Activate Javascript or update your browser for the full Digital Library experience.
Previous Page
–
Next Page
OCR
:
t
1 \
FRANK READE AND HIS STEAM HORSE.
som. ‘And, above all things, I do admire grit.
If Lean 40 anything for you I will.” * :
.“ Ybank you,’ said Van Dorn, ‘If it would not
be asking too much,'I’d like you to set me free.”
Elossom grinned,.. . 4 . :
“Like to oblige you, friend,” he said, “for you
seem cne after my own style; but then you see
you're not my “prisoner. White’ is white, and
you're the right kind. . I can seé that at a glance,
-Lat when the reds capture, the prisoner belongs
fythem. ButTildoallIcanfor you.”
“Who eaptured me?” .
“Black Arrow; there he is,” -
“Talk to him for me.”
- “All right,” said Blossom. : ‘‘ I’ve took a liking
ou, and [’ll stand byyou.”. . :
hen he walked away, while two of the Indians
securely bound the captured villain, and placed
him again on his horse, the anima) having sus-
tained but very slight injuries from his sudden
fall. . '
Then the band mounted again, and in a body
» gwam tho stream. * re oe :
For half an hour they rode onward at a
moderate pace, for their horses were much
fatigued, and then they came to’a halt in a pretty
STOVEe, Soe a F
s The horses were picketed, Van Dorn was care-
lessly thrown upon the ground, and then the
redskins held a council, the Purpose of which
was to decide what should be done with the pris-
oner, - « . : bo
Many.of the band had been popped over, and
the majority of the dead ones were redskins.
This made the savages more bloodthirsty than
was usual even with them, and the comnron senti-
ment towards the prisoner was a deadly one. .
> Billy Blossom put in his oar, and made an ap-
peal for the life of the prisoner, but the savages
would not hear him. , .
They wanted a life, and a life they would have.
The prisoner was a white man, was not a rene-
gade, and that was enough for them.
They unbound him, and warriors ran to col-
lect brushwood, for their intention was td burn
~. Blossom approached him with a very sorrow-
ful shake of his head.
.“*Can’t help it, pard,” he said. I really did
cotton to you, but I’m afraid you'll have to pass
in your checks, You see the reds jest.cotehed
you ata pretty bad time, for they’re mad about
so many of the band being killed, and they want
to do some killin’ to make them feel jist a little
moro square. ’ OF course it’s not your: fault, but
then you’re a white man, and they ain’t partickler
_ about the thing, so long as they can dance and
yelland cut up their wild didoes while a white
skin is blisterin’, ‘Stand it. like @ man and don’t
: at bow
“TU not,” said Van Dorn, who was palo but
ealm. i“ I can die, but I’d much rather live, for
I’ve been knocked around all my life, and jist
now a glorious time was opening for me. But
it’s no.use,‘as you say, so Vit shut my teeth hard
and show them that I can die game.” co
The prisoner was now taken in hand by two of
Black Arrow’s braves, who very quickly renioved
the coat, vest, and shirt from the upper portion
of his body. : :
When this much was taken the white skin was
revealéd.s 0 7 hee , oo
“Then strange cries broke from the lips of the
Indians, and they pointed excitedly at Van Dorn.
Around Van ‘Dorn’s waist, pricked into the
white flesh with needle and Indian ink, or some
similar substance, ran’ a perfectly-made belt,
yormed of many curiously-wrought desigas. **
These marks or tokens, as they are called, ex-
press much in littte, and often tell along yarn
to the -beholders with
eharacters. oe /
' BlackyArrow gave one glance at the token belt,
and then his deep voice rang out in command:
’“ Kan, Kan gee whock.” .
Instantly th Indians formed two lines straight
and down from the white prisoner to their
u
chief, and then Black Arrow walked slowly for- |.
ward and id intently at the curious signs en-
eircling the white man’s waist. .
He walked around him in the most sober and
Profound style, and; being somewhat learned in
he curtous lore of his nation, soon deciphered :
the whole story presented by the token belt.
Then, . with his-own hands, he severed Van
Dorn’s bonds, and led him beneath a tree,
He seated the gratified villain on the grass, and
then turned importantly to the waiting warriors,
They knew that there was a story hidden be-
neath the curious designs of the belt, and they
wore burning with impatience to hearit,. ° -
Black Arrow waved his hand, and the whole
crowd squatted around him in the most undigni-
fled fashion. ’
the aid of a few cabalistic |:
The white members of the party also drew
near, for they were greatly interested in this odd
affair. 7 .
