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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d7b82bc --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,4 @@ +*.txt text eol=lf +*.htm text eol=lf +*.html text eol=lf +*.md text eol=lf diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..534a943 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #65923 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/65923) diff --git a/old/65923-0.txt b/old/65923-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index a3c504f..0000000 --- a/old/65923-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,4499 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg eBook of Little Rifle, The Boy Trapper; or The Young -Fur Hunters, by Capt. "Bruin" Adams - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and -most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms -of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you -will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before -using this eBook. - -Title: Little Rifle, The Boy Trapper; or The Young Fur Hunters - -Author: Capt. "Bruin" Adams - -Release Date: July 26, 2021 [eBook #65923] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -Produced by: David Edwards, David E. Brown, and the Online Distributed - Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (Northern Illinois - University Digital Library) - -*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LITTLE RIFLE, THE BOY TRAPPER; OR -THE YOUNG FUR HUNTERS *** - - - - - LITTLE RIFLE; - - OR, - - THE YOUNG FUR HUNTERS. - - - BY CAPT. “BRUIN” ADAMS, - AUTHOR OF THE FOLLOWING POCKET NOVELS: - NO. 9. LIGHTNING JO. NO. 78. OLD RUFF, THE TRAPPER. - - - NEW YORK: - BEADLE AND ADAMS, PUBLISHERS, - 98 WILLIAM STREET. - - - - - Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1873, by - FRANK STARR & CO., - In the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. - - - - -LITTLE RIFLE, - -THE BOY TRAPPER. - - - - -CHAPTER I. - -ON THE UPPER COLUMBIA. - - -Along the shores of one of the branches of the Upper Columbia, a lad -was making his way with a care and stealth that showed he was on the -alert for danger, let it come in whatsoever form it chose. - -A casual glance at the boy would have led one to pronounce him about -fifteen or sixteen years of age. He was prepossessing and handsome to -a remarkable degree. The cheeks glowed with the hue of health, the -rose-tint being as fine as that of the sea-shell; the features were -almost classical in their regularity; the teeth small and clear as -pearls, the eyes large and lustrous, and the hair dark and wavy, but -cut quite short. The hands and feet were small and shapely, and a -certain careless grace of movement, shown even in his cautious gait, -proved that “Little Rifle,” as the lad was called, possessed a rare -activity, and an extraordinary command of his bodily powers. - -His dress was thoroughly backwoods in every respect, consisting of the -buck-skin leggings rather gaudily fringed and ornamented, the moccasins -embroidered with beads, the skirt descending to the knees, and clasped -at the waist by a broad belt, into which was thrust a knife, the horn -handle only being visible. Within the bosom of the skirt, and out of -sight, was a small revolver, intended only to be used when necessity -compelled it. A string passing over one and under the other shoulder, -sustained a powder-flask and bullet-pouch; but there was no game-bag -visible, for the reason that the game the hunters bring down in that -latitude can not be carried very conveniently, especially when the -hunter is a boy in his teens. - -In the left hand Little Rifle carried a beaver-trap, while a small, -silver-mounted rifle rested upon his right shoulder, and was held in -place by his other hand. - -The day was drawing to a close, and there was a mellowed subdued quiet -resting upon wood and stream that made the hour and the place one of -the most attractive imaginable. The branch of the Columbia, at this -point, flowed quite swiftly but with a steady, unruffled sweep, that -was in perfect keeping with silence and solitude. The banks on either -hand were varied by rock, wood and prairie, the country itself being of -the most romantic nature. - -Looking off to the east and south, the eye caught a glimpse of distant -mountain peaks, standing out white and clear against the blue horizon, -like a snowy conical cloud, and the intervening stretch of country was -broken by hills, ravines, gorges, wood, stream, rocks and prairie, -in an interminable jungle, making a country that was the chosen -roaming-ground of the fiercest wild animals, the most valuable game, -and the wild Indian, and the equally wild hunter and trapper. - -Turning the eye to the westward, it was greeted with a vision of -magnificence and grandeur. In this clear, brilliant air, which makes -the climate of Oregon rival that of Italy, there was a sharp, clear -distinctness to the Cascade Range, fifty miles away, that would have -made any one believe that the distance was scarcely a quarter. Some of -the loftiest peaks shone white against the sky, but as they towered -aloft, their immense slopes could be seen to be covered with verdure, -that was tinged with a misty blue, when viewed through the half a -hundred miles of atmosphere. - -Little Rifle was moving up the left bank of the stream, with his face -turned toward the Cascade Range, except when he darted his quick, -wide-awake glances in the direction of the river’s bank on his right -hand, varied now and then by an equally inquisitive look at the wood -and rocks in front and on his left. - -“Uncle Ruff told me yesterday that there were plenty signs of beaver -further up the stream,” mused the lad, as he walked along, “and I know -that they have been thinned out down below, so that I haven’t had a -bite in this trap for three days. I’ll set it a mile or two further up, -where it will pay to make it a visit early in the morning.” And he -held up the trap and turned it around before his eyes, as if it were a -new thing altogether. It resembled the ordinary “steel-trap,” except -that it was considerably larger. - -The ease with which the lad carried the cumbersome load, attested the -strength which this manner of living had given him. Like all little -chaps, he was given to conversing with himself, when walking alone, and -to-day he seemed in quite a chatty vein. - -“Old Ruff went off on a hunt yesterday, and told me he would not be -back for several days, and I’m to keep the old cabin till he shows -himself again. I’ve done that often enough to understand it; but I wish -he was home to-night.” - -Something like a shade of sadness passed over the boy’s face as he -uttered these words. It may be that it was only a natural feeling of -loneliness; an evidence of that longing for companionship, which, at -times, comes over us all, and is scarcely ever absent from youth. - -“I wonder whether Uncle Ruff knows any more of my life than he has -told me,” he added, following up the vein of thought. “That is little -enough, at any rate. Years ago, when I was very young, he found me, and -hasn’t any more idea than have I of who my parents are, and how it was -I came to be in this part of the world.” - -Little Rifle might have continued in this reverie for hours, even -after the sun had disappeared, but for the fact that his surroundings -prevented. That veteran of the Oregon woods, known as Old Ruff Robsart, -had not kept him under his special training for years, without -accomplishing something. One of his lessons was that when a hunter -was outside of his cabin, or place of retreat, he should never go to -sleep; which in more intelligible language meant that ‘day-dreaming’ -or reverie, of all things was to be avoided, and the true hunter or -trapper never failed to keep every faculty wide awake, on the alert for -insidious danger liable at any moment to leap out upon him. - -The lad had cast his glance several times toward the other bank, -and the result in each case appeared to be unsatisfactory. There -was something there which caused him considerable speculation and -misgiving. - -If we had been there, it is hardly possible that we should have noticed -it, but it could not escape the eye of the boy trapper, who, walking -more slowly each moment, finally came to a dead halt, dropping the trap -to the ground, and wheeling about so as to face the suspicious point. - -The stream to which we have alluded was about two hundred yards in -width. There were scarcely any trees at all growing upon the opposite -side at this particular position, but there was an abundance of -undergrowth and a species of long high grass peculiar to the spot. - -That which had arrested the reverie of Little Rifle was not the -suspicion, but the certainty that something was moving along the bank, -beneath the clustering grass. What it was even he was unable to say. -It had caught his eye, or rather the indications of it had, when he -was a short distance further down-stream. An unnatural agitation of -the grass was the sign that caused him to scrutinize it with unwonted -sharpness, until, as we have already shown, he paused in his walk and -faced directly about. - -It would seem, even with what he had learned, that there was little -cause for alarm, for there were many ways in which the appearance could -be explained. In the first place, as it moved with the current, it -might be that it was a log or piece of driftwood that moved tardily, on -account of its proximity to shore, and the obstruction of the grass. - -And then, if not an inanimate object, what more probable than that it -was some beast of prey stealing along in quest of its victim? - -Both of these considerations were in the mind of Little Rifle, but were -rejected after a moment’s thought. His life had taught him to think -quickly, and he was not long in making up his mind that there was good -cause for alarm. - -“Neither logs nor animals travel in that style,” he muttered, carefully -following the agitated grass and undergrowth, and watching intently for -the chance when some inadvertence would give him a more satisfactory -glimpse of the object. “It is either a white man or Indian, with the -chances altogether in favor of its being the Indian. We are too far -up in the mountains for white folks to give us much trouble, and I -remember that Uncle Ruff told me to be unusually careful, for he had -seen signs of Blackfeet both up and down-stream, and if they have been -hunting in these parts we can make up our minds that they have found -our traps, and are on a hunt for us. I think that one of the Blackfeet -is now in the grass yonder.” - -The wish of Little Rifle was gratified. He had stood but a minute, when -a mass of tall grass swayed to one side, and, at the same instant, -he saw the prow of a birch canoe stealing as insidiously along as a -panther approaches its prey. - -“Just what I thought!” exclaimed the lad. “It is one of those -Blackfeet, that Old Ruff says will follow a man a thousand miles to get -his scalp. I’ll bet he is after _mine_.” - -Whoever occupied the canoe--friend or foe--showed that he was aware of -the scrutiny to which he was subjected; for the boat, which up to this -time had progressed with unvarying steadiness, now abruptly stood still. - -This attempt to remove suspicion was too evident for the lad to mistake -it; and with a tact which proved not only his remarkable training, -but his native keenness, he took advantage of the “situation,” with -scarcely a second’s pause. - -Picking up his trap, he wheeled half-way round, and walked directly -on among the undergrowth and rocks, and almost immediately vanished -from view. His action was precisely that of one who was satisfied that -nothing was wrong, and who had resumed the quiet tenor of his way. - -But exactly the opposite was the case. He was resolved before venturing -further up the stream to find out precisely the nature of the danger -that impended. It was one of the maxims of old Robsart never to leave -the presence of danger until he had learned all about it. - -This stealthy movement of the Blackfoot very probably had a deep -significance, which Little Rifle was determined to penetrate, if such a -thing were possible. - -After walking a hundred yards, and reaching a point where he felt -secure from observation, he once more laid the trap upon the ground, -and examined his rifle. The latter was a perfect weapon in its way, -fitted to carry a ball a great distance with accuracy and was just -suited to the strength of the lad. He handled it, too, like one who -understood its use, as indeed he did. - -Every thing seemed to be satisfactory, and in as perfect order as he -could desire. - -“The gun is reliable,” was his satisfied exclamation, as he threw it -over his shoulder again; “now, if I ain’t mistaken, there’s going to be -trouble between a boy about my size, and a Blackfoot Indian a good deal -bigger!” - - - - -CHAPTER II. - -LITTLE RIFLE AND “BIG INJIN.” - - -The sun had long since passed down out of sight, behind the Cascade -Range, and a sort of twilight gloom rested upon wood and river. Not -a sound reached the ear, except the faint hollow roar of the forest, -and the distant rush of the waterfall, where the river poured over the -rocks on the way to the ocean. - -Little Rifle moved along with the careless stride of the free -easy-going hunter, who knows precisely where his footsteps are leading -him, and what he may expect when he gets there. It was curious too to -note the silence with which he advanced. The most skillful trailer -among the Blackfeet could not have guided his moccasins with a softer -rustle that seemed more like the creeping of the reptile than the -motion of the human foot. - -The boy did not approach the stream until he had reached a point fully -an eighth of a mile from where he had left it, and then it was upon his -hands and knees. - -Reaching a spot that afforded him the view he was seeking, he peered -out from his concealment, directing his eyes at once toward the place -where he had last seen the canoe. The distance was so great that even -his young keen eyes were unable to see any thing unusual for a moment. -Suddenly, however, he exclaimed in an excited whisper: - -“There goes the old chap, as sure as the world, and he thinks he is -going to git _me_.” - -As he spoke, the canoe which had caused him so much uneasiness, shot -out from the opposite side, and headed directly across stream, the -boat, as far as he was able to judge, aiming for the spot where he had -been standing. - -Little Rifle waited hardly a minute after the canoe came in sight, -when he crawled hastily back for a rod or so, then plunged into the -protection of the shrubbery and undergrowth, and retraced the very -ground over which he had passed but a few minutes before. - -This time he went at all speed, for his object was to reach the point -ahead of the red-skin. He ran like a regular hunter, with a long, -loping trot, his feet sounding like the stealthy tread of a beast of -prey, while he kept glancing from side to side in that fashion which -seemed to characterize him at all times during his waking hours. - -Little Rifle was in good luck this afternoon, for he reached his -destination at the very second that he wished to do so. - -He heard the dip of the paddle, as the canoe made its way through the -swift current, and a moment later the Blackfoot’s head came to view, -as he propelled the canoe swiftly forward. Entirely unsuspicious of -danger, he ran the prow of the boat hard against the shore and almost -at the same instant leaped out. - -As Little Rifle was thus afforded a full view of the red-skin, he was -sure that he had never seen a more repulsive creature on two legs. A -dirty blanket lay in the bottom of the canoe, and the hair, instead of -being gathered in the ornamented tuft or topknot, hung entirely loose -and straggling about his shoulders. The face itself was daubed and -plastered with differently colored clay, mixed with grease and some -other compound that made the copper-skin the very acme of filth and -ugliness. The countenance by nature was as hideous as possible, being -seamed with small-pox, while the nose was of enormous size, flattened -out to an immense width, by the process which has given this tribe -their distinctive name among the hunters and trappers of the West. - -There was the imprint of a villainous nature upon this same -countenance. It was stamped so clearly, that it could be seen and read -through all the dirt and grease that was smeared over it. - -As Little Rifle looked upon the Blackfoot, he felt also that he was -gazing upon the face of a murderer, one who would bury his tomahawk -into his brain with as little compunction as if he were a wild animal. - -The lad had concealed himself behind a rock, and held his rifle cocked, -aimed and at his shoulder, so that the body of the red-skin was -covered, and our hero had but to pull the trigger to send the dark soul -into eternity. - -But he did not do so, for he would have felt that he too committed a -crime, in thus shooting down a human being like a dog. - -The Blackfoot, after stepping out of his boat, turned about to draw -it further up the bank, and, as he did so, he laid his rifle upon the -ground so as to permit him to use his arms with greater facility. - -This was the opportunity for which Little Rifle was waiting. Taking one -step from behind the rock, so as to bring his body in full view, he -called out: - -“_Ki! yi!_” - -Like a flash of lightning, the red-skin turned so as to face the sound, -and doing so, saw the rifle not more than twenty feet distant, pointed -straight at his breast, and with the finger resting upon the trigger. -It was, indeed, only a hair’s breadth between him and eternity. - -Accustomed as was the savage to the most desperate emergencies, he was -completely taken off his guard by this unexpected turn of events, and -for a moment he stood like one transfixed. - -Then he began, almost imperceptibly, to lean his left side over, -preparatory to making a sudden snatch for his gun; but Little Rifle -was too thorough a scout to lose the advantage he had gained by his -superior wit. - -He had learned considerable of the Blackfoot tongue from old Ruff -Robsart, and he now made the best use of it. Detecting the purpose of -the red-skin on the instant, he called out: - -“Stir a foot before I tell you, and I will shoot!” - -Such a command was not to be mistaken, and the savage straightened -himself with a suddenness that made him appear ridiculous. Men like him -have too much dread of death to invite it by any direct means, and -treacherous and vindictive as he was, he comprehended his danger in all -its fullness. - -“Now, get,” added Little Rifle, still holding his piece at a dead -level, and closing one eye, as if to convince his enemy that he was -determined to make no mistake in the aim. - -This peculiarly American expression, naturally enough, was not very -clear to the red-skin, who stood motionless and undecided as to what -was expected of him. - -“Move off; go away from the canoe!” said the boy, accompanying the -order by a swaying motion to the left, that did not lessen his command -of aim, and, at the same time, made his meaning perfectly intelligible. - -It went against the grain to obey the order, but there was no question -but that Little Rifle was master of the situation, and he had the nerve -to hold his vantage-ground. Noting the hesitation of his captive, he -made a shifting motion, as if he had decided to fire. This was enough, -and the Blackfoot, with one sidelong bound, landed nearly a dozen feet -to the right of his canoe, and kept on walking, as if he had concluded -to leave such an uncongenial neighborhood altogether, but our hero was -not quite ready to give his permission. - -“Hold on!” he commanded, in the same authoritative voice, and the -Blackfoot did hold on, wheeling about and staring at his master, with -an angry, defiant expression, which said, as plainly as the words: - -“What in thunder do you want now?” - -Keeping his body covered by the muzzle of the deadly little weapon, -the boy now advanced a half-dozen steps, so as to bring him far nearer -to the canoe and rifle than was his foe, then halted. Feeling himself -undisputed master of the field, he showed a boyish propensity to use -his authority. - -“How are you on a walk, old chap? You look greasy and dirty enough -to slip along without any trouble. Now turn your face to the Cascade -Range, and travel. I’ve heard some of your chiefs say that their home -is in the setting sun, and now you can go hunt for it.” - -As there was no need of such extreme caution, now that the Blackfoot -was deprived of his weapon, Little Rifle lowered his gun, and -emphasized his words by appropriate gestures. - -“Your face is toward the sun, and now travel; keep it up for a month or -two. If you look back, I’ll pull the trigger without waiting to give -you a chance to sing your death-song. _Go!_” - -Not Weston himself could have surpassed the gait of the red-skin, -as he obeyed this peremptory order. Turning his broad, flat face to -the Cascade Range, he started off like a hen-pecked husband, who -suddenly discovers that it is a little past the hour when he promised -to be in the bosom of his family, and he has good cause to dread the -consequences of his forgetfulness. - -Little Rifle stood smiling and amused, never once removing his eyes -from the dusky scamp, until he disappeared from view in the wild, rocky -ground that made the bank of the river. - -“Now, as he has left, I will do the same,” concluded Little Rifle, and -placing his gun and that of the Indian in the canoe, he shoved it into -the water, sprung in and took the paddle. - -And, as he did so, he proved himself as much at home as when setting -his beaver-traps and pursuing the game through the fastnesses of Oregon. - -Turning the head of the boat toward the other shore, he sent it -skimming over the swift current with as much speed and skill as the -Blackfoot Indian himself had displayed. - -“If I could only feel that he would keep on walking for a week or two, -I wouldn’t think any more about the red-skin,” he mused, as he glanced -back toward the shore he was leaving so rapidly behind; “but I don’t -think he will forgive me for what I did.” - -It was the purpose of Little Rifle to throw the Indian entirely off the -scent, so that when he reached his cabin he could rest and sleep in -peace. The gathering darkness was in his favor, as it made the task of -giving him the slip so much the easier. - -When the lad was about the middle of the current, he turned the prow -down-stream, and the little boat sped like an arrow, seeming to skim -over, without touching, the surface, resembling the sea-fowl in its -flight. - -Not doubting but that the Indian was on the watch, the boy had -recourse to this simple stratagem to get rid of him. The little river -was very winding and rapid, and the canoe went spinning around these -curves with a bewildering velocity that was enough to drive any -red-skin mad who attempted to follow. - -When this was done, and scarcely any twilight remained, he shied the -boat toward the other bank, at a point where a solid rock offered firm -footing. Springing nimbly out with the two guns in his grasp, he kicked -the boat out into the stream again, and it went dancing onward like an -egg-shell. - -“There, if that red-skin wants to chase that canoe, he is welcome to do -so,” he muttered to himself, as he saw the tiny vessel vanish from view -in the gloom; “and if he finds out that I have jumped ashore, let him -hunt my trail.” - -And with this satisfied conclusion, he turned about and deliberately -left the river behind. He felt that he had very cleverly outwitted the -Blackfoot Indian, and that he had scarcely any occasion to give him -further thought. - -“At any rate, there is no need of holding him in mind between now and -sunrise,” he mentally added. “I have come a good long tramp from the -old cabin, and the moon will be well up in the sky before I can make -it. I only hope that Uncle Ruff has got back from his hunt and is -awaiting me there, with a good steaming supper, over which we’ll forget -all about Indians.” - -Ay, that were well, if the Indians would only forget all about _them_! - - - - -CHAPTER III. - -FLITTING SHADOWS. - - -Little Rifle struck off homeward, like one who feels that he has little -time at his disposal. After walking full a mile, he struck another -stream smaller than the first and which was a tributary to the one he -had just left. The banks were made up principally of rocks and gravel, -over which it was very easy to pass, without leaving any trail behind. -The lad made his way over these, with the care of a veteran hunter and -at length stepped down between two rocks, that towered fully twenty -feet from the ground. Between them was a passage of about a rod in -width, which gradually narrowed as he advanced, until he was checked -by what seemed an insuperable obstruction; but this in reality was the -cabin, the “home,” toward which he had been journeying. - -It was made with very little regard to “style;” the rocks themselves -afforded the rear, and two sides. The roof was constructed by laying -saplings and branches across the top and covering them with leaves -and twigs to such a depth that they afforded an impervious protection -against the inclemency of the weather. The interior was divided into -two apartments, the partition being formed, mainly like the front, of -buffalo and bear-skins, firmly fastened to poles. - -Thus a secure and comfortable retreat was afforded, no matter how great -the cold might be. Within were piles of the richest and choicest furs, -including those of the beaver, otter, fox, marten, bear and buffalo. -Some of these were exceedingly valuable, being rich, glossy and of -velvety softness; for Old Robsart was as thorough a trapper as he was a -hunter, and he had a collection of peltries already secured, that, when -put in the market at San Francisco, would bring him a little fortune in -its way. The furs were all the best of their kind, for he was too good -a connoisseur to accept any of a second-rate quality. Many a time, he -took the beaver out of the trap, examined him a moment, and then let -him go in peace, until he could get in better condition, by which time, -also, the sagacious animal was sure to be cute enough to keep clear -of all contrivances intended to entrap him, all of which Old Robsart -could not fail to know, but which did not affect his line of conduct, -as there were surely a thousand times more fur bearing creatures in the -North-west, than a regiment of trappers like him could hope to capture. - -No fire was ever kindled within this primitive home; for these downy -furs kept so much of the natural heat of the body that the most -cold-blooded need not be uncomfortable. The fire needed for cooking -purposes was always made somewhere else. - -Little Rifle’s anxiety now was to see whether his friend and patron -was at home before him. Knowing that there was always a possibility of -some treacherous red-skin lying in wait, in the cabin, he paused when -some distance away, and gave utterance to a sort of whistle that was -always used as a signal between him and his friend. - -To his delight, this signal was instantly answered from within the -cabin. - -“He is there!” he exclaimed, running forward, along the gorge. “Hello, -Uncle Ruff!” - -The round full moon was shining from an unclouded sky, so that objects -were seen quite distinctly for a considerable distance. As he spoke, -the form of a man of goodly size, with immense flowing beard, drew the -buffalo-skin that answered for a door aside, and stepped outside. His -dress was somewhat similar to that worn by the lad, except that instead -of his jaunty hat, he wore a close-fitting cap of fur. He was a man -of great strength and activity, and seemed to be in the very prime of -vigorous manhood, although evidently verging on his sixty years. - -“Wal, my little pet, you’re back again,” he said, as he looked kindly -down upon the lad, and reached out both his hands to grasp his. “Hello! -You’ve got two guns have you? What does that mean? Have you been -assassinating some traveling gunsmith?” - -“No, Uncle Ruff, I took that from a Blackfoot Indian.” - -“Found him asleep, I s’pose, with that ’ere piece hung up at the head -of his bed.” - -“No I didn’t, either,” continued Little Rifle, parrying the taunts of -the grim old hunter, who always delighted in quizzing him. “I took it -away from a red-skin that was wide awake as you are.” - -“Oh, that’s it; I s’pose he’d been eating green persimmon or tough -babies, that give him the chollywobbles so as to double him up with -pain, and make him not care whether you took his gun, or his head. Why -didn’t you bring his scalp? ’Cause he wouldn’t let you, I s’pose. Let -me take a look at the gun and see whether it’s good for any thing.” - -After turning it over very deliberately in his hands for several -minutes, trying the lock and seeing that it was loaded, he pronounced -it a “tollyble weapon.” And then, throwing aside his jesting words, he -asked Little Rifle to give him the particulars of his encounter with -the red-skin, and listened with great attention until he had finished. - -“You behaved like a hero,” was the comment of old Robsart, when he had -finished, “and I think have fairly ’arned your supper. Ef you keep on -improving at this rate, I’ll make a hunter of you in the course of -seventy-five or eighty, or ninety or a hundred years. Come in to the -banquet.” - -Little Rifle was as “hungry as a bear,” and he accepted the invitation -on the instant. Drawing the buffalo-robe aside, he saw a tempting, -luscious supper awaiting him upon a ledge of rock, about a foot from -the ground, on the center of which sat a lamp, giving out quite a clear -light from the oil that the old hunter himself had extracted from some -of the animals he had captured in his traps. Without loss of time, the -two sat down, and began devouring the meal, chatting in the meanwhile, -like old friends who had not seen each other for many days. - -“I’ve been on quite a tramp sence yesterday,” said Old Ruff, with his -cheeks swelling out with the juicy meat. “I went a good many miles up -the stream, and I used my eyes.” - -“Did you find the beavers any more plenty, than they are here?” - -“Yes; ten thousand times, that is figgertively speakin’, as the -preachers down in the settlements say. Peltries is plenty, but as is -ginerally the case, the red-skins are as thick as grasshoppers, and -they kept me dodgin’ round like a bull in fly time. We’ve got to send -down to Fr’isco, for a lot of lamps to carry ’round at night, so as to -keep from tumbling over ’em, and when we ride our hosses toward the -fort, we’ve got to set a lamp on each ear to keep ’em from stepping -onto ’em. I think I mashed a dozen or two of ’em, without knowing it, -’cause I mind me now that I stepped onto something, two or three times, -that felt kind of soft.” - -“They are strange creatures, Uncle Ruff, and I can’t understand why -they should hate the whites worse than they hate the rattlesnake under -their feet.” - -“I s’pose ’cause the whites feel just as lovely toward them. You see -it’s a squar’ deal all round.” - -“I know but I can’t see any reason in it. There was that Blackfoot -to-day. He must have seen me when I climbed up on a high rock to take -a look at the surrounding country, and the very minute he saw me, that -very minute he went to work to get my scalp. They are a strange people.” - -The scarred face of Old Ruff expanded into a quaint smile, as he looked -fondly down in the countenance of the lad, and listened to his words. -Then, laying the long, bony finger of his right hand into the palm of -his left, as if to call special attention to his utterances, he said: - -“Yas, younker, you’re right. I’ve hunted wild animiles, and fit -Injins for a good many years, and I’ve come to the conclusion that -the red-skin is a qu’ar critter, and it takes a good while afore a -feller understands him. Some chaps come out here fur a few weeks, and -think they’ve got the hang of things, when they don’t know no more -about copper-skins, than my grandmother does about tannin’ grizzly -b’ars. You know they ginerally call the Injin red, but when he gits -on the war-path, he’s allers a ‘yeller.’ They believe in spooks, and -when the spirit moves ’em, they move the spirits. They don’t like -crooked paths, and generally take every thing straight; they are very -hospitable, and often treat their captives to a hot stake. This is very -touching, ’specially to the captive. They’re purty good shots, as you -know yourself, Little Rifle, ’cause you’ve see’d ’em shoot the rapids; -they are good on drawing a long bow, but often take an arrow view of -things, and I knowed an old chief once that lived half the time upon -arrow-root. Some younkers like you think an Injin is the very beau -ideal of a man, as they say down in the settlements; but sence they’ve -larned the use of guns, they’ve hung up the fiddle and the bow, which -must harrow the feelin’s of the varmints a powerful heap. My nephew -that knows how to read books, calls him ‘Lo, the poor Injin,’ and I -agree with him, for ef thar’s any lower critters in all creation, I’ve -never see’d ’em. Sometimes you can tame an Injin, and sometimes you -can’t. They say an Injin never forgits a kindness, and I s’pose they -don’t, fur if you’re kind to one of ’em he’ll hunt you for a week, and -never give up till he gets a lock of your ha’r to remember you by. The -only trouble is that when he takes the lock he’s mighty sartin to take -all thar is on your head.” - -“Then I suppose, Uncle Ruff, that the fellow I started off on a walk -won’t be likely to forget me very soon?” - -“Not much; and while you’re ’bout it, you might jist as well hold him -in remembrance. You see, Little Rifle,” continued Old Ruff, resuming -his supper, “I never b’l’eve in murder--not at all; but when you’ve -got your gun p’inted at a red-skin, and don’t feel like pulling the -trigger, it’s a good idee to shet your eyes, hold your gun steady, and -sneeze. When a man has his finger on the trigger, and onexpectedly -sneezes, the gun is purty sartin to go off. I found that out when I -was a little younker, and had a bow and arrer sighted at my dear old -grandmother, wondering how near I could come to the end of her nose -without hitting it, and not intendin’ to shoot at all. The old lady -jist then had her snuffbox out, and I s’pose some of it got into my -norsetrils; fur I fetched a sneeze that like to have blowed my nose -off, and when I got over the a’rthquake that had shook me to pieces, I -see’d my grandmother picking up the only three teeth that she had left, -from the floor. Afore I could ax her pardon, the old man come in. I -remember he had been digging in the garden, and carried a spade in his -hand. Wal,” added the old joker, with a sigh, “I won’t describe the -incidents that follered; suffice it to say that I warn’t able to set -down for two weeks, and I don’t s’pose I’ll forgit that little episode -as long as I live.” - -“Perhaps if I live all my life in these woods,” said Little Rifle, in a -voice of unconscious sadness, “I may come to look upon life as you do; -but I can not do so just yet.” - -“You ain’t going to live here all your life,” said the hunter, with -such abruptness that the lad looked up inquiringly into his face, as if -he failed to get the full import of his words. “You’re getting to be -quite a likely-sized youngster, and it’s time that you see’d something -more of the world than you can see in these parts, though a chap can -see a powerful sight when he looks toward the mountains. I’m going on -East arter the summer is over, and I’ll take you with me. You’ll see -sights then that I reckon will make you open your eyes.” - -“There is one sight which I often wonder whether I shall ever be given -to look upon.” - -“What’s that?” - -“My parents--my brothers and sisters--if I have any, and something -seems to tell me that I have. I tell you, Uncle Ruff, that strange -dreams often come to me, not by night only, but by daytime. Sometimes -when I am gliding over the stream in my canoe, or following the -windings of the river, I forget your caution about keeping my wits -about me, and I fall to thinking of the past, and of the future. I have -done it of late very frequently, and a feeling comes over me that I can -hardly describe. It has settled down into the belief that something -strange is going to happen--something which is to change the whole -course of my life, and make me really another person.” - -“What is it going to be?” asked the old hunter, looking at the lad, -with a scared look, as if he dreaded to reply. - -“I have no more idea of its nature than have you, but I know it’s -coming, for all that. And then too,” he added, with more animation, “by -my trying so much to think of the past. I have succeeded at last.” - -“What!” exclaimed the astonished hunter, moving away from the table, -“what can you call to mind?” - -“I remember when you found me. I was lying asleep upon some furs in -an Indian lodge, when I opened my eyes, and saw a man dressed in a -hunter’s dress, leaning over me. I remember that I was so frightened -that I cried, and you took me up in your arms to quiet me, and you -carried me away with you.” - -“That’s it exactly,” replied the hunter; “and the qu’arest thing about -that business was that when I come to that lodge, standing by itself, -there wasn’t a red-skin to be seen anywhar near. I walked in, picked -you up, and walked away ag’in, and never cotched so much as a glimpse -of a copper-skin. I went back arter a month or so to see if I could -l’arn any thing, and found the lodge burned to the ground.” - -“How far was that from here?” - -“Hundreds of miles up along the Saskatchewan, on the trapping-grounds -of the Hudson Bay Company. You see arter I got hold of you, I took such -a fancy to you that I was afeard some of the red-skins would make a -hunt fur you, so I emigrated, and come down into Oregon. Arter I got -here, I felt troubled thinking maybe your parents or friends might be -up in them parts. So I left you with some friends at Fort Abercrombie, -and went up there to find out.” - -“And learned nothing?” - -“Nothing at all; I spent a month in trampin’ over the grounds. You know -that part of the country isn’t very thick with white folks, and such -as they be are hunters or trappers. I went to the forts, and every -place, where I could find any of ’em, but never a word did I l’arn. -When I fotched you away, I see’d that little rifle of yours hung up -over your head, and knowin’ as it was meant for you, I fotched that -too. I expected to l’arn something from that, ’cause you know thar ar’ -two letters carved onto the stock--the letters ‘_H. R._’, and I s’posed -by that means I’d git some track of the owner--but it wa’n’t any use, -and I give it up at last. But what I want to ask my pet, is whether you -can’t call up any thing _afore_ I come into the Injin lodge and took -you away?” - -“You know how hard I’ve tried, and once or twice, it seems to me that I -have succeeded. It is a dim picture of riding over a deep broad river, -with a good many people in the boat, and it seems to me that some of -them were of my own color, and I think, though you know that it is all -guesswork, that my father and mother were among them; but the picture -is so dim and faint that when I try to fix it in my mind it slips away -again, and all is dark.” - -“Can’t you think of any thing else?--somethin’ different from that?” -asked old Robsart, with the most intense interest. - -“Nothing beyond that; all is blank. Of course, I remember the several -times that you left me at the fort, and the kind men there, who taught -me how to read and a great many other things, but my memory is able to -do no more. Sometime it may succeed better.” - -“Wal, I hope it will,” said Old Ruff, with a sigh; “it ’ud go hard with -me to part with you, and I’d only do it fur your own good; but these -woods ain’t the place to fetch up a younker like you. You’re smart -’nough, and handsome ’nough to desarve better things. Old Ruff has -got a little pile of money stored away in one of the banks down in -Fr’isco, and if your friends don’t turn up, afore the summer’s over, -we’ll see what that can do fur you, my little pet.” - -“No matter what may happen in the future,” said Little Rifle, in an -affectionate tone, “no matter where the rest of my life may be cast, or -what good or evil fortune may befall me, I can never forget _you_, who -rescued me from the savages, and have always been more than a father to -me.” - -“That’s all right,” said the old hunter, hastily, and speaking as if he -were swallowing something that kept rising in his throat, “that’s all -right, and don’t say nothin’ more about it.” - -For a long time they conversed in this familiar manner, and then Little -Rifle, as was always his practice, when with the hunter, kissed him -affectionately, bade him good-night, and withdrew to his own apartment, -which, it will be remembered, was at the other end of the lodge or -cabin, where he was never disturbed or molested, during his sleeping -hours. - -Old Robsart sat on the outside of his humble cabin for fully two hours -more, wrapped in deep thought. - -“Qua’r,” he muttered, after awhile, “but when I was huntin’ to-day, the -same feelin’ come over me. I know I’m going to lose Little Rifle, in -some way or other. It’ll go hard with me--but I hope it will be for the -best.” - -And with this conclusion, he rose to his feet, passed into the cabin -and retired to slumber. - - - - -CHAPTER IV. - -THE VENGEFUL BLACKFOOT. - - -A beautiful spring morning dawned upon the Northwestern solitudes, in -which the two characters of whom we have made mention had their home. -Scarcely a cloud flecked the sky, that looked like the deep, brilliant -azure of Italy, and the soft murmur of the distant waterfalls, and the -songs of thousands of birds made the scene one of gladness and joy. -The day would have been warm and sultry but for the breeze that came -stealing down from the snowy peaks of the Cascade Range, diffusing -coolness through thousands of square miles of adjoining territory. - -By the time the sun was fairly above the horizon, old Robsart and -Little Rifle emerged from their humble quarters, and moving down the -narrow passage between the rocks, debouched upon the shore of the -stream which has already been mentioned. Here a small canoe was found, -into which both entered, the old hunter taking the long ashen paddle in -hand, and sending the little vessel up the turbid current with as much -ease as if it were upon still water. - -Few words passed between the two, for the communings and dreams of the -previous evening were still with them. The appearance of Little Rifle -was of one who had slept very little during the night, and the old -hunter, understanding the cause of his reverie, forbore to intrude upon -it. - -This excursion was to visit their traps, their practice being always to -do so before partaking of breakfast. - -Several hundred yards’ steady pull, and the boat came to a rest against -the grassy beach, and old Ruff stepped out, drawing the prow of the -boat up after him. As he did so, the boy made a motion as if to follow -him, seeing which he waved him back. - -“Stay whar you be, Little Rifle, for I won’t be gone long.” - -He paused and looked up questioningly in his face. - -“Don’t you want me to help you, Uncle Ruff?” - -“I’d like to have you along, but I guess you’d better stay thar. You -know thar be only three traps fur me to visit. When we halt further up, -thar’ll be a half-dozen and you can help.” - -“All right,” replied the lad, settling back in the stern of the canoe, -ready and willing to wait. - -“It will be better to leave the younker alone, at any rate, till I come -back,” muttered the trapper, as he strode away. “Thar ain’t many o’ the -varmints in these parts, and the way he got along yesterday shows that -he knows how to take care of himself. Let him think, let him dream, and -mebbe he’ll be able to work out the mystery that I can’t see head nor -tail to. Thar’s a good deal in that handsome head of his’n, and he’ll -pitch it out arter awhile.” - -Left to himself, the boy reclined in an easy position, with his head -lying back upon the stern of the canoe, and his eyes looking directly -upward at the sky, across which a few white feathery specks of clouds -were now beginning to drift. The soft ripple of the stream, as it -washed against the bank and around the little boat, the faint murmur -of the forest, and, above all, the thoughts that had haunted him since -the talk with the old hunter--all these conspired to throw a languid, -dreamy spell over the lad, such as sometimes comes over one, when only -partially awake. - -“Uncle Ruff tells me that he is going to remove me from this place, -before winter comes again, and I can not tell whether his promise -gives me most pleasure or pain. I feel that I ought to leave here, for -my own nature tells me that this is not the way in which my Creator -intends that I shall live. What I have learned at the forts, and what -he has told me, has given me some idea of the great world which moves -around me; but I shrink back from stepping into it. It must be that -while this sort of life gives one a certain kind of courage, it also -makes him a coward. I could meet the deadly Blackfoot with more courage -than I could step into the streets of that wonderful city of San -Francisco--that old Robsart calls Fr’isco. And yet, I suppose I would -become accustomed to that, too, in time. If my dream of last night -comes true, a change will come very soon. I mustn’t forget to keep my -wits about me,” he added, with a sudden start, as if he were going to -make amends for his temporary forgetfulness. - -Looking at the opposite bank, up and down stream, and off in the -direction taken by the old hunter, he saw and heard nothing suspicious. -All was as still and undisturbed as if this solitude had never been -trod by the foot of man or animal. - -“I guess every thing is all right,” he concluded, as he lay back again, -and gave way to the fascinating reverie that was continually stealing -upon him. - -And, lost in these weird dreamings--these vague imaginings, Little -Rifle became utterly oblivious to what was going on around him. He -forgot that he was reclining in an Indian canoe, with no one standing -sentinel over him; the lessons of the old trapper were lost upon him, -and his mind was almost in the condition of the opium-taker, who really -dwells apart in a world of his own. - -And as he reclined thus, with his vacant gaze fixed upon the blue -sky above, the undergrowth along the bank, scarcely a rod below him, -noiselessly parted, and a figure came to view. - -It was the Blackfoot Indian of the day before, whom the lad had -conquered and dispossessed of his rifle. He had no gun as yet, but the -muscles of the bare right arm were ridged from the pressure of his -fingers around the handle of the gleaming tomahawk. The hideous face -glowed with the white heat of exultant passion, as he looked upon the -lad and realized how completely the tables were turned. - -Standing for a moment, with his head craned forward, as if to make -certain that he fully comprehended the situation, he began advancing, -with the stealthy, silent tread of the cat upon the beautiful bird, -never once removing his glittering eyes from his victim. - -A dozen feet away, he paused. He stood on the very spot he desired, and -from which he could drive the keen-edged tomahawk crashing through the -skull of the unconscious lad. - -Little Rifle still lay in the same dreamy reverie, his hat having -fallen from his head, and the short, curly auburn hair resting on the -gunwale, while his clear rose-tinted cheek looked more handsome and -attractive than ever. - -Can no hand be outstretched to save him? Uncle Ruff is still a -half-mile away, attending to his traps, and his arm is powerless to -prevent the dreadful tragedy. Who, then, shall interfere? - -The Blackfoot is not the one to wait. Slowly he draws back the hand -that grasps the tomahawk, and with his eyes fixed upon the marble-like -forehead, aims directly at the brain of the dreaming boy! - - - - -CHAPTER V. - -THE MYSTERIOUS SHOT. - - -The Blackfoot paused only long enough to make sure of his aim, when -he concentrated all his mighty strength in his terrible right arm and -hurled his tomahawk with a tremendous force, that would have cloven -through the birchen sides of the canoe, and the skull of the boy like -so much pasteboard, had the glittering weapon sped true to its aim. - -But it went fully a dozen feet over his head, whizzing far out into the -stream, into which it fell with a loud splash. - -And the reason for this was that at the very instant he threw his -power into his single arm, there was a sharp crack from the wood, and -a bullet went crashing through his brain. With a howl and spasmodic -clutching of his limbs, he staggered forward and fell upon his face, -dead. - -It was a frightful awakening from Little Rifle’s reverie, and he leaped -out of the canoe, landing several feet away upon the shore, with the -belief that he himself was mortally wounded. Staring wildly around, he -saw the body of the dead savage, and the second glance identified it as -the one who had hunted him the day before, and who had been so cleverly -outgeneraled. - -Walking toward him, the boy saw in what manner he had been slain, -and then he understood what it all meant. This treacherous red-skin -had attempted to steal upon and kill him, when the saving bullet had -averted the fatal blow. - -“It is fortunate that I had Uncle Ruff so near at hand,” he concluded, -with a feeling of heartfelt gratitude, as he looked about in quest of -his friend. “Another moment and it would have been the end of me.” - -Little danger of his again falling into the slumber from which he had -been so rudely awakened. Holding his rifle in hand, he looked about, -ready for the coming of white or red-men; but to his surprise, he saw -neither. - -“I do not know why Uncle Ruff persists in remaining away so long,” -he mused, after he had waited some time in this manner; but, fifteen -minutes more passed, when the familiar form of the old trapper -debouched from the wood, bearing upon his shoulder the skins of three -beavers, which he had taken from his traps. To each was appended the -tail, which forms one of the choicest titbits of the hunters of the -North-west. - -“Didn’t I hear a gun?” asked old Robsart, the moment he came within -speaking distance. “It sounded down in these parts and--hello! you -fotched the old chap at last did you?” he exclaimed, abruptly pausing -and staring at the inanimate form of the Blackfoot. - -“It is the same red-skin that I told you about last night.” - -“So I reckoned, the minute I looked on him. Don’t it prove what I said? -That ’ere chap has been huntin’ ’round arter you ever since you started -him toward the setting sun. He’s like a wolf, that you think you’ve got -off your trail, when he starts up ag’in arter you’ve forgot all about -him. He’s hunted night and day for you, and arter he’s sot eye