THE CANNIBAL CHIEF;

ry THE MOUNTAIN GUIDE.

BY PAUL J. PRESCOTT,
AUTHOR OF POCKET NOVEL No. 41, “‘ WILD NAT, THE TRAPPER.’

 

NEW YORK:
BEADLE AND ADAMS, PUBLISHERS,

98 WILLI4M STREET,

  
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1878, by
FRANK STARR & CO.,,

Im the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington,

 
 

 

THE CANNIBAL CHIEF ;

OR,

THE MOUNTAIN GUIDE,

CHAPTER Tf.

DEATH VALLEY. é
Before me, throbbing, bathed in lurid glow,
Stretched the desert, a hot, shifting sea,
While round about and high on every side
Rise the gray mountains, with their purple peake
Cleaving the sky.

A little way up the mountain range, on the north-east side
of Death Valley, California, stood three men.

The eldest was a man of apparently sixty years, of,rather
tall and commanding aspect, with dark-gray eyes and a pleas-
ing expression of countenance. A light palm-leaf hat rested
lightly on his dark hair, which was slightly streaked. with gray,
and a full beard covered his chin. He was leaning on his
rifle, gazing dejectedly into thevaliey below.

Near him stood a young man, dressed in a suit of dark-
gray cloth, including cap, and armed with a light double-
burreled rifle and a revolver. His dark hair was brushed
carelessly back, and clustered in half-rings about his foreliead,
and his clear, dark eyes, and firm, well-cut mouth, betokened
a soul of upright mold and manly daring.

The third person was a bright-looking mulatto about forty
years of age. :

The party consisted of Mr. Harris, Vernon Boyd, and
Cudjo, their servant. All three were gazing below, and upon
every face a look of dejection was stamped.

Two hundred feet below them, lay spread out the well-
known Death Valley. The wide, hot plain of glaring sand
looked desolate beyond power to describe under the rays of
the lurid July sun that hung like a red ball in the cloudless

_ ky, the intense, unbroken blue of which contrasted vividly

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10 THE CANNIBAL CHIEF; OR, -

with the white sandy plain below. The valley is about fifly
miles long, and thirty iniles wide. It is surrounded by mcun-
tains, so steep that no ordinary climber can ascend them, and
only at two points is ingress or egress possible. It is devoid
of water and vegetation, and destitute of all animal life.

Mr. Harris and his companions, ignorant of the country,
had wandered into the valley, and once in, found to their dis-
may that escape was impossible, In vain had they wandered
up and down the glaring sands in search of a place of egress,
in vain had they endeavored to climb the mountains; the fm
steep sides, baffled all attempts at ascent, and now, after four be |
days’ imprisonment in the mountain-guarded desert, they found
themselves, faint from hunger and exhaustion, and burning
with thirst, bewildered and utterly at a loss what to do.
The slender stock of provisions they had carried was ex-
hausted the second day of their stay in the valley, but hunger
was far easier to bear than the burning thirst that possessed
them. Frequently, in the distance, a treacherous mirage of
water appeared to them, but after long tramps in search of
it, it proved to be only a delusion. To add to the horror of
the place, on almost every hand the bleached and whitened
skeletons of men and beasts met their gaze, inditating that at

 

some previous period a large party of hapless beings had met |
death in this desolate plaee.* How soon the same fate would
be theirs—unless some unexpected way of escape appeared—

it was impossible to tell. Certainly, in their present cireum-  .
stances, to endure Jong was impossible. Already the “shadow
feared of man,” seemed to be near.

For a time silence reigned among the trio. Vernon Boyd’s
manly face wore a deep cloud. He was thinking of Mabel— z
his Mabel—shy, violet-eyed little Mabel, whose sunny face was oy

 

ever with him, sleeping or waking. Even now she was draw-
ing near him ; every day toox something from the distance
between them ; but he seemed doomed to perish in this minia- 5
ture desert, without the comfort of knowing that she would Hy
ever know his fate. As the thought that they might never
again meet came upon him, he bowed his head to hide the
expression of pain that passed over his face.

*In the year 1990, a party of eighty-seven persons, with a large number
of animals, wandered into the valley and perished. From this ciroum-
stance the valley took its name,

 

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THE MOUNTAIN GUIDE. 11.

Mr. Harris’ yoice aroused him from his painful reverie.

“Vernon, what_is it best to do, now? Your head is
younger than mine, and doubtless your brain js clearer, I
feel strangely weak.”

He leaned against a rugged bowlder, and wiped his face
with his handkerchief. He was pale and haggard; and his
eyes looked unnaturally brilliant. Suffering was producing
its legitimate effects.

“Tam completely at a loss what to do,” repliedtthe younger
| ‘man, with a deep sigh. “ We can only continue our wander-
ing, trusting Providence to open a way of escape.”

“ Fo’ de Lor’, dis chile is mi’ty tired o’ trampin’,” ejaculated
Cudjo. “ Ain’t.no use. anyhow. Fellar’s legs ’ll_ be wored
clean off, draggin’ up an’ down these infunnel mountains, an’
back an’ fo’th over dis yere hot sand, ’Pears like we’s des-
tined to be like the Wacderin’ Jew, walkin’ foreber and eber.”

“ T think,” said Vernon, “ that perhaps we had better keep
along the base of the mountains, to the right. I have hopes
of finding the place we entered by. Surely there must be an
opening somewhere.” — ‘

“ We can do no better,” said Mr. Harris, ‘“ May Heaven
guide us aright !”

He arose, and throwing his rifle across his arm, started
down the mountain, followed by Vernon and Cudjo, the latter
muttering and grumbling at every step. Reaching the valley,
they turned to the right, and traveled forward as rapidly as
their exhaustion would permit, The afternoon was already
half gone, and as the sun sunk lower a cooler atmosphere
took the place of the hot, stifling air of midday, rendering
Sa exercise less irksome. The hot sand was hard to travel in,
fit and the cloud of dust that continually rose from theix steps

. ¥endered breathing difficult. Still they pressed on, narrowly
watching the mountains for soufe sign of a pass, until at sun-
set, faint and exhausted, they paused at the foot of a gray senti-
nel that shot its hot peak far upward. toward the blue, as fur
from the object of their search as‘ever. Steep and inaccessible

r the mountains towered above them, their peaks gilded by the
. last rays of the sun, which for some time had been invisible to
i _ the travelers.

ag : “So far unsuccessful,” said Vernon, moodily, gazing of

 

 

 

 
12 THE CANNIBAL CHIEF; OR,

over the plain which was beginning to grow dusky. “It
seems that we are doomed to perish in this place. It will be
impossible to endure it much longer.”

He threw himself at full length on the ground to rest his
tired frame, which ached in every joint. The others followed
his example, and overcome with fatigue all were soon in a
deep sleep.

Vernon was the first to awake next morning. He started
up, confused’ and bewildered, the remembrance of a troubled
dream blending with his waking thoughts, rendéring him for’
a moment unconscious of his surroundings. He gazed around
for a moment, then as the memory of his situation returned
to him, he rose to his feet. The sun was not visible, though
daylight was flooding the valley with a faint rosy hue. His
companions were yet sleeping, but as he turned from contem-
plation of the gorgeous spectacle the rising sun. presented, as
it came up from behind the mountains, Cudjo stirred, and
with a muttered ejaculation, rose to a sitting posture.

“*Olar to gracious, if ’tain’t morning,” he exclaimed, with
a stare. “Don’t seem a minit sence I went to sleep. Be’n
eatin’ all night, in my dreams, an’ drinkin’ too, Golly! but
I had lots o’ good things, an’ no end o’ water. What shed
we do, Marse Vernon? Dis nig is jest ’cleatly gi’n out. Fo’
de Lord, I can’t stan’ it much longer.” :

“We must keep traveling as long as we can go,” replied
the young man, “and then, if we find no outlet, we can add
our bones to those we see lying on every side.”

“Dis yere is de infunnelest hole !” ejaculated Cudjo, gazing
up at the mountains. “’Pears like it war made ’specially for
a graveyard. Guess if Dennis was in here now he’d give up.
Bet he never see sich a place. If I ever git out won't I re-
late de constrordinary circuggstances ob dis yere adventure ?,

But dar’s no use talkin’ "bout gittin’ out. It’s my extinguished’

opinion, dat de ghos’s of dese yere bones, is in de valley yit.
I’s sich an infunnel place dat I don’ b’lieve even spooks can
zit out. Golly, how awfal!”

Cudjo shuddered at remembrance of the fearful sights which
had eyerywhere met their gaze since their entrance into the
valley, and looked over his shoulder, as if he expected to see
a grinning skeleton appear at any moment,

    

   
  

    
    

  

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THE MOUNTAIN GUIDE. 13

The sound of voices aroused Mr. Harris, and he opened his
eyes wearily.

“ Another day in this fearful place !” he exclaimed, with a
shudder. “ Unless we find a pass, of which I have no hope,
we shall soon lie beside the other hapless wretches who lie
around us, My poor children!”

He brushed the hot tears from his eyes and rose to his feet,
so weak and diazy, that for a moment he could scarcely
stand,

“We must keep searching,” he said, faintly. “We will
not give up until forced to do so.”

He picked up his rifle, and the trio moved in the direction
of yesterday’s journey. They had walked about two miles,
when Vernon discovered something a few feet up the moun-
tain side, which appeared like a spring. He lost no time in
ascending the hillside, only to be disappointed, for, on reach-
ing the object, it proved to be merely a trail of glistening
sand. While they still stood in despondent silence, they were
startled at hearing a voice cry out;

“ Hello, there, feller-sinners in this vale o’ tears !”

All started and looked in the direction whence the sound
seemed to proceed. No one was in sight. Cudjo’s com-
plexion changed to a creamy hue at sound of the voice, and
he rolled his eyes around in ludicrous fear,

“Tvs a ghos’! Oh, de Lor, it’s a ghos’!” he howled. “I
tole ye dar was spooks here, an’ dat ar’s one o’ ’em.”

Mr. Harris and Vernon continued to look, but saw nothing.
Again came the cry :

“ Hello, there !”

This time it was nearer, and ‘looking to the left they saw,
a little way above them, a queer-looking individual dressed in
a close-fitting pair of brown corduroy puntaloons, and a short,
gray jacket. A black felt hat, With a crown of extraordinary
dimensions, and no rim worth speaking of, covered his head,
and a pair of stout boots incased his feet. A rifle nearly as
long as himself rested on his shoulder, and a long knife stuck
in his belt. These, with a revolver, comprised his arms,

This strange specimen of the genus Homo came cantering
down the mountain at a breakneck pace, stopping beside the
travelers with a suddenness that nearly cost him a summersault,
    

THE CANNIBAL CHIEF; OR,

CHAPTER IT

OUTWARD BOUND.
“ The bare, blue desert of the sea flowed out.’"—A. SmirH.

Tne good ship Marguerite, Captain Stewart commanding #
was bound for the Pacific, and finally for San Francisco. It
was a soft spring morning, 185-, when she Jeft New York
harbor, and, with all sails set, caught the fresh breeze, and
stood away gallantly on her course.

Leaning over the taffrail, and watching the blue waves as
the ship plowed her way through them, were a couple of
ladies and a gentleman, who had taken passage fo San Fran-
cisco. They were all young, and from the close resemblance
one of the ladies bore to the gentleman, it was easy to™ see
they were brother and sister. Their names were Mabel and
Charles Harris, and they were on their way to California to
meet their father and Vernon Boyd, to whom Mabel was be-
trothed.

Charlie Harris was about twenty-one years of age, a slender,
blue-eyed fellow, with a pleasant face, and a frank, boyish
way that was eminently pleasing. His sister was three years
his junior, and closely resembled him, having the same sunny
blue eyes and pleasant face, Her closely-fitting sacque of
gray cloth revealed the supple grace of ‘her slender, willowy
form, and the fresh salt breeze brought out the pale roses on
her cheek to vivid carmine. She looked very pretty as she
stood leaning over the ship’s side, with the salt breeze blow-
ing her vail back, and tossing her brown curls about her face,
aud perhaps the thought that she was soon to meet her young
lover increased the happy look on her bright face, and gave
an added sparkle to her violet eyes.

The third member of the little group was @ slight, dark-
haired, hazel-eyed girl, of seventeen years, quite as pretty in
her sparkling brunette style as was the fairer Mabel. She
was an orphan cousin of the brother and sister, and fondly
cherished by them and her uncle Harris, whose fair-haired wife

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THE MOUNTAIN GUIDE, 15

had slept for many years beneath the green turf of the church-
yard. Kitty Macy was as dear to the’ good old man as a
daughter, which position it seemed likely she would one day
fill, though as yet there was no definite engagement between
herself and Chiirlie,

“A beautiful day for the beginning of our voyage, is ‘t
not ?” said Mabel, at last, breaking the silence. ‘ The sca
4s as calm as one could wish. How beautiful it appears in
he bright sunlight! Oh, I could never weary of the ocean !”

“ You will talk quite differently when we have been out a
few weeks,” remarked Charlie, turning to watch a sea-gull
that was’ skimming over the waves. “ Thé ocean is truly
beautiful looked at for the first time, but when viewed, day
after day, from the deck of a ship, it soon becomes: tiresome.”