. Black Arrow spoke in the Indian tongue:
“Many moons ago this white brave found a
beautiful Indian princess and her aged father in
the great forest in mid-winter, held prisoners in
the hands of our most deadly enemies, the Snake
Indians, for the chief of the Snakes sought to
make the princess his squaw, and therefore had
stolen her and her father in the dead of night,
with the aid of two comrades. .ot :
“‘This noble brave, with a white skin, but with
the heart of a true Indian, roamed the forest and
came upon them. . He was seen by the beautiful
princess, and implored his protection. .
“‘He was as brave as the tiger, as cunning as
the fox, as strong as the buffalo, and as keen as
the lynx. With the spring of a, wild panther he
bounded upon them and struck them to.the
ground, His knife drank their blood, his bullets
found their heart. He killed them all with his
own hands, and then he conducted the old chief-
tain and the beautiful. young princess back to
their village, where he was marked with this to-
tem belt that tells the story. The beautiful prin-
cess was the light of the wigwam, Neoskaleeta,
and her father the great chieftain to whom we all
pay allegiance, Black Hawk. You know what to
do, my braves.” . . :
A great cry went up from the interested braves,
and they stood erect. : eG
Their. weapons flashed in the slanting rays of
the dying sunlight, and they. pressed forward
eagerly, placing their weapons at Van Dorn’s
feet as they knelt before him, while a united ery
assailed hisears: . : :
“Ne ka qua bah!” (You may command us,”)
_ CHAPTER XIY.
- THE SUIT OF MAIL,
WHILE waiting for the.darkness to come on,
Frank Reade took the precaution to see that
everything about the machine was kept in trim.
““Now, gentlemen,” he said, as the shadows of
night began to gather around the Steam Horse,
“I’m going toshow you the way in which I pro-
pose to dress when I go driving into that bad
crowd. I had just a few tough experiences to
go through when I traveled over this ground
with.the Steam Man, and on more than one oc-
easion came near losing my hair because I was a
prominent mark for bullets and knives. I’m not
anything the less prominent now when driving
my horse, but I’m well guarded. Look,” '
fe lifted a beautiful suit of mail from that
wonderful, all-containing trunk of his, and held
it up to view. wit, : :
- It was a splendidly-made piece of work, every
link and part being finished with the greatest
eare, and they could see at a glanee that it was
bullet-proof from tgoptobottom,. .. >. +.
“In this,” said Frank, throwing off part of his
clothes and beginning to put on his steel attire,
“T can-defy 0 ry weapons, but I must con-
fess to you that some of the lately made rifles on
the improved plan send a bullet with such force
that I should rather prefer being absent to being
brave enough for a. test. Tomahawks, knives,
and ordinary bullets I laugh at, and a sword
would break against my body, . This, gentlemen,
is my driving suit.” :
‘By this time he had fully covered his body and
head with the neat-fitting suit of steel...
A very flexible and finely-polished head-piece
protected that .portion.from any stray: bullets,
and his blue eyes flashed through the cross-laced
bars of his metal visor. .: tan
He seemed invincible in this suit of mail, and
Barney looked proudly at his boy friend.
“It’s a raw gossoon he may be,” said the Irish-
man, * but this foine counthry will niver see the
fate of him.” . f& :
. “All aboard,” cried Frank,
is going to start.” oa. .
“Dwight and Barney hastily tumbled into the
wagon
t
“The procession
seized his reins... aeoc de
The eyes of the horse,'lit up by the flerce glare
of the magnesium coils, threw’a brilliant glow
far out upon the level plain, "
Frank pulled his whistle-cord, and the Steam
Horse sent forth his shrill note of deflance,
Then the rods were pulled and at the rate of
about fifteen miles an hour, just an easy jog for
the horse, away they went. '
The prairie stretched out before them as bright
and green as at noonday, for the magnesium
light dispelled the gloom of night for fully half a
mile ahead of their course, :
The night was clear and starlit, and a low
breeze just made it pleasant io dash over the level
roadway.
Everything was working finely.