on you -has watched and waited for his chance; but he didn’t make out any thing -by the game.” - -“No; his career has ended to a certainty. That was a most fortunate -shot of yours.” - -“What yer talking ’bout?” demanded the trapper, staring savagely at -him. “I don’t know what you mean.” - -“Why, I mean that rifle-shot of yours that killed the Blackfoot, just -in time to save me.” - -“Me! hain’t I just got back from visiting the traps, and hain’t pulled -trigger this mornin’.” - -It was now the turn of Little Rifle to be amazed, and the questions and -answers that immediately followed revealed the fact that the bullet -that stretched the Blackfoot low had not been fired by the old trapper, -nor could he or the boy tell from whose friendly gun it came. - -This added a new element of interest to the situation. The old trapper -went to the prostrate body, and after examining the wound, and knowing -the posture of the red-skin when about to throw his tomahawk, he -declared that the ball had come from the other side the stream at a -point almost opposite where they stood. - -“And let us see if we kin find out who done it,” he exclaimed, flinging -the peltries into the canoe; “jump in and we’ll paddle over.” - -Only a few seconds were needed to carry them to the other shore, where -they made a minute search for their friend, frequently calling out; but -they neither saw nor could they find any traces of his presence there. - -“It’s a lucky spot, anyway,” said the old man, “so we’ll start a fire, -and have our breakfast afore we go any further.” - -The fire was started in a few minutes and breakfast made of the beaver -tails to which we have alluded. The startling incident afforded them -abundant material for conversation, and for the time drove all thoughts -of the more important subject from their minds. - -But, when the meal was concluded, Old Ruff said: - -“Now, Little Rifle, I’m goin’ to make the round of the traps, and will -fotch in all the furs and peltries thar’s to bring. It’s gettin’ so -close to hot weather, that purty soon the skins won’t be worth the -gatherin’. I think we’ll make a move further up-stream to-morrer, fur -all the varmints are so thick thar, and we’ll snatch all that we kin. -You see, this yer Blackfoot poking round in these parts makes it look -as though some more of ’em mought be here and thar.” - -“But you know that this one made special search for me, and no doubt is -the only one that has ventured so far as this.” - -“Precisely, my boy; but you mus’n’t forgit that when you first cotched -sight of him, he was coming down the river, as though he war looking -fur you then. What I want to git at is to find out whether any of the -varmints are very close. You kin go round by the falls, and make a good -search. Take the day fur it, if you need so much time, but make it -sure.” - -“All right,” replied the lad, springing to his feet. “I’ll try and be -back by night, but, if I don’t you’ll understand the reason why.” - -And humming a merry tune, the boy struck off into the wood, and almost -instantly vanished from view. - -Young, strong and in perfect health it was scarcely possible that he -should not be in the best of spirits. There is something in the clear, -brilliant, pure air of the Far West and North-west, that penetrates a -man’s system like the electric current. - -Added to this was that strange, vague, fluttering hope that had risen -in his breast, and which as yet he could scarcely comprehend, but -with the passing of every hour, the conviction grew upon him that -he was upon the eve of a great crisis in his life history. It was a -verification of the old legend that “Coming events cast their shadows -before.” - -The day was as beautifully clear as the preceding one, and the lad -moved through the solitude, with an elastic step, that proved that -there was no unwillingness upon his part to assume this task, which it -may be supposed was attended with no inconsiderable danger. - -“How strangely I was rescued,” he muttered, as he walked along. “Heaven -sent my unknown friend at the very moment; had he delayed his coming -a moment longer, I should not have been here. Uncle Ruff is pretty -shrewd, but he can not imagine who the man was, except he thinks in a -general way that it was some hunter who has happened to stroll down -this way; but there is something which he don’t understand in the way -he takes himself off after firing his gun, without waiting for so much -as a word of thanks from us. I am glad that Uncle Ruff has sent me off -on this scout, for it seems as if I were going toward my friend, with a -good chance of meeting.” - -The dense woods through which the boy had been making his way thus far, -now assumed a different character--being much more open and broken, -while the ground was rocky and hilly--the face of the country being -such as is found in a place where the rivers and streams can only make -their way by passing through deep gorges and kenyons. - -Pressing forward in this manner, Little Rifle at last found himself -upon quite a lofty ridge, which gave him an extensive view in every -direction. It was indeed the post of observation, whither he had -directed his steps from the first. - -With characteristic caution, he screened himself from observation as -much as possible by climbing to the top of one of the scrubby oaks, and -then making a long and careful survey of the suspicious territory. - -Only a single hasty glance was cast back over the region from which he -had just come, as that was under the guardianship of old Robsart, who -needed no assistance from him, in a work of that kind. - -But he looked to the westward, where hundreds of miles of the vast -solitude opened before him. It was a scene made up of rock, stream and -wood in all their varied beauty, such as would have won the eye, in a -loving dream, of any painter. - -Here and there he could trace the winding course of the streams, -starting on their long journey to the far-away Mexican Gulf. In -many cases these streams would be visible for the better part of a -mile, and then would be hidden from view by the rocks and woods that -interposed--only for a time, however, as they soon shot into sight -again, white with bubbles and foam, into which they had been beaten on -their furious, plunging way through the gorges. In two places these -torrents disappeared into deep, narrow kenyons, above which hung a -mist, that threw back a faint prismatic reflection in the bright -morning sunlight. - -And so the vision extended, the streams diminishing to tiny silver -threads, the woods and rocks melting into a dim, smoky haze, until far -away toward the magnificent snow-crowned Cascade Range, which to the -imaginative boy seemed the wall that shut him in from the world. - -“Beyond that lies my future,” he muttered, giving utterance to his -romantic imaginings; “when shall some one come to lead me through that -gate? Must it be Old Ruff himself who is to start me upon that road, -of whose end I can not dream? Away up yonder, on the slope of that -mountain-chain, nestles the little fort, that was built many long years -ago by the Hudson Bay Company, and there I have spent much of my time, -receiving instruction from the kind-hearted men there. I wonder whether -any of them ever suspected--’sh!” - -He paused suddenly, and placed his finger to his lips, as if to shut -back from his own ears the words he came so near uttering. With a deep -flush upon his handsome face, he glanced furtively around, as though -affrighted, lest the wind should have carried it to some ears. - -“I must be careful,” he added, in a whisper, with the same startled -look; “they say that trees and rocks have ears. No one knows _that_ -secret but old Robsart, and he would sooner be shot and scalped than -reveal it. I can not see the fort,” he continued, looking so far as his -vision would permit over the vast area of country that intervened, “but -I could make my way to it in the night time. Yonder is the river that -I am to reconnoiter, and yonder are the falls, where Old Ruff suspects -are Indians--and yonder are the Indians, too!” - - - - -CHAPTER VI. - -THE STRANGE CANOE. - - -Little Rifle uttered this exclamation in the voice of one who is -certain of what he says, as well he might be; for, as he fixed his -eyes upon the swiftly-flowing stream, as it swept onward toward the -thunderous falls, his vision also roved along the bank toward its -source, far up in the mountains. - -The stream was a little less than a mile from where he stood, and -quite a distance above the falls alluded to, were visible three Indian -lodges. They stood upon an open piece of land, immediately back of -which were rocks and ravines, and were close to the edge of the river, -flowing by their very base. They were of the usual character, made of -barks and skins, supported upon poles that were stacked like muskets, -the lower ends being a dozen feet apart, while they interlocked at the -top, where an open space was left. - -From the top of one of these lodges issued a thin, shadowy column of -smoke, so faint and vapory that it could only be seen when the eye was -directed fairly toward it. - -This was the only evidence or sign of life that met the gaze of the -boy, and it seemed rather to add to the loneliness of the immense -solitude spread out before his eyes. The smoke showed that there was -some one, out of sight, in _one_ of the lodges, at least; but in the -distance, the river had a solemn, quiet flow, and the roar of the -waterfall below, mellowed and subdued by the distance, was in perfect -keeping with the scene. - -“Yes, there are the Indians,” he added, as, perched in the tree, he -gazed long and searchingly on the scene; “they are there, though my -eye can not see them, for those _signs_ are too plain for any one to -mistake.” - -Reasoning upon his knowledge of red-men, he concluded that one of those -marauding bands of Blackfeet, that are still encountered in the Far -West, had halted here for a few days to engage in hunting, and most -probably in salmon-fishing; for, as is well known, the Columbia and -its tributaries abound with this fish, which is eagerly sought by both -white and red men. - -The danger to be feared was, that these Indians, hunting and fishing in -the vicinity, would discover signs of the proximity of the two trappers -and hunters, and, to use a common expression, would “go for them.” As -bad luck would have it, also, they were directly between the present -trapping-grounds of Old Ruff and Little Rifle, and those to which they -had concluded to move their traps. Consequently, they would be pretty -certain to encounter “Indian” in uncomfortable profusion, wheresoever -they might choose to locate. - -The lad, from his perch in the top of the oak, looked down upon the -scene for fully a half-hour, in the expectation of seeing some movement -upon the part of the Blackfeet. All that time the thin, light-colored -smoke crept up through the funnel-like opening, but not a solitary -red-skin showed himself. - -“It must be that they are off on a hunt,” concluded Little Rifle, as -his patience at last gave out; “and if they have left their squaws -behind, they are asleep. Anyway, I must learn more about them.” - -And acting upon this resolve, he descended the tree and struck off in -a direct line toward the river. He knew well enough that if he should -return to the old hunter with no more knowledge than he now possessed, -he would be chided for performing only a part of his duty, his maxim -being that a reconnoissance that was incomplete was worse than none at -all, as it created all manner of doubt and distrust, without suggesting -the remedy. The intervening distance was traversed without difficulty, -Little Rifle not forgetting to exercise great care in his movements, as -always became a person in the presence of danger. - -The point where he struck the stream was without any wood at all, but -was lined with broken, jagged and irregular rocks, among which he -managed to pick his way without exposing himself to any suspicious eye -that might be on the alert upon the opposite side. - -He had kept his bearings so well that he found himself directly -opposite the three lodges, which were thus scarcely a hundred yards -distant, and in the best view he could possibly desire. - -“They must be a sleepy set over there,” he concluded, as he ensconced -himself in a position to keep ward and watch; “that is, if any one is -there, for I don’t think a soul has stirred outside since I first saw -them. Hello!” - -His curiosity was suddenly and unexpectedly gratified, although, as it -speedily proved, in a way that was not entirely satisfactory. - -A single Blackfoot Indian, that looked like the twin brother of the -one who had met his doom a few hours before, walked out of the lodge -from which the smoke was issuing, stretched and yawned, and walking -to the edge of the stream, looked up and down for a moment, as though -expecting some one or something, and then deliberately walked back -again, and disappeared from view. - -“That looks as if he had come out to wash his face, and had become -disgusted,” laughed Little Rifle. “I think a good scrubbing would be -sure to kill him. I suppose, now, he will go to sleep for the rest of -the day.” - -One of the essentials of a good scout, both in civilized and savage -warfare, is a patience that can bear the test of hours. The Esquimaux, -who sits by the air-hole in the ice without stirring a muscle, even if -the seal does not thrust out his nose, is the beau ideal of a patient -scout, although he is too much of a porpoise himself to get impatient. - -Young as was Little Rifle, he was the possessor of this quality, and -had displayed it to a remarkable degree on more than one occasion; but -it will be remembered that the circumstances were exceptional to-day, -and he was in that feverish, uneasy condition of mind which at times -made him, as it were, another person. - -At any other time he would have centered his attention on the three -lodges across the stream, and kept it there until the sun went down, -despite hunger, cold and discomfort; but he could not do so now. It -required such an effort upon his part to withdraw his mind from that -tempting reverie, or day-dreaming, which had so nearly proved his -death, that he was dissatisfied, and felt that he must be moving, and -that he must do something or the burden would become unbearable. - -What precise form this relief would have taken, it is hard to -conjecture, but most probably the lad would have ventured to cross the -stream at a point further up, so as to get still nearer the lodges; but -this perilous proceeding was happily prevented by a most unlooked-for -diversion. - -While keeping his attention, as a general thing, fixed upon the most -suspicious part of his view, he remembered that some of the owners of -these lodges were away, and there was no telling by what route they -might return. So he bestowed an occasional glance up and down stream, -not forgetting that he might be lying in their very path. - -It was something like fifteen minutes after the disappearance of the -Blackfoot, when Little Rifle chanced to look up-stream, and saw a small -Indian canoe suddenly shoot to view. - -There was nothing particularly striking in this, but there was -something extraordinary in what he discovered the next moment. A single -person was holding the guiding-paddle, and instead of being a Blackfoot -Indian, as he had expected, it proved to be a white boy, apparently his -own age, or but slightly older. - -He gave but little motion to the oar, as the current was rapid enough -to make it unnecessary, and his principal occupation was in guiding the -frail bark. - -The appearance of this stranger, as may well be supposed, filled Little -Rifle with the most profound amazement, as it was the first time in -all his life that he had seen a boy in this section of the country, -and coming to view so near to where the Indians were, caused no little -inquiry and speculation as to what it all meant. - -He supposed of course that the lad was on good terms with the Indians, -else he would not have shown himself so near them; but this belief was -speedily dispelled by the actions of the lad himself. - -While yet some distance up-stream, he suddenly caught sight of the -lodges, and instantly showed the greatest consternation--seizing the -paddle, and dipping it deep into the water, as he made furious efforts -to cause it to ascend the stream again, as though he hoped to pass out -of sight around the curve above. - -But he was utterly unable to overcome the current, and only succeeded -in slightly checking his speed, the manner in which he handled the -paddle showing that he was quite a novice, with a skill that could not -compare with that of Little Rifle. - -When the boat had drifted down to a point nearly opposite the lodges, -its inmate seemed to discover that he was wasting his strength, and he -turned about again so as to face the dwelling-places of the dreaded -red-skins. - -Not one of them showed his face, and the boy pausing a moment to regain -breath, headed the canoe directly toward the point where the excited -Little Rifle was watching his actions; but this seemed to give no more -satisfaction than the other course, for in case he succeeded, it would -compel him to land directly opposite the lodges, where the chances of -his being seen would be doubly increased. - -As the best thing that could be done, he resorted to a rather curious -artifice. One hurried glance toward the Blackfoot dwellings showed him -that he still remained undiscovered, whereupon he instantly lay flat -down, so that he could not be seen by any one upon the bank, and in -this posture he let the canoe go, trusting to good fortune to carry him -by in safety. - -Little Rifle was on the point of calling to him, and volunteering his -assistance, when he concluded that his voice would be pretty certain to -attract the attention of the keen-eared savages in the lodges, and thus -endanger the safety of both. Accordingly he remained quiet. - -There is something in solitude that attracts one human heart to -another, and when Little Rifle saw the canoe gliding by, he determined -to learn something of its occupant. He reasoned that he was not likely -to be alone in this wilderness, and that strange, dim, vague feeling -came over him, that caused the expression of his thought. - -“It may be that _he_ is the one sent by Heaven to lead me through the -gate that now shuts out the great wide world. I will yield to the -impulse that leads me toward him.” - -And, at the same time a shy, bashful emotion restrained him from moving -away at once. - -“I will wait and see whether he is fortunate enough to get beyond sight -of the lodges without discovery.” - -And he again crouched down behind the rocks, and with an anxiously -beating heart waited to see what the result of this perilous mishap was -to be. - -The strange canoe had something like a half-mile to pass, before a -curve in the river would shut it from view of any one who stood upon -the shore, where the Blackfoot had shown himself. The probability was -that the boy, after getting fairly below the lodges, would work his -boat in to shore, so as to get out of the dangerous range as speedily -as possible. - -The little boat kept in the middle of the current, the occupant -persistently remaining out of sight, and Little Rifle, after watching -it for a few moments, would look directly across the stream, dreading -to see the painted Blackfoot issue forth, and repent his survey. - -Further and further drifted the little boat, until it looked like a -duck floating at will upon the water. But, if the Indian sees it, he -will recognize it on the instant, and then there will be trouble. The -lad does not intend to land, and must remain in view for some time -longer. - -The minutes dragged slowly by, and it appeared as if the tiny vessel -remained absolutely stationary upon the surface of the water, although -Little Rifle knew that it was still going forward rapidly. At the -distance, he could not identify the lad, even if his head was above the -gunwale, and our hero was beginning to wonder what his conduct could -mean, when he observed that the canoe was gradually edging to one side, -as if it were creeping in toward the land. - -“But it is not,” he added, as he carefully scrutinized it, “it is -passing around the bend in the river, and will now be lost to view in a -few minutes, and then all danger will be over--Heaven save him!” - - - - -CHAPTER VII. - -A FEARFUL ADVENTURE. - - -At this moment, Little Rifle chanced to look across the stream, and -instead of one Blackfoot, he saw two come forth from the middle -lodge, and sauntering to the edge of the river, pause, and, while -gesticulating and conversing earnestly, they first looked up the -current, and then down again. - -“They will see the canoe! they will discover the lad and he will be -lost!” was the agonized thought of the little fellow, who, turning his -gaze in the same direction, just managed to descry the boat, as it -glided out of sight around the bend in the river. - -The Blackfeet indeed acted as if they had discovered something -suspicious; for one of them pointed down-stream, and the other -following the direction indicated, seemed to be gazing intently as -though his keen vision had detected the same thing. - -Little Rifle could plainly hear their guttural voices, as they spoke in -louder and more excited tones, but he was unable to catch or comprehend -a word they uttered. Fortunately they remained in view but a few -minutes, when they turned about and strode into their lodge at a much -more rapid gait than they had employed in leaving. - -The watcher behind the rocks was determined to wait no longer. -Extricating himself as carefully and hastily as possible from his -station, he placed himself so far away from the stream, that he felt -secure from observation in case the Blackfeet should come forth again, -and then he hurried down the river with all the speed of which he was -capable. - -Sinewy and active as was the boy, he made rapid progress, and shortly -after came back to the margin opposite the point where he had last seen -the canoe, and, as he did so, a sudden terror almost took the breath -from his body. - -For directly below this bend were the falls of which we have made -mention, and of which he would not have thought again, even at this -moment, but for the overwhelming roar that broke upon his ear, as he -emerged from the forest, where the sound met with no obstruction. - -He cast one hurried glance down the stream, and gracious Heaven! what -did he see? - -There was the canoe, still near the center of the stream, and within a -hundred yards of the falls, toward which it was rushing with the speed -of a race-horse. - -But the occupant was no longer asleep or insensible to the frightful -peril of his position. He had evidently awakened to a sense of his -dreadful danger, the instant he had passed around the bend in the -river, which not only gave the rush and whirl a terrible power, but -showed him the surging current, and the mist rising from the churning -foam below. - -From one danger into a greater, he had striven with the desperation -of despair to bring the canoe out of its plunge into destruction; but -had either broken his paddle or had lost it; for he was now using -his rifle, as a substitute, grasping the barrel and driving the -stock through the water, with a fierce rapidity, that proved that he -understood that his life depended upon his success. - -That one terrified look showed Little Rifle that it was beyond the -power of the poor lad to accomplish the task, and that he was only -insuring his destruction by continuing the effort. - -“Throw your gun down! jump overboard, and swim for land! It is your -only hope!” - -These words were shouted by our hero, who swung his hat aloft and -screeched like a madman. It may be that his clear, musical voice -possessed such a penetrating power, that they reached the ear of his -strange friend in his extremity; for he ceased his frantic efforts, and -turned his white, imploring face toward him, as if to thank him for the -warning even though it could aid him naught. - -“Jump! jump! I tell you!” called out Little Rifle, rushing into the -water to his knees, in his extreme solicitude, “throw your gun aside, -and you can do it. Wait a dozen seconds more and you are lost!” - -The boy did wait the dozen seconds. He must have understood the words -that were shouted to him, for he sat back in the stern of the canoe, -folded his arms, and looking intently at Little Rifle, sadly shook his -head, and then raising his hand waved it in greeting toward him. - -And as he did so, he could not have spoken more plainly, had he used -the word. - -“I understand your advice; but it is too late! I must go over the falls -to my death, and good-by!” - -It was a strange and impressive sight to see this mere boy, after -fighting so bravely against fate, meet his doom with the stoicism of an -Indian war-chief. There was no wailing or outcry, no frenzied flinging -of himself in the boat, as it might be expected that such a one would -do, when he saw himself gliding so swiftly and irresistibly toward -death; but he sat back in the position we have described, and after his -salutation to Little Rifle, turned his face away, and looked at the -waterfall before him. - -The action of the doomed lad awed and thrilled the heart of Little -Rifle, who felt that it was no ordinary character that he saw before -him; for not one boy in a thousand could meet death with such heroism. -For one instant, the agonized watcher closed his eyes to shut out the -dreadful sight, and then yielding to an overmastering attraction, he -leaped back out of the water, and dashed at headlong speed, down the -bank, over rocks and through undergrowth, until he reached a point -directly below the falls, from which he could look up and see the vast -sheet of water, as it poured over the ledge into the seething, furious -hell of foam and froth below. Here he paused and gazed upward. - -The river just before making its final plunge was compressed into a -kenyon-like passage not more than one-half its width a hundred yards -further up. This deepened and gave it far greater velocity, the -current shooting forward like a mill-race, the surface being covered -with little eddying waves, as if they were sensible of the awful -caldron into which they were so soon to make their boiling plunge. But -the entire volume, sweeping forward with an indescribable grandeur -and majesty, moved over the ledge in a solid, compact body, fully a -dozen feet in depth and without a break. Descending perhaps a rod, in -the same solid volume of a deep green color, it could be seen the -outer surface of this mass began to assume, here and there, a white, -feathery appearance, which rapidly increased, until, something less -than a hundred feet below, it resembled an Alpine avalanche--all of a -glistening, snowy white. Here where the water was arrested, there was a -perfect pandemonium; the billows turning and rolling over each other, -throwing the blinding spray far up on both banks, while a thousand -currents and counter-currents struggled and fought with each other with -such desperate fierceness, that it was not until the stream had reached -a point several hundred yards away, and had expanded into its usual -breadth, that it assumed any thing like its natural appearance. - -The din that filled the ears of Little Rifle, as he stood on a flat, -projecting slab of rock, where his clothing was speedily saturated, -was enough to drive an ordinary person frantic, although it scarcely -affected one who had spent such a portion of his life in the wilderness -as had he. - -But here he might have shouted his voice away, and not the slightest -sound would have been heard even by himself. He could do nothing but -stand and watch and wait, with that freezing terror all through his -nerves that made him feel as if he must forever remain rooted to the -spot. - -“But where is the canoe?” he thought, when it seemed to him that he -had been waiting an interminable period, while, from the very nature -of the case, he had been there only a few seconds. “Could it have gone -over while I was making my way to the spot? No, that can not be, for I -almost flew. Oh! is there no hand to save him?” - -At that instant Little Rifle caught sight of the canoe, as it glided -swiftly out to view, seeming to poise itself for a moment in mid-air, -like an eagle balancing himself for his earthward sweep, and then the -boat, with its brave occupant, shot downward, with a velocity that -seemed almost to baffle the eye. - -It appeared as if the water as it swept over the ledge of rocks was of -unusual density, for the canoe rested on the surface, like a feather, -as though it had lost all weight. - -Little Rifle saw the prow, following the curve of the river, turn -downward, so that it stood perfectly perpendicular, the white-faced -but resolute lad who occupied it grasping the sides with his hands so -as to maintain his place. - -In this way it made the descent, for, perhaps, fifty feet, when the -stern, probably retaining the momentum longer than the lighter bow, -advanced so much further that the canoe turned a complete sommersault, -both it and the boy shooting from view in the roaring, plunging and -churning hell of waters at the bottom of the falls. - -“Lost! lost! gone to his last account!” gasped Little Rifle, recovering -from the paralysis in which he stood up to this instant. “He showed -that he was a brave lad, and he deserved a better fate-- There! can it -be?” - -Although, as we have shown, the efforts of the poor boy to work his -canoe in to shore and out of the frightful current failed, yet it -resulted, despite the appearance to the contrary, in getting quite a -distance toward the bank whereon Little Rifle stood, and he noted the -fact, with some surprise, as it came over the falls. - -As he stood on the wet rock, looking at the foaming abyss before him, -something dark shot up to view almost at his feet. Looking downward, -he had just time to see that it was a part of the canoe--about a -half--when it drove out of sight again, in the resistless grasp of the -current. - -And the same glance that showed him this, showed also the face of the -boy who had made the fearful plunge, only for an instant, like his view -of the canoe. The face, white and motionless, rose from the water, and -then sunk out of view, as it sped down the current, with scarcely less -speed than the river possessed directly above the falls themselves. - -That one look was sufficient for Little Rifle. A sudden hope came to -his heart that the lad might still have the breath of life in his body, -and placing his gun upon the rock at his feet, he concentrated all his -strength and made a leap directly toward the spot where he had seen the -face, shouting at the same time, with all the strength of which he was -capable, in the hope of arousing him to do something for himself. - -The most skillful swimmer can not fight his way through froth and foam, -its specific gravity being too slight for it to support his weight, -while the danger is that he will be strangled before he can reach -the water that will support him. Little Rifle fully understood this -before he made his daring plunge, but the glimpse that he had obtained -of the boy had proved that he had something in his favor that fully -counterbalanced this. The very violence of the foamy waters was such -that it drove all foreign bodies to the surface for a second or two, -without any effort upon their part. - -Little Rifle kept his senses about him, as he felt himself sinking -downward, downward, in the resistless grasp of the current. He had -taken a deep inspiration during the instant he was making his flight -through the air, and he now held his breath until he could gain the -chance to renew it. - -The crash and roar, the blinding mist and spinning eddies, the -arrow-like descent, these were enough to drive all the wits from a -man’s brain, and the boy had hardly thrown himself into the vortex when -the conviction flashed upon him, that the strange boy was not only past -all hope but that he had put himself in the same position by his mad -plunge into the water, in the hope of rescuing him. - -But Little Rifle was too brave a lad to yield up his life without a -struggle, and, with all the strength and skill of which he was master, -he made a desperate effort to get his face to the surface only for a -second--a single instant--that he might gain a single breath of the -all-revivifying air. - - - - -CHAPTER VIII. - -OUT OF THE JAWS OF DEATH. - - -At this instant, while Little Rifle was making such a tremendous effort -to save himself, his shoulder struck something. He supposed that it -was the canoe, or that he had grazed a rock in his meteor-like passage -through the water; but, the wild hope that it was neither of these, -caused him to throw out his arm and clutch at it. - -As he did so, he found that he had grasped the arm of the boy, for -whose sake he had made this desperately perilous attempt. - -Having got it in his grasp, Little Rifle did not let it go again, but -held to it, as though his own life depended upon the result, while, -with the other arm and his feet, he redoubled his efforts to make the -surface of the turbulent current. - -The very velocity of the sorely-pressed stream was in favor of the -lads, as it carried them speedily into water heavy enough to afford a -swimmer support; but, before this was done, and when the brave rescuer -felt that he could hold out no longer, he brought himself and his -burden to the top of the water. - -Even in this critical, this fearful moment, when it seemed that his -own body would burst with agony, Little Rifle made certain that his -companion was given the same blessed privilege before he availed -himself of it. He saw him start and gasp, he felt the arm which was in -his grasp feebly start or struggle, and then, with the lungs of both -filled with the delicious life-giving air, they went down again. - -In that momentary sight that Little Rifle had gained of the face of -the boy, during the single instant that it remained above the water, -he caught sight of a red spot of blood upon the forehead, which showed -that he was hurt and bleeding very fast, else the crimson current could -not have shown itself so quickly. - -In a shorter period than before, the two came to the top of the water -again, and Little Rifle, with a thrill of hope, found that they were -beyond the light, fleecy foam, and were speeding downward through water -in which he was able to support both himself and his charge. - -The skill of the young trapper was as great in the handling of himself -while in the water as it was in hunting or trailing through the woods, -and now his confidence came back to him, when he felt certain that he -could accomplish something by that same skill and strength. - -Still retaining his hold upon the arm of the boy, he managed to bring -his head above the surface once more, while with the other arm he -impelled both through the water, toward the bank, from which he had -made his leap. - -The current was still so swift that he could hardly hope to effect -a landing until they should reach a point further down, but it was -prudent to put himself in a position where he could avail himself of -the first turn in his favor. - -Looking again at the countenance by his shoulder, he saw that the eyes -were closed, and there was blood flowing over his face. - -The sight convinced Little Rifle that he must speedily be gotten out of -the water, if he expected to preserve his life at all, and he now bent -all his efforts toward reaching the shore with him. - -A few vigorous strokes brought him within a dozen feet of land, but the -bank was so rocky and precipitous that it was idle to attempt to come -out, and he drifted, unresisting, still further. - -By this time they were scarcely less than a quarter of a mile below the -falls, so swiftly had they sped downward, and being so close to shore, -Little Rifle determined to make a desperate attempt to land at the -first point that offered the least hope. - -Suddenly he saw an opening in the rocks, a place where they were so -depressed that he could reach the upper edge with his hands, if he -could bring himself sufficiently near. - -A furious plunge forward, and he succeeded. Throwing up his free arm, -he grasped the rim, but the swiftness of the current, and the support -of the helpless lad, instantly tore his grasp loose, and both sped -onward again. - -“I’ll make it next time,” was his thought, as his courage rose with -the difficulty. “The stream is broadening, and must run a great deal -slower. I will soon find a footing, and when I can secure that, I will -bring us both out all right. He is alive,” he mentally added, as he -looked at him again, “for he has struggled more than once, but he is -badly hurt, and he may die, after all.” - -Just then, Little Rifle’s moccasins struck the bottom, and, as they -were drawn up, in his efforts at swimming, this showed that the water -was quite shallow. Instantly dropping his feet, he stood with it rising -scarcely above his waist; but even then it was the utmost he could do -to retain his footing, so powerful was the sweep of the current. - -He succeeded by a strong effort, and never losing his hold upon his -charge, dragged him to shore and stretched him out at full length upon -his back, where the sun could shine full upon his face. - -The boy lay like one that was dead, with his eyes partly closed, and -the blood trickling from the wound in his forehead. For a moment, the -heart of Little Rifle seemed to stand still, as he believed that it was -all over with him, and he knelt down to make sure. - -Examining the wound, he found that it was much less serious than he -had supposed, the bone of the forehead being unbroken. It had probably -been caused, not by striking the jagged point of a rock in his fearful -descent, but when driven about by the whirlpool or current, his head -must have grazed some of the numerous projections, causing only a -superficial wound, where, in the other case, instant death would have -been the result. - -Little Rifle tore a piece of the fringe from his hunting-shirt, and -with it endeavored to stanch the flow of blood. As he pressed it -against the raw wound, the forehead of the lad contracted as though -with pain. Little Rifle paused for an instant, and then did it more -gently than before. At this the sufferer opened his eyes, looking up -with a vacant, bewildered stare, like one recovering from a sound sleep. - -His attendant now raised his head upon his knee, and endeavored to -rouse him to consciousness. - -“Cheer up, my young friend, you are past all danger now; you have had a -trip that you can boast of as long as you live. How do you feel?” - -But the faculties of the boy were knocked up too much for him to -comprehend his situation. He mumbled something that was unintelligible, -and then closed his eyes as if to sink into a slumber. - -Little Rifle was at a loss to understand what this meant but he feared -it was a bad sign, and now that he had begun, he determined to arouse -him to a full sense of his position. He shook him quite violently, -all the time speaking in a loud voice, and fighting off his drowsy -tendency. The lad had swallowed a large quantity of water, which, -having thrown out, he began to show some evidence of his returning -faculties. - -Looking steadily in the face of Little Rifle, he glanced at the rapid -river flowing by at their feet, and then seeming to comprehend, for the -first time, he spoke with some coherence. - -“And is it possible that I came over these falls and live to remember -it? It can not be possible; it is incredible.” - -“But it is true for all that,” replied Little Rifle, with a smile of -delight. “You have a slight wound upon your forehead; but if that is -all, you will soon be all right again. Just examine yourself and see -whether you have any other injuries.” - -The boy stretched his limbs, and with some assistance got upon his -legs, hobbling about for several minutes. - -“They are in order, and it seems I haven’t got any thing broken but my -head.” - -“Nor that either,” said his friend, his pleasure showing itself in his -radiant face and the tones of his voice. “You have had a great shaking -up, but it was a most wonderful escape. You will go with me to my home -and remain with me until you recover your strength, or until you are -anxious to go.” - -“Your home?” repeated the stranger, in amazement; “have you a home in -this wilderness?” - -“Come with me and you shall see,” replied Little Rifle, flushing, and -dropping his eyes with confusion to the ground. - -“All right, lead the way, only don’t walk too fast, for I feel a little -rheumatic in my joints, and can’t get along fast.” - -As the boy hobbled forward again, leaning upon the arm of his friend, -something dropped from his bosom, and as he stooped to pick it up he -said, with a laugh: - -“I lost my oar, hat and gun, but the spy-glass stuck by me to the last, -perhaps because I could better afford to part with that than any of the -others.” - -“We will go back by the falls,” said Little Rifle, “for I left my gun -there when I jumped into the water. Then we will take the nearest cut -home, and get there, I hope, in the course of a few hours.” - -“See here!” said the other, pausing for a moment, “ain’t there any -Indians there?” - -“I will look out for them,” was the reply; “but tell me how it was you -came to be alone in your canoe on the river.” - -“I will tell you as we walk along, for it is quite a long story. What -is your name?” - -“They call me Little Rifle,” replied the lad, with no little -embarrassment of manner, “and if you please, you may do the same.” - -“An odd name, but rather pretty. You may call me Harry Northend. I -don’t suppose you remember ever seeing me before?” he asked, in a -significant manner. - -“Of course not,” returned Little Rifle, greatly surprised. “Why do you -ask?” - -“_Because I have seen you before!_” - - - - -CHAPTER IX. - -NEW FRIENDS. - - -Little Rifle and Harry stood side by side on the margin of the stream -down which the latter had made his frightful plunge, and from which he -had been rescued by the daring young trapper. - -“Yes,” repeated Harry, with a meaning laugh, “I have seen you before, -if you haven’t seen me.” - -“I am sure you are mistaken,” replied Little Rifle, embarrassed at his -persistency. “I have lived among the mountains and woods ever since I -can remember.” - -“And that’s where I saw you,” added Harry, who seemed to recover -his strength and spirits with remarkable celerity. “I wonder, now, -whether you were not lying in the back part of a canoe, this morning, -half-asleep, without suspecting that a big Blackfoot Indian was -creeping up to you with his tomahawk in hand.” - -And Harry laughed, as if he had just heard the funniest joke of his -life. - -A light began to break in upon the mind of Little Rifle. How could -his new acquaintance know any thing of that incident, which neither -himself nor Ruff Robsart had told to any one? - -“_You_ are the one who fired the gun that saved me!” he exclaimed, -reaching out to take the hand of Harry. - -“I believe I am,” replied the latter, as he returned the grasp. “I -happened to be hunting along that creek when I caught sight of your -canoe, and I stood trying to make out whether you were an Indian or a -white man. I was going to call to you two or three times, but I thought -you were a red-skin, as the hunters call them; for you know I couldn’t -see your face, and you were dressed very much like one. Just as I was -about to turn away I caught sight of the Blackfoot stealing toward -you--and you know the rest.” - -“But why didn’t you wait and speak to us. We crossed over to hunt you -out, but Old Ruff himself couldn’t find your trail, even.” - -“I took pains to travel over the rocks and stones as much as I could -so as to keep you from finding my tracks. I didn’t wait to see this -Old Ruff that you are talking about, because I still believed that you -were an Indian belonging to some other tribe, and I couldn’t bear to -see you killed in such a cowardly manner, so I made myself as scarce as -possible.” - -“But how, then, do you recognize me _now_?” asked Little Rifle, in -wonder, “when you say you didn’t see my face?” - -“By that cap, which I did see, and which isn’t the kind of plug an -Indian sports.” - -Little Rifle laughed at the lively, off-hand manner of his new friend, -who seemed to have forgotten entirely his recent terrible experience. - -“Well, then, since you would not give me the chance then, I will take -it now, and thank you from the bottom of my heart for the service you -did me, when without it I should have been killed.” - -“Of course it was a good turn, but then it can’t compare with your act. -_I_ didn’t run any particular risk, while you knew, when you jumped -into the raging water, that the chances were altogether against your -ever coming out again. However, we won’t fight over such a dispute; -we’re bound to be friends for life, so give us your hand on it.” - -And the two shook hands warmly, in a way, too, that showed they meant -it. - -“I tell you, Little Rifle, there is something about you that I like,” -in his dashing, captivating style. “You’ve got pluck, and I like to see -that in anybody, and then you’re as modest and backward as a girl; you -haven’t got the brass and style and vices of civilization, and I hope -you never will, and so it won’t spoil you when I tell you that you’ve -got the handsomest face that I ever saw on a pair of shoulders--” - -“There! there!” protested Little Rifle, flushing to his temples, -“please don’t go on in that way, but tell me something about yourself.” - -“Well, I suppose I ought to. You know what my name is; my father has -an interest in the Missouri Fur Company, and has come out prospecting -in this part of the world. We came up the Missouri and Yellowstone as -far as the boat could travel, and then, with a party of hunters, made -the rest of the journey on horseback. So, you see, I got considerable -experience in the woods on our way, though I haven’t had much chance -to learn how to manage one of these confounded canoes. We reached Fort -Abercrombie, which I suppose you’ve heard of, about a week ago.” - -“Yes, I have been there several times.” - -“Well, from there father concluded to make a trip up into British -America, and gave me the choice of staying where I was, or of going -with him and his party. I found out from the men at the fort that there -is a great deal better hunting in Oregon than there is further north, -so that is how I came to stay behind.” - -“And is it possible that you are so far away from the fort without some -hunter or trapper who knows the country being with you?” asked Little -Rifle, staring at him, in amazement. - -“Why not?” he responded, coolly. “Father didn’t forbid me to go -out hunting, but rather encouraged it. I find there are a few more -waterfalls and Indians than I thought, but I am getting used to them. -Since you’ve told me your name, Little Rifle, I call to mind, too, that -I have heard it at the fort. Old Ruff, as you call him, the noted old -Hill Trapper, has you in charge. Isn’t that the case?” - -“You are right,” replied Little Rifle, as they picked their way along -over the rocks, in the direction of the falls. “I have lived with him -ever since I can remember.” - -“But he is not your father?” - -“No; nor can he tell who my parents are. Many years ago, when I was -an infant, he took me from a deserted Indian lodge. I was left at the -fort, while he made every effort in his power to find out something of -my history; but he has never succeeded, and is as ignorant of it to-day -as you are.” - -“It is wonderful,” said Harry, deeply impressed with the romantic -narrative; “were you dressed in Indian clothes at the time? Were there -no marks by which some trace of your parentage could be gained?” - -“None at all,” replied the young lad, with a sad shake of his head. “I -do not even know my name.” - -“How is it that they call you Little Rifle?” - -“When old Ruff Robsart took me out of the Indian lodge, there was -a small gun, beautifully mounted, suspended over my head, which he -brought away with him, and kept until I was big enough to begin to use -it. At the fort they christened me Little Rifle, and the name has stuck -to me ever since.” - -“Where is the gun now?” - -“I laid it upon the rocks when I jumped into the water to help you out, -as I would have been sure to lose it. I am on my way now to recover it.” - -“It would be hard for me to guess where mine is,” laughed Harry, with -a half-quizzical look at the falls, which were now close at hand. “As -a paddle, it wasn’t much of a success, and I don’t think it fared much -better than the canoe.” - -“We have a spare rifle or two at the cabin, and I shall be glad to -present you with one. In fact you have a claim to one of them, for it -belonged to the Blackfoot that you shot this morning and looks like a -good piece; though it is of the regular size.” - -“And so was the one I lost. Father bought me a couple of boys’ guns in -St. Louis, and I lost one in the Yellowstone, when I was watching to -get a crack at some wild-fowl.” - -“What became of the other?” - -“I kept that till we had left the Yellowstone, and were well on our -way over the mountains. I got tired of carrying it slung over my -shoulder, where there wasn’t any chance of getting a crack at any thing -like game--so I had it strapped to the back of a mule, and he took it -into his head one day to roll over without waiting for his load to be -unstrapped. When he had finished, my gun was in seven different pieces. -Then I took an ordinary rifle, such as the men carry, and have gotten -along with that ever since.” - -“Yonder is mine,” said Little Rifle, pointing to where his weapon lay; -“wait here until I return, and you can examine it for yourself.” - -With these words, the lad bounded forward like a chamois, and picking -up his piece, brought it back to Harry, who took it into his hand to -examine it. - -“A splendid gun,” was his comment, as he turned it over and over in his -hand; “but, hello! what does this mean? There are two letters, ‘_H. -R._’, engraven on the stock.” - -“They were there when Old Ruff found it. Neither of us know what they -mean.” - -“They must be the initials of the man who owned the gun. No doubt -he was your father; I see his surname begins with _R._, but I don’t -suppose it can be Rifle, like yours.” - -“No; hardly that,” replied the boy, compelled to laugh at the manner of -his companion. “There must be thousands of names that begin in the same -way, so those letters have been of no help at all to us.” - -“Not at present, but when I go back to the fort, I’m going to set out -to find who you are, and where you came from, and I’m never going to go -back East until I do learn.” - -As Little Rifle heard these words, the longing, strange yearning came -to him, and he could not avoid asking himself the question, whether -this friend was not the instrument sent by Heaven to introduce him into -the world, and to unlock the