diff options
| -rw-r--r-- | .gitattributes | 4 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | LICENSE.txt | 11 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | README.md | 2 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/68513-0.txt | 4683 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/68513-0.zip | bin | 72590 -> 0 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/68513-h.zip | bin | 421501 -> 0 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/68513-h/68513-h.htm | 5009 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/68513-h/images/cover.jpg | bin | 273378 -> 0 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/68513-h/images/illusc.jpg | bin | 73448 -> 0 bytes |
9 files changed, 17 insertions, 9692 deletions
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..d7995ca --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #68513 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/68513) diff --git a/old/68513-0.txt b/old/68513-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index c8c193a..0000000 --- a/old/68513-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,4683 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg eBook of Old Bear-Paw, The Trapper King, by Max -Martine - -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: Old Bear-Paw, The Trapper King - The Love of a Blackfoot Queen - -Author: Max Martine - -Release Date: July 12, 2022 [eBook #68513] - -Language: English - -Produced by: David Edwards, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed - Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (Northern - Illinois University Digital Library) - -*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK OLD BEAR-PAW, THE TRAPPER -KING *** - - - - - - OLD BEAR-PAW, - - THE TRAPPER KING; - - OR, - - THE LOVE OF A BLACKFOOT QUEEN. - - BY MAJ. MAX MARTINE. - - AUTHOR OF POCKET NOVEL No. 67. "SHARP-EYE." - - NEW YORK: - BEADLE AND ADAMS, PUBLISHERS, - 98 WILLIAM STREET. - - Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1873 by - BEADLE AND ADAMS, - In the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. - - - - - CHAPTER I. - - THE BROKEN CHIEF. - - -"I wonder what has become of that everlasting Yankee? He promised to -meet me here at noon, yet I have stood here and seen the shadows of -these old pines lengthen for the last hour. Surely something must have -happened to detain him, for he never deceived me yet, and I do not like -to believe he will commence now--" - -"Yew are 'tarnal right; he won't!" interrupted the second speaker, who -was no other than the "everlasting Yankee" himself. - -Thus soliloquized the celebrated scout, Lew Kelly, and thus replied -his tried friend and companion, Jehiel Filkins, as they stood upon a -peak of the Black Hills, west a five-day's ride from Fort Randall--the -nearest place where white men could be found, for they were already in -the hunting-grounds of the Blackfeet. - -The two scouts, well-mounted, and armed to the teeth, were spending -a sort of vacation in that dreaded vicinity to satisfy themselves as -to the truth of certain rumors, rife at Fort Randall and Yankton, -concerning the gold, which it was asserted was laying around loose -in the ravines and damp, dark gulches of the Black Hills; and of the -existence, in the hills and valleys of the North-west, of bear, elk, -antelope and beaver, which an adventurous scout had asserted made that -country a perfect paradise for the hunter and trapper. - -They had gone far enough, and seen enough to convince them that there -was good foundation for these rumors. Gold they had found in the black -sand washed down from the hills, and in the quartz ledges underlying or -jutting out from the very crag upon which they stood. As to game, they -wondered they had not heard of it before, so abundant was it. - -"What was you sayin', Lew?" asked Filkins. "Are you getting in a hurry -to go home? Wal, I ain't, then. There ain't an Ingin within forty miles -of here, and if there was I know you would not be afeared of them; but -if you will wait just a week longer I will go _anywhere_ with you, if -it's to Halifax." - -"You said those same words, ten days ago, Jehiel, yet here we are, a -hundred miles further west than we were then." - -"Sartin!" replied Jehiel. "But what's the hurry, Lew? You're too old a -scout to get homesick so soon; I wouldn't." - -"Mighty good reason why you wouldn't, and why you never tire out or get -homesick. _Your_ home is wherever you happen to find yourself, and you -care for nothing but that old coat of yours. Besides, you forget that -away over the hills there a dear little wife is waiting and watching -for me, and no doubt alarmed at my protracted stay." - -"Jes' so, Lew. A scout has no business gettin' married. It e'ena'most -makes a coward outen him--" - -"You lie, and you know it!" exclaimed the scout, angrily. "Have you -forgotten our fight with the Blackfeet, two years ago? Where would your -old yellow scalp have gone to then, if it had not been for me? And -wasn't I married then, you old fool?" - -"Cor-reck, Lew; I take it all back, and beg yer pardon. But, I never -see'd such a kentry fur game as this, and besides, I hev' jes' set my -heart on goin' over to that round peak there where it looks so foggy. -You see it is right on the home stretch, and I can camp there while you -pack up and foller to-morrer." - -"All right, Jehiel; I will wait another day. But if you are bound to go -you had better make a start; it is a good ten miles over there and a -pretty rough trail." - -"Cor-reck ag'in, Lew, and I'll jog along." - -And the Yankee shouldered his rifle and started for the designated -point. He was soon out of sight of the scout, who descended the western -slope of the bluff and made his way to their camp, beside a limpid -stream which flowed through the valley to the north. - -He had nearly reached his camp when a sight met his eye which caused -him to halt and take shelter behind a tree. - -He saw, coming down the valley from the west, three persons on -horseback, who seemed to be riding for dear life. - -Two rode side by side, and fully a hundred yards in advance of the -third, and all were lashing their horses to their best speed. - -Of those pursued, one was evidently a female, and as she was bound, it -was also evident that she was a prisoner. - -The Indian in the rear, who was in such hot pursuit of the foremost, -was lashing his horse in a perfect fury; and as they passed the tree -where the scout was concealed, he said: - -"It looks like a long chase, but I don't see any signs of anybody after -them. If the squaw was only a white woman I would sail in and help her -out of the fix--but then it is none of my business, and I guess I won't -meddle. And I reckon they have too much on their hands now to take any -notice of me." - -Just as he reached his camp he looked after the Indians and saw the -horse of the pursuer drop dead from exhaustion, and its rider was -thrown violently upon the rocky path. - -The Indian lay so very still that the scout thought he must be dead, -and he started out to ascertain. - -As he approached the fallen Indian, he discovered that he was still -conscious, though unable to stand upon his feet. - -The Indian was the first to break silence. - -"Me know you--you are White Panther!" - -"Yes, that is what some folks call me. But who are you, and what is the -matter with you?" - -"Me Gray Eagle, big chief of the Blackfeet. Heap matter! Leg broke, arm -broke! Red Pine, the Sioux, has stolen Snowdrop, the daughter of Gray -Eagle, and if I can not get her back, then my heart broke!" - -"Then you are old Gray Eagle, are you? Are you alone?" - -"Gray Eagle all alone. Kill him if you want." - -"Well, I don't know as I want to; scalping broken-legged Indians is not -my business, just now. But, I'll tell you what I will do! If you will -agree not to make war upon the whites again, but let them hunt and trap -in these hills when they please, I will go for Snowdrop, and I will not -return until I bring her and Red Pine's scalp! What do you say?" - -"Gray Eagle will promise!" - -"But your promise is not worth shucks unless you swear to it." - -"Gray Eagle will swear!" - -"Swear by the Great Spirit?" - -"Yes." - -"Swear by your knife and your tomahawk, and your horse?--even if he is -dead he is good enough to swear by." - -"Yes, I swear by all these that I will be a friend to the pale-faces as -long as I live if Snowdrop is saved." - -"Well, I don't know but that is about all you can do, and I will trust -you; though if Jehiel was here he would say, 'Shoot him and let the -Sioux keep the gal.' But I will carry you to my camp, and then I will -go for Snowdrop; and I'll get her, too, if I have to follow Red Pine -clear home!" - -The scout raised the chief in his arms and carried him to the camp. - -"There," he said, as he laid the chief upon a blanket, "you keep quiet -until I come back." - -He called his horse, a beautiful black stallion, and mounting, started -on the trail of the Sioux. - - - - - CHAPTER II. - - SMITTEN. - - -The daughter of Gray Eagle was one of the very few handsome Indian -women. Though not more than sixteen years of age, she deserved the -proud distinction she had won of being the flower of the Blackfoot -nation, and the only really beautiful girl in the tribe. - -Dozens of chiefs had sought in vain to win her heart; even brave -warriors from other tribes had offered fabulous gifts for her; but her -father gave them all the same answer--that Snowdrop was the idol of his -heart, and that he would not force her to marry a brave she did not -like. - -As for Snowdrop herself, she had never loved any one except her father, -and consequently none of the braves received any encouragement. - -But, Red Pine, a cruel chief of the Sioux, had seen her, and with him, -to see her was to covet her; so he did not ask the consent of any one, -but, watching his chance when the Blackfeet were nearly all gone on a -hunt, and Gray Eagle was confined by sickness, he had stolen her away. - -Gray Eagle had followed on the trail, and when within rifle-shot of the -Sioux, had met with the accident already narrated. - -Red Pine, seeing the fall of Gray Eagle, immediately slackened his -speed so as to save his horse as much as possible; for the chase -had been a long one, and they were now fully thirty miles from the -Blackfoot village. But he would not have ridden so slowly had he known -who was upon his trail in the place of Gray Eagle. - -"Would Snowdrop like to rest?" he asked. - -The only reply he received was a flash of scorn from the wondrously -black eyes of the captive. - -"Ugh!" he grunted. "Snowdrop mad now, but by-and-by Red Pine _make_ her -talk!" - -Snowdrop looked back to see what had become of her father, as she could -no longer hear the sound of his horse's feet. - -Red Pine also looked back and saw, what she evidently did not, that a -well-armed and well-mounted white man was upon his trail. Furiously he -lashed the horses ridden by himself and Snowdrop, and once more they -flew down the rough valley. - -Not long before he had received a severe chastisement at the hands of -a party of white men, and he actually dreaded this single man who was -now in pursuit of him more than he would have done the whole Blackfoot -nation. - -Lash as he would, his pursuer rapidly gained upon him. He stopped his -horse, and placing himself behind Snowdrop, he drew her to him so that -her form covered his breast, and drawing his knife, held it above her -breast, resolved to kill her rather than give her up. - -Snowdrop was prepared for the blow, but it never fell. With a howl of -mingled rage and pain, the Sioux sprung from his horse, his arm hanging -limp and useless at his side, and darted into the bushes, where it was -impossible for any one to follow him, just as the scout rode up. - -Snowdrop, when she discovered that she had merely changed captors, was -at first inclined to be angry, but when Kelly drew his knife and cut -the thongs which bound her hands, at the same time saying that she was -free, she replied: - -"Snowdrop can not thank the pale-face, but he has saved her life, and -now she is his." - -"Gracious! I don't want you!" replied the scout. "Now you hold my horse -until I find that red-skin and get his scalp, then I will take you to -your father." - -But he was unsuccessful. The Sioux had taken care to hide his trail, -and the scout soon returned, and mounting his horse, led the way back -to camp. - -Neither spoke, but Snowdrop thought, "What a handsome man he is," and -for the first time in her life she was in love. She had yet to learn -that it takes two to make a bargain, though she resolved to win the -love of the brave scout, or die. - -When they reached the camp where Kelly had left the old chief, they -found him sitting beside the fire, endeavoring to tie a cloth around -his broken leg. An expression of pleasure lit up his swarthy face as he -saw his daughter unharmed; then, as his eye rested upon the belt of the -scout, Kelly said, as if anticipating his thoughts: - -"No; the red devil got away that time. You see, I had to break his arm, -or he would have struck the girl to the heart. But never mind, I will -have his scalp yet; for I never go back on my word with any man, be he -red or white. I brought back his horse for you, and I don't suppose you -are far from your village, so you can go home when you please." - -"White Panther is a great brave, but Red Pine has many warriors with -him, and they may come and take Snowdrop from him. The village of Gray -Eagle is only a day's ride from here; will the white brave build a -smoke to call the warriors of Gray Eagle here?" - -"Yes," replied Kelly, "and while I am about it, suppose you have -Snowdrop get something to eat. There is plenty here," he said, pointing -to several saddles of venison hanging in the trees near by. Then Kelly -went to build the smokes. - -The transparency of the atmosphere in that region is such that objects -can be seen at a great distance; for example, a mountain presents a -distinct and bold outline at fifty or sixty miles, and may occasionally -be seen as far as a hundred miles. - -The Indians, availing themselves of this fact, have been in the habit -of practicing a system of telegraphing by means of smokes by day, -and fires by night, and there are but few men who have crossed the -mountains who have not seen these signals made and responded to from -peak to peak, in rapid succession. - -The Indians thus make known to their friends many items of information -highly important to them. If enemies or strangers make their appearance -in the country, the fact is telegraphed at once, giving them time to -secure their animals and to prepare for attack, defense or flight. - -War or hunting parties, after having been absent a long time from their -friends at home, and not knowing where to find them, make use of the -same preconcerted signals to indicate their presence. - -Very dense smokes may be raised by kindling a large fire with dry wood, -and piling upon it the green boughs of pine, balsam, or hemlock. This -throws off a heavy cloud of black smoke which can be seen very far. - -Kelly proceeded to the top of the bluff where we first met him, and -soon three long, white columns of smoke were rising heavenward. This -done, he returned to his camp, and found dinner awaiting him. - -Snowdrop presented him a nicely broiled steak upon a clean bark plate, -and was well repaid for her trouble by the smile he gave her, and -complimented her upon her skill in cookery. - -After dinner Kelly set the broken limbs as well as was possible with -the appliances at hand. When completed, he said: - -"Will Gray Eagle remain with me until morning? Then I will start on the -trail of the Sioux." - -"Why does my white brother stop here?" - -"I'm waiting for my partner, who went to visit a big hill over to the -north-east. He was going to stay until morning, but that smoke will -bring him as soon as he sees it; anyhow, I won't go without him!" - -"It is right for White Panther to be true to his brother, but the Sioux -will be upon our trail before morning." - -"Well, let them come. If they do, you can make a big addition to your -stock of scalps." - -Suddenly the sound of footsteps was heard, and in a moment Jehiel -Filkins stood before them. - -"Glad you are back, for we have got some work to do." - -"I thought there was something up," he replied, "though I was on my way -back when I see'd your smokes. Then, you just bet, I traveled! But say, -I'm awful hungry! Who is that handsome creetur'?" he asked, as he set -about getting his dinner. - -"Oh! she is the daughter of that old cub who lays in there with a -broken leg." - -"It strikes me I have seen him somewhere, before, but I never see'd -such a pretty gal as that, any place." - -"Well," replied Kelly, "pitch in and make love to her if you want to, -and marry her if you can. I'm sure you need some one to mend your -clothes. But I have not told you yet that we have got to escort them to -their village." - -"Yes, we will," said Jehiel, "and lose our scalps for our kindness!" - -"We won't do any such thing. I have been making a treaty of peace with -Gray Eagle, and he has promised not to fight the pale-faces any more!" - -"Wal, what's an Injun's promise good for?" asked Jehiel. - -"You don't know them as well as I do, or you would not ask such a -question!" - -"No, I s'pose not--nor you don't know 'em as well as you will a year -from now. But," he continued, "if we are going, let us be on the move. -I will eat as we ride along." - -Snowdrop was well pleased when she heard Jehiel speak thus, and smiled -as she said: - -"The Long Hunter is brave and good to be the brother of White Panther." - -"Much obleeged," said Jehiel, "but he ain't my brother, though he is a -bully boy, and fit to be the brother of a king." - -Lifting the wounded chief to his saddle, they started up the valley, -Kelly taking the lead, the chief next, and Snowdrop behind him, while -Jehiel brought up the rear; preferring to be where he could admire the -lovely form of the Indian girl. - -"By Gunner!" he muttered, "but _ain't_ she nice! I'll do something -desperate, and marry her or bu'st!" - -Truth to tell, Jehiel Filkins was desperately and irrevocably in love, -but he was "counting his chickens" too soon. - -In the midst of his reverie he was made aware of a sudden halt, and he -looked up to see what was the matter. - - - - - CHAPTER III. - - THE SIOUX STROKE. - - -When the scout had halted, of course the others stopped and Jehiel -found himself close beside the object of his meditations before he -had fairly recovered from his day-dream. But close ahead he saw a -camp-fire, and the silly lover was at once transformed into the brave -scout. - -He rode to the front, and took his stand beside Kelly with his gun -cocked and ready for service. - -"White men, and a hard-looking lot they are too!" exclaimed Kelly. - -Seated around the camp-fire were a dozen men, who, as soon as they -discovered the party of our friends, sprung to their feet, and stood -ready with their guns. - -"Come on," said Kelly, "we may as well be bold about it, for we are too -close to back out now." - -The strangers stepped out in front of their camp, and waited for the -scout to approach. - -He had seen too many of that class of men before on the plains and -in the mountains, not to know that he had come across a gang of road -agents, through he was at a loss to imagine what they could be after, -in that section. - -He knew that these outlaws were frequently in league with the Indians, -and he did not know but this party were in some way connected with the -Sioux, from whom he was endeavoring to escape. - -The leader of the party of whites was the only good-looking one in the -crowd; the rest wearing a hang-dog, ruffianly look, as if they had been -life-long murderers. The leader saluted Kelly with: - -"Hello, stranger, which way are you going?" - -"North," replied Kelly, "as you can see, if you use your eyes!" - -"Yes, I see; but what are you going for?" - -"It is not evident to my mind that it is any of your business where we -are going," replied the scout. "I don't mind telling you, however, that -we are bound for the village of the Blackfeet." - -"What may I call your name? It strikes me I have seen you somewhere -before to-day." - -"You may call me Robinson Crusoe, if it will do you any good, though -that isn't my name; and it is barely possible you have seen me -somewhere, for I have been there several times." - -"Where?" - -"I told you _somewhere_!" - -"Well, where are you from?" asked the stranger. - -"Home!" replied Kelly. - -The stranger laughed and said: - -"I am not likely to get much information out of you! I believe there -are some men in this western country who dare not tell their names." - -"You do, eh? Well, I am not one of them," replied Kelly. - -"Who said you was?" - -Kelly made no reply, but turning to his party, said: "Come on," and was -about to start when the stranger again accosted him with--"Won't you -stop and camp with us?" - -The scout noticed the looks which the ruffians bestowed upon the Indian -girl, and did not like them, and he replied: - -"No, I thank you. We have plenty of provisions, and will make our camp -a few rods away." - -"All right," said the leader, "I will come over and make you a visit -after supper." - -Kelly rode on about eighty rods, and halted beside a stream, saying, as -he dismounted: - -"We will camp here. But," he added, "you can all make up your minds to -leave here before daylight." - -"Heap good!" said Gray Eagle. "White Panther knows what is best, and -Gray Eagle trusts his life with him. White Panther has said he would -take him to his village." - -"Yes," replied Kelly, "and I will do it; you need not worry any more." - -The wounded chief was taken from his horse and laid upon the soft -grass, and while Kelly went to find a good place in which to secure the -horses, Snowdrop set about getting the supper. In this occupation she -was assisted by Jehiel, who, as we have said, was desperately in love -with the beautiful squaw. - -Shortly after Kelly had returned to the fire, the leader of the other -party came into their camp, and entered into conversation with him. - -"You were not brought up on the plains, though you seem to be an old -hand at camp-life," he said. - -"How do you know that?" asked Kelly. - -"Because you do not look like a plainsman or a common trapper, neither -do you use such language as is common with that class." - -"I see," laughingly replied Kelly. "You think if a kitten is born -in an oven it must surely be a loaf of bread! But you are mistaken. -I have spent my life, or all of it that I can remember, west of the -Mississippi; and I never went to school a day in my life. Manners and -language are like the small pox, contagious; and if I have caught more -than most men in my calling, it is my good luck, not education." - -"Well, will you tell me your name now?" - -"I don't know of any reason why I should not, as I never done any thing -to disgrace it. It is Kelly; my friends call me Lew, for short--" - -"What! Lew Kelly, the famous scout? Your name is well known all along -the frontier, and I am glad to meet you, though I must confess I am -somewhat disappointed." - -"In what respect?" asked Kelly. - -"Why I expected to see a great burly fellow, who could whip his weight -in wild-cats, but you are not much older than I am; nor much, if any, -larger." - -"A gentle hint that you think you can whip me," said Kelly. - -"No, sir, nothing of the kind; and I hope I may never have any occasion -to try it." - -"You will be liable to get the worth of your money if you do," replied -the scout. "But will you tell me your name?" - -"You may call me Curtiss, if you please--those fellows over there call -me Captain." - -"Well, Captain Curtiss, it is none of my business, perhaps, what you -do, or what becomes of you, who you are, or where you are going; but I -shall not be doing my duty unless I tell you that you are liable to get -into a pretty lively muss before morning." - -"What makes you think so?" asked Curtiss. - -"I have every reason to believe that a large body of Sioux are on our -trail, under Red Pine, the fellow from whom I rescued this girl. If -they do not try to recapture her, then I am no judge of Indian nature." - -"I am much obliged to you," said Curtiss. "I will be ready for them, if -they come. And now, good-night." - -After he had gone, Jehiel sat beside Kelly and talked for nearly an -hour. It was arranged between them that they would remain on guard, and -Jehiel said: - -"Come now, Lew, you turn in and sleep till midnight, and I will take -the first trick at watching." - -"Wait a few minutes," replied Kelly; "I want to see how they are fixed -over there;" and he proceeded to inspect the camp of the strangers. - -He soon returned, and to the inquiry of Jehiel, he said: - -"The fools have all gone to sleep, and left a big fire over there. If -the Sioux should come, they will get the first slice, that's sure." -He gave the fire a kick, and rolling himself in his blanket was soon -asleep. - -The camp-fire of the strangers had burned low and no unnatural sounds -could be heard, when Jehiel awoke the scout to take his place. - -"You should have called me before, Jehiel, you will not get much sleep, -I am afraid." - -"Who keers a durn? I'll be ready when you are!" and Jehiel sought his -blankets and sleep. - -Kelly began his watch, keeping in the shade of the bushes, and for -nearly an hour he heard no unusual noise. Then the breaking of a twig -between himself and the camp-fire of the strangers alarmed him, and -he crouched down to the ground the better to watch the movements of -whatever was prowling around. - -The object was moving as stealthily as a cat, and Kelly could not -discover it until it passed an open spot where the fire light reflected -upon it, when he made the somewhat alarming discovery of a Sioux -warrior; and he had barely time to notice that he was in his war-paint. - -The question arose, what should he do? The problem was solved by the -Indian himself, who was now coming straight toward the tree behind -which the scout was concealed. - -Nearer and nearer he came, until the brave scout could hear him -breathe, and as he passed the tree could have touched him. - -The Indian halted to listen, and apparently satisfied, started on. -He had taken but one step when the scout sprung upon him, and with a -single blow of the keen-pointed knife the Indian sunk to the ground -without a groan. - -It was but the work of a moment for the scout to secure the horses, and -lead them to the camp. - -Here he gave Jehiel a kick which brought that worthy to his feet with -"Durn yer pictur'," when he was interrupted by Kelly placing his hand -over his mouth, and saying: - -"Keep still, and saddle the horses; the Indians are here." - -Then he silently awoke the chief and said, "Let us go." Gray Eagle and -Snowdrop were soon ready for a start. - -"Here, Jehiel, you take the chief and the girl and go on down the -creek; I will join you in a few minutes." - -"Where are you going?" asked Jehiel. - -"I am going to tell the strangers to be on their guard," and the brave -man, unmindful of his own peril, mounted his horse and started for the -camp of the strangers; while Jehiel, and the chief and his daughter, -went down the stream. - -Kelly had got about half-way to the other camp when a dark figure -sprung from the bushes in front of him, and struck at the head of the -scout. - -He missed his mark, but not so Kelly, who reached out and dealt the -Indian a blow between the eyes which brought him to the ground. - -Spurring over the prostrate body he drove into the camp of the -strangers, shouting as he went: - -"Up, men, for your lives! The Sioux are here!" - -A hundred dusky forms sprung up as if by magic, and the air was filled -with murderous yells. Drawing his revolver he shot right and left, an -Indian falling with every shot. - -The first thought of the brave scout was to join his party as soon -as possible, but his afterthought was worthy of him. He knew that to -insure the safety of Jehiel, Gray Eagle, and Snowdrop, he must go in -an opposite direction, and thus lead the Sioux in pursuit of himself -rather than his friends. - -The impulse was a brave and noble one, well worthy of the scout, and he -turned his horse, resolving to trust to his speed. - -A row of angry, painted faces met him, but he charged through their -ranks, shooting two Indians as he went. - -Then he became aware that another horse was close beside his, and -turning in his saddle he beheld Snowdrop, who had followed him, and was -now close by his side. - -"Come on, girl. Ride for your life!" he shouted, "and keep close to me." - -He turned his horse in the direction of the stream, and in a few -minutes both horses were dashing through the water, and up the opposite -bank. The scout never paused except to see that the Indian girl was -safe across, and having satisfied himself on that score he dashed ahead. - -Meanwhile the camp of the strangers was the scene of a bloody conflict. -The white men were battling desperately for their lives, but they had -been surprised, and the scout knew from the rapid and incessant firing, -that the battle could not last long. - -He halted and listened to the noise of the conflict upon the opposite -side of the stream. All at once it ceased, and as he was wondering -which party had met with success, there came to his ears a wild, -prolonged shout, which was answered by a single yell of defiance. - -"That sounds as if them white men had passed in their checks, and the -Sioux had won the battle." He looked at Snowdrop as he spoke, and her -eyes were looking sorrowfully in his own, as she said: - -"My father is a prisoner. He has tried to follow me and the Sioux have -found him. Now he must burn." - -"I guess not," replied the scout; "but why didn't you stay with him and -Jehiel?" - -"Snowdrop had rather _die_ with the White Panther, whom she loves, than -_live_ with any one else!" - -"Well, you are a queer one, though, when I told you I did not want you. -I have one wife already, and that is all the law allows a white man. -But, I'll tell you, Snowdrop, there's Jehiel is in love with you head -over heels, and he will take you if you'll only give him half a chance." - -"The White Panther saved my life, and I will never cook meat for any -other man!" - -"Oh, fudge! You'll get over that before long." - -"Never. What will Snowdrop do now they have taken her father, and will -burn him?" - -"Keep cool, little gal! They have not burned him yet, and I have -promised Gray Eagle that I would give him the scalp of Red Pine, and -I'd do it. They have probably got Jehiel too; and now, girl, it's -about daylight, and I want you to ride as fast as you can to the -village of your people, and bring back all the warriors you can get. -I will stay here and wait for you, and when you get back we will give -them Sioux particular fits!" - -Without a word the Indian girl obeyed, and was soon lost to the sight -of the scout. - - - - - CHAPTER IV. - - THE YANKEE'S QUEST. - - -After the Indian girl had departed on her mission, Kelly rode his -horse into a thicket of willows beside the stream, and tied him. The -scout then ascended the hill and looked in the direction of the late -battle-field, but it was not yet light enough for him to discern any -thing. - -A tall, bushy oak stood near. - -"Just the thing," said the scout. "I'll climb this tree, and then -perhaps I can see what they are about. They are too quiet to suit my -idea, and I shouldn't wonder but they are up to some new deviltry. Of -course they have not found Snowdrop, and as that is about all they are -after they will not give up the search. Then they'll be tramping around -on my trail. But let them come; they will not find the Indian girl, for -she is a good piece toward home by this time." - -The scout was now among the branches of the trees, from which he could -get a good view of the surrounding country, and there, for a short -time, we will leave him and take a look at the camp of the victorious -Sioux. - -Upon the ground sat Gray Eagle, Curtiss, and Jehiel Filkins, while in -front of them stood Red Pine, the Sioux chief. - -"Ugh!" he said, addressing Gray Eagle, "Red Pine has got you at last; -and now as soon as he gets Snowdrop he will start for home!" - -"Red Pine will never get her. She is far toward the village of the -Blackfeet, with the White Panther, and will bring enough of the -warriors of Gray Eagle upon the trail of the cowardly Sioux that will -sweep them from the face of the earth!" - -"Waugh! Gray Eagle talks brave! He forgets that he is the prisoner of -Red Pine." - -"No, Gray Eagle does not forget. He is ready to die; he does not care -as long as his daughter is safe." - -"Before the sun goes down Snowdrop will be a prisoner like her father. -Sioux warriors are on her trail, and she rides alone. The pale-face has -left her to take care of herself, and she shall yet sit in the lodge of -Red Pine!" - -"Then let me die!" said Gray Eagle. - -"No. The Blackfoot shall go to the village of the Sioux, and when he -sees Snowdrop the slave of Red Pine then he shall die by torture!" - -Then addressing Captain Curtiss, he said: - -"What does the pale-face want here?" - -"We were just traveling through the country on our way to Oregon," -replied the captain. - -"Do you know Gray Eagle, the Blackfoot?" - -"No; I never saw him until last night." - -"And the pale-face who went with the Blackfoot squaw?" - -"I do not know him. I have nothing to do with either." - -"Red Pine will keep the pale-face, but he shall die with the Blackfoot -dog!" - -Then to Jehiel: - -"This other pale-face squaw--what right has he here, and what does he -want?" - -"None of yer business, you darned fool! Now what are you goin' to do -about it?" - -"Red Pine will make you cry before long!" - -"No you won't, you old sucker; you can't do that little thing," replied -the scout. - -"We will see. When the sun shows its face above the trees, the -pale-face shall die by fire." - -"The sooner the better, old stoughton bottle. It's a chilly night, and -a little fire will do a fellow good." - -"Red Pine says you shall _die_!" - -"Yaas, I heerd you, you dirty squaw thief, but you Sioux will lie so -that a feller can't depend on what you say. If you should accidentally -be telling the truth, it will be better to die than live around where -you are!" - -"Pale-face talks brave now; we will hear him cry when he eats fire!" - -"Oh, shut up, you maw-mouthed imp, and go on with your concert!" - -The Sioux chief took Jehiel at his word, and ordered the prisoner to be -bound to the stake, and almost before Jehiel knew what he was about, -the brush and dry wood were piled nearly to his chin. - -When this was accomplished the chief said to him: - -"When the sun shows his face above the trees, let the pale-face squaw -burn!" and the scout sung: - - "Walk along, John, don't stay long, - Hurry right home to your own chickabiddy--" - -and calmly awaited the torture. - -And that was what Kelly saw from his perch in the tree, upon the -opposite bank of the stream. - -"_That_ will never do!" he exclaimed; "I must hurry up, or they will -roast Jehiel, in spite of fate." - -Descending the tree he mounted his horse and started for the scene of -torture. - -It was well for him, perhaps, that the Sioux were so busy preparing for -the torture and therefore did not see him approaching. - -He was within a few rods, when a warrior was seen approaching, with a -blazing firebrand, and stood awaiting the order of the chief to fire -the pile. - -Soon the order came, and just as he was about to apply the brand, the -report of a rifle was heard, his arm fell at his side, and with a cry -of rage and pain he ran beyond the circle of warriors. - -The Sioux stood in mute astonishment at the turn of affairs, and at -that instant Kelly dashed through the line and to the prisoner, and -without dismounting, cut the thongs which bound Jehiel to the stake. - -"Jump up here, behind me," he shouted, and before the Sioux had -recovered from their surprise, they had reached the bottom of the hill -and were dashing at top speed down the valley. - -As would naturally be expected, the Sioux started in pursuit, but their -ponies were no match for the powerful black of the scout, and they were -soon left far behind. - -"Gunner! Lew, but you happened around just in time, didn't you? Them -yer fellers was goin' to heat up my carkiss!" were the first words -spoken. - -"How did you fall into their hands?" asked Kelly. - -"W'y, you see, when old Gray Eagle found out that his gal wasn't along, -he jest turns his hoss's tail like an old fool, and cuts after her! -Say, Lew, where is the little angel gone to?" - -"Home," replied the scout. - -"Hold on a minute!" exclaimed Jehiel; "my horse is in here somewhere. -Wait until I find him, then we can go the faster." - -Dismounting, he soon found the horse and again they started on down the -valley. - -"We must go a little slow," said Kelly, "or the Sioux will give up the -chase." - -"Don't you want them to?" demanded Jehiel, in some surprise. - -"No, I don't; at least, not until I get a shot at some of them." - -"Cor-reck!" responded Jehiel. "I didn't think of that. Let's find a -good place, and stop until they come up." - -A few rods ahead they found a pile of rocks, and secreting themselves -and their horses behind these, they awaited the approach of the -pursuing party. - -These soon appeared, tearing down the valley totally unconscious of -danger, and when within a few rods of the ambuscade, Kelly whispered to -Jehiel: - -"You take the leader, and I will take that fellow in the rear; that -will stop them. Then, before they get over wondering, we can pick off -the rest." - -There were but five of the enemy to be seen, and as the two scouts -discharged their repeating rifles, the leader and rear man fell. - -The other three were too astonished to move, and soon fell victims to -the skill of the scouts. - -"There!" said Kelly, "I guess there are no more after us, and we might -as well go back." - -"Go back!" exclaimed Jehiel. "What in the Old Scratch do you want to go -back for?" - -"To release Gray Eagle, and get the scalp of that dusky nigger, Red -Pine!" - -"Why, Lew Kelly, are you crazy? If you want scalps there's five of 'em -out there; though I can't see what in thunder you want with the dirty -things!" - -"I believe I told you I had promised Gray Eagle I would get the Sioux -chief's scalp for him, and I'm going to do it, or lose my own." - -"Cor-reck! You ain't in such a hurry to get home as you was, are you, -Lew?" - -"Yes, I am just as anxious as ever, but I have pledged my word, and you -know I never lie. More than that, I consider that if we can secure the -friendship of the Blackfeet at so small a cost, I shall be doing the -country a good service. So I shall make a desperate effort to get the -scalp of the Sioux chief, and--perhaps lose my own in trying." - -"Wal, wherever you go, you can depend on yours truly, Jehiel Filkins!" - -"Thank you. But I want you to go the other way," replied the scout. - -"Which other way?" - -"I want you to find the trail of Snowdrop, and follow it until you find -her. I more than half suspect that Red Pine started some of his fellows -on _her_ trail when he found she was not with you, and they may have -overtaken her." - -"Where did you say she had gone?" asked Jehiel. - -"Home. I sent her after some Blackfoot warriors, because I thought -the Sioux would be after us before we could reach the village of Gray -Eagle; and you see I guessed right. - -"What made you think so?" - -"Because she is what he came for, and he will use every effort to get -her." - -"Wal, I'll go. But, Lew, I'd jest like to ax you one question. Is -Snowdrop in love with you?" - -"Yes," replied Kelly, "at least she said she was, and that was the -reason she came back after you got started last night." - -"Then my bread is all dough," said Jehiel; "but I'll go all the same, -seein' as how you asked me to." - -"What makes you say your bread is all dough?" asked Kelly. - -"Cause you said she was in love with you." - -"That does not make any difference," replied the scout. "I am not in -love with her, by a long shot, and what is more I am not liable to be, -while I have such a good little wife of my own living." - -"Does she know you are married?" - -"She ought to," replied Kelly, "for I have told her once or twice." - -"Wal, I'll go, as I said afore; but, Lew, do you s'pose there is any -airthly chance for me?" - -"I don't know, I am sure," replied Kelly; "but you can try, and I will -do all I can to help you. Remember, faint heart never won fair lady. -And now, hurry up and get started, for Snowdrop may even now be in the -hands of the Sioux." - -"Where'll I find you when I get back?" - -"I don't know, Jehiel; I shall stay around here and keep watch for the -Sioux, for I am certain they are waiting to get Snowdrop before they go -home." - -"What makes you so sartin?" asked Jehiel. - -"In the first place, this is Blackfoot country, and not Sioux, and we -are not more than thirty miles from the village of the Gray Eagle. In -the next place, Red Pine would have burned Gray Eagle before this, if -he thought he could not get Snowdrop. If I am not here, you will find a -letter in this clump of willows that will tell you where I am gone." - -"Wal, take good keer of yourself, and I will find the gal if I kin!" - -So saying, Jehiel started upon his errand, while the scout prepared to -dog the Sioux. - - - - - CHAPTER V. - - TRAILING A TRAIL. - - -Snowdrop, after she had left the scout, was obliged to ride very slowly -until she was over the rough hills, but after she had reached the open -prairie she increased the speed of her horse. - -She was a fearless rider, but the long, treeless plain which lay -stretched out before her wore a dreary aspect, well calculated to -discourage her. - -But her mission was one of life or death to her, and she undertook the -task. - -The sun was just rising as she entered the plains, and putting her -tough pony to the run, she dashed ahead. She was doing all this for -what? Not for herself, for she would have preferred to remain with the -scout; nor yet for her father, for she did not think Red Pine would -spare him so long; but she was going just because the man she loved had -asked her to go! - -Onward the brave girl urged her horse until the sun was nearly -overhead, still no signs of the Sioux. She paused a moment to allow her -horse a breathing-spell, and while resting she discovered a party of -horsemen on her trail, and though they were a long ways off, she knew -by the way in which they rode that they had a definite object, and that -that object was herself. - -She was convinced that a long and tiresome race was before her; and, -having been reared to a life of peril and strategy, she allowed her -horse a long rest, that he might the better stand the race. - -She displayed her good sense by removing the saddle from the horse, and -now, armed only with a small rifle, she sprung upon his back and put -him to his best speed. - -On the brave girl rode--on, over the treeless and trackless waste, and -only at long intervals did a roll in the prairie obstruct her view of -her pursuers. At length she came to a small stream running at right -angles with the path she was pursuing, and here she paused again to -allow her horse to drink. - -The advancing party, whoever they were, gained rapidly upon her, until -she could now count their number. There were twenty of them, all well -mounted, and by the manner in which they rode, she was no longer in -doubt as to their object. - -Far ahead she saw a long, dark line of timber, just beyond which, she -knew, was the village of her people, and she thought if she could only -gain that, she would be safe; and she resolved to gain the shelter of -the forest, or die in the attempt. - -Slowly but surely her pursuers gained upon her, and she could now hear -their yells. The sound maddened her, and the very thought of failure -made her heart sick; but she lashed her horse to renewed and desperate -efforts. - -Her horse, too, seemed to partake of the same fear and feelings as his -mistress. A few rods more and she will be among the trees where she -trusted she could elude her pursuers. - -Vain hope! Just as the goal is won her horse falls, and the blood -flowing from his dilated nostrils shows that he has ruptured a -blood-vessel. A shrill yell of triumph comes from her pursuers, yet -standing firm beside her dead horse, the brave Indian girl brings her -rifle to bear upon them. - -Never did a stricken buck turn more fiercely at bay upon the dogs on -its track, than did Snowdrop when she found that she could not escape. - -With Spartan firmness she held the short rifle, and when she thought -they were near enough, pulled the trigger, and the foremost Indian fell -from his saddle. She had not time to reload her rifle, but clubbing it, -she awaited the approach of the Sioux. - -Short time was given her for thought, and she was almost immediately -surrounded and overpowered, but not until a brawny warrior had been -made to bite the dust at her feet. - -She was lifted to the saddle made vacant by her shot, and the young -brave who seemed to be the leader took her bridle-rein, and they turned -to retrace their way across the prairie. - -"Do you speak the language of the pale-faces?" asked the warrior. - -"Yes," answered Snowdrop. - -"Then tell me who you are, and what tribe you belong to." - -"I am called Snowdrop, and my father is Gray Eagle, the great chief of -the Blackfeet." - -"The White Wolf of the Pawnees has heard of Snowdrop before," he said. - -"Are you White Wolf?" she asked. - -"So I am called by both red men and white!" he replied. - -"I have heard that White Wolf was a brave chief. If it is true, he will -not make war on a woman!" - -"No. Snowdrop need not fear! White Wolf already loves her and will make -her his wife, for she is more beautiful than any woman of the Pawnee -tribe!" - -"But Snowdrop loves another, and can not go to the lodge of White Wolf, -though he is a great brave and all the tribes fear him." - -"White Wolf is in no hurry, and Snowdrop will learn to love him. We -will wait till we get to the village of the Pawnees, and then when -White Wolf asks her to be his wife she will say yes!" - -"No, she will not; but if White Wolf loves Snowdrop, as he says he -does, then let him go and rescue her father from the hands of the -Sioux, for if he should die, then Snowdrop will die, too!" - -"White Wolf will rescue Gray Eagle. Will Snowdrop tell him where her -father is?" - -"In the forest beyond the big hills which I left when the sun rose." - -"White Wolf will go there, and he will take Gray Eagle from the -cowardly Sioux, and when Snowdrop sees her father safe, then she will -consent to be the wife of the Pawnee chief." - -Snowdrop did not promise that she would, neither did she say that she -would not; nor yet did she dare to tell him that the two scouts were -doing what he was trying to do. - -She acted wisely and kept silence, which White Wolf construed in his -favor, and he said: - -"We will go to our camp to the south, where I have a good place to -leave Snowdrop in safety, then White Wolf will go on the trail of the -Sioux. He will find them, and will bring the father of Snowdrop away -with him!" - -"Let Snowdrop ride back with the Pawnee braves," she said. - -"No," replied White Wolf; "the Pawnees will ride fast, and Snowdrop is -too tired. She must go to the camp of White Wolf, and stay until he -brings her father to her." - -Snowdrop did not repeat her request, for she knew that it would do no -good, and that it would be a mere waste of words for her to do so. She -bowed her head in submission, and soon saw all but two of the Pawnees -start toward the west. The remaining two placed themselves upon each -side of her horse, and one of them taking her bridle-rein, they started -for the south. - - * * * * * - -When Jehiel took the trail of Snowdrop it was without much hope of -overtaking her, for he knew that the brave girl would ride fast when -she knew there was so much at stake, and she had a long ways the start -of him. - -But he was better mounted than she, and had no difficulty in finding -and following her trail, and before noon he had her in sight. - -He saw the party of horsemen come from the south and start in pursuit -of her, and by the aid of a powerful field-glass he saw her capture and -the manner in which she was disposed of, though he could not tell what -tribe had done it. - -He saw when the party of which Snowdrop was one, left the main body and -started south, and he also saw the main body riding swiftly over the -back track. - -He turned his horse to the right, and when the larger party had arrived -at the place where he left the trail, he was but a few miles away, and -it was with a grunt of satisfaction that he saw them pass on and ride -away toward the hills where he had left the