“ Faith, an’ yer right enough there, Mister Charles, It’s me-
self that kin niver see the beauties ov the ocean. A great
grane waste it is, widout aither an edge or a bottom, an’ full
ov bastely whales an’ sharks that make no more ov a man

-thin I do of a peraty, bad ’cess to’em. An’ whin I think ov
the murtherin’ savages that live on the islands owmthe Pa-

cific, I confiss that I wish we war safe in Californy. Who
knows what the unchristian craythurs may do? Sure, an’
I’ve heard ov em taking a ship an’ murthering the crew, an’
iv’s not likely that the uncivilized bastes would have any re-
spict for us gintry that are passengers.”

Charlie turned at the sound of the voice, and listened to
the Irishman’s speech with a-smile. The man, who was
about twenty-eight years of age, had approached and was
leaning over the rail. He was one of the two servants, the
other of whom, a thick-set woman of about forty years, occu-
pied a seat near, whom they were taking with them to their
new home in the Far West.

“ Are you afraid of the islanders, Dennis ?” asked Kitty

“ Sorra a bit,” replied Dennis; “did yees ever see any one
that Dennis McKee was afeerd oy? But its not meself that
would like to be murthered by a divil ov a savage, savin’ yer
presence.”

“Never fear, Dennis,” said Charlie, “ we shall not come
to barm among them. Captain Stewart, I believe, only ine
tends to touch at a few of the islands.”

 
   

  

16 THE CANNIBAL CHIEF; OR,

“Do yon mean that we are to stop at the cannibals’ is-
Jands ?” asked the servant woman.

“No, Nancy, only at those that are in some degree
friendly.”

“Pm glad on’t,” she remarked. ‘ I don’t want to trust my-
self among ’em. ’T'wouldn’t surprise me any ef we got ship-
wrecked. I don‘. like the sea, and it’s only the love of you,
that I’ve lived with always, that would tempt me onto it.
Dear knows what you want to go to Californy for There’s
nobody there but Indians,”

Nancy was a kind soul, but rather given to-fretting.

“ Nobody ‘else,” said Dennis, with a sly twinkle; “ an’ Pd
be niver surprised, Nancy, if we woke up some fine mornin’
to find ourselves in the hands ov the craythurs. Och, but it’s
Dennis McKee that would show ’em his head wasn’t empty !”

Dennis was a ruddy-faced fellow, with twinkling blue eyes,
and a marvelous aptitude for boasting. . His good nature was
unlimited, and any adventure or incident that befell him was
made the most of afterward.

John Harris had gone to California a year previous to the

opening date of this story, accompanied by Vernon Boyd, and
taking with them a mulatto named Cudjo, the third, and by
no means the least important, of the three seryants. Cudjo’s
imagination was boundless, and the principal object of his
life was to keep ahead of his fellow-servant Dennis in the
way of stories. The rivalry was keen between them, and the
result was that there were wonderful tales related as the bona
fide experience of both.

They were fairly out on their voyage now, fairly out on the
~ green bosom of the Atlantic, and nobly did the Marguerite ride
the waves, skimming along as fleetly as the sea-gulls whose
white wings glanced over the water to landward.

 

i i
THE MOUNTAIN GUIDE. u

CHAPTER III.

THE BURNING SHIP.
ye “The winds and the waves of ocean,
7 i They rested quietly, ,
\ But I heard on the gale a sound of wail,
And tcars came to mine eye”

4 The Marguerite had rounded Cape Horn, and was. sailing
placidly over the blue waves of the Pacific, borne steadily
along by the almost invisible Trade*winds. They were new
sailing in about twenty degrees south Jatitude, one hundred and
ten degrees west longitude; and headed nearly due west; the
Georgian Islands being the first land Captain Stewart intended
to make.

\ The weather was calm and pleasant, and the wide waste
of waters looked peaceful enough under the hist rays of the
gun.

Mabel Harris sat oma rough bench on deck, listlessly watch-
ing the porpoises which wallowed in the blue waves, under
the ship’s side, and thinking how long it would be before she
should see her father and Vernon Boyd. The voyage had
been terribly monotonous, and she longed for its completion, °
The sun was hanging just above the water, a long bridge of
red gold stretching across the sea toward him, and a huge

                       

: bird sailed slowly away to southward. Every day it had
i] been the sam an—the sun—the porpoises
mm ; and sea-birds, until Mabel had grown ‘to hate them. How

joyful would be the day that saw their arrival at San Fran-
cisco, and witnessed the meeting of themselves and friends.
Joyful, indeed, but to Mabel it had never seemed so far dis-
tant. A vague sense of pending evil seemed to weigh on her
| spirits this evening, a feeling that some fearful peril was ap-
| proaiching. She strove to throw it off, thinking herself foolish
and visionary, but it returned with seven-fold force,
Captain Stewart approached, startling her from her gloomy
thoughts with a light remark.

 
   
  
 
    
   
  
 
   
 
   
   
 
  
 
    
   

  

18 ‘THE CANNIBAL CHIEF; OR,

“ Dreaming, Miss Harris?” he exclaimed, dropping into a
seat near her and removing his hat. “Your brother and
Miss Macy, there, are engaged in something more pleasant.” s
He nodded significantly toward the other end of the deck, |
where Charlie and Kitty were promenading, and apparently |
engaged in earnest conversation. |
“T see,” replied Mabel, with a faint smile. “Do you be-

heve in presentiments, Captain Stewart ?” she added. yas
“ Well, not exactly, Miss Harris. There may be something *o
of the kind, but Imever experienced any thing of it. Why {a |
do you ask ?”
“T feel strangely this evening,” she replied. “If I believed 4
in coming events casting their shadows before, I should think (

there was some great calamity hanging over us.”

“Nothing more fearful than a storm meraces, I think,”
said the captain, “ and I have no fears but the Marguerite will
brave it.”

‘  Mubel looked up in surprise. ‘A storm, Captain Stew-
art!” she exclaimed. “ Why, the sky is perfectly clear.”

“ Nevertheless, there are to my practiced eye, signs of a
storm. Do you see that bird, Miss Harris? It is a stormy
petrel. There is a tempest near, but it will not visit us be-
fore.to-morrow, I think,”

“Och, an’ be jabers,” ejaculated Dennis, who stood near,
“an’ a storrum w’uw’d ve a blissed relafe. It’s meself that is
mighty tired ov this slow livin’, Ivery day is jist the same,
an’ begorra, I’ve watched thim porpoises floundering under
the bows, till, by the bones of Fingal, I’ve nearly turned ter se
a sea-hog meself. Oh but it's meself that will be glad when
we raich Californy.” y

Night settled darkly over the sea. Mabel lay tossing from

-- side to side on her couch till a late hour, wooing the drowsy 4
god in vain. She could hear the waves breaking against the ‘
vyessel’s side with a steady monotonous sound, and from above
the tramp of the sailors, and an occasional shout, came to “
her ears like an indistinct murmur. But at last even these ae
faded away, and became inaudible in the land of sleep. 4
She was awakened suddenly, by hearing a loud, horrified
shout, and starting up, became conscious of a fearful confu-
sion above. Hurried tramping, frightened voices, and the

ma nanan
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be

eed

 

     
   
     
   
   
   
        
  

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THE MOUNTAIN GUIDE. 19

rattling of boxes, mingling with a steady roar that was not
the waves, reached her, and, trembling with indefinable ap-
prehension, she sprung up and began robing: In her haste
and trepidation she did. not perceive Kitty, until, in a calm
voice, she said, slowly:

“ Mabel, the ship is on fire.”

Mabel turned with a suppressed scream, her face perfectly
solorless, her eyes wide with horror,

“ Great heavens!” she exclaimed, grasping a chair for sup-
port, “can they save ler ?”

“T have not been above,” replied Kitty, “and I do not
know. Don’t look so frightened, Mabel ; be calm.”

“ Oh, Kitty, if the ship burns, what id become of us!”
she cried.

“ We must trust in Heaven,” wasthe calm reply. “I am
not afraid.”

Her perfect calmness restored Mabel to something like he:
ysual self, and though her face was still pale she spok
quietly.

“Let us go on deck; I wish to see how far the flames hav
progressed. Perhaps the fire can be extinguished.”

They reached the deck, but started back in horror at the
sight that met their eycs. The forward part of the ship wa’
amass of flames,

The wind was freshening, and the flames, ever and anon
caught by a passing gust, arose high in the air, lapping for-
ward their hungry tongues as if eager for prey. Outlined
against the dark night-sky, the lurid tongues leaping and
darting, presented an awful spectacle. Shining afar out on
the foum-crested waves, lighting up with a larid glare the
white faces of the sailors, and throwing ghostly, flickering
shadows among the shrouds, it was a scene calculated to in-
spire the boldest hearts with terror. “ With the dark sky
above them, the heaving, lurid waters, forever changing,
around them, it seemed more like some fearful dream than a
living reality. = °

But the hungry flames crept on; their warm breath was in
their faces as they stood watching, their pitiless fangs crept ~
nearer every moment. The nicn, inspired by fear and the ~
captain’s example, were working manlully to extinguish

 

  
   

  

20 THE CANNIBAL CHIEF; OR,
the fire, but Kitty knew, as she looked at it, that no human
power could save the Marguerite. She was doomed.

“ Mabel,” she said, turning to ber ceusin, whose fascinated
eyes were fastened on the flames, “the ship is lost. Let
us go below and prepare to leave ber. We shall soon have
to take to the boats.4

She turned to seek the cabin, and encountered the captain
and Charlie. :

“You here, ladies!” exclaimed the captain; “you had
better go below. We can not save the ship and must take
to the boats. Get ready as soon as possible.”

He turned with a shout to the men, and the girls ran down
to the cabin, leaving Charlie on deck. Nancy was there,
busily doing up a small bundle, her tongue flying as fast as

her hands, notwithstanding the fact that herself was the only

inmate of the room.

“This is what comes 0’ goin’ sailin’ off to Californy,” she
grumbled ; “’tain’t noways likely we'll ever see there, now.
There, Miss Mabel, put on your bonnet; you don’t want to
go bareheaded like an Ojibway. Injin.”

It was but a moment before .the girls, followed by Naney
carrying her bundlc, were on deck again. Short as had been
their absence, the flames had made frightful progress. The
ship was almost a complete mass of fire, and the heat was
intense. The boats, three in number, had been lowered, and
Captain Stewart was busily superintending the work of fur-
nishing them with water and provisions. Half the crew
still were working at the fire to keep it in check while pre-
parations were made for departure, but the intense heat was
fast driving them before it. Already the mainmast had fal-
‘en, and the ship’s timbers, dry and oily, burned like tinder,

‘he girls, standing by the hatchway, could hardly breathe for
the fierce heat, Mabel, faint and trembling, leaned against
Kitty, who, calm ‘and pale, stood 98 quietly and firmly as if
no danger menaced.

“To the boats!” cries. the captain, springing forward.
“ Haste, for your lives. S.eady there !”

The crew pressed forward, and the two long-boats were

speedily filled, with a mate in each. Captain Stewart drew
the girls forward, and Charlie helped Mabe) down into the

 

ea

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THE MOUNTAIN GUIDE. 21

third boat where Dennis was already standing. As he turned,
the hot flames blew into his very face.

“Quick!” cried the captain, but Kitty drew back and
pushed Nancy forward,

“Take her first!” she cried, “X ara not afraid.”

Charlie sprurg into the bos* elping the terrified Nancy
after him. The two other boats had cast off and were row:
ing away. “No cue remained on board save Kitty Macy and
Captain Stewart. Charlie sprung for Kitty.

“ Back !” shouted the captain, “ I will bring her.”

He turned, but, at that. moment, the flames, that were now
close upon them, caught by a fresh gust of wind, darted for-
ward, and caught in Kitty’s drapery. In an instant the light
fabric was a mass of flames!

“ Cast off!” cried the captain.

The boat, impelled by Dennis’ oar, drifted clear of the ship’s
side. They were alone on, the burning deck!

CHAPTER IV.
A STRANGE CHARACTER.

Tux eccentric-looking stranger trundled down the moun
tain side, describing strange circles in. the air with his arme
and legs in the process, and came to a sudden halt beside
Cudjo. That individual, fully impressed that he was neither
flesh nor blood, stood with trembimg limbs and starting eye
balls, awaiting whatever Fate had in store.

“ T reckon, now, that you're ém here, ain’t you?” began the
stranger, before any one had time to speak. ‘“ Yes, well, i
strikes me ’t you be/ And, as you’ye doubtless noticed, I'm
here too! Curious coincidence, ain’t it? Howsomever,
there’s a difference, if I know myeelf” ;

Me dropped the butt of his gan to the ground, and leaning
his arms upon it, looked at them with a broad smile. Ver-
20n’s first impression was that the man was insane, but a
glance into the good-humored though homely face, and clear
blue eyes, put that thonght to flight instantly.

 
  

22 THE CANNIBAL CHIEF; OR,

* Are you, too, a prisoner in the valley ?” asked Mr. Harris,
as the stranger finished speaking.

“ Precisely not, stranger,” was the reply. “Tm here, as
you see, but I can depart this vale of ‘sand as soon’s I please,
which I—” :

“You know the way out !” interrupted Mr. Harris. “Then
in Heaven’s name, lend the way! We are dying of thirst and
exhaustion. Oh, my children, shall I see you once more ?”

