Deadwood Dick Library (v. 1) (1899 05 03)

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Bopyright 1878-1884, by Beadle & Adams. Entered at Post Office, New York, N. Y., as second class ma'ter. Mar, 15, 180% CE ADE Bi MM. J.IVERS & CO., Publishers, «,. ,,,. No 8 Leah ok (James Sullivan, Proprietor,) : gy be eae Vol. |, Se Bone i 9 Pearl Street, New York. ok : = —— SS tetas ee ee = a= = a ee par Ea = aS OS a = eer ee i i. i A BY EDWARD L. WHEELER, AUTHOR OF “DEADWOOD DICK," “ THE DOUBLE DAGGERS,’ ETCn ETC, SES > WILD EDNA’S RIDERS.

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443 Deadwood Dick, Jr.; 448 453 459 465 476 481 491 496 500 508 515 22 529 534 539 544 549 554 561 67 5 i 72 578 584 590 595 600 606 612 618 624 630 636 642 648 2 —_ 654 660 666 672 678 684. 690 695 700 TO4 710 - ers, M. J. IVERS e Sane ‘Se Snare a alias EDWARD L. WHEEL DEADWOOD DICK, JR., NOVELS IN THE HALF-DIME LIBRARY. Crescent Sign. Deadwood Dick, Jr’s Deadwood Dick, Jr. Deadwood Dick, Jr. Deadwood Dick, Jr. Deadwood Dick, Jr.’ Deadwood Dick, Deadwood Dick, Deadwood Dick, Deadwood Dick, Deadwood Dick, Deadwood Dick, Deadwood Dick, Deadwood Dick, Deadwood Dick, Deadwood Dick, Deadwood Dick, - Deadwood Dick, Jr., Deadwood Dick, Jr, Deadwood Dick, Jr., Deadwood Dick, Jr. Deadwood Dick, Jr. Deadwood Dick,’ Jr. Deadwood Dick, Jr. Deadwood Dick, Deadwood Dick, Deadwood Dick, Jr. Deadwood Dick, Jr. Deadwood Dick, Jr., Bb ise Deadwood Dick, Jr., Deadwood Dick, Jr., Deadwood Dick, Jr., Deadwood Dick, Jr., Deadwood Dick, 8 oe AA de tie JT Ahi? Shes JT: ies A fhe ots A pone ITY BF ee Deadwood Dick, Jr., Price 5 Cents per Copy. or, The Crimson , Defiance. °g. Full Hand. rs, Big Round-Up. s. Racket at Claim 10. s, Corral. 8, Dog Detective. in Deadwood. s, Compact. s, Inheritance. s, Diggings. s, Deliverance. s, Protege. s, Three. 8, Danger Ducks. s, Death Hunt. in Texas. the Wild West Vidocq. on His Mettle. in Gotham, , in Boston. , in Philadelphia. ., in Chicago. ; Afloat. in Denver. s, Decree. , at Coney Island. ’s, Leadville Lay. in Detroit. in Cincinnati. in Nevada. in No Man’s Land. After the Queer. in Buffalo. Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Chase Across the Continent. Deadwood Dick, Jr., AD Deadwood Dick, Jr; glers. De: adwood Dick, Deadwood Dick, Jr., Deadwood Dick, Jr.’ Deadwood Dic k, Jt,” Deadwood Dick, Jr.’ Deadwood Dick, Deadwood Dick, Jr. Deadwood Dick, Jr. Deadwood Dick, Jr. abics Among the Smug- s, Insurance Case. Back in the Mines. in Durango. s, Discover ys s, Dazzle. s, Dollars. at Danger Divide. *s, Drop. , at Jack-Pot. , at San Francisco. in Beelzebub’s Basin.. 716 Deadwood Dick, 722 Deadwood Dick, 728 Deadwood Dick, Jr. 734 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’ 740 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’ 747 Deadwood Dick, Jr. 752 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’ 758 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’ %64. Deadwood Dick, ores 770 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’ 776 Deadwood Dick, Jie 782 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’ 787 Deadwood Dick, ure 792 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’ 797 Deadwood Dick, Jr. 802 Deadwood Dick, Jr. 807 Deadwood Dick, aT: 812 Deadwood Dick, 816 Deadwood Dick, 822 Deadwood Dick, 828 Deadwood Dick, 8384 Deadwood Dick, 840 Deadwood Dick, 845 Deadwood Dick, Jr, 852 Deadwood Dick, Jr. 858 Deadwood Dick, er. 863 Deadwood Dick, “hb 870 Deadwood Dick, Jr. 876 Deadwood Dick, Jr. 882 Deadwood Dick, Jr. 891 Deadwood Dick, Jr. 898 Deadwood Dick, Jr. 904. Deadwood Dick, Jr,’ 910 Deadwood Dick, Jr. 916 Deadwood Dick, Jr. 928 Deadwood Dick, Jr. Jr.’ ar aris at 984 Deadwood Dick, Jr., 940 Deadwood Dick, Jr. 946 Deadwood Dick, Jr. 951 Deadwood Dick, Jr. 957 Deadwood Dick, Jr. 965 Deadwood Dick, Jr. 971 Deadwood Dick, Jr. 977 Deadwood Dick, Jr. 980 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s 992 Deadwood Dick, Ir 998 Deadwood Dick, Ais 1005 Deadwood Dick, NST, Branded, 1011. Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Dutch Pard. 1018 Deadwood Dick, Jr,’s, Big Four..¢2 For sale by all newsdealers or sent, postpaid, on receipt of price, 5e. per copy, by the p 8 & CO., 3879 Peart Street, New York Crry. ERS = @ ae ie ars rst Eas 'S, Still Hunt. s, Dominoes. ’s, Disguise. ce Double Deal. s, Death-Watch. ’s, Doublet. . s, Death-Blow, s, Desperate Strait. — s, Lone Hand. — s, Defeat. s, Resurrection. s, Dark Days. ‘ea Defied. i> s, Double Device. _ af ’s, Desperate Ventt ire ’s, Diamond Dice. — ’s, Royal Flush. | rs. Head-Off. *s, Rival. 's, Boom. s, Scoop. s, Proxy. 8, Clutch. ’s, High Horse. “) at Devil’ s Gul *s, Death-Hole ’s, Bombshell. , in Mexico. *s, Decoy Duck. ., in Siiver Pockets : *s, Dead-Sure Ga *y Double Drive s, Trade-Mark. ., at Tip-Top. ’s, Double-Deck is at Dollarville. at Flush Flats. s, Shake-Up. s, Double Drop s, Right Bower. np Ten: Strike. ’s, Gold Dust. *s, Oath. ’s, Death-Doom, — s, Best Card. “@& " at Gold Dust, 8, Big’ Play: oar ae ? , > bd

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Pee pected nae? Ee rand A KSA IIE a: ; Copyright 1878-1884, by Beadle & Adams. Entered at Post Office, New York, N. Y., as second class matter, Mar. 15, 1899, 1) a eS \ PaaS M. J. IVERS & CO., Publishers, A aS No.8. Maiev 0,000.” > gg i amen Sullivan, Proprietgr) |. ges0a Yeon = VOle ace ee Ss Rae © © ee BY EDWARD L. WHEELER, AUTHOR OF “‘DEADWOCD DICK,” ‘* THE DOUBLE DAGGERS,”’ ETC., E21 i th ee

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Old Avalanche, The GREAT ANNIHILATOR; OR, ; Wild Edna, the Girl Brigand. BY EDWARv L. WHEELER, AUTHOR OF ‘‘ DEADWOOD DICK,” ‘*THE DOUBLE DAGGERS,” “‘“CLOVEN HOOF,” ‘* BUFFALO BEN,” ETC., ETC. CHAPTER I. BURIED IN THE DEATH GULCH, Four men had a northern peak, thousands of feet above the level of the sea, thousands of feet above the level of the hed plains of Nebraska, at the close of what had en @ sultry part day. The peak table- any of its neighbors of the surrounding chain, and its top was as smooth and even as a floor, while in dimensions it was about three hundred feet in cir- sumference. ; On the northern, eastern and southern boundaries, ttretched away mile after mile, one continuous wilderness of rugged and tree-fringed mountains, \whose tops were capped with snow, and down be- tween which dashed angry torrents, silvery cascades and slides of rock and frozen ice, into dark, yawni seams and chasms... On the western side of this aerial plateau, yawned an immense, fathomless. abyss, whose aspect was weird, silent, awfulin the extreme. It appeared to have been formed by a sudden sundering of the sur- rounding mountains oY some mighty convulsion of nature, and to have been left a black, bottomless abyss into which no eye could penetrate from above, into which no man could descend. While two cf the four men were Trae the evening meal, the remaining two stood at the brink = the precipice, regarding the scene with awe and ence. The space in front of them was about fifty feet in width by one hundred in length—a naturally formed shaft extending far down int> the bowels of the earth, Directly across on the western side, and con- siderably below the plateau, a goodly-sized cascade leaped over into the abyss, and as no sound could be distinguished of its striking bottom, the watchers drew the conclusion that the rift reached down at least to a level with the plains, “Tis a frightful gulch!” ejaculated the elder of the two, a man of some eight and thirty years—“ at : bale a bottom nothing of life has probably ever ex- ted. ** Yes, In all our i pa el Sir Henry, we have pever confronted such a fissure of the earth. By my soul, I’d give a deal to be able to descend to the bot- tom, if there is a bottom, and see what sort of a place this chasm really is.”’ a “True, Milburn; but that could never be. It would require miles of rope to lower one down, and though we eh a good thousand fect, ’twould not be enough, q “Let us be content, then, with the laurels of dis- covering the highest peak of this wonderful chain of mountains, if not the highest in America, On the morrow I will hew the name of this expedition in the floor of this high plateau, to tell future genera- tions whose feet first trod upon these rocks.’ So saying Sir Henry turned back toward the camp-fire, while Milburp remained a short time longer at the brink of the dizzy wbyss, staring thoughtfully down into the black depths, **Ourse him!” he muttered, gnawing at his mus- tache, savagely, “how [hate him. f joined him in his confounded wanderings, and still I have not Old Avalanche. pitched their camp onthe crater of and was far the most elevated of accomplished the object I had in view, when 1 did so. Iwo long years we have traveled together, and never yet have I found the suitable prepara, to ~to—but bah! Iam weak. The time will come, and that not many-days distant, too, when Sir Henry — and I will part company, and forever!” —_- : He rejoined the party at the fire, and seated him- self to partake of the dried venison and roasted bear- meat which the other two men had prepared. They were odd-looking specimens of the frontier, and “2 lainly not persons of culture or education like re ir Henry and Milburn. : The younger and more noticeable of the twai evidently a Canadian, was about nineteen years 0 age. He was swarthy in complexion yet not unpre- possessing, and possessed a form marked in its muscular development. — - s The second man was short, grizzly and athletic, with not a pound of superfluous flesh on his limbs, nor a sign of ears upon his head, they having been shaven off close to the skull. His eyes were gray and ag hi 4 his mouth large and indicative of humor, his hair tow-colored, and his beard brown z and stubby. He was attired in buckskin, as are the generality of Northern mountain-men, and armed with silver- mounted revolvers, knife, tomahawk and Spencer rifle. *“Darned bad hod,” he nodded to Sir Henry, mo- tioning toward the abyss, and at the same time tak- 5 ing a huge bite of bear-meat. * Nevyar see’d ther beet on’t, only once afore, in my life.” } “When was that?’ asked Sir Henry, gnawing away at his bone in true hunter style. “Wal,” said the guide, meditatively, “et ar’ sev- eral yeers, since. Et was ther time I war up hyar wi’ ernuther ’sperdition!” ; “What!’’ exclaimed the baronet, starting up, ex- citedly ;—‘* you do not mean to tell me you were ever here, before, sir?’ é “Reckon Ido. I've feasted on b’ar-steak on thig plataw, mor’n this one’t, yer honner.” (= “By heavens! you have astonished me. I had supposed we were the first human beings who ever trod upon these rocks. Explain yourself.” ee * Thar hain’t much ter ’splain, sar, *ca’seef yell go over yander thar, ter the sou’, an’ sharply screwte — chinize ther rocks, ye’ll see who’s bin hyar ahead on — ye, *thout my ’splainin’.” rae Sir Henry sprung to his feet at once, as did Mil-— burn, and seizing a flaming cone from the fire, for _ the’ pall of night had settled over the land, they — hurried to the southern edge of the plateau, and bent over to scan the rocky floor. They had not long to look, for they soon came upon a spot where, — by the skillful use of a hatchet, former discoverers — had hewn out their names: ** Joun, C. FREMONT.”’ “Kir CARSON.” ie ** Here, Lanch,” called Sir Henry, “come here, How did you know of these names?” ope Alva Lanch, the guide, left his place by the fire, — and sauntered up. ‘* How did I know on ’em?’’ he repeated, grimly. “Wal, I happened ter be hyar when they war cut. | war erlong wi’ ther Fremont experdishun w’en they — soar’d over thes d@’recshun; an’ conserkently, w’er © them handles war indented thar.”’ if ** But you never told me?” ; ¥ “Why shed I? Ye asked meno questions nor - didn’t tell ye no whoppers. Ye guv me seventy gol -dollars ter help ye git onter ther top o’ ther loftie: PS po in thes range o’ mountings; I tuk ye up, an’ ar year’, arter fifteen days’ hard trampin’. — e’d’ve dun better ter ask me afore we sot out e ennybody war ever bin hyar ahead on ye, The: I shed ’a’ tole ye yes. As it war, ye nevyar said iE nutber did I say boo. Et ar’ so, ain’t et, oss? ; ‘Yes; you speak truly,” replied Sir Henry, fn | discouraged done. ‘lt was all my fault, I never addressed you on the subject, because I did not deem it necessary, so positive wasI that no ¥ < ¥

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had as yet done this range. *John ©, Fremont,’ and ‘ Kit Carson.” Humph! America owes a deal to those two men. As Christopher Columbus was first in discovering the American continent, so Fre- mont and Carson have been foremost, in the present generation, in explering the most lofty peaks, the wildest canyons, and the smallest and most obscure lakes, How many were there of your expedition, when you gained the summit, Lanch?” “Three—Fremont, Carson, and myself,”’ *“And were you three all of the exploring party?” “On course not!” replied the guide. ‘There were seven of the pack, but only us three klim up hyar, ther other four remainin’ at ther place whar we camped last night,” “ Tow long ago was it?” : varie years, three months an’ seven days, ter- night. “ How long did you stay here?” ** Only over nite uv the day we arriv’. ’Twas un- ecomfort’ble cold up hyar, them times, so we soon dug out for warmer climates. Fremont named yon hod ther Death Gulch, becawse his spanyel dor, tumbled off inter et, an’ Carson called this ther Fla’ Butte; then we buckled on our armor, an' marched, marched away.” “*T wish I had known of this some time ago,” said Sir Henry, gloomily, turning back toward the fire, whither Lanch and Milburn followed him, Soon the evening pipes were brought forth, and while the quartette puffed away thereat, the guide related some interesting details of the former ex- ploring expedition under the great Fremont. Sir Henry listened eagerly, but Milburn and the young Canadian were not so much interested, and presently withdrew to the edge of the abyss to have a little conversation by themselves, Alva Lanch watched them secretly, as he told his story, under cover of his shaggy eyebrows, but said nothing way Se upon them, ; Jinally the time arrived when if was desira- ble that all hands should turn in, as an early start was Hoes on the following morning; therefore Sir Henry called in his companions, and bade them prepare for ad 2 “Thar’ll hev ter be sum’ more cones lugged up from ther second peak, below,” said Larch, glancing at the fire, which was fast expiring, ‘‘fer it begins ter feel er little chilly up hyar. I say, ye Can’dy Thistle, s’posin’ ye go an’ try yer *nack at shinnin’ rocks, I toted ther fust sackful up; et ar’? no more’n fa’r ye she’d do vice-versy on ther seckont.” He addressed the Canadian, who was about to roll himself up in his blanket. “Bah!” he growled, showing his Peay white teeth in a forced smile; ‘‘you’ll excuse me. prefer day- light for my clambering over the mountains. Let the fire go out, if it wants to. 1 guess we won’t freeze.” . : ; “Then you won't go?” demanded Lanch, “No; 1am quite comfortable,” replied the youth, wrapping himself in his blanket, and giving vent to another smile. ‘‘If you are so fond of starlight rambles, Mister Lanch, perhaps it would be well to go, yourself.” _ chain Rasen ass ‘Here! here) Raleigh!” exclaimed Sir Henry, an- prily, ‘*let’s nee no more words of bandy. Willyou _ ¢o for the fuel? arr No,” replied he, doggedly—‘‘ not’ to-night!” ‘Then 1 shall at once discharg you from my ser- vice.” “ Will you, though?” hissed the fellow savagely, big dark visage ¢ yes still darker. ‘Very well; ust as you please, sir. ; And onli over he made pretense of seeking re- SO, : ae Let ‘im hev his own way,” said Lanch, taking up a large Mg esate lay among the other effects that tre party had brought along. ‘“T’l] slide down fer ther cones in a jiffy. Ter-morrer I'll wallup ther ie young whelp fer his imperdenee.” _ le at once descended from the plateau by clam- Se aera See ee “~ Old Avalanche, © _ 3 bering down from ledge to ledge, and was soon lost from view in the ot inky blackness that.envelop- ed the mountain-top, “You can lie down, Sir Henry, if you like,” said Milburn, as he lit a fresh a ig of tobacco, ‘for IL know you must be fatigued, from our long ascent, to-day. and need rest. . As for me, I'll smoke awhile longer, yet, and await Alva’s return.” e baronet acquiesced in this proposition, and leaving Milburn half-reclining in the light of the dy- ing embers puffing away at his imported meer- schaum, Sir Henry rolled himself in his blanket, and quickly was in sound and refreshing slumber, Milburn, however, became momentarily more restless, until he trembled with Sopereaed excite- ment, as he glanced toward Sir Henry. ; Half an hour wore away, and the loud respira- tions of the baronet proclaim(Cd that be was sound asleep. wherupon Milburn rose stealthily to his feet, and stole forward, ~Simultaneously the young Can- adian did likewise. “ Are you ready?” he demanded, in a whisper. “ Ay!’ replied the other, ‘‘all ready. Now, then, heave ahead; you take charge of his mouth.and see that a screech don’t escape him, while I bind his hands and feet.” . ‘““Agreed!”” whispered back the Canadian; and then the two men threw their combined weights upon the slumbering explorer, and in a *twinkhng had him securely bound and gagged. : It is needless to say that Sir Henry was both as- tonished and enraged at the rude and unceremoni-~ ous treatment but could only lay and glare at the two villains in utter heiplessness, 4 “Hal ha!” laughed Milburn, with a grim chuckle; ‘*you are surprised, eh?” A nod of the head signified assent. . **T thought so,” resumed the villain; “but that is nothing strange, as we are liable to surprises. Do you recognize me, Sir Henry, as any one you remem- er of ever having seen?’’ : Another head-shake, in the negative. * Don’t? Well, probably not. I must admit m disguise is one hard to penetrate. This hair, this beard and these garments are all foreign to your recollection. Yet they hide the man, Sir Henry, whose life has been devoted, since childhood, to the sole attainment of an object—an object which must be patent in forever removing fi from my path. Lis’en!”? Then he bent low and whispered a few words in the prisoner’s ear, at which the baronet ut- hee oe loud, agonized groan and grew pale and agitated. “Tt is true,” resumed Milburn, with a triumphant leer, ‘‘and I have followed the course of pone move ments ever since you left New York, for the purpose of Bie Ane you. I do not wish to xil/ you. on the hands of an English nobleman is not at all desirable, and therefore I simply wish to put you aside from my path. You admire America; I love England, native soil. Then, is it not well that I should live quiet, peace and plenty? “Yes 1—doubly yes. I have found a cage in which I can confine you, and-run no risk of ever bein troubled by you again. pire yt your coil o: rope, and fasten one end about this baronet. Work lively, now, for we must be well away from here, ere that ferret-eyed guide returns. safely in St. Joe, and our explorer lies at the bottom of Death Gulch, a thousand gold dollars shall be yours, my bo: The Canadian obeyed with alacrity, and from — among the “traps” of the expedition produced a large Coil of stout half-inch rope, an end of which be arranged into a noose and shirred about the baro- — r net’s waist. ; : a Yhis done, Milburn proceeded to deliberately rifle the prisoner’s person of everything of value, save his arms and ammunition, which he did not touch, — He then whispered for several moments in- Ienry’s ear, after which he rose to his feet, Murder . England, while you remain here in © mce we are A Ss bs ye Te

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- _ that blew unconfined to the _ complexion that matched we eyes, } . Such were the party, exclusive of the guide. He. ee itch all that luggage over into the eigh,”? he said, setting an example by pitching over blankets, etc., “for in our flight, you see, we shall not be able to carry aught save our weapons, and I do not mean that Alva Lanch ghall derive any benefit from these tools and traps!”’ Stepp end everything sav *ue two villains’ * You may abyss, first, Ra rifles and ammunition was huiied over into the can- yon—axes, picks, blankets, pots. kettles, Sir Hen- ry’s and Lanch’s rifles, surveying instruments, and so forth, in turn, until the plateau pe swept of all except the two men and their prisoner. He, too, was then dragged forward to the brink of the frightful gulf, and the lowering began, In vain did Sir Henry endeavor to shriek out a “on for help, or burst the cruel bonds that bound im. All to no avail. Swiftly the two men on the table-land above al- lowed the rope to slip through their fingers, and let the helpless victim of ‘a fiendish plot descend into the bowels of the mountains. Presently they had allowed all but ahout a yard of the death-cord to slip away. “Shall we let him go?”’ asked Raleigh in a hollow, scare tone, $ . “Yes!” replied Milburn, white and Cbrades Om “Jet her slide. He’s probably to the bottom be- fore this; and if he’s not, he ain’t far from it. Z¢ go! 19 ° The next instant they released the rope from their orl then, turning like the two guilty wretches hey were, they seized their rifles, left the plateau, and hurriedly skurried off down into the black mountainous depths. ™ CHAPTER II. THE PLHASURE-PARTY—FIGHTING ODDS. Down across the great savannas of the Northwest, booming along in front of a ‘giant volume of wind, which spread its arms out afar, rolled a thick cloud of dust, in whose depths galloped a party of six porous, all mounted on spirited, thoroughbred ani- ma : Two of the six were ladies, attired in rich but unattractive garments; but the fact that they wore diamonds of marvelous size and luster, evidenced the ele gene that they were persons of wealth and high social rank. 3 The gentlemen were tastefully accoutered, save it be with one exception—the guide of the party— and bore the undeniable impress of refinement. One, who was evidently chief in command, was a tall, athletic young fellow, with clearly-cut fea- tures, dark-blue eyes, and hair of a chestnu color, while in form he was a model of grace and symmetry. The second of the four males was a slender, dark- visaged gentleman, verging on forty years, who was evidently a Spaniard, or of some foreign de- scent. The third was of afar different type, and his hair ) was sprinkled freely with lines of gray. He was of immense girth, and sat his horse much more clum- sily than his companions; and in his general ap- earance reminded one of the stern old lords or ules of ancient times. The ladies evidently were’ mother and daughter. The elder was a woman who had seen not a little trouble, for her brow was furrowed deeply and her hair of a silvery white. Still, she showed many traces of former beauty, and was yet really pre- possessing, despite the weary yearning expression that ever haunted her sad face. - The daughter was a repetition of what the mother had been in her youthful days—a bright, vivacious little body, just nearing the portals of a glorious womanhood, with laughing eyes, soft blonde hair, rairie breeze, and a with both hair and ae ‘ Old Avalanche. ; and as rough and uncouth as are the majority those ever-moving spirits, the Princes of the Trail. His name was Dan Coggswell, and he had been engaged at Dakota City to lend h pleasure-party, for such the cavalcade was, during their stay in the West. Now, we see them spurring madly down from the northwest, across &@ mammoth savanna or plain and hugging close to the giant column or cloud of dust, which the brisk northern breeze wafts steadily in front of them. Their horses are flecked with foam, evidencing the fact that a long and rapid ride has taken place: and still on; on, over the green-carpeted savanna they dash; on at a speed only second to the breeze that rolls the cloud of dust in advance. It is mid-afternoon, and the sun that hangs like a golden bail in the azure blue sky, lights up all objects beneath its rays with a mellow distinctness. Across to the west looms up the gray uninviting range of mountains that are described as being the rendezvous of numerous bands of red-skins and out- laws; to the east, coiling its course through barren prairies, runs Au Jaques or Dakota river, in the even tenor of .its existence, until it debouches, miles below, into the mad Missouri; to the south and sou’east stretches one of those monotonous savannas or grazing plains of pete tasious as the home of © the deer and the buffalo, the paradise of hunters and trappers; while to the north and nor’west—ha! here the interest deepens, and the cause of the — undue haste on the part of the pleasure-seekers, becomes apparent. ; Sweeping down in their rear, aad only a couple of miles distant, are a body of horsemen, who, as one glances over them, look like a small army, so strong are they in numbers. _ a 5 And, too, their horses are fresh and fleet, and they are gaining slowly but surely on the party in advance. That they are Indians is evidenced by their wild riding, their semi-nude dress/ and the occasional war-whoops that float faintly forward on the breeze. Sioux is their tribe (for it is a rare occurrence to meet a rap were of any other tribe in Northern Dakota), and that they are determined to overtake the fugitives is Ns 8 by the manner with which t ponies. Dan Coggswell was in the rear of his party, hur- trying them along as well as he could, and at the same time acting as a rear guard in case the foe should get near enough to pour in a fire with their too plainly shown rifles, for all were seen, through the guide’s field- Sih: glass, to be well armed. On, on, on, the pursued whites dashed, desperate- ly determined to escape if such a thing were f= O78 “ble, but as a half-hour flew by, and the horses i ac to lag and the Indians to gain, Coggswell shook head doubtfully. , **We can’t hold out at this rate, much longer,” he © said, as he galloped ahead and joined the young commander; “for them Soos ain’t goin’ to the slip, ye can bet yer eyes; and our hosses are loosin’ all their breath, too. I opine we mought as well come to a halt, an’ try an’ persuade ’em not to cum forninst us, as the Irishman sez, with our — rifles. What’s your views on’t, Sir Harry?’’ a ““ What! stop here and let the devils come up and murder us at their leisure? Never! We must do | something, guide. Do'vou hear? we must do some- — thing to get my mother and sister out of danger. Is there no other direction we can take toescape these — | hellhounds?”’ at Yas, i replied Coggswell, reflectively, ‘‘ thar is two on ’em,’’ « “Then, in Heaven’s name, why not take them?” **Wal, I reckon *twouldn’t be o’ no sorter use, Sir page One’s tow’rd Dakota river. Go that way, an’ the varmints ‘Il head us off afore we git thar, or at furthest will drive us into the stream w’ot are tea deep and wide toswim.” { Pa Giri ea was'a stalwart backwoodsman of an uncertain age, is assistance to the ~ ey urge on their — 2 ia ve us — ‘ a i: xAS