-
Frank planted himself firmly on the seat and] pas
“ Barney?" ealled Frank, |,
_ ‘Here 1 am.” . ; eo :
“ Jump up here and take hold of these ribbons,
while I arrange everything for my surprise party.
Just keep him as he is, and look sharp enough to
stear clear of everything in the road.” at
*“T moind,” said Barney, taking the reins from
Frank’s hand. ~ mr - uae lt
‘The genius slowly got down from his perch,
hale
for. the suit of mail prevented him from making,
any very lively motions; and when he reached
the bottom of the wagon he picked up a small
china knob having a piece of wire attached to it.
This he handed to Jared Dwight. weit e
“Take this,” he said, “and when I give you
the word, I want you to pull hard on the knob.
You can'drop it just as soon as you pull.”
“All right,” said the avenger, and took the
knob in his hand. “ tt ui
Frank then passed his hand over the upper
portion of the frame of the body, as if reachin
or some particular parts, for his fingers reste
awhile at regular intervals; during, which time
Dwight vainly endeayored to see what he was
ng. no. eet
“All right,” said Frank, “Don’t forget your
pull when you hear the word.” > en
“You can trust me,” said Dwight, ©
“Now, tumble down, old boy,” said the youn
leader to Barney, as Ne climbed up into the sea
once more,‘ we will soon be in a. dangerous
locality.” - a
. Barney handed him the reins, and then dropped
over the seat to the bottom, by-the side of the
gloomy Dwight. ree i!
, Frank looked out ahead. . . :
In the far-reaching light of the brilliant magne,
sium coils he could ses the mixed band of prairie
banditti lying in a big half moon around the
mouth of the awful trap, into whichj they had
driven their prey. : 4
» Even as he had looked they began. moving, for
the bright light startled them greatly. ‘ .
Then Frank pulled his reins, and at aswift rate -
closed in upon them as they tumbled up from the
ground in suddenalarm. © .”' Pp
. A great united chorus of shouts, shricks, and
yells went up to the sky as the steed, with blazing
eyes, rushed over the plains with rapid strides.
“Pulll” cried Frank, <2. . “a
Jared Dwight heard the order, and he drew the.
china knob witha hard jerk. vee .
From a dozen different points of the huge iron
railing, running, around. the top of the body,
sprang up bright jets of chemical fire—red, blue,
green, orange and other colors—seeming to issue
from little tubes set at regular distances all
around therail,. =. - to tig
This variously-colored fire streamed up in a
brilliant series of columns, casting a wonderful
and beautiful light upon the [steel-clad form of
the boy-driver who guided the rapid. motions of.
the Steam Horse. , .
"Yells of terror from the red men, and shouts of.
wonder from the white ones, now filled the air,
and then something took place that Frank Reade
had not reckoned upon, * as Pegs
The bandits, terrified and: demoralized by the
flaming advent of Frank Reade and his Steam
Horse, turned from the brightly flaming wagon.
and dashed towards the mouth of the pass, os
The emigrants lay there on guard, for they were
ready to battle their lives away in defense of their ©
dear ones, and when the frightened mass of men-
ated on foot Aushed madly towards them,
rready weapons flashed bright! ight,
of Frank’s chemical fires. __. ghitly in the light,
A deep-toned voice, the voice of a man born to.
be a lea er, rang out clear and thrilling above the.
“ Fire!”
e o
‘
The thand | poke.
; e thundering voices of a score of rifles spoke
out sharply, and the answering yells of pain told :
that many a bullet had found a living mark.
Frank chased them up when-he saw the turn
affairs had taken,-and thus they were forced to
continue on in their desperate ¢harge up the
S. Ce :
The emigrants stood firm, and in loss than a
moment the two parti n t
obstinate crash, B “came ‘together wih an
mmediately the affair resolyed itself int
hand-to-hand fight of the most flerce ‘and des-
perate character, for the bandits were running
away fmm some Dobgoblin ofterror, and the tray-
6 plains we
with sone pans ere efending their dear ones
Frank shutofsteam. , | |; :
© horse went a few rods, furth :
stopped, and there stood like some vraitiemon:
att, looking upon the battle with his brilliant
A dark form leaped over. the blazing line of
lights that streamed up in parti-colored splendor
from the rail.