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diff --git a/49286-0.txt b/49286-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..0b09edb --- /dev/null +++ b/49286-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,3727 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 49286 *** + +THE FIVE CENT WIDE AWAKE LIBRARY + +_Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1883, by FRANK +TOUSEY, in the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D. +C._ + +_Entered at the Post Office at New York, N. Y., as Second Class Matter._ + + No. 565. + + { COMPLETE. } + + FRANK TOUSEY, PUBLISHER, 34 & 36 NORTH MOORE STREET, N. Y. + NEW YORK, July 11, 1883. ISSUED EVERY WEDNESDAY. + + { PRICE } + { 5 CENTS. } + + Vol. I + + +CUSTER'S LAST SHOT: + +OR, + +THE BOY TRAILER OF THE LITTLE HORN + +A Romance of the Terrible Ride to Death. + +By COL. J. M. TRAVERS. + +[Illustration] + + + + +The subscription price for THE WIDE AWAKE LIBRARY for the year 1882 +will be $2.50 per year; $1.25 per 6 months, post paid. Address FRANK +TOUSEY, PUBLISHER, 34 and 36 North Moore Street, New York. Box 2730. + + +CUSTER'S LAST SHOT; + +OR, + +The Boy Trailer of the Little Horn. + +A ROMANCE OF THE TERRIBLE RIDE TO DEATH. + +By Col. J. M. TRAVERS. + + + + +CONTENTS + + + CHAPTER I. THE YELLOW-HAIRED CAVALRY CHIEF ON THE WAR TRAIL. + CHAPTER II. SITTING BULL'S GANG OF RED MARAUDERS. + CHAPTER III. THE RECKLESS GALLOP IN THE JAWS OF DEATH. + CHAPTER IV. BRAVE CUSTER'S LAST SHOT. + CHAPTER V. HOW THE COMMAND PAID FOR IMMORTALITY. + CHAPTER VI. BOLLY WHERRIT'S BATTLE ON A SMALL SCALE. + CHAPTER VII. ROBBERS OF THE DEAD. + CHAPTER VIII. PANDY ELLIS' HOTTEST SCRIMMAGE. + CHAPTER IX. RED GOLIATH, THE GIGANTIC HERCULES. + CHAPTER X. ADELE. + CHAPTER XI. HOSKINS PAYS NATURE'S DEBT--ABOUT THE FIRST HE EVER DID. + CHAPTER XII. WHITE THUNDER ON THE RAMPAGE. + CHAPTER XIII. RENO'S RIFLE-PITS ON THE RIVER BLUFFS. + CHAPTER XIV. THE BOY TRAILER AT WORK. + CHAPTER XV. A MAN WHO NEVER BROOKED AN INSULT. + CHAPTER XVI. WHAT FATE HAS ORDAINED. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +THE YELLOW-HAIRED CAVALRY CHIEF ON THE WAR TRAIL. + + +"Hold up yer hands thar, ye varmints. Ef his hair air gray I kin +swar this chile's hand air as steddy and his eye as sure az they war +twenty years ago. Bein' sich a heathen, I reckon ye don't know that +wine improves wid age; ther older it air, ther better, an' I s'pose +thar's a likeness between wine an' me, az ther feller sez. Keep them +hands steddy, my red cock-o'-the-walk. Now, I'm goin' ter caterkize ye +'cordin' ter my own style. Fust and foremost, who air ye?" + +The buckskin-clad hunter held his long rifle nicely poised, and the +bead at the end was in a line with the object of his speech. + +Under such peculiar circumstances the warrior (for his color proclaimed +him an Indian) could do no less than remain quiet, although from his +evident uneasiness it was plainly seen that he did so under protest. + +Even in this sad predicament, the boasting qualities of his race seemed +to be predominant. + +"Ugh!" he ejaculated, slapping his dusky chest vigorously, "me big +chief. Hunter must hear of Yellow Hawk. Big chief, great brave. Take +much scalps. Hab hunter's in little while. What name? ugh!" + +The leather-clad ranger gave a laugh that was not all a laugh, insomuch +that it appeared to be a loud chuckle coming up from his boots. + +His thin face was a little wrinkled, and the tuft of hair upon his chin +of the same iron-gray color as the scalp mentioned by the redskin; +but no one would be apt to judge, taking into consideration the man's +strength and stubborn endurance, that he was over seventy years of age. + +Yet such was the actual fact; for some fifty years this ranger had +roamed the wild West from the frozen region of the polar seas to the +torrid climes of the Isthmus; and everywhere had his name been reckoned +a tower of honesty, strength and power. + +Though probably few men had had half of his experience among the +redskins of the mountains and prairies, there was something so +charmingly fresh in the remark of his red acquaintance that made the +ranger more than smile. + +"Purty good fur ye, Yaller Hawk. I won't furgit yer name, and by hokey +I reckon I'll plug ye yet, ef things keep on ther way they seem set on +going. Az ter my name, thet's another goose. I don't s'pose ye ever +hearn tell o' such a cuss az Pandy Ellis, now did ye?" + +Again that queer chuckle, for the Indian had slunk back, his black eyes +fastened upon the ranger's face, with a sort of dazed expression. + +It appeared as though Pandy was known to him by report, if not +personally. + +"Ugh! Sharp shot! Heavy knife! Big chief! Ugh!" + +"I reckon," returned the old ranger dryly. + +Half a moment passed, during which neither of them spoke. + +Pandy's grim features had resumed their usual aspect, and there was +actually a scowl upon his face as he gazed steadily at the redskin. + +"Chief," said he at length, "fur I reckon I kin b'lieve ye that fur +an' say ye air a chief, I'm going ter ax ye sum questions, an' I want +square answers to every wun o' them. Fust o' all, what'd ye shoot at me +fur?" and Pandy glanced at his shoulder, where a little tear told where +the bullet had gone. + +"Me see through bushes; tink was Blackfoot squaw. Ugh!" + +"Yas, I reckon. Werry plausible, az ther feller sez, but two thin. +Wal, we'll let that pass, seein' az no harm war done. I forgive ye, +chief. Receive a benediction, my red brother. Let that lie pass ter yer +credit. Now, my painted scorpion, look me full in the eye. _What hez +Sitting Bull done wid my pard?_" + +This was uttered in a slow, but emphatic tone. + +The Indian either could not or would not understand; he shook his head. + +Pandy took a step forward, and his rifle was again raised menacingly. + +"Looky hyar, ye lump o' dough, I'm inquirin' respectin' Bolly Wherrit, +the big rover o' thar plains. White Thunder, do ye understand?" + +Whether it was the hunter's threatening attitude that scared the +warrior, or that he suddenly realized what was meant, can never be made +manifest; certain it is he remembered just at this critical period. + +"Ugh! mean White Thunder; him dead." + +"Another lie. Now, redskin, how did he come ter die?" asked Pandy, who, +although not believing this assertion, began to feel uneasy. + +"Wagh! eat too much. Dine with Sitting Bull. No hab good tings +afore; stuff full and burst. Run all ober. Ugh!" grunted this savage +composedly. + +"Thunder! thet air rich. How the ole man'll larf wen he hears it. +Allers prided himself on bein' a light feeder; eat az much az a bird, +him that I've seen git away wid a hull haunch o' venison while I war +chawin' the tongue. Now, Yaller Hawk, allow me ter say I don't believe +a word ye've sed; may be all is az true az Scripture, but I wouldn't +like ter swar ye. I'll tell ye what I think. Bolly air a prisoner in +yer camp. I tole him twar a fool's errand he started on, but a willing +man must hev his way, az the feller sez, so he started widout me. I'm +goin' into yer camp; tell Sitting Bull that I'll see him widin a week, +and listen, Yaller Hawk. Does ther eagle car fur its mate? will thar +she bar fight fur her cubs? Wal, I love Bolly Wherrit; he air my life, +all I care about livin' fur. Mark my words, redskin; if any harm comes +ter White Thunder, I swar Sitting Bull and his chiefs shall _go under_. +Do yer hear? Then don't fail to report. That's all; ye can retire now, +az ther cat sed when it had ther mouse by ther nape o' ther neck. Come, +git, absquatulate, vamose the ranche." + +An Indian's code is "an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth." + +Yellow Hawk had attempted the ranger's life, and he expected the latter +to take his in just retaliation. + +Therefore, he was not a little surprised at the words of his enemy, nor +did his amazement retard his progress. + +A moment and he was beyond the range of vision, having vanished among +the trees. + +Pandy Ellis, the trapper chief, was alone. He did not stay in his +exposed position long, however, knowing full well the treacherous +character of the foes he had to deal with, but plunging among the +undergrowth himself, in a direction almost opposite to the one taken by +the Indian, he made his way along, aiming for a certain spot. + +This proved to be a small creek, on the further bank of which his horse +was tethered. + +Crossing over, the ranger mounted and rode away. The animal he +bestrode was no mustang, but a tall, broad-breasted horse, capable +not only of carrying heavy burdens and making fast time, but also of +keeping up his pace. + +Many years ago Pandy owned a quaint steed called Old Nancy, and in +memory of that faithful equine friend had this animal been named. + +Reaching the prairie, the ranger dashed out upon the open space and +cantered along toward the north. + +The grass was already high, and dotted here and there with beautiful +wild flowers, that seemed to make the scene one of enchantment. + +His gray eyes swept both the horizon and the ground before him with +customary caution. + +All at once the ranger brought Nancy to an abrupt halt, threw himself +from the saddle and bent down to examine tracks in the soft earth. + +"Glory! kin I b'lieve my eyes? A hull army o' 'em, az I'm a sinner. +Ther report I heerd must be true then. My yallar-haired chief air on +the war-trail, and when Custer gits on ther rampage thar's blood on +ther moon." + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +SITTING BULL'S GANG OF RED MARAUDERS. + + +The slanting rays of the rising sun fell upon an immense Indian +encampment that stretched for several miles along the left bank of the +Little Horn, and could hardly have been less than a mile in width. + +Doubtless such a gathering of redmen had not taken place for many years. + +In addition to the several lodges composing the village proper, scores +and even hundreds of temporary brush-wood shelters had been hastily +constructed, which significant fact went to show that this immense +assemblage of warriors, numbering very nearly three thousand, was a +gathering from different tribes. + +That mischief was intended by these warlike Sioux could be presumed +from the fact of their being painted as for battle. + +The sun had been shining for some time when two mounted Indians, coming +from the plains away beyond the distant range of hills, appeared almost +simultaneously on the high bluffs that lined the right bank of the +river. + +Dashing down the steep inclined plane they forded the Little Horn and +rode directly into the village. + +One lodge, more conspicuous than its fellows, was situated near +the center of the place, and even an inexperienced eye might have +discovered in it the resting-place of a great chief, even though the +only conviction came from seeing the many sub-chiefs that hovered near +by. + +These two hard riders reached the lodge at nearly the same time, and +throwing themselves to the ground, left their sweltering horses to take +care of themselves, while they entered with that boldness the bearers +of exciting news generally possess. + +Old Sitting Bull was busily engaged in an earnest confab with some half +dozen chiefs, and although he spoke only once in a while, his words +were listened to respectfully by the rest. + +All eyes were turned upon the new-comers, and a hush fell upon the +assembly, for something seemed to tell them that great news was on the +tapis. Yellow Hawk, (for this discomfited chief was one of the hard +riders) managed to get in the first word, and when it was known that +the far-famed Pandy Ellis was in their immediate neighborhood, more +than one of these dusky braves felt his heart beat faster, for there +was a terrible meaning attached to the old ranger's honest name, for +all evil-doers. + +When, however, the second courier spoke, a wild excitement seized upon +the chiefs. + +Custer the hard fighter, the yellow-haired devil, whom they had always +feared, was charging along their trail and aiming for the village like +a thunderbolt, with his cavalry regiment at his back. + +Indians are not accustomed to speaking their thoughts during times +of excitement, but the news loosened their tongues, and for several +moments a hubbub arose in the head chief's lodge. + +In the midst of this several white men, garbed as Indians, but with +their faces painted, entered. + +A moment only was needed to become acquainted with the state of +affairs, and then one of them, a squatty individual, who had long been +a pest to the border, under the name of Black Sculley, spoke a few +words in the ear of Sitting Bull. + +Whatever he said does not concern my narrative, but it had its effect +upon the chief, who immediately became calm, and made a motion toward +one who stood at the entrance of the lodge as a sort of door-keeper. + +This individual signaled the waiting chiefs outside, and in another +moment fully forty well-known leading Sioux were clustered together. + +Indian councils from the time of Red Jacket and Tecumseh back to time +immemorial have been windy affairs, in which much eloquence and debate +was needed to settle that which had already been decided before the +argument commenced; for being natural born orators the red sons of the +plains and forest liked to hear their own voices. + +In contrast with these, this council was very brief, only lasting about +five minutes. + +This proved that their dealings with the whites had affected the +redskins. + +After the chiefs separated, there was a wild commotion in the immense +village. + +Horses neighed, dogs barked, men shouted, and the din was increased by +the thunder of hoofs as squad after squad of mounted braves, led by +their chiefs, dashed down to the river and forded it. + +In a lodge not far removed from that of the great chief, a leather-clad +ranger lay, bound hand and foot. + +It was Bolly Wherrit, the old-time chum and friend of Pandy Ellis. + +He had been taken prisoner, fighting against overwhelming numbers, and +had lain here without food for over twenty-four hours. + +What his fate would doubtless be the old ranger knew well enough, but +he had faced death too often to flinch now. + +Something seemed to trouble him, however, for he occasionally gave vent +to a groan and rolled restlessly about. + +"Cuss the thing," he muttered at length. "Bolly Wherrit, ye're +growing inter yer second childhood; thar's eggscitin' times comin' +off now, and hyar ye lie tied neck and heel. Didn't I hyar what them +infernal renegades talked 'bout jest then. Custer, my pet, a-comin', +tearin', whoopin' at this hyar town wid his cavalry. Lordy, won't the +yaller-har'd rooster clean 'em out; don't I know him though. Wonder ef +Major Burt air along. Why didn't I wait fur Pandy. T'ole man tole me +I'd get inter trouble, but consarn the luck, in course a woman's at the +head o' it. Cud I stand it wen that purty face, runnin' over wid tears, +war raised ter mine, an' she a pleadin'? No, sir, fool or not, I'd run +through fire fur a woman, 'cause I kain't never furget my mother. That +gal is in this hyar village. 'Cause why? Sumfin tells me so, and I've +hed that feeling afore. Beside, ain't ole Sittin' Bull hyar, and cudn't +I swar I heerd the voice o' that white devil she tole me about, Pedro +Sanchez she called him, right aside this lodge. Bolly Wherrit, thar's +no good talking, ef ye don't get outen this place in an hour, ye'll +never leave it alive, fur when Custer sails in he never backs out, and +the reds hev a failing fur braining their prisoners, 'specially men +folks. Now do ye set ter work, and show these red whalps that a border +man air sumpin like a bolt o' lightning." + +From the manner in which Bolly set to work, it would be supposed that +he had been making efforts at freeing his arms for some time back, and +had only stopped to rest while holding this one-sided conversation with +himself. + +Somehow or other he had found a piece of a broken bottle, and had been +sawing away at the cord securing his hands with this, one end being +thrust into the ground, and held upright in the proper position. + +Although his wrists and hands were badly lacerated by this rough +method, the ranger possessed the grit to persevere. + +Ten minutes after his soliloquy his hands separated. Bolly gave a +sigh of relief, held the bloody members up for inspection, and then, +without an instant's delay, seized upon the sharp-edged glass. + +It had taken him hours to free his arms, as he was unable to see, +and his position, while working, exceedingly uncomfortable; the cord +securing his feet he severed in a few minutes. + +Something like a chuckle escaped his lips as he stood upright. There +was a mighty stretching of those cramped and tired limbs, and then +Bolly was ready for business. + +An ardent desire had seized upon him to take part in the attack which +brave Custer was sure to make. + +Fastening the cords around his ankles in a way that looked very secure, +but which was treacherous, the ranger lay down upon the ground. + +With his hand he quietly raised one of the skins composing the lodge +and peeped out. + +The opening thus formed was not over a couple of inches in length, but +his keen eyes could see everything that was passing. + +A grim smile lit up the ranger's features, as he saw the wild +excitement that reigned throughout the camp. + +"Ther askeered o' Custer; they know him mighty well, but by thunder +they mean ter fight. It'll be the biggest Indian fight that this +country ever saw, bust my buttons now ef 'twon't. Bolly Wherrit, ye +must let t'other matter drop, and sail inter this, fur it'll be full o' +glory and death." + +Alas! how the words of the old ranger came true has been made manifest +in a way that has caused the whole country to mourn. + +Death was fated to ride triumphant in the ravine on the other shore; +this valley would see such a red slaughter as the annals of Indian +history have seldom presented. + +Several hours passed on. + +The warriors were too busy with other matters to even think of their +prisoner just then, much less visit his secure quarters, and so Bolly +was undisturbed. + +Noon came and went. + +The hot sun beat down upon the earth with great fury, but a gentle +breeze in the valley did much toward cooling the air on this fatal +twenty-fifth of June. + +All at once the old trapper leaped wildly to his feet; this same light +wind had carried to his ear the distant but approaching crash of +firearms and the wild yells of opposing forces. + +His frame quivered and seemed to swell with excitement. + +"Yaller Har's at work. The best Indian fighter that ever lived hez +struck ile. Bolly Wherrit, now's the time fur yer chance at glory. +Whoop! hooray!" + +With this shout the ranger burst out of the lodge like a thunderbolt, +and not even giving himself an instant's time for reflection, hurled +his body upon a guard who leaned idly against a post, listening to the +sounds of battle. