be- lieving that Mabel is indeed alive and in the mysteri- ous Black Ranch?” “Do? why, I shall organize a company out of the be eg and hangers-on at the Settlement, and start to the rescue at once. And, white I think of it, *twould be a good plan tostart at once, while Master Jack's hors*’s trail remains distinct. No doubt by it, and the little fellow’s direction—for he is observ- ant and as keen as a razer—we ean find the den of Pe bh homer much trouble. And then we must a. “Oh! 'twould be glorious fun, papa!’’ May cried, with a zest. “Ishould love to be along. CanT go, please—can I? T can dress up in my male hunting pe goat and you know that I’m a capital shot. May ‘0? ‘Yes, child, even though it may be to instant death, for I fear to leave you here alone and unpro- tected, with two such heartless wretches hovering at the Settlement, as Jacob Toleman and Boover Legree. Yes, get your ou'fit in readiness, at once, for I shall start as soon as I can ride back to the Set- tlement and equip my men.”’ ““Why not take the soldiers, ni *“Boewuse they would be of little or no service in this kind of work, I want men who will kn@w what I mein when I say jigit/ Such are found among our hunters and scouts. As Isaid before. get your- self ready; arm yourself thoroughly, and provision and clothe yourself fora long siege, for it may be months ere we gt back from our journey.” ‘ Then the general arose and left the parlor, to or- der his horse, and May also hastened to her room to prepare for her expedition into the wildernes:, which she was confident would be a source of great delight to her. For she was a lover of the ride and hunt and wild life incident to camping out; had on more than one occasion scoured the p!ains in search of game, and proven herself an unerring shot. And it was a pleasurable thought to her, that, by going now, she might be able to do good to a suffer- ing sister; then, too, *°way down in her young heart there was the least bit of a hops that, in the path of their journey, Pee lets run across the young sharpshooter, Gold Rifle. For the young hunter and scout was constantly on her mind, and “haunted her dreams, until she
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Gold Rifle; the Sharpshooter. i5 frown to listen expectantly for his footstep, and dream sweet dreams of him; in whose face there bi, so much that was noble, irst of all she provided herself with and donhed a sémi-male hunting-suit of buckskin, which had done her service in many a prairie tournament, be- fore, and fitted her to perfection. Then she armed herself with a Sharpe’s mid-range rifle, and revol- vers and knife, Her horse, a handsome bay animal was then brought around by Pat Dolan, and the saddle-bags equipped with a good stack of cold meats and other provision for the coming campaign. By the time all this was accomplished, the general arrived at the farm-house with. twenty men whom he bad enlisted in his service at the Settlement. They were mostly trappers and fur-traders, a rough, but kindly-disposed band. The general had been careful in selecting his men, for he well knew that a great deal depended upon their skill and trustiness. A well-stocked larder ever being a fact in the May- nard mansion, the band were all provisioned there before starting, for little of the game kind was to be found for the searching in the snow-bound wilder- ness, At last everything was in readiness, and with the white-haired old Gcusral in the lead, and May by his side, leading the horse of little master Jack, the cav- aleade set off over the snow-crist toward the Black Ranch — for General Maynard had secured the s rvices of an old trapper who had seen the famous outlaws’ den, and was confident he could guide the party to it without trouble. CHAPTER VII. ~ GOLD RIFLE’S DARING VENTURE—A TRAP THAT CAUGHT— FROM LIGHT TO DARKNESS. From the Black Ranch it would have been com- paredrely an easy matter to have detected the two 10rsemen as they stopped in full view m a crest ¢f white. Gold Rifle was well aware of this, and having but little doubt that their rash advance had already been discovered, he knew it would be neces- sary to hunt a place of refuge; hence his words at the conelusion of a late chapter. Glancing sharply around he sought and found a place which he knew would better answer their pur- pose, in case of an attack, than the open prairie. It was a small motte of a few scattering cottonwoods, which grew around a buffalo wallow; yet it com- manded a view on all sides, and was the best cover to be had in the vicinity. “Tf it were not that we were obliged to leave a snow-trail,” the young detective said, as he and Josh made haste to take possession of the motte— ee | it were not for this, we might evade the cusses et.” ‘ “How d’ye kno’ they’ve seen us yet?” was the Yankce’s demand, for he was one who believed in looking on the best side until it came to the worst. *T don’t know for positive but it looks very likely. You notice that there is a high tower rising from one corner of the Black Ranch? I have no doubt but that is a waich-tower.” ° ‘* Waal, mebbe ye’r’ right. But, what's theruse of outlaws coming out here? I swow ter breeches ef they ain't foolish ter think o’ fightin’ men o’ solid basis character like me an’ you!” “ Correct; but that makes no difference with them. They fight all men alike and I reckon they’re pretty rough customers to handle. Nor do I believe that they confine their depredations and doings alone to outlawry in this country, To me, it stands to reason that they could not exist upon the few pelts they capture and dispose of—they wouldn't fetch more than enough to supply the gang with bad whisky. Fe then, the surrounding expanse of territory for es and miles offers no great inducement for raid- ing and plunder. No, sir: there is a deeper some- thing behind 21 this outlaw Epaboee, and I’m the one that is going to unravel the or bu’st, you hear me! Already I’ve got my mind glued onto the business, and I’m going through with it,” seg. their horses’ heads while et re con- versing, théy rode away to the motte, and dismount- ed: Here the ground was less covered with snow, and with easily extemporized shovels of. bark they soon had a a A space cleared to earth on which to build a fire andcamp. This operation piled the snow up around them so as to quite hide their camp, and 4 off the sharp cutting wind. ‘ ld Rifle had in his saddle-bags a piece of raw venison, yet, large enough to last for a couple of meals, and they concluded to use this first, and re- serve their other provender for the future. Leaving Josh to prepare the evening meal, Gold Rifle left their snow fortifications, and scouted about the camp. He could find no signs of enemies in the neighbor- hood, nor were there any signs of spproaching outs laws from the Ranch, ‘This wasareiief to the youn sharpshooter, for he had no desire to fight agains’ odds of twenty to one ” In the direction of the Black Ranch all was quiet; ovadentty the outlaws had not discovered their ap- proac ‘ f Scouting through to the western side of the motte, the young detective made another important dis- covery, namely—the existence of a deep, sluggish stream of water. It was now frozen over, with a glassy-like surface, caused by an overflow and freeze. That it was deep and still water, Gold Rifle determined by the banks which were full to a level with the grounding. This stream ran through a deep and extremely, Larrow valley which opened abruptly down from the west- ern side of the motte—a sort of channel through Nature’s cold white face, arid by following its course as far as re would allow, Gold Rifle came to the conclusion that the stream ran in its northerly branch not far from the site of the Black Ranch, for along both edges of the valley grew fringes of a species of sage-bush, and these he could see a long var the direction of the ranch. turning to camp he found Josh ready to serve up their meal, and while they partook of the venison he related his discovery of the stream. “1 believe it’s the only way I can approach any nearer to the outlaws’ nest than I am now,” he said, thoughtfully, “* for to go over the prairie is cer- tain discovery. Luckily, I am provided with a. of good skates, and if the stream goes by w: ie oe of the ranch, l’m bound to get that near, anyhow.’ “Yas; but whar'm I goin’ ter gpors while ye're doin’ this?” questioned Josh, with a grim Nk. “D'ye calkylate I’m goin’ ter foller at yer heels, an’ run the risk 0’ gettin my head blowed offf Ef 1am aman o’ character, I hain’t hankerin’ after losin’ my top-knot.” ‘Oh! no danger about you! It will be your duty to stay here and take care of the borses and the camp. You can keep an occasional lookout to pre- vent gen surprised and captured, and await my return, which will be immediately after I spy out all that is requisite to my plans. If the cusses get me in a trap, why probably yon won't me at ab and, had better go back to the fort and give the alarm.” Darkness was by this time ene naing ae earth tance be- used long enough to affix to his bootsa handsome a of repuistion skates, and then he Mariel t away over the plassy surface of the river like a bird. The course o Nisieee
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16 plish about twice the distance that would have been necessary, had be gone overland. But he cared not for this, as the skating was excel- lent, and he enjoyed it hugely. Every stroke sent him nearer and nearer to his destination. In two hours’ time he concluded he must be in close proximity to the Ranch, and accordingly slackened his speed, finally coming to a halt, With his skates still fastened to his feet, he left the ice, and cautiously ascended so that his face was on a level with the prairie. He gazed around. It was a dark, moonless night, yet he was able to distinguish objects at a considerable distance, the snow lighting up the ground, dimly. he Black Ranch now lay to the north-east of him several miles, but by the line of bushés which fringed the valley, he saw what he had before surmised— that the stream and valley wound close to the Ranch on the northern side, but just how close he was yet unable to determine. Going back to the river he resumed his journey on the ice, making strangely weird music with his ringing skates. : The remaining distance he accomplished in an- other half hour without much exertion, and found himself in an abrupt bend in the course of the stream, just around which was the Black Ranch, in close proximity to the banks. The high fee fence, in fact, ran out t» the very edge of the bank, and only the upper part of the ranch could be seen over its top. After he had brought himself as near as he dare, without exposing himself, he sat down and took off his skates, and secreted them in the butt of a hollow log which ended up through the ice. Wrapping his Eo rifle in oil-cloth he also secreted it in gee he bushes, reserving for use only his revolvers an knife, for in close quarters he knew these would answer his purpose better than a rifle. His next move was to creep stealthily up among the fringe of hen-sage, and lying low, make obser-" vations, ° t All about the place was deepest quiet. ese There were no lights, no sign o' life—nothing in sight to tell that the grim structure within the black painted fence was inhabited by humans. Nor was there a sound of nature afloat on the night —unless, maybe, it was the snap peculiar to all bod- ies of ice on a sharp night. There was no light in the tower which arose a score of feet above the main building at the south- western corner, and after watching for some time without seeing any one, Gold Rifle came to the con- clu ion that there was no sentinel posted to-night. Satisfled on this, he crept from his concealment rapidly over the snow toward the fence. This was fully fifteen feet high, and he knew that if he cculd once get ia its shadow it would be one strong point gained in its favor. And his rapidity of movement soon brought him safely there, and he stood up alongside the fence and listened. The same dead, ghostly silence still prevailed up- on the prairie and around the Ranch, and the young detective could but draw the conclusion that the lace was wrapt in slumber. Still, with this knowledge, very few men of older years than Gold Rifle would have cared to venture sO ee) TT the very shadow of such a deathden as was the Black Ranch by repute. After listening to assure himself that no one had been disturbed by his coming, Gold Rifle sat down and took off his boots and hid them in the snow where to find them again, for at present time of action their crunching onto the crust was danger- ous, As a substitute to protect his feet from the cold, he drew upon his feet heavy fur moccasins, ee — among the mysterious contents of his aversack, He was then ready for business, and first of all, made a tour of ins) on around the mighty fence, Stopping now and then and endeavoring to peer be- Gold Rifle, the Sharpshooter. a tween the cracks, without avail. The darkness in- side preventing his seeing anything of the interior. Upon the southern side he found two ponderous gates, made like the fence of heavy plank, and bar- red on the inside. Here, evidently, was the only en- trance and exit of the Ranch. Here, also, Gold Rifle saw the fresh imprint of horses’ hoofs, showing that some one had recently entered the yard from off the prairie. Going all around the Ranch, he arrived at the spot he had started from, and throwing off his outer, or hunting, jacket, he set silently and noise- lessly to work. F With his stout hunting-knife, he cut out in square cakes a large space of snow-crust, taking care to work under the dark shadow of the fence. These cakes he made about two feet square, and when pried out they had a solid thickness. of about five inches, and were all a person would care to carry. After cutting over a hundred of these, a task which occupied fully an hour, he carried them close to the fence, and a piling them up in order of a stairs, until he had elevated them so that by standing on the last step he could just peer over the top of the fence. ‘ P In two minutes after the completion of his novel snow-stairs, he had drawn himself up on the top of the fence, and giving a hurried glance, he dropped lightly down into the yard—and into the grasp of half a dozen men who had all the time been crouch- ing in a black shadow. In vain the young detective fought to free himself from the iron grasp upon him, and to get at one of his revolvers. But he might as well have tried to raise the earth. He was borne down upon the snow, and bound se- curely, hand and foot, and then carried between four brawny outlaws into the Black Ranch, which was a monster building, roughly constructed, and repellent in its midnight color. In through a series of halls and entries, and then finally the captors halted in the center of a long wide apartment, fur- nished only with rude settees. Gold Rifle was placed on one of these, and allowed the privilege of he ei) up. The room was brilliantly lighted with chandeliers containing lamps, and the young detective had a chance to see who his captors were. One he remembered of having seen at the Christ- mas turkey shoot, and heard addressed as Jacob Toleman—one of the foremost in denouncing Gold Rifle as the outlaw, Tiger Track. The others were masked, but that they were some of the cg AB there could be no doubt. The trader advanced now, a devilish expression of jubilance upon his face. ““Ha! ha! you young hawk, you didn’t escape us so nice, after all, did ye?” he leered. ‘*You put co in our.man-trap neatly. Now t’en. I don’t ntend ter spend much breath over ye, but I’ve got a few questions ter ask ye. Ye’re Wild Walt Wag- a kid—that we know. Now then, whar’s yer 9” ‘Find out and you'll know!” retorted Gold Rifle. “T'll not tell ye.” “ Allright; we won't urge you. Search him, boys, and then cast him into the pit without bonds. He can’t never git out—that’s bin proven,” A hurried search of Gold Rifle’s clothing was ac- cordingly made, and an old letter found and handed to Jacob Toleman. He tore it open and perused it eagerly, his villainous countenance assuming a more —— expression, When he had finished he said: “Tt’s a couple of months old, but here’s what it says: “Dear Son:—When this reaches you T shall have left our mountain home, and taken the gold to » safer hiding-place. On my re I have a erent mission to perform—this: is to resen® vour Jear mother and my wife from captivity. Only yet. 1 y a ee nt pew wer hay
