Five Cent Wide Awake Library vol. 2 1894 11 23
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SPRATRIE. PHT &. THE PANTHER OF THE PLATTE. VE ® CHAPTER I. A RIDE FOR LIFE. H A SHARP, quick report, a wild yell of death- agony, a riderless pony dashing over the prairie with the speed of the wind. } Then came a chorus of savage yells, so loud so fierce and vengeful that a man less brave an reckless than the one pursued migh6 well turn pale with terror. On—on came the shining flanks flecked with foam, his nostrils quivering with the excitement of the chase. Lithe of form, fair of face, the young fugitive looked like some youthful god, so perfect were his proportions, so faultlessly graceful were his movements. The bridle-rein_ la the horse, untouched by the hand of his rider. Absolutely heedless of his course seemed the youth, for his keen Brey eyes were directed to- while he rapidly reloaded his ward bis pursuers, ’ rifle, which he had just discharged with, such - dea ae His red, girlish lips were tightl Re! with an expression of grim determination that boded ill to his enemies; for, boy though he was, Prairie Phil,was more hated, and his rifle more feared by thesavagefoe, than that of many an older scout, Reckless of all peril, he braved danger that one might shuddér to think of, while he passed through of a charmed life. i Tn a moment the rifle was re-loaded, and again turning in his saddle, the youth sent another messenger of death into the ranks of his enemies. _ There was a second wail of death-agony, anda second pony dashed riderless away from its comrades. “Ffe’ll know no more sorrow, nor suffering, I reckon,” muttered the boy, a bumorous twinkle _ coming into his eyes. ‘I wish they would give up this thing, though, fdr I can’t afford the time tofool with them now. My services are needed more at the Bend just at this time. But the » yarmints do hate to give up the prospect of lay- - ing me out for the coyotes to feed upon. They ought to know better than to try it, though, for them government rifles of theirs can’t harm a hair of my head at this distance, even if they _ knew how to handle them. And what’s more, _ their mustangs can no more overtake my Black- si bird than they can a tornado from thé north- west, ee but this would be nothing but . fun if Eh nothing else to do. _ As he’ said this, the young gnide,'for such he _ was by profession, suddenly seized the bridle- rein witb one hand and drew it taut, uttering at _ the same instant a low, peculiar whistle. Recog- . nizing the signal, Blackbird quickened his * bounds, until he seertied to fly over the undu- seh 16. was named. ny inted and plumed pur- | ’ suers, numbering a full score; and on—or bound- ed the great black steed of Prairie Phil, his npon the arched neck of them all as though possessed Batre with the swiftness of the Weird after’ PRAIRIE PHIL. é ( a OR, . es - , Yet, they seemed in no way inelined to abandon the pursuit, hopeless as it looked. Prairie Phil could not.help wondering at their persistence. He had already taught them a severe lesson with his rifle, and they must know by this time ‘that tuéir horses were no match, either in speed or endurance, for his. If -his present course only brought him nearer Cotton+ wood Bend, he would not haye cared for their pursuit. But it did not. ; #3 Instead, he knew that every bound of, Black- Sh bore him further and further from his goal. tee se He glanced ahead of him for the first ‘time; noting the direction in which he was going. ~ he did so he gave utterance to acry of dismay. Less than a half mile ahead was a narrow creek, its banks wes with cottonwoods, its course running at right angles with his own. But it was noe that which caused his dismay. . From among the cottonwoods a thin wreath of smoke was rising heavenward; and in close proximity upon the open prairie more than half a hundred mustangs were grazing. - Too well did the young guide realize his situa- Y | tion, While“his noble steed was easily distanc- ing the pursuing foe, he was at the same time bearing him with terrible certainty toward an equally imminent danger. Now he understood the seemingly blind persistence of his red pur- suers, They knew that they were driving him toward the encampment of their comrades—to-— ward certain destruction. With quick presence of mind Prairie. Phil altered the course of his horse, going in a direc- tion parallel with the creek. This was his only chance for escape, and if the savages encamped among the cottonwoods had not seen him, there was still hope of eluding them. But at the very instant that he changed his course, he heard a shout from beyond the grazing mustangs, and in another moment a dozen painted warriors emerged from the thicket, mounted, and came toward him, yelling like so many demons. Now it became a tide for life in deadly earnest, for his new pursuers’ steeds were fresh, and capable of a longér chase than his own. This was not all. They were sufficiently close to lacé him in danger from their rifles. Of this fact he soon had substantial evidence. Several sharp, whip-like reports rang on th® air, and he felt a painful twinge upon his left arm. abled, for ‘it felt strangely numb and disagree- able. But he soon satisfied himself that the bul- let of his enemy had only grazed the bone, with- out fracturing if} Although fortunate in escap- ing serious injury from this volley, Prairie Phil did not care to risk a second one. Without slackening, the pace of Blackbird, the young’ gnide turned in his saddle and fired with quick rae unerring precision at the foremust of his With a wild shout of pain the stricken redskin reeletl and fell from his horse, while the latter /pranced away with a’snort of terror, > . Phil reloaded his rifle, his steed still bounding ~” Loreard in its swift, graceful fashion, which was, Berhad pir I ay iad At BAG Sheena Sil tes tae oa ‘As| time, the At first he feared that the limb was dis-!'S: By HARRY ROCKWOOD. Author of *‘Alleghany Abe,” “Mark, the Fearless,” ‘Little Wirelock,?“Burk Buckly,” Fic. Hie., Hic. ° rapidly widening the distance from his pur- suers, But the boy realized-thaé this thing could not continue forever. Blackbird had had a long and fatiguing chase already, and his present pace was telling uponibis energies. Every nerve was strained to its utmost; he,quivered with excite— ment and fatigue; his sides were reeking with perspitation. The boy felt a keen sense of pity 4) tor-the noble animal, that strove so hard to saye ‘the life of its waster. Yet he dared not relin- quish his efforts, nor even to slacken his speed. Ina moment his*rifle was reloaded, and once more he:discharged it'at asavage foo, But this distance being greater than before, the . shot did not have ‘so fatal an effect. Instead of * the redskin vane ye, it was the mustang he be-- Strode that sank beneath the shot, while the sav- age rider was compelled to leap to the ground, and his comrades sped past him. So intent was the boy on the pursuing foe, that he did not, for several minutes, note what was — before him. At this juncture, however, he be- eame sensible of ascending more than an ordina- ry roll of the prairie. “As he glanced ahead, he was struck with mingled joy and surprise. The creek, at this point, made an abrupt bend to the south, and a mile or so beyond arose along line of foot-hills, and beyond these, the blue, rugged Rockies, whose crests seemed to pierce the azure vault of the heavens. The heart of our hero gave a bound of sudden hope, for he had almost ape up all thought of / outriding his enemies, he could only reach 1 those foot-hills, with their wooded nooks and cavernous retreats, he could easily elude his foes, Before he bad come in sight of the creek, he had been riding away from, instead of tow: the mountains, and, therefore, had not, unti now, realized their proximity. The fact of their nearness was not a very pleasing one in one particular, however. He had started forth from those very foot-hills nearly three hours ago, his otis being the settlement of Cottonwood nd, b the fugitive. This time the distance was much greater than. : ‘But the latter became aware thatthe | ace of 1g ou apidly slackening, and that it at Tuas oF ain i ie
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PRAIRIE PHIL. attempt, and started at a swift pace through the ea taking care to make as little noise as pos- sible. , For several minutes: he ran rapidly onward, and then he halted at the foot of a steap, rocky ascent, to take breath and listen for sounds of pursuit. To his surprise, no such sounds came to his ears. Had the Indians failed to discover the fallen tree which had served him to such zpon his foes now, he realized that they were gaining with dreadful certainty upon him. He spoke to the noble animal in encouraging accents, and the latter made a renewed attempt to increase his pace. But the effort lasted but a moment, and then the horse stumbled violently, and came near falling. Phil knew that, if he haped to save the life of his horse, he would have to digmountand give up the race. At all events, to remain longer upon the back of the steed would not increase his chances of escape, for he could run/faster than he was traveling now. Acting upon this thought, Prairie Phil sud- denly leaped to the ground, and ran rapidly to- ward the fringe of cottonwoods, which interven- ed between him and the'creek. He heard an ex- ultant shout from the savages, but he heeded it not, bent only upon gaining a protective shelter, Blackbird, freed of his burden, trotted away for a short distance, and then fell to nibbling the sweet prairie grass. The young guide disliked thus to abandon his horse, for he well knew that the redskins would appropriate it upon the first opportunity. But there was no other alternative, for to fall into their hands himself was equal to sealing his own doom, Now his foes were gaining upon him with every bound of their mustangs, and in another minute they would be near enough to render theiraim almost certain. But at this juncture, Phil found himself entering the belt of timber, and an instant later he was upon the bank of the creek, Here he met with another difficulty, the possibility of which:had not until then occurred to him. The channel of the stream was at this _ point so deep that it would be impossible to de- scend the bank to ford it. It was likewise too broad to leap across, Quickly the keen eyes of the boy scanned the locality, in hopes to find some means of crossing the creek. But none presented itself. He heard the shouts of his enemies coming momentarily nearer, and he realized that he had not a mo- ment tolose. He turned quickly, and ran along the bank of the creek, hoping to reach a forda- ble point. Suddenly he uttered a low éxclama- tion of joy. A few rods distant he beheld the trunk of a fallen tree, lying horizontally across the chasm, which yawned yblack and deep be- neath. : At the same moment he heard ‘his foes enter— | ing the belt of cottonwoods several yards above, and nerved a the imminence of his peril, he bounded swiftly toward the impromptu bridge. it to be hopeless, where the fu- search, believin, a so many secure hiding-places? itive might fin problem, and the young guide experienced a sud- ful after the protracted strain which his nerves had suffered. { a long breath of relief. For. several minutes he remained motionless, quire. and precipitous at eve growth more sparse an and resume his journey to Cottonwood Bend. For half an hour he toiled up the ascent, and himself upon the summit of a high, rocky bill, was above the tops of the trees which fringed the creek, and beyond them he beheld the undu- lating surface of the prairie, stretching away to the eastward until it met the blue horizon in the distance. He beheld the mustangs of the In- dians feeding quietly, but not a savage was in view. For some minutes the young the same; then he was suddenly aroused from his brief reverie by the report of a rifle, pineans out with startling nearness, The echoes lingere upon the air, dying away at last seemingly upon the distant mountain-tops. : Prairie Phil fepo-d about him quickly, but he saw no sign of the marksman, whoever he might be. _He had more than half e ted to feel the painful twinge of a bullet, but did not. But from some point beyond the creek, he heard a savage shout, which rent the air with strange distinct- ness. Then all became deathly silent again. for the soft murmur of the breeze through the tree tops. * For several minutes the young guide stood with his’ head bent in a listening attitude, his every CHAPTER II. OVER THE CREEK. PratRm Pur paused upon the brink of the chasm, and glanced somewhat suspiciously at the prostrate cottonwood which spanned it. The tree was not a large one, and its appearance was -such that at any other time he would scarce have trusted it to bear his weight. But there was no alternative now, and so he crawled cautiously out uponit. To his satisfac- tion, he found it much stronger than it had ap- eared, for it did not even bend beneath him, as be had expected it would. His hopes arose again, and he crawled rapidly toward the oppo- site bank of the creek. He had nearly reached his goal, when he was startled and brought toa halt by a slight sound proceeding from the dense clump of shrubbery which concealed the further end of the prostrate tree. He tightly clasped his rifle, and bent his eyes upon the spot in a keen, penetrating scrutiny. All around the erees and undergrowth grew thickly, and a sort of twilight pervaded the place, rendering objects but dimly visible. “A soft breeze swept through the interlacing branches with a whispering sound; the water of the creek murmured far be- low: close in his rear he could hear the, crashing of underbrush, indicating the near approach of his pursuers, ; f | For only a moment did he hesitate. Then he pir hoidly forward again, eyes and ears ert. 3 te reached the md Bag bank of the creek in Sa oly, and plunged into, the thicket whence the suspicions sound had proceededy ‘There was no ) signs of a living object there, and the youth con- eluded that the sound had been made by a squir- rel or some other small animal, which had been frightened by his approach, Acting upon asudden thought, he turned and attempted to lift the prostrate cottonwood from its resting-place, and thus balk farther pursuit from his énemies. But he found the butt-of the ly, and commenced cautiously to descend, re- tracing his steps toward the creek. He experi- enced a sudden conviction that there were foes upon this side as wel) as the other, and that flight in this direction was liable to lead him into an ambush of waiting savages. The band of In- dians who first parsued him, he noticed, did not join the others in their pursuit, but directed their course toward 2 point upon the creek above that at which he had crossed. Was it not probable, then, that they had also crossed the stream, perhaps before he had done ‘so, for the purpose of cutting off his retreat in that direction? But this explanation did not solve the problem of whom fired the single shot. He could serem that in only one way: that it was 2 signal from his foes upon this side to those upon the other. h eet ttiap nc our hero descended the slope, pausing atlast in a dense thicket a short dis- tance from the creek. The thickly interlacinj shrubbery afforded excellent concealment, an as the space around within a radius of several yards was comparatively clear of undergrowth, no enemy could appreach unperceived., Here the youth resolved to remain, until reasonably come that the redskins had abandoned the chase, cealment, the young guide remained until a full hour had elapsed. During the éntire period no unusual sound broke upou the stillness. . Unable to curb his impatience longer, the youth arose to his feet and emerged from the thicket, moving with silent, rapid strides toward the creek. , } Prairie Phil was keenly disippointed at the de- 1 i ‘ lay which had been forced upon him, He had tree soimbedded in undergrowth, that it wasim-| an object in hastening to Cottonwood Bend—an possible to remove it without $pevding more | object that lay nearer bis heart than all else in time than was prudent, So he | andoned the the world. Th p ; x : ah : igen} ira. ee) Ee f magne ; j ee Phy Meer ee fr lg J at - good purpose?—or had they abandoned the he last was the most probable solution to the den sense of security, which seemed almost bliss- He sank down upon the rocky earth, and drew regaining new breath and courage from the restful quietude that surrounded him, Yot he did not relax his vigilance, and hisrifle was held in readiness for instant use, should occasion re+ At last he arose to his feet, cast a quick, sweep- ing glance upon all sides, and then walked rap* idly up the ascent. The way grew more steep step, and the timber- stunted. . He was bent upon gaining a placeof security, where he might remain until the Indians had abandoned their quest for him, when he could recross the creel: then paused and glanced backward. He found beyoud which towered the lofty mountains. He ide gazed upon. savé sense keenly alert. At length he turned abrupt- b from his insecure position he'dared not a’ Crouching, silent and motionless, ‘in his con-! pelitteri ng blades. ® day before he had leatned a piece of intelligence which threatened the happi- nesg and honor of the most beautiful girl inthe — settlement—Cora Bland. Although our hero was m the habit of spending but little time in the set- tlements, of Jate he had visited Cottonwood Bend with increasing frequency. Perhaps he did not quite realize the cause therefor, although there were others who solved the problem quickly enough. Hehad plenty of friends there, but, for some reason, he found Cora Bland more kindly, and more appreciative of his exploits, than any of the others. } One other little fact will make the whole secret lucid to the reader, if it did not to our hero. Prairie Phil was very miserable whenever he found Wirt Wiley visiting at the Blands’; not because he knew aught against Wirt, for the lat- ter was a comparative stranger at the Bend; but | because Cora was so gracious toward him, some- times almost ignoring the presence of the yonng guide. And so, as time went on, Phil came to dislike the graceful, mustached Wirt Wiley with all the strength of his nature, and imagined all sorts of things against him. And yesterday, the day previous to that which marks the opening _ of our story, he had learned, in a rather singu- lar manner, facts which verified his worst sus- pions. It was to bear these tidings to Cora land that he had started upon that swift ride toward Cottonwood Bend. Hence his intense impatience at the delay, aud his imprudence in resuming his journey in,the face of so much dan-. 4 ger.. As the young guide drew near the bank of the creek, he proceeded very cautiously, his — senses’ keenly alert, and his rifle tightly clasped in his small, strong hands. As he entered the denser timber-growth, he found it much darker than it had been before. He realized, from this fact, that the sun had sunk behind the mount- ains, and that nightfall was approaching. » e passed through the belt of timber, and saw the deep channel of the creek yawning close at hand. A short‘distance above, he be- held ‘the prostrate cottonwood which had served him as a bridge two hours before, and toward this he made his way. He reached it, and clasp- ing his rifle tightly in one hand, he commenced + — crawling out upon it. He had proceeded scarce the length of his own body, when he felt a fat ie ceptible jar of the trunk, which brought him abruptly to a halt, i He raised his eyes; a ery of mingled horror and amazement escaped his lips. He found himself gazing into the dusky, hid- eous face of an Indian warrior, who had com- menced_ to cross the chasm from the opposite’ side! For a moment the two glared upon each — other without stirring a muscle, my" Not a sound broke the stillness; save the mur- _ muring of the water below, and the rustling of the foliage above. 7 Prairie Phil clasped bis rifle more tightly, but mpt to use it. Like a flash a dozen schemes ba Vode through his brain, and it was evident that the _ redskin was likewise revolving plansfor thean- ~~ nihilation of his enemy. 7 ala Gte Never before had our hero found himself inso perilous a situation, for he stood in almostag. much danger from being precipitated into the chasm, as from his savage Joe. Fear He quickly comprehended the impossibility of using his rifle in such close quarters, and in the hand-to-hand conflict, which seemed imminent, he would be certain of.dropping {it intothe creek. — nt So, acting upon a sudden impulse, he gave ita backward toss, landing it safely amid the shrub- bery. This action seemed to awaken the redski to activity, and the next instant he began crawl ing rapidly toward our hero, one hand clasping his glea:ning knife, his dark orbs scintillating; his. usly countenance expressing the savage passions of his race. iF seal ba es Prairie Phil grasped his own knife, and waited — with quiet coolness the attack of his foe. He noted the gigantic proportions of the latter, the | brawny, red arms, with their knotted muscles, the easy, agile moyenients of the body, and real- — ized that be had an adversary for whom he was _ Only a moment did he have to wait for the at tack. Then knife met knife with a singing clash that seemed tosend a thousand sparks from the’ ‘aster and fiereer came the blows, and each of a the combatants exerted his skill te his utmostto disarm the other. : 7 een The youth was conscious of the. great strength of his enemy, but in point of skill i : parrying and dealing thrusts, the young guide soon proved himself the superior, 9 7 pid striking, I? ic After two or three minutes of 1% i : Phil succeeded in hitting the wrist of ‘his anta