Klis voice trembled with emotion, and he leaned against the
rocks for support. Vernon’s face flushed as he thought of
Mabel, his betrothed, but he said, quietly :

“ Will you slow the way out of the valley ?”

“ Happy to do so, Mr.—

“ Boyd,” supplemented Vernon, as the stranger paused.

“Exactly. My name is Péltiah Jehoakim Brown.” He
Jooked inquiringly at Mr. Harris. Vernon quietly introduced
his companions, and then said :

“Tf you will act as our guide you shall be suitably re-
warded, and—

“Dang the reward!” burst out Mr. Brown, energetically.
“Who wants any? Not yours respectfully, anyway. Jest.
lift your traps, and we’l] be hoofing it.”

He shifted his rifle to his left shoulder, and started down
the mountain. Mr. Harris and Vernon followed, and Cudjo,
who had listened to every word Mr. Brown uttered, with open
mouth, started after them with a grunt.

“ Fo’ de Lord, I spozed it war a ghos’, ” he muttered. “ Pears
like he’s flesh an’ blood, arter all. “Golly, my legs don’ take
up good.”

Brown reached the valley considerably in advance of the
others, and stood for a moment awaiting them

“For what purpose are you in the valley, Mr. Brown ?”
asked Vernon. “I should think any one acquainted with it
would shun it as they would the plague.”

“ Jest stick a peg there,” ejaculated the stranger. “ It don’t
agree with my digestion to be called Mister Brown. Jest say
Pelt, if its convenient. As for my bein’ in the valley—I was
here ’cause I didn’t have any thing perticular to do, an’ a

feller might as well have yariety in scenery ye know, when
they’re travelin’. I was pokin’ around, an’, takin’a yiew

    

   

 
i

 

 

    

THE MOUNTAIN GUIDE, 23

through this pocket-glass, I happened to see you.  Immedi-
atcly thereupon, you understand, it struck me with the force of
a mule’s hoof that you couldn't git out, Of course I started,
an’ here Ibe! It’s ’bout as iucky 4 thing as ever happened
for you that I see’d you, for you might hunt from July till
eternity an’ not find the way out. What did you come here
for ?”

“We were traveling about to see the country, and thought
we would explore the valley,” replied Vernon,

“ Msactly,” said Brown. “It was curiosity that brought
you here. Curiosity’s a great thing. It gits folks into the
most amazin’ diffikilties, an’ havin’ brought them there it don’t
desert em. I’ve noticed that! They always havea curiosity
to find a way out o’ the trouble, equal to that that led ’em
into it.” :

“ Golly, it’s gittin’ warm,” said Cudje, “ How long’ll it take
to git out o’ dis yere hole ?”

“Four or five hours,” said Brown. “ You hain’t got
iny hosses, have ye ?”

“No,” replied Mr. Harris : “ we.are on foot.” a

“That's precisely the dezeeze I’m afflicted with,” remarked
the guide, taking a huge chew of tobacco. ‘ Now, I can’t
apresheate hosses ; they’re very well in their way, I suppose,
Wut that way ain’t my way. I always hoof it wherever [ go,
n occasions, in my travelin’s, there’s a dunkerookus gits after
me, but I can jest git up and dust, if its needful, an’ I hain’t
vp to this present time been swallowed by any thing.”

The eccentric hunter shifted his rifle to the other shoulder
and increased his gait to such a mem that the exhausted trav
elers found some difficulty in keeping up with him. The sun
was now well up in the heavens, and its cloudless beams were
seorchingly hot. Wearily the tired. party traveled on, and
under Brown's guidance found themselves, late in the afler-
noon, once mere out of the fearful valley of death.

“There’s a spring lereabouts, somewhere,” said the hunter,
puusing near a group of trees, and looking about him, ‘Aa’
ivs most awful:good water, too. Where on earth—oh, here
‘tis 2”

Ie stepped briskly forward, and stopped at the fuot of a
large tree from under the roots of which a clear spring of

  
24 THE CANNIBAL CHIEF; OR,

cold water gurgled. Clear and sparkling it bubbled over its
gravelly bed, and it required considerable self-control to enable
the thirsty party to drink it in moderation.

Having in some degree satisfied his thirst, Cudjo threw i
himself on the ground at a little distance from the spring, and I
with a tremendous yawn composed himself fora nap. He ;
had searcely done so when a sharp crackling of bushes aroused
him, and the next instant a beautiful doe sprung into view.
Seeing him she stopped, and gazing a moment threw up her

_ head and bounded away. Cudjo scrambled to his feet, and
seizing his musket, raised it, and taking a hasty aim, fired.

The result was unexpected and extraordinary. The gun
recoiled, and, to his unbounded astonishment and indignation,
the gunner found himself lying on his back in a neighboring .
thicket, feeling considerably the worse for his performance. ‘
Scrambling to his feet with # howl, the darky stood for a mo-
ment looking about in a bewildered way, and then, fully com-
prehending the situation, drew himself up with a look of in-
dignation sublime to behold.

“ By de Herculibus!” he ejaculated, rubbing his shoulder
disconsolately. “ Whoever’d ’a thought dat infunnel weepon
‘ud ’a’ cunducted itself in sich a way? Dat ar’ musket is in 1?
gineral a well-behaved member 0’ society an’ ain’t given to AS.
kickin’. It’s my ’pinion dat ar’s been tampered wid. Who's
a-been a-meddlin’ wid dat fire-arm? Who’s been a-doin’ it,
I say ?” is

“Hatha!ho! ho!” ejaculated Peltiah Brown, doubling up
in an agony of sideache. “Oh, I shall go off !”

“Humph,” grunted the offended Cudjo. “I'd like to know
what youw’s a-laffin’ at, Mister Pelt. Go off, indeed! TI sh’u’d
think dey had been ’bout ’nough goin’ off done, now. One
ob my teeth is jest a-hangin’ in, an’ dat ar shoulder is
knocked into a jelly; an’ you a laffin’! Shows your brough-
ten up!” f

And, with that indignant outburst, Cudjo started limpingly ,
along to see the result of hisshot, To his joy he found that.
he had killed the deer. This was the first game they had met, __,
and the half-starved hunters lost no time in skinning and_ bE
getting it ready to cook. joan

“Clar de way,” exclaimed Cudjo, bustling about to kindle

 

= Ve

 
THE MOUNTAIN GUIDE. 25

a fire, and forgetting his bruised shoulder in his excitement,
“ Dis chile ’ull cook dat ar’ meat hisself indiwiduly. I kin
beat anybody on the briilin’ ob meat. Gimme a slice dar,
Mister Brown!’

Peltiah was busily cutting off pieces of meat, and his pre-
parations for the meal were such that Cudjo stared in aston-
ishment.

“F'o’ de’ Lor’ !” he ejaculated, “ Mister Brown, I'd like to
know if yon Vink we’s pigs? Dar you’ve got meat ’nough
for ten men.”

“ Keep cool,” admonished the hunter. ‘“ There’s: four of
us, you observe, an’ we’re all hungry. I’m jest as near starved
as I can be and hang together. -Here, put this, chunk to
cook.”

Cudjo personally superintended the cooking, and in a short
time a large quantity was broiled.

“Come on, gen’lemen !” said the cook, flourishing the “ spit”
triumphantly, “ here’s de fust-rate article ob American venison
a-waitin’ to be eated. It’s cooked in a way dat conflects a
gra’ deal ob honor on me, as the prime mover of the affair,
too, Pll jes’ tell you!” :

The half-famished men were noways backward in ,coming
to the banquet, and were speedily grouped about the fire dis-
cussing the savory venison-with keen relish, :

“Now this here is what I call good livin’,” remarked the
guide, taking up a pound-and-a-half slice of meat and making
away with it with marvelous rapidity. “If there’s any
thing I hate it’s goin’ hungry. I don’t b’lieve I could live
more than two or three weeks without victuals. I tried it
once, when circumstances wasn’t overly good for gettin’ food,
un Ym blest if it seemed to agree with me! It’s mostly queer
tue way folks eat. Once you get in the habit an’ you can’t
stop it. ’Tain’t like— Holy Moses! What's up ?”

The hunter stopped suddenly, and dropping the meat he
held, gazed at Cudjo in cpen-mouthed astonishment. That.
unfortunate mortal had sprung to his feet with a howl of
agony, and with both hands pressed on his stomach, and a
look of anguish depicted ou his face, was dancing, half bent,
about the place, first on one foot and then the other, and ex-
evuting the most marvelous feats in stepping “on the light

?

 
  

/b6 THE CANNIBAL CHIEF; OR,

fantastic toe.” In his haste to satisfy his hunger he had |
swallowed a piece of hot meat, but, as is ever the case, retri- ‘|
bution was speedy. With tears in his eyes the unhappy
darky hopped about, unheeding the mirth of his companions, '
whose sense of the ludicrous was not proof against the pic- ;
ture he presented, until, suddenly, a bright thought struck him, |
Stopping his impromptu hornpipe with a pour he darted for-
ward to-the spring, and, dropping, to the shouidl} bent his s
« head to:drink, | Haste and tears combined blinded his eyes, iy ;
and he lowered his head so rapidly that his nose came in
contact with the bed of the spring. He got a swallow of |
water, but, nearly strangled, he*came suddenly to an upright
position with another howl. ‘4s

“Bless de Lor’ !” he ejaculated, sputtering and blowing like
a porpoise. “I stuck my bill too far into de water, I—
hew! Oh, golly, but dat ar’ meat was hot !”

Having cleared his throat, the unlucky African came back |
and sat down to finish his supper. 2,

“Have you been in California long ?? asked Vernon, ac-
dressing their guide.

“Come here in °45,” replied the hunter, “an’ I calculate to
remain here for an indefinite and undecided period of time.

ienty of good game here, an’ up in the mountains somethin’
better.” :

“ Ho!” exclaimed Cudjo, “ what’s better’n good game? Vd
just like— O-l-e Ber-ginny !”

He stopped in undisguised astonishment, and stared at the
hunter with his mouth wide open. That eccentric individual -
held another pound-and-a-half slice of meat, which was dis-
appearing at a rate that threatened to choke him. For a mo-
ment Cudjo gazed at him and the rapidly diminishing venison,
and then, in a melancholy tone, inquired :

“Mr. Brown, ain’t you afeerd you'll oberload yer oham-
mick ?”

 

rd
“Nary danger of it,” replied Peltiah, briskly, swallowing |
the last mouthful and attacking another piece. “I always 5 1
eat pacceracsls, as you see. I’ve a proper respect for the rules }
of dojestion.” > &
“Don’t suthin’ a® you, Mr. ‘Brown t 2” continued Cudjo, j

 
   

mournfully, lookixg wistfully at the meat.

 
 

 

  

THE MOUNTAIN GUIDE. 27

“B'lieve there d-does,”’ stuttered the guide, with his mouth
full. “I know I’m allfired hungry !”

“ Golly ! said Cudjo, “ we won't hab ’nough left for break-
fas’.”

“ Brown,” interrupted Vernon, “ what is it up in the moun-
tains of more value than game ?”

“Somethin? worth while. Ivs— Hello !”

He sprung to his feet and looked around for his rifle. To
his dismay he found he had left it several rods distant, lean-
ing against a tree. Startled by his look, Vernon also sprung
up, and looking in the direction the hunter pointed, “saw
several hideously-painted Indians emerging from the. thicket
near at hand and advancing toward them. He had only
time for a hurried glance, when the foremost Indian raised
his gun, and aiming it directly at his head, pulled the trigger.

 

CHAPTER V.

THE ISLAND.

“The night grows wondrous dark ; deep-swelling gusts
And sultry stillness take the rule by turn,
While o’er our heads the black and heavy clouds
Roll slowly on. This surely bodes a storm,”—Bamure,

As the light boat containing the. Harris party drifted away
from the side of the burning Marguerite, leaving the captain
and Kitty Macy on the deck, a wild cry went up from the
other boats. Mabel Harris, petrified with horror at sight of
Kitty in flames, uttered a faint cry, and sunk down fainting.

Unheeding every thing, Captain Stewart caught up a large
thick mantle dropped by Nancy, and hastily throwing it
around Kitty, clasped her in his arms and sprung into the
sea.

In an instant he reappeared at the surface, holding the
frightened girl in the arms, and was helped into the boat.
The only portion of Kitty’s clothing which had taken fire
was a tain gauze mantle, and she was consequently unin-
fared. .

 

  
  

28 THE CANNIBAL CHIEF; OR,

“Row away !” shouted the captain, himself seizing an oar,
“The ship will sink in a moment and we shall be drawn
- down with her if we remain here,” ”

A few moments sufficed to carry them beyond danger, and.
they had scarcely attained a safe distance when, with a lurch,

the Marguerite went down. :

“Thank God we are safe!’ said Captain Stewart. “It
was a narrow escape. Are you injured, Miss Macy ?”

“Not at all,” replied Kitty, wringing the water from her
dress-skirt. ‘“ My hair is singed a little, but that is nothing.
Thanks to your promptness, Captain Stewart, I am not
harmed.”

“How horrible!” murmtred Mabel, who under Nancy’s
skillful hands had recovered her consciousness. “Oh, Kitty,
I thought you were gone !”

