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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
More Details Permanent Link
Disclaimers
Disclaimer of Liability Disclaimer of Endorsement
OCR
16
of horror crept over his frame, and the hand
was involuntarily jerked back, the stiff grass
rustling and the bush shaking.
This was the sound that met the ears of the
Skinner chief, and caused him to interrupt. his
sentence with the exclamation recorded.
‘‘1t’s nothin——what’d ye hear?” uttered Ham,
after a moment's pause.
‘* Listen—you Inay have been followed. I
thougut I heard a footstep.”
old Ben, though so agitated, distinctly heard
their words, and knew that, were he discovered,
his chance of escape was very slim. And yet
it was almost as bad toremain where he was.
Why so?
Because he now knew that the grass beneath
was the nest of at least one serpent—for he had
felt it move beneath his hand, and even now
could hear a faint rustling, telling that the
snake was thoroughly awakened. _Scarce dar-
ing to breathe, he crouched there, his right hand
partially outstretched, afraid to lower it lest the
snake should dart out upon him, while, if he
remained motionless, it might quiet down, or
else glide away without molesting him.
It was a moment of horrible suspense, and
the cold drops started out upon his brow, and
his heart thumped with suffocating violence.
And with such peril threatening from two quar-
ters, there is little wonder that such should be
the case,
The rustling continued for a moment, then
suddenly ceased. And then before him suddenly
appeared two tiny star-like points of light—the
eyes of the snake, as he well knew.
Then he heard an angry skir-r-r, and the twin
rays were quickly elevated and drawn further
back, He knew that it was a rattlesnake—that
it was about to doal its fatal blow.
Still remembering the vicinity of his human
foes, Duncan swept his right hand around with
lightning-like rapidity, aiming a few inches be-
low the scintillating orbs. True to his inten-
tions, his fingers closed upon the cold, scaly
body, and with the same motion he flung the
snake far away through the darkness,
He scarcely knew whether the death-dealing
fangs had penetrated his flesh or not, for at
nearly the same moment a heavy body struck
full between his shoulders, and he was cast
head-first into the scrubby brush. With the in.
stinct of self-preservation, Duncan whirled over,
throwing bis arms upward and outward, his
sinewy fingers closing upon a hairy throat, even
as bis assailant secured a like grip,
With an almost superhuman exertion Dun-
can pressed back the man, and gained his knees;
but then with a groan, he relaxed his grip, A
heavy blow from behind felled him to the
ground, stunned and bleeding.
‘*Cuss the fool!” growled Winkle, tenderly
fingering his throat. ‘ He's stronger ’n a bull.”
‘*He’s dead now,” laughed Dixon, bending
over the Cowboy, ‘It’s old Duncan!”
CHAPTER VIII.
LOVE'S DARING,
THE guard stared and slightly lowered the
point of his bayonet. The challenged figure
paused, then a low voice came to the soldier's
ears, ~
-
The Girl Cowboy Captain,
“‘T mean no harm, friend soldier, Zam the
daughter of your oflicer’s friend—Miss Brand,”
The soldier saluted respectfully, and resumed
his position before the narrow door of the rude
log smoke-house. Through several tiny cracks
and chinks there shone a faint light, as though
the building was occupied.
‘* You are guarding the—the rebel prisoner?»
“Yes, ma’am,”
“I wish to speak afew words with him, if
possible,”
“Major Tracy is the one to make application
to, Miss Brand. I am only placed here as a
guard.”
_‘‘The major is busy writing—I do not like to
disturb him. Your permission will do—and
here is a trifle to show you that J know how to
be grateful to those who serve me,” and Agatha
deftly slipped several gold-pieces into the sol-
dier’s willing palm, . .
“You are so kind, lady, that I regret having
to refuse you, but were the major to hear of it,
he’d order me shot like a dog.”
“‘But he'll never hear of it, unless, indeed,
you tell him yourself. Think—there can be no
danger of discovery, 1 only ask a minute's
Speech with the prisoner. Then I will depart,
and no one will be the wiser for our bargain.”
“You promise to come the moment I call to
you?”
‘*T promise.”
*‘ And not to try to set the prisoner free? For
in that case, I should have to shoot him. He's
a spy, you know.”
‘You can oversee everything within, through
these cracks. Come—are you willing to earn
the mate to those pieces you hold?” :
‘* How can 1?”
“Open the door—give me ten minutes’ con-
versation with the man Within, and the pieces
are yours,” :
The soldier hesitated for a moment, but then
removed the stout bar, unhooking the chain as
he cautiously opened the slab door. Then, us
Agatha entered, the door close? behind her,
Kirke Arnold sat,
heap of refuse sacking, his gaze riveted upon
the face of bis visitor. He was strongly agi-
tated, but managed to contrul his emotions, at
least, from breaking into utterance,
‘‘Arnold—have you not one word for me?”
murmured Agatha, involuntarily outstretching
her arm toward him,”
7 Words for what?
terly retorted the young ranger.
“Kirke!” =» Young rang
that treacherous eur in scarlet speaking to you
of love? Can you deny that?”
‘*No—but I deny that he had any encourage-
ment from me, in either word or look. [ dis-
liked him then—now, I loathe, hate and despise
him. Kirke, believe me, Never, even in my
dreams, have I heen false to you. What I told
you on that day beneath the oak, I tell you now,
love you—you alone, wholly and faithfully.”
“*T believe you—I know you are not deceiving
me now, Agatha. Mine was the sin—in doubt-
ing you, even fora moment, °Tis more than I
| deserve—but can you—will you forgive me my
doubts, Agatha?” Pe
or rather reclined, upon a_
Of congratulation?” bit-
“Agatha! did I not bear—and see? Was not