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Gold Rifle, the Sharpshooter. 17 ree I got an inkling that she whom we have so long mourned as dead, is living and a prisoner in Tiger Track’s stronghold. If you can do anything, do it quickly, for our mutual sake, Your FarHer.” “So ye thought you'd come and search for yer mother, did ye, boy? Well, we're goin’ ter give ye a chance among the human skeletons as will keep ou company in the pit. D’ye know where Wild Valt is?’ **No! I wouldn’t tell if I did!’’ returned Gold Rifle indignantly. ‘He'll be the death of you yet.” No more was said; the four men pounced upon him, and though he struggled with all his power, they bore him to a well-like opening in the center of the ye and pitched him over into it head-fore- most. Down—down—down went the young sharpshooter into the black depths, and the four ruffians turned away with horrible chuckles, as though the work were nothing unusual to them—a sort of by-play to pass away time. CHAPTER IX. IN THE EARTH—GOLD RIFLE’S ACTION. Wuen Gold Rifle found himself going down head- foremost into the pit of darkness, he felt sure that he was going to his death, yet had the presence of mind to make a desperate attempt to turn over, so that he would strike upon his feet. Whether or not he succeeded he never knew; all he realized was a terrible jar, then a blank came and he knew no more. How long he lay in this condition of course he could not tell, but at last there came an awakening. He opened his eyes. Everything that had passed came clearly to him, and in a second he knew that he had been cast into the pit beneath the Ranch. For many minutes he lay perfectly quiet, fear- ful to move lest that act should bring to him the discovery that some limb had been broken or mis- laced. He could feel no soreness as he lay upon he ground, and after awhile came to the conclusion that he was not hurt at all, and with an effort rose to his feet. F He now found that he had sustained no injuries otherwise than a severe shock which hai made his lower limbs rather stiff, and that he was still better than half a dozen dead men. He stood for many minutes at loss what to do. Around him all was Stygian gloom. He could not even see his band in front of his face. Above, many hundred feet it seemed, was a tiny round speck of light, and this he knew emanated from the room of the Black Ranch, from which he had been hurled into the pit. , He was in a hole, deep down in the bowels of the earth, which was intended as his tomb. That others had died here was plainly evidenced by the terrible stench that iekiog op deathly, sickening odor of decaying bodies. A horrible place it was, and a shudder escaped Gold Rifle as he breathed the foul atmosvhere. “Ugh!"’ he muttered, half-fearing to stir; * this is about ther worst dose of perfume I ever got. What's to be did? that’s the question before ther Investi- gatin’ Committee. A feller can’t remain long in this Stench and live; and as long’s 1’m hull-boned yet, I ain’t a-going to say die. The first SF isa light, and I have the very article of production in my coat- sleeve pocket. which is handier than a pocket in a shirt. Glad them chaps were kind enough to leave my hands and feet free.” ending over, he fumbled in his capacious right coat-sleeve, which contained a leathern pocket, and soon produced a half of a sperm candle and some matches. One of these he struck upon his sleeve and then ignited the candle, and had _ a bright light, which illuminated the bottom of the pit with star- tling distinctness. t he saw was but evidence of what he had been given reason to expect. He was in a tomb, deep down in the bowels of the earth—a place of the dead rather than the living. All around were strewn skeletons, skulls and half-decayed corses; close at hand lay a body that apparently had not yet entered wigs decomposition—that of a man past forty years of age. At one side of the pit was a deep hole in the bot- tom, with a body hal: rdragied into it, and close at hand lay a shovel and a pick. To Gold Rifle, the meaning of this was quite plain. The stench rising out of the pit being too great in the Ranch above, a man had been sent down by the outlaws to bury the dead, but weakening when the job was half-complete the fellow had backed out, and left bis tools behind him. And to Gold Rifle this was next to a repricve, for he knew in an instant that the pick and shovel meant life and we to him. Sticking the candle into a thumb-denture in the wall, he seized the shovel and began rolling the de- cayed bodies into the grave. It was a trying piece of work, and any man but one with iron nerves must bave fainted in thestench around. Eut, work- ing for life and liberty ever lends to man extraordi- nary endurance, and at last the job was finished; every corse, or evidence thereof, was rolled into the grave, and the dirt piled copiously upon thc m. As a natural result, the stench in the pit became less and less offensive, and in half an hour the at- mosphere below was quite breathable At least, it seemed so to Gold Rifle, after the sickening ordeal he had passed through. His candle was burning low, and havirg | ut one more in his pocket, he knew that he must necds get to work toward escaping. He had already formed his plans; for his hands and brains had each been busy. He would cut a spiral stairway of steps around the pit, from the bot- tom to the top! It was fully thirty feet to the floor above, but what of that? Life, liberty, vengeance, all awaited his exerticns. He had faith in his suc- cess to work out bis fully-formed plan, by aid of the shovel and his hunting-knife—for, strange to say, the outlaws had not deprived him of his weapons. So commencing, he cut a deep indenture into the ipaond siding, and worked from that, step by step. he ground was of tenacious clay, but this was all the better for him, as it made bis staircase of earth all the stronger. With all bis strength he worked away, throwing the soft dirt into the bottom of the pit, and thereby effectually shutting out the scent of the dead bodies, By the time his candle was half-spent, he had two circles of his stair case completed, and was ahout half-way up frem the bottom of the pit. Although much fatigued by his exhaustive labor, he did not pause but kept determinedly on, for he knew that he must needs seroma the remaining distance while bis light held out, and he calculate the candle, which was a whole ore, would Jast about six hous, in all. ; ; The hour and minute hands of his watch pointed t» the hour of twelve, but he was unable to tell whether it was noon, or midnight, not knowing how long he had been insensible. | Believing by the state of his stomach that it must be noon. he paused long enough to partake «f the scraps of venison which were in his haversack. He then went on digging resolutely, and worked until he found that he must yield to exhaustion, and rest. He accordingly ceased his work, and digging out a deep hole in the dirt, ensconced himself in it, and went off into a sound, refreshing sleep, first, how- ever, blowing out his candle, When he awoke a couple of hours latér, he felt greatly refreshed and strengthened, and set to work again. Fortwo hours he labored, and then, when he was within ten feet of the opening into the room above, his candle wholly expe But this was not so great a disappointment now, as sufficient light for purpose came down from above. Right here he dug out, in addition to hig
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Gold Rifle, the Sharpshooter, staircase, a large, deep cavity in the earth siding of the pit, in what he conciuded was the northern side. He spent severa! hours in its construction, for he meant that it should be large enough so that two persons could move about bandilye Two persons—for with remarkable daring his form- ed plans now included the rescue of his mother, and escape by way of this very pit! After he had completed the little cave he proceed- ed to complete his staircase, working carefully, and with as little noise as possible, for there was now danger of being overheard by the outlaws, should one of them ch ince to be in the room overhead. herefore, though swiftly, he worked silently, and in the course of half an hour he hai attained a sta iding position froth wh-nce he could grasp the floor rim above with his two hands without falling, so that it would be an easy matter to draw himself up out of the new half-filled pit. But this he was not anxious to,do immediately. He had been caught by the outlaws once, and if he was to be caught again, he meant that it should not be for lack of precaution on his part. Finishing the last step necessary, he returned to his listle cave, ten feet below, and sat down to rest and listen. From here almost everything going on in the room overhead could be distinctly heard. Some time elapsed before Gold Rifle heard an sound; then came the tramp of heavy-booted feet, anda man peered over into the pit, with a strange, hollow laugh. Directly afterward the lights in the room were turned low, and Gold Rifle heard the fel- low tramp away. “Humph!” he muttered, ‘I guess the coast is clear now, ani I can go up safely. Reckon that chap was a guard, and it will be my duty to silence him if he gets in my way, The roon above evident- ly is not used excapt on occasions when the band meets to try a fellow-mortal for some offense, and chuck him down into the pit.” Leaving the shovel in the cave, and arranging his knif> and revolvers in a convenient position, the yous detective set out on his daring venture. By he power of his strong young arms he drew himself up out of the pit into the room. H2 was now free in one s nse—free from imprisonment in that deep, darkso ne earth-dunzeon It will b» rem+mbered that he left his boots in the snow, outside of th» great fence; therefore he could nov move nearly noiselessly, clad in his thick, warm mccasins. Gliding into on® corner of the room where the shadows were the thickest, he crouched down upon one of the rade settees ant waited. Hs had as yet not fixed upon any plan of imm diate action, but he could not remain long undiscovered. Indeet, h3 now hoard the clumsy footed guard coming back, with muttered curses upon some object which he had dropved. “*Ken’t be I drapped it inter ther pit!” he growled, tramping into ths room, and apvroaching the black hole in the floor. ‘ Wouldn’t ’a’ lost thet plug 0’ ter- baccy fer a counterfeit dollar, ’ca’se thar ain’t no more in ther Rinch, ef old Jim Bender, the quirter- master, don’t lie. Kinder ’spect Jim’s hid ther weed fer his own use, and wants ter make ther b’yees go wi'out. durn his old hids, an’—"”’ “Halt! One move or word and yon die!” came a low command, accompanied by the elick. click, of a revolver lock. ‘*Stand perfectly still, without look- ing either way, or over you go into that pit, eend over een, as sure’s thar’s strength enough in six fellers to put you thar.” The guard obeyed with a muttered curse. He dare not disobay, when he felt the cold muzzle of a revolver toueh the back of his neck. ‘With the strong deer-thong ae which he al- ways carried in his pocket, Gold Rifle securely bound ‘the ruffian’s hands behind him, and then wheled him around so that they f each other. -“*There ye are, my man!” he said, with a chuckle, “taken a prisoner just as nice as you please, Couldn’t have done it better yourself, could you?— There! take care he don’t speak loud, or I'll send you where they have brimstone hash for board. Now, then, since you're my prisoner, I have a per- fect right to subject you to a rigorous course of questioning whic not be at all to your liking, but which you must swallow and digest as you would a sugar-coated pill. ‘“* And also you must answer every question, and if you don’t, and go a-tryiu’ ter yell, or talk loud to at- tract attention, or any dodge games, down goes your shanty into that pit o’ the dead, like a double- distilled thunderbolt! D’ye hear?” The man assented by a nod of his head. He knew it wasn't his trump flop, yet. CHAPTER X. QUESTIONING—FALSE HA’R—PLAYING GUARD—A CAP- TURE AND ESCAPE INTO THE CAVE, ‘*Wett, then,” continued Gold Rifle, gliding away, and closing the door which the guard-had left 0; en, and also turning on a greater power of light from the lamps, ‘‘ the first question I shall ask you is what is your name? Answer iv a low prompt tone, and you'll not be harmed.” “My name’s Mose Renfrau!” was the sullen re- sponse. ‘Mose Renfrau, eh? Track’s outlaws?” ** No—I belong to Gang 2.” “What's that?” “The gang w'at works inside, The outlaws ar’ No. 1, and hey nothin’ ter do wi’ us fellers.”” aire that’s the lay-out is it? You’re a guard then?” “Yes. I have charge of the whole building—a beat through every hall to see that all is right.” “Do you ever eater the rooms?” “Ov course; I hev ter give ther signal and they let me in.” “What is the signal?” “Go fiud out—I’ll not tell ye.” “You won't, eh?” Gold Rifle rerhinded, seizing him and forcing him forward toward the hole of the pit—*“ then down ye go, end over cnd.” The fellow’s face assumed a white, scared look as he was confronted ue the yawning abyss, and he trembled in every limb. “Yes! yes! I'll tell” he gasped, his teeth chat- tering, ‘‘only don’t shove me aown in that grave, What is it you want to know?” “The signal you spoke of.” “Well, it is five successive light raps upon the door. One feller never speaks ter ernuther, durin’ workin’ hours,’ Gold Rifle gazed at the guard sharply, to see if he was lying, but he was evidently not, judging from his countenance. But, one thing, did not escape the lynx eyes of the young detective—a ragged edge of, hide where the hair and beard met above the ear. “ See here!” he exclaimed grimly, ** you ain’t ther chap ye seem at all. What means this?” and with his hands he jerked off first a long false beard, and then a wig of hair. “What kind of a crooked game are ye tryin’ ter play, anyhow?” The man swore roundly in French, and his eyes looked like balls of fire. ‘Shorn of his hirsute pos- sessions, he appeared a man of thirty-five, smooth- faced, and the very photograph of all that was evil. “You may as well out with it,” said Gold Rifle, ‘for I know that you are not here wi hout an object. You are under disguise, and have some plan afoot, or you would not be hers, Needn’t be afraid to tell me, for I'm a detective, and don’t want any- thing more to do with you than can be helped. What are you here for, you rascal?” “To kill Tiger Track, the outlaw! replied the man, fiercely. ‘‘I have been here a year for that purpose, and still Tiger Track lives,” “What wrong has he ever done you?” * Ruined my wife, and afterward murdered her to Do you belong to Tiger