mystery that shrouded his history. - -His declaration of what he intended to do, stirred Little Rifle’s -hopes, and as he looked furtively at the boy, he saw his lips -compressed and his eyes flashing, in a way that proved how deeply in -earnest he was. - -“I would be glad,” said Little Rifle, with a sigh, “to have you clear -up the doubt that covers the past, but I do not believe there is any -chance of success.” - -“_You can’t tell about that_,” replied Harry, in a resolute, decided -way! “If a continued search can not find out, we sometimes come upon it -by chance. I know you are anxious to learn, and I shall never give over -my efforts until I find out.” - -As he said this, he passed the gun back to the owner, and they turned -off from the falls, where the din and roar prevented them from -conversing without great difficulty. - -“I wonder whether any of those Indians saw me,” continued Harry. “I was -out hunting when I found that canoe, and thought I would get in and -practice a little, for canoe-paddling is my weak point, and it is the -hardest thing in the world for me to get the hang of the thing. Before -I knew it, I come right smack in front of those lodges, and finding I -couldn’t paddle up-stream, I just lay down, and trusted to Providence -to take me through all.” - -“I saw you,” laughed Little Rifle, “for I was watching the lodges from -the other side the stream, but I didn’t dare call to you, for fear the -Blackfeet would hear me.” - -“There were Indians in them then?” - -“Yes; I saw them, but they didn’t come out to the water until you were -far down the stream. I could just see your canoe going around the curve -above the falls, when they looked down the river. I can’t say whether -they saw you or not, but they acted to me as though they did.” - -“They have wonderfully sharp eyes, and if _you_ could see me, you can -make up your mind that they could and did--so we had better be on the -look-out.” - -“And what if they did?” was the reassuring reply of Little Rifle. -“Where will they look for you and the canoe now? If they find you both -went over the falls, will they hunt any further for you?” - - - - -CHAPTER X. - -“THE CAVE OF WINDS.” - - -Notwithstanding the reassuring words of Little Rifle, both he and -Harry deemed it best to make a cautious survey of the river above the -falls, before leaving their vicinity. It was possible that a party of -Blackfeet might be in their immediate vicinity, in which case they were -in imminent danger of being seen and pursued, while if their presence -was unsuspected by the red-skins they could continue their journey -homeward, with very little fear of any molestation from foes in the -rear. - -“Remain here while I climb up above the falls,” said Little Rifle, “it -will take but two or three minutes at most.” - -“Have a care,” admonished Harry, “for these red-skins are mighty sharp, -and I think can see around a corner.” - -The young trapper smiled to think that his new acquaintance should -deem him in need of advice, in such a business, but he continued as -cautiously and carefully upward as if he was sure of finding Blackfeet -there. - -And so there were, as he very speedily found out. Where in the name of -the seven wonders they came from he could not guess, but he saw half -a dozen, just above the falls upon the other side, groping their way -down-stream, and still more upon the same side with himself coming -directly toward him! This latter party were scarcely a hundred feet -distant, and in a few minutes would reach the spot where he was. This -was a most alarming state of affairs, and Little Rifle had to think and -act at once. One glance was sufficient to tell him the whole story, and -hastily backing out from his perilous position, he scrambled back to -where the wondering Harry was awaiting him. - -“They are coming!” he exclaimed in a terrified whisper; “there is a -whole party, and they’ll be here in a minute. Where shall we hide?” - -“Hanged if I know!” replied Harry, fully as startled as his friend, -and with less presence of mind. “Let’s jump into the water again, and -keep diving.” - -Such a course would not have been recommended by the lad in his cooler -moments, and it did not affect Little Rifle in the least. He looked -vainly around in quest of some rock that offered a chance to hide, and -when he was actually meditating going forward and surrendering himself, -in the hope of being ransomed by the authorities at the fort, there -flashed upon him, as if by inspiration, a remark that he once heard Old -Ruff Robsart make about a cavern behind the falls into which he once -made his way. - -“It’s our only chance!” he exclaimed, dashing toward the water. “Come -on, Harry! it is death or life with us!” - -Young Northend had no idea what he meant, but he did not hesitate to -follow him at full speed, so that he reached the spot scarcely behind -him. - -Little Rifle dashed down among the rocks, and reaching the edge of the -water, at the very edge or side of the falls, he paused, and looked -despairingly around. He could see nothing like a cavern, nor any thing -that seemed to afford an entrance to such a retreat. - -“I guess we shall have to give it up,” he shouted to Harry, who, unable -to catch a syllable in the thunderous din, but understanding the -trouble, pointed ahead and yelled: - -“There’s a chance to make your way through to something else!” - -Neither did Little Rifle hear a word uttered by his comrade, but the -motion of his lips, and the gesture of his hand indicated sufficiently -well what he meant. - -Following the direction indicated, he saw through a thin sheet of -water, scarcely thicker than the soap bubble, and that reflected the -prismatic hues, the dark outlines of a rock, that scarcely was as high -as his waist and which was within easy leaping distance. - -Not a second was to be lost, and Little Rifle had no sooner detected it -than he made a spring, cleaving through the gauzy vail, and striking -the flat surface of the rock, which was so slippery that his feet slid -forward, and he fell flat upon his back. - -Before he could gather himself up, Harry followed, and he too sprawled -at full length, neither receiving any injury, and both assuming the -perpendicular almost at the same moment. - -The fear of Little Rifle was that by plunging through the feathery -sheet, and temporarily breaking it, they had dissolved it altogether, -and failing to reunite, it would leave not only the rock upon which -they stood, but themselves, in full view of the Blackfeet, as soon as -they should descend the rocks and place themselves below the falls. - -But the screen instantly resumed its normal place, and spread over them -like a fan of the thinnest glass, shutting them in, but permitting them -to look through upon the outer world. Its transparency, or rather its -texture, however, was not like that of a perfect window-pane, but it -was faulty, abounding with tremulous nebulæ here and there that gave a -fanciful, grotesque imagery to the objects upon which the eye rested, -and that as a consequence, made the picture of themselves equally -untrue to nature. - -Still, although they had reasonably increased their chances of eluding -the Blackfeet, they were in danger, so long as they maintained their -present position, and both cast about to discover what their facilities -were in the way of a further retreat. - -The result was better than they dared to hope. The sheet of water that -poured over their heads was fully a hundred feet in width, and the -black, slippery rock stretched clean across beneath it, with a width -varying from ten to a dozen feet. - -The instant Little Rifle discovered this gratifying fact, he began -picking his way carefully along, closely followed by Harry. - -When they had reached the center, they paused by a common instinct, -feeling that they could not increase their chance of safety by going -further; and here, as they stood side by side, they looked upon the -scene with emotions of wonder, amazement and awe. - -Above them, to a great height, the black, dripping rocks extended like -the jagged irregular roof of some cavern, gradually making their way -outward, until they formed the ledge over which the entire river swept -in its resistless majesty. - -It may be said indeed that they stood in a cavern, one side of which -was composed of the wet, inky rocks, and the other was the volume of -water, converging both in front and back of them, so that the open -space resembled a cone in shape. - -Looking upward the mighty mass of water had a deep emerald tinge, like -melted glass, and through its translucent depth, the sunlight could -only partially penetrate, so that they were enshrouded in a sort of -misty twilight. To the left, as they picked their way along the ledge, -this volume was white, foamy and impenetrable to the eye, and looking -down, the boiling, tumbling, roaring, seething battle of the water -was of such an appalling nature as to make the strongest man shiver -and draw back with affright, as though he had caught a glimpse of the -Plutonian regions. - -For a few moments the lads forgot all about their danger from the -Indians in the terror inspired by the stupendous scene, and they stood -looking up, around and below them with feelings to which no adequate -expression can be given. Then they looked in each other’s faces, and -Harry spoke. - -Little Rifle saw his lips move, and placed his ear to them. The boy -shouted with all the strength of which he was capable, but, although -their heads touched each other, the young trapper could not catch a -syllable, and looking again in each other’s faces, they laughed and -shook their heads, as an acknowledgment that their tongues were of no -present use to them. - -They were in a world where the language must be one of signs. Little -Rifle looked beyond him and pointed to a dark, forbidding opening, -which looked as if it were the entrance-way to some vast subterranean -chamber; he moved carefully toward it, doubtless recalling something -that Old Ruff had told him about his explorations in the same -direction, and the truth of which he proposed to test. - -Harry, instead of picking his way after him, remained standing where he -was, until he saw that he had passed the most dangerous point. Then, -concluding that it was best to find out whether there was any danger -approaching from the Indians, he began retracing his steps to where he -and his friend had landed upon their backs. - -The moment he reached a point where he could gain a partial view of the -outside, he halted, so as not to run too great a risk of being seen by -any of their enemies. - -It was well that he did so, for at that very instant he descried the -dreaded Blackfeet. They were of gigantic size and grotesque shape, as -viewed dimly through the glassy sheet that intervened, but they were -Indians unmistakably, and three of them were standing upon the very -rock from which he and Little Rifle had made their leap but a few -minutes before. - -“I always believed that when a fellow traveled over the rocks he didn’t -leave any trail behind him,” thought Harry, as he stealthily viewed the -red-skins; “but it does seem that you can’t hide yourself from those -Blackfeet. I shouldn’t wonder, now, if they have been tracking the -canoe through the water, and have come down below the falls to pick up -the trail again.” - -But second thought convinced the lad that the Indians must be aware -of the existence of this “Cave of the Winds,” and that they must have -discovered some traces of other parties being there. He could see their -arms sawing the air, and moving about in a way that showed very clearly -that they, too, were using the language of signs in the presence of the -thunderous noise. - -“I do believe that they are discussing the question as to who shall -take the first leap,” thought Harry, as, stretched flat upon his face, -he anxiously watched their movements. “And what do they want to come -here for, unless it is to gobble us up?” - -A very natural conclusion, under the circumstances, and Harry concluded -that if such were really the case, it was high time that they should -take some precautions to stave off the peril. - -He had no gun with him, and it was not in the nature of things that he -should consider himself equal to the task of grasping with a sinewy -Indian, most probably in the prime of life. - -So he looked about to see what had become of Little Rifle. - - - - -CHAPTER XI. - -THUNDER ALL AROUND. - - -There stood the daring young trapper, directly behind him. He, too, -had recalled the danger, and was at bay, holding his rifle, cocked and -grasped, ready to discharge the instant it should become necessary. - -Both of the lads were saturated with water, for besides their recent -plunge into the river, there was a damp moistness in the air, like a -copious dew, that would have rendered their garments dripping with -water, supposing they had been dry at the time they entered this Cave -of the Winds. - -His gun could not be otherwise than wet, but the charge was dry, and it -could be relied upon to do its duty in case of an emergency; and it was -well that it was thus, for the danger was at hand. - -Seeing that he was backed up by his young friend, Harry withdrew his -gaze from him and resumed his scrutiny of the three Blackfeet, still -standing in full view upon the rock. - -He had no more than turned his head when one of the Indians took a step -forward. There was a pause, and then he burst through the thin, glassy -sheet, as he made his plunge, his dark body being seen for one instant -in mid-air, incased in the transparent setting, and then the crouching -body landed almost upon the head of Harry, who hastily drew back to -avoid a collision with him. - -Moving forward to grapple with the red-skin and to endeavor to throw -him over the ledge before he could recover, he saw him with amazement -roll over as if in great agony, and then, dropping like a log from the -slippery rock, he instantly shot down from sight, vanishing in the -seething waters below--gone from human sight forever. - -All this took place in such a brief space of time that Harry was -completely puzzled to understand what it meant. He could divine no -reason why the Blackfoot, after effecting a landing, should take it -into his head to commit suicide in that fashion. It was impossible -that he should have lost his footing so completely that he was unable -to prevent the catastrophe, and yet what else could have done it? - -In his perplexity he turned about again to see whether Little Rifle -could gesticulate any explanation, and the young trapper did, so -effectually that it could not be misunderstood, for, as Harry glanced -at him, he was in the act of ramming home another charge in his rifle. - -This explained it all. Little Rifle was prepared, and the instant the -red-skin broke through the glassy sheet of water, he had fired, giving -him an almost instantly fatal wound. - -What a vivid realization of the deafening roar of the water, that -the gun, although fired directly over his head, and almost within -arm’s-length, still failed to give him the slightest report. - -Little Rifle now showed a keenness of perception and a fertility of -resources which in reality was nothing short of the wonderful. As he -stood with his rifle held to his shoulder, and his finger pressing the -trigger, his view of the Indian bursting through the sheet of water, -like the athlete of the hippodrome leaping through the ring of paper, -was sharply distinct, although but for a passing moment of time. - -The expression upon the face of the Blackfoot was that of surprise at -seeing the two lads before him. He did not expect to see them--was not -looking for them, and the red-skins who remained upon the outside were -not aware of their being there. - -This, as all will see, was a great point in favor of the lads, if the -deception could be continued; but there was the imminent danger that -the rest of the Blackfeet, waiting in vain for the return of their -comrade, would discover the truth. In such a case, a desperate fight, -with the certainty of a fatal result upon the part of the lads, was -sure to follow. - -Comprehending the nature of the Indian, with its childish credulity -and superstition, Little Rifle determined to appeal to this weakness. -The Blackfeet believe that the waterfalls of their country are haunted -by spirits, and knowing of the existence of the cavern in the rear of -this, they could not but look upon the act of their companion as one of -daring intrepidity. - -The young trapper touched the arm of Harry, and motioned for him to -draw back out of the way, while he crept forward until his eyes were -at a point where he could see the Indians without showing himself. He -waited only long enough to see that fully a half-dozen were clustered -upon the rocks, where he suspected they were discussing the action of -their companion. - -Little Rifle then pushed his gun forward, and pulled the trigger. It -was not aimed at the group, for he had no desire to injure any of them, -unless compelled to do so in self-defense, but through the gauzy vail -every one of them must have caught sight of the sheet of fire, without -hearing any thing of the report. - -This was enough, and they vanished from the spot as suddenly as if the -ground had opened and swallowed them, not one being visible a dozen -seconds afterward. - -This was also a huge step forward upon the part of the boys, but -there remained still the difficult necessity of getting out of their -uncomfortable quarters, and making their way back to the cabin of old -Ruff Robsart. - -If the Blackfeet had left the rock, it was hardly probable that -they had left the neighborhood, and the moment the boys should show -themselves, they would be in for it again. - -Under these circumstances, it would seem that there was really but one -course for them to pursue, which was, to remain where they were until -night, and then trust to the assistance of darkness for them to get -away without being discovered. - -Such, we say, was the course dictated by common sense and prudence, -and yet a most unexpected and novel cause now appeared to prevent it. -There are few of our readers, perhaps, who are not aware of the rapidly -increasing distress caused by an unusual sound in the ears, when it is -continued for any length of time. The screaming of a car-whistle, or -the near booming of a cannon, after a while becomes unbearable, and -will drive mad the person who has not become accustomed to it. - -In the excitement of the occasion, and the danger from the Blackfeet, -the lads were insensible to any discomfort from the overwhelming -roar of the falls; but now, when standing directly beneath them and -reflecting that they would probably have to wait for hours, they became -aware of a growing uneasiness--a nervous restlessness, rapidly changing -into distress, which convinced both that they could not maintain their -position and retain their senses at the same time. It would not be long -before the time would come when they would be willing to incur any risk -to escape the intolerable anguish of this uproar. - -Harry was ready to make the leap at once, but Little Rifle had hopes of -accomplishing the result by another plan. It will be remembered that he -had started to explore what seemed to be a cavern, the opening of which -was but a short distance away; but he had withdrawn from the attempt -under the conviction that there was more imminent need of him elsewhere. - -He was now ready to take up the work again, and motioning for Harry to -follow, he moved toward the dark, forbidding depth of what might be an -interminable cavern. - -To give himself the free use of his arms, he had strapped his rifle to -his back, and he now groped cautiously along, like a man feeling his -way in a dark room. - -Of course the darkness rapidly deepened, until in a few minutes it -became impenetrable. The floor of the cavern was slippery, and the -utmost care was necessary to prevent a fatal catastrophe. When their -eyes became of no further use, both sunk upon their hands and knees, -and crept along in this fashion, Harry keeping so close that he could -touch the foot of Little Rifle, who used one hand, as an elephant uses -his trunk in venturing upon a treacherous support. - -Two noteworthy facts impressed themselves upon the lads. The floor -of the cavern was becoming freer from dampness, and after a time was -absolutely dry--a most gratifying change, for they had had so much of -water during the last few hours, that it seemed to both that a day or -two of scorching thirst would be acceptable, as a means of relief. - -Again the floor of the cavern was ascending, very gradually, but none -the less positively for all that. Little Rifle suspected that the -dryness of the rocks, over which they were crawling, meant that they -had passed from beneath the river bed, and were under the solid earth, -but with little prospect of ever reaching the surface. - -But the most gratifying and welcome fact of all, was that they were -getting away from the tormenting uproar of the waterfall. With every -foot they advanced through the labyrinthine cavern, that terrible -continuous crash grew less and less distinct, until it finally sounded -like the dull roar of the distant ocean. - -The relief was unspeakable, and the ringing din in their ears speedily -subsided, so that they began to feel something like their natural -selves again. It would be easy enough for them to remain in this part -of the cavern until the coming of night, and Little Rifle concluded -that this was what they would do. - -As they got further away from the tumult, of course they found use for -their tongues, and, as may be supposed, they made good use of them, as -a sort of recompense for their enforced idleness. - -“Suppose the Blackfeet follow us here?” inquired Harry Northend. - -“I don’t think there is any danger,” replied Little Rifle, who then -made known--what we have already stated to the reader--his belief that -the Indian whom they had shot, was not in pursuit of the lads, and -indeed did not know or suspect their presence behind the falls. This -theory was entirely new to his friend, who, after hearing the reasons -for his belief, was disposed to believe it implicitly. - -“Then all we have to do,” he continued, “is to wait here until night -comes, and go out the same way that we came in. Isn’t that it, Little -Rifle?” - -“I am afraid it is, unless we can find some other way out. What time of -day is it?” - -“It must be past noon; I remember just before I went over the falls, -that I took my last look, as I supposed, at the sun, and it was then -directly overhead, so it must have been about mid-day.” - -“Yes,” returned Little Rifle, “the afternoon is only fairly begun, for -things have moved lively with us, since then. If we stay here until -night, we have got a good six hours’ stretch before us at least. I have -waited many a time for a much longer period than that, but it isn’t -the most pleasant thing to do, especially when you don’t know whether -you are going to make any thing by it or not. I hope we can do better.” - -“You have hinted that same thing before,” said Harry; “what do you mean -by it?” - -“You know that I told you that Old Ruff Robsart has been here before -us. It was a long time ago, and I do not remember what he told me; but -I suspect that he found his way out by a different passage from the one -he used in entering.” - -“And you think there is a possibility of our finding the passage?” - -“Yes--although there isn’t much hope either, but I would rather be -moving about, even if we don’t find any thing to pay us, than to stay -here, and wait till the night comes.” - -“So would I,” added Harry, in his cheery voice. “I got a little crack -just now from something against the sore on my head, that stung me a -little--but it is all over now. Lead on, and I will follow. If you -are going to change your gait, give me notice, so that we don’t get -separated.” - -Promising that he would do as requested, Little Rifle continued his -progress. - - - - -CHAPTER XII. - -IN THE MESHES OF THE LABYRINTH. - - -There was a pleasurable excitement in thus advancing into the unknown, -and the lads experienced something of the emotion of the navigator, who -penetrates for the first time into some hitherto undiscovered waste of -waters; but it may be noted as a rather curious fact that neither of -the lads apprehended the very peril to which they were thus exposing -themselves until it was upon them. We refer to the certainty of their -going astray in case they continued their explorations too far. - -“If we only had a guide or a torch as the visitors do in the Mammoth -Cave, this would be the biggest kind of fun,” said Harry, as they -continued creeping stealthily along. - -Little Rifle wondered what he meant by the Mammoth Cave, but his shy -bashfulness prevented his asking any questions. He preferred to remain -in ignorance until some more fitting occasion should arise. - -“If we carried torches, they would be likely to be guiding points to -the Indians,” said Little Rifle; “it will be safer to grope along -without them, for some of those Blackfeet may be brave enough to try -and learn something more about the Spirit of the Waterfall, whose eye -flashed out upon them.” - -“And who gobbled up one of their warriors,” added Harry. “By jingo! why -didn’t I think of it?” - -“Think of what?” asked Little Rifle, not knowing to what he referred. - -“Why, that I have a match-safe in my pocket, pretty full of matches -too. If they are dry enough to ignite, you haven’t any objection, have -you?” - -“No; go ahead,” replied the young trapper, who was desirous of getting -a look at the interior. “If there’s any danger, they can be put out as -soon as they are lit.” - -From the innermost recess of his pockets, Harry drew out his -match-safe, and for a wonder, found that it had done what it was -warranted to do, that is, preserved the lucifers from dampness. - -One of these was drawn against the dry rock beneath their feet, and, as -it grew into a flickering flame, he held it above his head, and the two -lads looked about them with no little curiosity. - -This temporary twinkling of light seemed to make the gloom more -terrible and impressive. In the hasty glance that they cast around, -they saw the roof of the cavern composed of enormous masses of rock, -black, jagged and awful, while before and around them the terrible -sight stretched away, further than the eye could penetrate. - -As soon as the match expired, Harry lit another, and continued this -until he had burned a dozen and blistered his thumb and fingers. During -this interesting period also, seeing that the ground was unobstructed -in front, they advanced fully a hundred yards--only to see, however, -no termination to the cavern, whose immensity Harry declared as his -belief, exceeded that of the pride and boast of Kentucky. The floor -over which they walked, in places was dry as dust, again gravelly, and -then again hard, dry rock. In no direction in which they looked, and -they included every point of the compass--could they see any limit to -the wonderful freak of nature. - -It looked, indeed, as if they were on the outer boundary of one of -those subterranean wonders which are found in different parts of our -country, and that are unequaled in any portion of the world. - -The sound of the waterfall came to their ears, with a faint murmur that -was scarcely audible, and that caused them to forget all about it for -the time. - -The excitement of exploring the cavern gradually wore away under the -monotony of traversing the gloom continually without meeting any -obstruction or variety of any character. - -“If we had a wheelbarrow load of provisions,” said Harry, “we might -keep this up for a week or two; but the fact is I am getting tired. How -is it with you, Little Rifle?” - -“I have had enough of it; how long is it since we left the falls?” - -“I should think a couple of hours; we have come a good ways too.” - -“We shall need about all our time to get back, so we had better start -at once.” - -“It would be a joke now if we couldn’t find our way,” laughed Harry, as -they wheeled about and started back with a little more assurance than -had marked their steps so far. - -“Not much of a joke,” replied Little Rifle, who was sensible of a -thrill of fear, excited by the words of the boy. “I have been lost once -or twice in the woods, and if you have ever been in that fix, you know -how bad you feel.” - -“I’ll bet I do, for I’ve been there.” - -“Think then how much worse it must be to get astray in a place like -this, where it is always dark. Did you ever hear of any one being lost -in the Mammoth Cave?” - -“Yes; they have found their bones there, and nobody dare go very far -into it, without a guide and plenty of torches.” - -“If they get lost, when they have torches to guide them, how much less -is our chance of finding our way back again, when we haven’t any thing -of the kind!” - -The words and the tone in which this was uttered produced its effect -upon Harry, but it could not dissipate entirely that flow of spirits -which seemed natural to him. - -“But they lose their way _there_ only when they have penetrated to a -much greater distance than we; and then we have a few matches left, and -can direct our steps by the sound of the waterfall. See how much the -advantage we have!” - -“Hark!” - -Both paused in their groping, and listened, but could hear nothing. - -“What do you mean?” asked Harry in a whisper. “What was it?” - -“I stopped to find out whether we can hear the falls; do you catch the -sound?” - -“I think I hear their roar--very faint it is true--but distinct for all -that.” - -“It may be the ringing in our ears, that comes from our having been so -stunned by them. And then you know there is always a dull hollow sound -that seems to belong to such places.” - -“By jingo! Little Rifle, you scare a fellow. Are you in earnest?” - -“I don’t want to scare you any more than I have to, but you are brave -enough to face danger when it must be faced, and it’s my opinion that -neither of us can catch the slightest sound of the waterfall to guide -us back again.” - -“Or in other words, we are lost in the cavern. Is that what you mean?” - -“I will hardly say that, just yet, although I think the chances are -that way. If you have ever tried to find your way, when there wasn’t -any moon or stars, you know how hard work it is. I have been dozens of -miles away from Uncle Ruff, when night has come, and you know I have -traveled the woods and mountains enough to know something about them, -and the best thing I was able to do at such times, was to camp out and -wait for daylight. Sometimes I have roosted in a tree and sometimes -have crawled in among the rocks. If we are going to find our way out of -here, I can tell you, Harry, that we have got to keep our wits about -us.” - -“That’s just what I want to do,” replied his friend, in lugubrious -voice, “but it’s mighty hard work for a fellow to keep his head clear, -when he hears such talk as that.” - -Little Rifle laughed at the words of his friend, and he hastened to say: - -“We’ll never give up till we have to do so. Now, let us see; we have -turned square around, and suppose we are facing the falls. Let me take -your hand, and we will keep our faces this way as well as we can. If we -are right, we shall soon hear the sound of the waters, and, if we are -wrong it won’t be long before we shall find it out. Come on!” - -And, hand in hand, they began walking forward in silence, and each -endeavoring by the feeling of the floor beneath them to tell whether -they were pursuing the right path or not. This was out of the question, -and they were not long in discovering it. - -Some fifteen or twenty minutes were passed in this way, and the -conviction was gradually stealing over Little Rifle that they were -lost, when the hearts of both were thrilled at the unmistakable roar of -waters which burst upon their ear with startling suddenness. - -“Hurrah!” exclaimed the joyous Harry, “we are upon the right track. -Shall I start and run?” - -And in the exuberance of his joy, he let go of the hand of his friend, -and was in the act of bounding off like a deer, when Little Rifle -caught his arm. - -“Don’t bid good-by to your common sense,” he said, earnestly. “If we -are on the right track, we’ve got plenty of time, without running the -risk of breaking our necks!” - -Harry took the proffered hand again, with an apology for his rashness, -and they progressed slowly and deliberately, but with a much more -confident air than heretofore. - -“Don’t you hear how much louder it grows every minute?” asked the -impulsive lad, almost dragging his friend after him. “We have been over -this ground before, and what is the need of such tardiness? We were -glad enough to get away from the falls, but we will be gladder still to -get back to them again.” - -But Little Rifle was not to be moved from his deliberate tread, and -he compelled Harry to keep pace with him, though it was hard work to -restrain him. - -“You will lose nothing by care!” he admonished, “and can gain nothing -by haste. Take my advice, and feel every step of ground before you put -your foot down.” - -“Strange we can not see any thing of the water,” remarked Harry; “there -ought to be some dim sort of light to show where we entered, for the -sound shows that we are close to them.” - -He was still walking forward, in his confident way, when Little Rifle -seized his arm with such violence as almost to throw him backward to -the ground. - -“Before you go a step further, strike one of your matches.” - -“All right,” replied the lad; “but what’s the use of jerking a fellow’s -arm off, when you want to tell him to do a thing?” - -After some delay the match was produced and struck, and it showed them -a sight that made their blood run cold with terror! - -Less than two paces in front of Harry Northend yawned a black abyss, -fully twenty feet in width, through whose fathomless depths roared a -torrent of water, with a hollow, reverberating sound, as if it were -hundreds of feet below. - -Another moment, and both would have walked over into eternity. - -As the match flickered and fell from the hand of Harry, he gasped and -clutched the arm of his comrade, exclaiming, in a horrified whisper: - -“What an escape! You saved me again.” - -“I doubted from the first,” he replied, in a calm voice, “because the -sound was not natural to me. We are lost, as you can see for yourself; -but we will not give up nor keep idle. It is better to push ahead, if -we do get wrong.” - -“Hello! see there!” exclaimed Harry, the next moment. “There is -something of a different order.” - -Both saw at the same instant a small, dim point of light, that looked -like the shining of a pale star through mist or vapor. - -“What can that be?” he asked, as they paused and gazed toward it. - -“I can not guess even,” replied Little Rifle; “let us go toward it and -see whether we can not find out!” - - - - -CHAPTER XIII. - -THE HOLE IN THE AIR. - - -Little Rifle and Harry Northend stood in the cavern, gazing in wonder -at the pale, glimmering point of light, neither able to guess what it -could mean. - -The first supposition that it was a star was dissipated the next -instant by the consciousness that such a thing was a physical -impossibility, and besides which its appearance was different. It was -apparently several inches in diameter, something like a hundred yards -distant, and at a point considerably above their heads. - -Heeding the terrible warning that they had received, the lads advanced -with great circumspection. Harry willingly relinquished the place of -leader to his companion, knowing how much more careful and skilled he -was in business of this kind, and how much more likely he was to detect -its nature. - -Not until they were directly beneath the strange appearance did they -comprehend what it meant. By that time they found that it was fully a -foot in diameter, and that it was something like fifty feet above their -heads. - -“It is a window in the cavern,” said Little Rifle, “and we are looking -through into the world above us. Let us draw aside to the side of the -cavern, where we can rest and look up at the hole without stretching -our necks so.” - -That which had caught their eyes was simply daylight, looking dim, pale -and weird as it penetrated into the gloom of the cavern. - -“Well, that is something,” said Harry; “we can take a peep at daylight -when we get tired of darkness, and can keep track of the passing days -and nights, if we have got to live the life of a hermit, for some weeks -or months.” - -Little Rifle, greatly wearied with their uncommon exertions, now -stretched out in an easy position, with his head leaning upon his -elbow, and looking up at the opening for several minutes, as if to -think out some mode of escape to the upper world. - -They had lain down in their chosen nook but a short time, when it -became evident that the light overhead was slowly growing paler and -dimmer. This of course they attributed to the departure of daylight and -the coming of night. It continued steadily to fade, until it vanished -from view altogether, and then they knew that darkness reigned above -and below alike. - -Tired and wearied as were the lads, it was not long before they felt a -drowsiness stealing over them, against which neither made any struggle. -Both lying there felt how great was their dependence upon Heaven to -bring them out of their almost hopeless difficulty, and with a prayer -for the protection and guidance of their Heavenly Father, both sunk off -into a soft, refreshing slumber. - -The training and life of Little Rifle made his sleep always light, -although it was as refreshing as nature intended, and so it came about -that he had remained unconscious but a short time, when he opened his -eyes, with the certainty that something from without had occurred to -cause him to do so. - -Without moving from his position, he raised his head and listened. - -Nothing but the dull, hollow roar of the cavern filled his ears, and -that was like the very depth of silence itself. Not even the soft -rustling of the night-wind among the trees far above his head could be -detected. - -Applying his ear to the earth he instantly heard a regular _tip, tap, -tip, tap_, as if made by the dropping of water, but which a moment’s -listening satisfied him was produced by another cause. - -The uncertain character of the noise made it impossible to tell whether -it was near or far, but he judged that it was a long way off. - -But, suddenly he started up, and reaching over shook his companion -into wakefulness, for he had discovered the meaning of the singular -sound, and it was high time that they were on their guard! - -“’Sh!” whispered Little Rifle; “there’s some one in the cavern besides -us,” he replied, in the same cautious tone. “I can hear two persons -walking, and they are coming this way!” - -The steps continued their approach, until, as near as the boys could -judge, they were directly beneath the opening, and something like fifty -feet from the spot where they were crouching upon the ground. Here they -paused, and one of them said: - -“Give the signal, Tom!” - -A whistle followed, that screeched out like that of a locomotive -engine, awakening strange echoes through the cavern, and only a few -seconds had elapsed when a fainter reply came back from above their -heads. The window was closed by the obtrusion of some dark body. - -“Helloa! Tom, is that you down there?” some one called through the -opening. - -“Of course. Come, be lively now, and let down that rope.” - -“All right; there it comes; look out for it!” - -The listening lads soon heard sounds as if made by a person in drawing -himself up “hand-over-hand” by means of the rope. Such in truth was the -case, and a few minutes after they saw two bodies disappear, one by -one, through the skylight. - -What they had heard of course told them that the three men whose voices -they had heard were not Indians but white men. What their errand was in -the cavern, it was hard to conjecture, as was also the question whether -it would be prudent to advance and make their situation known to them. - -They could catch the muttering mumbling of words far above, but could -not understand a syllable uttered. In a few moments the sound of voices -ceased altogether, for the men evidently had gone away. - -While Little Rifle stood all attention, Harry was groping around with -his hands. - -“By jingo! they have left the rope hanging down!” he exclaimed, in a -delighted whisper, as he pushed it toward his friend. “I wonder if they -didn’t do that on purpose for us?” - -The young trapper grasped it in his hands, and found that it was an -ordinary hemp rope reaching to the floor of the cavern, and capable of -bearing a heavy strain. - -“Ha! ha!” softly laughed Little Rifle, “here is our deliverer,” and -without a word of explanation the resolute lad sprung to the ascent, -and, hand-over-hand like a sailor, went up the rope with great agility. - -Harry, with an anxiety that may well be imagined, stood peering upward -in the gloom, awaiting the result of this perilous venture on the part -of his friend. - -He held the rope grasped in both of his hands, noting, by its swaying -and trembling, the progress made by the daring young trapper. - -By and by the swaying of the rope ceased, by which he knew that Little -Rifle was at the top. - -Then Harry himself began the ascent, and had reached about half-way to -the top, when Little Rifle called out, evidently in a subdued voice: - -“Hello, Harry! are you down there?” - -“No, I ain’t; I’m half-way up,” he answered, in an imprudently loud -tone. - -“Come on as fast as you can; the way is clear, but there’s no telling -how long it will remain so.” - -Spurred on by this, Harry hastened on, and was soon up to the hole. -Taking him by the hand, Little Rifle dragged him from beneath the clump -of bushes which served as a screen to the entrance to the cavern, and -then, catching him by the arm, he compelled Harry to follow him away -from the vicinity. - -The moon was high in the sky, and the night was clear and balmy, -inspiring a delicious happiness through the hearts of the boys, as -they realized that they were treading the earth again, and all present -danger was past. - -They could hear the murmur of the river, flowing near them, and making -their way toward it, found, as they had suspected, that the cavern -extended a long ways underground, and had led them a goodly distance -away. - -Fortunately they were upon the right side, and it only remained for -them to get over the intervening distance between them and the cabin -where old Robsart made his head-quarters. - - - - -CHAPTER XIV. - -A STARTLING SHOT. - - -With light hearts and buoyant spirits the lads made their way forward. -Little Rifle, understanding precisely their situation, led the way -without doubt or hesitation, and in the course of an hour began -ascending the ridge, from which he had just made his survey of the -Indian lodges and the river. - -By the time that they had reached the top of the ridge, the lads were -thoroughly worn out, and concluded to encamp and wait for daylight. - -After considerable search, Little Rifle discovered a suitable -hiding-place among the rocks, into which they crawled, and almost -instantly dropped into a deep slumber, and when the glad sun came up -over the mountains, Harry opened his eyes. As he turned his head to -greet his companion, no Little Rifle was to be seen! The displaced -bowlders showed that he had gone out. But whither? - -Crawling cautiously out from his lodgings, Harry discovered a small, -bubbling spring of cool, fresh water, from which he took a refreshing -draught, concluding that he had taken occasion to reconnoiter, and -would shortly put in an appearance. - -“I hope he has gone off to scare up a breakfast,” he mused, as he sat -down by the spring, “for I’m hungry enough to eat a raw Blackfoot-- -Helloa!” - -He heard the crackling of undergrowth, and there, scarcely twenty feet -distant, he saw one of the finest and plumpest of antelopes, coming -toward the spring, evidently for the purpose of obtaining his “morning -bitters.” - -“Oh dear,” gasped the boy, as he fixed his eyes upon him, “if I only -had my gun! I wonder if I can’t get near enough to knife him?” - -The instant he moved, the delicate, graceful animal halted, threw back -its head, and fixing it steadily upon him for a single second, wheeled -about and made an affrighted plunge backward. - -“There goes my breakfast,” growled the lad, “and I never had a meal -travel so fast in all my life. Ha! what’s up now? He must have hit his -toe against something!” - -This exclamation was caused by the sudden tumbling of the animal, who, -rolling all over in a heap, struggled up again, then fell, and then lay -still. - -The crack of a rifle, that now reached the ears of the boy, explained -all; the animal had scarcely ceased his struggles, when Little Rifle -emerged from the bushes. - -“Bully for you!” shouted Harry, dashing forward the instant he saw him. -“Don’t throw away his hoofs and horns, for I’m hungry enough to eat -them too.” - -“While I’m getting some slices ready, do you kindle a fire, Harry, and -I’ll soon give you one of the best meals of your life.” - -“Don’t be too long about it,” said the boy, as he flew about to obey -the request. “I think I can hold out about half an hour longer, and -then I’ll be ready to begin on you.” - -It required but a few minutes to gather a quantity of wood; but the -hungry lad was in such impatient haste that he lost a great deal of -time in starting a fire after it was ready. He succeeded at last, by -which time Little Rifle had two large, tender slices, from the choicest -part of the animal, dressed and ready for the coals. - -Only a few minutes were required to prepare both, and then the lads -made a meal, whose luscious richness can be understood only by those -that have been placed in similar circumstances. As they crunched -through the tender, juicy steaks, they could only roll their eyes at -each other, without attempting to give expression to their enjoyment. -Occasionally Harry indulged in a groan or sigh of happiness--but that -was all. - -Little Rifle had gauged the capacities of both, with no inconsiderable -skill, and when his friend had made away with the last morsel, despite -his loud predictions at the beginning of the meal, he was obliged to -confess himself fully satisfied. - -“I thought I could hold more than that,” he said, looking wistfully -at the remains of the animal, “but, alas! for human ambition. Another -mouthful and I would explode.” - -As there was no cause for remaining longer where they were, they made -ready to move on again toward old Robsart’s head-quarters, where Harry -expected to obtain a rifle and start upon his return to the fort. - -“Do you notice that clump of bushes over there?” asked Little Rifle, -touching his arm and pointing to some scrubby shrubbery, but a short -distance away. - -“Yes; what of it? Is there another antelope there?” - -“There is something, for I have noticed a movement, once or twice, -while we were eating. Look out! there is an Indian and he is going to -fire!” - -And, grasping the shoulder of the lad, he sprung to one side, dragging -him with him. At the same instant there was a flash and a sharp report, -as the bullet whizzed toward them! - -Little Rifle, experienced in the dangers of a hunter’s life, was not -caught with an unloaded gun. The thin puff of smoke had hardly begun to -curl up from the clump of bushes when his rifle was at his shoulder, -and he sent the return bullet crashing among the leaves and twigs. At -the same moment both sprung to cover. - -“You haven’t any gun,” said Little Rifle to his friend, “so keep your -head out of sight, and if I haven’t peppered that red-skin I’ll do so -next time.” - -“Maybe there are several of them,” ventured his friend. - -“No,” replied the young trapper, “if there were they’d have fired when -they had the chance. Keep your head down, Harry!” - -“I hear him groaning and moaning,” persisted Harry. “You must hear it, -too. Let’s go forward, for you’ve wounded the poor wretch.” - -“Pooh! The Blackfoot isn’t hurt at all, and he is making those noises -on purpose to draw us out. I beseech you, Harry, to keep quiet.” - -But now Little Rifle did the very thing against which he had so -earnestly cautioned his friend. Looking steadily over the face of the -rock for a moment, a strange expression lit up his face, and he slowly -rose to his feet, until his whole body above his knees was in full view -of their hidden foe. - -“Well, I declare if it doesn’t beat every thing!” exclaimed Little -Rifle, more to himself than any one else, “I thought it was an Indian -all the time.” - -As Harry rose to his feet he saw the explanation of this soliloquy. -From behind the all-important clump of bushes came a large, -bushy-whiskered white man, clad in hunter’s costume, and apparently in -the best of humor. - -The hunter, shaking all over with laughter, extended his broad palm as -he came up and closed it around the small hand of Little Rifle, who, -after exchanging a word or two with him, turned and introduced him to -Harry as his Uncle Robsart. - -“Glad to see you, younker,” exclaimed the hairy old hunter, as he gave -Harry a hearty shake of the hand. “Scared you a little, I s’pose. I -see’d you chawin’ antelope, and I thought I’d wake you up a little.” - -Little Rifle acquainted the trapper with the principal facts of their -meeting and the subsequent adventures. He listened with great interest, -especially to their adventure in and escape from the cavern. - -“That’s the place I went into, a couple of years ago,” Old Ruff said, -“and come mighty nigh getting lost the same as you. But, I didn’t see -nothin’ of that hole in the top, nor didn’t diskiver any signs of them -other chaps being in thar. You didn’t get a fair look at them?” - -“No; luckily they didn’t get a fair look at us. They cleared out -before we came out to look around, and we didn’t stay to make their -acquaintance.” - -“What do you s’pose they war doing underground?” asked Old Ruff, in a -significant tone. - -The lads replied that they had not the remotest idea. - -“Thar’s gold in that cavern, boys, and that’s what them chaps war in -thar for. I don’t s’pose they own any more of Oregon than we do, and -sometime I’ll go into that big cellar and take a look around ag’in. -Mebbe I might git my claws onto some of the yaller stuff. Afore you go -back to the fort, Harry, we’ll take a look ’round, and see what chance -thar is for a spec; but if it happens that we don’t get the time to do -it, why you can come down ag’in from the fort and we’ll fix it then, -sure. If there’s gold thar _you_ shall have your chance in, lad.” - -Harry now became aware of something which he could not understand, -and which caused him no little uneasiness. He found that Old Ruff was -covertly watching him, as though he held some kind of a suspicion, -regarding his presence so far away from the fort. Once or twice, when -he hastily raised his eyes, he saw the keen orbs of the trapper fixed -upon him, with a sharp, penetrating glance. - -More than once, Harry