the_boy_ranger_or_the_heiress_of_the_golden_horn
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+ | BOY RANGER:< | ||
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+ | In the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.</ | ||
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+ | < | ||
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+ | </ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | the little settlement of Clontarf’s Post, rode a youthful | ||
+ | horseman whose fair young face was aglow with health, | ||
+ | and whose dark, bright eyes roamed restlessly over the green | ||
+ | expanse before him.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | of dark-brown hair floated on the wind. He was a mere | ||
+ | youth in appearance& | ||
+ | was light of form and lithe of limb, his physical and muscular | ||
+ | development was that of perfect manhood.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p>He wore a tunic of dark-blue cloth, ornamented with | ||
+ | bright yellow trimmings, and confined at the slender waist | ||
+ | with a handsome belt with silver fastenings. Buckskin leggings | ||
+ | and buckskin moccasins were upon his tapering limbs | ||
+ | and shapely feet.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | His hands were as small, smooth and shapely as a maiden’s, | ||
+ | yet, like his face, they had become colored to a dusky brown | ||
+ | by exposure to the hot sun and wind of the prairie.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p>In addition to the handsome rifle which he carried slung | ||
+ | over his shoulder by means of a strap, and the handsome silver-mounted | ||
+ | revolvers he wore in his belt, he carried a light | ||
+ | saber in a polished scabbard at his side.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p>He was mounted upon a dark, mettlesome pony& | ||
+ | of the Mexican and mustang breed. A fine Mexican saddle | ||
+ | and a bridle made of braided horse-hair, caparisoned the animal. | ||
+ | On one side of the pommel of the saddle hung a coiled< | ||
+ | silver horn; on the other side a double-lensed spy-glass. | ||
+ | With the latter, the young ranger ever and anon swept the | ||
+ | great plain before him as though he were not satisfied with | ||
+ | the sight of his own bright, flashing eyes.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | rapidly on, and soon he had gained a bold eminence upon | ||
+ | the plain. Here, amid the tall, luxurious grass that crowned | ||
+ | its crest, he drew rein and gazed away toward the west, where | ||
+ | a grand sight was spread out before him.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | almost illimitable forest upon the west, and its undulating | ||
+ | ocean verdure upon the east, it seemed but a silver thread | ||
+ | winding through a field of green cloth. And down in the | ||
+ | valley, upon the east side of the river, nestled a dozen or more | ||
+ | log cabins, a block-house, | ||
+ | that had withstood more than one siege of the savage denizens | ||
+ | of the forest and plain.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | Post, were a number of small fields of growing wheat and | ||
+ | corn; while beyond the fields a herd of cattle in the care | ||
+ | of two boys was grazing upon the prairie. Every thing, in | ||
+ | fact, surrounding the post wore an air of the thrift, industry | ||
+ | and enterprise of its settlers.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | though something of uncommon interest depended upon the | ||
+ | sight.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | the cabin doors, the young ranger could see no life in the | ||
+ | settlement.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p>To obtain a better view of the place, he took his spy-glass | ||
+ | and brought it to bear upon the settlement. A smile of satisfaction | ||
+ | overspread his fair young face as he did so. Within | ||
+ | one of the largest cabins whose door stood open, he saw a | ||
+ | number of persons collected.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | in session, and I fear it will go hard with poor Dick Sherwood. | ||
+ | The settlers are very strict, and if they prove the | ||
+ | facts under which Dick was captured, he is bound to hang& | ||
+ | I am not a minute too soon!”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | men issue from the cabin into the yard. A general excitement | ||
+ | seemed to prevail in their midst.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | learned the cause of the settlers’ commotion.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p>In their midst stood a man with hands bound behind his | ||
+ | back, and a rope around his neck; and upon him all faces | ||
+ | were turned, <ins class=" | ||
+ | and hate.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | saw the men move away toward the gate of the stockade, | ||
+ | leading the bound man like a haltered beast in their midst.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | are leading him into the forest. They intend to hang him& | ||
+ | him! A rope is already around his neck. There is no | ||
+ | mercy in their hearts. Border justice knows no mercy.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p>As he spoke, he kept the spy-glass leveled upon the party | ||
+ | of settlers, who, filing out of the stockade, moved down to the | ||
+ | river bank. Here they embarked in a number of canoes for | ||
+ | the opposite shore, and not until they had landed and plunged | ||
+ | into the leafy depths of the forest did the ranger lower his | ||
+ | glass.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | gazing. His brow knitted, and a shade of sadness and regret | ||
+ | passed over his face.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p>He spoke to his animal and it bounded away. Just then | ||
+ | there was a quick rustling in the tall grass before him, and a | ||
+ | powerful Indian warrior& | ||
+ | and seizing the reins, jerked the pony back almost upon its | ||
+ | haunches.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | that threatened his young rider, the pony regained its | ||
+ | footing, and rearing upward upon its hind feet until Rollo | ||
+ | nearly fell from the saddle, the sagacious beast struck the | ||
+ | savage upon the head with both of its iron-shod hoofs with | ||
+ | such force that the giant was brought to the earth, his tufted | ||
+ | skull completely crushed.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | red assailant, occurred so quick that it was all over before | ||
+ | the young ranger could really define the true condition of | ||
+ | affairs. But he soon found that the dead warrior was not<span class=" | ||
+ | alone. Two others, one on each side of him, both equally | ||
+ | as demon-like in appearance as the dead giant, arose from the | ||
+ | tall grass and bounded toward him.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | a lightning-like flash of the polished blade as it leaped from | ||
+ | the scabbard into the sunlight. Then there was a flash upon | ||
+ | the right, and a flash upon the left, and the bold ranger | ||
+ | dashed away. But, there was blood upon his saber, for both | ||
+ | strokes had done their fearful work, and three savage warriors | ||
+ | lay dead upon the plain!</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | though nothing had happened. Finally, however, he drew | ||
+ | rein again, and swept the prairie with his glass. But not a | ||
+ | living object was visible anywhere upon the face of the great, | ||
+ | green expanse.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | wave of the prairie sea, and he seemed alone upon | ||
+ | the trackless waste. However, he took the coiled horn from | ||
+ | the pommel of the saddle and blew a blast upon it so shrill | ||
+ | and harsh that it caused his animal to shake his head.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | when he removed the horn from his lips, and faintly to his | ||
+ | ears came the sound resembling the far-off echo of his own | ||
+ | horn.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p>A smile passed over his face.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | good Dart”& | ||
+ | before us& | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p>He raised his head as he spoke, and from behind the crest | ||
+ | of a hill nearly a mile away, he saw a dozen or more mounted | ||
+ | Sioux Indians emerge, riding at a wild, reckless speed down | ||
+ | toward Clontarf’s Post. They were hideous with war-paint, | ||
+ | and decked and plumed in all the paraphernalia of savage | ||
+ | warfare.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p>It was plain to be seen that their mission was one of death | ||
+ | and destruction. And it was still plainer that they had | ||
+ | marked Clontarf’s Post as their point of beginning.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | determined to take advantage of their absence and destroy | ||
+ | their stronghold and slay their women and children.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | the right of the Indians and watching them all the while with | ||
+ | a curious expression upon his face. By a circuitous route he | ||
+ | reached the river about a mile above the post.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | scarcely checking his speed, the ranger spurred his foam-flecked | ||
+ | animal into the river and swam it across to the opposite | ||
+ | side, and then dashed away in the deep shadows of the | ||
+ | great, green woods.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | <hr class=" | ||
+ | |||
+ | <div class=" | ||
+ | <h2 class=" | ||
+ | <span class=" | ||
+ | </ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | a gentleman of Irish descent. It was among the first settlements | ||
+ | of the then territory of Iowa, and, although in the | ||
+ | <ins class=" | ||
+ | by the red man, it grew and prospered as but few under similar | ||
+ | circumstances would have done.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | were added to the settlement, until it numbered some fifty | ||
+ | souls.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | settlers, though in course of time a store and Indian trading-post | ||
+ | were opened. At this point, all the surrounding settlements& | ||
+ | in fact were few& | ||
+ | many dollars’ worth of furs and peltries were brought here | ||
+ | and exchanged by the Indians for flour, powder, and ammunition | ||
+ | of all kinds, and such trinkets as pleased their savage | ||
+ | fancy or wants. The settlers did all within their power to | ||
+ | keep up a friendly intercourse between themselves and the | ||
+ | Indians. This they would have had no trouble in doing, but | ||
+ | for the influence of unprincipled white men, who, driven from | ||
+ | the society of their own race, sought shelter within the red | ||
+ | man’s lodges, or the mountain fastnesses, where they organized | ||
+ | themselves into bands to rob and murder the unoffending | ||
+ | settler or emigrant.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | Indians were kept in an almost constant state of hostilities, | ||
+ | and it behooved the whites ever to be upon their guard, and | ||
+ | use every exertion toward ridding the country of all those | ||
+ | prime roots of border troubles& | ||
+ | white renegade.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | for his deep cunning and wickedness, was one Dick | ||
+ | Sherwood, whose crimes were multitudinous. And for some | ||
+ | cause or other, Clontarf’s Post was the central point around | ||
+ | which this moth of Satan seemed to flutter most of all. It | ||
+ | seemed that he cherished a natural antipathy toward the | ||
+ | place, or some of its people, and tried in vain, by every means | ||
+ | that his cunning brain could concoct, to destroy it.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | in the paint and garb of an Indian, and come to the post on a | ||
+ | pretended mission of peace. He was kindly received by the | ||
+ | men of the post, who had supposed him a genuine Indian | ||
+ | sent by his people to make some terms of peace, as a deadly | ||
+ | hostility had existed between them for the past six months.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p>A council was called, and a treaty of peace at once entered | ||
+ | into, by and between the settlers and the great chief, | ||
+ | Rolling Thunder, as he called himself.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | post a day or two; and, but for his attempting to carry away | ||
+ | Miss Clara Bryant, one of the fairest jewels of the post, on | ||
+ | taking his leave of the settlement, his disguise would never | ||
+ | have been penetrated. However, he was caught at his little | ||
+ | game of abduction and taken prisoner. By a vigorous application | ||
+ | of water by means of numerous duckings in the river, | ||
+ | his feathers were caused to droop and his mask of paint to | ||
+ | wash away; and the great messenger of peace& | ||
+ | Rolling Thunder, was found to be the notorious renegade, | ||
+ | Dick Sherwood.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | villain was locked up in the block-house, | ||
+ | night upon which he was captured, and the next day he was | ||
+ | led forth for trial.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | Clontarf’s Post found Sherwood guilty of crimes punishable< | ||
+ | by death, and so he was condemned to be hanged in the forest | ||
+ | on the morrow.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | opens.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | of a group of men. It was this group that young Rollo, the | ||
+ | ranger, saw from the crest of the prairie wave.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | and twenty. <ins class=" | ||
+ | and was a perfect model of the physical man. His head was of the | ||
+ | intellectual mold, and but for the evil light in his black eyes he | ||
+ | would have been a handsome man.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p>As his captors led him from the stockade like a haltered | ||
+ | ox, his face wore no downcast look, and his step was firm and | ||
+ | elastic. Even in his helpless condition, and in face of the | ||
+ | death to which he was being hurried, he was recklessly cheerful, | ||
+ | and made many remarks touching his situation, that produced | ||
+ | laughter among the settlers, and even made a curious | ||
+ | impression upon some of their hearts.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | river, and two of the settlers had been sent on some time in | ||
+ | advance to select a tree for the purpose, and dig a grave.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | were met by the two men and conducted to the place of execution, | ||
+ | which was beneath the branching boughs of a great | ||
+ | oak.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p>A large limb growing out at right-angles with the body of the | ||
+ | tree had been trimmed of its shrubbery, and near the foot of | ||
+ | the tree a grave was dug.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p>As the prisoner gazed upon these preparations for his execution, | ||
+ | he smiled grimly, defiantly.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | toward the grave. “Why not let my body hang for the | ||
+ | hungry wolf, the carrion-crow and the vulture to feed upon? | ||
+ | Know you not that the spirit will not complain of your treatment | ||
+ | of the body? The wolf and the vulture will not devour | ||
+ | my bones, and so long as the grim skeleton exists, so long will | ||
+ | the spirit remain about it.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | Clontarf, a stern, stony-hearted man; “you should think of the<span class=" | ||
+ | great Hereafter, and then perhaps your heart will move the | ||
+ | spirit differently.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | have destroyed, and the homes you have made sad and desolate, | ||
+ | and then, if you have a conscience, you will feel a pang | ||
+ | of remorse. Your heart will shrink from the terrible punishment | ||
+ | awaiting you.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | tauntingly, “but my greatest regrets are that I did not | ||
+ | succeed in escaping with Miss Bryant, for then it would have | ||
+ | been heaven instead of& | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | of some of the crowd.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | the party, “if you have any thing of reason to say, say it at | ||
+ | once; if not& | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | that some improvements be made upon that grave for < | ||
+ | ease and comfort; but I will not occupy it long, so go your | ||
+ | length, gentlemen. Should I ever address you again it will | ||
+ | be under different& | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | and at once proceeded to the execution.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | it down. To this Captain Storms tied the rope which already | ||
+ | encircled the renegade’s neck.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | eyes, and then, at a signal from Captain Storms, the four men | ||
+ | relinquished their hold upon the limb which arose to its natural | ||
+ | position, and then Dick Sherwood < | ||
+ | earth</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | momentarily grew feebler. The settlers stood in speechless | ||
+ | silence and gazed upon the hanging form until it had | ||
+ | ceased to move.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | upon the renegade’s pulse, and said in a low tone:</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | upon his soul.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p>As he uttered the last word a startled exclamation burst | ||
+ | from the lips of the crowd.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p>A horseman had burst suddenly from the forest into their | ||
+ | midst.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p>It was Rollo, the ranger! His horse was white with foam, | ||
+ | and his own face streaked with perspiration and flushed with | ||
+ | excitement.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | your homes, your wives and your children! The Indians are | ||
+ | upon the post!”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | men, follow me! I can already hear the yells of the demons | ||
+ | and the clash of arms!”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | ran through the woods toward the post, the boy ranger | ||
+ | following close at their heels upon his almost exhausted animal.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | hanging renegade, given the young ranger a second glance, | ||
+ | they would have seen something that would have aroused | ||
+ | some curiosity, if not suspicions, in their minds. Wild with | ||
+ | excitement and fear, however, they ran on, the safety of their | ||
+ | families uppermost in their minds.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | for the opposite shore in their canoes, the ranger swimming | ||
+ | his animal behind.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | place was being bravely defended by the few men that had | ||
+ | remained behind.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | a dozen. They had divided their force, and the larger party | ||
+ | were directing their attack upon the eastern gate of the stockade.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | gave a yell as they approached, and the next moment the | ||
+ | savages were flying over the plain at a breakneck speed, leaving | ||
+ | one of their number behind, dead.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | what promised a bloody affray, resulted in Rollo, the Boy | ||
+ | Ranger, being lionized as the real hero of the victory. He | ||
+ | was fairly dragged from his pony and forced to accept the | ||
+ | warm, heartfelt thanks and blessings bestowed upon him, for | ||
+ | his timely warning them of danger.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | and contrary to the wishes of the settlers, he soon took his | ||
+ | departure.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | on leaving the post. “I feel freer when roaming on the great | ||
+ | prairie ocean, or threading the shadowy aisles of the forest.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p>He rode away toward the north when he left the post, | ||
+ | on the trail of the defeated red-skins.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p>To the surprise of the settlers, on going to inter the body | ||
+ | of the slain enemy, they found that it was the body of a | ||
+ | white man in Indian disguise. This discovery caused no little | ||
+ | food for reflection, and old Captain Storms, well versed in | ||
+ | the nature of the Indian, gave it as his belief that the whole | ||