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Gold Rifle, the Sharpshooter, 1) c tridofher. Do you not think I ought to hate sim?” “IT should say yes. And now, are we to be friends or enemies? ou evidently care nothing for the band, except to accomplish your object; Iam here to rescue my mother who has long been a prisoner in Tiger Track’s power, You can let me have your place as guard until I get ber free, and then assume this disguise again for your own plans.” A ial but where will I stay during all that time? “Down in the pit. The dead are all far under the ground and there is nosmell. You can remain there, and I will lower you down provisions. Ifa day goes by without your hearing from me, you can come up by aid of a stairway I have cut into the earth. You will find your trappings in this room.” They talked.at considerable length, and after giv- ing Gold Rifle all the information possible, Renfrau consented to be lowered into the pit, on concition that Gold Rifle would not forget the food This the young detective promised, and) procuring a long, stout rope, he lowered the Frenchman into the pit. He then donned the wig and false beard, after which he closely resembled the man whose place he was usurping. The first round he made of the beat he was watchful and ready for defense, should his assumption be detected. e passed several men in the long halls of the Ranch, but none of them paid the least attention to him. After making half a dozen rounds. according to Renfrau's d'rections, he repaired to the cook-room and got his morning meal, which consisted of veni- son and Soe fod ens. for which he had a strong relish. So strong, in fact, that he managed to store away five of the dodgers. in his pockets. These he dropped down to Renfrau on his return to the audience-room. Of the elder Toleman he had seen nothing, and no one mentioned him. The outlaws he found to occu- yy quarters in the southeastern part of the. build- ing, where they remained, hardly ever venturing into any other parts. A day and a night peerers and still Gold Rifle re- mained on guard duty. The larger part of the day he was allowed to sleep, as there were plenty astir throughout the Ranch; night was when his services came into requisition. Although he had been nearly all through the Ranch he had not stumbled upon the room which contained the imprisoned Agnes Wagner, his long- lost mother. Renfrau had told him that she was somewhere in the great building, but even he dil not know exactly where, But there was one discovery he had made—one which no one outside the outlaw clique had ever sus- pected. Tie Black Ranch was in reality a counterfeiters’ den, arhere base coin was manufactured and finished for the market. Gold Rifle had been in five rooms devoted to its manu‘acture, the first being the molding, the second the sizing, the third the stamping and the fourth the weighing and perfecting room, The fifth apartment was the store and boxing-room, and also the offiee. As near as he could learn, without betraying him- sclf with over-inquisitiveness, Gold Rifle concluded that the ae oo had been going on for nearly six months, during which time over twenty thousand dollars’ worth of spurious coin had been success- fully ‘‘ flooded,” and _ still the counterfeiters had twice that amount on band for future use. They only worked at the dead of night—from elev- en o’clock until day-dawn; then the counterfeiting- rooms were locked up, and the men, some. eighteen or twenty in number. scattered to their various rooms throughout the building. : There was a bar in one room, and this was the gen°ral resort of all within the Black Ranch. Moreover, Gold Rifle learned that a squad of ten Men constantly acted as. pickets in the yard outside of the building, and a man kept watch in the tower. And he saw that it would be next to impossible for him to escape, unless it was as he had designed, by tunneling out in under the Ranch. This he resolved to do, as soon as possible after finding his prize, the imprisoned Agnes Wagner. For the day following he had no occupation, and in these hours, when there was no danger of their being discovered, both he and Renfrau worked at the tunnel, for the Frenchman saw that it might serve him as an avenue of escape, after he had com- pleted his meditated vengeance on Tiger Track. About six o’clock in the evening Gold Rifle resum- ed his guard duty, but Renfrau kept on digging. In one of his rounds through the halls on the second floor of the Ranch, the young detective heard a groan, and nf bee gn close to the door nearest him, he paused and listened. There were voices inside, engaged in conversation. It was evi- dently a man and a woman, and the man was speak- ing, in the unmistakable tones of J: cob Toleman. “There! there! shet up yer blubbering, woman, over thet brat o’ ourn. t cum ter ther Settlement, an’I had it brained, as I told you I would, ef you ever tried any games to escape. I reckon ye’ll find out after awhile thet ’'m master! When I stole ye away from Alf King, or Boover Legree, as he’s now known, I thort I war gettin’ a lamb, ’ca’se ye allers appeared so while ye war Wild Walt’s wife; but I soon found ther difference!’ “Yes, you brute! you found that I was yet a wo- man, and would fight for my power. It’s now many years, Dolph Carew, since I saw the light of the outer world, but God be praised, I believe it will not be much longer. I am inspired with a faith that I shall either die, or be rescued from this terrible in- carceration!”’ “Ha! ha! you are getting wild again, Aggie—out o’ yer right mind. Why, you old fool, who do you suppose could rescue you from this impregnable prison? You are here for your life—my wife, my slave, if I choose to make ape “Your wife? God forbid! The bonds which you forced He me were but a horrible mockery in the sight of heaven, for I have a busband living. No’ no! you need not leer and scoff, for Wild Walt still lives, and I shall be again his ere long. Something tells me so, and I cannot drive off the impression. It clings to me by day and by night.” An’ ‘ll hev ter keep a-clingin’, fer all ther good it will do you. I see me a few days ago, an’ he’s as hot as ever at Tiger Track fer stealin’ ye. Legree is a very devil!” “ But an angel, compared with you, you wretch!” was the retort. “IT know I'm not an angel!” replied the’ villain, with a malignant chuckle, “Indeed, it is one of the greatest delights of my life to worry and torment you—to make your existence a _foretaste of hell. That is because I love youso, But I cannot-tarry longer, now, for I must away to other work. Gen- eral Maynard, your father, I may as well tell you, will soon make an attempt to take this Ranch, with the vain hope of repossessing himself of you. He has but a handful of men—one to our three—and in- side of twenty-four hours from now, if they ie proach near, their bodiés "ll make coyote fodder. good by, you she-tigress cub, and may your dreams hereafter not be so silly. Your —_ are doomed to be spent within these dismal walls, and when you die I shall cremate you, and retain your ashes as a souvenir, in a glass case at the head of my bed!” With a horrible laugh the ruffian turned, and Gold Rifle heard him coming toward the door. He stepped to one side, an expression of grim de- termination upon his face, his eyes gleaming forth the pent-up anger that was in his breast. “Tl beste the inhuman beast one rap,” he mut- tered, seizing a hickory walking-stick, which stood near, “If I can’t drop him, I've got a knife to finish him with, aside from as noisy a pair of revolvers as ever cracked, I dare not use them here, how+ ever, ‘
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20 Gold Rifle, the Sharpshooter. Nearer the rufflan came, and Gold Rifle seized his stick firmly. There was much depending, now, and he resolved to be the victor when he had the chance. The key turned in the log, the door opened, and_ the elder Toleman, or pe Carew, as the prisoner had called him, stepped out into the ball. Then came a whiz and a whack of the club, and without even a groan the old ruffian dropped to the floor. Gold Rifle did not pause to see if he was seriously hurt or not, but seizing him by the heels, dragged him back into the room occupied by the prisoner, “Come!” he said, turning to her and beholding a pale, sickly-looking woman of oa onegh phd years. ‘If you would escape from this living death, come with me, for lam your son, come to rescue you, my long-lost mother!’ And he advanced toward her with outstretched arms. ‘*My son!" she gasped, rising toward him, her eyes ng loriously with a new-born hope; ‘‘my God, can this be true, or am I going mad—mad—mad?” “You are not wrong, dear mother!”’ the young de- tective replied, kissing her tenderly, ‘‘for if you are Agnes Wagner, the wife of Wild Walt, I am your son, whom you bave not seen since he was a little boy. But come, dear mother, we must not tarry here, for you probably well know the men who sur- round us!” “Oh, God! Ihave not prayed to Thee in vain for aid, and You have sent me a noble gift which over- whelms me with gratitude toward Thee. Yes, come, my son, for I would not longer tarry in this horrible confinement. Is he dead?’ with a motion toward the senseless ruffilan. “*No. I think not, so I will lock him in this room, that he may have a taste of what you have experi- enced, here!’ Gold Rifle said, gunk. He hastily gathered up a bundle of wraps and . clothing, which caught his eye, and then led the way out into the hall, locking the door after them. Then they cautiously descended the stairs, and made their way through a labyrinth of halls, most luckily not encountering any one of the enemy. On reaching the pit room, Gold Rifle by Renfrau’s assistance, succeeded in as Mrs. Wagner safely down into the little cave in the s'de of the pit; then Gold Rifle went to the cook room and succeeded in capturing a large haunch of venison, already roasted for the morrow’s meals, This he took down into the little cave, and then Renfrau received back his disguise and went on guard duty above, the same as at first, promising to warn the young detective in case of danger. After slicing up the venison, and secreting it about his person, Gold Rifle set desperately at work in tunneling toward the river-shore, which Renfrau had already well started! : CHAPTER XI. OUT OF EARTH—ON THE ICH AND A RACE FOR LIFE— IN THE PATH OF AN AVALANCHE. DrrerRMInED now was Gold Rifle to escape, for he had a dear mother to care for, and he worked away with a will. The dirt was now light and loamy, being so near the surface, and he made rapid headway, When it was about morning, he ceased his labors for a few moments, and with Mrs. ager partook of some of the venison he had captured. He then went at it again, and by noon he conclud- ed by a gurgling sound just in front of him, that he was almost through, So |:e paused, and went back to the little cave in the dirt, at the commencement of the tunnel, where he had left his mother. He found the guard, Renfrau, here, also, waiting anx- iously to know the result of the labor. “I guess I’m nearly through,” Gold Rifle answer- ed, to his inquiry, ‘‘but whether I shall come out above or under the ice, Ido not yet know. I shall nak ppeak out until darkness . How is it out- le “Sharp and clear, with moonless nights. You'll get off. easy enough, an’I wish ye God speed, an’ the leddy too,” Tne guard then took his departure, and Gold Rifle and his mother waited anxiously for the coming of darkness. During the time intervening, they found much to say to each other, and Mrs, Wagner was greatly overjoyed to learn that her husband was alive and somewhere in the West. The knowledge was con- soling to her. The afternoon passed quickly, and when by his watch he knew it was growing dark, Gold Rifle] | the way into the tunnel, and on reaching the sp t where he had left off digging, he set to work to break through the remaining dirt. * It was an easy matter, for a few shovelfuls of dirt only were en out, ere a dull light shone in. Peering out of the aperture, he gave an exultant lit- tle cry, for his calculations had been so correct, that they would come out fair and even upon the ice. In five minutes he had the hole large enough to adm t of their egress, andl they breathed the pure air of freedom. Before them stretched the night and a snowy wil- derness. And they had now to depend upon their feet to bear them away from the terrible den that had so long been Agnes Warner’s prison. “Oh! God be praised,’ she murmured, as she gazed out over the boundless view of crystal white, and upat the heavens, where a few pale stars were twinkling. ‘‘This is the grandest, most grateful sight that has greeted my eyes for many long years, It seems like coming out of a dark world nto a brighter one.”’ * And so it will be to you, dearest mother, for I shalt and others will strive fo make yeur future life most happy and bright. You will remain, please, while Iskulk around the neighborhood and get m boots and rifle, which I left outside the fenee ere atte »pfed toenter the Ranch and got caught. I won’t be long.” “ But you are goinz into peril again, my son.” “No, I am not risking much, dear mother, and will soon return.” ; So saying Gold Rifle creptfrom the hole out into the open air, and along in the shadow of the creek bank, Above him towered the shadows of the great Ranch surrounded as it was by its black, high fenec, Everything looked about the same to the young scout-detective, as when he had entered, now some forty-eight hours before. Stealthily he crept along the bank several yards, and then came upon his rifle, securely hidden in the sage bushes, Leaving it, he crawled along over the snow to- ward the fence, near where he had scaled it, for it was here he had buried his boots. Ic was a daring venture, but he was aware that he must have them, in order to escape. Inch by inch he crept along, ex- ting every minute to get a challenge, or a bullet n his brain, But luck was with him, and without evident dis- covery he found and pulled on his boots. He was about to retreat, when his eye caught sight of an ob- sone close at hand, and his heart gave a jump when e saw that it was a medium- frame hand-sled, with a lasso attached. ' It had evidently been left there by some Ranch hand; yet, it occurred to Gold Rifle, might it not be adecoy? Jt was just the very thing he wanted to draw his mother upon, still he hesitated and lay upon the snow, watching with the eyes of a lynx. “*Reckon a feller can’t more’n try, anyhow!” he muttered, at last. ‘‘an’ ef I am discovered, I calcu- lat - wi’ my skates on I kin outrun ’em.” Creepiig forward he grasped the lariat and began eresping hastily toward the river, pulling the sled behind him. ithout accident he reached the ice, and securing his rifle and , he advanced along amas weEPSO meen an
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Gold Rifle, the Sharpshooter. 21 up to the hole. Here he found Mrs, Wagner await- ing anxously. ‘Had you any trouble?” ‘No, but I opine we'd better be gittin’ out of this, lively. *T'won’t be long before there'll be a rumpus in the enemies’ camp. You get on the sled, while I = putting on these skates, and we'll soon be off.” “ Hark! listen! a shout!” exclaimed Mrs. Wagner. breathlessly, pointing into the hole, Quickly Gold i sprung to the opening, and listened for a repe- tition, It came booming along through the tunnel, a mo- ment later, in a hoarse, deep voice—the voice of the guardsman, Renfrau: “Fly! fly ! they've discovered yer flight—look out fer "em, a goo seven dozen strong. Fly! “As I expected!’ Gold Rifle muttered, with a _ contraction of his brows. ‘ We've got to git, n cog end He finished buckling on_his skates, then placing Mrs, Wagner upon the sled, he wrapped her warmly in the blankets he had fetched from the Ranch. Every minute now seemed an hour until they should get started. * Now hang on!” he said, ard seizing the lariat he started down over the ice, drawing the sled behind him. The track lay before him like a monster reach of glass, and a spirit of joy was the young sharp- shooter’s, as he was able to dart away from the out- law den, at a much faster speed than he could go on the snow. He could hear the shouts and curses of the out- laws, and knew that they had discovered his vg and the route he had taken, but he resolved to dis- tance them, nor give up in the attempt. ‘* They've got only one possible chance to head us off,” he muttered, “‘ and that’s below here, a couple of miles in the sharp bend of the river. By ~oing overland on horseback, they can pes get there ahead of me. But, not if I can help it.” He set his teeth hard together, and darted on over the smooth surface like a flying bird, never pausing once to look back or around him. Not until he was approaching near to the bend; then he came to a halt. “What is the matter?” inquired Mrs. Wagner, * anxiously. ‘Is there danger? “Yes, to advance further on the river. A whole gang of the outlaws are concealed around a bend a yonder, and we shall have to leave the ce. He was not long in making the decision, but pulled the sled up onto the strong snow crust on the west- ern side of the river, “You had better let me get off and walk,” said Mrs. Wagner, anxiously, “‘I have considerable strength on occasions like this.” “No, no; you sit still. I can make better time drawing you tan if you were to walk. The crust holds up perfectly under my skates, and I shall keep them on. It was too dark to see anything of the enemy, so he set out over the prairie at a brisk speed, the stiff acd rh iad nearly the same purpose as the ice ors For several hours he toiled on, pulling his precious prize behind him, determined to keep a-going as long as his strength held out. But at last he was oblige to succumb to fatigue, and came to a halt in a small belt cf timber on the “ T said, puffing and “IT don’t reckon the devils will get my trail before that time.’ We must have come fully eight miles cold, for this would be certain to attract his enemies to the spot, but wrapping all the blankets snugly around poor Mrs. Wagner, he threw himself flat upon the crust, face downward, and went off into a sound sleep, trusting to his instinct to arouse him in case of danger.* Gold Rifle slept on undisturbedly until close upon day-dawn, when he awoke ready for the day's lahor, come it in what shape it might. Arousing his mother, who had not suffered much from the cold, he gave her some of the venison he had fetched along, and they both satisfied the crav- ing of their appetites, We will wait a little longer, till the darkness en- tirely clears away, for I want to get a view of the surrounding prairie,’’ Gold Rifle said. ‘This must be the highes' int for several leagues around, as I remember, and I can see the outlaws if they are anywhere on the prairie within eye-shot. The mountains of the Little Panther range cannot be far back of us.” “‘ And is there where you are going, my son?” “If I am pursued, yes. Otherwise, I shall cut around and make for the fort, of which your father has command.” The darkness cleared away rapidly now, and the light of a clear, crisp day dawned over the snow wilderness, And the sight that was presented to the view of Gold Rifle was little more than he expected. The outlaws were at the spot where he had left the ice, some five miles to the eastward, and were reg starting out upon his trail. He raw this much, y aid of his glass; but he also made a discovery that was in a degree encouraging. There were but about a score of the pursuers, all told. The remainder of the outlaw gang had evi- dently taken another ccurse. “Can you see the Black Ranch, my dear?” Mrs. Wagner asked, coming out to the edge of the tim- ber, where Gold Rifle was standing. “One corner of its roof—no! it’s the tower of the Ranch 7a, off yonder. The remainder of_the place is hi den behind a prairie swell, greater than this. But come; we must not tarry here, but must recommence the race. The cutlaws are already be- ginning pursuit, where we left the ice, and I wish to reach the mountains ere we stop again.” ¢ Mrs. Wagner again resumed her position a. the sled, and seizing the lariat, Gold Rifle set out briskly to the westward. No halt was made, but he pushed determinedly on toward a high mountain peak which loomed up before them in the distance, looking like a giant specter in its sheet of pure white. “There's a cave half-way up that mountain-side, if I remember!” the young detective said, as they advanced, ‘‘for I think that is the Elk or Earth- uake peak I’ve heard old Alva Lanche tell about, own at Yankton. If we can get in the cave, we'll pit ah right, and can fight off the varmints until they sick.’ But in the course of a half-hour, a new change ap- peared. The heavens suddenly became overcast with a dull gray color, and snow began to fall fast and thick, every flare counting, being as large near- * a nickel. Evidently a severe storm was at an A stern expression came over Gold Rifle’s features, and Mrs. Wagner no'iced it at once. “ What is it?” she questioned. ‘ Will not this snow cover up our trailt” “ Yes, and us, too, unless we strike cover inside of two hours,” was the disquieting reply. “‘Et’s goin’ ter be an old snorter, such as ye read about!” * Mens of my readers will say, doubtless—‘* ; Ishould think he would have frozen, lying there?’ But my answer is, no! Several winters ago, I had occasion to try the experiment, at the suggestion of an old woodsman, for we were out where neither shelter nor fireWwas to be had. I laid down, and be- ing fatigued, dropped into asleep which lasted until morning, when I was awakened, very much refresh- ed, not feeling the cold scarcely at all. I have often since tried to study out the reason of my not freez- ing, but gave it up as a mystery, gs ee
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22 He increased his walk to a run and kept on, while the white flakes came down in dense clouds, cover- ing them perfectly white. On—on, resolutely yet doubtingly, and at last they arrived at the foothills of the mountains, but to their disappointment not a tree was there to offer them shelter. And the sn»w came down faster and faster; it had already fallen to the depth of a foot, and still no signs of cessation. ' i **Get off and let me assist you!’ Gold Rifle said; “we shall have to try and hunt up the cave, upin the mountain-side, or perish in the snow!” They began the steep rocky ascent, which was nearly perpendicular, and gained an altitude of fifty feet or more; then stopped with white, scared faces, as they heard. a strange humming, rushing roar above them—something awful in its import, “ My God, we are in the path of an avalanche!” Gold Rifle exclaimed. CHAPTER XII. ON THE PRAIRIE—RUFFIANS AND RED-SEINS. Tae man whom General Maynard had engaged as guide into the Black Ranch country was in many re- spectsan ‘‘odd’un” on the side of human character. ie was evidently along in the forties, strong and muscularly built, with a quick sharp glance for every new object, and a habital watchfulness about himself, lest he should be stricken by an enemy, or should betray himself. He was one of those old roving spirits who had spent a lifetime on the border, and seen rough life in nearly all its different phases; was a man of liberal education, evidently, but uncouth and eccen- tric of speech as a general thing. Little of his face could be seen for the heavy beard that swept nearly to bis belt, and at a glance into his black, gleaming eyes one would say that he was not the man to brook insult or much offense. He gave his name to General Maynard|as Old Steuben, and by this title he was made known to the whole party. After leaving the farm-house the cavalcade struck into a sharp gallop and headed due westward into the pure white of the snow-bound West.. All of the party were mounted upon steeds whose powers of endurance had had many atest, anc whose Speed was hard to equal; and therefore there was a jolly spirit ingeerneren Perhaps, more than all else, it was because pretty May Maynard headed the band, looking gay and bright in her artistic costume—for she was now a min ie them, and every man could have well wished her their captain. ‘Old Steaben rode on in advance, grimly silent and uncommunicative, except when questioned. The man seemed to have some burden resting upon his mind, some secret which caused the reserve which was one of his personal peculiarities. May noticed this, and her tender young heart kin- dled toward him, for his quiet withdrawal from the rest of the men looked as if none were friendly to im. “ Are you lonely without company, sir?” she ask- -ed, galloping forward to his side. ‘I should think you would be.” **Eh? lonesome, my, leddy? No, I don’t reckon I am, more’n usual, Kincer natural to me, ye see— this preference for solitude. ‘Tain’t many ladies as comes ter tal‘: ter an old nut like me.” “That is because they are so blind as not to see that men ofttimes are found under the rudest cover- ing, sir,’ was the reply. “God bless ye, young lady, fer thar’s more truth in ’em words thun ye’d suppose. Thar was a time when Old Steuben hed as much style as any o’ ther bovecss but life on this frontier ‘ll soon take ther _ polish an’ starch out o’ a fellar.”” Ni May could but be impressed with his words, and saw that there was a sound, deeply-sensible man, under the rough exterior of Old Steuben. ' ‘They traveled along swiftly in the afternoon’s sun- Gold Rifle, the Sharpshooter. —_—— light, making a picturesque sight as they trailed over the white winding-sheet of the prairie About sundown they came in sight of a “ prairie island,” or motte of timber; several miles ahead, and General Maynard signaled to to the scout, who ap- proached respectfully ‘You see the timber ahead, scout—would that not ‘orm ous an admirable camping-ground for the night?’ “ Yes, general, if it is not already occupied by ther enemy. Them ’ar mottes ar’ ginerally occupied, in sech weather, by red-skins, or ruffians o’ sum sort, an’ they’il be sure ter fight fer their grounds.” “True, but I don’t fancy the notion of camping down in the open. Is there not another of these islands where we can find shelter by a few hours more of brisk ride?” ‘“*Most likely, sir, and we will strike off a little more to the north, curving gradually in that direc- tion. But here, let me call yer attention ter sum- thin’ wich I reckon hes escaped yer eyes. D’ye know thet we're follered?” * “ Followed? no! by whom, pray?” “Dunno, sir, fer my eyes won't reach fur enough ter let me find out. But thar they are, about six miles back in the rear—jest in plain sight, now!’ All hands turned in their saddles, and gazed back over the ocean of white, in search of the sail of life, and, sure enough, two horsemen were seen far in the distance, on the crest of a prairie swell. “They've follered us frum ther Settlement!” said Old Steuben, ‘an’ I reckon they're up ter sum devil- try, or they'd hurry an‘ ketch up.” ‘“*T cannot imagine who it is, unless some of Tiger Track’s men were in the Settlement when we left,” said General Maynard, anxiously. “Your idear is probably kerect!’ replied the scout; ‘‘anyhow, they ken’t do us no harm as long as they keep at sech a distance—thet’s a fac’!”’ The cavalcade now turned their course to the northwest, and made a wide detour around the motte General Maynard would have chosen for a camp. Sharp Old Steuben kept a weather eye 9 the nd for some time after they had passed it, and although his eye-search was unrewarded by a glimpse of enemy, something seemed to tell him that enemies were there. And if they were red-skins, he was well aware what that signifiled—they would be followed and attacked. ‘“‘T guess we'd better not camp to-night,”’ he said, parr oa Fog Maynard, * but bad better push on while there is darkness to cover us." “And why not camp, scout?” “ Beca’se, general, we’ve got a leddy among us, an’I kno’ ye wouldn't want her ha’r fingered by a red-skin’s greasy fingers!’ ** Great heaven, no. Why? do youapprehend dan- ger from Indians to-night?’ ‘*Mought heer frum ther red rips ef we war ter git in range 0’ ’em.” “ Well, then we must keep moving and keep out of their way, for a charge.on us an’ consequent loss of numbers must now be avoided if possible. On, men! tnd pe halt be made until an hour before day- reak, And on galloped the cavaleade swiftly over the winter's snow. Night now began to settle down rapidly, and with dense darkness. What few pale stars appeared in the heavens were insufficient to make light below. A ghastly paleness rising from the snow was all that afforded the travelers light by which to guide their course, when once night had drawn her shroud closely around. » i ; Old Steuben now withdrew from the cavalcade at General Maynari’s suggestion, and waited fora cou- ple of hours upon the trail, Je ays This was for the purpose of learning whether or not they were followed by either the two strange horsemen or by other foes. ; : But his two hours of watching and waiting result- ed in no discovery, and he rode on and overtook the
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Gold Rifle, the Sharpthooter. 28 cavalcade about midnight, at the edge of a belt of cottonwood timber. “Well, what is the news?” General Maynard de- manded, anxiously. ‘“ Did you see anything of the enemy ?”’ “Nos 5 pens we have outwitted them, sir, Hev ye bin in this timber?” ** Yes—or I sent trree of the boys, bere, and they made a thorough search, without finding anything in the enemy line.”’ “Well, then we mought as well stop hayr an’ rest, fer thar’s no tellin’ w’at ter-morrer ‘Il bring forth.” They accordingly rode into the heart of the motte, where no snow had fallen, on account of the dense matting of tree-tops, and a camp-fire was built to keep off the cold of the night, “ We must post three sentinels around the border of the motte!’ said Steuben, ‘to insure safety, and prevent any one getting into the timber unknown to us. I for one will stand guard. Howis it with you, Cotton?” addressing an old grizzled trapper. “Allright, I'm willing—’”’ “And I will act as third sentinel!’ announced May Maynard, eagerly, as she srees forward @Wifleinhand. “TI would enjoy nothing better.” He young leddy, it’s ruther out o’ yer line, ain't ety" “No, sir—it’s just what I like, and I'll wager you can't go out on the prairie, and slip in past me, except I see and challenze you.” “Tet her go, if she will,’’ said General Maynard, coming up, with’a smile. “I'll wager she'll take care of herself,—and us, too, for she was not brought up without training!’ “All right—just as ye say!’ replied Old Steuben; “but I'd not ‘low et, ef she war my gal. Too risky, this puttin’ a purty gal up fer an Injun target.” May took the station assigned her, however,— had her own way, just as she usually did—on the eastern side of the motte, while Steuben took the southern, and Cotton patrolled the northern and western sides. The watch was a lonely one, but May Maynard was far from a coward, and she aced silently along the edge of the wood, stopping © listen at the slightest sound, and investigating the cause, as far as she was able. After awhile Old Steuben got to meeting her at the southern end of her beat, and the exchange of a few words was the means of driving away the loneli- ness of the hour, and making the watch endurable, “Seen anything?’ asked the scout, once, when they met, ‘ Better look Fg sharp, fer my bones tell me thar’s Injuns hard by, watchin’ for a chance ter pop inter the motte, but dunno fer sart’in. Ef ye see anything outside of ther timber line, w’at’s got legs or moves, blaze away as a signal ter ther oys in camp. "Twon't do ter let ’em know we're small in numbers, so fire off one o’ yer revolvers several times after each rifle-shot.”' “Oh! Vit attend to that, never fear. But, I want we to answer me a question, which is of much in- erest to me. Do you know a young man by the name of Gold Rifle?” * Gold Rifle?” “Yes—I believe his real name is Kit Wagner.” “* Yes, I reckon I know him—orter, at least, What about him?” ~ “Oh! nothing much,” and the darkness hid the blush that swept over the fair sentinel's face. ‘{I didn’t know but you might have seen him lately.” “No, I hevn’t scen him fer a dog’s age. Guess he's got a new ous on the string. Where did you ever see him, | ef “He came to my father’s house, Christmas, for protection from a gang of trappers who were pur- suing him under the delusion that he was the outlaw, Tiger Track. Josh, our farm-hand, fetched him in, and we helped him to eseape.” “ And theraseal stole sumthin’ afore he got away, too, didn’t he! Oh! ye might have knowed he war a thief |” bie ode a . * aon nat be, “What! Gold Rifle a ‘hie? Impossible, siz. Wo missed nothing.” ‘But he stole sumthin’, howsumdever—yer leetlo heart, my leddy, an’ I know et. Didn’tI tell ye he war a thief, eh?” “You are incorrigible, sir. I did not ask because I was in love with him—I mean—I mean—” * Just what you say. Miss May; an’ ef ye'll take an ole cuss’s ’vive, like me, ye’ll keep right on a-luy- in’ Gold Rifle, fer he’s a gcod lad, an’ as a border de- tective, he’s a-goin’ ter make a hit,” They now separated. and resumed their beals. but the old scout’s words had Jeft May Maynard’s heart in a little flutter, aud it beat and throbbed faster when she thought of the young sharpshoote:—and how glad she would be to see him again. She little knew that at this same hour he wes br rowing like a prairie cog in the earth bcneath the Black Ranch, working for liberty. * but in her thoughts of him, she did not ferget thr t the safety of the camp was depending on ber wa ch- fulness, and she kept a sharp eye out upon the src w- white prairie, onto which she could look but fifty yards or so, because of the darkness, It was well along toward merning, the darkest art of night, when she saw two men riding dirc cily oward the motte; and at theseme time a flerce vit.- dictive yell went up from the southern end of the motte, followed by a rifle report, Instantly May fired at cne of the spprepcning horsemen, and with a curse he tumbled to the ground, but the other pressed on toward her, “What is the matter?’ demanded General May- nard, as he and helf a dozen men came running out of the timber. Ruffians!” said May, slipping a fresh cartridge into her breech-ioader, * Red-skins, and old Sitting Bull at thet!” cried oie Seeuben dashing up, and then away again in an instant. CHAPTER XIIl. A LITTLE SCRIMMAGE AND A BIG STORM. “Did you fire, May?” asked the general, for a mo- ment at a loss what todo. “I heard a rifle report.” “Yes, I fired, and dropped my man, sir,” May re- plied, her eyes sparkling. “Here comes the otl er fellow, and Tl ay him ope proves he doer n't stop on hail! Halt! you ruffian, halt!” and her gleaming rifle bore directly down upon the approach. ing horseman. But he heeded not her words. and despite her ring- ing rifle-shot his horse ye FE. forward to the ecge of the motte, and the man slid from the saddle. ‘ “You needn’t hev bin so cursed imperdent!" he growled, limping a trifle, w’en a feller’s tryin’ ter warn ye o’ ther red-skins, Most humans w'u’d been i a Legree!”’ cried May, stepping back in alarm. “Yas, my daisy; but ye needn’t be afeard o’ me on ’em old scorcs. fur I'm heer fur a different pur- pose, ter-night. Gineral, git yer men tergether, and £0 quick ter ther southern end o’ ther motte, fer thar’s nigh about a burdred o’ Sittin’ Bull's gang ld Steuben fightin’’em off. That’s w’at's you louts!” and away to ass st in re- thar, an’ ther matter. Come ahead, as! va ee with wae in nate pelling the attackers. eing pose wes. evidently honest for the present, General Maynard ordered bis men to follow his example, while he and May hurriedly brought up the rear, There were now loud gels in the direction of the southern end of the motte, that were fierce and sov- age, and were followed by an accompaniment of fle reports, which echoed fitfully out upon tle night. = three minutes they reached the battle-ground. to find Old Steuben assailed on every side by 1 swarm of copper-colored varmints; but the arrival of the scouts turned the tide somewhat, and it wos @ hand-to-hand conflict on every side—a desperate,
