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cuton my shoulder,”
‘& brilliant rocket, composi
'
‘FRANK, READE. AND. HIS. STEAM. HORSE. a
Ww
<
gave way after a third of their party had gone
own wounded, dead, or dying under the light-
ning blows, "- . . Me te
_ Now,” rang out;Harry Hale’s clear voice,
“charge for the stairs.” : ages
“Hurrah!” shouted his few followers, and
away they went. . ory
The outlaws had had quite enough of them, and
they Allowed them to leave without further op-
sition, - . . .
Up-stairs they rushed, and through’the hall-
Way to the door, .
“Tumble in,” cried Gorse, jumping to the seat,
and into the body tumbled the three men.
‘he man was wheeled, a good head of steam
let on, and away they went over the plains,
The headlight was burning up brightly now,
and the driver of the Steam Man could see quite
a distance ahead as he dashedalong. | *
Not a wore ‘as spoken until a mile or two had
been fleetly passed over, and then Charley pulled
in and allowed the man to come to a standstill on
the open plain. . :
“There!” ho ejaculated. .
“What's up?” anxiously inquired Halo,
“Stopping for ropairs,” said Charley.
“The man out oforder?” ~~
“No, the boy,” said Gorse. “I am the one
that wants repairing. I’ve gota neat little gash
across my right arm, a tickler in my ribs, a bruise
on the top of my head, a big bump on my fore-
head, and there’s some blood got inside my boots
from some place or other, and so I say I guess I
want repairing.” :
“Count me in, too,” said Barry Brown, who
was awfully gnashed. :
“A little court-plaster and a box of salve might
be of somo service to me,” said Hale. -*‘In fact,
I guess we all need repairing but Jack.”
“I’m right side up and round as a Mexican
dollar,” said the lanky stableman.. ‘‘ Trot out
your medicine chest, and I’ll doctor the party.”
Charley procured the medicine-chest for him,
and Jack immediately set to work upon his
friends.
»“ By George, that was just about as lively a lit-
Ue affair as I can remember having been in,”
_Baid Hale. “Tho air seemed full of knives.”
“And cuss-words,” said Charley, as Jack put
50me salve on a wound in the boy’s leg.
“Well, this winds up your services in the ca-
pacity of stableman,” said Hale to his follower.
E Jack, I must congratulate you on the success
with which you’ve carried out your ideas, We
now know, or rather you know and can soon tell
us, every portion of the enemy’s camp, and are
also fully satisfied that the counterfeiting is car-
on down-stairs. Just as soon as I can col-
lect my boys together we'll raid on the gang, and
either capture them or burn the building over
their heads. Here, put some ointment in this
“Look,” said. Barry Brown, pointing up to-
wards the sky. -
A few miles away, so it appeared to their eyes,
od of some material far
exceeding powder in intensity of light, was wind-
ing up gracefully in the air, making snake like
motions as it shot towards the sky.
“Hurrah! eureka! bully!” roared Charley
OTse. : .
“* What's the matter?” cried Hale. so
“That’s my Pomp,” said the delighted boy,
who feared that his faithful servant was gono
forever from him. ‘“ I make those little rockets
myself, and you can carry them in your pocket,
He sent that up as a signal to me. Will you go
_ With me?”
“ Willingly,” cried Hale.
“Then tumble in once more, andaway wo
fr ” eried Gorse, and with the well-patched men
the body ofthe wagon, he once more seized
the reins, and with a smashing gait the Steam
an tore away on his course. °
> CHAPTER XVIIL
‘YAN DOBN’S POWER.
Van Dozy was nota little gratified to find that
one ofthe few unselfish and good acts of his ill-
spent life had resulted in saving him from a hor-
ble fate, and placing a body of men under his
control, .
They, the
row, had sai
“You may command us.”
Van Dorn was well versed in Indian charac-
, and he knew that this was no empty offer.