+ | party of mounted enemies were a party of white men, and | ||
+ | robbers at that, in Indian disguise. The old captain’s reason | ||
+ | for this belief was that the enemy had been too bold and | ||
+ | reckless in their attack, which set at variance all he had ever | ||
+ | seen of Indian caution, cunning and cowardice.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | guards were stationed at all the points surrounding the post, | ||
+ | and the stock secured against a night stampede. But, fortunately, | ||
+ | no further hostile demonstration was made by the | ||
+ | enemy.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | were seen in the edge of the timber along the river on the | ||
+ | opposite shore. This prevented the settlers from crossing | ||
+ | over to inter the body of Dick Sherwood, the renegade, as | ||
+ | they had intended to do.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p>On the second day, vultures were seen hovering over the | ||
+ | forest, and it was then that every Christian energy of the settlers | ||
+ | was aroused, and they at once crossed the river and proceeded | ||
+ | to the scene of execution.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | skeleton bleaching in the sun, where they had last seen the | ||
+ | body of the renegade hanging.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | And as the white, ghastly skeleton swayed to and fro in the | ||
+ | breeze& | ||
+ | for it brought up quite forcibly in their minds, the words of | ||
+ | the renegade, “As long as my bones exist the spirit will remain | ||
+ | about them.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | party returned home, feeling that they were at last free from | ||
+ | the persecutions of the renegade, Dick Sherwood.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | <hr class=" | ||
+ | |||
+ | <div class=" | ||
+ | <h2 class=" | ||
+ | <span class=" | ||
+ | </ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | by, and the settlers of Clontarf’s Post, in that time, had experienced | ||
+ | a season of peace and quietude seldom enjoyed by | ||
+ | a border settlement. The Indians had made no hostile demonstration, | ||
+ | though many feared that their quietude foretold | ||
+ | a coming storm, and many thought the death of Dick Sherwood | ||
+ | accounted for their peacefulness. Be that as it may, | ||
+ | the settlers never allowed one point admissible of attack from | ||
+ | the enemy, to remain unguarded for a single hour; for, knowing | ||
+ | their treacherous and cunning nature, and since no regular | ||
+ | treaty had been entered into, they thought it more than | ||
+ | likely that the Indians were watching for a chance to strike | ||
+ | at the post when its people were off their guard.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p>In the midst of their peace and prosperity, the settlers were | ||
+ | not forgetful from whence came all those blessings they were | ||
+ | being permitted to enjoy, and once or twice a week they | ||
+ | would meet at one of the neighbors’ houses and offer up | ||
+ | thanks to their Heavenly Father for his protection and bountiful | ||
+ | gifts. Each and every Sabbath, divine services were held | ||
+ | at the residence of the Reverend Paul Earnshaw, a minister | ||
+ | of much ability, and dearly beloved by all his friends.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | began a spiritual revival at the post, attended with | ||
+ | great success. Encouraged in his good work by his friends, | ||
+ | he soon extended his labors to other settlements& | ||
+ | not too remote from the post.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | made his appearance in the field. He came from the East, | ||
+ | he told Father Earnshaw, to labor among the Indians. He | ||
+ | had not been sent out by a missionary society, but had come | ||
+ | on his own responsibility to preach to the heathen. He gave | ||
+ | his name as Israel Ainesley. He was an aged man, but possessed | ||
+ | of wonderful strength and activity, and a voice deep, | ||
+ | strong and musical.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | the services of so able a minister as Father Ainesley’s first sermon | ||
+ | proved him to be, prevailed on him to take up his residence | ||
+ | there.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | kind invitation of the settlers; however, he made a reservation | ||
+ | of half of his time to be devoted to labor among the Indians.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | however, before having exacted a promise from his fellow-laborer | ||
+ | in the vineyard of God, to visit him at an early day.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | and among the Indians. At least, he was away from | ||
+ | Valley Settlement a good half of the time, and the settlers | ||
+ | had no reason to question his being at work trying to convert | ||
+ | the wild red men.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p>In the course of a week, Father Ainesley sent a letter to | ||
+ | Father Earnshaw, in which he proposed that they hold a | ||
+ | union meeting of the two settlements; | ||
+ | should accept the proposition, | ||
+ | as well as the day.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | <div class=" | ||
+ | <p class=" | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p class=" | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | receives my happy approval. It would be likely to establish | ||
+ | a firmer and more pleasant relationship between the | ||
+ | two settlements, | ||
+ | and people. Since you have left it with me to set the day of | ||
+ | <span class=" | ||
+ | my opinion, there is nothing to fear from the Indians, I shall | ||
+ | propose that we hold our meeting in the woods, God’s first | ||
+ | temples, on the shore of Lake Wildwood. It is a lovely spot, | ||
+ | adorned with all the beauty of nature& | ||
+ | upon one side, and Wildwood lake upon the other; the heavens | ||
+ | above and a velvety carpet of green beneath.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p class=" | ||
+ | <span class=" | ||
+ | </ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | every arrangement was at once made for the meeting of the | ||
+ | two settlements upon the tenth of September.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | deep and damnable plot that was being laid for their destruction | ||
+ | by one of these men wearing the sacerdotal robes | ||
+ | of a minister of God.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | <hr class=" | ||
+ | |||
+ | <div class=" | ||
+ | <h2 class=" | ||
+ | <span class=" | ||
+ | </ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | spot, stood a solitary log-cabin, surrounded on all sides | ||
+ | by the dark, towering forest. It was a rude structure without, | ||
+ | but its interior bore evidence of ease and comfort. But, | ||
+ | the location was one sufficient to inspire the heart with awe, | ||
+ | for, from morning till night, the dark forest shadows hung | ||
+ | over the hut. Even if a patch of sunlight did fall upon it, | ||
+ | it came and went like a white-robed specter.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | daughter Madge, Talbott Taft, the Indian trader. Why he | ||
+ | had selected this obscure spot for a dwelling was a mystery | ||
+ | to settlers thereabouts. And why he, a man of no little intellectual | ||
+ | culture, had left the refinement of civilization and | ||
+ | brought his beautiful and accomplished daughter into the | ||
+ | wilderness of a savage land, was still a greater mystery.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | gray in his hair and whiskers; and the “crows’ feet” about< | ||
+ | his eyes seemed rather premature, than the marks of Time. | ||
+ | His features, though extremely delicate, bore no evidence of | ||
+ | dissipation, | ||
+ | their expression.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | These he obtained at a large trading-post on the Missouri | ||
+ | river, and traded to the savages for furs and peltries.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | the trader, and were kindly received and cared for. But no | ||
+ | one had ever been there but what, on leaving, had declared | ||
+ | that there was some mystery about Talbott Taft.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | She was not more than eighteen, judging from her looks, but | ||
+ | from the beautiful and perfect development of her form, one | ||
+ | would suppose her to be one and twenty. Her eyes were | ||
+ | dark, lustrous and brilliant, possessed of an expression that | ||
+ | was indicative of a wild, joyful and fearless spirit& | ||
+ | only a true heroine could possess. Her hair was black and | ||
+ | fine as silk, clustering about her head in shapely ringlets. | ||
+ | Her complexion was healthful and white as alabaster, and the | ||
+ | hues of the rose and lily were blended in her cheeks. Her | ||
+ | hands were small, white and shapely, yet no circlets of gold | ||
+ | flashed upon her tapering fingers.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | hearts there was no previous claim, ever called at the cabin | ||
+ | of Talbot Taft and went away without realizing the fact | ||
+ | that they were in love with the trader’s lovely daughter.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | but a single one had ever received a friendly notice from the | ||
+ | forest beauty. This son of fortune was a well-to-do young | ||
+ | man of Clontarf’s Post, named Townsend Farnesworth.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | permitted to call frequently at the cabin.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | set for the camp-meeting at Wildwood lake, Town. Farnesworth | ||
+ | called at the cabin of Talbott Taft to accompany Madge | ||
+ | to the meeting. He found her awaiting him, and looking | ||
+ | more lovely and bewitching than he had ever seen her before.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | lake, which was some two miles distant.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | pleasant and exhilarating; | ||
+ | in each other’s society, and chatted and laughed as only | ||
+ | youthful lovers could have done. Yet neither knew that the | ||
+ | other really did love, for no avowal had ever passed their | ||
+ | lips.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | found that they were the first there, and to pass the time | ||
+ | as pleasantly as possible, they walked down to the lake shore | ||
+ | and seated themselves upon the moss-covered trunk of a fallen | ||
+ | tree.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | a great mirror set in a rustic frame. No object was | ||
+ | visible upon its glassy, unruffled surface to break the sameness | ||
+ | of the glittering sheet.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | and it was bounded nearly all around with tall, frowning | ||
+ | rocks, whose white faces were plowed and fluted by the wear | ||
+ | of time. Here and there the black mouth of a subterranean | ||
+ | vault was visible, partially hidden by creeping vines | ||
+ | and tall aquatic plants.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | have been an easy matter for a close observer to have marked | ||
+ | the difference in the expression of each gaze. While Town.’s | ||
+ | look showed that his mind was upon something else besides | ||
+ | the beauty of the lake, Madge’s gaze showed that she was | ||
+ | gazing, with no little interest and anxiety, and a look of | ||
+ | half-expectation, | ||
+ | sheet.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | of his heart, to note the expression of his fair companion’s | ||
+ | face. After a moment’s silence he said:</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | flocks of beautiful wild ducks and geese are that are most always | ||
+ | seen upon the lake.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | shadow of the shores, or among the reeds and rushes over | ||
+ | yonder.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | “Many pleasant moments have I spent here alone watching | ||
+ | the feathered tribes gliding over the water, and& | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | questioned Town., with a perceptible change in his voice.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | as if touched by his question.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | rather be alone than in company with your best friend? | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | it is only to think and dream of you, dear Madge. Since | ||
+ | we first met, my heart has gone out to you in the most passionate | ||
+ | love, and I have longed for this moment, Madge, to | ||
+ | ask you to be mine& | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | She had long been expecting it, and was prepared. As she | ||
+ | lifted her eyes to those of Town., a smile, in which there was | ||
+ | a shadow of sarcasm, passed over her face.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | “You do not know the desire of your own heart. When | ||
+ | you have thought more of the matter, and consulted your own | ||
+ | feelings and mind, you may have reason to feel a pang of regret | ||
+ | that you ever asked the wild, wayward daughter of a | ||
+ | poor Indian trader to be your wife.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | matter. My heart is immovable, and I love you all the more | ||
+ | of your humble life. It would not be a marriage of a prince | ||
+ | and peasant, but two whose love I trust would be equal, as | ||
+ | well as their birth.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | voice, “are you sure that Clara Bryant has no claim upon | ||
+ | your heart? I know Clara loves you, Town., and would make | ||
+ | you a better wife than I.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | since our first meeting I find it was but pure friendship compared | ||
+ | with the love I hold for you.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | Dismiss me from your mind and you will find that the heart | ||
+ | will go back to its first love.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | with my feelings thus,” he said, a little vexed.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | can not promise you now to be your wife.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | heart, and his arm stole softly about the slender waist of the | ||
+ | maiden. She gently withdrew from his embrace and continued:</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | new hopes within your breast. I must admit the sin of being | ||
+ | ambitious, and I could never give my consent to wed a man | ||
+ | whose name was coupled with that of& | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | his eyes flashed indignantly, | ||
+ | to that false report of a cowardly enemy!”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | it. I may be doing you injustice to put any belief in it, but | ||
+ | ambition, as I said before, is my besetting sin. Did you possess | ||
+ | the fame of Rollo, the Boy Ranger, then I would not hesitate | ||
+ | to become your wife.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | bears the name of a coward, but that I am < | ||
+ | shall prove to you, if I have to wade through fire and blood; | ||
+ | and not until I have won a fame equal to that of Red Rollo’s | ||
+ | will I press my suit for your hand. All I ask now is that I | ||
+ | may live in hope.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | “what objects are those on the water just put out from the | ||
+ | northern shore? | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | upon one thing and his mind another, “it is a flock of ducks& | ||
+ | three score of them; and how gracefully they move | ||
+ | over the surface, their green heads erect, on watch for the | ||
+ | least sign of danger.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | of the water!” said Madge. “They are so graceful in | ||
+ | their movements& | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | had we not better return to the place of meeting? | ||
+ | I see a large number of the settlers are there.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | arrived, and it wanted but few minutes of the hour for | ||
+ | the beginning of service.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | fallen logs that had been arranged for seats, and entered into | ||
+ | conversation with those near them.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | Town. <ins class=" | ||
+ | youths there, while each maiden felt like hiding her own brown, plain | ||
+ | face as she gazed upon the fair, lovely features of Talbott Taft’s | ||
+ | daughter.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | there was a “buzz” in that particular corner of the congregation. | ||
+ | Even the eyes of the aged, sober, sanctimonious | ||
+ | Israel Ainesley, who was seated alongside of Father Earnshaw | ||
+ | on a raised platform, facing the congregation, | ||
+ | fixed upon the lovely face of the maiden with a kind of a | ||
+ | fascinated gaze, which Madge acknowledged with a pleasant | ||
+ | smile.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | sound of their voices rolling away in sweet, melodious anthems | ||
+ | through the green forest aisles. And, too, the lake seemed to | ||
+ | have caught the inspiration of the music within its own pulseless | ||
+ | bosom and carried the sound back among its hills and | ||
+ | caverns.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | inspire the heart with the infinite power of God.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p>It was a smooth lawn sloping down to the water’s edge, | ||
+ | over which was thrown the cool shadows of the stately towering | ||
+ | oaks. Upon one side, within full view of the congregation, | ||
+ | lay the placid lake, and upon the other the great silent | ||
+ | forest.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | settlers had brought their side-arms with them, and had even | ||
+ | posted guards out in the woods, some distance from the place | ||
+ | of service, to guard against surprise. Still, no fears whatever | ||
+ | had been entertained of danger from the Indians, as they had | ||
+ | long been perfectly peaceful and quiet.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | Then Mr. Ainesley arose, and in a clear but tremulous | ||
+ | voice announced his text; and at once began his discourse | ||
+ | in a manner of force and ability that, from the first, | ||
+ | enchained the attention of his hearers. He possessed a power | ||
+ | of eloquence and delivery profound and comprehensive. His | ||
+ | comparisons were striking, and his similes beautiful.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | riveted upon the speaker, and though the trader’s daughter | ||
+ | heard every word that was spoken, she sat in a kind of mental | ||
+ | abstraction and gazed out upon the lake at the flock of wild | ||
+ | ducks, which, since, the beginning of the sermon, had continued | ||
+ | to approach nearer and nearer that end of the lake, as | ||
+ | though drawn thither by the magnetic influence that enabled | ||
+ | the eloquent Mr. Ainesley to hold such a power over his | ||
+ | audience.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | of his listeners to the presence of God in all the | ||
+ | surroundings, | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | the glassy surface of the element, behold the power, the | ||
+ | wisdom& | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p>Of course all eyes followed in the direction of the speaker’s, | ||
+ | and every one within the assembly saw the flock of | ||
+ | beautiful wild fowls, shyly, but slowly and steadily, nearing | ||
+ | the beach.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | on the opposite side of the lake, that came booming over the | ||
+ | water like a sunset gun, and reverberating away back among | ||
+ | the hills, and rolling in a prolonged clang and crash through | ||
+ | the forest aisles.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p>A small jet of water flashing upward in the center of the | ||
+ | flock of ducks showed the settlers where the bullet, sent from | ||
+ | the hunter’s rifle, had struck.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p>As the report of the rifle, which had so suddenly startled | ||
+ | them, died away, a slight commotion was noticed among the | ||
+ | settlers. By the report of the piece they knew full well who | ||
+ | had fired it, for there was but one rifle of so heavy a caliber | ||
+ | upon the border.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | known as Roll Raynor& | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | the coming of danger! However, the Rev. Mr. Ainesley | ||