scout. - -Jehiel waited very patiently until they had passed out of sight, then -he found the trail of the party who had charge of Snowdrop, and he -started after her. - -"Them fellers what has my gal will be mighty apt to meet with an -adventure afore mornin', or my name ain't Jehiel Filkins. Gosh! but I -wish I had the sweet critter in my arms this minnit! Wonder what Jemima -Brown will say when she hears I am married to jest the prettiest little -girl in America? Sartain, I hain't axed her yet, but I don't reckon she -would refuse such a good-looking fellow as me." - -He was thus soliloquizing as he reached the woods, and here he stopped. -Finding a good place for his horse, he resumed his way on foot. - -It was now nearly dark, and he was obliged to proceed cautiously, -imagining that the Indians might have seen him following after them. - -Leaving the beaten trail he carefully worked his way through the -bushes, pausing occasionally to listen. No sound of falling hoofs was -to be heard, and he again crept on. - -Proceeding in this manner for about half a mile he discovered the -glimmer of a camp-fire between the trees. - -In the small opening three tired horses were leisurely feeding, while -the Indians were busily engaged in building a fire and preparing their -supper. - -Snowdrop was sitting behind a tree with her hands and feet securely -bound, and an expression of deep anxiety upon her face. - -As Jehiel gazed at the group, he thought how easy it would be to shoot -the two Indians, but he was not one to shed blood unnecessarily, and he -determined to wait. He must contrive some way to let the girl know of -his presence, but the question of how was a hard one to solve. - -The trees surrounding the little camp were large, and the space open, -so that he could advance no nearer without betraying his presence. - -He solved the problem in his own quaint way. Depositing his rifle at -the foot of the tree beside which he stood, he began to climb the tree. -Once among the branches, the foliage of which he found dense enough for -his purpose, he had no difficulty in making his way to the next nearest -tree. - -Creeping along the branches as stealthily as a panther, he passed from -one tree to another until he found himself at the side of the opening, -and directly opposite the tree near which Snowdrop was seated. - -He was in imminent danger of being discovered, but with an intrepidity -peculiar to the brave scout, he set about arranging his plans for the -future. - - - - - CHAPTER VI. - - THE OLD MAN OF THE MOUNTAIN. - - -When Kelly was left alone after Jehiel had started in pursuit of -Snowdrop, he dismounted from his horse, and at a signal from him the -sagacious animal lay down upon the ground, and Kelly proceeded to take -his rest. - -With his rifle beside him, his head pillowed upon the neck of the noble -brute, he was soon in the realm of dreams. His sleep was long and deep, -for the scout was very tired, and he did not awake until long after -dark. Then the uneasy actions of his horse aroused him, and the motion -of his ears, when the scout partially raised up, showed that he had -heard some suspicious sounds; and Kelly felt confident that whatever -the danger was it was very near, for the animal lay quite still, with -his ears pointed forward in the attitude of intense apprehension. - -The scout silently drew back the hammer of his rifle, and felt in his -belt to see that his knife and revolvers were in their accustomed place. - -Silence reigned for a few minutes, as deep as though no living thing -was within miles of there. - -Then Kelly heard some peculiar sounds--very slight at first, but plain -and distinct. He recognized the sounds as being produced by the feet -of human beings, and he knew that at least two persons were coming -directly toward his hiding-place. - -The scout did not move, neither did the noble black horse beside him. -Both seemed instinctively to know that Indians were about, and the -scout thought it more than probable that it was a part of the Sioux -band who were trying to find him and Jehiel. - -He kept still also because he thought that by so doing the Indians -might pass by without noticing him. - -The sound of falling footsteps came nearer and nearer, and the brave -scout could see that they were moving with great caution. And they were -coming straight toward him, and so close were they that Kelly imagined -they might hear the beating of his heart. - -His rifle was already cocked, and he now brought it to his shoulder, -resolving to use it should his presence be discovered or necessity -require. - -"Listen," said a strange voice in unmistakable English, "I thought -I heard something!" and another voice responded--"Yes, I heard the -breaking of a twig;" and Kelly recognized the last as the voice of a -woman. - -"I wonder if it can be Jehiel and Snowdrop?" he soliloquized, but he -could not tell whether the woman was white or red. - -Whoever it was they kept perfectly still, evidently listening for -a repetition of the sounds; and although the silence was of only a -minute's duration it seemed an hour to the scout. - -Again he heard them moving along, and they were now within a few feet -of him, when Kelly, in a low, firm voice, said: "Halt!" As the steps -ceased he continued--"Who comes there?" - -"A white man, and an enemy to none but Indians!" was the reply. - -Kelly recognized the voice of the speaker, and exclaimed: - -"Gracious! is that you, Curtiss? Come on--but who have you got there?" - -"I do not know what her name is, or where she came from; but I do know -that she has done a good job for me, that I will not soon forget. She -crept to my side about an hour ago, and cut the thongs with which I was -bound to a tree, and probably saved me from getting roasted." - -Then the scout looked at her as well as he could in the dim light, but -she did not speak. - -"She is no Blackfoot," he said, "and she is too good looking for a -Sioux. Tell you what it is, Curtiss, I believe she is a white girl! How -is it, girl, can you speak the language of the pale-faces?" - -"Yes," replied a low, sweet voice, "I am Nu-le-la, the sister of Red -Pine, the Sioux chief." - -"The dickens, you are! Well, Curtiss, you and I are in luck, no matter -who the young lady is. But, if she is a Sioux we will have to keep -her close, or she will betray us to her brother. There will be a loud -rumpus when they find out you are gone." - -"Just listen! They have found it out already," said the Indian girl. -"Let us leave here, for Red Pine will have a hundred braves upon our -path as soon as the light comes, and he can be cruel when he chooses!" -Loud yells could now be heard far down in the valley. - -"Did you conceal your trail when you came here?" the scout asked of -Curtiss. - -"No," he replied, "we came as fast as we could, and had but one -thought--that was to get away as fast as possible." - -"Then they will have no trouble in following your trail when daylight -comes, so the best thing we can do is to get out of here as soon as -possible. I found a cave one day when I was out hunting, and not far -from here. If I can only find it again, we will be all right. We have -a few hours the start of them, so I guess we can find shelter before -they can find us. Come on, now, and be sure and keep in a line directly -behind me," said Kelly, as he entered the stream leading his horse. -"And another thing," he continued, "you must be careful and not break -any of the bushes along the bank, nor leave a footprint in the sand!" - -And leading his pet horse he led the way up the stream. - -When the stream became too narrow for the scout and his horse to walk -abreast, he led the way, the faithful black following him, and Curtiss -with the Sioux maiden bringing up the rear. - -The current of the stream was swift, and whatever footprints were made -were quickly washed full of sand and stones; and half an hour after no -trace could be found in the bed of the stream, of those who so recently -had passed through. They could hear the angry yells of the Sioux far -down the valley, and they pressed on without halting. - -The stream now came through a narrow defile with huge rocks towering -perpendicularly upon either side; then having gone a few rods further, -the scout halted. - -"This looks very much like a trap!" said Curtiss. - -"Well, yes," replied the scout. "It would be a trap if the Sioux only -knew we were here. But they don't know it and this is not the place I -proposed for us to roost in. Follow me a little longer." So saying, he -led the way a few feet further, then turning abruptly to the right, -disappeared in what seemed to Curtiss to be solid rock. - -Presently the voice of the scout was heard: - -"Why don't you come in? 'Walk into my parlor, said the spider to the -fly,'" he sung, as Curtiss and the Indian girl entered the fissure in -the rocks through which the brave scout had disappeared with his horse. - -They found themselves within a large cave, thirty or forty feet in -length, and perhaps half that distance in width. The floor was as -smooth as could be wished for, while the room was high enough for all -purposes. - -"How do you like this?" asked Kelly. "Here is room enough and to spare, -and no one can find the entrance unless they come up the stream as we -did; and even if they should, we could defend ourselves against the -whole Sioux nation!" He at once led his horse to the further end of the -cave, and returned to the opening. - -It was now daylight, and he took the opportunity to have another look -at the Indian girl. - -"Great Cæsar! But you are pretty," he said, as his eyes met those of -the maiden. - -"If this pale-face will only think so," she replied, pointing to -Curtiss, "I shall be very happy!" - -"Well, if he don't make you happy, I shall be tempted to punish him in -some way!" said the scout. - -"No, not that," answered the girl. "I saved him from torture, and now -he is mine--yes, all mine forever!" said the impulsive girl, and she -threw her arms round the white man's neck. - -"There is no doubt but what the girl is in love," said the scout to -himself, "and, as matters stand just now, I don't know but what it is -the best thing that could happen for me, and it certainly is for him." -Then he added, aloud--"If you and Nulela will remain here with old Pet, -I will climb to the top of this rock and see if I can discover what the -Sioux are about." - -"All right," replied Curtiss--"we will wait here for you. But do not -expose yourself unnecessarily, Kelly." - -"I am not in the habit of doing that," answered the scout, "but let me -advise you to keep on good terms with the girl. The more you can talk -love to her, the better it will be for us, because if you make her -angry she would not stop short of putting you again in the hands of her -brother." - -Proceeding down the stream a short distance, the scout came to a place -where he could climb to the top of the rock. - -Arriving there, he hurried to the end overlooking the valley, whence he -could get a good view of the plains and the valley below him. - -Away off, as far as the eye could reach, he saw straggling parties -of Indians moving about, as if endeavoring to find the trail of the -escaped prisoner. - -Some of them were very near the foot of the hill upon which he stood, -but the scout was satisfied that they had not yet found the trail. - -There was one thing, however, which seemed somewhat singular to the -scout. He noticed that a large addition had been made to their force. -But it was soon made plain to him. - -He saw large parties coming from the north, and knew that they were -not all Sioux who where there, but that the Blackfoot braves had come -to answer the call of Gray Eagle made by the smoke-signals, which the -scout had sent up for the old chief. - -"By Jingo!" he muttered, "I wish I could be down there to help one side -or the other; but then, where is the difference? It is only dog eat dog -after all, and they can fight it out without my assistance. Wish I only -knew whether Jehiel is in the scrimmage or not? Reckon not, though, for -he has not had time to go to the Blackfoot village and back. Wonder -where the dickens he is, anyhow?" - -But no answer came to any of the scout's queries, and the gnawings of -hunger brought him back to his senses. - -In a few minutes a drove of mountain sheep were discovered, slowly -feeding toward him, and drawing his revolver he waited until they were -near enough, and shot one. Shouldering his meat, he retraced his steps -toward the ravine, only pausing once on the way to secure an armful -of dry wood. He then descended to the stream, and once more presented -himself before the group in the cavern. - -"All right, here?" he asked, as he entered and deposited his armful of -wood and meat upon the floor. - -"Yes; all right!" replied Curtiss. "Did you learn any thing of our -Indian friends, down in the valley?" - -"Not much," replied the scout. "They seem to be having lively times -down there, but I don't know as it is any thing that can interest us as -much as a good roast of this mutton will, so I propose that we eat now. -After breakfast I will take another look at them." - -While they were yet eating their breakfast they were saluted by a -strange voice, shouting: - -"Hello! Who in thunder has tuck possession uv my domicil?" - -They all sprung to their feet, and, grasping their weapons, stood ready -to receive the new-comer, whoever he might be. - -"Put up yer shooters, yer little nubbins; I won't hurt yer, seein' 'at -yer mostly white," and as they did so the stranger advanced to the fire. - -He was, to all appearances, an aged man, as his hair and beard, which -were both long and flowing, were as white as the driven snow; but his -straight, athletic form belied his age. - -His dress and arms were such as are usually worn by the mountain -trapper, though he wore one very singular ornament. This was no less -than a necklace, consisting of a double row of bear claws. - -This, the reader will understand, if he is conversant with Indian -character, was a badge of distinguished bravery, and one of which any -hunter might well be proud. - -The stranger stood before the fire, silently regarding them for -several minutes, then he broke out--"Why don't yer say suthin? Yer a -doggoned purty set, to come inter a feller's house in this way, without -even askin' the owner. Ef I was a leetle better 'quainted I'd take yer -'cross my knee an' spank ther hull caboodle uv yer!" - -"I was not aware, sir," said the scout, "that we were intruding on any -man's domain. I accidentally discovered this cave about a week ago, and -made use of it this morning in effecting our escape from a party of -Sioux who were on our trail." - -"Sioux? Ther devil! Ther' ain't a Sioux in ther kentry what dare kem' a -nigh here!" exclaimed the stranger. - -"But," replied Kelly, "there are Sioux within a very short distance -of here, as you can see for yourself if you will go to the top of the -bluff." - -"Wal, yer needn't bother yerselves any further. I've l'arnt 'em to -respect old Bear-Paw, as they calls me; an' now ef yer a mind ter kem -with me, I'll show yer a better place nor this." - -He led the way to the further extremity of the cavern, and halted -before the solid wall. - -At his feet were a number of small stones, one of which he took in his -hand and struck the wall before him three times. - -The astonishment of the scout and his friends can not be imagined as -they saw the rock slowly recede before them and swing noiselessly back. -They followed their leader through the aperture, the huge rock swung -back to its former position, and they discovered a room nearly twice as -large as the one they had just left. - -At one side a brisk fire was burning, and over this an old negro woman -was cooking a savory venison ham. Piles of fur were lying around, -indicating that their host was a trapper. - -"Here we ar'," said the old man; "an' here I have lived fur nigh onto -ten year. Thar's wood enuf an' pervison enuf ter stan' a ten year -siege, an' now ef ye'll jes' tell me what the trouble ar' an' all about -it then mebby I kin tell yer what ter do." - -Thereupon Kelly proceeded to relate all that had transpired up to -this time; and there we must leave them for awhile and look after the -fortunes of others. - - - - - CHAPTER VII. - - JEHIEL'S WOOING. - - -After Jehiel had gained a position to suit him, his first endeavor was -to let Snowdrop know that he was there, and to make her aware of his -intentions. - -But the question then arose how this was to be accomplished. - -Like nearly all border men, Jehiel could imitate perfectly the beasts -of the field and the birds of the air, and he now resolved to make good -use of the power he possessed to attract her attention. - -The whirring sound made by the sudden swoop of the night-hawk fell upon -the air, but no notice was made of it. - -He was within short pistol-shot of the Indians; indeed he could smell -the savory steaks as they were broiling upon the coals, and he knew -that a discovery would result in instant death, and the fact affected -him in any thing but a pleasant manner. - -Then he chirped like a wren, but no more attention was paid to that -than to the whir of the night-hawk. - -This was followed by the dull _too-hoot_ of an owl, and the long, -mocking note of the cat-bird. - -They were all too common sounds. Neither the Indians nor Snowdrop paid -the least attention to what they had been accustomed to hear every day -and night of their lives. - -Jehiel now gave a good imitation of the crow, and as the ringing _caw, -caw_, sounded through the forest, the Indians merely looked up at the -clouds to see if there were any indications of rain, and proceeded with -their meal. - -Jehiel did not despair, even though his efforts thus far had failed to -attract the attention of the Indian maiden. - -"Thunder!" he muttered, "where is the use in whistling when she won't -even look up!" - -Reaching up among the foliage his hand came in contact with a bunch of -acorns, one of which he pulled off, and parting the leaves in front -of him, he threw the acorn at Snowdrop. It hit her upon the hand, and -startled her from her gloomy reverie. She looked up at the tree above -her head, and not in the direction of the scout, but not seeing any -thing, she concluded that the wind had likely dislodged the acorn, and -again bent her head in contemplation. - -Again Jehiel threw an acorn, and again she looked up and around, and at -last her eyes rested upon the opening in the foliage of the huge oak -opposite where she sat. She suppressed the cry of surprise which rose -to her lips, and Jehiel noticed that the Indians did not pause in their -work; so he made the opening larger. - -Snowdrop was now looking attentively at him--her form was -motionless--not a feature relaxed, but the glad look in her eyes told -Jehiel that he was at last seen and recognized. - -He bent down his head and placed it in the palm of his hand, then put -his fingers on his eyes. This was to signify that he would come and -help her when the Indians were asleep. - -She answered him in precisely the same way, then made a quick motion -with her hand toward the two Indians, as if to tell him that she fully -understood him. - -Jehiel then held up two fingers of one hand and made an undulating -motion with them, to signify that he had horses, and that they would -ride away after the Indians were asleep; and then drew back to the body -of the tree to watch and wait. - -He now endeavored to familiarize himself with the surroundings, so that -he would have no trouble in getting away if he succeeded in releasing -Snowdrop. He did not wish to kill the Pawnees if he could possibly help -it, and thought more of outwitting them, but he had resolved to shoot -them both rather than be defeated in his plans. He knew, too, that -there were no better trailers in the world than the Pawnees. - -Snowdrop was as calm and stoical as if she had been at home among her -own people, and gave no sign which might arouse the suspicions of her -guard, and Jehiel felt like cheering her for her bravery. - -"Ginger! but she's jest the gayest little squaw on earth, and there -ain't a Yankee gal living could take things as cool as she does. She's -as sweet as they make 'em--_she_ is!" - -By this time the Pawnees had finished their cooking, and one of them -brought a large slice of meat to Snowdrop, who immediately commenced -eating. - -After she had finished the slice they asked her if she wanted more, to -which she shook her head and placed her fingers upon her eyes, giving -them to understand that she was sleepy. They immediately piled a lot of -blankets near the fire, and untied her ankles, so that she could walk -about and lie down. - -It seemed a long time to Jehiel before the Indians became sleepy, -but, after smoking and talking a long time, they gave up, and -rolling themselves in their blankets, were soon asleep. They took -the precaution, however, of tying a strip of leather about one of -Snowdrop's wrists, and to their own, so that she could not move her -hand without disturbing them. - -Jehiel remained in the tree until he became satisfied, from the loud -snoring, that the Pawnees were sound asleep; then he descended, and -in a moment had cut the thongs which bound the Indian girl; and then, -taking a large piece of meat from before the fire, they silently -departed. Though Jehiel was very hungry, having fasted for thirty-six -hours, he had no disposition to eat until he had put a safe distance -between him and the Pawnees. - -"Come on, little gal, and come jest as still as you can," he whispered. - -A gentle pressure of his hand was the only reply, and they went on. - -After going several rods, Jehiel halted to decide whether he should -still further insult the Indians by going back and turning their horses -loose, but a few whispered words decided in the negative. - -So, closely followed by Snowdrop, he walked along to where he had left -his own horse. - -The faithful animal stood where he had been left, and Jehiel led him -out to where he had secreted the horse of Snowdrop, and they were soon -mounted. Then he took the route to the open plain, having decided to -push on with Snowdrop to the village of the Blackfeet. - -It was not until they were out of the forest that Jehiel spoke a loud -word, but now he felt that he was out of danger, and he said: - -"Little gal, you had a purty hard time on't, didn't you?" - -"Yes," replied Snowdrop. "Did White Panther send you after me?" - -"Wa-al, he said I could come if I wanted to, and I felt as if my heart -would bu'st if I didn't, so I come." - -"The Long Hunter has a good heart to take Snowdrop from the hands of -the Pawnee," said the Indian girl. - -"Thunder! was them Pawnees?" - -"Yes," answered Snowdrop, "and their chief, White Wolf, said he was -going to keep me for his squaw. But I would have killed him first." - -"Bully for you--you are the rummiest little chick in America! Did you -ever--that is--ahem! you didn't love him much, I reckon?" - -"No. I love your friend, the White Panther, and will be _his_ wife." - -"Lord! that can't be, for White Panther, as you call him, has got a -wife already," said Jehiel. - -"I do not care. He is a good hunter and can feed more wives than one." - -"But, gal, you don't understand. Us white folks has a law which won't -allow a feller to have more than one wife at a time." - -"Then that law is no good," replied Snowdrop. "Suppose there are two -women and only one man--must one woman go without?" - -Jehiel was getting a little mixed in his love-making, but he replied: - -"In course she must! But just suppose there is one woman and two men, -must one man be without a wife?" - -This was a question that Snowdrop was not prepared to answer. But she -said: - -"I am not _white_. I love the White Panther and I do not care how many -wives he has got, so long as I am the last one, and he loves me best!" - -"You will be disappointed, my gal," was all that Jehiel could say. - -Riding a little way further they came to a clump of timber, and here -Jehiel resolved to stop a while and eat the meat which they had brought -with them from the Indian camp. - -Accordingly they dismounted, the horses at once went to feeding, and -they proceeded to build a fire and cook the meat. Jehiel had not been -bashful in helping himself to a large piece, and the fact that it -rapidly disappeared after being roasted, was sufficient evidence that -it was good. Besides, they were hungry, as an Indian or a frontiersman -always is. - -They had not finished eating, when Jehiel noticed that his horse had -stopped eating, and was looking in the direction from which they had -come. - -"There comes them cussed Pawnees, not a mile away," he said. "We must -get out of here, or shed blood." - -The next moment they were mounted and speeding away over the plain, -satisfied from the yells of the savages who were in pursuit, that they -had been already discovered. Placing one of his revolvers in the hand -of Snowdrop, he said: - -"If we must, we must, I suppose; but I don't want to. You ride on -ahead, and I will stop here and settle their hash for them!" - -The Pawnees were within rifle-shot, and were fast gaining upon the -scout and Snowdrop, who would not leave him. - -On they came--nearer and still nearer--until, in an instant, Snowdrop -raised her revolver and fired. - -"Gosh! gal, you made a hole clean through that critter. Now I'll fix -the other one." - -The remaining Pawnee had turned his horse and was leaving as fast as -possible, but he could not outrun the bullet from the rifle of the -scout; so went on a visit to the happy hunting-grounds sooner than he -expected or wished. - -Then they turned and again started on, when a sight met them that -caused the scout to halt and exclaim: - -"Gewhillakens! Look at that!" - -Snowdrop looked in the direction in which he pointed and saw as -many as two hundred painted warriors but a short distance away, all -well-mounted and apparently ready for charge. - -Jehiel was in despair, but it was quickly changed to joy by the -exclamation of Snowdrop. - -"They are Blackfoot braves! My own people, come to look for me!" - -She gave a shrill cry, which instantly changed the hostile attitude of -the savages, and bidding Jehiel ride close to her, and not be afraid, -she rode on to meet the war-party. - -The war-party was led by a young warrior, who saluted Snowdrop, and -asked: - -"Who is this pale-face, and where do you come from?" - -"He is the Long Hunter--the friend of White Panther. I was in the hands -of the Pawnees, and he got me away," replied the girl. - -"Where is the chief, Gray Eagle?" - -"The Sioux have got him. I was going to the village of my people for -warriors to help White Panther get him away. White Panther stayed to -watch the Sioux, and keep them from burning my father." - -"There are enough Blackfeet here to save your father without any help -from an accursed pale-face!" exclaimed the warrior. - -Snowdrop made no reply, though the flashing of her eyes betrayed -the fact that the young chief was treading on dangerous ground. -They continued in conversation a few minutes longer, when they were -interrupted by an exclamation from Jehiel. - -"Gracious airth! Jest look at that! There come the Sioux! What does it -mean?" - -Then Snowdrop observed them, and she saw what the scout did not, that -the approaching party was led by her father. - -But where was Lew Kelly? - - - - - CHAPTER VIII. - - THE YANKEE ON HIS MUSCLE. - - -The warriors sent out by Red Pine to capture Snowdrop had not returned -to the Sioux camp, neither had those sent after the brave scout and his -companion, whom he had rescued from torture; and, as might naturally be -expected, the Sioux chief was getting very anxious about them. - -He did not dream that every one of both parties were dead, for he had -not been present to see the scout and Jehiel shoot down the five who -went after them, nor did he know that those who had gone in pursuit of -Snowdrop had met the party of Pawnees who had captured her, and had all -been sent on a pilgrimage to the other world. - -Had he known this, his anxiety would have been still greater. He seemed -destined to misfortunes and disappointments at every turn, and now a -new disaster had befallen him: - -The morning after the rescue of Jehiel he had looked in vain for his -other white prisoner, Curtiss. No one could tell where he had gone. - -"Who guarded the pale-face?" he demanded. - -"It was I," replied a young brave, as he stepped out before his chief. - -Without a word the Sioux chief raised his hatchet, and sunk it to the -eye in the brain of the warrior, who fell dead at his feet. - -An old warrior approached him, and said: - -"Nulela, the sister of Red Pine, is gone!" - -Somehow or other he could not help connecting the sudden disappearance -of his sister with the escape of the white prisoner. - -"Did any one see them go?" he asked. - -There was no response. - -Turning to Gray Eagle, he said: - -"Dog of a Blackfoot, do you know any thing of this? Speak quick, before -I kill you!" - -"The Sioux is very brave when he can kill a man who is hurt and bound," -replied Gray Eagle. Then he continued: "I did see the Sioux girl go -away with the pale-face captive." - -"Which way did they go?" demanded the Red Pine. - -"If the Sioux is a great brave, as he pretends to be, he can find their -trail. Gray Eagle is glad they are gone!" - -Red Pine gave up the task of acquiring any information from the -Blackfoot chief, and at once the whole camp were searching for the -fugitives. In a short time they found it and followed it to the creek, -where it was lost. - -Unremittingly they searched, up and down on both sides, but could find -no trace after it entered the water, and after searching several hours -were obliged to give it up. - -Of course Red Pine was very angry when they returned to camp and -announced their failure. - -And now a new danger beset him. - -A scout came in with the intelligence that a large party of strange -Indians were approaching. Whether friendly or not, he could not tell. - -Red Pine had his warriors all mounted and ready for them, should they -be friends or foes. He stationed a warrior beside the old chief, Gray -Eagle, with instructions to start for the country of the Sioux, should -they be obliged to give battle to the strangers. - -The strange Indians were soon in sight, and halted within a hundred -yards. Their leader then rode to the middle of the space, and stopping, -signified to Red Pine that he wanted to talk with him. - -The Sioux chief rode out to meet him, alone and unarmed, as was the -stranger. The stranger was the first to break silence, which he did by -demanding: - -"Who are you?" - -"I am Red Pine--" - -"A Sioux?" interrupted the first. - -"Yes, a chief of the Sioux! Why do you ask?" - -"Is the great chief of the Blackfeet with you?" - -"Gray Eagle, the Blackfoot chief, is the prisoner of Red Pine," he -answered. "But who are you that asks?" - -"I am White Wolf, the great chief of the Pawnees, and I want your -prisoner!" - -The mention of the name, Pawnee, struck a chill to the heart of Red -Pine; for it is a fact that nearly all the western Indians stand in -wholesome fear of them, and would as soon meet a spirit of evil as a -Pawnee. I can not say why this is so, but give it as the facts in the -case. - -Red Pine saw that the affair was assuming rather a formidable shape, -yet he did not feel disposed to give it up so. - -"Why does my brother want the Blackfoot chief?" he asked. - -"White Wolf has promised to bring him to his daughter, the Snowdrop, -then she is to be my wife." - -"Does White Wolf know where Snowdrop is now?" - -"Yes, she is in the camp of White Wolf, among the hills." - -"Did the Pawnee see any of the Sioux warriors when he found her?" - -"Yes," replied White Wolf, and he chuckled to himself as he continued, -"they will never return to their chief!" - -"Why so?" asked Red Pine. - -"Because their scalps hang in the belts of my warriors, as yours will -soon, if you do not give up the chief, Snowdrop's father!" - -Were all the plans of Red Pine to be frustrated in this way, after he -had come so far, and been to so much trouble? Were the fond hopes he -had entertained when leaving the village of his people to be lost now, -when they were so near realization? Must he give up the main object of -his mission, and go back without the Blackfoot maiden? - -Impossible! He would die first! So he said: - -"Gray Eagle is my prisoner, and the Pawnee can not have him!" - -Without a word White Wolf turned and rode toward his band, and Red Pine -returned to his warriors. - -White Wolf was a big, fat, burly Indian, who has since become quite -well known on the plains as the meanest beggar of them all; one who -will steal a blanket or murder a white man for the sake of a drink of -whisky. He has became very much demoralized since the time we first met -him, demanding the prisoner of the Sioux chief. - -Red Pine is not much better, though much younger. He was never known -to do an act of kindness, and was by nature cruel and vindictive. Each -were, and still are, a type of their respective tribes. - -Neither were disposed to wait very long. Red Pine because he was -in haste to have it over, believing that he would be the victor, -notwithstanding the foe with whom he had to deal was no common one. -White Wolf was in a hurry for the same reasons, and also because he was -in haste to secure Snowdrop for a wife, as he had no doubt he would. - -Both were destined to learn that disappointment is the lot of mankind. - -The battle was commenced by the Pawnees discharging a shower of arrows -at the Sioux. Then the Sioux returned the compliment, and thus they -continued for nearly an hour, not seeming to make much headway, or to -cause any very great slaughter. They did yelling enough, however, for -an army of twenty thousand men, and this, by the way, is the manner of -Indian fighting generally. - -Usually, one party or the other will run before that time, but in -this case both of the leaders had too much at stake--both wanted the -Blackfoot girl. - -The warrior who had been left to guard Gray Eagle had taken his captive -and started off at the first round between the opposing forces. - -This movement had not escaped the notice of the Pawnee chief, and he -immediately started two of his warriors to intercept the Sioux, and -recapture Gray Eagle. In this movement they were quite successful; the -fact being that the Sioux guard deserted his prisoner as soon as he -found himself pursued--believing, no doubt, that discretion was the -better part of valor. - -His new captors conducted Gray Eagle to a position where he could watch -the progress of the battle, then one of them returned to take a part in -the, thus far, bloodless war, and to inform his chief, White Wolf, of -their success. - -Then White Wolf resolved to strike his death-blow, and giving the order -to charge, they swept down upon the Sioux, and a hand-to-hand fight -ensued. - -But it was of short duration, for the Sioux soon broke and fled for -their lives. - -The Pawnees did not pursue them very far, as they had secured what they -came after, and were now ready to return to their camp. - -Gray Eagle was not very well pleased when he learned into whose hands -he had now fallen, for he, too, dreaded the Pawnees. - -White Wolf saluted his prisoner kindly and said: - -"I have rescued Gray Eagle from the hands of the Sioux squaws, and when -Snowdrop sees him safe she will consent to be the wife of White Wolf." - -"Does the chief know where Snowdrop is?" asked the chief. - -"In the camp of White Wolf, a day's ride from here," was the reply. - -"How came she there?" demanded the old chief. - -"White Wolf found her upon the big plain toward the village of the -Blackfeet. Let us go." - -Gray Eagle knew the utter uselessness of arguing the question with the -Pawnee chief, and bowing his head they rode away. - -The Pawnees had discovered the party of Blackfeet at the same time that -Jehiel had done so, and just now it occurred to White Wolf that he was -in rather a disagreeable situation. He saw that the party of Blackfeet -outnumbered his party, five to one, and he knew that they were brave -warriors and would not run as easily as the Sioux had done. - -Gray Eagle was pleased at the turn in affairs, as would naturally be -expected; but when he saw that Snowdrop was one of the approaching -party, he turned to White Wolf and said: - -"Does my brother speak with a forked tongue?" - -"No," replied the Pawnee; "who dare say he does?" - -"He said that the daughter of Gray Eagle was in the camp of White Wolf, -a day's ride from here. Now Gray Eagle sees her there with his people!" - -White Wolf did not know what to say. He had left the Blackfoot beauty a -prisoner in the hands of two trusty warriors, and for the life of him -he could not imagine who had rescued her. He said: - -"Shall there be peace between the Pawnee and Blackfeet braves, or shall -White Wolf take the scalp of Gray Eagle and go away?" - -The old Blackfoot chief saw that there was much to gain and nothing to -lose, and he replied: - -"There shall be peace." And they again moved on. - -The young chief who led the party of Blackfeet accompanied by Snowdrop -and Jehiel, now rode forward, leaving the Blackfeet in a body; while -Gray Eagle and White Wolf rode out to meet them. - -"Has the Blackfoot maiden a sister who looks just like herself?" asked -the astonished Pawnee. - -"No, Snowdrop has no sister," replied the girl. "I see you thought I -was your prisoner. I was, but I did not stay so very long." - -"How did you get away?" asked White Wolf. - -"I rode away! Your warriors slept too sound, you see." - -"Waugh!" was all White Wolf could say. He knew that Snowdrop was merely -trying to banter him, and after a moment's reflection, he said: - -"The warriors shall die! They are not fit to live if they can not keep -one little squaw!" - -"No, they will not die!" assented Snowdrop. - -The chief looked at her in surprise. He was not in the habit of having -squaws contradict his word. - -"White Wolf is his own master, and the chief of all the Pawnees! Why -does the Blackfoot maiden say they shall not die?" - -"Because they are dead already!" answered Snowdrop. - -"Dead! Who killed them?" - -"I killed one; Long Hunter the other," she replied. - -White Wolf glared fiercely at her, as if he could kill her where she -sat, but in a few moments the expression changed, and he said: - -"I have rescued your father from the hands of the Sioux as I promised; -now will Snowdrop go to the home of White Wolf, and be his squaw? She -shall have as many slaves as she wants, and there shall be peace -between the tribes. What says the queen of the Blackfeet?" - -"That she does not love the great chief of the Pawnees, and can never -enter his lodge," replied Snowdrop. - -"Does she love some one else?" - -"Yes, Snowdrop will be the wife of White Panther or marry no one!" - -"Who is the White Panther?" asked the chief. - -"He is the bravest of pale-faces, and Snowdrop will give her life to -him!" - -"Tell me where he is, that I may go and kill him. He is a dog!" - -Hardly had the words escaped his lips before he received a blow upon -the side of his head which knocked him from his horse, and laid him -senseless upon the ground. - -"There, ye everlastin' skunk!" exclaimed Jehiel, for it was he had -administered the blow, "that'll l'arn ye not to be callin' names!" - -The Pawnees seized their weapons when they saw their chief go to the -ground, but at the motion, the Sioux also put themselves in readiness -to repel any attack. - -Slowly the Pawnee chief rose to his feet, and for a moment he seemed -to be measuring the strength of Jehiel, then his smothered indignation -found vent, and he exclaimed: - -"The pale-face shall die!" - -"Waal, he won't, unless he runs across a smarter red-skin than you -are!" exclaimed Jehiel. - -"If he is not a coward he will fight the great chief of the Pawnees, -and White Wolf will surely kill him!" said the chief. - -"Waal, I may be a coward, but I ain't afeard of you nor any other -durned Injun in this kentry. An' durn yer skin, I'll fight ye any day -and place ye dare to mention!" - -"Then we will fight now and here," said the chief. - -"Agreed! You'll see fair play, won't you?" he asked of Gray Eagle. - -"Yes," replied the chief. "If White Wolf kills my friend, he must do it -fairly." - -"Bully for you, old feller!" said Jehiel. Then turning to White Wolf, -he said: - -"Now, ye red sarpent, jes' git off there; an' when the old chief gives -the word, we will see who can shoot the best." - -"No," replied the Indian, "the gun of the pale-face is better than that -of White Wolf. Let us fight with knives." - -"Not much, you don't!" exclaimed Jehiel, who was not very skillful in -the use of that implement, "not much, you don't. I don't want to dirty -my knife--it's the one I use to cut my meat with, and it would go -ag'in' my stomach to use it arter I'd cut a dirty Injun to pieces!" - -"Then let the chief of the Blackfeet say how the fight shall be," said -White Wolf. - -"Agreed, ag'in! Crack ahead chief, and any way you say fight, I'll -fight!" - -"Gray Eagle says, let the fight be with knives and on foot," was the -decision of the chief; and although it did not exactly suit Jehiel, he -immediately began to strip for the fight. - -He was soon naked to the waist, and handing his gun and garments to -Snowdrop, he asked her to hold them for him. He was encouraged by a -sweet smile from her, and in reply to the whispered, "Kill him if you -can," he replied: - -"I'll do it, sartin!" - -White Wolf then stripped, and he too handed his gun to Snowdrop, but -she refused it with scorn. This angered the Pawnee still more, and he -exclaimed: - -"Wait until I kill the pale-face dog!" and he strode into the circle -which had been formed by the two parties pressing forward in their -eagerness to see what was going on. - -White Wolf was a tall, finely formed Indian, and was well skilled in -the use of the knife, so that really, he had the advantage over Jehiel; -but what Jehiel lacked in skill and experience, he more than made up in -quickness and grit. - -They stood within six feet of each other, waiting for Gray Eagle to -give the signal to commence. - -So it came, and as the two forms met, the gleaming steel told that the -battle was begun. Flashing in the sunlight, as the antagonists came -together, and then sprung apart, only to renew the conflict without a -moment's pause. - -Jehiel soon became satisfied that he was in no particular danger from -the Pawnee chief, and he laughed to himself as he parried the furious -blows of the Indian. But he soon grew tired of this, and pressed hard -upon his adversary, who gradually fell back toward the side of the -circle occupied by his warriors. - -Jehiel anticipated his intentions, and springing past the Pawnee, -placed himself between the chief and his warriors. - -Then he pressed the Pawnee still harder, and began to nerve himself for -the last desperate effort. - -By a skillful blow he severed the string by which the knife of the -chief was attached to his wrist, and another lightning-like stroke sent -the Indian's knife whirling a rod away. - -"Now, red-skin, if you hain't satisfied, go and pick up your knife and -I'll do it again." - -"The pale-face can take the scalp of White Wolf, for he has won it!" -replied the chief. - -"I don't want yer scalp, ye durned fool, but I guess, seein' it's you, -I'll cut it off close to yer head; then, while you're raisin' another -one, you can think of the lickin' I've g'in ye." - -"White Wolf will not accept life from a pale-face dog!" exclaimed the -chief. - -Again the sledge-hammer fist of Jehiel came in contact with the head of -the Pawnee, and again the chief found himself flat on his back. - -"Waal, now, didn't I tell you so?" said Jehiel. "I don't take _dog_ -from no man, let alone a durned Injun." - -Then Jehiel shaved the braided scalp-lock of the Pawnee chief close to -his head, after which he returned, and donning his garments, mounted -his horse and was ready for the next thing that might turn up. - -White Wolf was not slow in following his example, and then withdrew -with his warriors, without saying a word to any one. - - - - - CHAPTER IX. - - BEAR-PAW AT HOME. - - -The party at the cave were enjoying themselves as well as they could -under the circumstances. - -Kelly was getting anxious about his friend Jehiel, and had resolved -that, if he did not make his appearance in the vicinity that day, he -would go in search of him next morning. - -But he did not know that about that time Jehiel was having his little -round with the Pawnee chief--if he had, he would not have rested quite -so easily. - -Then there was his promise to Gray Eagle, which was only half kept, but -which he resolved should be fulfilled to the letter. - -Yes, he _would_ have the scalp of the Sioux chief, or die in the -attempt to get it. - -Nulela, the sister of Red Pine, was indeed happy, and with good -reason--the white man whom she had rescued from her brother's power now -reciprocated her great love, and she felt herself amply rewarded for -the risk she had run and the sacrifice she had made. - -Full well she knew that she could not return to her own people, except -in disgrace. Such is the moral code of the Sioux--if a maiden of the -tribe marries a white man, and he dies, or, as is more generally the -case, deserts her, she is thenceforth an outcast. - -For a long time after the old trapper had tendered them the -hospitalities of his subterranean retreat, they sat beside the fire -trying to determine what was best to be done. - -"I am afraid that the Sioux will hang around here until they find out -some way to get into this cave," said Curtiss. - -"Young man," said the old trapper, "it ar' a great pity yer could not -hev been born with more brains, an' less stomach!" - -"What do you mean, sir?" exclaimed the astonished young man. - -"I mean yer must be a durned fool fur bein' afraid, when I've told yer -thar ain't a mite o' danger in here!" - -Curtiss thought his best plan was to humor the eccentricities of Old -Bear-Paw, and it was perhaps well that he did. - -"Kem with me, my friends," said the trapper, "an' I'll convince yer we -ar' perfeckly safe." - -He led the way to the further end of the cave, where the party found -themselves standing upon the brink of a fearful chasm, the light from -the torches revealing no boundary except that upon which they stood. -Below and beyond them, all was inky blackness. - -"Gracious, what a place!" said Kelly. "Do you know how deep this hole -is, or what is on the other side?" - -"Yas. I've bin down inter this 'ar' hole clean ter ther bottom, an' ef -yer behave yerselves purty well, I'll take yer down thar with me, one -of these days." - -"Thank you," replied the scout; "but do you know what is on the other -side of here?" - -"Sartin, I've bin thar too! Would yer like ter go over? I've got er -menagery over thar, as ther show fellers used ter say, uv ther finest -livin' speciments on ther contynunt!" - -"But how do you get across?--I can't see. Two steps more and down you -go, into that bottomless pit. It is not possible that you can walk on -air, and there is no way of making a bridge, that I can see." - -"Yer see, I ain't lived here ten years fur nothin'--so now I'll show -yer how it's done." - -He stepped to one side and returned holding in his hand the end of a -rope, the other end of which was lost in the darkness above them. - -"Now yer see," said the old man, "yer jest hang on ter this yer end, an -swing off. Wull, ther swing 'll take yer clear across this yer black -hole--then when yer feel yerself comin' back, all yer hev ter do is -ter drap yer feet down, an' ye'll find yerself on terry furmy onc't -more. Then yer kin throw ther rope back fur ther next feller, ef thar -is any more, an' ef thar ain't yer must hang it up on ther peg at ther -side--'cause ef yer don't it will hang straight down ther middle arter -it gits done swinging. Then thar can't no one git it." - -"Yes, I understand. Now, Mr.