was tempted to ask the meaning of this; but he -noted that Old Ruff took particular pains to conceal his surveillance, -and this made him fearful of offending him. - -There was a change too--though comparatively slight--in the deportment -of Little Rifle. Now that they were reinforced by the shaggy old -trapper, he appeared desirous of withdrawing into the background, and -forcing the hunter to take his place in the familiar confidence with -Harry. - -When the latter addressed or approached him, he manifested a singular -coyness--his face flushed with embarrassment, while he frequently -permitted his gaze to drop to the ground or turned his head away -altogether. - -Outwardly old Robsart was all friendship, and was in his best mood. -He recounted many of his adventures in catching and taming bears, for -which, as is well known, he had a great passion. - -Before resuming their journey homeward, Old Ruff resolved upon an -observation from the top of the ridge. - -Accordingly all three made their way to the crest. Harry produced his -telescope, and a very careful reconnoissance followed. - - - - -CHAPTER XV. - -A TOUGH STORY. - - -Several miles distant, in the heart of a dense pine forest, was the -camp-fire of a party of Indians. Old Ruff, taking the glass, saw by its -aid the smoke making its way through the tree-tops; but he bestowed -hardly a glance upon it, for he was in search of more important parties. - -Turning the instrument toward the banks of the river, it was not many -minutes before he descried two men, making their way among the rocks -and undergrowth in the direction of the point indicated as the one from -which the lads had made their exit. - -The clumps of bushes, huge rocks, and here and there a few trees, -intervened so frequently, and the men were picking their way with so -much caution, that it was only now and then Old Ruff was able to get -a fair look at them; but he succeeded in discovering that both were -white men, dressed somewhat like Indians, and he was able also to keep -himself informed of the general direction taken by them. When still -several hundred yards from the river, they halted. Old Ruff could see -it was near some shrubbery, which concealed their movements and hid -them from his view. - -He held the glass pointed fully ten minutes toward them, but still they -remained invisible. - -“That’s the spot!” he exclaimed to himself, as he lowered the -instrument, and looked at it sharply with the unaided eye, until he -felt he had fixed it in his memory. “There’s the door to one of the -cellars where Oregon has stored something rich, and into which Old Ruff -Robsart means to take a peep one of these days.” - -Nothing remained now to be done but to resume their journey toward -their own lodge, and the three descended the ridge, Old Robsart taking -the lead and the boys following silently. A half-hour later they -reached the stream, beside which Little Rifle was walking when we -introduced him to our readers in the first chapter. Here a canoe was -drawn from its concealment, and the three entered and were paddled -across by Old Ruff, who was in an especially good-natured and humorous -mood. - -When they once more placed their feet upon _terra firma_, he took great -care to conceal the boat, so that it would not be likely to attract the -eye of any one unless he stumbled directly upon it. - -“I used to cut my name on my boats,” he said in explanation, “so that -the varmints could know what chap they belonged to, and consequently -what trouble he’d get into if he ran away with ’em; but you see the -varmints ain’t well up in their eddycation, and I s’pose they sometimes -thought it was thar names instead of mine. Leastways they run off with -so many of ’em that it bu’sted me for a time, and arter that I’ve made -it a practice to hide ’em.” - -“Hide whom?” asked Harry, with a laugh--“the canoes or the Indians?” - -“Both, whenever I got the chance, but thar’s one question I could never -settle in my mind, and you seem to be rather a cute chap, mebbe you kin -settle it for me.” - -“I’ll do the best I can,” replied the lad; “let me hear what it is.” - -“A couple of years ago thar was a Government expedition sent out here, -and they engaged me as scout and hunter for ’em. They had a couple of -india-rubber boats with ’em, that had a powerful stretchiness in ’em. -They used to roll ’em up when they was in camp, and play football with -’em, and then stretch ’em out for tents at night. So you see they war -mighty handy any way you fixed it.” - -“I’ve heard of them,” said Harry, “and I think if I had had one of them -when I went over the falls, I might have bounded out again. I’m sure -I’m bound to try it if I ever get the chance.” - -“Wal, they tied ’em up one night, on the shore of a purty good-sized -stream, intending to cross over at daylight; but while all war asleep, -a Nez Perce Injin stole up and crawled into one. I s’pose he meant to -steal what he could lay his hands on, and the first thing he grabbed -was a whisky bottle. One snuff of that settled his hash, and he never -stopped guzzling till he had swallered the last drop, by which time -he was so drunk he couldn’t set up, so he tumbled over into the bottom -of the boat and went to sleep. I happened to be on the watch on the -other side the camp, and the feller that was guardin’ here didn’t hear -nothin’ of what was goin’ on. - -“Something or other was the matter with the boat. I s’pose like as not -it wasn’t fastened as it orter been, fur the current worked it loose, -and about a couple of hours afore daylight it went off down-stream. - -“Of course in the mornin’ we found out what had happened, and I see’d, -too, how it had come to git loose, and a couple of us started on a -hunt arter it. We found it about three miles down the river, where it -had cotched fast ag’in’ the limb of a tree, and we got in and tried to -paddle it back. The Nez Perce was still sound asleep, and we took him -along. - -“But that was the greatest job I ever undertook,” added Old Ruff, with -a sigh. “At the first off I sot down in the bow, and begun to paddle. I -thought I was gittin’ along powerful well, but when I turned my head I -found the starn hadn’t budged a bit. It had jist staid whar it was when -we started, and the blamed thing was jist stretching out--stretching -out.” - -“And you want me to tell why it did so?” said Harry; “the rear of the -boat must have remained fast in the limbs of the tree.” - -“I knowed that as well as you do, but that ain’t the question at all. -I’ll come to that bimeby. I unfastened the cotch, and then squatted in -the starn and paddled harder than ever. I worked so hard, that I kept -the rear part goin’ faster than the forrard, so that now and then I hit -my nose ag’in the prow. That made it bulge into the qu’arest kind of -shapes, and it bounced about so much that I didn’t git along very fast. -But at last, I reached camp, whar thar was a good deal of fun when they -found we had brought the Injin back with us. Some wanted to skulp him -on the spot, but Colonel Stebbins said no. He hadn’t committed murder, -but he had been cotched at burglary, and we should try ’im on that -charge. - -“So they got up what they called a court-martial, the colonel himself -acting as boss--” - -“Judge Advocate, he is called,” interrupted Harry, who was becoming -quite interested in the narration. - -“That’s it, and they had their lawyers, or whatever you’ve a mind to -name ’em, and the Injin was fotched up. By that time he had worked -off most of the whisky. He wasn’t sober, not by no means, but he was -just drunk enough to be independent and sassy, and he was the smartest -red-skin I ever sot eyes on. He could talk English as well as we, and -he understood what they war drivin’ at from the fust. - -“When they axed him to pick out a lawyer, he shook his head, and said -he could lie as fast as any lawyer. That made ’em all laugh, and I -could see that they didn’t mean to hurt the varmint. If he’d been a -Blackfoot it would have gone hard with him, for they had bothered us a -good deal; but the Nez Perces had never troubled us afore, and they’re -a much better set of people anyway. - -“I never could understand what made that red-skin so smart,” said Old -Ruff, with a wondering shake of his head, “it beat my ca’clations all -holler.” - -“I don’t see any thing particularly smart in what he did,” said Harry, -“unless it may have been that he got hold of a bottle of whisky before -you did. I suppose it takes a smart man to do that.” - -Old Robsart looked down upon the impudent lad, with one of his most -patronizing grins. He felt that he was a sharp one, and he liked him -all the better for it. - -“It’s a pity we hadn’t _you_ there,” he said; “if we had, things would -have gone different, but nobody was around as cute as you.” - -“Let us hear how the trial resulted, and I beg pardon for my ill -manners.” - -“Wal, Colonel Stebbins was a big, fat, jolly chap, and he see’d the fun -ahead. So he had the red-skin fotched up afore him, and he read a paper -full of big-sounding words, that I don’t b’l’eve he understood himself; -but when he got through he told the varmint that he was accused of -running away with a boat that belonged to the United States, and he -axed him what he had got to say in his defense. - -“The red-skin give a hiccup or two, and then said he didn’t run away -with the boat at all. That he got into it to take a nap, and when he -woke up, he found it had run away with him, and he thought the Great -Father of the red-men in Washington orter send him some presents for -the outrage he had suffered. - -“Wal, when he said that, thar was a screech through the camp, that -almost lifted the ha’r off my head and Colonel Stebbins shook so -hard, that the top of the barrel he was sittin’ on broke through, -and droppin’ a couple of feet down into it, he got wedged so fast he -couldn’t get out. While two or three of his officers was tryin’ to pull -him and the barrel apart, the Injin gave the hoops a whack with his -tomahawk, that made the staves fly apart, and let him out ag’in. - -“When things had got sobered down a little, the colonel put him on his -trial for stealing a bottle of whisky, and I’ll be shot ef he didn’t -deny it right squar’, and then ax the officer to prove it on him. Who -see’d him do it? Whar was the man? He axed him to be fotched. That was -another stunner, and all Colonel Stebbins could do, when he got over -laughin’, was to ax the red-skin, whar he got the liquor that made -him drunk, and that all could smell on him that minute. With another -hiccup, he said that wasn’t nobody’s business, and he’d see ’em all -hanged fust, and then he turned round and axed the colonel whar he got -the whisky that _he_ got drunk on. - -“That turned the laugh on him, and fur fifteen minutes, the other -officers rolled over on the ground, and the colonel had to hold his -sides to keep from bu’stin’. When he got things kind of quieted down, -he told the red-skin that the charges wa’n’t sustained and he might go; -but afore he left camp, the officers gave him a half-dozen blankets, a -new rifle, ammunition, beads, trinkets till he could hardly carry ’em -all. You see he had got the best of ’em all so well, that they liked -him, and war willing to do any thing in the world for him.” - -“And was that the last you heard of him?” asked Little Rifle. - -“Not by a long shot; that night the confounded scamp stole into camp, -run off two of the best horses we had, and come powerful near scalping -Colonel Stebbins himself.” - -“What was it that prevented?” - -“The colonel wore a wig, and when the Nez Perce grabbed his hair, -you see it come off without using his knife. So he stuck a couple of -eagle-feathers in the top, and set on the head of one of the mules, and -then skedaddled. I’ve always ’spicioned that that Injin had white blood -in him.” - -“His stealing the whisky bottle looks very much like it. Was _that_ the -question you wished me to settle?” asked Harry. - -“No; I come near forgettin’ it. What I wanted to ask was, whether in -law that varmint run away with the boat, or whether it run away with -him. I’ve often thought of it since, but have never been able to make -out which way it would be. How do you think it would be decided down in -Fr’isco?” - -Harry Northend was not a little amused at the intense seriousness -of Old Ruff, as he referred the question to him. It was not to be -supposed, however, that his head was very clear upon such knotty -points, and he frankly admitted his inability to decide. - -“I’ll put the question to some of them chaps down in Fr’isco the first -time I’m there, and stop bothering my head over the blamed thing.” - -“Be sure and put the question to two separate ones,” said Harry, “first -giving each ten dollars.” - -“What fur?” - -“Because one will decide the Indian guilty, and the other will decide -him innocent. Thus you will get satisfaction from one of them at least, -no matter how you look at it yourself. You will pay your money, and can -take your choice.” - -“Here we are at home!” exclaimed Little Rifle. - - - - -CHAPTER XVI. - -THE HAND OF FATE. - - -The lodge of old Robsart and Little Rifle has been already sufficiently -described in these pages, without requiring any further reference from -us. It was near mid-day when it was reached, and the three decided -to spend several hours where they were, as there was no necessity of -setting their traps until nightfall. - -Little Rifle passed to his apartment in the rear of the lodge, and -Harry felt a little hurt that he was not invited to accompany him. -However, he carefully concealed his feelings, and sitting down in a -lazy attitude proceeded to examine the rifle which had been presented -to him. - -He found it to be an excellent one, well made and finely ornamented. -It had doubtless been given to the Blackfoot by some kind-hearted -Peace Commissioner, who most likely formed the first target upon which -the red-skin had tried his skill. As he was also furnished with an -abundance of ammunition, Harry was ready to start on his return to the -fort. - -The reserve of Little Rifle and the suspicions of the old trapper -almost decided him to go at once, with a mere formal good-by. While -he was examining his weapon, he could feel that the eyes of the old -trapper were upon him, and it nettled him not a little to think that -any white man should entertain any distrust regarding him. - -Unable to conjecture the cause, he concluded that the best thing he -could do was to relieve them of his presence. - -All at once he sprung to his feet, and slung the rifle over his -shoulder. - -“I guess I’ll go now,” he said, in his off-hand manner; “they will -begin to wonder at my absence from the fort. I can reach there by -night, if I make good use of my time.” - -Old Ruff, who was carefully arranging some sticks so as to prepare -a fire, looked up at him, without the least appearance of surprise. -Indeed, Harry fancied that there was something in his looks which said -plainly enough that he was pleased to hear his words. - -“It’s gettin’ purty well on into the day, younker, and you’d better -wait till mornin’ afore you start on such a tramp.” - -Regarding this invitation as insincere, Harry paid no heed to it, -and had actually taken several steps on his way, when Little Rifle -unexpectedly put in an appearance. - -“If you must go, Harry,” said he, as he stepped forth into the open -air, “I’ll go with you until you’re within sight of the fort. It is a -good ways from here, and you know what danger there is to pass through. -I should never forgive myself if any thing should happen to you.” - -Harry was touched at this generous offer, and he felt all his -resentment vanish on the instant, to be succeeded by his tender, loving -affection for the lad who had already so generously risked his life for -him. - -He looked toward old Robsart, who he expected would object to any such -proceeding, but he seemed to be as willing to this arrangement as to -any thing else. Indeed he showed that he looked upon it with favor, for -he said: - -“Take the straightest course you can foller, younkers, for you will -need all your time. But see here, Little Rifle, I want to say a word or -two to you afore you go.” - -There could be no legitimate objection to this, but it disturbed Harry, -as he saw the two walk away, side by side, for a rod or two, and then, -standing with their backs to him, engage in a cautious but earnest -conversation. - -He did not hear a word, but, as he looked that way, he could see -both gesticulating, the old trapper being much more excited than the -younger, who from appearances was mildly expostulating against some of -his utterances. - -“It is none of my concern,” muttered Harry, “what secrets they may have -between themselves. I never saw either until yesterday, and may never -see them again, but they have had no cause to show any suspicion toward -me. I _do_ feel drawn toward Little Rifle by an irresistible emotion. -There is so much true nobility in his nature, he is so wonderfully -handsome, and he has such rare mental powers that it is a sin to keep -him away here in these solitudes, away from all creation. I’ll have -a good talk with him on the way to the fort, and if he has got any -ambition in his nature I’ll rouse it, and make him go back East with -me. I will get father to adopt and educate him, and we’ll make a man of -him in a few years-- Helloa! here he comes, walking as if he was in a -great hurry.” - -Old Ruff came forward too, and taking the hand of the boy said: - -“I expect to be over to the fort in a few days, arter hosses to take -my peltries away, so I won’t say good-by to you, only I wish you good -luck, and keep your eye open for varmints.” - -Harry returned the salutation, in his pleasant manner, and then, as -both he and Little Rifle waved the old man farewell, they turned -their faces westward and started on their memorable journey to Fort -Abercrombie, neither party, in his wildest dreamings, suspecting what -a passing strange adventure should befall them ere they were to catch -sight of the Stars and Stripes, that waved from the flagstaff of this -frontier post. - -When they had reached a point about a mile distant, a very perceptible -change in the sky became apparent. The sun was hid by clouds that -swiftly drifted up from the Cascade Range, and the air which had been -mild and balmy, rapidly grew colder, until the lads were compelled to -walk quite briskly to keep up the circulation and warmth of the body. -The wind blew strongly, whistling and moaning among the trees like the -blasts of winter, and there was every indication of a great elemental -disturbance. - -“There is a storm coming, as sure as fate,” said Harry, looking up at -the threatening sky. - -“And I shouldn’t wonder if it were a snow storm,” added Little Rifle. -“I have seen them come up as suddenly as this before. Hadn’t we better -go back, and stay in our lodge over night?” - -“I would rather go on,” replied Harry, who dreaded the annoyance of -being covertly watched by the old trapper, for an indefinite number of -hours. “If the storm becomes too severe, why we can go into camp and -wait until it blows over. Do you think it will amount to much?” - -Little Rifle looked up to the sky, with the air and manner of a weather -prophet, and replied: - -“No; I think it is a sudden flurry, or a squall that will be over in -an hour; but you notice how chilly it is; we ought to be provided with -blankets, at any rate.” - -“I can stand it if you can.” - -“I only spoke on your account,” said Little Rifle as they started -forward. “We can walk fast, and that will keep us warm, and if it gets -too cold for us to stand it, we will crawl in among the rocks somewhere -and build a rousing fire.” - -Harry found the walk brisk enough to suit the most enthusiastic -pedestrian, and it speedily sent a glow of warmth all through his -system. - -A moment after several feathery flakes of snow drifted against their -faces, and then scarcely five minutes had elapsed when the air was -full. Millions and billions of the white flakes, some of them of large -size, were eddying and whirling all about them. When they looked up, -they could barely keep their eyes open, and they were literally blinded -by them. - -“Jingo! this is rather sudden,” shouted Harry with a laugh. “I guess -the Coast Range has blowed up, and sent the pieces this way.” - -The snow drove against them and filled the air so entirely that the -boys could not see a rod ahead of them. Little Rifle, however, was -able to recall where they were, and he groped forward, until they -reached the shelter of some rocks, where they could remain until the -snow-squall should terminate. - -As they stood there, looking out upon the beautiful snow, Little Rifle -reached out and took the gun of Harry for the purpose of making a more -minute examination of it than he had yet done. - -“While you’re doing that I’ll take a look at that handsome little piece -of yours. Helloa!” - -As Harry took it in his hand, he grasped the stock in a peculiar -manner--very differently from what he would have done at any other -time, and, as he did so, he pressed something or other that caused a -little lid beneath the trigger-guard to fly open. - -And while Little Rifle was staring wonderingly at this hitherto unknown -contrivance, Harry reached one thumb and finger in, and drew out a -small twist of paper. On it, he saw written a few words, in faded ink. - -_And these words told the secret of Little Rifle’s birth, history and -life!_ - - - - -CHAPTER XVII. - -WOOING IN THE WILDERNESS. - - -Little Rifle stood pale and breathless, as he saw Harry Northend draw -the slip of paper from the secret recess in the stock of his gun. - -“Shall I read it?” asked Harry in a husky voice. - -“Yes,” was the whispered answer. - -And he read: - - “On the completion of her second birthday, I presented this rifle to - my beloved daughter Hagar. Providence has ordained that a portion of - her life shall be spent in the wilderness, and it may be of some use - to her in the future. Her mother died at her birth and she is my only - child. I am compelled to go on a long journey that may separate her - from me for years, and I leave her in charge of Maquesa, the Indian - chief who is my friend tried and true. - - JARED RAVENNA.” - - -When Harry had completed the reading of this extraordinary slip he -folded it up and carefully replaced it in the small opening, and closed -the cunningly contrived lid, and then looked at his companion, who, -still pale, and now shivering in every limb, said: - -“Harry, you have discovered my secret; Hagar Ravenna is my name.” - -“And you are not a boy, but a girl, and the most beautiful one that I -ever laid eyes upon. I did not suspect _that_, and I now understand -your bashfulness, and the suspicion with which Old Ruff looked upon me.” - -“Yes; he had great fears that you suspected my sex, and when we were on -the point of starting, did his best to dissuade me against going with -you.” - -“Do you regret that you came?” - -“No, else I might have lived and died in ignorance of my real name.” - -“And now that you have heard it pronounced, is there any thing in it, -that sounds familiar--that brings up past memories? _Hagar!_ think of -it.” - -Little Rifle looked off in the blinding snow with a dim, vacant, -wandering look, as if she were seeking to awaken long-forgotten -memories. She stood thus, silent and abstracted, for several minutes, -and then spoke in a low, hushed voice: - -“Yes, there is something in the sound of the word that struck my ear, -as though I had heard it before, and it calls up again the picture that -I sometimes see in my dreams, of a great ship sailing over the water; -but the picture is dim and shadowy, and I do not know whether it is -only the outlines of a dream that came to me sometime, away back in -childhood, perhaps when I lay asleep in the lodge of the Indian chief, -Maquesa.” - -“It is reality--I know it,” said the excited Harry; “you have a father -living somewhere in the world, and there is a future opening before -you.” - -“But how is he to be found?” asked Little Rifle. “He may be thousands -of miles away; or, it may be that he came back years ago, and finding -nothing of me has given me up as dead.” - -“That may all be, and it may not. But, do you wish to live the life of -a savage in the woods? Don’t you ever want to go among civilized beings -and become one of them?” - -“I have often dreamed and often wished,” she answered, lowering her -eyes, and looking at the snow-flakes, which were drifting against her -moccasins. - -“And your dream shall become a reality. Go with me to the fort and -wait till father comes, and you shall go back with us; you shall be -educated, and then what woman shall equal you?” - -“And supposing my father is never found--how shall I ever repay your -father and you?” - -The fine dark eyes of Harry Northend glowed with a radiant light, as he -leaned forward, and placing his arm around the neck of Little Rifle, -imprinted a warm kiss upon her cheek, and said, in low, ardent tones: - -“By becoming my wife, and thus I shall be repaid a thousand times -over. I understand now how it was that, when I looked up in your -face, as I began to recover my senses, after you had dragged me from -the water below the falls, a feeling shot through me like the shock -of electricity. It puzzled me to understand what it meant; I thought -yours was the handsomest face I ever looked upon, and it often seemed -to me that there was a feminine delicacy and refinement about you, in -spite of the uncivilized life you were leading. I found, too, that -your manner and conversation proved that you had received a partial -education. But above all, your heroic character, as you showed it when -you leaped into the water, drew me toward you as the pole draws the -magnet. - -“I was puzzled and not a little hurt,” continued the impassioned Harry, -as he still kept one arm around the neck of Little Rifle, and held her -hand imprisoned in his own, “at your shyness, especially after Old Ruff -appeared upon the scene. It seemed to me that I was distrusted by both -of you, but now I can understand that it was only your instinctive -maidenly modesty, and I honor you for it.” - -The cheeks of the beautiful girl (as Little Rifle must henceforth be -regarded) grew rosier and redder, and now flushed to scarlet, as she -never once raised her eyes from the ground, and Harry poured out his -burning, impassioned words. - -“But with the discovery of the secret comes the discovery that I -love you, with my whole heart and soul. I feel that my future is to -be linked with yours; if I could know this minute that we were to -be separated, I would want to die. Let me pledge my love to you and -receive yours--or the promise of it at some future time, and then we -will turn to the great future that opens before us. We are both young -yet. Everybody persists in calling me a boy, and I suppose I am, but it -can’t last much longer. If my life is spared, no one can hinder me from -becoming a man, and you are younger yet than I, and we shall only think -of marriage as something that is to come after awhile. Sometime, when -every thing is ready, I shall wed you--you shall be my bride of the -wilderness. What do you say, Little Rifle? Are you prepared to give me -any encouragement?” - -It would seem all natural and proper that this wooing and winning -should have reached its successful conclusion at once--that the -beautiful forest girl should have acknowledged her love at once, and -confessed that her future would be hopeless unless it echoed back the -prayer of her ardent lover. But, she was truthful, and possessed rare -good sense. Loving old Robsart had given her the clothes of a hunter to -wear, as soon as she was able to go about, and had carefully concealed -the knowledge of her sex from those with whom they happened to come in -contact. - -This undoubtedly was wise, as it saved her from annoying attentions and -perhaps insult at the hands of the rough borderers, who occasionally -saw her; but the old mountaineer had given her, after his own peculiar -fashion, considerable knowledge of “society” and its usages. - -And then her own instinctive maidenly sense told her that she had -no means of knowing she really returned the love of the noble young -fellow at her side. Gratitude and friendship she knew entered into her -emotions, but she could not feel positive that there was any thing more. - -She spoke, therefore, as her conscience dictated: - -“I do not know that I understand what love is--that is, as you look -upon it.” She spoke in a low, soft, but unhesitating manner, with -her eyes still upon the ground. “I know that I think a great deal of -you--that I would risk my life at any time to keep you from harm. I am -so fond of you, indeed, that I can not deceive you by saying that I -love you, when I am not sure about it.” - -This was disappointing to Harry, but, as a moment’s reflection revealed -to him the admirable spirit which prompted it, he could but respect and -love her all the more. - -“I was wrong in pressing you to answer such a question, before you had -time to think over it. Let it go for the present, and I will wait until -you are fully ready. But I can not deny myself asking one thing more.” - -He paused a moment as if waiting for permission, and she raised her -wonderfully handsome eyes and looked in his face. - -“What I want to ask, Little Rifle, is whether you are willing to give -me a promise?” - -“Ask me whatever you wish.” - -“If you say you are unable to know, in your own heart, what the nature -of love is, of course there is no one who has a place before me in your -affections?” - -The face of the girl expanded into a smile, as she answered: - -“Of course not; how could there be?” - -“I didn’t know but what the old man was jealous of me.” - -And now the smile broke forth into musical, heartfelt laughter. - -“Does love put such funny dreams as that into your head? How could -such a thing as that be? I am a child, and he a man well on in years. -He often looks at me, and says something about my growing so fast, and -says, too, that it only seems a year ago that he found me in the lodge -of the Indian chief, and he declares that he shall always look upon me -as that same little child. He loves me, indeed, as your father loves -you.” - -“I’ve no objection to that,” replied Harry, with a prodigious sigh of -relief, “so it don’t grow on him too fast. But what I want to ask, -Little Rifle, is whether you are willing to give me a promise?” - -“Yes; I will promise any thing I can,” she answered. - -“If ever, in the future, you are ready to love any one, will you -remember me?” - -“I am sure I can make that pledge,” she answered, with a glowing smile. -“In the whole broad world there can never be any one who can take a -place before you in my affections.” - -“That is all I can ask,” exclaimed the delighted Harry kissing her warm -cheek again and again. “I look upon you now as promised to me; that -sweet thought shall ever be within me--it shall cheer me onward, and -after my probation is ended, after you have learned more of the world -than you now know, you shall see how great was my love for you. Bless -you, my dearest Bride of the Wilderness!” - -They had spent a much longer time than they supposed, in the natural -excitement and agitation resulting from the discovery, and they had -proceeded but a short distance on their journey when both saw that it -would be impossible for them to reach the fort until late at night; so -they pressed forward now, as if to make up for the sweet moments lost. - -Pressing on, night overtook them, and yet the fort was far away; so -nothing remained but to choose a cosy spot and to go into camp for the -night. This course Little Rifle advised as the gathering dusk rendered -all the wood-paths obscure, and she began at once to look out for a -safe retreat, not among the rocks and woods around, but down in a -ravine, into which the girl-guide, to Harry’s surprise, now worked her -way. - -“Here we shall find wood and every thing in readiness,” she said in -explanation; “for Uncle Ruff and I have made our camp here two or three -times, during the past few months.” - -As they went down deeper and deeper into the gorge, the darkness became -so intense that Harry was only enabled to follow his guide by the sound -of her moccasins. - -“Here we are,” she finally said, in a low voice; “stand quiet a moment.” - -He could hear her moving about, for several minutes, when she spoke: - -“All is ready; strike a match, and we shall have a fire right away.” - -As Harry drew out his match-safe he found that only two lucifers were -in it. - -“By jingo! suppose both of them go out!” he exclaimed, in a terrified -whisper; “here goes!” - -As he spoke, he drew the phosphorus swiftly along his sleeve, when it -broke into a blaze. - -“Where are you, Little Rifle?” he asked, looking anxiously around, and -then, seeing her kneeling upon the ground, with the wood ready, he did -the same, and at that instant, a puff of wind blew out the tiny flame, -leaving both in blank darkness again. - -“Whew!” whistled the lad, in genuine alarm, “only one match left! If -that misses, we’re in a pretty scrape.” - -It would be difficult to imagine the anxiety of the two, as, kneeling -close together, and shutting out the wind as much as possible, the last -remaining match was struck. - -Little Rifle had gathered dry leaves, which caught and burned readily. -Others were carefully piled upon them, and by nursing the flame for -several minutes, the eyes of the two friends lit up with joy, as they -saw a bright, warm, crackling fire blaze up before them. - -Then, as it lit up the gloom, Harry could see the signs of a camp -having been held upon this spot sometime before. There was an abundance -of fuel, and had they possessed blankets, they could not have desired -to be more comfortable. - -“We shall have more snow to-night,” said Little Rifle, looking up to -the sky; “there is no moon or stars, and I can feel it in the air.” - -They broke off branches and limbs, and spreading them upon the ground, -made as comfortable lounges as possible under the circumstances; but -still, although the day had been warm, there was a growing chilliness -in the night air, which made them keep the fire roaring as much as was -compatible with safety. - -And sitting close together, near this, they renewed and continued their -conversation for hours. They talked of the future--Harry painted in -rosy colors what both were due, and what happiness was to come to both -in the end. - -And Little Rifle listened, pleased and charmed, until the voice of the -lad grew broken and uncertain, his head drooped, and he finally sunk -over upon his bed of twigs and branches, in a sound slumber. - -He was awakened by something cold and soft that struck him lightly in -the face. Opening his eyes and starting up, he found that the camp-fire -had smoldered to ashes; he was cold and chilly, and Little Rifle was -gone! - -His first proceeding was to start up and throw more wood upon the fire. -When he had driven the numbness from his system, he then began to look -for the return of Little Rifle, and to wonder what her long absence, as -shown by the condition of the camp-fire, meant. - -But hour after hour wore away and she came not, while a strange vague -fear stole over the lad, as he called her by name again and again, and -no response came. - -That which had struck him in the face and awaked him was a snowflake, -or rather a score of them, and, as he looked about, he saw that the air -was full of snow, falling softly and silently, and wrapping the earth -in its robe of white. - -At last the dull gray morning broke, and still no signs of Little Rifle. - -“What can have happened?” exclaimed the distressed Harry. “She is gone! -she is lost! I have lost my beautiful Bride of the Wilderness!” - -Alas! he spoke the truth! - -In “Old Ruff, the Trapper,” Star Novel No. 110, the Adventures of the -Young Fur-Hunters will be completed. Old Ruff’s great hunts with his -pet bear, Spotted Ben, will play principal parts in this last and best -great story of the hunter-author. See announcement on last page of -cover. - - -THE END. - - - - -DIME POCKET NOVELS. - -PUBLISHED SEMI-MONTHLY. - - =1--Hawkeye Harry.= By Oll Coomes. - =2--Dead Shot.= By Albert W. Aiken. - =3--The Boy Miners.= By Edward S. Ellis. - =4--Blue Dick.= By Capt. Mayne Reid. - =5--Nat Wolfe.= By Mrs. M. V. Victor. - =6--The White Tracker.= Edward S. Ellis. - =7--The Outlaw’s Wife.= Mrs. Ann S. Stephens. - =8--The Tall Trapper.= By Albert W. Aiken. - =9--Lightning Jo.= By Capt. Adams. - =10--The Island Pirate.= By Capt. Mayne Reid. - =11--The Boy Ranger.= By Oll Coomes. - =12--Bess, the Trapper.= By E. S. Ellis. - =13--The French Spy.= By W. J. Hamilton. - =14--Long Shot.= By Capt. Comstock. - =15--The Gunmaker.= By James L. Bowen. - =16--Red Hand.= By A. G. Piper. - =17--Ben, the Trapper.= By Lewis W. Carson. - =18--Wild Raven.= By Oll Coomes. - =19--The Specter Chief.= By Seelin Robins. - =20--The B’ar-Killer.= By Capt. Comstock. - =21--Wild Nat.= By Wm. R. Eyster. - =22--Indian Jo.= By Lewis W. Carson. - =23--Old Kent, the Ranger.= Edward S. Ellis. - =24--The One-Eyed Trapper.= Capt. Comstock. - =25--Godbold, the Spy.= By N. C. Iron. - =26--The Black Ship.= By John S. Warner. - =27--Single Eye.= By Warren St. John. - =28--Indian Jim.= By Edward S. Ellis. - =29--The Scout.= By Warren St. John. - =30--Eagle Eye.= By W. J. Hamilton. - =31--The Mystic Canoe.= By Edward S. Ellis. - =32--The Golden Harpoon.= By R. Starbuck. - =33--The Scalp King.= By Lieut. Ned Hunter. - =34--Old Lute.= By E. W. Archer. - =35--Rainbolt, Ranger.= By Oll Coomes. - =36--The Boy Pioneer.= By Edward S. Ellis. - =37--Carson, the Guide.= By J. H. Randolph. - =38--The Heart Eater.= By Harry Hazard. - =39--Wetzel, the Scout.= By Boynton Belknap. - =40--The Huge Hunter.= By Ed. S. Ellis. - =41--Wild Nat, the Trapper.= Paul Prescott. - =42--Lynx-cap.= By Paul Bibbs. - =43--The White Outlaw.= By Harry Hazard. - =44--The Dog Trailer.= By Frederick Dewey. - =45--The Elk King.= By Capt. Chas. Howard. - =46--Adrian, the Pilot.= By Col. P. Ingraham. - =47--The Man-hunter.= By Maro O. Rolfe. - =48--The Phantom Tracker.= By F. Dewey. - =49--Moccasin Bill.= By Paul Bibbs. - =50--The Wolf Queen.= By Charles Howard. - =51--Tom Hawk, the Trailer.= - =52--The Mad Chief.= By Chas. Howard. - =53--The Black Wolf.= By Edwin E. Ewing. - =54--Arkansas Jack.= By Harry Hazard. - =55--Blackbeard.= By Paul Bibbs. - =56--The River Rifles.= By Billex Muller. - =57--Hunter Ham.= By J. Edgar Iliff. - =58--Cloudwood.= By J. M. Merrill. - =59--The Texas Hawks.= By Jos. E. Badger, Jr. - =60--Merciless Matt.= By Capt. Chas. Howard. - =61--Mad Anthony’s Scouts.= By E. Rodman. - =62--The Luckless Trapper.= Wm. R. Eyster. - =63--The Florida Scout.= Jos. E. Badger, Jr. - =64--The Inland Trapper.= Chas. Howard. - =65--Wolf-Cap.= By Capt. Chas. Howard. - =66--Rattling Dick.= By Harry Hazard. - =67--Sharp-Eye.= By Major Max Martine. - =68--Iron-Hand.= By Frederick Forest. - =69--The Yellow Hunter.= By Chas. Howard. - =70--The Phantom Rider.= By Maro O. Rolfe. - =71--Delaware Tom.= By Harry Hazard. - =72--Silver Rifle.= By Capt. Chas. Howard. - =73--The Skeleton Scout.= Maj. L. W. Carson. - =74--Little Rifle.= By Capt. “Bruin” Adams. - =75--The Wood Witch.= By Edwin Emerson. - =76--Old Ruff, the Trapper.= “Bruin” Adams. - =77--The Scarlet Shoulders.= Harry Hazard. - =78--The Border Rifleman.= L. W. Carson. - =79--Outlaw Jack.= By Harry Hazard. - =80--Tiger-Tail, the Seminole.= R. Ringwood. - =81--Death-Dealer.= By Arthur L. Meserve. - =82--Kenton, the Ranger.= By Chas. Howard. - =83--The Specter Horseman.= Frank Dewey. - =84--The Three Trappers.= Seelin Robbins. - =85--Kaleolah.= By T. Benton Shields, U. S. N. - =86--The Hunter Hercules.= Harry St. George. - =87--Phil Hunter.= By Capt. Chas. Howard. - =88--The Indian Scout.= By Harry Hazard. - =89--The Girl Avenger.= By Chas. Howard. - =90--The Red Hermitess.= By Paul Bibbs. - =91--Star-Face, the Slayer.= - =92--The Antelope Boy.= By Geo. L. Aiken. - =93--The Phantom Hunter.= By E. Emerson. - =94--Tom Pintle, the Pilot.= By M. Klapp. - =95--The Red Wizard.= By Ned Hunter. - =96--The Rival Trappers.= By L. W. Carson. - =97--The Squaw Spy.= By Capt. Chas. Howard. - =98--Dusky Dick.= By Jos. E. Badger, Jr. - =99--Colonel Crockett.= By Chas. E. Lasalle. - =100--Old Bear Paw.= By Major Max Martine. - =101--Redlaw.= By Jos. E. Badger, Jr. - =102--Wild Rube.= By W. J. Hamilton. - =103--The Indian Hunters.= By J. L. Bowen. - =104--Scarred Eagle.= By Andrew Dearborn. - =105--Nick Doyle.= By P. Hamilton Myers. - =106--The Indian Spy.= By Jos. E. Badger, Jr. - =107--Job Dean.= By Ingoldsby North. - =108--The Wood King.= By Jos. E. Badger, Jr. - =109--The Scalped Hunter.= By Harry Hazard. - =110--Nick, the Scout.= By W. J. Hamilton. - =111--The Texas Tiger.= By Edward Willett. - =112--The Crossed Knives.= By W. J. Hamilton. - =113--Tiger-Heart, the Tracker.= By Howard. - =114--The Masked Avenger.= By Ingraham. - =115--The Pearl Pirates.= By Starbuck. - =116--Black Panther.= By Jos. E. Badger. Jr. - =117--Abdiel, the Avenger.= By Ed. Willett. - =118--Cato, the Creeper.= By Fred. Dewey. - =119--Two-Handed Mat.= By Jos. E. Badger. - =120--Mad Trail Hunter.= By Harry Hazard. - =121--Black Nick.= By Frederick Whittaker. - =122--Kit Bird.= By W. J. Hamilton. - =123--The Specter Riders.= By Geo. Gleason. - =124--Giant Pete.= By W. J. Hamilton. - =125--The Girl Captain.= By Jos. E. Badger. - =126--Yankee Eph.= By J. R. Worcester. - =127--Silverspur.= By Edward Willett. - =128--Squatter Dick.= By Jos. E. Badger. - =129--The Child Spy.= By George Gleason. - =130--Mink Coat.= By Jos. E. Badger. - =131--Red Plume.= By J. Stanley Henderson. - =132--Clyde, the Trailer.= By Maro O. Rolfe. - =133--The Lost Cache.= J. Stanley Henderson. - =134--The Cannibal Chief.= Paul J. Prescott. - =135--Karaibo.= By J. Stanley Henderson. - =136--Scarlet Moccasin.= By Paul Bibbs. - =137--Kidnapped.= By J. Stanley Henderson. - =138--Maid of the Mountain.= By Hamilton. - - -The following will be issued in the order and on the dates indicated: - - =139--The Scioto Scouts.= By Edward Willett. Ready October 21st. - =140--The Border Renegade.= By Jos. E. Badger, Jr. Ready Nov. 4th. - =141--The Mute Chief.= By C. D. Clark. Ready November 18th. - =142--Boone, the Hunter.= By Frederick Whittaker. Ready December 2d. - =143--Mountain Kate.= By Jos. E. Badger, Jr. Ready December 16th. - =144--The Red Scalper.= By W. J. Hamilton. Ready December 30th. - =145--The Lone Chief.= By Jos. E. Badger, Jr. Ready January 13th. - =146--The Silver Bugle.= By Lieut. Col. Hazleton. Ready January 27th. - -BEADLE’S DIME POCKET NOVELS are always in print and -for sale by all newsdealers; or will be sent post-paid, to any address: -single numbers, ten cents: six months (13 Nos.) $1.25; one year (26 -Nos.) $2.50. - -Address, =BEADLE and ADAMS, Publishers, 98 William Street, New York=. - - - - -TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES: - - - Italicized text is surrounded by underscores: _italics_. - - Emboldened text is surrounded by equals signs: =bold=. - - Obvious typographical errors have been corrected. - - Inconsistencies in hyphenation have been standardized. - - Archaic or alternate spelling has been retained from the original. - -*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LITTLE RIFLE, THE BOY TRAPPER; OR -THE YOUNG FUR HUNTERS *** - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the -United States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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"Bruin" Adams</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and -most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms -of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online -at <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. If you -are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the -country where you are located before using this eBook. -</div> - -<p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Title: Little Rifle, The Boy Trapper; or The Young Fur Hunters</p> - -<div style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Author: Capt. "Bruin" Adams</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Release Date: July 26, 2021 [eBook #65923]</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Language: English</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Character set encoding: UTF-8</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Produced by: David Edwards, David E. Brown, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (Northern Illinois University Digital Library)</div> - -<div style='margin-top:2em; margin-bottom:4em'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LITTLE RIFLE, THE BOY TRAPPER; OR THE YOUNG FUR HUNTERS ***</div> - -<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/cover.jpg" width="50%" alt="" /></div> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="titlepage"> - -<h1>LITTLE RIFLE;<br /> - -<span class="tiny">OR,</span><br /> - -<span class="small">THE YOUNG FUR HUNTERS.</span></h1> - - -<p><span class="large">BY CAPT. “BRUIN” ADAMS,</span><br /> -AUTHOR OF THE FOLLOWING POCKET NOVELS:<br /> -<span class="smcap">No. 9. Lightning Jo.</span> <span class="gap"> <span class="smcap">No. 78. Old Ruff, the Trapper.</span></span></p> - - -<p>NEW YORK:<br /> -<span class="large">BEADLE AND ADAMS, PUBLISHERS,</span><br /> -98 WILLIAM STREET.</p> -</div> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p class="center"> -Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1873, by<br /> -FRANK STARR & CO.,<br /> -In the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.</p> -</div> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_9">[9]</span> - -<p class="ph1">LITTLE RIFLE,<br /> - -<span class="small">THE BOY TRAPPER.</span></p> - - -<hr class="tb" /> - - -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER I.<br /> - - -<span class="small">ON THE UPPER COLUMBIA.</span></h2> -</div> - -<p><span class="smcap">Along</span> the shores of one of the branches of the Upper Columbia, -a lad was making his way with a care and stealth -that showed he was on the alert for danger, let it come in -whatsoever form it chose.</p> - -<p>A casual glance at the boy would have led one to pronounce -him about fifteen or sixteen years of age. He was -prepossessing and handsome to a remarkable degree. The -cheeks glowed with the hue of health, the rose-tint being as -fine as that of the sea-shell; the features were almost classical -in their regularity; the teeth small and clear as pearls, the -eyes large and lustrous, and the hair dark and wavy, but cut -quite short. The hands and feet were small and shapely, and -a certain careless grace of movement, shown even in his cautious -gait, proved that “Little Rifle,” as the lad was called, -possessed a rare activity, and an extraordinary command of -his bodily powers.</p> - -<p>His dress was thoroughly backwoods in every respect, consisting -of the buck-skin leggings rather gaudily fringed and -ornamented, the moccasins embroidered with beads, the skirt -descending to the knees, and clasped at the waist by a broad -belt, into which was thrust a knife, the horn handle only being -visible. Within the bosom of the skirt, and out of sight, -was a small revolver, intended only to be used when necessity -compelled it. A string passing over one and under the other -shoulder, sustained a powder-flask and bullet-pouch; but -there was no game-bag visible, for the reason that the game -the hunters bring down in that latitude can not be carried -very conveniently, especially when the hunter is a boy in his -teens.</p> - -<p>In the left hand Little Rifle carried a beaver-trap, while a<span class="pagenum" id="Page_10">[10]</span> -small, silver-mounted rifle rested upon his right shoulder, and -was held in place by his other hand.</p> - -<p>The day was drawing to a close, and there was a mellowed -subdued quiet resting upon wood and stream that made the -hour and the place one of the most attractive imaginable. -The branch of the Columbia, at this point, flowed quite swiftly -but with a steady, unruffled sweep, that was in perfect keeping -with silence and solitude. The banks on either hand -were varied by rock, wood and prairie, the country itself being -of the most romantic nature.</p> - -<p>Looking off to the east and south, the eye caught a glimpse -of distant mountain peaks, standing out white and clear -against the blue horizon, like a snowy conical cloud, and the -intervening stretch of country was broken by hills, ravines, -gorges, wood, stream, rocks and prairie, in an interminable -jungle, making a country that was the chosen roaming-ground -of the fiercest wild animals, the most valuable game, -and the wild Indian, and the equally wild hunter and trapper.</p> - -<p>Turning the eye to the westward, it was greeted with a -vision of magnificence and grandeur. In this clear, brilliant -air, which makes the climate of Oregon rival that of Italy, -there was a sharp, clear distinctness to the Cascade Range, -fifty miles away, that would have made any one believe that -the distance was scarcely a quarter. Some of the loftiest -peaks shone white against the sky, but as they towered aloft, -their immense slopes could be seen to be covered with verdure, -that was tinged with a misty blue, when viewed through -the half a hundred miles of atmosphere.</p> - -<p>Little Rifle was moving up the left bank of the stream, -with his face turned toward the Cascade Range, except when -he darted his quick, wide-awake glances in the direction of -the river’s bank on his right hand, varied now and then by -an equally inquisitive look at the wood and rocks in front -and on his left.</p> - -<p>“Uncle Ruff told me yesterday that there were plenty signs -of beaver further up the stream,” mused the lad, as he walked -along, “and I know that they have been thinned out down -below, so that I haven’t had a bite in this trap for three days. -I’ll set it a mile or two further up, where it will pay to make<span class="pagenum" id="Page_11">[11]</span> -it a visit early in the morning.” And he held up the trap -and turned it around before his eyes, as if it were a new thing -altogether. It resembled the ordinary “steel-trap,” except -that it was considerably larger.</p> - -<p>The ease with which the lad carried the cumbersome load, -attested the strength which this manner of living had given -him. Like all little chaps, he was given to conversing with -himself, when walking alone, and to-day he seemed in quite -a chatty vein.</p> - -<p>“Old Ruff went off on a hunt yesterday, and told me he -would not be back for several days, and I’m to keep the old -cabin till he shows himself again. I’ve done that often -enough to understand it; but I wish he was home to-night.”</p> - -<p>Something like a shade of sadness passed over the boy’s -face as he uttered these words. It may be that it was only -a natural feeling of loneliness; an evidence of that longing -for companionship, which, at times, comes over us all, and is -scarcely ever absent from youth.