Now that the waters were no longer illuminated by the
light from the burning ship, a heavy darkness, which was
momentarily growing deeper, settled over them. The wind
was increasing, and dark clouds went scudding swiftly through
the hollow depths of the dusky night-sky.

“T am apprehensive of a storm,” said Charlie, anxiously
viewing the growing indications of a tempest. “If there

rg

should be one, unless we can sight a ship before that, we are

lost.”

“Not much hopes of running on to a ship before that
storm will be upon us,” muttered the captain. “ We might
sail here weeks and months, if it were possible to exist that
long, and not happen to see a single ship. Our position is a
desperate one.” : ;

“Captain Stewart,” said Kitty, “do you think the storm
is likely to be a severe one ?”

“ Can’t say,” replied the old tar, dubiously ; “ looks as if it
might be, and a long one, too.”

“ Begorra, Miss Kitty,” cried Dennis, who was never
daunted, let thé situation be what it might, “here’s an’ agra-
ible little incidant to break the dnilness. Ye’ve jumped
overboard, an’ it’s ividint that ye’ve-got plinty ov advinture
ahead. 1s a mighty foine little sail we're likely to have, an’
Vd be sorra a bit surprised if we went to the bottom ov the
séty. Faith, an’ the Pacific Ovean ’ud be a grand monnment,

t
/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
   
 
  
   

 

     
   
   
  
 

 

   

é
THE MOUNTAIN GUIDE. 29

 

but a fellow would’‘have to go widout an ipitaff.. By the
bones of Fingal! but it’s a fine braze this same is getting to
be !”

The wind rapidly increased, and the darkness became im-
penctrable. The three boats endeavored to keep together, |
but this, in the darkuess and storm, was a well-nigh hopeless
task. The violence of the waves was such that it seemed
every moment that the boats would be ingulfed.

Through the remainder of the night the storm continued
without increasing in severity. Had it done so, no power
could have saved the shipwrecked wanderers in that frail
boat. As it was, it seemed impossible that it could escape
being dashed to pieces. But on, and on, they drifted, through
the darkness and storm, without knowing whither they were
going, or in what direction.

By and by the faint, gray dawn began stealing over the
waters. With its first light, Charles Harris stood up and
gazed around in search of the other boats. Neither of them
was visible. During the night they had separated, and now,
far as the eye could reach, appeared only the boiling, surging
waters, bounded by the low, gray sky. The wind was be-
ginning to blow more violently, and the waves momentarily
increased in size. To the east rose a heavy dark cloud, torn
by forked tongues of flame, and the low, deep-booming thun-
der added its voice to that of the deep.

“Tt’s all over with us when that squall strikes us,” said
Captain Stewart, looking at the angry clouds: “ This boat
will not bear any added strain. We've drifted about allnight,
only to go to the bottom in the morning, it seems.”

“ Captain Stewart,” exclaimed Kitty, in a hurried, tone, #1
think we may yet be saved. If my eyes do not not deceive
me, there is land !”

She stood up, steadying herself by placing one hand on
Nancy’s shoulder, and looked with eager eyes across the surg-
ing waters. Every eye followed the direction of hers, and a
glad cry broke simultaneously from the lips of all.

“Tt a land!” exclaimed Charlie, excitedly, “and not far
distant either. .I rae we may reach it before the force of
the wind strikes us.”

“Doubtful,” said Captain Stewart, with a ain at the

7

   
  
 

 

  
80 THE CANNIBAL CHIEF; OR,

/

rapidly fearing cloud; “but, it’s our only chance, so pull
with a) will.”

Kitty sunk down beside Mabel, aud the two girls sat with
clasped hands gazing toward the geal of safety they were
nearing. It was a long, low island, ‘stich tropical vegeta-
tion looking meager and desolate viewed in the dim gray
dawn and furious storm. Above, the livid blue lightning shot
its fiery tongues, while the deep thunder rolled unceasingly.

Through the«seething, foam-crested waves, the little boat
shot forward, propelled by the strong arms of the men, ana
the force of the driving wind, which every instant appeared
to increase in fury. Fora time it seemed doubtful if they
would reach the harbor in safety, but at Jast the boat shot into
a little cove formed by rocks, and was hurriedly secured.

It was not a moment too soon. The last member nf the
party had barely left the boat, when, with a fearful rush, the
mighty wind surged over the face of the deep, sending the
waves far up on the beach, and bowing like reeds the slender
siems of the graceful palms that covered the island. The
women cowered before it in terror, crouching close beside the
rocks to escape its fury.

“ This way,” shouted Charlie, his voice barely distinguish-
able above the roar of the tempest; “behind these rocks we
shall be comparatively sheltered.”

It was a tiny, niche-like grotto, barely large enough to
enable them all to enter, but, when inside, they were sheltered
from the fury of the storm in a great degree. .

“ Begorra,” said Dennis, creeping close to the wall, “this
same is a part of the intertainmint not mintioned in the bilh
Whin I agrade to go to Californy an’ be gardener, IJ didn’t
promise ter be-shipwrecked an’ cast away on a desert island ;

‘an’ by the same towken, how do we know it ¢s a desert
island? Its about.as like to be kivered with, bla’guards ov
savages as iny thing else.”

Charlie started.

“Dennis may be right,” he said, hurriedly. ‘This is | evi-
dently one of the Paumoto Islands, and is quite likely to be
inhabited. If so, it may be by cannibals.” ©,

Mabel uttered a cry.of horror. “Cannibals! Oh, heaven,

“what shall we do {”

 
  

y

 

 

THE MOUNTAIN SUIDE 81

“ Wait until we see if it is inhabited,” said Kitty, “TI
shall not meet trouble half-way.”

“J wish I had your strength of mind, Kitty,” said Mabel,
faintly. “It is impossible for me to be courageous. I feel
sick at heart.”

“By the bones ov Fingal!” ejaculated the Irishman, “ it’s
meself that ’:1 kick up some musses wid thim before Ill be
skinned an’ ’aten. They ’ll find me a tough morsel to digest,
the h’athen.”

“Tt may be an uninhabited island,” said Captain Stewart,
“though, from its size, and the fact that there is another one
near, I should think it might have inhabitants.”

“Phere is no sign of human habitation,” remarked Charlie,
“but as the island apparently is several miles long, there might
be a whole village beyond those hills. We must trust to
Providence.” :

“Tt’s about starved Iam, onyway,” said Dennis, ‘an’ we've
niver a thing to ate, barrin’ thém sea-biscuits that are soaked
wid wather till they’re like paste. Purty vittals it isfor dacent
folks to ate, an’ I could aisily ate the whoie quarter ov an
iliphant meself, ’m that hungry. Unless I can have some-
thin’ in jist a holy minit, I shill be reduced to a skileton, be
jabers.”

“ We shall have to eat the biscuit and be satisfied,” said
Charlie.  “* We shall: doubtless be glad to get as good as thesy
even, before we reach civilization, if that happy day ever
dawns. No doubt there is fruit on the island, but of course
we can’t search for it in this storm.”

“Talk about civilization,” grumbled Nancy, who sat clasp-
ing her bundle on her knees, “we never ’ll see it, depend
on’t. This all comes of gaddin’ off somewhere, when you're
well off where you be. There don’t no sensible folks do
aothiw of the kind.” .

After delivering this douhle-shotted negative, Nancy subsi-
ded, and munched her biscuit in melancholy silence.

Throughout tle day the storm continued, and the party re-
mained in the grotto. During the following night the wind
and waves 8ubsided, and morning dawned brightly on a com-
paratively calm sea.

With the first light of day, the irrepressible Dennis was

 

  
83 THE CANNIBAL CHIEF; OR,

up, and out on an exploring expedition, leaving his tired
companions still asleep.

Wandering around he soon found some orange trees loaded
with fruit, and lost no time in satisfying his appetite and _fill-
ing his hat to take to the grotto. Haring done this he paused
to look about him. Behind him arose a low hill, crowned
with feathery palms and gracefi.) orange trees, intermingled
‘with clinging vines covered with bright flowers. Below, the
ground slanted gradually to the white, sandy beach, where a
number of turtle were disporting themselves in the sunshine,
These latter drew the Irishman’s attention at once.

“Faith an’ I'll have wan ov thim, be jabers,” he ejaculated,
“Tt’s illegant ’ating they are, an’ thim musky sea-biscuits are
enough to pizon a mon, intirely. It sets me tathe on edge to
jist think ov thim. Now wan of thim beauties down there
w’u’d make an illegant soup, only we’ve niver a kittle to cook
it in. But onyhow we can ate it.”

The Irishman cautiously approached the beach, and plac-
ing his hat on the ground provided himself with a stout club
and advanced boldly to the attack.

The turtles, alarmed at his approach, scrambled hastily
away toward the water. All gaine¢é it but one, which the
Hibernian succeeded in heading off, and, rushing up to it,
struck a vigorous blow on its shelly back with hisclub. The
only heed the turtle gave to.this demonstration was to quicken
ita speed, at which Dennis concluded to change the mode of
attack, when he skillfully turned the creature over on its back.
Having secured his game, he took a strong string from his
pocket, tied it about the neck of the tortoise, and, taking this
in one hand and his hat in the other, started toward the
grotto. He had taken but a few steps forward when he
caught a glimpse of a passing figure, and, looking up, discov-
ered a swarthy savage standing a few yards distanth

“ Howly Moses!” There's something with legs on !” he ejacus
lated, in astonishment, “ Arrah, there, ye smutty-faced thafe
of the worruld; jest ye come here, an’, be the powers, I’)
make a dint in yer frontispace wid me bit ov.a stick !”

The islander, instead of accepting this valiant challenge,
took to his heels, and in an instant had vanished in the
woods.

 
THE MOUNTAIN GUIDE,

“$o the bastely little bog ¢# inhabited,” scliloquized the
Irishman, as he started on a run toward the grotto, dragging
the turtle behind him, “ an’ Pll warrant the haythens will be
down on us, like a hodfull of bricks, before we can wink.
Faith an’ meself will fly to warn thim of the parils before us,”

He cantered down the slope toward the grotto, halting be-
fore the awakening inmates with a grand flourish that scattered
his oranges in every direction.

“Git up here, every sowl ov ye, an’ prepare to be skinned,
hung, quartered and ’aten! Begorra, an’ we’ve fell among
thaves. This bastely island is jist crawlin’ wid savages, an’
in fifteen minits from now we'll be prisoners.”

The different members of the party stared in different de-
grees of bewilderment at the beginning of Dennis’ address;
at its Close all understood the importance of the news he con-
veyed. Charles Harris rose up, pale and resolute.

“What have you seen?’ he demanded.

“ Savages, thick as the sands ov the say-shore,” responded
Dennis. “Be jabers an’ isn’t it meself that give somé ov thim
sore heads? But ite was, that same.”

“ Dennis,” said Mabel, suspiciously, “I’m ufraid you are not
telling the truth.”

“ Arrah now an’ Iam,” said Dennis. “It’s jist possible
that I stretched it a waa bit, but, by the Howly Vargin, I saan
a big savage down there, not a rod from me. Le run away
in a twinklin’, an’ I come strgight here. T\ ats the blissed
thruth.”

“Tf this is true, had we not better take to» the boat and
leave at once?” asked Charlie, impressed by the earnestness
of the Irishman’s manner.

“ Perhaps they are friendly,” suggested Kitty. .

“ Not likely,” said Captain Stewart ; “ the islanders to tne
eastward of the Paumotos haven’t a very enviable reputation,
I think we had better leave at once. Out provisions, such ag
they are, will,last a number of days. Meantime we may sight
a ship.” ; :

Instant preparation was made for departure. The water
and biscuits were placed in the boat, and Charlie was in the
act of gathering the scattered oranges, when an exclamation
from Kitty arrested him,

 
34 THE CANNIBAL CHIEF; OR,

Looking up he discovered that the brow of the nearest hil,
was covered with dusky forms. The remainder of the party
made the same discovery at once.

“We are seen,” said Charlie, “and must await whatever
fate has in store for us. They may be friendly.”

Evén as he spoke, with hostile demonstrations, the islanders
surrounded them. Resistance against such odds were worse
“han useless. They were prisoners.

CHAPTER VI.

TRAPPED.

Hark!
Among the vales and mountains of the earth
There is a deep, portentous murmuring,
Like the swift rush of subterranean streams.’’
>

ForronatTe.y for Vernon Boyd, when the Indian pulled
the trigger, the gun missed fire. Otherwise he could not have
escaped. ;

Before the savage could successfully renew the attack,
Brown had recovered his rifle, and a wild hand-to-hand con-
flict ensued. The Indians numbered only seven, and in a
short time, victory to the white men was assured, the fight re-
sulting in the death of two savages, and the remainder
took to their heels and vanished in an instant.

“Pretty well done,” said Vernon, quietly surveying the
field ; “ we are the victors.”

“ Precisely thus,” remarked Brown, “ but these ain’t all the
red-skins there is "bout here, no, not by a jugful! This bein’
a well ’stablished fact, what follers? Why, that we must
hoof it to more congenial climes.” :

“ Perhaps we had better start at once,” said Mr. Harris,

“Tn course! Tl shoulder this meat, ’cause we may not
want to use our shootin’-irons, an’ it won't do to let the ins
ner mah go ’thout refreshment. Fall in! Forward all !”

“Which way had we better go?” aske: Vernon.

 
THE MOUNTAIN GUIDE.