--" - -"Bear-Paw, I told yer, only leave off ther mister!" - -"Well, Bear-Paw, supposing you take your torch and go across, then we -will follow you." - -The old trapper took the torch between his teeth and seizing the rope -with both hands, he swung off. In a minute he waved his torch on the -other side, and shouted--"Ketch ther rope," and in another minute Kelly -was ready to follow. - -He tried the rope, as if to make sure that it would hold his weight, -never considering that a much larger man had just swung on the same -rope; and it was with a sensation that he had never before experienced, -that he grasped it firmly and swung off. He soon found himself beside -the old trapper, who said: - -"Yer done it well, boy! But I'm afeard that booby over thar won't dare -ter try it!" - -He shouted to Curtiss to catch the rope, and again it went to the other -side and was caught by him. - -"You go first, Nulela," said Curtiss. - -"No, Nulela will follow her chief!" - -"Are you sure you can hang on?" - -"Nulela is not a child," she replied. "But is the white chief afraid?" - -"Oh, no! But what should I do if you were to fall? It would be instant -death!" - -"Does my chief then care for me?" - -"Care for you? Yes, little one--I love you!" he answered. - -"Oh! I am so glad!" exclaimed the Indian girl; "then I can go with you, -and be your wife?" - -"Yes," replied Curtiss, "if we ever get out of here." - -A call from both Kelly and the old trapper to "hurry up," put a stop -to their love-making, and Curtiss took a firm hold upon the rope and -started for the other side. He had barely regained his feet when the -old trapper seized the rope and sprung out, leaving the scout and -Curtiss alone on the brink of the chasm. - -Their first thought was of treachery. Could it be possible that the -old man was about to leave them there as the easiest and surest way of -getting rid of them? - -They surmised all sorts of things--probable and improbable. They saw -him land on the other side. Here he said to the Indian girl: - -"Jest wait a minit till I git some more torches." - -Then he put the rope into her hand to hold until he should return. -Presently he came back with a lighted torch in his hand, and several -more stuck in his belt. - -"Now, gal, we'll jine our friends on ther other side." - -He held his torch up to her face, to see if she exhibited any signs of -fear, but though he saw no such expression, he saw what puzzled him -more--he saw that her eyes were blue. - -"Girl, who are you? Certainly you are no Indian!" he exclaimed, in -language entirely different from that he generally used. - -"I am Nulela, the sister of Red Pine," she answered. - -He looked at her a moment, as if trying to recollect some -half-forgotten event, and bowing his head upon his hands, the strong -man wept. - -"Can it be that I have found my lost one?" he murmured. "My God! If it -should be true, what a joyful ending there would be to all these years -of sorrow and heart-ache! But no, it can not be! _She_ was stolen by -the fierce Apaches, and this one--ha! where is she?" - -During his soliloquy the Indian girl had swung off and was now standing -beside her friends on the other side of the chasm, and the voice of -Kelly was heard shouting: - -"Here comes the rope, Bear-Paw, catch it!" - -A moment later and the old man stood beside them. - -"Wull," he said, "yer kem acrost all right, didn't yer? An' now we'll -go an' see ther anermiles." - -Proceeding a few yards further into the cave, he turned abruptly to the -left, and entered a large circular room. Here the party were greeted -with a chorus of howls, yells, and snarlings, which continued until the -old man said: - -"Hush! yer 'tarnal critters! Don't yer see I've brought yer some -company?" - -Immediately the growling ceased, and the old man led the way around the -room. - -Chained to the walls were four monster bears and an equal number of -panthers, and they manifested great pleasure when the old trapper -patted them on the head, and called them by their names. - -The party were much surprised when the old trapper removed the chain -from the neck of the largest grizzly, and said to him--"Now go an' -shake paws with ther gentlemen." The bear did as he was ordered, and -returned to his master. - -"Do you have many visitors?" asked the scout. - -"No, yer ther only men these anermiles has seen in eight year," was the -reply of the trapper. - -"I should think it would take you all of the time to keep these fellows -in meat." - -"Thar yer mightily mistaken then, for when thar is too many reds about, -I send them out ter hunt fur me! Now yer moughtn't like ter b'lieve me, -but I kin send any one uv 'em out, an' they'll bring in suthen ter eat -quicker nor either uv yer fellers kin." - -"Is it possible that they are so well trained as that?" asked the scout. - -"I'll show yer," replied the hunter, and he let loose a huge panther, -and patting him on the head, said: - -"Now, Andy Jackson, go an' ketch me a deer, an' be spry about it, too! -Yer knows whar ter find 'em, don't yer?" - -The animal looked up at the hunter's face, and then actually nodded his -head in assent. - -"Wull, go on then, an' don't yer stop ter play!" - -The panther bounded past the party and disappeared in the gloom beyond. - -"How in the world can he get out?" asked Curtiss. "Surely he can not -swing over the chain?" - -"Wull, I reckon he could ef I'd ever l'arnt him! But yer see ther's no -occasion--this yer hole goes clean through ther mountain. But I'll show -yer thet some other time." - -"Hark! What is that?" - -"It's Andy Jackson passin' ther guard," replied the trapper. - -"Who do you have for a guard?" - -"He's er brother uv Andy Jackson, but I calls him Barnum jest 'cause he -kin humbug more Injuns than any other feller in ther kentry, 'thout it -ar' ther king uv humbugs, old Barnum his self. Tell yer what, stranger, -he's ther knowin'est varmint uv 'em all. 'Tain't more'n ten days ago, I -war out looking arter things gineraly, when I run inter a nest uv 'bout -er dozen Blackfeet. They had er white feller what they war a-goin' ter -roast, an' I allowed it didn't look jest right, so I kem back an' got -Andy Jackson an Barnum, an' we went fur ter stop ther fun. Wull, they -war so 'tarnal busy with ther white man that they didn't see us at all, -tell jest as they war goin' ter set fire ter ther brush. Then I shot -ther feller what was ther leader, an' you'd jest orter see'd them two -boys, Andy an' Barnum, sail in, an' go ter sp'ilin' Injuns! Fact, thar -didn't a one uv 'em git away! All ther Injuns in this kentry are scart -uv me, an call me a heap big medicine; so they don't very often kem -around here--an' thet leaves me all uv ther trappin' ter myself. Kem, -let's go back now to ther fire." - -"But what will become of Andy Jackson?" asked the scout. - -"Oh, he'll kem back purty soon, an' be in his stall when I want him!" - -"What will he do with the meat, even supposing that he gets any?" - -"He'll dervide with the rest, like a man," replied the trapper. - -"I don't believe--" - -The speaker was interrupted by the old man, saying: - -"Thar he kems, now. Ef yer don't b'lieve it, jest keep watch on him." - -The trained panther came bounding in, with the carcass of a deer in his -mouth, and thrown across his back. - -Kelly noticed that the head was gone, and said: - -"Andy stopped by the way to take his own lunch, I see." - -"Yer don't see anything uv ther kind! Andy jest chawed ther head off, -an' giv it to Barnum, 'cause thet's his favor-_ite_ piece. 'Sides yer -see it saves ther trouble uv ruunin' back when he feeds ther rest. Yer -needn't laugh, fur as sure as yer live, that ar' Andy Jackson has got -more good sense than half uv ther humans in this territory. Now, ef -yer ain't in a hurry, jest watch ther critter." - -The panther had laid the deer upon the floor of the cavern, and stood -wagging his tail in anticipation, while the old hunter took his knife -and proceeded to cut it into so many pieces as there were animals. - -"Thar, Andy," he said, "feed ther rest, an' take yer own piece, an' go -ter bed." - -The party were by this time prepared for 'most any degree of -tractability on the part of the animal, yet they could not repress an -exclamation of admiration and surprise, when they saw the animal do as -he was bid; it was hard for them to imagine how they could be brought -so completely under the control of the strange old man. - -They recrossed the chasm in the same manner in which they had gone -over, and were soon again seated around the fire. - -Curtiss and the Indian girl were upon one side, by themselves, -completely lost to their surroundings. But, the story of their -love-making was so like others of the same kind, that need not repeat -it here. Those of my readers who do not "know how it is themselves," -have the sympathies of the writer! - - - - - CHAPTER X. - - A WOMAN ON THE TRAIL. - - -In his fight with the Pawnees, Red Pine had lost several warriors, -which fact was not at all calculated to produce any good feeling on his -part. More than this, he lost what he could not well afford to--his -temper. - -He fumed and swore around, venting his anger upon whoever happened to -get in his way. - -He resolved to make one more desperate fight, even if he had to take -all the warriors of the Sioux nation to do it. Just then, he felt as if -he would like to exterminate the whole Pawnee tribe, and the Blackfeet, -too, with the exception of Snowdrop. Especially would he sweep from -the face of the earth the young pale-face who had come between him and -his desires. - -To this end he dispatched his swiftest runners to the Sioux village -with an earnest appeal for help. There is no doubt in the world but -that he misrepresented facts to his superiors, but then his conscience -was one of those elastic affairs which do not give their possessor much -trouble, and he thought that all was fair in war as in love. - -Then, too, his sister was gone, and he knew that he would not dare to -go back without her. Had he been alone, he would have trumped up some -lie, by which he might get clear of all responsibility; but he knew -that many of the old warriors who were with him, would not hesitate to -put the affair in its true light before the councilors of the nation. - -Thus we find him encamped with his followers within a few miles of the -scene of his recent defeat, to await the return of his messengers. - -And White Wolf felt very much as if he had been doing a large amount of -work for a very small remuneration. - -He was not angry--oh! no! But, as Jehiel remarked when he saw the -Pawnees leaving: "I'll jest bet that critter feels awful demoralized!" - -White Wolf knew that somewhere among the hills there was a white man -who had been instrumental in rescuing Snowdrop from the hands of the -Sioux, and who stood between his wishes and the love of the Blackfoot -queen; and he resolved to hunt up that white man, and put him out of -the way. - -So he returned to the place where he had won so decisive and brilliant -a victory over the Sioux, and went into camp. - -We left Jehiel mounted and ready for whatever might turn up next, and -there he sat, as did the whole band of Blackfeet, until the Pawnees -were nearly out of sight. - -"We will go to the village of my people," said Gray Eagle; and he -turned his horse and started for the north, followed by the Blackfoot -warriors. - -He had gone a full mile when he spoke to Snowdrop; but receiving no -answer, he looked around to see what had become of her. Then he saw -her and Jehiel standing where he had left them. - -Ordering his band to remain where they were, the old chief galloped -back. - -"Why does my daughter and the Long Hunter stay here?" he asked. - -Snowdrop did not reply, but Jehiel did. - -"Waal, old man, we was tryin' to think of suthin' mean enough to call -you for desarting a friend in this way." - -"What does the Long Hunter mean?" asked the old chief. - -"I mean just this, that you're an old liar! You agreed to be a friend -to us fellers, if Lew would get your gal away from the Sioux! He did -it, he did, and now, dog gone your old pictur', you was goin' off hum -without tryin' to find out if he is dead or alive! I told Lew just how -it would be, when he said you had swore to befriend him. I don't think -much of such friends as that!" - -"White Panther promised to bring the scalp of Red Pine to Gray Eagle, -and he has not done it." - -"Waal," replied Jehiel, "he hadn't had time yet. Jest wait a few days, -and you'll see him come walkin' inter your camp a-whistlin' Yankee -Doodle, and old Red Pine's head under his arm--see if you don't!" - -"Gray Eagle can not wait. The Long Hunter had better find his friend -and go home, or my warriors will find them and kill them both!" - -"Are you goin' to desart Lew Kelly in this way?" asked the thoroughly -angry Yankee. - -"Gray Eagle owes the pale-face nothing, for he has not done all he -promised." - -"I've a good mind to shoot you myself, you 'tarnal old traitor you!" -exclaimed Jehiel. - -The old chief did not notice him, but turning to Snowdrop he said: - -"Come, my daughter." - -He turned and started toward his band, but Snowdrop made no effort to -follow him. - -He came back with an angry frown upon his face. It was the first time -Snowdrop had ever refused to obey him. - -"Why does my daughter linger?" he asked. - -"Snowdrop will not enter her father's lodge until he has found the -White Panther! He saved her life, and Snowdrop will not desert him!" - -"The Pawnees have gone that way, and they will find him and kill him!" -replied the old chief. - -"Then Snowdrop will die with him!" exclaimed the maiden. - -The old chief loved his daughter as the apple of his eye, and he knew -that she would not give up by coaxing--she was too much a chip of the -old block for that. - -He could take her home by force; but she would certainly run away if he -did. - -He could confine her so that she could not leave; but she would take -her own life. - -He knew the scout would not take Snowdrop for his wife--he had heard -him say that he had a wife already. - -Looking at the case in all its bearings, he resolved to assist his -daughter in finding White Panther, and then compel him to marry her, -whether or not. So he said: - -"Gray Eagle will find the pale-face, and give him to Snowdrop." - -Signaling for his band to return, he started for the place where he had -last seen Lew Kelly. When within a few miles of the place a scout came -running back with the intelligence that the Pawnees were encamped on -the old battle-ground. - -This intelligence was not at all pleasing to him, for it necessitated -the making of his camp on the side of the range where he then was. -However, necessity knows no law, and he was obliged to call a halt upon -arriving at the foot of the hill. - -He did not know that the object of his search was within short -rifle-shot of him at that moment. - -He had made his camp close by a small stream which ran along the base -of the hill. Upon the opposite side of the stream the rocks towered -above them a hundred feet or more, forming an insurmountable barrier to -further progress in that direction; and with his scouts out, he did not -fear surprise. - - * * * * * - -Lew Kelly was telling Bear-Paw how he came to be in that section, and -also of the treaty of peace he had made with Gray Eagle. - -"But," he said, "I don't know whether the old chief will consider -himself bound to keep the contract until I bring him the scalp of the -Sioux chief, as I promised. I hope he will, for there is plenty of game -about here, and every indication of gold. In the hills, where my friend -and I made our camp, we found several nuggets of pure gold; and I have -no doubt there is plenty of it among these hills, as they are of the -same range." - -"I've got er gold-mine what'll do yer eyes good ter see," said the old -trapper. "Jest wait er minit an' I'll show yer." - -He went to the opposite side of the room, and returned, bearing a -buck-skin bag, which he opened and poured the contents upon the floor -before the scout. - -"Thar," he said, "is about fifty pounds of ther durned stuff, enuf ter -make yer rich fur life; an' I'll give yer ther hull lot on't, ef ye'll -agree ter go hum, an' never say nothin' about thar bein' any here." - -The scout was too much surprised to reply. - -"What does yer say?" asked the trapper. "Ain't it enuf?" - -"Yes, it is enough," replied Kelly; "but, did you find it all among -these hills?" - -"Sartin. An' I kin show yer more nor ten bushels uv it, layin' around -loose!" - -"Where?" - -"Down in ther kasm--will yer go down an' see it?" - -"Not now," replied the scout. "I must find out, first, where my friend -is. I blame myself for keeping still so long, and if you will let me -out, I will go to the top of the bluff and see if I can discover him." - -"All right. I'll go with yer," replied Bear-Paw. - -Kelly took care to return the gold to the bag, and place it where he -could find it again; then he signified his readiness to go. - -"I'm goin' out, gal," the old trapper said to the aged negro woman. -"Jest keep yer ears open, fur I may be in a hurry when I kem back," and -they were ushered into the outer cavern. - -A low whinny greeted Kelly. - -"Poor old horse!" he said, "you are on short rations just now. I must -try and get you something to eat." - -"Yes," said Bear-Paw, "we'll cut some grass fur ther critter, an' bring -back with us." - -Kelly led his horse to the water, and after he had drank, returned him -to the cavern and told him to lie down. - -The two men were soon upon the level plateau which formed the top of -the hill. Once there, they saw a sight which surprised them not a -little. - -Directly below them was the camp of the Pawnees, while beyond, and not -more than five miles away, they could discern another camp, but could -not make out who they were. - -Kelly easily recognized the Pawnees, for he was well acquainted with -them, and knew White Wolf almost as well as he did Jehiel. - -"I wonder who those others can be, off yonder," he said. - -"I can't tell yer, they's so fur off; but you can bet they ain't no -Blackfeet!" - -"How do you know?" asked the scout. - -"'Cause that 'ar is west, an' ther Blackfoot village ar' off here ter -ther north furder. Le's go over ter ther other side an' see ef we can -diskiver them." - -Approaching the other side, they saw immediately below them the camps -of Gray Eagle, and Kelly recognized his friend Jehiel, and also -Snowdrop. - -"What does this all mean, do you suppose?" he asked. - -"Can't tell," replied the trapper. "It looks as ef there mought be fun -ahead. But come on, le's cut some grass fur ther hoss an' git back. -We'll know more about it afore mornin'." - -With their knives they cut each a large bundle of grass, and returned -to the cavern. The scout threw down his load, but the old trapper said: - -"No, not thar. We must take ther animile inside, fur I an goin' ter hev -this room full uv Injuns afore long." - -"What do you mean?" asked the scout. - -"Jest yer wait an' see," was all the reply he could get. - -The old trapper was getting terribly excited about something, and it -was not until after the huge rock door was between them and the outer -cave that he regained his composure. - -Kelly found a good place for his horse, and throwing a bundle of grass -before him, left him to his own enjoyment. This done, he was about to -seat himself beside the fire, when Bear-Paw said to him--"Kem with me," -and they proceeded to the chasm, where they swung over. - -From a recess in the wall the old man took a bow and arrows and a long -rope, and led the way into the room used as the menagerie. - -"Now," said he, "jest write er letter ter yer friend, an' I'll let him -know whar yer ar'"--and while the scout was writing a few words to -satisfy his friend of his safety, the old trapper went about among his -animals, talking to them, and petting them in his usual manner. - -When the letter was completed, he told Kelly to follow him, and then -led the way to the rear entrance of the cave. - -He soon arrived near the opening, where he halted and said: - -"Don't let Barnum humbug yer, fur he kin scratch like ther Old Boy, -ef he's a mind ter. Yer see, he's crosser nor ther rest, an' ain't in -ther habit uv lettin' folks go by him. But ef yer keep close ter me, I -reckon ye'll be all right." - -Proceeding a few feet further, they came to an abrupt turn in the -passage, and a low growl warned them that they were near the guard. The -old trapper held his torch before him and went ahead. - -"Shut up, Barnum! What ar' yer so sassy about? I'll give yer a -lickin'," he said, "ef yer don't quit yer foolishness." - -And he stood and talked to the animal until Kelly had passed beyond his -reach. - -About fifty feet further on, they came to the end of the cave, and -the daylight streaming in from above showed Kelly the outlet of this -singular cavern. With the exception of the chasm, it was a complete -tunnel through the mountain. - -The old trapper brought a ladder of poles, which he placed against the -side of the opening, and told the scout to go up and see what he could -discover. - -An exclamation of surprise escaped the lips of Kelly, as he beheld, not -more than four rods away, the camp of the Blackfeet. - -Jehiel was just leading his horse to the creek to give him water, when -the scout told the old man to come up where he was. - -In a moment Bear-Paw was by his side, and hastily fitting an arrow to -the bow-string, he sent it within an inch of Jehiel's foot, where it -stuck in the sand. - -Jehiel sprung back as though bitten by a snake, and looked up to see -who had discharged it; but could discover no sign of any living being -in the huge bowlders opposite. Then he pulled the arrow from the -ground, and returned to the camp. - -"Come here, little gal," he said to Snowdrop; "I want to tell you -suthin." - -The Indian girl came out, and Jehiel showed her the arrow, and after -explaining how it came in his possession, added: - -"I guessed you might know more about it than me. What does it mean? Kin -you tell, from the looks of the stick, what tribe made it?" - -The girl took the arrow and examined both the steel head and the spiral -coil of feathers upon the tip. - -"Snowdrop does not know. She will ask her father; perhaps he can -tell--but what is that tied around it?" - -Then Jehiel observed, what had before escaped his notice, that a piece -of paper was wrapped about the arrow-stem, and he carefully removed it. - -"Jewhillakens!" was his exclamation, as he recognized the handwriting. - -He read it over to himself, while Snowdrop stood waiting for an -explanation. - -Jehiel looked up with a puzzled expression--he did not know whether it -would be safe for him to tell her or not. He more than half-doubted the -sincerity of the Blackfoot chief--at the same time, he had resolved to -shoot him, should he find that Gray Eagle had deceived them. - -And, he argued, what need he care for Snowdrop? She still insisted -that she would be no man's wife if she could not be the wife of White -Panther. - -Jehiel knew that there was no earthly hope for her in that direction, -and he rather congratulated himself on the fact that he was not the -only one who would be disappointed. - -"Waal, Snowdrop," he said, "this here letter is from Lew Kelly, the -feller what you call White Panther--" - -"Where is he? What does he say?" eagerly demanded the Indian girl. - -"He's all right," replied Jehiel, "and I'll read you what he says," and -the scout read: - - "FRIEND JEHIEL: I am safe and sound, and with good friends. - Tell Gray Eagle that the Pawnees are encamped on the other side of - the hill. If he wants to fight them, let him find the pass to the - top of the hill, where he can pick them off at his leisure. There - is another camp a few miles further west, but I can not tell who - they are. As soon as it is dark, do you ride around the hill until - you strike the creek. Get into it, and walk up until you come to - the falls, where you will find me. We must leave here as soon as - possible; there is danger ahead. - - Yours, - LEW." - -As he concluded reading, the face of the Indian girl grew bright, and -she said: - -"I am so glad! I shall see the White Panther once more." - -"Yaas, I s'pose so," said Jehiel. "But you'll please to obsarve that he -didn't ask you to come along." - -"No matter, I shall go!" was the positive reply. - -"Waal, jest as you like; but if you want the old man to know any thing -about this gittin' on top of the hill, you'd better tell him--I won't! -The infarnal old traitor! I wouldn't keer a durn if the Pawnees should -lick him like blazes!" - -Snowdrop went and told her father what the scout had written, and he -immediately sent several warriors to look for the pass. - -The top of the hill was inaccessible except at one point, and a dozen -well-armed men could have guarded the plateau against all the Indians -in the territory. - -The shades of night were just falling around the Indian camp, when, -without a word as to their intentions, Jehiel and Snowdrop started -south, along the base of the hill, in search of the creek which was to -lead them to the hiding-place of the brave scout. - - - - - CHAPTER XI. - - CROW EAT CROW. - - -Upon returning to the menagerie room the old trapper still retained the -rope, of which he had as yet made no use. Seeing that the scout noticed -it, he said: - -"Yes, I didn't know but yer mought want ter draw yer friend up ter ther -openin' uv ther cave, but yer seemed ter hev some other plans uv yer -own; so now mebby we'd better improve the time ter go down inter ther -kasm." - -"I should like to visit it before I leave," replied Kelly. "I am afraid -we shall never have another chance." - -"What makes yer talk that a-way?" asked Bear-Paw. - -"I don't know, indeed, but somehow I feel as if there was going to be -some fighting around here, before this time to-morrow; and I have a -kind of foreordination that you and I will be mixed up in it." - -"An' so hev I," replied the old trapper. "An' more nor that, I've er -big notion that I'll git killed, and yer won't! But it's time enuf to -think on that bime-by. Only ef I should happen ter go under, an' yer -don't, I want ye ter promise me yer will take the nigger gal with yer, -an' take good care uv her es long she lives. She's ther only friend I -hev on airth, an' I'll leave enuf fur ter pervide fur her es long es -she lives. What do yer say?" - -"That I will accept the trust, and guard her life as I would my own!" -replied the scout. - -"I knew yer would, and now let's go down." - -He fastened one end of the rope round a projecting rock, and let the -other fall into the darkness below. - -"Does that rope reach to the bottom of the chasm?" asked Kelly. - -"No," replied the old trapper, "not more nor half-way. But I've got -er pair uv stairs thar what goes ter ther bottom. I'll go first, with -the light, then yer kin foller. Yer see ther rope is knotted, so that -yer won't hev much trouble in hangin' on--an' boy, jest stick some -torch-wood in yer belt, fur it's orful dark down thar." - -The old trapper descended the rope with an agility surprising in one so -old, and gave the signal for the scout to follow. - -He soon found himself standing upon a ledge of rock, about six feet -square, from which he could see steps leading down into the darkness -below, evidently cut in the soft limestone rock. - -To the scout there seemed no end to the steps, but he soon found -himself walking along upon the level ground. - -"Light er couple uv torches," said Bear-Paw, "an' I'll show yer more -gold nor yer ever dreamed on." - -The scout did so, and the old man's promise was fulfilled. - -Some great convulsion of nature had rent in twain the mountain of rock, -revealing on all sides countless seams--and they were filled with -gold. What he had supposed to be pebbles under his feet, proved on -inspection, to be nuggets of pure gold. - -He thought not of the treasures by which he was surrounded, but of the -Great Architect who had planned it all; and reverently he bowed his -head, as if in the immediate presence of the Divine Master. - -He was utterly overwhelmed by the magnificent grandeur of his -surroundings, and could easily have dreamed himself in fairy-land. -Perhaps, when he had gone the way of all the living, strangers would -come here and the world would be electrified by the intelligence of the -marvelous discoveries they would make. - -He had pledged his word that he would not tell any one of the existence -of gold in that locality, and yet--poor human nature craved more. - -The old trapper stood and watched him, as in mute adoration he -contemplated the scene, until finally he said: - -"Ef yer wants er mule-load instead uv er back-load, jest help yerself! -Ef I peg out in ther scrimmage what ar' sure to come to-morrer, then I -won't hold yer to yer promise--yer kin take all yer want, an' tell who -yer please." - -"I hope you may live many years, and enjoy the wealth that is yours!" -replied the scout. "May I ask why you remain here in solitude? It -is not natural for men to live alone, and I do not believe you are -_obliged_ to hide from your fellow-man." - -"Sometime," said the old man, "I will tell you my history. Then you -will not wonder that I choose to live alone!" Then fearing that the -scout had detected the difference in his speech, into which he had -momentarily been betrayed, he changed to his customary vernacular. - -"Now that yer know ther way, yer kin come down an' help yerself -any time. An' now less git back, ur ther rest uv ther folks 'll be -wonderin' whar we ar'." - -In a short time they presented themselves before the fire; but it is -doubtful if Curtiss or the Indian girl had missed them at all. - -They were seated where the scout had left them, and seemed no nearer -the end of their story than when they first began. - -That old, old story, forever new! - -When will men cease to tell it? and when will women weary of listening? - -At first the scout was inclined to think that Curtiss was trifling with -the girl's affections; but he became satisfied that the young man was -"really and truly" in love. - -Thus far they had given the lie to the remark of Shakspeare (or some -other man) that "the course of true love never runs smooth." - -The colored _gal_ sat before the fire, smoking her pipe, and utterly -oblivious to all earthy matters, croning the air to some old hymn she -had learned--where? - -She was never more surprised in her life than when the old trapper gave -her a slap upon the back, and said: - -"Kem, gal, it's time ter go ter bed. This yer young feller hes got all -he kin do ter court one gal, an' he's proberbly thinkin' that yer room -is better nor yer company, eh? An' jest make a good bed fur ther leetle -gal while yer about it." - -The old woman did as she was bid, and soon all hands had sought their -respective couches. - -But did any of them sleep? Doubtful! - -As the firelight flickered about, making strange and grotesque figures -upon the wall, all were awake, and trying, amid the dim shadows, to -solve the problem of life--to work out the destiny in store for them. - -It is needless to say that in the doctrine of manifest destiny they -were firm believers; and, as they have all night before them, we will -leave them for awhile, and record the events transpiring in another -quarter. - -The runners who had been sent out by Red Pine were particularly -fortunate in meeting several large parties of Sioux, who, in view of -the reported fun and plunder ahead, hastened to join the chief. - -So we find him all ready for marching, on the evening of the same day -that Gray Eagle and his band were about changing their quarters to the -top of the hill, within the dark recesses of which our friends lay -castle-building. - -As the darkness began to envelop the earth, Red Pine, at the head of -his warriors, cautiously approached the camp of the Pawnees. - -He was aware of their being there, and congratulated himself that now -he would have a glorious revenge. - -But White Wolf was watchful, and his warriors were in readiness to meet -the Sioux as soon as they came in sight. - -He did not know that any new accessions had been made to the Sioux -forces, and did not doubt that he could whip them as easily as he had -done once before. - -But the Sioux made the attack soon after midnight, and the fortunes of -war were decided in their favor. The Pawnees were completely routed. - -Daylight revealed to the Blackfeet upon the hill the singular fact that -the Pawnees were changed to Sioux. - -The only avenue was well guarded, and Gray Eagle did not fear a -surprise. His only anxiety, now, was for his daughter. - -He had formed his camp very nearly in the center of the plateau, which -covered an area of perhaps forty acres, so that discovery from below -was an impossibility, as long as they kept away from the edge. - -But in this case their curiosity obtained the mastery over their -prudence, and an incautious exposure of one's body convinced them that -the Sioux were on the alert. - -Before long the bill was surrounded by Indians, eager to find the pass -to the top, which they had not much trouble in doing, as they had only -to follow the trail left by the Blackfeet. - -An attempt to go up was met by the most disastrous result, the whole -file of Sioux warriors being swept from the path at the first blow. -They withdrew to the foot of the hill near the pass, and resolved to -wait. - -If the thing could be accomplished in no other way, Red Pine had -resolved to starve them out. - -Gray Eagle had been improvident in not laying in a supply of provisions -before going up, and he saw his mistake--when it was too late. - -About noon a loud shout was heard, and Gray Eagle, looking from the top -of the hill, saw a great commotion in the Sioux camp. - -The cause was soon apparent. They had taken a prisoner. - -And Gray Eagle did not need a spy-glass to show him that the prisoner -was his daughter. - -Red Pine did not care, now, for the lives that had been lost. He forgot -for the moment his habitual stoicism, and danced for joy. - -"Waugh! the Blackfoot squaw has bad luck!" he said. "The warriors of -Red Pine have killed the Pawnees, and there is now no help for her. The -Queen of the Blackfeet shall yet sit in the lodge of a Sioux chief." - -"Never!" exclaimed Snowdrop. "My people are near, and they will sweep -the Sioux from the earth." - -"Let the Blackfoot maiden look up, and she will see that her father -and his warriors are prisoners. There is but one path up there, and -Red Pine will stay here until the last of the Blackfeet are starved to -death, if Snowdrop does not consent to be his squaw!" - -Tradition had handed down to her the legend of the last of the -Illinii--she knew how the remnant of a once powerful tribe had sought -a refuge from their relentless foes, in just such a place as this. She -knew that when the enemy had at last gained the top of the rock, they -found only the dead bodies of that ill-fated band. - -Was it possible that the tragic scene was to be re-enacted here, and -this hill become another _Starved Rock_? - -She knew the fallacy of trying to oppose Red Pine in his ambition, so, -like a sensible girl, she closed her mouth and walked away to the lodge -assigned her. - -Red Pine was not without his misgivings. He knew that as long as he -pleased, he could keep the Blackfeet from coming down the pass. He -knew, also, that they could make smoke-signals, which would call down -upon him more Blackfoot warriors than he could successfully cope with; -and though he had secured the principal prize, he dared not go back -without his sister. - -He was satisfied that she was somewhere among the hills with his late -prisoner, Curtiss, and he resolved to find her at all hazards. - -The Blackfeet had withdrawn from the edge of the bluff, and an ominous -silence reigned around. Subtle influences were working upon the brain -of the Sioux chief, and he wished himself out of the scrape. - -How came the Blackfoot queen in his power? - - * * * * * - -Jehiel and Snowdrop, when they left the camp of her father to go in -search of the scout, soon came to a stream, up which they turned their -horses' heads, and silently traveled on. After an hour's hard toil -Jehiel came to where the stream issued from a narrow cleft in the rock, -and he was disappointed. - -"There hain't any falls here!" he exclaimed. "I wonder why in thunder -Lew didn't say where the creek was, and not let a feller lose time in -tumblin' over these rocks--to say nothin' of tearin' his clothes?" - -They returned to the place where they had entered the stream and again -started on. Before long they found another, which Jehiel was sure was -the right one, but his search for the falls had ended in precisely the -same manner as his first attempt. - -And so they kept it up until long after midnight, when they tied their -horses and lay down to sleep. - -They did not awake until after daylight, but as there was no breakfast -to cook, they had not long to wait, and again started on. - -Up at least half a dozen streams they went, only to meet with -disappointment. - -The forenoon was well-nigh spent, when they returned to the place of -their last entrance, and again started around the hill. - -Presently they came to a stream which was formed of two smaller ones; -one upon each side of a spur in the hill. - -"Now, Snowdrop," said Jehiel, "you go up one, and I will the other. -We'll save time in that way, and if I find the falls I will fire my -rifle--then you can come to me. If you find them first then you can -fire yours. And if we don't neither one of us find it, then we'll meet -ag'in here." - -Snowdrop still carried her father's rifle, and she consented to the -hunter's plan, and at once began the ascent of the stream. - -Jehiel had been fortunate enough to find the falls, and was about to -discharge his rifle, when he heard the voice of the scout: - -"Don't do that, Jehiel! Get in here as soon as you can." - -"But, Lew, I told the little gal I'd shoot my gun off if I found you -first." - -"Oh, fudge! What did she come along for?" ejaculated the scout. - -"You'll find out when she sees you," replied Jehiel. - -While they were yet conversing they heard the report of a gun, which -Jehiel recognized as that of his companion. - -"What in thunder does that mean?" he asked. - -Just at that moment there came a loud whoop from the same direction. - -"It means that she has been taken prisoner by the Pawnees," said the -scout. - -"Waal, I'm goin' to find out for sure," returned the Yankee. "Come with -me, Lew." - -The two men proceeded down the stream until they came within sight of -the place where Jehiel had parted with the Indian girl. Kelly caught -him by the arm and drew him back behind a projecting rock, at the same -time whispering: - -"See--there goes a lot of them, and they have taken Snowdrop prisoner. -They are not Pawnees, either, but Sioux! I wonder what it all means?" - -Then he thought of a plan by which he hoped to entrap them, and rescue -the Indian girl. - -"Is your gun loaded, Jehiel?" he asked. - -"Sartin! Do you think I'm a fool?" replied Jehiel. - -"Then let us have a shot at them." - -Together they raised their guns and fired, and two Indians dropped dead -in their tracks. - -The rest, looking up the stream, saw the two white men, and a dozen of -them sprung in pursuit. - -"Now run for the falls," said Kelly, and he led the way. - -They arrived at the opening several rods ahead of the Sioux. - -"Here," said the scout; "you stay here, and shoot every one that makes -his appearance. I will take care of your horse." - -He led the horse to the door leading to the middle room, and giving the -signal, was admitted without delay. - -Passing in, he tied the horse near his own, and shouted: - -"Come, Curtiss, Bear-Paw, get your guns and come out; there is some fun -for you!" - -The two men sprung up and followed him, and were soon beside Jehiel, -waiting for the Sioux to make their appearance. - -They soon heard them, moving cautiously up the creek until they arrived -opposite the opening, and there they stood gazing at the falls. - -They had not yet discovered the entrance to the cave, and were -doubtless wondering where the white men could have disappeared so -suddenly. - -"Fire!" cried Bear-Paw, and four of the Indians found a resting-place -beneath the waters of the stream. - -The rest turned to run, but the party of whites sprung behind them, and -before they could reach a protecting shelter of rock, four more were -sent to their final account. - -The scout and Jehiel started in pursuit of the remaining Sioux, but the -old trapper called them back. - -"Jest let 'em go, boys. Ef they don't bring back er pack uv ther -varmint, then yer may say Old Bear-Paw's er liar. Then, yer see, we kin -captur' a good haul uv 'em." - -When they were once more within the cave the old man asked Kelly who -the new-comer was. - -"He is my pardner--the fellow I was telling you about the other day." - -"He's er Yank, ain't he?" - -"Yes," replied Kelly, "but he is all right--I will vouch for him." - -"Wull, kem inter ther other room. Ther old gal must hev dinner ready by -this time, I reckon, an' we'll want er full stomach fur our arternoon's -work." - -Their dinner consisted of a huge venison roast, strong coffee, and wild -honey; and though not an elaborate bill of fare, it was one to which -every one of the party could do full justice. - -After dinner the old trapper called Kelly to one side, and said: - -"Thar's somebody a-top uv this yer hill, an' I'm er goin' ter find out -who it ar'. Wull yer go erlong?" - -"Certainly," replied the scout. - -Jehiel wanted to accompany them, but when the scout told him there was -danger of soiling his clothes, he laughed and said he "b'lieved he'd -stay there and have a nap." - - - - - CHAPTER XII. - - COURTSHIP UNDER DIFFICULTIES. - - -The old trapper and Kelly made their way quietly to the top of the hill -through the canyon before mentioned, and were immediately discovered by -the Blackfeet, who rushed for their arms and were about to fire upon -the two white men, when Gray Eagle interposed his authority, he having -recognized the scout. - -The two white men walked into the Blackfoot camp and seating themselves -beside the fire, entered into conversation with the chief. - -"Red Pine, the Sioux, has taken the daughter of Gray Eagle once more," -he said. "Can White Panther tell who is to rescue her?" - -"It is as much your business as anybody's, I should say," replied the -scout, who had heard what Gray Eagle had said about him to Jehiel and -Snowdrop. - -"Does White Panther remember his promise?" - -"Yes. But it seems that the chief of the Blackfeet has forgotten his," -replied the scout. - -"No. Gray Eagle never forgets! When the White Panther does _all_ he -promised, then the pale-faces can come and go when they please, among -the Black Hills." - -The scout felt the spirit of perverseness rising within him. - -"I don't know as I care very much about it any more," he replied. -"It is all the same to me if Red Pine keeps the Blackfoot queen, and -starves her father to death--as it seems he can if he wants to. Jehiel -told me all about it, chief, how you was going off home without making -an effort to find me, after I had risked my life half a dozen times for -you and your daughter!" - -"Snowdrop loves the White Panther," suggested Gray Eagle. - -"I don't care if she does; I don't love her, and I have told her -so; and if she had not made a fool of herself by running after me, -she would not now be in the hands of the Sioux. But no matter about -that--_you_ don't love me, if she does; and I am half a mind to let the -Sioux starve you out." - -"That will never be!" replied the chief. "Gray Eagle has made the smoke -signals which will bring every warrior in the Blackfoot village to -fight the Sioux. Then Gray Eagle can go down and fight them, too, and -when he has killed them all, he will take White Panther prisoner, and -_make_ him marry Snowdrop!" - -"You must be an old fool!" retorted the scout. "But then, I won't -quarrel with you. When you get ready to take me prisoner, please let me -know, and perhaps I can help you--and, chief, if it should accidentally -happen that you get taken yourself, let me know that, too; and if I -don't help you, it will be because I don't want to!" - -The scout and his companion were turning to leave, when Gray Eagle -asked: - -"What is to hinder Gray Eagle from going down where his pale-face -brothers go?" - -"Perhaps nothing--perhaps much!" replied the scout. "In the first -place, there is some one down there who will shoot the first Indian he -sees, whether Blackfoot or Sioux! That is reason enough, and if it was -not, there is a better one--I don't want you to go down there!" - -The old chief could not avoid showing surprise at the bold, and -even threatening language of the scout, and he concluded to adopt a -different course. - -"Would White Panther see the father of Snowdrop, who loves the -pale-face, die here? Gray Eagle has nothing to eat." - -"There is no one to blame but yourself," replied the scout. "You should -have brought up provisions enough to last you. Are you very hungry?" - -"Yes," replied Gray Eagle. - -"Then why don't you go down and fight the Sioux? They have plenty to -eat, and the plains are covered with buffalo." - -"The Sioux can not come up, neither can the warriors of Gray Eagle go -down!" - -"Then why don't you stand up here and pick them off, one at a time? -If you could manage to shoot Red Pine, the rest would leave--then you -could go down and have things all your own way!" - -The remarks of the scout were very tantalizing, and the old chief -nearly choked himself trying to smother his anger. - -"Come, Bear-Paw," said the scout, "let's go to the edge of the bluff -and see what the Sioux are up to. You come too, chief." - -The three cautiously approached the edge of the cliff and looked down -upon the Sioux camp. - -Every thing was quiet there--the warriors were lying around on the -grass--smoking, sleeping or gambling, as they pleased. - -Snowdrop was sitting at the door of a rudely-constructed teepe, her -head bowed in meditation; while twenty yards away stood the Sioux -chief, engaged in a like manner. None of them had yet observed the -three figures above them. - -"Gray Eagle, have you a bow and arrows?" asked the scout. - -"Yes," replied the chief. - -"Get it, then, and send an arrow down to Snowdrop. I want her to look -up here." - -The chief did so, and a glad smile filled the Indian girl's face when -she saw the scout with her father. - -Now that she knew he was safe, she trusted with all her loving woman's -heart that he would rescue her from her captors. - -Just then two Indians, who had been amusing themselves with a pack of -greasy cards, looked up and saw them, and with a loud yell they sprung -for their guns. - -"Le's salt them fellers," said the old trapper, now speaking for the -first time since he left the cave. - -The two white men discharged their rifles. - -Immediately all was commotion in the Sioux camp. A hundred armed men -sprung to their feet, but there were none of the enemy in sight; and -the howlings over the bodies of their slain warriors were both long and -loud. - -The scout and Bear-Paw then returned to the cave, and seated themselves -beside the fire, and for a few minutes had all they could do to answer -Jehiel's questions. - -"If the Blackfoot chief had any spunk at all, he could easily drive -the Sioux away," said Kelly; "but it seems as if he was completely -discouraged. I'll just bet, if it was me, I would make a big hole in -their ranks before dark!" - -"Oh, Lew!" exclaimed Jehiel, as a new idea struck him, "let's me -and you go up and take the contrack of lickin' the Sioux! Mebbe we -could make some kind of a swap with old Gray Eagle, and get a load of -beaver-skins to carry home with us. What do you say?" - -"I say that we can have a load of something better to carry, without -running any risk." - -"I don't know of any thing any better," said Jehiel. "Beaver and -mink fetch a good price, now-a-days, and we kin make our 'tarnal -fortunes--pervidin', of course, we kin git the contrack. But then, -mebbe, arter we'd licked the Sioux, old Gray Eagle wouldn't pay us for -it--he's an o'nery old thief. What do you suppose is the reason, Lew, -that Snowdrop don't fall in love with me? Ain't I good-lookin' enough? -Can't I shoot as good as the best of them--and hain't I done enough for -her, I'd like to know?" - -"I'm sure I can not tell, Jehiel. Have you said any thing to her about -it?" - -"Yaas, and she give me the mitten quicker 'n spat!" said Jehiel. - -"Well, don't get discouraged--perhaps she will come around all right -yet. Now, Jehiel, supposing you were rich enough to go back to Vermont -and buy out the richest man in your county, would you want to marry an -Indian girl?" - -"In course I would! Darn it all, Lew, I love the gal, and I don't care -whether she is white or black, red or yellow! 