</p> - -<p>“I wonder whether Uncle Ruff knows any more of my -life than he has told me,” he added, following up the vein of -thought. “That is little enough, at any rate. Years ago, -when I was very young, he found me, and hasn’t any more -idea than have I of who my parents are, and how it was I -came to be in this part of the world.”</p> - -<p>Little Rifle might have continued in this reverie for hours, -even after the sun had disappeared, but for the fact that his -surroundings prevented. That veteran of the Oregon woods, -known as Old Ruff Robsart, had not kept him under his -special training for years, without accomplishing something. -One of his lessons was that when a hunter was outside of his -cabin, or place of retreat, he should never go to sleep; which -in more intelligible language meant that ‘day-dreaming’ or reverie, -of all things was to be avoided, and the true hunter or -trapper never failed to keep every faculty wide awake, on the -alert for insidious danger liable at any moment to leap out -upon him.</p> - -<p>The lad had cast his glance several times toward the other -bank, and the result in each case appeared to be unsatisfactory. -There was something there which caused him considerable -speculation and misgiving.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_12">[12]</span>If we had been there, it is hardly possible that we should -have noticed it, but it could not escape the eye of the boy -trapper, who, walking more slowly each moment, finally came -to a dead halt, dropping the trap to the ground, and wheeling -about so as to face the suspicious point.</p> - -<p>The stream to which we have alluded was about two hundred -yards in width. There were scarcely any trees at all -growing upon the opposite side at this particular position, -but there was an abundance of undergrowth and a species -of long high grass peculiar to the spot.</p> - -<p>That which had arrested the reverie of Little Rifle was not -the suspicion, but the certainty that something was moving -along the bank, beneath the clustering grass. What it was -even he was unable to say. It had caught his eye, or rather -the indications of it had, when he was a short distance further -down-stream. An unnatural agitation of the grass was -the sign that caused him to scrutinize it with unwonted sharpness, -until, as we have already shown, he paused in his walk -and faced directly about.</p> - -<p>It would seem, even with what he had learned, that there -was little cause for alarm, for there were many ways in which -the appearance could be explained. In the first place, as it -moved with the current, it might be that it was a log or -piece of driftwood that moved tardily, on account of its proximity -to shore, and the obstruction of the grass.</p> - -<p>And then, if not an inanimate object, what more probable -than that it was some beast of prey stealing along in quest of its -victim?</p> - -<p>Both of these considerations were in the mind of Little -Rifle, but were rejected after a moment’s thought. His life -had taught him to think quickly, and he was not long in -making up his mind that there was good cause for alarm.</p> - -<p>“Neither logs nor animals travel in that style,” he muttered, -carefully following the agitated grass and undergrowth, -and watching intently for the chance when some inadvertence -would give him a more satisfactory glimpse of the object. -“It is either a white man or Indian, with the chances altogether -in favor of its being the Indian. We are too far up -in the mountains for white folks to give us much trouble, and -I remember that Uncle Ruff told me to be unusually careful,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_13">[13]</span> -for he had seen signs of Blackfeet both up and down-stream, -and if they have been hunting in these parts we can make up -our minds that they have found our traps, and are on a hunt -for us. I think that one of the Blackfeet is now in the -grass yonder.”</p> - -<p>The wish of Little Rifle was gratified. He had stood but -a minute, when a mass of tall grass swayed to one side, and, -at the same instant, he saw the prow of a birch canoe stealing -as insidiously along as a panther approaches its prey.</p> - -<p>“Just what I thought!” exclaimed the lad. “It is one of -those Blackfeet, that Old Ruff says will follow a man a thousand -miles to get his scalp. I’ll bet he is after <i>mine</i>.”</p> - -<p>Whoever occupied the canoe—friend or foe—showed that -he was aware of the scrutiny to which he was subjected; for -the boat, which up to this time had progressed with unvarying -steadiness, now abruptly stood still.</p> - -<p>This attempt to remove suspicion was too evident for the -lad to mistake it; and with a tact which proved not only -his remarkable training, but his native keenness, he took advantage -of the “situation,” with scarcely a second’s pause.</p> - -<p>Picking up his trap, he wheeled half-way round, and -walked directly on among the undergrowth and rocks, and almost -immediately vanished from view. His action was precisely -that of one who was satisfied that nothing was wrong, -and who had resumed the quiet tenor of his way.</p> - -<p>But exactly the opposite was the case. He was resolved -before venturing further up the stream to find out precisely -the nature of the danger that impended. It was one of the -maxims of old Robsart never to leave the presence of danger -until he had learned all about it.</p> - -<p>This stealthy movement of the Blackfoot very probably had -a deep significance, which Little Rifle was determined to -penetrate, if such a thing were possible.</p> - -<p>After walking a hundred yards, and reaching a point -where he felt secure from observation, he once more laid the -trap upon the ground, and examined his rifle. The latter was -a perfect weapon in its way, fitted to carry a ball a great -distance with accuracy and was just suited to the strength of -the lad. He handled it, too, like one who understood its -use, as indeed he did.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_14">[14]</span>Every thing seemed to be satisfactory, and in as perfect -order as he could desire.</p> - -<p>“The gun is reliable,” was his satisfied exclamation, as he -threw it over his shoulder again; “now, if I ain’t mistaken, -there’s going to be trouble between a boy about my size, -and a Blackfoot Indian a good deal bigger!”</p> - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER II.<br /> - - -<span class="small">LITTLE RIFLE AND “BIG INJIN.”</span></h2> -</div> - -<p><span class="smcap">The</span> sun had long since passed down out of sight, behind -the Cascade Range, and a sort of twilight gloom rested upon -wood and river. Not a sound reached the ear, except the -faint hollow roar of the forest, and the distant rush of the -waterfall, where the river poured over the rocks on the way -to the ocean.</p> - -<p>Little Rifle moved along with the careless stride of the -free easy-going hunter, who knows precisely where his footsteps -are leading him, and what he may expect when he gets -there. It was curious too to note the silence with which he -advanced. The most skillful trailer among the Blackfeet -could not have guided his moccasins with a softer rustle -that seemed more like the creeping of the reptile than the -motion of the human foot.</p> - -<p>The boy did not approach the stream until he had reached -a point fully an eighth of a mile from where he had left it, -and then it was upon his hands and knees.</p> - -<p>Reaching a spot that afforded him the view he was seeking, -he peered out from his concealment, directing his eyes -at once toward the place where he had last seen the canoe. -The distance was so great that even his young keen eyes -were unable to see any thing unusual for a moment. Suddenly, -however, he exclaimed in an excited whisper:</p> - -<p>“There goes the old chap, as sure as the world, and he -thinks he is going to git <i>me</i>.”</p> - -<p>As he spoke, the canoe which had caused him so much<span class="pagenum" id="Page_15">[15]</span> -uneasiness, shot out from the opposite side, and headed directly -across stream, the boat, as far as he was able to judge, -aiming for the spot where he had been standing.</p> - -<p>Little Rifle waited hardly a minute after the canoe came -in sight, when he crawled hastily back for a rod or so, then -plunged into the protection of the shrubbery and undergrowth, -and retraced the very ground over which he had -passed but a few minutes before.</p> - -<p>This time he went at all speed, for his object was to reach -the point ahead of the red-skin. He ran like a regular hunter, -with a long, loping trot, his feet sounding like the -stealthy tread of a beast of prey, while he kept glancing -from side to side in that fashion which seemed to characterize -him at all times during his waking hours.</p> - -<p>Little Rifle was in good luck this afternoon, for he reached -his destination at the very second that he wished to do -so.</p> - -<p>He heard the dip of the paddle, as the canoe made its -way through the swift current, and a moment later the -Blackfoot’s head came to view, as he propelled the canoe -swiftly forward. Entirely unsuspicious of danger, he ran the -prow of the boat hard against the shore and almost at the -same instant leaped out.</p> - -<p>As Little Rifle was thus afforded a full view of the red-skin, -he was sure that he had never seen a more repulsive -creature on two legs. A dirty blanket lay in the bottom of -the canoe, and the hair, instead of being gathered in the ornamented -tuft or topknot, hung entirely loose and straggling -about his shoulders. The face itself was daubed and plastered -with differently colored clay, mixed with grease and some -other compound that made the copper-skin the very acme of -filth and ugliness. The countenance by nature was as hideous -as possible, being seamed with small-pox, while the nose -was of enormous size, flattened out to an immense width, -by the process which has given this tribe their distinctive -name among the hunters and trappers of the West.</p> - -<p>There was the imprint of a villainous nature upon this -same countenance. It was stamped so clearly, that it could -be seen and read through all the dirt and grease that was -smeared over it.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_16">[16]</span>As Little Rifle looked upon the Blackfoot, he felt also -that he was gazing upon the face of a murderer, one who -would bury his tomahawk into his brain with as little compunction -as if he were a wild animal.</p> - -<p>The lad had concealed himself behind a rock, and held -his rifle cocked, aimed and at his shoulder, so that the body -of the red-skin was covered, and our hero had but to pull the -trigger to send the dark soul into eternity.</p> - -<p>But he did not do so, for he would have felt that he too -committed a crime, in thus shooting down a human being -like a dog.</p> - -<p>The Blackfoot, after stepping out of his boat, turned about -to draw it further up the bank, and, as he did so, he laid his -rifle upon the ground so as to permit him to use his arms -with greater facility.</p> - -<p>This was the opportunity for which Little Rifle was waiting. -Taking one step from behind the rock, so as to bring -his body in full view, he called out:</p> - -<p>“<i>Ki! yi!</i>”</p> - -<p>Like a flash of lightning, the red-skin turned so as to face -the sound, and doing so, saw the rifle not more than twenty -feet distant, pointed straight at his breast, and with the finger -resting upon the trigger. It was, indeed, only a hair’s breadth -between him and eternity.</p> - -<p>Accustomed as was the savage to the most desperate emergencies, -he was completely taken off his guard by this unexpected -turn of events, and for a moment he stood like one -transfixed.</p> - -<p>Then he began, almost imperceptibly, to lean his left side -over, preparatory to making a sudden snatch for his gun; but -Little Rifle was too thorough a scout to lose the advantage he -had gained by his superior wit.</p> - -<p>He had learned considerable of the Blackfoot tongue from -old Ruff Robsart, and he now made the best use of it. Detecting -the purpose of the red-skin on the instant, he called -out:</p> - -<p>“Stir a foot before I tell you, and I will shoot!”</p> - -<p>Such a command was not to be mistaken, and the savage -straightened himself with a suddenness that made him appear -ridiculous. Men like him have too much dread of death to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_17">[17]</span> -invite it by any direct means, and treacherous and vindictive -as he was, he comprehended his danger in all its fullness.</p> - -<p>“Now, get,” added Little Rifle, still holding his piece at a -dead level, and closing one eye, as if to convince his enemy -that he was determined to make no mistake in the aim.</p> - -<p>This peculiarly American expression, naturally enough, was -not very clear to the red-skin, who stood motionless and undecided -as to what was expected of him.</p> - -<p>“Move off; go away from the canoe!” said the boy, accompanying -the order by a swaying motion to the left, that -did not lessen his command of aim, and, at the same time, -made his meaning perfectly intelligible.</p> - -<p>It went against the grain to obey the order, but there was -no question but that Little Rifle was master of the situation, -and he had the nerve to hold his vantage-ground. Noting -the hesitation of his captive, he made a shifting motion, as if -he had decided to fire. This was enough, and the Blackfoot, -with one sidelong bound, landed nearly a dozen feet to the -right of his canoe, and kept on walking, as if he had concluded -to leave such an uncongenial neighborhood altogether, -but our hero was not quite ready to give his permission.</p> - -<p>“Hold on!” he commanded, in the same authoritative voice, -and the Blackfoot did hold on, wheeling about and staring at -his master, with an angry, defiant expression, which said, as -plainly as the words:</p> - -<p>“What in thunder do you want now?”</p> - -<p>Keeping his body covered by the muzzle of the deadly little -weapon, the boy now advanced a half-dozen steps, so as to -bring him far nearer to the canoe and rifle than was his -foe, then halted. Feeling himself undisputed master of the -field, he showed a boyish propensity to use his authority.</p> - -<p>“How are you on a walk, old chap? You look greasy and -dirty enough to slip along without any trouble. Now turn -your face to the Cascade Range, and travel. I’ve heard some -of your chiefs say that their home is in the setting sun, and -now you can go hunt for it.”</p> - -<p>As there was no need of such extreme caution, now that -the Blackfoot was deprived of his weapon, Little Rifle lowered -his gun, and emphasized his words by appropriate gestures.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_18">[18]</span>“Your face is toward the sun, and now travel; keep it up -for a month or two. If you look back, I’ll pull the trigger -without waiting to give you a chance to sing your death-song. -<i>Go!</i>”</p> - -<p>Not Weston himself could have surpassed the gait of the -red-skin, as he obeyed this peremptory order. Turning his -broad, flat face to the Cascade Range, he started off like a hen-pecked -husband, who suddenly discovers that it is a little past -the hour when he promised to be in the bosom of his family, -and he has good cause to dread the consequences of his forgetfulness.</p> - -<p>Little Rifle stood smiling and amused, never once removing -his eyes from the dusky scamp, until he disappeared from -view in the wild, rocky ground that made the bank of the -river.</p> - -<p>“Now, as he has left, I will do the same,” concluded Little -Rifle, and placing his gun and that of the Indian in the canoe, -he shoved it into the water, sprung in and took the paddle.</p> - -<p>And, as he did so, he proved himself as much at home as -when setting his beaver-traps and pursuing the game through -the fastnesses of Oregon.</p> - -<p>Turning the head of the boat toward the other shore, he -sent it skimming over the swift current with as much speed -and skill as the Blackfoot Indian himself had displayed.</p> - -<p>“If I could only feel that he would keep on walking for a -week or two, I wouldn’t think any more about the red-skin,” -he mused, as he glanced back toward the shore he was leaving -so rapidly behind; “but I don’t think he will forgive me for -what I did.”</p> - -<p>It was the purpose of Little Rifle to throw the Indian entirely -off the scent, so that when he reached his cabin he could -rest and sleep in peace. The gathering darkness was in his -favor, as it made the task of giving him the slip so much the -easier.</p> - -<p>When the lad was about the middle of the current, he -turned the prow down-stream, and the little boat sped like an -arrow, seeming to skim over, without touching, the surface, -resembling the sea-fowl in its flight.</p> - -<p>Not doubting but that the Indian was on the watch, the boy<span class="pagenum" id="Page_19">[19]</span> -had recourse to this simple stratagem to get rid of him. The -little river was very winding and rapid, and the canoe went -spinning around these curves with a bewildering velocity that -was enough to drive any red-skin mad who attempted to follow.</p> - -<p>When this was done, and scarcely any twilight remained, -he shied the boat toward the other bank, at a point where a -solid rock offered firm footing. Springing nimbly out with -the two guns in his grasp, he kicked the boat out into the -stream again, and it went dancing onward like an egg-shell.</p> - -<p>“There, if that red-skin wants to chase that canoe, he is -welcome to do so,” he muttered to himself, as he saw the tiny -vessel vanish from view in the gloom; “and if he finds out -that I have jumped ashore, let him hunt my trail.”</p> - -<p>And with this satisfied conclusion, he turned about and deliberately -left the river behind. He felt that he had very -cleverly outwitted the Blackfoot Indian, and that he had -scarcely any occasion to give him further thought.</p> - -<p>“At any rate, there is no need of holding him in mind between -now and sunrise,” he mentally added. “I have come -a good long tramp from the old cabin, and the moon will be -well up in the sky before I can make it. I only hope that -Uncle Ruff has got back from his hunt and is awaiting me -there, with a good steaming supper, over which we’ll forget -all about Indians.”</p> - -<p>Ay, that were well, if the Indians would only forget all -about <i>them</i>!</p> - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER III.<br /> - - -<span class="small">FLITTING SHADOWS.</span></h2> -</div> - -<p><span class="smcap">Little Rifle</span> struck off homeward, like one who feels that -he has little time at his disposal. After walking full a mile, -he struck another stream smaller than the first and which was -a tributary to the one he had just left. The banks were -made up principally of rocks and gravel, over which it was -very easy to pass, without leaving any trail behind. The lad<span class="pagenum" id="Page_20">[20]</span> -made his way over these, with the care of a veteran hunter -and at length stepped down between two rocks, that towered -fully twenty feet from the ground. Between them was a -passage of about a rod in width, which gradually narrowed as -he advanced, until he was checked by what seemed an insuperable -obstruction; but this in reality was the cabin, the -“home,” toward which he had been journeying.</p> - -<p>It was made with very little regard to “style;” the rocks -themselves afforded the rear, and two sides. The roof was -constructed by laying saplings and branches across the top -and covering them with leaves and twigs to such a depth that -they afforded an impervious protection against the inclemency -of the weather. The interior was divided into two apartments, -the partition being formed, mainly like the front, of -buffalo and bear-skins, firmly fastened to poles.</p> - -<p>Thus a secure and comfortable retreat was afforded, no matter -how great the cold might be. Within were piles of the -richest and choicest furs, including those of the beaver, otter, -fox, marten, bear and buffalo. Some of these were exceedingly -valuable, being rich, glossy and of velvety softness; for -Old Robsart was as thorough a trapper as he was a hunter, -and he had a collection of peltries already secured, that, when -put in the market at San Francisco, would bring him a little -fortune in its way. The furs were all the best of their kind, -for he was too good a connoisseur to accept any of a second-rate -quality. Many a time, he took the beaver out of the trap, -examined him a moment, and then let him go in peace, until -he could get in better condition, by which time, also, the sagacious -animal was sure to be cute enough to keep clear of -all contrivances intended to entrap him, all of which Old Robsart -could not fail to know, but which did not affect his line -of conduct, as there were surely a thousand times more fur -bearing creatures in the North-west, than a regiment of trappers -like him could hope to capture.</p> - -<p>No fire was ever kindled within this primitive home; for -these downy furs kept so much of the natural heat of the -body that the most cold-blooded need not be uncomfortable. -The fire needed for cooking purposes was always made somewhere -else.</p> - -<p>Little Rifle’s anxiety now was to see whether his friend and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_21">[21]</span> -patron was at home before him. Knowing that there was always -a possibility of some treacherous red-skin lying in wait, -in the cabin, he paused when some distance away, and gave -utterance to a sort of whistle that was always used as a signal -between him and his friend.</p> - -<p>To his delight, this signal was instantly answered from -within the cabin.</p> - -<p>“He is there!” he exclaimed, running forward, along the -gorge. “Hello, Uncle Ruff!”</p> - -<p>The round full moon was shining from an unclouded sky, -so that objects were seen quite distinctly for a considerable -distance. As he spoke, the form of a man of goodly size, -with immense flowing beard, drew the buffalo-skin that answered -for a door aside, and stepped outside. His dress was -somewhat similar to that worn by the lad, except that instead -of his jaunty hat, he wore a close-fitting cap of fur. He was -a man of great strength and activity, and seemed to be in the -very prime of vigorous manhood, although evidently verging -on his sixty years.</p> - -<p>“Wal, my little pet, you’re back again,” he said, as he -looked kindly down upon the lad, and reached out both his -hands to grasp his. “Hello! You’ve got two guns have you? -What does that mean? Have you been assassinating some -traveling gunsmith?”</p> - -<p>“No, Uncle Ruff, I took that from a Blackfoot Indian.”</p> - -<p>“Found him asleep, I s’pose, with that ’ere piece hung up at -the head of his bed.”</p> - -<p>“No I didn’t, either,” continued Little Rifle, parrying the -taunts of the grim old hunter, who always delighted in quizzing -him. “I took it away from a red-skin that was wide -awake as you are.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, that’s it; I s’pose he’d been eating green persimmon -or tough babies, that give him the chollywobbles so as to -double him up with pain, and make him not care whether you -took his gun, or his head. Why didn’t you bring his scalp? -’Cause he wouldn’t let you, I s’pose. Let me take a look at -the gun and see whether it’s good for any thing.”</p> - -<p>After turning it over very deliberately in his hands for several -minutes, trying the lock and seeing that it was loaded, he -pronounced it a “tollyble weapon.” And then, throwing<span class="pagenum" id="Page_22">[22]</span> -aside his jesting words, he asked Little Rifle to give him the -particulars of his encounter with the red-skin, and listened -with great attention until he had finished.</p> - -<p>“You behaved like a hero,” was the comment of old Robsart, -when he had finished, “and I think have fairly ’arned -your supper. Ef you keep on improving at this rate, I’ll -make a hunter of you in the course of seventy-five or eighty, -or ninety or a hundred years. Come in to the banquet.”</p> - -<p>Little Rifle was as “hungry as a bear,” and he accepted the -invitation on the instant. Drawing the buffalo-robe aside, he -saw a tempting, luscious supper awaiting him upon a ledge of -rock, about a foot from the ground, on the center of which -sat a lamp, giving out quite a clear light from the oil that the -old hunter himself had extracted from some of the animals -he had captured in his traps. Without loss of time, the two -sat down, and began devouring the meal, chatting in the -meanwhile, like old friends who had not seen each other for -many days.</p> - -<p>“I’ve been on quite a tramp sence yesterday,” said Old -Ruff, with his cheeks swelling out with the juicy meat. “I -went a good many miles up the stream, and I used my eyes.”</p> - -<p>“Did you find the beavers any more plenty, than they are -here?”</p> - -<p>“Yes; ten thousand times, that is figgertively speakin’, as -the preachers down in the settlements say. Peltries is plenty, -but as is ginerally the case, the red-skins are as thick as grasshoppers, -and they kept me dodgin’ round like a bull in fly -time. We’ve got to send down to Fr’isco, for a lot of lamps -to carry ’round at night, so as to keep from tumbling over -’em, and when we ride our hosses toward the fort, we’ve -got to set a lamp on each ear to keep ’em from stepping onto -’em. I think I mashed a dozen or two of ’em, without knowing -it, ’cause I mind me now that I stepped onto something, -two or three times, that felt kind of soft.”</p> - -<p>“They are strange creatures, Uncle Ruff, and I can’t understand -why they should hate the whites worse than they hate -the rattlesnake under their feet.”</p> - -<p>“I s’pose ’cause the whites feel just as lovely toward them. -You see it’s a squar’ deal all round.”</p> - -<p>“I know but I can’t see any reason in it. There was that<span class="pagenum" id="Page_23">[23]</span> -Blackfoot to-day. He must have seen me when I climbed -up on a high rock to take a look at the surrounding country, -and the very minute he saw me, that very minute he went to -work to get my scalp. They are a strange people.”</p> - -<p>The scarred face of Old Ruff expanded into a quaint smile, -as he looked fondly down in the countenance of the lad, and -listened to his words. Then, laying the long, bony finger of -his right hand into the palm of his left, as if to call special -attention to his utterances, he said:</p> - -<p>“Yas, younker, you’re right. I’ve hunted wild animiles, -and fit Injins for a good many years, and I’ve come to the -conclusion that the red-skin is a qu’ar critter, and it takes a -good while afore a feller understands him. Some chaps come -out here fur a few weeks, and think they’ve got the hang of -things, when they don’t know no more about copper-skins, -than my grandmother does about tannin’ grizzly b’ars. You -know they ginerally call the Injin red, but when he gits on -the war-path, he’s allers a ‘yeller.’ They believe in spooks, -and when the spirit moves ’em, they move the spirits. They -don’t like crooked paths, and generally take every thing -straight; they are very hospitable, and often treat their captives -to a hot stake. This is very touching, ’specially to the -captive. They’re purty good shots, as you know yourself, -Little Rifle, ’cause you’ve see’d ’em shoot the rapids; they -are good on drawing a long bow, but often take an arrow -view of things, and I knowed an old chief once that lived -half the time upon arrow-root. Some younkers like you think -an Injin is the very beau ideal of a man, as they say down in -the settlements; but sence they’ve larned the use of guns, -they’ve hung up the fiddle and the bow, which must harrow -the feelin’s of the varmints a powerful heap. My nephew -that knows how to read books, calls him ‘Lo, the poor Injin,’ -and I agree with him, for ef thar’s any lower critters in -all creation, I’ve never see’d ’em. Sometimes you can tame -an Injin, and sometimes you can’t. They say an Injin never -forgits a kindness, and I s’pose they don’t, fur if you’re kind -to one of ’em he’ll hunt you for a week, and never give up -till he gets a lock of your ha’r to remember you by. The -only trouble is that when he takes the lock he’s mighty sartin -to take all thar is on your head.”</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_24">[24]</span>“Then I suppose, Uncle Ruff, that the fellow I started off -on a walk won’t be likely to forget me very soon?”</p> - -<p>“Not much; and while you’re ’bout it, you might jist as -well hold him in remembrance. You see, Little Rifle,” continued -Old Ruff, resuming his supper, “I never b’l’eve in -murder—not at all; but when you’ve got your gun p’inted -at a red-skin, and don’t feel like pulling the trigger, it’s a -good idee to shet your eyes, hold your gun steady, and sneeze. -When a man has his finger on the trigger, and onexpectedly -sneezes, the gun is purty sartin to go off. I found that out -when I was a little younker, and had a bow and arrer sighted -at my dear old grandmother, wondering how near I could -come to the end of her nose without hitting it, and not intendin’ -to shoot at all. The old lady jist then had her snuffbox -out, and I s’pose some of it got into my norsetrils; fur -I fetched a sneeze that like to have blowed my nose off, and -when I got over the a’rthquake that had shook me to pieces, -I see’d my grandmother picking up the only three teeth that -she had left, from the floor. Afore I could ax her pardon, -the old man come in. I remember he had been digging in -the garden, and carried a spade in his hand. Wal,” added -the old joker, with a sigh, “I won’t describe the incidents -that follered; suffice it to say that I warn’t able to set down -for two weeks, and I don’t s’pose I’ll forgit that little episode -as long as I live.”</p> - -<p>“Perhaps if I live all my life in these woods,” said Little -Rifle, in a voice of unconscious sadness, “I may come to look -upon life as you do; but I can not do so just yet.”</p> - -<p>“You ain’t going to live here all your life,” said the hunter, -with such abruptness that the lad looked up inquiringly into -his face, as if he failed to get the full import of his words. -“You’re getting to be quite a likely-sized youngster, and it’s -time that you see’d something more of the world than you -can see in these parts, though a chap can see a powerful sight -when he looks toward the mountains. I’m going on East -arter the summer is over, and I’ll take you with me. You’ll -see sights then that I reckon will make you open your eyes.”</p> - -<p>“There is one sight which I often wonder whether I shall -ever be given to look upon.”</p> - -<p>“What’s that?”</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_25">[25]</span>“My parents—my brothers and sisters—if I have any, and -something seems to tell me that I have. I tell you, Uncle -Ruff, that strange dreams often come to me, not by night only, -but by daytime. Sometimes when I am gliding over the -stream in my canoe, or following the windings of the river, -I forget your caution about keeping my wits about me, and I -fall to thinking of the past, and of the future. I have done -it of late very frequently, and a feeling comes over me that I -can hardly describe. It has settled down into the belief that -something strange is going to happen—something which is to -change the whole course of my life, and make me really another -person.”</p> - -<p>“What is it going to be?” asked the old hunter, looking -at the lad, with a scared look, as if he dreaded to reply.</p> - -<p>“I have no more idea of its nature than have you, but I -know it’s coming, for all that. And then too,” he added, -with more animation, “by my trying so much to think of the -past. I have succeeded at last.”</p> - -<p>“What!” exclaimed the astonished hunter, moving away -from the table, “what can you call to mind?”</p> - -<p>“I remember when you found me. I was lying asleep -upon some furs in an Indian lodge, when I opened my eyes, -and saw a man dressed in a hunter’s dress, leaning over me. -I remember that I was so frightened that I cried, and you took -me up in your arms to quiet me, and you carried me away -with you.”</p> - -<p>“That’s it exactly,” replied the hunter; “and the qu’arest -thing about that business was that when I come to that -lodge, standing by itself, there wasn’t a red-skin to be seen -anywhar near. I walked in, picked you up, and walked -away ag’in, and never cotched so much as a glimpse of a -copper-skin. I went back arter a month or so to see if I -could l’arn any thing, and found the lodge burned to the -ground.”</p> - -<p>“How far was that from here?”</p> - -<p>“Hundreds of miles up along the Saskatchewan, on the -trapping-grounds of the Hudson Bay Company. You see -arter I got hold of you, I took such a fancy to you that I -was afeard some of the red-skins would make a hunt fur -you, so I emigrated, and come down into Oregon. Arter I<span class="pagenum" id="Page_26">[26]</span> -got here, I felt troubled thinking maybe your parents or -friends might be up in them parts. So I left you with -some friends at Fort Abercrombie, and went up there to find -out.”</p> - -<p>“And learned nothing?”</p> - -<p>“Nothing at all; I spent a month in trampin’ over the -grounds. You know that part of the country isn’t very -thick with white folks, and such as they be are hunters or -trappers. I went to the forts, and every place, where I -could find any of ’em, but never a word did I l’arn. When -I fotched you away, I see’d that little rifle of yours hung -up over your head, and knowin’ as it was meant for you, -I fotched that too. I expected to l’arn something from that, -’cause you know thar ar’ two letters carved onto the stock—the -letters ‘<i>H. R.</i>’, and I s’posed by that means I’d git some -track of the owner—but it wa’n’t any use, and I give it up -at last. But what I want to ask my pet, is whether you -can’t call up any thing <i>afore</i> I come into the Injin lodge and -took you away?”</p> - -<p>“You know how hard I’ve tried, and once or twice, it -seems to me that I have succeeded. It is a dim picture of -riding over a deep broad river, with a good many people in -the boat, and it seems to me that some of them were of my -own color, and I think, though you know that it is all guesswork, -that my father and mother were among them; but -the picture is so dim and faint that when I try to fix it in -my mind it slips away again, and all is dark.”</p> - -<p>“Can’t you think of any thing else?—somethin’ different -from that?” asked old Robsart, with the most intense interest.</p> - -<p>“Nothing beyond that; all is blank. Of course, I remember -the several times that you left me at the fort, and -the kind men there, who taught me how to read and a -great many other things, but my memory is able to do no -more. Sometime it may succeed better.”</p> - -<p>“Wal, I hope it will,” said Old Ruff, with a sigh; “it ’ud go -hard with me to part with you, and I’d only do it fur your own -good; but these woods ain’t the place to fetch up a younker -like you. You’re smart ’nough, and handsome ’nough to desarve -better things. Old Ruff has got a little pile of money<span class="pagenum" id="Page_27">[27]</span> -stored away in one of the banks down in Fr’isco, and if your -friends don’t turn up, afore the summer’s over, we’ll see what -that can do fur you, my little pet.”</p> - -<p>“No matter what may happen in the future,” said Little -Rifle, in an affectionate tone, “no matter where the rest of -my life may be cast, or what good or evil fortune may befall -me, I can never forget <i>you</i>, who rescued me from the savages, -and have always been more than a father to me.”</p> - -<p>“That’s all right,” said the old hunter, hastily, and speaking -as if he were swallowing something that kept rising in -his throat, “that’s all right, and don’t say nothin’ more about -it.”</p> - -<p>For a long time they conversed in this familiar manner, -and then Little Rifle, as was always his practice, when with -the hunter, kissed him affectionately, bade him good-night, -and withdrew to his own apartment, which, it will be -remembered, was at the other end of the lodge or cabin, -where he was never disturbed or molested, during his sleeping -hours.</p> - -<p>Old Robsart sat on the outside of his humble cabin for fully -two hours more, wrapped in deep thought.</p> - -<p>“Qua’r,” he muttered, after awhile, “but when I was -huntin’ to-day, the same feelin’ come over me. I know I’m -going to lose Little Rifle, in some way or other. It’ll go -hard with me—but I hope it will be for the best.”</p> - -<p>And with this conclusion, he rose to his feet, passed into -the cabin and retired to slumber.</p> - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER IV.<br /> - - -<span class="small">THE VENGEFUL BLACKFOOT.</span></h2> -</div> - -<p><span class="smcap">A beautiful</span> spring morning dawned upon the Northwestern -solitudes, in which the two characters of whom we -have made mention had their home. Scarcely a cloud flecked -the sky, that looked like the deep, brilliant azure of Italy, and -the soft murmur of the distant waterfalls, and the songs of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_28">[28]</span> -thousands of birds made the scene one of gladness and joy. -The day would have been warm and sultry but for the breeze -that came stealing down from the snowy peaks of the Cascade -Range, diffusing coolness through thousands of square miles -of adjoining territory.</p> - -<p>By the time the sun was fairly above the horizon, old Robsart -and Little Rifle emerged from their humble quarters, and -moving down the narrow passage between the rocks, debouched -upon the shore of the stream which has already been mentioned. -Here a small canoe was found, into which both entered, -the old hunter taking the long ashen paddle in hand, -and sending the little vessel up the turbid current with as -much ease as if it were upon still water.</p> - -<p>Few words passed between the two, for the communings -and dreams of the previous evening were still with them. The -appearance of Little Rifle was of one who had slept very little -during the night, and the old hunter, understanding the cause -of his reverie, forbore to intrude upon it.</p> - -<p>This excursion was to visit their traps, their practice being -always to do so before partaking of breakfast.</p> - -<p>Several hundred yards’ steady pull, and the boat came to a -rest against the grassy beach, and old Ruff stepped out, drawing -the prow of the boat up after him. As he did so, the -boy made a motion as if to follow him, seeing which he waved -him back.</p> - -<p>“Stay whar you be, Little Rifle, for I won’t be gone -long.”</p> - -<p>He paused and looked up questioningly in his face.</p> - -<p>“Don’t you want me to help you, Uncle Ruff?”</p> - -<p>“I’d like to have you along, but I guess you’d better stay -thar. You know thar be only three traps fur me to visit. -When we halt further up, thar’ll be a half-dozen and you can -help.”</p> - -<p>“All right,” replied the lad, settling back in the stern of -the canoe, ready and willing to wait.</p> - -<p>“It will be better to leave the younker alone, at any rate, -till I come back,” muttered the trapper, as he strode away. -“Thar ain’t many o’ the varmints in these parts, and the way -he got along yesterday shows that he knows how to take care -of himself. Let him think, let him dream, and mebbe he’ll<span class="pagenum" id="Page_29">[29]</span> -be able to work out the mystery that I can’t see head nor tail -to. Thar’s a good deal in that handsome head of his’n, and -he’ll pitch it out arter awhile.”</p> - -<p>Left to himself, the boy reclined in an easy position, with -his head lying back upon the stern of the canoe, and his eyes -looking directly upward at the sky, across which a few white -feathery specks of clouds were now beginning to drift. The -soft ripple of the stream, as it washed against the bank and -around the little boat, the faint murmur of the forest, and, -above all, the thoughts that had haunted him since the talk -with the old hunter—all these conspired to throw a languid, -dreamy spell over the lad, such as sometimes comes over one, -when only partially awake.</p> - -<p>“Uncle Ruff tells me that he is going to remove me from -this place, before winter comes again, and I can not tell whether -his promise gives me most pleasure or pain. I feel that -I ought to leave here, for my own nature tells me that this is -not the way in which my Creator intends that I shall live. -What I have learned at the forts, and what he has told me, -has given me some idea of the great world which moves -around me; but I shrink back from stepping into it. It must -be that while this sort of life gives one a certain kind of courage, -it also makes him a coward. I could meet the deadly -Blackfoot with more courage than I could step into the streets -of that wonderful city of San Francisco—that old Robsart calls -Fr’isco. And yet, I suppose I would become accustomed to -that, too, in time. If my dream of last night comes true, a -change will come very soon. I mustn’t forget to keep my -wits about me,” he added, with a sudden start, as if he were -going to make amends for his temporary forgetfulness.</p> - -<p>Looking at the opposite bank, up and down stream, and off -in the direction taken by the old hunter, he saw and heard -nothing suspicious. All was as still and undisturbed as if this -solitude had never been trod by the foot of man or animal.</p> - -<p>“I guess every thing is all right,” he concluded, as he lay -back again, and gave way to the fascinating reverie that was -continually stealing upon him.</p> - -<p>And, lost in these weird dreamings—these vague imaginings, -Little Rifle became utterly oblivious to what was going on -around him. He forgot that he was reclining in an Indian<span class="pagenum" id="Page_30">[30]</span> -canoe, with no one standing sentinel over him; the lessons of -the old trapper were lost upon him, and his mind was almost -in the condition of the opium-taker, who really dwells apart -in a world of his own.</p> - -<p>And as he reclined thus, with his vacant gaze fixed upon -the blue sky above, the undergrowth along the bank, scarcely -a rod below him, noiselessly parted, and a figure came to -view.</p> - -<p>It was the Blackfoot Indian of the day before, whom the -lad had conquered and dispossessed of his rifle. He had no -gun as yet, but the muscles of the bare right arm were ridged -from the pressure of his fingers around the handle of the -gleaming tomahawk. The hideous face glowed with the white -heat of exultant passion, as he looked upon the lad and realized -how completely the tables were turned.</p> - -<p>Standing for a moment, with his head craned forward, as -if to make certain that he fully comprehended the situation, -he began advancing, with the stealthy, silent tread of the cat -upon the beautiful bird, never once removing his glittering -eyes from his victim.</p> - -<p>A dozen feet away, he paused. He stood on the very spot -he desired, and from which he could drive the keen-edged -tomahawk crashing through the skull of the unconscious lad.</p> - -<p>Little Rifle still lay in the same dreamy reverie, his hat having -fallen from his head, and the short, curly auburn hair resting -on the gunwale, while his clear rose-tinted cheek looked -more handsome and attractive than ever.</p> - -<p>Can no hand be outstretched to save him? Uncle Ruff is -still a half-mile away, attending to his traps, and his arm is -powerless to prevent the dreadful tragedy. Who, then, shall -interfere?</p> - -<p>The Blackfoot is not the one to wait. Slowly he draws -back the hand that grasps the tomahawk, and with his eyes -fixed upon the marble-like forehead, aims directly at the brain -of the dreaming boy!</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_31">[31]</span> - -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER V.<br /> - - -<span class="small">THE MYSTERIOUS SHOT.</span></h2> -</div> - -<p><span class="smcap">The</span> Blackfoot paused only long enough to make sure of -his aim, when he concentrated all his mighty strength in his -terrible right arm and hurled his tomahawk with a tremendous -force, that would have cloven through the birchen sides -of the canoe, and the skull of the boy like so much pasteboard, -had the glittering weapon sped true to its aim.</p> - -<p>But it went fully a dozen feet over his head, whizzing far -out into the stream, into which it fell with a loud splash.</p> - -<p>And the reason for this was that at the very instant he -threw his power into his single arm, there was a sharp crack -from the wood, and a bullet went crashing through his brain. -With a howl and spasmodic clutching of his limbs, he staggered -forward and fell upon his face, dead.</p> - -<p>It was a frightful awakening from Little Rifle’s reverie, -and he leaped out of the canoe, landing several feet away -upon the shore, with the belief that he himself was mortally -wounded. Staring wildly around, he saw the body of the -dead savage, and the second glance identified it as the one -who had hunted him the day before, and who had been so -cleverly outgeneraled.</p> - -<p>Walking toward him, the boy saw in what manner he had -been slain, and then he understood what it all meant. This -treacherous red-skin had attempted to steal upon and kill -him, when the saving bullet had averted the fatal blow.</p> - -<p>“It is fortunate that I had Uncle Ruff so near at hand,” -he concluded, with a feeling of heartfelt gratitude, as he -looked about in quest of his friend. “Another moment and -it would have been the end of me.”</p> - -<p>Little danger of his again falling into the slumber from -which he had been so rudely awakened. Holding his rifle in -hand, he looked about, ready for the coming of white or red-men; -but to his surprise, he saw neither.</p> - -<p>“I do not know why Uncle Ruff persists in remaining<span class="pagenum" id="Page_32">[32]</span> -away so long,” he mused, after he had waited some time in -this manner; but, fifteen minutes more passed, when the familiar -form of the old trapper debouched from the wood, bearing -upon his shoulder the skins of three beavers, which he had -taken from his traps. To each was appended the tail, which -forms one of the choicest titbits of the hunters of the North-west.</p> - -<p>“Didn’t I hear a gun?” asked old Robsart, the moment he -came within speaking distance. “It sounded down in these -parts and—hello! you fotched the old chap at last did you?” -he exclaimed, abruptly pausing and staring at the inanimate -form of the Blackfoot.</p> - -<p>“It is the same red-skin that I told you about last night.”</p> - -<p>“So I reckoned, the minute I looked on him. Don’t it -prove what I said? That ’ere chap has been huntin’ ’round -arter you ever since you started him toward the setting sun. -He’s like a wolf, that you think you’ve got off your trail, -when he starts up ag’in arter you’ve forgot all about him. -He’s hunted night and day for you, and arter he’s sot eye on -you has watched and waited for his chance; but he didn’t -make out any thing by the game.”</p> - -<p>“No; his career has ended to a certainty. That was a -most fortunate shot of yours.”</p> - -<p>“What yer talking ’bout?” demanded the trapper, staring -savagely at him. “I don’t know what you mean.”</p> - -<p>“Why, I mean that rifle-shot of yours that killed the Blackfoot, -just in time to save me.”</p> - -<p>“Me! hain’t I just got back from visiting the traps, and -hain’t pulled trigger this mornin’.”</p> - -<p>It was now the turn of Little Rifle to be amazed, and the -questions and answers that immediately followed revealed the -fact that the bullet that stretched the Blackfoot low had not -been fired by the old trapper, nor could he or the boy tell -from whose friendly gun it came.</p> - -<p>This added a new element of interest to the situation. The -old trapper went to the prostrate body, and after examining -the wound, and knowing the posture of the red-skin when -about to throw his tomahawk, he declared that the ball had -come from the other side the stream at a point almost opposite -where they stood.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_33">[33]</span>“And let us see if we kin find out who done it,” he exclaimed, -flinging the peltries into the canoe; “jump in and -we’ll paddle over.”</p> - -<p>Only a few seconds were needed to carry them to the other -shore, where they made a minute search for their friend, frequently -calling out; but they neither saw nor could they find -any traces of his presence there.</p> - -<p>“It’s a lucky spot, anyway,” said the old man, “so we’ll -start a fire, and have our breakfast afore we go any further.”</p> - -<p>The fire was started in a few minutes and breakfast made -of the beaver tails to which we have alluded. The startling -incident afforded them abundant material for conversation, -and for the time drove all thoughts of the more important -subject from their minds.</p> - -<p>But, when the meal was concluded, Old Ruff said:</p> - -<p>“Now, Little Rifle, I’m goin’ to make the round of the -traps, and will fotch in all the furs and peltries thar’s to bring. -It’s gettin’ so close to hot weather, that purty soon the skins -won’t be worth the gatherin’. I think we’ll make a move -further up-stream to-morrer, fur all the varmints are so thick -thar, and we’ll snatch all that we kin. You see, this yer -Blackfoot poking round in these parts makes it look as though -some more of ’em mought be here and thar.”</p> - -<p>“But you know that this one made special search for me, -and no doubt is the only one that has ventured so far as -this.”</p> - -<p>“Precisely, my boy; but you mus’n’t forgit that when you -first cotched sight of him, he was coming down the river, as -though he war looking fur you then. What I want to git at -is to find out whether any of the varmints are very close. -You kin go round by the falls, and make a good search. Take -the day fur it, if you need so much time, but make it sure.”</p> - -<p>“All right,” replied the lad, springing to his feet. “I’ll -try and be back by night, but, if I don’t you’ll understand the -reason why.”</p> - -<p>And humming a merry tune, the boy struck off into the -wood, and almost instantly vanished from view.</p> - -<p>Young, strong and in perfect health it was scarcely possible -that he should not be in the best of spirits. There is -something in the clear, brilliant, pure air of the Far West and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_34">[34]</span> -North-west, that penetrates a man’s system like the electric -current.</p> - -<p>Added to this was that strange, vague, fluttering hope that -had risen in his breast, and which as yet he could scarcely -comprehend, but with the passing of every hour, the conviction -grew upon him that he was upon the eve of a great crisis -in his life history. It was a verification of the old legend -that “Coming events cast their shadows before.”</p> - -<p>The day was as beautifully clear as the preceding one, and -the lad moved through the solitude, with an elastic step, that -proved that there was no unwillingness upon his part to assume -this task, which it may be supposed was attended with -no inconsiderable danger.