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Old Avalanche. “The other, then?’’ “The t’other? Wal, that’s tow'rds them mount- ings, off yander. They’re chock fuller 0’ ther red heethan an’ white outlaws, than the Black Hills themselves,” : * But can we not find temporary shelter there, in some canyon or gulch, where we can fight these rascals, and in due time steal off?” ; ‘‘Hardly probable. Soos ain’t on ther give-up, nowadays. When they scent a prize they’re the lads as hes got as much hang-on-a-tiveness as ther next one. Howsomedever, if ye say the word, we’ll shy off fur them hills, an’ run our chances. We kin bleech in ther mountings as wellas any other place.” ** How far are they distant? Can we reach them before our horses give out?” ‘*Reckon yo, if we ride full spurt.” “Very well, then lead ahead, and we will follow.” The course of the fleeing cavalcade was instantly | changed, sharply to the right, and the spurs used with more vehemence. Already the savages had gainedone of the two intervening miles, and threatened every moment, to gain a position in the chase within rifle-shot. On—on sped the fugitives, like the hurricane wind, | Dan Coggswell keeping slightly in the lead, and using his field-glass now and then to define the route which promised to take them nearest to a place of retreat. The ladies, although much fatigued, were eagerly urging on their animals, and putting their ea trust in the skill and sagacity of Dan. Had it not been for the impending danger, they would have enjoyed the wild ride immensely, for they were true Englishwomen, and having chased many a fox down the moorlands of their native isle, they had become masters in the saddle, as well as mistresses in the social circle and household. But a hundred grim and bloodthirsty savages, bringing up the rear, with the ‘desire to rob or murder them, took from the situation all its romance. Ou—on, over the green savanna they swept, and in hot pursuit came the red slayers. **T think I know about the spot where a canyon opens into them hills,” said the guide, peering straight ahead, ‘tor at least, heerd Old Avalanche, who traps, hunts an’ annihilates Injuns tn hyar- abouts, say that thar war a place o’ ther kind d’rect east from Flat Butte peak. Zhaz’s off yonder!”’ He pointed cies a ahead, and off afar through --the hazy distance loomed up the frowning awful ile of rock Whose summit was hundreds of feet igher than the surrounding peaks, ‘Flat Butte, did_you say?” exclaimed the elderly Jady, excitedly- -“ Flat Butte?” “Yes, ma’am,-that’s what I said.” “Oh! Sir Fleming,’ she gasped, turning to the entleman of the peed girth, \“‘is that the place? fs that the spot where! my dear husband met his death?” Her voice was full of sorrow and rg dog her cheeks had grown a shade paler, and her hands were clasped beseechingly. . “J think not, Hetty,” eee he, ratherjnervously. as he took the glass. “If yon peak is christened Flat Butte, it is not the one from which Sir Henry flung himself, fifteen years ago. That one is, if I remember aright, further south and east.” “Beg yer parding, sir, but I ree’ons how you’re mistook. This butte are the only one’s you'll find up nor’, hyar, in this purticular region, ’vept it be Pumpkin Butte in the Hills,” said old Dan. “ No, I am not mistaken,’ was the haughty reply. ‘However, let’s drop the subject, and turn our eyes around us, lest we be surprised.” A glanee went to prove that the pursuers had come within arrow r nge; and were preparing for a final spurt. ~- “Onl”? cried Coggswell, sternly, and the jaded - steeds were lashed into further speed. ‘‘ They must ot git in a wipe o’ them arrers on us, or some 0 us be troubled wi’ chronick rewmatism\” - ee “ On, desperately on they dashed, hotly chased by the painted man-hunters, whose yells were now in- creased both in volume and hideousness. On, and they were nearing the mountain range which rose so frowningly out of the almost level savanna, when Coggswell suddenly shouted: ‘Look! there is the mouth of the canyon of which Ispeaked. If we kin git inter it, we kin fight the p’izen varmints at our leisure.” He pointed to a black angular opening in the mighty bluffs of mountain, through which gurgled a little streamlet. ‘ A cheer rose from the lips of Sir Harry and was answered by a perfect pandemonium of yells from the savages, They lashed their ponies furiously, and sent cloud after cloud of arrows and volley after volley of bul- lets in pursuit of their intended victims. But allto no avail, _ : In five momexts Dan Coggswell led his party be- tween the towering walls of the syiggt ee and order- ing the ladies to ride on into the depths, he com- ri ay uh SS ai manded the men to dismount and prepare to defend — themselves. On came the Sioux they could break into the canyon, but they were mis- taken, there. ' The horses had been wheeled broadside across the entrance, and as the savage enemy came pouring into view, four well-directed bullets from the little party’s repeating rifles, unhorsed as many reds, Again the repeaters spoke, and eight instead of four warriors went sprawling to the ground. At first the Indians were confuse(\; and. half terrified, beat a hasty retreat, out of rifle range, to hold a short consultation. Soon they came fiercely on in another rush, only to be met with a perfect stream of fire from the wonderful repeating rifles, that swept away half a dozen braves from their ranks, Again they withdrew a short distance, and leaving a pot of two-score to watch the fugitives, the main ody separated and swerved to either side of the canyon. Their purpose at once became evident. They were going to scale the mountains and enter the guich from the rear. CHAPTER III. TWO REMARKABLE VISITORS. ‘ “Tey are going to assail us from some other point,” said Sir Fleming, as ‘he with the others watched the division of the savages. “Is there another end to this canyon, guide, through which we can make our escape?” ‘““Wal, now, that’s a question that only time can’ solve. P'raps thar’s an outlet sumwhar more or less than five thousand miles from here, an’ ag’in, p’raps thar ain’t. These canyons ar’ as full 0° crooks, curl pues an’ curious freaks 0’ natur’ as a mule’s hind fut.» If thar’s an end to this purtick’lar one, ye can bet yer shiners that it ar’ fur from this—cl’ar thru of t’other side 0’ ther mountings. That’s true ospul!”’ | : 2 ‘And do you think the red-skins who just rode away contemplate climbing the mountains and ge ting into this canyon in our rear?” asked Sir Harry — *T hain’t ther least doubt o it!” ‘Then, in God’s name, what ought we to do—what — must we do?” ‘That's w’at I'm cogitatin’ on, but ain’t made up my mind, yet. Give me room an’ time to think.” hen he relapsed into silence, and while the others were watching the movements of the remainder of the Indians, Dan racked his brain for some possible lan by which he could extricate the party from the ee danger, “4 he guard left outside the entrance were now seen to dismount and picket out their preparations were being made for camping on the spot. This convinced the suite that the enemy were not going to relinquish to surround and take the gorge on all sides. ? ay * % * in a rush, with the idea that by 3 ea Es: rad eo fj #5 2 7” - ~ #8 nies, while active — heir prize, while there _ might be a chance of capturing it. ghey were going

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“We will t. “ip where we are,” he said, at last, *“an’ do the best we can. *Twon’t do to ventur’ in- ter ther depths o’ ther mountings too far, fer we mought like’s not git caged thar. Sir Bruce, ye’d better trot off up the canyon, an’ recall Lady Mil- burn an’ Lady Maude, an’ we’ll camp right hyar fer ther present.” Sir Bruce obeyed with alacrity, and in half an hour returned with the ladies, and a camp was pitched on the spot. This consisted of a couple of portable tents which had been brought along for the use of the females and the gentlemen; and soon a fire was built, and ene pi prepared some dried venison for the whole Ys By this time it was sunset, and the shadows of nizht settled dark and somber over the earth. Sir Harry volunteered to stand guard the fore part of the night, and Dan the latter; so the night ' passed away and another day dawned bright and rosy, without sight or sound of hostile movement from the enemy. After breakfast Dan put the camp in charge of Sir Harry, and shouldering his rifle and mounting his horse he set off up the canyon to make observations, as he said. The canyon soon proved itself to be similar to many others of its kind in this wild region. In places it was not over a hundred feet wide, and walled in by such mammoth towers of rock that all was dense- ly black at the bottom, which was grassy and watered by an infant stream. < Then further on it, would widen somewhat and become lighter, though the sides were still high and perpendicular. For miles it stretched away between aa peaks, whose crests were capped with snow he year around, and wound its way like a forsaken freak of nature through the silent northern wilder- _ ness of rock and wood. Far away, still in the dim distance, loomed up the Flat Butte like a frowning monster, as it reared its summit haughtily above those of its neighbors, and seemed to discountenance ° human approach, - Coggswell had never explored the range, but he had heard much concerning it, and did not venture very far into its depths for fear he might arouse an- other gang of red-skins. So, after assuring himself that the canyon extended at least &s far as the Flat Butte, he turned his horse’s head toward camp. . As he retraced the route oyer which he had come, he minutely scanned the walls on either side of him, to see if there was any chance for the enemy to penetrate the gorge. No; there was no opening in the great mass of rock, that would admit of passage. If they got in at all, it would be by lowering each other with las- soes from the pinnacles above, whither they would have to climb. Satisfied that such was the true state of affairs, and that days if not weeks must elapse ere such an entrance could be effected, Coggswell rode back to the camp. Here he found matters as he had left them, and that there were no signs of immediate ' trouble from the twenty reds who had camped out- side the mouth of the canyon. Sir Harry Milburn was lounging on guard just out of rifle range, and Sir Mleming and. Sir Bruce were in their tent cleaning their weapons. _ ‘What did you make out?” asked Sir Harry as the Fulde joined him. _“Oh, nuthin’ much. I don’t ’spect any trouble | right off, tho’ it’s well enuff to be on ther lookout fer it,” was the reply. “Any stir among the Injines?”” *No, not to speak of. They seem to be lounging aed around, at their own ease, as you see __“Humph! An’ all the wile they’re planntn’ sum -devilment, lay low, an’ wait further dewellopments,”” Howsumdever, e can bet yer we kin do ar’ ter bet ee e’re powerless to purvent it. A Ore OT or ee Old Avalanche. The day passed without incident, and night with her somber mantle overshadowed the mountains, canyon, and plain. Sir Bruce was detailed to keep the first vigil, and Dan the last. Accordingly, they changed off at midnight, and the guide went on duty. here was no moon, and ‘though a few pale stars twinkled up afar in heaven’s blue vault, the shadow of the towering bluffs cast over the camp a pall of gloom. No fire was kept burning, for the guide well knew that the enemy would take advantage of the light to pick off an occasional white with their long- range rifles. They, however, kept a little blaze near by their camp, and when it’ would die down their: pickets always took pains to replenish it, so that their camp was flooded with light. Coggswell could. not understand this at first, aluhough he was alive to the fact that there was a motive init. He was not aware that full half the pea were concealed beyond that fire eagerly watching the enemy’s camp, with the idea that some of the whites would, out of curiosity, creep near to spy upon them, and thereby offer a target for half a score of rifles. 5 But in this the fierce wretches were foiled. Dan was too wise to “* nose around’ in their vicinity. Still he did not allow his watchfulness to decrease, but, on the contrary, kept his eyes and ears even more alert than on the foregoing night. He felt that something was soon to occur, but what it was he was unable to imagine. The hours went slowly by, and as morning’s brett approached, the night grew blacker and stiller. The guide had just returned from a trip around thecamp, and was starting off toward the Sioux camp, when a suspicious sound arrested his atten- tion, It came from the direction of the entrance, and sounded like stealthy footsteps in ,the rustling grass. hal, a repeater, Dan peered straight ahead, his eyes sharply searching every object in the pass. At first he could make out nothing, but presently he beheld a visible moving and swaying of the tall vegetation, and looking, as he was, toward the pes ies ae of the enemy’s camp-fire; he thought he could distinguish the bobbing of a head now and then above the surface of the grass. Who wasit? Were the savages trying to steal in, and effect a surprise? It looked decidedly so, else why 86 stealthy an approach? . atching warily for a moment longer, the guide brought his gun to his shoulder, and sung out: ** Halt! ho comes there?” “ Tn an instant all was silence. The rustling ceased, and the bobbing in the ver- dure was gone. “* Speak; who are you?” again demanded Coggs- well, advancing—‘“‘ friend or foe?” ; **f reckin thet ar’ erbout the state o’ affairs,” re- plied a shrill, wheezy voice; and- the next moment the figure of a man leaped nimbly from the depths of the grass, and came tumbling with handsprings into the guide’s presence, closely followed by a small, sheepish-looking animal of t oo Capra— a real, live, and exceedingly ugly-looking goat. Dan Coggswell leaped back in consternation at the un- ceremonious debut of the pair; but, as the little old man ceased his eccentric revolutions and came |

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o’ annihilation w’ot continerally sweeps down thr’u’ these boreal lattytudes!” “Good! I’m as glad to see ye, old man, as a coyote is to smell dead hoss, arter. a severe winter. But, whar in ther name 0’ Israel Putnam, did ye cum frum?” ; “Cum from? Whar'd I gush forthfrom, d’y wan- ter kno’! Oh! nowhar in pia Ismelt the savory odor 0’ a down this way, so I got aboard o’ a veritagable thunderstarm o’ demolishen, under the conductorashun o’ O’ Rory Borey Alice, an’ war waffted over inter thes deestrict fer ther purpuss 0’ annihilatin’ a couple a-hundred Sooks. See ye’ve a regimint o’ ther same acting as yer body-guard, out hayr.” 2 Oh yes. The divils have got us hyar, an’ thar’s no tellin’ how we’re goin’ to git out. hat kind o’ a beest d’ye call this feller?” “That? Why, ¢reeation hain’t ye nevyer heerd tell o’ thet anymile? Thet’s my half—my best-half, and a j’int o’ ther destructive Avalanche. That ’ar’s a he goat, w'at navygaits under ther appleation o’ Florence Night-in-a-gale. I’m the he-goat-ce, w’ot floats through the atmosphere under ther cognomen o’ Old Avalanche, Injun Anuoihilator; an’ he’s my ard. Ye observe et allus takes fico, at ther most Iideffy nite calkylation, to make a bargain, an’ sum- times three. al, sich bein’ ther status.o’ erfairs, I an’ Florence ar’ two, an’ w’en ther third felles cums in wi’ his say ’bout things in gineral, we two consoli- date an’ win the bargi’n by demolishen ther third arty! We ar’ one an’ always wins when it cemes © fight, or fodder, or fun.” “Haw! haw! haw!” laughed Dan, really happy, now that he had met one of his own type of men. _ “ T see ye’re’s full 0° sass as ever, old man. Bub, tell me, how did you git in here?”’ “How did I git hayar? How did the aneety. avalanche 0? demolishen git here? Why, b’yee, how does this great ackcheevemunt allus work its as- toundin’ miracles? How does the whirlygig o’ de- struction allus sweep down like a grasshopper bri- ade thru these Injun latytudes an longytoads? ow, indeed? Echo ans’ers.faintly haow? Wal Tllexplain to ye. Ismelt Soo down hayrabouts, so an’ Florence ight-in-a-gale jist stepped aboard o’ a thunderstarm o’ exterminashun, cornducted by the eat O’ Rory Borey Alice, an’ were socked down at her eatrance o’ this canyon in less time ’n et takes to say Zackariah Zebulon!”’ By this time the shrill tones of the eccentric Ava- lanche had aroused the camp, and the whole of the party came para 7 out of their tents, to ascertain the, cause of so much commotion, It was still quite dark, and only the outlines of the two friends’ forms were discernible to the noble- é penned up men, “Hello, there, guide!”” shouted Sir Harry as he approached, accompanied by Sir Bruce and Sir eming; “ what’s the go?” ‘*Oh! nothing much,” was the reply. I’ve got a recruit here!”’ ‘““A recruit, eh?” and the gentlemen crowded eagerly around. ‘‘What! a mountaineer? Jove; ‘this és luck!’ “Yes, sar,” replied the old man, leaning on his rifle, and peering at the noblemen through the gloom, “‘a ginnuywine northern mountener, who floats through the atmosphere about five feet above terry firmer, under the pump-handle o’ Old Ava- lanche, the Great Injin Annihilator—a voleaneck erruption o’ destruction, a hailstarm 0’ demolishon, and a veritagable equinocksyell decockshun 0’ an- nihilation,”’ “Come up, CHAPTER IV, WILD EDNA DEMANDS TOLL. Tats caused a general laugh, during which the cor- pulent Sir Fleming espied the old goat, faintly dis- cernible in the darkness. “Hello! What is this—a mountain dog?” he asked, ’ é dS “Loe RF oe = ee gee s> OL et ee eb dE, he, oe ae CS hw > Old Avalanche, advancing with all an Englishman’s love for the canine creation, and. attempting to pat the animal on the head. ‘Nice doggy, nice ogey! There, pup, do not be frightened, because I will not harm you”’—for Florence Night-in-a-gale had backed away, Shaking his head dubiously. Seeing that he could not effect an acquaintance with the stubborn ‘““dog,”’ the nobleman turned to Old Avalanche. “What breed is your dog, stranger?” he asked, condescendin; ly. The atafaiieae was about to answer when there ~ was & rush, a_ savage ‘‘ba-a-a,’’ and the neck and heels of Sir Fleming suddenly approached each | other with astonishing quickness, and he went roll- | pe over end, to the furtherside of the camp, | i ‘hay 5 r Fleming dolefully picked himself up, and‘) glared about wildly. : “What was that?’ he demanded, stamping his foot with rage; ‘‘ what was that that struck.me?” The answer cgme quickly, for like a rocket the frolicsome goat, with a bound and a bleat, rammed his knotty head against the baronet’s imposing paunch, again rolling him over and over like a ball, “ That's "bout ther breed o’ my dorg,” snorted Old Avalanche, roaring with laughter, and rancing’ Seu ealy about; ‘that’s ther pedigree o’ Florence Night-in-a-gale. Kim hyar, Florence, ye onmannerly rapscallion. Don’ ye kno’ no better’n to buck one 0° yer own color? lend yer head-geer tew the heethan, Nevyar. neryar let me cotch ye buckin’ one 0’ yer own color erg’in, or I'll wallop yer red!” Sir Fleming arose with evident trepidation. and, clasping his hands over his abused paunch, made for his tent with groans and muttered curses. Morning dawned clear and warm, and in the first rosy light, the imprisoned party was enabled to view for the first time a genuine northern mountain man—_ for such was Old Avalanche—from deerskin leggings and beaded moccasins, to his fringed skin hunting: - shirt and bearskin cap. He was of medium stature, with a muscularly developed form, and clean, wiry limbs, and looked to’ ‘be a person of uncommon strength. Though well along in years, he was still supple and active as a man of forty. His skin was tanned to a dark brown, and his whole face and appearance was as grizzly as grizzly could be. His face was seenly scarred and seamed, his hair was long and tangled, and his eyes were wonderfully brilliant and piercing, considering x ¥ y b’yee, ye shed allus remember — thet ye ar’ only called upon tew butt J; juns—tew ~ © hisage. They seemed capable of reading one’s inner- Pe. most thoughts and secrets. In some affray he had lost both ears, a disfiguration that would render him recognizable in any place or under any circum: stances. : His arms were of improved pattern and finish, the rifle being a he Siete and the revolvers in his belt of the Colt ma able mountaineer and guide. His reception by the Ladies Milburn was hearty, and Sir Harry and Sir Bruce were no less demon- strative in their joy at his coming. Dan had said much of the prowess, skill and ingenuity of the Annihilator, and now that he had condescended to drop in upon them, all felt that they could rely — upon him to extricate them a from their present diffi: culty and danger. : ““{ dunno about it,” was the veteran’s reply, when = Sir Harry asked him if he felt himself equalto the task of guiding them into a place of eee ** These. purteckler lat A aa an’ longytoads ain’t th delightful kentries as ye ked wish fer. ‘less yere- able ter’preeshate ther failings an’ virtues o’-ther Injun creeashun. If a feller gits inter Injun embar- rassments, it’s mor’n pices e won't git outo’ em, — wi’out losin’ his wig, ‘less he happens to be a hail-— starm o’ demolishen; like me, fer instance.” £8 “But there certainly must be some way by which to escape from here. Does not this canyon have an opening at some other point?” = is yt e. A bowie and hatchet also hung at his hip, and this completed the outfit of the not- er most —

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. 0’ extermination; ess **Ye've got ther Avalanche thar, b’yee, fer sart’in, _ %ea’se I don’t eggsactly kno’. Ye see, [ nevyar *splored it any fu’ther’n the Flat Butte, whose, base ar’ ’bout twenty miles from hayr. Thar mought be another eend to et, then ag’in thar moughtn’t, These canyons ar’ worse nor a dose 0’ pills fer phizzickin’ a feller’s ijees an’ calkylashuns. Sum’- times they’llrun fer miles as purty an’ natcheral- like as a volcaner o’ destruckshion: then, ergain, ye’ll p’r’aps foller one for a mile or two gud cum slap-dab up ag’in’ a mounten o when ye’ r Kk. % ‘ock, i **Indeed! How far westward does this range ex- tend?” ‘*More or less’n a hundred miles. It's cl’ar twenty on ’em to ther fut o’ ole Flat Butte, an’ thet ar’n’t a sarcumstance ter w'ot’s beyond.” *“Humph! Weare indeed in a trap, then. Lal- most despair of ever getting back within the bounds of civilization.” * Ye mustn’t guv up so easy.” *‘ And why hope, pray?’’» “Oh! fer numerous reason. I'll bet a cart-load 0’ b’ar-meat that I an’ my j’int ‘ll get you outo' this, afore long!” “Your jint?” ~ “Eggsactly—my j’int—my h .lf-an’-half!” “T fail to comprehend.” “Eh? Don’t see thr’u’ et? Wal, that’s quare. Ye observe thet my goat thar, ar’ a j’int o’ the great thunderstarm 0’ boreal destruction, an’ consekent- _ly, he's a j’int o’ ther famuss Avalanche, w’ich same ar’ yer ’umble sarvint. He's my goat, is Florence Night-in-a-gale, an’ I’m his goatee. He's a j’int, cogg wheel an’ ram-rod o’ ther Annihilation; I’m the proprieter, ther orig’nator, an’ sher hull machinner 0’ ther ackcheevement. We two, consolidated, make up ther arful Norweegjan avalanche o’ de- struction, w’at sweeps off Injun varmin frum these lattytudes an’ Sg wameeed | ther voleaneck errupshun her whirlygig o’ demolishun an’ hailstarm o’ subversion an’ annioilation!” “ Heaven!’ gasped Sir Harry, “if you are all you claim to be, 1 should hate to have you wage war against me!” ‘Correckt—correckt as full moon in fly-time, Grasshoppers an* mounten dew! why, when both ‘ints o’ ther Avalanche éit inter o eration, an’ ar’s plenty Injuns erbout to annihilate, we’re a parfect thunderbolterous decockshun 0’ death an’ extinkshun. Sir, jes’s true’s I’m a Norweegjan avalanche, I an’ my half-an’-half, Florence Night- in-a-gale, thar, kin lick more Injun-meet ‘than any alliance this side o’ Mississip’ rivyer on a bet, an’ by ther sun. Wanter bet?” “No, I think not. I should first prefer to see you operate on these savages out there at the mouth of € canyon.” *‘ An’ ye shell be grattyfied soon, sure’s_thar’s virtue an’ modesty in a he-mule’s hind fut. 1 think I'll take a skirmish over thar, now, I do.” And, looking to his weapons the eccentric old fel- “Low threw himself on the gevuns and wiggled off toward the entrance, closely and silently followed by his remarkable goat. . The aon in the mouth of the canyon was nearly waist high, in consequence of the ground at this spot being somewhat marshy, so that the move- ments of the Avalanche were not observed by the watchful savages,outside. The two were absent a greater share of the day. and those in camp were beginning to grow fearful _ that their stand-by had either deserted them or been captured, when he quietly reappeared aniong them, accompanied by Florence, A glance at his grim, anxious face told them that apne had happened, which boded them no : Be What is it, sir?” asked Lady Milburn as she ap- mecha, him, leaning on the arm of her beautiful daughter. ‘I trust we are in no immediate danzer ef being massacred? Coggswell said, only yester- e ernuff, ; ‘Old Avaianche. day, that he apprehended no trouble for several days yet.” “Wal, ma’am,”’ was the Annihilator’s answer, as he seated himself on a convenient bowlder, ‘ that’s all to one’s way 0’ thinkin’. As I’ve obsarved sev- erial times behind, it ginneraley takes two or more parsons to make a bargain. Now, then, Ian’ my n’t, hyar, Florence Night-in-a-gale, hey been com- parin’ notes, to-day, an’ we’ve arriv’ at ther univers sal conklusion thet we’re goin’ to expeerience thun- der’n’ hot times, pirty s00n, near’s we kin jedge!’’ ““What’s that?” asked Sir Harry, coming up. “Have you made any alarming discoveries, scout?’’ *‘ Alarmin’? Wal, that’s jes’ as ye luke at the thing. You mought call ’em alarmin’, while I call- ed ’em simply ‘hot.’ Howsumdever, I’ve satisficd my ijees, thet ef we wait ’til ye escape thru that hoe yander, wi’ ther assurity that ye git safe away wi’out gittin’ yer ha’r dressed by Injin barbers, ye’ll be’s gray’s ole Job’s hen-turkey, Ther pererarey ar’ jes’ swarmin’ wi’ red-skins, an’ they're preparin’ to drive us back inter ther mountains. See ayr, folkses, thar’s one thing’w’at puzzils me. _ Ev’ry consarned Injun out thar kerries ther calkylashun *bout him, thet when they get you-’uns they’ll git swads on swads 0’ money an’ dimunds an’ jewels, an’ sich like. ‘Thar’s white devils ’mong ’em w’at's seen ye up at Dakota City—Idaho Bill an’ Red Bill, for instance, who ar’ two o’ the wu’st cut-throats this side o’ perdishen, an’ they’re a-urgin’ on the red niggurs by tellin’ ’em w’at lots 0’ spondulix ye’ve got. Now, is this so, or is et sum o’ them renegades’ cussed lyin’?”’ j Sir Harry and Lady Milburn exchanged glances; then the former replied: “Yes, itis partly true. We have money and jew- els poough about our persons to come to a million dollars if sold in fair markets.” The old man shrugged his shoulders. “Ye’re dumblasted fools fer bringin’ ’em out inter this kentry, then,” he growled. ‘‘Thet, however, ain’t none 0’ my bizness. Ye’ve got yerselves inter a& muss, an’ ye must prepare to bear up no matter w’ot ’tarnal diffikilties ye meet. Ef we all git out o’ these mountens *thout we git ha’r dressed, I’ve lost my scientiffeck rec’onin’. Nevyertheless, we hev got totry. Ther great Avalanche is wi’ ye, an’ ef he ken’t see ye-out 0’ thes embarrassment, no other de-_ structive human ken. But ernuff 0’ jaw-waggin’; let’s adjourn ter bizness, Saddle an’ mount yer hosses, all hands, an’ ride fer dear life up ther canyon. Do not stop ’til ter-morrer daybreak ef ve ken keep on, Thet’ll fetch ye ’bout ter ther fut o’ Flattened Butte. Stop hayr an’ wait ’til I j’ine ye!” ‘ ‘* But what do you intend to do?’ “IT must steal a hoss frum them Lot fust. Nevyer feer fur me. Ill cum out top o’ the pile.” ‘Shall we take the tents along?” asked Sir Harry, **No. Leave ’em whar they ar’, They may keep ther reds from ’speckin’ ye’ve sloped an‘ keep ’em from attackin’ right off.” { So the tents were left standing, the horses care- fullsaddled, packed and mounted, and then, wh all was in readiness, the cavalcade dashed off up the gorge, under the guidance of Coggswell, leaving Old Avalanche and Florence sole tenants of the deserted * camp. i For hours they rode rapidly on. The bottom of the canyon was comparatively level, consequently no serious impediment was offered to their progress. Night fell dark and dense over the grand old mountains, for the sky§was overcast with menacing black clouds; and still the fugitives urged their steeds through the gicont of the great canyon which | stretched away, as deep, silent/and lifeless as before, and doubly more blank and impenetrable. All night they rode] on, and as the first tints of day-dawn were seen to flush against the mountain crests, they came to a halt at the base of that mighty pile of rock “sald andeur, the Flat Butte. < “Thar, ma’am,” sai respectfully to Lady Milburn, as he nodded upward ld Dan, doffing his hat Py dies 7S ha