'Sides, there hain't no -chance to speculate out here. And I don't never expect to get rich -here." - -"Sit still a minute, and I will convince you to the contrary," said -Kelly, and he produced the bag of gold which the old trapper had given -him, and poured the contents out before the astonished Jehiel. - -"Thunder, Lew! Where did you get all this? Is there any more where -this come from? Du tell me if it's all your'n?" - -"One question at a time, Jehiel--they will last the longer. In the -first place, this bag of gold was a present to me from our friend -Bear-Paw; and I assure you there is plenty more where this came -from--and this is all mine. Under certain circumstances I shall be at -liberty to show you where it came from, and to furnish you enough to -make you richer than the wealthiest man in the State of Vermont! But, -if those circumstances never transpire, then I will divide this with -you." - -The scout would have revealed the secret of the chasm, but he did not -feel at liberty to do so, as the old trapper had trusted to his honor. -He turned to Bear-Paw, and said: - -"Will you show Jehiel your menagerie?" - -"Sartin, ef he wants ter see 'em," replied the old man, leading the way -to the chasm. - -Jehiel had not the slightest intimation of what was before him, and his -astonishment was unbounded when they arrived at the chasm. - -"Jewhillakens!" he exclaimed. "S'pose a feller should walk off here -sometime, would he ever touch bottom?" - -He received no reply, for had there been any, he was too much surprised -just then to have heard it. He saw the old trapper swing off on the end -of the rope, and heard him when he stopped upon the opposite side, and -waved his torch as a signal for the scout to catch the rope. - -"Now," said Kelly, "you go over." - -Jehiel showed signs of cowardice. - -"How fur is it over there?" he asked. - -"About sixty feet," was the reply. - -"But durn it, Lew, I might fall and break my tarnal neck." - -"Oh! there is no danger of that--all you have to do is to hang on to -the rope; and you see there is a big knot in the end, so that your -hands won't slip." - -"But what's the use in goin' over there? Hain't there plenty of room -here?" - -"Yes, I suppose so; but I want to show you something on the other -side," replied the scout. - -"Wal, I hain't afraid, in course, but if it hain't necessary I won't -go!" - -"It _is_ necessary!" answered the scout. - -"Wal, if I must, I must; but the Lord knows I don't want to! And Lew, -if I fall and kill myself, I shall always blame you." - -"All right! I'll take the blame--you hang on to the rope." - -Jehiel let his weight bear on the rope, shut his eyes, and raising his -feet from the floor, soon felt himself swinging through space at a rate -that made him hold his breath, and tighten his grip upon the rope. He -would have retained his hold and swung back again, had not the old -trapper seized him by the arm and stopped him. - -They were soon joined by the scout, and proceeded at once to the -menagerie. - -Here the old trapper stuck his torch in the ground, and spoke with a -voice trembling with emotion: - -"Here's my pets--jest ther best lot uv b'ars an' painters I ever -see'd--an' I've got ter leave 'em! I didn't think uv thet when I got -'em here, sech little fellers; but now I feel thet I'm er goin ter die, -an' thar won't be nobody ter take care uv 'em, an' love 'em as I do!" - -Seeing his evident distress, Kelly said: - -"If there was any way to get them away from here, and to the -settlements, I would agree to take care of them for you. But don't give -way to such feelings, Bear-Paw--you may live many years yet to enjoy -the companionship of your pets." - -The old man bowed his head and remained silent. After a time he asked: - -"Do you care any thing about ther daughter uv ther Blackfoot chief?" - -"No, I do not," replied Kelly. "And yet I would rather see her in other -hands. If I could only rescue her, and get the Sioux chief's scalp, I -should be happy! Then Gray Eagle could have no excuse for not keeping -his promise to me." - -"Then I'll help yer; an' I reckon we kin do it ef anybody kin!" said -the old man. - -"I don't think of any way that we can do it, though." - -"Kin yer talk the Blackfoot language?" - -"Yes," replied the scout. - -"Then let's go ter ther openin' whar we war ther other day, an' mebby -yer kin git er chance ter say suthin ter her." - -They proceeded to the opening, before described, passing the guard, -Barnum, after considerable trouble; for the animal was unusually cross -that day, having been some time without food. - -Here the scout mounted the ladder, and was soon peering through a -fissure at the Sioux camp. Two hours before, he had been upon the hill -nearly a hundred feet above his present position. - -Again fortune favored him, for he saw the Indian girl approaching the -stream close by where he stood. - -The scout waited until she had reached the water's edge, when he gave a -low whistle. - -She looked up, and he spoke to her, making use of the Blackfoot -dialect, which, for the convenience of the reader we will interpret. - -"Snowdrop," said the scout, "when it is dark, come to the place where -you are now, and I will take you away. Bring the Sioux chief with you, -that I may take him a prisoner." - -"Is it White Panther who speaks?" asked the girl. - -"Yes." - -"Snowdrop will come." - -The conversation had not been heard by the Sioux, and Snowdrop returned -to her teepe, while Kelly descended the ladder and stood beside his -friends. The three then returned to the main room to await the coming -of night. - - - - - CHAPTER XIII. - - THE MENAGERIE TO THE RESCUE. - - -About the time that Snowdrop returned to her teepe, a scout came -running into the Sioux camp with the intelligence that a large herd of -buffalo were in sight, a few miles to the east; and within five minutes -two-thirds of the Sioux, including the chief, Red Pine, had gone in -pursuit of them. - -Those within the cave knew nothing of this movement, while the -Blackfeet at the top, though aware of it, were afraid to make an attack. - -Had they been allowed to make use of the pass through which Kelly and -the trapper went up and down, every one of them could have left the -hill and given battle to the few Sioux who were left to guard the pass -and the camp. - -Two days without food had not produced a very enviable state of feeling -among the Blackfoot braves. Treason was rife among them. Mutterings of -discontent arose on every hand, and those who all their lives had been -accustomed to render the strictest obedience, now felt the spirit of -rebellion. - -The young chief, who had led the party from their village, was loud in -his denunciations of the policy adopted by the old chief. He used every -argument in his power to prove that the old man was in his dotage, and -unfit to be intrusted with the government of the nation. - -It is quite probable that had he put the question to an actual vote, at -that time, the "house" would have been divided in his favor; and it is -equally probable that had Gray Eagle known what was "in the wind," the -young chief's head would have had something in it besides brains. - -But Red Pine was not the first man who has stood aghast at that big -little word, _If_. - -The old trapper, after consulting with the scout, concluded that it -would be best not to say anything to the rest of the party respecting -their plans. So that when the shadows of twilight were beginning to -close around the Black Hills, the two silently withdrew and crossed the -chasm to the rear opening. - -The hunting party of the Sioux had not yet returned, and Snowdrop would -not come until she could bring the Sioux chief with her. - -The scout was not long in determining the cause of her delay, when he -saw the hunting party coming across the plain. - -He explained the situation of affairs to Bear-Paw. - -"But," he said, "the girl will surely come, and she will bring the -chief with her. Now, if you have another rope, I can make a lasso, and -when she brings him near the rock I will throw it over his head; and -we can draw him up without killing him. We can draw the girl up in the -same way." - -"I've got er rope, an' we'll jest do it as yer hev' planned," replied -the old man. - -He then led his pet, Barnum, into the menagerie, where he secured him -among the rest. - -"Thar," he said, "you're all on yer crosser nor ther dickens, an' -thet's all right! I'll hev' some work fur yer purty soon, an' I'll pay -yer in raw Injuns. Jest keep quiet now till I kem fur yer--then yer may -howl, an' snarl, an' fight, an' kill jest all yer a mind ter!" - -Then he secured more ropes and took them to the edge of the chasm, -where he deposited them upon the floor. Evidently he was looking ahead. -Selecting a long, small one he returned to the scout. - -Kelly soon had the running noose made in the lasso, and stood awaiting -the appearance of Snowdrop and the Sioux chief. Presently he heard the -voice of the Indian girl, saying: - -"Let the great chief of the Sioux go with Snowdrop to the other side of -the stream, where she can talk to him without his warriors hearing. -Snowdrop had words that the chief alone must hear." - -Red Pine was flattered and readily consented to the arrangement. He -hoped that the Blackfoot maiden had changed her mind, and was about to -comply with his wishes. - -When they were standing upon the opposite side the girl said: - -"Snowdrop can not see her people starve to death! Will not the great -chief of the Sioux let them come down?" - -"If the Blackfoot Queen will go with Red Pine, and be his squaw, then -her father and his people may come down. Red Pine will divide his meat -with them, and the two tribes shall be at peace forever!" - -"Snowdrop will go with the chief of the Sioux, and will be his wife--if -there is no other way to save her father's life." - -"There is no other way! The Blackfoot Queen has made Red Pine happy! He -will now take his warriors away from the pass, and Gray Eagle may come -down." - -Snowdrop did not know what to say. She was not quite sure that the -scout was there, or feared that he had been there and left again -because she was too late. - -She did not see the tall form of the scout rise from the rock, not a -dozen feet above where she stood; she did not see the coil of rope -shoot out and descend square over the head of the chief. - -But she did see the noose slip down over his arms and tighten. - -She saw him raised from the ground, and hang suspended in mid-air. She -saw another rope lowered to her, and heard the scout say: - -"Hang on to that, Snowdrop, and I will pull you up!" - -She seized the rope and was soon beside the scout. She flung her arms -around his neck, and was about to thank him, when the old trapper -interrupted: - -"No time fur foolin' now! Take her, Kelly, an' cross ther kasm with -her, an' hurry back ter me!" - -The scout did as requested, and came back to the opening. - -The body of the Sioux chief still swung in the air, and he was -exercising his lungs by calling upon his warriors for help. When the -trapper saw that the whole Sioux camp was astir, he said, "Now less -snake him in!" - -The scout seized the rope with him, and in an incredibly short space of -time the Sioux chief was within the cave. Dragging him to the edge of -the chasm, the old trapper tied his hands behind him and bound his feet -together. - -"Here, Kelly," he said, "now yer strap him onter my back, an' I'll -take him over thar. Yer kin stay here ef yer wants ter see some fun -arterwards!" - -The Sioux chief was tied to the back of the old trapper, who swung off, -and landing in safety upon the other side, called Jehiel to come and -take him off. - -This done, the old trapper returned to the scout. "Now then, fur ther -end," he said. - -By this time the Sioux were pouring into the cave. - -"Quick!" exclaimed the old man. "Git inter ther menagery!" - -He began at once releasing the hungry animals, and then Kelly -understood the horrid doom to which Bear-Paw was about to consign the -Sioux. - -"Here, Barnum, yer kin go first! Fight, scratch, bite, any way ter -kill; only kill all yer kin! An' here, yer, Andy Jackson, pile out thar -an' help yer brother!" - -The other animals were let loose, and with fearful screams they sprung -for the opening, closely followed by the scout and Bear-Paw. - -The work of carnage was soon ended in the cave, but the infuriated -animals did not pause here. - -Down they dashed upon the horror-stricken Sioux, who mingled their -yells of despair with the fearful screams of the panthers, and the roar -of the grizzlies. - -Those of the Sioux who were not disabled mounted their horses and sped -away over the plain, to carry the tale of their fearful, inglorious -defeat to the Sioux village. - -The animals did not pursue them very far, but fell to eating the huge -hams of buffalo, which the Sioux had brought in for an altogether -different purpose. They were soon gorged to their fullest extent, and -of their own accord returned to the room in the cave which they had so -long occupied. - -"I'm er goin' down ter see what ther critters hev left," said Bear-Paw. -"I won't be gone but er minit." - -He was about to descend, when a wounded Sioux at the bottom of the rock -raised his gun, and sent the contents into the body of the old trapper. - -At that distance it could but prove fatal. It was the last spasmodic -effort of the Sioux, and his life went out with it. - -The old trapper fell back into the arms of the scout, who bore him to -the inner room, and laid him upon a pile of furs beside the fire. - -Through all the exertions of the scout to restore life, the old man lay -senseless. - -For nearly an hour he remained in this state, while his friends looked -on in mute sympathy. - -When his consciousness returned, he recognized the scout, and said: - -"Kelly, yesterday I told you I would sometime relate the story of my -life, and I will do it now, if God spares my life long enough. I have -felt a strange presentiment of evil for several days, and now I know -that I have but a few hours to live, and I will be as brief as possible. - -"I told you to call me Bear-Paw--my true name is Gallaudet. I was born -in Scotland, and my father emigrated to this country when I was ten -years of age. I say emigrated, but he did not. He started, but the -vessel never reached America. - -"When nearly in the middle of the Atlantic, the vessel was wrecked in -a storm, and all but four perished. My parents found a grave in the -ocean, while through an inscrutable dispensation of Divine Providence, -I was saved. Three days after the storm, we were picked up by a vessel -bound for New Orleans, where we arrived in due season. - -"When the story of our misfortunes became known, I was offered a home -with a wealthy gentleman of that city, and was by him educated, and -started in business. When I was twenty-one my kind guardian died, -leaving no family but one lovely daughter. - -"She became my wife, and for five years longer we lived happily -together. - -"At that time I engaged in a speculation which proved disastrous, and I -awoke one morning to find the bulk of my fortune swept away. I resolved -to go to California, and to that end set out with a party of emigrants, -taking with me my wife and the little golden-haired daughter who had -been born during the first year of our married life, and also this -colored woman, whom you see here. - -"Near the western borders of Texas, the train was attacked by Apaches, -and I saw my wife struck down before me, and my little one carried off. -With no friend left but old Chloe, and no property but my rifle, I was -tempted to take my own life, but better counsel prevailed. - -"There is no need to tell you of the many years since then--how, after -long wanderings, I found myself among these hills, and while trapping, -discovered the entrance to this cave. Here Chloe and I have lived these -many weary, weary years. The animals you have seen were taken when -young, and have lost all their desire to leave here. - -"It pains me more than you can well imagine to leave them, for they -have been a comfort, even to my broken heart. I would rather kill them -myself than to know that they would ever suffer ill-treatment at the -hands of another. - -"It was a singular fancy of mine to print upon the left arm of my -daughter, just above the elbow, a square and compass, in India ink. -But I have long since given up all hope of ever meeting her on earth. -When I first saw the Sioux girl, Nulela, I was struck by the remarkable -resemblance she bore my wife. Indeed, she is the perfect picture of my -lost one at her age. But she says she is the sister of the Sioux chief, -and for the last time, my hopes are blasted. Should you ever meet a -woman bearing upon her arm that figure, tell her how her father died. - -"You have promised me, Kelly, that you would take care of my old -servant, and I have faith to believe you. It will not be for many years. - -"To you I give the furs in this room. There are many of them, well -preserved and very valuable. To you I also give the secret of the -chasm. You will find enough there to make you all rich--richer than -your wildest fancy could ever picture! And now I have one more request -to make. It is that you will bury me in the bottom of the chasm--will -you do it?" - -"It shall be done," sobbed the scout. - -The old man sunk back upon his couch, patiently and silently awaiting -the coming of the dread messenger, Death. - -But it possessed no terrors for him. - -The Sioux chief spoke to his sister: - -"Let Nulela show her arm to the old man." - -The girl tore the sleeve from her left arm, and displayed to the -wondering group the blue figure of a square and compass thereon. - -"Bear-Paw was right, after all," said the scout. "When he awakes we -will tell him." - -The old man moved restlessly. His pulse was growing faster and weaker. - -"I thought I saw her," he murmured. - -"Who?" - -"My angel wife and my little Marguerite." - -"Look here, Bear-Paw," and the scout held up Nulela's arm so that he -could see the figures thereon. - -"It is her--my daughter--my long-lost daughter!" and father and child -were locked in a loving embrace. - -His mind wandered: - -"Wife, wife--I am coming--I have found her at last!" - -His arms, clasped about the neck of his daughter, slowly relaxed, and -with the sacred name of wife upon his lips, the old man's soul went out -to meet the loved ones beyond the River of Death. - - - - - CHAPTER XIV. - - JUST AS EXPECTED. - - -But little remains for us to tell. - -The body of the old trapper was taken to the bottom of the chasm, and -buried. After they had returned to the fire--for they all accompanied -the old man to his last resting-place--the scout called Snowdrop to -him, and said: - -"Will you go to the top of the cliff, and bring your father down here? -I must see him!" - -"Snowdrop will go," replied the girl. - -The scout led the way to the main entrance, and showed her the pass up -which she was to climb, and in a short time he saw her enter the cavern -accompanied by her father. - -Kelly led the way to the inner cave, and then addressed the old chief: - -"Does Gray Eagle remember his promise?" - -"Yes: Gray Eagle never forgets! It was that if the White Panther should -take his daughter from Red Pine, and bring him the scalp of the chief, -there should be peace between the Blackfeet and the pale-face forever!" - -"Your memory is pretty good, chief," replied Kelly. "Now you have your -daughter--here is Red Pine, scalp and all! Are you satisfied?" - -"It is well! Gray Eagle will do as he has promised; but he will take -the Sioux dog to the village of the Blackfeet, and torture him to -death." - -"Well, take him and go! And I warn you never to come near this place -again--a sudden and fearful death awaits you if you do. Now go!" - -The old chief removed the cord which bound the feet of Red Pine, never -doubting but that he could keep possession so long as his hands were -tied. - -Red Pine rose to his feet and said: - -"A chief of the Sioux does not fear to die! Let the Blackfoot lead the -way!" - -Gray Eagle was about to reply when Red Pine broke from his grasp, and -sprung in the direction of the rear entrance. - -All was darkness there, and he seemed to have forgotten the existence -of the chasm. - -He made the discovery too late! - -The yell of defiance changed to one of terror as the Sioux went -whirling down to the bottom of the chasm, and the pursuers were only -in time to hear the echoes of the dull _thud_ as he struck the rocky -bottom, a shapeless mass of flesh. - -Gray Eagle recoiled in horror from the brink of the chasm and the party -returned to the fire. - -"Come," said the old chief to his daughter--but she did not stir. - -"Snowdrop loves the White Panther, and will never leave him again!" - -Gray Eagle did not know what to say or do, neither did the scout; -but he saw that something must be done, and he dreaded a scene. He -approached the Indian girl, and taking her hand said: - -"It may be a disappointment to you, Snowdrop, but it is one you will -live through. You must obey your father! In the morning I shall start -for my home, and you can not go along! I shall probably never see you -again--so you may as well give up this love notion of yours. I would -rather be a brother to you, and will always be your friend--nothing -more. Now go with your father!" - -The Blackfoot queen bowed her head, and sobbed aloud. - -So rude a repulse--so decided a refusal, kindly spoken, it is true, but -firmly--such a wealth of tender soul-love to be cast aside--was more -than she could bear. - -"Look a-here," said Jehiel, once more taking hope, "you know I love -you, desput bad, Snowdrop. Hain't I rescued you from the durned Indians -half a dozen times? S'posen you take me? You can't git Lew, that's -sartin! We'll stay right here--I'll buy the old man's traps, and we'll -jest be as happy as any two kittens!" - -What a strange revulsion of feeling! - -Snowdrop put her hand in Jehiel's and said: - -"Snowdrop will stay, and be the wife of Long Hunter!" - -What need to recount the homeward journey--unless the reader may wish -to know what became of the other characters? - -Captain Curtiss and the lovely Nulela were married immediately upon -their arrival in Yankton--the nearest place where a minister could be -found. - -Lew Kelly made happy the heart of his little wife by his return. He -gave up scouting, for the gift of Bear-Paw had placed him beyond the -need of work. He is one of our living heroes, and could, undoubtedly, -have told this story much better than I have done. - -As neither Snowdrop nor Jehiel had any conscientious scruples about -marriage, they remained where they were. Jehiel still inhabits the cave -in the Black Hills, happy as mortal can well be, in the love of the -BLACKFOOT QUEEN. - - - 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 Mat. 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 Island 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 Robins. - 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 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. - -*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK OLD BEAR-PAW, THE TRAPPER -KING *** - -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. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part -of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm -concept and trademark. Project Gutenberg is a registered trademark, -and may not be used if you charge for an eBook, except by following -the terms of the trademark license, including paying royalties for use -of the Project Gutenberg trademark. If you do not charge anything for -copies of this eBook, complying with the trademark license is very -easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose such as creation -of derivative works, reports, performances and research. Project -Gutenberg eBooks may be modified and printed and given away--you may -do practically ANYTHING in the United States with eBooks not protected -by U.S. copyright law. Redistribution is subject to the trademark -license, especially commercial redistribution. - -START: FULL LICENSE - -THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE -PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK - -To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free -distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work -(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project -Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full -Project Gutenberg-tm License available with this file or online at -www.gutenberg.org/license. - -Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works - -1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to -and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property -(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all -the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or -destroy all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your -possession. If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a -Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound -by the terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the -person or entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph -1.E.8. - -1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be -used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who -agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few -things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works -even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See -paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this -agreement and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works. See paragraph 1.E below. - -1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the -Foundation" or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection -of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual -works in the collection are in the public domain in the United -States. If an individual work is unprotected by copyright law in the -United States and you are located in the United States, we do not -claim a right to prevent you from copying, distributing, performing, -displaying or creating derivative works based on the work as long as -all references to Project Gutenberg are removed. Of course, we hope -that you will support the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting -free access to electronic works by freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm -works in compliance with the terms of this agreement for keeping the -Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with the work. You can easily -comply with the terms of this agreement by keeping this work in the -same format with its attached full Project Gutenberg-tm License when -you share it without charge with others. - -1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern -what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are -in a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, -check the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this -agreement before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, -distributing or creating derivative works based on this work or any -other Project Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no -representations concerning the copyright status of any work in any -country other than the United States. - -1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: - -1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other -immediate access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear -prominently whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work -on which the phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the -phrase "Project Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, -performed, viewed, copied or distributed: - - 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. - -1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is -derived from texts not protected by U.S. copyright law (does not -contain a notice indicating that it is posted with permission of the -copyright holder), the work can be copied and distributed to anyone in -the United States without paying any fees or charges. If you are -redistributing or providing access to a work with the phrase "Project -Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the work, you must comply -either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 or -obtain permission for the use of the work and the Project Gutenberg-tm -trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. - -1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted -with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution -must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any -additional terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms -will be linked to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works -posted with the permission of the copyright holder found at the -beginning of this work. - -1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm -License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this -work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. - -1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this -electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without -prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with -active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project -Gutenberg-tm License. - -1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, -compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including -any word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access -to or distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format -other than "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official -version posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm website -(www.gutenberg.org), you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense -to the user, provide a copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means -of obtaining a copy upon request, of the work in its original "Plain -Vanilla ASCII" or other form. Any alternate format must include the -full Project Gutenberg-tm License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. - -1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, -performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works -unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. - -1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing -access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works -provided that: - -* You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from - the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method - you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is owed - to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he has - agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the Project - Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments must be paid - within 60 days following each date on which you prepare (or are - legally required to prepare) your periodic tax returns. Royalty - payments should be clearly marked as such and sent to the Project - Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the address specified in - Section 4, "Information about donations to the Project Gutenberg - Literary Archive Foundation." - -* You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies - you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he - does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm - License. You must require such a user to return or destroy all - copies of the works possessed in a physical medium and discontinue - all use of and all access to other copies of Project Gutenberg-tm - works. - -* You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of - any money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the - electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days of - receipt of the work. - -* You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free - distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. - -1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic work or group of works on different terms than -are set forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing -from the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the manager of -the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the Foundation as set -forth in Section 3 below. - -1.F. - -1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable -effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread -works not protected by U.S. copyright law in creating the Project -Gutenberg-tm collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may -contain "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate -or corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other -intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or -other medium, a computer virus, or computer codes that damage or -cannot be read by your equipment. - -1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right -of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project -Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all -liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal -fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT -LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE -PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE -TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE -LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR -INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH -DAMAGE. - -1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a -defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can -receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a -written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you -received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium -with your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you -with the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in -lieu of a refund. If you received the work electronically, the person -or entity providing it to you may choose to give you a second -opportunity to receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If -the second copy is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing -without further opportunities to fix the problem. - -1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth -in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS', WITH NO -OTHER WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT -LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. - -1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied -warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of -damages. If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement -violates the law of the state applicable to this agreement, the -agreement shall be interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or -limitation permitted by the applicable state law. The invalidity or -unenforceability of any provision of this agreement shall not void the -remaining provisions. - -1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the -trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone -providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in -accordance with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the -production, promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works, harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, -including legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from any of -the following which you do or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this -or any Project Gutenberg-tm work, (b) alteration, modification, or -additions or deletions to any Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any -Defect you cause. - -Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm - -Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of -electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of -computers including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It -exists because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations -from people in all walks of life. - -Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the -assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's -goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will -remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure -and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future -generations. To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation and how your efforts and donations can help, see -Sections 3 and 4 and the Foundation information page at -www.gutenberg.org - -Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation - -The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non-profit -501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the -state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal -Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification -number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent permitted by -U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. - -The Foundation's business office is located at 809 North 1500 West, -Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887. Email contact links and up -to date contact information can be found at the Foundation's website -and official page at www.gutenberg.org/contact - -Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg -Literary Archive Foundation - -Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without -widespread public support and donations to carry out its mission of -increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be -freely distributed in machine-readable form accessible by the widest -array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations -($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt -status with the IRS. - -The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating -charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United -States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a -considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up -with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations -where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To SEND -DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any particular -state visit www.gutenberg.org/donate - -While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we -have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition -against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who -approach us with offers to donate. - -International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make -any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from -outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. - -Please check the Project Gutenberg web pages for current donation -methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other -ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. To -donate, please visit: www.gutenberg.org/donate - -Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works - -Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project -Gutenberg-tm concept of a library of electronic works that could be -freely shared with anyone. For forty years, he produced and -distributed Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of -volunteer support. - -Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed -editions, all of which are confirmed as not protected by copyright in -the U.S. unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not -necessarily keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper -edition. - -Most people start at our website which has the main PG search -facility: www.gutenberg.org - -This website includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, -including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to -subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/old/68513-0.zip b/old/68513-0.zip Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 06cb317..0000000 --- a/old/68513-0.zip +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/68513-h.zip b/old/68513-h.zip Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 475dd78..0000000 --- a/old/68513-h.zip +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/68513-h/68513-h.htm b/old/68513-h/68513-h.htm deleted file mode 100644 index 373114e..0000000 --- a/old/68513-h/68513-h.htm +++ /dev/null @@ -1,5009 +0,0 @@ -<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" - "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> -<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> - <head> - <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=utf-8" /> - <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> - <title> - The Project Gutenberg eBook of Old Bear-paw, by Maj. Max Martine.. - </title> - <link rel="coverpage" href="images/cover.jpg" /> - - <style type="text/css"> - -body { - margin-left: 10%; - margin-right: 10%; -} - - h1,h2,h3 { - text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ - clear: both; -} - -p { - margin-top: .51em; - text-align: justify; - margin-bottom: .49em; -} - -hr { - width: 33%; - margin-top: 2em; - margin-bottom: 2em; - margin-left: 33.5%; - margin-right: 33.5%; - clear: both; -} - -hr.chap {width: 65%; margin-left: 17.5%; margin-right: 17.5%;} -hr.tb {width: 45%; margin-left: 27.5%; margin-right: 27.5%;} - -.blockquot { - margin-left: 5%; - margin-right: 10%; -} - -.poetry .stanza -{ - margin: 1em auto; -} - -.poetry .verse -{ - padding-left: 3em; -} - -.smcap { font-variant:small-caps; } - -.center {text-align: center;} - -.right {text-align: right;} - -/* Images */ -.figcenter { - margin: auto; - text-align: center; -} - -x-ebookmaker-drop {display: none;} - -div.titlepage { - text-align: center; - page-break-before: always; - page-break-after: always; -} - -div.titlepage p { - text-align: center; - text-indent: 0em; - font-weight: bold; - line-height: 1.5; - margin-top: 3em; -} - -.ph1 { text-align: center; text-indent: 0em; } -.ph1 { font-size: medium; margin: .67em auto; } - -.ph2 { text-align: right; text-indent: 0em; } -.ph2 { font-size: medium; margin: .67em auto; } - - - </style> - </head> -<body> -<p style='text-align:center; font-size:1.2em; font-weight:bold'>The Project Gutenberg eBook of Old Bear-Paw, The Trapper King, by Max Martine</p> -<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:0; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Title: Old Bear-Paw, The Trapper King</p> -<p style='display:block; margin-left:2em; text-indent:0; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:1em;'>The Love of a Blackfoot Queen</p> -<p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Author: Max Martine</p> -<p style='display:block; text-indent:0; margin:1em 0'>Release Date: July 12, 2022 [eBook #68513]</p> -<p style='display:block; text-indent:0; margin:1em 0'>Language: English</p> - <p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em; text-align:left'>Produced by: David Edwards, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (Northern Illinois University Digital Library)</p> -<div style='margin-top:2em; margin-bottom:4em'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK OLD BEAR-PAW, THE TRAPPER KING ***</div> - -<div class="figcenter x-ebookmaker-drop"> - <img src="images/illusc.jpg" alt=""/> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="titlepage"> - -<h1>OLD BEAR-PAW,</h1> - -<h2>THE TRAPPER KING;</h2> - -<h3>OR,</h3> - -<h2>THE LOVE OF A BLACKFOOT QUEEN.</h2> - -<h2>BY MAJ. MAX MARTINE.</h2> - -<p>AUTHOR OF POCKET NOVEL No. 67. "SHARP-EYE."</p> - -<p>NEW YORK:<br /> -BEADLE AND ADAMS, PUBLISHERS,<br /> -98 WILLIAM STREET.</p> - -<p>Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1873 by<br /> -BEADLE AND ADAMS,<br /> -In the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.</p> - -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<h2>CHAPTER I.</h2> - -<h3>THE BROKEN CHIEF.</h3> - - -<p>"I wonder what has become of that everlasting Yankee? He promised to -meet me here at noon, yet I have stood here and seen the shadows of -these old pines lengthen for the last hour. Surely something must have -happened to detain him, for he never deceived me yet, and I do not like -to believe he will commence now—"</p> - -<p>"Yew are 'tarnal right; he won't!" interrupted the second speaker, who -was no other than the "everlasting Yankee" himself.</p> - -<p>Thus soliloquized the celebrated scout, Lew Kelly, and thus replied -his tried friend and companion, Jehiel Filkins, as they stood upon a -peak of the Black Hills, west a five-day's ride from Fort Randall—the -nearest place where white men could be found, for they were already in -the hunting-grounds of the Blackfeet.</p> - -<p>The two scouts, well-mounted, and armed to the teeth, were spending -a sort of vacation in that dreaded vicinity to satisfy themselves as -to the truth of certain rumors, rife at Fort Randall and Yankton, -concerning the gold, which it was asserted was laying around loose -in the ravines and damp, dark gulches of the Black Hills; and of the -existence, in the hills and valleys of the North-west, of bear, elk, -antelope and beaver, which an adventurous scout had asserted made that -country a perfect paradise for the hunter and trapper.</p> - -<p>They had gone far enough, and seen enough to convince them that there -was good foundation for these rumors. Gold they had found in the black -sand washed down from the hills, and in the quartz ledges underlying or -jutting out from the very crag upon which they stood. As to game, they -wondered they had not heard of it before, so abundant was it.</p> - -<p>"What was you sayin', Lew?" asked Filkins. "Are you getting in a hurry -to go home? Wal, I ain't, then. There ain't an Ingin within forty miles -of here, and if there was I know you would not be afeared of them; but -if you will wait just a week longer I will go <i>anywhere</i> with you, if -it's to Halifax."</p> - -<p>"You said those same words, ten days ago, Jehiel, yet here we are, a -hundred miles further west than we were then."</p> - -<p>"Sartin!" replied Jehiel. "But what's the hurry, Lew? You're too old a -scout to get homesick so soon; I wouldn't."</p> - -<p>"Mighty good reason why you wouldn't, and why you never tire out or get -homesick. <i>Your</i> home is wherever you happen to find yourself, and you -care for nothing but that old coat of yours. Besides, you forget that -away over the hills there a dear little wife is waiting and watching -for me, and no doubt alarmed at my protracted stay."</p> - -<p>"Jes' so, Lew. A scout has no business gettin' married. It e'ena'most -makes a coward outen him—"</p> - -<p>"You lie, and you know it!" exclaimed the scout, angrily. "Have you -forgotten our fight with the Blackfeet, two years ago? Where would your -old yellow scalp have gone to then, if it had not been for me? And -wasn't I married then, you old fool?"</p> - -<p>"Cor-reck, Lew; I take it all back, and beg yer pardon. But, I never -see'd such a kentry fur game as this, and besides, I hev' jes' set my -heart on goin' over to that round peak there where it looks so foggy. -You see it is right on the home stretch, and I can camp there while you -pack up and foller to-morrer."</p> - -<p>"All right, Jehiel; I will wait another day. But if you are bound to go -you had better make a start; it is a good ten miles over there and a -pretty rough trail."</p> - -<p>"Cor-reck ag'in, Lew, and I'll jog along."</p> - -<p>And the Yankee shouldered his rifle and started for the designated -point. He was soon out of sight of the scout, who descended the western -slope of the bluff and made his way to their camp, beside a limpid -stream which flowed through the valley to the north.</p> - -<p>He had nearly reached his camp when a sight met his eye which caused -him to halt and take shelter behind a tree.</p> - -<p>He saw, coming down the valley from the west, three persons on -horseback, who seemed to be riding for dear life.</p> - -<p>Two rode side by side, and fully a hundred yards in advance of the -third, and all were lashing their horses to their best speed.</p> - -<p>Of those pursued, one was evidently a female, and as she was bound, it -was also evident that she was a prisoner.</p> - -<p>The Indian in the rear, who was in such hot pursuit of the foremost, -was lashing his horse in a perfect fury; and as they passed the tree -where the scout was concealed, he said:</p> - -<p>"It looks like a long chase, but I don't see any signs of anybody after -them. If the squaw was only a white woman I would sail in and help her -out of the fix—but then it is none of my business, and I guess I won't -meddle. And I reckon they have too much on their hands now to take any -notice of me."</p> - -<p>Just as he reached his camp he looked after the Indians and saw the -horse of the pursuer drop dead from exhaustion, and its rider was -thrown violently upon the rocky path.</p> - -<p>The Indian lay so very still that the scout thought he must be dead, -and he started out to ascertain.</p> - -<p>As he approached the fallen Indian, he discovered that he was still -conscious, though unable to stand upon his feet.</p> - -<p>The Indian was the first to break silence.</p> - -<p>"Me know you—you are White Panther!"</p> - -<p>"Yes, that is what some folks call me. But who are you, and what is the -matter with you?"</p> - -<p>"Me Gray Eagle, big chief of the Blackfeet. Heap matter! Leg broke, arm -broke! Red Pine, the Sioux, has stolen Snowdrop, the daughter of Gray -Eagle, and if I can not get her back, then my heart broke!"</p> - -<p>"Then you are old Gray Eagle, are you? Are you alone?"</p> - -<p>"Gray Eagle all alone. Kill him if you want."</p> - -<p>"Well, I don't know as I want to; scalping broken-legged Indians is not -my business, just now. But, I'll tell you what I will do! If you will -agree not to make war upon the whites again, but let them hunt and trap -in these hills when they please, I will go for Snowdrop, and I will not -return until I bring her and Red Pine's scalp! What do you say?"