</p> - -<p>“How strangely I was rescued,” he muttered, as he walked -along. “Heaven sent my unknown friend at the very -moment; had he delayed his coming a moment longer, I -should not have been here. Uncle Ruff is pretty shrewd, but -he can not imagine who the man was, except he thinks in a -general way that it was some hunter who has happened to -stroll down this way; but there is something which he don’t -understand in the way he takes himself off after firing his -gun, without waiting for so much as a word of thanks from -us. I am glad that Uncle Ruff has sent me off on this -scout, for it seems as if I were going toward my friend, with -a good chance of meeting.”</p> - -<p>The dense woods through which the boy had been making -his way thus far, now assumed a different character—being -much more open and broken, while the ground was rocky -and hilly—the face of the country being such as is found in -a place where the rivers and streams can only make their -way by passing through deep gorges and kenyons.</p> - -<p>Pressing forward in this manner, Little Rifle at last found -himself upon quite a lofty ridge, which gave him an extensive -view in every direction. It was indeed the post of observation, -whither he had directed his steps from the first.</p> - -<p>With characteristic caution, he screened himself from observation -as much as possible by climbing to the top of one -of the scrubby oaks, and then making a long and careful -survey of the suspicious territory.</p> - -<p>Only a single hasty glance was cast back over the region<span class="pagenum" id="Page_35">[35]</span> -from which he had just come, as that was under the guardianship -of old Robsart, who needed no assistance from him, -in a work of that kind.</p> - -<p>But he looked to the westward, where hundreds of miles -of the vast solitude opened before him. It was a scene -made up of rock, stream and wood in all their varied beauty, -such as would have won the eye, in a loving dream, of -any painter.</p> - -<p>Here and there he could trace the winding course of the -streams, starting on their long journey to the far-away Mexican -Gulf. In many cases these streams would be visible -for the better part of a mile, and then would be hidden from -view by the rocks and woods that interposed—only for a -time, however, as they soon shot into sight again, white with -bubbles and foam, into which they had been beaten on their -furious, plunging way through the gorges. In two places -these torrents disappeared into deep, narrow kenyons, above -which hung a mist, that threw back a faint prismatic reflection -in the bright morning sunlight.</p> - -<p>And so the vision extended, the streams diminishing to -tiny silver threads, the woods and rocks melting into a dim, -smoky haze, until far away toward the magnificent snow-crowned -Cascade Range, which to the imaginative boy seemed -the wall that shut him in from the world.</p> - -<p>“Beyond that lies my future,” he muttered, giving utterance -to his romantic imaginings; “when shall some one come -to lead me through that gate? Must it be Old Ruff himself -who is to start me upon that road, of whose end I can not -dream? Away up yonder, on the slope of that mountain-chain, -nestles the little fort, that was built many long years -ago by the Hudson Bay Company, and there I have spent -much of my time, receiving instruction from the kind-hearted -men there. I wonder whether any of them ever suspected—’sh!”</p> - -<p>He paused suddenly, and placed his finger to his lips, as -if to shut back from his own ears the words he came so -near uttering. With a deep flush upon his handsome face, -he glanced furtively around, as though affrighted, lest the -wind should have carried it to some ears.</p> - -<p>“I must be careful,” he added, in a whisper, with the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_36">[36]</span> -same startled look; “they say that trees and rocks have -ears. No one knows <i>that</i> secret but old Robsart, and he -would sooner be shot and scalped than reveal it. I can not -see the fort,” he continued, looking so far as his vision would -permit over the vast area of country that intervened, “but -I could make my way to it in the night time. Yonder is -the river that I am to reconnoiter, and yonder are the falls, -where Old Ruff suspects are Indians—and yonder are the Indians, -too!”</p> - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER VI.<br /> - - -<span class="small">THE STRANGE CANOE.</span></h2> -</div> - -<p><span class="smcap">Little Rifle</span> uttered this exclamation in the voice of one -who is certain of what he says, as well he might be; for, as -he fixed his eyes upon the swiftly-flowing stream, as it swept -onward toward the thunderous falls, his vision also roved -along the bank toward its source, far up in the mountains.</p> - -<p>The stream was a little less than a mile from where he -stood, and quite a distance above the falls alluded to, were -visible three Indian lodges. They stood upon an open piece -of land, immediately back of which were rocks and ravines, -and were close to the edge of the river, flowing by their very -base. They were of the usual character, made of barks and -skins, supported upon poles that were stacked like muskets, -the lower ends being a dozen feet apart, while they interlocked -at the top, where an open space was left.</p> - -<p>From the top of one of these lodges issued a thin, shadowy -column of smoke, so faint and vapory that it could only be -seen when the eye was directed fairly toward it.</p> - -<p>This was the only evidence or sign of life that met the gaze -of the boy, and it seemed rather to add to the loneliness of -the immense solitude spread out before his eyes. The smoke -showed that there was some one, out of sight, in <i>one</i> of the -lodges, at least; but in the distance, the river had a solemn, -quiet flow, and the roar of the waterfall below, mellowed and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_37">[37]</span> -subdued by the distance, was in perfect keeping with the -scene.</p> - -<p>“Yes, there are the Indians,” he added, as, perched in the -tree, he gazed long and searchingly on the scene; “they are -there, though my eye can not see them, for those <i>signs</i> are too -plain for any one to mistake.”</p> - -<p>Reasoning upon his knowledge of red-men, he concluded -that one of those marauding bands of Blackfeet, that are still -encountered in the Far West, had halted here for a few days -to engage in hunting, and most probably in salmon-fishing; -for, as is well known, the Columbia and its tributaries abound -with this fish, which is eagerly sought by both white and red -men.</p> - -<p>The danger to be feared was, that these Indians, hunting -and fishing in the vicinity, would discover signs of the proximity -of the two trappers and hunters, and, to use a common -expression, would “go for them.” As bad luck would have -it, also, they were directly between the present trapping-grounds -of Old Ruff and Little Rifle, and those to which they -had concluded to move their traps. Consequently, they would -be pretty certain to encounter “Indian” in uncomfortable profusion, -wheresoever they might choose to locate.</p> - -<p>The lad, from his perch in the top of the oak, looked down -upon the scene for fully a half-hour, in the expectation of -seeing some movement upon the part of the Blackfeet. All -that time the thin, light-colored smoke crept up through the -funnel-like opening, but not a solitary red-skin showed himself.</p> - -<p>“It must be that they are off on a hunt,” concluded Little -Rifle, as his patience at last gave out; “and if they have left -their squaws behind, they are asleep. Anyway, I must learn -more about them.”</p> - -<p>And acting upon this resolve, he descended the tree and -struck off in a direct line toward the river. He knew well -enough that if he should return to the old hunter with no -more knowledge than he now possessed, he would be chided -for performing only a part of his duty, his maxim being that -a reconnoissance that was incomplete was worse than none at -all, as it created all manner of doubt and distrust, without suggesting -the remedy. The intervening distance was traversed<span class="pagenum" id="Page_38">[38]</span> -without difficulty, Little Rifle not forgetting to exercise great -care in his movements, as always became a person in the presence -of danger.</p> - -<p>The point where he struck the stream was without any -wood at all, but was lined with broken, jagged and irregular -rocks, among which he managed to pick his way without exposing -himself to any suspicious eye that might be on the -alert upon the opposite side.</p> - -<p>He had kept his bearings so well that he found himself directly -opposite the three lodges, which were thus scarcely a -hundred yards distant, and in the best view he could possibly -desire.</p> - -<p>“They must be a sleepy set over there,” he concluded, as -he ensconced himself in a position to keep ward and watch; -“that is, if any one is there, for I don’t think a soul has stirred -outside since I first saw them. Hello!”</p> - -<p>His curiosity was suddenly and unexpectedly gratified, although, -as it speedily proved, in a way that was not entirely -satisfactory.</p> - -<p>A single Blackfoot Indian, that looked like the twin brother -of the one who had met his doom a few hours before, -walked out of the lodge from which the smoke was issuing, -stretched and yawned, and walking to the edge of the stream, -looked up and down for a moment, as though expecting some -one or something, and then deliberately walked back again, -and disappeared from view.</p> - -<p>“That looks as if he had come out to wash his face, and -had become disgusted,” laughed Little Rifle. “I think a good -scrubbing would be sure to kill him. I suppose, now, he will -go to sleep for the rest of the day.”</p> - -<p>One of the essentials of a good scout, both in civilized and -savage warfare, is a patience that can bear the test of hours. -The Esquimaux, who sits by the air-hole in the ice without -stirring a muscle, even if the seal does not thrust out his nose, -is the beau ideal of a patient scout, although he is too much -of a porpoise himself to get impatient.</p> - -<p>Young as was Little Rifle, he was the possessor of this -quality, and had displayed it to a remarkable degree on more -than one occasion; but it will be remembered that the circumstances -were exceptional to-day, and he was in that feverish,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_39">[39]</span> -uneasy condition of mind which at times made him, as it -were, another person.</p> - -<p>At any other time he would have centered his attention on -the three lodges across the stream, and kept it there until the -sun went down, despite hunger, cold and discomfort; but he -could not do so now. It required such an effort upon his -part to withdraw his mind from that tempting reverie, or day-dreaming, -which had so nearly proved his death, that he was -dissatisfied, and felt that he must be moving, and that he must -do something or the burden would become unbearable.</p> - -<p>What precise form this relief would have taken, it is hard -to conjecture, but most probably the lad would have ventured -to cross the stream at a point further up, so as to get still -nearer the lodges; but this perilous proceeding was happily -prevented by a most unlooked-for diversion.</p> - -<p>While keeping his attention, as a general thing, fixed upon -the most suspicious part of his view, he remembered that some -of the owners of these lodges were away, and there was no -telling by what route they might return. So he bestowed an -occasional glance up and down stream, not forgetting that he -might be lying in their very path.</p> - -<p>It was something like fifteen minutes after the disappearance -of the Blackfoot, when Little Rifle chanced to look up-stream, -and saw a small Indian canoe suddenly shoot to view.</p> - -<p>There was nothing particularly striking in this, but there -was something extraordinary in what he discovered the next -moment. A single person was holding the guiding-paddle, -and instead of being a Blackfoot Indian, as he had expected, -it proved to be a white boy, apparently his own age, or but -slightly older.</p> - -<p>He gave but little motion to the oar, as the current was -rapid enough to make it unnecessary, and his principal occupation -was in guiding the frail bark.</p> - -<p>The appearance of this stranger, as may well be supposed, -filled Little Rifle with the most profound amazement, as it -was the first time in all his life that he had seen a boy in this -section of the country, and coming to view so near to where -the Indians were, caused no little inquiry and speculation as -to what it all meant.</p> - -<p>He supposed of course that the lad was on good terms with<span class="pagenum" id="Page_40">[40]</span> -the Indians, else he would not have shown himself so near -them; but this belief was speedily dispelled by the actions of -the lad himself.</p> - -<p>While yet some distance up-stream, he suddenly caught -sight of the lodges, and instantly showed the greatest consternation—seizing -the paddle, and dipping it deep into the water, -as he made furious efforts to cause it to ascend the stream -again, as though he hoped to pass out of sight around the -curve above.</p> - -<p>But he was utterly unable to overcome the current, and -only succeeded in slightly checking his speed, the manner in -which he handled the paddle showing that he was quite a -novice, with a skill that could not compare with that of Little -Rifle.</p> - -<p>When the boat had drifted down to a point nearly opposite -the lodges, its inmate seemed to discover that he was wasting -his strength, and he turned about again so as to face the -dwelling-places of the dreaded red-skins.</p> - -<p>Not one of them showed his face, and the boy pausing a -moment to regain breath, headed the canoe directly toward -the point where the excited Little Rifle was watching his -actions; but this seemed to give no more satisfaction than the -other course, for in case he succeeded, it would compel him -to land directly opposite the lodges, where the chances of his -being seen would be doubly increased.</p> - -<p>As the best thing that could be done, he resorted to a -rather curious artifice. One hurried glance toward the Blackfoot -dwellings showed him that he still remained undiscovered, -whereupon he instantly lay flat down, so that he could not be -seen by any one upon the bank, and in this posture he let the -canoe go, trusting to good fortune to carry him by in safety.</p> - -<p>Little Rifle was on the point of calling to him, and volunteering -his assistance, when he concluded that his voice would -be pretty certain to attract the attention of the keen-eared -savages in the lodges, and thus endanger the safety of both. -Accordingly he remained quiet.</p> - -<p>There is something in solitude that attracts one human -heart to another, and when Little Rifle saw the canoe gliding -by, he determined to learn something of its occupant. He -reasoned that he was not likely to be alone in this wilderness,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_41">[41]</span> -and that strange, dim, vague feeling came over him, that -caused the expression of his thought.</p> - -<p>“It may be that <i>he</i> is the one sent by Heaven to lead me -through the gate that now shuts out the great wide world. I -will yield to the impulse that leads me toward him.”</p> - -<p>And, at the same time a shy, bashful emotion restrained -him from moving away at once.</p> - -<p>“I will wait and see whether he is fortunate enough to get -beyond sight of the lodges without discovery.”</p> - -<p>And he again crouched down behind the rocks, and with -an anxiously beating heart waited to see what the result of -this perilous mishap was to be.</p> - -<p>The strange canoe had something like a half-mile to pass, -before a curve in the river would shut it from view of any -one who stood upon the shore, where the Blackfoot had -shown himself. The probability was that the boy, after getting -fairly below the lodges, would work his boat in to shore, -so as to get out of the dangerous range as speedily as possible.</p> - -<p>The little boat kept in the middle of the current, the occupant -persistently remaining out of sight, and Little Rifle, after -watching it for a few moments, would look directly across the -stream, dreading to see the painted Blackfoot issue forth, and -repent his survey.</p> - -<p>Further and further drifted the little boat, until it looked -like a duck floating at will upon the water. But, if the Indian -sees it, he will recognize it on the instant, and then there -will be trouble. The lad does not intend to land, and must -remain in view for some time longer.</p> - -<p>The minutes dragged slowly by, and it appeared as if the -tiny vessel remained absolutely stationary upon the surface of -the water, although Little Rifle knew that it was still going -forward rapidly. At the distance, he could not identify the -lad, even if his head was above the gunwale, and our hero -was beginning to wonder what his conduct could mean, when -he observed that the canoe was gradually edging to one side, -as if it were creeping in toward the land.</p> - -<p>“But it is not,” he added, as he carefully scrutinized it, “it -is passing around the bend in the river, and will now be lost -to view in a few minutes, and then all danger will be over—Heaven -save him!”</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_42">[42]</span> - -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER VII.<br /> - - -<span class="small">A FEARFUL ADVENTURE.</span></h2> -</div> - -<p><span class="smcap">At</span> this moment, Little Rifle chanced to look across the -stream, and instead of one Blackfoot, he saw two come forth -from the middle lodge, and sauntering to the edge of the river, -pause, and, while gesticulating and conversing earnestly, they -first looked up the current, and then down again.</p> - -<p>“They will see the canoe! they will discover the lad and -he will be lost!” was the agonized thought of the little fellow, -who, turning his gaze in the same direction, just managed to -descry the boat, as it glided out of sight around the bend in -the river.</p> - -<p>The Blackfeet indeed acted as if they had discovered something -suspicious; for one of them pointed down-stream, and -the other following the direction indicated, seemed to be gazing -intently as though his keen vision had detected the same -thing.</p> - -<p>Little Rifle could plainly hear their guttural voices, as they -spoke in louder and more excited tones, but he was unable to -catch or comprehend a word they uttered. Fortunately they -remained in view but a few minutes, when they turned about -and strode into their lodge at a much more rapid gait than -they had employed in leaving.</p> - -<p>The watcher behind the rocks was determined to wait no -longer. Extricating himself as carefully and hastily as possible -from his station, he placed himself so far away from the -stream, that he felt secure from observation in case the Blackfeet -should come forth again, and then he hurried down the -river with all the speed of which he was capable.</p> - -<p>Sinewy and active as was the boy, he made rapid progress, -and shortly after came back to the margin opposite the point -where he had last seen the canoe, and, as he did so, a sudden -terror almost took the breath from his body.</p> - -<p>For directly below this bend were the falls of which we -have made mention, and of which he would not have thought<span class="pagenum" id="Page_43">[43]</span> -again, even at this moment, but for the overwhelming roar -that broke upon his ear, as he emerged from the forest, where -the sound met with no obstruction.</p> - -<p>He cast one hurried glance down the stream, and gracious -Heaven! what did he see?</p> - -<p>There was the canoe, still near the center of the stream, -and within a hundred yards of the falls, toward which it was -rushing with the speed of a race-horse.</p> - -<p>But the occupant was no longer asleep or insensible to -the frightful peril of his position. He had evidently awakened -to a sense of his dreadful danger, the instant he had -passed around the bend in the river, which not only gave -the rush and whirl a terrible power, but showed him the -surging current, and the mist rising from the churning foam -below.</p> - -<p>From one danger into a greater, he had striven with the -desperation of despair to bring the canoe out of its plunge -into destruction; but had either broken his paddle or had -lost it; for he was now using his rifle, as a substitute, grasping -the barrel and driving the stock through the water, with -a fierce rapidity, that proved that he understood that his life -depended upon his success.</p> - -<p>That one terrified look showed Little Rifle that it was -beyond the power of the poor lad to accomplish the task, -and that he was only insuring his destruction by continuing -the effort.</p> - -<p>“Throw your gun down! jump overboard, and swim for -land! It is your only hope!”</p> - -<p>These words were shouted by our hero, who swung his -hat aloft and screeched like a madman. It may be that his -clear, musical voice possessed such a penetrating power, that -they reached the ear of his strange friend in his extremity; -for he ceased his frantic efforts, and turned his white, imploring -face toward him, as if to thank him for the warning -even though it could aid him naught.</p> - -<p>“Jump! jump! I tell you!” called out Little Rifle, rushing -into the water to his knees, in his extreme solicitude, -“throw your gun aside, and you can do it. Wait a dozen -seconds more and you are lost!”</p> - -<p>The boy did wait the dozen seconds. He must have<span class="pagenum" id="Page_44">[44]</span> -understood the words that were shouted to him, for he sat -back in the stern of the canoe, folded his arms, and looking -intently at Little Rifle, sadly shook his head, and then raising -his hand waved it in greeting toward him.</p> - -<p>And as he did so, he could not have spoken more plainly, -had he used the word.</p> - -<p>“I understand your advice; but it is too late! I must -go over the falls to my death, and good-by!”</p> - -<p>It was a strange and impressive sight to see this mere boy, -after fighting so bravely against fate, meet his doom with the -stoicism of an Indian war-chief. There was no wailing or -outcry, no frenzied flinging of himself in the boat, as it might -be expected that such a one would do, when he saw himself -gliding so swiftly and irresistibly toward death; but he sat -back in the position we have described, and after his salutation -to Little Rifle, turned his face away, and looked at the -waterfall before him.</p> - -<p>The action of the doomed lad awed and thrilled the -heart of Little Rifle, who felt that it was no ordinary character -that he saw before him; for not one boy in a thousand -could meet death with such heroism. For one instant, the -agonized watcher closed his eyes to shut out the dreadful -sight, and then yielding to an overmastering attraction, he -leaped back out of the water, and dashed at headlong speed, -down the bank, over rocks and through undergrowth, until -he reached a point directly below the falls, from which he -could look up and see the vast sheet of water, as it poured -over the ledge into the seething, furious hell of foam and -froth below. Here he paused and gazed upward.</p> - -<p>The river just before making its final plunge was compressed -into a kenyon-like passage not more than one-half -its width a hundred yards further up. This deepened and -gave it far greater velocity, the current shooting forward -like a mill-race, the surface being covered with little eddying -waves, as if they were sensible of the awful caldron into -which they were so soon to make their boiling plunge. -But the entire volume, sweeping forward with an indescribable -grandeur and majesty, moved over the ledge in a solid, compact -body, fully a dozen feet in depth and without a break. -Descending perhaps a rod, in the same solid volume of a<span class="pagenum" id="Page_45">[45]</span> -deep green color, it could be seen the outer surface of this -mass began to assume, here and there, a white, feathery appearance, -which rapidly increased, until, something less -than a hundred feet below, it resembled an Alpine avalanche—all -of a glistening, snowy white. Here where the water -was arrested, there was a perfect pandemonium; the billows -turning and rolling over each other, throwing the blinding -spray far up on both banks, while a thousand currents and -counter-currents struggled and fought with each other with -such desperate fierceness, that it was not until the stream had -reached a point several hundred yards away, and had expanded -into its usual breadth, that it assumed any thing like -its natural appearance.</p> - -<p>The din that filled the ears of Little Rifle, as he stood on -a flat, projecting slab of rock, where his clothing was speedily -saturated, was enough to drive an ordinary person frantic, -although it scarcely affected one who had spent such a portion -of his life in the wilderness as had he.</p> - -<p>But here he might have shouted his voice away, and not -the slightest sound would have been heard even by himself. -He could do nothing but stand and watch and wait, with -that freezing terror all through his nerves that made him -feel as if he must forever remain rooted to the spot.</p> - -<p>“But where is the canoe?” he thought, when it seemed -to him that he had been waiting an interminable period, -while, from the very nature of the case, he had been there -only a few seconds. “Could it have gone over while I was -making my way to the spot? No, that can not be, for I almost -flew. Oh! is there no hand to save him?”</p> - -<p>At that instant Little Rifle caught sight of the canoe, as it -glided swiftly out to view, seeming to poise itself for a moment -in mid-air, like an eagle balancing himself for his earthward -sweep, and then the boat, with its brave occupant, shot -downward, with a velocity that seemed almost to baffle the -eye.</p> - -<p>It appeared as if the water as it swept over the ledge -of rocks was of unusual density, for the canoe rested on the -surface, like a feather, as though it had lost all weight.</p> - -<p>Little Rifle saw the prow, following the curve of the river, -turn downward, so that it stood perfectly perpendicular, the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_46">[46]</span> -white-faced but resolute lad who occupied it grasping the -sides with his hands so as to maintain his place.</p> - -<p>In this way it made the descent, for, perhaps, fifty feet, -when the stern, probably retaining the momentum longer -than the lighter bow, advanced so much further that the canoe -turned a complete sommersault, both it and the boy shooting -from view in the roaring, plunging and churning hell of -waters at the bottom of the falls.</p> - -<p>“Lost! lost! gone to his last account!” gasped Little -Rifle, recovering from the paralysis in which he stood up to -this instant. “He showed that he was a brave lad, and he -deserved a better fate— There! can it be?”</p> - -<p>Although, as we have shown, the efforts of the poor boy to -work his canoe in to shore and out of the frightful current -failed, yet it resulted, despite the appearance to the contrary, -in getting quite a distance toward the bank whereon Little -Rifle stood, and he noted the fact, with some surprise, as it -came over the falls.</p> - -<p>As he stood on the wet rock, looking at the foaming abyss -before him, something dark shot up to view almost at his -feet. Looking downward, he had just time to see that it was -a part of the canoe—about a half—when it drove out of -sight again, in the resistless grasp of the current.</p> - -<p>And the same glance that showed him this, showed also -the face of the boy who had made the fearful plunge, only -for an instant, like his view of the canoe. The face, white -and motionless, rose from the water, and then sunk out of -view, as it sped down the current, with scarcely less speed -than the river possessed directly above the falls themselves.</p> - -<p>That one look was sufficient for Little Rifle. A sudden -hope came to his heart that the lad might still have the breath -of life in his body, and placing his gun upon the rock at his -feet, he concentrated all his strength and made a leap directly -toward the spot where he had seen the face, shouting at the -same time, with all the strength of which he was capable, in -the hope of arousing him to do something for himself.</p> - -<p>The most skillful swimmer can not fight his way through -froth and foam, its specific gravity being too slight for it to -support his weight, while the danger is that he will be -strangled before he can reach the water that will support<span class="pagenum" id="Page_47">[47]</span> -him. Little Rifle fully understood this before he made his -daring plunge, but the glimpse that he had obtained of the -boy had proved that he had something in his favor that fully -counterbalanced this. The very violence of the foamy waters -was such that it drove all foreign bodies to the surface for a -second or two, without any effort upon their part.</p> - -<p>Little Rifle kept his senses about him, as he felt himself -sinking downward, downward, in the resistless grasp of the -current. He had taken a deep inspiration during the instant -he was making his flight through the air, and he now held -his breath until he could gain the chance to renew it.</p> - -<p>The crash and roar, the blinding mist and spinning eddies, -the arrow-like descent, these were enough to drive all the -wits from a man’s brain, and the boy had hardly thrown -himself into the vortex when the conviction flashed upon -him, that the strange boy was not only past all hope but that -he had put himself in the same position by his mad plunge -into the water, in the hope of rescuing him.</p> - -<p>But Little Rifle was too brave a lad to yield up his life -without a struggle, and, with all the strength and skill of -which he was master, he made a desperate effort to get his -face to the surface only for a second—a single instant—that -he might gain a single breath of the all-revivifying air.</p> - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER VIII.<br /> - - -<span class="small">OUT OF THE JAWS OF DEATH.</span></h2> -</div> - -<p><span class="smcap">At</span> this instant, while Little Rifle was making such a tremendous -effort to save himself, his shoulder struck something. -He supposed that it was the canoe, or that he had grazed a -rock in his meteor-like passage through the water; but, the -wild hope that it was neither of these, caused him to throw -out his arm and clutch at it.</p> - -<p>As he did so, he found that he had grasped the arm of the -boy, for whose sake he had made this desperately perilous -attempt.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_48">[48]</span>Having got it in his grasp, Little Rifle did not let it go -again, but held to it, as though his own life depended upon -the result, while, with the other arm and his feet, he redoubled -his efforts to make the surface of the turbulent current.</p> - -<p>The very velocity of the sorely-pressed stream was in favor -of the lads, as it carried them speedily into water heavy -enough to afford a swimmer support; but, before this was -done, and when the brave rescuer felt that he could hold out -no longer, he brought himself and his burden to the top of -the water.</p> - -<p>Even in this critical, this fearful moment, when it seemed -that his own body would burst with agony, Little Rifle made -certain that his companion was given the same blessed privilege -before he availed himself of it. He saw him start and -gasp, he felt the arm which was in his grasp feebly start or -struggle, and then, with the lungs of both filled with the delicious -life-giving air, they went down again.</p> - -<p>In that momentary sight that Little Rifle had gained of -the face of the boy, during the single instant that it remained -above the water, he caught sight of a red spot of blood upon -the forehead, which showed that he was hurt and bleeding -very fast, else the crimson current could not have shown itself -so quickly.</p> - -<p>In a shorter period than before, the two came to the top -of the water again, and Little Rifle, with a thrill of hope, -found that they were beyond the light, fleecy foam, and were -speeding downward through water in which he was able to -support both himself and his charge.</p> - -<p>The skill of the young trapper was as great in the handling -of himself while in the water as it was in hunting or trailing -through the woods, and now his confidence came back to -him, when he felt certain that he could accomplish something -by that same skill and strength.</p> - -<p>Still retaining his hold upon the arm of the boy, he -managed to bring his head above the surface once more, -while with the other arm he impelled both through the water, -toward the bank, from which he had made his leap.</p> - -<p>The current was still so swift that he could hardly hope -to effect a landing until they should reach a point further<span class="pagenum" id="Page_49">[49]</span> -down, but it was prudent to put himself in a position where he -could avail himself of the first turn in his favor.</p> - -<p>Looking again at the countenance by his shoulder, he saw -that the eyes were closed, and there was blood flowing over -his face.</p> - -<p>The sight convinced Little Rifle that he must speedily be -gotten out of the water, if he expected to preserve his life at -all, and he now bent all his efforts toward reaching the shore -with him.</p> - -<p>A few vigorous strokes brought him within a dozen feet of -land, but the bank was so rocky and precipitous that it was -idle to attempt to come out, and he drifted, unresisting, still -further.</p> - -<p>By this time they were scarcely less than a quarter of a -mile below the falls, so swiftly had they sped downward, and -being so close to shore, Little Rifle determined to make a -desperate attempt to land at the first point that offered the -least hope.</p> - -<p>Suddenly he saw an opening in the rocks, a place where -they were so depressed that he could reach the upper edge -with his hands, if he could bring himself sufficiently near.</p> - -<p>A furious plunge forward, and he succeeded. Throwing -up his free arm, he grasped the rim, but the swiftness of the -current, and the support of the helpless lad, instantly tore his -grasp loose, and both sped onward again.</p> - -<p>“I’ll make it next time,” was his thought, as his courage -rose with the difficulty. “The stream is broadening, and -must run a great deal slower. I will soon find a footing, and -when I can secure that, I will bring us both out all right. -He is alive,” he mentally added, as he looked at him again, -“for he has struggled more than once, but he is badly hurt, -and he may die, after all.”</p> - -<p>Just then, Little Rifle’s moccasins struck the bottom, and, -as they were drawn up, in his efforts at swimming, this showed -that the water was quite shallow. Instantly dropping his -feet, he stood with it rising scarcely above his waist; but -even then it was the utmost he could do to retain his footing, -so powerful was the sweep of the current.</p> - -<p>He succeeded by a strong effort, and never losing his hold -upon his charge, dragged him to shore and stretched him out<span class="pagenum" id="Page_50">[50]</span> -at full length upon his back, where the sun could shine full -upon his face.</p> - -<p>The boy lay like one that was dead, with his eyes partly -closed, and the blood trickling from the wound in his forehead. -For a moment, the heart of Little Rifle seemed to -stand still, as he believed that it was all over with him, and -he knelt down to make sure.</p> - -<p>Examining the wound, he found that it was much less -serious than he had supposed, the bone of the forehead being -unbroken. It had probably been caused, not by striking the -jagged point of a rock in his fearful descent, but when driven -about by the whirlpool or current, his head must have grazed -some of the numerous projections, causing only a superficial -wound, where, in the other case, instant death would have -been the result.</p> - -<p>Little Rifle tore a piece of the fringe from his hunting-shirt, -and with it endeavored to stanch the flow of blood. As -he pressed it against the raw wound, the forehead of the lad -contracted as though with pain. Little Rifle paused for an -instant, and then did it more gently than before. At this -the sufferer opened his eyes, looking up with a vacant, bewildered -stare, like one recovering from a sound sleep.</p> - -<p>His attendant now raised his head upon his knee, and endeavored -to rouse him to consciousness.</p> - -<p>“Cheer up, my young friend, you are past all danger now; -you have had a trip that you can boast of as long as you -live. How do you feel?”</p> - -<p>But the faculties of the boy were knocked up too much -for him to comprehend his situation. He mumbled something -that was unintelligible, and then closed his eyes as if to -sink into a slumber.</p> - -<p>Little Rifle was at a loss to understand what this meant -but he feared it was a bad sign, and now that he had begun, -he determined to arouse him to a full sense of his position. -He shook him quite violently, all the time speaking in a loud -voice, and fighting off his drowsy tendency. The lad had -swallowed a large quantity of water, which, having thrown -out, he began to show some evidence of his returning faculties.</p> - -<p>Looking steadily in the face of Little Rifle, he glanced at<span class="pagenum" id="Page_51">[51]</span> -the rapid river flowing by at their feet, and then seeming to -comprehend, for the first time, he spoke with some coherence.</p> - -<p>“And is it possible that I came over these falls and live -to remember it? It can not be possible; it is incredible.”</p> - -<p>“But it is true for all that,” replied Little Rifle, with a -smile of delight. “You have a slight wound upon your -forehead; but if that is all, you will soon be all right again. -Just examine yourself and see whether you have any other -injuries.”</p> - -<p>The boy stretched his limbs, and with some assistance got -upon his legs, hobbling about for several minutes.</p> - -<p>“They are in order, and it seems I haven’t got any thing -broken but my head.”</p> - -<p>“Nor that either,” said his friend, his pleasure showing -itself in his radiant face and the tones of his voice. “You -have had a great shaking up, but it was a most wonderful -escape. You will go with me to my home and remain with -me until you recover your strength, or until you are anxious -to go.”</p> - -<p>“Your home?” repeated the stranger, in amazement; -“have you a home in this wilderness?”</p> - -<p>“Come with me and you shall see,” replied Little Rifle, -flushing, and dropping his eyes with confusion to the ground.</p> - -<p>“All right, lead the way, only don’t walk too fast, for I -feel a little rheumatic in my joints, and can’t get along -fast.”</p> - -<p>As the boy hobbled forward again, leaning upon the arm -of his friend, something dropped from his bosom, and as he -stooped to pick it up he said, with a laugh:</p> - -<p>“I lost my oar, hat and gun, but the spy-glass stuck by me -to the last, perhaps because I could better afford to part with -that than any of the others.”</p> - -<p>“We will go back by the falls,” said Little Rifle, “for I -left my gun there when I jumped into the water. Then we -will take the nearest cut home, and get there, I hope, in the -course of a few hours.”</p> - -<p>“See here!” said the other, pausing for a moment, “ain’t -there any Indians there?”</p> - -<p>“I will look out for them,” was the reply; “but tell me<span class="pagenum" id="Page_52">[52]</span> -how it was you came to be alone in your canoe on the -river.”</p> - -<p>“I will tell you as we walk along, for it is quite a long -story. What is your name?”</p> - -<p>“They call me Little Rifle,” replied the lad, with no little -embarrassment of manner, “and if you please, you may do -the same.”</p> - -<p>“An odd name, but rather pretty. You may call me -Harry Northend. I don’t suppose you remember ever seeing -me before?” he asked, in a significant manner.</p> - -<p>“Of course not,” returned Little Rifle, greatly surprised. -“Why do you ask?”</p> - -<p>“<i>Because I have seen you before!</i>”</p> - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER IX.<br /> - - -<span class="small">NEW FRIENDS.</span></h2> -</div> - -<p><span class="smcap">Little Rifle</span> and Harry stood side by side on the margin -of the stream down which the latter had made his frightful -plunge, and from which he had been rescued by the daring -young trapper.</p> - -<p>“Yes,” repeated Harry, with a meaning laugh, “I have seen -you before, if you haven’t seen me.”</p> - -<p>“I am sure you are mistaken,” replied Little Rifle, embarrassed -at his persistency. “I have lived among the mountains -and woods ever since I can remember.”</p> - -<p>“And that’s where I saw you,” added Harry, who seemed -to recover his strength and spirits with remarkable celerity. -“I wonder, now, whether you were not lying in the back part -of a canoe, this morning, half-asleep, without suspecting that -a big Blackfoot Indian was creeping up to you with his tomahawk -in hand.”</p> - -<p>And Harry laughed, as if he had just heard the funniest -joke of his life.</p> - -<p>A light began to break in upon the mind of Little Rifle. -How could his new acquaintance know any thing of that incident,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_53">[53]</span> -which neither himself nor Ruff Robsart had told to -any one?</p> - -<p>“<i>You</i> are the one who fired the gun that saved me!” he -exclaimed, reaching out to take the hand of Harry.</p> - -<p>“I believe I am,” replied the latter, as he returned the -grasp. “I happened to be hunting along that creek when I -caught sight of your canoe, and I stood trying to make out -whether you were an Indian or a white man. I was going to -call to you two or three times, but I thought you were a red-skin, -as the hunters call them; for you know I couldn’t see -your face, and you were dressed very much like one. Just as -I was about to turn away I caught sight of the Blackfoot -stealing toward you—and you know the rest.”</p> - -<p>“But why didn’t you wait and speak to us. We crossed -over to hunt you out, but Old Ruff himself couldn’t find your -trail, even.”</p> - -<p>“I took pains to travel over the rocks and stones as much -as I could so as to keep you from finding my tracks. I didn’t -wait to see this Old Ruff that you are talking about, because -I still believed that you were an Indian belonging to some -other tribe, and I couldn’t bear to see you killed in such a -cowardly manner, so I made myself as scarce as possible.”</p> - -<p>“But how, then, do you recognize me <i>now</i>?” asked Little -Rifle, in wonder, “when you say you didn’t see my -face?”</p> - -<p>“By that cap, which I did see, and which isn’t the kind of -plug an Indian sports.”</p> - -<p>Little Rifle laughed at the lively, off-hand manner of his -new friend, who seemed to have forgotten entirely his recent -terrible experience.</p> - -<p>“Well, then, since you would not give me the chance then, -I will take it now, and thank you from the bottom of my -heart for the service you did me, when without it I should -have been killed.”</p> - -<p>“Of course it was a good turn, but then it can’t compare -with your act. <i>I</i> didn’t run any particular risk, while you -knew, when you jumped into the raging water, that the -chances were altogether against your ever coming out again. -However, we won’t fight over such a dispute; we’re bound to -be friends for life, so give us your hand on it.”</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_54">[54]</span>And the two shook hands warmly, in a way, too, that showed -they meant it.</p> - -<p>“I tell you, Little Rifle, there is something about you that -I like,” in his dashing, captivating style. “You’ve got pluck, -and I like to see that in anybody, and then you’re as modest -and backward as a girl; you haven’t got the brass and style -and vices of civilization, and I hope you never will, and so it -won’t spoil you when I tell you that you’ve got the handsomest -face that I ever saw on a pair of shoulders—”</p> - -<p>“There! there!” protested Little Rifle, flushing to his temples, -“please don’t go on in that way, but tell me something -about yourself.”</p> - -<p>“Well, I suppose I ought to. You know what my name -is; my father has an interest in the Missouri Fur Company, -and has come out prospecting in this part of the world. We -came up the Missouri and Yellowstone as far as the boat could -travel, and then, with a party of hunters, made the rest of the -journey on horseback. So, you see, I got considerable experience -in the woods on our way, though I haven’t had much -chance to learn how to manage one of these confounded canoes. -We reached Fort Abercrombie, which I suppose you’ve -heard of, about a week ago.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, I have been there several times.”</p> - -<p>“Well, from there father concluded to make a trip up into -British America, and gave me the choice of staying where I -was, or of going with him and his party. I found out from -the men at the fort that there is a great deal better hunting -in Oregon than there is further north, so that is how I came -to stay behind.”</p> - -<p>“And is it possible that you are so far away from the fort -without some hunter or trapper who knows the country being -with you?” asked Little Rifle, staring at him, in amazement.</p> - -<p>“Why not?” he responded, coolly. “Father didn’t forbid -me to go out hunting, but rather encouraged it. I find there -are a few more waterfalls and Indians than I thought, but I -am getting used to them. Since you’ve told me your name, -Little Rifle, I call to mind, too, that I have heard it at the -fort. Old Ruff, as you call him, the noted old Hill Trapper, -has you in charge. Isn’t that the case?”</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_55">[55]</span>“You are right,” replied Little Rifle, as they picked their -way along over the rocks, in the direction of the falls. “I -have lived with him ever since I can remember.”</p> - -<p>“But he is not your father?”</p> - -<p>“No; nor can he tell who my parents are. Many years -ago, when I was an infant, he took me from a deserted Indian -lodge. I was left at the fort, while he made every effort -in his power to find out something of my history; but he -has never succeeded, and is as ignorant of it to-day as you -are.”</p> - -<p>“It is wonderful,” said Harry, deeply impressed with the -romantic narrative; “were you dressed in Indian clothes at -the time? Were there no marks by which some trace of your -parentage could be gained?”</p> - -<p>“None at all,” replied the young lad, with a sad shake of -his head. “I do not even know my name.”</p> - -<p>“How is it that they call you Little Rifle?”</p> - -<p>“When old Ruff Robsart took me out of the Indian lodge, -there was a small gun, beautifully mounted, suspended over -my head, which he brought away with him, and kept until I -was big enough to begin to use it. At the fort they christened -me Little Rifle, and the name has stuck to me ever -since.”</p> - -<p>“Where is the gun now?”</p> - -<p>“I laid it upon the rocks when I jumped into the water -to help you out, as I would have been sure to lose it. I am -on my way now to recover it.”</p> - -<p>“It would be hard for me to guess where mine is,” laughed -Harry, with a half-quizzical look at the falls, which were now -close at hand. “As a paddle, it wasn’t much of a success, -and I don’t think it fared much better than the canoe.”</p> - -<p>“We have a spare rifle or two at the cabin, and I shall -be glad to present you with one. In fact you have a claim -to one of them, for it belonged to the Blackfoot that you -shot this morning and looks like a good piece; though it is -of the regular size.”</p> - -<p>“And so was the one I lost. Father bought me a couple -of boys’ guns in St. Louis, and I lost one in the Yellowstone, -when I was watching to get a crack at some wild-fowl.”</p> - -<p>“What became of the other?”</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_56">[56]</span>“I kept that till we had left the Yellowstone, and were -well on our way over the mountains. I got tired of carrying -it slung over my shoulder, where there wasn’t any chance -of getting a crack at any thing like game—so I had it strapped -to the back of a mule, and he took it into his head one -day to roll over without waiting for his load to be unstrapped. -When he had finished, my gun was in seven different pieces. -Then I took an ordinary rifle, such as the men carry, and -have gotten along with that ever since.”</p> - -<p>“Yonder is mine,” said Little Rifle, pointing to where -his weapon lay; “wait here until I return, and you can examine -it for yourself.”</p> - -<p>With these words, the lad bounded forward like a chamois, -and picking up his piece, brought it back to Harry, who -took it into his hand to examine it.</p> - -<p>“A splendid gun,” was his comment, as he turned it over -and over in his hand; “but, hello! what does this mean? -There are two letters, ‘<i>H. R.</i>’, engraven on the stock.”</p> - -<p>“They were there when Old Ruff found it. Neither of -us know what they mean.”</p> - -<p>“They must be the initials of the man who owned the -gun. No doubt he was your father; I see his surname begins -with <i>R.</i>, but I don’t suppose it can be Rifle, like yours.”</p> - -<p>“No; hardly that,” replied the boy, compelled to laugh -at the manner of his companion. “There must be thousands -of names that begin in the same way, so those letters have -been of no help at all to us.”</p> - -<p>“Not at present, but when I go back to the fort, I’m -going to set out to find who you are, and where you came -from, and I’m never going to go back East until I do learn.”</p> - -<p>As Little Rifle heard these words, the longing, strange -yearning came to him, and he could not avoid asking himself -the question, whether this friend was not the instrument -sent by Heaven to introduce him into the world, and to unlock -the mystery that shrouded his history.</p> - -<p>His declaration of what he intended to do, stirred Little -Rifle’s hopes, and as he looked furtively at the boy, he saw -his lips compressed and his eyes flashing, in a way that -proved how deeply in earnest he was.</p> - -<p>“I would be glad,” said Little Rifle, with a sigh, “to have<span class="pagenum" id="Page_57">[57]</span> -you clear up the doubt that covers the past, but I do not -believe there is any chance of success.”</p> - -<p>“<i>You can’t tell about that</i>,” replied Harry, in a resolute, decided -way! “If a continued search can not find out, we -sometimes come upon it by chance. I know you are anxious -to learn, and I shall never give over my efforts until I -find out.”