+ | soon quieted the fears of his audience and continued his discourse.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | the approaching fowls.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | the thunderous boom of Old Tumult’s rifle. And before they | ||
+ | had fully caught the full report of the gun, a wild and almost | ||
+ | unearthly scream was heard to issue from the waters of the | ||
+ | lake.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | horror of the settlers, they beheld the half-naked body of an | ||
+ | Indian warrior leap upward from the water, but a few rods | ||
+ | from the shore, <span class=" | ||
+ | MADE OF THE FEATHERED SKIN OF A WILD DUCK</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | from the rifle of Old Tumult, but no sooner did the death-wail | ||
+ | peal from his lips, than the whole flock, of what the | ||
+ | settlers had supposed to be < | ||
+ | up from the water upon the heads of as many half-naked | ||
+ | savages, whose bloody war-whoops, as they dashed aside their | ||
+ | feathered caps, and sprung ashore with drawn tomahawks, | ||
+ | sent a thrill of terror to the stoutest heart.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | <hr class=" | ||
+ | |||
+ | <div class=" | ||
+ | <h2 class=" | ||
+ | <span class=" | ||
+ | </ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | of describing that savage surprise, and the horrors that followed.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p>A desperate conflict at once began. Where peace and the | ||
+ | enjoyment of religious exercise prevailed but a few moments | ||
+ | previous, now death and carnage ran riot.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | settlers as with knife and pistol they flew to the conflict, the<span class=" | ||
+ | shrieks of women and children, all mingled in one awful sound, | ||
+ | and rolled through the forest like a voice from Pandemonium.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p>At the beginning of the conflict, Town. Farnesworth seized | ||
+ | Madge and attempted to carry her beyond danger; but she | ||
+ | tore herself from his arms and bravely dashed into the midst | ||
+ | of the combatants. Town. attempted to follow her, but fell | ||
+ | unconscious from a blow upon the head.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | joined their friends in the conflict; and presently another | ||
+ | voice was added to those of the combatants, but his was a | ||
+ | voice resembling the roar of a maddened bull more than a | ||
+ | human voice, and a tall, bony and muscular-looking man, with | ||
+ | long, shaggy eyebrows, from beneath which two orbs of fire, | ||
+ | a shock of grizzly gray hair, and a mouth so “extensive, | ||
+ | the upper part of his head seemed set on hinges at the back& | ||
+ | his appearance in behalf of the settlers.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | Tumult, the hunter and scout.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p>He came like a whirlwind among the savages, his rifle | ||
+ | grasped in one hand& | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | of the giant hunter’s iron arm before.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | a yell, told how fearful and deadly was his work.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | the brimstone pit& | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | down Old Tumult, but in vain. He seemed to bear a charmed | ||
+ | life.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | the forest, leaving a number of dead and dying comrades behind.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | glad enough to get rid of them, and at once turned their attention | ||
+ | to their own dead and dying comrades.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p>A frightful spectacle was now presented to the gaze of the | ||
+ | settlers. A score of savages lay killed and wounded upon the | ||
+ | grassy lawn, and among them, with their heads cloven, lay several | ||
+ | of the settlers dead, and several wounded. The women and<span class=" | ||
+ | children, with a few exceptions, had fled into the forest at the | ||
+ | commencement of the attack. Thus, a new fear for their | ||
+ | safety now preyed upon the minds of the settlers.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | gave the credit of defeating the red-skins, leaned his tall, gaunt | ||
+ | form upon his heavy rifle, and gazed silently over the scene | ||
+ | before him, with a sad look upon his hard, stony features.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | all, this ’ere would never ’a’ been, friends.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | planned, we might have prevented it,” said the Reverend | ||
+ | Paul Earnshaw.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | life o’ me I couldn’t find out what it war till it war a’most too | ||
+ | late. You see, I war scoutin’ around the Ingin camp this | ||
+ | mornin’, when I see’d ’bout fifty o’ the fiends o’ torture leave | ||
+ | camp and p’int thar noses this away. I follered ’em to the | ||
+ | lake, and thar’ I see’d ’em strip o’ every thing but their loincloths, | ||
+ | tie a tomahawk to their waist, and then cover their | ||
+ | heads with the skin o’ a duck, with feathers, head and all on. | ||
+ | This done, the cunnin’ pukes waded into the water, and submerged | ||
+ | themselves to the ears, and I couldn’t have told fur | ||
+ | the life o’ me, if I hadn’t knowed it, that thar’ war an Ingin | ||
+ | head in every one o’ what seemed a genuine, livin’ duck. I | ||
+ | tell you it war devilish cunnin’ o’ the red hounds of Satan. | ||
+ | Anxious to know what they war up to, I kept under kiver | ||
+ | and watched ’em, and not until they war a’most onto you did | ||
+ | I see their intention. I war then too fur away to git here | ||
+ | afore them, so I told ole Vibrator here”& | ||
+ | rifle& | ||
+ | Then I foddered her ag’in, with the avowed purpose o’ jerkin’ | ||
+ | a red-skin outen the lake. I took a dead set& | ||
+ | her venom, and sure enuff, out popped a red-skin with a hole | ||
+ | through his duck’s nest.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | have a hand in it; so I set out, and if ever a pile of ole bones | ||
+ | flew ’round Wildwood lake, they war Old Tumult’s.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | owing that we were not all slain; but, where is Father | ||
+ | Ainesley? | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | the crowd, and no one knew what had become of him, unless | ||
+ | he had taken to the forest.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | upon which the dead and wounded were conveyed to the post.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p>It was sunset ere <ins class=" | ||
+ | in from the forest, and even then, two of them could not be | ||
+ | found.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p>As no one had seen them after the beginning of the attack, | ||
+ | nor could give any information of them, all concluded that they | ||
+ | must have been captured and carried off, or were lost in the | ||
+ | dark mazes of the forest.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | the river and over the forest, threatening a dark night. Besides, | ||
+ | the air was hot and sultry, and there were many indications | ||
+ | of an early autumnal storm. Town. Farnesworth | ||
+ | shuddered at the thought of Madge and Clara being gone, and | ||
+ | no doubt exposed to many dangers, if they were not already | ||
+ | suffering the tortures of captivity. Every energy of the young | ||
+ | man was aroused, and he became sorely impatient to be off in | ||
+ | search of the missing maidens.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | of the settlers was required at the post, to attend to the dead | ||
+ | and wounded, and secure the place against a night attack.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | to Town. Town. gladly accepted, for, of all others, there | ||
+ | were none he would have selected in preference to this daring | ||
+ | scout.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | were threading the trackless aisles of the great woods. They | ||
+ | had no hopes of striking the trail of the enemy that night, | ||
+ | owing to the darkness. Knowing, however, that if the girls | ||
+ | really were taken prisoners, their captors would hurry them | ||
+ | away toward the village, and by a forced march the two | ||
+ | hoped to cut them off from their stronghold; for, once there, | ||
+ | there would be little chance for the captives.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | country, Old Tumult had no difficulty in keeping his course, | ||
+ | and so they were thereby enabled to move quite briskly.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p>At the cabin of Talbott Taft they stopped to inquire about | ||
+ | Madge, but finding no one at home they pushed on.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | which would eventually bring them back to the Sioux river, | ||
+ | though many miles above the post. As they would have to | ||
+ | follow the course of the river after it was reached, they resolved | ||
+ | to make part of the journey by water, as Old Tumult | ||
+ | knew where a canoe was concealed along the river bank.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p>In a little valley not far from the river, gleamed the cheerful | ||
+ | light of a camp-fire, and within its radius < | ||
+ | forms</ | ||
+ | They sat a little in the background, with hands bound, and | ||
+ | heads bowed in grief. The third form was the reverential | ||
+ | figure and face of the Reverend Israel Ainesley. He was | ||
+ | not bound, but sat before the fire smoking a huge pipe, and | ||
+ | exercising a will of perfect freedom. The other two persons | ||
+ | were painted and plumed Arapaho Indians!</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | scout and his young companion that Israel Ainesley < | ||
+ | in league with the Indians</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | what a mockery of God Ainesley had proven himself to be; | ||
+ | while Old Tumult could scarcely keep down the revengeful | ||
+ | wrath that, like an internal volcano, was surging within his | ||
+ | breast.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | traits of the old scout, born of necessity. In this lay | ||
+ | his great success as an Indian-fighter.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | were quite boisterous and regardless of danger.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | Town. had crawled within easy earshot of the camp.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | more keerful.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | hypocrite, Israel Ainesley, draw from his bosom a flask | ||
+ | containing some kind of spirits, place it to his lips, and drink, | ||
+ | then pass it on to his companions; “the damnable wretch!”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | scout; “the dubble-distilled essence o’ the brimstone-pit.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | impatient, as he feasted his eyes upon the sweet, fair face of | ||
+ | Madge.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | to sour their captors’ red ca’casses by dashin’ in onto ’em full | ||
+ | tilt, but, maybe thar’s several guards skulkin’ ’bout, and sich a | ||
+ | drive might git us inter trubble; but I’ll tell ye what I’ll do.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | and punch the hole with a chunk o’ lead spit from the black | ||
+ | jaws o’ ole Vibrator, then we’ll dash in and settle dad Ainesley’s | ||
+ | hash for ’im.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p>As he concluded, the old scout drew the ramrod from his | ||
+ | rifle, and fixing a screw upon one end of it, inserted it into | ||
+ | the barrel.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | to feed a little heavier, fur I calculate < | ||
+ | o’ ’em ’ere reds, for ye see they’re settin’ in range.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p>In a moment he drew out the bullet from the rifle, and | ||
+ | doubled the usual charge of powder. He then rammed the | ||
+ | bullet home again, replaced the ramrod and said:</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | now hear her speak.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | who were plainly visible in the light of their camp-fire. The | ||
+ | two savages sat side and side, and it was this fact that suggested | ||
+ | to the old scout the idea of killing both with the same | ||
+ | bullet.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | like the roar of a cannon, and the young man was sure it had | ||
+ | exploded.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | two savages. Then Old Tumult leaped from his covert with | ||
+ | a roar that would have done credit to an African gorilla, and | ||
+ | shouting to his companion to follow, he dashed into the camp.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | his two companions fell dead and for an instant he seemed< | ||
+ | totally paralyzed by the terrible surprise. But the shout of | ||
+ | Old Tumult aroused him, and springing to his feet he attempted | ||
+ | to escape into the black shadows of the forest.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | movements, and in an instant he was at Ainesley’s heels. A | ||
+ | well directed blow in the back from the scout’s sledge-hammer | ||
+ | fist, sent the white-haired man to grass with such velocity | ||
+ | that his heels described a half-circle through the air.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | presence of Clara Bryant, his first love, he would have embraced | ||
+ | Madge with a shower of kisses.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | shrunk from his grasp, a vindictive gleam in her dark eyes. | ||
+ | She would have fled into the forest, had not the hand of her | ||
+ | lover staid her.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | she yielded to the support of her lover.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p>In the mean time, Israel Ainesley was struggling to escape | ||
+ | from the powerful clutches of Old Tumult, and the confusion | ||
+ | they created now drew the attention of Town. and the maidens.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | with a blow from the fist of Old Tumult that sent him | ||
+ | back to mother earth again.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | Ainesley thus? He was a prisoner like us.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | traitor. Didn’t ye see that he wer’n’t bound? | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | he would not escape!” pleaded Clara.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | a sure sign o’ thar bein’ in ca-hoots, | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p>At this juncture Ainesley attempted, by a sudden leap, to | ||
+ | get clear of the old scout, but Old Tumult was on the alert, | ||
+ | and thrusting out his long arm and bony hand he clutched the | ||
+ | aged hypocrite by the snowy beard in a vice-like grip.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | his balance, fell heavily to the earth. But Old Tumult stood< | ||
+ | erect, his face elongated with surprise, for in his hand he still | ||
+ | clutched the gray whiskers of Ainesley. He held them to the | ||
+ | light and saw that they were < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | burst from her lips. Clara involuntarily shrunk toward Town., | ||
+ | with fear upon her sweet young face, while the young man | ||
+ | himself seemed terribly agitated, as he gazed upon the fallen | ||
+ | man.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | forward he seized Ainesley and dragged him before the fire, | ||
+ | then, in addition to the false whiskers already stripped from | ||
+ | the villain’s face, he tore from his head the wig of snowy hair.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | but there was the face of one whom the settlers of Clontarf | ||
+ | Post had hung in the forest long weeks before, and whom | ||
+ | they supposed dead.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p>It was the handsome, yet wicked face of the renegade, | ||
+ | Dick Sherwood!</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | <hr class=" | ||
+ | |||
+ | <div class=" | ||
+ | <h2 class=" | ||
+ | <span class=" | ||
+ | </ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | of the existence of Dick Sherwood, in which time the bony | ||
+ | fingers of Old Tumult became almost buried in the flesh of | ||
+ | the renegade.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | with a nonchalant air. “I’ll give up the ghost since you’ve | ||
+ | stripped me of my reverend face and snowy locks.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | of the devil, I’ve a notion to pulverize ye to dust!”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | it, Tumult, since that little hanging affair didn’t shut off my | ||
+ | wind,” said the renegade, with a smile of defiance. “I told | ||
+ | the settlers the day they hung me, that when I addressed them | ||
+ | again, it would be under different circumstances. So it was. | ||
+ | The affair at lake Wildwood is but the beginning of my vengeance | ||
+ | upon those who essayed to destroy my life.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | “ha! ha! ha! that’s a good ’un. I think it’s the eend, too, | ||
+ | fur when ye ’scape the clutches o’ Old Tumult, jist whistle, | ||
+ | will ye? | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | then replied:</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | day has not yet come, unless you shoot me upon this spot.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | over to the settlers, and let them bid ye, ‘git ye hence.’”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | your bony claws from my flesh,” returned Sherwood, with a | ||
+ | shrug of pain.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | renegade as though he had been a kitten; “why, man, ye’ve | ||
+ | only felt the weight of my hands.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | bound hand and foot, with thongs made of the buck-skin | ||
+ | leggings of one of the dead savages.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | look of regret, yet when his eyes met those of the two maidens, | ||
+ | his features wore no downcast nor defeated look. Dick | ||
+ | Sherwood had no fears of death in any form. He was a | ||
+ | moral coward as his deeds betokened, but physically speaking, | ||
+ | he was utterly reckless in his cunning and daring.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | to be taken. They knew full well that they were in the midst | ||
+ | of danger, and that it would be unsafe to remain there during | ||
+ | the night. They must either begin their return to the post, | ||
+ | or seek some safe retreat. But it became a question, which of | ||
+ | these two courses they should pursue.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | along the western sky. This at once decided their course, as | ||
+ | they discovered that one of those furious autumnal storms was | ||
+ | gathering.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | ’specially afore the storm, we’d better take refuge on the Two | ||
+ | Islands, in the Sioux river. Thar’s a kind o’ shanty on one o’ | ||
+ | ’em, that’ll do to pertect yerself and the gals from the storm. | ||
+ | As to me, I’m storm-proof, | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | know what is best for us.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p>So preparations were at once made for departure to the | ||
+ | Two Islands. Sherwood’s feet were unbound, and to prevent | ||
+ | his escape in the dark, a strong rope was made of hickory-bark, | ||
+ | and one end attached to the renegade’s neck& | ||
+ | Tumult keeping the other end in his hand.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | conducted Madge and Clara through the almost impenetrable | ||
+ | gloom of the woods.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p>An hour’s walking brought them to the Little Sioux river, | ||
+ | at a point opposite the Two Islands. Old Tumult drew from | ||
+ | under some reeds and aquatic plants, a large canoe, that he | ||
+ | had concealed there the day previous, and the party at once | ||
+ | embarked for the islands.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | point the Two Islands forced the water outward, making the | ||
+ | stream fully one hundred yards wide on each side of | ||
+ | them.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | They were divided by a deep, but swift and narrow channel | ||
+ | of water, and covered by a dense growth of vegetation and | ||
+ | driftwood. A beautiful archway of shrubbery was formed by | ||
+ | the foliage of each island growing outward, and interlacing | ||
+ | over the channel that separated the islands.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | the canoe partly upon the beach, then led the way carefully | ||