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had never felt and 5 nist, and by an adroit moyement sent the weapon of the redskin spiining out into the creek. But the advantage thus gained was only inomentary, for the savage hie Ser to close with him, and thus make it impossible for him to use his knife. JYow, for the first time, our hero realized that ihe slight bullet-wound he had received in his left arm had weakened that member. Before he could deal a blow with the knife, the savage had seized the wrist of his uninjured arm, and by a quick, adroit maneuver sent the weapon from his hand into the depths of the creek. ‘The next instant Prairie Phil found himself in the ' vise-like embrace of his adversary, who exerted eyery energy to hurl him from his seat. The youth locked his limbs around the cotton- wood, and struggled with a desperation that he fore. For a brief moment the two swayed to and fro; then the youth was sud- denly forced sideways, and lost his balance. The next instant both combatants were hanging heads downward, and oscillating in each other’s - embrace like a giant pendulum, CHAPTER III. é /OP THE CREEK, “FarHER, how shall I answer Wirt Wiley to- day? I must decide within an hour, and—oh, i he had only been content to let our friendship go on as it has done for the last three or four -. months, instead of asking so much of me, I like Wirt, but I dont want to marry anybody for a good while yet.” ; : The speaker was a fair-faced, golden-haired and blue-eyed maiden, whose age might have been only fifteen, so far as personal appearance was eoncerned, instead of eighteen as it really was. - She was standing in the doorway of a small, _ comfortable cabin, built of cottonwood logs, and fronting toward a narrow, swift-running creek. Near Ler stood a stalwart, brown-faced man, with long hair and beard streaked with grey, dark, expressive eyes which might look angry or kindly as their owner willed. ; _ This was the cabin of Reuben Bland; and all avound were signs of pioneer thrift and energy. | The cabin stood upon the outskirts of the settle- ’{ ment, and the nearest neighbor wasa quarter of -amile distant. Away to the westward stretch- -. ed the rolling, unbroken prairie-land, while to the northwest arose the rugged line of mount- ains, their blue crests seemingly piled one upon another until they were blended with the azure sky. Nivire wants you to marry him, eh?’ exclaim- ed the anan, in his gruff, abrupt tones. ~The girl’s face took on a flood of color, and she affected a laugh to hide her embarrass- ‘ment. “Yes; you know I told you what he said to me last week when he washere. And I promised to give him my angwer to-day. Now, tell me what to do?” ages She looked very grave as she said that. He: father glanced af her face furtively. “If you don’t know your own heart, then I ean’t advise, Cora. I don’t know quite what to make out of Wirt Wiley. He appears like. an ‘honest fellow enough, but you don’t know much about him, for all that.” , Cora Bland faced her companion with a flash _ of indignation in her blue eyes. _ *¥Youdo not doubt his honesty, father?” she exclaimed, quickly. “T neither doubt him nor would I trust him - implicitly without knowing more of him. It you ~ love him, he will have to prove himself\worthy of you; if you are indifferent, I shall not take _ the’trouble to inquire into his character.” ; The man spoke with quiet firmness. His tone only increased the indignation of Cora. “T know Wirt is honest, father, and I wouldn’t “insult him by questioning bim in that way But 1don’t wish to marry him, or anyone, now. If Y Fy love anybody, I think it would be Wirt.’ / “And how about Prairie Phil, Cora?” he ques- ‘tioned, with another furtive look. She langhea outright, with no sign of embar- rassment, as she replied: g “Oh, Phil Harrison is a brave boy, and I like im to play with very much, But { should as soon think of loving a ten-year old, in the sense hat you mean. excellent friends, that is all it. ara .epoke carelessly, but her father looked troubled. He was about to say something more when an exclamation escaped the lips of Cora, cand she p with a single occupant skimming the surface of the stream with bird-like swiftness, which soon rought it opposite the cabin, There its prow and he knows e are brother and sister, and | inted to the creek, He beheld a canoe PRAIRIE PHIL. j struck the bank, and Wirt Wiley leaped lightly | commenced drifting with the current. Its prow out, The next instant he was shaking hands in his easy, cordial fashion, with the pioneer, and then he turned to Cora. Wirt was a tall, gracefully—built fellow, with a gentlemanly bearing that distinguished him from the ordinary class of bordermen, and indi- cated that his life had not always been spent in that primitive locality. His face was dark and singularly handsome, but it’s expression would pore been a difficult one for a physiognomist to read. “A delightful morning fora canoe-ride?” he exclaimed, in his musical tones, looking down into her face with a gaze of undisguised admira- tion. She blushed deeply, and glanced half-question- ingl at her father. ‘Go, if you wish to,” said the latter, compre- hending her silent question. Without further hesitation, she entered the cabin, soon returning equipped for the excursion, A minute later the twain were seated in the tiny craft,in which they had spent many a nepPy hour together. With strong, practiced strukes, the young man sent the canoe up the creek, keeping close to the bank to avoid the resistance of the current. For several minutes a continued silence fell be- tween them. Wirt was the first to break it. He ‘had been furtively watchjng the grave, half- troubled expression of her face all the while. “You have not forgotten my request made upon my last visit to your house, and by this time you must have made a decision. Please don’t eeeppelas me now, Cora.” He spoke half-pleadingly, and there was a musical tenderness in his voice that thrilled her strangely. Yet, at the very moment when she was most tempted to make a favorable answer, an undefinable repugnance sprang up in her heart, and she shivered unvoluntarily. She felt his gaze bent upon her face with passionate in- tensity, and she experienced a sudden sense of terror, as though she had unexpectedly found herself in the presence of some wild animal. By an effort, she aroused herself from the fascinat- ed spell which had fallen upon her, and permit- ted her eyes to meet those of her companion. She saw nothing repulsive nor terrifying there, a she could not wholly banish hersense of vague ear. “T hayen’t forgotten your request, Wirt,” she said, her voice sounding strangely unnatural to her own ears. ‘But I cannot give you an an- swer just yet. [like you, and 1 would dislike to give up your friendship. But I would not mar- ry the best man in the world without plenty of eins think of the matter. We are scarcely 8 acarae with each other yet, and I am only a little girl, Let us keep on _as friends, and wait for something better when I am old enough to know my heart.” Wirt Wiley bad laid down his paddle, and the canoe drifted close to tlie shore, pausing in the midst of a clump of overhanging shrubbery. He bent forward and seized her hand eagerly. “Then you cannot say that you love me—even that you like me better than any one else?” he exclaimed, in bis low, intense tones. ‘{ shall say nothing that I am not.sure of, or that I shall ever wish to take back,” she answer- ed, firmly. He remainéd silent for several minutes, his dark eyes fixed absently upon a point some dis- tanee up the creek. _ i believe you care more for that young dare- devil, Phil Harrison!” he exclaimed at last, with a flash of anger. ( { The girl snatched away ker hand with resent- ful quickness,and her blue eyes met his black ones with a half-defiant expression. ‘Prairie Philis a brave, true-hearted boy, and I like him, and shall not listen to ill against him. If you talkain that way, I shall like him better than you, in spite of myself,” she returned. He picked up the idle paddle and dipped it in the waters of the creek, sending the small craft swiftly up stream. “J didn’t mean to say that, Cora,” he said, as he bent vigorously to his task once more. ‘Phil is a good fellow, no doubt, and it was only a jealous impulse that caused my remark. Forgive me, won’t you?” | “Yes, for I cannot harbor malice. But had we not better return? We are more than two miles from home, andit wili soon be dinner-time. Mother is ill, you know, and I have to do the work.” a > As she said this they rounded an abrupt bend in the stream. It was very narrow at that point, and the trees lining its banks formed an arched bower above their heads. In silence Wirt Wiley ceased his efforts, and the craft ¥ : suddenly turned shoreward, and the next instant it struck the bauk with a shock, The two in- mates Si al simultaneous nie. a egg ment, and the young man again di is pad- dle, to force the canoe back into the mnidale. of the creek, Ashe did so, if wassuddenly wrenched from his grasp, and before he could recover from his surprise, he beheld a tufted, shaven head arise close to the craft, while a brawny red hand seized him by the arm, and by a powerful movement drew him from his sition, over- turning the canoe. The next instant a wild scream of horror burst from the lips of Cora Bland, and she seized frantically upon the over- hanging shrubbery. In a moment she had ob- tained a foot-hold upon the bank, and turned to look after her companion. She beheld two forms splashing desperately in the water, dashing it intoa foaming mass, She realized that Wirt Wiley was engaged in a hand-to-hand combat with the Indian, and she sank down, all dripping wet, overcome with the horror and helplessness ef her situation. ) At that moment she heard. a loud crashing of the underbrush close at hand; she raised her head with a new sense of terror; she uttered a wild ery that echoed weirdly through the belt of for- est, penetrating even to the open prairie. Close | her side she beheld the painted, hideous face of an Indian, his small. bead-like eyes gleaming triumphantly, his thick lips spread with a grin of exultation. Like a frightened fawn, the girl sprang to her féet and bounded from the spot. ut she had not gone a dozen yards before she found her way disputed by another busly, sav- age form. Before she could turn, two brawny scarred arms seized about her, and she was rais: from the ground with as much ease as though she werean infant. Again she gave utterance to a piercing ery for help; but before she could repeat it, one hand of her captor was pressed tightly upon her mouth, foiling her attempt. Then she closed her eyes, overcome by a siden sense of faintness. She was conscious of being borne swiftly through the forest; of emerging into the sunlight of the open prairie; of hearin guttural, indistinguisbable utterances aroun her. Then all becatne suddenly dark, and she was conscious of nothing more, The time that ensued was alla blank to her, for her sudden, intense terror and the realiza- tion of her captivity combined to give her a shock which her senses could not withstand, When she awoke to consciousness, she found her- self lying bound and helpless, surrounded by rocks and stunted trees. At first sho saw no living object, but a second glance revealed a tall, statuesque figure standing in the center of the enclosure, which unmistakably belonged to an Indian. Slowly the recollection of the events of the last few hours returned to her, and she closed her eyes again, an earnest prayer for succor going up from her heart. for several ‘minutes she lay thus, surrounded by a death-like silence. She was suddenly aroused by the near report of a rifle, .whose echoes lingered on the sir for several seconds, She saw the tall, savage sentinel start, glance hastily about him, and then come toward her, his gaze bent keenly upon her. She remained perfectly motionless, for she knew that he had not seen her open her eyes, and therefore thought her still unconscious. For a full minute he watched her countenance, and then he turn- ed and strode from the opening, disappearing amid the surrounding bushes. Then Cora ven- tured to open her eyes once more, and raising her head she took a hasty survey of the place, There was no living object within range of her yision, and a singular silence reigned. Had her captors left her thus, trusting to the security of her bonds to keep her there? And if such was the case, whither had they gone? As she asked these mental questions, her mind reverted to the moment her capture, and to Wirt Wiley, whom she had last seen atrogpng with an In- dian in the waters of the creek. Had he perish- ed in that struggle? His antagonist had friends near, and was if not more than probable. that the young man had been overpowered by num- bers? 16 girl shuddered at the thought, and she experienced a sense of regret that she had not told him that he might hope for her love. For, now that the thought of his being dead came to her, she realized that she had cared for him more than she knew, While she was pon- dering upon this, she was startled by the sound of a stealthy footstep close in her rear. Turn- ing her head quickly, she scarce repressed an coe crea of intense amazement at what she saw j
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RE PSE DS TRE ELE SE ORISA a NESE ARREARS SA AOE TS ae CHAPTER IV. AN ECCENTRIC INDIVIDUAL. A TALL, giant figure had stepped from behind a huge boulder, and stood motionless in a stoop- ing attitude a couple of paces distant. At first, from his uncouth, dirt-grimed garb, she thought the figure was that of an Indian war- rior. Buta second glance showed her mistake. The face of the stranger, or the small portion of it which was not concealed by a thick growth of sandy-brown beard, was unmistakably white. His hands, large, brown and muscular, were clasped over the muzzle of a long, shining rifle; at his girdle was a brace of heavy revolvers, anda jong hunting-knife in a sheath. He was clad in buckskin from head to foot, and upon the latter were a pair of well-worn moccasins of gigantic proportions, : } If erect, the stranger would have measured fully six feet and seven; and the proportions of his body conformed with his hight. — ; Of his countenance, as we have said, very lit- tle was visible, on account of the heavy growth of whiskers. His eyes, shaded by shaggy, grey brows, were a marked feature, being very small, but so keen and piercing that their glance seem- ed almost magnetic in its power, For a minute the giant gazed into the wonder- struck countenance of Cora Bland, Then he straightened his figure, as though to impress her more strongly with its prodigious hight, and stepped with singular lightness toward her. Bofore she had time to realize his intentions, he had severed her bonds, aud raised her as he would an infant in his strong arms, The next instant he had borne her from the opening, and after several minutes rapid walking, he paused at what appeared to be the entrance of a small yal ere he carefully placed her upon her eet. Thus tar not a word had been uttered upon either side. But now the giant spoke, his voice seeming to come from the depths of his massive chest: _ “You're out’n thet tangle, miss, an’ you may thank the Lord for’t, an’ not me!” She drew a long breath of relief. “T shall not fail to thank both, I hope,” she re- turned, a sudden sense of security coming to her. ; “That'll do, miss. I was an instrument in the Lord’s hands—that’s all, You was in a very pi- ticular pre-dicament, and twas sort of cur’us thet I kem upon you jest as I did. I’ve been -dodgin’ redskins all day, and I’ve plugged nigh onto a dozen of ’em with lead from the intarnal corp’rosity of old Pizen, which is wens rifle. Alus makes ’em sick, it does. Disturts thar capilliry circulatin’ functions, my uncle would tell you— “my uncle was a doctor, understand. S’pose you is know who’s talkin’ to you?” aes The last was said in a tone of inquiry. girl smiled, ‘No, Inever saw you before that I remem- ber,” she answered. * . i The stranger’s bearded lips farted in a good- humored grin. | “Then you never seed m¢ at all? Cause if you had, you would bave remembered the ’casion long. as you lived. It must be we never got very nigh each other afore, for I’m visible to the naked oye as far as you can see a streak of light- enin’. People as meet me face to face, can’t help seein’ me, though my father used to say he had to look seven seperate, individual times to make sure of seein’ ry whole length. Sile was toler’ble rich whar I was growed, and I was the biggest tater in the hill, so to speak. But I begun to use terbacker pretty young, and I ’spect that sort of stunted my growth. Bad, wa’n’t it, miss?” The giant was resting upon his long rifle again, in that unconcerned attitude in which she had first seen him, with his small, piercing eyes fixed upon her face. Acting upon a sudden impulse, she drew close to his side, und placed one hand confidingly upon his arm. : “eT don’t know who you are, but I am sure you will not forsake me now that you have lone so much, My name is Cora Bland, and I live upon the iva of the settlement of Cotton- The wood Bend. \I was captured while in a canoe upon the k with a friend. I expect my companion waz killed, for [ left him struggling with 8 savage in the water. If you will only take me back to my home in safety, I will do anything in the world to reward you, Oh, I was so terrified when I found myself helpless in the hands of the Indians. I fear I could never have escaped ‘alive had you not come to my rescue.” ‘ ‘‘Polecats and weasels, gal, I didn’t do nuth- in’, I jest sorter picked ye up when ye was ly- PRAIRIE Prill. in’ thar sort o’ forsooken. « If I hadn’t been nigh, the Lord would have sent somebody else. e allus sends someone to help sich pure, helpless critters as you when they’re in a tarnal tangle. But I hevn’t told ye who Ibe yet. You oughter be more cur’us; most women air. Up on the Platte, whar I’ve trapped every winter and fall for fifteen years, they call me Nick Wharton— that is, human white folks call me that. The redskins called me the Panther. I s’pose they give me that title cause mé an’ old Pizen used to light on ’em when we wa’n’t expected, a good many times. Neither Pizen nor I are complete without t’other. But together we make ha’r an’ hide fly sometimes,” The giant scout patted his weapon as though it were a thing possessed of animal intelligence. His companion regarded him with a mingled ex- ression~ of wonder and amusement upon her ‘ace. She was about to reply to his last remark, when a warning ‘*‘’sh!? from her companion, caused her to keep silent. Her face paled again, and she shrank yet closer to her protector, No unusual sound had been audible to her Bars, but Nick Wharton bent his head in a listen- ing attitude. uddenly he stooped until his lips were upon a level with her ears, and whispered: “Your flight has been diskivered, and the red varmints are makin’ a silent hunt for you. Jest crawl in hyar and keep quiet for awhile, and Pll lead ’em on a wild-goose chase.” As he said this the eccentric trapper pointed toward the small cavern before mentioned. Cora shuddered with vague terror at the thought of entering the place alone, but as she hesitated Nick whispered, assuringly: “T won’t go very far, miss, and I'll let you hear old Pizen yelp now and then, jest to kee you comp’ny. And every time he yelps you’ know thar’s ’nother sick Injin!” He stooped, and, taking the hand of his com- panion, led her into the gloom of the cavern, which was so low and narrow at the entrance that iff was with difficulty that the giant could enter at all. The earth was covered by a soft layer of leaves, blown thither by the autumn winds, and upon these the girl seated herself, facing the en- trance of her retreat. Nick turned and went forth into the light, moving away from the spot with long, rapid strides. .Breathlessly the girl sat and waited, listening intently, yet hearing only the sounds of her own loudly-beating heart. Slowly the minutes passed away. Once she heard a distant shout, coming unmistakably from a savage throat. And at last she heard a loud, heavy report, followed by a prolonged wail of human agony, that caused her to shiver with horror. Several minutes of death-like silence ensued. Then there was another loud report. much louder than before; a second yell ot pain, then a rush of rapid footsteps coming toward the cavern, : Cora shrank back appalled. She saw a giant figure dash past the opening, and an instant later a dozen dusky forms sped past in swift pur- suit. The sounds grew more and more distant, and soon died away altogether. Once more our heroine breathed freely, feeling asense of security which she had not before ex- perienced, Yer she felt very lonely, and as she thought of the probable fate of Wirt Wiley she could not repress a flood of tears. She had liked Wirt very much, and now she realized the ex- tent of her attachment, % But her weeping was soon interrupted in a startling manner, A slight, stealthy sound came to her ears, seeming to come from some point within the cave. Again she oe ee her breathing; again her heart throbbed tumultuous- ly with apprehension. Had the cavern another occupant besides her- self? The pepper would not have left her there unless he had known the retreat to be a safe one, for already she felt boundless confidence in Nick Wharton. No doubt he had explored the place before he had brought her thither. had imagined the sound; or possibly a sudden current of air had rustled the dry leaves lying upon the ground. ,. These thoughts reassured her somewhat, but she still listened intently for a repetition of the sounds. : To her horror she heard a second stealthy sound, and this time di ‘was no possibility of it being caused by a current of air. Something or someone was crawling slowly toward her from a point deeper within the cavern. _ She was almost paralyzed with an overwhelm- ing sense of terror, and she had not the power to move from her position had she wished-to do so. sounding: Perhaps she | ure, All about. her intense, impenetrable dark- ness prevailed. The light from without penetrated only a little way, forthe entrance was much narrower than the interior of the cavern. Nearer and nearer came thesounds. There was: no mistaking the presence of some living thing now. Faint and sick with the intensity of her horror, Cora at last changed her position slightly,and, impelled by an irresistible impulse, lanced backward into the chaos of the cavern. he almost uttered a scream of fright at what she saw. Trembling violently, she shrank close to the earth, yet unable to remove her gaze from the terri ying object. Two small, intense- ly bright spots held her gaze, with a dreadful, resistless fascination. They seemed reared about. a foot from the ground, were very close to- | ether, and glowéd like twin balls of fire in the intense darkness surrounding them. Vaguely the girl realized their nature; and the realization rendered her incapable of motion, or the power to ery out. For several minutes—long—long minutes to our heroine, in her breathless sus- pense—the glowing points remained perfectl motionless. The crawling sound had also ceased, and only her own heart beats were audible. To her it seemed that an age had elapsed since she had first heard those sounds, She kalf-wished they would commence again, for almost any- thing would be welcome that might break the horrible spell. a She ubeeed her lips and attempted to utter a ery for help. She did not pause to think of the consequences, shculd her shout reach the ears of her late captors. But her attempt was in vain. Only a husky, whispering sound came from her throat, and that served to arouse those glowing orbs to renewed motion. They seemed suddenly to oscillate to and fro, up and down, with a Pau ated rythmic motion, ‘which produtets seemingly, a corresponding swaying of the girl’s senses. It seemed to her that her own head was really in motion; that her body, even, was — swinging to and fro with resistless power and regularity. ° hen the rustling sound was resumed, and the strange object drew nearer. Still she kept her eyes riveted upon it with horrible persistency. In her ears there was a throbbing, drum-hke sound, which gradually changed to a sort of pulsating, musical ringing, keeping time with | that ceaseless motion of her head. aes Now she had no realization of time, and heir sense of terror seemed to fade away, and the small, shining points of light appeared to in- crease in size, and take on hues of changing — variety. But at this moment a rude shock | came to her trance-like condition; a loud crash sounded in her ears, as though the massive rocks above had split in twain. Then the points of light aetins+ wher: the rythmie motion and — music ceased—then all became a blank! CHAPTER V. > “TARNAL TANGLES,” “Don’r shiver, gal; ‘tain’t cold, and you're safe — enough now. I found you in a ‘tarnal tangle, — though, and a little more’® you’d been an angel, — instid of a substantial, flesh-and—bone female — woman, like you air at this minute. You was: charmed by asarpint, or so nigh it thet thar wan’t no fun init. But old Pizen fixed thecrit- _ ter, same as it does human sarpints when it gets achance. Don’t you know nie, gal? I’m Nick — Wharton, an’ I’m a-speakin’ to you! It was — Sees as spoke a minute ago, an’ it saved your ife. We Vaguely, as though from a great distance, the above words sounded in the ears of Cora Bland. ~ And very slowly her consciousness returned to her, and she looked up into the great, kindly — face of the old trapper. She found herselflying _ near the mouth of the little cavern, and the re~ collection of her late horror returned to her all ina moment. Her strength and courage came back also, and she!drew herself to a sitting post: “It was the report of your rifle that I heard, then!” she exc ed, the color returning to her — cheeks. ‘It sounded terribly loud and odd to me and it seemed as though the shock stunned — me, : at ay 2 “T reckon you didn’t realize much about th time, miss, and when old Pizen spoke, his vo! didn’t sound nateral to you. Itallus speaks as though it meant business, and it Re eae lcome at about the right time, and the Lo must have sent me, as he has once afore to-day. The sarpint woyld have struck in another min- a ute, and then whar’d you be now? I led the red varmints a good chase, got’em off my trac