“ North-west, in my humble opinion,” replied Peltiah.
“ After goin’ fur enough we'll find a pleasanter country than
this. I’ve got 4 cave up in the mountains, what 7 a cave, J
can tell you! I’ve exercised the right of squatter sovereignty
an’ pre-empted it for my individ’al benefit. Found it in a
queer way too. Should object to makin’ explorations under
them exact circumstances every day, you anderstand,”

“How was it?” queried Vernon Boyd.

“Wal, you see it’s sorter in the side of a butte, rocky too,
an’ the whole face of it is covered with stunted cedars, You

“Wouldn’t have an idee that thar was a cave there more’n

nothin’, Wal, one day I was loafing around there, lookin’
out for signs of game, an’ had gone purty close to the butte
an’ was standin’ there in a sort of bend in it, lookin’ up
at it, when. I heerd the allfiredest growl, right close to me.
Thinks I, there’s a dunkerookus sure, an’ I looked ’round to
see it. Thereupon, you understand, I seen it. There, setting
a few feet off, with a fascinatin’ smile expandin’ its counte-
nance, was one of the biggest grizzlys that ever tramped.

ff As I said afore, there was a holler in the rock right where
I stood, an’ the grizzly stood ’twixt me an’ the open ground,
so I couldn’t git out. Like a derned fool I’d left my revolvers
in my saddle—ye see I’d hitched my hoss a little ways off;
so I had nothing but my gun, an’ it was a single-barreled
one at that. Now, after these little perticulars have been
related, may be it strikes you that I was in a tight place.

“Tf IT killed him. first shot it would be lucky, ’cause iva
dubersome killin’.a grizzly ba’r at one shot. Howsomever,
I took. good aim an’ let fly. The ba’r went down like a log,
an’ I begun to load my gun fust as 1 could. I'd got the bullet
started down when I heerd another awful growl, and I'll

be skinned if there wa’n’t another grizzly right there! ’Bout
that time I begun to feel streaked. You understand ?

se eG second one started fur me, an’,as I ~hadn’t got
my gun loaded J nateraly backed up 80 as to gain time,
For the life o’ me I couldn’t git the bullet down ; it stuck till
I’rived at the conclusion that it never was goin’ another
inch. Meantime ye see, that thar grizzly was makin’ fur me
an’ I kep’ backin’ up. There was a clump of them cedars .
jest behind me an’ one purty good-sized tree. I catched at

 
86 THE CANNIBAL CHIEF; OR,

the limb of that tree and drawed myself up quite a piece,
when suddently the blasted thing broke an’ I made a voyage
downwards. I struck on my back in ’mongst them cedar
bushes, an’ jest then I begun to slide, an’ slide, an’ Xep’ slidin’,
an’ every thing was dark as pitch ali round.

“T begun to think I was on my way to kingdom come
when, jest then, I come up with a bump ’ginst somethin’.
gathered myself up pretty quick, an’ looked ’round. ’Bo 4
fifteen or twenty feet off I could see a little spot of ligh ,
but where I was ’twas dark. I felt ’round an’ soon found [I
was ina cave. Not knowin’ where I might go if I didn’t
keep docile, I lay still till I thought the b’ars had gone, then
I crawled up the place I'd slid down an’ went out. I wanted
to explore it, you understand, so I got some touch-wood and
went down again.

“Wal, at the foot of that passagé-way I found two doors
like, and beyond them a mess of caverns. An’ what’s more
they’re full of gold.”

“ Gold!” exclaimed Mr. Harris and Boyd,

“ Yes, six, gold, ’most pure too! Now, ye see, if there
wa’n’t seh a big pile of it I might not tell ye, but, there’s any
amount on’t, so I can jest as well be generous as not. You
understand ?”

“Thank you,” said Vernon. “If you will guide us to this
fairy cavern, I think we will avail ourselves of the privilege
of getting some of the treasure. How far distant is it ?”

“Bout three days’ travel for them as uses shank’s horses,”
replied the guide. ‘“ Now, for anybody that calculates to
settle, some money ’s jest the thing. But, I don’t care ’bout
gittin’ much of the almighty dollar, bein’ as I like the woods
too well to lesve ’em.”

That night the party encamped at the foot of the wooded
hill, and, as no signs of Indians had been seen, and the situa-
tion being a. secluded one, a fire was started.

While Cvdjo was attending to the important duty of cooking
the meat fur supper, Vernon Boyd sat a little apart from the
others, silent and thoughtful. Brown’s information concern-
ing the gold in the cave had interested him much. The time
drew near when the Marguerite was due, and Mabel would
soon be his, His fortune was by no means ample, and if, by

 
   

 

 

     
 

THE MOUNTAIN GUIDE. 37

mining, he could increase it, the home he would take hei to
as his wife could be made more pleasant and luxurious,

Absorbed in his own pleasant thoughts of the fair young
girl, he did not notice Mr, Harris approaching until he stood
beside him.

“Vernon,” he said, seating himself beside the young man,
“you doubtless remember hearing me speak of Richard Max-
well ?”

“T do,” replied Vernon Boyd. “ He was your enemy.”

“Yes,” returned Mr. Harris, ‘he was, You probably never
knew why. I will tell you the story. Though he is dead,
doubtless, to-night he haunts my thoughts. You know that,
six years ago, he shipped on a whaler, and that the ship was
wrecked with the loss of all hands save one, who escaped as
if by miracle. There is no doubt but that Richard Maxwell
perished at that time, but to-night he is constantly in my
thoughts, together with the feeling of dread he always in-
spired. He was a very bad man.

“We were very distantly related, and my great-uncle, Max-
well Harris, having no heirs, and a large fortune to dispose of,
educated both Richard and myself; and though the subject
was never directly mentioned, it was generally understood
that we were to be joint heirs to his property. Richard Max-
well was fifteen years younger than I, and I had finished my
education, and was in business before he came to reside with
my uncle.

“He was always an ill-favored man, and we were never
the best of friends. When my uncle died, it was found that
tu me he had bequeathed his entire estate, cutting Richard
Maxwell off with a pittance of one thousand dollars. This
to me was as great a surprise as it could have been to

Richard, but he immediately charged me with being the cause

of our uncle’s unexpected change of intention, whereby he
was left a beggar; and, despite my protestations of innocence,
left me in a rage, and with loud declarations of hatred and
enmity.

“ Henceforward he led a dissipated life, and ended by being
arrested in the act of robbing a house. I was one of the
chief witnesses against him, and the resnlt was he was sen-
tenced to five years in the Penitentiary. His last words to

 
38 THE CANNIBAL CHIEF; OR,

me, after the trial, were full of hatred, and threats of venge-
ance at some future day. The look aud manner that accom-
panied them, left no room for doubt as to their earnestness,
After his term of imprisonment was over, he engaged ag
coachman to my nearest neighbor, where he maintained strict
surveillance over my every action, much tomy annoyance, J]
wus much surprised to see one who had been reared ag je
had been, descending to such a position merely to gratify hia
ewa revengeful passions.

“T was fearful lest in his hatred he should harm my
children, and, during the year he held the situation, I lived jn
a state of continual anxiety. But, at last, greatly tomy relief,
he left, and a short time afterward I heard that he had shippeq
on the whale-ship Sea-wave, fora three years’ voyage.

“T will not deny that the news of his death was a great
relief to me, for I felt that while he lived, myself and family
were not safe from evil.”

“Hi, dar, supper’s ready !” called out Cudjo, at this moment,
and the party were soon seated discussing the broiled venison,
that ulone and guiltless of salt, constituted the “supper.” —

An hour later, silence and darkness brooded over the en-
campment, ,

The next morning, at an early hour, the adventurers were
on the move.  Peltiah Brown, after taking a protracted
survey of the cloudless sky, shook his head thoughtfully.

“Don’t like the looks on’t,” he muttered. “No, I jest
don’t !”

“Why not?” asked Mr. Harris.

“Cause why, it looks as if we might have an earthquake
this year,” was the reply. ‘It’s too lurid to suit my fancy.’

The sky was intensely clear, with a faint, lurid glow most
disagreeable to the eye, while a solemn, unnatural stillness _g
seemed to pervade all nature.

Vernon Boyd, wandering aimlessly among the hills, discoy-
ered a-beautiful grotto, from which a small opening led to
what appeared to be a chain of caverns. Making his discoy-
ery known to the others, the whole party entered on an ex-
ploring tour. The first grotto was well lighted, and next to
this was a large, dark, singular room, filled with huge stones,
and pendent stalactites of a dark color. The third room was

 
  

\

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

  
 

THE MOUNTAIN GUIDE. 89

high and irregular, but looked in the light of the torches like
a scene. from fairy-land. Long stalactites, of a glittering glass-
like appearance, were pendent from the ceiling, and curious
pyramidal stalagmites stood out upon the floor. The walls,
rough and irregular, glittered in the torchlight like erystal.

“ How beautiful!” was the simultaneous exclamation from
the lips of all.

At that instant there was a low rumble like distant thun-
der, followed by an upheaval of the earth beneath their feet.

“The earthquake !” shouted Brown, “ get out of here instan-
ter!”

All started for the open air. Too late! There was a
second upheaval, a loud report that echoed fearfully through
the caverns, and then total darkness.

A rock had fallen, and shut the entrance of the cavel.

 

CHAPTER VII.

DARK DAYS,
“Surely we have met before!”

Tue shipwrecked party, surrounded by the islanders, were
marched off amid savage demonstrations of delight. The
islanders were « most unprepossessing appearing people.
Dark, swarthy, brutish-looking faces, framed in a shock of
coarse hair well plastered with cocoanut-oil, greasy, half-naked
bodies horribly marked with tattooing, together with their
Coarse, savage demeanor, formed a pictureilly or to in-
spire confidence in the beholder.

The path pursued led across the hill on which the savages
first made their appearance, thence across a little valley, thence
up another hill,

“Be jabers,” ejaculated Dennis, as he toiled up the second
hill, flanked on either side by a stalwart islander, “be the time
I’ve got my carcase to the top.of this murtherin’ hill I’ll be
nothing but skin and bones, intirely. Pretty work this, whin
@ mon hain’t had a bit o’ breakfast. It’s the bleached skileton

 
 

THE CANNIBAL CHIEF; OR,

of Dennis McKee that-ye’ll see layin’ about bere shortly. I’ve
run all the flesh off me intirely.”

“Ugh, much fat—he much good—good meat,” grunted one
of the islanders,

“ Where did they learn English?” whispered Mabel to
Charlie. “Perhaps they may be partially civilized, though
they look little like it.”

“ Mabel,” said Kitty, “ did you notice that he said ‘ much fat
—good meat’?”

A deathly faintness crept over Mabel. Those words—what
could they mean, save one thing?

“ Begorra, here’s the city of rest, p’ace, and repose,” said
Dennis, “to our bones,” he added, sotto voce,

They had gained the top of the hill, and below them, in a
pleasant valley, Jaya village. A few moments later they en-
tered it, and proceeded up the main street, followed by a crowd
of curious women and children.

The houses were built with low, latticed side-walls, and
thatched roofs, looking very pretty and picturesque, as they
were grouped irregularly among the cocoa and bread-fruit trees.

The prisoners were conducted down the street, and halted
before a building, which from its size and general appearance
was evidently the royal palace. It was very high, with long
verandas stretching its whole length, their thatched roofs
supported by slender columns ornamented with cocoa-nut
plait in the form of beautiful moldings. Large mats car-
peted the verandas and outer room, and gave’a delicious ap-
pearance of coolness to the whole.

In the outer room the islanders halted for a moment while
one of their number passed inside. In an instant he reap-
peared, and the prisoners were conducted into the “ throne
room,” and presented before his majesty, Baloa, king of the
island.

This was a large, high room, and contained no furniture of
any description save a sort of throne at the further end of the
room, fashioned of palm stems and reeds, and which was, in
fact, little more than a huge chair.

In this throne-chair sat the king, Baloa, his hair plastered
thickly with cocoa-nut oil, his person draped in a large scarlet
shawl, thrown -over the left shoulder, and confined with a

*

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

      
 

 

   
   
   
   

 

THE MOUNTAIN GUIDE, 41

glittering brass pin under the right arm. The portions of the
body which were exposed were marked with red in various
forms of tattooing, the most noticeable one being a large anchor
on his breast. Heavy rings loaded his fingers, and’ drooped
from his ears, and bis oily face glistened with savage pleasure.

But, not long did this august personage claim the attention
of the prisonef’s, Their eyes were instantly attracted to a
man who stood on the right of Baloa, with his hand resting
on the throne-chair. He wore a pair of short, loose.
trowsers, confined at the waist by a belt of shells. A flow-
ing garment, of a blue color, partially covered his shoulders
and chest, revealing his breast, which was tattooed.

His hair was oiled, and his face clean shaven, but he was
a white man, and as such instantly drew the attention of the
captives. That he was a person of importance among the
savages, was apparent from his dress and position.

He maintained his position beside Balog, while the latter
scrutinized his prisoners,

“Ugh—much prisoner—ver’ good,” grunted the king;
“much nice girl,” he added, looking intently at Kitty, who, in
return for this compliment, scowled at him. ‘ Mueh good,
Many prisoners—have feast by an’ by. You ’Mericans ?”

harlie said “ Yes.”