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +THE RECKLESS GALLOP IN THE JAWS OF DEATH. + + +A column of mounted men wearing the national colors, and headed by a +group of officers, were making their way in a westerly direction. In +the advance rode a body of Crow Indians, and on either flank were the +scouts of the regiment--over seven hundred in all, and some of the most +gallant fighters on the plains. + +Among that group of officers, every man of whom had honor attached to +his name, rode one who seemed conspicuous both for his bearing and +peculiar appearance. His form was rather slender, and indeed one might +call it womanly, but the face above, with its prominent features, +redeemed it from this characteristic. The features themselves might +be styled classic in their strange light, having a Danish look. +Surmounting this clearly cut face was the well-known yellow hair, worn +long on the neck. + +Such was the gallant Custer. He had always been a dashing cavalry +leader, and with Crook and McKenzie rendered the Union efficient +service under General Sheridan during the late unpleasantness. + +The morning was half over when the command was ordered to halt for two +reasons. + +One of these was that his scouts had brought word that the large Indian +village, whose presence in the vicinity had been strongly suspected, +was only a short distance ahead; the other that a single horseman was +sighted coming along their back trail at a furious gallop. + +Custer had suspected this latter might be a bearer of dispatches from +his commander, General Terry, from whom he had separated at the mouth +of the Rosebud, the commander going up the river on the supply steamer +_Far West_, to ferry Gibbons' troops over the water. + +When, however, the horseman came closer, it was discovered that he was +no blue coat, but a greasy leather-clad ranger. The individual rode +directly up to the officers, and his quick gray eye picking out Custer, +he extended a horny palm. + +"Can I believe my eyes?" exclaimed the general; "gentlemen, let me make +you acquainted with my old friend, Pandy Ellis, the best Indian fighter +that ever raised a rifle, and one whom I am proud to shake hands with." + +"Come, come, general, don't butter it too thick. Yer sarvint, +gentlemen. I'm on hand ter see ther fun, wich air all I keer 'bout. +Don't mind me no more than ef I warn't in these hyar diggin's," +protested Pandy, modestly. + +"We shall do no such thing, old friend. Colonel Cooke, we will now move +onward to the assault," and Custer touched his spurs to his steed. + +A few notes from the trumpeters, and the regiment was again in motion. + +Onward at a gallop went the troops. + +The valley of the Little Horn was reached, and where the great trail +entered it, another halt was made. + +Now the immense village was in sight: large bands of warriors made +their appearance on all sides, some of them mounted, others on foot. + +That there was serious business before them every man in that regiment +saw by intuition; bloody work that would ring from one end of the land +to the other, and yet how few of them suspected in what a terrible way +it would end. + +Custer was reckless; every military man has agreed upon that. + +He possessed a willful trait in his character that at times showed +itself, and when the occasion presented, as it was fated to do before +this day was over, merged into an indomitable stubborn nature. This +one serious fault was generally hidden beneath his dashing spirit, and +it would be a difficult thing to have met a more social companion than +this hero of the last Indian war. + +There was something wrong about him on this day when he committed his +fatal error. + +United in a solid body, the regiment might have cut its way through the +Indian camp, and in the end come out victorious. + +Custer either considered his force stronger than it really was, or else +underestimated the fighting powers of the enemy. + +He was too confident, and, in order that the Indians should not escape, +ordered Major Reno, with three companies, to enter the valley where the +trail struck it. + +The yellow-haired cavalry leader took five companies himself, numbering +over three hundred men, with the avowed intention of entering the +village some three miles further down. + +Major Reno could offer no remonstrance to his superior officer, +although perhaps he may have felt that this plan was a most dangerous +one. + +His lips and those of his fellow officers were sealed by military +discipline. Not so, however, with Pandy Ellis. + +He had gazed upon the tremendous Indian village as it could be seen +from their elevated position with something akin to amazement. Never +before in all its vast experience had the veteran ranger witnessed such +a gathering of redskins, and his usually smiling face clouded with +apprehension. + +None knew the reckless, dashing nature of Custer better than Pandy, and +he heard the orders for a division of the regiment with dismay. + +He even ventured to remonstrate with the general, but the latter turned +upon him fiercely, and, although his sudden anger suddenly cooled down +without a word being spoken, the look was enough to inform the ranger +that he was meddling with affairs in which he had no part. + +All the censure of the rash act must fall upon one pair of shoulders, +where the glory also rests. + +Pandy fell a little behind when the detachment struck off behind the +crest of the high bluffs marking the right bank of the Little Big +Horn. The old fellow had grown more cautious in his advancing years, +and although at one time, in his career, this daring assault would +have filled him with thoughts of glory, it now had an effect quite +the reverse. He could only deplore the fact that Custer would take +no warning, but persisted in riding directly into the jaws of death. +Duty seemed to stand out before the ranger, and dashing alongside the +general, he once more begged him to consider the situation. Something +was certainly wrong with the usually gentlemanly general. + +"Old friend," said he, "if you fear for your own safety, there is +plenty of time to join Reno yonder. If for my welfare, I beg of you to +let the subject drop." + +"General, if 'twar any other man az sed that, he shud never live ter +see another sunrise. Ye know Pandy Ellis better than that," said the +old man, reproachfully. Custer moved uneasily in his saddle. + +"Forgive me, Ellis; I meant nothing. Some devilish humor seems to +possess me to-day, and I must let it out in fight. Besides, there is no +danger." + +"No danger!" muttered Pandy, falling back again, "no danger. Cuss me +ef thet don't sound odd. Three hundred agin three thousand! Taint like +ther old days now; then reds war reds, but now az they've got rifles +and kin use 'em better than our men, ther devils. Lord forgive me, but +I must say that I never hearn o' sich a reckless thing. Pandy Ellis +air a goin' ter see it through, though, ef he does go under. Time's +'bout nigh up anyhow, might az well larf an' grow fat, az ther feller +sez. Don't think o' Bolly, but jist yell an' sail in. Hooray!" and the +ranger gave a subdued shout as the wild excitement seized upon him. + +Major Reno was left behind with his three companies. Further to the +left, some two miles away, was Captain Belton with three more companies. + +As Custer and his ill-fated three hundred rode gallantly away, +vanishing behind the crown of the bluffs, some of those who remained +may have entertained suspicions of the dreadful result that was soon +to follow, but no time was granted to realize what these conjectures +amounted to. + +The Indians had gathered thickly on the opposite bank, and Major Reno +at once gave the word to go forward. + +Fording the river in the midst of a fire so deadly that several saddles +were emptied, the soldiers reached the other shore. Once on _terra +firma_ they formed and then charged. + +As the bugles rang out it was a glorious sight to see that compact body +of men dash forward like an avalanche, clearing the way before them as +if they were invincible. + +Alas! that such a gallant charge should have been in vain. + +Overwhelming numbers opposed the troops; the horses could not even move +forward, and, brave to the core, the men threw themselves to the ground +and fought on foot. It was a terrible struggle, but could not last long. + +Finding that the number of the Indians was far more than had been even +imagined, and realizing that to continue the struggle would mean the +sacrifice of every man in the command, Major Reno reluctantly gave the +order to remount, and the three companies crossed the river again under +a harassing fire, sadly depleted in number. + +Just then Captain Belton came up with his men, but seeing the madness +of attempting to assail the infuriated horde of red demons, savage at +their success and the sight of blood, he wisely retired, and joined +Reno, who had taken up a position on one of the bluffs back of the +river bank. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +BRAVE CUSTER'S LAST SHOT. + + "Cannon to the right of them, + Cannon to the left of them, + Cannon in the front of them, + Volleyed and thundered. + Onward through shot and shell, + Into the mouth of hell, + They who had fought so well, + Rode the six hundred." + --_Charge of the Light Brigade._ + + +The Crimean war may have presented its phases of reckless daring to +the world, but I doubt if such a case as Custer's gallop to glory and +death has been paralleled since the days of Leonidas and his deathless +Spartans in the world-famed pass of Thermopylæ. + +They literally rode to destruction, as may be seen when it is +officially stated that not one regular soldier in the whole command +lived through the battle. + +After leaving the attack at the upper end of the village to Reno's +case, Custer and his men struck along the route selected, at as rapid a +pace as the nature of the ground permitted. + +This line of travel was just beyond the crest of the high bluffs, and +no doubt the leading principle that actuated the general into selecting +it, was an idea that their movements might be concealed from the enemy. + +In this, however, the project failed utterly, for great numbers of +Indian scouts had posted themselves on the crags and their rifles kept +up a continued musical refrain far from pleasant to the ears of the +devoted band, more than one of whom threw up his arms and fell from his +steed as the bitter lead cut home. + +It was a dangerous ride, and yet in the face of this murderous fire +these valiant men rode on, turning neither to the right nor the left, +but keeping straight forward. + +Now and then a trooper, exasperated beyond endurance by the fall of +some dear comrade, would discharge his carbine at the Indians who +showed themselves boldly on one side. + +Owing to the rapid motion these shots were indifferently rewarded, only +a few of the most expert hitting the objects of their aim. + +On ordinary occasions old Pandy Ellis would have been one of the first +to prove his markmanship, but something seemed to keep his attention +riveted in one direction, and amidst the storm of hissing bullets, +growing momentarily louder and more threatening, the prairie ranger +rode as calmly as if indeed there was no danger. + +But if our old friend paid little attention to this deadly discharge +from all quarters, others made up for his lack of interest, and growls +of dissatisfaction arose on all sides; not at their leader, but because +it was almost impossible to return the fire of the enemy. + +With his usual disregard for danger, Custer rode in the advance, where +his form was a prominent mark for all concealed sharp-shooters; but the +general, in spite of all, seemed to bear a charmed life. + +He leaned forward in the saddle, and seemed to be scrutinizing +some point of land, toward which his attention had been drawn by +Bloody-Knife, one of his Crow scouts. + +It was at this moment, after a gallop of nearly three miles after +leaving Major Reno, that Custer gave a start and uttered an exclamation +as a bullet grazed his flesh, making a slight but burning skin wound. + +Aroused to action by this, his quick eye took in all the surroundings, +and immediately the order was given to change the route. + +Passing over the crown of the bluffs, the cavalry rushed down toward +where the Little Big Horn ran noisily over its bed. + +Indians seemed as thick as blackberries on a July day. + +From every bush and rock they made their appearance, ugly-looking and +determined on mischief. + +All the way down to the level bank of the river men kept dropping, and +with them horses, but in spite of it all the brave squad kept straight +on. + +Just at this moment a new form appeared among the blue coats. + +Where he came from no one had the slightest idea, not even keen-eyed +Pandy himself. + +The first the ranger knew of it, he saw some one mounted on a white +horse dash by him, and a boy dressed in the becoming suit of a hunter +drew rein beside the yellow-haired chief. + +Custer turned his head for the first time since changing the course of +his troop, and his face expressed evident displeasure when he saw the +boy. + +"Mason, boy, you here?" the officer ejaculated. + +The young fellow did not seem to pay any heed to the dismay that was +plainly perceptible in the tones of the general. + +"General," he almost shouted, putting out a hand to seize Custer's +bridle, but which was impatiently put away by him, "to go forward is +impossible. They are ten to your one." + +"To retreat is also impossible, even if we wished it," said Custer, +grimly. + +It was indeed so; the command could never scale the bluffs again in the +face of those defending them. + +Again the boy appealed. + +"General, the whole river bank is a mass of reds. It is a trap, an +ambuscade. Turn back, or halt, if you value your life," he exclaimed. + +Several of the officers were waiting for a reply; but Custer, firm and +brave to the last, did not hesitate in his course. + +He realized that a terrible error had been committed in dividing his +troop; but he possessed the spirit to persist in his former plan, +hoping to come out all right in the end. + +His fellow officers saw the lips pressed firmly together. + +Then came the one word: + +"Forward!" + +The foot of the bluffs was reached, and then the truth of the boy's +assertion became manifest. + +Another moment, and the gallant command was completely surrounded by a +struggling, yelling mass of Indians, many of whom were mounted. + +Then commenced the deadliest fight that has ever been known to take +place on the plains. + +All the attendant noises of a great battle, cannon excepted, could be +found here. + +The Sioux seemed crazy with both anger and delight; and many a poor +fellow, struggling hard in the midst of this sea of humanity, was +actually pulled from his horse into the arms of death. + +There was no halt made at all. + +The command kept compactly together, using their weapons as best they +could, but never thinking of retreating. + +On, on, was the cry; forward, the shout. + +Being prevented from fording the river by the overwhelming force, +Custer and his men rode along the shore. + +Every second the number of opponents swelled, as those upon the heights +came down upon the scene of action; and still the little band went on, +trampling down and riding over those who would not get out of the way. + +As a single man in a crowd is pushed hither and thither, like a feather +floating on the water and at the mercy of the wind, so Custer and his +command were drawn away from the river. + +Everywhere was their trail marked by the dead, until it came to the +slaughter-pen. + +After leaving the water, the remnant of the gallant Seventh attempted +to make a break out of this infuriated mass, but the tide had set in +against them. + +Five, ten minutes of this awful fighting, and then there came a time +when retreat was utterly out of the question, much as they might have +wished it. The Sioux had forced them into a ravine, and here was +enacted the closing scene of the bloody drama. + +Custer saw the inevitable finale; hope of a rescue there could be none, +as Reno had received positive orders, and Terry and Crook were far away +in different directions. + +In this ravine they must die, then. + +"My God!" exclaimed Custer, "we are trapped like foxes. To stay here +means death. Forward, men, forward. Down with the hounds!" + +Wounds counted as nothing at this dread moment; so long as a man could +keep his seat, he was in good luck; it was the death bullet that told. + +"My Heavens! the general's shot!" shouted a soldier close to Pandy +Ellis. + +Custer was reeling in his saddle; the film of death already showed +itself in those clear eyes, but bracing himself, he discharged his +revolver full in the face of Black Sculley, the renegade, who had given +him his death-wound. + +The scoundrel rolled over with a curse; Custer's last shot had done its +work. + +As the general fell from his saddle he was caught in the arms of the +boy hunter, who had dismounted. + +While the awful din raged around, and men were covering one another +with blood, the soul of as gallant an officer as ever drew sword passed +away to a better world. + +Custer died at the head of his command. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +HOW THE COMMAND PAID FOR IMMORTALITY. + + +Their valiant leader lying dead upon the ground, and men continually +dropping on all sides, the remnant of the officers saw that the game +was up. There was not one chance in a thousand for their escape, and +the only thing that was left to them was to fight to the last gasp, +to "pile the field with Moslem slain," and die as did Bowie and his +friends at the Alamo, with the bodies of their enemies forming a +breast-high bulwark around them. + +"Down with the redfiends!" + +It was brave Colonel Cook's last words, for hardly had he spoken before +a lance knocked the red sword from his hand. Eager hands seemed to +clutch at him on all sides, and in an instant he had disappeared, being +pulled down among that surging crowd of savage devils. + +Colonel Custer fought like a Hercules, but nothing could avail against +such overwhelming numbers. In the confusion of the onslaught he had +accidentally become separated a little from the rest, and although this +may have hastened his death a trifle, in the end it made no difference. +This gallant man was the next officer to fall. His horse was shot under +him, and almost before he had reached the ground fate had overtaken him. + +His comrade, Colonel Yates, uttered a heavy groan when Custer fell, +and as if yet hoping against hope, turned his eyes towards the bluffs +above. For once the brave man found himself wishing a fellow officer +would commit a breach of discipline, and disobey orders. If Reno came +up with the remaining seven companies they might be saved. Alas! the +major never came, for about this time he was industriously engaged in +defending himself against a horde of savage Sioux. + +As moment after moment glided away, every spark of hope left the heart +of Yates, and clenching his teeth, he turned his full attention upon +the scene around him. + +Indeed, it was enough to appall the stoutest heart to see that little +band of brave men hemmed in on all sides by a surging mass of red +demons, each one of whom seemed to feel the old desire for human blood +so characteristic of the Indian race. + +It would have been a sight fit for a painter, and yet what artist +could do justice to the expression of mingled despair and courage that +showed itself upon each face in that noble little band? + +Ah, me! It was a terrible, terrible half-hour. Men in that gallant +Seventh, who had been ordinary mortals before, now proved themselves +heroes, and fought like tigers at bay. + +There is something fearful in the look of a man who has given up every +vestige of hope, and fights with that fierce courage born of despair; +one can never expect to see it elsewhere. + +"Boys, we've got to die here. Close up and let every man take half a +dozen of these red fiends to eternity with him." + +It was Captain Smith who yelled this out, and those who knew him best +can believe it of the officer. + +This was not his first Indian fight. + +He had faced death before, but never would again. + +Bronzed, bearded faces grew paler than usual, and perhaps some hands +shook as the men thought of the loved ones at home. + +God knows that they had cause to feel this weakness for a moment, when +they realized that never again should their eyes behold those dear +friends, and that this ravine in which they fought was doomed to be +their field of death. + +"Keep your faces towards the foe!" shouted Colonel Yates, bravely, and +to himself he muttered the anxious prayer that could never be answered: + +"Oh, heavens! that Crook was here, or Andy Burt and the Ninth." + +But Crook and Gallant Major Burt were far away. + +The Indians, incited by their chiefs, now prepared for a grand final +rush. + +Mr. Read, who had accompanied the expedition, was down; Colonel Keogh +had