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PRAIRIE PHIL. him pause suddenly, and then run hastily in an | and crouched down once more panting with ex- opposite direction, quickly disappearing among | citement and her exertion. the stunted trees. A moment later she compre-{| All was deathly silent once more, save for the hended the reason of his singular maneuver, soft sounds of the wind as it swept among the From the point whence the first Indian had | rocks and shrubbery. For seyeral minutes she emerged, a dozen dusky figures appeared, and all | remained in that crouching position, regaining save two dashed after the scout with fierce, blood- | her strength and courage, both of which had just curdling yells. , received such a severe test. it was plain to Cora that the trapper had fled| So rapidly had the events of the last half hour away from instead of toward her concealment, | succeeded each other, that she scarcely had for the purpose of drawing the Indians away | time to realize her peril, or the necessity for her from her proximity. own prompt action in her defense. She had just | His trusty rifle still rested against the boulder | sent two human souls into eternity—an act that within easy reach of her outstretched arm. In-|she would never have thought herself capable of voluntarily she placed one hand upon the weap- | had she not been put to the test. Now the re- on, as though its presence afforded her a sense | membrance of her own acts filled her heart with of security. The two warriors who did not join | a sickening horror that came near depriving her in the pursuit of the trapper, stood for several | of consciousness. ( minutes, evidently waiting for some signal. At last she began to wonder at fhe non-appear- As Nick Wharton had observed, the day was | ance of the giant trapper. Had he been over- drawing to a close. Twilight had fallen, and | taken by his pursuers, and, being without his rifle was rapidly deepening into night. in which he placed such confidence, been killed Objects assumed a dim, indistinct appearance, | or captured? As this powibility flashed through and to the eyes of Cora Bland, all the trees and | her brain, she heard several sharp, quick reports, rocks seemed possessed of human form and life;) following each other iu rapid succession, Then. the former beckoning to each other in the gloom, | all became silent once Hees: x , and the latter reared like grim sentinels upon} Breathlessly the girl crouched close to the every side. ‘The soft west wind swept through | boulder, and waited and listened for she knew the tree-tops. with a mournful sound; far away | not what. upon the mountains and prairie sounded the bark of rPlbie Sakae and occasional prolonged howls of a wolf 5 and returned to see how you wus gettin’ on. When Icome to the entrance of the cave, 1 _ spoke, so’s not to skeer ye, but ye didn’t answer. : hen I see the eyes of the reptile, and let Pizen have bis way. That ’ar snake isn’t of much ac- count, as. asnake, just now. 1 reckon he sent the ballin at the varmint’s mouth, and out at the tip of his tail, leavin’ nothin’ in the world but the skin. Thet’s the way Pizen does it.” + Nick Wharton chuckied good-humoredly as he * said this, patting his weapon affectionately. Fe “T did‘not know what the object was when I _ first noticed the glowing eyes. But I soon sus~ - pected the truth; yet I couldn’t stir hand nor Poot, ner even cry out. I never felt so strange yefore—I was dreadfully terrified,” said Cora, shuddering. 4 ; “You was charmed, that was all. I had been in the cave afore I sent you in thar, and thought ‘it was all safe and right. The varmint must have crawled from some crevice in the rocks. ' Atany rate, it come nigh endin’ up your career hyarabouts. But it won’t do for us to waste time ‘talkin’, The "tarnal red imps’ll be back looking for us in alittle while, and when they’re hyar’, we want to be whar they isn’t, so to speak, Kin you walk, think?” . _. As he spoke, the scout assisted her to her feet. She found her strength rapidly returning, and _ answered in the affirmative. | Without further remark the giant trapper seized her hand and ~ started at a rapid pace over the uneven, rocky surface. For several minutes they walked on in silence. ‘ + Presently Nick came suddenly to a pause. They had entered upon a sort of rocky plateau, - *which ended in an abrupt, precipitous descent. - Here and there a stunted tree or shrub had found root in the scanty soil, but altogether the locali- ty was comparatively destitute of vegetation, We ean’t go much furder in this direction, I _ reckon,” exclaimed the trapper, in a cautious 4 ' tone. ‘‘An’, what’s more, I don’t fancy exposin’ my carkiss quite so prominently as I be at this minute. — It makes me feel sort o’ crawlly ‘long my spinal column, so to speak. We'll hev to go back a piece, aw try an’ make a circuit of this pint. : CHAPTER VI. Minutes passed, slowly and wearily to the hs solitary girl crouching there, watching and lis- nicer as tening in breathless suspense. She kept her gaze | TH darkness had fallen very quickly, and ob- riveted. upon the two statuesque forms of the | jects had grown so indistinct that it was hard to waiting savages, Suddenly she beheld one of | distinguish the animate from the inanimate. them turn and come boldly toward her conceal-| At length Cora Bland was aroused to renewed ment with swift strides. vigilance by light, stealthy footsteps, approach- Her first impulse was to seize the rifle and dis- | ing apparently froma point in the rear. She charge it at her foe. But a second thought con- } turned quickly; she beheld a,tall, slender figure vineéd her that by so doing she would ‘betray | coming noiselessly toward her. her concealment to the remaining redskins, while Did her eyes deceive her, or was there a fam- she would be left utterly without means of .de-| iliarity of movement about the approaching fense. So she crouched silent and motionless |stranger? Nearer he drew, pausing at last al- close to the giant boulder, hoping and praying in | most within reach of herarm. Yet he did not her heart that the savage would not find her | appear to see her, his gaze being bent upon a® hiding-place. / oint across the gully. She raised her hand to The Indian passed between the rock and the | her eyes, as though to satisfy herself that it was brink of the chasm, and paused close'to the latter, | no phantasy of vision which she beheld. Then with his back toward the trembling girl. a low, glad ery escaped her lips, and she arose She could have touched him with her out-/ to hér feet trembling with joy. stretched hand, and should he chance to turn he | The man turned and gave utterance to an ex- would be ceftain to discover her. A sudden | clamation of mingled surprise and delight. powerful impulse came to her as she looked upon “You here and alone, Cora? And I have been her silent, unsuspecting enemy—an impulse to | searching for you since the moment we were so send him over the brink upon which he was| rudely separated at the creek. I’m very glad standing. you are unharmed,” r She realized that it layin her power to dothis, | Wirt Wiley, for it was he beyond a doubt, even with her feeble strength. And as the seized both her hands and bent a keen, invpulsive thought flashed upon her, she seemed suddenly ; glance down into her eyes, endowed with strength and courage to execute} ‘Oh, Wirt, I feared that you were killed. T her scheme. Silently rising to her feet, she | left you struggling in the creek with an Indian gueety flung out both hands against the back of | warrior,” she exclaimed, in a tone of relief. the redskin, exerting her strength to its utmost| ‘And were you sorry when you expected never in the frantic effort. So sudden and violent was | to see me alive again?” asked the young man, in her movement that the savage could have no| a low tone. ‘ ; ; fime to brace himself for the shock, nor seize “Sorry? How could I help feeling sorry? I upon any object with his hands. / He was stand-| like you and I have never denied it. And now I ing so close to the yawning ehasm that the im-| am Very glad you eseaped, and that you are petus sent him far out over its black depths. A | here. Did you kill your adversary?” wild wail of mortal terror Fang out from the} ‘TI got free from his clutches and made a run lips of the doomed wretch, and he fell down— | for it, for I found I wasno match for him in ‘down, striking with a dull, sickening thud upon | point of physical strength. And how did you the rocks below! R escape?” , The girl shrank back, faint and horror-struck| ‘“Through the help 2 Sa oddest, bravest man arton, he calls himself. He wheeled-abruptly, and the twain retraced heir steps until once more within the shelter of - the sparse ti:ber. Starting off in a new direc— jon, they soon found themselves again brought to a stand-still at the brink of a yawning chasm, _ which it would have been impossible to cross. : The scout uttered an exclamation of impa- » tience. , ; “I was a ’tarnal polecat that I didn’t go a way -{wassure of. But I reckoned we could keep eut’n the way of the red varmints better by goin’ a new way. It’s too pesky bad, anyhow. Aw night's comin’ on in the bargain. Heavens, al! we're in for a ’tarnal tangle now, sure ugh !? BER. i As he spoke, the trapper seized the arm of his fompanion and drew her hastily behind a pon- erous boulder, which was poised close to the, brink of the chasm. -. Searcely had the change in their positions been. effected, when a tall, painted Indian warrior 4 emerged from the timber, and came straight to- ward them, | - e It could not be that the savage knew of the roximity of our friends, or he would have ad- eed with more caution. He approached to in a dozen yards of their concealment, where he paused and bent his head in a listening attitude. ; , Foramoment he stood thus, then he walked: af her own act. At the same moment the re-| you ever saw. Nick maining Indian uttered a shout of dismay, and | He is a veritable giant in size and strength, bub dashed toward her place of concealment with |as kind and tender as a woman. He left me a swift bounds, She saw him coming; realized | little while ago to lead away a party of savages. that in another moment she would be in his | who had got upon our trail, I expect him to re- power. Now, then, was the moment for her to] turn every moment. [ heard shotsa few min- use the weapon so providentially left by the| utes ago, and I think he must have been firing trapper. Nerved by desperation, all thought of | his revolver, for his rifle is here.” fear vanished, and she grasped the rifle, and set| “Nick Wharton!” repeated the young man, in the trigger. It was all she could do to lift the}an odd toné. ‘I have heard of him before, but Pease weapon which the 1 1 andled so easily. But necessity lent her addi- | head-quarters used to be. So he is around here. tional strength, and she brought the muzzle to} But we must not tarry in this Place, Cora. There bear upon the approaching redskin and fired. is a huge party of Indians and half-breeds en- The report’ rang on the air with startling | camped a half mile below this'point, and small sharpness, and was echoed back from the rocks parties are out in every direction. [am ac- and trees upon the mountain sides, mingling | quainted with this locality, and can guide you with the wild ery of the stricken savage. safely back to the settlement in a short time.” boldly toward the boulder again. _ Nick Wharton raised his rifle quickly to his shoulder, but lowered it without firing. _ . Resting the weapon against a rock, he quickly drew his knife from its sheath, and awaited the Saag of the unsuspecting savage. In a moment he was close enough for his pur- ose, The next instant the giant leaped noiselessly rom his concealment, and seized the redskin by 6 throat, bearing-him back toward the brink ‘the chasm. At the same instant he plunged the long weapon to the hilt in the naked breast of his foe. There was a low, gurgling ery of ath-agony, and the victim fell backward, his disappearing over the brink. ra Bland beheld the enaction of the whole tragedy, which occupied less time than that uired for us to deseribe it; she shuddered with -asense of sudden horror, and covered her face forward to see if her shot had been fatal, She saw the Indian spring into the air; heard his yell of agony; saw him sink down upon the rocks in a GEeretipe heap, £ without leaving him assurance of my safety?” she asked, in surprise. i The young man made an impatient gesture. ‘He can satisfy himself by signs that you the bullet had done its work as effectually as} Indian. You can’t fool Nick Wharton, I assure bat trapper | I supposed he was upon the Platte. There his . With wildly beating heart, Cora Bland bent} ‘‘And would you have me desert my friend asty and unpracticed as her aim had been, | have gone away with a white man instead of an though directed by the unerring eye of the giant | you, nor even place him in doubt where a clew_ a Ret / we can- ‘trapper, } ean be obtained by any living man. But we ‘ ‘Cora replaced the weapon against the boulder, ‘not remain. here and run_ chance ss Rua ite nie Weer ela Lesa ea RI aeery ary pees ; fsa Pee rntikiee Gi, tid Fg / : bf,
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—_— PRAIRIE PHIL. into the hands of the foe again. Come—there’s no time to lose.” He spoke a trifle authoritatively this time, and seized the hand of his companion. At that in- stant a savage shout rang on the air, Processing from a near point. | She hesitated no longer, Sut followed the young man over the rough, rocky surface at a rapid pace. For several minutes they kept on, and at last they halted in a thick clump of timber. ‘Do you think we are followed?” the girl asked, in a cautious whisper. ‘T hope not. It is too dark for them to follow a trail so indistinct as ours must be upon this hard, rocky land. But you must be greatly fatigued by this time, Cora, and hungry, too. Yortunately, I am provided with a supply of pemmican, without which I never start forth upon a journey. It is rather dry food, but much better than none when one is unable to cook fresh meat. Perhaps we can remain here long engugh for you to refresh yourself.” re he spoke, the young man produced a pouch well -filled with dried meat, and proffered it to his companion. : Now that. she was becoming somewhat accus- tomed to her perilous position, she realized that she really stood in need ot food, of the proffered meat with keen relish. While thus engaged her companion left her for a brief period, soon returning with a small tin cup filled with water. This was more welcome even than the meat, and the girl took a long, refreshing draught. When she had finished her repast} Wirt said: ‘We are several miles distant from the settle- ment, and if you are not too fatigued to do so, it will be best for us to be making most of the time we have before light, for in the daytime our enemies can follow our trail with utmost certainty.” “T am strong enough to walk a long way now,” Cora returned, cheerfully. Wirt Wiley made no further remark, but tak- ing her hand in his firm, reassuring clasp, he led ' the way froma the thick clump of timber out into a more open space. . ; They had proceeded, scarcely twenty yards when the young man suddenly halted with a warning gesture. They heard the sound of stealthy footsteps close in their rear. Wirt turned quickly, drawing a revolver from his belt. They beheld a gigantic figure emerge from the timber, and come toward them with lengthy strides, iley raised the weapon, and would have fired directly at the breast of the approaching, man, had not bis companion caught his arm with a quick, nervous clasp. % The sharp report of the weapon rang on the air, but the bullet sped wide of its mark—thanks to the restraining band of Cora. “Tt is Nick Wharton, Wirt!” The next moment the giant-trapper confront— ed them, and one great brawny hand was placed with crushing force upon the shoulder of Wirt iley. ; «Would you shoot a friend as you would a foe, _ youngster? It’s keerless for a boy to hev’ a pis- til, onless he kin judge better when to use it. I wouldn’t trust myself with sich a or’nary ~ wild-cat, miss, if 1 war you, He can’t tell a red- skin from a white un’ at ten paces!” 3 There was a ring of menacing earnestness in- the low, thunderous tones of the scout, and his small eyes blazed with suppressed anger. _ Wirt Wiley stepped backward with a defiant movement, ZB “How did I know that you were a friend? I was expecting foes, and acted accordingly. I should do the same again, under like circum- stances,” he exclaimed. “You would, eh? An’ftbat’s the inducement you throw out fur friends to come to your assistance? » Reckon I'd better teach you a little lesson; it would Varn ye to be less impudent, anyhow.” As he said this the giant clutched the young man, and shook him fiercely. Cora uttered a low ery of horror. fat “Stop—stop! In Heaven’s name, do not kill him, It is Wirt Wiley, and he is my friend!” She seized the arm of the giant, and strove to restrain him, He stopped almost instantly in answer to her appeal. * pt «Whatever his name might be, he can’t ¢ his pop-guns on me, not by a ’tarnal sight. - don’t low that sort o’ thing from either red- - skin or white-skin. So this is the one as was - Has erazy spells, don’t he? So she partook | with you in the canoe when you was captured?} Acted loony jest | ils horse knows an shoots at everybody he sees ’thout stoppin’ to see whether they’re frien’ or foe. He'll wake up some fine mornin’, and find himself in a ’tarnal tangle, or a blasted rumpus, or some sich!” The young man stood back, and stared at the old trapper with a vengeful gleam in his dark orbs, Ae in his hand he still held the revolver, as though meditating whether or nof to make use of iteven now. | “He expected we were followed by enemies, and in the uncertain light doubtless took you to be asavage. Perhaps he was imprudent, but he would not intentionally injure a friend,” ex- claimed Cora, still fearing that the ranger would do injury to the young man. : ‘Let him make his own ’pologies, miss, if he has any to offer. But I wouldn’t trust him so fax as I would a Texas weasel—l wouldn't, by hokey! He’ll shoot his own shadow some day— see if he don’t!” » The tone of, the scout sounded less angr time, but he still gazed at the face of Wirt penetratingly. The young man returned the weapon to his belt, and stepped forward, extending his hand to the trapper. It was too dark to read the ex- ression of his countenance very closely, but ick could see that he was smiling, the angry glance having vanished from his eyes. ‘Yes, Dll shake, youngster, *cause you're white. I never lay up nuthin’ as isn’t intended. The frien’s of this gal have got to be my frien’s. And besides, we can’t afford todo much shootin’ atwixt us when ther are so many ’tarnal copper- hided imps ’round that need all the lead we kin give ’em. You're a good feller ’nough, only you're keerless, an’ keerless folks get into ’tarnal tangles sometimes.” “I admit that Dacted hastily, and that 1 was careless. But, though we are strangers, as you say, we cannot afford to quarrel in the midst of so much danger. 1 have heard you spoken of many times as a first-class scout. You have done mea grea favor already in rescuing/Cora Bland from her captors.” p Wirt Wiley spoke in a friendly tone, and he had apparently decided to overlook the some- nee Sooee, usage to which he had been sub- jected. ; ‘“Wavor’s are nothin’, boy, The Lord sent me, as he allus does, to help human critters out’n tangles. But ’twon’t answer .fur us to stan’ here and talk much longer, The quicker we git this gal back home the better.” : The giant cast a quick, penetrating glance about them, and then started forward ata swift pace. Wirt and the girl following in siJence, and they proceeded thus for several minutes. The way was slightly descending in grade, and ag presently emerged upon the open prairie. he moon, in its second quarter, had risen in the heavens, and shed a flood of pale light upon the scene. Nick Wharton balted, and grounded the stock of his long rifle, which, we forgot to mention, he had recovered. ‘ A soft breeze rustled the prairie grass, whic! waved in the moonlight witha dreamy, undu- lating motion. i i “Too ’tarnal still to indicate safety, I reckon,” this Viley muttered Nick, “There is a large encampment of Indians a short distance above SSE pe upon’ the banks of the creek,” returned Wiley. “T knowed it; an’ another one out on the prai- rie; an’ by hokey! thar’s a horse at this minute!” Sure enough, a large, graceful animal was trotting toward them, his head held aloft, his nostrils distended, i » As he drew near he suddenly came to a halt and whinnied as though delighted at the sight of human objects. “That horse thinks be knows us, and I don’t know but he does. "T'ain’t no Injun mustang, by a durned sight!” exclaimed Nick. Cora Bland had been gazing at the animal with a half-perplexed expression upon her coun- tenance, and now she suddenly ran toward it with a ery of joy. : “It is Prairie Phil’s noble steed, and _it recog- nizes me. Come, Blackbird, conie! Where is your master?” She spoke in imal came boldly toward recognition. Nick Wharton looked on in amused surprise, low, coaxin accents, and the an- er with a whinny of | but Wirt Wiley’s brows contracted with a sav- age frown as he beheld the intelligent steed ad—| vance and rest his nose confidingly upon the shoulder of the girl. : ‘ “So Prairie Phil Boes there so often that even likes her!” the young man “now. My uncle the doctor would recommend | muttered, under his breath. him to an asylum, and put him into a straight- ‘Vf she likes the horse so ‘well, how must she jicket, He isn’t safe to be?ronnd loose, if be brogard the rider? Has that smooth-faced Loy superseded me after all in her affections? Curse him, and his horse in the bargain!” The youug man pulled savagely at bis mus- tache and glared jealously upon the girl, who still stood petting the steed.. Suddenly he felt the great hand of the scout upon his shoulder. Turning, he beheld a lithe figure bound from the shadows of the timber, and the next moment it was by the side of Cora Bland. CHAPTER VIL. THE FATE OF FLEETFOOT. WE must now return to our young hero, whom we left locked in the embrace of a stal- wart savage, and hanging pendant betwixt Heaven and earth. With all his energy be clung to his opponent, and exerted himself to obtain a hold upon the latter’s throat, His exertions caused excruci-* ating pains to dart through bis injured arm, aud he felt the blood start anew from the wound. It seemed to him that his struggles, however des- perate they mieve be, must prove hopeless against such odds. Yet the thought of being hurled to the bottom of that abyss nerved him to renewed effort, heedless of the pain it caused im. Despite the horrible fate he would have to meet in case of failure,the prospect could not nerve his energies forever against such a powerful strain. He realized that every moment he was growing weaker, while the power of his adversary’s arms seemed to increase rather than abate. Whatever was to be done must be dove quickly. Accord- ingly, by a sudilen, adroit movement. he freed his sound arm from the grasp of the redskin, and delivered a sudden, poweren blow, with his fist squarely between his enemy’s eyes. The sayage saw the descending blow, but too late toavoidit. At the very instant. it struck his low, retreating forehead, however, he suc- ceeded in seizing the throat of the young guide in ba ea clasp, which he tightened every in- stant. i 8 Prairie Phil’s strength suddenly deserted him, and strange, many-hued points of light seemed to be floating before his eyes. He felt the hold of his limbs upon the cottonwood log gradually relax, and he vaguely realized that in another moment he must fall into the black depths be- ow. 4 At that instant a sharp, whip-like report rang _ on the air, sounding close to his ears. A howl of agony came from the lips of bis opponent; his muscles relaxed ; his form shot downward, strik- _ ing upon the rocks with a dull, sickening crash. Though relieved of the clasp of his foe, the young guide found bimself too weak to extricate himself from his position. He felt a jar upon the log, and the next instant a dark form bent over him, and a strong hand grasped his, draw- ing ‘him to a secure position. ‘As soon as he had recovered sufficiently to see clearly the objects around him, he bent his gaze upon his rescuer. He uttered a cry of surprise. The dim twilight revealed the face and form of a lithe Indian warrior confronting him! ] : But a second glance cleared bis perplexity and | _ alarm. ; _ “Itis Fleetfoot, the friendly!” in a tone of joy. : _ The savage uttered an unintelligible ejacula- tion, and madea gesture toward the opposite side of the gully, i “Fleetfoot saw his white brother helplessinthe arms of his foe, and did the only thing in his — power tosave him. The light was dim, and the bullet might have killed his friend instead of his foe. But the Great Spirit sent it whereitshould _ go, and the paleface was saved. But we must — not stop here.. There are enemies on every side, — and we must find shelter in the shadows ofthe rocks and trees. Can Prairie Phil walk, or his weakness made bim like a papoose?’ The savage spoke in the Sioux dialect, which _ the young guide understood perfectly. Ext “Fleetlimb has done Prairie Phil a service which he never can forget,” said the youth, in ‘ ing the hand of the Indian ‘he exclaimed, the same tongue, grasping with gratéful warmth.” ats ‘Tien, speaking in English, he added:, = “T can walk if J can get upon solid earth. Lead the way, and I'll follow. A little more, and I ‘would have gone under, by jingoes!” ¥ ie Fieetlimb obeyed in silence, and in another moment.the twain were standing once more up- on MR Bae i % E pee | he Indian was a tall, athletic young warrior, | of nearly the same age as the young guide. “He was a full-blooded Sioux, but from gies Rie heh ; of which no one knew save himself, he had al ways Leen friendly with the whites, =” '
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PRAIRIE PHIL. At Cottonwood Bend he was well-known, and the settlers placed limitless confidence in his fi- ‘delity. More than once had he proven himself a faithful spy and scout in their behalf, and the hostile savages hated and feared him alike. Prairie Phil turned his attention to his wound- ed arm, which had become so painful as to be al- most unendurable. He found it bleeding pro- fusely, and, with the assistance of his red com- panion, he soon bandaged it, making it feel much more comfortable. He found his rifle lying where he had thrown it before the commencement of the cuntest, and with it once more in his possession he felt renew- ed courage. “We will cross the creek and make our way to the open prairie, Fleetfoot, for I am impa- tient to get to the settlement. I’m afraid it’s too late already. I’ve had a hard chase all day, and . I’m but little nearer the Bend now than T was when I started this morning. I had to abandon my horse in the bargain, and that came hardest of all.” “What you goto Bend for? Injuns going to ‘tack settlers?’ questioned the Indian in Eng- lish, which he could speak as well as the aver- age bordermen. “No, not that. I can’t explain now, but if you'll go with me I'll tell you about it on the wa ” “ The savage pondered a moment in silence. Then he exclaimed, ies ag “Me'll go. Come quickly, ‘fore we have more trouble. Sh! -Hear that? The concluding utterance was in a subdued whisper. ¥ ei Several sharp, quick reports, evidently made by a small weapon, rang on the air, apparently within a hundred yards of the place where the twain were standing. Without an instant’s, hesitation, Prairie Phil darted behind an adjacent tree, and Fleetfoot followed his example. The shots were followed by savage yells, whose echoes lingered on the air in quavering accents for several seconds. Then a period of deathlike silence ensued. Prairie Phil was on the point of emerging from his concealment, when he beheld a dusky figure dart forth from a Suny of bushes, and pass almost within reach of his arm, He re- mained perfectly motionless, and saw the sav- - age approach cautiously the tree which conceal- \ ed Fleetfoot. The next instant he saw the lithe form of the friendly Indian dart into view and hurl itself upon the red foe, In less time than that required to note the fact, the twain whirled past our hero in rapid, bewildering evolutions, which quickly brought them to the very brink of the abyss. ‘ They seemed to pause involuntarily, for an- other foot would have sent them down into the black depths. " eles - Without an instant’s hesitation Phil darted from his concealment, revolver in hand, deter- mined to return the service so lately rendered by his red friend, But he had not taken a half dozen paces’ ere he found himself confronted by atall warrior, whose hideous, agen counte- nance was close to his before either noted the proximity of the other. It was evident the sav- age had also started to lend assistance to his friend, and thus another pair of foes met too closely to avoid a conflict. But Prairie Phil knew better than to attempt a hand-to-hand combat when in such a weak condition, and it will be remembered that his knife was at the bottom of the creek, whither it had been hurled during his recent conflict upon ‘the cottonwood log. ; He knew that the report of his revolver would be likely to draw other foes to the spot, but it was his only means of defense at the present ‘evitical moment. ; 4 He raised his weapon with lightning-like quickness toa level with the dusky face of his _,enemy; there was a jet of flame that blazed into the black, baleful eyes; the savage sank to the earth without a groan; the quick report echoed - among the rocks and hills, Without an instant’s) hesitation, the young _ guide bent over the motionless form of his ‘oe and himself of the knife which he noticed protruding from a sheath at his belt. _ With his new weapon grasped tightly in his right hand, he wurned hastily to put an end to the conflict between Fleetfoot and the hostile _ gavage. ee A iow ejaculation of intense amazement | es- - eaped the lips of our hero, and: he started back- ward, appalled, Where he had a moment ago beheld the fierce- - ly struggling combatants, he now gave the bare rocks and broken , saw naught | started shrubbery! ' Phil hesitated no longer, but arising to his fee _ Neither Fleetfoot nor his antagonist were any- where to be seen, and a deathlike silence had fallen. The youth shuddered involuntarily, a sense of keenest sorrow coming into his heart, The noble young Indian who had only a few minutes ago saved him from falling into the abyss, had now met with that terrible fate himself. . So quickly had the triple tragedy been enact- ed, that our hero could scarce realize that it was not all some dreadful phantasy of his imagina- tion. He strode hastily to the brink of the chasm, and examined the spot where the twain had been so geeperetey fighting a moment ago. © discovered abundant signs of the struggle; and, with asensation of horror, noted a circum- stance which he not at first seen. A portion of loose rock and earth had become dislodged and precipitated into the creék; this explained the sudden and silent disappearance of the combat- ants. The youth stooped and peered over the brink, frying to obtain a glimpse of the rocky bed of the creek; buf the gloom was so dense and im- penetrable that not an object was visible. He drew backward hastily, and stood erect. He could hear the gurgling of the stream far be- low, the soft rustling of the night-wind around him; aside from these sounds a death-like silence pervaded the locality. One thing was certain—he could in no way bring his friend back to life by standing there inactive, and the preservation of the living was atthe to be considered than useless regret for the ead, With his lips tightly closed, and his hand clasp- ing his rifle with sudden, vengeful determination, our hero turned away from the spot, and ap- proached the cottonwood log which spanned the abyss. tte uickly crossed if and plunged into the belt of timber beyond. He had nearly reached the open prairie when he caught a bright gleam of light shining through the trees a short distance ahead. He camea Ha to a halt and gazed at the object, a puzzled expression coming into his countenance. The light glimmered fitfully as the intervening branches swayed to and fro in the soft breeze. For a moment the youth hesitated; then, holding his riflein readiness for instant use, he crept silently, slowly toward the fire; for he was not certain that the light came from a camp-fire. At last he oe and gazed in upon a scene which filled him with intense wonder and curiosity. In the center of a small opening a fire, built of light, dry combustibles, -was burning; and standing near, plainly reveal- ed by its red, flickering light, were three tall stalwart men, with brown, bearded faces, and clad and armed in true border fashion. To our hero, not one of the faces was familiar, and somehow he felt a vague presentiment that the strangers did not belong to the ordinary type aca who roamed the prairies and foot- ills, At first he was on the point of revealing him- self to them, but a second thought convinced him that it would be wiser to remain concealed until he had assured himself that they were friendly. Accordingly he crouched in the dense shrub- bery, and bent his héad to listen. The tallest of thestrangers was speaking in a low, muffled tone, and he emphasized his re- marks by flourishing one great, brawny hand in the air, “J tell yer Dirk Hilders’l] bear watchin’, boys, an’ no mistake. We're good ’nough to sarve his ends while he needs us, but he air too cussed high-toned to keer what becomes of us when he’s done with us, Dirk would go back on his best friend for a gold nugget the size of his thumb- nail)!" Dirk Hilders! The sound of that name caused a flash of intense, vengeful hatred to come into the face of the youth. He bent forward to catch the reply of the next speaker. As he did so, a dry stick snapped beneath his knee with a sharp, ringing sound that caused the strangers to turn hastily, their hands dropping upon their weapons with menacing quickness! CHAPTER VIII. WIRT WILEY’S FLIGHT, _ Pratrie Pare held himself in readiness for instant flight, holding his breath in suspense. For a minute the men stood motionless, listen- ing intently, and exchanging glances of alarm. Then the one who had been speaking suddenly i wardour hero with long, hasty strides. | Wirt and the range t, { “Be it isn’t Prairie Phil, by the jumpin’ jews- darted away through the woods in a directiom parallel with the creel. There was no use at- tempting to make his flight noiseless, for in the darkness he could not help treading upon dry twigs and undergrowth. But while his footsteps made a sound audible to a considerable dis- tance, the heavy tramp of his pursuers crashed through the undergrowth loudly enough to drown the noise of his own flight. On—on he ran, darting hither and thither to avoid large trees and impassable thickets; and on came his enemies in swift pursuit, fol—- lowing close at his heels. In vain did he attempt to throw them off his track. They seemed to follow with instinctive certainty in his very footsteps. The timber growth became more and more thick and impassable, and he began to pant with his exertion. The exhaustion caused by his recent strugele, and the loss of blood from his wound, still left their effect upon his endurance, and he found himself unequal to a protract- ed chase, Acting upon an impulse, he . changed his course abruptly to the right, which brought him nearer the open prairie. As he did so, the sounds of pursuit seemed a trifle more distant. | He in- increased his speed, and the next moment emerged upon the open prairie. Just within the shadows he came abruptly to a halt; alow exclamation of mingled amazement and delight escaping his li A few paces distant he graceful form of Blackbird, and standing by his side,-caressing and speaking to him in soft, coax- ing accents, stood a slender young girl, whom he instantly recognized as Cora Bland. For a brief moment the young guide gazed npon the strange scene; then he ran forth from the shadows of the timber, and paused close be- side the young girl. Blackbird turned his head with a whinny of recognition; Cora uttered a low exclamation of 3. ; Teheld the familiar, Joy. “Prairie Phil, ’m so glad you are here. I knew, when I saw your horse, that you could not be far distant,” she said. ‘‘And how came you so far awa at this time of night?” the youth of surprise. “I was captured by Indians while on the creek in a canoe, and was brought up among the foot- hills. Nick Wharton, a brave, eccentric old ranger, rescued me by a stratagem, and I am now on my way back to the Bend with him and Wirt Wiley, They are standing yonder. But I’m glad you have come!” The youth, at any other time, would have felt highly gratified at her frank expression of pleas- ure at his coming. But the mention of Wirt Wi- ley’s name caused a flash of hatred to come into his handsome, boyish face. “Wirt Wiley here, Cora? And were you with him when the Indians took you?” he exclaimed. ‘Yes; and he came near being killed by one of the savages in the waters of the creek,” “He come nigh being killed,” repeated Phil, in a low, intense tone, ‘There isn’t an Indian hereabouts as wouldn't fight for Wirt Wiley, rather than against him! irt is a traitor, and if he lured you away from your home in a canoe, it was for the pur— pose of turning you over to the redskins. And so Nick Wharton is in these regions? He you can trust, Cora, and if he knew Wirt Wiley as I know him, he would shoot him dead in his tracks. I'll do it the first chance I get.” The, young ranger spoke fiercely, and he turned eagerly toward the two men standing upon the edge of the prairie, a menacing glean: in his eyes. For the moment he had forgotten about the foes from whom he had been fleeing, but as he changed his position, he heard the crashing of underbrush once more, the sounds drawing rapidly nearer. Pais ith the quickness of an electric flash he seized the light form of Cora and placed her upon the back of the steedy and placed the bridle-rein. in her bands. “There are white outlaws in pursuit of me, and I wouldn’t have them catch you for the world, They belong to Dick Hilder’s gang, and from home ed, in a tone you had Letter be dead than alive as a captive | among them. Don’t leave the back of Blackbird for anything. He will carr Bend if you ask him to, Nick and I can take care of ourselyes.” : < you safely to the — With these words, uttered rapidly andinalow tone, Prairie Phil turned and ran toward the two men who had witnessed the strange maneuver — with a gaze of wonder. é Exclamations of recognition escaped the lips oF r simultaneeusly : ” 1%
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PRAIRIE PHIL, harps!” exclaimed Nick Wharton, advancing with extended hand. But the boy was too excited to return the salu- tation. ‘We can’t stop to palaver, Nick. There are three of Dick Hilder’s men within fifty yards of us, and we've either got to run, or fight like ’ blazes!” : ; The giant comprehended the situation in an in- stant. “Then I say fight, youngster! I’m good fur two of the pizen imps hand-to-hand. You an’ Wiley can dispose of t’other one atween ye.” “J shall have to’tend to Wirt Wiley myself, Nick. He is a traitor, a vile, two-faced cuss, too mean to becalled a redskin or a white man. There he goes, now!” Phil pointed toward a lithe figure just disap- pearing among the trees. At the name instant he raised bis small rifle and pulled the trigger, directing the shot toward the point whither Wirt had gone from view, But there was no cry of pain, and the young ide realized that he had thrown away the shot. At that moment the three outlaws dashed out in- to the moonlight, Simultaneously with their appearance, a loud report rang on the air, and one of them fell headlong into the prairie grass with a groamof death agony. “He's salted, sure as polecats!” exclaimed Nick, dodging behind a tree and reloading his long rifle. : Prairie Phil followed his example, and none too soon, for one of the rifles of the enemy cracked, and a bullet hurtled past close to the young guide’s ear. Before Phil could return the shot, the two re— maining outlaws darted in among the trees, and all became deathly silent. “Twas too ’tarnal mean that they wouldn’t give us another shot at ’em. We mout jest as easy make a clean job of it while our hands wur in,” observed Nick from behind his tree. “Pd rather get a shot ab Wirt Wiley than any- body else just now. He is in league with the In- juns and outlaws, and I know it. He made him- self scarce about the time I come in sight, didn’t ” q “Shud say he did sort o’ light out, so to speak,” returned the giant. “{s’pected he wa’n’t all right when I fust put eyes on him. But he seemed on tbe butter side of the gal, and I tho’t mebby I misjudged him. But whar’s the gal gone? I seed your borse gal- lopin’ away like a greased northwester with her on his back.” “Blackbird will take her to Cottonwood Bend in less than two hours. She is safer with that horse than with us, and Wirt Wiley around. In my mind it was by his cussed connivance that she was captured by the reds to-day; and he would have managed to betray her into their clutches again before morning if I hadn’t happen- edalong. He suspects that I’ve picked out his true character, and you may be certain he'll keep shy of me in future.” A ‘ “Sweet on the gal, eh?” queried Nick, laconic~ ally. ; Site tries to be; but I reckon his bread is dough with her now. She’s a mighty nice girl, Nick.” The old ranger chuckled significantly. “So—so,” he muttered, half to himself, ‘J reckon that’s something that smells like rivalry atwixt these two boys, an’ that’s at the bottom o’ thetangle. A gal will raise a rumpus with the level-headedest boy that ever kerried a rifle, 1 don’t keer who, “Mebbe t’other one’s square /nough, arter all,” ick said this inso low a voice that his com- panion did not hear ut all. “How do you know young Wiley’s a traitor, boy. 2 he asked, in a louder tone. "iknow? How do I know you're a friend? Didn’t I see him talking peaceably as you and I be this minute with an Indian chief, only last night, and didn’t Thear him say that he would have Cora Bland for his wife,if he had toclean out the whole settlement for the sake of getting her? What I see I know, Nick. I never trusted Wirt, and have always watched him, But till yesterday I never found pene: to bring up against him that ,I felt sure of. 1t wouldn't be safe for him to meet me face to face after this, I would shoot him as I would a coyote!” 