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Gold Rifle, the Sharpshooter. determined struggle for victory on the part of both reds and whites. * Sock et to ’em, boys!” yelled the guide, Old Steu- den, as he did wonderful execution with both knife and revolver—“ let the skunks hev et fer all ye’re wu’th!” One by one the savages went down, until full a score had fallen, General Maynard had sent May back into the trees, for he feared for her to join in the battle, and he fought in the midst of the affray. But the struggle could not Jast forever. and at last there was a signal whoop, theu the savages quickly ceased fighting and withdrew out upon the Way leaving their dead, but dragging their wounded after them. “Hooray! thet’s ther kind 0’ medicine ter give ‘em!’ shouted Old Steuben, dancing delightedly about—‘‘thet’s ther kind o’ bull-dozin’ ter guv ther red ripscallions, Hurra! fer ther victory we've won! And the trappers all accorded with the sentiment by a yell. Morning was now dawning in the east, rapidly, and the whole party remained upon the batfle- ground until the day was light enough to see how the fleld lay. Then it was discoveréd that some twenty-five of the red-skins had been killed, while Sitting Bull and his remaining warriors had withdrawn to the prairie, am'le away, where they were grouped down, evi- dently awaiting action on the part of the whites. “They mean to follow and torment us!” said Gen- eral Maynard, turning to old Steuben. “Sitting Bullis one of the worst demons on the frontier to battle with—a dogging cut-throat of snakish ani- mosity!” “Yo're right, thar, gineral!’’ agreed Steuben; “foot an’ hand, thet old Bull's a hard’un. But, *tain’t goin’ ter benefit us ter stay hayr. Let’s git out at once, Ef them cusses foller, we kin lend ’em a hand.” Accordingly arrangements were made to leave the motte, and continue on toward the Black Ranch, which Steuben declared could not now be over a half- bess papi further westward. While preparations were being made,lthere was a litle commotion, occasioned by Old Steuben, who had threateningly confronted the man Legree, who oe declared it his intention to accompany the bri- ade. . The eccentric guide and trapper had confronted the trader, upon seving him for the first, with flam- ing eyes, and an expression of countenance which was savage. “Hal ha! Alf King, so you're here, are ye—here where your foes are thickest, and P fain life hangs on athread? Good! I'm glad of it—I want ye, present- ly—want to pay you a trifle I've owed you for years, But not now—we have no time to arrange duels over individual disturbances. General Maynard, you will please keep watch over the wretch, for he is a man of ming to deal with and must not escape. Shoot him down if he attempts it!” “ Who in ten thousand demons are you ?” growled Lapree flercely, with half a notion to spring forward and annihilate the cool guide, yet somehow fearing to attempt the job. ‘*Tt matters not who or what I am, you wolf. Iam one who will do the world a favor by ridding it of you, forever!” was the reply, as the guide turned away. The cavalcade now mounted, and Legree was placed between two mounted guards. “You'll have to submit to this, or go over and join Sittlug Bull,” the general sail, in answer toa growl from the rufflan trader. ‘None of us trusts you behind our backs, and we can do no less than keep you under watch, You should have stayed at the Settlement, where there is larger scope for your villainy, for if you joined us, with the hope of steal- ing away my bea pid May, you will be disappointed by fiading her wide awake, and fully as alive to her own interests as we are. So your mission will be en- tirely unrewarded, unless by some act of treachery you get a bullet through your skull!” The guard who had been left: on the southern end of the motte now returned, with the announcement that the red-skins had made no move to change their quarters yet, but were evidently eating their morn- ing meal. ‘Now’s our time,then, to get out!” he added, “and git a start.” “Correct!” agreed Steuben; ‘“‘come ahead! Look out fer danger, and foller me.” He led the way through the heart of the motte to the northwestern corner, and thence out onto the rolling prairie beyond. “We're goin’ ter hev a thunderin’ storm, by-an’- by!’ he said to General Maynard and May, who rode on either side of him, after giving a speculative glance atthe sky. ‘“ Et’ll be a snorter, too.” ‘“Why do you judge so, scout? Isee nosigns upon the sky, which is as bright and beautiful as the smil- ing countenance of God can make it.” “True enough, general, but l’ve got a barometer in my bones by w’ich [ ken foretell as correctly as ay clock ean tick. In about two hours—no, say four, pi Jongest, ye'llsee a change, wi’ snow-flakes a-fallin’, “Then it behooyes us to find a place of shelter as - soon as possible, does it not? These heavy storms are not pleasant things to meet upon the open prai- rie,” “Right ye aire, general, and we must trust ter our luck in findin’ a motte, for I don’t know o’ any, very contiguous to the Biack Ranch.” They moved along—on over the white glistening snow-crust into the wilderness, at a jog trot. _ For the animals had received but comparatively little rest and were less high spirited than on the previous day. A pends look-out was kept in the rear, and it was finally discovered that the savages were Nout aomtr ported stealing along in the back- ground at their leisure, with no apparent desire to overtake the enemy, y t. “They’re goin’ ter find w’at our lay-out is, furst!’’ said Steuben, ‘an’ then try an’ nonpluss us. ButI reckon w’en et comes ter snow, they'll hev ter gita big spy-glass ’twill find us.”” “T fear their consolidation with the outlaws whom we are going to attack!’’ said the general, uneasily. ““ We'd be in a hard fix, then,” “Don’t ye fear, general, fer sech won't be ther case, at all, fer I’ve heer’d thet Old Sittin’ Bull hates ther outlaw Tiger Track, like ther Old Nick hates holy water. He'll quicker putina dig fer us, first, an’ then try ter bounce us, afterward.” On—on over the glistening waste of white the party advanced; then, after a couple of hours came the change which Steuben had predicted—a quick clouding over of the sky to a somber leaden hus, and a few feathery flakes of uncommon size began to descend hesitatingly. In ten minutes after the first flakes had begun to fall,a perfect hurricane of snow was desecen and the brigade were wrapped in a ghostly mantle- on they urged on their horses through the terrible storm, “Never saw anything like this before, I declare!” General Maynard growled, with a head-shake, “Pra of the opinion that we're in for a hard time, before we get out of this, I wish I'd left you at home, May, where you'd have had comfort and warmth, in- stead of peril and cold to submit to,” “Pshaw! papa, you needn’t wo about me!” May replied, with a little ripple of laughter, ‘for I’m warm, and all right. I prefer this wild sport to being penned up in the house, Don’t fear but what I’d complain if Thad any cause,” “T don't b'lieve you would, you’re such a plucky little thing!” the old officer replied, riding ahead a little to join Steuben, “Do you think there’s any danger of our bei g snowed under, scout?” ‘
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Gold Rifle, the Sharpshoote#. 88 Ree “Dunno, gineral; ken't tell about thet, fer thar’s no tellin’ what is what, ner when sech a storm as this is goin’ ter quit. Reckon ef et snows us under, thar’s enovgh o” us ter dig out, sumhow,” And it did look exceedingly as if there was danger of their being snowed under, for the falling cloud- bursts of snow were gaining in ground depth with astonishing rapidity and making the labor of the horses severe in the extreme, But they kept on, under the urge of the scout— toiling along through the blinding storm, whose denseness was something unparalleled. It was growing darker, too, which looked as if the heavier part of the storm had not yet fallen. On consideration, it was decided that it would not do to stop now—they must needs keep a-going, at least until the storm abated. “Bin out in a few storms, myself,’’ observed an old trapper by the name of Deking, “but durn my old picter ef Ievyer heerd tell o’ ther beat o’ this. Why, fellers, ef et don’t quit afore long, we're goin’ ter a entombed alive, afore our time.” * An’ hev a fuveral all ter ourselves. boys!’ chimed in Old Steuben, ‘ One thing we orter be thankful fer—thar ain’t many wolves an’ buzzards around, this weather, ter pick our bones.” In the terrible blinding storm, it was hardly possi- ble to advance in regularity, and so they scattered somewhat, each one picking a path for himself. It so happened that the trader, Boover Legree, was left unguarded and unnoticed by the rest of the brigade. But with a fiendish expression of satisfaction he fol- lowed on, now and then chuckling to himself as he heard May Maynard’s clear silvery voice ringing out through the storm, and muttering a curse when he thought of the scout, Old Steuben. “Tf thet cuss knows me, an’ he do fer he called me by name, I do not know him—can’t think of an enemy of the past, whom he might be—unless—but *shaw! that man is dead long ago, although Jake Toleman believes to the contrary. And the girl— Jove! she’s a queen to even what Agnes Wagner used to be, and ef I don’t possess her ere the storm ceases, may Inever be able to raise a villain’s hand again. And the man laughed low and crafty at some meditated plan of action. He lagged behind all the rest of the brigade, but watched those ahead of him as well as the storm would permit. And he saw, with great satisfaction, that: May Maynard was gradually falling behind the rest, her steed having grown perro and lazy. She evi- dently was unmindful of the fact, and had forgotten the existence of a wolf in the fold. But Legree was not unmindful; he was watching her as the hawk watches its prey—with a gleaming, sinister eye. He had come from the Sett’ement with the pur- pose of capturing nips Maynard fully fixed in his mind; Omerhaun had fallen by the daring beauty’s fire; but he would not—no! the victim was dropping nearer and nearer, unsuspectingly igncrant that she was not keeping up with the rest. Until she felt a strong grasp laid upon her shoul- der, and looked around to discover that she was alone with the villain Legree her only companion! The brigade had I-ft her behind! “Help! help!" she screamed. CHAPTER XIV. DEATH OR VICTORY IMPENDI™G. “Ouss ye, et won’t do ye no good ter screech fer help!” growled Legree, rudely clapping his hand over May’s mouth. ‘“ Ye'll find ye’ve fallen inter ther claws of a tiger!” “Tfear you not!” replied May, indignantly, “and I defy you. My friends are not far away, and will answer my cry.” “Will they, tho’? Mebbe so an’ mebbe not. Jest you cum along wi’ me, or you'll be sorry; none o’ And turning his horse’s head sharply from the trail as it ran in a northerly course, he gave the beast a cruel jab of the spur and seized May's thor- oughbred by the bits. ut wheh his horse bounded madly forward, May's balked in its tracks, and as a result the trader was jerked backward from the saddle onto the snow. “Hal ha! ha! That's the time you didn’t make a int!’ May exclaimed, with a laugh. Then she put ner hand to her belt for a revolver, but to her sur- prise she did not find one there. They had all bcen removed, and her knife also. “Ha! ha!” chuckled Legree, rising from his plunge into the snow. “He laughs best who laughs last, ad dove with clipped wings. I've got ye jest as completely in my power as I hed before!” ‘*No, sir-ee, you hain’t!” exclaimed a voice, and who should ride in upon the scene but Josh Hempc r- hill, the Yankee. “‘ W’en et cums ter pass thet a man o' no character, or wisdom, or book larnin’, snags hisself ag’in’ a man 0’ solid basis, dubble-duplicate character, as represented by ther Hemperhil! fin.i- Wy he allus gits hisself in a box-trap deefikilty. ‘haracter aire one o' ther prime ackomplishmen's o’ ther H. family. frum old Nebuchadnezzar dowa to yer ‘umble sarvent, an’ we've bin a healthy, prosperous race. Hello! darn my socks! Iswow, of St Ane Miss May and thet cuss I boosted once ‘ore!’ And the eccentric Yankee covered the trader with his revolvers, while a grin of triumph spread over his countenance. “Oh! Josh, is it you? I am so glad you have come!”’ May cried. ‘* Yas, [reckon ye must be sum’at tickled, seein's ye war in a fix,” Josh replied, with unusual grim- ness. ‘“‘ Danger ginerally alters ther opinions 0’ ther female line. Fer instance, ye war orful tickled when ye got rid 0’ me by sendin’ me off after Gold Rifle, but I notis Josh cums in mighty welcome about rescue time!” ‘ “Oh! Josh, not quite sobad as that. But, did you find Gold Rifle?” **Reckon so, an’ lost him ag’in. Darn his picter, he left me in a motte ter wait fer his return, but ther CORA WA got a leetle too hot, an’ so I slid out fer ther ort.’ “ And what became of Gold Rifle?” Ps “Dunno. Started fer ther Black Ranch, an’ didn’t cum back. Guess as how he got gobbled up by ther ruffians, or mebbe he’s all hunky. But, where's the rest o’ ther folks—how’'d ye git out hayr?” “There's more ahead, toward the north—” “No, they’re here, now!” exclaimed a voice, and General Maynard and the brigade rode forward, * What's the cause of this delay, sf my child?” “There’s the cause, papa!” May replied, pointing to Legree, who was cowering under the bearing of Hemperhill’s pistols, * The villain tried to carry me off, but failed when Josh came up and showed his “Ha! is this so? Josh, you’re a trump! Boys seize the accursed: ruffian and bind his hands, and leave him alone here on the prairie, without his horse. If he gets out without freezing or starving, it’s all the punishment I care to give him.” The order was executed to the letter, and Legree was left alone in mid-prairie, while the brigade re- sumed its course, with Josh in company. May rode by his side, and_when no one was near, uestioned concerning Gold Rifle, who was now the center cf all interest to her. “Do you think Gold Rifle was captured by the outlaws, Josh?” “Dunno! Guess he’s smart enough ter hoehis _ own row,” “What did he say when you gave him the letter?” “Sumthin’ about yer invitin’ him ter yer birthday yer screechin’ now, ef ye don’t wanter get killed | opel Neow, see hyar, Miss May, ye’r’ oom eta ter oncet,”’ etlo ter strong ter suit my notion, an’ ef ye don’t we