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Pies | Yd Avalanche. 2 ' ne toward the fardistant peak—‘* that's ther Flat Butte, up yander, an’ ther only pile o’ ce pee ee. that name in all Balcotas in fact, thar ain’t ernuther flat butte short o’ ther Black Hills or ther Rockies.” “Oh, Sir Fleming!’ exclaimed the lady; “ then “you must be mistaken. This must be the mountain am in search of. Oh! sir, do not tell mel am wrong. I must, I will know thetruth, and have a search made for my poor, lost Henry’s bones. Ay, I will, sir, if we have to search the country over!” “Nonsense, Hetty; you are getting crazy over ~ this subject. I have told you once that this is not the Flat Butte I mean, Is not that enough?” “No! itis not enough!’ cried Sir Harry, sternly. **T now fully believe this to be the peak.” “Take care, young man, how you speak to me, your better. You forget.” . “No, I forget nothing; nor dol fear you. If my mother wishes search made, it shall be madet Let that be understood.” ay “Tt shall not, withcut my consent. Who com- mands this party, pray?” * 7 do—my share of it!’’ was the retort of the de- cided young nobleman. ** And what do you claim as your part?” sneered Sir Fleming. : - “My mother and sister, sir, and our guide, I trus Sir Tyrant. As to Sir Bruce Lesquirk, I do no . know whether I can count on him as ally or not.” Sir Bruce smiled a purely French smile, and nodded his head negatively. “Sir Harry forgets that I owe my support-and title to Sir Fleming,”’ he said, in a soft, oily voice, “T should therefore consider is wishes above all others.” : “Very well,” bowed the haughty young peer, coolly; ‘‘just as you like. Your room is of more ‘account than your society.” Sir Fleming laughed, evilly. *“T think by the rights of a husband and guardian, I also have the ladies under my controll’? he chuckled, Sir Harry bit his lip savagely, but did not an- swer.” Cogeswell, however, spoke for him: “Bnough o’ ‘this wranglin’, now,” he growled, “fer thar’s other biz on hand, We're goin’ to have visitors.” He pointed on up the canyon to where a large party-of horsemen had come in sight through the gloom, and were galloping down toward them... They ° were all attired in the garb of mountain-men, were armed with polished rifles, revolvers and knives, and wore crape vails as masks over the upper por- tion of their faces, But, most strange of all, they were headed by a woman—a young and beautiful creature, with skin |’ of creamy whiteness, fae and classic features, eyes like stars in their brightness, and hair of nut-brown -eolor. which hung to her waist in a mass of wild confusion. Her form was the perfection of a sylph, and was clad in a rich Spanish-Mexican riding-Pabit, while a belt around her taper waist was. bristling with + hg aa of the best pattern and finish, as was the rifle that was slung across her saddle-bows. She was mounted upon a superior black charger, adorned with gay and elegant trappings, and sat her saddle with the ease and grace of a finished eques- trienne. As they noted *these facts, both Dan Coggswell and Sir Henry uttered exclamations of wonder and admiration. “Beautifull” said the latter to his pretty sister, who was riding by his side. ‘She is just my ideal of what woman ¢an be.” . “You think hér pretty?” “ Ay!—What grace! what strength, what com- mand! She is magnificent! know her?” F *Reckon so; at least I’ve heerd tell on her, but didn’t expect to meet her hyar, no more’n I would ‘ve Job’s hen-rooster.”’ mag Ts “But, who is it?—who are they?” “Ther femayel is Wild Edna, the Girl Bandit, an’ x Hey, guide, do you | 4 ' 9 ot eeeoeeeemintateenantall me them others ar’ her backers—a; wild an’ fearless a set o’ devils as ever chawed le’d!” “What! a girl-bandit? that beauteous girl a ban- dit? Impossible, sir!’ “No, et ain’t nuthin’ o’ the kind, Jes’ wait 2 bit an’ ye’ll see fer yerself.”’ At the guide’s command all the men,cocked and raised their rifles, and as the new-comers came within speaking distance, old Dan sung out: ‘* Halt or we fire!” Wild Edna addressed her followers then, and they drew up in form across the canyon, while she, affix- ing a white *kerchief to the end of her rifle, rode on forward. ‘What do you want?” demanded Sir Fleming, ag she rode within a few rods and drew rein. ‘* What and who are you?”’ A smile irradiated the maiden's face as she eyed every one among the party, and then replied: “Your pondereus lordship, I have the honor of introducing myself as. Wild dna, the Girl Bandit, Those I left behind me are my men,”’ =* Indeed! young lady of your. personal beauty, I should say. : ae ea aware that America was infested with an ; “Then eos were not well informed, sir. — I ee = to inquire what brought you into Devil's ‘anyon ‘*We were driven hither by the Indians,” replied Sir Harry, eying the vision of beauty before him = with undisguised admiration. ‘““By the Indians, eh? Well, that is no un- common occurrence. for we often see parties of hunters, trappers and explorers cag same trap. suppose it is your desire to pass on through the canyon and get out of these mountains, is it not?” 4 ‘Most assuredly, if there is possibility of such an escape.” je “You are then, doubtless, prepared to pay the toll without delay, so that you can earlier take your ~ departure?”’ “The toll?” “The toll.’ Every person who Butte by the gateway of the Devi uired to pay a toll, the same\being any amount may see fit to exact. On consideration of its payment in gold or greenbacks, my followers see 5s the Flat 8 that you are guarded ot on through the mount: 0 ains and started én route ont By the gods!” led Sir Fl i ‘*By the gods!” growled Sir Fleming, in a rage, ‘*you have the most sublime cheek it has ever been pak Aa) to behold. Why, child, do you imagine we will tolerate any such interruption as. you probably will seek to place in our path? Ill shoot you for your impudence.” ‘*No, you ‘will do ee so rash,” was Wild Edna’s cool answer. ‘One finger laid upon me in anger, or a band upraised against me, would seal your fate. My men are all sworn to obey and pro- tect me, and avenge me should I fall. God pits the r the nearest post of man who, incurs their enmity! His death would be terrible.” Sir Fleming cowered under the fire that shone from her wondrous eyes. ‘““What toll do you require,” asked Sir Harry, ‘before you pass us on?” ‘* Well, that depends. Let me see—there are six of — you, and I see that all of you save the guide sport diamonds—a fact that tells me your wealth is great, Of what nationality are you?” . A most remarkable vocation for 3 in this. Canyon is re- _ “All, except two, are English. Sir Bruce here, 1s _ 23 a French Canadian, and the guide a Yank!’* * Very weil. dollars—one;thousand a head |” CHAPTER V. OLD AVALANCHE ON THE RAMPAGE, Arter the cavalcade was out of sight up ravine or canyon, Old Avalanche began to fix ' \ The toll, then, shall be siw thousand ©

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40 in around in camp, insuch a manner as would lead the savages to suppose alithe party were still there. He found several blankets in the tents, and wrap- ping these about suitable broken limbs that were strewn about, he manufactured some quite credit- abie dummies, which were put in position near the mouth of the gorge. After arranging everything quite to his satisfaction, he stationed the goat near ‘the entrance to watch, while he threw himself upon the ground and was soon off in a sound and refresh- ing slumber, from which he did not waken until the shadows of night had enveloped the earth. Then, after calling in Florenee by a shrill whistle, he ate a few bits of dried bear-meat, after which he was ready for the war-path. Out on the prairie he could see the glow of many _camp-fires, and from these he guessed that the reds were not to attack the camp that night, or, if at all, not uatil a late hour. The reflection of the fires against the clouded sky enabled the shrewd old scout to ascertain their num- ber, for each fire cast a distinct glow from t others, where they were not too contiguous, whic was not the case, now. There were eleven reflections, and from their scat- > tered positions, the Annibilator concluded that the ‘enemy were spread out over a considerable portion of the neighboring savanna, After carefully examining his weapons, and bid- _ ding Florence to lie down and watch the camp, he slung his rifle behind his back, threw himself on all- fours, and crept out of the mouth of the canyon. Once outside, he came to a momentary halt, and cautiously gazed about. All around him lay spread out a panorama of wildness, life and grandeur. Down across the almost limitless plain, were the lights of twinkling camp-fires, which there lit up the starless night like open.day; the moving of hun- dreds of dusky figures, the neighing of horses and the guttural shouts of men, told that there was the Indian camp. Here were countless dozens cooking their evening meals; there were other groups engaged at their long council-pipes. Here were braves rubbing down their horses by the light of the flaming torch, and there a smal over a cast-off bone. Everywhere were more or less bustle and a ‘tivity, and, viewed in the bright light of great, roaring ecamp-fires, it was a scene of exciting interest and novelty. After several moments’ scrutiny, Old Avalanche became satisfied on two points. One was that there was a large increase in numbers since his previous visit, and the other was that there were not less than a dozen sentinels concealed in the grass, very close to’ where he was crouching. Hehad seen more than one suspicious swaying of the verdure around and in front of him, which, as there was not the faintest breeze stirring could only be accounted for by the presence of a skulking red-skin. To get bs ag their lines without attracting atten- tion he well knew was impossible; but beyond he was determined to go, if he had to wade through a ___ whole regiment of them. So, tightening his belt, and drawing his keen- edged bowie, he crawled carefully on, making scarcely Say sound or stir among the high grass. His course lay along the base of the mountain, for “he knew that if he could escape the sentinel in this direction, he would be enabled to approach the corral of the Indians’ horses with more sure- ty of not stumbling against a cordop of ene- es, _ On he crawled; with less noise than a creeping ser- ; a ge every nerve strung and ready for work, and his eyes andears on the alert for hostile sight or sound. Right in front of him he heard a rustle, which be- _. tokened the presence of a savage, Had the red-skin . discovered him? For fully half a minute the scout paused in doubt; but, as all was again silence, he Presently he suddenly paused. army of dogs, yelping and snarling the No-Ear brave,” — ce Aw tons Olid Avalanche. A ollanaienatienstitidaentaramnce cocmamamacenanaeeetonmeeninemeeneen eens an Ree eT thrust the blade of his knife between his teeth, and ay ee to wriggle slowly backward. his retreat, however, was of but short duration for he soon came to another halt, : There were enemies coming up in his rear? These were not creeping up, though; but advan¢ ing in an upright position, and were four in num ber. Their course lay straight toward where the scout was concealed, and in a few moments they would be upon him, : “One on ’em’s Idaho Bill,” he muttered, as the loud, brawling voice of one of the new-comers floated out on the air. ‘‘ Darn his black hide, et won’t do fer him ter git his peepers on ther Averlanche—ther boreal breeze 0’ destructiveness, or thar’ll be mir- acles to pay. I opine et would be healthy to slope.” In retreating from where he supposed the sentinel to be lying, if had been the scout’s po to gather himself up and, by a succession of handsprings, Jand plumb on top of his enemy; but a pene, now warned him that this would be impossible on accoun of the approach of Idaho Bill and his companions; so he once more crawled ahead toward the concealed red-skin. He experienced no difficulty in obtainin his former position, where he paused and grasp: his knife in a firm band, Then he listened. There was nonoise ahead. The next instant, the Annihilator ‘gathered himself up and made a fierce lunge ahead through the grass, to where he believed the savage was lying. But, great was his mistake. No savage was there, and his long. knife was oe to the hilt in the earth. Ere he could with raw it, he heard a chuckling grunt, and wheeled about just in time to avoid the blow from a hurtling tomahawk, hurled from the hands of a giant savage, not six yards away. In another instant the two had sprung to each other’s embrace, and were locked in a desperate war- hug. Over and over they rolled through the rustling grass, writhing, twisting and squirming, but emitting no sound save what was caused by their movements, - each determined to crush the other in his terrible | hug, The Annihilator was knifeless, but still had his re- volvers, but clasped in that terrible hug he could not draw either weapon. The red-skin still possessed his knife, but was likewise powerless to use it. So the struggle depended alone upon craft and — ete : Of the latter the savage had the advantage, al- though Old Avalanche was possessed of even more. than an average share, and a few moments convine~ ed the scout that he had met more than his equal, The red-skin was gradually warming = to his work, and bent all his energies toward retaining his sition on the u per side. And, though the scout ought desperately against this, he was doomed to defeat, for, ere he was scarce aware of the fact, the savage had wrenched himself from his hold, turned him under, and pinioned him securely to the ground as in the grip of a vise. He then eyed his prize with a demoniac grin on his bedaubed features, as if undecided what to do— whether to bind him with cords and bear him into camp, or to brain him on the spot. é So astonished was Old Avalanche that fora few moments he was rendered speechless. Never before had he been so easily conquered by one of the hated red-skin race. The grinning captor seemed to divine his thoughts for he said: ‘Ugh! white dog much heap big brave; kill many ‘ Sioux. dough. Hetake great brave to Rain-in-the-Face, an dey burn him at stake!” “Ye will, hey? Yell take ther enormous Nor- weegjan avalanche ter yer camp, will ye, an’ roast him in ther Soo fryin’ skillet, will ye! ther boreal thunderstarm o’ demolishen *bout jest as | ye pleazé, will ye?” : See x Rain-in-the-Face be hean clad to see — “Ugh! yes. Running Antelope too much stout for “im, : Ye'll trot.

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Old Avalanche. He will, hey? He'll slop right over wi’ joy w’en he sees ther volcanic snow-slide o’ annihilation, will he? Wal, jes’ telegraf tew him not tew slobber, jes’ Ny Tell him ter adjern his feelin’s o’ funnynis ’til e’s got yar ’umble sarvent fu’st.”” “Ugh!” grinned the’ demon, ‘let the No-EKar listen. The white chief is coming, and he will help Antelope bind his prisoner.” Old Avalanche’s heart now sunk within him, for he heard the tramp of many feet and the loud mur- mur of approaching voices that told him Idaho Bill and his companions were coming pp Once .nore he struggled fiercely to free himself, but all in vain. ee Antelope had him where he could hold him rmly. “Uh !” he chuckled—‘‘ can’t no git away.”’ But he spoke not the truth, then. Scarcely had the words left his lips when there came upon his hearing the shrill bleat of a goat, and the next instant the form of Florence Nightingale shot meteor-like through the air, and the Antelope became the recipient of a tremendous bunt in the back that shut him up like a jack-knife, and wholly broke his hold upon the scout. Old Avalanche leaped to his feet with alacrity and darted away into the darkness, for the redskin’s howls instantly brought a swarm of his comrades to the spot; and it was not safe to linger thereabouts longer. Florence meekly followed, and in a few moments the two were out of the reach of immedi- ate danger. Here the old man halted and took in his bearings, after which he started offin the direction of the corral, which lay some two miles distant to the northeast, In order to reach it he'was obliged to make a cir- cuit of the entire camp, that was now awakened and on the alert; for, by the magic system of Indian telegraphy, the news had been transmitted to every camp-fire of the scout’s escape. But to a man as thoroughly experienced as the Annihilator, this was merely play, and in the course of half an hour he and his faithful ‘ j’int’’ were close in the vicinity of the corral. This was about fifty rods from any camp-fire, and the animals were guarded by four mounted braves, each well armed, ~ The red-skin nearest to where Old Avalanche and Florence were crouching, was a stalwart youn warrior, and was mounted upon a clean-limbed, fiery Texan horse of a jetty black color. Both horse and rider were motionless, for the latter’s attention was now directed toward the camp, which was all excitement on account of the scout’s probable presence in the vicinity. As he gazed at the handsome warrior and the magnificent horse, a desperate resolve entered the Annihilator’s mind. He would obtain possession of that animal, or something more than a comraon ‘‘scrimmage”’ would prove a failure, With it, and he on its back, it would be no trick at all to dash back into the Devil’s Canyon, from whence he would follow and join the advancing party. Bidding Florence to le down, the scout crawled _stealthily forward through the grass, and after some time reached a position directly behind the uard’s steed, and so close that he could touch its Raurches with his hand. Then he rose softly to his feet. The brave was still unmindful of the pre- sence vf an enemy. es “ His attention was cast upon the movements of those in camp. For several moments Old Avalanche softly stroked the hairy haunches of the horse to quiet him, for, on the scout’s rising he had appeared restive. Then placing his two hands firmly on the animat’s hips, he made an agile spring and landed squarely upon his back behind the sentinel, around whom he flung his arms in a steel-like embrace. The horse reared, and snorted with terror, and then dashed away wildly, bearing straight down into the swarming camp, }' Vow Pad * ii CHAPTER VI. A SPECTER ON THE SUMMIT. Att, even Coggswell the guide, put up theirhands — in astonishment at the amount demanded by the - Girl Bandit. They had imagined her toll would not — exceed a few dollars, consequently the sum named seemed almost an incredible fee. “Zounds!” cried Sir Fleming; “do you imagine we are made of money? Your impudence is astoun- ding! Had I asuitable whip I would chastise you.””’ A merry peal of laughter from WildsBdna showed how this little speech affected her. Evidently she was as fearless as she was beautiful. “Who are you, lady?” asked Sir Harry, respect- fully. ‘‘We seldom see females of your surpassing loveliness the master of such a dangerous and ro- mantic situation.” : “True, Sir Inquisitiveness; but who I am, and what are my antecedents, concerns you not that I see. My business here, is to collect. the toll for. passing through this canyon, and not to divulge my secrets and history to utter strangers,”’ Her voice was now cold and haughty. Sir Harry flushed a trifle, and bit his lip to keep ~ back a hot reply. Her retort had dampened his | ardor more than he would have dared to own. “ash Sac little Lady Maude had noticed the effect, however, And gave him a sisterly little nudge. ‘‘ Faint heart never won fair lady, you know,” she whispered, and then burst into a gay, ringing laugh that caused more rushes of color to go darting across her brother’s handsome face. “Bahl” he growled, with a frown. Then, turning half-savagely upon the Girl Bandit, he continued: ~ “Well, what are you waiting for?” chick “Tor six theusand dollars,” was the cool, uncon- fused answer, ‘Indeedt You can go, then, for you will get no such a sum out of me!” aa “You forget, my lord. I only ask one sixth of the toll from you—the remainder fronr your com- panions.”’ oe “But they will not zive it, no more willl, So you can go. _ ‘* May I presume to inquire, then, what you will do? You can go no further in this direction without pay- ing the toll.” aE ‘ You forget we are armed, and capable of fight- — ing our way through!” ventured Sir Bruce, sneer- ingly. We eanoale through such odds as my band. «I - command full sixty brave men. What could you — hope to do against them?” o1 “Not much, it is true. Nevertheless, J, for one, will not submit to being swindled thus out of a thou- sand dollars. I refuse to pay you a single dollar!” * Likewise, I!” growled Sir Fleming. And I!” from Sir Harry. ; ‘And I!” grinned old Dan. ‘This chicken's bin bankrupt these five years.” “Very well. If this is your final decision, gentle- men, I suppose it includes your ladies as well as ~ yourselves.”” Be “Tt does.” i ect ‘Then I will bid you adieu. Make no attempt to go further up the canyon, or you will be riddled — with bullets. These are stern Jaws, but they are — such as bind the banditti of Devil’s Canyontogether. _ You have refused to pay the toll. To-morrow, next day, and the next I will visit you and request its — payment, If you refuse each time, you will not be — dunned again!” ane “Indeed. Then, I suppose you will adopt harsher. “s measures?”’ ates “Yes, The laws of the brotherhood will then grant you ten days to escape from the canyon, by the route you came, if you ean fight through a legion of red-skins. On the morn of the eleventh day the flood-gates of Lake Tico, a sheet of ig as Ss the peaks of this range and connecting with Devil’s’ Canyon, will be removed and its water will sweep al that blocks its path, in this placeyaway!” etd

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ay ee nae Old Avalanshec- “By Heaven!” gasped Sir Harry, “I believe you are an incarnate flendess!”’ “Nay, my young sir, you are wrong. Ihave no more power to avert this catastrophe than I have to move these mountains. Itis truelam the captair of yon band of men, but when parties refuse to pay the toll, my power ceases, and another than I, sees that the terrible laws of the order are enforced. I am bound and a he'pless captive while the work of destruction goes on!’ “ Horrible. cried both Lady Milburn and her daughter in a breath. ) “ Outrageous!” growled Sir Fleming. “True; but I must not tarry. You still refuse to pay the toll?”’ ; “You will not lower the figure?"’ “T will not—cannot—dare not!” ** That is all, then, We refuse.” Without a word the beautiful commander turned her horse’s head, touched him with her jeweled whip, and galloped back to the band. After a short consultation they soon all dashed away up the can- yon and quickly disappeared among its numerous curves. After ad were out of sight Sir Harry turned to St hh r “Well, isis done with now, I suppose. What are your views on the subject, old man?” Dan shook his head dubiously. “Ye’ve got me,” he replied, slowly. “I don’t ada more what ter do nordoes a new born ! : “Then there is no waz we can get out of here ex- cept by retreating or going ahead, eh?” : _. “*None’s L knowson. I opine we’d better camp down hyar, ’cordin’ ter Avalanche’s orders, an’ wait fer him tew come up.” . ‘Yes, I believe you are right. We are securely penned up, for sure, and may as well make the best of our situation. With red devils at our back and white fieadsin our front, we cannot hope to escape, that I see!” Dan nodded, and then dismounted, while the others followed his example. The canyon was car- peted with an abundance of grass at this point, and after the animals were picketed out to graze, the ruide set about phonon | the camp. As but one .our’s sunlight penetrated the bottom, it was quite hilly even in midday, so a Toaring fire was kindled out of cones and brushwood. ) Out of a few remaining blankets a tent was impro- vised forthe use of the ladies, and soon all were € juite comfortable in their novel retreat. _ had succeeded in b The par posed slowly away. While the others were lounging about camp, Dan shouldered his rifle and scoured the sides of the canyon in Se pes of finding some break that would rmit them to escape from the impending danger; ut vain the search; the giant walls towered frown- ingly aloft, unbroken, and uninviting. No break in ; Bla face would admit of the passage of a human £. During his tramp, however, the sharp-eyed guide ringing down a young bear, from/ the pinnacles above, and this he bore gladly back to camp as a handsome trophy. Choice steaks from young bruin were roasted over the fire, and made a very palatable dish to the hun- : petow of the giant Flat gry fugitives. Their camp was directly at the base and in the utte, Any person stand- ng on its summit could drop a pebble into camp, and kill a man as easily as to flingastone. So ar- ed Sir Fleming, and he requested that the camp removed further up the gorge, The guide went off to see how near were Wild Edna's guards, and soon returned with the news that a single guard was posted a mile further up the canyon. : “But Ill wager thar’s slathers more on ‘em cluss by,” he said by way of conclusion. “The camp was accordingly transferred several ioe waegce , 3 a Efeorert Ped “tng =) Sar Ane ad hundred yards to the western side of the mountain, Sema g of such danger as Sir Fleming had appre- ended. At last night fell over the peaks, and preparations were made to ‘ turn in.” All were more or less anxious about the non-ap- earance of Old Avalanche, except Sir Fleming and ir Bruce. : They were apparently unconcerned, or at least, they did not seem to care whether he returned or not. “Itis possible he may have been captured by the Indians,” suggested Lady, Maude, as they all stood grou ed around the eracklin campfire. “Y-a-s, et’s possible, an’ that’s erbout all. I tell yeit takes a red-skin wi’ a cast-iron he’d ter take ther Annihilator, all alone. I’ve knowed ov his es- capin’from ther red warmints w’en they hed him all ready to roast—I hev, by gum. He’s jes’ as stip- pery as an eel, an’ hes got as many lives as er spot- ted tom-cat,”’ ‘* And as much tongue as a bayou alligator,” put in Sir Bruce spitefully. “Wal, to be sure, he ar’ troubled wi’ too much speech, but et ar’ natteral fer him.” “ How did he lose his ears?” asked Sir Harry. “Oh! thet ar’a matter be a ago. W’en ther old man wara boy, hes hull family war tuk by an Injun raidin’ expedition, an’ all killed but two— Avalanche an’ his twin brother. Ther latter war sold to a Missoury rancher fer a song, w’ile the former war held for torture. W’en the day o’ tor- ture arriv’, the lad’s ears war shaved off by the chief’s son, Crazy Horse, an’ another young brave named Idaho Bill. As Avalanche didn’t squeal nor squarm in the operation, they, out o’ Injun respeck, permitted him to go free. Since then be’s made things purty hot fur the darned Soos, ye can bet.”” . ** And his brother—what of him?” “Dunno, Old Avalanche hain’t never heerd from him sence thet time, ’cept that he learned from the rancher thet he’d started out in the world on his own hook. He mought be dead, or he moughtn’t, jess as it happens.” After a few more words, the ladies retired to their tent, the noblemen threw themselves down near the fire to sleep, and Dan went on guard. He made a tour up and down the canyon, but failed to discover any signs of ee Doubtinss the Indians had not yet penetrated the gorge, and as for the bandits, they probably meditated no mis- chief; so all was safe for the present. Returning to camp the faithful fellow seated him- self near the fire to ponder over the strange position — into which he had been thrown. But his eyes grew heavy, and despite his efforts to keep awake he soon fell fast asleep. The hours rolled by. The camp-fire burned low _and the canyon was fill ith dense shadows. In her tent, Lady Mil- burn was restless and wakeful. Her thoughts were of such a naturé that she could not repose. Lady Maude Jay beside her, sleeping sweetly, but my larly could not enjoy the same peaceful blessing. — “T have a pet ae) of coming danger,” she murmured, as she at last arose to a half-sitting position, and peered around her. ‘I wonder what it means? Can the Indians be creeping upon ~ us!” Through an aperture in the blankets, a faint aaiger of light from the expiring fire shone into the tent. Instinctively my spay drew her jeweled watch from its place in her belt. The hour was midnight; the camp and the awful mountain solitude were hushed in shimber. ; Casting a shawl about her shoulders, and rising te her feet, she stepped from the tent and stood in the open air. ; Allofthe men lay prone upon the grass, sound asleep, save old Dan; for, though he was lost in une | consciousness, he retained an upright, sitting posie - s ‘¢