</p> - -<p>As he said this, he passed the gun back to the owner, and -they turned off from the falls, where the din and roar prevented -them from conversing without great difficulty.</p> - -<p>“I wonder whether any of those Indians saw me,” continued -Harry. “I was out hunting when I found that canoe, -and thought I would get in and practice a little, for canoe-paddling -is my weak point, and it is the hardest thing in the -world for me to get the hang of the thing. Before I knew -it, I come right smack in front of those lodges, and finding -I couldn’t paddle up-stream, I just lay down, and trusted to -Providence to take me through all.”</p> - -<p>“I saw you,” laughed Little Rifle, “for I was watching -the lodges from the other side the stream, but I didn’t dare -call to you, for fear the Blackfeet would hear me.”</p> - -<p>“There were Indians in them then?”</p> - -<p>“Yes; I saw them, but they didn’t come out to the water -until you were far down the stream. I could just see your -canoe going around the curve above the falls, when they -looked down the river. I can’t say whether they saw you or -not, but they acted to me as though they did.”</p> - -<p>“They have wonderfully sharp eyes, and if <i>you</i> could see -me, you can make up your mind that they could and did—so -we had better be on the look-out.”</p> - -<p>“And what if they did?” was the reassuring reply of -Little Rifle. “Where will they look for you and the canoe -now? If they find you both went over the falls, will they -hunt any further for you?”</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_58">[58]</span> - -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER X.<br /> - - -<span class="small">“THE CAVE OF WINDS.”</span></h2> -</div> - -<p><span class="smcap">Notwithstanding</span> the reassuring words of Little Rifle, -both he and Harry deemed it best to make a cautious survey -of the river above the falls, before leaving their vicinity. -It was possible that a party of Blackfeet might be in their -immediate vicinity, in which case they were in imminent -danger of being seen and pursued, while if their presence was -unsuspected by the red-skins they could continue their journey -homeward, with very little fear of any molestation from -foes in the rear.</p> - -<p>“Remain here while I climb up above the falls,” said Little -Rifle, “it will take but two or three minutes at most.”</p> - -<p>“Have a care,” admonished Harry, “for these red-skins -are mighty sharp, and I think can see around a corner.”</p> - -<p>The young trapper smiled to think that his new acquaintance -should deem him in need of advice, in such a business, -but he continued as cautiously and carefully upward as if -he was sure of finding Blackfeet there.</p> - -<p>And so there were, as he very speedily found out. Where -in the name of the seven wonders they came from he could -not guess, but he saw half a dozen, just above the falls upon -the other side, groping their way down-stream, and still more -upon the same side with himself coming directly toward -him! This latter party were scarcely a hundred feet distant, -and in a few minutes would reach the spot where he -was. This was a most alarming state of affairs, and Little -Rifle had to think and act at once. One glance was sufficient -to tell him the whole story, and hastily backing out from -his perilous position, he scrambled back to where the wondering -Harry was awaiting him.</p> - -<p>“They are coming!” he exclaimed in a terrified whisper; -“there is a whole party, and they’ll be here in a minute. -Where shall we hide?”</p> - -<p>“Hanged if I know!” replied Harry, fully as startled as<span class="pagenum" id="Page_59">[59]</span> -his friend, and with less presence of mind. “Let’s jump -into the water again, and keep diving.”</p> - -<p>Such a course would not have been recommended by the -lad in his cooler moments, and it did not affect Little Rifle -in the least. He looked vainly around in quest of some -rock that offered a chance to hide, and when he was actually -meditating going forward and surrendering himself, in the -hope of being ransomed by the authorities at the fort, there -flashed upon him, as if by inspiration, a remark that he once -heard Old Ruff Robsart make about a cavern behind the -falls into which he once made his way.</p> - -<p>“It’s our only chance!” he exclaimed, dashing toward the -water. “Come on, Harry! it is death or life with us!”</p> - -<p>Young Northend had no idea what he meant, but he did -not hesitate to follow him at full speed, so that he reached -the spot scarcely behind him.</p> - -<p>Little Rifle dashed down among the rocks, and reaching -the edge of the water, at the very edge or side of the falls, -he paused, and looked despairingly around. He could see -nothing like a cavern, nor any thing that seemed to afford an -entrance to such a retreat.</p> - -<p>“I guess we shall have to give it up,” he shouted to Harry, -who, unable to catch a syllable in the thunderous din, but -understanding the trouble, pointed ahead and yelled:</p> - -<p>“There’s a chance to make your way through to something -else!”</p> - -<p>Neither did Little Rifle hear a word uttered by his comrade, -but the motion of his lips, and the gesture of his hand indicated -sufficiently well what he meant.</p> - -<p>Following the direction indicated, he saw through a thin -sheet of water, scarcely thicker than the soap bubble, and -that reflected the prismatic hues, the dark outlines of a rock, -that scarcely was as high as his waist and which was within -easy leaping distance.</p> - -<p>Not a second was to be lost, and Little Rifle had no sooner -detected it than he made a spring, cleaving through the gauzy -vail, and striking the flat surface of the rock, which was so -slippery that his feet slid forward, and he fell flat upon his -back.</p> - -<p>Before he could gather himself up, Harry followed, and he<span class="pagenum" id="Page_60">[60]</span> -too sprawled at full length, neither receiving any injury, and -both assuming the perpendicular almost at the same moment.</p> - -<p>The fear of Little Rifle was that by plunging through the -feathery sheet, and temporarily breaking it, they had dissolved -it altogether, and failing to reunite, it would leave not only -the rock upon which they stood, but themselves, in full view -of the Blackfeet, as soon as they should descend the rocks and -place themselves below the falls.</p> - -<p>But the screen instantly resumed its normal place, and -spread over them like a fan of the thinnest glass, shutting -them in, but permitting them to look through upon the outer -world. Its transparency, or rather its texture, however, was -not like that of a perfect window-pane, but it was faulty, -abounding with tremulous nebulæ here and there that gave a -fanciful, grotesque imagery to the objects upon which the eye -rested, and that as a consequence, made the picture of themselves -equally untrue to nature.</p> - -<p>Still, although they had reasonably increased their chances -of eluding the Blackfeet, they were in danger, so long as they -maintained their present position, and both cast about to discover -what their facilities were in the way of a further retreat.</p> - -<p>The result was better than they dared to hope. The sheet -of water that poured over their heads was fully a hundred -feet in width, and the black, slippery rock stretched clean -across beneath it, with a width varying from ten to a dozen -feet.</p> - -<p>The instant Little Rifle discovered this gratifying fact, he -began picking his way carefully along, closely followed by -Harry.</p> - -<p>When they had reached the center, they paused by a common -instinct, feeling that they could not increase their chance -of safety by going further; and here, as they stood side by -side, they looked upon the scene with emotions of wonder, -amazement and awe.</p> - -<p>Above them, to a great height, the black, dripping rocks -extended like the jagged irregular roof of some cavern, gradually -making their way outward, until they formed the ledge -over which the entire river swept in its resistless majesty.</p> - -<p>It may be said indeed that they stood in a cavern, one side -of which was composed of the wet, inky rocks, and the other<span class="pagenum" id="Page_61">[61]</span> -was the volume of water, converging both in front and back -of them, so that the open space resembled a cone in shape.</p> - -<p>Looking upward the mighty mass of water had a deep emerald -tinge, like melted glass, and through its translucent -depth, the sunlight could only partially penetrate, so that they -were enshrouded in a sort of misty twilight. To the left, as -they picked their way along the ledge, this volume was white, -foamy and impenetrable to the eye, and looking down, the -boiling, tumbling, roaring, seething battle of the water was of -such an appalling nature as to make the strongest man shiver -and draw back with affright, as though he had caught a -glimpse of the Plutonian regions.</p> - -<p>For a few moments the lads forgot all about their danger -from the Indians in the terror inspired by the stupendous -scene, and they stood looking up, around and below them with -feelings to which no adequate expression can be given. Then -they looked in each other’s faces, and Harry spoke.</p> - -<p>Little Rifle saw his lips move, and placed his ear to them. -The boy shouted with all the strength of which he was capable, -but, although their heads touched each other, the young -trapper could not catch a syllable, and looking again in each -other’s faces, they laughed and shook their heads, as an acknowledgment -that their tongues were of no present use to -them.</p> - -<p>They were in a world where the language must be one of -signs. Little Rifle looked beyond him and pointed to a dark, -forbidding opening, which looked as if it were the entrance-way -to some vast subterranean chamber; he moved carefully -toward it, doubtless recalling something that Old Ruff had told -him about his explorations in the same direction, and the truth -of which he proposed to test.</p> - -<p>Harry, instead of picking his way after him, remained -standing where he was, until he saw that he had passed the -most dangerous point. Then, concluding that it was best to -find out whether there was any danger approaching from the -Indians, he began retracing his steps to where he and his friend -had landed upon their backs.</p> - -<p>The moment he reached a point where he could gain a partial -view of the outside, he halted, so as not to run too great -a risk of being seen by any of their enemies.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_62">[62]</span>It was well that he did so, for at that very instant he descried -the dreaded Blackfeet. They were of gigantic size and -grotesque shape, as viewed dimly through the glassy sheet -that intervened, but they were Indians unmistakably, and three -of them were standing upon the very rock from which he and -Little Rifle had made their leap but a few minutes before.</p> - -<p>“I always believed that when a fellow traveled over the -rocks he didn’t leave any trail behind him,” thought Harry, as -he stealthily viewed the red-skins; “but it does seem that you -can’t hide yourself from those Blackfeet. I shouldn’t wonder, -now, if they have been tracking the canoe through the water, -and have come down below the falls to pick up the trail -again.”</p> - -<p>But second thought convinced the lad that the Indians must -be aware of the existence of this “Cave of the Winds,” and -that they must have discovered some traces of other parties -being there. He could see their arms sawing the air, and -moving about in a way that showed very clearly that they, -too, were using the language of signs in the presence of the -thunderous noise.</p> - -<p>“I do believe that they are discussing the question as to -who shall take the first leap,” thought Harry, as, stretched flat -upon his face, he anxiously watched their movements. “And -what do they want to come here for, unless it is to gobble us -up?”</p> - -<p>A very natural conclusion, under the circumstances, and -Harry concluded that if such were really the case, it was high -time that they should take some precautions to stave off the -peril.</p> - -<p>He had no gun with him, and it was not in the nature of -things that he should consider himself equal to the task of -grasping with a sinewy Indian, most probably in the prime -of life.</p> - -<p>So he looked about to see what had become of Little Rifle.</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_63">[63]</span> - -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XI.<br /> - - -<span class="small">THUNDER ALL AROUND.</span></h2> -</div> - -<p><span class="smcap">There</span> stood the daring young trapper, directly behind him. -He, too, had recalled the danger, and was at bay, holding his -rifle, cocked and grasped, ready to discharge the instant it -should become necessary.</p> - -<p>Both of the lads were saturated with water, for besides -their recent plunge into the river, there was a damp moistness -in the air, like a copious dew, that would have rendered their -garments dripping with water, supposing they had been dry -at the time they entered this Cave of the Winds.</p> - -<p>His gun could not be otherwise than wet, but the charge -was dry, and it could be relied upon to do its duty in case of -an emergency; and it was well that it was thus, for the danger -was at hand.</p> - -<p>Seeing that he was backed up by his young friend, Harry -withdrew his gaze from him and resumed his scrutiny of the -three Blackfeet, still standing in full view upon the rock.</p> - -<p>He had no more than turned his head when one of the Indians -took a step forward. There was a pause, and then he -burst through the thin, glassy sheet, as he made his plunge, -his dark body being seen for one instant in mid-air, incased in -the transparent setting, and then the crouching body landed -almost upon the head of Harry, who hastily drew back to -avoid a collision with him.</p> - -<p>Moving forward to grapple with the red-skin and to endeavor -to throw him over the ledge before he could recover, he -saw him with amazement roll over as if in great agony, -and then, dropping like a log from the slippery rock, he instantly -shot down from sight, vanishing in the seething waters -below—gone from human sight forever.</p> - -<p>All this took place in such a brief space of time that Harry -was completely puzzled to understand what it meant. He -could divine no reason why the Blackfoot, after effecting a -landing, should take it into his head to commit suicide in that<span class="pagenum" id="Page_64">[64]</span> -fashion. It was impossible that he should have lost his footing -so completely that he was unable to prevent the catastrophe, -and yet what else could have done it?</p> - -<p>In his perplexity he turned about again to see whether Little -Rifle could gesticulate any explanation, and the young -trapper did, so effectually that it could not be misunderstood, -for, as Harry glanced at him, he was in the act of ramming -home another charge in his rifle.</p> - -<p>This explained it all. Little Rifle was prepared, and the -instant the red-skin broke through the glassy sheet of water, -he had fired, giving him an almost instantly fatal wound.</p> - -<p>What a vivid realization of the deafening roar of the water, -that the gun, although fired directly over his head, and almost -within arm’s-length, still failed to give him the slightest report.</p> - -<p>Little Rifle now showed a keenness of perception and a fertility -of resources which in reality was nothing short of the -wonderful. As he stood with his rifle held to his shoulder, -and his finger pressing the trigger, his view of the Indian -bursting through the sheet of water, like the athlete of the -hippodrome leaping through the ring of paper, was sharply -distinct, although but for a passing moment of time.</p> - -<p>The expression upon the face of the Blackfoot was that of -surprise at seeing the two lads before him. He did not expect -to see them—was not looking for them, and the red-skins -who remained upon the outside were not aware of their being -there.</p> - -<p>This, as all will see, was a great point in favor of the lads, -if the deception could be continued; but there was the imminent -danger that the rest of the Blackfeet, waiting in vain -for the return of their comrade, would discover the truth. In -such a case, a desperate fight, with the certainty of a fatal result -upon the part of the lads, was sure to follow.</p> - -<p>Comprehending the nature of the Indian, with its childish -credulity and superstition, Little Rifle determined to appeal to -this weakness. The Blackfeet believe that the waterfalls of -their country are haunted by spirits, and knowing of the existence -of the cavern in the rear of this, they could not but -look upon the act of their companion as one of daring intrepidity.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_65">[65]</span>The young trapper touched the arm of Harry, and motioned -for him to draw back out of the way, while he crept forward -until his eyes were at a point where he could see the Indians -without showing himself. He waited only long enough to see -that fully a half-dozen were clustered upon the rocks, where -he suspected they were discussing the action of their companion.</p> - -<p>Little Rifle then pushed his gun forward, and pulled the -trigger. It was not aimed at the group, for he had no desire -to injure any of them, unless compelled to do so in self-defense, -but through the gauzy vail every one of them must have -caught sight of the sheet of fire, without hearing any thing of -the report.</p> - -<p>This was enough, and they vanished from the spot as suddenly -as if the ground had opened and swallowed them, not -one being visible a dozen seconds afterward.</p> - -<p>This was also a huge step forward upon the part of the -boys, but there remained still the difficult necessity of getting -out of their uncomfortable quarters, and making their way -back to the cabin of old Ruff Robsart.</p> - -<p>If the Blackfeet had left the rock, it was hardly probable -that they had left the neighborhood, and the moment the boys -should show themselves, they would be in for it again.</p> - -<p>Under these circumstances, it would seem that there was -really but one course for them to pursue, which was, to remain -where they were until night, and then trust to the assistance -of darkness for them to get away without being discovered.</p> - -<p>Such, we say, was the course dictated by common sense and -prudence, and yet a most unexpected and novel cause now appeared -to prevent it. There are few of our readers, perhaps, -who are not aware of the rapidly increasing distress caused -by an unusual sound in the ears, when it is continued for any -length of time. The screaming of a car-whistle, or the near -booming of a cannon, after a while becomes unbearable, and -will drive mad the person who has not become accustomed -to it.</p> - -<p>In the excitement of the occasion, and the danger from the -Blackfeet, the lads were insensible to any discomfort from the -overwhelming roar of the falls; but now, when standing directly<span class="pagenum" id="Page_66">[66]</span> -beneath them and reflecting that they would probably -have to wait for hours, they became aware of a growing uneasiness—a -nervous restlessness, rapidly changing into distress, -which convinced both that they could not maintain their position -and retain their senses at the same time. It would not -be long before the time would come when they would be -willing to incur any risk to escape the intolerable anguish of -this uproar.</p> - -<p>Harry was ready to make the leap at once, but Little Rifle -had hopes of accomplishing the result by another plan. It -will be remembered that he had started to explore what seemed -to be a cavern, the opening of which was but a short distance -away; but he had withdrawn from the attempt under the -conviction that there was more imminent need of him elsewhere.</p> - -<p>He was now ready to take up the work again, and motioning -for Harry to follow, he moved toward the dark, -forbidding depth of what might be an interminable cavern.</p> - -<p>To give himself the free use of his arms, he had strapped -his rifle to his back, and he now groped cautiously along, -like a man feeling his way in a dark room.</p> - -<p>Of course the darkness rapidly deepened, until in a few -minutes it became impenetrable. The floor of the cavern -was slippery, and the utmost care was necessary to prevent -a fatal catastrophe. When their eyes became of no further -use, both sunk upon their hands and knees, and crept along -in this fashion, Harry keeping so close that he could touch -the foot of Little Rifle, who used one hand, as an elephant -uses his trunk in venturing upon a treacherous support.</p> - -<p>Two noteworthy facts impressed themselves upon the -lads. The floor of the cavern was becoming freer from -dampness, and after a time was absolutely dry—a most gratifying -change, for they had had so much of water during -the last few hours, that it seemed to both that a day or two -of scorching thirst would be acceptable, as a means of relief.</p> - -<p>Again the floor of the cavern was ascending, very gradually, -but none the less positively for all that. Little Rifle suspected -that the dryness of the rocks, over which they were -crawling, meant that they had passed from beneath the river<span class="pagenum" id="Page_67">[67]</span> -bed, and were under the solid earth, but with little prospect -of ever reaching the surface.</p> - -<p>But the most gratifying and welcome fact of all, was that -they were getting away from the tormenting uproar of the -waterfall. With every foot they advanced through the labyrinthine -cavern, that terrible continuous crash grew less and -less distinct, until it finally sounded like the dull roar of the -distant ocean.</p> - -<p>The relief was unspeakable, and the ringing din in their -ears speedily subsided, so that they began to feel something -like their natural selves again. It would be easy enough for -them to remain in this part of the cavern until the coming -of night, and Little Rifle concluded that this was what they -would do.</p> - -<p>As they got further away from the tumult, of course they -found use for their tongues, and, as may be supposed, they -made good use of them, as a sort of recompense for their -enforced idleness.</p> - -<p>“Suppose the Blackfeet follow us here?” inquired Harry -Northend.</p> - -<p>“I don’t think there is any danger,” replied Little Rifle, -who then made known—what we have already stated to -the reader—his belief that the Indian whom they had shot, -was not in pursuit of the lads, and indeed did not know or -suspect their presence behind the falls. This theory was entirely -new to his friend, who, after hearing the reasons for -his belief, was disposed to believe it implicitly.</p> - -<p>“Then all we have to do,” he continued, “is to wait here -until night comes, and go out the same way that we came -in. Isn’t that it, Little Rifle?”</p> - -<p>“I am afraid it is, unless we can find some other way -out. What time of day is it?”</p> - -<p>“It must be past noon; I remember just before I went -over the falls, that I took my last look, as I supposed, at the -sun, and it was then directly overhead, so it must have been -about mid-day.”</p> - -<p>“Yes,” returned Little Rifle, “the afternoon is only fairly -begun, for things have moved lively with us, since then. -If we stay here until night, we have got a good six hours’ -stretch before us at least. I have waited many a time for<span class="pagenum" id="Page_68">[68]</span> -a much longer period than that, but it isn’t the most pleasant -thing to do, especially when you don’t know whether -you are going to make any thing by it or not. I hope we -can do better.”</p> - -<p>“You have hinted that same thing before,” said Harry; -“what do you mean by it?”</p> - -<p>“You know that I told you that Old Ruff Robsart has -been here before us. It was a long time ago, and I do not -remember what he told me; but I suspect that he found his -way out by a different passage from the one he used in entering.”</p> - -<p>“And you think there is a possibility of our finding the -passage?”</p> - -<p>“Yes—although there isn’t much hope either, but I would -rather be moving about, even if we don’t find any thing to -pay us, than to stay here, and wait till the night comes.”</p> - -<p>“So would I,” added Harry, in his cheery voice. “I got -a little crack just now from something against the sore on -my head, that stung me a little—but it is all over now. -Lead on, and I will follow. If you are going to change -your gait, give me notice, so that we don’t get separated.”</p> - -<p>Promising that he would do as requested, Little Rifle -continued his progress.</p> - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XII.<br /> - - -<span class="small">IN THE MESHES OF THE LABYRINTH.</span></h2> -</div> - -<p><span class="smcap">There</span> was a pleasurable excitement in thus advancing -into the unknown, and the lads experienced something of the -emotion of the navigator, who penetrates for the first time -into some hitherto undiscovered waste of waters; but it may -be noted as a rather curious fact that neither of the lads apprehended -the very peril to which they were thus exposing -themselves until it was upon them. We refer to the certainty -of their going astray in case they continued their explorations -too far.</p> - -<p>“If we only had a guide or a torch as the visitors do in<span class="pagenum" id="Page_69">[69]</span> -the Mammoth Cave, this would be the biggest kind of fun,” -said Harry, as they continued creeping stealthily along.</p> - -<p>Little Rifle wondered what he meant by the Mammoth -Cave, but his shy bashfulness prevented his asking any questions. -He preferred to remain in ignorance until some more -fitting occasion should arise.</p> - -<p>“If we carried torches, they would be likely to be guiding -points to the Indians,” said Little Rifle; “it will be safer to -grope along without them, for some of those Blackfeet may -be brave enough to try and learn something more about the -Spirit of the Waterfall, whose eye flashed out upon them.”</p> - -<p>“And who gobbled up one of their warriors,” added Harry. -“By jingo! why didn’t I think of it?”</p> - -<p>“Think of what?” asked Little Rifle, not knowing to what -he referred.</p> - -<p>“Why, that I have a match-safe in my pocket, pretty full -of matches too. If they are dry enough to ignite, you haven’t -any objection, have you?”</p> - -<p>“No; go ahead,” replied the young trapper, who was desirous -of getting a look at the interior. “If there’s any danger, -they can be put out as soon as they are lit.”</p> - -<p>From the innermost recess of his pockets, Harry drew out -his match-safe, and for a wonder, found that it had done what -it was warranted to do, that is, preserved the lucifers from -dampness.</p> - -<p>One of these was drawn against the dry rock beneath their -feet, and, as it grew into a flickering flame, he held it above -his head, and the two lads looked about them with no little -curiosity.</p> - -<p>This temporary twinkling of light seemed to make the -gloom more terrible and impressive. In the hasty glance that -they cast around, they saw the roof of the cavern composed -of enormous masses of rock, black, jagged and awful, while -before and around them the terrible sight stretched away, -further than the eye could penetrate.</p> - -<p>As soon as the match expired, Harry lit another, and continued -this until he had burned a dozen and blistered his -thumb and fingers. During this interesting period also, seeing -that the ground was unobstructed in front, they advanced -fully a hundred yards—only to see, however, no termination to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_70">[70]</span> -the cavern, whose immensity Harry declared as his belief, exceeded -that of the pride and boast of Kentucky. The floor -over which they walked, in places was dry as dust, again -gravelly, and then again hard, dry rock. In no direction in -which they looked, and they included every point of the compass—could -they see any limit to the wonderful freak of -nature.</p> - -<p>It looked, indeed, as if they were on the outer boundary of -one of those subterranean wonders which are found in different -parts of our country, and that are unequaled in any portion -of the world.</p> - -<p>The sound of the waterfall came to their ears, with a faint -murmur that was scarcely audible, and that caused them to -forget all about it for the time.</p> - -<p>The excitement of exploring the cavern gradually wore -away under the monotony of traversing the gloom continually -without meeting any obstruction or variety of any character.</p> - -<p>“If we had a wheelbarrow load of provisions,” said Harry, -“we might keep this up for a week or two; but the fact is I -am getting tired. How is it with you, Little Rifle?”</p> - -<p>“I have had enough of it; how long is it since we left the -falls?”</p> - -<p>“I should think a couple of hours; we have come a good -ways too.”</p> - -<p>“We shall need about all our time to get back, so we had -better start at once.”</p> - -<p>“It would be a joke now if we couldn’t find our way,” -laughed Harry, as they wheeled about and started back with -a little more assurance than had marked their steps so far.</p> - -<p>“Not much of a joke,” replied Little Rifle, who was sensible -of a thrill of fear, excited by the words of the boy. “I -have been lost once or twice in the woods, and if you have -ever been in that fix, you know how bad you feel.”</p> - -<p>“I’ll bet I do, for I’ve been there.”</p> - -<p>“Think then how much worse it must be to get astray in -a place like this, where it is always dark. Did you ever hear -of any one being lost in the Mammoth Cave?”</p> - -<p>“Yes; they have found their bones there, and nobody dare -go very far into it, without a guide and plenty of torches.”</p> - -<p>“If they get lost, when they have torches to guide them,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_71">[71]</span> -how much less is our chance of finding our way back again, -when we haven’t any thing of the kind!”</p> - -<p>The words and the tone in which this was uttered produced -its effect upon Harry, but it could not dissipate entirely that -flow of spirits which seemed natural to him.</p> - -<p>“But they lose their way <i>there</i> only when they have penetrated -to a much greater distance than we; and then we have -a few matches left, and can direct our steps by the sound of -the waterfall. See how much the advantage we have!”</p> - -<p>“Hark!”</p> - -<p>Both paused in their groping, and listened, but could hear -nothing.</p> - -<p>“What do you mean?” asked Harry in a whisper. “What -was it?”</p> - -<p>“I stopped to find out whether we can hear the falls; do -you catch the sound?”</p> - -<p>“I think I hear their roar—very faint it is true—but distinct -for all that.”</p> - -<p>“It may be the ringing in our ears, that comes from our -having been so stunned by them. And then you know there -is always a dull hollow sound that seems to belong to such -places.”</p> - -<p>“By jingo! Little Rifle, you scare a fellow. Are you in -earnest?”</p> - -<p>“I don’t want to scare you any more than I have to, but -you are brave enough to face danger when it must be faced, -and it’s my opinion that neither of us can catch the slightest -sound of the waterfall to guide us back again.”</p> - -<p>“Or in other words, we are lost in the cavern. Is that -what you mean?”</p> - -<p>“I will hardly say that, just yet, although I think the -chances are that way. If you have ever tried to find your -way, when there wasn’t any moon or stars, you know how -hard work it is. I have been dozens of miles away from -Uncle Ruff, when night has come, and you know I have traveled -the woods and mountains enough to know something -about them, and the best thing I was able to do at such times, -was to camp out and wait for daylight. Sometimes I have -roosted in a tree and sometimes have crawled in among the -rocks. If we are going to find our way out of here, I can<span class="pagenum" id="Page_72">[72]</span> -tell you, Harry, that we have got to keep our wits about -us.”</p> - -<p>“That’s just what I want to do,” replied his friend, in -lugubrious voice, “but it’s mighty hard work for a fellow to -keep his head clear, when he hears such talk as that.”</p> - -<p>Little Rifle laughed at the words of his friend, and he hastened -to say:</p> - -<p>“We’ll never give up till we have to do so. Now, let us -see; we have turned square around, and suppose we are -facing the falls. Let me take your hand, and we will keep -our faces this way as well as we can. If we are right, we -shall soon hear the sound of the waters, and, if we are wrong -it won’t be long before we shall find it out. Come on!”</p> - -<p>And, hand in hand, they began walking forward in silence, -and each endeavoring by the feeling of the floor beneath -them to tell whether they were pursuing the right path or -not. This was out of the question, and they were not long -in discovering it.</p> - -<p>Some fifteen or twenty minutes were passed in this way, -and the conviction was gradually stealing over Little Rifle -that they were lost, when the hearts of both were thrilled at -the unmistakable roar of waters which burst upon their ear -with startling suddenness.</p> - -<p>“Hurrah!” exclaimed the joyous Harry, “we are upon the -right track. Shall I start and run?”</p> - -<p>And in the exuberance of his joy, he let go of the hand -of his friend, and was in the act of bounding off like a deer, -when Little Rifle caught his arm.</p> - -<p>“Don’t bid good-by to your common sense,” he said, earnestly. -“If we are on the right track, we’ve got plenty of -time, without running the risk of breaking our necks!”</p> - -<p>Harry took the proffered hand again, with an apology for -his rashness, and they progressed slowly and deliberately, but -with a much more confident air than heretofore.</p> - -<p>“Don’t you hear how much louder it grows every minute?” -asked the impulsive lad, almost dragging his friend after him. -“We have been over this ground before, and what is the -need of such tardiness? We were glad enough to get away -from the falls, but we will be gladder still to get back to -them again.”</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_73">[73]</span>But Little Rifle was not to be moved from his deliberate -tread, and he compelled Harry to keep pace with him, though -it was hard work to restrain him.</p> - -<p>“You will lose nothing by care!” he admonished, “and -can gain nothing by haste. Take my advice, and feel every -step of ground before you put your foot down.”</p> - -<p>“Strange we can not see any thing of the water,” remarked -Harry; “there ought to be some dim sort of light to show -where we entered, for the sound shows that we are close to -them.”</p> - -<p>He was still walking forward, in his confident way, when -Little Rifle seized his arm with such violence as almost to -throw him backward to the ground.</p> - -<p>“Before you go a step further, strike one of your -matches.”</p> - -<p>“All right,” replied the lad; “but what’s the use of jerking -a fellow’s arm off, when you want to tell him to do a -thing?”</p> - -<p>After some delay the match was produced and struck, and -it showed them a sight that made their blood run cold with -terror!</p> - -<p>Less than two paces in front of Harry Northend yawned a -black abyss, fully twenty feet in width, through whose fathomless -depths roared a torrent of water, with a hollow, reverberating -sound, as if it were hundreds of feet below.</p> - -<p>Another moment, and both would have walked over into -eternity.</p> - -<p>As the match flickered and fell from the hand of Harry, -he gasped and clutched the arm of his comrade, exclaiming, -in a horrified whisper:</p> - -<p>“What an escape! You saved me again.”</p> - -<p>“I doubted from the first,” he replied, in a calm voice, -“because the sound was not natural to me. We are lost, as -you can see for yourself; but we will not give up nor keep -idle. It is better to push ahead, if we do get wrong.”</p> - -<p>“Hello! see there!” exclaimed Harry, the next moment. -“There is something of a different order.”</p> - -<p>Both saw at the same instant a small, dim point of light, -that looked like the shining of a pale star through mist or -vapor.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_74">[74]</span>“What can that be?” he asked, as they paused and gazed -toward it.</p> - -<p>“I can not guess even,” replied Little Rifle; “let us go toward -it and see whether we can not find out!”</p> - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XIII.<br /> - - -<span class="small">THE HOLE IN THE AIR.</span></h2> -</div> - -<p><span class="smcap">Little Rifle</span> and Harry Northend stood in the cavern, -gazing in wonder at the pale, glimmering point of light, -neither able to guess what it could mean.</p> - -<p>The first supposition that it was a star was dissipated the -next instant by the consciousness that such a thing was a -physical impossibility, and besides which its appearance was -different. It was apparently several inches in diameter, -something like a hundred yards distant, and at a point considerably -above their heads.</p> - -<p>Heeding the terrible warning that they had received, the -lads advanced with great circumspection. Harry willingly -relinquished the place of leader to his companion, knowing -how much more careful and skilled he was in business of this -kind, and how much more likely he was to detect its nature.</p> - -<p>Not until they were directly beneath the strange appearance -did they comprehend what it meant. By that time -they found that it was fully a foot in diameter, and that it -was something like fifty feet above their heads.</p> - -<p>“It is a window in the cavern,” said Little Rifle, “and we -are looking through into the world above us. Let us draw -aside to the side of the cavern, where we can rest and look -up at the hole without stretching our necks so.”</p> - -<p>That which had caught their eyes was simply daylight, -looking dim, pale and weird as it penetrated into the gloom -of the cavern.</p> - -<p>“Well, that is something,” said Harry; “we can take a -peep at daylight when we get tired of darkness, and can keep<span class="pagenum" id="Page_75">[75]</span> -track of the passing days and nights, if we have got to live -the life of a hermit, for some weeks or months.”</p> - -<p>Little Rifle, greatly wearied with their uncommon exertions, -now stretched out in an easy position, with his head -leaning upon his elbow, and looking up at the opening for -several minutes, as if to think out some mode of escape to -the upper world.</p> - -<p>They had lain down in their chosen nook but a short -time, when it became evident that the light overhead was -slowly growing paler and dimmer. This of course they attributed -to the departure of daylight and the coming of night. -It continued steadily to fade, until it vanished from view altogether, -and then they knew that darkness reigned above and -below alike.</p> - -<p>Tired and wearied as were the lads, it was not long before -they felt a drowsiness stealing over them, against which neither -made any struggle. Both lying there felt how great was -their dependence upon Heaven to bring them out of their -almost hopeless difficulty, and with a prayer for the protection -and guidance of their Heavenly Father, both sunk off into a -soft, refreshing slumber.</p> - -<p>The training and life of Little Rifle made his sleep always -light, although it was as refreshing as nature intended, and so -it came about that he had remained unconscious but a short -time, when he opened his eyes, with the certainty that something -from without had occurred to cause him to do so.</p> - -<p>Without moving from his position, he raised his head and -listened.</p> - -<p>Nothing but the dull, hollow roar of the cavern filled his -ears, and that was like the very depth of silence itself. Not -even the soft rustling of the night-wind among the trees far -above his head could be detected.</p> - -<p>Applying his ear to the earth he instantly heard a regular -<i>tip, tap, tip, tap</i>, as if made by the dropping of water, but -which a moment’s listening satisfied him was produced by another -cause.</p> - -<p>The uncertain character of the noise made it impossible to -tell whether it was near or far, but he judged that it was a -long way off.</p> - -<p>But, suddenly he started up, and reaching over shook his<span class="pagenum" id="Page_76">[76]</span> -companion into wakefulness, for he had discovered the meaning -of the singular sound, and it was high time that they -were on their guard!</p> - -<p>“’Sh!” whispered Little Rifle; “there’s some one in the -cavern besides us,” he replied, in the same cautious tone. “I -can hear two persons walking, and they are coming this -way!”</p> - -<p>The steps continued their approach, until, as near as the -boys could judge, they were directly beneath the opening, -and something like fifty feet from the spot where they were -crouching upon the ground. Here they paused, and one of -them said:</p> - -<p>“Give the signal, Tom!”</p> - -<p>A whistle followed, that screeched out like that of a -locomotive engine, awakening strange echoes through the -cavern, and only a few seconds had elapsed when a fainter -reply came back from above their heads. The window was -closed by the obtrusion of some dark body.</p> - -<p>“Helloa! Tom, is that you down there?” some one called -through the opening.</p> - -<p>“Of course. Come, be lively now, and let down that -rope.”</p> - -<p>“All right; there it comes; look out for it!”</p> - -<p>The listening lads soon heard sounds as if made by a person -in drawing himself up “hand-over-hand” by means of -the rope. Such in truth was the case, and a few minutes -after they saw two bodies disappear, one by one, through the -skylight.</p> - -<p>What they had heard of course told them that the three -men whose voices they had heard were not Indians but white -men. What their errand was in the cavern, it was hard to -conjecture, as was also the question whether it would be -prudent to advance and make their situation known to -them.</p> - -<p>They could catch the muttering mumbling of words far -above, but could not understand a syllable uttered. In a few -moments the sound of voices ceased altogether, for the men -evidently had gone away.</p> - -<p>While Little Rifle stood all attention, Harry was groping -around with his hands.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_77">[77]</span>“By jingo! they have left the rope hanging down!” he -exclaimed, in a delighted whisper, as he pushed it toward his -friend. “I wonder if they didn’t do that on purpose for us?”</p> - -<p>The young trapper grasped it in his hands, and found that -it was an ordinary hemp rope reaching to the floor of the -cavern, and capable of bearing a heavy strain.</p> - -<p>“Ha! ha!” softly laughed Little Rifle, “here is our deliverer,” -and without a word of explanation the resolute lad -sprung to the ascent, and, hand-over-hand like a sailor, went -up the rope with great agility.</p> - -<p>Harry, with an anxiety that may well be imagined, stood -peering upward in the gloom, awaiting the result of this perilous -venture on the part of his friend.</p> - -<p>He held the rope grasped in both of his hands, noting, by -its swaying and trembling, the progress made by the daring -young trapper.</p> - -<p>By and by the swaying of the rope ceased, by which he -knew that Little Rifle was at the top.</p> - -<p>Then Harry himself began the ascent, and had reached -about half-way to the top, when Little Rifle called out, evidently -in a subdued voice:</p> - -<p>“Hello, Harry! are you down there?”</p> - -<p>“No, I ain’t; I’m half-way up,” he answered, in an imprudently -loud tone.</p> - -<p>“Come on as fast as you can; the way is clear, but there’s -no telling how long it will remain so.”</p> - -<p>Spurred on by this, Harry hastened on, and was soon up -to the hole. Taking him by the hand, Little Rifle dragged -him from beneath the clump of bushes which served as a -screen to the entrance to the cavern, and then, catching him -by the arm, he compelled Harry to follow him away from the -vicinity.</p> - -<p>The moon was high in the sky, and the night was clear -and balmy, inspiring a delicious happiness through the hearts -of the boys, as they realized that they were treading the earth -again, and all present danger was past.</p> - -<p>They could hear the murmur of the river, flowing near -them, and making their way toward it, found, as they had suspected, -that the cavern extended a long ways underground, -and had led them a goodly distance away.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_78">[78]</span>Fortunately they were upon the right side, and it only remained -for them to get over the intervening distance between -them and the cabin where old Robsart made his head-quarters.</p> - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XIV.<br /> - - -<span class="small">A STARTLING SHOT.</span></h2> -</div> - -<p><span class="smcap">With</span> light hearts and buoyant spirits the lads made their -way forward. Little Rifle, understanding precisely their situation, -led the way without doubt or hesitation, and in the -course of an hour began ascending the ridge, from which he -had just made his survey of the Indian lodges and the river.</p> - -<p>By the time that they had reached the top of the ridge, -the lads were thoroughly worn out, and concluded to encamp -and wait for daylight.</p> - -<p>After considerable search, Little Rifle discovered a suitable -hiding-place among the rocks, into which they crawled, and -almost instantly dropped into a deep slumber, and when the -glad sun came up over the mountains, Harry opened his eyes. -As he turned his head to greet his companion, no Little Rifle -was to be seen! The displaced bowlders showed that he -had gone out. But whither?</p> - -<p>Crawling cautiously out from his lodgings, Harry discovered -a small, bubbling spring of cool, fresh water, from which -he took a refreshing draught, concluding that he had taken -occasion to reconnoiter, and would shortly put in an appearance.</p> - -<p>“I hope he has gone off to scare up a breakfast,” he mused, -as he sat down by the spring, “for I’m hungry enough to -eat a raw Blackfoot— Helloa!”</p> - -<p>He heard the crackling of undergrowth, and there, scarcely -twenty feet distant, he saw one of the finest and plumpest of -antelopes, coming toward the spring, evidently for the purpose -of obtaining his “morning bitters.”</p> - -<p>“Oh dear,” gasped the boy, as he fixed his eyes upon him,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_79">[79]</span> -“if I only had my gun! I wonder if I can’t get near enough -to knife him?”</p> - -<p>The instant he moved, the delicate, graceful animal halted, -threw back its head, and fixing it steadily upon him for a single -second, wheeled about and made an affrighted plunge -backward.</p> - -<p>“There goes my breakfast,” growled the lad, “and I never -had a meal travel so fast in all my life. Ha! what’s up now? -He must have hit his toe against something!”</p> - -<p>This exclamation was caused by the sudden tumbling of -the animal, who, rolling all over in a heap, struggled up -again, then fell, and then lay still.</p> - -<p>The crack of a rifle, that now reached the ears of the boy, -explained all; the animal had scarcely ceased his struggles, -when Little Rifle emerged from the bushes.</p> - -<p>“Bully for you!” shouted Harry, dashing forward the instant -he saw him. “Don’t throw away his hoofs and horns, -for I’m hungry enough to eat them too.”</p> - -<p>“While I’m getting some slices ready, do you kindle a fire, -Harry, and I’ll soon give you one of the best meals of your -life.”</p> - -<p>“Don’t be too long about it,” said the boy, as he flew about -to obey the request. “I think I can hold out about half an -hour longer, and then I’ll be ready to begin on you.”</p> - -<p>It required but a few minutes to gather a quantity of wood; -but the hungry lad was in such impatient haste that he lost a -great deal of time in starting a fire after it was ready. He -succeeded at last, by which time Little Rifle had two large, -tender slices, from the choicest part of the animal, dressed -and ready for the coals.</p> - -<p>Only a few minutes were required to prepare both, and -then the lads made a meal, whose luscious richness can be understood -only by those that have been placed in similar circumstances. -As they crunched through the tender, juicy -steaks, they could only roll their eyes at each other, without -attempting to give expression to their enjoyment. Occasionally -Harry indulged in a groan or sigh of happiness—but that -was all.</p> - -<p>Little Rifle had gauged the capacities of both, with no inconsiderable -skill, and when his friend had made away with<span class="pagenum" id="Page_80">[80]</span> -the last morsel, despite his loud predictions at the beginning -of the meal, he was obliged to confess himself fully satisfied.</p> - -<p>“I thought I could hold more than that,” he said, looking -wistfully at the remains of the animal, “but, alas! for -human ambition. Another mouthful and I would explode.”</p> - -<p>As there was no cause for remaining longer where they -were, they made ready to move on again toward old Robsart’s -head-quarters, where Harry expected to obtain a rifle and -start upon his return to the fort.</p> - -<p>“Do you notice that clump of bushes over there?” asked -Little Rifle, touching his arm and pointing to some scrubby -shrubbery, but a short distance away.</p> - -<p>“Yes; what of it? Is there another antelope there?”</p> - -<p>“There is something, for I have noticed a movement, once -or twice, while we were eating. Look out! there is an Indian -and he is going to fire!”</p> - -<p>And, grasping the shoulder of the lad, he sprung to one -side, dragging him with him. At the same instant there was -a flash and a sharp report, as the bullet whizzed toward -them!</p> - -<p>Little Rifle, experienced in the dangers of a hunter’s life, -was not caught with an unloaded gun. The thin puff of -smoke had hardly begun to curl up from the clump of bushes -when his rifle was at his shoulder, and he sent the return bullet -crashing among the leaves and twigs. At the same moment -both sprung to cover.</p> - -<p>“You haven’t any gun,” said Little Rifle to his friend, “so -keep your head out of sight, and if I haven’t peppered that -red-skin I’ll do so next time.”</p> - -<p>“Maybe there are several of them,” ventured his friend.</p> - -<p>“No,” replied the young trapper, “if there were they’d -have fired when they had the chance. Keep your head down, -Harry!”</p> - -<p>“I hear him groaning and moaning,” persisted Harry. -“You must hear it, too. Let’s go forward, for you’ve -wounded the poor wretch.”</p> - -<p>“Pooh! The Blackfoot isn’t hurt at all, and he is making -those noises on purpose to draw us out. I beseech you, -Harry, to keep quiet.”