““Ugh-—much good. What say Nalote 2”

He looked inquiringly at the white man.

“ Baloa is great,” replied the white man, gravely. “ I will
ask them a few questions, What is the cause of your presence
here ?” he asked, turning to the ‘party.

Charlie replied by detailing their adventures.

“You are Americans?’ he continued, scrutirizing them
sharply.

“WV ane,”

“ Witty,” whispered Mabel, “I can not help thinking that
he Jooks familiar. Is there any thing in uis appearance that
Btrikes you so?”

“Slightly,” replied Kitty, never removing her fixed gaze
from the man’s face.

“What are your names ?” questioned the man.

Charlie replied by mentioning the names of the party.

“Perhaps you will favor us with your own?” he added.

 
42 THE CANNIBAL CHIB¥; OR,

“ Here, I am Nalote,” was the reply ; “ you can not be bene-
fited by knowing my previous name.” He gazed fixedly at
Mabel as he spoke.

“ You are identified with these savages, then?” Charlie re-
marked, with quiet sarcasm.

“J am one among them,” was the reply. “And as I am
in power, it will behoove you to be careful of: your words and
actions,” he added, significantly.

“ We are not afraid of you, Richard Maxwell,” remarked
Kitty, quietly, yet looking at him steadily.

He started, then laughed disagreeably.

“You are as straight-forward as of yore, Kitty Macy,”
answered the dcmi-savage. ‘ Perhaps a short residence
among us may tame that high spirit, and teach you fear.”

“ An emotion which I never felt. It would be interesting
from its novelty,” she retorted. ‘I dare say you are familiar
with it.” :

The man’s eyes shone with an evil light as he directed them
toward the shrinking Mabel.

“The time of my revenge is at hand,” he said, quietly, yet
closely marking the effect of his words. .‘It is a long lane
that hath no turn.’ I would that John Harris were here also.
You are a very pretty girl, my little Mabel, and I am ‘a dis-
consolate widower.”

His evil, serpent-like glance seemed to pierce the poor girl’s
sovl. He seemed to expect her to make some demonstration
in reply to this, but he was disappointed. She understoed
his meaning, but gave no other sign of hearing than to turn
a shade paler.

Baloa, during this colloquy, sat in silence, surveying the
prisoners. . :

“ How fortunate,” continued Maxwell. “I little imagined
that revenge would come so soon. Fate favors me.”

“ Ver’ good,” again grunted the king ; “much good. Um,”
he touched Captain Stewart and Dennis as he spoke, with
the rod in his hand—* um much fat—ver’ much good !”

An irrepressible shudder passed over the hearers.

“ Cannibals,” muttered Captain Stewart.

Baloa motioned with his rod toward the islanders, who
surrounded the captives, With a low obeisance to the king,

 
   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

HE MOUNTAIN GUIDE. 48

they conducted the prisoners out of the room, The men were
placed in a large, strong building, guarded by two savages,
not fur from the palace. Mabel and Kitty, accompanied by
Nancy, were placed in a similar building further down the
street, one savage only remaining on guard before the door.

Left ulone, the two maidens sunk down on the matted floor,
with hands clasped in silent sympathy. Mabel, wora out and
exhausted by the events of the past two days, and appalled
by the awful fate that stared them in the face, was fast giving
way to despair. Kitty, stronger of constitution and of a na-
turally buoyant nature, was revolving in her mind the oc
currences of the day, and calculating the chances of escape.

Escape! To think over the circumstances it seemed im-
possible. Nancy, full of despair and grief, sat with her hands
clusped over her knees in silent dejection.

“ Kitty,” Mabel said at last, breaking the somber silence,
what can we do? Oh, is it not horrible! To think of he-
ing eaten, and I shudder to think of the darker fate in store
for us, perhaps.”

“Horrible, indeed,” was the shuddering reply; “ but we
may be spared. If we only could escape! ~Mubel, is it not
strange that we should find Richard Maxwell thus?~ We
all supposed him dead, and to find him here, worse even than
the savages, for he has knowledge of better things, is awful.
Hark! What is that ?”

She sprung up hastily, and went to the little reed-laced
aperture answering for a window, followed by Mabel. There
‘was a great commotion in the streets, loud talking and run-
ning to and fro. Presently a savage appeared, closely pur-
sued by a large number of others,

In a moment they had passed behind the palace and were
hidden from view.

While they stood wondering what the strange scene meant,
the door opened and Maxwell entered.
  
   
   
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
       
     
   
   
   
   
   
     

THE OANNIBAL OHIHF; OR, ©

- CHAPTER VIII.

A MIDNIGHT JOURNEY.

‘He knew himself detested, but he knew
The hearts that loathed him crouched—
And dreaded too.”

“«The danger thickens, master,

 

“ Wiat means this commotion ?” asked Kitty, as Maxwell /
entered.

“A prisoner escaped,” was the reply.

“ How many have you, besides our party ?”

* One, only,” he answered, seating himself.

“Richard Maxwell,” said Kitty, looking at him. steadily,
“ what do you intend to do with us ?”

An eyil smile spread itself over his face.

“ That depends,”-he answered.

“On your own wicked caprice, I suppose,” she ‘said,
bitterly.

“Softly, little tiger-cat, softly,” was the cool reply. “It {
depends mostly on circumstances.”

“ What are they ?? she demanded.

“That is my business.” ‘7B

“ What will be done with the savage prisoner you have ?” |

“ Well,” he said, slowly, and watching the effect of his
-words, “I think he will be killed and eaten.”

An irrepressible shudder crept over both the girls, ‘Kitty’s
face settled into a look like that of a stone image. 3

“You are a friend,” she said, slowly. Then added, as her
curiosity overcame her repugnance: ‘Do, you partake of
these horrid feasts ?”

“When among Romans, you must do as Romans do,”
was the reply, with a brutal laugh.

This was said merely to horrify his listeners, To his credit “1
be it said, he had not yet descended into this barbarity. a

Turning his gleaming eyes upon Mabel, the villain come =
tinued : ‘a

 
 

 

   
   
    
  
 

 

fHE MOUNTAIN GUIDE. 45

“ You ar) quite as pretty, Mabel, as you gave promise of
being when a child. My fitst wife was an ugly wretch, but
she saved my life, and, of course, fam grateful. But she was
unmistakably ugly. I flatter myself that my second wrfe will
de better looking.”

Ilis sneering emphasis on the word “second wife,” aroused
Kitty’s blood. She turned her gaze upon her cousin, whose
waxen face was the hue of death.

“Richard Maxwell,” she exclaimed, hotly, “ were Ia man
I would fell you to the earth! and afterward I would cut
off my hand contaminated by touching you.”

Iler slender form was drawn to its full hight, her face full
of scorn, her brown eyes’ blazing. Maxwell looked at her
admiringly. ;

“Splendid spirit!” he ejaculated. “ King Batwa admires
such.” .

Again his sneering emphasis brought the blood to her
face.

“ Burglar, convict, savage, your words are worthy of you!”
she retorted. “ Your savage wife evinced extraordinary tuste
in her choice.”

He laughed, and arose. “ Your)shafts are harmless,” he
said. “You are in my power. I must now leave your com-
pany. Adios.”

Neither returned any answer, and, with another light,
mocking laugh he left the room. Both went to,the window
and stood watching bim, until he entered the building in which
Charlie and the others were confined. The village was built
next the sea, and the wayes lapped the white beach within a
few yards of their prison. While standing there, the girls
saw, What had before escaped their notiee—namely, another
island, somewhat smaller than the one they were on, and lying
about two miles distant. A faint smoke curling up from one
side of it indicated the presence on it of human beings.

Time passed on, and they had been upon the island nine
days. Still they werg unmolested in their prison—a fict
for which they could not account. Every day Maxwell
called at either prison, and generally Baloa accompanied him.
The latter was stupid almost toidiocy, and was ruled entirely
by Maxwell. 3

XN

 
46 THE CANNIBAL CHIEF; OR,

The night of the tenth day of their captivity settled darkly
down, and at nine o’clock a slow rain began falling.

“ Kitty,” Mabel said, as they sat listening to the falling
rain, “do you not wish we could know what Charlie and the
others are doing? Iam sure they will not sit idle and make
no attempt to escape, I am puzzled at their inaction. There
must be a good reason for it. Every day adds to our danger,
but plan as they may, they can not communicate with us.

Oh, if I were a man! That villain frightens me so, I hardly,

dare speak in his presence.”

“T wish we had Charlie’s pistol,” said Kitty. “I do not
fear so much for myself as for you, but if we had that, I
would shoot the cowardly villain if he but dared to touch us.”

“How tired I am,” Mabel said, wearily, ‘and Nancy is
already asleep.”

She threw herself on the mat beside her, and was soon in
the realms of sleep. Kitty also lay down and soon dropped
into a troubled slumber. About midnight she awoke, and
lay tossing about for an heur, vainly wooing the “drowsy god,”
and finally arose, thinking to walk about awhile to conquer
her restlessness,

Pacing up and down the room with clasped hands, her
thoughts rested painfully on their position. Escape was. the
- uppermost thing in her mind, but how to do it, was. the
question. She could see no way, at present, and paced rest-
lessly up and down in the darkness, revolving the matter. in
hér mind.

Suddenly a thought struck her. She went to the window
and looked out. All was silent, save the guard’s footsteps,
as he walked to and fro. Darkness brooded over the village,
and the rain for a short time ceased falling. That it had not
ceased for long was evident from the appearance of the sky.

For an instant the girl ‘stood irresolute, then turned and
listened to see if her companions still slept. Their deep,
regular breathing soon assured her of their slumber and she
turned once more to the window. his was a square aper-
ture about two feet in size each way, and was filled with a
stout lacing of very strong,reeds.. To a a to. break them,
Kitty knew, would be useless.

Taking her pen-knife from her pocket she ‘Degas her work.

   

 

 

 

  
   
  
 
   
 
  
   
  

 

i
;
4
a

   
 
  

 

THE MOUNTAIN GUIDE. 47

In a comparatively short time she had severed the reeds on
one side of the window, close to the casing. It was hard
work, and her hands ached intensely, but not for a moment
did she pause in her labor. Swiftly and noiselessly she
worked on, and soon had the reeds across the bottom severed
likewise. So stiff and strong was the lace-work, that it re-
mained in its place quite as well as before it was cut.

Pausing an instant to assure herself that her companions
still slept, the brave girl gathered up the skirt of her dress
that it might not impede her movements, and mounted the
window-sill. Cautiously pushing the reeds outward, she lis-
tened for the guard’s footsteps. He was slowly pacing along
the veranda at the further end of the building. Waiting:
until he had reached the further end of the veranda, Kitty
noisclessly dropped to the ground, and stood for a moment
to regain her breath. Then she started forward, keeping in
the darkest shadow and moving with great caution.

The darkness prevented her seeing objects a few yards dis-
tant, but the strect was straight and she had no difficulty in
following it.

Her design was to visit the prison of Charlie, Captain
Stewart, and Dennis. In half an hour after she left her own,
she stood within the shade of its walls. Reconnoitering
silently she saw that there was only one guard, and he was
walking slowly up and down before the door.

In an instant the brave girl had reached the other efid of
the building and stood beside the window. This was sim-
iJar to the one in the building she occupied, but the intense
darkness inside the room prevented her from seeing the pris-
oners. How to attract their attention without arousing the
guard’s suspicions was the somewhat difficult problem that
now presented itself. Several modes suggested themselves,
but were discarded as impracticable, but she finally decided
on the following : groping about in the darkness she suc-
ceeded in finding a number of small pebbles, and these she
tossed one by one through the reeds in the window. j

In a moment there was a slight rustling inside, followed
by whispered words. Then there’ was a sound as of a per-
son hitching across the floor, followed by Charlie’s. voice
close beside the window, asking, * Who is there?” - s

 

  
  

48 THE CANNIBAL CHIEF; OR,

“Tt is I—Kitty,” she replied in a cautious whisper, with
her face close to the reeds. :

“ What is the matter ?” he asked, hurriedly ; “ has any thing
happened ?”

“No, I wanted to know what you were doing, or going
to do, and I came to see. Have you formed’ any plan of
escape ?”

“None. We are bound hand and foot. Tt was with dif-
ficulty I reached the window. We can do absolutely noth-
ing, of ourselves, *How did you leave your prison? Not
by the door?”

“No, by the window. ‘I cut the reeds.” —

“And came alone? It was a great risk, Kitty,” he said,
gravely.

“T know. But I could not stop for that,” was the heroic
answer. ‘“ We must escape, Charlie, and there is no time to
lose. Why not try to-night? I will cut your bonds, and
once free you can work.”

“Tt is too late to-night,” replied Charlie ; “it will be dawn
very soon—too soon for us to reach any place of safety. To-
morrow night, Kitty, come if you can, as soon as the village
is silent. How is Mabel ?”

“T left her asleep. Slie is worn out. with faudgue and fear.
Maxwell has been there nearly every day. Chatise, how does
it happen that these cannibals spared him ?”

“He said he terrified them at first with ficeayms. After-
ward Baloa’s sister took a fancy to him and saved him for
her husband, and, as brother-in-law of the king, he soon
gained power, Besides he is educated and civilized, and a
superior mind will command respect even among savages.