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Old Avalanche. tion, his knotty hands clasped over the muzzle of his pet rifle. : So peacefully was he sleeping that Lady Milburn could not bear to disturb him. “Poor fellow,” she murmured, sympathetically, “let him enjoy himself. He is fatigued, I’ll war- . rant. She shivered a trifle at the crisp mountain air, and drew closer to the fire. Then, involuntarily, she raised her eyes toward the top of the frownin Flat Butte. As she did so, she gave a low, stifl cry. reat Heaven! What was this she saw? Wasshe dreaming, or was it reality ?. : The summit was illuminated by a mighty bonfire, which litup the northern sky to a blood-red glow. Standing at the edge overlooking the canyon was a tall, spectral figure, clothed in pat white, with a beard of the same color that reached nearly to his feet. _ In his hand he held an instrument ieee a a jaton, and he was wildly waving this toand fro, while faintly downward on the breeze floated the strains of a weird chant. ; With dilated eyes, Lady Milburn watched and listened. Then suddenly the spectral figure seemed to see her, for he ceased his song and pointed one Jong menacing finger down toward her, as if in ter- rible anger. She grew deathly faint and endeavored to collect her senses. But ber head swam wildly, her limbs refused to support her, and with an_aw- ful, pce sbriek she sunk upon the ground, in- sensible, CHAPTER VII. SHE THUNDER-STARM 0’ DESTRUCTION BURSTETH FORTH. On—on, leaped the frightened horse, on- whose back were the two struggling men—Avalanche en- deavoring to get his enemy’s knife into a fatal spot, the savage desperately writhing and twisting to get free, Finally, however, he gave a gurgling gasp, and leaned back in the scout's arms. He was dead. The Annihilator had touched him in the fatal spot; he gave up without a cry. : Skillfully disengaging his feet from. the stirrups, Old Avalanche permitted him to topple off into the grass, and then he was master of the horse. By this time he was right in the camp, and as it would be useless to attempt retreat, he urged on _ the flying steed by pricking it with his knife-point, and away they rushed straight down through camp- fires and clumps of Indians like a hurricane wind. Shrieks of surprise and anger went up from a hun- dred throats, and high above all roared the sten- torian voice of the dauntless scout, “Kerwhoop! hayr we kim—ther great an’ arful Norweegjan snow-slide 0’ destruction, and the few- urious errupshun 0’ demolishen an’ subversion. Cl’ar de track, ye ondecent imps 0’ stove-black; git out o’ ther track o’ ther boreal breeze o’ annihila- tion, or by ther bosom-studs 0’ Generale Washing- ton, I'll bumfusticate ye Jike all natur’!? On—on, dashed the spirited horse and his more spirited rider—on like the wind, and still the surg- ing swarm of red-skins grew denser and thieker. Suddenly Old Avalanche made a discovery that had hitherto escaped his notice. A roaring eamp- fire was burning in the entrance to the canyon. Forms tall and grim, stood in its light, and he knew they were Indians. Still, he was determined to break through their ranks, if such an act were possible, and gain the gorge beyond On he sped, through the heart of the camp, and, strange to say, as soon as the wily red-men became convinced that he was headin, hand was raised to sto horde closed in after his horse’s heels, _ 4b first he was unable to comprehend their mo- for the canyon, not a him. Instead, the screaming im, and followed, yelling at eres tive, but not long, however, was he to be left in a state of doubt. E As he approached the entrance he made the start- ling discovery that the mouth of the canyon was crammed. full of pained savages through whom no man or beast could for a moment hope to break. Plainly, he was in an Indian trap. The over -exultant demons were yelling in his face at his back, and on either side of him. Swarms o the dancing and screeching imps were crowding up from every hand. Escape seemed an impossibilit; What man could hope to brawny warriors, all armed, many of them with the most improved weapons, Surely there wes not a shadow of a chance. Old Avalanche reined in his steed, and glared about him as does a hunted tiger howling couriers of Satan would be upon bim. Should he yield and allow himself to be taken tele ad or, worse still, be slaughtered, then and sre? ; No! a hundred times, no. + It was not the nature of the old man to willingly give up. There must be a struggle first, and in that struggle more than gne Sioux dog would bite the dust S **Vas, blast the’r dirty skins,”’ he growled gazin at the horde as all came rushing up, “ef they take ther Norweegjan avalanche wi'’out his knowin’ et, et will be cur’us.” He set his teeth tégetiier with a click, and replac ing the knife in his belt, dxcw and cocked his two handsome revolvers, one of which he held ready in each hand, for instant use. j “Nearer and nearer trotted the savages. They well knew the desperate character with whom they had to deal, They all had either met or heard of him and his prowess, and they knew he never pulled'a trigger on the same man, tice! Then, too, the average American savage is crafty. cunning and stealthy. When he eéan strike a blow with any surety of success, and when there is a show for his own escape, he will do it, Sometimes, superior numbers will urge him to greater risks, but put him ret a Jrave man, and the red-skin is wary as a Ox, : The Sioux came toa halt jnst out ov rifle range, and appeared to hesitate. The figure of the splendid horse and its watchful rider, as they remained outlined agaist the firelit sky, looked a formidable object to attack. In the chambers of those two revolvers, which he took ahs to display, were fourteen lives—fourteen eaths! There could be no doubt of that. He never missed his mark. In the midst of this hesitation, two figures were trying to urge on the painted bell-hounds, One was a brawny Indian chief, who wore his hair down over his shoulder—an evil, brutal-looking fellow, with eyes as red as fire, and lips thick and flabby like a negro’s. You ask‘wha is this? No one who has seen the notorious chief, Crazy Horse, once would need to ask. Once seen he is not easily to be forgotten. The other man is a half-breed as- re hundreds of . Fb sociate whose name is Idaho Pill—or William Cum: — mings. This well-suited pair are urging op the | savages, by curses and threats. Old Avalanche’s. eyes lit up as he recognized Idaho Bill, Crazy Horse was not so éasily placed by him, for he could only when at bay. In a few seconds at the furthest the 7 catch’an oceasional glimpse of his features. Butha knew Idaho Bil in an instant, and his fingers worked nervously about the pistol-triggers. Oh! if he‘would | only come within range! Finally, the two chiefs sueceeded in animating their warriors. They came stealthily on, watching the scout in balf-terror and rage. He seemed so cool, that they could but admire, hate, and fear him all at the same time. od It was understood throughout the horde, that Old Avalanche was to be taken alive, Thescout, him-

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14 self, easily guessed this, else he would have been shot down before. But if they counted on an easy victory, they were greatly mistaken. No sooner was the flash of a pistol to be seen than the Annihilator commenced a destructive fire to the right, left and in front, and for every shot he aimed, an Indian fell. i Ab "he Baths but the space of a few seconds to empty the chambers of both revolvers, and then a deafening howl of triumph went up from the red- skins, for they realized that the scout had nothing now left for use but his knife and rifle. On they leaped toward their _— making the night ring with their horrible yel Ss. * Take him alive | shouted a voice from the back- ground. ‘Take him alive!” A grim, defiant smile flitted across the features of the Annihilator, as he heard these words. No sooner had he emptied the chambers of his revol- vers, than, by a deft movement, he extracted them, and replaced them by duplicate chambers, filled utih cartridges! Consequently he was again ready for business. Crack! crack! went the weapons, now aimed to- ward the weakest spot in the enemy's ranks, and every shot told with deadly effect. One after an- other dropped in his track, and the scout wheeled his steed and bore fiercely down against the place where most had fallen, firing as he went. Involuntarily the astoundod red-skins shrunk to one side, making an cpening to the prairies beyond. This was what the scout had anticipated, and he urged his horse on. uddenly one brave bolder than the rest, and a i. giant in size, sprung forward and seized the ying scout by the leg. to which he firmly clung, and attempted to unseat him. At first Old Ava- lanche nearly Jost his equilibrium, but he managed to rer. in the saddle and finish Gratin seg cwy Beh pis- tols. Then he quickly thrust them into his belt, and drew his knife. The red Hercules tugging at his leg seemed de- termined not to let go; his grip was like a vise. ‘The flying horse had now borne them out of the midst of the savages into the savanna beyond the fires. Grasping the saddle-bow with one hand for sup- port, the scout made a parry at the red-skin’s / wrists, and though he cut them to the bone, the desperate brave still clung on, and, by a mighty jerk, eee in hurling his victim off onto the ground. . Ere Old Avalanche could clear himself, the horse had dashed away. “ Cuss ye!” he gritted, pinioning the savage to the ground, “1’ll arn ye w’ot et ar’ to blockade er Nor- weegjan avalanche, ye copper-bued hippopotamus, Take thet!” He buried his knife in the naked bosom, and the next instant had leaped to his feet and was away through the darkness. : The whole horde were now swarming after him in mad pursuit. : He must have a horse, or vain would be the attempt to escape. The enemy could chase him down ere he could run half a mile. So he shaped his. course toward the corral, whither the horses wer? guarded. e The savages anticipated him, and before he was scarcely aware of it, he beheld a duzen sweeping down upon him, : Had they discovered him? He did not wait to see, but threw himself in the tall grass and crept with great alacrity out of their path, . With beating heart he awaited the result. Would they’ ae by? o! they had seen him, and were once more ge their course toward where he was crouch- ing. He could hear their excited shouts, and knew that the rest of the savages were all fleeing toward phe corral to mount, : Old ‘Avalanels: Se i ‘peration, he drew almost eee Concealment was now of no further use, so he sprung to his feet and leaped determinedly on. - | As he ran he loaded both of his revolvers with fresh cartridges, and retained them in either hand SoG non he iéapeds eases aul despera ly, bi n—on he leap: silently an tely, his = _ Tews a2 touching the ground, so light at e432 of step. : He could hear a confused Babel of hoarse oS now, off toward the camp, which Species him o the fact, that the larger share of the gang were mounted, and r for the chase. The first dozen had now gained a distance of within twelve rods, On—on; then suddenly he stumbled over some ob- og which was lying in the grass, and fell prostrate. But he was on foot again, in a twinkling, and dash- . eg away. ext, he heard a noise directly at his heels, as if rowl of des- somebody was dogging him. With a hack one of the the hammer o revolvers, and wheeled about, _ As he did so there came to his hearing a familiar i ere tw and Florence Nightingale came bounding oyfully up. ‘“* Hello, ole boy,” saluted the scout, with an ap- pres grin. ‘So ye’re a-kickin’, hey? Wal. m erlong. Things ar’ kinder brisk, jes’ now, so we'll nessessarily hev ter git /” ‘ : ; Once more he turned and darted on, the affection- ate and knowing goat bringing up the rear. On came the savages yelling with triumph, On, for five moments more; then the dauntless Annihilator stopped, stock-still. He saw now, tho cause of their yells of triumph. There were mount- ed Indians in front, behind and on either side o him; hewas perfectly surrounded ! CHAPTER VIII. WILD EDNA’S VISIT—-JOSIAH HOGG, ESQ. Lapy Miusurn’s scream brought the camp to their feet in a jiffy. Dan Coggswell.was the first to spring to her side, to be inokite tely followed by Sir ie Bruce and Fleming. : The insensible woman was borne to the light of : the camp-fire, and the old guide procured ahatful of water and dashed it into her face. urs “1 wonder w’at ked’ve skeer’d her?’ said he, as a ats about while he added fuel to the fire, “My nostrils don’ scent Injuns, or I shed say she— seen one!”” “There may be prowlers around,” replied Sir ~ Harry, uneasily. ‘‘ Perhaps it would be well for you bas about the neighborhood, and learn for cer- in. “ve Dan accordingly seized his rifle and set outinto the gloom, while the others set about restoring Lady — Milburn to consciousness. In the midst of the efforts Lady Maude came flying out of her tent, ee ‘‘Mamma, mamma; where is she?” shecried,in = anguish, ‘She is gone /” ; hen as her gaze fell upon the prostrate and ap- pESuny lifeless furm, she burst into a flood oZ ears. ¥ Y ** Be quiet,” said Sir Harry, poothingy “Mother — has only fainted. Something has frightened her!” = After several applications of water, her ladyship gave signs of returning consciousness, and then with a sudden spasm and gasp, she gave vent to a — stifled cry, and sat bolt upright. se S Her face was very pale and her eyes wild and burning with an unnatu fire. The moment she was fully awakened to the knowledge of her situa- tion, she shuddered violently, arid to the crestof the ey Flat Butte turned her horrified gaze. Great Heaven! it was gone ! eign No pegs ts was the spectral figure standing atthe edge of the Bee oar all traces of the blood-red bonfire had disappeared, and the summit was en- _ veloped inits mantle ofimpenetrable gloom. ~ “Oh! Henry, Henry!’ she cried in piteous accents, ‘‘why did you come back to haunt me—to drive.me 7 with despair?” | eg Se aie

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—_ = * “My dear,’ said Sir Fleming, advancing, ‘‘ what gave you affright? What caused you to faint?” 3 She shuddered, as he laid his hand upon her shoul- der. “What did I see?’’ she Se ee gat turning cn him almost ees a ae gn did T see, to cause me to swoon away? I will tell you. On the crest of yon mountain-top, wrapped in a halo of glory, I saw the spirit of your victim—of my poor, long-lost husband Sir Henry. I begin to understand you more than I did at first—to comprehend your baseness and trea- chery. You told me this was not the mountain-top from which Sir Henry fell. You lied/ His accusing ‘spirit came back to give pos of your lie!” aim. A short time agoIleft m the sake of gath«ring the beoet of my poor lost _ father?” ai : ; i \ Sir Fleming turned red and white by turns, but fi- nally managed to emit a harsh, sarcastic laugh. ‘“You are demented, Hetty,” he replied, with a du- bious shake of his head. ‘“ { was a fool for ever per- mitting you to come ont on this wild-goose chase. Each day is increasing your mania, and by the time we get back to England, if we ever do, you will have to go into a private asylum|”’ : Again she turned toward him, her dark eyes blaz- ing with indignation. * And you will place me there?” ** 7 will place you there!” ~ “You will not!” cried Sir Berry, PUREE the bar- onet back, and standing between him and Lady Mil- burn. “ You forget that I am here to defend her!” “No, young man, I forget nothing. But. mind you, 7 am master of that woman, so step aside, or it will be the worse for you.” ; But Sir Harry folded his hands proudly across his breast, and glared at the other fearlessly. * Come on!” he said, coolly. ‘* 1am ready to pro- tect the mother that gave me birth, against you or ascore more Of your stamp. You area tyrant, a coward, and a designing knave, and T defy you!” At first Sir Fleming seemed imbued. with the couregeand towering strength of a giant; but, un- der the unflinching gaze of Sir Harry, he gradually cowed, and what threatened at one moment to be a battle, was nothing buta warofeyes. ‘ You shall pay. dearly for all these insults, m young hotspur!’”’ he hissed as he turned on his heel, and began pacing to and fro in front of the fire. “T fear you not, Sir Fleming,’ was the cool re- joinder; then Sir Harry.returned to his mother. ** Now, mother, tell mé-the cause of your faint.” I can tell you nothing, Harry, except what I told tent, for I could not sleep, and came out here into the open air. You were all asleep, even the guide, and so I did not dis- turb you till I fainted. While I stood here by the fire, my gaze involuntarily wandered tothe top of yonder peak, Then, oh! such a sightI beheld! The whole summit was aglow with the glare of a blood- red bonfire, which burned on the top. At the edge, stood it, Harry—the spirit of my poor husband and your and Maudie’s father. He was wrapped in a white, ghostly robe, and his long white beard near- ly swept the ground. In his hand _he held a baton, snd while he kept time with it, he chanted a terrible song, Suddenly he seemed to see me, for he point- ed one finger down at me, asifin anger. A deathly faintness came over me, and I swooned away. AS you see, the terrible apparition has vanished.” “ But, mother, you have imagined all this, You must have been walking in your sleep and dreamed all this absurdity.” “It is not absurd, my son; nothing but the truth. I was as wide awake as you are now, and beheld thu specter as clearly as I now behold you.” ; “This seems incredible,” said Sir Harry, shekinz his head doubtfully. ‘There is no such @ thmg as ghosts and specters, you know—a fact waich phuinly goes to show that you were deceived. Mcihey, dear, o you kaow I have sometimes heen forzed to doubt our entire sadity, whon you pe: sist in venturing ito this wid end owing w*'deraes3, merely for : Old Avalanche. entrance, up | stomach, and found sufficient evidenee to s 16 Lady Milburn gazed at her noble-looking and man- ly son, sorrowfully. “Oh! Harry, are you, too, losing faith in me—you too turning from me in this hour of need?” she groaned, piteous tears orgie At her eyes. “No, dearest, sweetest mother, no!’’ he cried, clasping her impulsively to his breast. “Twill not desert or disbelieve in you. Iwill do allason can do, to aid in the last sad rites due my poor lost father. If it be within the power of man, I will re- cover the bones that have been bleaching in Death Gulch these twenty years, and inter them in the ancient vaults of Lynnwood.” “Do this; my own true son,” sobbed her es oa “and I will bless you—God will bless you. 1 shal then be ready to die.” The remainder of the night passed away rapidly; Sir Fleming and his confidant, Sir Bruce, were talk- ing, apart, to themselves, as also were Lady Mil-~ burn and her two children. About day-dawn, old Dan returned and reported that there were no signs of Indian intruders to be discovered yet. The canyon was clear as far as he had been able to penetrate. 5 When Sir Harry related to him the story told by Lady Milburn, he nodded his old shaggy head com- pe and went on about preparing the reakfast, making no comment on it. 2 After breakfast he took an ax and bade Sir Harry follow him. He led the way down the canyon for about a mile, after weich he came to a halt, and de eer upward into the precipitous wall of rock, on he northern side of the gorge. Far up, there was just discernible a round black hole the rock, scarcely large enough to admit of the passage of a man’s A “Ye perceive et, eh?” grinned the guide. ‘“But what of it? °Tis, **VYes,” replied Sir Harry. twenty feet high.” a ‘5 pass an’ thar’s a big fat b’ar in thet same oe. > ‘How know you that?’ “JT see’d him, las’ nite. He, war standin’ at ther thar, an’ grinnin’ down at me as if he’d like ter ann’int his jaws on me, feller, I’m goin’ ter ’n’int mine on ye,’ an’ hyar I am reddy fer ther job.” ‘* How, in the name of wonder, could a bear get so “high up as that, with this smooth face of rockto ——_ climb?’ “Dunno, Think *ere gulch, ‘long washed up thar.’’ ‘But how could he live and be fat without food?” **Mought’ve hed cubs, ye obsarve, barrin’ et ain’t a he b’ar, an’ sich bein’ the case she’s chawed ’em up.” 3 probably, thar’s bin a flood in thes ack, an’ ther pesky critter got ‘*Kat her own young?”’ ; “Why, yas. Thet’s nothin’ new. Now, ye git yer *peater reddy, an? when I git ther ax ter choppin’ - *g’in’? ther rock, Mr. B’ar -will show his head, w ander. You must then plug erway at him, f ilt. Ef ye don’t tumble him over most jike’s not he’ll bounce down at ye. When he do, ye turn tail an’ light fer camp, an’ I'll knock ther star spanyieled banners out o’ him wi’ my little hatchet.” “Very well. Go ahead.” . Advancing to the rock, the guide gave threeor four resounding whacks upon it with the ax; then | scampered baek from beneath the hole. The next instant there was a savage growl, and Bruin came lumbering to the mouth of his retreat, — = to asccrtain the cause of the disturbance. Sir Harry fired simultaneously with his appear- ees and sent a well-directed hullet square into the — eft eye. : a eae “Good!” cried Dan, as the monster came tumb-_ ling down to the ground quite dead. 5 iy Da a *“Thet was a fine shot. : oe The bear proved to be a male, and as soon ashe could be conveyed back to camp, Dan analyzed his ‘So,’ sez J, ‘my fine

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- 16 ——- him that the mountain cave was furnished with both water, grass and bushes, bearing green food. ‘About noon, Wild Edna was seen coming down the canyon ata pages tes gallop, and drew up at the camp-fire around which all of the occupants were sitting, As they gazed at the fresh young beauty—so per- fect in fics hed form, and so easy of carriage and speech, not one could deny that she was the most | pares type of woman they had ever seen. She was attired in a superb silk riding-habit, re- lieved here and there by lace and sparkling diamonds, and confessedly, she looked more like a countess or a eine than did either of the ladies Milburn, for all they had been born, bred and cul- tured in royal society. ; Her smile was like a burst of sunshine, her bow of recognition a model of sauciness, and her general manner, vivacious and pleasing—fascinating ‘“Good-morning,” she said, as she surveyed the group critically, while her fair hand si a with her horse’s-mane. ‘‘I hope this sunrise finds you all well and enjoying yourselves.” : “All wel!,” replied Sir Harry, smiling rather grimly. *Ybut hardly in a mood for enjoyment, Our situation is not conducive to pleasure.” ‘Probably not. That, however, is not my fault. You should pay your toll and leave for parts more agreeable.”’ * We should not submit to such an imposition—, more, r#l/ not!’’ “Oh! of course you have a perfect right to con- silt your own notion about that. If you value the superfluous stock of money you have, and the dia- monds you wear, more than you do your life, so be it. I would not seil my life, iim sure, for all the wealth on the continent!” “Yet you are periling it for money !’” “No, lam not. Iam just as free from danger of . death as can be imagined.”’ 2 ** How so?” ‘‘Because no one will dare death, by taking my life!” “So? Well, for instance. suppose that I were to shoot you, now, or otherwise make way with you, what would be the result?”’ “Tf I did not return to my home inside of an hour, my men are given to understand that harm has befallen me. They would mount, sweep down upon you, and hack you to pieces—tear you limb from limb. They would not even stop to question you as to what had become of me, so great would be their rage. * They must be a pack of demons, then!” “ T hope they will never have caus? to attack you and thereby prove themselves such.” - “Probably they never will have.” After a little further talk, Wild Edn. said: “ You then still refuse to pay the toll?”’ “ Yes—a thousand times, yes. _ lady, that it is not t ed for gold that causes to insure their own this refusal, but a sense of honor and proper regard. for what is due to law and principle. As gentlemen we must refuse!”’ “Very well. Permit me to say, however, that no matter how keen your sense of honor and justice may be, now, I am confident that the ‘eleventh ee ‘will bring you around to admit our demands » fully. “Entertain no hopes in that direction. You will be doomed to disappointment, I fear.” , - “PEF IT am doomed to disappointment, sir,” said Wild Edna, as she gathered up her bridle-reins, you will be doomed to death !” hen she wheeled her horse, and galloped off up the ravine. . Sir Harry’s eyes followed her with such a yearn- ing gaze that vivacious little Lady Maude whispered to Lady Milburn: _*Do1ook at him, mamma! T really believe that Harry is infatuated with that singular woman.” “fg this so, my son?” asked, Lady Milburn, turne Understand me, we Old Avalanche, ing an anxious and inquiring glance upon him. “Ts it possible you can entertain the slightest degree of admiration for that shameless creature?” ‘Quite possible, madam,” he replied, a trifle bit- terly. while a ‘faint flush of anger stole over his face. He failed to admire or appreciate the Sppeliation her ladyship pestowed upon the,Girl Bandit, “Then I beg you smother dny such feeling at once. Itis both absurd and mortifying. Iam sur- prised at such an exhibition of your taste. I ava sure none of your ancestors ever deigned to look so - low as to bestow admiration upon a confessed out- law and outcast." ‘‘Not? Well, Ido not care a whit whether they did or no. Iam my own judge in such matters, you must know, mother, and shall permit no abuse of this maiden, in my presence. To me she is some thing strangely sweet and pure. : And having thus delivered himself, Sir Harry rose and sauntered away. “There is where the young serpent stung its giver,’ sneered Sir Fleming; but his words were wasted on Lady Milburn, who-was plunged into a deep reverie. The afternoon dragged slowly on, and all except Sir Harry drowsed a¥* ay, before the camp-fire. There was nothing they could do to better their situation, so they concluded it policy to take things as easy as circumstances would permit. In all probability, Old Avalanche had deserted them, and they had nothing to hope for from any quarter. About an hour before sunset,-all were aroused by the sound of a voice, singing a jangling snatch of outlandish song, and the tramp of horses? feet; then, gazing up the canyou toward the banditti’s retreat, it-at once was perceivable that they were about to have a visitor—and such a visitor! A scrawny, vicious-looking mule was leisurely ap- roaching camp, on whose bony back sat a long, ank and lean individual, whose general appearance might have provoked a smile among the most sober crowd of spectators. He was undeniably a mixture of the old school of Yankees and Kentuckians, with a sprinkling of both Texas and Missouriin his make-up. His exceedin length and lankiness, to which was added a face o grim, humorous and angular contour, adorned by tallow-hued Burnsides, and tanned and _ freckled shockingly. His hair was not unlike the Burnsides in color, and, since some ancient date, had apparent- ly not made the acquaintance of a comb. His eyes were decidedly *‘ auburn,”’ and his nose as decidedly Roman. His attire consisted of a variety of gar- ments, ranging all the way from the soiled checker- ed pantaloons and heavy brogans to the untanned wolf-skin shirt and squirrel-skin cap. A flaming yellow neck-tie eucircled his throat, and a gay red- white-and-blue sash about his waist contained an enormous pair of horse-pistols and a bowie of for- midable dimensions. These, with a huge musket strapped to his back, were his only weapons. He had. apparently not seen the camp yet, for as he jogged along he was gazing at the mammoth walls on either side of him, while he sung, in a loud, cracked voice: ‘Said I ter Sally Hotchkiss, Said Sally unter me— Said Sally’s dad an’ Sally’s mam, Said all ther tribe ter me—_ ‘Bill, year’ agreat’un; / Ter fame’s pinnerkle ye'll rise;} Ye’ll be er whoppin’ poet, fa great at gospel truth.’ } ‘Whoa up, Prudence, thar; w’ot’s ahead?” : The latter exclamation, as the eccentric traveler caught sight of the ene : : “Great cow-bells o’ Milton an’ Longfeller. Ef do!" thar ain’t a camp rite yar, ye kin shave me wi’ yer toe-nails Ha-a-a-y, thayr, strangers, hello! Howdy #< L t

