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Full Title
The Girl Cowboy Captain; or, The Skinners of the Carolina Swamps / by Jos. E. Badger, Jr.
Author
Badger, Jos. E. (Joseph Edward), 1848-1909.
Date Added
9 January 2014
Format
Journal
Language
English
Publish Date
1889-05-18
Publisher
New York : Beadle and Adams
Series
Beadle's Boys Library of Sport, Story, and Adventure > v. XXI, no. 266
Source
Dime Novel and Popular Literature
Alternate Title
Beadle's Boys Library of Sport, Story, and Adventure, v. XXI, no. 266, May 18, 1889. Skinners of the Carolina Swamps.
Topic
Dime novels > Specimens.
About
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Disclaimers
Disclaimer of Liability Disclaimer of Endorsement
OCR
“Gg The Girl Cowboy Captain...
dely built of logs, unsquared and still retain-
ing their bark. Some little attempt had been
made at cultivating the ground around, but
ith scant success.
wa Wonder if the rascal is at home? If so, ten
‘to one he’s drunk; and then he’s just fool enough
to shoot a friend for an enemy. Curse the mocn
—it makes the opening light as day!” ;
Though evidently not entirely at ease, Dixon
entered the little glade, gliding rapidly toward
the cabin, keeping close to the ground, and
availing himself of every bit of cover by the
way. fn this manner he gained the side of the
cabin unperceived—or at least undiscovered. —
** Hellow, there—Ham—Ham Winkle!” cried
the Skinner, in a clear yet not over-loud tone.
As he hearkened, a faint rustle within told
that his call had been heard, and he crouched
still lower among the weeds. He did not seem
to place the greatest confidence in the occupants
of this hut.
“Who calls—what do you want at this time
of night?” after a brief pause, demanded a high,
sbrill voice from within. .
‘““[’m a friend—I want to see Ham,” quickly
replied the Skinner. ;
‘‘Friend is a word much easier spoken than
lived up to, my dearie. Tell me your name, or
into this house ye don’t come this night, though
ye were twice as soft-spoken.” oo
“You know me, Mother Winkle—Will Dixon.
Come, open the door; you have nothing fo fear
from me.” ; .
“Ts all right, mother,” added_a quiet voice
close to the Skinner’s elbow. ‘‘It’s the cap’n,
and he’s alone. Drop the bar.”
Dixon sprung aside with an involuntary cry.
The little man at his side laughed noiselessly,
‘*Kasy, cap’n—don’t be skeered. I jist came
out to see who was my caller.”
‘* But how—the door—”
“A new trap o’ mine. A sort o’ underground
back-door. Butcomeinside. Onless [ mistake,
this visit means business.” .
‘*It does—it’s been a deuce of a night, this,
Ham!” .
‘He stands your friend yet, dearie,” chuckled
the shrill voice, as the speaker crouched over
the smoldering embers in the fireplace, trying
to light a rude lamp. ‘But he never works
without pay—the devil don’t. Hal ha!”
‘* Hold your hush, old woman; the cap’n’s bin
a good friend to us, in bygone times,” muttered
Ham Winkle.
* And will continue such, Ham, if you will
help me now.”
* More black work—more devil’s duty!”
** And more pay, too, mother; bright yellow
gold—eh, cap’n?”
“Yes, you know whether I am a niggardly
paymaster. But come—what have you in the
house?, I’m hungry and dry—inside. This
cursed swamp inud sends a chill to my very
bones.”
- “You did not come the Ridge way,” and
Winkle critically. eyed the Skinner, plastered
from head to foot with the black swamp mud.
‘‘T hadn’t time to. pick my road. I was nearer
death this night than ever before in my life.
Winkle, the band is broken up—cut to pieces!”
‘“What! not by the rangers?”
\
40
‘“No—by vur own neighbors, And who d'y’
think Jed them? One that you 3wore was dead
~that girl—Maria Shelby!” -
‘ o!”
“But Lsay yes. She buuted me like a fox.
I lost my weapons in the fight. She shot my
horse—the boys were whipped—so I took to the -
swamp. And that girl atter me, with the nose
of a bloodhound! I only escaped her by bur-
rowing in the mud, like a terrapin.”
“He! he! he! The bold captain. running
from a girl—”
‘Hold your peace, mother—or out ye go. Dd
’a’? done the same. That girl can match ’most
any man in handliw’ sword or pistol. Get some
grub, and set out the jug—lively, now.”
Grumbling to herself, the old hag obeyed tho
commends of ker son, while Dixon briefly ex-
plained the events of the night, as nearly as ho
knew them. Then lighting ber pipe, Mother
Winkle crouched down beside the rude fire-
place, holding her withered palms over the
glowing embers, her white hair hanging in long
locks about her wrinkled face. moe:
There existed a strong resemblance between
her and the man called Ham Winkle; enough
to proclaim them mother and son. Such, in
truth, they were.
Ham was small, light built, and active, seem-
ingly middle-aged, though his hair was black
and glossy, as yet unstreaked with - silver
threads. He was quiet and unobtrusive, save
when in liquor. Then, if crossed, he was a very
tiger, mad, venomous and full of treachery,
ready to plunge his long knife to the hilt in the
heart of his closest friend. In all, he was more
feared than loved by his friends,
Asa ‘‘swamp sucker ” he had but few equals
—no superiors. The forest and swamp was an
oven book to his eyes, Before the breaking of
peace, he followed the business of negro-kunter,
and made a good thing.of it, for himself, He
kept no hounds—he often boasted that Lis nose
was truer, his eyes keener, and his foot swifter
than those of the. best dog that ever whelped.
And his success went far toward proving: the
truth of this boast. 2
‘*The cards was stocked on you that time,
cap’n,” uttered Ham, wiping his lips after a
strong pull at the stone jug. ‘But it's your
deal now, ’nd you kin hev it your own Way,
It'll be easy to make up the boys you've lost,
‘Your name's good in these parts—"" -
‘He takes beauty—the men booty,” chuckled
the hag.
‘“* Best_mind your tongue, mother,” signifi-
cantly added Winkle; then turning to Dixon,
“‘But you said you had work for me, cap’n?” |
““Yes—T’ll give you a premium for every good
man you send me in the next two weeks. But
—hadn’t we better step outside? I’ve something
to say that—”
‘“No—I won't leave this,” and Ham patted
the capacious jug. ‘‘Besidez, we couldn't git
rid o’ her ef we tried, s’posin’ she wanted to
hear us, You needn’t fear—she kin hold close
tongue when thar’s need, ’nd has as good a head
as the best when thar’s devilment to plan,”.. .
‘“ Never fear—your enemies are mine, ca
tain, And we'll help you with that girl, Maria
Shelby.”