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26 Gold Rifle, the Sharpshooter. SS ee stop. I'll hev ter sue yer fer breeches o’ promis’, swow ter gracious ef I won't!” “Josh you silly fellow, I hope you don’t imagine for a moment that there is any engagement existin between us, or that Ilove you? Nol! no! you musi not be so blind and foolish. I like and respect you as » friend and all that, but as for marrying you, I could not think of such a thing.” “Then ye aire fishing after Gold Rifle,eh? Ye caikylate he'll fit yer ideas better’n me, eh?’’ * Tdon't. know, Josh; but don’t you. think we’d oer a better match, he being nearer my own age?" “Yas, mebbe ye'r’ right, an’ I won’t kick so hard ef ye aiu’t a-goin’ ter let Pat Dolan, the Irisher, inter yer good graces.” “T promise that, we're off here, and liable to be for some time.” The snow-storm continued with unabated fury, and it grew more and more difficult. to urge the horses along, for at every step they sunk deep in the feathery bed. The cavalcade was wandering on, not. knowing ex- actly the direction all were going—wandering on, to keep from being snowed under, with scarcely an object now, unless it was to find a place of shelter. me of the men were growing very much fa- tigued. and a larze number of the horses threatened to play out before long, “ Hark! did you hear that?” demanded General Maynard, as a terrible roar in the distance was dis- tinetly audible, and fairly shook the earth, “ What does it man, Steuben?” * Thet war an avalanche w’at hes slid frum top ter | ther fut o’ Earthquake range which ar’ off ter our nor’west, thirteen or less miles. Heerd ’em afore, an’ seen ‘em, too. A big mass o’ snow gits piled up on ther mount’in side, an’ a spring o’ water in the ae loosens et, an’ down she comes lickety scoot. ope no one warn’t going up them mountains then, for pe would be a sure funeral ter thet unlucky fel- ler. Josh at this juncture rode forward in his eccentric way. to give some intelligence. “Miss May tells me ye’re s’archin’ fer ther Black Ranch, gineral. Ef thet’s so, ye’d better go keerful, as ye may bunk up ag’in’ it, kerslap, afore ye know et. ‘Tain’t fur ahead,” and then Josh related. what ne knew of Gold Rifle’s attempt to penetrate the anch, “The rash youth undoubtedly has received death at the hands of the outlaws for his reckles; venture.” said General Maynard, anxiously. ‘“‘He should never have attempted such a feat, except with plen- ty of aid near at hand to back him.” ‘Oh! he'll git thar all the same, an‘ don’t ye for- git et!” put in Old Steuben, quickly. ‘I know afew eet o’ thet lad, an’ll bet my rifle he goes through ef iv’s through fire an’ water. “T hope so, , scout, for I believe him to be a nephew of mine, But, you have heard Josh’s advice. Had we not better come to a halt, lest we do run un- expectedly upon the Ranch? Such an event would be a disaster to be avoided if possible.” “T think I remember a motte of timber a mile fur- ther east, and we will make a closing attempt to find it. If we fail, so be it.” So they kept on, and the day drew toward a close, But Steuben was night. and just when. night was Falling. Shipktys they found a small motte of cottonw: whose densely-matted branches had revented the snow from reaching the ground, eaving a fine camping-spot for the toil-worn brig- ade. search of the timber revealed no enemies and a rousing camp-fire was built, and all gathered around it to partake of their evening meal. “T don’t judge we'll be molested here,” Steuben said, “unless some belated voyageur like ourselves accidentally stumbles along in this direction, The outlaws witl keep close to their den this weather.” “Ye’r’ wrong thar, [swan ter gracious ef ye ain't!” put in Josh, ‘*fer a gang o’ ther salamanders invad- Josh, for Pat’s at home, and |- ed my camp, early this mornin’, which war ther means 0’ makin' me skedaddle, I lit out, an’ the; after me, ontil ther snow came, w’en they couldn’t see me no longer.” “Then, sumthin’s ther row. Mebbe Gold Rifle found and escaped wi’ yer daughter, general, w'ich ealled out ther roughs?” “Go forbid that they are out in such a storm as this,”’ replied the general, with a shiver. The evening was spent in warming and eating, around the great fire; then all turned in to sleep, ex- cept Steuben and another scout, who stood guard at the western and northern sides of the motte. About midnight the snow ceased to fall as abruptly as it had come, and in half an hour the sky was clear and a few stars hung pendent in the heavens. All around the motte lay a wide long wilderness of purest white piled upon white, while over it and all nature a strange quict prevailed—not a sound to break the monotony of the weird dead winter scene, or the midnight bour. But the quiet of the night did not make Old Steu- ben less on the alert than usual. He knew that they were just as liable to be surprised as if there were no snow upon the ground, Now and then he would pass through the camp, to ascertain if all were sleeping right; then back to his post he would go, faithfully. Tt was getting along toward morning ere he ds- covered any signs which he calculated were of the enemy. But.at last his sharp eye caught a glimmer of light out upon the western prairie, such as might have emanated from the torch of some night-traveler. It was visible for some time, and then totally disap- ared. Pe Well, scout, what does it mean?”’ It was General Maynard who spoke, he having come out from the camp so silently that Steuben had failed to hear him. “Do you think that enemies are auproeaing “ Guess it luks thet way, gineral. "Spect some o’ the outlaws, or else red-skins aire makin’ fer this yere clump, In which case thar’s bound ter be a rumpus. Hev ther boys hed enough sleep?” * Probably; shall I awaken them?” “Yas, an’ tell ’e n ter git ther pop-guns ready, fer thar’ll be work inside o’ half an hour, What is it Dave?”’—this to the other sentinel, who had returned from the northern and eastern side of the motte. “ Any signs o’ danger?”’ *Reckon so; thar’s a band _o’ fellers wi’ torches approachin’ ther motte from ther east, and I reckon as how it’s ther outlaws.” “Then we're bound ter git it on both sides, eh? Wal, ef we divide up right, we can make et musical for ’em, they not knowin’ “ur exact number. Day- break is close at hand, w'ich is fortunate in itself,” It was nearer than he was aware, and it was soon light enough so that a good view could be ha of the prairie for several miles in any direction. The am- bushed scouts were also able to make another dis- covery. Not a mile away, on the crest of a prairie-billow, was a large, barn-like stfucture, inclosed within a high plank fence—the Black Ranch, of which they were in search, although it was now white with the fallen snow. ‘That's the Black Ranch, gineral,”’ said Old Steu- ben, “ whar ye say ay daughter is, an’ et’s a tough old place to attack, I tell ye.” Little Master Jack, who had been fetched along with the brigade, under the charge of an old trapper, was brought forward, and instantly recognized the building, and gave a shout of delight. “Bl Ranch!” he articulated. “Jack want to see his mamma; se over in big house.” “And, God granting, you soon shall see her, my pet,” the general said, tenderly. The men were all aroused and put in readiness for acoming combat, One party of the enemy wereap- proaching from the east, and one from the west, each numbering about a scor>of men, who were un- . 5
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Gold Rifle, the Sharpshooter. Amubnodiy outlaws of the notorious Tiger Track’s and, The eastern enemy were the nearest, and it was not until they were less than a mile eway, that it was discovered that they were armed with rifles of a long range make. This was discovered by aid of a field lass. ir Thet puts.a new aspect ter ther case!’’ Old Steu- ben said, ‘‘and ef we ever calkylate ter git out o° this wi’ our skulps on, we've got ter do sumo’ ther tallest fightin’ on record, White Injuns, an’ lots of ‘em at ther same time, aire a dose I ain’t fond of.” Half of the men were distributed along the eastern side of the motte, and half along the western; then with Rast boating! hearts they waited for the enemy to come within rifle range. Death or victory was impending. CHAPTER XV. OUT OF DANGER—FImE! Iv was aterrible fact that the words of Gold Rifle expressed. * My God! we are in the path of an avalanche!” Above, the storm-bound mountains rose sheer and declivitexs; around them. the whirling snow was a feathery vortex; above all came that ominous, frightful roar. “A whaty’ Mrs. Wagner demanded, growing deathly pale; “a—” . ‘*An avalanche!" Gold Rifle repeated, scarcely above a whisper. ‘‘We are doomed, unless we can get out of the way in four minutes or less!" He stood not an instant idle, but worked even while he spoke. He had kicked away tue lately fallen snow until he came down t) the bard-frozen crust beneath. Then with his stout hunting knife he cut out a large block of this crust. Below the snow was soft and unpacked—easy to, penetrate, * Quick! quick!’ he gasped—‘‘help scoop out a nes with your hands—there is not a second to be ost!” Neither there was. The fearful hissing rumbling roar was growing louder; coming nearer each. mo- — with a terrible slide of snow and ice upon its wings. A few seconds when a man is working for dear life. will accomplish miracles. Both Gold Rifle and his mother set desperately, almost wiidly to work in digging a trench below the erust—they worked like mad, hurling the snow out and deepening their excavation, he avalanche glided on with accelerating velocity; was not ten ards away, when they lay flat in the trench, and bola Rifle pulled the dislodged crust into its former position above them. Then the very mountains seemed to quake and tremble, as the giant mass of snow and ice passed over them, and plu in a huge bank among the foothills, with a roar like an ocean hurricane. Gold Rifle’s ingenuity had saved them. For when the terrible avalanche had passed, he riised the cake, and they emerged from the moun- tain-side, unharmed. “God be praised, for he has watched over us, kindly!’ Mrs. Wagner said devoutly. ‘*My son, do you think there is danger of another of those dread- ful snow-slides?” ‘*No, mother, dear. Do you not see, the moun- tain has been swept of all the loose snow, and it will require tims for more to accumulate sufficient to cause another avalanche. We will keep on up,a way rther, Ihave hopes that we will find the cave I kave mentioned.” And with an inward prayer of thanksgiving for their escape. they continu d the ascent of the steep mountain-side. Goll Rifle had to lead; and with a heavy stick make indentations in the crust in which to step, or they have advanced a rod with- out slipping back a yard or more, : In the course of half an hour they arrived in front of an overhanging cliff of rock, in which was a large 27 round hole—the entranée to the cave Gold Rifle had spoken of, At first he hesitated to enter, fearing he might be iaperiiing. his mother by taking her into a bear’s en, But reconnoissance dispelled this idea, and they entered, to find ita snug little cavern of twenty b; sixteen feet, dry, and not ill-smelling. It had evi- dently been inhabited before, as there were eviden- ces of tenancy—a broken kettle, a lantern, and fire- wood piled up in one corner. ‘Ha! this is just. the place we are looking for,” Gold Rifle exclaimed, gladly. ‘* Here we can remain until 1 find my father, or until the storm stops, and then I'll take you to the fort, It’s a good round for- ty miles, but we can do it easily in a,couple of days afoot, by artis 8 across by a route I have in view,”’ “Do you think the outlaws are still following us, dear boy ?”” ‘No, They undoubtedly gaye up the chase when they found that the snow was in one sense befriend- ing us. They probably came out unprovided with provisions, and were unprepared for a siege.” Thanks to the capture he had made in the Black Ranch larder, Gold Rifle knew that they would not want for food for several days to come. He built a rousing fire out of the dry pitch wood and cones, and soon had a genial warmth pervading the cave. Out of the venison they made a comfortable meal, and then leaving his mother to warm at the fire, Gold R fle left the cave to take a view.of their sur- roundings from) a more elevated point. But night was drawing near, and it was still rage so that he had to return without making any discovery whatever. He found his mother standing at one side of the cave, with a fired torch in her hand, and she was visibly excited. “Oh, Kit, do come here!” she exclaimed, excited- Me 53 ere’s your father’s name written upon the Sr Sy mm, ‘*'Then he must have been here beforeus,” replied Gold Rifle, approaching and slancing at the inscrip- tion painted oe the rock: “ Wild Walt, October loth, 187-.’’ ‘He has not been here since October, probably. [bave not seen him for two years.” “Oh! that he were here now, for Walt was ever good to me,” said Mrs, Wagner, with a sigh. He was a man of guestionable repute when | fled with him, and turned out to be an outlaw chief. But I loved him none the less for this, and soon persuaded him to leave the band, and lead. an honest, upright life, which he did, until 1 was abducted by Alf King, one of his own men.” Gold Rifle did: not consider it necessary to keep a guard, as he believed that, very few knew of the mountain cave, and less were likely to attempt to reach it in the driving storm that was now sweeping over the Northwest. So he lay down and accepted of nature's gift of refreshing sleep. He awake) ed about midnight, and stepped without the cave to note the effect. of the storm. To bis surprise he found that the sky was clear with a few stars shin- ing and that the snow had ceased to fall. To-morrow, we sball leave this cave and attempt to cross the wilderness again to the fort,” he said to Mrs. Wagner on bis return, ‘‘so sleep and rest well, so that ap will be prepared.” Had _ he added, his own thoughts in words, some- thing like this would have been said: ‘For, dear mother, I am anxious to get back to the fort and obtain a glimpse of another face there, which has haunted me since over a week ago. "Tis the sweet, prety face of May Maynard that is ever before me, though why should I think of and aspire to her, who is so far above me in education, wealtb, and position?” We return to the brizade whom we left in the prairie wilderness, laying low for the coming of the enemy,