+ | toward the interior of the island.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p>By this time a bank of ominous black clouds had reared its | ||
+ | head high up against the western sky, while along its purple, | ||
+ | jagged edges, the red lightning ran its old fiery race, making | ||
+ | the gloom that followed each flash pitchy black. The dull | ||
+ | rumble of thunder had become continuous and sullen, and the | ||
+ | whole surrounding had an air of awful solemnity about it.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | of the lightning, and shuddered when the hot winds touched | ||
+ | her pale cheeks. Not so with Madge. A smile, that was | ||
+ | almost grim in expression, rested upon her fair face; and her | ||
+ | eyes shone with unusual brilliancy. The coming storm filled | ||
+ | her breast, seemingly, with some wild joy and secret hope.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | his handsome face aglow with sinful radiance.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | cone-shaped structure that stood within a little opening in the | ||
+ | center of the island, and said:</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | and the gals from the storm, Town. Me and this essence o’ | ||
+ | Satan here can tuck ourselves under a bush and grin it through | ||
+ | till mornin’.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | assist you to guard the island, since there is no telling what | ||
+ | dangers surround us.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | out and assisted Old Tumult in binding Dick Sherwood to a | ||
+ | sapling that stood within a few feet of the building.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | fairly groaned with pain.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | red-skins are ’bout.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p>He took up his rifle and glided away among the shrubbery | ||
+ | like a phantom.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | was too absorbed in his own reflections to think of aught but | ||
+ | the sweet, fair face of Madge Taft. Dick Sherwood began | ||
+ | humming a low, wild song, fixing his eyes upon the hut as he | ||
+ | did so.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p>In a moment all was still again but the wind and thunder. | ||
+ | Town. noticed that Sherwood still kept his eyes upon the little | ||
+ | cone-shaped hut, and so Town. himself glanced that way. | ||
+ | He started. A gleam of lightning showed to him a human | ||
+ | hand protruding from a small opening in the side of the | ||
+ | hut. In that <ins class=" | ||
+ | dagger.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | < | ||
+ | if an enemy& | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p>It was a hasty movement upon the upper side of the island | ||
+ | that interrupted him& | ||
+ | the threshing of a heavy body through the undergrowth.< | ||
+ | This sound was followed by a dull thud, then upon | ||
+ | the wings of the gathering storm came a wild yell from the | ||
+ | lips of Old Tumult, again followed by a triumphant, mocking | ||
+ | laugh. Then all became still again, and while Town. stood | ||
+ | trying to gain some solution to the mysterious proceedings, | ||
+ | old scout approached him unseen and touched him upon the | ||
+ | shoulder.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | when he drew from the forks of a bush and held up before | ||
+ | him a < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | of disgust.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | at his feet.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | Old Tumult.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | chance to screech afore I closed his weazen, and slid his hair | ||
+ | off. It looks bloody and wicked to you, lad, but sich is the | ||
+ | game. It don’t take long to git used to it, either.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p>At this juncture drops of rain began to fall.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | it will not hurt me.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | must keep an eye on Sherwood. I brought you here to show | ||
+ | you that danger lurked about.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | he had seen thrust from a crack in the hut, and he at once | ||
+ | narrated it to him.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | the hut; “come, lad, come.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | neared it, a long, vivid flash of lightning showed them that | ||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | Clara. But there was no response. He groped about the | ||
+ | room and found that it was empty!</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | storm.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | after all our precaution& | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | the water came the imploring cry:</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p>It was the voice of Madge Taft.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | <hr class=" | ||
+ | |||
+ | <div class=" | ||
+ | <h2 class=" | ||
+ | <span class=" | ||
+ | </ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | The heavens were one broad sheet of red flame. The thunder | ||
+ | rolled incessantly along the storm-girded sky. The winds | ||
+ | rumbled wildly and ghostlike through the dark avenues of | ||
+ | the forest, and lashed the waters of the river to a foam.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | flash, a canoe containing three or four persons making | ||
+ | rapidly for the shore.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | by the gods we will catch that essence o’ Satan again.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | surprise.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | us. We’re bound to stay here now till the storm abates, or | ||
+ | Providence sends us a canoe.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | or construct a raft of driftwood? | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | man a raft now. Even if we could, we might run right into | ||
+ | a nest of red-skins that are no doubt watchin’ for us this | ||
+ | minnit. Be patient, Town.; I know it goes hard with yer | ||
+ | heart affairs, but patience is the key to success in Injun | ||
+ | scoutin’.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | Town. grew almost sick at heart as he sat and listened to the | ||
+ | driving rain and howling winds, and realized that the two | ||
+ | maidens were exposed to its fury, and he unable to assist | ||
+ | them.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | by Sherwood and his Indians, for he was sure he saw, | ||
+ | at least, two Indians with him and his captives in the fleeing | ||
+ | canoe.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p>No rest nor sleep came to the weary bodies and heavy | ||
+ | eyes of Old Tumult and Town. that night.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | order to dispel some of the damp, dismal gloom that seemed | ||
+ | pervaded with an atmosphere and foreboding of danger, a | ||
+ | fire was lighted within the hut.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | upon the face of young Farnesworth, | ||
+ | stony features of Old Tumult wore a grim smile denoting | ||
+ | doubt and perplexity.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | the island to make sure that no lurking red-skins | ||
+ | were around. It was far past midnight, when on returning | ||
+ | from one of these scouts, that Town. noticed his voice and actions | ||
+ | were somewhat agitated, and asked:</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | sense the rainy season seven years ago. A half a day’s | ||
+ | rainin’ raised the river then till the Two Islands were completely | ||
+ | kivered, sumthin’ that has never been done sense.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | Town.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | tossin’ the seethin’ waters up into little mountains& | ||
+ | ’em dash upon the island! We could never stick to a raft& | ||
+ | waves ’d wash us away like lumps o’ dirt.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | gazing out upon the roaring river.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | long as thar’s life. We may escape yit.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | the floating debris lodge against the bushes and bear them | ||
+ | down? | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | can hear the water creeping among the undergrowth, | ||
+ | serpent& | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p>It was a huge wave that dashed upon the island and rolled | ||
+ | half a knee deep over& | ||
+ | out the fire.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | total darkness, with the wild, seething waters rolling around | ||
+ | them. Then a prolonged flare of the red lightning revealed | ||
+ | the swollen river and the dark wood-land beyond.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | scout and Town. of their danger.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | sapling upon the island, and seated themselves securely among | ||
+ | the topmost branches. They now found themselves some | ||
+ | ten feet above the surface of the island. The tree was of | ||
+ | sufficient size and strength to withstand the pressure of the | ||
+ | flood in case no heavy weight of floating debris lodged against | ||
+ | it.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | our two friends to keep their seats in the tree. It was but<span class=" | ||
+ | a few minutes until they were drenched to the skin, though | ||
+ | the green foliage around them protected them, in a great | ||
+ | measure, from the driving force of the rain.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | huge wave rolled over the island and swept the hut away. | ||
+ | In a few minutes more the Two Islands were entirely submerged, | ||
+ | and the wild waves booming over them.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p>As the sun arose the rain ceased to fall, the wind went | ||
+ | down, the clouds became broken, and in a few minutes the | ||
+ | blue vault was sparkling clear and bright.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | dizzy when they gazed on the roaring flood beneath them.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | banks and spread out a hundred yards into the bottom. Its | ||
+ | turbulent current was black with floating logs and debris.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | motion of the water, and ever and anon a floating log | ||
+ | would strike it with a force that threatened to bear it | ||
+ | down.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | startled shriek, as though trying to add new terror to their | ||
+ | already trying situation.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | of seeing some one that he could call to their assistance. | ||
+ | But only wave after wave of the great prairie could be seen, | ||
+ | rolling away in the distant haze of that autumnal morning. | ||
+ | He turned his head and gazed toward the wooded shore. | ||
+ | He saw a bird soar upward with a startled shriek from that | ||
+ | point in the woods where the water had overflown the | ||
+ | bank.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p>A novice in woodcraft would have paid <ins class=" | ||
+ | a fact, but Old Tumult saw at once, that the bird had been frightened | ||
+ | by something unusual.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p>In this the old scout was right. The next moment a large | ||
+ | canoe, containing half a dozen Arapaho Indians, glided | ||
+ | swiftly out from among the timber on the inundated shore, | ||
+ | and bore down directly toward our friends.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | Dick Sherwood, who, as the canoe glided from among the<span class=" | ||
+ | timber into the main channel of the river, arose to his feet | ||
+ | and shouted:</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | heavens above you, and the water beneath, you will be riddled | ||
+ | with bullets!”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | <hr class=" | ||
+ | |||
+ | <div class=" | ||
+ | <h2 class=" | ||
+ | <span class=" | ||
+ | </ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | Sioux and Arapaho Indians at the time of which I write, a | ||
+ | deadly feud existed between the two tribes, growing out of a | ||
+ | dispute as to the rightful ownership of a section of territory& | ||
+ | with game& | ||
+ | The Sioux hunted the Arapaho and the Arapaho hunted | ||
+ | the Sioux with the same deadly intent that each hunted the | ||
+ | white man.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | its claim, and it is thus that the opening of our story finds | ||
+ | them arrayed against each other.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p>It is on the morning following the night of storm that we | ||
+ | <ins class=" | ||
+ | of the Arapaho Indians.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | surrounded on all sides by the forest. The lodges were arranged | ||
+ | in rows or streets facing a small square. In the center | ||
+ | of the square stood the council lodge, and that of the | ||
+ | prophet. On each side of the prophet’s lodge stood a small | ||
+ | one which bore evidence of having been lately placed there.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | it remaining in the Indian encampment. The sun was shining | ||
+ | brightly, and a cool, pleasant breeze was drifting through | ||
+ | the forest.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | occurrence prevailed in the encampment. The two small | ||
+ | tents by the prophet’s lodge seemed to be the point of attraction.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | and the great prophet made his appearance. He was a < | ||
+ | man</ | ||
+ | renegade.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | which he entered without ceremony.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | comfort and taste of savage wealth and ingenuity. The floor | ||
+ | was covered with soft skins, the walls were hung with tapestry | ||
+ | of ornamented buck-skin, while strands of wampum, | ||
+ | strands of beads and shells, and curious figures carved from | ||
+ | bone and wood adorned the walls and ceiling.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p>At one side, on a couch of furs, sat a beautiful white woman, | ||
+ | from all appearances a captive, though her face wore | ||
+ | no look of sadness nor grief. This woman was Madge, the | ||
+ | daughter of Talbott Taft, the Indian trader.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | in the storm,” said Sherwood, as he entered her tent, | ||
+ | with an air of mock politeness.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | she replied, in a defiant tone.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | “perhaps we can come to some definite terms, as to the future. | ||
+ | I think I will have no trouble in bringing that modest | ||
+ | little violet, Clara Bryant, to a < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | with Miss Bryant, and if you will go to her, and induce | ||
+ | her& | ||
+ | becoming my lawful wife, you will be set at liberty. If she | ||
+ | will consent to marry me to-morrow, I will send for the missionary, | ||
+ | Father Jules, and have him perform the ceremony. | ||
+ | Then, with his certificate of our marriage in my pocket, my | ||
+ | mission will be ended, and I will bid farewell to this heathen | ||
+ | country and return to the East, the heir to a vast fortune. | ||
+ | What say you? | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | will lay your proposition before Clara, and then she can do | ||
+ | as she sees fit. But were it me, I’d see you burning before I | ||
+ | would submit to wed you.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | the “Miss”& | ||
+ | wife, and I have Father Jules’ certificate of our marriage in | ||
+ | my pocket, she shall be set at liberty. As her husband, I will | ||
+ | press no further claims upon her. All I want is something | ||
+ | to show my right to& | ||
+ | estate.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | a prisoner. She found the maiden weeping, with face pale | ||
+ | and sorrowful.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | I hope will be good news.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | home?” she asked.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | of defiance in her eyes, but it soon died away.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | wed to Sherwood, we will both be set at liberty. He has | ||
+ | promised to force no claims upon you as your husband.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | Clara.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | all else upon earth, and whom he believes loves you.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | she spoke, and saw a crimson flush mount to her cheeks.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | Town. loves you, and he has set his wicked heart on marrying | ||
+ | you for revenge.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | are, then I would know how to decide. You must advise | ||
+ | me, Madge. Your judgment will dictate the proper course | ||
+ | for me to pursue.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | desperate character, I believe there is some honor about him; | ||
+ | and I further believe that if you marry him, he will set us | ||
+ | free. Of course, when we are free, we will declare your marriage | ||
+ | a forced one, and that will make it null and void, though | ||
+ | the wretch does not know it; so he will have no claim upon | ||
+ | you after all, and it will be such a clever joke on him.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | she asked:</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | propositions, | ||
+ | to-morrow.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | was awaiting her.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | wicked smile hovered around her mouth.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | at the Golden Horn!”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | laughed too.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p>In a moment Sherwood continued:</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | west will now be ended, and then for the Golden Horn!< | ||
+ | But, I must have one man’s life before I go, the life of Old | ||
+ | Tumult, the hunter. I could never rest easy& | ||
+ | grave& | ||
+ | up on one of the Two Islands, if he and his young friend, | ||
+ | Farnesworth, | ||
+ | ha! ha! that escape from the island last night with the | ||
+ | two maidens was nicely made, fair Annette!”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | or an imaginary person. He seemed totally unconscious | ||
+ | of Madge’s presence.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | Arapahoes, | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | Taft,” he replied; “but, by the gods, I will have the life of | ||
+ | Old Tumult! To-morrow Clara shall be my wife, and then | ||
+ | for the Golden Horn and long life, my sweet Cecil!”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p>As the handsome villain concluded his wild soliloquy, he | ||
+ | turned and went out of the lodge.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | the couch of skins, and burst into a fit of hysterical laughter | ||
+ | which ended in an outburst of tears.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | Old Tumult, and conscious of his inability to cope with him in | ||
+ | physical strength, selected five of the best warriors in the | ||
+ | tribe and set off for Two Islands, determined to capture the | ||
+ | old scout at all hazards, dead or alive. Besides, the warriors | ||
+ | that accompanied him were stimulated by a handsome reward, | ||
+ | offered by their chief, for the scalp of their most terrible enemy, | ||
+ | Old Tumult, the hunter and scout.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | <hr class=" | ||
+ | |||
+ | <div class=" | ||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | <h2 class=" | ||
+ | <span class=" | ||
+ | </ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | demand for the surrender of Old Tumult and Town., the old | ||
+ | scout burst into a roar of laughter that fairly shook the tree | ||
+ | in which he was perched; then, in a tone peculiar to his | ||
+ | powerful lungs, he requested the renegade to go to& | ||
+ | warm region prepared for the wicked.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | of the force of the current, and no sooner did they hear | ||
+ | the old scout’s reply, than they began bearing down toward | ||