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Old Avalanche. : NE ne * Purty hevy, at yer sarvice. How’s yersel’, Chris- tian?” se lied old Dan. ‘* Waal, I’m on ernaverage. Jedge ye hain’t got no ‘jection ef a feller war ter squat down among ye, hey?” “\ Nary a "jection. Cum along up an’ let's inspeck - ye. » “Oh! gallant nite o’ chivalry T'll hasten ter Embrace this oppertunitchy,”’ sung the stranger, and giving the mule a dig in the ribs, he continued: “On, Prudence, on! Charge, Cordelia, charge!” “AS and ei sed to ther preecher as they *proached ther beer saloon:— “Our toilsome jernney ar’ ended!” In a moment more the camp was reached, and raising a long leg over the mule’s back the stranger stood upon the ground. When standing he was about six feet six, and as comical a looking human, as the spectators had ever been so unlucky as to meet. * By thunder, ye’re a sight, you are!”’ said Dan, as he finished his inspection, ‘*Who in Cain are ye, ole hoss?"” “That, my Christian friend, I am fortunately able to tellye, 1 flourish under ther holt 0’ Josiah William Hoge, E-s-q., at yer sarvice—Hogg spelt wi’ tew G’s ef ye’d jes’ ’s l’eve.” * An’ why wi’ two G’s?” ““Becawse et hes bin’ ther 1 ae a o’ my an- cestors ter call themselves Hogg, fer w’ich I ain’t ter blame. Fustly they spelt it H-o-g,Hog. But, as, ef a feller’s goin’ ter be a hog, at tall he may’s well go et “hull hog or none,” I konkluded tew adopt tew G's!” “ Ye’re travelin’ or goin’ sumwhar, I take it.” “Yas, I guess so. My proffessyun leeds me every- whar. Sir, I am a poet—a descendant from ther great an’ immortail Shakespeer—a secont Sig °’ Longfeller an’ an an’t ter Byron o’ Linn; Iam Josiah pe Hogg, esquire, at yer sarvice;—Hogg wi’ two ’s CHAPTER IX. THE POET. 0’ THE NOR’WEST—GONE! A GENERAL laugh followed, and Josiah Hogg was forthwith made welcome to the camp. “Much "quainted ’bout these diggin’s?” asked old Dan, as he helped the visitor to a huge silice of bear-meat, : t “Waal, y-a-s;—’bout on an average. Ye fecom- member this ‘ere division o’ ther erquaitor ar’ re- nowned fur ets poetry o’ grace an‘ motion, so I’ve tuk more’n ordinary pains ter cultyvate a thorough knowledge o’ et. Every darn thing ye see or meet wi, out hayr is chock-full o’ poetry. Now, fur in- stance, hayr’s ar big heep o’ rock, vulgarly called mounting. Thar’s sumthin’ sublime an’ cow- inspiring erbout thet upheevyalo’ granite an’ lavy, As Milton sed tew old Jonas Snatcher, w’en they war killin’ hogs;—not. H-o-g-g-s—but H-o-g-s; as Milton war sayin’: “Friend, thee, 0’ Jonas Snatcher Wilt thou becum a watcher? Jist behold thet grand finale Ther poetry in thet porker’s tail,” “Whar kin ye beet thet, now? Jist cbsarve ther path-hoss in thet rine. Iallus sed Milton war three sides o’ a slab3fence on composin’ poetry, but wen be scribbled them lines, I war reddy ter sw’ar fer im, : “ What is thar this sid> 0’ ther River Jordan more poetic than the vibrating an’ graceful motion 0’ a porker’s tail? Echo ans’ers what?” t “You are a brainless idiot!” grunted Sir Fleming in disgust, while the others were laughing, heartily. tT fear have no more poetry about you than a crow!” _ ‘A Crow Injun? Waal, thet’s jes’ as one it. Darn my socks, ef I ain’t smarter nor a Ts Ww thief, ye can baptize me in a Hog-trough;—nota ~ H-o-g-g, Hog-trough, tho’. I am ther boss poet 0’ ther Nor’west—ther great sublime romancer o’ ther Powder river range. Wawkeen Miller *hain’t a darned sarcumstance ter me. I’m a descendant o’ old Jim Shakespeer, a secont cuzzin o' Longfeller, an’ a maiden a’nt o’ Byron O’Lynn, say nuthin *bout my inter-relashun ter Moar. Burns an’ Jim Fisk—all on ’em shinin’ lights o’ ther purfession. I’m sum ther poetical mysel’, ef I do say et. Thar war ther time that Sally Marier Billson *shuke ’ me, becawsI wouldn’t treet her ter lemmonade, at the icknick down in Bill Tubbes orchard, fer instance. h, creation! warn’tI b’ilin’ mad. then! “‘T jist guv my overalls a hitch, an’ lit out ferhum, two-forty on ther hum-stretch. ‘“** Rewenge!’ cried I, an’ grabbin’ up a penI writ ter ther editer o’ ther Duck Holler Haxaminer, an’ told him 0’ Sally’s perfidy, an’ arter scribblin’ sum etry, Iset down an’ wept tears o’ shagrin an’ de- eet. “Waal, in ther next number o’ ther Heaminer, ot cum out—right plum on ther fust page. Oh! boiled *taters an’ baked beans! warn’t I nearly run over wi’ joy! I'll jes’ guv ye a few lines: “Thou art so false, an’ yet so fickle, Yer enough site sourer’n enny pickle; No teers adown my cheek do‘trickle, Because ye ain’t wu’th a counterfut nickle.” ** Very su: tive poetry, that,” said Sir Bruce; * but as you have favored us with quite enough for the present, suppose you tell us how you got past the banditti.” 7 “The banditter ?” ‘* Bxactly ; the outlaws that infest this canyon.’ “°Spect ye’re crazy, ain't ye?” “Certainly not! y do you ask?” “Sure ye ain’ta Ea behind yer compass—thet ye ain’t out 0’ yer he’ ** Positively sure, I asked you how you got through the ¢anyon, without encounter! he thieves.” \ ‘** No, ye didn’t, nuther.” ; “T say I did!” “Tsay ye didn’t!” ** What did I say, then?” ** Waal, fustly ye axed ter tell ye how I set le an’ then, ther outlaws.” > 7 ve % “Waal, % didn’t say nuthin’ "bout mountain theeves, did yer” “T meant it, all the same.” “Ye did? Waal, thet ar’ a differ’nt side o’ a hen koop. Ye shed allus stick ter ther truth. As Danyel Webster sed to the settin’ goose: oa * *Ye shed ne er disgrest - While oumisen ter yer nest.’ . got thru ae il ob, ot ee That's the case wi’ you. Ye shed nevyer disgress — nor diversify. ** Diversification is the Cuss 0’ creashun!’’ “But you haven’t answered my question yet. How | did you get through the lines of the outlaws?” “Purty good b’ar-meet, this,” replied the Nor'’west Poet evasively, taking a huge mouthful of the deli: cious food. SE “See here!” now yelled Sir Bruce, as, thoroughly wine erin he clutched his visitor savagely by the — shoulder; “T want no more of this trifling, Tellme. uickly how you na’s banditti.”’ Josiah scratched his shaggy head for a moment, — thoughtfully. ; “Ye’re sure ye ain’t gone cl’ar ig iv ventured, making another unblushin bear-steak, a3 e t AD © ot the ¥ z ‘ Se i passed through the lines of Wild eh?” he —

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18 Old Avalanches: © % Sir Bruce grew fairly livid, and those around ' the fire burst into another fit of immoderate laughb- ter, “Curse you!” he howled, imprisoning Josiah’s Jong, crane-like neck in his two hands; “‘do you want me to choke the life out of you? If not, answer me at once.’’ “Ye wanter kno’ ef I kim thr’u’ ther canyon an’ see’d a banditter?” “Yes; goon!” “Waal, | didn’t see a livin’ banditter—shave me wi’ a barn-shovel ef I did!” “Impossible! You could not have come through the canyon without having been stopped by them.”’ 7 didn’t eum thr’u’.”’ “Didn't come through? How then?” J slid over!” “How do you make that out?” ‘Why, Lan’ Prudence Cordelia thar rid down on a streak o’ greased lightnin’,”’ Sir Bruce turned away in disgust. He had ex- hausted his patience and failed with a man, who, it was plain to sce, was “ nobody’s fool.” it began to be pretty evident that the visitor was not so “ereen” as he appeared, Accordingly, no more efforts were made to pry - into his secrets, all trusting that-he would explain whenever he felt in the right mood. The night came on and during the evening Josiah kept the camp in a continual titter with his horrible efforts at peony he quoe bad Shakespeare and Longfellow by the yard. When time arrived to turn in, Dan was posted on guard, and the rest lay down about the fire and went to sleep, with the exception of the ladies, who retired to their tent. The night passed without incident, and morning dawned once more, ‘ Josiah was up with the camp, and appeared per- fectly at home. Breakfast had been done away with and all were lounging around on the grass, when a horseman was seen coming down the canyon from. the direction of the bandits’ retreat. A single glance sufficed to show that it was not Wild Edna, but instead, a hand- some young fellow of two-and-twenty, who resem- bled her somewhat, He was lithe and graceful of form, with a purely Spanish complexion, hair of the raven’s hue, and drooping mustache of the same shade. His attire was semi-Mexican, and fitted him neatly, his head being crowned by a jaunty som- brero, while a sash at his waist contained a small arsenal of | al oe: weapons. 5, ee you in her absence, to learn if c ‘take not,” said Sir As he ro e up he doffed his hat politely. “You come in the lace of Wild Ednapif I mis- arry, returning the salutation, coldly. “Ido, senor. The Girl Bandit being a trifle indis- posed this morning, she commissioned me to Ahoy u have anged your decision in regard to the toll.” “Then you can return to your Girl mistress, and tell her that we shall never come to her terms!” * As you like, senor. To-morrow you will receive the last visit from us, and if you lose éhat chance of acceding to our terms, your fate will be sealed. “ae -_ of Lake Tice wi _ your.fate you can well imagine, On the eleventh day, then, after to-morrow—which will be the ee of this month—the flood-gates 1 be raised, and a deluge of ‘water will sweep through Devil Canyon. 1f you are in it, We Shall not hold _ ourselves responsible for your death, having given -pressively. ner, w’en Sam got boozy on hard cider, an’ blamed _ ther cider-maker fer it—as Shakespeer sed: te these chances for life and liberty, and ten days ‘© effect your escape in.”’ * But will, Sg 3 fellow,” put in Josiah, im- “As Jim Shakespeer sed to Sam Skin- ** Doan’t use the name o’ God in vain In tippsiness or pain. Fer yer own misdeeds yer ter blame— ‘God 'll hold ye responsible all ther same.’ _ “Now thar’s dubble distilled essence o’ truth an’ relizyum in them varses, thar is. any’s ther time I’ve heard Shakespeer say logical things, but he never put ther reel truth an’ path-hoss inter figgers like he did in them lines, Another o’ his antidotes o’ wisdom war this: “+ Allus hold yerself responsible fer all yer ac _ ms, an’ then ef ye’re counted out at ther great election, ye won’t be much disapp’inted!’”’ : “You are truly a great moralizer,” said the ban. dit, with a shrug, ‘but we feel justified in demand- ing toll, and enforcing its payment. Consequently we cannot keepas close within the law as would sc gain be consistent with regard to our welfare in he es Hereafter.” é “ Your name—what is it?” said Sir Fleming, who had ordered Dan and Sir Bruce to cover the outlaw with their rifles. “‘ Nevada Sam, at your service.” “Very well, Nevada Sam; please consider yourself my prisoner. Dismount,and deliver up your arms,” Revada Sam smiled, but did not offer to obey. “You are a fool,” he said coolly. ‘* Didnot my sis ter tell you what would befall you should you offer to molest her, on her former visit?” “Your sister?” ‘My sister, or Wild Edna, as you know her.” * Yes, I believe she threatened us with some non- sense about what east happen.” _ “Very well, Ireply likewise. Offer me the least hindrance and you will-hasten your own death!” “What! do you dare tothreaten me? Have acare sir knave! She was a woman but you are not, and do not fear to shoot you. Dismount!” **T will dismount, if you so order,” replied Nevada Sam, grimly; ‘‘ but, recollect that if Ido, your death is a certainty within an hour.” Sir Fleming quailed a trifle, and hesitated. “You are at peters liberty to go and come as you please!” cried Sir Harry, at this juncture. “ That man does not command, here; consequently he has no authority, where I hold sway.” “Thanks,” smiled the bandit. ‘You are wise, I see. No good could possibly come of holding me a prisoner.” Then, nodding to the men and raising his hat courteously to the ladies—particularly to Lady Maude, he wheeled his horse and dashed away. ‘*Now, sir,” cried Sir Fleming, quite infuriated, as he confronted Sir Harry, ‘‘ what have you to say for your insulting conduct, just now?” Sir Harry laughed—laughed in his cool, tantalizing way. “Because I thought your wings needed cropping again,” he replied. and quite ignoring the fact that I was master.” “But you are not master!” shrieked Sir Fleming, white with passion, while his tremendous corporosity seemed to swell to twice its customary size, with in- dignation. ‘‘You are not, I say, and to teach you that I will endure your insolence no longer, I’ll teach you who is, after this fashion!” And raising a stout, gold-headed cane, which, since their camping in the canyon, had been his constant companion, he struck Sir Harry a heavy blow upon the head, felling him to the ground, in- sensible. Ladies Milburn instantly popan to seream in alarm, and while Sir Fleming and Sir Bruce assumed a defensive position, old Dan Coggswell and Josiah Hogg sprung forward in an offensive attitude. “Ye durned skunk!” yelled the guide, “ain't ye ‘ ashamed o’ this? I’ve half a noshun tew knock a — star-spangled banyer out 0’ ye.” “Bally fer you, pard!’’ chimed Josiah, flourishing his long arms rapidly. ‘'Let’s 2 es ‘em a tannin’, the ornery heethun. As Jim Sh ** A knockin’ sort o’ skrimmage At punchin’ uther’s image, Ar’ only justy-fiable— _ ~ Et makes the body pliable. ts z “You were getting on too fast, f espeer uster says

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“And as I feel kinder stiff, now, I propose we ann’int our j’ints by walloppin’ them ondecent suckers.” “Not no!” cried Sir Harry, crawling to his feet, at this juncture—‘“‘letthem alone. Ill settle both of them, before I am many suns older.” And with a flashing eye, the young nobleman sauntered off to the little stream to wash the blood from his bruised cranium; for the cane had cut open the scalp. : fe During the remainder of the day, Sir Fleming and his ally kept aloof from the rest, and whiled away their time in conversation and smoking. Night fell dark and threatening. Masses of black clouds filled the heavens, and the atmosphere was decidedly rainy. : After the evenin dispatched, Josiah and so leaving him to ed in,”’ to sleep. i About an hour before midnight the storm burst down in all its fury, andso great was its volume that _ the bottom of the canyon was quite submerged, thereby precluding the Den has repose, There- fore, the ladies were bundled in the blankets, and all stood and took the pelting storm with good, bad or indifferent grace, as the case might be. For an hour the war of the storm-gods waged fu- riously, and a perfect torrent of muddy water came dashing down the gorge. - : But at last the rain ceased, as quickly as it had come, and the bottom became less submerged by de- grees, until the site of the old camp was once more above water. meal had been prepared and ogg volunteered to stand guard, s lonely vigil, the rest “‘turn- But so intense was the gloom that one could not: see a finger before an eye, and it was only by a sense of groping, and the interchange of words, that the party could be collected, And, as there was no dry wood to be had, it looked very probable that there “edie be no fire, or light on the subject till day- break. “ Are all here?” called Sir Harry, with a shiver, as he endeavored to peer around. ‘J guess so,” replied the familiar tones of Coggs- well—‘I am, at least. Mought call ther roll, ter make sure.” ; ; “Good. I willdoso. Sir Fleming and Bruce, are you here?” “Ay! ay!’ replied the two noblemen, * And Ladies Milburn?” : “T am here,”’ replied Lady Milburn; ‘‘ but I do not see Maude.” “Lady Maudeand Josiak Hogg!” called Sir Harry. There was no reply. Again the call was repeated, but no answer. % A hurried and close search was then made, but without result, One thing was only too plain—Lady Maude and the poet were gone! CHAPTER X, A DARING ACT—“ AN EAR FOR AN EAR.” We left Old Avalanche out in the open savanna, after his just having discovered the fact that he was completely surrounded by the howling Sioux. Had they seen him? Yes, very probably, or else why were they closing in around bim? Faintly through the pall of inky darkness he could distinguish the shadowy outlines of approaching horsemen, and by them, and the muffied sounds of their hoofs, he knew they were all pearing toward one center, and that center was just here he was now standing. “Humph!” he grunted, for a moment unresolved how to act, “I rec’on ther grate Norweegjan ava- lanche ar’ in ’n orful diffikility. Ye kin skm me wi’ a tooth-pick, ef I kno’ w’ot’s best ter do.” Something certainly must be done. The savages were approaching nearer and nearer, and in a mo- ment would be upon him. ‘To await their coming and give himself up wouid be but. the initial step toward a horrible death. - a | 19: “T’ll spill a trifle more o” Injun blood, fu’st, enny- how,” was the final ponclumien, and-griping his iknive he threw himself flat upon the ground. 2 Florence did likewise, and the two lay assilentand motionless as death. On came the savages and Ola Avalanche could feel the ground = as the cavalcade dashed up. Nearer and nearer they drew, and for fear- of being trampled upon, the goat crawled closer to his master’s side. . Atlast there was a shout, and the Indians drew rein in asmallicircle. Avalanche and Florence were lying inside of that circle! 35 Fortunately the grass was so.tall that they were screened from view. = “The white a tty escaped!” sung out the gruff yolis sof Idaho Bill, “The Sioux are on a wrong — scent. j ; : “The pale chief errs,” replied Rain-in-the-Face, — who commandea a portion of the party. ‘‘Pale — squaw come dis way.” are “Ugh!” cried Scarlet Blade, a young chief, who had but recently won his spurs of chieftaincy. ‘Me — see um here—stand erect—look at Sioux—den he — drop!” : "But he not here!’ grunted Crazy Horse. “Scar. — let Blade young brave. He no wise like Crazy ~ ‘Scarlet Blade look!’’ cried the eager chief, and s eine sym from his saddle he commenced beating — about in the grass, wiggi‘ng about on his hands anc — knees. “If white dog here, Scarlet Blade find um.” — On around the circle he crawled, and on account ~ of the darkness, the mounted savages were unable to keep track of his whereabouts, except when they | would catck a sound to guide them. ; eS Presently it was inferred by the deep silence that — Scarlet Blade had halted in his search. : “Hey! shouted Idaho Bill, with an oath, ‘* w’ar ye goin’, yered imp? w’at ar’ ye at so long?” a ‘What difference it make to you?’ leered Crazy — Horse. “Let Injun alone.” ee ‘‘Ugh!” cried the rough voice of Scarlet Blade, — from the center of the circle, “‘Injun keep much _ still. Scarlet Blade found trail, Injun sit still on — ie - Scarlet Blade trail white dog under hosses — elly !’. Sa A moment later Crazy Horse was conscious chats somebody or something was near him, andhe made a vain attempt to peer down into the grass. pane’ “Who dar?’ he demanded, suspiciously—* Dat ~ you, Scarlet Blade?’ wo “tim!” was the brief reply, and the rustling in the — Seg proclaimed that the chief was creeping away. ull ten moments passed; then a figure leaped from the grass, and onto the back of the riderless hors, of Scarlet Blade. : . 3 ‘* White dog no dar,”’ said the disappointed voice of the chief. ‘‘He gone, an’ Scarlet Blade git up! ee" - A derisive yell went up from the Indians in gen: — eral, . ; “Scarlet Blade is a dog!’’ cried Crazy Horse, with pai reed Then turning in his saddle, he shouted,” in Sioux: s 7 ip “Away! away! all of you, except a hundred, Who fa will go to the canyon-mouth, where the others are! Wait for us! Scatter!” The order was instantly obeyed. All of the swarm- ing gang, except Crazy Horse, immediately spread out over the prairie. and began to scour about. for the escaped Annihilator. eee The chief then set out for the entrance to Devil’s — Canyon, followed by his detachment of braves. = Under the command of Idaho Bill, the savanna — was shoroue ay searched for a distance of four or — five miles, in either direction; but not a trace of the ~ pen lags and more hatea Avalanche was to ound, ‘ sees He had undoubtedly made good his escape int the mountains. paras ae At last the blare of a trumpet caused the savages to relinguish the search, and turn back toward camp. Idaho Bill was among the last to do this, —

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« 20 x and as he turned his animal’s head he saw the horse of Scarlet Blade poneing f his right. 3 Hallo, there!” he shouted, “is that you, Injun imp?’ Ugh ais Scarlet Blade,” was the reply, and the horse came forward. ‘ You Idaho Bill?’ ae “Yas, et’s me. Cum along, ef you’re a-goin’ inter camp.” The outlaw gave his horse the spur, and was about dashing away, when a lasso, one end of which was ‘secured to Scarlet Blade's saddle, fell gracefull around him and drew taut, thereby pinioning his arms to his side. ’ The next instant he was jerked from his saddle,, and mo sooner did he reach the ground than the figure of O/d Avalanche, the Annihilator, was upon im. Scariet Blade had perishedin that circle search, and the alert scout had donned his head-dress, transferred some of the Sioux’s paint to his own face, and took possession of the horse. ‘It was a daring act, but his desperate position had inspired him with the determination to accomplish it, and he had succeeded admirably. . Thither and hither over the savanna he had dashed among the other savages, hunting for him- self, as it were, and. whenever be could obtain a suitable chance, ot his knife into the heart of ared companion. And only by chance was it that he had fallen in with Idaho Bill. Old Avalanche was upon him! To choke off the outlaw’s yells was but the work of a moment, and in short order he lay upon the 0 carpet of the savanna, a helpless prisoner, bound hand and foot, and eased. “Thar!” grunted the Annihilator, as he finished his work, and hoisted the outlaw up onto the sad- dle, after which he himself mounted; ‘thar! I ob- sarve et allus takes tew an’ sometimes three, tew make a barg’in. Hey, Iderho Billiam, ain’t them yeridees? Don’t ’preeshate ther virtues 0’ ther grate, roarin’ Norweegjan Avalanche? Wal,I ken’t help thet, my bulrush 0’ Moses. I'm’s leey’ ye o’ yer afflixyuns, as a cat ar’ tew let goonter arat, arter she’s fixed her fangs inter his rib-steak. Axident threw ye inter ther way 0’ my lassy, an’ now nuthin’s moar established thun thet ye've fot ter ackumpenny a veritageble whirlygig o’ rantank- erousness tew hes stopping-place—thet ye’ve got ter ee wi’ a giunywine Norweegjan snows 2.” : A groan from Idaho Bill was the only answer. He had sufficient cause to dread the Avalanche—tofear his vengeance. Old Avalanche headed toward the northwest, and struck off intoa Bi lop. carrying his prisoner with him. For hours he rodeon, and at the blush of dawn, drew rein close in under cover of the tower- ing mountains. at aS where shade, water and frass were plenty. The outlaw was placed upon the ground, and tethering his horse out to graze, he set about finding food for himself and prisoner. He soon succeeded in catching a few fat frogs from as nt buffalo wallow. and building a fire of buffalo-** chips,’”’ he roasted the luscious hind legs, thereby procuring a very palatable meal. As soon as all wasin readiness, the Annihilator removed the gag from the outlaw’s mouth, and ten- dered him a portion of the food, which was readily acdeptei and devoured before the scout had scarcely begun on his. e breakfast was dis- patched in silence, and when he had finished, Old Avalanche climbed up into a neighboring crag to take observations, As nearas he could judge, he was something more than ten miles distant from werless to re- ss the Sioux camp, and by the clear tight of the morn- activity and bustle were noticeable. _ more of horses were being led from the corral, and | wore minefur a charm, on a string 9 beeds, ing that had now fully dawned, he could see that the - camp was astir. _ Smoke from many camp-fires rose in spiral col- umnos toward the smiling blue skies, and a general A score or Old Avalanche. "This quicken this told the sceut that the Indians, or at least a portion of them, were going on the trail. That trail was his own, and ashe had taken no ains to hide it, he was aware how easy it would be or them to hunt him down, ‘“* Yas, thet ar’ w’at they're a-going tew do, or tew try to do,” he muttered. ‘** Part.on ’em’s took persession o’ ther gorge- mouth, an’ t’other part ar’ seeriously reflecktin’ on. takin’ persession o’ ther grate Avalanche, They’ve ot it indentyured inter the’r noddles, thet they’d ike ter interview a verifageable i A sprain 0’ ex- tarminashen; but seem’s thar mought bea terrufeck exploshen 0’ confined terrificossity, ef they war tew encounter me, sayin’ nuthin’ erbout an arful loss 0” Injun population, I deem it ther natcheral conse- quence o’ fulehardiness to tarry here; so I'll per- ceed to abscorchulate.”’ 2 The scout turned and clambered down toward his own camp é As he'did so his ears were greeted with hoarse and frightened yells, evidently coming from Idaho Bill. ed his movements, and in a few mo- ments, he had gained the level ground, close to the camp. Here his eyes fell upon a scene both unex- pected and ludicrous. During the Annihilator’s absence the prisoner evidently had been trying to climb to the back of the horse and make his escape, but had been sur- prised by an unexpected enemy. This was no other than the scout’s wonderful **j’int,” Florence Night- ingale, who had opportunely arrived, and attacked the outlaw, At the time of the Annihilator’s entree upon the scene. the goat had succeeded in downing his victim, and was bunting him without mercy, rolling him over and over at every lunge, while Idaho Bill’s shrieks of pain and rage made the welkin ring. Old Avalanche gave a Ei of ecstasy and sat down to watch the sport. Idaho Bill now saw him, and a torrent of blasphemous curses and oaths, broke from his lips. Stili Old Avalanche sat upon the ground, watch- ing. and with a grim smile upon his furrowed coun- tenance, This was sweet revenge for him—ven- geance for previous injuries At Jast, however, he perceived that the outlaw was nearly insensible, and with a whistle be called the vicious bi!ly from his work of torture. ’ “Thet’] do fer the present, boyee,” was the An- nihilator’s ejaculation as he patted the animai, . affectionately. ‘ Ye stud ter yer work nobly aa’ ar’ desarvin’ o’ thanks fer et, I think, tho’ I'll tend tew Mr. Idaho Billiam, myself, now.” With these words he rose to his feet, drew his knife, and approached the outlaw, who lay groan ing upon the grass, : Assisting him to a sitting Sagoo he seated him. self directly opposite and the two implecable foes eyed each other for some time, with belligerent glances. Old Avalanche was the first to speak. * Young man,” he said, slowly whetting the blood- stained knife in the palm of his hand, ‘‘hev ye got enny reckelexyun o’ evyer hevin’ seen me erfore this peeriodical minnit?” . Agrim smile hovered about the desperado’s lips. “Treckon,” was the laconic reply; ‘‘tho’ I’ve not seen ye for years. I were a young pappoose when you were first brought to the Sioux camp. So was wi Sea We cut your ears off at the torture: stake. : ‘“* True,” rep Old Avalanche, a twinge of paiu visible on his wrinkled brow—‘‘ shaved ’em 0 clusser nor ther beerd frum a boyee’s face, But, ag ee o’ et ull, Bill, ye ken’t brag thet I even nehed."’ ‘*No, old man, ye stud et like a lamb, an’ I’ guy ye credit fur it.” “ What /ecame of them flappers?” asked the Ap nihilator, huskily. “Don’t kno’ what Crazy Horse done wi’ i a Z Z A any