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General Maynard and Josh Hemperhill had charge of the half-score of men who lay within the motte on the eastern si e, while Old Steuben with May May- nard—Captain May, as she was called—commanded the western approach, with nine men, The tenth, an old trapper, had been left in the center of the motte in charge of little Master Jack. The eastern gang of outlaws were approaching the fastest, and would soon be within range, while those advancing from the west came on more lei- ler “When these rascals get near enough, boys, let ‘em have it!” cried General Maynard, now in spirit for battle. ‘* You can guess the length of rifle range. Don’t shoot their horses, but shoot dead at them, They're the curse of these prairies and must be ex- terminated.” “Yas, boys, plug et ter’em ther best ye've got writ down in yercatalogue. Put all yer solid basis character inter yer pop-guns, an’ sling it straight at ther cusses an’ ye’re sure to win.” Nearer and nearer the outlaws rode, evidently un- suspectingly, and then, when they were within easy rifle yp ot General Maynard gave the word, and the crack of half a score of rifles echoed over the wil- derness in white. Then as many men of the ap- Pedacet a) band reeled in their saddles, and four pped lifeless upon the snow. The others, how- ever, retained their seats—there was a fieree, vindic- tive yell, and the ruffians came charging on like “Lay low, boys—now, one, two, three and jire/” ordered the general, grimly, and again the death- dealing repeaters of the cen spoke, and six out- laws dropped back out of the saddles, never to fol- low the war-path again. “Hurray! thet’s ther kind fer ye, boyees—charac- ter-plated, war every one o' them bullets, an’ luk at their execution!” cried Josh “Yes—there’s only ten left on this side, boys, but they're comin’ like thunder, and you'll have to work Me cried the general, And he spoke the truth. he outlaws were spurring their animals and goad- ing them on, although it was but feebly they floun- dered through the deep snow. All were masked and armed with rifles and army revolvers, and they were a desperate looking set of. men, “T tell ye what!” exclaimed an old aig, “Tve diskivered one p’int ahead o’ ye, boys. Thet chap thar in ther lead’s none other than the cussed galoot they call Tiger Track, an’ I know it.” * How d’ye know et, Greckel?” “ Beca'se I war once tuk a prisoner by him, but escaped.” “Lay low, boys!” cautioned General Mayvard. “Hark! the devils have attacked t’otherside. Hur- ry up—let’s clean out these roughs, an’ join ther rest o’ ther boys. One—two—three—” And ‘ain a report of ten rifles rung out, and _ every saddle was emptied although some of the out- laws were not killed, but severely wounded, and left lying upon the or by the horses which were A bn away in‘nearly every direction. Without waiting to look after the wounded, Gene- ral Maynard and his men hurried to the western side of the motte, where they found a hot contest waging. Ea ea of bullets had been exchanged, but no one ed. The outlaws on this side were around score, in number. and fiercely urged on by no less than the two ruffian traders, Jacob Toleman and Boover Le- gree, who in some inexplicable way had joined in with the outlaws, Old Steuben had been badly wounded in both arms, and could no longer participate in the affray, but he cheered on the men, and kept them wide awake to the enemy’s weak points. “You see them two men, Josh!” he said, pointing out the rufflan traders tothe Yankee. ‘ Waal. them en aire after Miss May. an’ ef ye don’t put a buz- zer in their ears, I'll no longer count ye a pard.” Gold Rifle, the Sharpshoote. And, in the next charge that was made, both Le- and Toleman fell, mortally wounded. Several of he brigade were hard bit, but they poured such a - destructive volley into the ruffians that they “ turned tail,” to use a western phrase, and beat an ignomini- ous retreat. “Licked ’em, by thunder, an’ character's what did their job—duplex, solid basis character, sure’s ’ma relic o° ther characteristic family o’ Hemperbill!”’ Josh exclaimed, dancing delightedly about ‘‘ Miss May, ye’re a good’un an’ no mistake! Ye're solid, an’ ef ye war only ter link yer fate wi’ a man 0’ un- doubted character, like me, w’at happiness would bo ours, yours an’ mine!” “I’m sorry, Josh!” acs! replied, with an effort to keep from laughing; “it is decreed that I shall esteem you as a friend, not as a husband.” “ All right, honey, I ain’t going to blubber nor ppont jest because ye hev given me ther mitten. Thar's lots of fishes in ther sea w’at’ll bite at characteristic it. “Of course, Josh, and make you a better wife than I would.” ‘ The outlaws continued to retreat until they were out of sight from the watchers at the motte, They did not go toward the Black Ranch, and this looked rather strange, too, seeing that it was their nearest place of refuge. “T tell ye what!” averred Old Steuben, “I’ve jest ot an idear o’ what ther row is wi’ them chaps. here’s but a dozen o’ ’em left, an’ they calcylate they ain’t strong enough to hold ther Ranch, w’ich is undoubtedly empty. So they’re goin’ ter light out an’ quit this country: ’ “Perhaps you're right,” assented General May- nard, “‘and after we have gathered in our prisoners we'll attempt to investigate the matter, Ail hands, now, assist in bringing in the wounded.” It was a work that occupied considerable time, and eighteen, in all, were brought in, of the outlaws, and their hands and feet bound, and their wounds skillfully dressed. Among them were Legree and Tiger Track—Jacob Toleman having expi shortly after he had been shot. On removing the mask of Tiger Track, it was a great surprise to the men of the Settlement to hehold the sinister. evil face of the dead trader’s son—the bullying Jay Toleman, whom we introduced at the beginning of our narrative. The excitement of this discovery had not yet wholly abated when Old Steuben, who had been on a scout, came rushing into camp with long leaps. “The Ranch! the Ranch!’ he cried—“‘it is all CHAPTER XVI. BORDER JUSTICE—CONCLUSION, Tr was indeed true—the Black Ranch was wrapt in flames. The smoke and flames were darting from many a window and crack, and the heavy body of snow upon the roof had melted off. There was scarcely a visible spot of the building above the high lank fence but was on fire, and the fire was evident- y a well-executed scheme of an incendiary. “God forbid that my daughter Mabel is in yonder building now!” General Maynard said anxiously, ‘*for no earthly power can save that outlaws’ strong- hold. See; yonder is a horseman just leaving the gates and flying southward. He is evidently the fire- fiend in this case.” “Sum galoot, like enough, who hed sum grudge ag’in’ the outlaws!” suggested Old Steuben, I ‘reckon thet Gold Rifle succeeded in rescuin’ yer darter, gineral, an’ thet’s w’at started the outlaws a 3 “T truly hope that such may be the case, scout, - for to have my long-lost daughter restored to my arms, would be one of the greatest joys I can im- agine in my old age. .Of herI have ever carried a hope-—that we would meet again.” “Dye think, general; thet ef ye war terhev yer EE te
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Gold Rifle, the Sharpshooter. 29 daughter restored to you, thet ye could freely for- ve her past desertion 0’ you, an’ also forgive the eens outlawed bustand with whom she fled, providing he had reformed from the past inter a mano’ men?” “Yes, scout, most freely would I forgive them both and take them to my heart in my declining age, for except my dear May, here, I have no one to love or care forme, But, why do you speak thus, scout—what know you of my daughter and her hus- band?” “J simply know that Wild Walt will be rejoiced, sir, and embrace an ef opportunity to take a place at your family board as your future stay and support. But, enough of this; see, the building is now going rapidly, and soon the Black Ranch will no longer be a thing of existence. What do you pro- pose to do with the outlaws, general?” “I propose to give them an immediate trial, and string ‘em up, if the verdict so decides,” was the stern reply. ‘I think there will be sufficient evi- dence against them, and I'm satisfied that they wouldn’t haye granted us even the mercy of a trial.” All hands stood upon the edge of the motte and watched the burning of the Black Ranch—this place of death and the devil, which had become a rival in the Northwest to what the slaughter station of the inhuman Benders was a few years ago upon the middie border—watched the flames lick up the wood fiercely, until the great pile, fence and all, was re- duced to a bed of ashes and glowing coals, Then the party went back to the camp, in the heart of the motte, and preparations were made for the trial of the outlaws, “ General Maynard assumed the position of judge at the request of the little band, and opened the court with a stirring speech, relating how the coun- try had lately been scourged by bold, lawless men #5 had raided, thieved and destroyed homes with- out number; and he’wound up with a request that the gentlemen present who knew anything concern- ing the outlaws would step forward and be sworn, and give their testimony. * An old “ vet,” by the name of Darrel, came for- ward, was sworn, and declared that Tiger Track and his band had raided his home but a year ago, mur- dered his wife and mother, and robbed him of stock and money. Another man, from Cheyenne, testified that he had seen Tiger Track stab a man to death, in an upp-r settlement, and then escape. Still another testified that he had been one of a train crossing the plains on the previous summer, which had been attacked by Tiger Track’s band, and all hands save himself and teamster were mur- ered, . “This is enough, Gentlemen of the Jury, to satisfy the minds of any honest men. But, if there’s any more testimony, let’s have it.” “There is!’ exclaimed a yoice, and who should ride forward into the space where the border court was held but Gold Rifle. ‘ I can testify, and swear toit, if necessary, that I was recently captured by old Jacob Toleman, and Tiger Track’s outiaws, and _ taken into the Black Ranch, where Iwas pitched into a pit, where there were many dead bodies, some of them recently placed there, others decayed and nothing but skeletons left. That they were victims of the outlaws, there can be no doubt, and as a de- tective. I vote that the inhuman scoundrels all be strung up!” “And so she. shall be. Gentlemen of the Jury, you have heard the testimony of witnesses. You may retire to consider the case,” **No need o’ that, gineral!"’ said Old Steuben, who formed one of the decisive body known as the “Jury.” “We don’t leave our seats fer sech cases as o but unanimously say ‘guilty,’ an’ so string "em up, ter oncet. Thet’s w’at they deserve, accord- in’ ter our agreement—eh, boyees?” “ Ay! ay!” responded the Jury. en in the name of the law, which we have of necessity taken into our own hands, I sentence each and every one of the prisoners to be lynched in the southern end of this motte, and may God have mercy upon their souls.” The words were hardly spoken, ere the trappers and traders composing the brigade, sprung forward - ao the work, which, according to their views, was justice. In vain the poor wretches begged and entreated— all except — Track, or Jay Toleman, but it was of no use. The resolution of the Regulators was not to be broken. Jay Toleman was the only calm one among the lot, as they were borne away toward the assigned lynch- ing ground. He had a sort of grim, bull-dog defi- ance—did not quail, but rather denounced the cap- tors in the vilest language of his vile vocabulary. The young wretch’s heart was too hardened—his = pee deeply steeped in crime for him to care for eath. Atilast all of the outlaws had been removed to the southern end of the motte, and all of the brigade ex- cept four had gone to witness the ‘ sport,” for in the remote West, a good old-fashioned lynching is con- sidered by the frontiersman next to the Fourth of July. % The four remaining behind were General May- nard, Gold_ Rifle, Old Steuben and May. The quar- tette stood facing each other for some moments— ee, upon the faces of the general and the scout. Gold Rifle stood with arms folded, a half-humorous expression upon his countenance, and a gleam of triumph in his. eyes. “Well,” he said, glancing from one to another, “I take it, by your looks, that you're expecting some- er me.” ‘And you’re exactly right,” replied Old Steuben, with a laugh. ‘ We’re expecting much of you. But first, let us know each other Kit, my boy, this is our grandfather, General Maynard, and this young ady, your aunt, I suppose. Genel al, and Miss May, this is your relative, Kit Deronda, detective.” “We are glad to meet you, young man,” the gene- ral said, extending his hand, ‘and although it is a little surprise at this time, ] n ust confess that I've had an inkling of our relationship, suggested by my derling adopted daughter, May. lut, Steuben, you car ‘my son;’ can it be possible that you are the Wild Walt Wagner with whom my daughter fled, years ago?” “The same, general,” and the old scout-guide threw off a wig and false beard, and a handsome- looking man of va oe he ight stood revealed. “Then, praise God, for 1 am reunited to my dear father, husband and children!” cried a voice, and Mrs. Wagner, so leng lost to loving hearts, rushed into the scene, and fell into the open embrace of Wild Walt. Such a glad reunion! The two men, busband and father, went into ecstasies over the returned one, and while they were engaged thus, Gold Rifle or Kit Deronda, turned to Miss May, who was standing a little aloof, holding Master Jack by the band. “Well, Miss Maynard, this seems to be a gladsome moment, does it not? and it occurs to me, just now. that we must be brother and sister, eh, or aunts and oneOnly. by adoption, sir!” May replicd, a painful nly by adoption, replied, a flush rising to her cheek. “I pave lately found that Tam not General Maynard's own daughter, but an adopted one—the child of an old army officer named Faulkland, ‘Therefore I am an outsider, but I cannot help feeling overjoyed all the same at the happy turn of events.” 5 * Which shows the goodness of your heart. And I'm right glad, too, that you are no relation to me, although I would ove to have a sister. I suppose this is my little brother whom I have never seen.” After the exchange of a few more words and Gold Rifle joined the others, where Wild Walt was - speaking”
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30 “T joined an outlaw band, general, after I fled, ac- companied by your daughter. In the community in which you lived at that time, I was nearly unknown and the name of detective had been little heard, 1 was a detective on my own book, and joined the out- laws purposely to ascertain their force, and how to successfully break them up. I was made their chief, and known as Wild Walt Wagner. I had not been forty-eight hours with them when I was seen and recognized by a party of hunters, and branded as an outlaw. It was usless now to leave them, as death awaited me outside of their ranks. So I stayed un- til the goodness of my wife, here, caused me to flee from. them, with our little boy. I hid myself, but Alf King, one of the men, stole away my wife, and she was appropriated, later, by Dolph Carew, known to youas Toleman, Jr. With him she came to this country, and she has just told me that the wretch forced her to marry him. The little boy, here, is a result of their union But he shall never lack for a father, in me, and now that we are all reunited in one happy family, I see no reason why we should ever part.” After about an hour the yrappers and traders came marchin ¢ back from the southern end of the motte, singing in wild harmony a peculiar lynching song: “We've hung up the cusses to a cottonwood tree, To a cottonwood tree, to a cottonwood tree, They peed an’ they argied, 3ut we couldn't all agree, So we boosted ’em up to glor-r-ry.” “Yas, capt’in, we've suspended them galoots above wolf reach, an’ they’re out o’ sin an’ tempta- tion, *‘An’Iswow ter breeches, thar warn't only one solid basis character galoot among ‘em!’’ put in Josh. “ He war thet Jay Toleman, or Tiger Track —tuk his rations as natteral as ary hoss ked do, wi’out a grunt,” “If you’ve hung the wretches you’ve done the country a good service,”’ said Wild Walt, ‘‘ for them outlaws had no equal for fiendish cruelty and devil- ishness. May God, however, forgive them, as we all _hope to be forgiven our sins.’’ To which there was a hearty amen. 7." -. That nizht when all were gathered around a rous- _._ ing evmp-fire, Gold Rifle was importuned to relate ~ allabout his adventures in rescuing Mrs. Deronda, his mother, which ha did, touching lightly, however, on parts where ha had played the heroic. He re- lated what he had diseove: about the Black Ranch, conzerning the counterfeiting scheme, and his expe- rience in the death pit. ‘““Whodo you think fired the Ranch, Kit?” Wild Walt aske1. _ *The guard who aided me to escape, no doubt, for he was a bitter enomy of Tiger ‘track. His name he s.id was Reofrau.” * Do you think it will pay to overhaul the ruins of the Ranch to get at that counterfeit money?” “No. It has doubtless been melted, and could be of no use tous, anyhow.” And so the Black Ranch’s ashes were left undis- turbal, and on the Senlcintng- morning the bri s>t out for the Settlement, which, in due time, they safely reached, the Maynard party proceeding on to the general's quarters, glad to get out of the track- less wilderness, May Faulkland had her birthday party after all, and a brilliant affair it was, to which all the soldiers and SADR MA were invited. Gold Rifle was present, and on that auspicious occasion found time to whis- pen his love-dream to the fair May. And it became nown, later, that they were engaged; later stili, in the spring-time, they were united in matrimony— and they all live almost under the guns of the fort, the two families of Derondas, as happy as the day is Jonge i i enera] Maynard js still grand supervisor of things Gold Rifle, the Sharpshcoter. atthe fort, even in his old age, and finds at the homes of his own daughter and daughter of adoj.