+ | them at a rapid speed.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | rifles, but, as they did not fire upon them, they knew the distance | ||
+ | was too great for the range of a common firearm, they& | ||
+ | enemy& | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | Town.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | essence o’ Satan has miscalculated our situation; or else they | ||
+ | don’t know as how old Vibrator here can flip lead& | ||
+ | got rifles, too.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | and my ammunition is soaking wet,” said Town., regretfully.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | down, and her nipple dry. My powder is in a water-proof | ||
+ | horn, and now I’ll see if I can’t check the speed o’ them ’ere | ||
+ | critters afore they git in range for their bird-pickers.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p>As he concluded, the old scout thrust his rifle through the | ||
+ | foliage, took a deliberate aim, and fired. Had a torpedo exploded | ||
+ | under the advancing canoe, it could not have caused | ||
+ | greater consternation than did the shot fired by Old Tumult. | ||
+ | It was wholly unexpected by the enemy. Sherwood had | ||
+ | convinced the savages that there was nothing to fear from the<span class=" | ||
+ | whites& | ||
+ | But, when one of their number fell dead& | ||
+ | head with a half-ounce ball& | ||
+ | a pair of scalps fled, and turning their canoe shoreward, they | ||
+ | fled equally as fast.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | to a triumphant, defiant yell, and a derisive, mocking laugh, | ||
+ | that made the very blood of Dick Sherwood’s veins leap hot | ||
+ | with rage, and burn with resentment.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | old scout, as the enemy disappeared in the flooded timber; | ||
+ | “and we’ve got to keep a close look-out, fur they’ll try every | ||
+ | way that their cunnin’ brain kin invent to git our skulps.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | spirit of our friends, and they began to view their situation in | ||
+ | a rather novel light; but how long this would last was | ||
+ | a question of doubt. True, the water was falling fast, still it | ||
+ | would be several hours before they could set foot upon the | ||
+ | island; and, without great precaution, in that time the enemy | ||
+ | might bring to bear upon them some means that would dislodge | ||
+ | them. The only difficulty that they experienced in their | ||
+ | elevated retreat was the numbness of their limbs, occasioned | ||
+ | by inactivity and the cramped position they were compelled to | ||
+ | retain.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | with powder from Old Tumult’s horn, and thus in a few minutes | ||
+ | he had his piece ready for use.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | Sherwood, when the attention of our flood-bound friends was | ||
+ | attracted by a huge raft of driftwood coming down the river. | ||
+ | It was some four hundred yards away when first discovered, | ||
+ | and although a number of such rafts of flood-collected debris | ||
+ | had passed down the river since daylight, this was the first | ||
+ | one that attracted unusual attention from the keen eyes of | ||
+ | Old Tumult.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | o’ wood and sich, looks a leetle suspicious.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | and when you see thar’s some brush and such, piled onto the<span class=" | ||
+ | logs, in a kind o’ a careless way, it’s true; but I would not be | ||
+ | afraid to bet there war Ingins among that ’ere driftwood.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | lead,” said Town., fixing his eyes upon the raft.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | the logs& | ||
+ | they git close enough, we’ll hear, if we don’t feel, cold lead | ||
+ | rattlin’ ’round us. Things begin to look scaly, boy, fur us, | ||
+ | or I’m no judge.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | as to the real character of the raft. If there were Indians | ||
+ | about it, as Old Tumult had no doubt but there were, | ||
+ | they were so hidden among the logs and bushes as to defy all | ||
+ | efforts of discovery, while at the same time the whites would | ||
+ | be exposed to the rifles of the hidden enemy.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | continued to drift slowly toward them. It was about a hundred | ||
+ | yards away when Old Tumult was sure he saw the head | ||
+ | of a savage peering over a log, and, to convince himself as to | ||
+ | whether such really was the case, he raised his rifle and fired | ||
+ | at the object.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | head, nor what had been the effect of his shot, for, simultaneous | ||
+ | with the report of the rifle, the raft dropped into a | ||
+ | strong, surging eddy& | ||
+ | times, and then, as if a magazine had exploded in its midst, | ||
+ | it flew apart& | ||
+ | the circling force of the water; and there, in the midst of the | ||
+ | whirling, rolling logs and debris, were a half a dozen Indians, | ||
+ | struggling desperately with the waves.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | this providential misfortune to the savages.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p>As the scout had mistrusted, the red-skins had secreted | ||
+ | themselves among the logs and debris; and, but for the parting | ||
+ | of the raft in the eddy, and the sudden precipitation of | ||
+ | the cunning foe into the seething waters, it is very probable | ||
+ | that our friends would have been shot down in another moment.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p>As fast as Old Tumult could load and fire upon the struggling, | ||
+ | panic-stricken enemy, he did so with telling effect.< | ||
+ | And those of the savages that escaped his deadly aim, were | ||
+ | overpowered by the waves and swept away.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | the Arapahoes.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p>A silence ensued.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | was silently wondering what course the enemy would next | ||
+ | resort to, to dislodge them from their retreat.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | that direction and discovered a horseman moving along the | ||
+ | shore toward the north.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p>It was Rollo, the Boy Ranger.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | waved it above his head, shouting at the top of his lungs.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | by a blast from his horn and a waving of his scarlet cap.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | condition we’re in, and all fur want o’ help.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | and had no difficulty in catching the scout’s words.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | ranger; “I will assist you at once.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | ferryman’s boat,” returned the youth.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | ’ere tree and we’ll be ready to drop down into it.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | his mission. It was about three miles to what was known as | ||
+ | King’s Ford, where an old half-breed by the name of King | ||
+ | had built a ferry-boat, for the purpose of transferring the | ||
+ | loaded teams of settlers from one side to the other during | ||
+ | high waters.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | the boat under two hours, but scarcely an hour had elapsed | ||
+ | when, to their surprise, they saw the youth with the boat put | ||
+ | around the bend in the stream above, not over three hundred | ||
+ | yards distant.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p>It is necessary that we should here give a brief description | ||
+ | of the ferry-boat, for reasons which will be made known hereafter.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p>It was about twenty feet in length, by half that length in | ||
+ | width, and constructed on the principle of a large canoe; | ||
+ | then, in order to make it more convenient for loaded teams, | ||
+ | a slab floor, or deck, was laid across the top from side to side, | ||
+ | thus forming a hold about two feet deep beneath the slab | ||
+ | deck. A pair of sweeps and a tiller constituted the propelling | ||
+ | and guiding apparatuses of the craft. At the prow of | ||
+ | the boat was an opening or hatchway, about two feet square, | ||
+ | leading into the hold. This opening was covered with a | ||
+ | stout slab in which was fixed a ring and staple for raising.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | shout, and then they began to prepare to leave their elevated | ||
+ | retreat.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | carried the boat along quite rapidly, and he had only to | ||
+ | stand at the tiller and keep the boat in the proper course to | ||
+ | pass over the inundated island.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | Tumult shouted:</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | of it is, I found the boat stranded about a mile above here.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | through the foliage at the ranger with a puzzled expression | ||
+ | upon his face.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | “the flood had washed it from its mooring and drifted it down | ||
+ | stream about two miles, where it lodged, and where I found | ||
+ | it.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | the prow strike the tree midways& | ||
+ | of tortures!”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | tree, or sapling, with such sudden force that our two friends | ||
+ | were nearly shaken from its branches. However, the boat | ||
+ | came to a stand, and the next moment our friends stood upon | ||
+ | its deck.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | to rub his limbs vigorously in order to restore the circulation.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | next moment it was slowly veering off toward the western | ||
+ | shore.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | and in a moment the latter was in possession of all the | ||
+ | facts that placed our two heroes in the predicament in which | ||
+ | he found them.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | of the whereabouts of the two captives, Madge Taft and | ||
+ | Clara Bryant. He had seen them taken to the village of | ||
+ | the prophet, while scouting thereabouts, | ||
+ | in number of the savages he would have attempted | ||
+ | their rescue. This was joyful news to the scout and Town., | ||
+ | not because the maidens were captives in the Indian village, | ||
+ | but to know they had survived the peril of the night’s | ||
+ | storm.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | Town.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | shore as if to conceal the smile that passed over his dark, | ||
+ | handsome face, “seemed very sad and downcast, when she | ||
+ | was conducted by where I was lying concealed in the undergrowth.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p>A sigh, <ins class=" | ||
+ | escaped Town.’s lips.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | plaguy tuff with a feller when he’s mixed up in a heart-affair | ||
+ | with a purty gal, and that gal’s a prisoner in the hands | ||
+ | o’ a pack o’ red-skins. I know it goes tuff, fur I’ve been thar, | ||
+ | Town.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | his course and moved the tiller accordingly.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p>A silence, broken only by the swash of the water around | ||
+ | the boat, ensued.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | while the ranger, apparently plunged in mental oblivion, began | ||
+ | whistling softly.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | the old scout and Town. glanced at Rollo. The eyes of the | ||
+ | ranger were fixed upon the forward part of the boat with a | ||
+ | strange expression shining from their dark depths.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | Old Tumult and Town. sought the object of the ranger’s attention, | ||
+ | and to their horror and surprise they beheld the slab | ||
+ | over the hatchway pushed aside, and a giant savage leap | ||
+ | from the hold of the boat onto the deck, followed by another | ||
+ | until four of the painted demons stood before them, their | ||
+ | faces aglow with diabolical triumph!</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | <hr class=" | ||
+ | |||
+ | <div class=" | ||
+ | <h2 class=" | ||
+ | <span class=" | ||
+ | </ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | that the sudden and undreamed-of appearance of the four | ||
+ | savages produced upon them. But, it was only for a moment | ||
+ | that their presence of mind seemed to desert them.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | and our friends at once saw the advantage of the foe in weapons | ||
+ | as well as number.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | reason, headed the boat, at once, directly down the stream.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | his friends, noticed the saber dangling at the ranger’s side, | ||
+ | and foreseeing its superiority in a hand-to-hand conflict, | ||
+ | reached forward and snatched it from the scabbard.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | desperate lunge, drove the slender blade to the heart of the | ||
+ | foe.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p>Up to this instant the savages stood facing the whites, without | ||
+ | making a single demonstration. It was quite evident | ||
+ | that the cunning demons had expected their sudden and unexpected | ||
+ | presence to completely terrify the whites to a bloodless | ||
+ | submission. In this, however, they were sorely surprised,< | ||
+ | for, at the same instant that Town. ran one of them through | ||
+ | with Rollo’s saber, Old Tumult dropped his rifle and dealt | ||
+ | the second one a blow with his huge fist, that sent him whirling | ||
+ | overboard into the river. Then, with a roar equal to that | ||
+ | of a maddened lion, he leaped at the third savage, while | ||
+ | Town. engaged the fourth.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | was the scout’s equal in every respect. If there was any difference | ||
+ | in weight, it was in favor of the deep, wide-chested | ||
+ | Arapaho. In so close a grapple, the savage was compelled | ||
+ | to drop his tomahawk, and then, in endeavoring to draw his | ||
+ | knife, it slipped from his fingers and fell to the deck.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | gave them, the two giant enemies “clinched.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | life and death.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | soon gained the advantage over his foe and ran him through | ||
+ | with the saber. As he rolled dead at his feet, the young man | ||
+ | turned to assist the old scout, but at that instant the two | ||
+ | giant combatants, locked in each other’s embrace, staggered | ||
+ | backward and rolled through the hatchway into the boat’s | ||
+ | hold.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | looking down. But he saw nothing of the combatants. | ||
+ | Back in the hold, two feet from the hatchway, it was dark as | ||
+ | midnight. Besides, to render the situation more critical, there | ||
+ | was several inches of water in the hold.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | The death of his friend seemed inevitable.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p>He turned inquiringly toward Rollo, who, as yet, had never | ||
+ | left the tiller. What must have been his surprise and consternation | ||
+ | to see the ranger stoop and assist on board the savage | ||
+ | that Old Tumult had knocked overboard at the beginning | ||
+ | of the conflict.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | springing forward, he severed the head of the savage almost | ||
+ | from the body, with a single sweep of the ranger’s saber.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | red demon on the boat to slay me,” he cried; “’tis well you<span class=" | ||
+ | came; I was so excited that I did not know what I was | ||
+ | doing.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | intonation in his voice.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | had it in his mind to accuse him of being a traitor, when his | ||
+ | thoughts were drawn away by the desperate struggling going | ||
+ | on in the hold below.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | had he not been afraid of assisting the wrong one, in the | ||
+ | darkness that prevailed therein. He could do nothing but | ||
+ | wait and listen, and hope for the best. He could hear them | ||
+ | rolling and struggling in the water; he could hear their heavy, | ||
+ | labored breathing, and the dull thud and crash of their fists& | ||
+ | feel the vibratory shock of each blow, and the dull | ||
+ | thumping of their bodies against the under side of the deck.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | no life was there below.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | that the savage may have slain his friend, and was then creeping | ||
+ | with the silence of a shadow toward the hatchway, to | ||
+ | leap out and murder him. He was relieved of these fears, | ||
+ | however, when the struggling, pounding and groaning would | ||
+ | begin again with renewed vigor.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | first upon one side and then the other. A hollow moan now | ||
+ | and then came from the dark pit, followed by a gurgling | ||
+ | shriek or strangling cry.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p>To Town. it sounded like the struggling of two demons | ||
+ | away down in the bowels of the earth.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | became hushed in a death-like silence& | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | and listened.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | But he saw nothing. At the further end of the boat, where< | ||
+ | the combatants were last heard, it was black as night. He | ||
+ | listened again, but heard nothing, he then called the name | ||
+ | of his friend& | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p>He started up with an expression of deep sadness upon his | ||
+ | face.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | the tiller.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | burial. The savage’s carcass we will bury in the river.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p>It was Rollo who uttered the injunction of silence, in a | ||
+ | tone scarcely above a whisper.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | and advanced softly toward the hatchway, saying to | ||
+ | Rollo in a whisper:</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | answered me. The red demon is waiting for a chance to | ||
+ | spring out and murder me. I will watch for him here.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | anxiety came upon them. One of the combatants < | ||
+ | alive. They could hear him dragging himself through the | ||
+ | water toward the opening.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p>My readers can better imagine the awful suspense of the | ||
+ | two young men than I can describe it. A moment seemed | ||
+ | an hour. They were sure they could hear their own hearts | ||
+ | beating and feel the hot blood leaping through their veins. | ||
+ | Their eyes, almost starting from their sockets, became fixed | ||
+ | upon the opening.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | in the young men’s throats that seemed to choke them.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | dark hair, the shaven skull, the low, dark brow, the glaring | ||
+ | eyes, the painted, lacerated face of < | ||
+ | |||
+ | <hr class=" | ||
+ | |||
+ | <div class=" | ||
+ | <h2 class=" | ||
+ | <span class=" | ||
+ | </ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | as he saw the bloody face and lacerated shoulders of | ||
+ | the savage appear slowly from the hatchway. He shrunk | ||
+ | back from the hideous form as from an apparition.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | eyeballs protruded from their sockets till they rested upon | ||
+ | the cheeks& | ||
+ | from the mouth, which was filled with blood and foam.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | toward the savage; but, at the same instant, the form of the | ||
+ | giant warrior shot out of the hold and fell limp and motionless | ||
+ | in death upon the deck.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | shoulders of Old Tumult, the picture of dolefulness and woe, | ||