</p> - -<p>"Gray Eagle will promise!"</p> - -<p>"But your promise is not worth shucks unless you swear to it."</p> - -<p>"Gray Eagle will swear!"</p> - -<p>"Swear by the Great Spirit?"</p> - -<p>"Yes."</p> - -<p>"Swear by your knife and your tomahawk, and your horse?—even if he is -dead he is good enough to swear by."</p> - -<p>"Yes, I swear by all these that I will be a friend to the pale-faces as -long as I live if Snowdrop is saved."</p> - -<p>"Well, I don't know but that is about all you can do, and I will trust -you; though if Jehiel was here he would say, 'Shoot him and let the -Sioux keep the gal.' But I will carry you to my camp, and then I will -go for Snowdrop; and I'll get her, too, if I have to follow Red Pine -clear home!"</p> - -<p>The scout raised the chief in his arms and carried him to the camp.</p> - -<p>"There," he said, as he laid the chief upon a blanket, "you keep quiet -until I come back."</p> - -<p>He called his horse, a beautiful black stallion, and mounting, started -on the trail of the Sioux.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<h2>CHAPTER II.</h2> - -<h3>SMITTEN.</h3> - - -<p>The daughter of Gray Eagle was one of the very few handsome Indian -women. Though not more than sixteen years of age, she deserved the -proud distinction she had won of being the flower of the Blackfoot -nation, and the only really beautiful girl in the tribe.</p> - -<p>Dozens of chiefs had sought in vain to win her heart; even brave -warriors from other tribes had offered fabulous gifts for her; but her -father gave them all the same answer—that Snowdrop was the idol of his -heart, and that he would not force her to marry a brave she did not -like.</p> - -<p>As for Snowdrop herself, she had never loved any one except her father, -and consequently none of the braves received any encouragement.</p> - -<p>But, Red Pine, a cruel chief of the Sioux, had seen her, and with him, -to see her was to covet her; so he did not ask the consent of any one, -but, watching his chance when the Blackfeet were nearly all gone on a -hunt, and Gray Eagle was confined by sickness, he had stolen her away.</p> - -<p>Gray Eagle had followed on the trail, and when within rifle-shot of the -Sioux, had met with the accident already narrated.</p> - -<p>Red Pine, seeing the fall of Gray Eagle, immediately slackened his -speed so as to save his horse as much as possible; for the chase -had been a long one, and they were now fully thirty miles from the -Blackfoot village. But he would not have ridden so slowly had he known -who was upon his trail in the place of Gray Eagle.</p> - -<p>"Would Snowdrop like to rest?" he asked.</p> - -<p>The only reply he received was a flash of scorn from the wondrously -black eyes of the captive.</p> - -<p>"Ugh!" he grunted. "Snowdrop mad now, but by-and-by Red Pine <i>make</i> her -talk!"</p> - -<p>Snowdrop looked back to see what had become of her father, as she could -no longer hear the sound of his horse's feet.</p> - -<p>Red Pine also looked back and saw, what she evidently did not, that a -well-armed and well-mounted white man was upon his trail. Furiously he -lashed the horses ridden by himself and Snowdrop, and once more they -flew down the rough valley.</p> - -<p>Not long before he had received a severe chastisement at the hands of -a party of white men, and he actually dreaded this single man who was -now in pursuit of him more than he would have done the whole Blackfoot -nation.</p> - -<p>Lash as he would, his pursuer rapidly gained upon him. He stopped his -horse, and placing himself behind Snowdrop, he drew her to him so that -her form covered his breast, and drawing his knife, held it above her -breast, resolved to kill her rather than give her up.</p> - -<p>Snowdrop was prepared for the blow, but it never fell. With a howl of -mingled rage and pain, the Sioux sprung from his horse, his arm hanging -limp and useless at his side, and darted into the bushes, where it was -impossible for any one to follow him, just as the scout rode up.</p> - -<p>Snowdrop, when she discovered that she had merely changed captors, was -at first inclined to be angry, but when Kelly drew his knife and cut -the thongs which bound her hands, at the same time saying that she was -free, she replied:</p> - -<p>"Snowdrop can not thank the pale-face, but he has saved her life, and -now she is his."</p> - -<p>"Gracious! I don't want you!" replied the scout. "Now you hold my horse -until I find that red-skin and get his scalp, then I will take you to -your father."</p> - -<p>But he was unsuccessful. The Sioux had taken care to hide his trail, -and the scout soon returned, and mounting his horse, led the way back -to camp.</p> - -<p>Neither spoke, but Snowdrop thought, "What a handsome man he is," and -for the first time in her life she was in love. She had yet to learn -that it takes two to make a bargain, though she resolved to win the -love of the brave scout, or die.</p> - -<p>When they reached the camp where Kelly had left the old chief, they -found him sitting beside the fire, endeavoring to tie a cloth around -his broken leg. An expression of pleasure lit up his swarthy face as he -saw his daughter unharmed; then, as his eye rested upon the belt of the -scout, Kelly said, as if anticipating his thoughts:</p> - -<p>"No; the red devil got away that time. You see, I had to break his arm, -or he would have struck the girl to the heart. But never mind, I will -have his scalp yet; for I never go back on my word with any man, be he -red or white. I brought back his horse for you, and I don't suppose you -are far from your village, so you can go home when you please."</p> - -<p>"White Panther is a great brave, but Red Pine has many warriors with -him, and they may come and take Snowdrop from him. The village of Gray -Eagle is only a day's ride from here; will the white brave build a -smoke to call the warriors of Gray Eagle here?"</p> - -<p>"Yes," replied Kelly, "and while I am about it, suppose you have -Snowdrop get something to eat. There is plenty here," he said, pointing -to several saddles of venison hanging in the trees near by. Then Kelly -went to build the smokes.</p> - -<p>The transparency of the atmosphere in that region is such that objects -can be seen at a great distance; for example, a mountain presents a -distinct and bold outline at fifty or sixty miles, and may occasionally -be seen as far as a hundred miles.</p> - -<p>The Indians, availing themselves of this fact, have been in the habit -of practicing a system of telegraphing by means of smokes by day, -and fires by night, and there are but few men who have crossed the -mountains who have not seen these signals made and responded to from -peak to peak, in rapid succession.</p> - -<p>The Indians thus make known to their friends many items of information -highly important to them. If enemies or strangers make their appearance -in the country, the fact is telegraphed at once, giving them time to -secure their animals and to prepare for attack, defense or flight.</p> - -<p>War or hunting parties, after having been absent a long time from their -friends at home, and not knowing where to find them, make use of the -same preconcerted signals to indicate their presence.</p> - -<p>Very dense smokes may be raised by kindling a large fire with dry wood, -and piling upon it the green boughs of pine, balsam, or hemlock. This -throws off a heavy cloud of black smoke which can be seen very far.</p> - -<p>Kelly proceeded to the top of the bluff where we first met him, and -soon three long, white columns of smoke were rising heavenward. This -done, he returned to his camp, and found dinner awaiting him.</p> - -<p>Snowdrop presented him a nicely broiled steak upon a clean bark plate, -and was well repaid for her trouble by the smile he gave her, and -complimented her upon her skill in cookery.</p> - -<p>After dinner Kelly set the broken limbs as well as was possible with -the appliances at hand. When completed, he said:</p> - -<p>"Will Gray Eagle remain with me until morning? Then I will start on the -trail of the Sioux."</p> - -<p>"Why does my white brother stop here?"</p> - -<p>"I'm waiting for my partner, who went to visit a big hill over to the -north-east. He was going to stay until morning, but that smoke will -bring him as soon as he sees it; anyhow, I won't go without him!"</p> - -<p>"It is right for White Panther to be true to his brother, but the Sioux -will be upon our trail before morning."</p> - -<p>"Well, let them come. If they do, you can make a big addition to your -stock of scalps."</p> - -<p>Suddenly the sound of footsteps was heard, and in a moment Jehiel -Filkins stood before them.</p> - -<p>"Glad you are back, for we have got some work to do."</p> - -<p>"I thought there was something up," he replied, "though I was on my way -back when I see'd your smokes. Then, you just bet, I traveled! But say, -I'm awful hungry! Who is that handsome creetur'?" he asked, as he set -about getting his dinner.</p> - -<p>"Oh! she is the daughter of that old cub who lays in there with a -broken leg."</p> - -<p>"It strikes me I have seen him somewhere, before, but I never see'd -such a pretty gal as that, any place."</p> - -<p>"Well," replied Kelly, "pitch in and make love to her if you want to, -and marry her if you can. I'm sure you need some one to mend your -clothes. But I have not told you yet that we have got to escort them to -their village."</p> - -<p>"Yes, we will," said Jehiel, "and lose our scalps for our kindness!"</p> - -<p>"We won't do any such thing. I have been making a treaty of peace with -Gray Eagle, and he has promised not to fight the pale-faces any more!"</p> - -<p>"Wal, what's an Injun's promise good for?" asked Jehiel.</p> - -<p>"You don't know them as well as I do, or you would not ask such a -question!"</p> - -<p>"No, I s'pose not—nor you don't know 'em as well as you will a year -from now. But," he continued, "if we are going, let us be on the move. -I will eat as we ride along."</p> - -<p>Snowdrop was well pleased when she heard Jehiel speak thus, and smiled -as she said:</p> - -<p>"The Long Hunter is brave and good to be the brother of White Panther."</p> - -<p>"Much obleeged," said Jehiel, "but he ain't my brother, though he is a -bully boy, and fit to be the brother of a king."</p> - -<p>Lifting the wounded chief to his saddle, they started up the valley, -Kelly taking the lead, the chief next, and Snowdrop behind him, while -Jehiel brought up the rear; preferring to be where he could admire the -lovely form of the Indian girl.</p> - -<p>"By Gunner!" he muttered, "but <i>ain't</i> she nice! I'll do something -desperate, and marry her or bu'st!"</p> - -<p>Truth to tell, Jehiel Filkins was desperately and irrevocably in love, -but he was "counting his chickens" too soon.</p> - -<p>In the midst of his reverie he was made aware of a sudden halt, and he -looked up to see what was the matter.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<h2>CHAPTER III.</h2> - -<h3>THE SIOUX STROKE.</h3> - - -<p>When the scout had halted, of course the others stopped and Jehiel -found himself close beside the object of his meditations before he -had fairly recovered from his day-dream. But close ahead he saw a -camp-fire, and the silly lover was at once transformed into the brave -scout.</p> - -<p>He rode to the front, and took his stand beside Kelly with his gun -cocked and ready for service.</p> - -<p>"White men, and a hard-looking lot they are too!" exclaimed Kelly.</p> - -<p>Seated around the camp-fire were a dozen men, who, as soon as they -discovered the party of our friends, sprung to their feet, and stood -ready with their guns.</p> - -<p>"Come on," said Kelly, "we may as well be bold about it, for we are too -close to back out now."</p> - -<p>The strangers stepped out in front of their camp, and waited for the -scout to approach.</p> - -<p>He had seen too many of that class of men before on the plains and -in the mountains, not to know that he had come across a gang of road -agents, through he was at a loss to imagine what they could be after, -in that section.</p> - -<p>He knew that these outlaws were frequently in league with the Indians, -and he did not know but this party were in some way connected with the -Sioux, from whom he was endeavoring to escape.</p> - -<p>The leader of the party of whites was the only good-looking one in the -crowd; the rest wearing a hang-dog, ruffianly look, as if they had been -life-long murderers. The leader saluted Kelly with:</p> - -<p>"Hello, stranger, which way are you going?"</p> - -<p>"North," replied Kelly, "as you can see, if you use your eyes!"</p> - -<p>"Yes, I see; but what are you going for?"</p> - -<p>"It is not evident to my mind that it is any of your business where we -are going," replied the scout. "I don't mind telling you, however, that -we are bound for the village of the Blackfeet."</p> - -<p>"What may I call your name? It strikes me I have seen you somewhere -before to-day."</p> - -<p>"You may call me Robinson Crusoe, if it will do you any good, though -that isn't my name; and it is barely possible you have seen me -somewhere, for I have been there several times."</p> - -<p>"Where?"</p> - -<p>"I told you <i>somewhere</i>!"</p> - -<p>"Well, where are you from?" asked the stranger.</p> - -<p>"Home!" replied Kelly.</p> - -<p>The stranger laughed and said:</p> - -<p>"I am not likely to get much information out of you! I believe there -are some men in this western country who dare not tell their names."</p> - -<p>"You do, eh? Well, I am not one of them," replied Kelly.</p> - -<p>"Who said you was?"</p> - -<p>Kelly made no reply, but turning to his party, said: "Come on," and was -about to start when the stranger again accosted him with—"Won't you -stop and camp with us?"</p> - -<p>The scout noticed the looks which the ruffians bestowed upon the Indian -girl, and did not like them, and he replied:</p> - -<p>"No, I thank you. We have plenty of provisions, and will make our camp -a few rods away."</p> - -<p>"All right," said the leader, "I will come over and make you a visit -after supper."</p> - -<p>Kelly rode on about eighty rods, and halted beside a stream, saying, as -he dismounted:</p> - -<p>"We will camp here. But," he added, "you can all make up your minds to -leave here before daylight."</p> - -<p>"Heap good!" said Gray Eagle. "White Panther knows what is best, and -Gray Eagle trusts his life with him. White Panther has said he would -take him to his village."</p> - -<p>"Yes," replied Kelly, "and I will do it; you need not worry any more."</p> - -<p>The wounded chief was taken from his horse and laid upon the soft -grass, and while Kelly went to find a good place in which to secure the -horses, Snowdrop set about getting the supper. In this occupation she -was assisted by Jehiel, who, as we have said, was desperately in love -with the beautiful squaw.</p> - -<p>Shortly after Kelly had returned to the fire, the leader of the other -party came into their camp, and entered into conversation with him.</p> - -<p>"You were not brought up on the plains, though you seem to be an old -hand at camp-life," he said.</p> - -<p>"How do you know that?" asked Kelly.</p> - -<p>"Because you do not look like a plainsman or a common trapper, neither -do you use such language as is common with that class."</p> - -<p>"I see," laughingly replied Kelly. "You think if a kitten is born -in an oven it must surely be a loaf of bread! But you are mistaken. -I have spent my life, or all of it that I can remember, west of the -Mississippi; and I never went to school a day in my life. Manners and -language are like the small pox, contagious; and if I have caught more -than most men in my calling, it is my good luck, not education."</p> - -<p>"Well, will you tell me your name now?"</p> - -<p>"I don't know of any reason why I should not, as I never done any thing -to disgrace it. It is Kelly; my friends call me Lew, for short—"</p> - -<p>"What! Lew Kelly, the famous scout? Your name is well known all along -the frontier, and I am glad to meet you, though I must confess I am -somewhat disappointed."</p> - -<p>"In what respect?" asked Kelly.</p> - -<p>"Why I expected to see a great burly fellow, who could whip his weight -in wild-cats, but you are not much older than I am; nor much, if any, -larger."</p> - -<p>"A gentle hint that you think you can whip me," said Kelly.</p> - -<p>"No, sir, nothing of the kind; and I hope I may never have any occasion -to try it."</p> - -<p>"You will be liable to get the worth of your money if you do," replied -the scout. "But will you tell me your name?"</p> - -<p>"You may call me Curtiss, if you please—those fellows over there call -me Captain."</p> - -<p>"Well, Captain Curtiss, it is none of my business, perhaps, what you -do, or what becomes of you, who you are, or where you are going; but I -shall not be doing my duty unless I tell you that you are liable to get -into a pretty lively muss before morning."</p> - -<p>"What makes you think so?" asked Curtiss.</p> - -<p>"I have every reason to believe that a large body of Sioux are on our -trail, under Red Pine, the fellow from whom I rescued this girl. If -they do not try to recapture her, then I am no judge of Indian nature."</p> - -<p>"I am much obliged to you," said Curtiss. "I will be ready for them, if -they come. And now, good-night."</p> - -<p>After he had gone, Jehiel sat beside Kelly and talked for nearly an -hour. It was arranged between them that they would remain on guard, and -Jehiel said:</p> - -<p>"Come now, Lew, you turn in and sleep till midnight, and I will take -the first trick at watching."</p> - -<p>"Wait a few minutes," replied Kelly; "I want to see how they are fixed -over there;" and he proceeded to inspect the camp of the strangers.</p> - -<p>He soon returned, and to the inquiry of Jehiel, he said:</p> - -<p>"The fools have all gone to sleep, and left a big fire over there. If -the Sioux should come, they will get the first slice, that's sure." -He gave the fire a kick, and rolling himself in his blanket was soon -asleep.</p> - -<p>The camp-fire of the strangers had burned low and no unnatural sounds -could be heard, when Jehiel awoke the scout to take his place.</p> - -<p>"You should have called me before, Jehiel, you will not get much sleep, -I am afraid."</p> - -<p>"Who keers a durn? I'll be ready when you are!" and Jehiel sought his -blankets and sleep.</p> - -<p>Kelly began his watch, keeping in the shade of the bushes, and for -nearly an hour he heard no unusual noise. Then the breaking of a twig -between himself and the camp-fire of the strangers alarmed him, and -he crouched down to the ground the better to watch the movements of -whatever was prowling around.</p> - -<p>The object was moving as stealthily as a cat, and Kelly could not -discover it until it passed an open spot where the fire light reflected -upon it, when he made the somewhat alarming discovery of a Sioux -warrior; and he had barely time to notice that he was in his war-paint.</p> - -<p>The question arose, what should he do? The problem was solved by the -Indian himself, who was now coming straight toward the tree behind -which the scout was concealed.</p> - -<p>Nearer and nearer he came, until the brave scout could hear him -breathe, and as he passed the tree could have touched him.</p> - -<p>The Indian halted to listen, and apparently satisfied, started on. -He had taken but one step when the scout sprung upon him, and with a -single blow of the keen-pointed knife the Indian sunk to the ground -without a groan.</p> - -<p>It was but the work of a moment for the scout to secure the horses, and -lead them to the camp.</p> - -<p>Here he gave Jehiel a kick which brought that worthy to his feet with -"Durn yer pictur'," when he was interrupted by Kelly placing his hand -over his mouth, and saying:</p> - -<p>"Keep still, and saddle the horses; the Indians are here."</p> - -<p>Then he silently awoke the chief and said, "Let us go." Gray Eagle and -Snowdrop were soon ready for a start.</p> - -<p>"Here, Jehiel, you take the chief and the girl and go on down the -creek; I will join you in a few minutes."</p> - -<p>"Where are you going?" asked Jehiel.</p> - -<p>"I am going to tell the strangers to be on their guard," and the brave -man, unmindful of his own peril, mounted his horse and started for the -camp of the strangers; while Jehiel, and the chief and his daughter, -went down the stream.</p> - -<p>Kelly had got about half-way to the other camp when a dark figure -sprung from the bushes in front of him, and struck at the head of the -scout.</p> - -<p>He missed his mark, but not so Kelly, who reached out and dealt the -Indian a blow between the eyes which brought him to the ground.</p> - -<p>Spurring over the prostrate body he drove into the camp of the -strangers, shouting as he went:</p> - -<p>"Up, men, for your lives! The Sioux are here!"</p> - -<p>A hundred dusky forms sprung up as if by magic, and the air was filled -with murderous yells. Drawing his revolver he shot right and left, an -Indian falling with every shot.</p> - -<p>The first thought of the brave scout was to join his party as soon -as possible, but his afterthought was worthy of him. He knew that to -insure the safety of Jehiel, Gray Eagle, and Snowdrop, he must go in -an opposite direction, and thus lead the Sioux in pursuit of himself -rather than his friends.</p> - -<p>The impulse was a brave and noble one, well worthy of the scout, and he -turned his horse, resolving to trust to his speed.</p> - -<p>A row of angry, painted faces met him, but he charged through their -ranks, shooting two Indians as he went.</p> - -<p>Then he became aware that another horse was close beside his, and -turning in his saddle he beheld Snowdrop, who had followed him, and was -now close by his side.</p> - -<p>"Come on, girl. Ride for your life!" he shouted, "and keep close to me."</p> - -<p>He turned his horse in the direction of the stream, and in a few -minutes both horses were dashing through the water, and up the opposite -bank. The scout never paused except to see that the Indian girl was -safe across, and having satisfied himself on that score he dashed ahead.</p> - -<p>Meanwhile the camp of the strangers was the scene of a bloody conflict. -The white men were battling desperately for their lives, but they had -been surprised, and the scout knew from the rapid and incessant firing, -that the battle could not last long.</p> - -<p>He halted and listened to the noise of the conflict upon the opposite -side of the stream. All at once it ceased, and as he was wondering -which party had met with success, there came to his ears a wild, -prolonged shout, which was answered by a single yell of defiance.</p> - -<p>"That sounds as if them white men had passed in their checks, and the -Sioux had won the battle." He looked at Snowdrop as he spoke, and her -eyes were looking sorrowfully in his own, as she said:</p> - -<p>"My father is a prisoner. He has tried to follow me and the Sioux have -found him. Now he must burn."</p> - -<p>"I guess not," replied the scout; "but why didn't you stay with him and -Jehiel?"</p> - -<p>"Snowdrop had rather <i>die</i> with the White Panther, whom she loves, than -<i>live</i> with any one else!"</p> - -<p>"Well, you are a queer one, though, when I told you I did not want you. -I have one wife already, and that is all the law allows a white man. -But, I'll tell you, Snowdrop, there's Jehiel is in love with you head -over heels, and he will take you if you'll only give him half a chance."</p> - -<p>"The White Panther saved my life, and I will never cook meat for any -other man!"</p> - -<p>"Oh, fudge! You'll get over that before long."</p> - -<p>"Never. What will Snowdrop do now they have taken her father, and will -burn him?"</p> - -<p>"Keep cool, little gal! They have not burned him yet, and I have -promised Gray Eagle that I would give him the scalp of Red Pine, and -I'd do it. They have probably got Jehiel too; and now, girl, it's -about daylight, and I want you to ride as fast as you can to the -village of your people, and bring back all the warriors you can get. -I will stay here and wait for you, and when you get back we will give -them Sioux particular fits!"</p> - -<p>Without a word the Indian girl obeyed, and was soon lost to the sight -of the scout.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<h2>CHAPTER IV.</h2> - -<h3>THE YANKEE'S QUEST.</h3> - - -<p>After the Indian girl had departed on her mission, Kelly rode his -horse into a thicket of willows beside the stream, and tied him. The -scout then ascended the hill and looked in the direction of the late -battle-field, but it was not yet light enough for him to discern any -thing.</p> - -<p>A tall, bushy oak stood near.</p> - -<p>"Just the thing," said the scout. "I'll climb this tree, and then -perhaps I can see what they are about. They are too quiet to suit my -idea, and I shouldn't wonder but they are up to some new deviltry. Of -course they have not found Snowdrop, and as that is about all they are -after they will not give up the search. Then they'll be tramping around -on my trail. But let them come; they will not find the Indian girl, for -she is a good piece toward home by this time."</p> - -<p>The scout was now among the branches of the trees, from which he could -get a good view of the surrounding country, and there, for a short -time, we will leave him and take a look at the camp of the victorious -Sioux.</p> - -<p>Upon the ground sat Gray Eagle, Curtiss, and Jehiel Filkins, while in -front of them stood Red Pine, the Sioux chief.</p> - -<p>"Ugh!" he said, addressing Gray Eagle, "Red Pine has got you at last; -and now as soon as he gets Snowdrop he will start for home!"</p> - -<p>"Red Pine will never get her. She is far toward the village of the -Blackfeet, with the White Panther, and will bring enough of the -warriors of Gray Eagle upon the trail of the cowardly Sioux that will -sweep them from the face of the earth!"</p> - -<p>"Waugh! Gray Eagle talks brave! He forgets that he is the prisoner of -Red Pine."</p> - -<p>"No, Gray Eagle does not forget. He is ready to die; he does not care -as long as his daughter is safe."</p> - -<p>"Before the sun goes down Snowdrop will be a prisoner like her father. -Sioux warriors are on her trail, and she rides alone. The pale-face has -left her to take care of herself, and she shall yet sit in the lodge of -Red Pine!"</p> - -<p>"Then let me die!" said Gray Eagle.</p> - -<p>"No. The Blackfoot shall go to the village of the Sioux, and when he -sees Snowdrop the slave of Red Pine then he shall die by torture!"</p> - -<p>Then addressing Captain Curtiss, he said:</p> - -<p>"What does the pale-face want here?"</p> - -<p>"We were just traveling through the country on our way to Oregon," -replied the captain.</p> - -<p>"Do you know Gray Eagle, the Blackfoot?"</p> - -<p>"No; I never saw him until last night."</p> - -<p>"And the pale-face who went with the Blackfoot squaw?"</p> - -<p>"I do not know him. I have nothing to do with either."</p> - -<p>"Red Pine will keep the pale-face, but he shall die with the Blackfoot -dog!"</p> - -<p>Then to Jehiel:</p> - -<p>"This other pale-face squaw—what right has he here, and what does he -want?"</p> - -<p>"None of yer business, you darned fool! Now what are you goin' to do -about it?"</p> - -<p>"Red Pine will make you cry before long!"</p> - -<p>"No you won't, you old sucker; you can't do that little thing," replied -the scout.</p> - -<p>"We will see. When the sun shows its face above the trees, the -pale-face shall die by fire."</p> - -<p>"The sooner the better, old stoughton bottle. It's a chilly night, and -a little fire will do a fellow good."</p> - -<p>"Red Pine says you shall <i>die</i>!"</p> - -<p>"Yaas, I heerd you, you dirty squaw thief, but you Sioux will lie so -that a feller can't depend on what you say. If you should accidentally -be telling the truth, it will be better to die than live around where -you are!"</p> - -<p>"Pale-face talks brave now; we will hear him cry when he eats fire!"</p> - -<p>"Oh, shut up, you maw-mouthed imp, and go on with your concert!"</p> - -<p>The Sioux chief took Jehiel at his word, and ordered the prisoner to be -bound to the stake, and almost before Jehiel knew what he was about, -the brush and dry wood were piled nearly to his chin.</p> - -<p>When this was accomplished the chief said to him:</p> - -<p>"When the sun shows his face above the trees, let the pale-face squaw -burn!" and the scout sung:</p> - -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse">"Walk along, John, don't stay long,</div> - <div class="verse">Hurry right home to your own chickabiddy—"</div> -</div></div> - -<p>and calmly awaited the torture.</p> - -<p>And that was what Kelly saw from his perch in the tree, upon the -opposite bank of the stream.</p> - -<p>"<i>That</i> will never do!" he exclaimed; "I must hurry up, or they will -roast Jehiel, in spite of fate."</p> - -<p>Descending the tree he mounted his horse and started for the scene of -torture.</p> - -<p>It was well for him, perhaps, that the Sioux were so busy preparing for -the torture and therefore did not see him approaching.</p> - -<p>He was within a few rods, when a warrior was seen approaching, with a -blazing firebrand, and stood awaiting the order of the chief to fire -the pile.</p> - -<p>Soon the order came, and just as he was about to apply the brand, the -report of a rifle was heard, his arm fell at his side, and with a cry -of rage and pain he ran beyond the circle of warriors.</p> - -<p>The Sioux stood in mute astonishment at the turn of affairs, and at -that instant Kelly dashed through the line and to the prisoner, and -without dismounting, cut the thongs which bound Jehiel to the stake.</p> - -<p>"Jump up here, behind me," he shouted, and before the Sioux had -recovered from their surprise, they had reached the bottom of the hill -and were dashing at top speed down the valley.</p> - -<p>As would naturally be expected, the Sioux started in pursuit, but their -ponies were no match for the powerful black of the scout, and they were -soon left far behind.</p> - -<p>"Gunner! Lew, but you happened around just in time, didn't you? Them -yer fellers was goin' to heat up my carkiss!" were the first words -spoken.</p> - -<p>"How did you fall into their hands?" asked Kelly.</p> - -<p>"W'y, you see, when old Gray Eagle found out that his gal wasn't along, -he jest turns his hoss's tail like an old fool, and cuts after her! -Say, Lew, where is the little angel gone to?"</p> - -<p>"Home," replied the scout.</p> - -<p>"Hold on a minute!" exclaimed Jehiel; "my horse is in here somewhere. -Wait until I find him, then we can go the faster."</p> - -<p>Dismounting, he soon found the horse and again they started on down the -valley.</p> - -<p>"We must go a little slow," said Kelly, "or the Sioux will give up the -chase."</p> - -<p>"Don't you want them to?" demanded Jehiel, in some surprise.</p> - -<p>"No, I don't; at least, not until I get a shot at some of them."</p> - -<p>"Cor-reck!" responded Jehiel. "I didn't think of that. Let's find a -good place, and stop until they come up."</p> - -<p>A few rods ahead they found a pile of rocks, and secreting themselves -and their horses behind these, they awaited the approach of the -pursuing party.</p> - -<p>These soon appeared, tearing down the valley totally unconscious of -danger, and when within a few rods of the ambuscade, Kelly whispered to -Jehiel:</p> - -<p>"You take the leader, and I will take that fellow in the rear; that -will stop them. Then, before they get over wondering, we can pick off -the rest."</p> - -<p>There were but five of the enemy to be seen, and as the two scouts -discharged their repeating rifles, the leader and rear man fell.</p> - -<p>The other three were too astonished to move, and soon fell victims to -the skill of the scouts.</p> - -<p>"There!" said Kelly, "I guess there are no more after us, and we might -as well go back."</p> - -<p>"Go back!" exclaimed Jehiel. "What in the Old Scratch do you want to go -back for?"</p> - -<p>"To release Gray Eagle, and get the scalp of that dusky nigger, Red -Pine!"</p> - -<p>"Why, Lew Kelly, are you crazy? If you want scalps there's five of 'em -out there; though I can't see what in thunder you want with the dirty -things!"</p> - -<p>"I believe I told you I had promised Gray Eagle I would get the Sioux -chief's scalp for him, and I'm going to do it, or lose my own."</p> - -<p>"Cor-reck! You ain't in such a hurry to get home as you was, are you, -Lew?"</p> - -<p>"Yes, I am just as anxious as ever, but I have pledged my word, and you -know I never lie. More than that, I consider that if we can secure the -friendship of the Blackfeet at so small a cost, I shall be doing the -country a good service. So I shall make a desperate effort to get the -scalp of the Sioux chief, and—perhaps lose my own in trying."</p> - -<p>"Wal, wherever you go, you can depend on yours truly, Jehiel Filkins!"</p> - -<p>"Thank you. But I want you to go the other way," replied the scout.</p> - -<p>"Which other way?"</p> - -<p>"I want you to find the trail of Snowdrop, and follow it until you find -her. I more than half suspect that Red Pine started some of his fellows -on <i>her</i> trail when he found she was not with you, and they may have -overtaken her."</p> - -<p>"Where did you say she had gone?" asked Jehiel.</p> - -<p>"Home. I sent her after some Blackfoot warriors, because I thought -the Sioux would be after us before we could reach the village of Gray -Eagle; and you see I guessed right.</p> - -<p>"What made you think so?"</p> - -<p>"Because she is what he came for, and he will use every effort to get -her."</p> - -<p>"Wal, I'll go. But, Lew, I'd jest like to ax you one question. Is -Snowdrop in love with you?"</p> - -<p>"Yes," replied Kelly, "at least she said she was, and that was the -reason she came back after you got started last night."</p> - -<p>"Then my bread is all dough," said Jehiel; "but I'll go all the same, -seein' as how you asked me to."</p> - -<p>"What makes you say your bread is all dough?" asked Kelly.</p> - -<p>"Cause you said she was in love with you."</p> - -<p>"That does not make any difference," replied the scout. "I am not in -love with her, by a long shot, and what is more I am not liable to be, -while I have such a good little wife of my own living."</p> - -<p>"Does she know you are married?"</p> - -<p>"She ought to," replied Kelly, "for I have told her once or twice."</p> - -<p>"Wal, I'll go, as I said afore; but, Lew, do you s'pose there is any -airthly chance for me?"</p> - -<p>"I don't know, I am sure," replied Kelly; "but you can try, and I will -do all I can to help you. Remember, faint heart never won fair lady. -And now, hurry up and get started, for Snowdrop may even now be in the -hands of the Sioux."</p> - -<p>"Where'll I find you when I get back?"</p> - -<p>"I don't know, Jehiel; I shall stay around here and keep watch for the -Sioux, for I am certain they are waiting to get Snowdrop before they go -home."</p> - -<p>"What makes you so sartin?" asked Jehiel.</p> - -<p>"In the first place, this is Blackfoot country, and not Sioux, and we -are not more than thirty miles from the village of the Gray Eagle. In -the next place, Red Pine would have burned Gray Eagle before this, if -he thought he could not get Snowdrop. If I am not here, you will find a -letter in this clump of willows that will tell you where I am gone."</p> - -<p>"Wal, take good keer of yourself, and I will find the gal if I kin!"</p> - -<p>So saying, Jehiel started upon his errand, while the scout prepared to -dog the Sioux.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<h2>CHAPTER V.</h2> - -<h3>TRAILING A TRAIL.</h3> - - -<p>Snowdrop, after she had left the scout, was obliged to ride very slowly -until she was over the rough hills, but after she had reached the open -prairie she increased the speed of her horse.</p> - -<p>She was a fearless rider, but the long, treeless plain which lay -stretched out before her wore a dreary aspect, well calculated to -discourage her.</p> - -<p>But her mission was one of life or death to her, and she undertook the -task.</p> - -<p>The sun was just rising as she entered the plains, and putting her -tough pony to the run, she dashed ahead. She was doing all this for -what? Not for herself, for she would have preferred to remain with the -scout; nor yet for her father, for she did not think Red Pine would -spare him so long; but she was going just because the man she loved had -asked her to go!</p> - -<p>Onward the brave girl urged her horse until the sun was nearly -overhead, still no signs of the Sioux. She paused a moment to allow her -horse a breathing-spell, and while resting she discovered a party of -horsemen on her trail, and though they were a long ways off, she knew -by the way in which they rode that they had a definite object, and that -that object was herself.</p> - -<p>She was convinced that a long and tiresome race was before her; and, -having been reared to a life of peril and strategy, she allowed her -horse a long rest, that he might the better stand the race.</p> - -<p>She displayed her good sense by removing the saddle from the horse, and -now, armed only with a small rifle, she sprung upon his back and put -him to his best speed.</p> - -<p>On the brave girl rode—on, over the treeless and trackless waste, and -only at long intervals did a roll in the prairie obstruct her view of -her pursuers. At length she came to a small stream running at right -angles with the path she was pursuing, and here she paused again to -allow her horse to drink.</p> - -<p>The advancing party, whoever they were, gained rapidly upon her, until -she could now count their number. There were twenty of them, all well -mounted, and by the manner in which they rode, she was no longer in -doubt as to their object.</p> - -<p>Far ahead she saw a long, dark line of timber, just beyond which, she -knew, was the village of her people, and she thought if she could only -gain that, she would be safe; and she resolved to gain the shelter of -the forest, or die in the attempt.</p> - -<p>Slowly but surely her pursuers gained upon her, and she could now hear -their yells. The sound maddened her, and the very thought of failure -made her heart sick; but she lashed her horse to renewed and desperate -efforts.</p> - -<p>Her horse, too, seemed to partake of the same fear and feelings as his -mistress. A few rods more and she will be among the trees where she -trusted she could elude her pursuers.</p> - -<p>Vain hope! Just as the goal is won her horse falls, and the blood -flowing from his dilated nostrils shows that he has ruptured a -blood-vessel. A shrill yell of triumph comes from her pursuers, yet -standing firm beside her dead horse, the brave Indian girl brings her -rifle to bear upon them.</p> - -<p>Never did a stricken buck turn more fiercely at bay upon the dogs on -its track, than did Snowdrop when she found that she could not escape.</p> - -<p>With Spartan firmness she held the short rifle, and when she thought -they were near enough, pulled the trigger, and the foremost Indian fell -from his saddle. She had not time to reload her rifle, but clubbing it, -she awaited the approach of the Sioux.</p> - -<p>Short time was given her for thought, and she was almost immediately -surrounded and overpowered, but not until a brawny warrior had been -made to bite the dust at her feet.</p> - -<p>She was lifted to the saddle made vacant by her shot, and the young -brave who seemed to be the leader took her bridle-rein, and they turned -to retrace their way across the prairie.</p> - -<p>"Do you speak the language of the pale-faces?" asked the warrior.</p> - -<p>"Yes," answered Snowdrop.</p> - -<p>"Then tell me who you are, and what tribe you belong to."</p> - -<p>"I am called Snowdrop, and my father is Gray Eagle, the great chief of -the Blackfeet."</p> - -<p>"The White Wolf of the Pawnees has heard of Snowdrop before," he said.</p> - -<p>"Are you White Wolf?" she asked.</p> - -<p>"So I am called by both red men and white!" he replied.</p> - -<p>"I have heard that White Wolf was a brave chief. If it is true, he will -not make war on a woman!"</p> - -<p>"No. Snowdrop need not fear! White Wolf already loves her and will make -her his wife, for she is more beautiful than any woman of the Pawnee -tribe!"</p> - -<p>"But Snowdrop loves another, and can not go to the lodge of White Wolf, -though he is a great brave and all the tribes fear him."</p> - -<p>"White Wolf is in no hurry, and Snowdrop will learn to love him. We -will wait till we get to the village of the Pawnees, and then when -White Wolf asks her to be his wife she will say yes!"</p> - -<p>"No, she will not; but if White Wolf loves Snowdrop, as he says he -does, then let him go and rescue her father from the hands of the -Sioux, for if he should die, then Snowdrop will die, too!"</p> - -<p>"White Wolf will rescue Gray Eagle. Will Snowdrop tell him where her -father is?"</p> - -<p>"In the forest beyond the big hills which I left when the sun rose."</p> - -<p>"White Wolf will go there, and he will take Gray Eagle from the -cowardly Sioux, and when Snowdrop sees her father safe, then she will -consent to be the wife of the Pawnee chief."</p> - -<p>Snowdrop did not promise that she would, neither did she say that she -would not; nor yet did she dare to tell him that the two scouts were -doing what he was trying to do.</p> - -<p>She acted wisely and kept silence, which White Wolf construed in his -favor, and he said:</p> - -<p>"We will go to our camp to the south, where I have a good place to -leave Snowdrop in safety, then White Wolf will go on the trail of the -Sioux. He will find them, and will bring the father of Snowdrop away -with him!"</p> - -<p>"Let Snowdrop ride back with the Pawnee braves," she said.</p> - -<p>"No," replied White Wolf; "the Pawnees will ride fast, and Snowdrop is -too tired. She must go to the camp of White Wolf, and stay until he -brings her father to her."</p> - -<p>Snowdrop did not repeat her request, for she knew that it would do no -good, and that it would be a mere waste of words for her to do so. She -bowed her head in submission, and soon saw all but two of the Pawnees -start toward the west. The remaining two placed themselves upon each -side of her horse, and one of them taking her bridle-rein, they started -for the south.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>When Jehiel took the trail of Snowdrop it was without much hope of -overtaking her, for he knew that the brave girl would ride fast when -she knew there was so much at stake, and she had a long ways the start -of him.</p> - -<p>But he was better mounted than she, and had no difficulty in finding -and following her trail, and before noon he had her in sight.</p> - -<p>He saw the party of horsemen come from the south and start in pursuit -of her, and by the aid of a powerful field-glass he saw her capture and -the manner in which she was disposed of, though he could not tell what -tribe had done it.</p> - -<p>He saw when the party of which Snowdrop was one, left the main body and -started south, and he also saw the main body riding swiftly over the -back track.</p> - -<p>He turned his horse to the right, and when the larger party had arrived -at the place where he left the trail, he was but a few miles away, and -it was with a grunt of satisfaction that he saw them pass on and ride -away toward the hills where he had left the scout.</p> - -<p>Jehiel waited very patiently until they had passed out of sight, then -he found the trail of the party who had charge of Snowdrop, and he -started after her.</p> - -<p>"Them fellers what has my gal will be mighty apt to meet with an -adventure afore mornin', or my name ain't Jehiel Filkins. Gosh! but I -wish I had the sweet critter in my arms this minnit! Wonder what Jemima -Brown will say when she hears I am married to jest the prettiest little -girl in America? Sartain, I hain't axed her yet, but I don't reckon she -would refuse such a good-looking fellow as me."</p> - -<p>He was thus soliloquizing as he reached the woods, and here he stopped. -Finding a good place for his horse, he resumed his way on foot.</p> - -<p>It was now nearly dark, and he was obliged to proceed cautiously, -imagining that the Indians might have seen him following after them.</p> - -<p>Leaving the beaten trail he carefully worked his way through the -bushes, pausing occasionally to listen. No sound of falling hoofs was -to be heard, and he again crept on.</p> - -<p>Proceeding in this manner for about half a mile he discovered the -glimmer of a camp-fire between the trees.</p> - -<p>In the small opening three tired horses were leisurely feeding, while -the Indians were busily engaged in building a fire and preparing their -supper.</p> - -<p>Snowdrop was sitting behind a tree with her hands and feet securely -bound, and an expression of deep anxiety upon her face.</p> - -<p>As Jehiel gazed at the group, he thought how easy it would be to shoot -the two Indians, but he was not one to shed blood unnecessarily, and he -determined to wait. He must contrive some way to let the girl know of -his presence, but the question of how was a hard one to solve.</p> - -<p>The trees surrounding the little camp were large, and the space open, -so that he could advance no nearer without betraying his presence.</p> - -<p>He solved the problem in his own quaint way. Depositing his rifle at -the foot of the tree beside which he stood, he began to climb the tree. -Once among the branches, the foliage of which he found dense enough for -his purpose, he had no difficulty in making his way to the next nearest -tree.</p> - -<p>Creeping along the branches as stealthily as a panther, he passed from -one tree to another until he found himself at the side of the opening, -and directly opposite the tree near which Snowdrop was seated.</p> - -<p>He was in imminent danger of being discovered, but with an intrepidity -peculiar to the brave scout, he set about arranging his plans for the -future.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<h2>CHAPTER VI.</h2> - -<h3>THE OLD MAN OF THE MOUNTAIN.</h3> - - -<p>When Kelly was left alone after Jehiel had started in pursuit of -Snowdrop, he dismounted from his horse, and at a signal from him the -sagacious animal lay down upon the ground, and Kelly proceeded to take -his rest.</p> - -<p>With his rifle beside him, his head pillowed upon the neck of the noble -brute, he was soon in the realm of dreams. His sleep was long and deep, -for the scout was very tired, and he did not awake until long after -dark. Then the uneasy actions of his horse aroused him, and the motion -of his ears, when the scout partially raised up, showed that he had -heard some suspicious sounds; and Kelly felt confident that whatever -the danger was it was very near, for the animal lay quite still, with -his ears pointed forward in the attitude of intense apprehension.</p> - -<p>The scout silently drew back the hammer of his rifle, and felt in his -belt to see that his knife and revolvers were in their accustomed place.</p> - -<p>Silence reigned for a few minutes, as deep as though no living thing -was within miles of there.</p> - -<p>Then Kelly heard some peculiar sounds—very slight at first, but plain -and distinct. He recognized the sounds as being produced by the feet -of human beings, and he knew that at least two persons were coming -directly toward his hiding-place.</p> - -<p>The scout did not move, neither did the noble black horse beside him. -Both seemed instinctively to know that Indians were about, and the -scout thought it more than probable that it was a part of the Sioux -band who were trying to find him and Jehiel.</p> - -<p>He kept still also because he thought that by so doing the Indians -might pass by without noticing him.</p> - -<p>The sound of falling footsteps came nearer and nearer, and the brave -scout could see that they were moving with great caution. And they were -coming straight toward him, and so close were they that Kelly imagined -they might hear the beating of his heart.</p> - -<p>His rifle was already cocked, and he now brought it to his shoulder, -resolving to use it should his presence be discovered or necessity -require.</p> - -<p>"Listen," said a strange voice in unmistakable English, "I thought -I heard something!" and another voice responded—"Yes, I heard the -breaking of a twig;" and Kelly recognized the last as the voice of a -woman.</p> - -<p>"I wonder if it can be Jehiel and Snowdrop?" he soliloquized, but he -could not tell whether the woman was white or red.</p> - -<p>Whoever it was they kept perfectly still, evidently listening for -a repetition of the sounds; and although the silence was of only a -minute's duration it seemed an hour to the scout.</p> - -<p>Again he heard them moving along, and they were now within a few feet -of him, when Kelly, in a low, firm voice, said: "Halt!" As the steps -ceased he continued—"Who comes there?"