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Gia Avalanche. iis | 21 ot dried up, like a piece of pasteboard, when I rowed it away." Tears stood in the old scout’s eyes. ' “Too bad,” he sighed. ‘‘I war in hopes o’ gettin’ them poor souse back sumtime or other, an’ gettin’ ‘em plastered on erg’in. Too bad.’? Then, asif he suddenly recollected himself, he began to sharpen his knife faster upon his moccasin-top.” Idaho Bill watched him somewhat nervously, growing a shade palereach moment. He could not ‘misunderstand the meaning in this. It meant death to him! After a while the edge of the weapon seemed sat- isfactorily sharp to the touch of the Avalanche’s thumb, for he said: os ye kno’ ther border code, Billiam?’he asked, slowly. ein aes ”” was the shuddering reply, ‘‘an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.” “Yes, thet’s it—eye fer eye an’ tooth fer tooth. But thet hain't the code I shell ’dopt tew this sar- cumstance. This ’llbe an ear fer an ear, and a knife ter a throat!” i : The outlaw grew very white, and perspiration broke out all over his face. “ Will ye show no mercy?” he gasped. “\ No / ye didn’t show me none. As ye did, so’ll I “But hold! Is there no service I kin do ye that'll mes my life? Ido not want to die—Iam not pre- jared.” : . The Annihilator shook his head. “I jedge not.. I’ve sworn by all ther cherubimms o’ Aurory Borey Alice to stave out on that score all |. ther Injun race, yersel’ included. So ye mought as well ay yer catty-kiss-’ems. Nuthin’ short 0’ yer life willdome!” Idaho Bill grew desperate. |.’ : The light that burned in his enemy’s eye was stern and cold. “Tl make a proposal,” he at last managed to gasp. ‘* Take my ears and spare my life!” Old Avalanche reflected. “Til make ye an offer,” he said slowly, ‘‘and yer life depends upon yer decision.” * Wal, Pll cut off both of yer ears, and then, ef ou’ll show me the old Indian path that leads thr’u’ Press mountains, or over ’em ruther,.tew ther Flat Butte peak, an’ tew ther Death Gulch, ye shall hey liberty an’ yer decapitated eers.”’ Idaho Bil oe and shuddered. **Go on!”’ he gasped, white as a corpse; *‘I agree. Take my ears and have it over.”” “You know the over-mountain way?’ bd? 5 ( a {?? * And will go thr’u’ wi’ yer jab wi’out attemptin’ no shanannigan!” **Yes—I swearit!”’ __ ’ Without further words, in less time than it takes to tell it, the poor wretch was deprived of his ears, which were chucked into the avenger’s pocket. He has said, since the transaction of that terrible deed, that he nightly dreams of ears, and could not be hired to attempt another like amputation. As for Idaho Bill, he fainted; but while he wag in- sensible, Old Avalanche dressed the wounds, and an hour later the two earless men were on their journey over the vast mountain wilderness, = CHAPTER XI. e THE THIRD DAY. Wuere were Josiah and Lady Maude? was the , ean that agitated the minds of our friends, as they made the alarming discovery that they were one, Had the overflowing of the waters swept hem away? 4 No, that-could not be, for the bottom of the can- yon had not been covered to more than a knee'’s depth, and no person would have been carried away by such an insignificant flood, ; a / — oe “P'raps ther poet keerried off ther gal,” sug- gested old Dan, as they all stood in the Stygian gloom, undecided what.to do. ‘‘I've had a premona- shun as he warn’t ’buve sirspeckshun.”’ “Yes; but whither has he gone?” cried Sir Harry, angrily. ‘Oh! the dastard, the traitor! How my fingers ache to get at his throat!” “‘T opine he’s gone back ‘ther way he kim, per- vidin’ he gin’t gone t’other way. y ijee ar’ that he's interlinked with the canyon dits.”” “Good heaven! you don’t mean to say that my darling sister is in the power of those heartless wretches?” ““Wouldn’t want fer ter sw’ar tew et; but I'm thinkin’ et smells strongly thet way.” ‘“‘ Look to the horses, quick, and see if the mule is gone, then! That will tell the story.” : ¢ Dan obeyed, with alacrity, and soon returned with the intelligence that the mule and Lady Maude’s horse were both missing. “Oh! God!” groaned Lady-Milburn, who had all the time been weeping violently, “I sha!l never see my child again.”’ “Yas ye will, mum,” oe the guide, doffing is hat, respectfully. “Take old Dan Sp a rd fer it, Lady Maude will not be barmed, and ‘ll be restored tew yew afore long. I’ve heerd consid- er’ble of this Girl Bandit,.an’ believe her tew be *bout as A oe Eee sort o' feline as evyer did- n’t chaw terbaccer. She won’t hurt yer darter, an’, afore the big flood comes, I shouldn’t wonder much ef ye war hawked away out o’ danger jes’ like Lady Maude was!” : ¥ : “Is this your candid opinion, guide?’ asked Sir Harry, eagerly. ‘‘Do you really imagine it is Wild Edna's plan to save us from the flood which is impending?’ ; Old Dan smiled grimly. “Not us, I sirspeck,’’ he replied “not us, but the ladies—Lady Milburn and her daughter!” : “Be it so, then. If they only safely escape, I shall © not so much hate to meet the worst.” _ Morning dawned over the giant are of the mountains, and as soon as it was light enough for his purpose the guide built a fire out of a few partly- dried limbs and cones which had been washed down from the mountains, and then easily found the tracks of the two horses in the clayey refuse, on which the poet had borne away his prize. “Thar kin be no doubt o* the case now,” he said to Sir Harry, “The bandits hev got the gal, et’s purty probable.” “Yes; J have no doubts about it now. But what can we do?” ‘*Nuthin’, asIkno’on, All we kin do ar’ tew sit on our thumbs an’ grin an’ bearet. I’m staven sorry we ever kim inter this canyon tho’, an’ ef | war as rtch as ye be, I’m jedgin' I’d not be tardy in gittin’ out 0’ et.’ “ What! would you disgrace yourself by yielding - to these accursed fiends? TI am truly sorry for you then. My sense of honor forbids that I should give be to them, and thereby be considered a groveling. 0! I will die first—die as a brave man sbould die. A true Englishman of noble blood does not bow down to an American outlaw.” . ‘As ye like, boss. Ef ye ar’ goin’ ter die. afore guffen up a poultry sum o’ spondulicks; why, I hain’t no ’jeckshuns, As fer this deposit o’ hooman clay, he’d not stay long in thes onhealthy climate — ef 18 hed ernuff gold or elbow-grease ter git him out. : Breakfast was dispatched, and about an hour later a body of masked horsemen were seen coming lJeis- urely down the canyon, They were the bandiitti, and Wild Edna, beauteous flower of the wilderness. rode at their head, appearing, if anything, moro lovely and bewitching than before, and as the caval- cade came to a halt in front of the camp, all eyes were riveted upon her. 3 Sir Harry rose from his seat and doffed his hat with a chuckle—~

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62 neler to which Wild Edna responded with a smile. “You have come, I perceive, for the third timc,” said Sir Harry, ‘to uest the toll payment.” * Bxactly ! This is the Jast call. You now still have a chance for life and liberty, and if you do not accept, your fate be on your own heads. Would to God I could aid you, or avert the impending doom, but I cannot. Did any of you see an apparition on the top uf the Flat Butte at midnight two nights ‘0 “*T did! I did!” screamed Lady Milburn, rushin forward and clasping the Girl Bandit’s jewele hand, “I saw it. .Oh! girl, tell me—tell me for the love of God, was that an apparition, or was it human?” She trembled in every limb, and her éyes burned an unnatural fire—a yearning, -expec- tant glare. ‘Tell me, tell me!’? she continued, as Wild Edna hesitated, ‘‘ for I must know!” “YT can tell you nothing, my lady,” was the pity- ing reply. “I am bound by a solemn pledge to re- veal nothing beyond the limits of our band. The specter on the Fiat Butte will appear again, just be- fore daybreak of the eleventh day from now, as you saw him, my lady. His appearance will be the sig- nal to raise the flood-gates of the terrible Lake Tico. Fear not, however, dear lady, for you will‘not-be allowed to perish with the rest!” ** But, my daughter—Maude, where is she?” ‘Safe and sound, and enjoying a refreshing slee when we left her. It was out of pity, that I had her spirited away. You will soon follow her!”’. * Girl!” cried Sir Fleming, advancing, “are you a perfect demoness? Will you see us men, who have never raised a finger to harm you, murdered out- ae ild Edna flushed, angrily. “*T will seenothing of the kind. AsThave told you once before, I cannot avert the flood. I have tried to persuade you to pay the toll, but you have re- fused. Here my work ceases. On my return to the bandit retreat, | will be cast into a strong cell, b the orders of another, and confined there one mon for a failure in extorting the toll from you.” 2 o is this other?—your gay Nevada Sam? ** No—indeed, no. Heis my brother, and as true and brave a man as any of you. Like myself, he too will be confined, and suffer on your account!” She spoke so bitterly that Sir Harry’s susceptible heart at once went out toward her. “Tam sorry for you,” he said, woiking animal’s side—‘‘really, truly sorry, but Z do not care to yield. Maybe when I see Lake Tico’s waters bowling down upon me, I'll hasten to change my mind!” And he made an attempt to laugh gayly. sf rif will be too late, then!” said Wild Edna, sadly; *‘ once the flood-gates are raised, nothing of life, except trees, can live in Devil’s Canyon.” ‘* Well, if this be the case, I can consider myself a doomed man.” ** You refuse to pay the toll, then?” “IT do, most emphatically!” ‘* Alas! then you are indeed doomed!” She shot him a glance from her beautiful eyes—a glance in . which was mingled pity, sorrow and—what? The fast-beating heart of the young nobleman told him it was more than the light and glow and interest of a common nature—and his own face flushed at the So, ee a this beauteous vision of the wilder- ness Jove him? It was a thought that filled him with expressionless j y- ‘he Girl Bandit, however, quickly interrupted his suddenly conceived hopes, _ “ Will the others pay Shir toll, and be allowed to go on in freedom?” : “T think not,” replied Sir Fleming, who had been conferring with Sir Bruce; ‘‘or, at least, not at present. If we decide tc pay the toll for ourselves ‘will it not be enough to advance to your guards, an _ tell them so when they can inform you?” : up to her co - ditti dashed away.” Old Avalanche. ——"s “T don’t know,” replied Wild Edna, doubtfully, “However, I can soon ascertain,” 3 She turned to one of the masked men beside her, | and said a few words in an undertone. He then turned his horse’s head and galloped rapidly off up the canyon. ; “T can soon answer your question, sir,’ said the maiden to Sir Fleming; ‘tin the mean time do not re = hinder you, or deter you from your break- as ’ “We ate an hour ago,” answered Harry, ‘and your. presence is most agreeable, under the very em- rrassing circumstances under which we meet.” “You are aligHey addicted to flattery, I perceive,” she laughed, at the same time ordering her men youre to a proper distance, whither she also followed em, Sir Harry did likewise. He was scarcely aware of it, but he soon found himself in the maiden’s fas- cinating presence, and was gazing up into her face, thoughtfully, admiringly. ; “You are a queen among women,”’ he said, his eyes burning with unwonted light. ‘I have travel- ed —— around the world, but can safely ~ I never beheld one of your sex more beautiful. You are too precious a flower to live and die here in this desert wild.” ~» She drooped her eyes, and a blush stole over her papely. chiseled features—a blush more of pleasure han confusion. ; “*You must not flatter,” she said, quickly releasing the hand he had taken. ‘I am not used to it—lam not used to the great world you live in, or its people. I should not listen to praises from those who could never be aught to me, Sir Harry felt his heart bound in asuspiciouslyex~ cited manner, but he refrained from speaking the — words of passionate love that rose to his lips. What did all this mean? Was he actually in love Pict ee flower of the mountain—this female bri- gan How elsecould he account for that deuced bobbing about of his heart? But bah! the idea of wedding such a bride—he, an aristocratic nobleman, of @ no- ble house, and the possessor of a title. It could not be—never. f He was thus reflecting and ransacking his brain for something to say, when the masked courier return- ed, and spoke a few words in Spanish to Wild Edna. ‘Very well,” she said; then turning to Sir Harry, she continued. ‘It will be allright. If any of you conclude to pay the toll, between now and three 2 o’clock of the eleventh morning, you can so notifya ard, who will be posted a few hundred yardsup | he gorge. He will be authorized to receive six thou. _ sand dollars from you, and furnish you withanes- cort to the outer world!” “ Very well, I will tell them!”’ isn sir, and good luck.” cise “Now good-by, * Good- y,” replied Sir Harry, huskily, a tear standing in either eye—“‘ good-by.”’ The, next mo-— ; ment the horses’ heads were turned, and the ban- CHAPTER XII. A NEW ENEMY—FIGHTING SIOUX—THE HOUR’’—THE SPECTER SIGNAL. ~ Two days and a like number of gloomy | passed, and still matters in Devil’s Canyon remained unchan The camp could but await theissueof ~ impending events. | : ape was impossible, for old Dan had ascertain- ed that the savages had taken possession of the | eastern termination of the canyon, @'though they _ seemed in mo hurry to advance. “T think,” said Sir Harry to Sir Fleming, on the — third morning, as all sat around the cam -fire—* I ca think that between us we had better pay the toll, at _ leest for mother, and restore her, afore en Lady Maude, to freedom. It will not be righttolet her ‘suffer death just because we are obstinate and re fuse to pay the toll,” ps 8 ss a “ELEVENTH eg

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FANG ‘ . . Fes Old Avalanche. _ CO ee ee ne ae ene Sir Fleming sneered. “TI quite disagree with you,” he replied, sarcas- tically. ‘“‘I am of the opinion that sel/-preservation is first to be considered, before Slee to the wel- fare of others. Lad Hetty will probably be re- leased a the banditti: but, even if she is not, Ican- not see that her life is so preciously valuable tojme.” *To you—no!” cried Sir Harry, sternly. * Were she dead, you accursed plotter, her rich estate of Ferndale, you, as a husband, could claim. Were I and Lady Maude dead, all of the old family posses- sions of the great name of Arriscourt would be ours. Think not, Sir Fleming Milburn, that IT am blind ‘to your schemes and machinations. I can read you like a book. “Years ago, my father, Sir Henry, came to America to explore this wilderness. By some means nnknown to us, you, an outlawed relation, joined bimin his expedition, and traveled with him until his death—from the top of yonder peak. te **No. sooner was he dead than you returned to England with the sad intelligence, bearing papers purporting to have been given you by Sir Henry, previous to his death, which bade my poor mother marry you, in case my father should die during any of his dangerous adventures. You had been a suitor for Lady Hetty’s hand, previous to her union with my father, and, under the circumstances, she felt it her duty to obey the mandate of one whom death had overtaken in a remote land. ‘*So, after making a promise to bring her here to this wild country, that she might at least recover the bones of Sir Henry, she wed you—wedded a very demon. This was many years ago, when Maude and I were both children. Since then you have been a very cruel master to us, and it is only since I attained my majority, that you could be _in- duced to visit this place, according to your pro- mise. “This 7s not the Flat Butte in question!” growled Sir Mleming, wincing perceptibly under the young man’s accusing gaze. pS “You lie/” eried Sir Harry, hotly. ‘This is the place where my father ended his days; or—more Us eta perhaps—where his life eas ended !” The tone as well as the words of the speaker caused Sir Fleming to grow a trifle pale, and ex- change a glance with Sir Bruce. “We will not continue this conversation, at pre- sent,” he said, flushing with rage, as he rose and sauntered away. ‘‘ You will tempt me to kill you, plaly of these imes, by pursuing this insulting be- havior.’ “JT fear you not!” retorted Sir Harry, ‘You have already made half a score of attenipts upon “my life, without success and I believe I shall live to see the justice you deserve meted out to you.” The morning dragged away, and a hot noon-day sun at last shone straight down into Devil’s Canyon. It was abont this time that old Dan Coggswell came striding hurriedly into camp. He had gone down the canyon, a few hours previous, in quest of game, and had promised to be back by sunset. Con- sequently, his early return warned Sir Harry that something of importance had occurred. “What is it?” he asked, anxiously, you back so soon?” ‘I jedge thar’s need on’t,’’ replied the guide, with a dubious shake of his head. “Ef we don ketch Jessie 0’ ther shirt afore this time, ter-morrer Pm er hod-earrier.” ; ‘Indeed! What is wrong?” ; Se “* Injuns—copperous-cullor’d Soos. Thar’s more’n a thousan’ cummin’ up this derection, to pay us “Why are their respecks!” : “Good Heaven! Is this true? Then we must pre- pare to fight them?’ 4 **T rather guess so, ef we’ve ther least inclinashun ter keepin’ our kerpillery persesshuns. Go wake _ up ther uther fellers, an’ git Ma pop-guns in reddy - ry F ness fer use, I’m goin’ ter t é ro’ up er obstickel tew their progress.” ; “23 Sir Harry immediately hurried off, while the guide proceeded to perform his part of the work. Among the effects in the outfit were a pick and shovel, articles which every wise western traveler is not without. : Taking these he proceeded a short distance down the canyon, toa spot where the bottom was form- ed of soft sandy soil. Here he paused, and began to throw up a barricade of dirt from wail to wall, oc- casionally dislodging ate flakes of rock from above and adding this to the pile. For hours the guide labo steadily, and at last, he paused and surveyed his completed work. The barricade, constructed mainly of dirt, was breast- high across the canyon, the top being covered with heavy rocks that Dan had detached from the mighty walls, while an abatis of sharpened limbs protruded yee Ree as a defense against scaling the parapet. Altogether, it was an admirable piece of work, and in case of attack, would, while it concealed the de- fenders, prevent a rush from the enemy. The barricade done, Dan proceeded to call Sir Harry. As soon as the baronet beheld the result of the afternoon’s labor, he uttered an exclamation of surprise. “Just the thing”? he exclaimed, as he carefully examined the defense. ‘‘ With our repeats rifles and revolvers, I am confident we can hold our own for awhile, at least.’’ “Yes,” replied Dan, grimly, “I speculate we kin guv ’em a purty big rub, ef ther Lord's willin’. Now, then, ye git back tew camp, an’ snatch w’at’ grub an’ morph’us = kin, an’ 1’ stand guard. : Ef ye heer me screech ‘Soos,’ ye jist kim a-hoopin’ alert fer thar'll be need o’ ye. Bring yer fel- le te) There was no call from Coggswell until about . midnight, when he skulked into camp‘and aroused the sleepers with the news that the reds were com- ing. Leaving Lady Milburn alone, the four men — down to the barricade, rifles in hand, and posted themselves on the defensive. “T do not see any savages!” said Sir Harry, peer- ing over into the canyon beyond, ‘and I doubt if— thunder |” - ; An arrow Pena the young nobleman’s cheek, as~ he was speaking. * Ye'll feel ’em, ef ye don’ sre’em!’ said old Dan with a grim chuckle, ‘ perwiden’ ye make yer pate a targit fer their arrers. But look!—ready and fire!” A motley gang of savages could now be distin» guished, through the pall of inky darkness, as they — came skurrying silently toward the barricade, ——_- “* Five—once, two, an’ three times!” hissed the guide, and four rifles cracked, sending sharp echoeg up the mountain-side, while deadly missiles went hurtling into the Sioux ranks, causiil® shrieks of pain and death. ; ove Again and again the terrible repeating rifles belch- ed forth streams of lurid flame, and, taken wholly by surprise the savages turned and fled. _ Quick! Now’s yer time ter reload!” cried old 3 Dan, and the discharged cartridges were quickly «© — replaced with fresh ones, 2: ut no red-skins putin an appearance again that +i night, although all of the defenders watched till the sunlight kissed the peak of Flat Butte. Sir Harry volunteered to stand guard while the , others went inside camp and prepared breakfast. So Dan, accompanied by Sir Fleming and Sir Bruce, set out, = the young nobleman alone. Ar- . riving at camp, it was discovered that Lady Milburn and one of the horses were missing. No. fears were entertained by the guide, however, for he rightly bess that the banditti had come to removeher 0 a place of safety. ae Re That day passed, but no further demonstration was made by the red-skins; in fact, not a glimpse — of them had been gained. : $ As soon as night fell over the mountain, Sir Bruce a Was posted on sentinel duty, to be relieved by Sir _ Fleming at midnight. f

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24. Old Avalanche. Another—the fifth—morning dawned,'and still no sign of the Sioux, : ‘It’s curi’us,” said Coggswell, as he and Sir Harry stood at the barricade—‘ darned curi’us. I never knew’d Soos ter act up in this shape afore, sure as I’m a masticater o’ tenderl’ins. Ef thar ain’t sum oncommon devilment ahind all o’ this holdin’ off, et’s beyant my cumpass 0’ reckonin’.”” “Tt does seem strange. From what little I have heard and seen, these red rascals are not generally so tardy in attacking a foe,” replied Sir Harry, “Right, But I jedge I’ve snatched their ijee this time. _Knowin’ we’re sum on shootin’, an’ not keerin’ tew lose enny more braves than possybul, they’re goin’ ter clim’ us,’”’ } ‘* What do you mean?” ** Why, ye see sum 0’ ’em hes gone over the mount- ings, an’ ’Il sooner or later git down inter ther can- yon atween usan’ ther banditters, arter w’ich both _ divisions ‘ll give us a nudge frum each eend, at ther same time.”’ . ' * You believe that is their plan?” - “IT don’ make much doubt 0’ et, Ye see, Soos kin climb like all natur’, an’ et’ll be no sarcumstance es ’em tew scoot these mountings, ef ye’ll give 'em time.” = That night the eo a in the canyon made a rush down on the barricade in large numbers, but Dan was quite ready for them, and the incessant and deadly fire from the four repeating rifles made such fearful havoc, that the red-skins again retreated, much decreased in numbers, and howling with rage. ; The succeeding day passed, and the next, and the next, and still the next, without further develop- ments At last the night of the tenth day fell over the mountains, but it disclosed only two figures in the Devil's Canyon at the camp. Sir Fleming and Sir Bruce had long since ridden off up the gorge to pay their toll, and be saved from the flood. Sir Harry and old Dan Coggswell were left to themselves, and their doom! “* No; [will not yield in this, the eleventh hour !”’ the young baronet had said, with wonderful firmness, when questioned by the others, previous to their departure. ‘‘ Dan can go if he wishes, and I will fur- nish him with the es HY toll money.”’ **No!” eried the old guide, ‘‘not much, Mary Ann, - ef I kno’ myself. I ain’t ther coon as will desart a feller in a fix.” So the two had remained, and it was with wildly- - beating hearts that they watched the nightewear away, toward another day-dawn. Fo AU last Sir Harry exclaimed, as he pointed toward - the summit of the Flat Butte, where that terrible specter had ploy tid pu mesredey sr same awful sight which Lady Milburm had seen: ** Look out forit, now, Dan, and say your peers, for. that signal has opened the flood-gates of e Tico. Good-by, old boy!” CHAPTER XIIi. JUST A’MONENT TOO LATE—WILD EDNA’S RIDE. Far up among the mighty, hoary crags beyond Flat Butte, nestling in a ~ and gloomy basin, lay _ the cold green waters of Lake Tico—or Lake Airy, asit has since been rest a A silent, uninviting sheet of water, suspended, as it were, midway be- . tween heaven and earth, and formed ina natural square, each corner being a towering peak, and the sides or shores forming a brink to an awful abyss _ that yawned on every side. One side of this remarkable mountain-lake over- looked Devil’s Canyon, and the other that awful abyss into which Sir Henry had been hurled, years before. The lake shore was accessible from three ints, but the hand of m41n, not of nature, had made it so. On the northeastern side, a long bridge of F grireaie network stre’ r r ; te tched across a yawning preci. | the author, pice, and made connection with a lower peak, which in itself connected with other gigantic neighbors that formed the chain stretching away off to the great green savaunas to the east. Directly east from the lake shore was a similar bridge, and this connected with the towering Flat Butte at its summit. The third mode of reaching the shore was by means of a spiral stairway which, commencing at the southern corner, wound its way gradually up the mighty mountain, until, when reaching a level with the lake, it had made a com- plete circle around the gray deposit of rock. This, too, had been the handiwork of man, as was peed evidenced by the unmistakable ax-marks and blas ing holes. he banks of the lake were very narrow —so narrow that ou. a steady-nerved person would dare attempt to walk on them for fear of fallin off into the lake on the one side or over the preci- pice on the other. In some places the water drooled and dripped over the edge, thereby making the rocks slippery. At the side overlooking Devil’s Canyon were the ** flood-gates’” mentioned. They had been con- structed by the banditti, and when lifted from their rocky fastenings, the waters of the lake couleé easi- ly pour out in a mammoth volume into the gorge below. These gates were raised out of a groove in the rock by a great wooden lever, which could only be moved “by a score of men, and were so deeply sunken that the whole of Lake Tico’s waters could be plunged into the canyon in ten seec- onds’ time, The retreat of the banditti was in such a position Hoe vi ean could not reach it, although dashing rectly by. Half a mile above the base of the Flat Butte, where the camp of our party had been, was a break in the mighty wall of the canyon. At this t two armed sentinels always s . The break D question was a round black hole in the wall, some- what resembling a sewer outlet, only not so small, A horse could easily pass through this aperture with a person sitting erect on its back. This natural tunnel ran in a semi-curving and zig-zag shape for perhaps a quarter of a mile, descending a, trifling grade, when it made an abrupt turn in the bowels of the mountains, and proceeded due east, where, before, its course layin a north by easterly direc- tion. At the place where occurred the break in the walls of the canyon, the little stream which ran down its entire length had its source, the flood-gates of Lake Tico being directly overhead, and emitting a St aga wastage of water, through crevices ia.the rock. By following the tunnel beyond the turn, for an- other quarter of a mile, you debouched from Sty- ian darkness into semi-light. You were at the ottom of Death’s Gulch, and on a level with the Great Lakes.* ; You are at the bottom of Death Gulch. And such a bottom! Tt is a natural garden of paradise—an oasis in a vast mountain desert. Two acres area, in all, fenced in by those majestic rocky monsters, the mountains: green with velvety grass and redolent with perfume from a hundred flowering trees and plants, it is a most astonishing and wondrous sight, Water from a cascade a thousand feet aboveis transformed into a mist that trickles down the rug- ged wall, until it gathers into a little rivulet in the rocky yet grassy bottom. In the center of the gulch is a large, barn-like edi- fice, thatched with fir-branches and sod, and built of rock. Around this, numerous beds of wild-flowers ar* ina state of careful cultivation; here and there are scattered rude settees. on which men are reclin- ing, indolently, and smoking. - = Although the hour is past midnight, they are thus * The remarkable tunnel under the mountains is an existing freak of nature, personally explor % 1 : ~* ex hac ned.Oy :