+ | his face convulsed and his sides shaking in a roar of triumphant | ||
+ | laughter.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | body of his fallen enemy through the hatchway in order to | ||
+ | work a surprise upon his two friends, who, he learned from | ||
+ | their conversation, | ||
+ | above. But, the old scout bore many a mark of the conflict. | ||
+ | His face and neck were fearfully lacerated, and the | ||
+ | few locks of yellow hair that were permitted to remain on his | ||
+ | head, clung about his face and neck wet and sadly. His | ||
+ | clothes were nearly all torn from his body, and his back bore | ||
+ | many a red furrow where the sharp nails of the giant had | ||
+ | plowed.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | brimstone down thar’ in that dark hold, I could have convinced | ||
+ | myself that I was tusslin’ with the devil away down | ||
+ | in the black pit.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | rendered slightly ludicrous by his doleful appearance.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | as with this savage, you’d be equal to Christian, the Pilgrim,” | ||
+ | said Town.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | his rifle from the deck, he related his adventures below. | ||
+ | When he had succeeded in slaying his foe, he listened and | ||
+ | learned from their talk that Town. and Rollo’s fears had been | ||
+ | aroused as to the result of the conflict. A practical joke was | ||
+ | thereby suggested to his mind, and he proceeded to carry it | ||
+ | into execution by thrusting the body of the savage through | ||
+ | the hatchway.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | his many, but not very serious, wounds and bruises, the scout | ||
+ | declared his readiness for further business. Thereupon, Rollo | ||
+ | headed the boat shoreward again, and in a few minutes the | ||
+ | bank was reached.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | on board.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | of the river,” replied the ranger.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | you hed a hoss.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | friend,” said Town.; “I hope we will be able to repay you | ||
+ | some time for to-day’s invaluable service.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | a place of meeting, I will join you in your efforts to | ||
+ | rescue the maidens when I get my horse and cross the | ||
+ | river.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | have your services, which are worth half a dozen men on an | ||
+ | Indian trail.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | I spread his nose all over his face with my fist,” returned the | ||
+ | scout, with a humorous chuckle; “but how’ll the head o’ the | ||
+ | Devil’s Staircase do fur a meetin’-p’int? | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | it is past noon now, it may be far into the night before I get | ||
+ | there.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | westward and set off through the forest. Had they, however, | ||
+ | crept back and kept a watch upon the movements of the | ||
+ | young ranger, they would have seen sufficient of his proceedings | ||
+ | to have justified them in sending a bullet through his | ||
+ | heart. But, “where ignorance is bliss, ’tis folly to be wise.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | <hr class=" | ||
+ | |||
+ | <div class=" | ||
+ | <h2 class=" | ||
+ | <span class=" | ||
+ | </ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | In fact, he felt quite sore, but the consciousness of | ||
+ | having defeated the enemy, proved a radical mental relief, | ||
+ | and repaid him, in one sense of the word, for the bruises he | ||
+ | had received.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | for the want of fire. Game was around them in abundance, | ||
+ | but they had no way of cooking it. Continuing on, | ||
+ | however, they were so fortunate as to come across the remnants | ||
+ | of a deserted camp-fire. This was at once replenished | ||
+ | with fuel, and soon a savory slice of venison was roasting before | ||
+ | it.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | village. They proceeded quite leisurely, for their late adventures | ||
+ | had nearly exhausted them; besides there was no need | ||
+ | of haste, as they had plenty of time to reach the Devil’s Staircase | ||
+ | before night.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p>As they moved along, Town. became silent and thoughtful, | ||
+ | and Old Tumult wary and cautious. The latter finally noted | ||
+ | a curious expression upon his companion’s face, and asked:</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | it was, he was thinking of the pretty Madge Taft, but to evade | ||
+ | a direct answer, he said:</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | reveal the suspicion that has arisen in my mind lately.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | of the savages being concealed in the ferry-boat.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | his rifle to the other shoulder, and said:</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | a hand to help us, but directly I caught him assisting on board | ||
+ | the boat, the savage that you knocked overboard.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | to that lad bein’ a traitor, we think alike; and thar’s sumthin’ | ||
+ | else that I’ve diskivered ’bout him, and what s’prises me is | ||
+ | that you haven’t see’d it yerself.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | said.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | broke abruptly off in consequence of the angry crack of a | ||
+ | rifle, and the “whizz” of a bullet in close proximity to his | ||
+ | head.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | surrounding forest for the enemy that had fired the shot; | ||
+ | “what a bad shot that war. Come, lad, tramp quick& | ||
+ | lively!”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | strides, until Town. was scarcely able to keep pace with | ||
+ | him.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | in the face of a single foe as the shot proved. To him | ||
+ | it looked as though the indomitable courage of the old scout | ||
+ | was deserting him. However, Old Tumult seemed to have | ||
+ | read his thoughts, and said:</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | Town.& | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | and went to huntin’ fur the red that fired the shot, he’d ’a’ | ||
+ | shot us down. By runnin’ he’ll think we’re scart, and out | ||
+ | he’ll dive from his nest and take arter us. < | ||
+ | to turn and let him have it; I think the ijee ’s not to be | ||
+ | sneezed at.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | around, threw his rifle to his face, and fired. Simultaneous | ||
+ | with the crack of the gun, a savage death-cry rung out through | ||
+ | the forest aisles& | ||
+ | scout’s plan of drawing an enemy from ambush.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | molestation.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | Devil’s Staircase two miles beyond, where they had agreed to | ||
+ | meet the ranger.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | leading down a narrow defile into a low plain or valley. The | ||
+ | forest around it was of dense growth, and in broad daylight | ||
+ | its shadows lay thick as the gloom of summer twilight.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | and as the scout and Town. could do nothing until then, they | ||
+ | concluded to conceal themselves, and await its cover before | ||
+ | making any further move.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p>A retreat, flanked upon three sides by jutting rocks, was | ||
+ | selected by the two men, who at once threw themselves in an | ||
+ | attitude of repose. As an enemy could approach them only | ||
+ | in front, it required no extra vigilance to guard their position, | ||
+ | and they made themselves quite at ease.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | future prospects, Town. said:</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | Indians, eh, Tumult? | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | with Satan. I tell ye, lad, arter all there ’s more honor in the | ||
+ | Sioux tribe, than enny other on this terrestial ball.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | with every < | ||
+ | the laws of the States.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | in a Sioux Indian than a white renegade like Dick Sherwood. | ||
+ | But I can not imagine why one so young, handsome | ||
+ | and intellectual as Rollo is, should be a traitor to his own | ||
+ | people& | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | that the world ’ll never know enny thing ’bout.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | and see if our suspicions of him are correct.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | too late, or I’m no judge.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | a troop o’ Arapahoes at his heels, to capture us.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | and Dick Sherwood and Rollo are at the bottom of it all.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | at Wildwood lake; the kapter of the two gals; the affair | ||
+ | at Two Islands, and the ferry-boat surprise, are all the proof | ||
+ | that I want,” said Old Tumult; “and, furthermore, | ||
+ | is mixed up in it some way ’r other; and now mind, | ||
+ | unless we look sharp, that ’ere boy ’ll play the deuce with us | ||
+ | to-night.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | that I’ve made.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | the infurmation, | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | tell it, fur you’re bound to know it sooner or later. The fact | ||
+ | is, this mornin’ I diskivered that Rollo, the ranger, and& | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | vision. He seized his rifle and sprung to his feet, and found | ||
+ | himself confronted by a tall, powerful Sioux Indian, whom he | ||
+ | at once recognized as Mahaska, chief of the Sioux tribe!</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | of defense, but a sign from the chief put at rest all fears of an | ||
+ | encounter. He showed that his presence there was fraught with peace | ||
+ | and friendship, although Old Tumult had always known him as an | ||
+ | enemy.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | dropping their rifles and folding their arms over their breasts.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | friend know that Mahaska comes with friendship in his | ||
+ | breast.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | bony hand; “it’s hard to mistake that jolly twinkle in yer | ||
+ | eye& | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | arm is strong. His eyes are keen. His aim is deadly, but | ||
+ | Mahaska knows he will not strike a friend.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | to pay an equal amount of compliments; | ||
+ | a brave chief, a splendid feller, a brillunt scholar, a good jedge | ||
+ | of whisky, and a brick o’ a boy in general.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | fully understand the English of the scout’s complimentary | ||
+ | remarks, he took it all as something very fine.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | friends now. Mahaska was concealed in the brush there, | ||
+ | when the white men come here to talk. He heard them | ||
+ | speak well of the Sioux, and bad of the Arapaho and his | ||
+ | white ally. The words of the great scout were words of | ||
+ | wisdom and truth, and they have sunk deep into the breast< | ||
+ | of Mahaska. He will never forget them, and here offers | ||
+ | to smoke the pipe of peace with the great Tumult and his | ||
+ | friend.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | at Town.; “bring on your pipe o’ peace, and a ‘bottle o’ | ||
+ | friendship, | ||
+ | never harm the Sioux, if the Sioux will keep on his side | ||
+ | o’ the creek, and furever bury the hatchet o’ discord and | ||
+ | enmity.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | the good will o’ all. But they are brave and will give blow | ||
+ | fur blow. When the Sioux attacks, the white will defend.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p>As the scout concluded, Mahaska gave utterance to a low, | ||
+ | peculiar chirrup, when there was heard a dull fluttering like | ||
+ | many wings, and the next instant fully three score Indian | ||
+ | warriors burst from the forest shadows and gathered around | ||
+ | our friends and their chief.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p>A chill of distrust passed over our friends at sight of the | ||
+ | painted and plumed warriors, but they allowed no look to | ||
+ | betray their inward emotion to the red-skins.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | them that they were about to smoke the pipe of peace with | ||
+ | the whites.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | jarred very discordantly upon the tympanum of our friends.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p>A circle was now formed. Mahaska drew from a greasy | ||
+ | tobacco-pouch a large, dirty calumet which he loaded and lit. | ||
+ | He then took a few whiffs, and handed it to Old Tumult, | ||
+ | who, in a turn, “drew” very lightly on the obnoxious “seal | ||
+ | of peace.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p>In a few minutes the pipe had “swung around the circle,” | ||
+ | and was lodged in its greasy receptacle, and peace between | ||
+ | the whites and Sioux was declared.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | to put implicit confidence in him, and he would not have | ||
+ | been surprised had they broken their promise of peace ere | ||
+ | the obnoxious taste of the “pipe of peace,” was out of his | ||
+ | mouth.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | upon him with no little curiosity, for in days past, he had | ||
+ | been a constant terror to them, and had ornamented his girdle | ||
+ | with the scalps of many of their friends.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | topics incidental to the treaty, Mahaska asked:</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | the great Tumult say that the young white | ||
+ | ranger was in league with the Arapaho. He spoke the | ||
+ | truth. The ranger is the friend of the Arapaho& | ||
+ | of the Sioux and the pale-face.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | They saw the ranger there, and heard him talking | ||
+ | with the white prophet. When the Boy Ranger comes here | ||
+ | to meet the great Tumult and his friend, when the sun goes | ||
+ | down, let them beware, for he will bring many warriors with | ||
+ | him whose hearts burn for their blood.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | Tumult that there was more truth than fiction in the chief’s | ||
+ | warning.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | scout, “when he comes to-night.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | that will follow him like shadows? | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | and if the Arapahoes come with the ranger, the Sioux will | ||
+ | slay them, for many of my young warriors have promised | ||
+ | to go back to their village with Arapaho scalps.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | he could do no better than to accept his proffered aid, or protection | ||
+ | against the treachery of Rollo.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | proffered friendship, and as night drew on, they began to | ||
+ | secrete themselves in the woods surrounding the point of | ||
+ | rendezvous.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | of seeing a party of savages ambushing themselves for | ||
+ | an unsuspecting enemy.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | shadows, their eyes flashing with an evil, cunning light. | ||
+ | They burrowed themselves beneath the old leaves and grass | ||
+ | like moles; they pressed themselves into holes and crevices | ||
+ | where it seemed a serpent could not hide. In five minutes’ | ||
+ | time, Old Tumult and Town. stood alone in the solitude | ||
+ | of the great forest. It seemed almost impossible that | ||
+ | they stood within a circle of three score blood-thirsty savages.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | not be up till two hours after dark.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | head of the Devil’s Staircase. They started when the sound | ||
+ | of horse’s hoofs told them that some one was approaching | ||
+ | from the east.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p>It was the ranger beyond a doubt.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | out:</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | whom they could catch a faint outline in the darkness.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | the minds of the friends conflicting ideas. It seemed utterly | ||
+ | impossible for one so young, and apparently kind-hearted, | ||
+ | be a traitor to his own race. He had done many kind acts | ||
+ | for the settlers in warning them of coming danger of late. | ||
+ | Yet, despite all this, Tumult and Town. had seen sufficient of | ||
+ | his actions in the ferry-boat affair to raise grave doubts, at | ||
+ | least; however, they tried to believe that it all came of the | ||
+ | impulse and indiscretion of youth.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | neared the ranger.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | the Indian village, and the question is, how are we to get at | ||
+ | them.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | them, then fight our way out again, if we kin git ’em no other | ||
+ | way,” said Old Tumult.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | fair lady, Town.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | slightly tainted with sarcasm; however, he forced back the | ||
+ | retort that came to his lips, and made no reply.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | toyed with the coiled horn at the pommel of his saddle.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | that echoed through the valley below them.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | echoes through the valley.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | the cry,” said Town.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p>At this juncture, the jingle of the ranger’s horn drew our | ||
+ | friends’ attention toward him. There was just light enough | ||
+ | to see him place the instrument to his lips.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | was drowned in the blast of the horn.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | and he leaped toward the ranger, but the latter whirled his | ||
+ | horse’s head and dashed away.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | dark forms& | ||
+ | two score and ten Arapaho warriors, as they closed in upon | ||
+ | our friends.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | <hr class=" | ||
+ | |||
+ | <div class=" | ||
+ | <h2 class=" | ||
+ | <span class=" | ||
+ | </ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | got within reach of our two friends, for scarcely had their | ||
+ | own war-cry pealed from their own lips, when there arose | ||
+ | another yell that seemed to issue from the earth, the sky and<span class=" | ||
+ | the air, so loud and fierce that the earth seemed to tremble | ||
+ | beneath them.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | had come to the rescue; and, after all, the Arapahoes were the | ||
+ | surprised party, and like sheep they scattered and fled in every | ||
+ | direction. Half of their number, however, fell under the | ||
+ | blows of the Sioux.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | for the body of Rollo, but it was not there.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p>In consequence of the defeat of the Arapahoes, Old Tumult | ||
+ | and Mahaska became fast friends, and took another “pipe of | ||
+ | peace” over the victory.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | upon the movements of the enemy, while Old Tumult and | ||
+ | Town., accompanied by Mahaska, set off toward the Arapaho | ||
+ | village to reconnoiter the situation.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | from whence they could command a view of the encampment. | ||
+ | They saw that great commotion prevailed within | ||
+ | the village, and that the leading warriors were constantly going | ||
+ | to and from the lodge of the prophet.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | for well he read their import.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p>A squad of some fifteen warriors leaving the village and | ||