“Tt is time you returned, Kitty. Shomd Mabel awake
and miss you, your absence might be discovered. Be very
careful, my darling, and do not encounter any one on your
way back. I tremble to think of the consequem e to your-
self.”

“T will be very careful, Charlie. Have you ¢iar pistol ?”

“No; Maxwell took it from me, and the g 4¢.t now has it.”

“Very well; I will go now. Expect me early to morrow
night. Heaven guard us until then, and aid our plans
Good-night,”

 

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THE MOUNTAIN GUIDE. 49

With these words the fearless girl disappeared in the dark-
ness, leaving the young man in a state of mingled hope and
anxiety. The rain had again commenced falling slowly, and
this rendered it possible for Kitty to proceed with less caution
than she had been hitherto forced to use. In a short time she
had reached the building she occupied, and stood beneath
the window. The guard continued pacing his beat, and with
a murmured prayer of thankfulness for the success of her un-
dertaking, she entered thé window. Pulling the reeds to their
place, she hung her sacque in such a position as to partially
shade the window, and then turned toward Mabel, who had
awakened and spoken to her. »

In a few words she explained all that had taken place, an¢
in reply to Mabel’s startled ery of, “Oh, Kitty, how dared
you?” answered with a touch of her old vivacity :

“Dared! Why, Mab, you know'I am never afraid. Wait
till this hour to-morrow, and we will snap our fingers at
Richard Maxwell‘and the rest of these cannibals. So, cour-
age, my frightened cousin; the little movse is gnawing the
net.”

It was with renewed courage, and hope high in their
breasts, that the two girls resumed their couches. ~ Alas! how
s00n was this hope to turn to despair!

At a comparatively Tate hour in the morning they were
aroused from slumber by the sound of voices outside the
building. They had barely risen when one of the women en-
tered with their breakfast. This was hardly eaten when the
noise outside was renewed, and shortly afterward the door
opened to admit Maxwell. At sight of him‘a chill struck the

hearts of both the maidens, His evil face wore a smile of

conscious power and triumphant villainy that struck them
with a sense of impending evil. eer

Taking a seat, he bowed with mock politeness ana ser-
vility,

“T rejoice to see you look so blooming this morning, Ma-
bel,” were his first words. ‘ You were looking quite indis-
posed yesterday.” 4

“Thank you.” Her tones were cold and emotionless. »

“Of course you have noticed the little island lying off
west,” he continued, “ and doubtless admired it.’ I am going

 
60 THE CANNIBAL CHIEF; OR,

over there this morning, and have called for you to accom-
pany me.”

He watched her closely, still with that evil, mocking smile
on his face.

“T prefer remaining here,” she said, quietly, yet distinctly.

“ And J prefer you to go,” was the answer. “ You will
please to put on your wraps; and, as you will doubtless not
return immediately, you may as well bid your cousin good-
by.”

Mabel’s face was stern and resolute, though ashy white.

“ Richard Maxwell,” she said, firmly, “I will never leave
a with you, of my own accord. And if there is a
spark of manliness left in your bosom, I pray you to heed its
promptings and leave me in peace.”

“Ah!” he said, with a gleam of admiration in “his eyes,
“so there 7 some fire thereafter all. I had thought it was
all absorbed by this little tiger-cat here. But, Mabel Harris,”
and his face grew dark, “ you will go with me. Come !”

“Never!” She stood resolutely beside Kitty and did not
stir.

“Do ‘you know,” he said, slowly, “that a word of mine
would consign your whole party to instant death? I have
good reason to hate you and yours. Beware how you trifle
with me!”

Still she stood motionless, though her face was the hue of
death. A pained shudder ran over her,

“T can not,” she gasped at last.

He strode up to her and placed his hand on her shoulder.
She shrunk as if an adder had bitten her.

“You shall go,” he hissed, and lifting her slight form in
his arms, caught up her bonnet and sacque, and striding past
th: guard, walked rapidly to the beach.

A faint cry broke from Mabdel’s white lips, and penetrated
to Kitty’s ears. She started from her statue-like posture, and
skillfully eluding the outstretched hands of the guard, bounded
down to the beach.

“ Richard Maxwell,” she cried, clutching his arm, “ for God’s
sike let her remain here! I beg, I implore you to leave her.”

He laughed scornfully, and struck her hand from his arm,

t as the guard came up.

*

   

 

 

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THE MOUNTAIN GUIDE. 61

“Tam deaf to entreaties, my dear,” he said mockingly, as
he stepped into the boat with Mabel still in his arms, “So
‘are-thee-well, and who knows when we three shall meet
again 2”

He pushed the boat from the shore, placing Mabel beside
him. She stretched forth her hands with a wild cry,

“Oh, Kitty, saye me!’ Save me!”

A light, mocking laugh from the man beside her echoed her
words; but that white, anguished face, and agonized cry,
haunted Kitty Macy for many a weary day.

 

OHA Tin boas
> A “DEAD” MAN,

“ Ho, master, we're in for it.”

For some minutes after the noise of the falling rock had ~
subsided, dying away in ghostly echoes among the caverns,
no one spoke. At last John Harris broke the silence.

“The entrarite is closed, and we are prisoners !”

It was a fact no one felt inclined to dispute.

“That's about as near the aktoal facts of the case as we
could come by deliberatin’ on it fur a fortni’t,” remarked Pel-
tiah. “ Howsomever, there’s rarely any thing but’s got two
sides to it, an’ this has, too, You gee there’s jist a chance
that there may be a hole out somewhere else, even if we can’t
move this stone, which I move we try to. . Lay’to, here!”

Shoulders were placed against the rock, and strength ex-
erted without avail. It would not move a hair’s-breadth, In
a short time there was a suspension of Jabor, and a consnlta-
tion. In the passage between the rooms the torches had been
extinguished, and they were in total darkness. To their dis-
may they found, upon search, that they had no matches. The
outside clothing .of all, in the pocket of which were the
matches, hid been left outside the entrance to the cave.

Here wus a dilemma. Lights there were none, but inaction
was impossible, and further explanations were entered upon in
the darkness,

 
 

    
  

53 THE CANNIBAL CHIEF ;. OR,

From the third cavern an. opening was found which led
into an apparently large room, but the darkness was so in-
tense that they had little means of knowing its exact size.

“ Now then,” said Brown, as all four were groping about
in the room, “jest you all be a leetle keerful. We don’t
know how it is here, an’ may git inter diffikilty if we don’t
keep our eyes peeled, figgeratively speaking.”

“ Heap a good ’twould do,” growled Cudjo, from the other
side of the cavern. ‘“Can’t see a. blessed inch afore my nose.
Tm jest a-goin’ to find a hole out, or bu’st a-tryin’. It’s wuss
nor the death-valley.”

“Keep cool,’ admonished the hunter, “no use’n gittin’
excited. You may step off som’ers, if you don’t keep yer
wits together.”

Tbe words had hardly left. his lips when there was a fren-
zied howl from the direction of Cudjo, followed by a shuffling
noise, and another howl that seemed to go €own into the
earth, and finally ceased altogether.

“ What is the matter ?” asked Vernon, in a startled tone.

There. was no answer. Brown instantly started for the
place, cautiously feeling the way with his hands. Arrived
there he found a hee, and feeling carefully about it, found that
it led down a steep inclined plane.

“ Te’s gone down,” he announced, after a moment. “ Here’s
a hole.”

“ Cudjo,” called out Mr. Harris, “ azo you hurt ?”

, A hollow groan came up from the depths below, apparently
from no great distance.

“Tf you are able, speak,’ demanded Mr, Harris.

“Ym dead,” came in sepulchral tones from below.

“ How can you talk then ?”’ was Brown’s pertinent query.

“Cudjo,” again said Mr. Harris, “if you are able to tell us
how badly you are injured—”

“Tm killed, I tells you,” was the hollow response.

In spite of the serious appearance of the situation, the
words brought a smile to every face.

“Consarn it ?’ called out Peltiah, testily, “if you’re dead,
you’ve got a good voice left, anyhow. S’pozen you try to
git up an’ see if youre reddy for a post-mortem examination,
You may find yerself a leetle more lively ’n you think.”

»

   

 
  
 
 
 

Me mi Neste

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THE MOUNTAIN GUIDE. i]

  

“Dre all broke to pieces,’ were the next words, still in the
same hallow tones. ‘“ Let a fellar die in peace, can’t you?”

“You confounded dolt,” ejaculated Brown. “I'll throw a
stone down on you if you don’t git up. Start your stumps
or here it goes !”

This elicted a sprightly movement from the dead man, which’
brought lin to a sitting posture. Carefully feeling of his
fimbs and chest, he discovered that there were no broken
bones. Considerably relieved tv chis discovery, he ventured
to rise to his feet, when he founda, much to his surprise that
he was not hurt beyond a few bruises.

“T say dar,’ he called out. “T siu’t hurt ’tall. Yse only
foolin’ ye. How’m I goin’ ter git up? Its darker here’n
Egypt, an’ I kin hear water a-roarin’ somewhere.”

»w that Cudjo mentioned it, all were conscigus of hear-
ing.a faint, roaring sound, which they had not before no-
ticed.

“ Explore the place,” returned Mr. Harris. ‘‘ You may find
a@ Way out.”

“ Look out, an’ don’t fall off som’ers ag’in,” called out the
guide. “I’ve been clear ’round this wall. Boyd, feel to the
right, there.”

_ The young man did as directed, but found no opening.
The circuit of the room had been made without success, and
nothing now remained to he done save to follow Cudjo.

‘“‘ Here goes to try it,” said Vernon, as he carefully placed
his feet on the plane. “I will go first and report.”

He let go his hold on the rock amd began sliding down,
quite slowly at first, but soon with an increased velocity that
nearly took away his breath. In an instant he had reached
the foot of the plane and stood upright.

“ Perfectly smooth,” he called «© those above. “ Start
aright, and the journey is easy. Cudjo ?” :

“ah, yah,” responded, that worthy, who was down on
his knees near by, clawing the darkness. “Tell you, Mars’ ’
Vernon, dis yere’s the all-tiredest place. Can’t see my hand
afore me. Like to knock my nose off ’g'inst the wall, minit

 

 

ago.”
“You muet drive slow,” remarked Brown, who, with Mr.
Harris, had safely made the descent. “ Keep yer paws stuck

 
   

54 THE CANNIBAL CHIEF; OR,

out afore you, asa guard. /’m goin’ fur thet water, Mebby
it ’ll lead to a place out.”
He dropped to his knees, and began crawling iu the direc-
tion of the sound. Mr. Harris and Vernon began feeling
along the wall, and the latter soon found a small opening.
Into this he advanced, and after going a considerable distance
saw a gleam of light ahead. Hastening forward, be soon
assured himself that it led to.the open air, and turned about
to inform his companions.

“ Hello!” he shouted, on reaching the end of tne passage.
“ Where are you?”

“ Here!’ responded Mr. Harris and Cudjo, the former
sounding some distance off. . “ What’s up?”

“T have found a passage leading to the outer world,” re-
sponded the young man. “ Where is Brown ?”

“JT do not know,” answered Mr. Harris, groping his way
toward Vernon. “Hello, Brown!”

There was no answer save the echoes Repeated calls
elicited no response.
“ Wait,” exclaimed Vernon; “I will go and get a torch.”
He darted along the passage, gained the outer world, and
hastening around to the place where they had entered the
cave, procured a torch and matches, and hastened back. In
a moment he stood, torch in hand, in the cavern. Now that,
the light revealed it, it appeared to be a monstrous room,
stretching off into the darkness at the further end. Search
soon brought to light the entrance to a narrow corridor, and
along this they hastened, the sound of running water grow-
ing louder as they advanced. After going some distance the
corridor broadened into a small room, from whence there led
a second passage-way, too low to enable a man to enter,
save on his hands and knees.
“ Hello !” shouted Vernon, placing his face to the aperture
“ Hey !” came back the faint cry.
“ Come out !” shouted Vernon, at the top of his voice.
Silence followed -for a space, broken by a rustle, as the
hunter crept along the passage.
“ By the jumping Jingo!” he ejaculated, as he emerged from
the passage-way. “If yer hain’t got a light. You've found
@ way out, I naterally kalkerlate ?” .

   

/

 
 

  

THE MOUNTAIN GUIDE. 55

“Exactly,” said Vernon. “ What did 7a0 find at the end
of that passage ?” .

“Find? I kind o’ konsider, young fellar, that I found
Bey’ral things. I’ve got proof to ’stablish the fact. You
understand ?””

“ Well, what did you find ?” repeated Boyd.

“Younker,” said the hunter, striking an attitude, and speak-
ing solemnly, “jest you leok at me, an’ see if you shouldn’t
think, judgin’ from surfuce in Jications, that I did find
suthin’.”

Vernon held up his torch an@ surveyed the hunter with
some curiosity. His appearance was grotesque.

* His hat was pushed back on the back of his head, and his
hair hung from beneath it in straggling, water-soaked locks,
down cach side of his face. His garments were dripping
wet, and upon one side of his face rose an immense dark
bunch. His nose had the appearance of a nose fresh from a
prize-fight.