- tion, a double blessing to his declining years. The gold whch years ago Wild Walt had taken from tLe outlaws, has been contributed, we learn, to a committee at Yankton for the purpose of erecting afree school on a nd scale, alt * would not have the stuff on his hands,” he said. And with Gold Rifle lives as a retainer no less a personage than eccentric Josh Hemperhill. THE END. Half-Dime Singer's Library 1 Wuoa, Exsmra! and 59 other Songs, 2 Caprain Curr and 57 other Songs, 8 Toe Garnsporo’ Har and 62 other Songs. 4 Jounny Moraan and 60 other Songs. 5 I’'tx Steams You Wirs A FEATHER and 62 othere, 6 Grorcre THE CHARMER and 56 other Songs. 7 Tae Bevte or Rockaway and 52 other Songs. 8 Youne Frtuan, You're Too Fresu and 60 others 9 Suy Youne Grru and 65 other Songs. 10 I’m THe Governor's Onty Son and 58 other Songs, 11 My Fan and 65 other Songs. 12 Comm’ Taro’ tux Rye and 55 other Songs. 13 Tue Roiiickine Irishman and 59 other Songs. 14 Otp Doge Tray and 62 other Songs. 15 Wnoa, Cuariiz and 59 other Songs. 16 In vrais WHeat By Anp By and 62 otner Songs. 17 Nancy Lee and 58 other Songs. 18 I’s-rsE Boy rHat’s Bounp To Buiazx and 57 others, 19 Tae Two OrpHans and 59 other Songs. 20 WaT ARE THE WiLp Waves Sayine, Sister? and 59 other Songs. 21 Inpianant Potty’ Woe and 59 other Songs. 22 ''ne Otp Arm-CHarr and 58 other Songs. 23 On Conry Istanp Bracu and 58 other Songs. 24 OLp Stmox, THE Hot-Corn Maw and 60 others, 25 I’m in Love and 56 other Songs. 23 PARADE oF THE GusRps and 56 other Songs, 27 Yo, Heave, Ho! and 60 other Songs. 28 "Twitt NEVER po To Gin IT up So and 60 others, 2) Buve Bonners Over THE Borper and 54 others, 80 ‘Cae Merry Lavanine Man and 56 other Songs. 81 Sweet ForGrt-me-Nor and 55 other Songs. 82 LeerLe Basy Mine and 53 other Songs. 883 De BANsO AM pz INSTRUMENT FoR Me and 53 others. 34 Tarry and 50 other Songs. 85 Jus) To PLeashTHE Boys and 52 other Songs, 86 S.ATING ON ONE IN THE GuTTER and 52 others. 87 KotorEep Kranxs and 59 other Songs. 88 Nu DespERANDUM and 53 other Songs. 39 Tae Grew I Lerr Beswp Mn ani 50 other Songs 40 ‘Tis Bur A Lirrie Fapep FLower and 50 others 41 Prerry WHILveLMu and 60 other Songs. 42 DANCING IN THE Barn and 63 other Songs. 43 H. M.S. Prvarore, compere, and 17 other Songs. . here wy Newsdealers, at five cents By ae on sent Pr nt to any address, on re+ ceipt of Sia cents permunber. — ADAMS, PuvsiisH pees 8 Winans Graken New Louk,
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1 Deerhunter the Boy Scout. By Ol] Coomes, 2 Buffalo Bill, from Boyhood to Manhood. By Col. Pren- tias Ingraham, 8 Kit Carson, King of Guides. By Albert W. Alken. 4 Gordon Lille, the Boy-[nterproter of the Pawnees. Major. H. B. Stoddard, & Bruin Adama, Old Grizzly’s Boy Pard, 6 Deadwood Dick as aBoy. Hy Edward L. Wheeler, 2% Wild BI, the Pistol Prince, By Col. P. Ingraham. 8 The Prairle Ranch, By Joseph E, Badger, Jr, Roving Joe. By A.H. Post, Texas Jack, the Mustang King. By Col. P. Ingraham. Charley Skylark. By Major H. B. Stoddard, Mariposa Marsh. By Joseph E. Badger, Jr. Roving Ben. By John J. Marshall. Spring Steel, King of the Bush, By J.B. Badger, Jr. Wide-Awake George, By Edward Willett The Boy Wizard, By Barry Ringgold, Peter Peppergrass, the Greenhorn from Gotham. By Noah Nuff. Adrift on the Prairie, and Amateur Hunters on the Buffalo Range. By 01l Coomes, The For © Hunter; or, Roving Joe as Miner, Cowboy, Trapper and Hunter. By A. TH. Post. Trapper Tom, the Wood Imp. “By T. C, Harbaugh, Yellow Hatr, the Boy Chief ofthe Pawnees. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. + The Snow Trail. By T. C. Harbaugh. Old Grizzly Adams, By Dr. Frank Powell. Woods and Waters. By Capt. Frederick Whittaker. A Rolling Stone: Incidents in the Career on Sea and Land of Col. Prentiss Ingraham. By Wm. R. Eyster. Red River Roye s. By C. Dunning Clark. Plaza and Plain; or, Wild Adventures of “Buckskin Sain,” (Maj. Sam. S. Hall.) By Col. P. Ingraham. The Sword Prince, The Romantic Life of Col. Mon- stery. By Capt. Frederick Whitt ker. Snow-Shoe Tom, By T. C. Harbaugh. Paul de Lacy, the French Beast Charmer. By C. 81 ST Beer == ound the Camp Fire, By Joseph E. Badger, Jr. 82 White Beaver, the Indian Medicine Chief. aBy or Prentiss Ingraham, A inne Boy Orupader: By al iS iret Whittaker, ie Chase o} ie Great e Stag, and and Canoe. By C. Dunning Clark. ig» and, Camp or old Tar Hauck cand His Boy Chums: By B. Starbuck. The Dashin ragoon; or, The Story of Gen. Accaater. By Cuiite Fred: Whittaker. > feeoike 87 Night-Mawk Georg " 88 The Boy Exiles of Siberia. By T. C. Harbaugh. 89 The Young Bear Hunters. By Morris Redwing, 40 Smart Sim, the Lad with a Level Head. By Ed. Willett. Al The Scttler’s Son, By Edward 5S, Ellis, 42 Walt Ferguson’s Cruise, By C. Dunning Clark, _ 48 Rifle and Revolver. By Capt. Fred. Whittaker. 44 The Lost Boy Whalers. By T. C. Harbaugh. 45 Bronco Billy, the Saddle Prince, By Col, Ingraham, 46 Dick, the Stowaway. By Charles Morris. AZ The Colorado Boys. By Joseph E. Badger, Jr. 48 The Pampas Hunters. By T. C. Harbaugh, 4) The Adventurous Life of Nebraska Charlie, By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. 50 Jack, Harry and Tom, the Three Champion Brothers, By Capt. Fred. Whittaker. 51 The Young Land-Lubber, By C. D. Clark. 52 The Boy Detectives. By T. C. Harbaugh. 58 Honest Harry. Charles Morris, 54 California Joe. _By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. BS Tip Tressel, the Floater. | By Edward Willett. 66 The Snow Hunters, By Barry de Forrest, 6? Harry Somers, the Sailor Boy Magician. By S. W. ad Pearce. 68 The Adventurous Life of Captain Jack, the Border Boy. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham, 59 Lame Tim, the Mule Boy ofthe Mines. By C. Morris, 60 The Young Trail Hunters, By T. C. Harbaugh, 61 The Tiger Hunters. by Joseph E. Badger, Jr. 62 Doctor Carver, the “ Evil Spirit” of the Plains, By Col, Prentiss Ing aham. 68 Black Horse fll. By Roger Starbuck. 64 Young Die : B: Maia 5 The = ot. en! * 66 The enert Rover. . jos Morris. a By By Ingraham. a it et NAT aSese By Col, Prentiss Ingraham. ae Price, Five Cents. ae 67 Texas Charlie, the Boy Ranger. By Col. Ingraham. 68 Little Rifle. By Captain “ Bruin”? Adama. 69 The Young Nihilist. By Charles Morris, 70 Pony the Cowboy. By Major H. B. Stoddard. 7 Ruf Robsart and His Bear. By Captain “ Bruin” damse 2 The Ice Elephant. By Capt. Frederick Whittaker, 8 The Young Moose-Munters. By W. H, Manning. 4 The Boy Coral- Fishers. By R ger Starbuck, 5 Revolver Billy. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham, 6 The Condor Killers, By T. C. Harbaugh. 2? Lud Lionheels, the Young Tiger Fighter. By Roger Starbuck. 8 Flatboat Fred. By Edward Willett. Ready Oct. 10, 9 Boone, the Hunter, ‘By Captain F. Whittaker, 80 Kentucky Ben. By Roger Starbuck. 81 The Kit Carson Club, By T. C, Harbaugh, 82 Little Buck, the Boy Guide.” By Barry Ringgold, 88 Pony Bob, the Reckless Rider of the Rockies, By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. 84 Captain Fly-by-Night. By Joseph E. Badger, Jr. 8% Captain Ralph, the Young Explorer, By C. D. Clark. 86 Little Dan Pocke By Morris Redwing, ST The Menagerie Hunters, By Maj. H. Grenville. 88 The Boy Tramps. _ By J. M. Toffinan. 89 ’Longshore Lije. By C.D. Clark. 90 prey Ing Rifle, Custer’s Little Scout. By T. C. Har- augh, 91 Oregon Josh, the Wizard Rifls. By Roger Starbuck. 92 Wurrieane Kit. By A. F. Holt. 98 Jumping Jake. By Bryant Bainbridge. 94 Sam Spence, the Broadhorn Boy. By Ed. Willett. 95 Moscow to Siberia, By Charles Morris. 96 Fighting Fred. By T. C. Harbangh. 97 Cruise of the Blyaways By C. Dunning Clark, 98 The Boy Vigilantes, By Maj. H. B. Stoddud. 99 The White Tigers. By Capt. Charles Howard. 100 The Snow-Shoe Trail. By St. George Rathbone. 101 Mariano, the Ottawa Girl. By Edward 5, Ellis. 102 The Flyaway Afloat. By C. Dunning Clark. 108 Pat Mulloney’s Adventures, By C. L. Edwards, 04 The Boy Prospector. By Roger Starbuck. 05 Minonee, the Wood Witch. By Edwin Emerson, 06 The Boy Cruisers. By Edward Willett. Of The Border Royers. By J, Milton Hoffman. 0 z z z z z § z z S Alaska, the Wo f-Queen. By Capt. Howard Lincoln. 9 Christian Jim,the White Man’s Friend. By E. 8. Ellis. 0 Plucky Joc, the Boy Avenger, By J. M, Hoffman. 1 The Border Gunmaker. By James L. Bowen. 2 Left-Handed Pete, the Double-Knife. 8 E. Badger, Jr. The River Rifles, By Capt. J. F.C. Adams, By Edward Willett. 4 Alone on the Plains, 115 Silver Horn, and His Rifle Firedeath. By R. Starbuck. 116 Exploits of Nezekiah Smith, the Backwoodsman. By Emerson Rodman, 117 The Young Mustangers, By ©. D, Clark. 118 Old Traps; «1, the Boy Rivals. By Barry Ringgold, 119 Center Shot, the Whigs Crow, By T, C. Harbaugh. 120 A Hot Trall, By Charles Morris, 121 Munter Pard Ben, By Roger Starbuck. 122 The Esquimaux’ Queen, By G. Waldo Browne. 128 ‘Tim, the Boy Acrobat. By Charles Morris. Ready August 21. 124 Queen Beaasle, the Border Gitl. By Henry J. Thomas, mly August 28. 125 Tom Tabor, the Boy Fugitive. By Barry Ri ld. Ready Sept. 4. ea Me cea: 126 Mink Coat, tho Death-Shot. By Jos. E. Badger, Jr. Ready Sept. 11. 4 12% The Deer Hunters. By John J. Marshall, Ready Sept. 18. ' Beadle’s Boy’s Library |s for sale by all Newadealers, five cents per copy, or sent by mail on receipt of six cents each, BEADLE AND ADAMS, Publishers,” 98 William Street, New York. By Joseph Lert el arkeriadededbedeied 1 1 1 1 1 ant
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82 OCTAVO PAGES. oO ie @AD Lf) So FIVE CENTS, \_ POCKET LIBRARY -*@ DHARDARDHRANADDRARDADADAADARADHADHDARADNDARARARARRARA KH 1 Deadwood Dick. By Edward L. Wheeler, 85 The Boy Miners. By Edward S. Ellis. Kansrs King. By Buffaio Bill. 86 Jack Harkaway in New York, by Brace- The Flying Yaniee. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. bridge Hemyng. The Double Daggers. By Edward L. Wheeler. 87 The Hussar Captain. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham, _ The Two Detectives. By Albert W. Aiken. 88 Deadwood Dick in Leadville. By E. L.Wheeler. The Prairie Pilot. By Buffalo Bill. 89 Bill Biddon, Trapper. By Edward S. Ellis. The Buffalo Demon. By Edwardel. Wheeler, 90 Tippy, the Texan, By George Gleason, Antelope Abe, the Boy Guide. By O11 Coomes. 91 Mustang Sam. By Joe. E. Badger, Jr. Ned ylde, the Boy Scout. By “Texas Jack” | 92 The Ocean Bloodhound. By Samuel W. Pearce, Buffalo Ben, Prince of the Pistol. By E. L.Wheeler. | 98 Phil Hardy, the Boss Box}. By Charles Morris. Ralph Roy, the Boy Knecaneer. By'C |. Ingraham. | 94 Deadwood Dick as Detective. By B. L. Wheeler, Nick o’ the Night. By T. C. Harbangh. 95 Buck Buckram. By Captuu J. F.C. Adams. Yellowstone Jack. By Joseph £. Badger, Jr. 96 Gilt-Edged Dick. Thy Edward L. Wheeler. Wild Ivan, the Boy Claude Duval, By E. L.Wheeler. | 97 The Black Steed of the Prairies. J.L. Bowen, Diamond Dirk. ‘By Colonel Prentias Ingraham. 98 The Sea Serpent. By Juan Lewis, Keen-Knife, Prince of the Prairies. By Oll Coomes, Oregon Sol. By Capt. J. F.C. Adams Death-Face, the Detective. By E. L, Wheeler. ye By Harry 9 Lasso Jack. By Ol! Coomes. i 102 'The Yellow Entel: By Capt. Mayne Reid, Roaring Ralph Rockwood By Il. St. George. | 108 Chip, the Girl Sport. By Edward L. Wheeler. The Boy Clown. By Frank S, Finn. a 104 The Black Schooner. By Roger Starbuck. The Phantom Miner. By Edward L. Wheeler, 105 Handsome Harry. By Charles Morris. The Sea-Cat. By Captain Frederick Whittaker. 106 Night-Hawk Kit. By Jos. E. Badger, Jr. The Dumb Spy. By Ol Coomes. 107 Jack Hoyle’s Lead. By Edward L, Wheeler. Rattling Rube. By Marry St. George, 108 Rocky Mountain Kit. By T,C. Harbangh. Old Avatanche, tie Great Annihilator. By Wheeler. | 109 The Riandes Hand. By Frank Dumont, Gla 4-Eye, Great Shot of the West. By Capty Adams. | 410 The Dread Rider. By George W. Browne. The Boy Captain. By Roger Starbuck. 111 Boss Bob, the King of Bootblacks, By E. L.Wheeter, Dick Darling. By Capt. Frederick Whittaker. 112 The Helpless Hand. By Capt. Mayne Reid. Bob Woolf, the Border Ruffian. By B. L. Wheeler. | 118 Sear-Face Saul, the Silent Hunter, By Oll Coomes, Niza tingsc Nat. By T. C. Harbaugh. 4 Piney Paul, the Mountuin Boy. By ‘1. Harbaugh, Black John, the Road Agent, By J. E. Badger, Jr. 5B Deadwood Dick’s Double. By F. L. Wheeler. Omaha Ol, the Mask-d Terror. By E. L. Wheeler. Coflin, Skipper. By Capt. F. Whittaker. Burt Bunker, the Trapper. By George KE. Lasalle. . , Frank, of Calorado. By Buffalo Bill. The Boy Rifles. By A. C. Trons. Vildfire, the Thoroughbred. By Chas. Morris. The White B ffalo. By George E. Lasalle. 119 Blonde Bill; or, Deadwood Dick’s Home Base, Jim Bludsoe, Jr. By Edward L. Wheeler. By Edward lL. Wheeler. en qyiasels ba nt bel Pi Bata Loi ae 120 Gopher Gid, the Boy Trapper. By T. C. Harbangh, 89 Deadly Eye, the Unknown Scout. By buffalo BIL, ; Nick Whifttes’« Pet. By Cupt. J. F. C, Adams. 121 Harry pete hie the Ox tain of the Club, By Deadwood Dick’« Eagles by E. L. Wheeler. Bracebridge Hemyng, (Jack Harkawny.) The Border King. By 01! j 122 The Hunted Hunter. By Edward §, Ellis. 48 Old Hickory. By Harry St. George. the Boy Road-Agent. By E. L. Wheele The White Indian. by ay J. ¥. C. Adama. 128 Solid Sam, 7 & . ¥ heeler. Buckhorn Bill, By Edware Vheeler. ; 124 Judge Lynch, Jr. By T. C. Harbaugh. The Shadow Ship. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham, 125 The Land Pirates. By Capt. Mayne Reid, ph ear Pilea arc ee al bd demi 126 Blue Blazes. By Frank Dumont. Ready June 9, Tiunrisane Bil.” By Joseph E, Badger, Jr. 127 Tony Fox, the Forret. By Edward L. Whoeler. DNATA ASW PARwKS le Hand. By W. J. Hamilton. - M x: Sin Rte a Joc. By thilty S: Warde. 128 Will Wildiire’s Racer. By Charlee Morris abe Border Keble Hood, Oy a si 129 Eagle Kit, tho toy Demon. By O11 Coomes, Gol 'e, the Sharpsliooter. By Ed. L. eeléer, 180 Gold Trigger, the Sport. By T. C. Harbaugh. " y Capt. J. F.C. Adi je - “” Be Old Zipre Cabin. By Capt J.B. cope 181 A Game of Gold. By Edward L. Wheeler, Mad Ton Weatera,, he a non: 5 182 Dainty Lance, the Boy Sport. By J. E. Badger, Jr. ’ u eck, By E. L. re . peneiecs Miers by Oll Conan neelel 188 Wild-fire, the Boss ofthe Road. By Frank Damont. The Boy Duelist. HK Col. Prentiss ee 184 Mike Merry, the Harbor Police Boy, By C, Morris, © the Crow-Killer. By Albert W. Aiken. b De: 2 a 5 Corduroy. Charlie, Dy Edvard LaWhocier. | 755 Dewinted Dick of Deadwood. By teva Béy Detec! . By » Me Je Fee eee te alent Bo peht By a: W. Aiken. . 186 Old Rube, the Hunter. By Capt. Hamilton Holmes. Rosebud Rob. By Edward L. Wheeler. - 187 Dandy Rock, the Man from Texas, By G, Waldo Dightplng, Joe. ean pt. _ ¥ Se ala Browne. tea ioanbaatl é By Oll Coomes. 188 ow Moekneh the Boy Dodger. By Chas. Murris, Tdyl, the Girl Miner, By Edward L. Wheeler. Ready Sept. 1. 9 Detective Dick. By Charles Morris. 189 The Black Giant. By Joseph E. Badger, Jr. Sure Lf Bethy ed uae By Ol) Coomes. Ready Sept. 8. Sharp Sam. y J. xauder Patten. EB The Lion of the Sea, By Albert We Alken, 180 Captain: Krtemsan:, Hy Philip By Warne: 78 Photograph Phil, tle Boy Sleuth. By E.L,Whoevler. mae Roe 24 Picayune Pete. By Charles Mort's, 141 New York Nell. By Edward L, Wheeler. Island: Jim} Wie Biel ns Fanily. By Brace Ready Sept. 22. oP brid, emyn ack Harkaway). h * i aie Th 7 Waren Byes on Shadow. By Bward B WelseIBe 148 Tittle hr a Young Mustanger. By Oil Coen : 2 oye. iy Col, nt ngraham,. ” bh foe okey Dick's Méviak. By Ed. L. Wheeler. Issued Every Wednesday, 79 The Black Mustanger. By Capt. Mayne Reid. Readle’s Pocket Library |s for sale by all News- _ 80 Old Frosty, the Guide, By T.C. Harbaugh, deajers, five cents per copy, or sent by mail on receipt of six 81 The an iver. t, ae pre Tngrabam. cents each, 82 Seth Jones. Rawhrd § s. S$: Conada Chet the CounterleiterjChief, By Wheeler. BEADLE &#ADAMS, Publishers, . § “he Dumb Page. By Capt. Frederick Whittaker. 98 William Street, New York,