+ | moving in the direction of our friends, induced the latter to | ||
+ | seek more secluded quarters.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p>In case that the rescue of the maidens could not be effected | ||
+ | during the day, Mahaska had decided to make a night | ||
+ | attack upon the village, and for that purpose had dispatched | ||
+ | a messenger to his village for a reinforcement of warriors.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | lake, which the chief had selected as the point of rendezvous | ||
+ | for his warriors soon after nightfall; and as they saw there | ||
+ | was not the shadow of a chance to rescue the maidens | ||
+ | during the day, the chief, Old Tumult and Town. set off for | ||
+ | the lake.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | food, of which they were feeling greatly in need. Some venison< | ||
+ | was soon obtained and roasted, and a hearty meal made | ||
+ | thereon. Then the party retired to a secluded spot near the | ||
+ | edge of the lake to await the coming of night.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | though night would never come, and the more he thought | ||
+ | of the trader’s lovely daughter the more impatient he became.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p>At last the shades of evening began to gather over the silent | ||
+ | forest.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | their mournful chirps; and as the shadows continued to | ||
+ | thicken, the deep and solemn breathing of nature, peculiar | ||
+ | to the wilderness after nightfall, was heard in all around.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | heaven as the darkness increased.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | grave itself.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | tramp of feet coming up the stony path that wound along the | ||
+ | shore of the little lakelet.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | closely.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | white persons, judging from the sound, a man and woman’s.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | and listened.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | ceased.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p>A bare rock, over which ran the trail that the man and | ||
+ | woman were following, and which jutted out over the waters | ||
+ | of the lake, lay between our friends and the two unknown | ||
+ | pedestrians.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | into the opening on the rock. Here they halted. Our friends | ||
+ | saw that it was a man and woman, sure enough. But who | ||
+ | were they?</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | features.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p>Al last the woman asked:</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | tone seemed to echo through the chambers of his wildly-throbbing | ||
+ | heart.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | seized her, dragged her to the edge of the rock, and hurled | ||
+ | her over the precipice into the lake, twenty feet below.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | water, then all was over.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | the chief, who, like a shadow, glided from the young man’s | ||
+ | side as he spoke.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | the unknown murderer, but he did not fire. The figure of | ||
+ | another woman was seen to glide from the shadow of the | ||
+ | woods, and throw herself into the open arms of the man.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | woman.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | rifles on the opposite side of the opening rung out& | ||
+ | mortal agony pealed from the lips of the man and woman& | ||
+ | staggered, reeled, and sunk heavily to the earth.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | stooping, were in the act of scalping the fallen man and | ||
+ | woman, when Old Tumult and Town. rushed from their covert | ||
+ | and prevented the bloody act.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | <hr class=" | ||
+ | |||
+ | <div class=" | ||
+ | <h2 class=" | ||
+ | <span class=" | ||
+ | </ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | Tumult and Town. upon Two Islands, Dick Sherwood returned | ||
+ | to the Indian village, his feelings wrought up to the | ||
+ | highest pitch of rage. And fuel was added to the consuming | ||
+ | fire of his wrath, when the news of the slaughter of his warriors | ||
+ | at the Devil’s Staircase reached his ears.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | and deep-laid plots of vengeance had failed, excepting the | ||
+ | surprise at Wildwood lake.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | savages, only as far as his selfish wickedness was concerned. | ||
+ | And to have accomplished the purpose of his will, he would | ||
+ | have sacrificed every warrior in the tribe. However, when | ||
+ | one plot failed, his wicked, fertile brain soon conceived | ||
+ | another.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p>On the morning of the day that Clara Bryant had promised | ||
+ | to marry him for her liberty, he came rushing into her lodge | ||
+ | inquiring for Madge Taft. But, Madge was not there, and in | ||
+ | a tone of ungovernable rage he declared she had escaped; | ||
+ | and should he recapture her, he would inflict all sorts of | ||
+ | punishment upon her.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | her feel more lonely and desolate, when she thought that she | ||
+ | was entirely alone, so far as friends were concerned, in the | ||
+ | midst of enemies.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | leave, without hinting her intentions to her.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p>As the day wore away, Clara felt in hopes that Sherwood | ||
+ | had given up his desire to marry her out of revenge, and that | ||
+ | she would be set at liberty. However, in this she was bitterly | ||
+ | disappointed. It wanted about an hour of sunset, when the | ||
+ | renegade entered her lodge accompanied by a white man, | ||
+ | whom he introduced as Father Jules, the missionary.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | fulfillment of your promise to wed me.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p>A low sob escaped poor Clara’s lips, and she turned ghastly | ||
+ | pale.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | seemed deserting her, and whose heart grew sick and faint.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | are you?” questioned the missionary.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | totally unconscious of what was passing about her, and | ||
+ | but for the support of the renegade she would have fallen.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p>In this state of semi-consciousness the maiden stood by the<span class=" | ||
+ | side of Sherwood, and the marriage ceremony was performed.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | Clara had wholly fainted. Restoratives, | ||
+ | applied, and she was brought back to consciousness.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p>As soon as the ceremony was performed, Father Jules seated | ||
+ | himself, and taking from his pocket a strip of paper, wrote | ||
+ | thereon the following:</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | <div class=" | ||
+ | <p class=" | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | of the Holy Evangelist, hereby certify that on this day, I | ||
+ | joined in the holy bonds of wedlock, Richard Sherwood and | ||
+ | Clara Holmes.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p class=" | ||
+ | </ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | it, smiled, folded it up and put it carefully away in an inner | ||
+ | pocket.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | when they were alone, Sherwood turned to Clara, and said:</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | your agreement, now I shall fulfill mine and set you at liberty.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | to think that she was going to be released. She felt certain | ||
+ | that when she was beyond Sherwood’s power, he would have | ||
+ | no claim upon her as a husband; for, in her inmost heart she | ||
+ | knew the ceremony was all a farce, and she had very grave | ||
+ | doubts as to Victor Jules being a missionary. But, why it | ||
+ | was that Sherwood had taken this course for revenge upon | ||
+ | Town. Farnesworth, | ||
+ | sense enough to know that the marriage was not binding upon | ||
+ | them. But, alas! Clara did not& | ||
+ | intentions of the villain’s heart.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | returned; “that is as close to the post as will be safe for my | ||
+ | neck.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | refrain from clapping her hands and shouting with joy and | ||
+ | thanks.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p>By this time it was nearly sunset, and ere the renegade and | ||
+ | maiden had taken their departure from the village, the shadows | ||
+ | of evening had begun to gather over the woodland, and | ||
+ | lurk assassin-like in the valleys.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | the forest, southward.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | overpowered with joy, that she had never taken one thought | ||
+ | of her inability to ever reach the post on foot.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | when Sherwood spoke.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | childhood?& | ||
+ | home in Ohio? | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | and it was quite a while before she could gain composure | ||
+ | to reply:</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | I left there? | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | Bryant,” the renegade said.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | to her before that she was < | ||
+ | had loved as father and mother since her childhood recollections. | ||
+ | And why should the renegade know more of her than | ||
+ | she did herself?</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | Sherwood replied.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | into a small opening at the edge of a little lake, where the | ||
+ | renegade stopped.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | maiden, dragged her to the edge of the opening, and hurled | ||
+ | her over the cliff into the lake below.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | knows.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | <hr class=" | ||
+ | |||
+ | <div class=" | ||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | <h2 class=" | ||
+ | <span class=" | ||
+ | </ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | mean?” yelled Old Tumult, as he knelt by the prostrate form | ||
+ | of the man, while Town. Farnesworth knelt by the woman.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p>A shout, that rolled through the forest aisles like a peal of | ||
+ | thunder, burst from his lips. He recognized the face of the | ||
+ | man.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p>It was that of Dick Sherwood!</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | then asked:</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p>A groan burst from the young man’s lips and he started up.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | else that is the face of Madge Taft.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | knelt by the motionless form of the woman, and gazed into | ||
+ | her face. “Yes, yes; it is the trader’s gal, but she is not | ||
+ | dead.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p>A moan of pain from the woman’s lips verified his assertion.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | we can.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p>It was the woman who spoke, in a feeble, smothered tone, | ||
+ | as she nervously clutched at her throbbing brow.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | cried Town., dropping on his knees beside her, and raising her | ||
+ | head from the hard stone and pillowing it upon his breast.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | he threw over the cliff!& | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | plotted deeply and darkly against you and Clara. I won your | ||
+ | affections from her, and yet I was a married woman& | ||
+ | wife of& | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | flush mount to his face.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p>He would have shrunk away from her as from an adder, | ||
+ | had he not remembered that she was dying& | ||
+ | so beautiful, so wicked, so false-hearted.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | dying woman’s voice:</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | I want to ask one request of you.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | and the body of Dick Sherwood to the cabin of Talbott | ||
+ | Taft.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | is Dick Sherwood to you, Madge? | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | I would tell you all about my life and the deep, dark game | ||
+ | of sin and treachery in which I have been engaged, could I | ||
+ | live long enough. But when you convey my lifeless body | ||
+ | and that of Dick Sherwood to the cabin of the Indian trader, | ||
+ | he will tell you& | ||
+ | escaped.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p>At this juncture the quick, heavy tread of moccasined feet | ||
+ | was heard approaching, | ||
+ | near with the dripping form of Clara Bryant in his arms.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | woman, he said:</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | throat& | ||
+ | there was a relaxing of the muscles, that told of the separation | ||
+ | of the soul and body& | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | and assisted Old Tumult and Mahaska in restoring Clara to | ||
+ | life.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | terrible shock to the maiden, and for awhile her life was despaired | ||
+ | of. But, at last, she began to recover.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p>By this time all of Mahaska’s warriors had gathered at the | ||
+ | lake ready for work, but in consequence of the escape of the | ||
+ | captives, the attack was postponed.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p>As Clara would be unable to travel before morning, dispositions | ||
+ | were made for passing the night by the lake, Mahaska | ||
+ | and his warriors taking the safety of the party into their own | ||
+ | hands.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | was a great relief to their minds when morning dawned bright | ||
+ | and pleasant.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | for departure.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | whites to Clontarf’s Post, and to them were given the two | ||
+ | bodies for conveyance to the trader’s cabin.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | he discovered he loved, though he was almost ashamed to admit | ||
+ | it, even to himself, since he had acted so unfaithful toward | ||
+ | her in his fancied love for the fascinating and wicked | ||
+ | Madge Taft.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | arm within his own and set off in advance. He did not tell | ||
+ | her of the fate of Sherwood and Madge, as she had been | ||
+ | kept beyond sight of the bodies while at the lake; but, while | ||
+ | moving along through the woods, she happened to glance back | ||
+ | and saw the savages in the rear of the procession bearing | ||
+ | something upon litters. This aroused her curiosity and she | ||
+ | inquired of Town. what it meant.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | and Madge.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | were no sooner spoken than she seemed to have regretted their | ||
+ | utterance.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | you think I was Sherwood? | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | face.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | else. I will tell you what it is another time.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | her wishes to insist on an explanation, | ||
+ | more on the subject.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p>It was past noon when the cabin of Talbott Taft was reached. | ||
+ | They found the old trader at home in a state of great excitement, | ||
+ | occasioned, he said, by the absence of his daughter.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | to break it to him as gently as possible.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p>A wail burst from the old man’s lips, and staggering he | ||
+ | sunk heavily into a chair.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p>In a few moments the savages bearing the litters filed into | ||
+ | the cabin and placed the bodies before the old man, who fell | ||
+ | upon his knees and wept bitterly over the body of Madge.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | left the mourner alone with his dead, and when his lamentations | ||
+ | had ceased, Old Tumult went back to the door and | ||
+ | asked:</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p>A wail of sorrow burst anew from the trader’s lips and it | ||
+ | was several moments before he gained calmness to reply.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | dead.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | command us.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | and Mahaska, hollowed out two graves in the shadow of an | ||
+ | oak that stood in front of the cabin.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | and laid in the graves, and covered from the view of the | ||
+ | world forever.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | would break, and when our friends had announced their intention | ||
+ | of departing for the post, he called Old Tumult and | ||
+ | Town. aside and said:</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | morning. Will you promise me that you will? | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | that may be of interest to you both. I wish to show | ||
+ | you the reward of the wicked and the wages of sin.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | from the cabin, and Talbott Taft was left alone to weep and | ||
+ | mourn.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | <hr class=" | ||
+ | |||
+ | <div class=" | ||
+ | <h2 class=" | ||
+ | <span class=" | ||
+ | </ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | arms! to arms!”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | Clontarf’s Post, as the hardy yeomanry of the settlement | ||
+ | flew to their cabins for their arms, and hurried their wives | ||
+ | and little ones away to the block-house. Those living just | ||
+ | outside of the stockade were soon within the inclosure, whose | ||
+ | gates were then securely barred and bolted against the party | ||
+ | of Indians that had been discovered crossing the river a short | ||
+ | distance above the post.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | post, was the first to discover the enemy, and he gave it as | ||
+ | his firm belief that a hot time might be expected, for he said | ||
+ | the enemy numbered two hundred strong& | ||
+ | war-party bent upon death and destruction.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p>In a few minutes the settlers were prepared for defense, | ||
+ | although they were not, by any means, prepared for a lengthy | ||
+ | siege.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | top of the block-house to watch the movements of the enemy, | ||
+ | while the settlers stood, rifle in hand, ready for the conflict.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | surprised to see the enemy marching boldly down the river | ||
+ | toward the stockade.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | captain shouted to the men below; “stand by your arms, for | ||
+ | a bloody time is coming!”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | misty& | ||
+ | on again& | ||
+ | at his side, and said:</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | to my estimate of the enemy’s force, you have exaggerated | ||
+ | their number in the ratio of about ten to one.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | old warrior; “long experience in just such matters has | ||
+ | enabled me to tell the number of the enemy, or a body of men, | ||
+ | at sight.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | danger in the mind’s eye, as I think it has in your case; for, | ||
+ | come down to the fact of the matter, I don’t believe that it is | ||