</p> - -<p>"A white man, and an enemy to none but Indians!" was the reply.</p> - -<p>Kelly recognized the voice of the speaker, and exclaimed:</p> - -<p>"Gracious! is that you, Curtiss? Come on—but who have you got there?"</p> - -<p>"I do not know what her name is, or where she came from; but I do know -that she has done a good job for me, that I will not soon forget. She -crept to my side about an hour ago, and cut the thongs with which I was -bound to a tree, and probably saved me from getting roasted."</p> - -<p>Then the scout looked at her as well as he could in the dim light, but -she did not speak.</p> - -<p>"She is no Blackfoot," he said, "and she is too good looking for a -Sioux. Tell you what it is, Curtiss, I believe she is a white girl! How -is it, girl, can you speak the language of the pale-faces?"</p> - -<p>"Yes," replied a low, sweet voice, "I am Nu-le-la, the sister of Red -Pine, the Sioux chief."</p> - -<p>"The dickens, you are! Well, Curtiss, you and I are in luck, no matter -who the young lady is. But, if she is a Sioux we will have to keep -her close, or she will betray us to her brother. There will be a loud -rumpus when they find out you are gone."</p> - -<p>"Just listen! They have found it out already," said the Indian girl. -"Let us leave here, for Red Pine will have a hundred braves upon our -path as soon as the light comes, and he can be cruel when he chooses!" -Loud yells could now be heard far down in the valley.</p> - -<p>"Did you conceal your trail when you came here?" the scout asked of -Curtiss.</p> - -<p>"No," he replied, "we came as fast as we could, and had but one -thought—that was to get away as fast as possible."</p> - -<p>"Then they will have no trouble in following your trail when daylight -comes, so the best thing we can do is to get out of here as soon as -possible. I found a cave one day when I was out hunting, and not far -from here. If I can only find it again, we will be all right. We have -a few hours the start of them, so I guess we can find shelter before -they can find us. Come on, now, and be sure and keep in a line directly -behind me," said Kelly, as he entered the stream leading his horse. -"And another thing," he continued, "you must be careful and not break -any of the bushes along the bank, nor leave a footprint in the sand!"</p> - -<p>And leading his pet horse he led the way up the stream.</p> - -<p>When the stream became too narrow for the scout and his horse to walk -abreast, he led the way, the faithful black following him, and Curtiss -with the Sioux maiden bringing up the rear.</p> - -<p>The current of the stream was swift, and whatever footprints were made -were quickly washed full of sand and stones; and half an hour after no -trace could be found in the bed of the stream, of those who so recently -had passed through. They could hear the angry yells of the Sioux far -down the valley, and they pressed on without halting.</p> - -<p>The stream now came through a narrow defile with huge rocks towering -perpendicularly upon either side; then having gone a few rods further, -the scout halted.</p> - -<p>"This looks very much like a trap!" said Curtiss.</p> - -<p>"Well, yes," replied the scout. "It would be a trap if the Sioux only -knew we were here. But they don't know it and this is not the place I -proposed for us to roost in. Follow me a little longer." So saying, he -led the way a few feet further, then turning abruptly to the right, -disappeared in what seemed to Curtiss to be solid rock.</p> - -<p>Presently the voice of the scout was heard:</p> - -<p>"Why don't you come in? 'Walk into my parlor, said the spider to the -fly,'" he sung, as Curtiss and the Indian girl entered the fissure in -the rocks through which the brave scout had disappeared with his horse.</p> - -<p>They found themselves within a large cave, thirty or forty feet in -length, and perhaps half that distance in width. The floor was as -smooth as could be wished for, while the room was high enough for all -purposes.</p> - -<p>"How do you like this?" asked Kelly. "Here is room enough and to spare, -and no one can find the entrance unless they come up the stream as we -did; and even if they should, we could defend ourselves against the -whole Sioux nation!" He at once led his horse to the further end of the -cave, and returned to the opening.</p> - -<p>It was now daylight, and he took the opportunity to have another look -at the Indian girl.</p> - -<p>"Great Cæsar! But you are pretty," he said, as his eyes met those of -the maiden.</p> - -<p>"If this pale-face will only think so," she replied, pointing to -Curtiss, "I shall be very happy!"</p> - -<p>"Well, if he don't make you happy, I shall be tempted to punish him in -some way!" said the scout.</p> - -<p>"No, not that," answered the girl. "I saved him from torture, and now -he is mine—yes, all mine forever!" said the impulsive girl, and she -threw her arms round the white man's neck.</p> - -<p>"There is no doubt but what the girl is in love," said the scout to -himself, "and, as matters stand just now, I don't know but what it is -the best thing that could happen for me, and it certainly is for him." -Then he added, aloud—"If you and Nulela will remain here with old Pet, -I will climb to the top of this rock and see if I can discover what the -Sioux are about."</p> - -<p>"All right," replied Curtiss—"we will wait here for you. But do not -expose yourself unnecessarily, Kelly."</p> - -<p>"I am not in the habit of doing that," answered the scout, "but let me -advise you to keep on good terms with the girl. The more you can talk -love to her, the better it will be for us, because if you make her -angry she would not stop short of putting you again in the hands of her -brother."</p> - -<p>Proceeding down the stream a short distance, the scout came to a place -where he could climb to the top of the rock.</p> - -<p>Arriving there, he hurried to the end overlooking the valley, whence he -could get a good view of the plains and the valley below him.</p> - -<p>Away off, as far as the eye could reach, he saw straggling parties -of Indians moving about, as if endeavoring to find the trail of the -escaped prisoner.</p> - -<p>Some of them were very near the foot of the hill upon which he stood, -but the scout was satisfied that they had not yet found the trail.</p> - -<p>There was one thing, however, which seemed somewhat singular to the -scout. He noticed that a large addition had been made to their force. -But it was soon made plain to him.</p> - -<p>He saw large parties coming from the north, and knew that they were -not all Sioux who where there, but that the Blackfoot braves had come -to answer the call of Gray Eagle made by the smoke-signals, which the -scout had sent up for the old chief.</p> - -<p>"By Jingo!" he muttered, "I wish I could be down there to help one side -or the other; but then, where is the difference? It is only dog eat dog -after all, and they can fight it out without my assistance. Wish I only -knew whether Jehiel is in the scrimmage or not? Reckon not, though, for -he has not had time to go to the Blackfoot village and back. Wonder -where the dickens he is, anyhow?"</p> - -<p>But no answer came to any of the scout's queries, and the gnawings of -hunger brought him back to his senses.</p> - -<p>In a few minutes a drove of mountain sheep were discovered, slowly -feeding toward him, and drawing his revolver he waited until they were -near enough, and shot one. Shouldering his meat, he retraced his steps -toward the ravine, only pausing once on the way to secure an armful -of dry wood. He then descended to the stream, and once more presented -himself before the group in the cavern.</p> - -<p>"All right, here?" he asked, as he entered and deposited his armful of -wood and meat upon the floor.</p> - -<p>"Yes; all right!" replied Curtiss. "Did you learn any thing of our -Indian friends, down in the valley?"</p> - -<p>"Not much," replied the scout. "They seem to be having lively times -down there, but I don't know as it is any thing that can interest us as -much as a good roast of this mutton will, so I propose that we eat now. -After breakfast I will take another look at them."</p> - -<p>While they were yet eating their breakfast they were saluted by a -strange voice, shouting:</p> - -<p>"Hello! Who in thunder has tuck possession uv my domicil?"</p> - -<p>They all sprung to their feet, and, grasping their weapons, stood ready -to receive the new-comer, whoever he might be.</p> - -<p>"Put up yer shooters, yer little nubbins; I won't hurt yer, seein' 'at -yer mostly white," and as they did so the stranger advanced to the fire.</p> - -<p>He was, to all appearances, an aged man, as his hair and beard, which -were both long and flowing, were as white as the driven snow; but his -straight, athletic form belied his age.</p> - -<p>His dress and arms were such as are usually worn by the mountain -trapper, though he wore one very singular ornament. This was no less -than a necklace, consisting of a double row of bear claws.</p> - -<p>This, the reader will understand, if he is conversant with Indian -character, was a badge of distinguished bravery, and one of which any -hunter might well be proud.</p> - -<p>The stranger stood before the fire, silently regarding them for -several minutes, then he broke out—"Why don't yer say suthin? Yer a -doggoned purty set, to come inter a feller's house in this way, without -even askin' the owner. Ef I was a leetle better 'quainted I'd take yer -'cross my knee an' spank ther hull caboodle uv yer!"</p> - -<p>"I was not aware, sir," said the scout, "that we were intruding on any -man's domain. I accidentally discovered this cave about a week ago, and -made use of it this morning in effecting our escape from a party of -Sioux who were on our trail."</p> - -<p>"Sioux? Ther devil! Ther' ain't a Sioux in ther kentry what dare kem' a -nigh here!" exclaimed the stranger.</p> - -<p>"But," replied Kelly, "there are Sioux within a very short distance -of here, as you can see for yourself if you will go to the top of the -bluff."</p> - -<p>"Wal, yer needn't bother yerselves any further. I've l'arnt 'em to -respect old Bear-Paw, as they calls me; an' now ef yer a mind ter kem -with me, I'll show yer a better place nor this."</p> - -<p>He led the way to the further extremity of the cavern, and halted -before the solid wall.</p> - -<p>At his feet were a number of small stones, one of which he took in his -hand and struck the wall before him three times.</p> - -<p>The astonishment of the scout and his friends can not be imagined as -they saw the rock slowly recede before them and swing noiselessly back. -They followed their leader through the aperture, the huge rock swung -back to its former position, and they discovered a room nearly twice as -large as the one they had just left.</p> - -<p>At one side a brisk fire was burning, and over this an old negro woman -was cooking a savory venison ham. Piles of fur were lying around, -indicating that their host was a trapper.</p> - -<p>"Here we ar'," said the old man; "an' here I have lived fur nigh onto -ten year. Thar's wood enuf an' pervison enuf ter stan' a ten year -siege, an' now ef ye'll jes' tell me what the trouble ar' an' all about -it then mebby I kin tell yer what ter do."</p> - -<p>Thereupon Kelly proceeded to relate all that had transpired up to -this time; and there we must leave them for awhile and look after the -fortunes of others.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<h2>CHAPTER VII.</h2> - -<h3>JEHIEL'S WOOING.</h3> - - -<p>After Jehiel had gained a position to suit him, his first endeavor was -to let Snowdrop know that he was there, and to make her aware of his -intentions.</p> - -<p>But the question then arose how this was to be accomplished.</p> - -<p>Like nearly all border men, Jehiel could imitate perfectly the beasts -of the field and the birds of the air, and he now resolved to make good -use of the power he possessed to attract her attention.</p> - -<p>The whirring sound made by the sudden swoop of the night-hawk fell upon -the air, but no notice was made of it.</p> - -<p>He was within short pistol-shot of the Indians; indeed he could smell -the savory steaks as they were broiling upon the coals, and he knew -that a discovery would result in instant death, and the fact affected -him in any thing but a pleasant manner.</p> - -<p>Then he chirped like a wren, but no more attention was paid to that -than to the whir of the night-hawk.</p> - -<p>This was followed by the dull <i>too-hoot</i> of an owl, and the long, -mocking note of the cat-bird.</p> - -<p>They were all too common sounds. Neither the Indians nor Snowdrop paid -the least attention to what they had been accustomed to hear every day -and night of their lives.</p> - -<p>Jehiel now gave a good imitation of the crow, and as the ringing <i>caw, -caw</i>, sounded through the forest, the Indians merely looked up at the -clouds to see if there were any indications of rain, and proceeded with -their meal.</p> - -<p>Jehiel did not despair, even though his efforts thus far had failed to -attract the attention of the Indian maiden.</p> - -<p>"Thunder!" he muttered, "where is the use in whistling when she won't -even look up!"</p> - -<p>Reaching up among the foliage his hand came in contact with a bunch of -acorns, one of which he pulled off, and parting the leaves in front -of him, he threw the acorn at Snowdrop. It hit her upon the hand, and -startled her from her gloomy reverie. She looked up at the tree above -her head, and not in the direction of the scout, but not seeing any -thing, she concluded that the wind had likely dislodged the acorn, and -again bent her head in contemplation.</p> - -<p>Again Jehiel threw an acorn, and again she looked up and around, and at -last her eyes rested upon the opening in the foliage of the huge oak -opposite where she sat. She suppressed the cry of surprise which rose -to her lips, and Jehiel noticed that the Indians did not pause in their -work; so he made the opening larger.</p> - -<p>Snowdrop was now looking attentively at him—her form was -motionless—not a feature relaxed, but the glad look in her eyes told -Jehiel that he was at last seen and recognized.</p> - -<p>He bent down his head and placed it in the palm of his hand, then put -his fingers on his eyes. This was to signify that he would come and -help her when the Indians were asleep.</p> - -<p>She answered him in precisely the same way, then made a quick motion -with her hand toward the two Indians, as if to tell him that she fully -understood him.</p> - -<p>Jehiel then held up two fingers of one hand and made an undulating -motion with them, to signify that he had horses, and that they would -ride away after the Indians were asleep; and then drew back to the body -of the tree to watch and wait.</p> - -<p>He now endeavored to familiarize himself with the surroundings, so that -he would have no trouble in getting away if he succeeded in releasing -Snowdrop. He did not wish to kill the Pawnees if he could possibly help -it, and thought more of outwitting them, but he had resolved to shoot -them both rather than be defeated in his plans. He knew, too, that -there were no better trailers in the world than the Pawnees.</p> - -<p>Snowdrop was as calm and stoical as if she had been at home among her -own people, and gave no sign which might arouse the suspicions of her -guard, and Jehiel felt like cheering her for her bravery.</p> - -<p>"Ginger! but she's jest the gayest little squaw on earth, and there -ain't a Yankee gal living could take things as cool as she does. She's -as sweet as they make 'em—<i>she</i> is!"</p> - -<p>By this time the Pawnees had finished their cooking, and one of them -brought a large slice of meat to Snowdrop, who immediately commenced -eating.</p> - -<p>After she had finished the slice they asked her if she wanted more, to -which she shook her head and placed her fingers upon her eyes, giving -them to understand that she was sleepy. They immediately piled a lot of -blankets near the fire, and untied her ankles, so that she could walk -about and lie down.</p> - -<p>It seemed a long time to Jehiel before the Indians became sleepy, -but, after smoking and talking a long time, they gave up, and -rolling themselves in their blankets, were soon asleep. They took -the precaution, however, of tying a strip of leather about one of -Snowdrop's wrists, and to their own, so that she could not move her -hand without disturbing them.</p> - -<p>Jehiel remained in the tree until he became satisfied, from the loud -snoring, that the Pawnees were sound asleep; then he descended, and -in a moment had cut the thongs which bound the Indian girl; and then, -taking a large piece of meat from before the fire, they silently -departed. Though Jehiel was very hungry, having fasted for thirty-six -hours, he had no disposition to eat until he had put a safe distance -between him and the Pawnees.</p> - -<p>"Come on, little gal, and come jest as still as you can," he whispered.</p> - -<p>A gentle pressure of his hand was the only reply, and they went on.</p> - -<p>After going several rods, Jehiel halted to decide whether he should -still further insult the Indians by going back and turning their horses -loose, but a few whispered words decided in the negative.</p> - -<p>So, closely followed by Snowdrop, he walked along to where he had left -his own horse.</p> - -<p>The faithful animal stood where he had been left, and Jehiel led him -out to where he had secreted the horse of Snowdrop, and they were soon -mounted. Then he took the route to the open plain, having decided to -push on with Snowdrop to the village of the Blackfeet.</p> - -<p>It was not until they were out of the forest that Jehiel spoke a loud -word, but now he felt that he was out of danger, and he said:</p> - -<p>"Little gal, you had a purty hard time on't, didn't you?"</p> - -<p>"Yes," replied Snowdrop. "Did White Panther send you after me?"</p> - -<p>"Wa-al, he said I could come if I wanted to, and I felt as if my heart -would bu'st if I didn't, so I come."</p> - -<p>"The Long Hunter has a good heart to take Snowdrop from the hands of -the Pawnee," said the Indian girl.</p> - -<p>"Thunder! was them Pawnees?"</p> - -<p>"Yes," answered Snowdrop, "and their chief, White Wolf, said he was -going to keep me for his squaw. But I would have killed him first."</p> - -<p>"Bully for you—you are the rummiest little chick in America! Did you -ever—that is—ahem! you didn't love him much, I reckon?"</p> - -<p>"No. I love your friend, the White Panther, and will be <i>his</i> wife."</p> - -<p>"Lord! that can't be, for White Panther, as you call him, has got a -wife already," said Jehiel.</p> - -<p>"I do not care. He is a good hunter and can feed more wives than one."</p> - -<p>"But, gal, you don't understand. Us white folks has a law which won't -allow a feller to have more than one wife at a time."</p> - -<p>"Then that law is no good," replied Snowdrop. "Suppose there are two -women and only one man—must one woman go without?"</p> - -<p>Jehiel was getting a little mixed in his love-making, but he replied:</p> - -<p>"In course she must! But just suppose there is one woman and two men, -must one man be without a wife?"</p> - -<p>This was a question that Snowdrop was not prepared to answer. But she -said:</p> - -<p>"I am not <i>white</i>. I love the White Panther and I do not care how many -wives he has got, so long as I am the last one, and he loves me best!"</p> - -<p>"You will be disappointed, my gal," was all that Jehiel could say.</p> - -<p>Riding a little way further they came to a clump of timber, and here -Jehiel resolved to stop a while and eat the meat which they had brought -with them from the Indian camp.</p> - -<p>Accordingly they dismounted, the horses at once went to feeding, and -they proceeded to build a fire and cook the meat. Jehiel had not been -bashful in helping himself to a large piece, and the fact that it -rapidly disappeared after being roasted, was sufficient evidence that -it was good. Besides, they were hungry, as an Indian or a frontiersman -always is.</p> - -<p>They had not finished eating, when Jehiel noticed that his horse had -stopped eating, and was looking in the direction from which they had -come.</p> - -<p>"There comes them cussed Pawnees, not a mile away," he said. "We must -get out of here, or shed blood."</p> - -<p>The next moment they were mounted and speeding away over the plain, -satisfied from the yells of the savages who were in pursuit, that they -had been already discovered. Placing one of his revolvers in the hand -of Snowdrop, he said:</p> - -<p>"If we must, we must, I suppose; but I don't want to. You ride on -ahead, and I will stop here and settle their hash for them!"</p> - -<p>The Pawnees were within rifle-shot, and were fast gaining upon the -scout and Snowdrop, who would not leave him.</p> - -<p>On they came—nearer and still nearer—until, in an instant, Snowdrop -raised her revolver and fired.</p> - -<p>"Gosh! gal, you made a hole clean through that critter. Now I'll fix -the other one."</p> - -<p>The remaining Pawnee had turned his horse and was leaving as fast as -possible, but he could not outrun the bullet from the rifle of the -scout; so went on a visit to the happy hunting-grounds sooner than he -expected or wished.</p> - -<p>Then they turned and again started on, when a sight met them that -caused the scout to halt and exclaim:</p> - -<p>"Gewhillakens! Look at that!"</p> - -<p>Snowdrop looked in the direction in which he pointed and saw as -many as two hundred painted warriors but a short distance away, all -well-mounted and apparently ready for charge.</p> - -<p>Jehiel was in despair, but it was quickly changed to joy by the -exclamation of Snowdrop.</p> - -<p>"They are Blackfoot braves! My own people, come to look for me!"</p> - -<p>She gave a shrill cry, which instantly changed the hostile attitude of -the savages, and bidding Jehiel ride close to her, and not be afraid, -she rode on to meet the war-party.</p> - -<p>The war-party was led by a young warrior, who saluted Snowdrop, and -asked:</p> - -<p>"Who is this pale-face, and where do you come from?"</p> - -<p>"He is the Long Hunter—the friend of White Panther. I was in the hands -of the Pawnees, and he got me away," replied the girl.</p> - -<p>"Where is the chief, Gray Eagle?"</p> - -<p>"The Sioux have got him. I was going to the village of my people for -warriors to help White Panther get him away. White Panther stayed to -watch the Sioux, and keep them from burning my father."</p> - -<p>"There are enough Blackfeet here to save your father without any help -from an accursed pale-face!" exclaimed the warrior.</p> - -<p>Snowdrop made no reply, though the flashing of her eyes betrayed -the fact that the young chief was treading on dangerous ground. -They continued in conversation a few minutes longer, when they were -interrupted by an exclamation from Jehiel.</p> - -<p>"Gracious airth! Jest look at that! There come the Sioux! What does it -mean?"</p> - -<p>Then Snowdrop observed them, and she saw what the scout did not, that -the approaching party was led by her father.</p> - -<p>But where was Lew Kelly?</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<h2>CHAPTER VIII.</h2> - -<h3>THE YANKEE ON HIS MUSCLE.</h3> - - -<p>The warriors sent out by Red Pine to capture Snowdrop had not returned -to the Sioux camp, neither had those sent after the brave scout and his -companion, whom he had rescued from torture; and, as might naturally be -expected, the Sioux chief was getting very anxious about them.</p> - -<p>He did not dream that every one of both parties were dead, for he had -not been present to see the scout and Jehiel shoot down the five who -went after them, nor did he know that those who had gone in pursuit of -Snowdrop had met the party of Pawnees who had captured her, and had all -been sent on a pilgrimage to the other world.</p> - -<p>Had he known this, his anxiety would have been still greater. He seemed -destined to misfortunes and disappointments at every turn, and now a -new disaster had befallen him:</p> - -<p>The morning after the rescue of Jehiel he had looked in vain for his -other white prisoner, Curtiss. No one could tell where he had gone.</p> - -<p>"Who guarded the pale-face?" he demanded.</p> - -<p>"It was I," replied a young brave, as he stepped out before his chief.</p> - -<p>Without a word the Sioux chief raised his hatchet, and sunk it to the -eye in the brain of the warrior, who fell dead at his feet.</p> - -<p>An old warrior approached him, and said:</p> - -<p>"Nulela, the sister of Red Pine, is gone!"</p> - -<p>Somehow or other he could not help connecting the sudden disappearance -of his sister with the escape of the white prisoner.</p> - -<p>"Did any one see them go?" he asked.</p> - -<p>There was no response.</p> - -<p>Turning to Gray Eagle, he said:</p> - -<p>"Dog of a Blackfoot, do you know any thing of this? Speak quick, before -I kill you!"</p> - -<p>"The Sioux is very brave when he can kill a man who is hurt and bound," -replied Gray Eagle. Then he continued: "I did see the Sioux girl go -away with the pale-face captive."</p> - -<p>"Which way did they go?" demanded the Red Pine.</p> - -<p>"If the Sioux is a great brave, as he pretends to be, he can find their -trail. Gray Eagle is glad they are gone!"</p> - -<p>Red Pine gave up the task of acquiring any information from the -Blackfoot chief, and at once the whole camp were searching for the -fugitives. In a short time they found it and followed it to the creek, -where it was lost.</p> - -<p>Unremittingly they searched, up and down on both sides, but could find -no trace after it entered the water, and after searching several hours -were obliged to give it up.</p> - -<p>Of course Red Pine was very angry when they returned to camp and -announced their failure.</p> - -<p>And now a new danger beset him.</p> - -<p>A scout came in with the intelligence that a large party of strange -Indians were approaching. Whether friendly or not, he could not tell.</p> - -<p>Red Pine had his warriors all mounted and ready for them, should they -be friends or foes. He stationed a warrior beside the old chief, Gray -Eagle, with instructions to start for the country of the Sioux, should -they be obliged to give battle to the strangers.</p> - -<p>The strange Indians were soon in sight, and halted within a hundred -yards. Their leader then rode to the middle of the space, and stopping, -signified to Red Pine that he wanted to talk with him.</p> - -<p>The Sioux chief rode out to meet him, alone and unarmed, as was the -stranger. The stranger was the first to break silence, which he did by -demanding:</p> - -<p>"Who are you?"</p> - -<p>"I am Red Pine—"</p> - -<p>"A Sioux?" interrupted the first.</p> - -<p>"Yes, a chief of the Sioux! Why do you ask?"</p> - -<p>"Is the great chief of the Blackfeet with you?"</p> - -<p>"Gray Eagle, the Blackfoot chief, is the prisoner of Red Pine," he -answered. "But who are you that asks?"</p> - -<p>"I am White Wolf, the great chief of the Pawnees, and I want your -prisoner!"</p> - -<p>The mention of the name, Pawnee, struck a chill to the heart of Red -Pine; for it is a fact that nearly all the western Indians stand in -wholesome fear of them, and would as soon meet a spirit of evil as a -Pawnee. I can not say why this is so, but give it as the facts in the -case.</p> - -<p>Red Pine saw that the affair was assuming rather a formidable shape, -yet he did not feel disposed to give it up so.</p> - -<p>"Why does my brother want the Blackfoot chief?" he asked.</p> - -<p>"White Wolf has promised to bring him to his daughter, the Snowdrop, -then she is to be my wife."</p> - -<p>"Does White Wolf know where Snowdrop is now?"</p> - -<p>"Yes, she is in the camp of White Wolf, among the hills."</p> - -<p>"Did the Pawnee see any of the Sioux warriors when he found her?"</p> - -<p>"Yes," replied White Wolf, and he chuckled to himself as he continued, -"they will never return to their chief!"</p> - -<p>"Why so?" asked Red Pine.</p> - -<p>"Because their scalps hang in the belts of my warriors, as yours will -soon, if you do not give up the chief, Snowdrop's father!"</p> - -<p>Were all the plans of Red Pine to be frustrated in this way, after he -had come so far, and been to so much trouble? Were the fond hopes he -had entertained when leaving the village of his people to be lost now, -when they were so near realization? Must he give up the main object of -his mission, and go back without the Blackfoot maiden?</p> - -<p>Impossible! He would die first! So he said:</p> - -<p>"Gray Eagle is my prisoner, and the Pawnee can not have him!"</p> - -<p>Without a word White Wolf turned and rode toward his band, and Red Pine -returned to his warriors.</p> - -<p>White Wolf was a big, fat, burly Indian, who has since become quite -well known on the plains as the meanest beggar of them all; one who -will steal a blanket or murder a white man for the sake of a drink of -whisky. He has became very much demoralized since the time we first met -him, demanding the prisoner of the Sioux chief.</p> - -<p>Red Pine is not much better, though much younger. He was never known -to do an act of kindness, and was by nature cruel and vindictive. Each -were, and still are, a type of their respective tribes.</p> - -<p>Neither were disposed to wait very long. Red Pine because he was -in haste to have it over, believing that he would be the victor, -notwithstanding the foe with whom he had to deal was no common one. -White Wolf was in a hurry for the same reasons, and also because he was -in haste to secure Snowdrop for a wife, as he had no doubt he would.</p> - -<p>Both were destined to learn that disappointment is the lot of mankind.</p> - -<p>The battle was commenced by the Pawnees discharging a shower of arrows -at the Sioux. Then the Sioux returned the compliment, and thus they -continued for nearly an hour, not seeming to make much headway, or to -cause any very great slaughter. They did yelling enough, however, for -an army of twenty thousand men, and this, by the way, is the manner of -Indian fighting generally.</p> - -<p>Usually, one party or the other will run before that time, but in -this case both of the leaders had too much at stake—both wanted the -Blackfoot girl.</p> - -<p>The warrior who had been left to guard Gray Eagle had taken his captive -and started off at the first round between the opposing forces.</p> - -<p>This movement had not escaped the notice of the Pawnee chief, and he -immediately started two of his warriors to intercept the Sioux, and -recapture Gray Eagle. In this movement they were quite successful; the -fact being that the Sioux guard deserted his prisoner as soon as he -found himself pursued—believing, no doubt, that discretion was the -better part of valor.</p> - -<p>His new captors conducted Gray Eagle to a position where he could watch -the progress of the battle, then one of them returned to take a part in -the, thus far, bloodless war, and to inform his chief, White Wolf, of -their success.</p> - -<p>Then White Wolf resolved to strike his death-blow, and giving the order -to charge, they swept down upon the Sioux, and a hand-to-hand fight -ensued.</p> - -<p>But it was of short duration, for the Sioux soon broke and fled for -their lives.</p> - -<p>The Pawnees did not pursue them very far, as they had secured what they -came after, and were now ready to return to their camp.</p> - -<p>Gray Eagle was not very well pleased when he learned into whose hands -he had now fallen, for he, too, dreaded the Pawnees.</p> - -<p>White Wolf saluted his prisoner kindly and said:</p> - -<p>"I have rescued Gray Eagle from the hands of the Sioux squaws, and when -Snowdrop sees him safe she will consent to be the wife of White Wolf."</p> - -<p>"Does the chief know where Snowdrop is?" asked the chief.</p> - -<p>"In the camp of White Wolf, a day's ride from here," was the reply.</p> - -<p>"How came she there?" demanded the old chief.</p> - -<p>"White Wolf found her upon the big plain toward the village of the -Blackfeet. Let us go."</p> - -<p>Gray Eagle knew the utter uselessness of arguing the question with the -Pawnee chief, and bowing his head they rode away.</p> - -<p>The Pawnees had discovered the party of Blackfeet at the same time that -Jehiel had done so, and just now it occurred to White Wolf that he was -in rather a disagreeable situation. He saw that the party of Blackfeet -outnumbered his party, five to one, and he knew that they were brave -warriors and would not run as easily as the Sioux had done.</p> - -<p>Gray Eagle was pleased at the turn in affairs, as would naturally be -expected; but when he saw that Snowdrop was one of the approaching -party, he turned to White Wolf and said:</p> - -<p>"Does my brother speak with a forked tongue?"</p> - -<p>"No," replied the Pawnee; "who dare say he does?"</p> - -<p>"He said that the daughter of Gray Eagle was in the camp of White Wolf, -a day's ride from here. Now Gray Eagle sees her there with his people!"</p> - -<p>White Wolf did not know what to say. He had left the Blackfoot beauty a -prisoner in the hands of two trusty warriors, and for the life of him -he could not imagine who had rescued her. He said:</p> - -<p>"Shall there be peace between the Pawnee and Blackfeet braves, or shall -White Wolf take the scalp of Gray Eagle and go away?"</p> - -<p>The old Blackfoot chief saw that there was much to gain and nothing to -lose, and he replied:</p> - -<p>"There shall be peace." And they again moved on.</p> - -<p>The young chief who led the party of Blackfeet accompanied by Snowdrop -and Jehiel, now rode forward, leaving the Blackfeet in a body; while -Gray Eagle and White Wolf rode out to meet them.</p> - -<p>"Has the Blackfoot maiden a sister who looks just like herself?" asked -the astonished Pawnee.</p> - -<p>"No, Snowdrop has no sister," replied the girl. "I see you thought I -was your prisoner. I was, but I did not stay so very long."</p> - -<p>"How did you get away?" asked White Wolf.</p> - -<p>"I rode away! Your warriors slept too sound, you see."</p> - -<p>"Waugh!" was all White Wolf could say. He knew that Snowdrop was merely -trying to banter him, and after a moment's reflection, he said:</p> - -<p>"The warriors shall die! They are not fit to live if they can not keep -one little squaw!"</p> - -<p>"No, they will not die!" assented Snowdrop.</p> - -<p>The chief looked at her in surprise. He was not in the habit of having -squaws contradict his word.</p> - -<p>"White Wolf is his own master, and the chief of all the Pawnees! Why -does the Blackfoot maiden say they shall not die?"</p> - -<p>"Because they are dead already!" answered Snowdrop.</p> - -<p>"Dead! Who killed them?"</p> - -<p>"I killed one; Long Hunter the other," she replied.</p> - -<p>White Wolf glared fiercely at her, as if he could kill her where she -sat, but in a few moments the expression changed, and he said:</p> - -<p>"I have rescued your father from the hands of the Sioux as I promised; -now will Snowdrop go to the home of White Wolf, and be his squaw? She -shall have as many slaves as she wants, and there shall be peace -between the tribes. What says the queen of the Blackfeet?"</p> - -<p>"That she does not love the great chief of the Pawnees, and can never -enter his lodge," replied Snowdrop.</p> - -<p>"Does she love some one else?"</p> - -<p>"Yes, Snowdrop will be the wife of White Panther or marry no one!"</p> - -<p>"Who is the White Panther?" asked the chief.</p> - -<p>"He is the bravest of pale-faces, and Snowdrop will give her life to -him!"</p> - -<p>"Tell me where he is, that I may go and kill him. He is a dog!"</p> - -<p>Hardly had the words escaped his lips before he received a blow upon -the side of his head which knocked him from his horse, and laid him -senseless upon the ground.</p> - -<p>"There, ye everlastin' skunk!" exclaimed Jehiel, for it was he had -administered the blow, "that'll l'arn ye not to be callin' names!"</p> - -<p>The Pawnees seized their weapons when they saw their chief go to the -ground, but at the motion, the Sioux also put themselves in readiness -to repel any attack.</p> - -<p>Slowly the Pawnee chief rose to his feet, and for a moment he seemed -to be measuring the strength of Jehiel, then his smothered indignation -found vent, and he exclaimed:</p> - -<p>"The pale-face shall die!"</p> - -<p>"Waal, he won't, unless he runs across a smarter red-skin than you -are!" exclaimed Jehiel.</p> - -<p>"If he is not a coward he will fight the great chief of the Pawnees, -and White Wolf will surely kill him!" said the chief.</p> - -<p>"Waal, I may be a coward, but I ain't afeard of you nor any other -durned Injun in this kentry. An' durn yer skin, I'll fight ye any day -and place ye dare to mention!"</p> - -<p>"Then we will fight now and here," said the chief.</p> - -<p>"Agreed! You'll see fair play, won't you?" he asked of Gray Eagle.</p> - -<p>"Yes," replied the chief. "If White Wolf kills my friend, he must do it -fairly."</p> - -<p>"Bully for you, old feller!" said Jehiel. Then turning to White Wolf, -he said:</p> - -<p>"Now, ye red sarpent, jes' git off there; an' when the old chief gives -the word, we will see who can shoot the best."</p> - -<p>"No," replied the Indian, "the gun of the pale-face is better than that -of White Wolf. Let us fight with knives."</p> - -<p>"Not much, you don't!" exclaimed Jehiel, who was not very skillful in -the use of that implement, "not much, you don't. I don't want to dirty -my knife—it's the one I use to cut my meat with, and it would go -ag'in' my stomach to use it arter I'd cut a dirty Injun to pieces!"</p> - -<p>"Then let the chief of the Blackfeet say how the fight shall be," said -White Wolf.</p> - -<p>"Agreed, ag'in! Crack ahead chief, and any way you say fight, I'll -fight!"</p> - -<p>"Gray Eagle says, let the fight be with knives and on foot," was the -decision of the chief; and although it did not exactly suit Jehiel, he -immediately began to strip for the fight.</p> - -<p>He was soon naked to the waist, and handing his gun and garments to -Snowdrop, he asked her to hold them for him. He was encouraged by a -sweet smile from her, and in reply to the whispered, "Kill him if you -can," he replied:</p> - -<p>"I'll do it, sartin!"</p> - -<p>White Wolf then stripped, and he too handed his gun to Snowdrop, but -she refused it with scorn. This angered the Pawnee still more, and he -exclaimed:</p> - -<p>"Wait until I kill the pale-face dog!" and he strode into the circle -which had been formed by the two parties pressing forward in their -eagerness to see what was going on.</p> - -<p>White Wolf was a tall, finely formed Indian, and was well skilled in -the use of the knife, so that really, he had the advantage over Jehiel; -but what Jehiel lacked in skill and experience, he more than made up in -quickness and grit.</p> - -<p>They stood within six feet of each other, waiting for Gray Eagle to -give the signal to commence.</p> - -<p>So it came, and as the two forms met, the gleaming steel told that the -battle was begun. Flashing in the sunlight, as the antagonists came -together, and then sprung apart, only to renew the conflict without a -moment's pause.</p> - -<p>Jehiel soon became satisfied that he was in no particular danger from -the Pawnee chief, and he laughed to himself as he parried the furious -blows of the Indian. But he soon grew tired of this, and pressed hard -upon his adversary, who gradually fell back toward the side of the -circle occupied by his warriors.</p> - -<p>Jehiel anticipated his intentions, and springing past the Pawnee, -placed himself between the chief and his warriors.</p> - -<p>Then he pressed the Pawnee still harder, and began to nerve himself for -the last desperate effort.</p> - -<p>By a skillful blow he severed the string by which the knife of the -chief was attached to his wrist, and another lightning-like stroke sent -the Indian's knife whirling a rod away.</p> - -<p>"Now, red-skin, if you hain't satisfied, go and pick up your knife and -I'll do it again."</p> - -<p>"The pale-face can take the scalp of White Wolf, for he has won it!" -replied the chief.</p> - -<p>"I don't want yer scalp, ye durned fool, but I guess, seein' it's you, -I'll cut it off close to yer head; then, while you're raisin' another -one, you can think of the lickin' I've g'in ye."</p> - -<p>"White Wolf will not accept life from a pale-face dog!" exclaimed the -chief.</p> - -<p>Again the sledge-hammer fist of Jehiel came in contact with the head of -the Pawnee, and again the chief found himself flat on his back.</p> - -<p>"Waal, now, didn't I tell you so?" said Jehiel. "I don't take <i>dog</i> -from no man, let alone a durned Injun."</p> - -<p>Then Jehiel shaved the braided scalp-lock of the Pawnee chief close to -his head, after which he returned, and donning his garments, mounted -his horse and was ready for the next thing that might turn up.</p> - -<p>White Wolf was not slow in following his example, and then withdrew -with his warriors, without saying a word to any one.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<h2>CHAPTER IX.</h2> - -<h3>BEAR-PAW AT HOME.</h3> - - -<p>The party at the cave were enjoying themselves as well as they could -under the circumstances.</p> - -<p>Kelly was getting anxious about his friend Jehiel, and had resolved -that, if he did not make his appearance in the vicinity that day, he -would go in search of him next morning.</p> - -<p>But he did not know that about that time Jehiel was having his little -round with the Pawnee chief—if he had, he would not have rested quite -so easily.</p> - -<p>Then there was his promise to Gray Eagle, which was only half kept, but -which he resolved should be fulfilled to the letter.</p> - -<p>Yes, he <i>would</i> have the scalp of the Sioux chief, or die in the -attempt to get it.</p> - -<p>Nulela, the sister of Red Pine, was indeed happy, and with good -reason—the white man whom she had rescued from her brother's power now -reciprocated her great love, and she felt herself amply rewarded for -the risk she had run and the sacrifice she had made.</p> - -<p>Full well she knew that she could not return to her own people, except -in disgrace. Such is the moral code of the Sioux—if a maiden of the -tribe marries a white man, and he dies, or, as is more generally the -case, deserts her, she is thenceforth an outcast.</p> - -<p>For a long time after the old trapper had tendered them the -hospitalities of his subterranean retreat, they sat beside the fire -trying to determine what was best to be done.</p> - -<p>"I am afraid that the Sioux will hang around here until they find out -some way to get into this cave," said Curtiss.</p> - -<p>"Young man," said the old trapper, "it ar' a great pity yer could not -hev been born with more brains, an' less stomach!"</p> - -<p>"What do you mean, sir?" exclaimed the astonished young man.</p> - -<p>"I mean yer must be a durned fool fur bein' afraid, when I've told yer -thar ain't a mite o' danger in here!"</p> - -<p>Curtiss thought his best plan was to humor the eccentricities of Old -Bear-Paw, and it was perhaps well that he did.</p> - -<p>"Kem with me, my friends," said the trapper, "an' I'll convince yer we -ar' perfeckly safe."</p> - -<p>He led the way to the further end of the cave, where the party found -themselves standing upon the brink of a fearful chasm, the light from -the torches revealing no boundary except that upon which they stood. -Below and beyond them, all was inky blackness.</p> - -<p>"Gracious, what a place!" said Kelly. "Do you know how deep this hole -is, or what is on the other side?"</p> - -<p>"Yas. I've bin down inter this 'ar' hole clean ter ther bottom, an' ef -yer behave yerselves purty well, I'll take yer down thar with me, one -of these days."</p> - -<p>"Thank you," replied the scout; "but do you know what is on the other -side of here?"</p> - -<p>"Sartin, I've bin thar too! Would yer like ter go over? I've got er -menagery over thar, as ther show fellers used ter say, uv ther finest -livin' speciments on ther contynunt!"</p> - -<p>"But how do you get across?—I can't see. Two steps more and down you -go, into that bottomless pit. It is not possible that you can walk on -air, and there is no way of making a bridge, that I can see."</p> - -<p>"Yer see, I ain't lived here ten years fur nothin'—so now I'll show -yer how it's done."</p> - -<p>He stepped to one side and returned holding in his hand the end of a -rope, the other end of which was lost in the darkness above them.</p> - -<p>"Now yer see," said the old man, "yer jest hang on ter this yer end, an -swing off. Wull, ther swing 'll take yer clear across this yer black -hole—then when yer feel yerself comin' back, all yer hev ter do is -ter drap yer feet down, an' ye'll find yerself on terry furmy onc't -more. Then yer kin throw ther rope back fur ther next feller, ef thar -is any more, an' ef thar ain't yer must hang it up on ther peg at ther -side—'cause ef yer don't it will hang straight down ther middle arter -it gits done swinging. Then thar can't no one git it."</p> - -<p>"Yes, I understand. Now, Mr.—"</p> - -<p>"Bear-Paw, I told yer, only leave off ther mister!"</p> - -<p>"Well, Bear-Paw, supposing you take your torch and go across, then we -will follow you."</p> - -<p>The old trapper took the torch between his teeth and seizing the rope -with both hands, he swung off. In a minute he waved his torch on the -other side, and shouted—"Ketch ther rope," and in another minute Kelly -was ready to follow.</p> - -<p>He tried the rope, as if to make sure that it would hold his weight, -never considering that a much larger man had just swung on the same -rope; and it was with a sensation that he had never before experienced, -that he grasped it firmly and swung off. He soon found himself beside -the old trapper, who said:</p> - -<p>"Yer done it well, boy! But I'm afeard that booby over thar won't dare -ter try it!"</p> - -<p>He shouted to Curtiss to catch the rope, and again it went to the other -side and was caught by him.</p> - -<p>"You go first, Nulela," said Curtiss.</p> - -<p>"No, Nulela will follow her chief!"</p> - -<p>"Are you sure you can hang on?"</p> - -<p>"Nulela is not a child," she replied. "But is the white chief afraid?"</p> - -<p>"Oh, no! But what should I do if you were to fall? It would be instant -death!"</p> - -<p>"Does my chief then care for me?"</p> - -<p>"Care for you? Yes, little one—I love you!" he answered.</p> - -<p>"Oh! I am so glad!" exclaimed the Indian girl; "then I can go with you, -and be your wife?"</p> - -<p>"Yes," replied Curtiss, "if we ever get out of here."</p> - -<p>A call from both Kelly and the old trapper to "hurry up," put a stop -to their love-making, and Curtiss took a firm hold upon the rope and -started for the other side. He had barely regained his feet when the -old trapper seized the rope and sprung out, leaving the scout and -Curtiss alone on the brink of the chasm.</p> - -<p>Their first thought was of treachery. Could it be possible that the -old man was about to leave them there as the easiest and surest way of -getting rid of them?</p> - -<p>They surmised all sorts of things—probable and improbable. They saw -him land on the other side. Here he said to the Indian girl:</p> - -<p>"Jest wait a minit till I git some more torches."</p> - -<p>Then he put the rope into her hand to hold until he should return. -Presently he came back with a lighted torch in his hand, and several -more stuck in his belt.</p> - -<p>"Now, gal, we'll jine our friends on ther other side."</p> - -<p>He held his torch up to her face, to see if she exhibited any signs of -fear, but though he saw no such expression, he saw what puzzled him -more—he saw that her eyes were blue.</p> - -<p>"Girl, who are you? Certainly you are no Indian!" he exclaimed, in -language entirely different from that he generally used.</p> - -<p>"I am Nulela, the sister of Red Pine," she answered.</p> - -<p>He looked at her a moment, as if trying to recollect some -half-forgotten event, and bowing his head upon his hands, the strong -man wept.</p> - -<p>"Can it be that I have found my lost one?" he murmured. "My God! If it -should be true, what a joyful ending there would be to all these years -of sorrow and heart-ache! But no, it can not be! <i>She</i> was stolen by -the fierce Apaches, and this one—ha! where is she?"</p> - -<p>During his soliloquy the Indian girl had swung off and was now standing -beside her friends on the other side of the chasm, and the voice of -Kelly was heard shouting:</p> - -<p>"Here comes the rope, Bear-Paw, catch it!"</p> - -<p>A moment later and the old man stood beside them.</p> - -<p>"Wull," he said, "yer kem acrost all right, didn't yer? An' now we'll -go an' see ther anermiles."</p> - -<p>Proceeding a few yards further into the cave, he turned abruptly to the -left, and entered a large circular room. Here the party were greeted -with a chorus of howls, yells, and snarlings, which continued until the -old man said:</p> - -<p>"Hush! yer 'tarnal critters! Don't yer see I've brought yer some -company?"</p> - -<p>Immediately the growling ceased, and the old man led the way around the -room.