3 _ The youth spoke vehemently, his eyes flashing with half-suppressed anger. | ‘Nick was about to reply, when he saw a dark figure flit_from one tree to another a few yards distant. He had not time to fire upon the ob- ject, but he fixed his eyes upon the tree that con- - cealed it with silent vigilance. ‘ Several minutes passed away, and the posi- tions of both friends and foes remained un-| a changed. The white moonlight illuminated the broad, undulating expanse of prairie land, and fell upon the stark form of the outlaw whom Nick’s rifle had brought to earth. Nota living object was in sight, Blackbird and his fair rider having dear ee down the creek. Prairie Phil kept on the alert for stratagem on the part of the foe, for he knew the outlaws had not given up their purpose thus readily. That he had been spying upon them they were well aware, and they were determined that he should not elude them. Dick Hilder’s gang of robbers and outlaws had for several months been a terror to the white settlers along Cottonwood Creek, and more than one expedition had been organ- ized and sent out to annihilate them. But each attempt had proven a failure, for the outlaws had their head-quarters, and once there, they were able to defy a regiment of United States troops. Whom Dick Hilder was, mony, knew. Nor had any of the settlers ever seen him that they knew of. Some suspected that he dwelt at Cot- tonwood Bend in disguise. Other saverred that he remained at the headquarters of his band, never exnoeine himself to the danger of capture or identification. Of his appearance or hiding-place Prairie Phil was as ignorant as the border settlers, And therefore the mystery seemed no nearer solution than ever. Numerous base crifhes and bold robberies had been committed by members of Dick Hilder’s gang in the vicinity of the Bend. Among others, a young girl of nearly the.same age as Cora Bland had been abducted a month prior to the opening of our story. Her name was Jennie rayson, and she was a close friend and_con/i- dante of Cora. Hence the fierceness of Prairie Phil’s hatred of Dick Hilder. The youth had sworn to run the gang to earth, and for a num- ber of days he had been roaming the prairies and foot-hillsin hope of gaining a clew to the location of their retreat. — But thus far his quest had been a vain one. Nick Wharton kept his keen grey eyes riveted upon the tree which he knew concealed an out- law with persistent patience. Suddenly a rifle barrel protruded around the trunk, and a loud report rang on the air. The ranger recoiled with acry of pain, A portion of his left arm had not been shielded, an weapon had sought the exposed part with un- erring certainty. Fortunately, the bone was not injured by the shot, although an ugly flesh- wound was made. At that moment a cry of dis- may escaped the lips of Prairie Phil, as a dark form shot down from a tree top close by, follow- ed by another and another at various points near them. At the same instant a savage, tri- umphant shout split the air; but above the yells of the enemy Phil heard the stentorian tones of Nick Wharton: ¥ “It's rainin’ Injuns, boy! Now fur a ’tarnal tangle!” CHAPTER IX, PRAIRIE PHIL MAKES A DISCOVERY. Ar nearly the same instant that the startling shout of the old trapper rang on the air, the loud report of his heavy rifle sounded, followed by the death-wail of a stricken savage. There was a fierce, triumphant yell from one of the outlaws, who darted from his concealment, and dashed toward the old ranger, firing upon him with his revolver ashe came. But Nick anticipated the maneuver, and the shots hurtled harmlessly past. Before the outlaw could divine the inten- tions of the ranger, the latter leaped upon him like a gigantic panther, bearing him to the earth almost without resistance. e outlaw, preat, burly fellow though he was, found himself help- less as an infant in the hands of his giant antag- onist. Before he could even draw his knife, Nick had driven his own to the hilt in the breast of the wretch. Thete was no time for hesitation or palaver. Two redskins dashed upon Prairie Phil with up- lifted tomahawks, but the young guide did not for an instant lose his presence of mind. His small, unerring rifle caused one to bite the earth, and the other found the shining barrel of a re- volver presented in his very face. Before he could dodge behind a protecting tree, the quick report sounded, and the redskin sank to the earth beside his companion. Ail this had occurred in less time than it has taken to describe it, The two whites had heen prepared for an overwhelming attack, and their every motion told with terrible results upon the foe. Three savages and one of the remaining outlaws had been placed where they could do no f the bullet from his enemy’s | eka te advantage thus afford more harm in the world, and their comrades were struck with dismay. In truth, the giant ranger, with his great rifle, that seemed to shake the earth every time he discharged it, and his quick, agile movements and prodigious strength, filled the hearts of the Indians with sudden ter- ror and dismay. As Nick sprang again to his feet, he drew a revolver from his belt; but the remaining red- skins had taken care to shelter their persons behind available objects. The two whites fol- lowed the example of their foes, and commenced as ol to reload their weapons. bil chose a large cottonwood tree as a shield— the largest in the vicinity; and as it stood upom the very edge of the belt of timber, he felt secure from attack in the rear. He had barely finished | reloading, when he heard a slight sound, pro— ceeding, apparently, from the opposite side of his barricade. He cnutiously peered around the trunk. As he did so, he scarce repressed a cry of intense amazemeut. "i His gaze was met by a pair of jet-black, bead- like eyes, which were ful} of baleful hatred and cunning. They were not twenty inches distant from the face otf our hero. The latter instantly realized the situation. if A savage had chosen the same tree for shelter that he had, thus ave oe foes face to face, a ony the trunk of the cottonwood betweem them. Simultaneously both the savage and the boy dodged backward, the former giving utterance me grunt of astonishment, he situation struck our young hero as being ludicrous in the extreme, and he was inclined to make the most of it upon that score. He drew his revolyer, which was the only weapon that he would be likely to have use for in that position, and waited for his foe to again expose some portion of his person, But that was something that the redskin was in no wise in— clined to do. The Indian had no weapons save his toma- hawk, rifleyand knife, and none 6f these conld be used without wen eery some part of his body to the marksmanship of ly the position of our he:o was, to say the least, rather preferable to that of the redskin, For several minutes the two remained perfect- ly motionless, each-listening for some sound of movement upon the part of the other. It struck Phil at last that the situation was not so felicitous as he had at first supposed. While he had the advantage in point of weapons, he could not use that advantage unless his foe chose to give the opportunity. This he knew the sav- age was too wise todo. Therefore, one was ‘as much compelled to stand inactive as the other. For the life of him our hero could see of no wa by which he could extricate himself from his difficulty without interference from his friend. He set his brain to work in an endeavor to in- | vent a piece of strategy by which he might out- wit the savage, And without doubt the brain of the latter was busy ina similar attempt. While Prairie Phil was studying upon the matter, he heard aslight — movement upon the part of his foe. He did not dare to peer around the tree for fear that the savage stood ready to strike upon the instant of his exposure, So he waited in breathless sus~ nse. Suddenly there was a clipping sound amon; the branches above, and before our hero coul glance upward to ascertain the cause, something: struck with stinging force upon his hand, drop- ping thence to the earth. e recoiled slightly. and at the same instant a tomahawk whizze past his head, missing it by scarce a half-inch of space. The object which had struck his hand so sharply was a rifle-ball, and it had been throw upward by his foe and fallen thither, the purpose being to cause him to move aside, and thus ex- pose his person. The maneuver bad been sue, cessful, so far as causing the youth to move was concerned, and he had exposed himself slightly upon the impulse of the moment. - But the haste of the Indian in hurling the weapon spoiled the effect, and saved the life of the boy. It struck | the trunk of the tree and glanced sidewise suf- ficiently to send it past the head of Phil. ; The young guide instantly comprehended that his foe was partially disarmed,and did ped rhs : ith @ quick bound he ag himself face to face with the redskin, and the sha re ah of his revolver rang on the air. e seized his rifle and started to gain new shelter, but his attempt was too late. The uterring aim of the youth brought him to the earth with a how] of pain. : j j ; At this juncture Phil turned to gain the shelter is enemy. Consequent- — % ndian had
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10 — ._o2l of the cottonwood once more, when to his dis- ‘may he beheld the remaining one of the three outlaws dashing towards him with swiffi bounds, He «vas a great, muscular fellow, and the youth did not care to risk a hand-to-hand en- counter with him, ‘Therefore, he wheeled sud- denly, and ran at the top of his speed through the timber in the direction of the creek. The outlaw came on in swift pursuit, and ina few minutes both had left the scene of the recent conflict far behind. His foe was so close at his heels that the youth had no chance to make a stand and use his fire-arms; and so they ran on and on without either muking any perceptible ain. fy In a few minutes our hero arrived at the bank of the creek, and he was compelled to turn abruptly to one side. As he did so, he dodged behind a tree, and stood at bay. The next instant the outlaw halted, with the small, shining barrel of Phil’s revolver staring him in the face. With a quick movement he knocked up the weapon, and tke shot went harmlessly over his head. Mi But the young guide was more than equally -qaick in action, and the next moment he sprang to one side, cocking the weapon as he did so. He was just in time avoid the descending knife of the outlaw, the point of which slashed tng his hunting shirt, just grazing his shoul- er. ; Again the revolver cracked, and this time the outlaw sank to the earth with a half savage grean, . Prairie Phil thought the shot had been fatal, and turned away with a long breath of relief. “But he had not gone a half-dozen paces ere the ruffian arose to his feet, and came staggering to- ward him, his wicked countenance distorted by mingled pain and rage. To add to the hideous- “ness of his aspect, a current of dark blood flowed from a wound in his bead, tinging his hair and beard to a purplish hue. In his band he still held the knife, which caught | and reflected the white gleam of moonlight which fell in rifts through the treetops. — - Again the youth halted; again he leveled the small weapon which had done him such excel- lent service; again the sharp, quick report rent the air. i . This time he had opportunity to take better aim, and the ruffian sank once more to the earth in a quivering, silentheap. - The youth turned away with a shudder of dis—- gust at the horrible spectacle. Entering a thick clump of bushes close to the river-bank, he crouched down to regein his breath and reload the empty chambers of his re- volver. For several minutes he remained in his new retreat, feeling comparatively safe for the time. ‘ He was not satisfied with himself, however, in ‘thus leaving his companion to combat their ene- mies unaided, and as soon as he felt equal to the undertaking, he started to return fo the scene of their late conflict. “As he did so, he glanced cas- ually toward fhe creek, and upon its black sur- ~ face something caught his eye which brought him Reinet to a halt. At that point the $tream was narrow and deep, and eee each bank overhung tall, rank-growing _ shrubbery that cast black shadows upon the sur- face of the water, making it appear like a river of blackest ink. j Upon that dark surface the youth beheld what appeared to be a tiny point of light, drifting with the swift current, and occasionally pausing and whirling rapidly as it encountered a tiny ' whirlpool. | ! _ It seemed like a coal of fire as he viewed it, _ and his mind was filled with a sudden, irresistible - curiosity to learn its nature. ~ He returned to the river-bank at a point be- low the floating object, and waited for it to drift past, As it approached, it seemed att io nearer the side upon which he wasstanding, an acting upon a sudden thought, he drew his knife, and hastily cuta long, slender bush. — : rene tne: outward with this, he was enabled to guide the floating object within reach of his outstretched arm. He gaveutterance toa low, intense cry of amazement. He found the object to be a tiny bark canoe, scarce six inches in — length, and ‘containing a small glass vial. He instandly understood the cause of the point of ight which had at first so mystified him. The : wal contained a small piece of phosphorous, and was filled with some kind of oil. There was a ‘punctured stopper which admitted sufficient air to keep the phosphorous burning. Besides this urious device, the little craft contained some- . age which interested our hero yet more deep- Ythere was asmall roll of paper, and. upon it ¥ ~ \ PRAIRIE PHIL. » Re were written several lines in a neat, even chirog- | menacing howls were full of significance to the raphy. lamp, Prairie Phil eagerly perused the strange | had he epistle, It was as follows: \“Whoever of my followers who find this, come atonce to the ‘lone rock’ upon the north bank of the creek. Don’t delay a moment, for I am in trouble. Dick Hiipers,” Again and again did the youth scan the sin- gular note, each moment. his wonder and curi- osity increasing. Using the vial, with its contents, as a | ears of the intelligent animal. More than once gallo over the prairie with wolves snarling and leaping close in his rear, with his young master upon his back keeping them at bay with rifle and revolvers. With a wild snort of terror he bounded ahead, his muscles quivering with increased effort. _And Cora leaned eae upon his neck, pat- ting him soothingly, her face growing deathly white, her own form trembling with a new fear, ell she knew the cowardly persistence of the This, then, was written by the unknown, ter- foes she now had to contend with. And she rible Dick Hilders, whose tame had become a| realized, also, that even the fleetness of Black- horror to the border-settlers for miles around. | bird could uot equal that of his pursuers, and Could that neat, elegant chirography have flown } that ere long they would be overtaken. . from the hand of a great border ruffian such as | Phil had imagined Dick Hilders to be? The in- consistency was more than our hero could un- derstand, and the more he pondered upon matter, the more unfathomable the mystery be- Oh, if: she could only reach the settlement be- fore the wolves gathered in sufficient numbers to venture an attack! But she well knew that Cot- the | tonwood Bend was still more than an bour’sride distant, and in much less time than that she as Cora pondered the matter by herself, fresh came, and the deeper his curiosity and intérest. | would be overtaken. ae And where was “lone rock,” the rendezvous ap-| On—on, bounded the noble animal, his long ointed in the epistle? Our hero was thorough-| vest since Prairie Phil’s wild ride of the day be- y familiar with almost every land mark within | fore having recuperated his energies to an ex- a radious of fifty miles of Cottonwood Bend, and | tent which rendered him equal to almost any he tried to think of one which would tally with | task. His own terror lent him more than usuah the title of ‘lone rock.” fleetness, and he seemed to literally fly through Suddenly he sprang to his feet, and exclaimed, | the rg i aivie grass. in an audible tone: Cora Bland looked backward, “J know where ‘lone rock’ is, and ’m going to} _ The broad expanse of ‘prairie-land was illum- answer this eall, by jingoes! 1 reckon Dick Hil-| ined almost as brightly as by day. Far in her ders will find himself in more trouble, afore he| Tear she beheld several dark fornis bounding does less.” through the grass with remarkable swiftness, ete aes oat the intervening dis- ance. She could not repress a shudder of in- CHAPTER X. tense horror as she Sand hie! tne approaching BRUTE AND HUMAN FOES. forms with a sort of fascinated persistency. \ Now and then their numbers were augmented. WE will now return to Cora Bland, whom we | by new forms, which came from different direc- left upon the back of Blackbird upon the edge of | tions, called thither by the signaling howls; the prairie. | ) As they drew nearer, and the scent of their As Prairie Phil turned away, Cora spoke in| would-be prey came freshly to their senses, the low, coaxing tones to the steed, at the same mo-} pursuing wolves redoubled their efforts, and ment tightening the reins. : came on af an increased pace. Though reluctant to leave theside of hisyoung} Nearer—nearer they came, until she could hear master, Blackbird bounded away obediently, and| the swishing sound they made as they sped flew over the undulating surface of the prairie | through the grass. Their howls were changed with the speed of the wind. Nia to short, impatient snarls, as they bounded over Cora had no time to remonstrate against the | and around each other in their attempts to gain commands of the young guide had she wished | their goal. ' rt to ‘do so; and she did not stop to question the; | Still Blackbird galloped steadily onward with wisdom of this hastily-formed plan for her es-; unabated swiftness, straining every nerve to cape. outstrip his pursuers. As she reflected upon the matter, it struck her] Closer came the horde of quarreling brutes, that she was more secure BOD the back of this} theirred jaws apart, their tongues now and then noble steed than she could be even under the} protruding, as though in anticipation of the protection of Nick Wharton, in whom she had | feast. ; already come to place deep confidence. The; Now a number of them were snapping savage~ words of the young guide in reference to Wirt | ly at the very heels of the noble eal: and while Wiley had filled her with a sudden, indescrib- | his rider was clinging closely todis neck, he half able sense of doubt and regret. came to a halt and kicked at them Avith spiteful Writ Wiley a traitor! It did not seem that it} energy, tumbling them over each other in a could be true, for he had always seemed like a| howling, struggling heap. man possessed of a high sense of honor. Atthe| For a minute or two the cowardly brutes per- settlement he was much liked by all the settlers, | mitted the horse to distance them once more; and he had often remained there a week at a| but they soon mustered new courage, and ap- time. i : Ne proached their prey with swiftbounds. Hach_ Prairie Phil, however, had, for some reason, | moment the hopes of the young girl sank lower, never seemed to like the young man, and the dis-| and she clung almost frantically to the neck o: like had become by degrees mutual, And now, | the flying steed. : i r A wild, incoherent prayer went up to Heaven from the presence of them both, it occurred to| from her pallid Jips, and she covered her face her that Phil as well as Wirt Wiley was in love| with her hands to shut out the sight of the with her. If this was the case, was not their | leaping, snarling horde that surreunded her, hatred for each other the outgrowth of rivalry?| For now the wolves had overtaken them again, If Phil’s dislike for Wirt sprung from a jealous} and many of them had run ahead of the horse, impulse, might not his remarks just uttered be | leaping, bounding, circling with bewildering founded entirely upon his own imaginary | rapidity, yet keeping at a safe distance from the grievance? 4 powerful limbs of the steed. Gradually, cau- Gradually Cora Bland decided that she ‘vould | tiously, they drew nearer, growing bolder as not condemn Wirt Wiley in her heart until} their numbers increased, until the frantic horse somebody besides the young guide spoke against | seemed to be moving amid a sea of glowing eyes him. For the first time since she had known him, | and red jaws—a sea that momentarily fhreaten- she felt’ a suspicion that Prairie Phil had not | ed to engulf him with his human rider. , been quite honest with her; and that his words| The animal uttered a wild, half-human scream against Wirt were prompted by selfish motives. | of terror, and for a moment the brutes fell back Perhaps Wiley was the most honorable of the|again. But they soon returned to the attack — two, after all. { F with increased boldness. ‘Then Cora, noting the Very busily her brain kept, at work upon the | effect of Blackbird’s cry, raised ler own clear AStaend as she rode onward, until she was at| voice ina wild, piercing shout that rang over astaroused from her revery by a sound that | the prairie with clarion clearness. . ; Blackbird, too, heard | Again the horde of foes fell back, and another sent a chill to her heart. | the sound, and she was conscious of a quicken-| briet respite was gained. Repeatedly the terri- ‘ing of his bounds, t \ | fied girl uttered sharp. unearthly cries, keeping n the distance a prolonged, signaling howl | the wolves at bay for a time. But they soon be- rang on the air, seeming to linger in mournful, | came heedless of that also, and steadily closed quavering accents. An instant later an answer | around the horse. Cora closed her eyes to shut came, this time from a’point much nearer than | out the horrifying spectacle, and bent forward, the first. Then another and another rang on the | resting her face amid the tossing mane of Black- still air, growing nearer, louder, more unmis-| bird. She could feel the animal’s powe' takable in their purpose each moment. muscles quiver with the strain; she could hear his — Blackbird needed no urging from his young | panting breath; upon every hand were the snap- rider to induce him to increase his pace. Those ping, snarling brutes, their fangs gleaming r > ‘ye Pe: $e r , ‘
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white in the moonlight, their red jaws opening and closing in eager anticipation of the feast. Suddenly Blackbird came to a halt, kicking fiercely right and left, uttering again that half- ‘human cry of terror. But the foe heeded not ‘his frantic attempts to drive them back. Cora ‘clung wildly to the neck of the bounding steed, every hope of escape gone from her heart. In ‘another moment she expected to be torn from his back, and she held her bredth in sus- pense. But at this moment a howl of mingled terror and disappointment went up from the throats of the brutes, and it seemed to her that they were ‘fleeing from the spot. And once more she was i conscious of being borne swiftly—steadily on- ward. More and more distant sounded the howl of the wolves, and Blackbird uttered a neigh of delight. ascertain the cause of the singular lull. Still the girl did not raise her ae to she ‘could not realize that the beasts had really aban- doned their attack—it seemed to her like some alluring pleasantry of her terrified brain. She had given up every vestige of hope for succor— had almost reconciled herself to the dreadful fate ’ which had seemed inevitable. For several min- “utes she remained thus, almost indifferent te her - peril—incredulous of theapparent flight of the ey ‘ But P arouse resently she heard a new sound which her to the fact that she was laboring un- ‘der no phantasy-—the sound of approaching horses. Bie could feel a perceptible jar of the ‘earth, which indicated that they were close at ah » Her heart gave a great bound of joy and hope, and she raised her face from the black, shining eck of the horse. Quickly her eyes scanned the ‘rounding prairie, and then her heart sank ain, and her lips uttered a low ery of dis— ay. Less than a hundred yards distant, and ap- “proaching at a swift pace, was a pane es ed Indians, their plumes waving, their painted _ faces glowing with savage triamph., _ Cora seized the bridle rein which she had per - _ titted to rest idl pe. And the noble steed, though jaded by his protracted run, seemed to"gain energy from the reassuring hand of his rider, and bounded over e ont hn i more with renewed swiftness. Observing the maneuver of the fugitive, the ursuing redskins uttered a flerce chorus of yells, n the hope of terrifying her into surrendering tonce. But they only served to increase her determination to escape them, and she leaned ‘orward and spoke in low, encouraging accents 0 the horse, peek his neck the while. ~ On bounded the noble Blackbird, and on came he yelling savages, lashing their jaded mustangs heir utmost speed, But it was evident that latter were in no condition for a long chase, ‘or the flying steed of our heroine distanced them at every bound, e girl looked backward, feeling a sudden mse of hope as she saw the increased distance rvening between her horse and her pursuers. this moment a rifle report rang out on the rand a bullet burtled past in close proximity to her face. Then there came another and an- her in rapid succesiion, but if was evident t they were aimed at Blackbird rather than Cora. But the distance, added to the decep- ve light of the moon, rendered the aim of the ages very uncertain, and each successive ot Les: went more and more wide of its mark. s than a mile ahead stretehed the dark belt imber which marked the course of the creek, d toward this she directed the course of the Blackbird. She knew that the settlement of Cottonwood Bend could not be far distant froin that point. 