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Old Avalanche. engered, for there is work for them to do, presently, and they!would be awake. ; The gulch is lit dimly with flaring torches, thrust in neighboring crevices. Soon a door of the edifice is opened, and four armed men issue forth, followed by a tall, ghastly figure, clad in a trailing robe of snowy white. His hair sweeps his waist, as does an immense beard of silvery hue, and in his eyes burns the unnatural fire of insanity—a fire that might cause any brave man to tremble. As he oe from the door a figure attempted to exer but he hurled her back with an enraged shriek. ‘‘ Avaunt! accursed fool! Dost think to evade my vigilance? Back with you, or by the RoyahScepter, T’ll cast thee into the dungeon, from whence thy pleadings for liberty caused me to fetch you.” He seemed convulsed with an overpowering pas- sion, while he spoke, and glowered down upon the shrinking figure in the doorway, savagely. “Oh! my father!’ cried the Girl Bandit, wildly, arta ‘‘do not open the terrible flood-gates to- night. Postpone the awful crime until to-morrow, or next day, that those two deserted men may have a chance more for life!” * Hat ha! ha! ha!’ yelled the other, shrieking and gesticulating with mad laughter. ‘ Ha! ha! You would have me spare my sacrificial offerings to the Royal Mountain God and his Divine Powers. Ha! ha! thou art a fool, Zerama—a blind, idiotic ae amare to thy virgin couch, before I curse ee He raised his baton as if to strike, but with a frightened cry she darted back into the cabin. ummoning all of those men who were loungin on the settees, by a wave of his hand, the man crie in tones of anger: “Awake, you drowsy fools, awake! Dost- not remember that this is the hour of sacrifice—the glorious hour when the waters of Tico shall sweep a ath of destruction through the canyon of the evil? Awake, I say!” The men and, rifle in hand, formed in line. “Yes, your greatness,” said one, who was evident- ly a lieutenant, ‘‘ we are quite ready.” 3 ‘Good! That is well. Now, away to the flood- gates, and prepare to answer my signal from the peak-top!” + The men bowed low, then turned on their heel and filed away to the tunnel. As soon as they had gone, the strange commander turned to the four armed men who had remained behind. ‘“Now, Valquero, is my balloon ready?” “Yes, your greatness,” was the reply, ‘all ready. This way, sir.” They led the way to the wall in the rear of: the cabin, where, upon the ground, was a small wicker- basket to which was attached arope. This ran like a @iminutive serpent hey through the darkness through a pulley on the top of the Flat Butte, an back down to the bottom of Death Gulch, again. _ Stepping into the basket the commander gave the signal, and the men sprung to and pulled down on the return rope, thereby drawing the basket up out of sight in the darkness. For,some time they pulled away manfully, and were at last rewarded by feel- ing the nope tighten and cease to draw further. The basket had reached the se In the mean time the other banditti had passed through the tunnel, and by way of the rocky stair- case reached the shore of the lake, and grasped the fatal lever that was to be the means of carrying death and destruction down through Devil’s Can- yon. There were full three-score of them, and it would be no feat of strength for them to hoist the ates, All that was now wanting was the signal from the Mat Butte, whither all eyes were turned in attention. 3 Full ten minutes passed when a faint flash red- dened the'sky, then followed a pistol report, anda tid ; ‘ f i Pops rung to their feet obedient to his call, fire whose color was blood-red flared fiercely on high from the top of the peak. In the bright light stood that tall, spectral, white- enveloped re, whose beard swept the gleaming girdle at his waist, and in whose d waved to and fro the terrible baton. First, he approached the portion of the plateau overlooking the canyon, and glaring down into its depths, gave vent to a series of wild, horrible shrieks; then, he wheeled abruptly and advanced to the edge, overlooking the Death ulch, and Lake Tico, far beyond. Halting on the brink of the frightful precipice, he raised both arms aloft. In accordance with plans understood among them, one of the bandits then sprinkled a sack of some strange smelling powder on the shore near to the great lever, and applied a match to it. Instantly a flame similar to the one on the Flat Butte sprung up and illumined the scene. Every surrounding object was plainly revealed. All eyes were turned upon the Pave figure—for the fatal signal. Once he raised the baton on high, ene it around his head and let it fall back by his side. Once! Then after a lapse of several moments of dead silence, he repeated the movement, Pwirela oo 5 Only once more and then the fatal gates would be raised. Eagerly and impatiently the banditti watched. Finally the long bony arm with the baton began to-rise the third time. But hark! There is the faintly audible report of a rifle, heard from the distant peak with which the northeastern bridge of rope communicates; the - rising arm of the spectral chief falls to his side; he staggers back, and with a wild, horrible yell, sinks upon the plateau. “Stop! stop!” shrieks a voice, as a wiry figure comes bounding across the rope-bridge—“ stop! in ther cognomen o’ ther Jehoover. HayrI kim, ther ate O’Rory Borey Alice o’ ther north--ther howlin’ yhailstarm o’ devastation, ther orful sky-rocket 0’ demolishun,” But the banditti paid no heed. With a wild vengeful scream they errs. the mighty lever, and the great waters mas in and pouring into the Devil’s Canyon. At this identical juncture Wild Edna and the four guards stood in the mouth of the tunnel where it Opened into the canyon. As the water came dash- ing downward in a grand, awful volume, she turned to them and said: aoe “T am ready, Josh!’ and she sprung into a flat boat lying near. : c “Quick, now! cast me out before the torrent rows too fierce. "Tisa fearful venture, I'll admit, ut I must save those men. If I never ccme back, fiiends, God pro per youl” — As of one accord, they kissed her hand in silent devotion, then gathering the frail craft in their arms, they plunged it forcibly through the sheet of falling waters, and into the mad rapids pee The boat neither swamped nor capsized, but dane: ed down over the fury-lashed fi velocity. ** The depth of the seething waters could be safely estimated at twenty feet. «© ep On—on—on—dashed the little tempest-tossed craft with wild-eyed Edna at the steering-oar! At last, she knew by surrounding landmarks that she was directly over the place where Sir Harry's camp had been. In vai, bere, did she peer around with hope struggling against hope in her breast that by some strange chance she would see the young nobleman and his guide still clinging to a project- ing crevice or sp why oe Alas! she was doomed to disappointment: ‘Noth. ing but the forbidding gray walls met her gaze— nothing but the awful roaring tumult of the furious ae flood greeted her hearing. Sir Harry and Dan had veen swept away | ake Tico went roaring , ‘4. “Fehon with startling -

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wy CHAPTER XIV. RETURN TO DEATH GULCH, Swept away! a A sudden wave of sadness stole over the beau- teous face of the Girl Bandit as she realized this, and tears filled her eyes—tears of bitter anguish, for she loved Sir Harry, this wild flower of the mountain—loved him with all the intense power of her maiden nature—had loved him from the mo- ment of her first meeting with him, He seemed so upright and rovally grand to her. and she could not hep it that her loyal little hea had gone out to him in its great wealth of affection. And could she doubt that ‘he too held her in bigh esteem? No! He had said she was. tho nearest to womanly per- fection, or to that effect, and he had looked so _ earnestly, so yearningly and pleadingly into her face, with his wondrous eyes, that her untutored heart had leaped and throbbed in her bosom for very joy. Now he was gone! Gone in the devastating and merciless flood, and if she ever saw his face again it would be when the features so well loved were pale in death. Oh! how bitter was the pain that now pierced her heart; how silent and torturing the anguish that convulsed her whole being! Her hands clutched tightly to the steering-sweep, but she made no effort to guide the craft, as it plunged along with the mad waters. : oat nen! near the center of the swift current, and escaped being wrecked on the foam-lashed wall of the canyon. Why care if it did go to pieces? All of the sun- shine of her young life had gone out; she was indif- ferent to all dangers; she wanted to die. Why not end her days here in these green, seeth- ing waters, that roa and boomed along like con- tinuous thunder? Why not thus end her distasteful and aimless life, and join him, in that great and better land, where all was perpetual sunshine and eternal love? ~ ; : _ Ah! life had been a sad experience in the dark “ past. For years she had lived among a lawless gang of men, who, though bandits they were, had never by touch or word done a yrone to their fair, -sweet-tempered mistress, for they loved her as a ministering angel; and not to see Wild Edna hover- ing about with words of gentle reproof at any bad action, or words of cheer to the downhearted, was like depriving a flower of its morning dew. True she had had a mother, once—a wild, gipsy- like mother, who had died years ago, and since then the life of Wild Edna had been but a mockery, as it were. _ a j She had none of her own sex to love and commune with—zvo one to love, in fact, save it were her follow- ers or that demented old man of the Flat Butte, with whom she had been left at her mother’s death, by whom she had since been ruled. To be sure, he was kind, when not in one of his insane spells, and foving, too; but it was a rare hour that ever saw him wholly free from these ravings. “ : The banditti were also kind and courteous, and her brother, Nevada Sam, was as kind and loving as a brother could be. But, for all this, there had been a blank in her life—a vacant spot in her pure virgin heart, that had only been the more vividly disclosed to her after she had met Sir Harry. Never had she permitted a hope to take root in her heart—a hope that she could ever be aught or. anything to him; but it had stolen there despite her caution, and she was secretly longing and yearning, puitding air-castles and hoping for his company, his love. ~ Now all was gone—hope, expectation, all. She imagined she could see his lifeless corpse be- _ ing borne ruthlessly along on the crest of the angry waves. 1 She too, though scarcely conscious of the fact, the banditti, Old Avalanche, en rr ee cece ce er AR Nae A a was being borne along swiftly, her little craft seem. ing to have adopted the sole responsibility of keep ing in the middle of the stream. < On—on, over the thundering flood, and then she was startled by a loud, ny ag, ‘H-a-y, thar, ship, ahoy! ar ye goin’, an’ d’ye ship passenjars?”’ : The voice was that of Dan Coggswell. In an in. stant all her hopes revived. With almost frenzied ene she directed the headlong craft into a near y, where, with skill- ful hand, she managed to hold it, ““ Where are you?” she cried. “ Hayr! hayr! on the starboard side 0’ ye, in a big black-b’ar hoé/ up in ther sides o’ therrocks. Hurry up afore yer any br et gits too far down-stream!”’ With a strength that surprised her, Wild Edna gave a few powerful strokes at the paddle that sent the boat spinning across toward the aperture, whose mouth she could now just define, ahead in the curve, = Nearer and nearer she approached, and at last, as the boat went crashing against the rocky wall, she — made a leap and Old Dan Coggswell caught her ir his arms and pulled her into the bear’s cave! It was the same one from which the guide and Sir Ha: had tumbled the big Bruin, a few days previous. : “Thar ye ar’, ees oe he said, depositing the brave girl on her feet, ‘‘ safe an’ sound’s a shell-bark.”’ ‘*But, the other!” gasped Wild Edna, shivering with apprehension—“ where is he ?” : *“*Ye mean ther boss, Sir Harry? Yas, I see’d you leant thet way. Wal, miss, ’m darnashun sorry, but I’m afeard Sir Harry hes gone under, fer good. Ye kin see fer yersel’, however, as he lays over thar = : = corner, limp an’ loose as an unsturched shirt.’ 3 The Girl Bandit did not wait for him to fmish the sentence, but hastily groped her way to where the body of Sir Harry lay insensible, with a ragged gash over his temple, eS Wild Edna took his head in her lap, and with skillful hand dressed the wound, old Dan assisting as well as he knew how. ‘*T think *tain’t no kinder use tew,” he said, shak- ing his grizzled head as the moments fled by and still the baronet lay like one in death. “On the contrary, I think he will recover,’ was the reply. ‘‘ This is an ugly bruise, but I believe it has only stunned him, Bring me a little water in your hat, and I will pour it down the back of his neck, That will bring him to when nothing else will.” Dan hastened to obey, and scoo his hat full of water out of a trickling little ee inside their re- treat. Then leaving the girl to her act of restoration, ET gaa to the mouth of the cave to watch the The waters had now gone down, and it was plain that Lake Tico was nearly drained. “Did Sir Fleming and Sir Bruce come up and pay their ransom?’ asked Dan, turning abruptly — rom the mad waters below him. “Yes,” was the reply, ‘‘but not with very good | grace. They, with the two ladies, are now lodged in the bandits’ cabin in Death Gulch. Day after to- morrow, they will be conducted on through the can- yon, to an Indian fort beyond the mountains, where they can easily catch an overland train.” — ‘“An’ w’at 0’ us; hev we pot ter stay behind?” “Tcannot answer you that question yet, sir. have made up my mind to leave these mountains— my brother and I—andif I cannot arrange it so you ~ can go with your party, I will take you both along, whenI go. Ihave a few trusted followers among who are as eager as I to quit this wild, lawless life.’’ ss Say Sir Harry now began to show signs of returning _ ce consciousness, and soon, to the ) joy of both, he gave a gasp and opened his eyes. 3 h!” he groaned, staring around, until his eos eyes lit upon the sweetly beautifnl face-of Wild a HOTS ‘e

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dna, when asmile of welcome flitted across his own pallid features. ‘“Where am I? I have been wounded—had a en eee ee and I. How camelI here, and you, x lained all.* dna—why did you peril so much A few words e ** But you, fair to try to save us?” A red flush mantled her face—her eyes filled witb tears but her lips refused to speak. * Ah, sweet girl,” he murmured, drawing her head down to his own, “if my poor life is worth so much to you, let me here pay the recompense of so much love, by giving myself to you,” She attempted to rise and leave; he pulled her back, and. caught herin a loving, passionate em- brace, while he rained kisses on her rosy lips and crimsoning cheek. ‘* Hdna—darling,’’? he murmured, ‘* do not be fright- ened nor tremble thus. I love you, sweetest—love you as man never loved before. ~You are not indif- ferent to me;I know it:—and therefore in all earnestnesss, and in the honesty of a true lovel ask you, darling—will you love me, if it be only a tent: name of Wild Edna to that Lady Edna?” “ But—but—”’ she faltered, though she did not shrink from his {manly embrace, ‘“‘you know noth- ing, absolutely nothing, of me or my antecedents.” ‘Nor do I care, darling. Ulwed youand love you for yourself, not for your antecedents. True, I know nothing of them, but I am positive that you are as pure as you are beautiful—a fit mate for any man, 10 matter what his name or ggg eS ““My parentage is respectable. My father was a Spanish-Mexican ranchero, who, ere his death, rose to be a distinguished man in Texan history. My mother was an Englishwoman, and after my father’s death, when I and my brother were _but children, she came North, intending to settle in Min- nesota, where her brother resided. * But Indians drove her train into this vicinity, from whom they were rescued by our band of mountain outlaws, headed by the old man you saw on the Flat Butte. * We were all held captives for years, and, in fact, - ever since our_capture. The second year of our durance, mothér married the wild chief, but died a month after her bridal.” “That is enough,” cried Sir Harry, kissing her rapturously, ‘‘I am amply satisfied, my love, my queen. Noson of our noble old house will have ever won a brighter, more priceless gem than lucky Say ves, Edna darling; oh! say yes, that I ma be doubly assured that you Jove me, and are mine! She did not answer, but nestled contentedly in h arms, and their lips met in a long, passionate kiss, that told better than could have words, the truth. _ In the mean time, the flood had gone down, and Devil’s Canyon was free from the destroying ele- ment. 3 - When he could at last see the bottom, old Dan ap- te ine lovers of the fact, and Wild Edna sprung her feet. “T must go, now,’ she said, as Sir Harry would have detained her, ‘and see how thines have shaped ‘in the retreat, Do not fear for me, for I shall risk nothing,” . “Very well; I will try to endure your absence, though it seems hard to part So soon. Are we to re- mvzin here?”’ ; ‘Yes, until I return, and that will be just as soon as I can,” ; By aid of a lasso, the maiden was soon lowéred from the bear’s cave, and soon disappeared up the canyon. “ The day I Night at last fell over the land, and both Dan and Sir Harry sought rest in repose, for they had not ere a wink the previous night, _ Early in the fo assed slowly to the two men, ‘Old Avalanche. part asmuch asI love you,and change the , owing morning, they heard a, call | ther, an 27 from below, in the canyon, and rushing to the en- trance, beheld Wild Edna there. “Come!” she said, excitedly, ‘‘hurry and slide down the rope, and follow me to the Death Gulch. Something has happened that demands your imme- diate presence there.” They obeyed, by quickly scrambling down the lasso, after which Wild Edna led the way up the can- yon, to the mouth of the tunnel. Here a squad of four masked men took them in charge, and con- Mer them through and into the cabin ir "eath -CHAPTER XV. LAST SCENE BEFORE THE CURTAIN FALLS, Here, a strange tableau was presented. The room was some thirty feet long by twenty wide, and was the main compartment of the cabin. It was furnished in the primitive style of the Far West, and with appointments of the rudest description. / On the floor in one corner was a couch of skins, on which lay a re apparently in great mental or piynicss n; for his groans were loud and horrible to hear. By his bedside knelt Lady Milburn and her esr ae sobbing in the depths of their handker- chiefs, while at their side stood the tall commanding re of Nevada Sam. n another corner of the room lay two more figures, bound hand and fcot, whom the reader wil! have no difficulty in pe dasin d as the redoubtable Old Ava- lanche, and Idaho Bill. It was old Avalanche who had fired the uverring bullet which ait ge the § mF age figure on the Flat Butte, the night of the ood, ; After dsys of tortuous climbing through a wild, awful mountain wilderness, he had arrived too late to avert the flood. At the opposite side of the room, all the bandits ‘ were formed ina compact line, and directly before Re: Swe stood two prisoners—Sir Fleming and Sir ruce. On the further side of the bed from Nevada Sam, stood a rough old borderer, whose vocation it wasto deal out medicine and pills to any who might require 4 his services. ; This was the situation of affairs as Wild Edna en- tered the room, accompanied by Sir Harry, Dan, and the guards. The latter remained near the door, with 3 the guide, and Edna led her betrothed forward to the oe couch. ; z ‘*Sir Harry,” said Nevada Sam, touching his som- brero respectfully, ‘you have arrived too late to hear the dying story of the man lying before you, but I am so well acquainted with it, and with his past life, that, if you will listen, I will tell you all.” Sir. Harry inclined his head, as he studied the features of the bandit-chief, and Nevada Sam went on: “Twenty years ago Sir Henry Arriscourt, a great ie explorer, came to America to travelin this western wilderness, and bring to light the features of un- ae known parts of the New World. Foie setes -o- “He was the sole surviving son of an old house, = and a man of great knowledge and culture, In * — leaving England, his native land, he also left behind him a wife ‘and two infant children, who were the pride of his possessions. ate “Years before, Lady Hetty had had another — suitor, in the per on of one of Sir Henry’s relatives, Sir Fleming Milburn by name, but in consequence — of some disgrace he had been forced to quit Eng- land and relinquish the field to Sir Henry, who soon after wedded the lady of his choice. ; “No sooner did Sir Henry reach American soil, than, securely disguised, his rival offered him his - services for a small consideration, and an engage, : ment was effected, after which the two traveled westward. aS eee ee “Tt was Sir Henry’s highest ambition to do the loftiest hope in this section, »7e be proceeded fur- = for that purpose he secured a Canadian WEE Pe ae, ee 1

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28 ee guide, but he proving incapable, another fellow was ~ added to the staff.” “Thet war me!’ shouted Old Avalanche, from his corner—‘‘ me, ther great snow-slide 0° destruction; ther boreal breeze o’ demolishen, an’ ther whirly- ig 0? annihilation! Thet war me, by all ther ele- ants!” “Darn my socks!’ ejaculated a voice, and a man leaped from Benons he banditti; ‘‘see yere, ole hoss, kinder ’pears ter me I’ve heerd ther squeek 0’ yer vocality afore, ain’t 1? I onc’t hed a bruther wi’ thet precise same wabble in his v’ice, but ther Sooks got him, w’ile I war, as Shakespeer sed, “Grafted inter ther army. “Now, I say. my Christyen fr'end, hain’t yer name Hogg—spelt wi’ tew G’s? ’Peers ter me ye luke a powerful measure like the old family o’ Hoggs, w’ot uster live over in Slinktown, afore ther inhooman red-skins burnt et?” “Yas, my appellaterve a’ Hoge," replied Old Avalanche, excitedly—‘‘ Alva Lanch Hogg, sure’s beavers hev twins.” ‘*Then allow me ter interdooce myself as yer bru- ther, Josiah Billiam Hogg—Hogg spelt wi’ two G's —the grate Poet o’ ther Nor’west, an’ ther famuse romancer 0’ ther Powder River Range.” ~ There was a glad cry of delight; the Annihilator’s bonds were cut, and the next instant the two long- lost brothers were locked in a bgar-like hug, All this time Nevada Sam was speaking. “After the second guide was added, the expedi- tion plunged deep into the wilderriess, and after man) rake toilsome climbing, reached the top of the Flat Butte, above us, only to find that other ex- plorers had been there. “While camping on the But‘s, Sir Fleming and his secret accomplice, Raleigh, the Canadian guide, . formed a hellish plan, and executed it. “The elder guide was sent down the mountain- / side for cones, and during his absence Sir Henry was lowered over the precipice and dropped down into this, the Death Gulch.” Sir Harry uttered a horrified ery. “The fall did not kill your father,” resumed Nevada, ‘“‘for the rope by which they lowered him reached within ten feet of the bottom, but ia drop- o ping his head struck a rocky spur and fractured the ee thereby causing insanity, from which he has ever recovered. In Death Gulch he found a band of outlaws, and ever since that night, twenty years ago, he hasbeen their chief. Sir Fleming Milburn returned to England, I have learned from your mo- ther. and —well, you know the rest. “Now, one more matter and I have done. On the night of the flood, this dying man received his death-wound at the hand of yon scout, Old Avalanche—the man who is the only one now ee capable of speech who can bear witness “2 that Sir Fleming Milburn is guilty of an attempt on oo father’s life. The question is: is punishment 0 beinflicted on the scout? He says he fired the fatal shot to prevent the signal from being given that was intended to cause the raising of the flood- a gates of Lake Tico.” . ~ Sir Harry was about to reply, when, by a mighty % effort, the dying man sat up on his couch of skins. f ‘Set Alva Lanch free!’’ he said, in a husky whis- Re “ He is not guilty of intentional murder, and I —thank him for relieving me from a life of pain, _ maental torture and misery. I freely forgive him, as I hope God will forgive me. Sam—where is he?” Nevada Sam advanced tothe side of the couch, with bowed head and tearful eyes. “Good,” said Sir Henry. ‘‘My boy, you have _ been as good asason to me, and I would see you . happy. To perted you on equal terms with your fellow-men. I will you the result of my years of out- a SP eer hundred thousand dollars, which you nd beneath this couch, and, moreover, I give ed in es i _ing a valuable property, which was du edo (Of. =e Sa will and the proceeds divided between the colee gad str toes my consent to your union with Maude, here; for | : # ess ie Old Avalanche, _ : tr On a RE NS my eyes have aprecd me that you two are not in. different to each other. ‘Harry, my son, in you I see a noble man of whom I am justly proud. You are the last male representative of my own noble house. It therefore devolves upon you to support my dear wife and your mother, in her declining path through life, and also to marry, that the family name may be handed down to future generations. I have selected for you a beautiful bride whose past life has been one of purity and goodness, and whose pedigree is of the best in our American land.’ > “You mean Wild Edna?” ““T do, my son, I-do.’’ “Then rest easy on that point. She andI have learned the lesson of love, and she is to be mine;” “Thank God. I am now satisfied and would be content to die were it not for parting from thee, my — dearly loved wife.”’ “Weep not for me, husband,” sobbed Lady Hetty, “for perhaps God will soon summon me to join you in that great and better world!” \ He kissed her, then sunk back on the couch, a smile of glory overspreading his bearded face and ere long he geased to breathe. A few hours later Sir Bruce and Sir Fleming were conducted to the mouth of the tunnel by a squad of the banditti, and placed upon strong, swift-limbed crane Nevada Sam told them that half an hour’s start would be given. them down the canyon, and then the flood-gates of Lake Tico would be opened. J Accordingly, the two fugitives plunged their’spurs into their steeds’ flesh, and dashed furiously away down the canyon. When the half-hour was up, the flood-gates were raised, and Tico’s waters again flew down the oe Canyon 0n its mission of death and destruc- ion! = CHAPTER XVI. CONCLUSION. ; _ Tue body of Sir Henry was boxed and prepa Ss for transportation, but at the last moment, it was. uP decided to mae him in the gulch, rather than to at- : bra oe the difficulty of bearing him,pack to Eng- ve nd, Accordingly Nevada read an Episcopal funeral service over his coffin, and the lifeless clay of the once great explorer, was consigned to a rocky grave in the Death Gulch. After this last sad rite was over, a consultation was held with t:e brigands, which resulted in a _re- solve on their part to quit the scene of their late operations, and to enter the Black Hills country. For a small compensation they agreed to conduct our friends out through the canyon, to the Indian fort, where they could join a train via the Upper Gap to Fort Dakota. 2 The start was made on the following morning, and all except Old Avalanche and Josiah Hogg left the evil’s Canyon, for the time being—undoubtedly orever. : The latter shouldered their rifles and took an op- posite course, down the canyon, where soon to the Annihilator’s surprise, he was joined by Florence Nightingale, who had been faithfully searching for his master since having lost him, during the perilous ee: ee over the mountains. ees daho Bill went with the banditti, having decided 4 to I them. Be ; he party whose adventures we have been pictur: ing, reached Dakota fort. in due seasun, and remain- Fe. ed there until September, 1876, when they started for England. During the sojurn at the fort, Nevada and Sir Harry, armed with proof-papers, found on Sir Henry's person, took a trip down across the country into Mexico, where they a. 3 ° sister. a rab ean

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Old Avalanche, ‘Half-Dime Singer's Library fady Milburn died on the voyage to England, and ‘was happy in the knowledge that she was going to her husband, in heaven. Old Avalanche and Josiah Hogg still make the far Nor’ west their home, and it is the sole ambition of the former to get even with the Sioux demon, Crazy Horse, who, I am sorry.to say, yet lives. Nevada and his vivacious wife have returned to American soil, to reside, and Sir Harry and Lady Wdna are at present doing the West in search of a beautiful spot to build themselves a home on, Dan Coggswell, guide, was shot and killed, in a late skirmish with the Sioux, and his remains were interred in the prairie, a mile out from Cheyenne. THE END, Beatles Weel Whe Best Weekly of Popular, Entertain- ing and Useful Literature Pub- lished in America! ‘ts Unrivaled Corps of Contributors, almost all of whom write erclusinety for its publishers—embraces th following authors of world wide repute— “olonel Prentiss Ingraham, Albert W. Aiken, “aot. Fred, Whittaker, Capt. Mark Wilton, Joseph £. Badger, Jr., Edward L. Wheeler, Charles Morris, O1 Coomes, C. Dunning Clark, Buffalo Bill, White aver, Buckskin Sam, Major Dangerfield Burr, T. C. Harbaugh, Philip S. Warne, Williain R, Eyster, Anthony P. Morris, Launce Poyntz. Each and all of whom give to BrEaADLE’s WEEKLY vaeir very best productions in all the varied flelds of Border and Wild West R-mance— Adventure Exploration and Sport— City Life Character, Courts and Ways— Detective and ‘Shadow’ Revelations— 2 Stories of the Great Deep, etc., etc. So that each and every number is overflowing with reading of the most interesting and exciting nature; while in its Special Departments, covering al! the needs, and adding to the general interest and usefulness of the popular journal, BEADLE’s ’ Wrercy is the paper of all others for your weekly. reading and entertainment, . Beadle’s Weekly is Published at the Following Rates: For Four Months.. ...... gs cad aaah ae weeeee $1.00 Mor One Vea... ccccesees, ceae sees seeusinew ee 8.90 Two Copies for One Year. 1.01.20. .s0. 0005 eee 5:00 SENIRIP OOPIGSs Gai de vate seawee’s dab apeeReeeak ..6 cents Supptied by all Newsdealers, BEADLE AND ADAMS, Pus.isHers, 98 William street, New York, 1 Woa, Egema! and 59 other Songs, 2 Captain Curr and 57 other Songs, 3 Tur Garnsporo’ Hat and 62 other Songs. 4 JoHNNY Moraan and 60 other Songs. 5 tu Strmre You Wirs A Fearser and 62 others, 6 GroRGE THE CHARMER and 56 other Songs. 7 THe Beiie or Rockaway and 52 other Songs. 8 Youne Fe.uan, You're Too Fresx and 60 others 9 SHy Youne Giri and 65 other Songs. 10 I’m THE GovERNOR’s ONLY Son and 58 other Songs, 11 My Fan and 65 other Songs. 12 Comm’ Taro’ Tur Rye and 55 other Songs. 18 Tae Rotiickine IrisHMan and 59 other Songs, 14 Op Doe Tray and 62 other Songs. 15 WHoa, CHARLIE and 59 other Songs. 16 In THIs WHEAT By AND By and 62 other Songs, 1? Nancy Lee and 58 other Songs. 18 I’m THE Boy THAT’s Bound To BLAzE and 57 others, 19 Tae Two OgPHANS and 59 other Songs. 20 WHAT ARE THE Witp Waves Sayrne, Sisten? and 59 other Songs. 21 Inpiananr Potty Woe and 59 other Songs. 22 'Tae OLD ARM-CHAIR and 58 other Songs. 23 On Congy IsLanp Brace and 58 other Songs, 24 Op Simon, THE Hor-Corn Man and 60 others, 25 I’m in Love and 56 other Songs. 26 PARADE’ oF THE GuARDs and 56 other Songs. 27 Yo, Heave, Ho! and 60 other Songs. 28 “Twit NEVER po To GiB 1T uP So and 60 others, 29 Buue Bonners Over THE BorDER and 54 others, 380 Tak Merry Laveuine Man and 56 other Songs, 31 Swrerer Forestr-me-Nor and 55 other Songs. 82 LerTLe Baby Mine and 53 other Songs, 33 Dm Banjo AM DE INSTRUMENT FoR Mr and 53 others, 34 Tarry and 50 other Songs. 85 Just TO PLEASE THE Boys and 52 other Songs. 36 SKATING ON ONE IN THE GUTTER and 52 others, 37 Kotorgep Kranks and 59 other Songs. 38 Ni, DesperaNnpuM and 53 other Songs. 39 THe Giri I Lerr Beninp Me and 50 other Sengs | 40 "Tis pur aA Lirrte Faprp Fewer and 50 others — 41 Pretty WHILHELMINA and 60 other Songs. 42 DANCING IN THE BakN and 63 other Songs. ; 43 H. M.S. Pinarore, COMPLETE, and 17 other Songs. Sold everywhere by Newsdealers, at five cents per copy, or sent post-paid, to any address, on re- ceipt of Six cents per number, BEADLE AND ADAMS, Pustisuens, 98 Witiiam Street, New Yorr, The Dime Dialogues No. 31. Containing twenty Minor Dramas, Extravagansas — Burlesques, Farces, Dress and Humorous Pieces, for the Amateur Stage, Parlors, Schools and Exhibitions, _ All original and by favorite authors, professors, — teachers and amateurs. ei Yor sale by all newsdealers, or sent, post-paid, a receipt of price—ten cents, ; ‘ ao BEADLE AND ADAMS, PusuisHers, 98 William Street, New Yor?2: os at