</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_81">[81]</span>But now Little Rifle did the very thing against which he -had so earnestly cautioned his friend. Looking steadily over -the face of the rock for a moment, a strange expression lit up -his face, and he slowly rose to his feet, until his whole body -above his knees was in full view of their hidden foe.</p> - -<p>“Well, I declare if it doesn’t beat every thing!” exclaimed -Little Rifle, more to himself than any one else, “I thought it -was an Indian all the time.”</p> - -<p>As Harry rose to his feet he saw the explanation of this -soliloquy. From behind the all-important clump of bushes -came a large, bushy-whiskered white man, clad in hunter’s -costume, and apparently in the best of humor.</p> - -<p>The hunter, shaking all over with laughter, extended his -broad palm as he came up and closed it around the small -hand of Little Rifle, who, after exchanging a word or two -with him, turned and introduced him to Harry as his Uncle -Robsart.</p> - -<p>“Glad to see you, younker,” exclaimed the hairy old hunter, -as he gave Harry a hearty shake of the hand. “Scared -you a little, I s’pose. I see’d you chawin’ antelope, and I -thought I’d wake you up a little.”</p> - -<p>Little Rifle acquainted the trapper with the principal facts -of their meeting and the subsequent adventures. He listened -with great interest, especially to their adventure in and escape -from the cavern.</p> - -<p>“That’s the place I went into, a couple of years ago,” -Old Ruff said, “and come mighty nigh getting lost the same -as you. But, I didn’t see nothin’ of that hole in the top, -nor didn’t diskiver any signs of them other chaps being in -thar. You didn’t get a fair look at them?”</p> - -<p>“No; luckily they didn’t get a fair look at us. They -cleared out before we came out to look around, and we didn’t -stay to make their acquaintance.”</p> - -<p>“What do you s’pose they war doing underground?” asked -Old Ruff, in a significant tone.</p> - -<p>The lads replied that they had not the remotest idea.</p> - -<p>“Thar’s gold in that cavern, boys, and that’s what them -chaps war in thar for. I don’t s’pose they own any more -of Oregon than we do, and sometime I’ll go into that big -cellar and take a look around ag’in. Mebbe I might git<span class="pagenum" id="Page_82">[82]</span> -my claws onto some of the yaller stuff. Afore you go back -to the fort, Harry, we’ll take a look ’round, and see what -chance thar is for a spec; but if it happens that we don’t -get the time to do it, why you can come down ag’in from -the fort and we’ll fix it then, sure. If there’s gold thar <i>you</i> -shall have your chance in, lad.”</p> - -<p>Harry now became aware of something which he could -not understand, and which caused him no little uneasiness. -He found that Old Ruff was covertly watching him, as -though he held some kind of a suspicion, regarding his -presence so far away from the fort. Once or twice, when -he hastily raised his eyes, he saw the keen orbs of the trapper -fixed upon him, with a sharp, penetrating glance.</p> - -<p>More than once, Harry was tempted to ask the meaning -of this; but he noted that Old Ruff took particular pains to -conceal his surveillance, and this made him fearful of offending -him.</p> - -<p>There was a change too—though comparatively slight—in -the deportment of Little Rifle. Now that they were reinforced -by the shaggy old trapper, he appeared desirous of -withdrawing into the background, and forcing the hunter to -take his place in the familiar confidence with Harry.</p> - -<p>When the latter addressed or approached him, he manifested -a singular coyness—his face flushed with embarrassment, -while he frequently permitted his gaze to drop to the -ground or turned his head away altogether.</p> - -<p>Outwardly old Robsart was all friendship, and was in his -best mood. He recounted many of his adventures in catching -and taming bears, for which, as is well known, he had a -great passion.</p> - -<p>Before resuming their journey homeward, Old Ruff resolved -upon an observation from the top of the ridge.</p> - -<p>Accordingly all three made their way to the crest. Harry -produced his telescope, and a very careful reconnoissance followed.</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_83">[83]</span> - -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XV.<br /> - - -<span class="small">A TOUGH STORY.</span></h2> -</div> - -<p><span class="smcap">Several</span> miles distant, in the heart of a dense pine forest, -was the camp-fire of a party of Indians. Old Ruff, taking -the glass, saw by its aid the smoke making its way through -the tree-tops; but he bestowed hardly a glance upon it, for -he was in search of more important parties.</p> - -<p>Turning the instrument toward the banks of the river, it -was not many minutes before he descried two men, making -their way among the rocks and undergrowth in the direction -of the point indicated as the one from which the lads had -made their exit.</p> - -<p>The clumps of bushes, huge rocks, and here and there a -few trees, intervened so frequently, and the men were picking -their way with so much caution, that it was only now and -then Old Ruff was able to get a fair look at them; but he -succeeded in discovering that both were white men, dressed -somewhat like Indians, and he was able also to keep himself -informed of the general direction taken by them. When still -several hundred yards from the river, they halted. Old Ruff -could see it was near some shrubbery, which concealed their -movements and hid them from his view.</p> - -<p>He held the glass pointed fully ten minutes toward them, -but still they remained invisible.</p> - -<p>“That’s the spot!” he exclaimed to himself, as he lowered -the instrument, and looked at it sharply with the unaided eye, -until he felt he had fixed it in his memory. “There’s the -door to one of the cellars where Oregon has stored something -rich, and into which Old Ruff Robsart means to take a peep -one of these days.”</p> - -<p>Nothing remained now to be done but to resume their -journey toward their own lodge, and the three descended the -ridge, Old Robsart taking the lead and the boys following silently. -A half-hour later they reached the stream, beside -which Little Rifle was walking when we introduced him to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_84">[84]</span> -our readers in the first chapter. Here a canoe was drawn -from its concealment, and the three entered and were paddled -across by Old Ruff, who was in an especially good-natured -and humorous mood.</p> - -<p>When they once more placed their feet upon <i>terra firma</i>, -he took great care to conceal the boat, so that it would not -be likely to attract the eye of any one unless he stumbled directly -upon it.</p> - -<p>“I used to cut my name on my boats,” he said in explanation, -“so that the varmints could know what chap they belonged -to, and consequently what trouble he’d get into if he -ran away with ’em; but you see the varmints ain’t well up -in their eddycation, and I s’pose they sometimes thought it -was thar names instead of mine. Leastways they run off -with so many of ’em that it bu’sted me for a time, and arter -that I’ve made it a practice to hide ’em.”</p> - -<p>“Hide whom?” asked Harry, with a laugh—“the canoes -or the Indians?”</p> - -<p>“Both, whenever I got the chance, but thar’s one question -I could never settle in my mind, and you seem to be rather -a cute chap, mebbe you kin settle it for me.”</p> - -<p>“I’ll do the best I can,” replied the lad; “let me hear -what it is.”</p> - -<p>“A couple of years ago thar was a Government expedition -sent out here, and they engaged me as scout and hunter for -’em. They had a couple of india-rubber boats with ’em, that -had a powerful stretchiness in ’em. They used to roll ’em up -when they was in camp, and play football with ’em, and then -stretch ’em out for tents at night. So you see they war -mighty handy any way you fixed it.”</p> - -<p>“I’ve heard of them,” said Harry, “and I think if I had -had one of them when I went over the falls, I might have -bounded out again. I’m sure I’m bound to try it if I ever get -the chance.”</p> - -<p>“Wal, they tied ’em up one night, on the shore of a purty -good-sized stream, intending to cross over at daylight; but -while all war asleep, a Nez Perce Injin stole up and crawled -into one. I s’pose he meant to steal what he could lay his -hands on, and the first thing he grabbed was a whisky bottle. -One snuff of that settled his hash, and he never stopped guzzling<span class="pagenum" id="Page_85">[85]</span> -till he had swallered the last drop, by which time he -was so drunk he couldn’t set up, so he tumbled over into the -bottom of the boat and went to sleep. I happened to be on -the watch on the other side the camp, and the feller that was -guardin’ here didn’t hear nothin’ of what was goin’ on.</p> - -<p>“Something or other was the matter with the boat. I -s’pose like as not it wasn’t fastened as it orter been, fur the -current worked it loose, and about a couple of hours afore -daylight it went off down-stream.</p> - -<p>“Of course in the mornin’ we found out what had happened, -and I see’d, too, how it had come to git loose, and -a couple of us started on a hunt arter it. We found it about -three miles down the river, where it had cotched fast ag’in’ -the limb of a tree, and we got in and tried to paddle it back. -The Nez Perce was still sound asleep, and we took him along.</p> - -<p>“But that was the greatest job I ever undertook,” added -Old Ruff, with a sigh. “At the first off I sot down in the -bow, and begun to paddle. I thought I was gittin’ along -powerful well, but when I turned my head I found the starn -hadn’t budged a bit. It had jist staid whar it was when we -started, and the blamed thing was jist stretching out—stretching -out.”</p> - -<p>“And you want me to tell why it did so?” said Harry; -“the rear of the boat must have remained fast in the limbs -of the tree.”</p> - -<p>“I knowed that as well as you do, but that ain’t the question -at all. I’ll come to that bimeby. I unfastened the -cotch, and then squatted in the starn and paddled harder -than ever. I worked so hard, that I kept the rear part goin’ -faster than the forrard, so that now and then I hit my -nose ag’in the prow. That made it bulge into the qu’arest -kind of shapes, and it bounced about so much that I didn’t -git along very fast. But at last, I reached camp, whar thar -was a good deal of fun when they found we had brought -the Injin back with us. Some wanted to skulp him on the -spot, but Colonel Stebbins said no. He hadn’t committed -murder, but he had been cotched at burglary, and we should -try ’im on that charge.</p> - -<p>“So they got up what they called a court-martial, the -colonel himself acting as boss—”</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_86">[86]</span>“Judge Advocate, he is called,” interrupted Harry, who -was becoming quite interested in the narration.</p> - -<p>“That’s it, and they had their lawyers, or whatever you’ve a -mind to name ’em, and the Injin was fotched up. By that -time he had worked off most of the whisky. He wasn’t -sober, not by no means, but he was just drunk enough to be -independent and sassy, and he was the smartest red-skin I -ever sot eyes on. He could talk English as well as we, and -he understood what they war drivin’ at from the fust.</p> - -<p>“When they axed him to pick out a lawyer, he shook his -head, and said he could lie as fast as any lawyer. That -made ’em all laugh, and I could see that they didn’t mean -to hurt the varmint. If he’d been a Blackfoot it would have -gone hard with him, for they had bothered us a good deal; -but the Nez Perces had never troubled us afore, and they’re -a much better set of people anyway.</p> - -<p>“I never could understand what made that red-skin so -smart,” said Old Ruff, with a wondering shake of his head, -“it beat my ca’clations all holler.”</p> - -<p>“I don’t see any thing particularly smart in what he did,” -said Harry, “unless it may have been that he got hold of a -bottle of whisky before you did. I suppose it takes a smart -man to do that.”</p> - -<p>Old Robsart looked down upon the impudent lad, with -one of his most patronizing grins. He felt that he was a -sharp one, and he liked him all the better for it.</p> - -<p>“It’s a pity we hadn’t <i>you</i> there,” he said; “if we had, -things would have gone different, but nobody was around as -cute as you.”</p> - -<p>“Let us hear how the trial resulted, and I beg pardon -for my ill manners.”</p> - -<p>“Wal, Colonel Stebbins was a big, fat, jolly chap, and he -see’d the fun ahead. So he had the red-skin fotched up -afore him, and he read a paper full of big-sounding words, -that I don’t b’l’eve he understood himself; but when he -got through he told the varmint that he was accused of running -away with a boat that belonged to the United States, and -he axed him what he had got to say in his defense.</p> - -<p>“The red-skin give a hiccup or two, and then said he -didn’t run away with the boat at all. That he got into it<span class="pagenum" id="Page_87">[87]</span> -to take a nap, and when he woke up, he found it had run -away with him, and he thought the Great Father of the -red-men in Washington orter send him some presents for the -outrage he had suffered.</p> - -<p>“Wal, when he said that, thar was a screech through the -camp, that almost lifted the ha’r off my head and Colonel -Stebbins shook so hard, that the top of the barrel he was -sittin’ on broke through, and droppin’ a couple of feet down -into it, he got wedged so fast he couldn’t get out. While -two or three of his officers was tryin’ to pull him and the -barrel apart, the Injin gave the hoops a whack with his -tomahawk, that made the staves fly apart, and let him out -ag’in.</p> - -<p>“When things had got sobered down a little, the colonel -put him on his trial for stealing a bottle of whisky, and I’ll -be shot ef he didn’t deny it right squar’, and then ax the -officer to prove it on him. Who see’d him do it? Whar -was the man? He axed him to be fotched. That was another -stunner, and all Colonel Stebbins could do, when he -got over laughin’, was to ax the red-skin, whar he got the -liquor that made him drunk, and that all could smell on him -that minute. With another hiccup, he said that wasn’t nobody’s -business, and he’d see ’em all hanged fust, and then -he turned round and axed the colonel whar he got the -whisky that <i>he</i> got drunk on.</p> - -<p>“That turned the laugh on him, and fur fifteen minutes, -the other officers rolled over on the ground, and the colonel -had to hold his sides to keep from bu’stin’. When he got -things kind of quieted down, he told the red-skin that the -charges wa’n’t sustained and he might go; but afore he left -camp, the officers gave him a half-dozen blankets, a new -rifle, ammunition, beads, trinkets till he could hardly carry -’em all. You see he had got the best of ’em all so well, -that they liked him, and war willing to do any thing in the -world for him.”</p> - -<p>“And was that the last you heard of him?” asked Little -Rifle.</p> - -<p>“Not by a long shot; that night the confounded scamp -stole into camp, run off two of the best horses we had, and -come powerful near scalping Colonel Stebbins himself.”</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_88">[88]</span>“What was it that prevented?”</p> - -<p>“The colonel wore a wig, and when the Nez Perce grabbed -his hair, you see it come off without using his knife. So -he stuck a couple of eagle-feathers in the top, and set on the -head of one of the mules, and then skedaddled. I’ve always -’spicioned that that Injin had white blood in him.”</p> - -<p>“His stealing the whisky bottle looks very much like -it. Was <i>that</i> the question you wished me to settle?” asked -Harry.</p> - -<p>“No; I come near forgettin’ it. What I wanted to ask -was, whether in law that varmint run away with the boat, or -whether it run away with him. I’ve often thought of it -since, but have never been able to make out which way it -would be. How do you think it would be decided down in -Fr’isco?”</p> - -<p>Harry Northend was not a little amused at the intense seriousness -of Old Ruff, as he referred the question to him. It -was not to be supposed, however, that his head was very clear -upon such knotty points, and he frankly admitted his inability -to decide.</p> - -<p>“I’ll put the question to some of them chaps down in -Fr’isco the first time I’m there, and stop bothering my head -over the blamed thing.”</p> - -<p>“Be sure and put the question to two separate ones,” said -Harry, “first giving each ten dollars.”</p> - -<p>“What fur?”</p> - -<p>“Because one will decide the Indian guilty, and the other -will decide him innocent. Thus you will get satisfaction -from one of them at least, no matter how you look at it yourself. -You will pay your money, and can take your choice.”</p> - -<p>“Here we are at home!” exclaimed Little Rifle.</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_89">[89]</span> - -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XVI.<br /> - - -<span class="small">THE HAND OF FATE.</span></h2> -</div> - -<p><span class="smcap">The</span> lodge of old Robsart and Little Rifle has been already -sufficiently described in these pages, without requiring any -further reference from us. It was near mid-day when it was -reached, and the three decided to spend several hours where -they were, as there was no necessity of setting their traps until -nightfall.</p> - -<p>Little Rifle passed to his apartment in the rear of the lodge, -and Harry felt a little hurt that he was not invited to accompany -him. However, he carefully concealed his feelings, and -sitting down in a lazy attitude proceeded to examine the rifle -which had been presented to him.</p> - -<p>He found it to be an excellent one, well made and finely -ornamented. It had doubtless been given to the Blackfoot -by some kind-hearted Peace Commissioner, who most likely -formed the first target upon which the red-skin had tried his -skill. As he was also furnished with an abundance of ammunition, -Harry was ready to start on his return to the fort.</p> - -<p>The reserve of Little Rifle and the suspicions of the old -trapper almost decided him to go at once, with a mere formal -good-by. While he was examining his weapon, he could -feel that the eyes of the old trapper were upon him, and it -nettled him not a little to think that any white man should -entertain any distrust regarding him.</p> - -<p>Unable to conjecture the cause, he concluded that the best -thing he could do was to relieve them of his presence.</p> - -<p>All at once he sprung to his feet, and slung the rifle over -his shoulder.</p> - -<p>“I guess I’ll go now,” he said, in his off-hand manner; -“they will begin to wonder at my absence from the fort. I -can reach there by night, if I make good use of my time.”</p> - -<p>Old Ruff, who was carefully arranging some sticks so as to -prepare a fire, looked up at him, without the least appearance -of surprise. Indeed, Harry fancied that there was something<span class="pagenum" id="Page_90">[90]</span> -in his looks which said plainly enough that he was pleased to -hear his words.</p> - -<p>“It’s gettin’ purty well on into the day, younker, and -you’d better wait till mornin’ afore you start on such a -tramp.”</p> - -<p>Regarding this invitation as insincere, Harry paid no heed -to it, and had actually taken several steps on his way, when -Little Rifle unexpectedly put in an appearance.</p> - -<p>“If you must go, Harry,” said he, as he stepped forth into -the open air, “I’ll go with you until you’re within sight of -the fort. It is a good ways from here, and you know what -danger there is to pass through. I should never forgive myself -if any thing should happen to you.”</p> - -<p>Harry was touched at this generous offer, and he felt all -his resentment vanish on the instant, to be succeeded by his -tender, loving affection for the lad who had already so generously -risked his life for him.</p> - -<p>He looked toward old Robsart, who he expected would object -to any such proceeding, but he seemed to be as willing -to this arrangement as to any thing else. Indeed he showed -that he looked upon it with favor, for he said:</p> - -<p>“Take the straightest course you can foller, younkers, for -you will need all your time. But see here, Little Rifle, I -want to say a word or two to you afore you go.”</p> - -<p>There could be no legitimate objection to this, but it disturbed -Harry, as he saw the two walk away, side by side, for -a rod or two, and then, standing with their backs to him, engage -in a cautious but earnest conversation.</p> - -<p>He did not hear a word, but, as he looked that way, he -could see both gesticulating, the old trapper being much more -excited than the younger, who from appearances was mildly -expostulating against some of his utterances.</p> - -<p>“It is none of my concern,” muttered Harry, “what secrets -they may have between themselves. I never saw either -until yesterday, and may never see them again, but they have -had no cause to show any suspicion toward me. I <i>do</i> feel -drawn toward Little Rifle by an irresistible emotion. There -is so much true nobility in his nature, he is so wonderfully -handsome, and he has such rare mental powers that it is a -sin to keep him away here in these solitudes, away from all<span class="pagenum" id="Page_91">[91]</span> -creation. I’ll have a good talk with him on the way to the -fort, and if he has got any ambition in his nature I’ll rouse -it, and make him go back East with me. I will get father -to adopt and educate him, and we’ll make a man of him in a -few years— Helloa! here he comes, walking as if he was -in a great hurry.”</p> - -<p>Old Ruff came forward too, and taking the hand of the -boy said:</p> - -<p>“I expect to be over to the fort in a few days, arter hosses -to take my peltries away, so I won’t say good-by to you, only -I wish you good luck, and keep your eye open for varmints.”</p> - -<p>Harry returned the salutation, in his pleasant manner, and -then, as both he and Little Rifle waved the old man farewell, -they turned their faces westward and started on their memorable -journey to Fort Abercrombie, neither party, in his wildest -dreamings, suspecting what a passing strange adventure -should befall them ere they were to catch sight of the Stars -and Stripes, that waved from the flagstaff of this frontier post.</p> - -<p>When they had reached a point about a mile distant, a very -perceptible change in the sky became apparent. The sun -was hid by clouds that swiftly drifted up from the Cascade -Range, and the air which had been mild and balmy, rapidly -grew colder, until the lads were compelled to walk quite -briskly to keep up the circulation and warmth of the body. -The wind blew strongly, whistling and moaning among the -trees like the blasts of winter, and there was every indication -of a great elemental disturbance.</p> - -<p>“There is a storm coming, as sure as fate,” said Harry, -looking up at the threatening sky.</p> - -<p>“And I shouldn’t wonder if it were a snow storm,” added -Little Rifle. “I have seen them come up as suddenly as this -before. Hadn’t we better go back, and stay in our lodge -over night?”</p> - -<p>“I would rather go on,” replied Harry, who dreaded the -annoyance of being covertly watched by the old trapper, for -an indefinite number of hours. “If the storm becomes too -severe, why we can go into camp and wait until it blows over. -Do you think it will amount to much?”</p> - -<p>Little Rifle looked up to the sky, with the air and manner -of a weather prophet, and replied:</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_92">[92]</span>“No; I think it is a sudden flurry, or a squall that will be -over in an hour; but you notice how chilly it is; we ought -to be provided with blankets, at any rate.”</p> - -<p>“I can stand it if you can.”</p> - -<p>“I only spoke on your account,” said Little Rifle as they -started forward. “We can walk fast, and that will keep us -warm, and if it gets too cold for us to stand it, we will crawl -in among the rocks somewhere and build a rousing fire.”</p> - -<p>Harry found the walk brisk enough to suit the most enthusiastic -pedestrian, and it speedily sent a glow of warmth all -through his system.</p> - -<p>A moment after several feathery flakes of snow drifted -against their faces, and then scarcely five minutes had elapsed -when the air was full. Millions and billions of the white -flakes, some of them of large size, were eddying and whirling -all about them. When they looked up, they could barely -keep their eyes open, and they were literally blinded by -them.</p> - -<p>“Jingo! this is rather sudden,” shouted Harry with a -laugh. “I guess the Coast Range has blowed up, and sent -the pieces this way.”</p> - -<p>The snow drove against them and filled the air so entirely -that the boys could not see a rod ahead of them. Little Rifle, -however, was able to recall where they were, and he groped -forward, until they reached the shelter of some rocks, where -they could remain until the snow-squall should terminate.</p> - -<p>As they stood there, looking out upon the beautiful snow, -Little Rifle reached out and took the gun of Harry for the -purpose of making a more minute examination of it than he -had yet done.</p> - -<p>“While you’re doing that I’ll take a look at that handsome -little piece of yours. Helloa!”</p> - -<p>As Harry took it in his hand, he grasped the stock in a -peculiar manner—very differently from what he would have -done at any other time, and, as he did so, he pressed something -or other that caused a little lid beneath the trigger-guard -to fly open.</p> - -<p>And while Little Rifle was staring wonderingly at this -hitherto unknown contrivance, Harry reached one thumb and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_93">[93]</span> -finger in, and drew out a small twist of paper. On it, he saw -written a few words, in faded ink.</p> - -<p><i>And these words told the secret of Little Rifle’s birth, history -and life!</i></p> - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XVII.<br /> - - -<span class="small">WOOING IN THE WILDERNESS.</span></h2> -</div> - -<p><span class="smcap">Little Rifle</span> stood pale and breathless, as he saw Harry -Northend draw the slip of paper from the secret recess in the -stock of his gun.</p> - -<p>“Shall I read it?” asked Harry in a husky voice.</p> - -<p>“Yes,” was the whispered answer.</p> - -<p>And he read:</p> - -<div class="blockquot"> - -<p>“On the completion of her second birthday, I presented this -rifle to my beloved daughter Hagar. Providence has ordained -that a portion of her life shall be spent in the wilderness, and -it may be of some use to her in the future. Her mother died -at her birth and she is my only child. I am compelled to go -on a long journey that may separate her from me for years, -and I leave her in charge of Maquesa, the Indian chief who is -my friend tried and true.</p> - -<p class="right"><span class="smcap">Jared Ravenna.</span>”</p> -</div> - -<p>When Harry had completed the reading of this extraordinary -slip he folded it up and carefully replaced it in the small -opening, and closed the cunningly contrived lid, and then -looked at his companion, who, still pale, and now shivering -in every limb, said:</p> - -<p>“Harry, you have discovered my secret; Hagar Ravenna -is my name.”</p> - -<p>“And you are not a boy, but a girl, and the most beautiful -one that I ever laid eyes upon. I did not suspect <i>that</i>, and I -now understand your bashfulness, and the suspicion with -which Old Ruff looked upon me.”</p> - -<p>“Yes; he had great fears that you suspected my sex, and -when we were on the point of starting, did his best to dissuade -me against going with you.”</p> - -<p>“Do you regret that you came?”</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_94">[94]</span>“No, else I might have lived and died in ignorance of my -real name.”</p> - -<p>“And now that you have heard it pronounced, is there any -thing in it, that sounds familiar—that brings up past memories? -<i>Hagar!</i> think of it.”</p> - -<p>Little Rifle looked off in the blinding snow with a dim, -vacant, wandering look, as if she were seeking to awaken long-forgotten -memories. She stood thus, silent and abstracted, for -several minutes, and then spoke in a low, hushed voice:</p> - -<p>“Yes, there is something in the sound of the word that -struck my ear, as though I had heard it before, and it calls up -again the picture that I sometimes see in my dreams, of a -great ship sailing over the water; but the picture is dim and -shadowy, and I do not know whether it is only the outlines -of a dream that came to me sometime, away back in childhood, -perhaps when I lay asleep in the lodge of the Indian -chief, Maquesa.”</p> - -<p>“It is reality—I know it,” said the excited Harry; “you -have a father living somewhere in the world, and there is a -future opening before you.”</p> - -<p>“But how is he to be found?” asked Little Rifle. “He -may be thousands of miles away; or, it may be that he came -back years ago, and finding nothing of me has given me up -as dead.”</p> - -<p>“That may all be, and it may not. But, do you wish to -live the life of a savage in the woods? Don’t you ever want -to go among civilized beings and become one of them?”</p> - -<p>“I have often dreamed and often wished,” she answered, -lowering her eyes, and looking at the snow-flakes, which were -drifting against her moccasins.</p> - -<p>“And your dream shall become a reality. Go with me to -the fort and wait till father comes, and you shall go back -with us; you shall be educated, and then what woman shall -equal you?”</p> - -<p>“And supposing my father is never found—how shall I -ever repay your father and you?”</p> - -<p>The fine dark eyes of Harry Northend glowed with a radiant -light, as he leaned forward, and placing his arm around -the neck of Little Rifle, imprinted a warm kiss upon her -cheek, and said, in low, ardent tones:</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_95">[95]</span>“By becoming my wife, and thus I shall be repaid a thousand -times over. I understand now how it was that, when I -looked up in your face, as I began to recover my senses, after -you had dragged me from the water below the falls, a -feeling shot through me like the shock of electricity. It puzzled -me to understand what it meant; I thought yours was -the handsomest face I ever looked upon, and it often seemed -to me that there was a feminine delicacy and refinement about -you, in spite of the uncivilized life you were leading. I found, -too, that your manner and conversation proved that you had -received a partial education. But above all, your heroic character, -as you showed it when you leaped into the water, drew -me toward you as the pole draws the magnet.</p> - -<p>“I was puzzled and not a little hurt,” continued the impassioned -Harry, as he still kept one arm around the neck of -Little Rifle, and held her hand imprisoned in his own, “at -your shyness, especially after Old Ruff appeared upon the -scene. It seemed to me that I was distrusted by both of you, -but now I can understand that it was only your instinctive -maidenly modesty, and I honor you for it.”</p> - -<p>The cheeks of the beautiful girl (as Little Rifle must henceforth -be regarded) grew rosier and redder, and now flushed to -scarlet, as she never once raised her eyes from the ground, and -Harry poured out his burning, impassioned words.</p> - -<p>“But with the discovery of the secret comes the discovery -that I love you, with my whole heart and soul. I feel that -my future is to be linked with yours; if I could know this -minute that we were to be separated, I would want to die. -Let me pledge my love to you and receive yours—or the -promise of it at some future time, and then we will turn to -the great future that opens before us. We are both young -yet. Everybody persists in calling me a boy, and I suppose -I am, but it can’t last much longer. If my life is spared, no -one can hinder me from becoming a man, and you are younger -yet than I, and we shall only think of marriage as something -that is to come after awhile. Sometime, when every thing is -ready, I shall wed you—you shall be my bride of the wilderness. -What do you say, Little Rifle? Are you prepared to -give me any encouragement?”</p> - -<p>It would seem all natural and proper that this wooing and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_96">[96]</span> -winning should have reached its successful conclusion at once—that -the beautiful forest girl should have acknowledged her -love at once, and confessed that her future would be hopeless -unless it echoed back the prayer of her ardent lover. But, -she was truthful, and possessed rare good sense. Loving old -Robsart had given her the clothes of a hunter to wear, as -soon as she was able to go about, and had carefully concealed -the knowledge of her sex from those with whom they happened -to come in contact.</p> - -<p>This undoubtedly was wise, as it saved her from annoying -attentions and perhaps insult at the hands of the rough borderers, -who occasionally saw her; but the old mountaineer -had given her, after his own peculiar fashion, considerable -knowledge of “society” and its usages.</p> - -<p>And then her own instinctive maidenly sense told her that -she had no means of knowing she really returned the love of -the noble young fellow at her side. Gratitude and friendship -she knew entered into her emotions, but she could not feel -positive that there was any thing more.</p> - -<p>She spoke, therefore, as her conscience dictated:</p> - -<p>“I do not know that I understand what love is—that is, as -you look upon it.” She spoke in a low, soft, but unhesitating -manner, with her eyes still upon the ground. “I know -that I think a great deal of you—that I would risk my life at -any time to keep you from harm. I am so fond of you, indeed, -that I can not deceive you by saying that I love you, -when I am not sure about it.”</p> - -<p>This was disappointing to Harry, but, as a moment’s reflection -revealed to him the admirable spirit which prompted -it, he could but respect and love her all the more.</p> - -<p>“I was wrong in pressing you to answer such a question, -before you had time to think over it. Let it go for the -present, and I will wait until you are fully ready. But I -can not deny myself asking one thing more.”</p> - -<p>He paused a moment as if waiting for permission, and she -raised her wonderfully handsome eyes and looked in his -face.</p> - -<p>“What I want to ask, Little Rifle, is whether you are willing -to give me a promise?”</p> - -<p>“Ask me whatever you wish.”</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_97">[97]</span>“If you say you are unable to know, in your own heart, -what the nature of love is, of course there is no one who has -a place before me in your affections?”</p> - -<p>The face of the girl expanded into a smile, as she answered:</p> - -<p>“Of course not; how could there be?”</p> - -<p>“I didn’t know but what the old man was jealous of -me.”</p> - -<p>And now the smile broke forth into musical, heartfelt laughter.</p> - -<p>“Does love put such funny dreams as that into your head? -How could such a thing as that be? I am a child, and he a -man well on in years. He often looks at me, and says something -about my growing so fast, and says, too, that it only -seems a year ago that he found me in the lodge of the Indian -chief, and he declares that he shall always look upon me as -that same little child. He loves me, indeed, as your father -loves you.”</p> - -<p>“I’ve no objection to that,” replied Harry, with a prodigious -sigh of relief, “so it don’t grow on him too fast. But what I -want to ask, Little Rifle, is whether you are willing to give -me a promise?”</p> - -<p>“Yes; I will promise any thing I can,” she answered.</p> - -<p>“If ever, in the future, you are ready to love any one, will -you remember me?”</p> - -<p>“I am sure I can make that pledge,” she answered, with a -glowing smile. “In the whole broad world there can never -be any one who can take a place before you in my affections.”</p> - -<p>“That is all I can ask,” exclaimed the delighted Harry -kissing her warm cheek again and again. “I look upon you -now as promised to me; that sweet thought shall ever be within -me—it shall cheer me onward, and after my probation is -ended, after you have learned more of the world than you -now know, you shall see how great was my love for you. -Bless you, my dearest Bride of the Wilderness!”</p> - -<p>They had spent a much longer time than they supposed, in -the natural excitement and agitation resulting from the discovery, -and they had proceeded but a short distance on their -journey when both saw that it would be impossible for them<span class="pagenum" id="Page_98">[98]</span> -to reach the fort until late at night; so they pressed forward -now, as if to make up for the sweet moments lost.</p> - -<p>Pressing on, night overtook them, and yet the fort was far -away; so nothing remained but to choose a cosy spot and to -go into camp for the night. This course Little Rifle advised -as the gathering dusk rendered all the wood-paths obscure, -and she began at once to look out for a safe retreat, not among -the rocks and woods around, but down in a ravine, into which -the girl-guide, to Harry’s surprise, now worked her way.</p> - -<p>“Here we shall find wood and every thing in readiness,” -she said in explanation; “for Uncle Ruff and I have made -our camp here two or three times, during the past few -months.”</p> - -<p>As they went down deeper and deeper into the gorge, the -darkness became so intense that Harry was only enabled to follow -his guide by the sound of her moccasins.</p> - -<p>“Here we are,” she finally said, in a low voice; “stand -quiet a moment.”</p> - -<p>He could hear her moving about, for several minutes, when -she spoke:</p> - -<p>“All is ready; strike a match, and we shall have a fire -right away.”</p> - -<p>As Harry drew out his match-safe he found that only two -lucifers were in it.</p> - -<p>“By jingo! suppose both of them go out!” he exclaimed, -in a terrified whisper; “here goes!”</p> - -<p>As he spoke, he drew the phosphorus swiftly along his -sleeve, when it broke into a blaze.</p> - -<p>“Where are you, Little Rifle?” he asked, looking anxiously -around, and then, seeing her kneeling upon the ground, with -the wood ready, he did the same, and at that instant, a puff -of wind blew out the tiny flame, leaving both in blank darkness -again.</p> - -<p>“Whew!” whistled the lad, in genuine alarm, “only one -match left! If that misses, we’re in a pretty scrape.”</p> - -<p>It would be difficult to imagine the anxiety of the two, as, -kneeling close together, and shutting out the wind as much as -possible, the last remaining match was struck.</p> - -<p>Little Rifle had gathered dry leaves, which caught and -burned readily. Others were carefully piled upon them, and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_99">[99]</span> -by nursing the flame for several minutes, the eyes of the two -friends lit up with joy, as they saw a bright, warm, crackling -fire blaze up before them.</p> - -<p>Then, as it lit up the gloom, Harry could see the signs of a -camp having been held upon this spot sometime before. There -was an abundance of fuel, and had they possessed blankets, -they could not have desired to be more comfortable.</p> - -<p>“We shall have more snow to-night,” said Little Rifle, looking -up to the sky; “there is no moon or stars, and I can feel -it in the air.”</p> - -<p>They broke off branches and limbs, and spreading them -upon the ground, made as comfortable lounges as possible under -the circumstances; but still, although the day had been -warm, there was a growing chilliness in the night air, which -made them keep the fire roaring as much as was compatible -with safety.</p> - -<p>And sitting close together, near this, they renewed and continued -their conversation for hours. They talked of the future—Harry -painted in rosy colors what both were due, and -what happiness was to come to both in the end.</p> - -<p>And Little Rifle listened, pleased and charmed, until the -voice of the lad grew broken and uncertain, his head drooped, -and he finally sunk over upon his bed of twigs and branches, -in a sound slumber.</p> - -<p>He was awakened by something cold and soft that struck -him lightly in the face. Opening his eyes and starting up, he -found that the camp-fire had smoldered to ashes; he was cold -and chilly, and Little Rifle was gone!</p> - -<p>His first proceeding was to start up and throw more wood -upon the fire. When he had driven the numbness from his -system, he then began to look for the return of Little Rifle, -and to wonder what her long absence, as shown by the condition -of the camp-fire, meant.</p> - -<p>But hour after hour wore away and she came not, while a -strange vague fear stole over the lad, as he called her by -name again and again, and no response came.</p> - -<p>That which had struck him in the face and awaked him -was a snowflake, or rather a score of them, and, as he looked -about, he saw that the air was full of snow, falling softly -and silently, and wrapping the earth in its robe of white.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_100">[100]</span>At last the dull gray morning broke, and still no signs of -Little Rifle.</p> - -<p>“What can have happened?” exclaimed the distressed -Harry. “She is gone! she is lost! I have lost my beautiful -Bride of the Wilderness!”</p> - -<p>Alas! he spoke the truth!</p> - -<p>In “Old Ruff, the Trapper,” Star Novel No. 110, the Adventures -of the Young Fur-Hunters will be completed. Old -Ruff’s great hunts with his pet bear, Spotted Ben, will play -principal parts in this last and best great story of the hunter-author. -See announcement on last page of cover.</p> - - -<p class="center">THE END.</p> - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak">DIME POCKET NOVELS.</h2> - - -<p class="center">PUBLISHED SEMI-MONTHLY.</p> -</div> - - - -<table border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" summary="table"> - - -<tr><td><span class="indent"><b>1—Hawkeye Harry.</b> By Oll Coomes.</span></td><td><b>70—The Phantom Rider.</b> By Maro O. Rolfe.</td></tr> -<tr><td><span class="indent"><b>2—Dead Shot.</b> By Albert W. Aiken.</span></td><td><b>71—Delaware Tom.</b> By Harry Hazard.</td></tr> -<tr><td><span class="indent"><b>3—The Boy Miners.</b> By Edward S. Ellis.</span></td><td><b>72—Silver Rifle.</b> By Capt. Chas. Howard.</td></tr> -<tr><td><span class="indent"><b>4—Blue Dick.</b> By Capt. Mayne Reid.</span></td><td><b>73—The Skeleton Scout.</b> Maj. L. W. Carson.</td></tr> -<tr><td><span class="indent"><b>5—Nat Wolfe.</b> By Mrs. M. V. Victor.</span></td><td><b>74—Little Rifle.</b> By Capt. “Bruin” Adams.</td></tr> -<tr><td><span class="indent"><b>6—The White Tracker.</b> Edward S. Ellis.</span></td><td><b>75—The Wood Witch.</b> By Edwin Emerson.</td></tr> -<tr><td><span class="indent"><b>7—The Outlaw’s Wife.</b> Mrs. Ann S. Stephens. </span></td><td><b>76—Old Ruff, the Trapper.</b> “Bruin” Adams.</td></tr> -<tr><td><span class="indent"><b>8—The Tall Trapper.</b> By Albert W. Aiken.</span></td><td><b>77—The Scarlet Shoulders.</b> Harry Hazard.</td></tr> -<tr><td><span class="indent"><b>9—Lightning Jo.</b> By Capt. Adams.</span></td><td><b>78—The Border Rifleman.</b> L. W. Carson.</td></tr> -<tr><td><b>10—The Island Pirate.</b> By Capt. Mayne Reid.</td><td><b>79—Outlaw Jack.</b> By Harry Hazard.</td></tr> -<tr><td><b>11—The Boy Ranger.</b> By Oll Coomes.</td><td><b>80—Tiger-Tail, the Seminole.</b> R. Ringwood.</td></tr> -<tr><td><b>12—Bess, the Trapper.</b> By E. S. Ellis.</td><td><b>81—Death-Dealer.</b> By Arthur L. Meserve.</td></tr> -<tr><td><b>13—The French Spy.</b> By W. J. Hamilton.</td><td><b>82—Kenton, the Ranger.</b> By Chas. Howard.</td></tr> -<tr><td><b>14—Long Shot.</b> By Capt. Comstock.</td><td><b>83—The Specter Horseman.</b> Frank Dewey.</td></tr> -<tr><td><b>15—The Gunmaker.</b> By James L. Bowen.</td><td><b>84—The Three Trappers.</b> Seelin Robbins.</td></tr> -<tr><td><b>16—Red Hand.</b> By A. G. Piper.</td><td><b>85—Kaleolah.</b> By T. Benton Shields, U. S. N.</td></tr> -<tr><td><b>17—Ben, the Trapper.</b> By Lewis W. Carson.</td><td><b>86—The Hunter Hercules.</b> Harry St. George.</td></tr> -<tr><td><b>18—Wild Raven.</b> By Oll Coomes.</td><td><b>87—Phil Hunter.</b> By Capt. Chas. Howard.</td></tr> -<tr><td><b>19—The Specter Chief.</b> By Seelin Robins.</td><td><b>88—The Indian Scout.</b> By Harry Hazard.</td></tr> -<tr><td><b>20—The B’ar-Killer.</b> By Capt. Comstock.</td><td><b>89—The Girl Avenger.</b> By Chas. Howard.</td></tr> -<tr><td><b>21—Wild Nat.</b> By Wm. R. Eyster.</td><td><b>90—The Red Hermitess.</b> By Paul Bibbs.</td></tr> -<tr><td><b>22—Indian Jo.</b> By Lewis W. Carson.</td><td><b>91—Star-Face, the Slayer.</b></td></tr> -<tr><td><b>23—Old Kent, the Ranger.</b> Edward S. Ellis.</td><td><b>92—The Antelope Boy.</b> By Geo. L. Aiken.</td></tr> -<tr><td><b>24—The One-Eyed Trapper.</b> Capt. Comstock. </td><td><b>93—The Phantom Hunter.</b> By E. Emerson.</td></tr> -<tr><td><b>25—Godbold, the Spy.</b> By N. C. Iron.</td><td><b>94—Tom Pintle, the Pilot.</b> By M. Klapp.</td></tr> -<tr><td><b>26—The Black Ship.</b> By John S. Warner.</td><td><b>95—The Red Wizard.</b> By Ned Hunter.</td></tr> -<tr><td><b>27—Single Eye.</b> By Warren St. John.</td><td><b>96—The Rival Trappers.</b> By L. W. Carson.</td></tr> -<tr><td><b>28—Indian Jim.</b> By Edward S. Ellis.</td><td><b>97—The Squaw Spy.</b> By Capt. Chas. Howard.</td></tr> -<tr><td><b>29—The Scout.</b> By Warren St. John.</td><td><b>98—Dusky Dick.</b> By Jos. E. Badger, Jr.</td></tr> -<tr><td><b>30—Eagle Eye.</b> By W. J. Hamilton.</td><td><b>99—Colonel Crockett.</b> By Chas. E. Lasalle.</td></tr> -<tr><td><b>31—The Mystic Canoe.</b> By Edward S. Ellis.</td><td><b>100—Old Bear Paw.</b> By Major Max Martine.</td></tr> -<tr><td><b>32—The Golden Harpoon.</b> By R. Starbuck.</td><td><b>101—Redlaw.</b> By Jos. E. Badger, Jr.</td></tr> -<tr><td><b>33—The Scalp King.</b> By Lieut. Ned Hunter.</td><td><b>102—Wild Rube.</b> By W. J. Hamilton.</td></tr> -<tr><td><b>34—Old Lute.</b> By E. W. Archer.</td><td><b>103—The Indian Hunters.</b> By J. L. Bowen.</td></tr> -<tr><td><b>35—Rainbolt, Ranger.</b> By Oll Coomes.</td><td><b>104—Scarred Eagle.</b> By Andrew Dearborn.</td></tr> -<tr><td><b>36—The Boy Pioneer.</b> By Edward S. Ellis.</td><td><b>105—Nick Doyle.</b> By P. Hamilton Myers.</td></tr> -<tr><td><b>37—Carson, the Guide.</b> By J. H. Randolph.</td><td><b>106—The Indian Spy.</b> By Jos. E. Badger, Jr.</td></tr> -<tr><td><b>38—The Heart Eater.</b> By Harry Hazard.</td><td><b>107—Job Dean.</b> By Ingoldsby North.</td></tr> -<tr><td><b>39—Wetzel, the Scout.</b> By Boynton Belknap.</td><td><b>108—The Wood King.</b> By Jos. E. Badger, Jr.</td></tr> -<tr><td><b>40—The Huge Hunter.</b> By Ed. S. Ellis.</td><td><b>109—The Scalped Hunter.</b> By Harry Hazard.</td></tr> -<tr><td><b>41—Wild Nat, the Trapper.</b> Paul Prescott.</td><td><b>110—Nick, the Scout.</b> By W. J. Hamilton.</td></tr> -<tr><td><b>42—Lynx-cap.</b> By Paul Bibbs.</td><td><b>111—The Texas Tiger.</b> By Edward Willett.</td></tr> -<tr><td><b>43—The White Outlaw.</b> By Harry Hazard.</td><td><b>112—The Crossed Knives.</b> By W. J. Hamilton.</td></tr> -<tr><td><b>44—The Dog Trailer.</b> By Frederick Dewey.</td><td><b>113—Tiger-Heart, the Tracker.</b> By Howard.</td></tr> -<tr><td><b>45—The Elk King.</b> By Capt. Chas. Howard.</td><td><b>114—The Masked Avenger.</b> By Ingraham.</td></tr> -<tr><td><b>46—Adrian, the Pilot.</b> By Col. P. Ingraham.</td><td><b>115—The Pearl Pirates.</b> By Starbuck.</td></tr> -<tr><td><b>47—The Man-hunter.</b> By Maro O. Rolfe.</td><td><b>116—Black Panther.</b> By Jos. E. Badger. Jr.</td></tr> -<tr><td><b>48—The Phantom Tracker.</b> By F. Dewey.</td><td><b>117—Abdiel, the Avenger.</b> By Ed. Willett.</td></tr> -<tr><td><b>49—Moccasin Bill.</b> By Paul Bibbs.</td><td><b>118—Cato, the Creeper.</b> By Fred. Dewey.</td></tr> -<tr><td><b>50—The Wolf Queen.</b> By Charles Howard.</td><td><b>119—Two-Handed Mat.</b> By Jos. E. Badger.</td></tr> -<tr><td><b>51—Tom Hawk, the Trailer.</b></td><td><b>120—Mad Trail Hunter.</b> By Harry Hazard.</td></tr> -<tr><td><b>52—The Mad Chief.</b> By Chas. Howard.</td><td><b>121—Black Nick.</b> By Frederick Whittaker.</td></tr> -<tr><td><b>53—The Black Wolf.</b> By Edwin E. Ewing.</td><td><b>122—Kit Bird.</b> By W. J. Hamilton.</td></tr> -<tr><td><b>54—Arkansas Jack.</b> By Harry Hazard.</td><td><b>123—The Specter Riders.</b> By Geo. Gleason.</td></tr> -<tr><td><b>55—Blackbeard.</b> By Paul Bibbs.</td><td><b>124—Giant Pete.</b> By W. J. Hamilton.</td></tr> -<tr><td><b>56—The River Rifles.</b> By Billex Muller.</td><td><b>125—The Girl Captain.</b> By Jos. E. Badger.</td></tr> -<tr><td><b>57—Hunter Ham.</b> By J. Edgar Iliff.</td><td><b>126—Yankee Eph.</b> By J. R. Worcester.</td></tr> -<tr><td><b>58—Cloudwood.</b> By J. M. Merrill.</td><td><b>127—Silverspur.</b> By Edward Willett.</td></tr> -<tr><td><b>59—The Texas Hawks.</b> By Jos. E. Badger, Jr.</td><td><b>128—Squatter Dick.</b> By Jos. E. Badger.</td></tr> -<tr><td><b>60—Merciless Matt.</b> By Capt. Chas. Howard.</td><td><b>129—The Child Spy.</b> By George Gleason.</td></tr> -<tr><td><b>61—Mad Anthony’s Scouts.</b> By E. Rodman.</td><td><b>130—Mink Coat.</b> By Jos. E. Badger.</td></tr> -<tr><td><b>62—The Luckless Trapper.</b> Wm. R. Eyster.</td><td><b>131—Red Plume.</b> By J. Stanley Henderson.</td></tr> -<tr><td><b>63—The Florida Scout.</b> Jos. E. Badger, Jr.</td><td><b>132—Clyde, the Trailer.</b> By Maro O. Rolfe.</td></tr> -<tr><td><b>64—The Inland Trapper.</b> Chas. Howard.</td><td><b>133—The Lost Cache.</b> J. Stanley Henderson.</td></tr> -<tr><td><b>65—Wolf-Cap.</b> By Capt. Chas. Howard.</td><td><b>134—The Cannibal Chief.</b> Paul J. Prescott.</td></tr> -<tr><td><b>66—Rattling Dick.</b> By Harry Hazard.</td><td><b>135—Karaibo.</b> By J. Stanley Henderson.</td></tr> -<tr><td><b>67—Sharp-Eye.</b> By Major Max Martine.</td><td><b>136—Scarlet Moccasin.</b> By Paul Bibbs.</td></tr> -<tr><td><b>68—Iron-Hand.</b> By Frederick Forest.</td><td><b>137—Kidnapped.</b> By J. Stanley Henderson.</td></tr> -<tr><td><b>69—The Yellow Hunter.</b> By Chas. Howard.</td><td><b>138—Maid of the Mountain.</b> By Hamilton.</td></tr> - - -</table> - - -<p class="center">The following will be issued in the order and on the dates indicated:</p> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> - -<div class="verse"><b>139—The Scioto Scouts.</b> By Edward Willett. Ready October 21st.</div> -<div class="verse"><b>140—The Border Renegade.</b> By Jos. E. Badger, Jr. Ready Nov. 4th.</div> -<div class="verse"><b>141—The Mute Chief.</b> By C. D. Clark. Ready November 18th.</div> -<div class="verse"><b>142—Boone, the Hunter.</b> By Frederick Whittaker. Ready December 2d.</div> -<div class="verse"><b>143—Mountain Kate.</b> By Jos. E. Badger, Jr. Ready December 16th.</div> -<div class="verse"><b>144—The Red Scalper.</b> By W. J. Hamilton. Ready December 30th.</div> -<div class="verse"><b>145—The Lone Chief.</b> By Jos. E. Badger, Jr. Ready January 13th.</div> -<div class="verse"><b>146—The Silver Bugle.</b> By Lieut. Col. Hazleton. 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