There was no loud-mouthed, gas- usiness
about it, buta mi and sincere laying of their
Weapons at hia féet, to be taken up when he gave
the word, and to be used as he should sce fit to
Tho Indian ma:
y be troacherous in many re-
epocts, but he will dle in sup)
port of his peculiar
tba under the lead of Black Ar-
institution, and the pleased villain knew that
their superstitious faith secured them to him
much more strongly than money could have
done if their services had been hired. ;
He could speak their tongue quite well, and he
Tow advanced to the chieftain and took him by
e hand. t
* Brother,” ho said, ‘I have no desire to take
away any of our power, but asI am now sit-
uated, I ask that you willaid me ff you can.”
“‘ Brother,” returned Black Arrow, ‘‘I can but
repeat what my braves haye said to you from
their hearts.”
“Thanks,” returned Van Dorn, and then he
turned and waved his hand over the kneeling
braves, .
“Arise,” he said, solemnly; “I accept your
noble offer as itis given. The great chief paid
for the service I rendered him when he marked
mo with the tocem belt, for now in my hour of
need, I can call on faithful hearts for aid. ' I had
a white prisoner, a mere y, and. he was tiken
from me as you know by that wonderful black
vider when the buffaloes were fighting around me,
I must have that prisoner again, and without
your help I might not be able to recover him.
I
want to lead you on the trail of that black rider.” | In
‘We will follow,” was the response, as the
braves arose to their feet.
Billy Blossom came walking up tothe fortunate
Van Dorn.
» “Well, Mr. Hardscrabble,” he began, holding
out his hand, “I must say as how you hey com-
pletely knocked me silly with what you’ve did.
y the way, what in thunder is your name?
Hardscrabble is not exactly the cheese now.” |
“My name is Van Dorn.” .
“*T shall call you Van.”
_ “And Dll call you Bloss.”
“All right,” said the good-natured outlaw, as
theyshookhands, ‘‘Sobo it. Well, whatare you
going to do now that you’ve got command o’ the
‘eds .
“Start on tho trail of that cussed black imp,”
said Van Dorn, ‘‘His track must run within
halt a rile of here, and I can tell it from a huns
red.’
mt
“How?” .
“ iy the depth of the hoof-marks,” said the
eunning rascal, ‘Tho horse carried double
weight after he cut away from the buffaloes.”
* Right,” said Blossom, ‘‘ When do you make
a start?” . vo :
‘Tn half an hour or so; just as soon as we can
grub up, for I want daylight to follow the trail.”
“Well, suecess to you,” said Blossom. -
“ Ain’t you going with us?” .
‘Oh, no,” said the outlaw; ‘‘mo and my boys
must get back to where the wagons was left and
stand guard, These reds ought to be along, too,
for they get paid to do the work; but I know
enough about the cusses not to lose any time
talkin’ the matterover. They'll stand by younnd
that belt while they’ve got a drop of blood in their
veins. Ready, boys?” .
“Ready, ready,” was shouted by all, and the
horses were taken rapidly from their pickets.
** Good-bye, old Van,” said Blossom. ‘I'll see
you agin afore long. Look out for yerself und
don’t get within range of a weapon in the hands
o’ that black cuss,” . :
“Tl mind my eyes,” laughed the lucky villain.
“Good-bye, and remember that I feel grateful for
what you tried to do for me just as much as
though you had succeeded, and if ever I can do
anything for you, just name it. I shall handlea
pile of rocks in nbout three or four weeks, and in-
tend to hang out in bang-up style in Clarkville,
and then I want you to come and have a smash-
ing good time with me.”
“Tl bethere,” cried Blossom,
boy. Three abreast; wounded in the middle;
keep close and lope nose to flank. Ready, for-
Pees :
ward
And ingood style he led his troop away from
the grove. . :
Van Dorn turned to the waiting chieftain at his
side. -
“Well, Black Arrow?” > \
“Shall my braves eat before they shall seek for
the trail of the black rider?” asked the Indian
chieftain; and had Van Dorn so commanded, the
reds would have gone hungry in implicit obedi-
ence to his will.
“ Yos; let them eat and be quick,” answered
the white rascal. ‘* As soonas thoy are done we
willsiart. I do not want to take away the com-
mand of the braves from such an able chief as
Black Arrow. I shall rido with you, and teil you
what todo for mo, and you can give your orders,”
Tho redskin looked pleased.