3 ; ; The Indians soon ceased their firing, and per- itted their horses to follow at a more moderate Yet they kept directly in the tracks of kbird, as though determined not to abandon purstiis, however hopeless if might be. Ina minutes Cora found herself amid the sha- f the timber, and there, secure from the of the foe, she permitted the jaded animal ocome to a halt and take breath. The trees thickly, and the branches were so low that u difficult to-ride between them; so the girl lismounted, and led the horse toward the creek. oon reached the banks of the stream, and took a long, refreshing draught from ear depths. As the girl was about to turn. d the animal from the spot, she heard a otstep close at | and. i a) i 4 / | mountain pas: wane PRAIRIE PHIL. CHAPTER XL IN THE TOILS. ‘Wirn Prairie Phil, to think was to act. Thrusting the daintily written i into a pouch, he cast the tiny canoe and phial back into the creek. Then, with his rifle held in readiness for in- stant use, he started at a swift, silent pace up the creek, keeping close to its bank. As he walked he partook of a quantity of pemmican with which he was provided, for he felt the need of refreshment most sorely. He was conscious of an almost overpowering sense of fatigue also, and he realized that he must soon find opportu- nity to obtain an hour's sleep, or he would give out entirely. Upon the night previous he had slept but little, and all day long he had been on the move. Tough and hardy though he was, there was, nevertheless, a limit to his powers of endurance, and that limit seemed nearly reach- ed. But, surrounded by known and unkuown dangers, he cond not think of relinquishing his vigilance foreyena moment, And the thought of Dick Hilders, and the strange epistle of which he had become possessed by such an odd vircum- stance, made him eager to solve the mystery which bad tantalized him for so long. As he walked steadily onward, bis mind reverted to Cora Bland, whom he had sent upon a solitary ride across the plain upon the back of his trusty steed. Hastily as he had decided to do so, it seemed to him that it was the best plan for her escape that he could have formed. He realized the perils she would be liable to.encounter wpon her solitary journey, but had she remained with himself and the-giant scout her peril would have been tenfold greater. Therefore, hazardous as it seemed in sending her upon ber lonely ride, he had done the one thing which couid be done to ensuxe her even a chance of escape. Yet he was haunted by a sense of keenest anxiety for ber safety, and he wotld willingly have braved any danger to assure himself that her flight had been successful. _ He felt satisfied upon one point, at least—that_ he had foiled Wit Wiley in his scheme to ab- duct Cora—for he felt satisfied in his own heart that such had been the purpose of the young man, When he had mentioned ine fact of Wirt being a traitor to Cora that night, she had made eply. But he had noted a half-incred- ulous ression upon her face, which led him to fear that she did not believe bis statement. Had Wirt Wiley already won the love of Cora Bland? The possibility caused a keen sense of disappointment to Prairie Phil, and in that brief moment of reflection he realized that the beautiful Cora was queen of his heart, and would henceforth hold sway over his happiness. More than once had be experienced a pang of jealousy at her evident friendliness toward Wirt. She had always tre him in a friendly manner, too: but he conscious of an_indefinable something in her demeanor toward Wirt Wiley which he would rather she. would not have shown, reflections that he scarce noticed the distance he had traversed, until he suddenly emerged into a small opening. He recognized the place instant- ly. Quickly crossing it, he entered the thickly- growing shrubbery beyond, The next moment he beheld the cottonwood log spanning the creek, upon which he had come near meeting his doom several hours before. Without an in- stant’s hesitation he crossed it, keeping a sharp lookout for enemies as he didso. As he glanced down into the black depths he could not repress ‘a shudder of horror; and as he reached the a posite bank, his gaze wandered involuntarily toward the spot where he had last seen the faith- ful Fleetfoot struggling with a foe. But he had no time now to indulge in regretful musings, for he was bent upon Pivige the mystery con- cerning the identity of Dick Hilders—of meet- ing him face to face, if possible. He did not pause to count the risks he was running in thus going alone to meet the noted outlaw, who had become the terror of the set- tlements. The location of ‘“tlone rock” he kept ‘uppermost in bis mind, and as he drew near the point where he knew it to be, he redoubled his caution. At last he emerged upon a broad, rocky plateau, devoid of tree or shrub, beyond which the ascent became steep and precipitons, ear the northern extremity of the plateau he bekeld the object of his journey—a huge, irregular column of rock, rising upward in mas- sive grandeur to the hight of fully thirty feet. There wére no other conspicuous objects near it, and it well merited its appellation of lone rock. The moon shone down upon the Jovely scene with pale radiance: the wird swept down the ses with « moaning, sighing sound; bi ks Fe So buried was the young guide in his | su jin the distance could be heard the occasional bark of a coyote. But not a living object was in view. Prairie Phil paused to reflect. ‘lf Dick Hilders was concealed in’ the vicinity, it would be dangerous to cross the plateau in the full light vf the moon. Therefore the youth de- cided to approach lone rock from a different direction, and to reconnoiter carefully before exposing himself tothe marksmanship of who- ever might be concealed in the vicinity. Accordingly he retraced his steps for a short distance, and made his way with extreme caution toward the lonely rock which overlooked the scene like a grim sentinel; fearless of foes or warring elements, Presently he paused a second time, almost be= neath the shadow of the towering column; all around were small boulders, piled one upon an- other, ‘with here and there a patch of earth whence sprung stunted trees and shrubbury. If Dick Hilders was concealed there, how could he be drawn from his hiding-place? This ques- tion our hero/asked himself repeatedly, but no solution of the problem presented itself. Crouch- ing down in a dark hollow close to the lone rock, our hero uttered a low, clear whistle. It was a signal improvised at random; but, singularly enough, it answered its purpose. From: some point beyond the giant rock a human fig- ure emerged—a tall, slender dgure, ink somehow struck our hero as_ being famil- iar, Asthe stranger stepped into the white light of the moon, Phil searce repressed a ery of intense amazement. Could he believe the evi- dence of his eyes?’ Was this man Dick Hilders, the bloodthirsty murderer and outlaw, of whom such horrible tales were current in the settle- ments? Like a go of light the truth flashed upon the brain of the youth. f , ‘the man, standing a dozen paces distant, glanc- ing hastily about him for the author of the sig- nal, was Wirt Wiley. And Wirt Wiley was, beyond a doubt, no other than Dick Hilders. ‘or a minute the young guide remained silent and motionless in his retreat, trying to convinee ‘himself that it was all’a freak of his imagina- tion. He even pinched himself, to'see if he had not fallen asleep and was dreaming. But it was no freak, no dream, The man standing yonder was Wirt Wiley; and Wirt Wiley was Dick Hilders the outlaw. Now he un- ‘derstood the seeming inconsistency of the daint— ily-written note which he had found, signed by Dick Hilders. Such writing might well be expected by the smail, femiine hand of Wirt Wiley. ise, Phil cocked bis rifle, and unhesitatingly step- aa out into the moonlight, pausing within a alf-dozen paces of the young man. The latter uttered a seve exclamation of mingled anger and surprise. ; 4 ; “Prairie Phil! and here!” he exclaimed, ina husky voice. : ; Our hero smiled in his cool, fearless fashion, and returned, in his distinct tones, “Yes; and I’m here to meet Dick Hilders, 1 I’m looking into the face of that indi-— vidual at this instant.” te. The thin lips of Wirt Wiley, as we shall call him for the’ present, quivered slightly; but whether from fear or anger it would be hard to distinguish, : , ‘Yes, I may as well admit that Dick Hilders and I are the same, for I.see you have a clue. It would have been better for us both, perhaps, if you had uot solved the mystery of my identity. y true name is that by which you have known’ me, and by which I am known in the settle- ments. Dick Hilders made a mbre syitable title for an outlaw, so I adopted it for that purpose. But how came you here, Phil? I left you two er thrée miles below, with Nick, Wharton. You gave me a parting shot as I ran into the woods, which put a stop to my ranning, and made me: proceed at a slower pace.” t As he spokeyhe placed his hand upon his thigh, A aig Phil e @ plainly see fresh stains of — ood, d “So that shot wasn’t wasted, eh youth, with a careless laugh. “Not quite, though I could have made a better one with you for a mark, if I had been so dis- posed,” H é Saas “Why didn’t you do i t ‘Because I did not care to get mixed. up ina fight just then—not that I should have felt any compunctious of conscience.” The outlaw spoke coolly, apparently notin the least disturbed by the evident advantage held by his enemy. ”angh , 5 ( “Yowre 2 Wirt Wiley’s cou HPht $ nig e ?? ‘said the why wind ikerted cin, Iilalloe. ed the young guide. _ Bute guide Bu tern expr hanes did not te: ession 7 Nest 3 if
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bs ae ind AE Nets : “T may not beso merciful a second time. But Task you a question: What called you hither, almost directly upon my_heels? You couldn’ have tracked me the way I came.” ‘No, I didn’t track you, nor did I follow you. But 1 found a note signed ‘Dick Hilders,’ and I thought maybe he would be delighted to see Prairie Phil. I didn’t think I should find you here. But it’s all the same, you’ve got to go back with me. I mean business, Wirt Wiley, and you know me well enough not to parley with me.’ Phil spoke significantly, and his rifle was held in a position that threatened the outlaw with in- stant death upon the first sign of treachery. ’ Wirt Wiley drew his slender figure to its fullest hight, and stared at our hero with distended eyes. But there was no sign of fear in his hand- some countenance, His rifle was not in view, and bis arms were folded with indifferent cool- ness upon his breast. “You talk rather large for a boy!” he said, with peculiar emphasis. “And I’m able to back every word of it, Wirt. I could shoot you in your tracks, if I chose—and T’ve half a mind to do it, by jingoes!” Wiley compressed his lips with an expression of sudden, intense determination. “But you will not do that—it would be the worse for you if youdid!” he exclaimed, quietly. “Do you defy me, Wirt Wiley?” “Not that quite. Still I am not afraid of you, despite the advantage you seem to hold at the present moment.” a ) Prairie Phil made an impatient gesture. “You are parleying with me, in hopes that some of your friends will come fo help you out of your trouble, I said I shouldn’t parley, and I don’t mean to. I’ve sworn to capture Dick Hil- ders, dead or alive, and I’m going to doit. Are you coming with me, or not?’ “Tm not!” uttered Wirt, ina sharp, clear tone. Prairie Phil advanced a step nearer the outlaw his grey eyes blazing with anger, his rifle leveled at the breast of his enemy. “Throw your knife and revolvers upon the ground, or Pll blow your brains into kingdom come. And mind you, no treachery, for my finger wouldn’t bave to press the trigger an ounce harder to put you where you wouldn’t be worth anything, except as coyote meat! Do you hear?” : 3 Wirt Wiley obeyed in sullen silence. In an- other moment he was as utterly defenseless as the rocks around them. Prairie Phil lowered his rifle slightly, and ad- vanced yet nearer, his eyes blazing with a deter- mined light. ; “Now wilk you come with me, Wirt Wiley? Or shall I mete out justice to you where you stand?” f - “You can do as you like about killing me. I might have done the same by you, but did not. You would take me to the settlement and claim the glory of catching me, and I would have to swing from the limb of a cottonwood tree. That I will never do. I will not goa step with you as your prisoner. You have shown what you would do had you the power, and now I will show you what I can do!” There was deep significance in the tone of the young outlaw, and at that moment a great, muscular arm swooped down from the rear of Prairie Phil, and a grip of iron closed upon bis wrist, causing his rifle to drop to the ground, discharging as it fell! — & F CHAPTER XII. ADVENTURES UNDERGROUND. Pratgre Pui had no time to resist the power- ful grasp upon his arm, or even to catch a glimpse of the’ owner of that giant hand and arm. The next instant he received a heavy blpw upon the temple, and he sank upon the rocky earth in a silent, quivering heap. For a long time all was darkness and oblivion © the senses of the young Wr When he at last awoke to consciousness he found himself ly- _ing upon a heap of robes, surrounded by intense, impenetrable glbom, The atmosphere was per- ; ed by a damp, undesground odor, and at no int was a ray or streak of light visible. The neidents immediately preceding his unconscious- ness recurred with perfect clearness to the mind of our hero, and he realized that he must now be a Cag in the power of Wirt Wiley. His head seemed to be spinning around and ground with dizzy rapidity as he tried to pene- trate the gloom with his gaze, And at last, over- come by a sense of weariness, ke became uu- _ eonscious again—this time the restful, soothing _ @blivion of sleep. =e : ; y _ 1. The young guide did not feel the need of food PRAIRIE PHIL, How long he slept our hero had no means of calculating. When he awoke bis eyes were greeted by a dim, flickering light emanating from some point close at hand... And as soon as his gaze became accustomed to it, he glanced up- ward and about him with some curiosity. He found himself in a large, low, cavern apartment, with a rough, uaeven floor, and jagged, irregular walls. From his present posi- tion he could see no exit to the room, and it was some time before he beheld the source of the dim, flickering light that illuminated the place. Somewhat to his surprise, he found his arms and legs unbound, and as soon as his strength had returned sufficiently to prompt the effort he arose to a sitting posture, and took a more complete survey of his surroundings. Upon a narrow, rocky shelf in his rear, almost above his head, he saw asmall oil-lamp, whose flickering blaze radiated with dim uncertainty. But this was the only sign beside the robes upon which he sat that human beings-had ever been there before him. } Prairie Phil realized his situation with the ac- customed quickness of his active brain. He was in the stronghold of the outlaw, Dick Hilders, otherwise Wirt Wiley, and, therefore, completely at his mercy. His long, undisturbed slumbers had refreshed him to a wonderful extent, and each moment he felt his strength returning to him. When he moved, he was conscious of a painful stiffness of his limbs, caused, doubtless, by his protracted and fatiguing exertions of the day before. And upon his forehead was a large protuberance, which marked the place where the stunning blow had fallen which had rendered him insensible. For several minutes our hero sat and gazed about him upon the strange scene, his mind busy with the startling events which had occurred in such rapid succession during the past twenty- four hours. Then he arose to his feet, and step- ped out upon the rocky floor of the cavern. His hand wandered meckanically to his belt in quest of his weapons, but he was not surprised to find them gone. He was absolutely defenseless, save for the weapons which nature had given him. At this juncture he heard the’sound of ap- peas footsteps, and in another moment a uman figure emerged from behind a jutting rock, and paused a few paces distant. The comer was a tall, stalwart individual, with long, muscular arms, square, broad shoulders, woolly hair and whiskers, and a face blackas ebony. There could be no doubting his nationality, for that he was a full blooded negro every feature and peculiarity plainly indicated. For a moment he stood motionless, staring with white, distended eyes at our hero, Then he advanced aaeidy and in a hoarse, grating voice, exclaimed: ““Woked up, hab yer? °Gun totink yer’d gone up de crik, where all dead white folks hab to go when dey stop libin’ an’ die.” He supplemented this somewhat original re- mark by a grin that parted his thick lips nearly from ear to ear, displaying a double row of large, white teeth. “T reckon I don’t die so easy as all that,” re- turned Phil, coolly. “You might have finished me easy eriongh wae you was about it. Why didn’t you do it? The African rolled his eyes until they seemed in danger of IR Saal their sockets before he replied. Then he laughed in a chuckling, dis- agreeable manner. } **So I would hab done if de cap’n hadn’t tole me to let yer lib. It don’t make no difference what de cap’n tells me to do; I alus does it, an’ says nuffin’. De cap’n would blow my brack brains into kingdom come if I didn’t obey, an he wouldn’t so much as wink doin’ of it. I seed him shoot one nigger when he fust come to dese parts. De cap’n am a little feller, but he am terrible when he am ’roused up!” Tho fellow chuckled again, as though exces- sively amused by the sound of his own voice. ¥e Deaton your cap’n, as you call him, is Dick Hilders?” said Phil, in a questioning tone. . “Dat am what he callshimself. But I doesn’t care what his name am, so long as he uses me well, an’ he allers does ’eeptin’ when he doesn’t.” ‘What does he intend doing with me—do you know?” asked Phil, seeing that the African was inclined to be. communicative. ‘He doesn’t tell me his ’tentions—nebber. He tole me to look sharp dat you didn’t get away, an’to gib yer all yer wanted toeat. An’ dat. *minds me, [ come to ax yer if yer wasn’t hun- gry—dat is, if yer was alibe, De cap’n nebber starves nobody, I can tell yer.” ; - Re ya Mat Pele sf 58 Pt: than that in which he had awakened to con at that moment, but he knew that he would be — hungry in a little while if he moved about. Se he replied: 3 an sf “You may bring me all the grub you've & mind to, Charcoal, and P’lido my best to maker — *way with it. I wish you would send your cap’ here, too—I would like to talk with him.” Fc “Dé cap’n-hab gone off; aw if be hadn’t, he wouldn’t come to see you; he doesn’t do business dat way. I does all de ’gotiatin’ wid de prison- —~ ers myself, But how you know my name am Charcoal?” Phil could not repress a smile of amusement at_ the expression of wonder upon the black coun= tenance of his jailer. He had given him thai title at random, and it seemed that he had hit — upon his true name; but he decided not tobetray that he had coined thename upon the impulse. “T have a way of finding out a good many _ things you'll find,” he. said, mysteriously; ‘ but : you had better bring in the fodder before you — forget it. I’m growing hungry asa coyote.” ‘So I will; *nuff ob it to swell yer up bigger’m a grizzly.” fag The man turned away with another chuckle, and disappeared around the jutting rock. oe The instant his back was turned, our her stepped noiselessly after him, pausing as hefound — himself in a narrow, gloom-shrouded passage- ae way, the extent of which hecould judge only by conjecture. Ore? He could hear the retreating footfalls of the — giant African, and acting upon a sudden im- — pulse he followed as rape as he dared to do in the dense darkness. e was bent uponfinding — the exit to his prison, and the sooner he did so — the better, , Of course he had no intention of remaining a — passive captive if there was any chance of es— cape. And he had a presentiment that Wirt — Wiley intended him little mercy, fur he now had ~ more than one’ cause to hate the young guid with a hatred so bitter that it must find vent im vengeance of some sort upon its object. Nike Faintly the sounds of Charcoal’s footsteps sounded ahead of him, and he followed as closely — as he dared, for fear of betraying himself. But suddenly the sounds ceased and all became death-— y silent. ray Phil paused and listened. ‘ _ Had the negrosuspected his pursvit, and halted # in the passageway to intercept him? It did not’ seem probable that such was the case, for the African appeared more than commonly thick— headed for his race. “e i. For two or three minutes our hero stood silen and motionless, listening intently. But still me sound came to his ears. us ‘Once more he moved forward, his caution r doubled, his senses keenly alert., , Suddenly he came again to a halt, and oe time he could not repress a slightexclamation Caney He found his progress barred by a solid, per- pendicular wall of rock, and he could find n« opening large enough for a weasel to cree] throng. Carefully he groped about, but to ne pirpose. His further pregress was as effectual-_ ly stopped as though a wall of solid masonry{hat bay te y reared itself in his path. ; e turned and retraced his steps cautious fora cénsiderable distance,then halted and stru a match, The feeble blaze flickered for a moment, illu minating a narrow radius. He availed himsel! of its brief illumination, and cast a quick glance around him. He beheld a narrow opening in ti rocky wall close at hand, and instantly divined that the negro had gone in that direction. = _ Without a moment’s hesitation he push through the aperture, finding himself in anoth dark corridor, more narrow and crooked tha the first. Slowly and silently he pushed onwar« halting at frequent intetvals, to listen for soun of hisfoe. | ' oS But none came to his ears. Had his weapon: been in their accustomed places, he would n have feared for the result of his investigatio: but as he was almost defenseless, he knew tl to meet his black foe would put an end to | gs of escape, herefore good supply. _ As soon as it burned brightly. he held that it might the better reveal bis surroun He found that he was in a larger caver ness. On every side were rugged perpen