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se UIMy [JIALOGUES aN» SPEAKERS MMII MMM MM cnr mmm MMe er nT ITT TTT TT ee Te TN i Se eee . ap ee PUBLISHED BY os DIALOGUES, Nos.1t04. M. J. LIVERS & CO., SPEAKERS, Nos 1 to 25. JAMES SULLIVAN, Prop’r, 4 we oe om 379 Pearl Street, New York, - : 2 THE TRADE SUPPLIED BY Tina! The American News Company, vig ; AND ITS BRANCHES. es : TATA AAT TTT 3

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r BUFFALO BILL Novels in the DIME LIBRARY - $2 Death Trailer, the Chief of Scouts; or, Life and ' Wovein a Frontier Fort. By Buffalo Bill, : te hom Te 5 ; nes ‘ ; “1 ve be MA "li The Doomed Dozen; or, Buffalo Bill, Chief of Scouts. By Dr. Frank Powell. - $< Wild Bill, the Pistol Dead-Shot. A Romance of Buffalo Bill’s Old Pard. By Col: P. Ingraham, 45 Witd Bill's Trump Card; or, The indian Heiress, By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. 189 Wild Bill’s Gola Trail; or, The Desperate Dozen, By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. 43 The Pilgrim Sharp; or, The Soldier’s Sweetheart, By Buffalo Bill, Government Scout and Guide. $19 ean the Whirlwina of the West. By Buf- 2 Bill. mv The League of Three; or, Buffalo Bill’s Pledge. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham, | 47 The Wizara Brothers; or, White Weuver’s Trail, By Buffalo Bill. 11] The One-Armed Pard; or, Red Retribution in Borderland, By Buffalo Bill. ‘(7 Buffalo Bill’s First Trail; or, Will Cody, the Pony Express Rider. By Ned Buntline. : 9 The Dead Shot Nine; or, My Pards of the Plains, by Buffalo Bill, 139 Daredeath Dick, Gy J of the Cowboys; or, Buf- faio Bill’s Daring Réle. By Leon Lewis. 159 The Gold King; or, Montebello, the Magnificent, By Buffalo Bill, | ‘4 Buffalo Bill’s Bonanza; or, The Knights of the ‘Silver Circle. Bv Col P. Ingraham, ¥i9 Buck Tay.or, the Saddle. K ng. By Col. P. In. graham a @2 Buffalo Bill’s Secret Service Trail; or, The Mys terious Foe By Maj. Dangerfield Burr. 391 Buffalo Bill’s Blind Trail; or, Mustang Madge, _ the Daughter of the Regiment. By Ingraham. {97 Buffalo Bill’s Buckskin Brotherhood; or, Open- ing Up a Lost Trail. By Col P. Ingraham. #10 Buffalo Bill Baffled; or, The Deserter Desperado’s q Defiance. By Col. P. Ingraham. #16 Buffa'o Bill’s Scout Sbadowers; or. Emerald Ed of Devil's Acre. By Col. P. Ingraham. ¥22 Buffalo Bill on the War-Path. By Col, Ingraham {27 suffato Bill’s Body-guard By Col. P, ngraham, ‘® Buffalo Bill's Beagles, By Col. P. Ingraham. Buffaio Bill and His Merry Men. By Col. P. ' dngraham, ~w 3uffalo Biil’s Blind. Ry Col. P. Ingraham. .03 Buffalo Bill’s Flush Hand; or, Texas Jack’s Pravos, By Col. P. Ingrabam, $50 baffalo Bill’s Big Four. By Col. P. Ingraham. 157 Bi ffalo Bill’s Donble; or, The Desperado Detec- tive. By Col Prentiss [ograham. *61-Buffalo Rill’s Mascot, or, Death Valley Victim ’ No. 18. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham, 85 Buffalo Bill’s Dozen; or, Silk-Ribbon Sam. By Qol Pre~tiss Ingraham, ‘69 Buffalo Bill’s Sweepsiake., By Col. Ingraham. Def é 77 Buffalé Bill’s Spy-ohadower. By Col. Ingraham RZ Buitele Bili’s Dead Shot. yr Gol Prentig? © ent by mail on: 80U Wild Bih, the Dsad-Center Sho or, Rio Grande Ralph the Cowboy Chief. By Buffalo Bill, © 807 Wil: Bill. the Wild West Duelist; or, Tbe Girl Mascot of Moonlight Mine. By Buffalo Bill. 812 Buffalo Bill’s Death-Knell; or, Tne Red Hand Riders of the Rockies By Col. P Ingraham 820 White Beaver’s Still Hunt; cr, The Miner Marauder’s Death-Track. By Buffalo Rill. 822 Buffalo Bill’s Best Bower; or, Montebeilo, the Gold King. By Col. P. Ingraham. 826 Buffalo Bill’s Sharp-thooters; or, The Surgeon Scout to the Rescue. By Col, P. Ingraham. 830 Buffalo Bil’s Boys in Bive; or, The Brimsicne B: nd’s Blot-out. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. 839 'be Ranen King Dead Shot; or, Texas Jack’g Proxy. By Buffalo Bill. 845 Buffalo Bill’s Redskin Ruse; or, Texas Jack’s Death Shot. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. 851 Buffalo Bill’s Double Dilemma; or, The Grea» Scout’s Big Three. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham) 857 Buffalo Bill’s Royal Flusn; or. The Pony Rider’s Dea‘h-Rua. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. 863 Buffalo Bi'l’s Death-Charm; or, The Man Wiib aSear. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham, 869 Buffalo Bi Ps Road-Agent‘Ronad-up; or The Mys- terious Masked Manin Black. By Ingrahem. 874 Buffalo Bill’s Buckskin B-aves; or, The Card: aé-n’s Las’ Gane By Cl, P. Ingraham, 882 The Thre< Bilis: Bo ffalo Bul, “ ild Bill and Bana box Bul; or. The Bravoio Broadcloth. Ingraham 890 Buffalo Bill’s Life Stake; or, The Pledged Tnree, By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. 895 Buffalo Biil’s Secret re bl or, The Texan” Double, By Col. PrentissIngraham., 900 Buffalo Bill’s Rougb Riders; or, Texas Jack’ | | Sosrp-Shooters, By Cc]. P. Ingraham. 904 Buffalo Bili’s Pavel d Trail; or, Gentleman Jack, the Man of Many Masks. By Ingraham, 909 Boffato Bill’s League; or. Red Butterfly. By» Col. Prentiss Ingraham. 915 B ffalo Bili and the Surgeon Scout;or Go wan. o, the R-dskit Rider. By Cwl. P. Ingraham. 921 Buffalo Bill’s Quandary: or, Velvet Bill’s Vow By Col, Prentix: Ingrah»m, : 927 Boffaio Bil’s B uff; or, Dusky Dick, the Sport. By Col. P. ‘ngraham, ‘ 936 Buffalo Bill’s Black Pard; or, The Gold Be *neeaxy of the Big Horn. By Col. P. Ingraham. . 943 Buffalo Bill’s Block Game. By Colonel R, Ingraham, 950 Buffalo Bill at Bay. By Colonel Prentiss Ingraham. 956 Buffalo Bill’s Volunteer Vigilantes. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham.,. 960 Buffalo Bill’s Blue Belt Brigade. By Colonel! 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Vest Pocket Size. By Mail, - “YIDDISH” YARNS.—A Collection of Hebrew Jokes, Stories, etc. _ GENTS’ LETTER WRITER. wine Perfect Guide to all y kinds of Correspondence. FAMILY PHYSICIAN.—Family Diseases. and Their i Treatment; Rules of* Health, ete. BOOK OF DREAMS.—Their Romance and Mystery, with a Complete Interpretation Dictionary. _ HOUSEWIFE'S MANUAL.—How to Keep House; How ‘to Dye, Cleanse, ete. VAUDEVILLE JOKER.—Best Jokes by Eminent Vau- deville Artists. i BOOK OF ETIQUETTE.—Society, Visits, tions, Dress, Balls, etc. _ FORTUNE TELLER.—Fortune Telling by Cards, Tea Pek or Coffee Grounds, Eggs; Palmistry, ete. 2 BOOK OF 100 GAMES.—One Hundred Games for Bi. Social Parties and Home Amusements. - COOK BOOK. —Economical, Practical, Excellent. LADIES’ LETTER WRITER.—How to Write; ,When of i to Write; What to Write. Introduc- Price by mail, postpaid, 12 , PRICE 5 CE 7 Dandy Bill’s Doom. By Oll Coomes. By A. W. Aiken, By Stoddard. By mde me 8 Kit Carson. 4 Lillie, the Reckless Rider. 5 Old Grizzly in the Rockies. ~ 6 Deadwood Dick asa Boy. By E. L. Wheeler. -? Wild Bill. By Ingraham. 8 The Prairie Ranch. by J. E. Badger. 9 Roving Joe. By A. H. Post, 10 ‘V’exas Jack. By Ingraham. 11 Charley Skylark, the Sport. 2 Brimstone Bill's Booty. By J. E - 13 Roving Ben. By J. J. Marshall. 14 The Ticket-of-Leave's Trick. By J. E. Badger, Jr. i5 Wide-Awake George. By E. Willett. 16 Wide-Awake Ned. By B. Ringgold. Peter, the Dandy Greenhorn. By Noah Nuff. Adrift on the Prairie. By Oll Coomes. 5 Joe, the Rover Sport. By A. H. Post. Giant Pete and his Pardes By Harbaugh. 21 Yellow Hair. By Ingraham. 22 The Snow-Treil. By Harbaugh. 23 Old Grizzly Adams. By Dr. Powell. 24 Woods and Waters. By Whittaker. 25 A Rolling Stone. By W. R. Eyster. 26 Red River Rovers. By C. D. Clark. Buckskin Sam’s Wild Ride. By Ingraham. The Sword Prince. By F. Whittaker. § Snow-Shoe Tom. By CO. Harbaugh. By GC. D. Clark. Round the Camp-Fire. By J. E. Badger, Jr. “32 Fancy Frank's rop. By Ingraham, 83 The Boy Crusader. By Capt. F. Whittaker. By H. B. Stoddard. ", Badger, Jr. 64 Pages. Postpaid, BEADLE’S BOYS’ i i) 45 Bronco Billy. Swann TOASTS FOR THE G HART NET, Sewed Book. ize. per Copy. Up-to-Date. BEST LINE OF HAND BOOKS PUBLISHED. RECIPE BOOK.—For the Parlor, Nursery, Sick-room, Toiiet, Kitchen, Larder, etc. BOOK OF BEAUTY.—Beauty of Form, Color, Head, Hair, Complexion, Skin, ete., with chapters on Perfumes, Cosmetics, ete. BOOK OF VERSES.—Comprising Rhymes, Lines, and Mottoes for Lovers and Friends. THE LOVERS’ CASKET.—A Treatise on and Guide to Friendship, Love, Courtship, and Marriage. ‘““GERMAN ”’ JOKER.—‘ Dutch” Jokes and * Gags” by best ‘‘ Dutch” Teams on the Stage. “HAYSEED” JOKER.—The Doings of ‘Our Country Jousins in a Humorous Way. “TRAMP” JOKER.—Good ‘‘ Handouts” in this Book for Professional and Amateur Entertainers. “COON ” YARMS.—Best Jokes Relating to Our “ Dark- er-Skinned Brothers.” “TRISH” Joker No. 1.—The Wittiness and Whimsicali- ties of *‘ Pat” at His Best. ; “VARIETY ” JOKER.—Good Things from all the Na- tionalities: ‘* Pat,’ ‘‘Alphonse,” “ Hans,” ‘** Jona- than,”’ *‘ Moses,” and ‘‘ Ebenezer.”’ The above books are bound in handsomely illustrated lithographed covers. cents per copy. M. J. IVERS & CO., Publishers, 379 Pearl Street, New York City. LIBRARY. PER COPY. 34 The Chase of the Great White Stag. By C. D. Clark, 35 Old Tar Knuckle. By Rover Starbuck. 86 The Dashing Dragoon, By F. Whittaker. 37 Night-Hawk George. By Ingraham, 88 The Boy Exiles of Siberia. By Tl. C. Harbaugh. 39 [The Young Bear Hunters. By Morris Redwing. 40 iNew York Bill, the Dodger. By Edward Willett. 41 The Settler’s Son. By Edward §. Ellis. y 42 Walt Ferguson’s Cruise. By C. D. Clark, 43 Rifle and Revolver. By F. Whittaker. 44 The Lost Boy Whalers. By 'T. C. Harbaugt.. By Ingraham. J 46 Dick, the Stowaway. By Charles Morris. 47 The Colorado Boys. By J. E. Badger, Jr. 48 The Pampas Hunters. By T. C. Harbaugh, 49 Nebraska Charlie. By Ingraham. 50 Jack, Harry, and Tom. By F. Whittaker. 51 To ‘Stone, the Old Sea Dog. By C. D. Clark, a 52 The Boy Detectives. By 'T. C. Harbaugh, ° 1 53 Brey) the Country Boy, in New York. By Charles orris. a 54 California Joe. By Ingraham, 2 55 Tip Tressel, the Flatboat Boy. By Edward Willett, = 56 The Snow Hunters. By Harry De Forrest. 57 Harry Somers, the Magician. By 8. W. Pearce. 58 Captain Jack in Rocky Roost. By Ingraham, 7 59 Tim, the Mule Boy of the Mines. By Charles Morris, _ 60 The Young Trail Hunters. By '. C. Harbaugh, 61 The Tiger Hunters. By J. E. Badger, Jr. % 62 Doctor Carver, the Champion Shot. By Ingraham. 63 Black Horse Bill, the Bandit Wreckey. By Roget’: : Starbuck. By A. W. Aiken, 64 Young Dick Talbot.

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Deadwood Dick e Library @ } * LATEST AND BEST. HANDSOME TREGOLORED COVERS, $2 Pages. Issued Every Wedlnestlay. Price 5 Cents. Buy One and You Will Buy the Rest! ixtracts from the New York Evening Sun. TWO REMARKABLE HEROES. in only one sense of the word can it be regarded as a movel statement when the fact is here recorded that litera- gure has given many heroes to the world, and perhaps more than one reader will have to think a moment over ¢his remark before the subtle delicacy of its genial wit @trikes home, But it is most essentially a half dime novel statement that will be news to many when it is added that litera- gure, if traced from the dimly distant days when Adam was a mere child down,to the present day, would show fout few heroes that in the eyes of boyhood would be aven judged worthy of comparison with the two greatest fmeroes known to American literature, or, to promptly re- veal them, Deadwood Dick and Deadwood Dick, Jr. * * * The modern heroes of fiction for young America, who are now as countless as the sands of the sea, and of whom the Deadwood Dicks are much the most important * * * it is but natural that their * * * should bear away the palm of popularity; and suchas * * * be left far behind in the race, It can be easily believed, therefore, that the two Dicks so firmly engrafted on the tree of popular literature boys and young men, that their position is assured * * and that they stand to-day head and shoulders above all rivals in the eyes of the public for which they have lived, and for which one of them has died. American boyhood, and that is a tremendous factor im the land, now knows Deadwood Dick, Jr., a,good beal bet- ter than it knows its catechism, and millions of young minds absorb the thrilling incidents of his career in hig everlasting warfare against crime and his never-ending solving of impenetrable mysteries. Millions of boys follow his stealthy footsteps as he tracks his vicious victims to their undoing, and then, when the victims are thoroughly undone, the millions wait hungrily for the next volume, which on every Wednesday appears with the certainty of the Wednesday itself, and a new set pe ee aed thrills go thrilling away from Maine to Call- ornia, There are the volumes each so crowded witb thrills and heart-tugs that it were madness to hope to do justice to them collectively and rank injustice to discriminate be tween them, To abandon the idea of giving a few extracts causes in: finite pain, but if once a start were made in that direo tion, it would be cruel to The Hvening Sun’s readers to stop, and it is therefore better not to relate one single adventure. Suffice it to say that the stories are clean and well written. DEADWOOD DICK LIBRARY. 1 Deadwood Dick, the Prince of the Road 3 The Double Daggers; or, Deadwood Dick’s Defiance 8 The Buffalo Demon; or, The Border Vultures 4 Buffalo Ben, Prince of the Pistol § Wild Ivan, the Boy Claude Duval 6 Death-Face, the Detective % The Phantom Miner; or, Deadwood Diek’s Bonanza 8 Old Avalanche, the Great Annihilator; or, Wild Edna, the Girl Brigand 8 Bob Woolf, the Border Ruffian $0 Omaha. Oli, the Masked Terror; or, Deadwood Dick in Danger 31 Jim Bludsoe, Jr., the Boy Phenix; or, Through to Death (® Deadwood Dick’s Eales; or, The Pards of Flood Bar 18 Buckhorn Bill; or, Tne Red Rifle Team 14 Gold Rifle, the Sharpshooter 15 Deadwood Dick on Deck; or, Calamity Jane 16 Corduroy Charlie, the Boy Bravo 7 serch Rob; or, Nugget Ned, the Knight of the Gule 18 Idyl, the Girl Miner; or, Rosebud Rob on Hand 19 Photograph Phil; or, Rosebud Rob’s Reappearance #0 Watch-Eye, the Shadow 31 caro se Dick’s Device; or, The Sign of th’ Double Jross #2 Canada Chet, the Counterfeiter Chief %8 Deadwood Dick in Leadville; or, A Strange Stroke for Liberty 34 Deadwood Dick as Detective %5 ‘Gilt-Kdge Dick 26 Bonanza Bill, the Man-Tracker; or, The Secret Twelve 87 Chip, the Girl Sport 88 Jack Hoyle’s Lead; or, The Road to Fortune 29 Boss Bob, the King of Bootblacks 90 Peaevove Dick’s Double; or, The Ghost of Gorgon’s ule #1 Blonde Bill; or, Deadwood Dick’s Home Base @ Solid Sam the Boy Road-Agent 83 Tony Fox, the Ferret; or, Boss Bob’s Boss Job 84 A Game of Gold; or, Deadwood Dick's Big Strike 35 Deadwood Dick of Deadwood; or, The Picked Party 86 New York Nell, the Boy-Girl Detective 87 Nobby Nick of Nevada; or, The Scamps of the Sierrap 88 Wild Frank, the Buckskin Bravo 89 Deadwood Dick’s Doom; or, Calamity Jane’s Last Adventure 40 Deadwood Dick’s Dream; or, The Rivals of the ea | 41 Deadwood Dick’s Ward; or, The Black Hills Jeze 42 The Arab Detective; or, Snoozer, the Boy Sharp 43 The Ventriloquist Detective. A Romance of Rogueg 44 ee Josh Grim; or, The Young Gladiator's ame 45 The Frontier Detective; or, Sierra Sam’s Scheme 46 The Jimtown Spert; or, Gypsy Jack in Colorado 4¥ The Miner Sport; or, Sugar-Coated Sam's Claim 48 Dick Drew, the Miner’s Son; or, Apollo Bill, the Road-Agent 49 Sierra Sam, the Detective 50 Sierra Sam’s Double; or, The Three Female Detect- ives 51 Bion Rapa’ Sentence; or, Little Luck at Rough anc 52 The Girl Sport; or, Jumbo Joe’s Disguise 58 Denver Doll’s Device; or, The Detective Queen 54 Denver Doll as Detective 55 Denver Doll’s Partner; or, Big Buckskin the Sport 56 Denver Doll’s Mine; or, Little Bill’s Big Loss 57 Deadwood Dick Trapped 58 Buck Hawk, Detective; or, The Messenger Boy’s Fortune 59 Deadwood Dick’s Disguise; or, Wild Walt, the Sport 60 Dumb Dick’s Pard; or, Eliza Jane, the Gold Miner 61 Deadwood Dick’s Mission 62 Spotter Fritz; or, The Store-Detective's Deco 63 The Detective Road-Agent; or, The Miners of Sassa- fras City 64 pe Charlie’s Detective Dash; or, Tie Cattle ings M. J. VERS & CO., Publishers (James Sullivan, Proprietor), 379 Pearl Street, NEW YORK. d

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LTR CNS % bb il p LEAS e, ee », ~“Gs class matter. Mar. 15, 1899. — ? iopyright 1879-1885, by Beadle & Adams. Entered at Post Office, New York, N. ¥.,a8 second olass MAIter,” T et THE ARTHUR WESTBROOK CO. No. 8 Cleveland, Ohio Vol. I i BY EDWARD L. WHEELER, AUTHOR OF “ DEADWOOD DICK,” “THE DOUBLE DAGGERS,”’ ETO ETC. WILD EDNA’S RIDERS.

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TORENT “Fa SOONER Se Ei aes dA SE ss! ANOS eVRIGHAS FEAST RRS ae ‘ypyright 1851-1888, by Beadle & Adams. Entered at Post Office. New York, N. Y., as second class matter, Mar. 15, 18 a No. 8 / THE ARTHUR WESTBROOK CO. Vol. IT UAE VEN (01 erent —_—- > © © Ge. ~- BY EDWARD L. WHEELER, AUTHOR OF ‘‘DEADWOCD NICK,” ‘THE DOUBLE DAGGERS,’’ ETC., E2 WILD BDNA'S RIDERS.

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THE Deadwood Dick e Library @ LATEST AND BEST. HANDSOME TRI-GOLORED COVERS. 82 Pages. Bay One and You Will Buy the Rest! - For Sample Cover See Other Side. DEADWOOD DICK LIBRARY. 1 Deadwood Dick, the Prince of the Road % The Double Daggers; or, Deadwood Dick’s Defiance 8 The Buffalo Demon; or, The Border Vultures 4 Buffalo Ben, Prince of the Pistol | § Wild Ivan, the Boy Claude Duval 6 Death-Face, the Detective 7% The Phantom Miner; or, Deadwood Dick’s Bonanza 8 Old Avalanche, the Great Annihilator; or, Wild Edna, the Girl Brigand 9 Bob Woolf, the Border Ruffian 10 Omaha Oll, the Masked Terror; or, Deadwood Dick in Danger 1 Jim Bludsoe, Jr., the Boy Phenix; or, Through to Death 2 a =a Dick’s Eagles; or, The Pards of Flood ar 13 Buckhorn Bill; or, The Red Rifle Team 14 Gold Rifle, the Sharpshooter 15 Deadwood Dick on Deck; or, Calamity Jane 16 Corduroy Charlie, the Boy Bravo vg jaye | Rob; or, Nugget Ned, the Knight of the ule 8 Idyl, the Girl Miner; or, Rosebud Rob on Hand 9 Photograph Phil; or, Rosebud Rob’s Reappearance 10 Watch-Eye, the Shadow penne Dick’s Device; or, The Sign of the Double ross Canada Chet, the Counterfeiter Chief 3 Deadwood Dick in Leadville; or, A Strange Stroke for Liberty '4 Deadwood Dick as Detective Gilt-Edged Dick ’6 Bonanza Bill, the Man-Tracker ; or, The Secret Twelve Chip, the Girl Sport '8 Jack Hoyle’s Lead; or, The Road to Fortune 9 Boss Bob, the King of Bootblacks 0 Deadwood Dick’s Double; or, The Ghost of Gorgon’s Gulch 1 Blonde Bill; or, Deadwood Dick’s Home Base 2 Solid Sam, the Boy Road-Agent 83 Tony Fox, the Ferret; or, Boss Bob’s Boss Job 34 A Game of Gold; or, Deadwood Dick’s Big Strike 85 Deadwood Dick of Deadwood; or, The Picked Party 86 New York Nell, the Boy-Girl Detective 87 Nobby Nick of Nevada; or, The Scamps of the Sierras 88 Wild Frank, the Buckskin Bravo 89 Deadwood Dick’s Doom; or, Calam‘ty Jane’s Last Adventure : 40 Deadwood Dick’s Dream; or, The Rivals of the Road 41 Deadwood Dick’s Ward; or, The Black Hills Jezebel . 42 The Arab Detective; or, Snoozer, the Boy Sharp 48 The Ventriloquist Detective. A Romance of Rogues 44 Deere Josh Grim; or, The Young Gladiator's ame 45 The Frontier Detective; or, Sierra Sam’s Scheme 46 The Jimtown Sport; or, Gypsy Jack in Colorado 47 The Miner Sport; or, Sugar-Coated Sam’s Claim 48 Dick Drew, the Miner’s Son; or, Apollo Bill, the Road-Agent 49 Sierra Sam, the Detective 50 Sierra Sam’s Double; or, The Three Female Detect 4 ives . 51 end? ee Sentence; or, Little Luck at Rough anc ‘ 52 The Girl Sport; or, Jumbo Joe’s Disguise 583 Denver Doll’s Device; or, The Detective Queen 54 Denver Doll as Detective 55 Denver Doll’s Partner; or, Big Buckskin the Sport 56 Denver Doll’s Mine; or, Little Bill’s Big Loss 57 Deadwood Dick Trapped 58 Buck Hawk, Detective; or, The Messenger Boy's Fortune 59 Deadwood Dick’s Disguise; or, Wild Walt, the Sport 60 Dumb Dick’s Pard; or, Eliza Jane, the Gold Miner 61 Deadwood Dick’s Mission 62 Spotter Fritz: or, The Store-Detective’s Deco 63 Ae deh Road-Agent; or, The Miners of Sassa- ras Cit 64 ye he Charlie's Detective Dash; or, The Cattle ings wie =