“ Itis weil,” he said, turning away,
Less than half an hour sufficed for the Indians
to prepare andjeat a meal and then the thorough-
ly-refreshed mustangs wero remounted, and the
“So long, old t
trotted away from the grove, Van Dorn ang
ited friend leading. . Br a vos
“Which way do you think the trail of the black
rider lies?” asked the chief. : ’
“ the east,” said Van Dorn, “ That’s the
course he took, and as he was making time, and
trying Lo get away froma party of pursuers, it is
more than likely that he kept on straight ahead.
I shall know the trail when we come to it” _
They pushed on in silence jor some few min.
utes, and then Van Dorn said:
“ There are the tracks.” eo
Sure enough, there were tha deep imprints of
the horse’s hoofs, for his doubleJload had caused .
him to mark deeply. ‘
The chieftain pointed them cut to his braves.
** Follow,” he said.
And away they dashed on the trail of the
darkey’s stolen horse. :
the reader knows, tho riders of the stsllion
had not gone very far, and when two or three’
miles had been passed over, tho. cars of Black
Arrow and some of his men were assailed with
the sound of flrearms.
“Halt!” said the chieftain, .
The band pulled up. .
a moment came the steady crack of the
darkey’s revolver, for at that very moment he waa |
abouta mile away, standing up on thesaddle and
sending destruction into the midst of the Indians
who were pursuing the prospecting party. .
“That is the black rider,”said the chief. ‘On,*
*- How do you know?” asked Van Dorn,
“I know by the sharp crack of that big revol-
ver he carries,” said Black Arrow, in confident
tones. “Ah,” as they passod over a little swelt
in the prairie, ‘there he is, fighting against a
party. But the boy is not with him. Wo will halt
and watch him, for he cannot escape us now.”
They sat motionless on_their horses and saw
the fight and its result, and also saw Pomp’s safa
flight to the cluster of trees where tho white party
ay.
aro they friends or foes?” asked Van Dorn,
poipting to the redskins who were putting u9
their tents.
“Friends,” said Black Arrow. .
At that instant tho cry rang out from Ralpb
Radcliffo, and they. beheld the boy running over
tho grass pursued by three redskins, and alsosavw
Pomp dash to the rescue.
“Forward!” shouted Van Dorn, -
CHAPTER XIX.
KILLED BY THE STEAM HORSE,
Wuen Frank Reado fell from his seat to the
ground, stricken by the bullets fired at him by the
enemy, he lay perfectly motionless upon the hard
plain, and any one would have supposed hia
e :
Such, however, was not the caso, for he had
only been knocked off his balance in conse-
quence of the leaden_ bullets striking with their
terrifle force against his head-piece,
The well-made metal covering saved his life,
but it could not help to preserve his balance,
wn he went, and when he got down he
stopped there, for his wind went as soon as ho
struck the ground, and he lay there insensible.
Barney was fighting like a tiger just let
oose.
“* Hoorool”’ ho would shriek, meetingan Indian
warwhoop with a stentorian Irish cry not a whit
less shrill or powerful than the redskins. ‘What -
an illigant country, where they kape foighting
for the fun o’ the thing, do ye moind. Och, sure,
there’s not the bate of it in the wide, wide wor-
ruld, so there ain’t. uk at this, now; that’s
a Donegal clip I picked up from’ Patsy Gagea 3
e was the son-in-law of me eldest sister’s
father’s cousin, and that made him a distant re-
lation to myself, do ye moind; and, be the pow-
ers, he taught me this same bit of a twist that
they call the Donegal smasher. There, yo have
it agin; shure.”
Jared Dwight had gone to work in the savago
style.
Stabbing with the knife seemed more suited tu
his taste just then than did shooting with we
fstol, and so he allowed his revolver to remain
n his belt while he kept thrusting at his foes in,
the most cold-blooded and vindictive style.
He seldom drew his revolver, except to shcot
down one of the enemy who was getting tho best
of a friend, and then’ only when the pair were
altogether out of his reach. .
It seemed to bo no small gratification for him
to scour his knife on the ribs of his enemies, and
certainly ho had plenty of such fun. :
The besieged party had fought bravely for
heir wives and little ones, and their stron;*
lows had told fearfully even against the superioz
numbers,brought to bear against them.
\ They were led on by a young man of not mere
/
_
y