</p> - -<p>Chained to the walls were four monster bears and an equal number of -panthers, and they manifested great pleasure when the old trapper -patted them on the head, and called them by their names.</p> - -<p>The party were much surprised when the old trapper removed the chain -from the neck of the largest grizzly, and said to him—"Now go an' -shake paws with ther gentlemen." The bear did as he was ordered, and -returned to his master.</p> - -<p>"Do you have many visitors?" asked the scout.</p> - -<p>"No, yer ther only men these anermiles has seen in eight year," was the -reply of the trapper.</p> - -<p>"I should think it would take you all of the time to keep these fellows -in meat."</p> - -<p>"Thar yer mightily mistaken then, for when thar is too many reds about, -I send them out ter hunt fur me! Now yer moughtn't like ter b'lieve me, -but I kin send any one uv 'em out, an' they'll bring in suthen ter eat -quicker nor either uv yer fellers kin."</p> - -<p>"Is it possible that they are so well trained as that?" asked the scout.</p> - -<p>"I'll show yer," replied the hunter, and he let loose a huge panther, -and patting him on the head, said:</p> - -<p>"Now, Andy Jackson, go an' ketch me a deer, an' be spry about it, too! -Yer knows whar ter find 'em, don't yer?"</p> - -<p>The animal looked up at the hunter's face, and then actually nodded his -head in assent.</p> - -<p>"Wull, go on then, an' don't yer stop ter play!"</p> - -<p>The panther bounded past the party and disappeared in the gloom beyond.</p> - -<p>"How in the world can he get out?" asked Curtiss. "Surely he can not -swing over the chain?"</p> - -<p>"Wull, I reckon he could ef I'd ever l'arnt him! But yer see ther's no -occasion—this yer hole goes clean through ther mountain. But I'll show -yer thet some other time."</p> - -<p>"Hark! What is that?"</p> - -<p>"It's Andy Jackson passin' ther guard," replied the trapper.</p> - -<p>"Who do you have for a guard?"</p> - -<p>"He's er brother uv Andy Jackson, but I calls him Barnum jest 'cause he -kin humbug more Injuns than any other feller in ther kentry, 'thout it -ar' ther king uv humbugs, old Barnum his self. Tell yer what, stranger, -he's ther knowin'est varmint uv 'em all. 'Tain't more'n ten days ago, I -war out looking arter things gineraly, when I run inter a nest uv 'bout -er dozen Blackfeet. They had er white feller what they war a-goin' ter -roast, an' I allowed it didn't look jest right, so I kem back an' got -Andy Jackson an Barnum, an' we went fur ter stop ther fun. Wull, they -war so 'tarnal busy with ther white man that they didn't see us at all, -tell jest as they war goin' ter set fire ter ther brush. Then I shot -ther feller what was ther leader, an' you'd jest orter see'd them two -boys, Andy an' Barnum, sail in, an' go ter sp'ilin' Injuns! Fact, thar -didn't a one uv 'em git away! All ther Injuns in this kentry are scart -uv me, an call me a heap big medicine; so they don't very often kem -around here—an' thet leaves me all uv ther trappin' ter myself. Kem, -let's go back now to ther fire."</p> - -<p>"But what will become of Andy Jackson?" asked the scout.</p> - -<p>"Oh, he'll kem back purty soon, an' be in his stall when I want him!"</p> - -<p>"What will he do with the meat, even supposing that he gets any?"</p> - -<p>"He'll dervide with the rest, like a man," replied the trapper.</p> - -<p>"I don't believe—"</p> - -<p>The speaker was interrupted by the old man, saying:</p> - -<p>"Thar he kems, now. Ef yer don't b'lieve it, jest keep watch on him."</p> - -<p>The trained panther came bounding in, with the carcass of a deer in his -mouth, and thrown across his back.</p> - -<p>Kelly noticed that the head was gone, and said:</p> - -<p>"Andy stopped by the way to take his own lunch, I see."</p> - -<p>"Yer don't see anything uv ther kind! Andy jest chawed ther head off, -an' giv it to Barnum, 'cause thet's his favor-<i>ite</i> piece. 'Sides yer -see it saves ther trouble uv ruunin' back when he feeds ther rest. Yer -needn't laugh, fur as sure as yer live, that ar' Andy Jackson has got -more good sense than half uv ther humans in this territory. Now, ef -yer ain't in a hurry, jest watch ther critter."</p> - -<p>The panther had laid the deer upon the floor of the cavern, and stood -wagging his tail in anticipation, while the old hunter took his knife -and proceeded to cut it into so many pieces as there were animals.</p> - -<p>"Thar, Andy," he said, "feed ther rest, an' take yer own piece, an' go -ter bed."</p> - -<p>The party were by this time prepared for 'most any degree of -tractability on the part of the animal, yet they could not repress an -exclamation of admiration and surprise, when they saw the animal do as -he was bid; it was hard for them to imagine how they could be brought -so completely under the control of the strange old man.</p> - -<p>They recrossed the chasm in the same manner in which they had gone -over, and were soon again seated around the fire.</p> - -<p>Curtiss and the Indian girl were upon one side, by themselves, -completely lost to their surroundings. But, the story of their -love-making was so like others of the same kind, that need not repeat -it here. Those of my readers who do not "know how it is themselves," -have the sympathies of the writer!</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<h2>CHAPTER X.</h2> - -<h3>A WOMAN ON THE TRAIL.</h3> - - -<p>In his fight with the Pawnees, Red Pine had lost several warriors, -which fact was not at all calculated to produce any good feeling on his -part. More than this, he lost what he could not well afford to—his -temper.</p> - -<p>He fumed and swore around, venting his anger upon whoever happened to -get in his way.</p> - -<p>He resolved to make one more desperate fight, even if he had to take -all the warriors of the Sioux nation to do it. Just then, he felt as if -he would like to exterminate the whole Pawnee tribe, and the Blackfeet, -too, with the exception of Snowdrop. Especially would he sweep from -the face of the earth the young pale-face who had come between him and -his desires.</p> - -<p>To this end he dispatched his swiftest runners to the Sioux village -with an earnest appeal for help. There is no doubt in the world but -that he misrepresented facts to his superiors, but then his conscience -was one of those elastic affairs which do not give their possessor much -trouble, and he thought that all was fair in war as in love.</p> - -<p>Then, too, his sister was gone, and he knew that he would not dare to -go back without her. Had he been alone, he would have trumped up some -lie, by which he might get clear of all responsibility; but he knew -that many of the old warriors who were with him, would not hesitate to -put the affair in its true light before the councilors of the nation.</p> - -<p>Thus we find him encamped with his followers within a few miles of the -scene of his recent defeat, to await the return of his messengers.</p> - -<p>And White Wolf felt very much as if he had been doing a large amount of -work for a very small remuneration.</p> - -<p>He was not angry—oh! no! But, as Jehiel remarked when he saw the -Pawnees leaving: "I'll jest bet that critter feels awful demoralized!"</p> - -<p>White Wolf knew that somewhere among the hills there was a white man -who had been instrumental in rescuing Snowdrop from the hands of the -Sioux, and who stood between his wishes and the love of the Blackfoot -queen; and he resolved to hunt up that white man, and put him out of -the way.</p> - -<p>So he returned to the place where he had won so decisive and brilliant -a victory over the Sioux, and went into camp.</p> - -<p>We left Jehiel mounted and ready for whatever might turn up next, and -there he sat, as did the whole band of Blackfeet, until the Pawnees -were nearly out of sight.</p> - -<p>"We will go to the village of my people," said Gray Eagle; and he -turned his horse and started for the north, followed by the Blackfoot -warriors.</p> - -<p>He had gone a full mile when he spoke to Snowdrop; but receiving no -answer, he looked around to see what had become of her. Then he saw -her and Jehiel standing where he had left them.</p> - -<p>Ordering his band to remain where they were, the old chief galloped -back.</p> - -<p>"Why does my daughter and the Long Hunter stay here?" he asked.</p> - -<p>Snowdrop did not reply, but Jehiel did.</p> - -<p>"Waal, old man, we was tryin' to think of suthin' mean enough to call -you for desarting a friend in this way."</p> - -<p>"What does the Long Hunter mean?" asked the old chief.</p> - -<p>"I mean just this, that you're an old liar! You agreed to be a friend -to us fellers, if Lew would get your gal away from the Sioux! He did -it, he did, and now, dog gone your old pictur', you was goin' off hum -without tryin' to find out if he is dead or alive! I told Lew just how -it would be, when he said you had swore to befriend him. I don't think -much of such friends as that!"</p> - -<p>"White Panther promised to bring the scalp of Red Pine to Gray Eagle, -and he has not done it."</p> - -<p>"Waal," replied Jehiel, "he hadn't had time yet. Jest wait a few days, -and you'll see him come walkin' inter your camp a-whistlin' Yankee -Doodle, and old Red Pine's head under his arm—see if you don't!"</p> - -<p>"Gray Eagle can not wait. The Long Hunter had better find his friend -and go home, or my warriors will find them and kill them both!"</p> - -<p>"Are you goin' to desart Lew Kelly in this way?" asked the thoroughly -angry Yankee.</p> - -<p>"Gray Eagle owes the pale-face nothing, for he has not done all he -promised."</p> - -<p>"I've a good mind to shoot you myself, you 'tarnal old traitor you!" -exclaimed Jehiel.</p> - -<p>The old chief did not notice him, but turning to Snowdrop he said:</p> - -<p>"Come, my daughter."</p> - -<p>He turned and started toward his band, but Snowdrop made no effort to -follow him.</p> - -<p>He came back with an angry frown upon his face. It was the first time -Snowdrop had ever refused to obey him.</p> - -<p>"Why does my daughter linger?" he asked.</p> - -<p>"Snowdrop will not enter her father's lodge until he has found the -White Panther! He saved her life, and Snowdrop will not desert him!"</p> - -<p>"The Pawnees have gone that way, and they will find him and kill him!" -replied the old chief.</p> - -<p>"Then Snowdrop will die with him!" exclaimed the maiden.</p> - -<p>The old chief loved his daughter as the apple of his eye, and he knew -that she would not give up by coaxing—she was too much a chip of the -old block for that.</p> - -<p>He could take her home by force; but she would certainly run away if he -did.</p> - -<p>He could confine her so that she could not leave; but she would take -her own life.</p> - -<p>He knew the scout would not take Snowdrop for his wife—he had heard -him say that he had a wife already.</p> - -<p>Looking at the case in all its bearings, he resolved to assist his -daughter in finding White Panther, and then compel him to marry her, -whether or not. So he said:</p> - -<p>"Gray Eagle will find the pale-face, and give him to Snowdrop."</p> - -<p>Signaling for his band to return, he started for the place where he had -last seen Lew Kelly. When within a few miles of the place a scout came -running back with the intelligence that the Pawnees were encamped on -the old battle-ground.</p> - -<p>This intelligence was not at all pleasing to him, for it necessitated -the making of his camp on the side of the range where he then was. -However, necessity knows no law, and he was obliged to call a halt upon -arriving at the foot of the hill.</p> - -<p>He did not know that the object of his search was within short -rifle-shot of him at that moment.</p> - -<p>He had made his camp close by a small stream which ran along the base -of the hill. Upon the opposite side of the stream the rocks towered -above them a hundred feet or more, forming an insurmountable barrier to -further progress in that direction; and with his scouts out, he did not -fear surprise.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Lew Kelly was telling Bear-Paw how he came to be in that section, and -also of the treaty of peace he had made with Gray Eagle.</p> - -<p>"But," he said, "I don't know whether the old chief will consider -himself bound to keep the contract until I bring him the scalp of the -Sioux chief, as I promised. I hope he will, for there is plenty of game -about here, and every indication of gold. In the hills, where my friend -and I made our camp, we found several nuggets of pure gold; and I have -no doubt there is plenty of it among these hills, as they are of the -same range."</p> - -<p>"I've got er gold-mine what'll do yer eyes good ter see," said the old -trapper. "Jest wait er minit an' I'll show yer."</p> - -<p>He went to the opposite side of the room, and returned, bearing a -buck-skin bag, which he opened and poured the contents upon the floor -before the scout.</p> - -<p>"Thar," he said, "is about fifty pounds of ther durned stuff, enuf ter -make yer rich fur life; an' I'll give yer ther hull lot on't, ef ye'll -agree ter go hum, an' never say nothin' about thar bein' any here."</p> - -<p>The scout was too much surprised to reply.</p> - -<p>"What does yer say?" asked the trapper. "Ain't it enuf?"</p> - -<p>"Yes, it is enough," replied Kelly; "but, did you find it all among -these hills?"</p> - -<p>"Sartin. An' I kin show yer more nor ten bushels uv it, layin' around -loose!"</p> - -<p>"Where?"</p> - -<p>"Down in ther kasm—will yer go down an' see it?"</p> - -<p>"Not now," replied the scout. "I must find out, first, where my friend -is. I blame myself for keeping still so long, and if you will let me -out, I will go to the top of the bluff and see if I can discover him."</p> - -<p>"All right. I'll go with yer," replied Bear-Paw.</p> - -<p>Kelly took care to return the gold to the bag, and place it where he -could find it again; then he signified his readiness to go.</p> - -<p>"I'm goin' out, gal," the old trapper said to the aged negro woman. -"Jest keep yer ears open, fur I may be in a hurry when I kem back," and -they were ushered into the outer cavern.</p> - -<p>A low whinny greeted Kelly.</p> - -<p>"Poor old horse!" he said, "you are on short rations just now. I must -try and get you something to eat."</p> - -<p>"Yes," said Bear-Paw, "we'll cut some grass fur ther critter, an' bring -back with us."</p> - -<p>Kelly led his horse to the water, and after he had drank, returned him -to the cavern and told him to lie down.</p> - -<p>The two men were soon upon the level plateau which formed the top of -the hill. Once there, they saw a sight which surprised them not a -little.</p> - -<p>Directly below them was the camp of the Pawnees, while beyond, and not -more than five miles away, they could discern another camp, but could -not make out who they were.</p> - -<p>Kelly easily recognized the Pawnees, for he was well acquainted with -them, and knew White Wolf almost as well as he did Jehiel.</p> - -<p>"I wonder who those others can be, off yonder," he said.</p> - -<p>"I can't tell yer, they's so fur off; but you can bet they ain't no -Blackfeet!"</p> - -<p>"How do you know?" asked the scout.</p> - -<p>"'Cause that 'ar is west, an' ther Blackfoot village ar' off here ter -ther north furder. Le's go over ter ther other side an' see ef we can -diskiver them."</p> - -<p>Approaching the other side, they saw immediately below them the camps -of Gray Eagle, and Kelly recognized his friend Jehiel, and also -Snowdrop.</p> - -<p>"What does this all mean, do you suppose?" he asked.</p> - -<p>"Can't tell," replied the trapper. "It looks as ef there mought be fun -ahead. But come on, le's cut some grass fur ther hoss an' git back. -We'll know more about it afore mornin'."</p> - -<p>With their knives they cut each a large bundle of grass, and returned -to the cavern. The scout threw down his load, but the old trapper said:</p> - -<p>"No, not thar. We must take ther animile inside, fur I an goin' ter hev -this room full uv Injuns afore long."</p> - -<p>"What do you mean?" asked the scout.</p> - -<p>"Jest yer wait an' see," was all the reply he could get.</p> - -<p>The old trapper was getting terribly excited about something, and it -was not until after the huge rock door was between them and the outer -cave that he regained his composure.</p> - -<p>Kelly found a good place for his horse, and throwing a bundle of grass -before him, left him to his own enjoyment. This done, he was about to -seat himself beside the fire, when Bear-Paw said to him—"Kem with me," -and they proceeded to the chasm, where they swung over.</p> - -<p>From a recess in the wall the old man took a bow and arrows and a long -rope, and led the way into the room used as the menagerie.</p> - -<p>"Now," said he, "jest write er letter ter yer friend, an' I'll let him -know whar yer ar'"—and while the scout was writing a few words to -satisfy his friend of his safety, the old trapper went about among his -animals, talking to them, and petting them in his usual manner.</p> - -<p>When the letter was completed, he told Kelly to follow him, and then -led the way to the rear entrance of the cave.</p> - -<p>He soon arrived near the opening, where he halted and said:</p> - -<p>"Don't let Barnum humbug yer, fur he kin scratch like ther Old Boy, -ef he's a mind ter. Yer see, he's crosser nor ther rest, an' ain't in -ther habit uv lettin' folks go by him. But ef yer keep close ter me, I -reckon ye'll be all right."</p> - -<p>Proceeding a few feet further, they came to an abrupt turn in the -passage, and a low growl warned them that they were near the guard. The -old trapper held his torch before him and went ahead.</p> - -<p>"Shut up, Barnum! What ar' yer so sassy about? I'll give yer a -lickin'," he said, "ef yer don't quit yer foolishness."</p> - -<p>And he stood and talked to the animal until Kelly had passed beyond his -reach.</p> - -<p>About fifty feet further on, they came to the end of the cave, and -the daylight streaming in from above showed Kelly the outlet of this -singular cavern. With the exception of the chasm, it was a complete -tunnel through the mountain.</p> - -<p>The old trapper brought a ladder of poles, which he placed against the -side of the opening, and told the scout to go up and see what he could -discover.</p> - -<p>An exclamation of surprise escaped the lips of Kelly, as he beheld, not -more than four rods away, the camp of the Blackfeet.</p> - -<p>Jehiel was just leading his horse to the creek to give him water, when -the scout told the old man to come up where he was.</p> - -<p>In a moment Bear-Paw was by his side, and hastily fitting an arrow to -the bow-string, he sent it within an inch of Jehiel's foot, where it -stuck in the sand.</p> - -<p>Jehiel sprung back as though bitten by a snake, and looked up to see -who had discharged it; but could discover no sign of any living being -in the huge bowlders opposite. Then he pulled the arrow from the -ground, and returned to the camp.</p> - -<p>"Come here, little gal," he said to Snowdrop; "I want to tell you -suthin."</p> - -<p>The Indian girl came out, and Jehiel showed her the arrow, and after -explaining how it came in his possession, added:</p> - -<p>"I guessed you might know more about it than me. What does it mean? Kin -you tell, from the looks of the stick, what tribe made it?"</p> - -<p>The girl took the arrow and examined both the steel head and the spiral -coil of feathers upon the tip.</p> - -<p>"Snowdrop does not know. She will ask her father; perhaps he can -tell—but what is that tied around it?"</p> - -<p>Then Jehiel observed, what had before escaped his notice, that a piece -of paper was wrapped about the arrow-stem, and he carefully removed it.</p> - -<p>"Jewhillakens!" was his exclamation, as he recognized the handwriting.</p> - -<p>He read it over to himself, while Snowdrop stood waiting for an -explanation.</p> - -<p>Jehiel looked up with a puzzled expression—he did not know whether it -would be safe for him to tell her or not. He more than half-doubted the -sincerity of the Blackfoot chief—at the same time, he had resolved to -shoot him, should he find that Gray Eagle had deceived them.</p> - -<p>And, he argued, what need he care for Snowdrop? She still insisted -that she would be no man's wife if she could not be the wife of White -Panther.</p> - -<p>Jehiel knew that there was no earthly hope for her in that direction, -and he rather congratulated himself on the fact that he was not the -only one who would be disappointed.</p> - -<p>"Waal, Snowdrop," he said, "this here letter is from Lew Kelly, the -feller what you call White Panther—"</p> - -<p>"Where is he? What does he say?" eagerly demanded the Indian girl.</p> - -<p>"He's all right," replied Jehiel, "and I'll read you what he says," and -the scout read:</p> - -<div class="blockquot"> -<p>"<span class="smcap">Friend Jehiel</span>: I am safe and sound, and with good friends. -Tell Gray Eagle that the Pawnees are encamped on the other side of the -hill. If he wants to fight them, let him find the pass to the top of -the hill, where he can pick them off at his leisure. There is another -camp a few miles further west, but I can not tell who they are. As -soon as it is dark, do you ride around the hill until you strike the -creek. Get into it, and walk up until you come to the falls, where you -will find me. We must leave here as soon as possible; there is danger -ahead.</p> - -<p class="ph2">Yours,<br /> - -<span class="smcap">Lew</span>."</p></div> - -<p>As he concluded reading, the face of the Indian girl grew bright, and -she said:</p> - -<p>"I am so glad! I shall see the White Panther once more."</p> - -<p>"Yaas, I s'pose so," said Jehiel. "But you'll please to obsarve that he -didn't ask you to come along."</p> - -<p>"No matter, I shall go!" was the positive reply.</p> - -<p>"Waal, jest as you like; but if you want the old man to know any thing -about this gittin' on top of the hill, you'd better tell him—I won't! -The infarnal old traitor! I wouldn't keer a durn if the Pawnees should -lick him like blazes!"</p> - -<p>Snowdrop went and told her father what the scout had written, and he -immediately sent several warriors to look for the pass.</p> - -<p>The top of the hill was inaccessible except at one point, and a dozen -well-armed men could have guarded the plateau against all the Indians -in the territory.</p> - -<p>The shades of night were just falling around the Indian camp, when, -without a word as to their intentions, Jehiel and Snowdrop started -south, along the base of the hill, in search of the creek which was to -lead them to the hiding-place of the brave scout.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<h2>CHAPTER XI.</h2> - -<h3>CROW EAT CROW.</h3> - - -<p>Upon returning to the menagerie room the old trapper still retained the -rope, of which he had as yet made no use. Seeing that the scout noticed -it, he said:</p> - -<p>"Yes, I didn't know but yer mought want ter draw yer friend up ter ther -openin' uv ther cave, but yer seemed ter hev some other plans uv yer -own; so now mebby we'd better improve the time ter go down inter ther -kasm."</p> - -<p>"I should like to visit it before I leave," replied Kelly. "I am afraid -we shall never have another chance."</p> - -<p>"What makes yer talk that a-way?" asked Bear-Paw.</p> - -<p>"I don't know, indeed, but somehow I feel as if there was going to be -some fighting around here, before this time to-morrow; and I have a -kind of foreordination that you and I will be mixed up in it."</p> - -<p>"An' so hev I," replied the old trapper. "An' more nor that, I've er -big notion that I'll git killed, and yer won't! But it's time enuf to -think on that bime-by. Only ef I should happen ter go under, an' yer -don't, I want ye ter promise me yer will take the nigger gal with yer, -an' take good care uv her es long she lives. She's ther only friend I -hev on airth, an' I'll leave enuf fur ter pervide fur her es long es -she lives. What do yer say?"</p> - -<p>"That I will accept the trust, and guard her life as I would my own!" -replied the scout.</p> - -<p>"I knew yer would, and now let's go down."</p> - -<p>He fastened one end of the rope round a projecting rock, and let the -other fall into the darkness below.</p> - -<p>"Does that rope reach to the bottom of the chasm?" asked Kelly.</p> - -<p>"No," replied the old trapper, "not more nor half-way. But I've got -er pair uv stairs thar what goes ter ther bottom. I'll go first, with -the light, then yer kin foller. Yer see ther rope is knotted, so that -yer won't hev much trouble in hangin' on—an' boy, jest stick some -torch-wood in yer belt, fur it's orful dark down thar."</p> - -<p>The old trapper descended the rope with an agility surprising in one so -old, and gave the signal for the scout to follow.</p> - -<p>He soon found himself standing upon a ledge of rock, about six feet -square, from which he could see steps leading down into the darkness -below, evidently cut in the soft limestone rock.</p> - -<p>To the scout there seemed no end to the steps, but he soon found -himself walking along upon the level ground.</p> - -<p>"Light er couple uv torches," said Bear-Paw, "an' I'll show yer more -gold nor yer ever dreamed on."</p> - -<p>The scout did so, and the old man's promise was fulfilled.</p> - -<p>Some great convulsion of nature had rent in twain the mountain of rock, -revealing on all sides countless seams—and they were filled with -gold. What he had supposed to be pebbles under his feet, proved on -inspection, to be nuggets of pure gold.</p> - -<p>He thought not of the treasures by which he was surrounded, but of the -Great Architect who had planned it all; and reverently he bowed his -head, as if in the immediate presence of the Divine Master.</p> - -<p>He was utterly overwhelmed by the magnificent grandeur of his -surroundings, and could easily have dreamed himself in fairy-land. -Perhaps, when he had gone the way of all the living, strangers would -come here and the world would be electrified by the intelligence of the -marvelous discoveries they would make.</p> - -<p>He had pledged his word that he would not tell any one of the existence -of gold in that locality, and yet—poor human nature craved more.</p> - -<p>The old trapper stood and watched him, as in mute adoration he -contemplated the scene, until finally he said:</p> - -<p>"Ef yer wants er mule-load instead uv er back-load, jest help yerself! -Ef I peg out in ther scrimmage what ar' sure to come to-morrer, then I -won't hold yer to yer promise—yer kin take all yer want, an' tell who -yer please."</p> - -<p>"I hope you may live many years, and enjoy the wealth that is yours!" -replied the scout. "May I ask why you remain here in solitude? It -is not natural for men to live alone, and I do not believe you are -<i>obliged</i> to hide from your fellow-man."</p> - -<p>"Sometime," said the old man, "I will tell you my history. Then you -will not wonder that I choose to live alone!" Then fearing that the -scout had detected the difference in his speech, into which he had -momentarily been betrayed, he changed to his customary vernacular.</p> - -<p>"Now that yer know ther way, yer kin come down an' help yerself -any time. An' now less git back, ur ther rest uv ther folks 'll be -wonderin' whar we ar'."</p> - -<p>In a short time they presented themselves before the fire; but it is -doubtful if Curtiss or the Indian girl had missed them at all.</p> - -<p>They were seated where the scout had left them, and seemed no nearer -the end of their story than when they first began.</p> - -<p>That old, old story, forever new!</p> - -<p>When will men cease to tell it? and when will women weary of listening?</p> - -<p>At first the scout was inclined to think that Curtiss was trifling with -the girl's affections; but he became satisfied that the young man was -"really and truly" in love.</p> - -<p>Thus far they had given the lie to the remark of Shakspeare (or some -other man) that "the course of true love never runs smooth."</p> - -<p>The colored <i>gal</i> sat before the fire, smoking her pipe, and utterly -oblivious to all earthy matters, croning the air to some old hymn she -had learned—where?</p> - -<p>She was never more surprised in her life than when the old trapper gave -her a slap upon the back, and said:</p> - -<p>"Kem, gal, it's time ter go ter bed. This yer young feller hes got all -he kin do ter court one gal, an' he's proberbly thinkin' that yer room -is better nor yer company, eh? An' jest make a good bed fur ther leetle -gal while yer about it."</p> - -<p>The old woman did as she was bid, and soon all hands had sought their -respective couches.</p> - -<p>But did any of them sleep? Doubtful!</p> - -<p>As the firelight flickered about, making strange and grotesque figures -upon the wall, all were awake, and trying, amid the dim shadows, to -solve the problem of life—to work out the destiny in store for them.</p> - -<p>It is needless to say that in the doctrine of manifest destiny they -were firm believers; and, as they have all night before them, we will -leave them for awhile, and record the events transpiring in another -quarter.</p> - -<p>The runners who had been sent out by Red Pine were particularly -fortunate in meeting several large parties of Sioux, who, in view of -the reported fun and plunder ahead, hastened to join the chief.</p> - -<p>So we find him all ready for marching, on the evening of the same day -that Gray Eagle and his band were about changing their quarters to the -top of the hill, within the dark recesses of which our friends lay -castle-building.</p> - -<p>As the darkness began to envelop the earth, Red Pine, at the head of -his warriors, cautiously approached the camp of the Pawnees.</p> - -<p>He was aware of their being there, and congratulated himself that now -he would have a glorious revenge.</p> - -<p>But White Wolf was watchful, and his warriors were in readiness to meet -the Sioux as soon as they came in sight.</p> - -<p>He did not know that any new accessions had been made to the Sioux -forces, and did not doubt that he could whip them as easily as he had -done once before.</p> - -<p>But the Sioux made the attack soon after midnight, and the fortunes of -war were decided in their favor. The Pawnees were completely routed.</p> - -<p>Daylight revealed to the Blackfeet upon the hill the singular fact that -the Pawnees were changed to Sioux.</p> - -<p>The only avenue was well guarded, and Gray Eagle did not fear a -surprise. His only anxiety, now, was for his daughter.</p> - -<p>He had formed his camp very nearly in the center of the plateau, which -covered an area of perhaps forty acres, so that discovery from below -was an impossibility, as long as they kept away from the edge.</p> - -<p>But in this case their curiosity obtained the mastery over their -prudence, and an incautious exposure of one's body convinced them that -the Sioux were on the alert.</p> - -<p>Before long the bill was surrounded by Indians, eager to find the pass -to the top, which they had not much trouble in doing, as they had only -to follow the trail left by the Blackfeet.</p> - -<p>An attempt to go up was met by the most disastrous result, the whole -file of Sioux warriors being swept from the path at the first blow. -They withdrew to the foot of the hill near the pass, and resolved to -wait.</p> - -<p>If the thing could be accomplished in no other way, Red Pine had -resolved to starve them out.</p> - -<p>Gray Eagle had been improvident in not laying in a supply of provisions -before going up, and he saw his mistake—when it was too late.</p> - -<p>About noon a loud shout was heard, and Gray Eagle, looking from the top -of the hill, saw a great commotion in the Sioux camp.</p> - -<p>The cause was soon apparent. They had taken a prisoner.</p> - -<p>And Gray Eagle did not need a spy-glass to show him that the prisoner -was his daughter.</p> - -<p>Red Pine did not care, now, for the lives that had been lost. He forgot -for the moment his habitual stoicism, and danced for joy.</p> - -<p>"Waugh! the Blackfoot squaw has bad luck!" he said. "The warriors of -Red Pine have killed the Pawnees, and there is now no help for her. The -Queen of the Blackfeet shall yet sit in the lodge of a Sioux chief."</p> - -<p>"Never!" exclaimed Snowdrop. "My people are near, and they will sweep -the Sioux from the earth."</p> - -<p>"Let the Blackfoot maiden look up, and she will see that her father -and his warriors are prisoners. There is but one path up there, and -Red Pine will stay here until the last of the Blackfeet are starved to -death, if Snowdrop does not consent to be his squaw!"</p> - -<p>Tradition had handed down to her the legend of the last of the -Illinii—she knew how the remnant of a once powerful tribe had sought -a refuge from their relentless foes, in just such a place as this. She -knew that when the enemy had at last gained the top of the rock, they -found only the dead bodies of that ill-fated band.</p> - -<p>Was it possible that the tragic scene was to be re-enacted here, and -this hill become another <i>Starved Rock</i>?</p> - -<p>She knew the fallacy of trying to oppose Red Pine in his ambition, so, -like a sensible girl, she closed her mouth and walked away to the lodge -assigned her.</p> - -<p>Red Pine was not without his misgivings. He knew that as long as he -pleased, he could keep the Blackfeet from coming down the pass. He -knew, also, that they could make smoke-signals, which would call down -upon him more Blackfoot warriors than he could successfully cope with; -and though he had secured the principal prize, he dared not go back -without his sister.</p> - -<p>He was satisfied that she was somewhere among the hills with his late -prisoner, Curtiss, and he resolved to find her at all hazards.</p> - -<p>The Blackfeet had withdrawn from the edge of the bluff, and an ominous -silence reigned around. Subtle influences were working upon the brain -of the Sioux chief, and he wished himself out of the scrape.</p> - -<p>How came the Blackfoot queen in his power?</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Jehiel and Snowdrop, when they left the camp of her father to go in -search of the scout, soon came to a stream, up which they turned their -horses' heads, and silently traveled on. After an hour's hard toil -Jehiel came to where the stream issued from a narrow cleft in the rock, -and he was disappointed.</p> - -<p>"There hain't any falls here!" he exclaimed. "I wonder why in thunder -Lew didn't say where the creek was, and not let a feller lose time in -tumblin' over these rocks—to say nothin' of tearin' his clothes?"</p> - -<p>They returned to the place where they had entered the stream and again -started on. Before long they found another, which Jehiel was sure was -the right one, but his search for the falls had ended in precisely the -same manner as his first attempt.</p> - -<p>And so they kept it up until long after midnight, when they tied their -horses and lay down to sleep.</p> - -<p>They did not awake until after daylight, but as there was no breakfast -to cook, they had not long to wait, and again started on.</p> - -<p>Up at least half a dozen streams they went, only to meet with -disappointment.</p> - -<p>The forenoon was well-nigh spent, when they returned to the place of -their last entrance, and again started around the hill.</p> - -<p>Presently they came to a stream which was formed of two smaller ones; -one upon each side of a spur in the hill.</p> - -<p>"Now, Snowdrop," said Jehiel, "you go up one, and I will the other. -We'll save time in that way, and if I find the falls I will fire my -rifle—then you can come to me. If you find them first then you can -fire yours. And if we don't neither one of us find it, then we'll meet -ag'in here."</p> - -<p>Snowdrop still carried her father's rifle, and she consented to the -hunter's plan, and at once began the ascent of the stream.</p> - -<p>Jehiel had been fortunate enough to find the falls, and was about to -discharge his rifle, when he heard the voice of the scout:</p> - -<p>"Don't do that, Jehiel! Get in here as soon as you can."</p> - -<p>"But, Lew, I told the little gal I'd shoot my gun off if I found you -first."</p> - -<p>"Oh, fudge! What did she come along for?" ejaculated the scout.</p> - -<p>"You'll find out when she sees you," replied Jehiel.</p> - -<p>While they were yet conversing they heard the report of a gun, which -Jehiel recognized as that of his companion.</p> - -<p>"What in thunder does that mean?" he asked.</p> - -<p>Just at that moment there came a loud whoop from the same direction.</p> - -<p>"It means that she has been taken prisoner by the Pawnees," said the -scout.</p> - -<p>"Waal, I'm goin' to find out for sure," returned the Yankee. "Come with -me, Lew."</p> - -<p>The two men proceeded down the stream until they came within sight of -the place where Jehiel had parted with the Indian girl. Kelly caught -him by the arm and drew him back behind a projecting rock, at the same -time whispering:</p> - -<p>"See—there goes a lot of them, and they have taken Snowdrop prisoner. -They are not Pawnees, either, but Sioux! I wonder what it all means?"</p> - -<p>Then he thought of a plan by which he hoped to entrap them, and rescue -the Indian girl.</p> - -<p>"Is your gun loaded, Jehiel?" he asked.</p> - -<p>"Sartin! Do you think I'm a fool?" replied Jehiel.</p> - -<p>"Then let us have a shot at them."</p> - -<p>Together they raised their guns and fired, and two Indians dropped dead -in their tracks.</p> - -<p>The rest, looking up the stream, saw the two white men, and a dozen of -them sprung in pursuit.</p> - -<p>"Now run for the falls," said Kelly, and he led the way.</p> - -<p>They arrived at the opening several rods ahead of the Sioux.</p> - -<p>"Here," said the scout; "you stay here, and shoot every one that makes -his appearance. I will take care of your horse."</p> - -<p>He led the horse to the door leading to the middle room, and giving the -signal, was admitted without delay.</p> - -<p>Passing in, he tied the horse near his own, and shouted:</p> - -<p>"Come, Curtiss, Bear-Paw, get your guns and come out; there is some fun -for you!"</p> - -<p>The two men sprung up and followed him, and were soon beside Jehiel, -waiting for the Sioux to make their appearance.</p> - -<p>They soon heard them, moving cautiously up the creek until they arrived -opposite the opening, and there they stood gazing at the falls.</p> - -<p>They had not yet discovered the entrance to the cave, and were -doubtless wondering where the white men could have disappeared so -suddenly.</p> - -<p>"Fire!" cried Bear-Paw, and four of the Indians found a resting-place -beneath the waters of the stream.</p> - -<p>The rest turned to run, but the party of whites sprung behind them, and -before they could reach a protecting shelter of rock, four more were -sent to their final account.</p> - -<p>The scout and Jehiel started in pursuit of the remaining Sioux, but the -old trapper called them back.</p> - -<p>"Jest let 'em go, boys. Ef they don't bring back er pack uv ther -varmint, then yer may say Old Bear-Paw's er liar. Then, yer see, we kin -captur' a good haul uv 'em."</p> - -<p>When they were once more within the cave the old man asked Kelly who -the new-comer was.</p> - -<p>"He is my pardner—the fellow I was telling you about the other day."</p> - -<p>"He's er Yank, ain't he?"</p> - -<p>"Yes," replied Kelly, "but he is all right—I will vouch for him."</p> - -<p>"Wull, kem inter ther other room. Ther old gal must hev dinner ready by -this time, I reckon, an' we'll want er full stomach fur our arternoon's -work."</p> - -<p>Their dinner consisted of a huge venison roast, strong coffee, and wild -honey; and though not an elaborate bill of fare, it was one to which -every one of the party could do full justice.</p> - -<p>After dinner the old trapper called Kelly to one side, and said:</p> - -<p>"Thar's somebody a-top uv this yer hill, an' I'm er goin' ter find out -who it ar'. Wull yer go erlong?"</p> - -<p>"Certainly," replied the scout.</p> - -<p>Jehiel wanted to accompany them, but when the scout told him there was -danger of soiling his clothes, he laughed and said he "b'lieved he'd -stay there and have a nap."</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<h2>CHAPTER XII.</h2> - -<h3>COURTSHIP UNDER DIFFICULTIES.</h3> - - -<p>The old trapper and Kelly made their way quietly to the top of the hill -through the canyon before mentioned, and were immediately discovered by -the Blackfeet, who rushed for their arms and were about to fire upon -the two white men, when Gray Eagle interposed his authority, he having -recognized the scout.</p> - -<p>The two white men walked into the Blackfoot camp and seating themselves -beside the fire, entered into conversation with the chief.</p> - -<p>"Red Pine, the Sioux, has taken the daughter of Gray Eagle once more," -he said. "Can White Panther tell who is to rescue her?"</p> - -<p>"It is as much your business as anybody's, I should say," replied the -scout, who had heard what Gray Eagle had said about him to Jehiel and -Snowdrop.</p> - -<p>"Does White Panther remember his promise?"</p> - -<p>"Yes. But it seems that the chief of the Blackfeet has forgotten his," -replied the scout.</p> - -<p>"No. Gray Eagle never forgets! When the White Panther does <i>all</i> he -promised, then the pale-faces can come and go when they please, among -the Black Hills."</p> - -<p>The scout felt the spirit of perverseness rising within him.</p> - -<p>"I don't know as I care very much about it any more," he replied. -"It is all the same to me if Red Pine keeps the Blackfoot queen, and -starves her father to death—as it seems he can if he wants to. Jehiel -told me all about it, chief, how you was going off home without making -an effort to find me, after I had risked my life half a dozen times for -you and your daughter!"</p> - -<p>"Snowdrop loves the White Panther," suggested Gray Eagle.</p> - -<p>"I don't care if she does; I don't love her, and I have told her -so; and if she had not made a fool of herself by running after me, -she would not now be in the hands of the Sioux. But no matter about -that—<i>you</i> don't love me, if she does; and I am half a mind to let the -Sioux starve you out."</p> - -<p>"That will never be!" replied the chief. "Gray Eagle has made the smoke -signals which will bring every warrior in the Blackfoot village to -fight the Sioux. Then Gray Eagle can go down and fight them, too, and -when he has killed them all, he will take White Panther prisoner, and -<i>make</i> him marry Snowdrop!"</p> - -<p>"You must be an old fool!" retorted the scout. "But then, I won't -quarrel with you. When you get ready to take me prisoner, please let me -know, and perhaps I can help you—and, chief, if it should accidentally -happen that you get taken yourself, let me know that, too; and if I -don't help you, it will be because I don't want to!"</p> - -<p>The scout and his companion were turning to leave, when Gray Eagle -asked:</p> - -<p>"What is to hinder Gray Eagle from going down where his pale-face -brothers go?"</p> - -<p>"Perhaps nothing—perhaps much!" replied the scout. "In the first -place, there is some one down there who will shoot the first Indian he -sees, whether Blackfoot or Sioux! That is reason enough, and if it was -not, there is a better one—I don't want you to go down there!"</p> - -<p>The old chief could not avoid showing surprise at the bold, and -even threatening language of the scout, and he concluded to adopt a -different course.</p> - -<p>"Would White Panther see the father of Snowdrop, who loves the -pale-face, die here? Gray Eagle has nothing to eat."</p> - -<p>"There is no one to blame but yourself," replied the scout. "You should -have brought up provisions enough to last you. Are you very hungry?"</p> - -<p>"Yes," replied Gray Eagle.</p> - -<p>"Then why don't you go down and fight the Sioux? They have plenty to -eat, and the plains are covered with buffalo."</p> - -<p>"The Sioux can not come up, neither can the warriors of Gray Eagle go -down!"</p> - -<p>"Then why don't you stand up here and pick them off, one at a time? -If you could manage to shoot Red Pine, the rest would leave—then you -could go down and have things all your own way!"</p> - -<p>The remarks of the scout were very tantalizing, and the old chief -nearly choked himself trying to smother his anger.</p> - -<p>"Come, Bear-Paw," said the scout, "let's go to the edge of the bluff -and see what the Sioux are up to. You come too, chief."</p> - -<p>The three cautiously approached the edge of the cliff and looked down -upon the Sioux camp.</p> - -<p>Every thing was quiet there—the warriors were lying around on the -grass—smoking, sleeping or gambling, as they pleased.</p> - -<p>Snowdrop was sitting at the door of a rudely-constructed teepe, her -head bowed in meditation; while twenty yards away stood the Sioux -chief, engaged in a like manner. None of them had yet observed the -three figures above them.</p> - -<p>"Gray Eagle, have you a bow and arrows?" asked the scout.</p> - -<p>"Yes," replied the chief.</p> - -<p>"Get it, then, and send an arrow down to Snowdrop. I want her to look -up here."</p> - -<p>The chief did so, and a glad smile filled the Indian girl's face when -she saw the scout with her father.</p> - -<p>Now that she knew he was safe, she trusted with all her loving woman's -heart that he would rescue her from her captors.</p> - -<p>Just then two Indians, who had been amusing themselves with a pack of -greasy cards, looked up and saw them, and with a loud yell they sprung -for their guns.</p> - -<p>"Le's salt them fellers," said the old trapper, now speaking for the -first time since he left the cave.</p> - -<p>The two white men discharged their rifles.</p> - -<p>Immediately all was commotion in the Sioux camp. A hundred armed men -sprung to their feet, but there were none of the enemy in sight; and -the howlings over the bodies of their slain warriors were both long and -loud.</p> - -<p>The scout and Bear-Paw then returned to the cave, and seated themselves -beside the fire, and for a few minutes had all they could do to answer -Jehiel's questions.</p> - -<p>"If the Blackfoot chief had any spunk at all, he could easily drive -the Sioux away," said Kelly; "but it seems as if he was completely -discouraged. I'll just bet, if it was me, I would make a big hole in -their ranks before dark!"</p> - -<p>"Oh, Lew!" exclaimed Jehiel, as a new idea struck him, "let's me -and you go up and take the contrack of lickin' the Sioux! Mebbe we -could make some kind of a swap with old Gray Eagle, and get a load of -beaver-skins to carry home with us. What do you say?"</p> - -<p>"I say that we can have a load of something better to carry, without -running any risk."</p> - -<p>"I don't know of any thing any better," said Jehiel. "Beaver and -mink fetch a good price, now-a-days, and we kin make our 'tarnal -fortunes—pervidin', of course, we kin git the contrack. But then, -mebbe, arter we'd licked the Sioux, old Gray Eagle wouldn't pay us for -it—he's an o'nery old thief. What do you suppose is the reason, Lew, -that Snowdrop don't fall in love with me? Ain't I good-lookin' enough? -Can't I shoot as good as the best of them—and hain't I done enough for -her, I'd like to know?"</p> - -<p>"I'm sure I can not tell, Jehiel. Have you said any thing to her about -it?"</p> - -<p>"Yaas, and she give me the mitten quicker 'n spat!" said Jehiel.</p> - -<p>"Well, don't get discouraged—perhaps she will come around all right -yet. Now, Jehiel, supposing you were rich enough to go back to Vermont -and buy out the richest man in your county, would you want to marry an -Indian girl?"</p> - -<p>"In course I would! Darn it all, Lew, I love the gal, and I don't care -whether she is white or black, red or yellow! 'Sides, there hain't no -chance to speculate out here. And I don't never expect to get rich -here."</p> - -<p>"Sit still a minute, and I will convince you to the contrary," said -Kelly, and he produced the bag of gold which the old trapper had given -him, and poured the contents out before the astonished Jehiel.</p> - -<p>"Thunder, Lew! Where did you get all this? Is there any more where -this come from? Du tell me if it's all your'n?"</p> - -<p>"One question at a time, Jehiel—they will last the longer. In the -first place, this bag of gold was a present to me from our friend -Bear-Paw; and I assure you there is plenty more where this came -from—and this is all mine. Under certain circumstances I shall be at -liberty to show you where it came from, and to furnish you enough to -make you richer than the wealthiest man in the State of Vermont! But, -if those circumstances never transpire, then I will divide this with -you."</p> - -<p>The scout would have revealed the secret of the chasm, but he did not -feel at liberty to do so, as the old trapper had trusted to his honor. -He turned to Bear-Paw, and said:</p> - -<p>"Will you show Jehiel your menagerie?"</p> - -<p>"Sartin, ef he wants ter see 'em," replied the old man, leading the way -to the chasm.</p> - -<p>Jehiel had not the slightest intimation of what was before him, and his -astonishment was unbounded when they arrived at the chasm.