vanished a long time before, and just at this critical juncture +Captain Smith threw up his arms, and after reeling for an instant in +his saddle, slipped to the ground. + +Yates saw that the closing scene was at hand. + +"Close up, men, close up! For God's sake, let every man keep his face +towards them! The old Seventh will become famous!" he exclaimed. + +Yes, indeed, famous at the dear cost of the utter extermination of +almost half its number. + +A yell, such as might have made the earth tremble, and the whole mass +of warriors, mounted and on foot, came against the solid little phalanx +like an avalanche. + +Had the rush been from one quarter alone, the remnant of cavalry would +have been swept out of existence like a flash, scattered here and there +among their enemies; but as the press came from all sides at once, it +only served to crush them closer together. + +In union there is always strength. + +Had the hundred cavalrymen now left been divided into small groups, +they would have been all killed before ten minutes had passed by, but +in a solid body they could resist for over half an hour. + +Pandy Ellis was in the thick of it. + +His blood was thoroughly aroused, and I doubt if any man in that +ill-fated command killed half as many red-skins as did this gray-haired +ranger. + +When his rifle and pistols were empty, he slung the former to his back +very coolly, and then, drawing the huge bowie-knife that had given him +the name of Heavy Knife, he sailed in to conquer or die. Experienced in +these matters, he had foreseen such a catastrophe, although even his +vivid imagination had failed to paint such a serious calamity. + +Pandy had expected to be forced into a retreat, but such a thing as +having the whole command utterly annihilated never entered his head, +until they were pushed into the ravine trap. + +Even when he was fighting in the midst of the red-skins, a thought of +the strange boy who had so suddenly disappeared among them, entered his +head. + +Custer had called him Mason, and seemed to feel some affection for him. + +Pandy's eyes soon fell upon him. He had the general's revolver in +his hand, and was seated on his horse, engaged in emptying it with +commendable precision, making every shot tell. + +When the ranger looked again, a few moments later, the boy had +disappeared. + +"Poor feller, he's done fur; an' yet it'll likely be ther fate o' us +all," muttered Pandy, as he drove his keen blade home in the broad +breast of a brave. + +At such a dread time as this the eye of a participant could not take in +the entire scene. + +All that Pandy was sure of after Cooke fell pierced by many wounds, was +that every member of that heroic band fought as if the strength and +endurance of a dozen men was in his body. + +For every blue-coat who fell, at least two Indians bit the dust. + +Although the fight had grown more silent, now that nearly all the +firearms were discharged, it was none the less deadly on that account. + +Sabers, red with human gore, were flashed in the sun's bright rays, and +urged to their deadly work by arms that seemed iron in their endurance. + +Lances, tomahawks and keen knives opposed them, and now and then a +rifle added its weight to the side of the Indians. + +On each occasion, some poor fellow would totter in his saddle, and +finding himself going, show the spirit that imbued his nature by making +a last sweeping blow at the enemy who held such a tight grip on them +all. + +It was horrible to see how that devoted little band continually +diminished in numbers. + +There were hardly forty left now, and in ten minutes these had become +less than twenty. The end was near at hand. + +Yates still lived, although the only commissioned officer. + +His face was very white, and streaked with blood, so that old Pandy, +still fighting like a hero, hardly recognized the man who touched his +arm. + +"Old friend, try to escape and carry the news to Crook and Reno. If you +succeed, tell them to let my folks know how I died, and that my last +were of them. The old seventh has made a record that----" + +It was never finished; the fatal bullet came, and as brave a man as +ever presented his face to the foe succumbed to the inevitable. + +Pandy seemed to hesitate an instant, then his powder-begrimed face lit +up. + +"I'll do it, bust my buttons. Might az wal die tryin' it az hyar. +Good-bye, boys; I'm in fur death, or ter carry ther news ter Crook. +Nancy, away wid ye," and the knife point sent the animal bounding among +the Indians. + +Ten minutes later and all was over. The ravine looked like a +slaughter-pen in the daylight, and even when the Sioux, glutted with +blood, searched among the heaps of slain for any who might live, the +sun sank out of sight as if ashamed to look upon such a horrid scene, +and a merciful darkness hurried to close over the ravine of death. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +BOLLY WHERRIT'S BATTLE ON A SMALL SCALE. + + +When Bolly Wherrit threw himself upon the guard at his prison lodge, he +was without a single weapon. + +Besides this his hands and wrists were considerably lacerated by the +cruel glass that had been the means of his gaining freedom, but he had +no doubt regarding his ability to overcome the fellow, especially as he +had the advantage of a surprise. + +Finding himself so suddenly seized by the throat, the guard turned like +a flash and attempted to use his arm, thinking to get the hunter in a +bear's clasp, and then hold him till assistance came. + +He counted without his host, however, as many folks are in the habit of +doing. + +Raised in the school of nature, very nearly the whole of his life +being spent upon the plains in active warfare with the savage denizens +thereof, it was not likely that Bolly would in his declining years lose +the prompt discretion and agility that had marked his whole checkered +career. + +Perhaps that Indian thought a thunderbolt had seized hold of him, that +is, if he took time to think at all, which is rather questionable, and +in truth he would not have been far from the truth. + +The way in which Bolly shook him by means of the hold upon his throat +would have reminded one of a terrier and a rat. + +So violent was the motion that the unlucky fellow's head was in danger +of coming off, and when Bolly in the end dashed his clenched fist full +in the red face, it ended the matter, for when he released his clasp +the man dropped to the ground perfectly insensible. + +To stoop over the fallen brave and transfer the fellow's weapon to his +own person, was, for the ranger, but the work of a moment. + +Quite a fine-looking rifle, of a modern pattern, a long, ugly-looking +knife, a revolver and some ammunition were thus appropriated without +compunction, for Bolly believed in the adage that "to the victor belong +the spoils." Besides, had not this man or his friends made themselves +owners of his articles of warfare without saying so much as "by your +leave." + +There were very few men left in the village; for one to remain idle +when such deadly work was in progress at two separate points would have +been a decided disgrace. + +A dozen cavalrymen dashing in at the northern and western end of the +village could have carried everything before them. + +Not forty yards away from the prison lodge, some ten or twelve warriors +were clustered, being wounded braves unable to take part in the great +battle. + +So interested were these worthies in what was passing before their eyes +(for, standing on a little elevation, they could see the fight with +Reno now drawing to an end, and the gallop to death of brave Custer +and his men), that the little episode in their rear did not serve to +attract their attention. + +It was only when the ranger arose to his feet, after arming himself +by means of the late guard's weapons, that one of the wounded +braves happened to catch sight of him, and, giving the alarm to his +companions, the whole of them started forward with a yell. + +If they were to be deprived of a share in both of the fierce battles, +why could they not get up a little affair of their own, a private +entertainment, so to speak, whereby each individual participant on +their side might share the excitement. + +Unfortunately for them Bolly Wherrit proved too willing, and then again +he wanted all the fun on his side of the house. + +"Now fur sumpin rich. Calculate I kin wipe out them reds like a chalk +mark. Old bruiser in front thar, take keer o' yerself." + +The rifle proved to be a good one in the right hands, for as the report +sounded, one of the approaching braves sprang wildly forward with a +convulsive drawing up of the legs, and was met half way by death. + +Then the revolver commenced its fearful work. + +As man after man lay down never to rise again, Bolly burst out into a +wild, reckless laugh. + +When the chambers were empty, only four men stood erect, and they +looked as if they wished themselves anywhere but in their present +situation. + +Nothing daunted by the force of numbers, Bolly sprang towards them, +holding his empty rifle in one hand and the long knife in the other. + +Some stern duty appeared to call these four brave fellows in as many +different directions, just then; at any rate they did not wait for the +arrival of White Thunder, but dashed wildly away, forgetful alike of +their wounded dignity, and their late dignified wounds. A shout from +the old hunter caused them to expedite matters, and Bolly laughed at +the ludicrous figures they cut. + +A shrill neigh close by caused him to start. It was a well-remembered +sound, and the hunter quickly turned his face in the direction from +whence it came. + +A horse, saddled and bridled, was fastened to a stake driven into the +ground in front of a tent, and Bolly saw that it was his own lost +steed. The animal had recognized its master, and had given token of its +love for him. + +With a few bounds Bolly was at the side of Black Bess. + +As his hand fell caressingly upon the noble mare's mane, the skin +serving as a door to the lodge was swept suddenly aside, and the next +instant Bolly found himself face to face with Blue Horse, a noted +chief, and an old enemy of his. + +What this individual was doing in his lodge while his comrades fought +and bled will, perhaps, never be known, and does not really affect the +course of my narrative. + +All that I wish to be positive about is the fact that he was there, and +that for almost fully sixty seconds the foes glared at each other. + +"Ugh! White Thunder! Blue Horse no forget ears," grunted the chief, as +he put his hand to his belt and drew a revolver. + +"Remember that ole scrimmage, eh, chief? Wal, I reckon I cud give ye +another leetle reminder o' this happy occasion, seein' that yer is so +partic'lar 'bout it," and the ranger laughed in the Indian's face. + +Blue Horse angrily raised his weapon, but considerately refrained from +firing. The reason of this clemency on his part was obvious. + +Bolly held his empty revolver in his hand, and this had been thrown +with tremendous force against the chief's head, which, not being made +of iron, gave way, and the Sioux nation had to mourn the loss of +another leader. + +Bolly secured the revolver of Blue Horse, and was thinking of searching +the village from one end to the other in order to accomplish the +strange mission that had brought him to this part of the country, when +a chorus of angry yells attracted his attention. + +Upon investigation these were found to proceed from a score of mounted +red men who were dashing along towards him, having evidently been +attracted by the cries of the four wounded warriors, who had fled after +their little private amusement. + +"Plague take the luck, I must git. Sich a good chance thrown away. Now, +ye kin bet high on't, Bolly Wherrit's goin' ter have his own rifle back +agin, an' resky that gal mighty soon. Whoa, Bess, whoa, old girl. Have +they been treatin' ye bad? Away now, an' make the dust fly!" + +Faithful Black Bess needed no second invitation, but darted away like +an arrow shot from the bow, with Bolly swinging his rifle in the air, +and shouting defiance to those who followed after. + +His first thought was to make for the river and join the combatants +on the other shore, but upon glancing across, such a mass of surging +humanity met his gaze that Bolly was actually appalled. Besides, his +pursuers were between himself and the water having come from that +direction. + +"Tarnal death! but it looks hot over thar. Reckon it must be Custer, +for I swar no other man wud do sich a dare-devil thing. Ef they get +outer thet hole, then I'll guv the general credit fur a heap o' +smartness. Oh! yer imps o' Satan. 'Spect ter ketch me, hey? Wal, now +we'll see what the hoss has ter say 'bout thet," muttered Bolly. + +Actions often speak louder than words; if Black Bess could not talk, +she certainly showed what she thought of the case by making a streak +that promised to carry the ranger out of sight very shortly. + +The last the score of Sioux saw of him he was waving his old hat in an +affectionate farewell, and the exuberant shouts he gave utterance to +came faintly across the level ground. + +Bolly made at once for the hills, which he reached in a short time. +Here we will leave the brave old ranger for a time, hatching up daring +plans to carry out his singular mission, and return once more to that +ravine of death where Custer and the last of his command fell beneath +the fury of the Sioux and their renegade friends. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +ROBBERS OF THE DEAD. + + +Night had closed over the scene of the terrible battle, but the +darkness was not intense, as the stars shone out with unusual +brilliancy, and the silver crescent of a new moon in the western sky +lent its feeble aid. + +The cold stars looked down upon a fearful sight; such an one as has not +been seen in this fair land for many a year. + +Hundreds of men and horses lying dead in that fatal ravine, and a trail +of bodies leading almost in a circle, down to the river and then up the +bluffs. + +Valiant men lay here: heroes whose names shall ever be mentioned with +proud honor by their surviving comrades; and yet what a price they paid +for that worthless commodity to the dead--immortality. + +Across the Little Horn could be heard the noises of a great camp, and +once in a while the breeze bore the distant crack of firearms. + +These last came from several miles to the south, where Major Reno had +intrenched his command on the bluffs, and from hastily-constructed +rifle-pits fought the enemy, who had posted themselves on the +neighboring heights, where they could control his position. + +Shadowy figures glided hither and thither over the field of battle, for +that it was a battle, though a very uneven one, I do affirm, in spite +of the constant appellation of massacre indulged in by the newspaper +men. + +The very word massacre brings to mind the idea of a wholesale butchery +of helpless people. Historians are prone to be partial in its use. + +We always find the affair termed a massacre when the Indians are +victorious; but when the tables are turned it is "a splendid campaign," +"a hard-fought battle," and "a glorious victory for the troops." + +If the word massacre does not mean a one-sided butchery, then every +world's battle has been such. + +As to Custer's particular case, did he not move forward with the +intention of attacking the village, and though every man fell, did they +not slay at least their own number of redskins? Then this proves the +affair a battle and not a massacre. + +Having carried my point, I beg pardon for the digression. + +These shadowy figures gliding over the scene of death were robbers of +the slain, and having no compunctions of conscience, if a coveted ring +refused to come off, the finger was at once severed in order to obtain +the bauble. + +Noble Custer and most of his officers lay close together, just as they +had fallen. + +Near by was a heap of slain, which included troopers, Sioux and horses. + +One of the robbers of the dead approached this pile, and began pulling +the bodies about in a promiscuous manner, his eyes busily engaged +searching for plunder. + +Under this pile a form lay, which, as the heavenly lights fell upon it, +revealed the features of the boy who had been beside General Custer +when he fell. + +Something gleamed from the little finger of his left hand, and as this +sparkled in the light of the moon, the prowler uttered a delighted +exclamation that at once proved him to be a white man. + +Seizing hold of the hand, he at once attempted to pull the diamond +solitaire ring off, but this proving fruitless, he felt for his knife. + +Just as this was drawn, his hand was tightly clutched by the one he +held. + +The truth of the matter was, that the boy had been rendered insensible +by being struck with a bullet, that glanced from his forehead without +breaking the bone. + +Others, killed later in the desperate struggle, had fallen upon him, +and here for several hours he lay at the door of death. + +When the heap that pressed upon him had been removed by the robber, +the fresh air served to partially revive him, and the twisting of his +finger by the desperado finished the business. + +Mason, as I shall call my boy hero, for Custer had given him that name +when addressing him, opened his eyes. + +By the dim light of the stars and the new moon combined, he saw the +figure of a man kneeling over him. + +That it was a white man was evident from his clothes and hat, and also +the bushy beard. + +A pair of fine cavalry boots, stolen from some unfortunate officer, +were slung across his shoulders, and he seemed burdened down with all +sorts of plunder. + +Mason waited to see no more. + +The wrenching at his finger ceased, the man uttered a curse, and began +to draw his knife. + +Then the whole horrible truth burst upon the boy's mind. + +Under the impulse of the moment he tightened his clasp, and actually +pulled himself to his feet by means of the renegade, and after this had +been accomplished, released his hold. + +The matter did not rest here. + +Amazed at having the dead come to life in such an unexpected manner, as +it seemed, the renegade uttered a cry and started back. + +Custer's revolver was still held in the boy's right hand, just as it +had been when he had fallen to the earth. + +Whether a single load remained or not he could not tell, but quickly +pulling up the hammer he raised the weapon. + +When the robber of the dead, base craven that he was, saw this +movement, he flung out his hands in an involuntary appeal for mercy, +but the boy, after passing through such a bitter, bloody experience, +could feel no pity for such as he. + +The hammer fell, the crack came, and the bullet did its mission of +retributive justice. + +"My God! I'm done for. Curses on the young hound," half howled the +renegade, reeling wildly in the effort to keep his feet, and at length +plunging to the ground, where he lay covered with plunder, waiting for +some other robber to relieve him as he had despoiled others. + +Mason sank to the ground immediately, and it was not until several +moments had passed by that he ventured to raise his head and look +around. + +Not an object was stirring near him. + +If the marauders of the dead had noticed the shot at all, they had +taken it for granted that it was fired by one of their number at a +wounded cavalryman, and the shout given by the victim of the bullet +went far to corroborate this idea. + +As he looked, Mason saw one of those shadowy forms skulking about and +bending over the dead. + +Fearful lest he should meet with one such and be murdered for want of +weapons, he crawled over to where the renegade lay and secured his +revolver. + +Not content with this, he quietly proceeded to reload the empty +chambers of the one he had taken from the holsters of Custer's saddle. + +When this was done, he felt content, and arose to his feet. + +Although he could see in the immediate vicinity, all appeared dark and +gloomy a hundred yards away, and the bluffs could only be distinguished +because they were outlined against the star-bedecked sky after the +manner of a silhouette. + +Which way to go was a puzzler. + +Beyond the ravine he could hear the murmur of the river, and knew that +on the other shore was the camp of the Sioux. + +Once clear of this slaughter-pen and his ideas would flow more +naturally, for it was impossible to think calmly while the mutilated +bodies of friends lay around on every side. + +To say a thing was to do it with Custer's boy friend. + +He seemed to know that the general must be near by, and was led +instinctively to his body. + +A horse had fallen upon Custer's lower limbs, but the heavy weight had +given him no pain, for he had been beyond that when the animal was shot. + +I cannot positively say that the tears came from the boy's eyes, as +some of my readers might deem that an unmanly proceeding, though God +knows the poor fellow had cause enough to weep, with his best and only +friend lying dead before him. + +That he lifted the general's cold hand and kissed it repeatedly, while +murmuring a farewell, I can and do affirm. + +A moment more and he was stealthily making his way along the ravine, +heading toward the river. + +A vague notion that a horse was necessary to his future movements had +intruded itself upon his brain, and although his plan of obtaining one +was as yet illy defined, it constantly gained ground. + +Once a dark form suddenly rose up in front of him, but the greasy +Indian got no further than the drawing of his knife, when Mason's +revolver sounded his death note, and without even a groan he sank +beside the dead man whom he had been in the act of despoiling when +disturbed by the boy's approach. + +Avoiding all others whom he saw, Mason soon left the ravine behind +him, and passing over the intervening ground, where a few bodies were +scattered promiscuously about, he stood upon the river bank. + +There was something soothing in the steady hum of the water which +appeared to steady the boy's disturbed mind, and for almost half an +hour he stood leaning against a tree that bent over the river, and +engaged in dreamy fancies. + +He had almost forgotten his notion of getting a remount in place of the +one lost during the bloody skirmish. + +Sad thoughts had crowded into his mind. + +Of all that gallant band, was he the only survivor? + +It seemed so, indeed; but Mason did not know of the supreme effort made +by old Pandy Ellis, the prince of bordermen. + +The boy's reverie was becoming almost unbearable, when it was disturbed +by what appeared to be the flash of a paddle further up the stream. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +PANDY ELLIS' HOTTEST SCRIMMAGE. + + +Valliant old Pandy Ellis, the veteran ranger of the prairies, was not +the man to give up hope easily. He had been in many a tight scrape +before, and had kept a bright face when the best of men might have +given up in despair. + +But there was something so fearful in the horrible struggle, where +human efforts however strong seemed puny as an infant's, that the +ranger might well be pardoned for shutting his teeth grimly and +resolving to die hard. + +There were actually tears in his eyes as he gave one last glance back +at that sadly depleted little band, where noble Yates still shouted out +encouraging words, and wielded his bloody sword with an untiring arm. + +It was the last ever seen of this detachment of the gallant Seventh +alive; and although the old ranger were to live his whole life over +again, he could never forget that scene. + +His hands were fully occupied in defending his person against the many +weapons raised against it. + +During the next five minutes Pandy had the hottest little scrimmage +that ever fell to his lot. + +On every side nothing met his eye but a mass of red faces, bearing the +most devilish looks he could imagine, and the owners of which were +trying their best to stab or shoot the rider. + +Boldly he plunged into the thick of them. + +Nancy trampled many under her feet, and bore her inevitable wounds +with the air of a martyr, than which she could not well do otherwise, +belonging as she did to such a renowned hero. + +Guns cracked about him, bullets whistled close to his head, and cut +into his flesh; lances, knives and tomahawks were thrust up at him with +vengeful intent, and yet this veteran urged his horse forward, armed +only with a knife as a serviceable weapon, with which he seemed to keep +himself surrounded by a wall of steel through which it was next to +impossible to force a passage. + +How many men he and his horse killed between them during that five +minutes' fearful ride, Pandy could not even guess after it was over, +for his mind was in a whirl, and he did mechanically the work that was +needed, just as a set machine might have done; but it must certainly +have been dozens. + +Some men might have deemed it impossible to force a way on horseback +through that mass of excited redskins. Colonel Yates had deemed it so, +but to Pandy nothing was accepted as beyond the power to do, until an +attempt had been made, and Yates' last words to him proved that the +officer must have either placed more confidence in the ranger's dash +than his own, or else had resolved to die with his brave boys at any +risk. + +It was over at last, this brief but exciting ride of the prairie man's, +encompassed on all quarters by death. + +As horse and rider burst out of that maddened throng as a strong +swimmer buffets the billows of the mighty deep, Pandy drew a long +breath. + +Not that the danger was over by any means. Here were dozens of Sioux +braves outside of the _melee_, and these seeing an enemy emerge from +the mass of struggling combatants, made a rush at him. Pandy uttered +a taunting laugh and dashed away like a bird, for although Nancy was +breathing hard from her exertions, she was equal to what the occasion +demanded. + +The ranger after clearing about a third of a mile, turned to one side +and rode up a pass that led to the other side of the bluffs. + +Reaching the crest, he passed along until almost even with the ravine +of death. Then he paused for a last glimpse. Alas! all was over. + +Yates too had fallen, and not one of his men could be seen alive; all +that was visible seemed to be a sea of red men rushing pell-mell over +the battle-field. + +Old Pandy was visibly affected. + +"God help me! I never seen such a thing in my life. The hull crowd +wiped out az clean az a whistle. What's goin' ter become o' us all at +this hyar rate. Custer, Cooke, Yates, Keogh, all gone. Bust my buttons +ef these reds ain't woke up wid sum o' ther old fire. My hate fur 'em +war dyin' out, but it only needed this ter kindle it wus nor ever. I'll +have revenge for this day's work; Custer shall never lie in his grave +without satisfaction; an' ef ther pesky Government won't take it in +hand, dash me, Bolly Wherrit's ther chap ter stick by me. We'll go on +ther war path, an' by ther heavens above, if Sitting Bull don't pay +dear fur this, then it's because two ole trappers will hev gone under. +Tarnal Snakes an' critters! but it makes me tearin' mad. I must let out +my spleen or bust; jist a parting card afore I go, ter let 'em know +what's comin' in ther future." + +It took but a couple of moments to load his rifle and revolvers. + +His presence was not even suspected until the gun sent its clear +detonation echoing over the hills. + +A commotion was visible among the crowd below, and cries of pain +reached the ranger's ear that were sweet music to him just then. + +Without wasting any more time, he emptied all the chambers of his +revolver, and then turning his horse's head, gave a loud hurrah, and +vanished from view, feeling a hundred per cent. better after making a +start in what he was pleased to term his death roll. + +Some thirty yards below the crest of the bluffs, the way was easily +traveled, and what few difficulties presented themselves were speedily +overcome by such an enterprising individual as the ranger. + +In a short time Pandy came to Custer's back trail. + +It was quite deserted now, save by the dead, for after the cavalry +had passed, the Indians followed after in order to have a hand in the +battle which they knew would take place when the troops attempted to +storm the village. + +The crags that had so lately echoed with the cracks of Indian rifles as +their owners lay in ambush, were silent now, and as Pandy rode along +he could not help thinking how different it would have all been, had +headstrong Custer cast aside his willful mood, and listened to the +advice of one who had his best interest at heart. + +It was while in this contemplative mood that Pandy suddenly became +aware of the fact that a body of Indians were dodging about and among +the rocks in front of him. + +To retreat was almost impossible, as he would doubtless receive a +bullet in the back. + +Making what might be termed the best of a bad bargain, Pandy took the +bridle between his teeth, and holding a revolver in each hand, urged +Nancy forward at a gallop. + +There was something in the manner of this undaunted man's facing death +again after his recent escape and great exertions, that would have +enlisted the admiration of even an enemy. + +As he advanced, the redskins vanished altogether, and Pandy was +beginning to believe they had gone altogether, when he heard a +singular but well-known whoop that made him draw rein with an +exclamation of surprise. + +At the same instant a tall Indian stepped into view from behind a +bowlder and advanced boldly toward the ranger. + +The latter seemed to recognize him, for a smile illuminated his bronzed +and blood-stained countenance. + +It was Eagle Eye, the Crow chief, whose hand Pandy pressed so warmly. + +The Crow scouts of the expedition were some of his braves, but the +chief had missed seeing the ranger before. + +They were old friends, having hunted and trapped together a whole +season several years before. + +"Brother been in the big fight; much hurt?" said the chief, looking +with dismay at the ranger's many wounds, which he seemed to regard as +so many scratches, although some of them were very serious. + +"Yes, I war thar, chief, an' 'twar ther hottest time o' my life. Did ye +see it?" + +"We reached the hilltop too late to take part. Custer gone up and all +his men? Ugh! it was a heap big fight. How brother get away?" + +"Wal, ye see," said Pandy, tying a rag over one of his worst wounds, +and sitting with one leg over the saddle, "we war jist about goin' +under, an' I'd 'cluded not to survive the boys, when Yates asked me +ter make an attempt ter git away ter carry the news ter Mary, az ther +feller sez, so I done it. Kin tell ye more about it another time, +chief. Just now I want ter git ye ter do sumpin important. Know where +Terry air?" + +The chief pointed in the direction whence lay the distant Yellowstone, +as Pandy well knew, and the ranger beamed his satisfaction. + +"I reckon ye're correct, chief. Now, what I want is that ye send a +couple o' yer men ter tell the gineral this sad news, an' git him ter +hurry on hyar, fur I heerd firing down below, an' ef Reno hain't met +Custer's fate he's in a bad fix anyhow. I intend ter jine him wharever +he may be an' stand ther consequences. Chief, I'm off. Remember I +depend on ye," and waving his hand toward his red friend, Pandy Ellis +disappeared in the growing shadow that told of the coming night. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +RED GOLIATH, THE GIGANTIC HERCULES. + + +Mason, General Custer's boy friend, leaned forward still more, relying +on the hold he had upon the tree bending over the water, when that +unmistakable sound, the dip of a paddle, reached his ears. + +Underneath him the water of the Little Horn gurgled and plashed among +the stones jutting out from the bank; close by a melancholy owl tried +to make night hideous with its solemn declarations of warning, and once +in a while the barking of dogs in the great village could be heard; but +to these usual noises the boy paid little heed, as he had heard them +for some time past. + +The silver crescent still held forth in the western sky, and its meager +light, augmented by the united force of stars, proved sufficient to see +the opposite shore of the river, which at this point was rather narrow. + +Could the boy's mental faculties have given him warning that it was not +a common foe he was about to see? + +There have been many occasions when persons of fine perceptions and +susceptibility have realized, seemingly by tuition alone, that those +whom they bear no love for are in the vicinity. + +With some people this delicate sense of knowing what even the eyes and +ears fail to tell becomes an art. + +Many a deaf and blind man can tell, even the instant he enters the +room, whether it be occupied or not, no matter how quiet those within +may render themselves. + +I only state this to defend my position when saying that young Mason +appeared to suspect that a foe of more than common caliber was +approaching. + +Of course one cannot be positive as to what he thought, but at any rate +the boy leaned out further than ever, and was fully engrossed in the +steady but light dip of the paddle. + +Whoever this night traveler was, his movements proclaimed him to be a +man habitually addicted to caution. + +This the boy quickly discovered, for although the canoe was undoubtedly +approaching him, yet the steady dips of the paddle seemed to grow +fainter if possible, or at least no louder. + +Soon, by judging from the sounds he was enabled to place the exact +position of the descending canoe, and a few seconds later a moving +object crossed his range of vision. + +That this was a boat, and that this craft contained but one person, +soon became manifest as it drew nearer the concealed watcher. + +The man stood erect near the stern, and held lightly poised in one hand +the long paddle he had just been using. + +Even in the dim light one would think an ancient giant, or at least a +modern pocket edition of the famous Goliath whom David, the shepherd +boy, slew with a stone, had appeared. + +The colossal proportions reared themselves at least seven feet high, +and being bulky in proportion the man presented a formidable aspect, +such as would at sight appall a common foe. + +Mason uttered a low exclamation and gave a companion start of surprise +when the figure loomed into view; but after this one indication of his +feelings he remained as motionless as a form of bronze. + +There was no mistaking that person whom he was now looking upon; even a +casual glance would have been sufficient to impress the face and figure +indelibly on any mind, and surely the eyes of hate are more susceptible +of retaining an object they dislike than others. + +Hate was a feeble word when used in connection with the feeling our +boy friend entertained towards this giant in the canoe, and if there +was a word that combined fierce detestation, aversion, and a bitter +longing to hack a man to pieces, together with a trifle of respect for +his prowess, I should use it; but every one knows how weak the English +language is in adjectives, compared with the scorching Italian. + +The giant's back was toward the bank where Mason had concealed himself, +and, judging from his appearance, he was closely scrutinizing the +opposite shore as if intent on discovering something that required time +to reveal. + +At this point the river was rather swift, owing to its narrow bed, and +his rapid motion seemed to interfere sadly with his study of the other +bank, for he muttered several impatient words to himself in a voice +that made Mason grit his teeth like a maniac when he heard it; for this +verified what suspicions the sight of the form had raised. + +Downward came the canoe with the current, and urged also by the impetus +given by the last few dips of the paddle. + +It was within a dozen feet of the spot where Mason hugged the +tree-trunk, when the man threw up an arm bare to the shoulder and as +knotty as the gnarled limb of an oak, and seized upon a branch that +bent affectionately toward the cool water of the river. Instantly the +canoe was halted in its downward course, as if a wall of stone had been +suddenly reared in front of it, and remained swinging to and fro, with +the water gurgling about the stern. + +The giant now leaned down, and appeared to look up and down the stream +as if searching for something. + +This latter, which had been invisible to him while descending the +stream, proved the opposite from his present post of observation, as +the low ejaculation of surprise manifested. + +"There it is as I expected; one, two, three a score of fires. The +Indian village undoubtedly. Now, there's work before you if you expect +to see that money, and such a sum ain't picked up every day these +times. I've seen it when I'd a risked my life for a tenth of the gold. +It's as plain as daylight; after that battle and victory, old Sitting +Bull and his men 'll keep a loose camp. All that I'm afraid of are +those sharp devils, Santee and Crazy Horse, for they've got such a +spite against me I'd have a nice time if taken. + +"Then I believe that Cheyenne chief, Black Moccasin, is here, and he +bears me a grudge for that affair on the Platte. + +"But what's the odds; I'm used to running risks on a lone hand, and +it's in me to win or lose all. I'll cross here, leave the boat, and +bring back the gal, if I have to search every lodge in the place," +saying which the man let go of his hold on the branches, and gave a +sweep of his paddle that startled the canoe towards the opposite bank, +which at this point was low and sweeping. + +Mason gave a convulsive movement when he heard that word "gal" +mentioned. + +"It is Red Goliath, and he has come from _him_ for _her_." + +These muttered words were all that he spoke; after that his lips +remained as close and immovable as the clasps of a vise. + +A few more sweeps of the paddle, almost noiselessly given, served to +bring the canoe to the opposite shore, which the prow struck with a +slight grating sound. + +Laying down the paddle, the giant leaped upon the shore, and grasping +the canoe pulled it upon the pebbly bench so that it could not be +carried away by the action of the water. + +As he turned around after doing this thing, a dark shadowy form arose +beside him, where it had up to this time crouched in the obscurity. + +Other ears than the boy's had heard the suspicious dip of the paddle, +and eyes that were hostile to his cause had witnessed the crossing of +the giant. + +Mason from his position saw this form rise up, and he realized the +danger of the late oarsman, but not by word or deed did he attempt to +warn the giant who was his deadly foe. + +There was no necessity for a warning, however, for Red Goliath saw the +uprising of the tall form that seemed almost to rival his own. + +This modern giant and Hercules possessed a fierce nature, similar to +that of a wild beast, and on stated occasions his thirst for blood +became almost a mania, that could only be quenched in the life fluid of +some one. + +Perhaps one of these moods was coming upon him even then. + +A looker-on would have been inclined to think so upon hearing the growl +of satisfaction he gave utterance to. + +When foemen worthy of each other's steel come in contact, there is +seldom much time lost in skirmishing. + +The Red Goliath threw himself upon his Indian foe with an agility one +would hardly expect him to possess. + +His assault, overpowering as it seemed, was right valiantly met by his +sturdy opponent, and as the two closed, Mason could no longer see the +particulars of the combat. + +There was a threshing of arms for half a moment, then came the dull, +sodden sound of blows delivered with telling force, and which must +proceed from the white man. + +The crushing nature of these was soon made clear. + +One of the gigantic forms raised the other high in the air with but +feeble resistance, and dashed him upon the ground with tremendous power. + +As if intent on making sure of his work, the Red Goliath stooped over +his fallen foe. + +Something gleamed in the faint light; the sound of a blow reached +Mason's ears, and the blade did not shine when it was again raised. + +A hoarse chuckle that would have curdled the blood in the veins of a +sensitive person proceeded from the human vampire as he arose to his +feet, and after giving the corpse a kick with his heavily booted foot, +replaced his knife. + +It was certainly a fair fight, and the giant had the same privilege +of slaying his fallen enemy that was granted in the arena at the +hippodrome of Rome during ancient times; but civilization has brought +with it the noble act of forgiving foes, which, however, such men as +this seldom practice. + +After that half laugh of triumph, Red Goliath stalked noiselessly away, +and the boy was left alone with his meditations and half-shaped plans. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +ADELE. + + +Only for a few moments did young Mason remain in this state. Then his +active brain aroused him to the necessity of making each second count. + +His plans were only partially matured; but it would not prove hard +to fully arrange them as time wore on, and his first move was really +characteristic of the boy. + +Pulling out a piece of water-proof cloth, he quickly wrapped it around +his revolver, and then stepped boldly down into the river. + +A few seconds later he was swimming silently for the other shore, +holding the revolver out of the water as much as possible by means of +his teeth, in which it was clasped. + +The current carried him a little distance down the stream, and he +landed some ten or twelve yards below the spot where Red Goliath had +left his boat. + +Thanks to his buckskin garments, the water did not soak through, and +after emerging from the river Mason found himself little the worse for +his swim. + +What to do now might have puzzled some old stagers; but the boy's +action was prompt and to the point. + +Stepping up to the boat, he felt along the side until his hand came in +contact with a ring, and when this was found he gave an exclamation of +satisfaction. + +Leaving the water he struck off in the same direction the giant had +taken but a few moments before, passing by the dead Indian without even +halting to examine the body. + +Red Goliath must have been moving very slowly and cautiously after +his fight, for Mason, who had, either through good luck or excellent +management, hit upon the exact line of travel pursued by the giant, +caught up with him before the outskirts of the village were gained. A +moving form, crouching low, and yet showing the immense bulk in spite +of this proceeding, was seen not ten yards ahead of him. + +This was what attracted Mason's eye and kept him on the watch. + +When the first lodges were passed, the danger thickened around our boy +friend. + +He had two sources to guard against, the giant on the one hand and the +inhabitants of the village he was in the midst of on the other. + +It may be surmised from this that Mason was very careful of his +movements. + +In spite of his size, which one would naturally suppose conducive to +clumsiness, Red Goliath managed to get over ground with almost the +noiseless powers of a serpent. + +He seemed to be somewhat acquainted with the arrangement of the +village, for he passed by dozens of lodges without giving them the +least attention, his aim being to all appearances a certain spot not +far from the center of the encampment, which was of so great a length. + +There were several things in favor of this spying expedition which +counted in the favor of the giant, and also his unseen follower. + +In the first place, the night might be called dark, for the crescent +moon was at the horizon, and although one might distinguish a form at +ten yards distance, it would be next to impossible to declare whether +the man was white or red. + +Then again there were but a few hundred braves in the village, and +these scattered along its entire length did not serve to even partially +fill the lodges. + +Where some of the late inmates were the reader knows, for brave Custer +and his men fought hard, and each dragoon slew at least one Indian +before going under. + +What the main portion of the Sioux were about at this time will soon be +made manifest, but a suspicion of the truth might be gleaned from the +occasional shots that were borne by the wind from the north, where Reno +had entrenched himself on one of the bluffs overlooking the river. + +Red Goliath kept on his way as if he had been among the lodges before, +and, to tell the truth, this was not his first visit to the village. +Several nights before he had made one with the same purpose that he now +had in view; but an unlucky tumble over a drunken brave had brought +the Indians swarming around him like so many bees, and it took all the +power the giant possessed to escape. He managed to do it, however, and +by means of the canoe which we have seen him use, in coming to the +point once more. + +After moving forward some ten minutes, even Mason, some distance in his +rear, could hear the boisterous sound of laughter and loud talking. + +Where it came from would not prove hard to say, for a brilliant +light, within a dwelling that seemed to be half cabin and half lodge, +proclaimed its whereabouts. + +There could be no doubt but what it came from white men, or at least +men who were pale faces in looks but red devils by nature. + +Goliath crept towards this lodge, and in another moment was beside it. + +The boy moved around on the other side, and by dint of using the +caution that seemed to be a part of his nature, managed to gain the +dense shadow of the northern side without making an iota of noise. + +Then the thought intruded itself, what if the giant should take a +notion to make a circuit of the lodge? + +He would certainly be found out, and Mason knew that discovery by this +man meant death. + +This action was promptly executed. The skins composing the lodge were +loose at the bottom, and a pile of furs lay just within. + +A glance at the two inmates showed that they were interested in the +contents of a suspicious-looking keg, and paid no attention to anything +else. + +It took the boy but a moment to glide like an eel under the skin of the +lodge, and hide among the furs. + +From here he could watch the two men and hear all that was said without +being in danger of discovery. + +They were not a very nice-looking couple to gaze upon, not being overly +well burdened with good looks, but the boy had seen one of them before, +and it would be hard work to find any uglier man than Pedro Sanchez in +this sphere of ours; so his companion might be said to possess some +claims of beauty when compared with the noseless, one-eyed French +creole, whose face bore the scars of some fearful combat. + +Pedro was tall and slim, with the agility of a tiger combined with the +ferocity of a grizzly bear. + +He addressed his companion as Hoskins, and between the two they seemed +to be effecting a compromise in regard to some bargain of which the +nature was soon made manifest. + +A faint long-drawn sigh, that told of unspoken misery close beside him, +made the boy give a start, and it was with the utmost difficulty that +he repressed the exclamation that arose to his lips when his eyes were +turned in that direction. + +From the pole of the lodge a long torch was stuck out, and the light +of this served to illuminate the half where the men sat, but the cabin +part was rather dim. + +Guided by that sigh, however, the boy had little trouble in making out +a small girlish form that crouched rather than sat upon a pile of furs, +and seemed to be intently regarding the two men who laughed and grew +merry over the whisky keg. + +"Adele!" was the cry that arose to that brother's lips, but he bravely +repressed it, and also the longing that had seized upon him to clasp +that dear form to his breast and defy all enemies. + +Although his ears were drinking in all that the two men said, yet his +eyes were steadily glued upon the light form. + +Hark! the Creole was speaking while he held up a tin cup that had +lately belonged to one of Custer's men, and squinted with his one eye +at its contents. + +"_Carramba!_ Hoskins, my price I think exceedingly reasonable. If you +only knew the time and money I've spent in this matter, and what deadly +enemies I've made by my exploit, you wouldn't begrudge me a picayune. +_Begar!_ I sent one of them to his long home in the fight to-day," and +Pedro gave a hoarse laugh that grated on the nerves like a file, and +would have set a sensitive person crazy. + +The boy started, and unconsciously his hand sought his head where the +bullet had glanced from it. + +He knew now to whom he owed that debt, and gritted his teeth as he +inwardly resolved to pay the amount with interest when the proper +occasion presented itself. + +Hoskins did not share in his companion's mirth, but appeared to be +reflecting. + +He soon looked up and took a sip at the liquor. + +"Wal, mebbe the gal's worth it, squire. I've taken a mighty shine to +her purty face, and, being in want of a wife, I guess we kin come to +a bargain. Two hundred shiners, you said, and the hoss I own. We'll +consider the question settled then. Now let's take a look at my +property." + +Pedro jumped to his feet with alacrity, and led the girl forward, much +against her will. + +As the torchlight fell on that sunny head, with its masses of golden +hair and tear-bedimmed face, Mason ground his teeth in mingled rage +and pity, and at the same time drew out his revolver. It was fated +differently, however. + +Hoskins feasted his eyes upon Adele's delicate beauty, and the grin +that came upon his face told Pedro that he was satisfied with the +bargain. + +"Old hoss, we're squar on that. Gal, look up. Ye're mine now, body and +soul. D'ye hear me? I've bought ye with a price, and I'd jest like fur +the man to show himself what's goin' to take ye from me," said Hoskins. + +There was a queer ripping sound. Mason saw a shining blade cut the +skins of the lodge as if they were paper, and through this opening +leaped Red Goliath, with a revolver in one hand and a knife in the +other, and the brief exclamation of "I'm the identical chap." + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +HOSKINS PAYS NATURE'S DEBT--ABOUT THE FIRST HE EVER DID. + + +Hoskins may have been astonished at this sudden intrusion and answer +to the vain question he asked. I have no doubt but what he was, more +especially when his eyes took in the huge form of the giant, but his +surprise was as nothing when compared to the consternation exhibited by +the creole. + +Pedro Sanchez had appeared in the jolliest possible humor a few moments +before; now, the smile that had illuminated his face at the time of the +giant's entrance seemed frozen there. + +Pedro Sanchez had good cause to remember Red Goliath. + +The two had been comrades in crime, and together they had committed +many of the deeds that made the city of New Orleans tremble to its +center. + +Between them they had carried off Adele, hoping to secure a heavy +ransom from her mother. + +At this time the treachery so natural to Sanchez exhibited itself. + +A desire to obtain the whole reward, on which he could retire from +business, possessed him, and he attempted to get rid of his comrade by +pushing the giant over the edge of an abyss on the southern plains. + +The creole really thought the other dead, but in some way Red Goliath +escaped with severe injuries, that laid him up for months at a cabin. + +There he became acquainted with a gentleman who had recently left New +Orleans for his health, having slain his distinguished foeman in a +duel, and who intended staying away until the affair blew over. + +In a conversation with this man, the giant became acquainted with +several things that entirely changed the tenor of his ideas, and an +understanding followed between them. + +When Red Goliath started on the trail of vengeance, he had no intention +of restoring Adele to her mother for a ransom, as a much larger sum had +been offered him than he could ever expect from the lady, to carry her +away to a point from whence she should never return, and the duelist +had even hinted that he should not weep very much should news of her +death reach him. + +The truth of the matter was that Adele Pierrepont and her brother, +Mason, stood between Luke Camden, the duelist and an immense fortune, +and the idea of getting rid of the two had only entered his head when +he heard through the giant that the girl had already been carried away. + +Red Goliath proved a true traitor. + +He had tracked his treacherous companion all the way from the plains of +Texas to the pastures in the north, where the white man joined teams +with Sitting Bull's gang of plunderers and thieves, where his merits in +the peculiar line of business he dealt in were duly appreciated. + +No wonder, then, that the creole shivered in dread when he saw the +man whom he had attempted to murder standing before him with a deadly +revolver in his hand, and cruel vengeance flashing from his eyes. + +At first Pedro's hands failed to do their duty, and hung limp by his +sides. + +"Aha! it is thus we meet, my fine chicken," said the giant, who +evidently had a tinge of the dramatic in his nature. + +By the light of the torch it could now be seen that his hair and beard +gave rise to the first half of his name, being of a fiery hue. + +His eyes were small and deep-set, glittering like a snake's. + +Pedro Sanchez was actually too frightened to say a word in answer to +this implied question. + +He could only stand and glare like a wild beast at bay and powerless to +help itself. + +The giant seemed rather talkative in his triumph. + +"Pushed Red Goliath down a gulch, half a mile deep. Thought he'd +die like a rat in its hole. Aha! my fine fellow, bushes are great +inventions; thanks to them I am here now--here to claim my vengeance. +Five thousand dollars tempted you, did it? Well, I want to tell you +I'm offered double as much to keep the gal away forever: kill her if I +like. Now, Brutus, your time has about come. Are you ready to meet your +just doom?" + +Pedro was shivering as only a man can who sees instant death before +him, and his chattering teeth precluded the possibility of a reply. + +The giant smiled derisively, and turned his eyes on Hoskins. + +At this critical period the individual proved himself the possessor of +more courage than the boasting creole. + +Perhaps this arose from his ignorance of the giant's power, which Pedro +was well acquainted with. + +"Who the deuce are you that comes breaking into a man's house, and +talking about doom and all that sort of thing? By George! I've a notion +to----" began Hoskins in a blustering tone, but he came to an abrupt +pause, for the giant seeing where it was most needed had swung the +revolver around until it covered his form. + +"You're mistaken. You haven't any notion at all, and it'll be better +for your health if you don't have any. Asked me what I came here for; +you invited me; declared you would like to see the man that was going +to take the gal from you, so I showed myself. Now, my rooster, what's +what with you?" + +Hoskins seemed to have some spirit in him at any rate. + +"Fool," said he, "one shot from your pistol would put you in a hornet's +nest. If I choose to shout, a hundred braves will surround the lodge." + +"As to the alarm, I care nothing for that; knew I couldn't do any work +without raising it; but I swear you shan't shout again in this world, +though you may in the one below us. Die, you dog." + +The sudden startling crack of a revolver rang out. + +Red Goliath had fired. There was an awful shudder on the part of +Hoskins; a gurgling sound as if he was trying to curse his slayer, +and then the stricken man fell to the ground shot through the heart. +Turning on the creole, Red Goliath again raised his death-dealing +revolver. + +Pedro had slunk away and was crouching on the ground. + +At this contemptible display of cowardice, the giant gave him a hearty +kick of derision, in order to induce him to stand erect; but it only +had the effect of flattening the miscreant out still more. + +There was no time to waste, as the Indians must already be alarmed. + +Firing two shots into the dark corner where Pedro had crouched, the +giant hurriedly replaced his weapons. + +Then like a flash he seized upon Adele, lifted her light form as easily +as if she had been a feather, and dashed out. + +An Indian met him just beyond the lodge. + +One sweep of the giant's disengaged arm sent him to the ground like a +ten-pin overwhelmed by a ball. + +Although braves were appearing in every direction, Red Goliath sped +onward like an antelope, the burden he carried appeared as nothing. + +The village was soon left behind, and when the open ground was at +length gained, two shadowy figures flitting close behind him proclaimed +the fact that these were his only pursuers. + +To get rid of them was an easy task to a man like the Hercules, who was +well versed in every detail of fight and strategy, and armed into the +bargain. + +Again the revolver came into play. + +Suddenly halting, and wheeling in his tracks, he presented the weapon. + +With its first crack one of the pursuers described a parabola in the +air, as if he had leaped from a spring-board, and upon touching the +ground lay very, very quiet. + +The second attempted to dodge, but soon found out that lead can travel +mortally fast when driven by powder. + +He made his way into camp half an hour later with a broken arm, and the +bullet lodged in his side. + +Having thus rid himself of both pursuers, the giant once more rushed +along. + +The river bank was gained, and also the canoe. + +"Whoop! hurrah! won it, by George! run the gauntlet too," said the +daring man to himself, as he placed Adele, too powerless with terror to +resist, in the boat; and after pushing the craft off, sprang in himself. + +Young Mason had been so taken aback by the giant's sudden shots and his +rapid flight that even had he so wished he could have done nothing to +prevent him. + +Before he actually realized what had occurred, Red Goliath had vanished +from the lodge, carrying the boy's darling sister with him. + +It seemed but half a minute had passed, and Mason was about to rise up +from his place of concealment and follow on the giant's trail, when +half a dozen Indians burst into the lodge to see what damage had been +done here. + +Hoskins would never steal another horse, he had gone to that bourne +from whence no traveler e'er returns; in a word he was dead. + +Pedro came crawling out of the dark corner with a hole in him large +enough to let the life out of any common man, but which did not appear +to inconvenience him at all. + +For several moments they jabbered away in a tongue unknown to our hero, +much to his disgust, for he was impatient. + +When they at length left the lodge, Pedro securing the gold his late +companion possessed before doing so, Mason gave a sigh of relief, and +made haste to throw off the warm furs in which he had been wrapped. + +Then he boldly stalked from the lodge, walking as if he had a perfect +right in the village. Several times he came across braves, and on +such occasions grasped hold of a revolver, ready for service, but his +bearing must have deceived the red-skins, for he was not molested. + +After gaining the outskirts of the village, Mason struck at once for +the river. + +He knew that it was too late to reach the place where the canoe had +been left before the giant, and had resolved to wait for it at a point +below. + +The wisdom of his course was soon made apparent, for his sharp eyes +caught sight of a dark object moving slowly down the river near the +other bank. + +It was Red Goliath's canoe. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +WHITE THUNDER ON THE RAMPAGE. + + +When Bolly Wherrit left the great Indian camp behind him, and headed +for the distant hills, he had no intention of leaving the vicinity. + +An object had attracted him hither, which, though backed by a golden +reward, had something else behind it as an invigorator that proved far +more potent with the old ranger than the money involved. + +His own words had proclaimed that the cause of his hastening north, +leaving his chum Pandy Ellis in the thick of some business that +concerned them both, was a beautiful woman's tears. + +Bolly always was weak as regarded the other sex, and knowing this +reverence of his, which can hardly be called a failing, it has been a +continual wonder to me why the ranger never married, especially as he +must have been a fine-looking fellow in his younger days, judging from +the grand old face he possesses at the present writing. + +I strongly suspect, however, that in his youth Bolly had loved and +been deceived, and although he never ceased caring for the ladies, he +regarded them with suspicion when he came to the point. + +As he rode along Bolly was engaged in various conjectures, the main +subject of which was the rescue of Adele, for the reader must know by +this time that this was the object that had sent Bolly from New Orleans +to this northern province in such haste. + +The sun was sinking down in the western sky, and the shadows were +growing very long, when Bolly reached the hills. + +A stream of water, so cold that one could almost believe it an ice +spring, murmured among the stone, and pursued its tortuous way through +the neighboring ravine, heading for the Little Horn, where its waters +were quickly engulfed by the larger stream. + +At this Bolly came to a halt, and allowed Black Bess to drink all that +she wished, dismounting first to quench his own thirst. + +The ranger did not attempt to climb the hills, as it would have proven +a difficult task, and one which there was no necessity for, as he +intended doing some work before morning came on. + +Longer grew the shadows, and more gloomy the ravines between the +elevations, as the prairie ranger galloped slowly along the foot of the +range. + +Night at length closed around him; the peaks were dimly outlined +against the sky in which the stars began to appear. + +In the west the infant moon looked like a silver bond of promise to the +good welfare of man, and smiled upon the earth as if in pity at its +forlorn and unlighted condition. + +All of these things Bolly noticed with the air of a man whose mind is +preoccupied, and whose thoughts have no range beyond a certain point. + +Now that quite a distance separated him from the huge Sioux village, +the usual sounds that accompany a night upon the plains came to his +ears, and it really seemed as though the wolves howled and the coyotes +barked louder than ever on this particular occasion. + +Perhaps with their more than human instinct, these beasts of carrion +knew of the feast for their hungry maws, that the setting sun had shone +upon, and which was not yet ready for them because of the many moving +figures in that terrible ravine of death. + +A whippoorwill sending forth his plaintive cry near by, and the shrill +scream of a night hawk from a neighboring tree, aroused Bolly from the +stupor as it might almost be called, into which he had unconsciously +fallen. + +For the first time he noticed that Black Bess had carried him into the +midst of a forest that lay at the foot of the hills. + +As he made this discovery, the distant murmur of running water came to +his ears, which could not be made by a creek. + +Undoubtedly it was the river that he was nearing, and as this was just +what he desired, Bolly let his sable steed continue her own course. + +Five minutes later he brought the animal to a halt. + +Before him rolled the Little Horn with its shady banks, the starlight +glinting from the tiny waves that the adverse wind gave rise to. + +Long and earnestly Bolly looked at the water. + +He had built his schemes upon the river, and being in a contemplative +mood, he was wondering whether the morning would see him successful or +the reverse. + +From this serious state he was abruptly aroused by a sound that to ears +of experience like his bespoke danger. + +Only a twig snapped by some incautious foot, but it had a world of +meaning to the ranger. + +As if it affected him like electricity, Bolly slid from the back of +Black Bess, and crouched on that side of the horse nearest to the seat +of danger. + +The rifle he held was laid gently upon the ground, and in its stead he +quickly laid hold of the formidable knife taken from the Indian who had +been placed over his prison as a guard. + +Although these movements were accomplished with all the noiseless +powers of a tiger, Bolly was not unobserved. + +Two pair of gleaming eyes had noted his descent from the horse, and +hardly had the ranger laid hold of his knife than he was called upon to +use it. + +A form arose lightly in the air, and passing over the bushes like a +bird, landed close beside him. + +Following this came a second, and as this man landed he gave a fierce +shout, the pent-up air of his jump forcing itself through his teeth +with the shrill force of a steam-whistle. + +There was no such thing as taking Bolly Wherrit unawares. A man who had +earned the name of White Thunder and Never Sleep among the northern +tribes might be surprised, as he was not possessed of a second sight to +divine ambuscades, but his enemies always found him ready. + +The first man who leaped went to immediate death, for, as he braced +himself to recover from the force of his jump, the ranger gave one +spring and plunged his knife forward. It entered the broad red chest +with a sickening thud, and when Bolly pulled it out again, a perfect +deluge of blood followed. + +Sickening as was the sight of this tottering man, actually turning +pale from loss of blood, we soldiers have to witness far more terrible +things, such as would make a civilian faint with horror. + +The old ranger had seen worse in his day, when dear comrades were +roasted before his eyes at the stake, and besides he had no time to +waste in heroics. + +His second foeman aimed a vicious blow at his head with a tomahawk that +glittered like steel or silver as it flew by. + +This intended death-blow Bolly avoided by a dip of the head, and in +another instant the two were locked in a close embrace. + +The Indian had managed to lay hold of his knife, so that the combatants +were equally well armed. + +Before a dozen seconds had passed Bolly discovered that he had no +puny antagonist with whom to combat, for the fellow seemed to possess +muscles of iron, and even by exerting all his strength, the ranger +failed to raise him from the ground to dash him down, as he had done +many a man before. + +They were in such a situation that if either attempted to use his +knife, the other would have the advantage for an instant, and even this +short time might prove disastrous to all cherished hopes of victory. + +An idea came into Bolly's head which told him that the advantage really +lay in his favor, for while fully the Indian's equal in strength, he +also possessed some knowledge of scientific wrestling, against which +the brave could oppose nothing in the same line. + +The chance soon presented itself, and was promptly seized upon. + +By an adroit fling of his foot, and a corresponding whirl with his +arms, the ranger completely demolished his sturdy but ignorant foeman. + +Falling underneath, the Indian knew that his chances of escape were +slight, indeed, unless he managed to hold the ranger down, and dropping +his knife, he attempted to accomplish this by clasping Bolly around the +chest. + +Unfortunately, however, for him, his hands failed to meet, and he could +not put forth his full amount of strength. + +Our old friend broke loose from the death clasp. + +A cry of alarm burst from the doomed man's lips when he saw the red +blade uplifted, but the outstretched arms were dashed aside, and the +knife descended. + +"That fur Tom Garny, blast yer hide," he muttered, and his foe was dead. + +As the ranger was shaking himself to see that no material damage had +befallen him through his recent struggle, the reports of several guns, +followed by savage shouts, came from the bluffs across the river and +further up. It proceeded from besieged Reno and his foes, but Bolly did +not know this. + +"Ah! sum o' ye over yonder I reckon. Wonder what became o' Custer, for +it must hev been him, az no wun else'd rush inter danger like that. +Sounds mighty bad; they hain't kerried the town, an' I'm afraid the +yaller-haired chief hez either gone under or else had ter retreat, a +thing I never knew him ter do, long az I've been acquainted--ha! what +in blazes! Bolly Wherrit, down ye imp. Bess, silence now, old girl. +Byes, do yer juty now, fur thar's sumpin' a comin' this way that needs +lookin' arter." + +The ranger sank out of sight as if he had been shot. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +RENO'S RIFLE-PITS ON THE RIVER BLUFFS. + + +The human mind differs so greatly with various individuals that what +might be said of one person, proves exactly the opposite in another. + +It has truly been remarked that one man's food is poison to another, +and the same may be said of the capacity of their intellect. + +Pandy Ellis, the veteran ranger of the wild West, whose days had been +passed among scenes of danger from boyhood up to old age, was the +possessor of an iron will and a stout heart. + +He had witnessed, almost with composure, it might be said, scenes that +would have made many a brave man turn pale and tremble; had passed +through others, not unscratched either, when dear friends fell to rise +no more, and yet had not been shocked. + +The utter annihilation of Custer's devoted command had actually +appalled him, and put him in the gloomiest state possible. + +It was perhaps the fearful fact that not one in that gallant band came +out to tell the tale, that worked so on his feelings. + +Had some escaped, the affair would have lost some of that horrible +fascination that proceeded from the fact that every one, officers +and men alike, had been swept into eternity, just as surely as if an +earthquake had swallowed them. + +Eagle Eye, the Crow chief, had promised to send some of his men with +the news to Terry; at least his silence had been the same as an +acquiescence, and this finished his obligations toward the ill-fated +Colonel Yates. + +The sound of firing in the advance told Pandy that Major Reno was +actively engaged on the bluffs, and aroused by the thought that there +was hot work yet before him, he urged Nancy forward. As night closed +about him, it could not but be conducive of gloomy thoughts, for the +darkness appeared to communicate itself to the mind in some way or +other, keeping brighter ideas at bay. + +As he advanced, carefully now, as the way was rough and unfamiliar, +the sounds in front grew clearer until the old ranger knew that he was +drawing near the scene of action. + +It would be impossible to join Reno on horseback, if the position of +the troops was as bad as he suspected, and the next thing for him to +do, would be to hide Nancy in some place where _he_ could find her +again, but no one else. + +Such a spot he was not long in ferreting out, and after securing the +horse by means of his lariat, Pandy moved forward once more. + +Louder came the detonation from guns and shouts from dusky throats, +threatening everything that was terrible to the remnant of the gallant +Seventh; and yet their answering yells and shots proved the young +fellows to be undaunted by the fate that seemed staring them in the +face. + +Pandy stood and listened, on the brow of an eminence, striving to +pierce the gloom ahead with those eagle-like eyes. + +Something like a cheer arose to his mouth at the unflinching bravery +exhibited by these blue-coated heroes, as they gave back shout for +shout. + +Although the light at a distance was deceptive and uncertain, he could +make out that Reno had planted his command on the top of the bluffs, to +stand what might be called a siege. + +In the haste of the movement, and worried by the Indians, the +courageous major had, unfortunately for those under his command, +selected a spot that was controlled by higher points on either side. + +From one of these latter it would not have been a very difficult task +to keep the enemy at bay, but now he had a double danger to contend +against, as the Indians occupied the heights around him, and also +attempted to storm his position. + +It is doubtful whether the handful of the gallant Seventh who lived +through this night and the succeeding day, will ever forget how the +minutes dragged on, and yet I have no doubt but what in these dangerous +hours some of them joked and laughed with that terrible _sang froid_ +men often assume when all hope is gone. + +From his position the old prairie ranger could see that some kind of +earthwork or rifle-pits had been constructed, and behind these rough +shelters the tigers fought their fiendish foemen. + +As yet Major Reno's men had had no suspicion of the awful calamity that +had overtaken Custer and his three hundred men. So confident of success +had the general been, that he divided what troops he had, so as to +inclose the Indian village. + +When they galloped away, it was the last that had been seen of them. +True, some firing had been heard several miles away, long continued, as +though an obstinate battle was in progress; but this had died away by +evening. + +Opinions differed, as they always will among many men. Some felt sure +that Custer had defeated the Indians, marched on the village, and that +any moment they might expect to see a huge bonfire in progress. + +Others of a more reflective nature looked at the matter in a more +serious light, thinking it not improbable that dashing Custer himself +had been the sufferer, and that he would find it difficult to join +them; but none ever suspected the horrible truth even for a moment. + +That five companies of the bravest men in the old Seventh should +have been completely swept out of existence was something almost +preposterous. + +When Pandy found himself gazing upon this scene, he began pinching +himself, uncertain whether to believe his eyes or not. + +"Lord help us, what's ther world comin' to, I'd like ter know? Wen +these hyar reds gobble up ther bravest gineral az ever drew breath wid +all his men, and then squat down round ther rest as if ther meal warn't +complete, it's time ole Uncle Samuel war wakin' up. Blast my hide, ole +Sitting Bull must be extarminated for this. I shall never hev any peace +in life till it's done. But looky hyar now, ole man, bizness must be +'tended to. Ye'd like ter be wid Reno an' his men yonder, so az ter +share in ther fun. Don't see any other way o' gittin' round it. Needs +must wen ther devil drives, az ther feller sez. Now, jest show us wat +ye kin do at this advanced period o' life in this line." + +Communing with himself in his way the ranger began descending the +elevation from which he had seen at the same time as much and as +little. The valley below looked forbidding, but to a man of Pandy's +nature, and who had so recently passed through such a horrible affair, +a thing like this did not serve to daunt in the least. Soon he found +himself gulfed in the darkness; the shots came from above him, and ten +minutes after quitting his post of observation, an eagle's eyrie as it +seemed, the trapper was cautiously making his way upward again. + +There were manifold sources of danger on all sides against which he +was compelled to guard himself. In every red warrior (and the hill +actually swarmed with them) he had a deadly foe as a white man, and an +inveterate one as the only Pandy Ellis. Besides there was a chance that +the gallant boys above, deeming every moving object an enemy, would +either fire upon him, or use their sabers as he attempted to mount the +breastworks. It was a risky business, but one in which Pandy delighted. + +Making use of each bush and rock, he slowly ascended the steep inclined +plane. At times he was so close to some of the Indians, that he might +have touched them with his arm had he so desired; but the reader may +rest assured, Pandy did not take the trouble to test this. He was +fated, however, to meet with one scrape before gaining his destination, +and which came very near being fatal to him. + +It was among a cluster of rocks, and the ranger had mounted a sort of +cliff to expedite matters. Accidents are not confined alone to the +careless, although they meet with more than the prudent, no doubt. +Pandy's foot slipped and over he went. + +It was certainly mortifying that after taking five minutes to get up +this nice little cliff, he should descend it in a few seconds; it would +have been even more so had he landed on the hard rocks below, for the +fall was no petty one. + +As luck would have it, however, an Indian brave happened to be below, +and on this poor devil came the brunt of the tumble. + +This being in the shape of a hundred and sixty pounds avoirdupois, +proved to be too much for the equanimity of his mind and the balance of +his body, as the poor fellow immediately collapsed. + +He was only a little confused, however, and had sense enough to lay +hold of the object that struck him, so that Pandy sought the ground +almost as soon as did the other. + +Perhaps the Indian had a vague notion that it was a comrade who had +fallen upon him. If so, then he had no time to frame this idea into +a thought, for the hill-top fell over upon him, at least the warrior +thought so when he opened his eyes hours later in this world of pain. + +Pandy had only given him a sound argument in the shape of a blow +between the eyes. + +Again the ranger pursued his upward way. + +The small cliff was successfully scaled, and beyond this traveling +seemed much easier so far as lifeless obstructions were concerned. + +It would be impossible to follow Pandy's movements after this; they +were inimical with those of a snake, crawling hither and thither, +passing under the noses of red watchers, and close beside the fighting +braves. + +How he did it the trapper chief could not tell himself. With a thousand +chances against him, he successfully gave the savage Sioux the slip, +and, all unknown to them, passed from their outer line, and scaling the +rudely thrown up earth-works, found himself among the rifle pits of the +soldiers. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +THE BOY TRAILER AT WORK. + + +It needed no second look to convince Mason that it was the giant's +canoe his eyes beheld, nor did he stop to examine the moving object +more closely. + +Having arranged his course of action long before, he now stepped +quietly into the water, and when it reached as high as his neck, began +swimming out. + +So dexterous were the movements of the boy trailer, whose cause Custer +had taken up so readily, and might have carried out but for his +untimely death, that no sound resulted from his locomotion through the +water, beyond that which even the most suspicious of mortals would take +to be the swishing of the wind-driven wavelets. + +When the canoe came even with the spot on which he had stood before +entering the water, Mason was directly in front of it. + +As only his head remained above the water and the giant's direction +was directed further on, it was not strange that Red Goliath failed to +discover anything suspicious just at the prow of his canoe. + +The boat glided past, and Mason's hand sought the ring he had hunted up +previously. + +Luckily he found it, and in this way managed to keep alongside of the +boat, just behind the giant. + +Red Goliath stood up like a statue, and for such he might indeed have +been taken but for the regular pendulum motion of his arms, as the +paddle was shifted from side to side, in order that the momentum caused +by the current might be materially aided by long silent sweeps. + +Adele sat in the bow, motionless. + +Young Mason's heart gave a great throb of sympathy when he heard what +sounded suspiciously like a sob from the girl. + +His sister had been stolen from her home in New Orleans by Hoskins +and this giant, and like a sleuth-hound this boy had followed on the +trail, tracking the fugitives from one border town to another on their +northward course, and yet always coming too late. + +He had met Custer years before, and had been a friend of the +yellow-haired cavalry leader, so when he found the general in these +regions, the latter at once took up his cause, and sent out scouts to +discover where Hoskins and his fair girl captive were. + +These men, experienced as they were, failed to accomplish their end. + +It was Mason himself, by his indefatigable efforts, who first +discovered Sitting Bull's village, and reported the fact to the +general, who was already heading in that direction, aiming for the +Little Big Horn. + +The boy also declared that Hoskins was with the Indians, which fact +Custer was prone to believe. + +After this Mason vanished, nor did he make his appearance until the +doomed command was riding down the bluffs into the ambuscade. + +How the latter proved fatal to the gallant troops is already known. + +The wily Sioux allowed them to come on, pretending to give way, until +the men were fairly in the trap, when they closed about them in a solid +mass. + +After this explanation, which I hold as due to the reader, I will +resume the thread of my narrative where it was dropped. + +The canoe passed down the stream for several miles in this way. + +It may seem strange that Red Goliath, shrewd as he has shown himself to +be, should risk so much in passing the Indian village after arousing +the inhabitants by creating such an alarm, but the fact was, he proved +to be one of those cunning fellows who believe that under the existing +circumstances the safest place is that nearest the seat of action. + +In spite of the danger that seemed to encompass him, the giant passed +by without an alarm. + +Soon the firing on the right shore could be heard, and this became +louder as they drew nearer, until they were abreast of the scene of +Reno's obstinate defense. + +Passing by, the giant continued on its way down the river, until Mason +began to wonder whether it would ever stop, his poor arm feeling the +effects of the long pull. + +Red Goliath had another object in view while taking this route, besides +that already mentioned. + +There was a cave in the hills below the village which he intended to +occupy; for, although Adele was in his hands, only half of the mission +which he had been intrusted with by the duelist was accomplished. + +The boy yet remained, and although the words he had heard Hoskins +boastfully utter had created a suspicion in his mind that Mason had +fallen with Custer's command, he intended remaining in the vicinity +until this could be proven by searching the battle-field. + +Shortly after passing the bluffs where Reno was battling with +overwhelming numbers of crafty foemen, the giant made a sudden sweep +with the paddle, and turned the prow toward the shore. + +As the boat struck, he sprang out and pulled it into a clump of bushes, +which, with the reeds growing near the bank, proved an effectual +hiding-place. Adele still sat motionless. + +The giant addressed her, for the first time since starting on his water +voyage, and Mason could see her tremble at the sound of his rough +voice, as if it meant something of horror. + +"Come, gal, we leave the creek here. There's a snug little hiding-place +I intend taking you to, where there'll be no chance of discovery. Now +that you're in my power again, I don't intend losing sight of you. +You're in somebody's way, therefore you have to be removed. It depends +on yourself how this is to be done. Two ways are open: one, by carrying +you off to some foreign land; t'other, leaving you to the mercy of the +forest beasts," and the unfeeling giant laughed to himself. + +"And they would prove more merciful than such a monster as you," +declared Adele, as she stepped from the unsteady boat and faced Red +Goliath. How her eyes shone, as they flashed out the scorn born of her +soul! + +"Bravo! I see the little gal hain't lost her spirit yet. I acknowledge +the corn without hesitation; hain't got such a thing as a heart; never +had, either. Remember how I used to delight in pinching the wings +of butterflies, and running pins through 'em when I was a little +boy--which, considering my present size, was a long time ago. So you +see, gal, I must be what they call a modern monstrosity, a man without +a heart. However, I can say this hain't my doing. I only wanted to get +a ransom from your mother; but this other fellow must step into the +pie." + +"Do you think I can't tell who you mean? It is a fit idea to originate +with such a man as Luke Camden," said the girl, in scornful tones. + +Red Goliath started, and when he spoke his voice was as gruff as ever. + +"Remember, I mention no names. Now, gal, we'll be going. Give me your +hand." + +Adele drew back with a shudder of horror; willingly she would never +touch it. + +"I will walk beside you in plain view," she said. + +"All right," growled the giant, who could not but notice the shudder +and knew its import, and he looked at his hand as if half believing +that he would see the red marks that had so often dyed it. + +"All right, my gal; but remember no tricks, or as sure as there is life +in the air we breathe, I shall shoot you down;" and as if to enforce +this horrible threat, he whipped out a revolver. + +Side by side, the man and his intended victim walked through the woods. +When speaking of his method of traveling, stalked would be a better +word, for he covered three or four feet with every step, so that Adele +was compelled to almost run in order to keep up with him. + +Neither of them saw the water-drenched form that flitted from tree to +tree in their rear. + +Half a mile, perhaps, was covered. + +Mason, on several occasions, thought he heard a noise in his rear, as +though the trailer himself was being trailed; but his attention being +almost fully occupied in front, it soon passed from his mind. + +The hills were reached at length, and the ascent commenced. + +Before five minutes had passed Red Goliath came to a pause. + +Before them a black orifice yawned in the rocks. The giant made Adele +enter first, and himself followed after, as if afraid lest she should +give him the slip after all. + +Another moment and they stood in a cavern some twenty feet square, the +dimensions of which could be seen by the star-light that found ingress +through the large cracks above. + +In spite of his protestations as to not harming her, there were dark +thoughts in the mind of the giant. + +Bloody deeds were every-day affairs with him; the girl stood in his +way; therefore she must be removed. + +Why he had not done the deed before I cannot say. + +Perhaps, in the beginning his plan was different; and, once in the +canoe, the outcry she would make might draw a cordon of enemies around +him. + +Red Goliath replaced his revolver and drew his knife, running his +finger along the edge in a deliberate way. + +His eyes gleamed like those of a snake, and appeared to fascinate the +girl. + +Not a word did the giant utter, but his actions needed no explanation. + +He took a step towards Adele. + +She sank on her knees terribly frightened at the savage monster's move. + +The little hands were clasped and wrung despairingly, but they might +just as well have appealed to a man of stone. + +As the long blade was raised the light glittered along the steel. + +"Be merciful, as you expect to receive mercy," moaned Adele. + +The giant did not expect any mercy; at least his actions betokened as +much, for, as if he had not heard her at all, he continued to advance. + +Another step and he would be upon her. + +She seemed to shrink even closer to the rocky floor, and seeing no hope +in that ferocious countenance, covered her eyes with her hands to shut +out the dread sight. + +Unknown to himself, Red Goliath was sealing his own doom. + +As the knife quivered in the air, and was just about to descend, +Mason's voice rang out through the cavern. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +A MAN WHO NEVER BROOKED AN INSULT. + + +Once within the rifle pits, Pandy Ellis drew his breath more easily, +for the present danger was over. + +The first person he met was garbed as an officer, and this man, +although brave as a lion, proved to be an arrogant fellow in this time +of danger. + +"Whar kin I see Major Reno?" asked the ranger, laying his hand on the +arm of the officer, a familiarity he seemed to resent, for he shook it +off as he turned haughtily toward the other. + +"What are you doing here, fellow, when all brave men are at work?" + +Pandy smiled a little. + +He entertained a curious feeling toward the army. + +In one way he felt a contempt for them, and then again he almost +reverenced everything pertaining to the great governmental system. + +"Because I've jest come in; crawled among the reds. Been wid Custer, +an' by ther Lord Harry, seen ther general an' every man wiped out," +said Pandy. + +"Look here, fellow; what canard is this?" demanded the officer. + +The ranger overlooked the insulting speech; for he knew that what he +said was astounding news. + +His tone was dignified when he repeated it, however. + +"I said Custer, Cooke, Gates, Keogh and every man of 'em had gone +under." + +"It is impossible, man alive; there is something behind this. Look +here, fellow, do you know what we do with spies?" A vague notion had +entered the officer's head that this might be a ruse of the enemy to +force Reno to surrender. + +Pandy's eyes flashed fire; here was something he could not stand. + +"Do ye know what I would do wid such cusses as you? Wal, sir, I'd jist +snap ye atween my fingers like a pipe-stem, bust me ef I wudn't," said +Pandy, grimly. + +"And this to me!" exclaimed the officer, in such a tragic voice, that +had Pandy ever read Scott's works he would have been reminded of +Marmion and the noble earl, Lord Douglas. "Who the devil are you, sir, +may I inquire?" + +It was evident that the man in authority had taken the ranger for one +of the regular scouts belonging to the expedition, until his thoughts +ranged on something worse. + +"What am I? A free ranger; man who never took an insult in his life +from red or white. Who am I? I reckon I'm a man, sir, which is more +than kin be sed o' you. My name? I never was ashamed of it. If ye'll +go an' let Major Reno know what I told you, an' say ter him that Pandy +Ellis sent ye, thar'll be no more sed about the matter." + +The soldier leaned forward, and peered at the thin face of this +leathern-clad warrior. Pandy stood like a rock, and their eyes met. + +"It's him; curse me if I haven't put my foot into it;" and, wheeling +about, the officer strode away, his sword jingling musically when it +came in contact with the spur that adorned his heels. He never reported +to Major Reno, as a ball laid him low not three minutes afterward. + +Pandy Ellis was a curious fellow, taciturn, one might call him. +Although he fought through the night side by side with the cavalrymen, +he never once mentioned a word of what he had seen, supposing the +officer had reported to Reno, and that the major did not communicate +the news to his men for fear of disheartening them. His duty had been +done in this respect, and he was satisfied, although, of course, the +ranger could not help wondering why he was not called upon to give a +full report of the awful battle. + +The night passed in those rifle pits, with death hovering close by, and +seizing upon a comrade every little while, will never be forgotten by +those who have survived the dread ordeal. + +Again and again did the Indians attempt to force their position, only +to fall back in confusion from the defense offered by those valorous +sons of the republic who fought on with the black shadow hovering above +them and the bullets, commanding their position, rattling about their +ears. + +It was a moment to be remembered until time shall be no more. + +Morning broke at last, but did not materially change their prospects; +for what was a benefit to them proved the same to their foes; each side +could now make their bullets tell. + +Brave men fell during the day--men whose records in the memory of their +fellow-soldiers will doubtless be their only monuments. + +Pandy fought through it all like a hero. + +It was familiar business to the veteran ranger; and it might be noticed +that every time he fired (which was frequently) he cut a fresh little +notch on the handle of his tomahawk. + +Pandy Ellis was the first man to avenge the death of Custer and his men. + +As the day wore on, even the most cheerful began to grow discouraged. + +Surrounded by tireless enemies thirsting for their blood; without +water to quench the fierce longing that commenced to prey upon them; +and no signs of aid from either Custer or Terry, their case was indeed +becoming desperate. + +It was late in the afternoon of the 26th of June, that keen-eyed Pandy +Ellis discovered that the Indians' village had vanished, so far as +lodges and people were concerned. + +This gave him grounds for hope, which feeling was soon communicated to +the rest of the devoted band. + +It was evident that Terry or else Gibbon, perhaps, had arrived, and +that the Indians were ready for retreat, although they intended holding +Reno under their thumbs as long as possible. + +Word must be sent, or by some oversight the remnant of the gallant +Seventh might be left to perish on the field, and those rifle pits +become their graves. + +Pandy Ellis at once volunteered to accomplish this duty. + +How he ever managed to dash through the redskins and live, will +probably ever remain a mystery, but he did it. + +A bullet touched his arm, three more cut his clothing, and, at the last +instant, the cavalry horse he rode was shot from under him; but in +spite of all this, the brave ranger carried the news to General Terry. + +As the soldiers advanced the Indians retired, and the remnant of the +Seventh Cavalry was saved. + +Sleep seemed very sweet to those tired heroes that night; that much I +can vouch for. + + * * * * * + +"Hold!" Mason shouted this word as if he possessed the fire of a Forest +or an Edwin Booth. + +Involuntarily the giant became motionless. It was only for a few +seconds, however, and the deadly knife would have descended after all. + +A pistol crack rang out with startling distinctness, awakening the +echoes of this subterranean place. The boy trailer had fired; his prey +had been tracked down, and the closing scene of the tragedy drew near. + +Red Goliath dropped his blade with a howl, and clapped his hand up to +his left shoulder, where the lodging-place of the bullet could be seen +by the blood that wet his flannel shirt. + +Two inches from his heart; not a bad shot, considering the excitement +consequent upon the termination of the chase, and the dim light +afforded by the cracks above, and yet it came very near costing the boy +his life. + +After shooting, in his eagerness to prevent the monster from doing +Adele any harm in his dying moments (thinking his shot fatal), Mason +sprang forward and presented his revolver. + +It was a bad move on his part. Although agile beyond all calculation, +his excitement made him less cautious than was his custom. + +Red Goliath gave a singular cry when the boy appeared, for he +recognized him at once, even though the young gentleman he had seen in +New Orleans was now clad in the fanciful garb of a hunter. + +In spite of his astonishment, the man did not lose his presence of mind +an iota. + +He saw the leveled revolver, and gave it a knock that sent the weapon +spinning to the other end of the cavern, and the next instant the boy +was clasped by the giant's one useful arm. + +Once in that grasp, Mason's struggles were those of an infant, and he +was soon thrown upon his back. A heavy knee upon his chest held him +down, and he was compelled to see the giant reach over and, with his +left arm, pick up the long knife. + +Then eye glared at eye. + +Mason's did not flinch at the blood-shot orbs that were fastened upon +him. + +He saw that blade ascend, but beyond a slight shudder it did not seem +to affect him. + +Red Goliath now realized what a climax affairs had reached, and he +could not forego the temptation to tantalize the boy before dispatching +him. + +"There you lie, my little man, and there you're going to lie forever. +Thought to get the best of me, did you? Aha! Red Goliath has passed +through the jaws of death too often to give in to a mere stripling. The +fates work in my favor. Hoskins found out what it meant to meddle with +such a dangerous customer; now I'm going to give you a taste. Say your +prayers, young man, for your seconds are numbered on this earth." + +Higher rose the blade, as the giant gathered strength for a mighty +stroke. + +Yet the boy's eyes did not quiver, but remained fastened on those of +his enemy. A minute would seem an eternity at such a time. + +Red Goliath was purposely delaying his blow, to make the death agony +more potent; but he hesitated too long. + +A hand that could grip like a vise caught the upraised arm, and the +giant looked up to find himself face to face with Chevalier Bolly +Wherrit. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +WHAT FATE HAS ORDAINED. + + +Adele had for ancestors, on her father's side of the house, valiant +Frenchmen, and she inherited some of their courage. + +Red Goliath had paid no attention to her after Mason so suddenly +appeared upon the scene of action, and in this disregard he proved his +complete ignorance of the young girl's bravery. + +When she saw the one she loved so well in the power of this rough +assassin, all fear fled for the time being from her heart, and she was +brave. + +While she alone had been threatened Adele could not help being +terror-stricken, but now the case was quite altered. + +The revolver that had been knocked from Mason's hand (General Custer's +revolver) lay near the young girl. Her eyes had followed its course +through the air mechanically, and as she realized what power lay in the +little weapon, her eyes flashed. She sprang forward and picked it up. + +Just at this instant a man clad in a buckskin, and whose face bore the +impress of nature's nobleman, stepped into view. He held up a hand +toward Adele, as if telling her to remain a passive spectator, and she, +willing to trust her cause in such hands, suffered the revolver that +had been raised with so determined a purpose to fall to her side. + +One bound, like that of a panther, served to bring Bolly Wherrit in a +position where he could enter into the game. As his iron hand came down +upon the brawny arm of the giant Hercules, the latter looked up with a +startled look. It was his last word upon earth, the curse he uttered; +for the ranger buried his knife in that broad chest, with the force of +an avenger, and threw the dying monster upon the rocky floor. Mason +sprang up and took Adele away to the other end of the cavern, in order +that she might not witness what a terrible thing death was. + +I shall not dwell upon the convulsive movements of the stricken giant. + +Twice he essayed to pull out a revolver, but each time Bolly kicked +his arm; and thus foiled of his devilish purpose, the savage man died, +foaming at the mouth. + +Bolly stood contemplating the body with folded arms. + +There was something fascinating, and at the same time repulsive, in the +bulky form lying so quiet in the arms of death, and the gray-haired +ranger shook his head as he turned away. + +"It run agin the grain, that blow did, but 'twar either his life or +yers, and I took the choice. He was a fine man in shape, but a devil in +mind. Wal, it's the fate o' us all; and the only wonder air how ye've +'scaped so long. Young feller, I reckon az how yer name must be Mason +Pierrepont?" said the ranger. + +"It is, sir, and to whom are we indebted for this great service," said +the boy, clasping an arm tighter around Adele than the circumstances +seemed to warrant, seeing that she was only an adopted daughter of his +mother. + +His words contained a dignity that compelled Bolly to respect him. + +"Bolly Wherrit air my name, tho' that ain't o' much consequence. Yer +mother engaged me to come arter the leetle gal yonder. Unfortunately I +war taken prisoner, but escaped during the fight yesterday. Kin ye tell +me anything about it?" + +Mason graphically, but concisely, gave an account of Custer's +annihilation, at which the old ranger stood aghast, and it was several +moments before he recovered. + +"Heavens! but thet war orful. Arter that I'm death on the reds. And ye +say my chum Pandy Ellis war in it? If they've rubbed out--but no; sech +a thing air impossible; Pandy couldn't die so easy. Custer kilt Black +Sculley wid his last shot, did he? Then thar's another boarder jest +gone. But poor Custer, an' Cooke, handsome Cooke, and Yates, wid whom +I've bunked many's the time. Poor boys, it's a bad piece o' bizness, +but ef they've kilt my Pandy Ellis, then the world won't be big enuff +ter hide ole Sitting Bull an' his chiefs from Bolly Wherrit's rifle;" +and the set teeth proclaimed every word meant as it was uttered. + +By comparing notes, Mason and the ranger came to a good understanding, +and realized the situation of affairs across the river pretty +accurately. + +It was while they were debating as to their future course, that an +alarm occurred in the shape of the sudden appearance of an Indian, who +had stumbled upon the cave by accident, as his surprise would seem to +indicate. + +The prairie ranger proved too quick for the red American, however, and +hurling himself upon the Indian, he brought him to the ground. + +Here he was speedily secured, with Mason's assistance, and rolled into +a corner for safe-keeping. + +Fearing lest more of these unwelcome guests should make their +appearance, Bolly took his station in the passage leading to the +cavern, and there remained all night, while Mason and Adele slept +within, or at least made a pretense of sleeping. + +But the darkness passed away without any alarm, and daylight found them +in the same order, only that all signs of the dead giant had strangely +vanished from the cavern, in which mystery Bolly was a participant. + +Leaving the others, the ranger went out on a scout, and came back in +an hour or so with the news that the remainder of the cavalry were +intrenched among the hills on the other side of the river, and battling +with the Sioux. + +Bolly also brought with him the choice portion of a deer he had shot. + +It took but a short time to gather fuel, and soon the olfactories of +our friends were greeted by the delicious aroma of roasting venison. + +Breakfast dispatched, the situation was discussed again, and at the end +of the council it was decided best to remain where they were, and await +the movement of the troops. + +Mason being acquainted with Custer's intended plans of operation, knew +that Terry might be expected, and it might be safer for them to leave +in the care of the soldiers, for the vicinity seemed swarming with +Indians. + +Thus the day passed. + +In the evening Bolly took another scout, and witnessed the arrival of +General Terry's men. + +He was soon with the heroes who had fought so long under Major Reno, +and almost the first person he ran across was his chum. + +It would have done a philosopher good to have witnessed the meeting +between these great-hearted men, each of whom feared the other was dead. + +A pressure of the hand that spoke volumes was followed by the +expressive glance. + +Words fail on such an occasion to convey the idea that other things can +tell. + +Bolly did not wait to see any of the officers, although many of them +were known to him, but rushed his chum to the other side of the river, +where he made him acquainted with Mason and Adele. + +That night the quartette of friends spent in the cave, enjoying +themselves with yarns and good cheer. + +In the morning, Bolly proposed a start, urged by the young girl's +desire to see home, and the agony of that lady mother in the Southern +city, whose tears had accomplished what money alone could never have +done. + +After reaching Laramie, rapid transit was obtained, and, before many +days passed by, the city of New Orleans was reached. + +Madame Pierrepont fulfilled all her promises to Bolly, and still thinks +that everything she owns would be inadequate to recompense him for +saving her dear son and adopted daughter. + +I have grave suspicions (aroused by some of young Mason's warm +_brotherly_ actions) that the time is not far distant when his wealthy +mother will receive pretty Adele as her own daughter, but perhaps they +are too young as yet for more than surmises on my part. + +Pandy Ellis and his partner started for the field of action again, +and by the time this reaches the reader's eye, they will doubtless be +at the side of impetuous Major Burt or some other of Cooke's gallant +officers. + +On their way we lose sight of these princes of the prairies, but let us +hope it will not be forever. + +Alas! poor Custer! + +His memory will ever be green in the memory of his fellow-soldiers. + +The whole country mourns his loss, and well they may, for a more +dashing, chivalrous, valiant cavalry chief never led his men to battle, +and though willful at times, his other qualities completely hid this +fault. + +Who among us can stand forth, and pointing to himself, say, "Look at +me, and take a lesson. I am faultless?" Not one, I am sure. + +And with Custer fell the flower of the army; noble men whose names +shall ever be cherished by all lovers of the good and brave. + +That Pandy Ellis was their first real avenger the reader already knows. + +Whether retribution shall overtake Sitting Bull and his warriors, or +not, time alone will tell. + +As to the movements of the troops under Terry, also those under Cooke, +the reader can glean fresher news from the daily papers than I can give. + +At present it seems that the Northwest will be the scene of a bloody +Indian war which can only terminate with the extermination of the +warriors engaged. + +As to Pedro Sanchez, he has recovered from the wounds received at the +hands of his former companion, Red Goliath, but trembles whenever left +alone, for he has in some way heard of the terrible oath sworn by Pandy +Ellis to have his life; and if there is one man in the world whom the +French Spaniard fears it is the veteran trapper chief. + +From the limited papers at my command I have drawn this tale out of the +terrible death-ride still so fresh in the public mind, and now that +Custer has gone to join his brave fellow-officers in the spirit world, +I hope all his faults, such as they were, may be overlooked, and due +reverence shown for the name of our missing hero. + + +[THE END.] + + + + +Useful and Instructive Books. + + +HOW TO BOX.--The art of self-defense made easy. Containing over thirty +illustrations of guards, blows and the different positions of a good +boxer. Every boy should obtain one of these useful and instructive +books, as it will teach you how to box without an instructor. Only 10 +cents. For sale by all newsdealers, or sent, post paid, on receipt of +price. Address Frank Tousey, publisher, 34 and 36 North Moore street, +New York. P. O. Box 2730. + +SHORTY'S JOKES.--The funniest book ever published is now for sale at +10 cents per copy. Contains all the latest gags and sayings, combined +with a complete list of jokes originated by "Shorty," the famous "funny +man," and "Peter Pad." It will make the gravest of people shake with +laughter. Price 10 cents. Address Frank Tousey, publisher, 34 and 36 +North Moore street, New York. P. O. Box 2730. + +HOW TO DO TRICKS.--The great book of magic and card tricks, containing +full instructions of all the leading card tricks of the day, also the +most popular magical illusions as performed by our leading magicians; +every boy should obtain a copy, as it will both amuse and instruct. +For sale by all newsdealers, or will be sent, postage free, on receipt +of 10 cents. Address Frank Tousey, publisher, 34 and 36 North Moore +street, New York. Box 2730. + +IRELAND'S STRUGGLES FOR LAND AND LIBERTY.--A new book just issued. +Contains biographical sketches of Robert Emmet, Charles Stewart +Parnell, Grattan, O'Brien, O'Mahony, Wolfe Tone, and every prominent +Irish patriot. Also interesting and instructive incidents in the +history of Erin's Isle. Price of book by mail, 10 cents. Postage paid +by us. Everybody should have one. Address Frank Tousey, publisher, 34 +and 36 North Moore street, New York. P. O. Box 2730. + +POPULAR SONGS AND BALLADS OF THE EMERALD ISLE.--The grandest collection +of poems and songs ever offered to the public. The most popular +effusions of Moore, T. Davis, Griffin, Lover, Mangan, Walsh, Callanan, +Banim, Kickham, F. Davis, Goldsmith, Lever, Duffy, Casey, Meagher, +Sullivan, O'Reilly, Locke, Meany, McCarthy, Mulchinock, Savage, Doheny, +with sketches of their lives. The book is beautifully bound, and should +be in the parlor of every family. For sale by all newsdealers. Price +25 cents. Sent, post paid, on receipt of price. Address Frank Tousey, +publisher, 34 and 36 North Moore street, New York. P. O. Box 2730. + +HOW TO ENTERTAIN AN EVENING PARTY is the title of a very valuable +little book just published. A complete compendium of games, sports, +card diversions, comic recreations, etc., suitable for parlor or +drawing-room entertainment. It contains more for the money than any +book published. Sold by all newsdealers, or send 10 cents to Frank +Tousey, publisher, 34 and 36 North Moore street, New York, and receive +it by return mail, post paid. + +HOW TO BECOME BEAUTIFUL.--One of the brightest and most valuable little +books ever given to the world. Everybody wishes to know how to become +beautiful, both male and female. The secret is simple and almost +costless. Read this book, and be convinced. "How to Become Beautiful." +Price ten cents. For sale by book and newsdealers, or send ten cents to +Frank Tousey, 34 and 36 North Moore street, New York, and it will be +mailed to your address, post paid. + +HOW TO WRITE LETTERS.--A wonderful little book, telling you how to +write to your sweetheart, your father, mother, sister, brother, +employer; and, in fact, everybody and anybody you wish to write to. +Every young man and every young lady in the land should have this book. +It is for sale by all newsdealers. Price 10 cents, or sent from this +office on receipt of price. Address Frank Tousey, publisher, 34 and 36 +North Moore street, New York. P. O. Box 2730. + +MULDOON'S JOKES.--This is one of the most original joke books ever +published, and is brim full of wit and humor. It contains a large +collection of songs, jokes, conundrums, etc., of Terence Muldoon, the +great wit, humorist and practical joker of the day. We offer this +amusing book, together with the picture of "Muldoon," for the small sum +of 10 cents. Every boy who can enjoy a good substantial joke should +obtain a copy immediately. All newsdealers have it for sale, or you can +obtain it by sending 10 cents to Frank Tousey, publisher, 34 and 36 +North Moore street, New York, and you will receive it by return mail, +post paid. + +HOW TO BECOME A SPEAKER.--Containing fourteen illustrations; giving +the different positions requisite to become a good speaker, reader +and elocutionist. Also containing gems from all the popular authors +of prose and poetry, arranged in the most simple and concise manner +possible. For sale by all newsdealers in the United States and Canada, +or sent to your address, postage free, on receipt of ten cents. Address +Frank Tousey, publisher, 34 and 36 North Moore street. New York. Box +2730. + +HOW TO KEEP AND MANAGE PETS.--Giving complete information as to the +manner and method of raising, keeping, taming, breeding and managing +all kinds of pets. Also giving full instructions for making cages, +nests, etc. Fully explained by 28 handsome illustrations, making it the +most complete book of the kind ever published. Price 10 cents. Address +Frank Tousey, publisher, 34 and 36 North Moore street, New York. Box +2730. + +HOW TO BECOME RICH.--This wonderful book, "How to Become Rich," +presents you with the example and life experience of some of the most +noted and wealthy men in the world, including the self-made men of our +country. The book is edited by one of the most successful men of the +present age, whose own example is in itself guide enough for those who +aspire to fame and money. The book will give you the secret. Price 10 +cents. For sale by newsmen and booksellers, or send price to Frank +Tousey, publisher, 34 and 36 North Moore street, New York, and it will +be mailed to you, post paid. + +HOW TO TELL FORTUNES.--Every one is desirous of knowing what their +future life will bring forth, whether happiness or misery, wealth or +poverty. You can tell by a glance at this little book. Buy one and be +convinced. Tell your own fortune. Tell the fortunes of your friends. +Price 10 cents. Frank Tousey, publisher, 34 and 36 North Moore street, +New York. Box 2730. + +HOW TO DO IT.--It is a great life secret, and one that every young man +desires to know all about. Frank Tousey publishes a book that tells +you all about it. Send 10 cents and get it. There's happiness in it. +Address Frank Tousey, publisher, 34 and 36 North Moore street, New +York. P. O. Box 2730. + +HOW TO DANCE is the title of a new and handsome little book just +issued by Frank Tousey. It contains full instructions in the art of +dancing, etiquette in the ball-room and at parties, how to dress, and +full directions for calling off in all the popular square dances. The +price is 10 cents, for sale by newsdealers, or sent from this office on +receipt of price, postage free. Address Frank Tousey, publisher, 34 and +36 North Moore street, New York. P. O. Box 2730. + +ON THE STAGE; OR, HOW TO BECOME AN ACTOR.--A valuable book for +amateurs, containing all the information desired by beginners in +the profession, also NEGRO ACTS, IRISH ACTS, DUTCH ACTS, DIALOGUES, +SPEECHES, SONGS, JOKES, ETC., ETC. For sale by all newsdealers, or sent +from this office on receipt of price, 15 cents. Address Frank Tousey, +34 and 36 North Moore street, New York. P. O. Box 2730. + +HOW TO BECOME A VENTRILOQUIST.--By Harry Kennedy. The secret given +away. Every intelligent boy reading this book of instructions, by +a practical professor (delighting multitudes every night with his +wonderful imitations), can master the art, and create any amount of fun +for himself and friends. It is the GREATEST BOOK ever published, and +there's MILLIONS (_of fun_) IN IT. HOW TO BECOME A VENTRILOQUIST. For +sale by all newsdealers, price 10 cents; or send price to the office of +THE BOYS OF NEW YORK, and receive a copy by return mail. Address Frank +Tousey, publisher, 34 and 36 North Moore street, New York. P. O. Box +2730. + +HOW TO BECOME AN ATHLETE--Giving full instruction for the use of +dumb-bells, Indian clubs, parallel bars, horizontal bars, and various +other methods of developing a good, healthy muscle; containing over +sixty illustrations. Every boy can become strong and healthy by +following the instructions contained in this little book. For sale by +all newsdealers, or sent to your address, postage free, on receipt of +10 cents. Frank Tousey, publisher, 34 and 36 North Moore street, New +York. Box 2730. + + + + + The Life and Death of Jesse James + IS PUBLISHED IN + Number 76 + OF + The Boys of New York Pocket Library. + +This is the only authentic and true biography of this noted outlaw, +giving a full account of his life from the time he was born until he +met his death at the hands of Robert Ford. + + PRICE 5 CENTS. + + + Frank James the Avenger + IS PUBLISHED IN + Number 81 + OF + The Boys of New York Pocket Library, + +Giving the full accounts of Frank James' vain attempts to avenge the +death of his brother Jesse. + + PRICE 5 CENTS. + + + FRANK JAMES' SURRENDER + IS PUBLISHED IN + Number 105 + OF + THE BOYS OF NEW YORK POCKET LIBRARY, + +Giving a full and truthful account of this notorious outlaw's surrender +to the hands of Justice. + + PRICE 5 CENTS. + + + THE + James Boys' Series of Adventures + CONTAINED IN + THE WIDE AWAKE LIBRARY. + + PRICE 5 CENTS. + +Every book complete in itself, and full of startling and exciting +scenes. Read the following list of the names and numbers of the books +already published. For sale by all newsdealers. + + 440 THE TRAIN ROBBERS, A STORY OF THE JAMES BOYS. By D. W. Stevens. + 457 THE JAMES BOYS AS GUERRILLAS. By D. W. Stevens. + 462 THE JAMES BOYS AND THE VIGILANTES. By D. W. Stevens. + 466 THE JAMES BOYS AND THE KU KLUX. By D. W. Stevens. + 469 THE JAMES BOYS IN CALIFORNIA. By D. W. Stevens. + 474 THE JAMES BOYS AS TRAIN WRECKERS. By D. W. Stevens. + 479 THE JAMES BOYS IN MINNESOTA. By D. W. Stevens. + 482 THE JAMES BOYS AS HIGHWAYMEN. By D. W. Stevens. + 488 THE JAMES BOYS' LONGEST CHASE. By D. W. Stevens. + 490 THE JAMES BOYS IN MEXICO. By D. W. Stevens. + 492 THE JAMES BOYS AT CRACKER NECK. By D. W. Stevens. + 514 THE JAMES BOYS AND TIMBERLAKE. By D. W. Stevens. + 521 THE JAMES BOYS IN COURT. By D. W. Stevens. + 527 THE JAMES BOYS' CAVE. By D. W. Stevens. + 530 THE JAMES BOYS AS BANK ROBBERS. By D. W. Stevens. + +Any of the above books are for sale by every newsdealer in the United +States and Canada, or they will be sent to your address, post-paid, on +receipt of 5 cents. Address + + FRANK TOUSEY, Publisher, + Box 2730. 34 and 36 North Moore Street, New York. + + + + +Transcriber's Notes: + + +Added table of contents. + +Italics are used to represent _italics_. + +Retained inconsistent spellings in dialect (e.g. "yallar-haired" vs. +"yaller-haired"). + +Retained some inconsistent hyphenation (e.g. "red-skin" vs. "redskin"). + +Page 2, changed period to question mark after "fight fur her cubs?" + +Page 3, added missing apostrophe to "thar's" in "thar's eggscitin' +times comin'." Corrected "Indion" to "Indian" in "through the Indian +camp." Changed "Scully" to "Sculley" for consistency with later +appearances. + +Page 4, corrected "entertained suspicious" to "entertained suspicions;" +"on the drags" to "on the crags;" and "had accidentally became" to "had +accidentally become." Corrected "Bowle" to "Bowie." + +Page 5, changed "cry of a participant" to "eye of a participant." +Changed "powder-begrimmed" to "powder-begrimed." Corrected "Wherritt" +to "Wherrit" ("Bolly Wherrit proved too willing"). + +Page 6, removed duplicate "a" from "battle and not a massacre." Changed +comma to period after "all sorts of plunder." Added missing "r" to "I +can and do affirm." + +Page 7, added missing period after "sumpin important." Corrected +"detestion" to "detestation." Changed "world" to "word" in "that word +'gal.'" + +Page 8, corrected "cautiousty" to "cautiously" ("slowly and +cautiously"). Corrected "firs" to "furs" ("pile of furs lay just +within"). + +Page 9, corrected "disiinguished" to "distinguished" ("slain his +distinguished foeman"). Added missing apostrophe to "Pedro's hands +failed to do their duty." Corrected "miscreat" to "miscreant" +("flattening the miscreant"). + +Page 10, corrected "puled" to "pulled" ("Bolly pulled it out again"). + +Page 11, changed "know" to "known" ("is already known"). Added missing +apostrophe to "think I can't tell." Corrected "semed" to "seemed" +("familiarity he seemed to resent"). Corrected "uuder" to "under" +("every man of 'em had gone under"). + +Page 12, changed "gripe" to "grip" in "grip like a vise." Corrected +period to question mark in "Kin ye tell me anything about it?" +Corrected "situaiion" to "situation" ("situation was discussed again"). + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Custer's Last Shot, by J. M. Travers + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 49286 *** |