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‘iofty, arched dome above, to the top of which | the feeble gleam of the tiny light did not pene- ~ trate. But it contained no evidences of human oceu- ‘pation, and the atmosphere was pervaded by a damp, earthy odor, The match burned out, and darkness once more surrounded our hero. He began to suspect that he was not upon the & right track, afterall, and that his jailer had gone > in still another direction. « ifsuch were the fact, it was likely that he had returned ere this, aud discovered the flight of his captive. Prairie Piil began to fear that he had _ not acted very cautiously in thusstarting upon an exploration of this vast underground cavern without even weapons or alight. But now that he had started upon the adventure, it was about as safe to proceed as to retreat, and the young ide was never ready to give up an undertak- - ing, however hazardous or hopeless it might seem. Hereached out until his hands touched the ‘wall of the cavern, and then he groped his way eautiously along. Suddenly he started backward with a low cry _ of horror. His hand had come in contact with a _ old, smooth object that had moved beneath his touch. At the same instant there was an omin- ous rattling sound, the import of which he well understood. He had placed his hana directly “upon a rattlesnake which had been coiled upon ‘a small shelf of rock. Realizing his danger, he sprang backward, and ran hastily to the oppo- site extremity of the apartment. Then he struck another match, glancing hastily around the /place. To his satisfaction he he another cor- - rider opening close at hand, which had the ap- pearance of being more straight and regular, and toward the further extremity he could dis- ¢ern a faint gleam of light. Without hesitation he started upon this new course, moving silent— ly but rapidly toward the beacon light ahead, ‘The next moment he emerged into another cav- ern apartment, which was ge by a dim light. As he glanced about hira he gave utter- ance to a cry of intense amazement. CHAPTER XIII. EXPLORING THE OUTLAWS’ RETREAT, PRAIRIE Par raised one hand to his eyes, as ‘+ though to make sure that what he beheld was no phantasy of his vision. _ he apartment was small, circular in form, and barely high enough to permit an ordinary mantostanderect. _ - At the further extremity was a small lamp +. Whose blaze flickered and spluttered fitfully. _ Near the lamp wasa heap of rebes, and upon _ these crouched a slender female figure. ef As Phil uttered that quick cry of surprise, the | woman turned abruptly toward him, bringing _ her countenance into the light. f “By jingoes! if it isn’t Jennie Grayson!” ex- ‘elaimed the young guide, in his clear, ringing tones. . is There was a sharp, gldd ery, a rustle of gar- ™Ments, and the girl sprang from among the linging about the neck of our hero, while her “pretty eyes were gazing into his in tearful en- reaty. | "SOM, Phil—Phil! you have come to ,rescue ice, from this dreadful place, have you not? I have been here such a long—long time, and to- orrow they were joing to force me to become intervals in the cabins of several different set- “tlers. and she had become endeared to many of them, and especially to the Blands. _ She had no living relatives that she knew of, _ having been an inmate of an orphan asylum at _ the east until her fourteenth year, when she had “been sent westward upon an emigrant train, The mystery enshrouding her parentage had called forth the deepest interest of Phil, for he, too, was a world’s waif, and had never known par- ents or a home. His earliest recollections were of a lonely dwelling among the mountains, and of strange, reticent man, who called himself Otoontatn Ned.” This man_had provided for him ent his childhood, and had taught him to make a livelihood for himself in the mount- alns and on the prairies. ) ‘When the young guide had reached his fif- nth year, Mountain Ned was suddenly miss- . and no amount of search could reveal a clew eis whereabouts, } ; : Though a singularly silent, uncommunieative ‘obes, and the next moment her arms were PRAIRIE PHIL, 13 Is, with jutting shelves, dark niches, and a{man, Phil had become deeply attached to him, and his sudden disappearance was a source of sorrow to our hero. He had no doubt that he had fallen a victim to either human or brute foes during his wanderings. Five years had elapsed since the departure of Mountain Ned, and during that period Prairie Phil had won fame as a prairie scout and guide, and his.services were constantly in demand. Mountain Ned had never told the boy aught concerning his early life or parentage, and at that age our hero cared but little for a solution of the mystery. But as he had grown older, the subject frequently disturbed him; and he grew more and more anxious to learn about himself. But the mystery seemed utterly unfathomable. This brief diversion being necessary at some point of our story to properly explain what is to follow, we insert it here. When our hero found himself so warmly em- braced by the pee Jennie Grayson, he felt for a moment a sense of boyish embarrassment, But he soon overcame that, and acting under the temptation of.red, quivering lips so close to his face, he kissed them with qiiet assurance. “11 do what I can toward rescuing you, Jen- nie, but that may not be much, for 1 ama ea tive myself,” he said, as she suddenly drew back, her Bs e cheeks flushing crimson, “You a captive!’ she repeated, the glad look going from her face as quickly as it came. “Yes; or, at least, I was a little while ago. But I took a notion to explore the premises, and my wanderings brought me here. Is there an exit to the cavern near this point?” “LT think not. Nobody ever comes in except by the way you entered. I started to flee from here once, and got quite a distance along the dark passage, but one of the men caught me and brought me back, Then they made such threats that I dared not renew the attempt. And they told me that there was no chance for me to es- cape undiscovered,” he young guide mused a moment. Y “Tf that is the case, we're in a fine pickle, and no mistake. But the men are all gone away now, except that great, blue-black imp who calls ; himself Charcoal. If I could only get him in my power, | would force him to lead us out of the cavern. Iveckon I could scare him right easy if I had a revolver.” “Then you hayen’t any weapons, Phil?” “Not so much as a jack-knife.” K “Then I don’t see what you can do to help us out of our difficulty.” “I can do my best—that’s all. I don’t pro- pose to stay here if I can get away by any means. And now, while there’s nobody but a nigger to guard us, isa better time to try than when the whole band of outlaws are present. And I stand more in fear of the captain than any of the others.” ‘Did you know, Phil, that Dick Hilders is no other than Wirt Wiley, who seemed so friendly to the settlers at the Bend?” exclaimed the girl. *‘T didn’t know of it until a little while ago, But Wirtand I never made any great show of friendship for each other. We both liked Cora Bland too well for that.” : A shadow crossed the face of the girl as the youth said this. In her heart she wished Phil cared for herself instead of the settler’s daugh- ter. In her'eyes he was the noblest, most heroic fellow on the border. The young guide turned abruptly, and hastily made a circuit of the apartment. There was only one point of egress—that by which he had entered. Nor was thereanything which might serve as a weapon, save a fragment of rock which had become detached from the walls. This he seized, resolved to make use of it i his black jailer if opportunity offered. ‘We might as well leave this place, Jennie, for there is no chance of,getting through these solid walls. If we meet Charcoal, Pil make cin- der of him with this!” The youth beld his rude weapon aloft, and started toward the point, at which he had enter— ed the cavern. Jennie Grayson followed close in his rear, her | face growing white with apprehension. They had proceeded only a short distance when they heard a loud, hoarse shout, that reverberated through the rocky aisles with a strangely hol- low sound. * i “Charcoal has discovered my flight, and has started on a rampage. I reckon he'll make it hot for us if he meets us.” Phil spoke in a whisper, and moved onward with swift, silent strides. Suddenly he came to a halt, his companion following his example. Footsteps sounded distinctly in the rocky cor- ‘idor, and they were approaching rapidly, pe ‘pee | “Is is Charcoal, and he is coming to see if you are with me. Whatshall we do, Phil?” The girl spoke in a terrified whisper,and clung to one hand of our hero. The latter did not re- hy. 3 He groped along the wall of the passage, and presently found a sort of niche, in which he speelily ensconced himself, drawing his com- panion in after him. His action was none too early. The next moment a gleam of light il- lumined the place, and the heavy tramp of the approaching negro sounded close at hand. A’ look of deep determination came into the coun- tenance of Prairie Phil. He held the Spear of rock aloft, his every sense keenly alert. Near- er came the footfalls, brighter the gleam of light. In another moment a tall, dark figure shot in view. With lightning-like quickness the young scout brought his small strong hand forward, hurling his weapon with all his strength. Hasty as his aim necessarily was, the distance was so short that the missile struck its mark with perfect precision. There was a low moan.of pain, a heavy fall, a sudden return of darkness, then all was deathly silent once more. Jennie Grayson shrank yet closer within her retreat. But Prairie Phil stepped quickly forth, and the next moment he had lighted a match, whose feeble glimmer faintly revealed the silent, mo- tionless form of Charcoal stretched upon the un- even rocks. ‘ Phil picked up the lamp which had fallen from the hand of the negro, and lighted it; then he bent over his victim and made a hasty examina- tion, to see if he was dead. Upon the black brow of the mar was a deep gash, from which a purple current trickled, lendin “his face a hide- ous aspect; yet it was evident that his thick skull had not been fractured, and that he would re- cover consciousness in an hour or two, Phil made haste to possess himself of the wears ons with which the man’s girdle literally bris- tled, and then proceeded “to bind him securely, hand and toot. ‘Now we'll see if there’s an outlet to this con- founded place. If we can’t find it alone, we'll return by-and-by and make Charcoal show us the way. He won’t dare to refuse with a pistol at his head, I reckon.” The youth spoke coolly, and seized the hand of the trembling girl. ' “Are you sure there are none of the outlaws present except Charcoal?” Jennie questioned. ‘There ain’t much doubt of it. They are off upon some sort of a raid, and the nigger was left to look after me. They left me insensible, and didn’t count on my being a match for him. But I’m no slouch when my disposition’s up, Wirt Wiley will find. He'll know more of me afore he does less!” The youth spoke with half-suppressed passion, his lips closed in his determined way. With the lamp in one hand and a revolver in the other, our hero resumed his course along the rocky corridor, followed-closely by the girl. He soon reached the large apartment where he had aroused the rattlesnake a little while before. Of this he made a hasty exploration, but he discovered only the egress by which he had first entered. So he entered this passage and follow- ed it as rapidly as possible until he came into the main corridor, which led to the apartment where om had awakened to consciousness an hour be- ore, He was eager to find the place whither Char- coal had gone for food when he’ had started to follow him. . Holding thelamp aloft, he moved slowly for- ward, looking upon either side for a new open- ing in the walls of rock. Jennie followed in Silence, watching his movements with an ex- | pression of deep admiration in her blue eyes. That Prairie Phil was a was plainly evident. Presently the youth paused, giving utter- ance to a cry of satisfaction, Athis right wasa nee opening, beyond which was a chaos of oom. \ “T reckon l’ve found what I was looking for at last,” -he exclaimed. : As he spoke he oN tioatl entered the narrow opening, and proceeded as before, with cautious, yet rapid strides, Presently they beheld a gleam of light ahead. Phil moved forward more slow- ly now, occasionally pausing to listen. All was silent as a tomb. . A minute later they came out into another spacious, lofty room, which was brilliantly illu-. minated. They halted and looked about: them. i “This is the place where’ they took me first,” said Jennie. _ “And do you remember how you entered?” young god in her heart
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uO PRAIRIE PHIL. - “No; I was blindfolded, and when they per- mitted me to see, I was in this room.” Phil surveyed the cavern apartment with cu- _ Tiosity. There was no furniture save a rude table and two or three smajl benches. , ‘ In one corner was a heap of buffalo and bear skins, and in, another a limited assortment of cooking utensils; and in a small niche were char: red sticks, indicating that it had been used as a fire-place. The latter caused the hopes of our hero to rise. Ifa fire had been built there, an opening must exist close by to give vent to the smoke. He boldly approached the niche and glanced upward. ‘To his delight he espied an aperture above through which he could see the light of day. At that moment he heard a low ery of hor- ror from the lips of his companion. Turning, he beheld a strange, weird figure standing at one side of the apartment. CHAPTER XIV. A TERRIBLE CONFLICT. INSTANTLY our hero raised his revolver and leveled it at the head of the odd-looking being. “Who and what aretyou?” Phil exclaimed, in his calm, clear tones. Jennie ran softly to his side, placing gne hand confidingly upon his arm. “Phey call him Little Jack,” she whispered, her form trembling with fear, “He brought me my food several times, and I think they must keep him here as a sentinel, What a strange, beast-like face he has!” The man, if such indeed he was, conld not have been more than four feet in hight, but in figure he was nearly as bulky and muscular as the gi- gantic Charcoal. } : His arms were long, reaching nearly to the floor; his head large and bullet-shaped; his hair and beard, of a fiery-red hue, were long and shaggy. 2 _ His countenance had very little like a human éxpression about it, and beneath his great, red mustache gleamed a double row of yellow, fang- like teeth, ; It was, indeed, a hideous object; yet there could be no doubt of it being a man. And pres- ently the fact that he had human intelligence and the power of speech was made manifest. - \ He did not seem to fear the leveled revolver of the young guide. Instead of retreating, he step- ped silently toward his foe, his sree red hands . opening and closing menacingly. . He paused within a dozen paces of Phil, an exclaimed, in _ adeep, growling voice: _ “Put down yer we’pins, youngster; onless yer wants ter be teetotally chawed! I’m Little Jack, ‘but I eats full-growed men when I'm hungry. D’yer hear?” Prairie Phil’s eyes flashed defiance, and the weapon in his hand seemed fixed in solid rock, so _ motionless did it remain. . i “J reckon you're talking rather heavy, consid- so that I hold the trump card just now,” ut- tered the youth, A hoarse, chuckling laugh came from between the rows of yellow teeth, and the hideous coun- tenance became yet more repulsive. ‘ “Trump keerd, eh!” he repeated, shrugging his great, square shoulders, ‘‘Mebby, and mebby not! Thar may be a higher trump’n your’n that'll clean the board. perpose (not to be skeered by a pistol, youngster, and wot’s more, I perpose ter take that plaything away from yer. Gwine ter drop it, or not?” ‘Rho young guide stared at his singular foe in consternation. Had he indeed no fear for a _ deadly weapon pointed directly at his heart? Or were his words simply a sign of bravado, and’ intended to terrify or throw our hero off his nard? Whatever the intention of Little Jack, Phil had not. thought of being terrified, nor of dropping his weapons. He resolved to give the dwarf a chance to surfender without resistance, lf fhe refused, then he might take the cotise- quences, There was no time for parleying, for, others of the robber-band might arrive at any moment. \ . “T shall not drop my weapons, but unless you do yours, and right quickly, ll put every ball there is in this revolver in your carcass—and there are seven of them se ..Phil.spoke in-a low, intense tone, that showed _ him to be in deadly earnest... ig ‘Again that strange, chuckling sound rang. // throngh the cavern room. «No use, youngster, "cause Little Jack allers has his own way.” He don’t perpose to drop his, weapons.. He x pecpove touse’om!? = * "At the instant the growling tones ceased the ethan ‘growling tones jy, aki rf ‘ Y The latter, thou 'short, heavy figure of the dwarf shot upward in the air, and descended like a panther almost upon the astounded Phil. The latter fired al- most at the same instant, but the maneuver of his enemy was so unexpected and lightning-like in its quickness that the shot did not strike a vital part of his person, That it was not thrown away, however, was proven by several drops of blood which fell upon the floor of the cavern. Jennie Grayson uttered a wild scream_of ter- ror as shesaw the burly figure of Little Jack de- scending upon them, ,She leaped backward, but her companion only stepped to one side, while bis weapon was leveled a second time, and another spiteful report rent the air. There was a hoarse how] of mingled pain and rage from the dwarf, and before ovr hero could again cock the revolver, it was knocked from his hand, and sent with fearful velocity across the cavern apartment. Quickly the hand of the young guide flew to his belt, and the next instant Charcoal’s knife flashed in the red lamplight. At the same moment one of the monstrous hands of his enemy closed upon his arm, and he found himself locked in an iron embrace, Prairie Phil’s long slumber had recuperated his energies to aremarkable degree, and the mus- cles of his arms swelled with sudden power. But he found the strength of his opponent to be resistless. grizzly bear -he would not have been more help- less at that moment. For a minute the combat- ants remained almost motionless, each exerting his powers to the utmost, each on the alert for some unexpected maneuver of his opponent, Phil realized that, in point of brute strength, his adversary hada marked advantage. But if could but free the hand holding his knife, he could soon test the skill of the dwarf in another direction. Exerting all his strength in a single effort, our hero succeeded in lifting his foe from the ground. Then, by the advantage of his superior hight, he hurled him backward with terrific force upon the hard floor of the cavern. For a brief instant Little Jack lay as though stunned, one arm still encircling the form of our hero. The latter raised his knife, and in an- other instant would have buried it in the breast of his foe. But the latter seemed to have the power of extricating himself from every difficulty, how- ever helpless he might seem. By a quick move- ment, he seized the wrist of our hero again, and held the threatening knife aloft, despite every effort the other could put forth to bring it down. In another moment the twain went past the terrified girl in rapid, bewildering evolutions. Jennie Grayson crouched, white and trem- bling, close to the wall of the cavern, and watch- ed the struggling men with a sort of fascinated gaze. She could hear their loud breathing, and now and then the sounds of dull, sudden blows. Oh! if she could only do something to assist her friend, for it seemed to her impossible that he should overpower the brute-like strength of Lit- tle Jack, A sudden courageous inypulse came into ber heart, and she stood erect and approached the combatants. She uttered a low cry of intense horror as she noted their position. — As she had feared, the dwarf was gaining an advantage over bis opponent. He had pinioned both arms of the youth, and was holding him down with his monstrous weight, while one red, hairy hand grasped the. throat of the young guide. The girl cast one quick, despairing. glance about the room for some means of defense, Her eye caught the revolver where it had been sent by the quick blow of the dwarf from the hand of Prairie Phil. Quickly she ran and picked it up. To her delight, she found that it was un- injured, and cocking it, she returned to thé side | | ly around the apartment. of the combatants. She beheld the face of the youth growing pur- ple in hue, while’his eyes seemed bulging from their sockets. In nervous haste she raised the weapon, directing it toward the shaggy head of the dwarf. There was a ringing report, a groan of pain, and the monster fell forward upon his face, a purple current oozing from a wound upon his temple. His great red hand still clasped the throat of the young guide, but the force of the grip WAS | GON! i . ‘or a minute Jennie Grayson stood silent and trembling, staring at the disgusting spectacle. She experienced a sense of faintness, and her limbs shook beneath her weight. She'sank down. within arm’s-length Of the late'combatants, pant- ing for breath, and gazing 4b the face of Prairie Phil with an intense, anxious expression, — } i ee Ad we ,. . te y Had he been in the embrace of a- gh his throat was relieved of the powerful pressure of his opponent’s hi % made no movement to give sign of life or ani- mation. The purplish hue fled from his counte- nance, and it grew deathly white, while hise were closed. Was he dead? after all? With electric rapidity such questions as these flashed through the brain of the girl, and vain: ly she tried to form some plan of action— think of something which she might do to deter- mine the result of the contest. ir, Gradually she succeeded in overcoming the sense of faintness which had come upon her, ani again arose to her feet. Hastily she searched — the apartment for some means of resuscitat— » ing her friend, and at last her eye caught — sight of a narrow rocky shelf high upon the wall, zovered with cooking utensils, Among other — things she noticed a black wicker flask, andthe — sight of it lent her renewed hope. : With some difficulty she succeeded in posses: ing herself of the flask, and upon investigatio she found it to contain a quantity of whiskey, The quality she did not attempt to test; had she done so it is doubtful if she could have pur= sued her process of resuscitating the youth, at _ least, for a time. naa ih: Using all/her strength to do so, she managed to roll the inanimate body of Little Jack fro: that of our hero. Then she bent over the latter and bathed his head and wrists with the liquor, and poured a few drops between his teeth. = The effect was magical. wR There was ‘a spasmodic movement of the — youth’s muscles, and a faint tinge of color man—_ tled hisspale cheeks. In another moment he sa erect, and gazed about him with a bewildere expression. “Oh, Phil—Phil! how glad Tam that you did not die!” exclaimed the girl, throwing her arms arovnd the neck of our hero with impulsive joy. Her eyes filled with tears, and a bright flush suffused her cheeks. __ a “Where is he—Little Jack, I mean?” the yout gasped, with an apprehensive glance around the apartment. tesa “{ shothim, andI think he must be dead. was killing you, Phil, and I saved your Can’t you thank me? If you had died I sho not have cared to live, I believe!” ie t. He looked into her eyes and beheld them filled with tears. a upon an impulse he pressed his lips to hers, held so temptingly near. Y “T do thank you, Jennie with ‘all my heart. You are a brave, true girl ¢ ry Had her action been too late, _ ‘and there are not many that would have done as you have, Yor deserve to love a better fellow than fam; but ll try and make myself worthy of you.” 5 He did not say that he loved her. Somehow, he felt as though he was acting traitorously in thus accepting the affection of this honest gir) when he had so long been seeking to win that Cora Bland. es ‘Tt seems so good to have you say that, Phil! the girl exclainied, her face glowing with sudde ‘The outlaws are coming, Jennie, and wem find a place of concealment. I’m afraid it’ up with us after all!” | —aae q CHAPTER XV. CHARCOAL’S TREACHERY, Tur girl sprang to her feet, her face growin deathly white once more. And with one han she tugged at the arm of her companion. Phil staggered upon his feet and glanced | He felt himsel érably weak, and realized that he was in: dition for sustaining another contest. volver which Jennie had used so effee upon the floor of the cavern, and he quickly. i 64) The sounds pf footsteps were drawing nm «t ome, to retrace our steps. and Vm afraid it w Prairie Phil seize: ickly into te ge-way, ‘close at his heels.