+ | a war-party at all.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | of a battle& | ||
+ | go down into the block-house.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | wild excitement.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | Tumult and Town. Farnesworth and Clara Bryant are at the | ||
+ | head of < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | party, rubbed his eyes, chafed his bald crown& | ||
+ | Earnshaw, then at the party again, moved uneasily, and | ||
+ | at last, burst into a roar of laughter, which, of itself, was sufficient | ||
+ | to show his perplexity and embarrassment.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | the captain, who was a little hard of hearing as well as defective | ||
+ | in seeing, and descending from the block-house, | ||
+ | the men and told them of the captain’s scare, and | ||
+ | the real nature of the approaching party of savages.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | Tumult, Town. and Clara, and the Indian escort of about a | ||
+ | score in number, admitted amid ringing shouts of joy and | ||
+ | welcome.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | Old Tumult explained to the settlers why Mahaska and his | ||
+ | warriors were there.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | when their only child was once more restored to their hearts. | ||
+ | And the settlers all partook of their joy.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | Clara and her mother found themselves alone, the former | ||
+ | drew near the latter and said:</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | told me that I was < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | she was greatly agitated.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | around the matron’s neck.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | villain, Dick Sherwood, ever have gained the truth? What | ||
+ | did he say about it, Clara? | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | marriage with him, and the reason why she had married him, | ||
+ | and of the subsequent death of Sherwood and Madge Taft.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | of matters, and after trying to unburden her perplexed mind, | ||
+ | she said:</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | when you were but two years old.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | by her dying request that I have never told you before of | ||
+ | your being an orphan.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | not heard of him for ten years, up to the hour of her death.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | Domestic trouble separated your parents. Your father enlisted | ||
+ | as a soldier in the Mexican war, and as he never came | ||
+ | back, it was supposed that he fell at the battle of Chapultepec. | ||
+ | Your mother died shortly after the separation. Your | ||
+ | father I never saw.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | your child? | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | of the other settlers are from Ohio, that is, we went from | ||
+ | Maine to Ohio, and from there came here.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | <hr class=" | ||
+ | |||
+ | <div class=" | ||
+ | <h2 class=" | ||
+ | <span class=" | ||
+ | </ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | the cabin of Talbott Taft the following morning.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p>As they approached the lonely hut, they saw no sign of | ||
+ | life about it, but pushing on they reached the door, upon | ||
+ | which Town. gently rapped. But no one bade them enter, | ||
+ | and it was then that a strange suspicion rushed across our | ||
+ | two friends’ minds, and pushing the door open they entered.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | Talbott Taft sitting bolt-upright in a chair near a rude table, | ||
+ | stone < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | upon the table, in which there was some liquid of a greenish | ||
+ | color; and then as his eyes fell upon a folded paper near | ||
+ | the glass, he continued: “and here is no doubt a written | ||
+ | confession, and a lengthy one too, for there are a number of | ||
+ | pages.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p>He unfolded the papers and glanced at the head of the<span class=" | ||
+ | writing, which was well executed, though it showed some | ||
+ | nervousness of the writer.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p class=" | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | perceived that the writer thereof had been fostering some romantic | ||
+ | hopes that had ended in a tragical death.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | trader by the side of his daughter. This last sad duty performed, | ||
+ | the scout and Town. returned to the cabin and seated | ||
+ | themselves. Town. now took up the manuscript and began | ||
+ | reading it aloud.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p>It ran thus:</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | estate, with a great stone mansion and lovely surroundings& | ||
+ | that heart could wish, art devise, and wealth procure& | ||
+ | as The Golden Horn. Four years ago the owner of | ||
+ | The Golden Horn lay dying. He was a bachelor, and no wife | ||
+ | nor child was there to mourn his coming death. Only Mrs. | ||
+ | Martha Hohn, his house-keeper, | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | Cecil, who at this time was away at Richmond attending a | ||
+ | boarding-school at the expense of the owner of The Golden | ||
+ | Horn. Mrs. Hohn, for years, had secretly aspired to be mistress | ||
+ | of The Golden Horn, but all her charms and suavity of | ||
+ | manners failed to make an impression on the hard heart of | ||
+ | the stern old bachelor. And now he lay dying, and Mrs. | ||
+ | Hohn’s aspirations and hopes were dying too.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | ‘I’m dying, that’s certain. The death-dews are upon my brow | ||
+ | now. And now, Martha, promise me upon my death bed that | ||
+ | you will do me a favor after I’m dead and gone. You’ve | ||
+ | been kind to me, Martha, and straightforward, | ||
+ | others, I would trust none sooner than you with so important | ||
+ | a care. Promise me, Martha Hohn.’</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | the Penobscot river, years ago dwelt an only sister, but she is | ||
+ | dead now. She married there, and had a child& | ||
+ | whom she called Clara. Domestic trouble finally parted sister | ||
+ | and her husband. He went to the war, and sister died. But<span class=" | ||
+ | her baby lived and was adopted by a Mr. and Mrs. Geoffry | ||
+ | Bryant. Where the Bryants are, I do not know, but I want | ||
+ | you to find them, Martha, and give to their adopted child, | ||
+ | Clara, this will (here he drew from under his pillow a folded | ||
+ | paper) which gives to her The Golden Horn. She is the last | ||
+ | of my relations now living. For all I know she may be | ||
+ | dead. If she is dead, she may have married, and may have | ||
+ | a husband or child living; if so, give the will to them.’</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | the devil took possession of her heart the moment she got the | ||
+ | will in her fingers.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | more determined than ever to possess the estate.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | Cecil had just been married to a handsome, but penniless man | ||
+ | whose morals were any thing but good. Mrs. Hohn made | ||
+ | known her resolve to her son-in-law and daughter. Both | ||
+ | were as wicked as she, and so they volunteered their assistance | ||
+ | to aid her in her dark scheme.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | had moved several years ago to Ohio. So they followed | ||
+ | on to Ohio, and were there disappointed by learning that Mr. | ||
+ | Bryant and family had gone with a colony to the then territory | ||
+ | of Iowa.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | off for the far West. It was more than two years before | ||
+ | they found out the exact whereabouts of Bryant, and during | ||
+ | this time they took up their residence with the Arapaho Indians. | ||
+ | Cecil’s husband, by dint of much deceit and trickery, | ||
+ | worked himself into the confidence of the Indians so thoroughly, | ||
+ | that they conferred upon him the honor of prophet. | ||
+ | But much to their disadvantage in playing for The Golden | ||
+ | Horn, the prophet’s name and fame went abroad among the | ||
+ | Arapaho’s enemies, the white settlers, and so it became dangerous | ||
+ | for him to venture within a white settlement.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | Post, she began laying her plans. She found that Clara, the | ||
+ | heir to The Golden Horn, had grown to a beautiful womanhood, | ||
+ | and was on the eve of marriage with Town. Farnesworth. | ||
+ | All this they learned through Rollo, the Boy Ranger.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | that ’ere boy war a young devil.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | Town. and Clara. And Mrs. Hohn at once proposed that her | ||
+ | daughter Cecil win Town.’s affections from Clara, until Clara | ||
+ | could be disposed of as they desired.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | disappeared from the stage of action. But her son and | ||
+ | daughter continued the work of crime.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | reside with Talbott Taft, the Indian trader, as his daughter.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | in winning him from Clara.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | The Golden Horn. This was the most difficult portion of the | ||
+ | whole plot. However, Cecil’s husband, who was none other | ||
+ | than Dick Sherwood, resolved to kidnap Clara& | ||
+ | the Indian village, and there force her into a mock marriage | ||
+ | with him& | ||
+ | of the way, and then return to Virginia, and by presenting | ||
+ | the will and certificate both in probate, establish his right to | ||
+ | The Golden Horn. Then as it was not known that he was | ||
+ | already Cecil’s husband in the vicinity of The Golden Horn, | ||
+ | he could enter into another marriage with her, and thereby | ||
+ | cover up all suspicions of their previous relationship, | ||
+ | any such suspicions arise.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | in the capture of Sherwood, and but for the timely arrival | ||
+ | of Rollo, the ranger, it would have ended in his death by | ||
+ | hanging in the forest. The young ranger cut the rope with | ||
+ | his saber, the instant that the settlers turned their faces toward | ||
+ | the post, and a friend to the unfortunate man came | ||
+ | from his concealment in the woods near the scene of the | ||
+ | execution, and restored him to consciousness. In order to | ||
+ | mislead the settlers, the body of a Sioux Indian, slain by | ||
+ | Rollo, was hung to the limb where Sherwood had been left. | ||
+ | The wolves and vultures stripped the bones of its flesh, thereby | ||
+ | the detection of the cheat was never found out until after | ||
+ | the attack at Wildwood lake. This latter affair was all owing< | ||
+ | to the wicked cunning of Sherwood, < | ||
+ | He had hoped, that by drawing the settlers out to the | ||
+ | meeting beyond reach of their stronghold, he would not only | ||
+ | capture Clara, but wreak vengeance upon them for the | ||
+ | ‘hanging affair’ in the forest. In this he partially succeeded | ||
+ | through the coöperation of the duck-disguised Arapahoes. | ||
+ | Clara was captured by Ainesley during the conflict, | ||
+ | and along with Madge, who assumed the < | ||
+ | also, for purposes that are plainly significant, | ||
+ | but she and Madge were recaptured, as was also Sherwood, | ||
+ | by Old Tumult and Town. A storm coming up, they sought | ||
+ | shelter upon Two Islands. While there, < | ||
+ | releasing Sherwood</ | ||
+ | Clara away with them, though Clara knew not the part that | ||
+ | Madge was playing.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | all a cover to conceal suspicion.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | being in the hold of the ferry-boat. It was an arrangement | ||
+ | for the capture of the scout and Town.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | failure, too, I’m dreamin’, eh boy? | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | Staircase, for the capture of Tumult and his friend, but this | ||
+ | failed, also; so Rollo informed me the morning following the | ||
+ | defeat.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | of Madge Taft, Clara had been induced to marry | ||
+ | Sherwood. The renegade promised her that he would liberate | ||
+ | her and Madge just as soon as the wedding was over, | ||
+ | and a certificate of the missionary& | ||
+ | purpose for the occasion, he being a white renegade called | ||
+ | Tom Jules& | ||
+ | was to drown Clara in the lake when pretending to escort | ||
+ | her home. Madge was to meet him there at the lake, when | ||
+ | they would at once take their departure for the East& | ||
+ | prove his claim to The Golden Horn as the husband of the | ||
+ | deceased heiress. What more would really be necessary to | ||
+ | establish his claim, according to the will? Nothing. But,< | ||
+ | alas! in the very hour, yea, the very < | ||
+ | death seized them both!</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | Hohn and her son-in-law and daughter. And perhaps you | ||
+ | would ask, where was Martha Hohn during the latter part | ||
+ | of this wicked drama? I would answer: Martha Hohn | ||
+ | writes this confession, for Martha Hohn and Talbott Taft | ||
+ | < | ||
+ | Cecil in their work of wickedness that was hatched in my | ||
+ | own brain.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | as time goes by, for Rollo will never again appear on the | ||
+ | stage of action. It has often been a source of great wonder | ||
+ | to me, that Town. Farnesworth, | ||
+ | and his conferences with Rollo, did not detect that Madge and | ||
+ | Rollo < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | her part with all the skill of an accomplished actress. She | ||
+ | deserved a better fate, and but for the influence around her, | ||
+ | might have won it.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | that I promised by all that was sacred to deliver to Clara | ||
+ | Holmes. Will the reader of this deliver it to her? It is my | ||
+ | last request.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p class=" | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | wonder and surprise, while Old Tumult seemed terribly agitated.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | this beats me,” exclaimed Town.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | increasing.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | unconscious of so doing, “as God’s in heaven, it must be so!” | ||
+ | and then springing to his feet he cried, excitedly:</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | struck a bee-line! Fetch the will, lad.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | and away toward the post, at such a rapid speed, that he | ||
+ | could scarcely keep in sight of him.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | Town., as he proceeded onward through the forest.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | toward Geoffry Bryant’s cabin.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p>At the door he was met by Clara.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | are excited& | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | into her eyes as though he were going to read her heart | ||
+ | through.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | the scout.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p>At this juncture, Mrs. Bryant made her appearance, and | ||
+ | having overheard their conversation, | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | Raynor, consequently she could not be expected to remember | ||
+ | much of her.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | war and never came back.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | thank God! Clara, you are < | ||
+ | Holmes!”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | <hr class=" | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | the father of Clara& | ||
+ | to describe the scenes of joy and happiness that followed this | ||
+ | revelation, for they defy the power of this pen. The reader | ||
+ | can imagine what they must have been.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | news of Clara being the heiress to a vast fortune in Virginia, | ||
+ | by what means is already known.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p>I will not undertake to narrate the scenes and adventures< | ||
+ | through which Old Tumult passed after his separation from | ||
+ | his wife, up to his meeting with his child; suffice it to say | ||
+ | that they were many& | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | her husband to Virginia and proved her claim to The Golden | ||
+ | Horn.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | he can not forgive himself for being made the dupe of the | ||
+ | wicked enchantress.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | the West with its wild adventure, and take up his home with | ||
+ | his children in Virginia, among the quietudes of civilization. | ||
+ | Still, there was scarcely a day during the remainder of his | ||
+ | eventful life but what the voice of his heavy rifle, Vibrator, | ||
+ | might have been heard rolling in prolonged reverberations | ||
+ | through the mountains that formed the southern boundary of | ||
+ | The Golden Horn. And after the day’s hunt was over, and | ||
+ | the strong old hunter returned to the mansion, with his | ||
+ | game-bag well filled, he was always met at the gate by a | ||
+ | group of urchins, who welcomed him with their childish | ||
+ | shouts of joy, and who called him “Grandpa.”</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | I hope interesting& | ||
+ | pen.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p class=" | ||
+ | |||
+ | <hr class=" | ||
+ | |||
+ | <div class=" | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p class=" | ||
+ | |||
+ | <hr class=" | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p class=" | ||
+ | |||
+ | <hr class=" | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p class=" | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p class=" | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | of American Romance. Each issue a complete novel, with illuminated cover, | ||
+ | rivaling in effect the popular chromo,</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p class=" | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | delightful reading, ever presented to the popular reading public.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | excellence as romances, this new series will quickly take the lead in public favor, | ||
+ | and be regarded as the Paragon Novels!</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | <hr class=" | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p class=" | ||
+ | |||
+ | <div class=" | ||
+ | <p class=" | ||
+ | Coomes. Ready.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p class=" | ||
+ | Yellowstone. By Albert W. Aiken. Ready.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p class=" | ||
+ | of the Mohave Country. By Edward S. Ellis. Ready.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p class=" | ||
+ | Romance of the Rocky Mountains. By Capt. Mayne Reid. Ready.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p class=" | ||
+ | Peak and New York. By Mrs. M. V. Victor. Ready.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p class=" | ||
+ | By the author of “The Boy Miners.” Ready.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p class=" | ||
+ | of California Life. By Mrs. Ann S. Stephens. Ready.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p class=" | ||
+ | By Albert W. Aiken. Ready.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p class=" | ||
+ | Capt. J. F. C. Adams. Ready.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p class=" | ||
+ | Reid. Ready.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p class=" | ||
+ | Horn.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p class=" | ||
+ | of “Boy Miners,” “White Tracker,” etc. Ready Dec. 8th.</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | on receipt of price& | ||
+ | </ | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p class=" | ||
+ | <span class=" | ||
+ | </ | ||
+ | |||
+ | <hr class=" | ||
+ | |||
+ | <div class=" |
the_boy_ranger_or_the_heiress_of_the_golden_horn.txt · Last modified: 2021/09/26 21:39 by briancarnell