</p> - -<p>"Jewhillakens!" he exclaimed. "S'pose a feller should walk off here -sometime, would he ever touch bottom?"</p> - -<p>He received no reply, for had there been any, he was too much surprised -just then to have heard it. He saw the old trapper swing off on the end -of the rope, and heard him when he stopped upon the opposite side, and -waved his torch as a signal for the scout to catch the rope.</p> - -<p>"Now," said Kelly, "you go over."</p> - -<p>Jehiel showed signs of cowardice.</p> - -<p>"How fur is it over there?" he asked.</p> - -<p>"About sixty feet," was the reply.</p> - -<p>"But durn it, Lew, I might fall and break my tarnal neck."</p> - -<p>"Oh! there is no danger of that—all you have to do is to hang on to -the rope; and you see there is a big knot in the end, so that your -hands won't slip."</p> - -<p>"But what's the use in goin' over there? Hain't there plenty of room -here?"</p> - -<p>"Yes, I suppose so; but I want to show you something on the other -side," replied the scout.</p> - -<p>"Wal, I hain't afraid, in course, but if it hain't necessary I won't -go!"</p> - -<p>"It <i>is</i> necessary!" answered the scout.</p> - -<p>"Wal, if I must, I must; but the Lord knows I don't want to! And Lew, -if I fall and kill myself, I shall always blame you."</p> - -<p>"All right! I'll take the blame—you hang on to the rope."</p> - -<p>Jehiel let his weight bear on the rope, shut his eyes, and raising his -feet from the floor, soon felt himself swinging through space at a rate -that made him hold his breath, and tighten his grip upon the rope. He -would have retained his hold and swung back again, had not the old -trapper seized him by the arm and stopped him.</p> - -<p>They were soon joined by the scout, and proceeded at once to the -menagerie.</p> - -<p>Here the old trapper stuck his torch in the ground, and spoke with a -voice trembling with emotion:</p> - -<p>"Here's my pets—jest ther best lot uv b'ars an' painters I ever -see'd—an' I've got ter leave 'em! I didn't think uv thet when I got -'em here, sech little fellers; but now I feel thet I'm er goin ter die, -an' thar won't be nobody ter take care uv 'em, an' love 'em as I do!"</p> - -<p>Seeing his evident distress, Kelly said:</p> - -<p>"If there was any way to get them away from here, and to the -settlements, I would agree to take care of them for you. But don't give -way to such feelings, Bear-Paw—you may live many years yet to enjoy -the companionship of your pets."</p> - -<p>The old man bowed his head and remained silent. After a time he asked:</p> - -<p>"Do you care any thing about ther daughter uv ther Blackfoot chief?"</p> - -<p>"No, I do not," replied Kelly. "And yet I would rather see her in other -hands. If I could only rescue her, and get the Sioux chief's scalp, I -should be happy! Then Gray Eagle could have no excuse for not keeping -his promise to me."</p> - -<p>"Then I'll help yer; an' I reckon we kin do it ef anybody kin!" said -the old man.</p> - -<p>"I don't think of any way that we can do it, though."</p> - -<p>"Kin yer talk the Blackfoot language?"</p> - -<p>"Yes," replied the scout.</p> - -<p>"Then let's go ter ther openin' whar we war ther other day, an' mebby -yer kin git er chance ter say suthin ter her."</p> - -<p>They proceeded to the opening, before described, passing the guard, -Barnum, after considerable trouble; for the animal was unusually cross -that day, having been some time without food.</p> - -<p>Here the scout mounted the ladder, and was soon peering through a -fissure at the Sioux camp. Two hours before, he had been upon the hill -nearly a hundred feet above his present position.</p> - -<p>Again fortune favored him, for he saw the Indian girl approaching the -stream close by where he stood.</p> - -<p>The scout waited until she had reached the water's edge, when he gave a -low whistle.</p> - -<p>She looked up, and he spoke to her, making use of the Blackfoot -dialect, which, for the convenience of the reader we will interpret.</p> - -<p>"Snowdrop," said the scout, "when it is dark, come to the place where -you are now, and I will take you away. Bring the Sioux chief with you, -that I may take him a prisoner."</p> - -<p>"Is it White Panther who speaks?" asked the girl.</p> - -<p>"Yes."</p> - -<p>"Snowdrop will come."</p> - -<p>The conversation had not been heard by the Sioux, and Snowdrop returned -to her teepe, while Kelly descended the ladder and stood beside his -friends. The three then returned to the main room to await the coming -of night.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<h2>CHAPTER XIII.</h2> - -<h3>THE MENAGERIE TO THE RESCUE.</h3> - - -<p>About the time that Snowdrop returned to her teepe, a scout came -running into the Sioux camp with the intelligence that a large herd of -buffalo were in sight, a few miles to the east; and within five minutes -two-thirds of the Sioux, including the chief, Red Pine, had gone in -pursuit of them.</p> - -<p>Those within the cave knew nothing of this movement, while the -Blackfeet at the top, though aware of it, were afraid to make an attack.</p> - -<p>Had they been allowed to make use of the pass through which Kelly and -the trapper went up and down, every one of them could have left the -hill and given battle to the few Sioux who were left to guard the pass -and the camp.</p> - -<p>Two days without food had not produced a very enviable state of feeling -among the Blackfoot braves. Treason was rife among them. Mutterings of -discontent arose on every hand, and those who all their lives had been -accustomed to render the strictest obedience, now felt the spirit of -rebellion.</p> - -<p>The young chief, who had led the party from their village, was loud in -his denunciations of the policy adopted by the old chief. He used every -argument in his power to prove that the old man was in his dotage, and -unfit to be intrusted with the government of the nation.</p> - -<p>It is quite probable that had he put the question to an actual vote, at -that time, the "house" would have been divided in his favor; and it is -equally probable that had Gray Eagle known what was "in the wind," the -young chief's head would have had something in it besides brains.</p> - -<p>But Red Pine was not the first man who has stood aghast at that big -little word, <i>If</i>.</p> - -<p>The old trapper, after consulting with the scout, concluded that it -would be best not to say anything to the rest of the party respecting -their plans. So that when the shadows of twilight were beginning to -close around the Black Hills, the two silently withdrew and crossed the -chasm to the rear opening.</p> - -<p>The hunting party of the Sioux had not yet returned, and Snowdrop would -not come until she could bring the Sioux chief with her.</p> - -<p>The scout was not long in determining the cause of her delay, when he -saw the hunting party coming across the plain.</p> - -<p>He explained the situation of affairs to Bear-Paw.</p> - -<p>"But," he said, "the girl will surely come, and she will bring the -chief with her. Now, if you have another rope, I can make a lasso, and -when she brings him near the rock I will throw it over his head; and -we can draw him up without killing him. We can draw the girl up in the -same way."</p> - -<p>"I've got er rope, an' we'll jest do it as yer hev' planned," replied -the old man.</p> - -<p>He then led his pet, Barnum, into the menagerie, where he secured him -among the rest.</p> - -<p>"Thar," he said, "you're all on yer crosser nor ther dickens, an' -thet's all right! I'll hev' some work fur yer purty soon, an' I'll pay -yer in raw Injuns. Jest keep quiet now till I kem fur yer—then yer may -howl, an' snarl, an' fight, an' kill jest all yer a mind ter!"</p> - -<p>Then he secured more ropes and took them to the edge of the chasm, -where he deposited them upon the floor. Evidently he was looking ahead. -Selecting a long, small one he returned to the scout.</p> - -<p>Kelly soon had the running noose made in the lasso, and stood awaiting -the appearance of Snowdrop and the Sioux chief. Presently he heard the -voice of the Indian girl, saying:</p> - -<p>"Let the great chief of the Sioux go with Snowdrop to the other side of -the stream, where she can talk to him without his warriors hearing. -Snowdrop had words that the chief alone must hear."</p> - -<p>Red Pine was flattered and readily consented to the arrangement. He -hoped that the Blackfoot maiden had changed her mind, and was about to -comply with his wishes.</p> - -<p>When they were standing upon the opposite side the girl said:</p> - -<p>"Snowdrop can not see her people starve to death! Will not the great -chief of the Sioux let them come down?"</p> - -<p>"If the Blackfoot Queen will go with Red Pine, and be his squaw, then -her father and his people may come down. Red Pine will divide his meat -with them, and the two tribes shall be at peace forever!"</p> - -<p>"Snowdrop will go with the chief of the Sioux, and will be his wife—if -there is no other way to save her father's life."</p> - -<p>"There is no other way! The Blackfoot Queen has made Red Pine happy! He -will now take his warriors away from the pass, and Gray Eagle may come -down."</p> - -<p>Snowdrop did not know what to say. She was not quite sure that the -scout was there, or feared that he had been there and left again -because she was too late.</p> - -<p>She did not see the tall form of the scout rise from the rock, not a -dozen feet above where she stood; she did not see the coil of rope -shoot out and descend square over the head of the chief.</p> - -<p>But she did see the noose slip down over his arms and tighten.</p> - -<p>She saw him raised from the ground, and hang suspended in mid-air. She -saw another rope lowered to her, and heard the scout say:</p> - -<p>"Hang on to that, Snowdrop, and I will pull you up!"</p> - -<p>She seized the rope and was soon beside the scout. She flung her arms -around his neck, and was about to thank him, when the old trapper -interrupted:</p> - -<p>"No time fur foolin' now! Take her, Kelly, an' cross ther kasm with -her, an' hurry back ter me!"</p> - -<p>The scout did as requested, and came back to the opening.</p> - -<p>The body of the Sioux chief still swung in the air, and he was -exercising his lungs by calling upon his warriors for help. When the -trapper saw that the whole Sioux camp was astir, he said, "Now less -snake him in!"</p> - -<p>The scout seized the rope with him, and in an incredibly short space of -time the Sioux chief was within the cave. Dragging him to the edge of -the chasm, the old trapper tied his hands behind him and bound his feet -together.</p> - -<p>"Here, Kelly," he said, "now yer strap him onter my back, an' I'll -take him over thar. Yer kin stay here ef yer wants ter see some fun -arterwards!"</p> - -<p>The Sioux chief was tied to the back of the old trapper, who swung off, -and landing in safety upon the other side, called Jehiel to come and -take him off.</p> - -<p>This done, the old trapper returned to the scout. "Now then, fur ther -end," he said.</p> - -<p>By this time the Sioux were pouring into the cave.</p> - -<p>"Quick!" exclaimed the old man. "Git inter ther menagery!"</p> - -<p>He began at once releasing the hungry animals, and then Kelly -understood the horrid doom to which Bear-Paw was about to consign the -Sioux.</p> - -<p>"Here, Barnum, yer kin go first! Fight, scratch, bite, any way ter -kill; only kill all yer kin! An' here, yer, Andy Jackson, pile out thar -an' help yer brother!"</p> - -<p>The other animals were let loose, and with fearful screams they sprung -for the opening, closely followed by the scout and Bear-Paw.</p> - -<p>The work of carnage was soon ended in the cave, but the infuriated -animals did not pause here.</p> - -<p>Down they dashed upon the horror-stricken Sioux, who mingled their -yells of despair with the fearful screams of the panthers, and the roar -of the grizzlies.</p> - -<p>Those of the Sioux who were not disabled mounted their horses and sped -away over the plain, to carry the tale of their fearful, inglorious -defeat to the Sioux village.</p> - -<p>The animals did not pursue them very far, but fell to eating the huge -hams of buffalo, which the Sioux had brought in for an altogether -different purpose. They were soon gorged to their fullest extent, and -of their own accord returned to the room in the cave which they had so -long occupied.</p> - -<p>"I'm er goin' down ter see what ther critters hev left," said Bear-Paw. -"I won't be gone but er minit."</p> - -<p>He was about to descend, when a wounded Sioux at the bottom of the rock -raised his gun, and sent the contents into the body of the old trapper.</p> - -<p>At that distance it could but prove fatal. It was the last spasmodic -effort of the Sioux, and his life went out with it.</p> - -<p>The old trapper fell back into the arms of the scout, who bore him to -the inner room, and laid him upon a pile of furs beside the fire.</p> - -<p>Through all the exertions of the scout to restore life, the old man lay -senseless.</p> - -<p>For nearly an hour he remained in this state, while his friends looked -on in mute sympathy.</p> - -<p>When his consciousness returned, he recognized the scout, and said:</p> - -<p>"Kelly, yesterday I told you I would sometime relate the story of my -life, and I will do it now, if God spares my life long enough. I have -felt a strange presentiment of evil for several days, and now I know -that I have but a few hours to live, and I will be as brief as possible.</p> - -<p>"I told you to call me Bear-Paw—my true name is Gallaudet. I was born -in Scotland, and my father emigrated to this country when I was ten -years of age. I say emigrated, but he did not. He started, but the -vessel never reached America.</p> - -<p>"When nearly in the middle of the Atlantic, the vessel was wrecked in -a storm, and all but four perished. My parents found a grave in the -ocean, while through an inscrutable dispensation of Divine Providence, -I was saved. Three days after the storm, we were picked up by a vessel -bound for New Orleans, where we arrived in due season.</p> - -<p>"When the story of our misfortunes became known, I was offered a home -with a wealthy gentleman of that city, and was by him educated, and -started in business. When I was twenty-one my kind guardian died, -leaving no family but one lovely daughter.</p> - -<p>"She became my wife, and for five years longer we lived happily -together.</p> - -<p>"At that time I engaged in a speculation which proved disastrous, and I -awoke one morning to find the bulk of my fortune swept away. I resolved -to go to California, and to that end set out with a party of emigrants, -taking with me my wife and the little golden-haired daughter who had -been born during the first year of our married life, and also this -colored woman, whom you see here.</p> - -<p>"Near the western borders of Texas, the train was attacked by Apaches, -and I saw my wife struck down before me, and my little one carried off. -With no friend left but old Chloe, and no property but my rifle, I was -tempted to take my own life, but better counsel prevailed.</p> - -<p>"There is no need to tell you of the many years since then—how, after -long wanderings, I found myself among these hills, and while trapping, -discovered the entrance to this cave. Here Chloe and I have lived these -many weary, weary years. The animals you have seen were taken when -young, and have lost all their desire to leave here.</p> - -<p>"It pains me more than you can well imagine to leave them, for they -have been a comfort, even to my broken heart. I would rather kill them -myself than to know that they would ever suffer ill-treatment at the -hands of another.</p> - -<p>"It was a singular fancy of mine to print upon the left arm of my -daughter, just above the elbow, a square and compass, in India ink. -But I have long since given up all hope of ever meeting her on earth. -When I first saw the Sioux girl, Nulela, I was struck by the remarkable -resemblance she bore my wife. Indeed, she is the perfect picture of my -lost one at her age. But she says she is the sister of the Sioux chief, -and for the last time, my hopes are blasted. Should you ever meet a -woman bearing upon her arm that figure, tell her how her father died.</p> - -<p>"You have promised me, Kelly, that you would take care of my old -servant, and I have faith to believe you. It will not be for many years.</p> - -<p>"To you I give the furs in this room. There are many of them, well -preserved and very valuable. To you I also give the secret of the -chasm. You will find enough there to make you all rich—richer than -your wildest fancy could ever picture! And now I have one more request -to make. It is that you will bury me in the bottom of the chasm—will -you do it?"</p> - -<p>"It shall be done," sobbed the scout.</p> - -<p>The old man sunk back upon his couch, patiently and silently awaiting -the coming of the dread messenger, Death.</p> - -<p>But it possessed no terrors for him.</p> - -<p>The Sioux chief spoke to his sister:</p> - -<p>"Let Nulela show her arm to the old man."</p> - -<p>The girl tore the sleeve from her left arm, and displayed to the -wondering group the blue figure of a square and compass thereon.</p> - -<p>"Bear-Paw was right, after all," said the scout. "When he awakes we -will tell him."</p> - -<p>The old man moved restlessly. His pulse was growing faster and weaker.</p> - -<p>"I thought I saw her," he murmured.</p> - -<p>"Who?"</p> - -<p>"My angel wife and my little Marguerite."</p> - -<p>"Look here, Bear-Paw," and the scout held up Nulela's arm so that he -could see the figures thereon.</p> - -<p>"It is her—my daughter—my long-lost daughter!" and father and child -were locked in a loving embrace.</p> - -<p>His mind wandered:</p> - -<p>"Wife, wife—I am coming—I have found her at last!"</p> - -<p>His arms, clasped about the neck of his daughter, slowly relaxed, and -with the sacred name of wife upon his lips, the old man's soul went out -to meet the loved ones beyond the River of Death.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<h2>CHAPTER XIV.</h2> - -<h3>JUST AS EXPECTED.</h3> - - -<p>But little remains for us to tell.</p> - -<p>The body of the old trapper was taken to the bottom of the chasm, and -buried. After they had returned to the fire—for they all accompanied -the old man to his last resting-place—the scout called Snowdrop to -him, and said:</p> - -<p>"Will you go to the top of the cliff, and bring your father down here? -I must see him!"</p> - -<p>"Snowdrop will go," replied the girl.</p> - -<p>The scout led the way to the main entrance, and showed her the pass up -which she was to climb, and in a short time he saw her enter the cavern -accompanied by her father.</p> - -<p>Kelly led the way to the inner cave, and then addressed the old chief:</p> - -<p>"Does Gray Eagle remember his promise?"</p> - -<p>"Yes: Gray Eagle never forgets! It was that if the White Panther should -take his daughter from Red Pine, and bring him the scalp of the chief, -there should be peace between the Blackfeet and the pale-face forever!"</p> - -<p>"Your memory is pretty good, chief," replied Kelly. "Now you have your -daughter—here is Red Pine, scalp and all! Are you satisfied?"</p> - -<p>"It is well! Gray Eagle will do as he has promised; but he will take -the Sioux dog to the village of the Blackfeet, and torture him to -death."</p> - -<p>"Well, take him and go! And I warn you never to come near this place -again—a sudden and fearful death awaits you if you do. Now go!"</p> - -<p>The old chief removed the cord which bound the feet of Red Pine, never -doubting but that he could keep possession so long as his hands were -tied.</p> - -<p>Red Pine rose to his feet and said:</p> - -<p>"A chief of the Sioux does not fear to die! Let the Blackfoot lead the -way!"</p> - -<p>Gray Eagle was about to reply when Red Pine broke from his grasp, and -sprung in the direction of the rear entrance.</p> - -<p>All was darkness there, and he seemed to have forgotten the existence -of the chasm.</p> - -<p>He made the discovery too late!</p> - -<p>The yell of defiance changed to one of terror as the Sioux went -whirling down to the bottom of the chasm, and the pursuers were only -in time to hear the echoes of the dull <i>thud</i> as he struck the rocky -bottom, a shapeless mass of flesh.</p> - -<p>Gray Eagle recoiled in horror from the brink of the chasm and the party -returned to the fire.</p> - -<p>"Come," said the old chief to his daughter—but she did not stir.</p> - -<p>"Snowdrop loves the White Panther, and will never leave him again!"</p> - -<p>Gray Eagle did not know what to say or do, neither did the scout; -but he saw that something must be done, and he dreaded a scene. He -approached the Indian girl, and taking her hand said:</p> - -<p>"It may be a disappointment to you, Snowdrop, but it is one you will -live through. You must obey your father! In the morning I shall start -for my home, and you can not go along! I shall probably never see you -again—so you may as well give up this love notion of yours. I would -rather be a brother to you, and will always be your friend—nothing -more. Now go with your father!"</p> - -<p>The Blackfoot queen bowed her head, and sobbed aloud.</p> - -<p>So rude a repulse—so decided a refusal, kindly spoken, it is true, but -firmly—such a wealth of tender soul-love to be cast aside—was more -than she could bear.</p> - -<p>"Look a-here," said Jehiel, once more taking hope, "you know I love -you, desput bad, Snowdrop. Hain't I rescued you from the durned Indians -half a dozen times? S'posen you take me? You can't git Lew, that's -sartin! We'll stay right here—I'll buy the old man's traps, and we'll -jest be as happy as any two kittens!"</p> - -<p>What a strange revulsion of feeling!</p> - -<p>Snowdrop put her hand in Jehiel's and said:</p> - -<p>"Snowdrop will stay, and be the wife of Long Hunter!"</p> - -<p>What need to recount the homeward journey—unless the reader may wish -to know what became of the other characters?</p> - -<p>Captain Curtiss and the lovely Nulela were married immediately upon -their arrival in Yankton—the nearest place where a minister could be -found.</p> - -<p>Lew Kelly made happy the heart of his little wife by his return. He -gave up scouting, for the gift of Bear-Paw had placed him beyond the -need of work. He is one of our living heroes, and could, undoubtedly, -have told this story much better than I have done.</p> - -<p>As neither Snowdrop nor Jehiel had any conscientious scruples about -marriage, they remained where they were. Jehiel still inhabits the cave -in the Black Hills, happy as mortal can well be, in the love of the -<span class="smcap">Blackfoot Queen</span>.</p> - - -<p class="ph1">THE END.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<p class="ph1">DIME POCKET NOVELS.</p> - -<p class="ph1">PUBLISHED SEMI-MONTHLY.</p> - - -<p>1—Hawkeye Harry. By Oll Coomes.</p> - -<p>2—Dead Shot. By Albert W. Aiken.</p> - -<p>3—The Boy Miners. By Edward S. Ellis.</p> - -<p>4—Blue Dick. By Capt. Mayne Reid.</p> - -<p>5—Nat Wolfe. By Mrs. M. V. Victor.</p> - -<p>6—The White Tracker. Edward S. Ellis.</p> - -<p>7—The Outlaw's Wife. Mrs. Ann S. Stephens.</p> - -<p>8—The Tall Trapper. By Albert W. Aiken.</p> - -<p>9—Lightning Jo. By Capt. Adams.</p> - -<p>10—The Island Pirate. By Capt. Mayne Reid.</p> - -<p>11—The Boy Ranger. By Oll Coomes.</p> - -<p>12—Bess, the Trapper. By E. S. Ellis.</p> - -<p>13—The French Spy. By W. J. Hamilton.</p> - -<p>14—Long Shot. By Capt. Comstock.</p> - -<p>15—The Gunmaker. By James L. Bowen.</p> - -<p>16—Red Hand. By A. G. Piper.</p> - -<p>17—Ben, the Trapper. By Lewis W. Carson.</p> - -<p>18—Wild Raven. By Oll Coomes.</p> - -<p>19—The Specter Chief. By Seelin Robins.</p> - -<p>20—The B'ar-Killer. By Capt. Comstock.</p> - -<p>21—Wild Nat. By Wm. R. Eyster.</p> - -<p>22—Indian Jo. By Lewis W. Carson.</p> - -<p>23—Old Kent, the Ranger. Edward S. Ellis.</p> - -<p>24—The One-Eyed Trapper. Capt. Comstock.</p> - -<p>25—Godbold, the Spy. By N. C. Iron.</p> - -<p>26—The Black Ship. By John S. Warner.</p> - -<p>27—Single Eye. By Warren St. John.</p> - -<p>28—Indian Jim. By Edward S. Ellis.</p> - -<p>29—The Scout. By Warren St. John.</p> - -<p>30—Eagle Eye. By W. J. Hamilton.</p> - -<p>31—The Mystic Canoe. By Edward S. Ellis.</p> - -<p>32—The Golden Harpoon. By R. Starbuck.</p> - -<p>33—The Scalp King. By Lieut. Ned Hunter.</p> - -<p>34—Old Lute. By E. W. Archer.</p> - -<p>35—Rainbolt, Ranger. By Oll Coomes.</p> - -<p>36—The Boy Pioneer. By Edward S. Ellis.</p> - -<p>37—Carson, the Guide. By J. H. Randolph.</p> - -<p>38—The Heart Eater. By Harry Hazard.</p> - -<p>39—Wetzel, the Scout. By Boynton Belknap.</p> - -<p>40—The Huge Hunter. By Ed. S. Ellis.</p> - -<p>41—Wild Nat, the Trapper. Paul Prescott.</p> - -<p>42—Lynx-cap. By Paul Bibbs.</p> - -<p>43—The White Outlaw. By Harry Hazard.</p> - -<p>44—The Dog Trailer. By Frederick Dewey.</p> - -<p>45—The Elk King. By Capt. Chas. Howard.</p> - -<p>46—Adrian, the Pilot. By Col. P. Ingraham.</p> - -<p>47—The Man-hunter. By Maro O. Rolfe.</p> - -<p>48—The Phantom Tracker. By F. Dewey.</p> - -<p>49—Moccasin Bill. By Paul Bibbs.</p> - -<p>50—The Wolf Queen. By Charles Howard.</p> - -<p>51—Tom Hawk, the Trailer.</p> - -<p>52—The Mad Chief. By Chas. Howard.</p> - -<p>53—The Black Wolf. By Edwin E. Ewing.</p> - -<p>54—Arkansas Jack. By Harry Hazard.</p> - -<p>55—Blackbeard. By Paul Bibbs.</p> - -<p>56—The River Rifles. By Billex Muller.</p> - -<p>57—Hunter Ham. By J. Edgar Iliff.</p> - -<p>58—Cloudwood. By J. M. Merrill.</p> - -<p>59—The Texas Hawks. By Jos. E. Badger, Jr.</p> - -<p>60—Merciless Mat. By Capt. Chas. Howard.</p> - -<p>61—Mad Anthony's Scouts. By E. Rodman.</p> - -<p>62—The Luckless Trapper. Wm. R. Eyster.</p> - -<p>63—The Florida Scout. Jos. E. Badger, Jr.</p> - -<p>64—The Island Trapper. Chas. Howard.</p> - -<p>65—Wolf-Cap. By Capt. Chas. Howard.</p> - -<p>66—Rattling Dick. By Harry Hazard.</p> - -<p>67—Sharp-Eye. By Major Max Martine.</p> - -<p>68—Iron-Hand. By Frederick Forest.</p> - -<p>69—The Yellow Hunter. By Chas. Howard.</p> - -<p>70—The Phantom Rider. By Maro O. Rolfe.</p> - -<p>71—Delaware Tom. By Harry Hazard.</p> - -<p>72—Silver Rifle. By Capt. Chas. Howard.</p> - -<p>73—The Skeleton Scout. Maj. L. W. Carson.</p> - -<p>74—Little Rifle. By Capt. "Bruin" Adams.</p> - -<p>75—The Wood Witch. By Edwin Emerson.</p> - -<p>76—Old Ruff, the Trapper. "Bruin" Adams.</p> - -<p>77—The Scarlet Shoulders. Harry Hazard.</p> - -<p>78—The Border Rifleman. L. W. Carson.</p> - -<p>79—Outlaw Jack. By Harry Hazard.</p> - -<p>80—Tiger-Tail, the Seminole. R. Ringwood.</p> - -<p>81—Death-Dealer. By Arthur L. Meserve.</p> - -<p>82—Kenton, the Ranger. By Chas. Howard.</p> - -<p>83—The Specter Horseman. Frank Dewey.</p> - -<p>84—The Three Trappers. Seelin Robins.</p> - -<p>85—Kaleolah. By T. Benton Shields, U. S. N.</p> - -<p>86—The Hunter Hercules. Harry St. George.</p> - -<p>87—Phil Hunter. By Capt. Chas. Howard.</p> - -<p>88—The Indian Scout. By Harry Hazard.</p> - -<p>89—The Girl Avenger. By Chas. Howard.</p> - -<p>90—The Red Hermitess. By Paul Bibbs.</p> - -<p>91—Star-Face, the Slayer.</p> - -<p>92—The Antelope Boy. By Geo. L. Aiken.</p> - -<p>93—The Phantom Hunter. By E. Emerson.</p> - -<p>94—Tom Pintle, the Pilot. By M. Klapp.</p> - -<p>95—The Red Wizard. By Ned Hunter.</p> - -<p>96—The Rival Trappers. By L. W. Carson.</p> - -<p>97—The Squaw Spy. By Capt. Chas. Howard.</p> - -<p>98—Dusky Dick. By Jos. E. Badger, Jr.</p> - -<p>99—Colonel Crockett. By Chas. E. Lasalle.</p> - -<p>100—Old Bear-Paw. By Major Max Martine.</p> - -<p>101—Redlaw. By Jos. E. Badger, Jr.</p> - -<p>102—Wild Rube. By W. J. Hamilton.</p> - -<p>103—The Indian Hunters. By J. L. Bowen.</p> - -<p>104—Scarred Eagle. By Andrew Dearborn.</p> - -<p>105—Nick Doyle. By P. Hamilton Myers.</p> - -<p>106—The Indian Spy. By Jos. E. Badger, Jr.</p> - -<p>107—Job Dean. By Ingoldsby North.</p> - -<p>108—The Wood King. By Jos. E. Badger, Jr.</p> - -<p>109—The Scalped Hunter. By Harry Hazard.</p> - -<p>110—Nick, the Scout. By W. J. Hamilton.</p> - -<p>111—The Texas Tiger. By Edward Willett.</p> - -<p>112—The Crossed Knives. By Hamilton.</p> - -<p>113—Tiger-Heart, the Tracker. By Howard.</p> - -<p>114—The Masked Avenger. By Ingraham.</p> - -<p>115—The Pearl Pirates. By Starbuck.</p> - -<p>116—Black Panther. By Jos. E. Badger, Jr.</p> - -<p>117—Abdiel, the Avenger. By Ed. Willett.</p> - -<p>118—Cato, the Creeper. By Fred. Dewey.</p> - -<p>119—Two-Handed Mat. By Jos. E. Badger.</p> - -<p>120—Mad Trail Hunter. By Harry Hazard.</p> - -<p>121—Black Nick. By Frederick Whittaker.</p> - -<p>122—Kit Bird. By W. J. Hamilton.</p> - -<p>123—The Specter Riders. By Geo. Gleason.</p> - -<p>124—Giant Pete. By W. J. Hamilton.</p> - -<p>125—The Girl Captain. By Jos. E. Badger.</p> - -<p>126—Yankee Eph. By J. R. Worcester.</p> - -<p>127—Silverspur. By Edward Willett.</p> - -<p>128—Squatter Dick. By Jos. E. Badger.</p> - -<p>129—The Child Spy. By George Gleason.</p> - -<p>130—Mink Coat. By Jos. E. Badger.</p> - -<p>131—Red Plume. By J. Stanley Henderson.</p> - -<p>132—Clyde, the Trailer. By Maro O. Rolfe.</p> - -<p>133—The Lost Cache. J. Stanley Henderson.</p> - -<p>134—The Cannibal Chief. Paul J. Prescott.</p> - -<p>135—Karaibo. By J. Stanley Henderson.</p> - -<p>136—Scarlet Moccasin. By Paul Bibbs.</p> - -<p>137—Kidnapped. By J. Stanley Henderson.</p> - -<p>138—Maid of the Mountain. By Hamilton.</p> - - -<p class="ph1">The following will be issued in the order and on the dates indicated:</p> - - -<p>139—The Scioto Scouts. By Edward Willett. Ready October 21st.</p> - -<p>140—The Border Renegade. By Jos. E. Badger, Jr. Ready Nov. 4th.</p> - -<p>141—The Mute Chief. By C. D. Clark. Ready November 18th.</p> - -<p>142—Boone, the Hunter. By Frederick Whittaker. Ready December 2d.</p> - -<p>143—Mountain Kate. By Jos. E. Badger, Jr. Ready December 16th.</p> - -<p>144—The Red Scalper. By W. J. Hamilton. Ready December 30th.</p> - -<p>145—The Lone Chief. By Jos. E. Badger, Jr. Ready January 13th.</p> - -<p>146—The Silver Bugle. By Lieut. Col. Hazleton. Ready January 27th.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p><span class="smcap">Beadle's Dime Pocket Novels</span> 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.</p> - - -<p class="ph1">Address, BEADLE AND ADAMS, Publishers, 98 William Street, New York.</p> - -<div style='display:block; margin-top:4em'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK OLD BEAR-PAW, THE TRAPPER KING ***</div> -<div style='text-align:left'> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -Updated editions will replace the previous one—the old editions will -be renamed. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -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. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part -of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project -Gutenberg™ electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG™ -concept and trademark. Project Gutenberg is a registered trademark, -and may not be used if you charge for an eBook, except by following -the terms of the trademark license, including paying royalties for use -of the Project Gutenberg trademark. If you do not charge anything for -copies of this eBook, complying with the trademark license is very -easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose such as creation -of derivative works, reports, performances and research. Project -Gutenberg eBooks may be modified and printed and given away—you may -do practically ANYTHING in the United States with eBooks not protected -by U.S. copyright law. Redistribution is subject to the trademark -license, especially commercial redistribution. -</div> - -<div style='margin-top:1em; font-size:1.1em; text-align:center'>START: FULL LICENSE</div> -<div style='text-align:center;font-size:0.9em'>THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE</div> -<div style='text-align:center;font-size:0.9em'>PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -To protect the Project Gutenberg™ mission of promoting the free -distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work -(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase “Project -Gutenberg”), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full -Project Gutenberg™ License available with this file or online at -www.gutenberg.org/license. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; font-size:1.1em; margin:1em 0; font-weight:bold'> -Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg™ electronic works -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg™ -electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to -and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property -(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all -the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or -destroy all copies of Project Gutenberg™ electronic works in your -possession. If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a -Project Gutenberg™ electronic work and you do not agree to be bound -by the terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person -or entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -1.B. “Project Gutenberg” is a registered trademark. It may only be -used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who -agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few -things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg™ electronic works -even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See -paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project -Gutenberg™ electronic works if you follow the terms of this -agreement and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg™ -electronic works. See paragraph 1.E below. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation (“the -Foundation” or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection -of Project Gutenberg™ electronic works. Nearly all the individual -works in the collection are in the public domain in the United -States. If an individual work is unprotected by copyright law in the -United States and you are located in the United States, we do not -claim a right to prevent you from copying, distributing, performing, -displaying or creating derivative works based on the work as long as -all references to Project Gutenberg are removed. Of course, we hope -that you will support the Project Gutenberg™ mission of promoting -free access to electronic works by freely sharing Project Gutenberg™ -works in compliance with the terms of this agreement for keeping the -Project Gutenberg™ name associated with the work. You can easily -comply with the terms of this agreement by keeping this work in the -same format with its attached full Project Gutenberg™ License when -you share it without charge with others. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern -what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are -in a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, -check the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this -agreement before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, -distributing or creating derivative works based on this work or any -other Project Gutenberg™ work. The Foundation makes no -representations concerning the copyright status of any work in any -country other than the United States. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other -immediate access to, the full Project Gutenberg™ License must appear -prominently whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg™ work (any work -on which the phrase “Project Gutenberg” appears, or with which the -phrase “Project Gutenberg” is associated) is accessed, displayed, -performed, viewed, copied or distributed: -</div> - -<blockquote> - <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> -</blockquote> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg™ electronic work is -derived from texts not protected by U.S. copyright law (does not -contain a notice indicating that it is posted with permission of the -copyright holder), the work can be copied and distributed to anyone in -the United States without paying any fees or charges. If you are -redistributing or providing access to a work with the phrase “Project -Gutenberg” associated with or appearing on the work, you must comply -either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 or -obtain permission for the use of the work and the Project Gutenberg™ -trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg™ electronic work is posted -with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution -must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any -additional terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms -will be linked to the Project Gutenberg™ License for all works -posted with the permission of the copyright holder found at the -beginning of this work. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg™ -License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this -work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg™. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this -electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without -prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with -active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project -Gutenberg™ License. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, -compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including -any word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access -to or distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg™ work in a format -other than “Plain Vanilla ASCII” or other format used in the official -version posted on the official Project Gutenberg™ website -(www.gutenberg.org), you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense -to the user, provide a copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means -of obtaining a copy upon request, of the work in its original “Plain -Vanilla ASCII” or other form. Any alternate format must include the -full Project Gutenberg™ License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, -performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg™ works -unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing -access to or distributing Project Gutenberg™ electronic works -provided that: -</div> - -<div style='margin-left:0.7em;'> - <div style='text-indent:-0.7em'> - • You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from - the use of Project Gutenberg™ works calculated using the method - you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is owed - to the owner of the Project Gutenberg™ trademark, but he has - agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the Project - Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments must be paid - within 60 days following each date on which you prepare (or are - legally required to prepare) your periodic tax returns. Royalty - payments should be clearly marked as such and sent to the Project - Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the address specified in - Section 4, “Information about donations to the Project Gutenberg - Literary Archive Foundation.” - </div> - - <div style='text-indent:-0.7em'> - • You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies - you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he - does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg™ - License. You must require such a user to return or destroy all - copies of the works possessed in a physical medium and discontinue - all use of and all access to other copies of Project Gutenberg™ - works. - </div> - - <div style='text-indent:-0.7em'> - • You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of - any money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the - electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days of - receipt of the work. - </div> - - <div style='text-indent:-0.7em'> - • You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free - distribution of Project Gutenberg™ works. - </div> -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project -Gutenberg™ electronic work or group of works on different terms than -are set forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing -from the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the manager of -the Project Gutenberg™ trademark. Contact the Foundation as set -forth in Section 3 below. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -1.F. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable -effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread -works not protected by U.S. copyright law in creating the Project -Gutenberg™ collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg™ -electronic works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may -contain “Defects,” such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate -or corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other -intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or -other medium, a computer virus, or computer codes that damage or -cannot be read by your equipment. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the “Right -of Replacement or Refund” described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project -Gutenberg™ trademark, and any other party distributing a Project -Gutenberg™ electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all -liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal -fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT -LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE -PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE -TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE -LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR -INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH -DAMAGE. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a -defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can -receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a -written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you -received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium -with your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you -with the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in -lieu of a refund. If you received the work electronically, the person -or entity providing it to you may choose to give you a second -opportunity to receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If -the second copy is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing -without further opportunities to fix the problem. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth -in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you ‘AS-IS’, WITH NO -OTHER WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT -LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied -warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of -damages. If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement -violates the law of the state applicable to this agreement, the -agreement shall be interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or -limitation permitted by the applicable state law. The invalidity or -unenforceability of any provision of this agreement shall not void the -remaining provisions. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the -trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone -providing copies of Project Gutenberg™ electronic works in -accordance with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the -production, promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg™ -electronic works, harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, -including legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from any of -the following which you do or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this -or any Project Gutenberg™ work, (b) alteration, modification, or -additions or deletions to any Project Gutenberg™ work, and (c) any -Defect you cause. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; font-size:1.1em; margin:1em 0; font-weight:bold'> -Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg™ -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -Project Gutenberg™ is synonymous with the free distribution of -electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of -computers including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It -exists because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations -from people in all walks of life. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the -assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg™’s -goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg™ collection will -remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure -and permanent future for Project Gutenberg™ and future -generations. To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation and how your efforts and donations can help, see -Sections 3 and 4 and the Foundation information page at www.gutenberg.org. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; font-size:1.1em; margin:1em 0; font-weight:bold'> -Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non-profit -501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the -state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal -Revenue Service. The Foundation’s EIN or federal tax identification -number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent permitted by -U.S. federal laws and your state’s laws. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -The Foundation’s business office is located at 809 North 1500 West, -Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887. Email contact links and up -to date contact information can be found at the Foundation’s website -and official page at www.gutenberg.org/contact -</div> - -<div style='display:block; font-size:1.1em; margin:1em 0; font-weight:bold'> -Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -Project Gutenberg™ depends upon and cannot survive without widespread -public support and donations to carry out its mission of -increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be -freely distributed in machine-readable form accessible by the widest -array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations -($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt -status with the IRS. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating -charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United -States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a -considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up -with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations -where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To SEND -DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any particular state -visit <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/donate/">www.gutenberg.org/donate</a>. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we -have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition -against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who -approach us with offers to donate. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make -any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from -outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -Please check the Project Gutenberg web pages for current donation -methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other -ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. To -donate, please visit: www.gutenberg.org/donate -</div> - -<div style='display:block; font-size:1.1em; margin:1em 0; font-weight:bold'> -Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg™ electronic works -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project -Gutenberg™ concept of a library of electronic works that could be -freely shared with anyone. For forty years, he produced and -distributed Project Gutenberg™ eBooks with only a loose network of -volunteer support. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -Project Gutenberg™ eBooks are often created from several printed -editions, all of which are confirmed as not protected by copyright in -the U.S. unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not -necessarily keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper -edition. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -Most people start at our website which has the main PG search -facility: <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -This website includes information about Project Gutenberg™, -including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to -subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. -</div> - -</div> -</body> -</html> diff --git a/old/68513-h/images/cover.jpg b/old/68513-h/images/cover.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 12bb14d..0000000 --- a/old/68513-h/images/cover.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/68513-h/images/illusc.jpg b/old/68513-h/images/illusc.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index dedc7c5..0000000 --- a/old/68513-h/images/illusc.jpg +++ /dev/null |