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They had not proceeded a dozen paces ere a hoarsé shout of dismay came to their ears. _ “They've found Little Jack, and will know something is wrong. We must run forit. If I ean find the right sort of retreat I'll send more than one of the varmints o his last home rather than be taken. It will be the worse for them if fae. push me too far.” he youth spoke in a tone of grim determina- tion. On they ran, panting breathlessly, until our hero found he could go no further without paus- ing to regain breath. hey were at a narrow point of the rocky cor- sidor, and a current of air caused their light to flicker fitfuliy. : They could hear gruff shouts in their rear, but as yet there were no sounds of pursuit. nly for a minute or two did the twain re- main stationary. : Then they moved forward again, not.so rapid- iy as before, but still with swift, silent strides. Suddenly a new sound smote their ears. Phil halted, and bent his head in a listening attitude. ‘Footsteps were approaching, and the sounds were before them instead of in their rear. Be- fore the twain could fairly realize that'such was indeed the fact, they beheld a dark, gigantic figure emerge around an abrupt turn of the pas- sage. tt was the foe whom our hero had left bound hand and foot a little while before—the giant African ‘called Charcoal. There was'a gruff exclamation from the lips of the negro, and hé came to a halt, In an in- stant he was covered by a leveled revolver in the hand of the young guide. : “You’vecome far enough for this time. If you stir, hand or foot, I'll blow your black brains to glory!” exclaimed the youth. Tile gure of Charcoal shook with terror, and his ebon countenance assumed « grey- ish hue, while his eyes rolled almost ludicrously. A new idea occurred to our heroin that brief) moment of his dilemma, and he proceeded at _ once to earry it out, Speaking in a tone caleu- lated to inspire the African with terror, he ex- claimed: ‘J see you've broken your bonds, and now that you’re free you’ve got to serve us a good turn, I had you at my mercy alittle while ago, and might have killed you. But I wouldn’t take advantage of you in that way, and you shall not be harmed now if you doas I tell you. We want to get clear of this place, andif you'll lead us out you on go free. But the first sign of treachery will send you to ,glory—remember _ that!” This threat seemed to bring the African to his senses. “Golly! do’—don’t fire, please don’t! T’ll show yer de way out, or do anyt’ing dat you say— ‘on’y do’—don’t shoot!” he exclaimed, with an exaggerated show of terror. ; i “Then be lively about it, for we've no time to ose. “You jess turn ’roun’ and go de way yer’s ‘comin’ from, an’ yer’ll find de way out. I'll show yer de way ’f yer’ll on’y lemme get by where yer stan’. Idarsn’t do anyt’ing wid de ‘volver p'intin’ at me in dat way.” The negro did not stir from his tracks. The popes ot our hero suddenly sank several degrees. ‘as there indeed but one exit to this under- ground labyrinth? If such was the fact the negro could be of no service to them, ‘ _ “We can’t get out that way, for your friends shave come and cut off escape in that direction. _ But there must be sorne other way to get out, and you must find it for us. Now, remember “i what lve promised you upon the first sign of imself. whether to obey or not. At last, he said: _ -“Dar’s one mo’ way to get out, but it’s a lon “ways ’roun’, Keep close hind my heels or yer’! ose de way. Come!” Ashe spoke he turned abruptly and retraced his steps. Still holding his weapon in readiness for instant use, our hero f.llowed, Jennie Gray- gon walking close in his footsteps. -. Presently their guide turned into a broader corridor, which they followed for a considerable distance. Then another turn was made, and then ‘another. Still there was no sign; of an exit be- - fore them. Prairie Phil began te grow suspic- _ ious. ; ot “How much further have we got to go?’ he “questioned, coming abruptly to a halt. : _” 'Welre most’dar—only 2 few more steps,” res turned’ their guide, still striding swiftly for- ward. | ‘i : Si ® Gur friends were obliged to hasten to keep him 1 view, for he at that moment made another yy PRAIRIE ‘PHIL. 15 turn to the right. As they followed, ‘hey heard the sounds of gruff voices close at hand, At the same moment thev beheld a gieam of light a few paces ahead, and Charcoal’s tall figure suddenly darted around a jutting rock. Then a chorus of shouts rent the air, and rapid footsteps approach- ed. Ina moment the horrible truth flashed upon the brain of our hero. Charcoal had led them, by a devious route, to the very point whence they had started! He turned quickly and communicated his dis- covery to his companion, whose face had grown deathly white as the startling sounds came to their ears. Before they could retreat a dozen paces, lights flashed before their eyes, and they beheld several dark figures approaching. **There’s no use, Jennie! We're caught like rats in a trap, and resistance will only doom us to a worse fate than surrender will. If I was alone I would make a fight for my liberty. But to do so now would only leave you without a rotector, for they wouldn’t hesitate to shoot me in my tracks.” : The youth said this in a low voice in the ear of his companion. Before she could reply they were confronted by: three stalwart forms, and a gruff, triumphant voice exclaimed: “Here’s the young wildcat, and the gal is with him. I reckon they won’t try sich a caper a sec- ond time, ef we kin help it, and I reckon we kin!” Prairie Phil did not stir from his tracks, and his fair, boyish face wore an expresston of cool defiance. But he offered no resistance ag the heavy hand of the outlaw fell upon his shoulder, and drew him forward in the direction of the cavern apartment. Another ruffian seized the arm of Jennie, and the next moment the cap- tives were standing in the dimly—Jighted cavern. Phil had been speedily deprived of his weapons, and once more he realized his utter helplessness in the power of his foes. With some curiosity he glanced about him upon the novel scene. The full force of the out- law band were -evidently assembled, and there were fully ascoreof them. In the center of the group was their leader, Wirt Wiley, otherwise, Dick Hilders, as he was called among his rough associates, And beyond the slender, graceful figure of the outlaw captain was another form, crouching in a shrinking posture close to the wall of the apartment. : : .Our hero could not repress a cry of surprise and dismay as he recognized the latter. At first it seemed to him that it must all prove a deception of his excited vision. But the more he gazed the more positive he became of the identity of that shrinking form. It was Cora Bland. / : _ Wirt Wiley noted his Retin and the expres- sion of amazement that crossed his face, and smiled exultantly. “You see that my turn has. come, Prairie Phil,” he exclaimed, in his smooth, quiet tones. _* see that you are no better than the reputa- tion of Dick Hilders has made you out,” retorted the yam, his face flushing with pent up rage, ‘*T don’t claim to bea saint, my boy,and you'll find out that I’m far from being one by-and-by. But we haven’t time to parley now. There is serious business afoot, and these captives must be placed in safe quarters, and left to themselves for the present. Every man will be needed here to defend the entrance of our retreat. Come, there is no time to lose.” Be His last remarks were directed to his com- rades. Instantly the hands of Phil and his com- anion were bound, and with the treacherous harcoal and a burly white outlaw as guards, ‘the three captives were led once more along the narrow, rocky corridor. The two girls were placed in the apartment in which Phil had first }discovered Jennie, while the) young guide was | veturned to the place where he had awakened to consciousness. The latter was securely bound, and left totally helpless upon the heap of robes. No guard was left with him, but he realized that an attempt to‘escape would amount to nausht. : The two girls were not bound so helplessly, their arms being left free. As soon as the out- laws had departed, they were clasped in each other’s embrace, weeping, and a ng, between their sobs, the story of their experiences: It will be remembered that we left Cora Bland in the belt of timnber close to the creek. She had just been startled by the sound of a light foot- step close in her rear. Turning, she had found herself confronted by a man whose face was painted like that; of an Indian warrior, but, even in her horror she felt an instinctive convic- tion that it was a white man indisguise. She ‘had no time to flee. Ina momenta heavy hand 235 ~ s * = ; ir : 7 | <= et VAS. fell upon her arm, and she was raised from the ground as though she had been but an infant, and borne swiftly through the timber. A little later her captor was joined by four other out- laws, who made no attempt at disguising their color. We will not detail the long, weary jour- ney of her captors, whith took her further and further away from her friends. At lone rock they had been joiaed by Wirt Wiley and others of gang, and all had entered the outlaw retreat together. * In the meantime, while the two girls were sobbing and talking as girls will do sometimes, and our hero was lying Bee impatient, but helpless upon the heap of robes, events cf a startling character were being enacted among the outlaws Scarce had Charcoal and his companion re- turned to the main cavern ere a wild, thrilling shout rent the air, which brought every man to his feet. An instant later a bali-breed rushed in, his dusky face ashy pale in his terror, “They're coming, and we’ve got to fight. Eri ey no such thing as running away from them , The half-breed spoke in tones of grim determ- ination. In an insfant a knife and revolver flashed in every hand. Above the gruff oaths and vengeful expletives of the ‘outlaws sounded the clear tones of their chief. Slender ond jef- feninate as Wirt Wiley bad appeared, there was no sign of fear upon his fair, youthful counten- ance now. “Keep cool, boys, and don’t throw away an ounce of Jead or steel, That accursed scout, Nick Wharton,*has trailed us where every other trailer has failed, and he must pay the penalty with his life,.if not one of us survives to tell the story. Don’t a single one of you spare him. Let every man fight for his own life, for the dogs won t show us a bit of mercy. Here they come f Scaree had the words passed his lips ere the | sounds of pistol-shots rang ‘on the air. In an- other moment the cavern swarmed withimen, and a thunderous voice sounded above the din of strife: "i “Gin ’em partick’ler glory, boyees, an’ don’t sparea man. Hyer’s a ’tarnal tangle fur the varmints, an’ no mistake.” CHAPTER XVI. CONCLUSION. THat the reader may understand more fully the sudden attack upon the outlaws, we will give a few words of explanation. _ That the vicinity of Cottonwood Bend was not the habitual haunt of the old trapper, Nick | Wharton, we have already intimated. Never- theless he had roamed over almost the entire _ western wilderness in the course of his remark- able career, and his fame asa scout, guide and trailer was wide-spread. 3 i The depredations of Dick Hilders’ gang had ealled forth the best efforts of the settlers, and even of the U. 8. troops to trace them to their retreat. But all in vain. : f It was finally agreed that if any man in the world could trail them to their lair, Nick Whar- ton was the man. Therefore, a messenger was despatched to his headquarters to secure his ser- vices. Ever ready for an/undertaking of the sort, no matter how difficult it promised to be, the old trapper returned with the messenger to the settlement, and immediately entered upon his mission. 1 By some means the outlaw leader got wind of - tke attack, and called his band togetber just in time to make an effective defense. a Within an hour after Prairie Phil had become separated from the old trailer, the latter bad — been joined by the band. of settlers, numbering a full score of well-armed, determined men. | After some delays they had, made their way to'the outlaw stronghold, where they arrived shortly subsequent to the coming of the outlaws themselves. ‘ ’ J The giant form of the old seout towered above the heads of both friends and foes, and the latter endeavored to concentrate their efforts upor: his destruction. ‘ : But they found themselves matched—man to — man—and in alfew minutes the tide of battle be- gan to tell against them... = After one or two volleys from the revolyersof each party, they came into such close quarters * that the-use of firearms was abandoned, and ~ knives were Called into requisition. » Then it beeame a hand-to-hand conflict, man for himself. Lea tuhe Svilae ake UM heer ae “\ Despite the concentrated efforts of the outlaws, the old scout, continued to wield his powerful * each” A¥ j
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16 PRAIRIE PHIL. arms with undiminished effect, apparently un- harmed by bullet or knife—and at last he found himself face to face with the slender outlaw leader. / Around them the battle raged with diminished fury, for more than half the ruffians and two or three of the settlers had fallen, dead or disabled. Yet the countenance of Wirt Wiley was dark with intense,unyielding determination. He attacked his giant adversary with all his skill and pent-up fury. For the first time that day Nick Wharton found that he had an opponent worthy of his steel. Skill, agility, and prodigious strength dwelt in the slender figure of the young leader, and Nick received several painful wounds befcre he was prepared to meet such a combination of prowess. /Watching his opportunity and parrying the rapid thrusts of his enemy, Nick at last succeed- ed in closing with him and hurling him upon the hard floor of the cavern. Then his enormous weight aud muscular power soon settled the contest. A moment later he had disarmed the young man, and was holding him down with pinioned arms, and his ponderous knee upon his breast. “Ye desarve to have yer life tangle ended xight hyar, youngster; but the Lord forgive my takin’ human life onnecessarily. Yer trial afore a jury shall settle yer score. If they say let ye live, then live ye shall, if I have to fight to save ye! As the scout said this, he proceeded to bind his foe securely, the latter submitting in sullen si- ence, By this time the conflict had ceased, and the triumphant settlers were securing the surviving outlaws. Among the latter wasthe negro, Char- coal, and he was commanded to bring forward the captives. Ashe dared not disobey, he led the way to the apartments in which Prairie Phil and the two girls were confined, and they were liberated. . ter the joyful greeting of the reunited frieads were over, Phil took a survey of the dead and wounded outlaws,the latter lying help- lessly bound by themselves. Suddenly he gave aubterance toa ery of recognition, and he bent over one of the motionless forms. The man was fatally wounded, and was breath- img painfully. As the youth bent over him, he ‘ espened his eyes, and stared up into the boyish countenance. He uttered a gasp of intense amazement, and attempted to rise fo a sitting posture. But he fell back with a groan of agony. “¢Mountain Ned! and here!” exclaimed our he- xo, in a tone of intense surprise. The man did not reply for several minutes. At last he said, his voice husky and scarcely au- edible: ; **Yes, Phil, it’s Mountain Ned, and he’s taking in his last breaths, I reckon. it’s lucky you're here, for I didn’t want to die ’thout telling you more ‘bout yourself than I ever did. I meant to do it afore I deserted you, but circumstances pre- vented.” An eager expression came into the face of our hero, and he bent, his head yet closer to the griz- zled beard of the outlaw. “Tf you can tell me who I am, and where I be- jong, do so, for it is a subject that I can’t banish from my mind night nor day,” said the youth. “pi do it, Phil. Just call one or two of your friends nearer, so that they can hear my confes- sion. It will help you to settle your claims, and ‘ I want to sigh things that I've made wrong all Iean afore 1 meet my Maker. I’m afeard he won’t show much mércy to sich as I, at least.” Ata word from our hero, the settlers gathered around the dying outlaw, and listened to his story. Tomake it brief as possible, we will re- peat the substance in our own words. "The true name of Mountain Ned was Edward Minton, and the first thirty years of his life had been spent in aneastern town. He had been a somewhat dis- solute and unprincipled man, and was ready to accept any employment that offered fair re- numeration without regard for legitimacy. In the town where he then resided lived two wealthy young men, partners in a mercantile business, named, respectively, Willard Harrison and George Durkee. The former was a strictly honorable gentleman, and had many warm friends. But his partner, though ostensibly honest and agreeable in business transactions, was at heart passionate, impulsive and unscru- pulous. Yet the two were friends; until an event happened which has been the frequent cause of estranging friendship. Both young men fell in love with a beautiful young lady whose name was Jennie Gilson, ard a fierce rivalry prone up between them. Harrison was successful in his suit, and shortly after, the couple were married. Durkee was almost crazed with jealous rage; the business parmership was dissolved, and he left town, swearing vengeance upon his successful rival. Nothing was seen or heard of him. for nearly four years, but at the end of that period he again made his appearance in the town. In the meantime hisrival had prospered in business, but his beautiful wife, whom be had almost idol- ized, had lost her life in giving birth to her sec- ond child—a girl. Half frantic’ with grief, the young man concentrated all his affection upon his two children, the oldest, nearly three years of age, being a boy. George Durkee secretly re- joiced at the bereavement of his rival, and yet was not satisfied with the grief he had already suffered. : He resolved to wring his heart with renewed pangs—to blight his entire future existence. In pursuance of his fell purpose he made a nefarious bargain with the unscrupulous Minton, who was to abduct the two children of Harrison. The plot’ was carefully laid, and successfully ex- ecuted. The girl, only a few months old, was a ot in an orphan asylum, while Minton car- ried the boy with him to the far west. This boy, it is needless to explain, is our hero, Philip Har- rison. Of the girl Minton did not fail to keep track, and through his influence he had her brought also to the west--to Cottonwood Bend. And this girl, as the reader has doubtless guessed by this time, is the gentle Jennie Grayson—and therefore, the sister of Prairie Pail. As he fin- ished his narrative Mountain Ned drew a small package from the bosom of his hunting shirt, and gave itinto the handsof our hero, saying, in his husky, gasping tones: “There’s a few trinkets that belong to you and the gal, and they may help you to prove your identity. It’s the best I can do for you now, for my race is bout run. I reckon you'll get things straigtened somehow, and sometime!” Those were the last words the outlaw ever ut- tered. | The warning rattle sounded in his throat, and his scarred and sinful spirit took its flight— who shall say whither?” Of course the romantic revelations of the dy- ing outlaw were a great surprise to our hero, to Jennie, and to the interested settlers who listen- ‘(THE END.] ,ed to the narrative. Perhaps Jennie was just a | trifle disappointed at first, for she had liked Phil almost too well for a brother. But if such was the case, she succeeded in overcoming it very well, and now came to look upon the matter in the light of glorious good fortune. And Cora Bland congratulated the twain very warmly, and it occurred to our hero, even at that inter- esting moment, that Cora and Jennie ought to become sisters. : Perhaps Cora thought of it, too, but as young ladies are not given to volunteering information upon such points, we are unable to say what re- flections she had in the premises. a i As soon as the necessary preparations could be made, the settlers started upon their” return to Cottonwood Bend with the captive’ outlaws and their dead and wounded comrades, Their jour- ney was necessarily slow, and they did not ar- rive at the settlement until nearly two days later. Of course there were both grief and rejoicing upon their return, for more than one settler’s wife bad been made a widow by the expedition. With the assistance of his many friends, Prairie Phil began the undertaking of findin his father. He went to Omaha, and afterwar jto Chicago, and from the latter place sent dis- patches to the town in which his father had dwelt at the time of his abduction. At last be received a reply, with the intelhgence that his father, Willard Harrison, was residing in Cin- cinnati, and giving his business address. . Our hero went directly to that city, and had no difficulty in finding the object of his quest. The proofs of bis identity were more than suf- - ficient. Willard Harrison, a prematurely aged | man, was almost crazed with his new-found joy, and our hero at last felt that he had found a parent well worth his long waiting and hopeless search. ‘ Father and son returned to Cottonwood Bend, where another joyful reunion took place. He could scarce realize that the beautiful young lady whom we have known as Jennie Grayson, was the same as the infant daughter whom he had lost so many years ago. et he had no doubts of her identity. The proofs, together with her marked resemblance to her beautiful mother, precluded all doubts. \ A few more words and our story will bedone. Willard Harrison took up his residence in the settlement where his children had made somany friends, and two years later he blessed the union of our young hero and Cora Bland. And he had sufficient wealth to give them an excellent start in life, though that did not prevent Phil from going to work to make a fortune for himself. When we heard from them last, they were living very happily, and were deservedly’ pros- perous. ¥ Jennie Harrison has not yet accepted any man as her husband, but dwells with her grey-haired father as his housekeeper. Wirt Wiley and the other captured outlaws had their trial, were convicted of their crimes, and were riddled with rifle-bullets, in genuine frontier style, And now you all wonder what has become of the eccentric trapper, Nick Wharton. Well, all we can say of him is that he stilllives, trapping, hunting and trailing in the far northwest. Hie still encounters ‘‘’tarnal tangles,” but escapes - them all in his happy-go-lucky , fashion. bak We shall take care not to lose sight of him, and when our readers hear from us again, they may hear from Nick Wharton also. Useful and Instructive Books. ROW TO DO SIXTY TRICKS WITH CARDS—Embracing all HOW TO DO MECHANICAL TRICKS—Containing complete in- structions for performing over sixty Mechanical Tricks, ; By A. ~ of the latest and most deceptive card tricks with illustrations. By A. Anderson. Price 10 cents. For sale by all newsdealers, or we will send it to you by mail, postage free. upon receipt of | price, Address Frank Tousey, Publisher, 34 and 36 orth Moore Street, New York. P, O. Box 2730. | HOW TO DO ELECTRICAL TRICKS.—Containing a lar lection- of instructive and highly amusing electrical tricks, to- ther with illustrations, By A. 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