» “ Well,” ejaculated Vernon, “you do look as if you had
been somewhere, whether you found any thing or not.” }

“ Hain’t 1?” cried Peltiah. ‘ Wal, you may jest b’lieve it.
Ye see, I crawled along thet passage till I come to a room
where the water was. I could hear it up to other end of
the place ’plashin’ along, an’ started that way on my hands
an’ knees, careful-like, but, I'll be dodwholloped, if I didn’t
lit my nose on one o' them peaked humps we seen back yen-
der in sich quantities, an’ nigh aboug broke it. In course |

navrally jerked up my head, and bump! it» went ag’in’
rock, an’ while I was tryin’ to keep my temper under inal
misteryons dispensashuns vo’ Providence, I got near the edge
o’ the water, where it was still, an’ I hadn’t an idee ’twas
there, an’ the dirt crumbled off an’ mI went. Gittin’ out I
knocked my face here, an’ were jest a speckelatin’ on the
chances 0’ my beauty’s ever returnin’ to me when I heerd
you holler. So out I come, an’ here I be. You under-
stand ?”

“You were unfortunate,” said Mr. Harris, as he concluded.
“T suppose, now, we are ready to leave the cave. Shonld we
experience a second shock of the earthquake we may be walled
in beyond escape.”

 

  
56 THE CANNIBAL CHIEF; OR,

“ Precisely thus,” said the hunter, “ an’ that bein’ so, forrard
march !”

“ Now,” said Vernon, as they reached the open air, “ what
arc we going to do? Keep on our way to the gold caye ?”

“T say, yes,” said Brown.

“ Me too,” chimed in Cudjo.

“ And I am willing,” said Mr. Harris.

© Wal, then, thet’s settled,” said the hunter. ‘ So on we go.
Pick up yer shootin’-irons an’ percipitate yerseives forward.
The earthquake has bid us adoo, I guess,”

The party at once moved forward under the guidance of the
hunter. The dull, lurid glare had passed from the sky, and
the birds were siuging in the branches. The earthquake had
passed.

Traveling steadily, and meeting with no adventure on the
way, the close of the following day found them nearing the
gold cave, discovered in so strange a manner by the hunter.

The country here was beautiful. There were no plains in
the immediate vicinity of the cave, but beautiful groves and
open glades, intersected with small streams, together with oc-
casiona) rocky hills, formed a pleasant landscape.

“Wal, we’re at the eend of our.journey, avout,” remarked
Brown, as they approached a tall, rocky butte that shot away
up into the clear air. ‘‘ Right about here is the cave, you see.
Oh, ’tain’t right here, of course,” as Cudjo stared around, “ but
in ’bout ten minutes you'll see it, I reckon.”

“ Vernon,” said Mr. Harris, as the hunter and Cudjo passed
a few yards ahead of them, “ we shall soon have to start for
San Francisco. The Marguerite is due in August, and it is a
long journey thither on foot as we are. If those Apaches
had not stolen our horses, we, of course, could reazh there in
a much shorter time.” ‘

“ Yes,” returned the young man, “I am aware that we have
not much more time to devote to wandering. But I would
like to get a little of the gold in this cave.”

“Tt would render you more comfortable, certainly,” replied
Mr. Harris, “but you are in no danger of suffering from povy-
erty. 1 think we may spend a couple of weeks here before
starting for home. Have you in any measure satisfied your
curiosity concerning the country ?”

 
: THE MOUNTAIN GUIDE. 5?

“ Well, I confess I am pretty well cured of any propensity
which I might have had for roving,” returned, Vernon, with. a
smile, “T shall settle down with ‘considerable. satisfaction . I
think. But, Brown is calling to us; let us hasten on.”

The hunter stood beside the butte leaning on his rifle.

“Wal, younker,” were his first words as they came up,
; “here’s the cave, an’ now you want to git reddy to dig. In

course the almighty dollar ain’t already molded an’ layin’
am 1

+ atop of the ground waitin’ for you, No,in the course o’
,  natur’ I'should say it’twan’t. You understand ?”

“T should think not,” returned the young man, laughingly.
“ But where is the cave ?”

“ Here.”

The hunter worked his way among the cedar. bushes, and
pulling them aside, disclosed a small opening in the rock,
Lighting a piece of torchwood he slid down the inclined
plane leading from the opening, followed by Vernon Boyd,
Then, holding aloft the torch, he shouted to the others to
come on, .

A moment more, and all four stood in the cavern adjoining
the entrance-way. From this, several smaller caverns
branched off, through the first of which there gurgled a tiny
brook. Examination showed that there was considerable
gold in this cavern, though, it was hardly “ full” of the trea-
sure, as the hunter had said. :

“Well, where ave our implements of labor ?” propounded
Mr. farris, surveying the soft earthen floor of the cave.

‘“Here’s a couple of picks, an’ a trowel,” replied Peltiah,
producing the articles in question from a corner of the room,
“Next time I was up to San Francisco arter I found, the
4 cave, I got these. I had an idee of diggin’, but, ’twan’t any
j fun at all, as I soon discovered, an’ I throwed ’em down, an?

 

¢ took to huntin’ an’ trampin’ ag’in. These, with this sieve,
‘ will do for you. ’Twou’t be so handy as hayin’ the reg’ lar tools,

but is the best. we can do.”
"e “Well,” said Vernon, “Jet the gold rest’ while we have
some supper. I’m hungry.”

“Count me in dar,” said Cudjo. “T'se jest about foams
Ishec se : oe. *
“ Dead men never eat,” remarked Brown, slyly

 
63 THE CANNIBAL CHIEF; OR,

“Wal, we’s alive,” retorted the negro, with a sheepish look,
Supper, which was cooked outside the cave, being eaten,
the camp relapsed into slumber.

CHAPTER X.

DRIVEN BY FATE.

“ Force rules the world still,
Has ruled it, shall rule it,
Meekness is weakness, strength is triumphant,
Over the whole earth, still it is Thor's day,”’—LonerrLLow.

Mase. Harris watched the fast receding shore as the lit-
tle boat sped onward, with a calmness born of despair. She
saw the guard seize her cousin and place her once more
within the prison ; saw the waves momentarily growing wider
between herself and those she loved, and sat silently beside
the man who had power to change all this, but whose fiend-
ish passions feasted on the agony of human hearts.

He watched her with eager, triumphant eyes, but did not
break the silence till the boat toucbed the beach. Even then
he only held out his hand to assist her, saying: “Come,”
and smiled a cruel smile to see her obey him passively and
in silence,

“J shall triumph,” he thought; “already she is changed.
Discipline is good for these fiery spirits.”

He Jéd the way across a little rise of ground, and entered
a cluster of buildings. On every side Mabel saw savages en-
gaged in manufacturing articles from the palm and cocoa
trees—cloth, rude dishes, «nd architectural ornaments, and
rightly guessed that the buildings were erected merely for
manufacturing purposes. In them the laborers lodged, to
save the time which would otherwise be spent in going to
and fro from the larger island. :

To one of the smaller, stronger buildings, Maxwell con-

* ducted the girl, and having seen her safely inside the room,
tarned to depart, saying :

 
   

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2

 

 

59

 

THE MOUNTAIN GUIDE.

“Here are your quarters for the present, my fair cousin,
and I warn you that it will depend wholly on yourself
whether you leave here soon or not. .Your fate is in your
own hands.”

The door swung slowly to, and Mabel was alone. Alone,
in the power of a villain, disheartened and despairing, she
sunk down on the matted floor, and burying her face in her
hands, sobbed aloud.

Throughout the long day, which seemed to be endless, she
sat there. No one came near her, but outside she heard the
talk of the working savages, and hearing the voice of Max-
well occasionally, knew that he had not left the island. As
the dark of night was settling down, the door swung slowly
inward, and looking up she saw once more his hated face.
In his hand he carried a tray containing victuals, which he
placed before her, and then seated himself near by.

“Kat,” he said, seeing that she made no movement to do:
50, “ You can not live on air alone.”

“Why should I try to live?” she said, bitterly. “ Life is
a burden I would gladly lay down.”

“Nonsense. You may-yet be happy and surrounded with
friends,” was the reply. “It depends solely on yourself.”

She did not answer, -but her eyes questioned him mutely.

“ Mabel,” he began, earnestly, ‘“‘promise to marry me,
and you and yours shall leave these islands unmolested.”

She put up her hands as if to ward off a blow, with a
low cry.

“There is nothing so awful in the idea,” he went on, noting
the act. “Iam not so old or ugly that you need view me
with repulsion. I have’a small yacht-like boat, in which we
will secretly leave the island. Steering north-east, we should
s00n be in the track of ships and be picked up.© Once in a
civilized country, we can be married. Do you consent ?”

“No, no!” she gasped, “ I can not!”

He watched her closely. “ How much better will be your >
fate if you stay here?” he asked.

She did not answer.

“You had better consent,” he said.

“Oh, I can not, I can not!’ she cried. “Do not ask mes *
T will never consent: Death would be preferable.”

  

  
60 THE CANNIBAL CHIEF}; OR,

“ Oh, yes,” was the mocking reply, “but Derth. does not
come at our bidding. There is a fate worse than being my
wife. You have dearly loved ones on the island ; on you de-
pends not only your own fate, but theirs also. Consent to be
my wife, and I will save them. Refuse, and I swear to you
that they shall perish before your eyes. I will not lifi a finger
to. save them.”

A low moan from the girl was his only answer. Up from
her tortured heart came a great cry—a name which her lips
refused to. frame—‘ Vernon !”

Silently the villain sat waiting her reply. “I can promise,”
she thought; “I must promise to save them, and then when
they are beyond: his power, I can die.”

She lifted her head.

Weel?

“T promise to. be your, wife,” she. said, faintly. . A. gleam
of malignant triumph lighted up: his features.

“ Swear it,” he said—* swear that if I save you and yours,
you will be my. wife, as you hope for heaven.”

“T swear it.”

Tremblingly her white lips framed the reply. With the
words went from her all hope of all that life had worth the
having. -

Maxwell rose to his feet.

“Very. good. To-morrow. we will return to the other
island, and to-morrow niglit we will leave here forever. Bualoa
is an old dolt, or I should not have the power I hold. As it
is, escape will be easy.”

He left the room, and once more Mabel was alone.

Assoon as the first.rays of the morrow’s sun shone over the.

, waters, Richard Maxwell sought the prison of his betrothed
wife. He undid the awkward fastening of the heavy door,
and entered the room. Glancing around, he stood in bewil-
derment. She was not there! Hastily stepping forward, he
caught up the mats and skins forming the couch and looked
beneath them. In: vain! Nothing was there, Again he
gazed about the room, Every article remained undisturbed,
but living occupant of the room there was none, Where was
Mabel ?”

He left the room, and questioned thé workmen. Noné of

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THE MOUNTAIN GUIDE, 61

them had seer her. Hastening down to the water’s edge, he
looked eagerly up and down the beach. The little boat he
had brought her to the island in, was gone.

“ She has gone over to the other island,” he thought. “ But,
what did she go for, and how did she get out of the prison ?
I know I fastened the door. There is no accounting for a
woman’s freaks. I will go over at once. If I can safely get
away with the parts; my revenge will be certain, My wite!
Ha! ha! John Harris would rather see her dead before
him. But, that will avail him nothing. She has sworn it,
and by ! Pil see that she keeps her oath,”

He stepped into another boat that was moored near, and
calling two of the savages to assist in rowing, started for the
other island.

Char!es Llarris stood looking from the rude window of hig
prison out on the heaving ocean, During the night the wind
had blown violently, and the sea was still rough. He had
dragged himself up beside the window, and, bound hand and
foot, half stood, half leaned, against the wall, watching a boat
coming across from the other island, His gaze was eager and
expectant, but full of a terrible sternness.

“Itis he,’ he muttered, watching the foremost occupant
of the still distant boat.‘ Base villain, I could throttle him.
And he is alone wiih those two savages. I believe that was
Mabel I saw with him yesterday, though the boat was too far
distant for me to ascertain beyond a doubt. Ob, if J but
kuew! And yet, I am powerless.”

Hé ground his teeth together, still keeping his eyes on the
approaching canoe.

“ And Kitty did not come last night,” he went on, pursuing
his train of thought ; “what could have detained her? Many
things might, though, it is a hazardous undertaking. A day
iv this place may be fatal to us. If I was only free.”

He moved his bound hands impatiently, and looked again
at the boat. It was fust nearing the shore.

“ Be the powers,” said Dennis, who, together with Captain
Stewart, lay on the floor. “It’s moighty slow livin’, this is,
Iv’s meself that’s sick of it intirely. Begorra, if I dad my
hand on the throat of that greasy divil, that pokes his ugly
gnoot in here wonts an’ awhile, I’d choke him, with a goed

 

  
62 THE CANNIBAL CIIEF; OR,

will too. What are they going todo wid us, onyhow? Och,
Misther Charles, an’ wasn’t it mesilf that :owld ye we'd git into
the dirty claws of the bla’guara islanders? An’ niver a word
ov it would ye hear to. But now, be jabers, I recken ye’ve
found that it’s more thruth than poetry thare was in it,
intirely.”

“They will kill and eat us, doubtless,’
reply to Dennis’ question.

“ Arrah, an’ it’s tough ’ailin’ they'll have; retorted the Irish-
man, turning himself with difficulty, ‘as fur as mesilf is con-
sarned, at the least. An Irishman never dejests aisy. Be the
bones of Fingal, [ hope if they thry that same they'll get
enough of it? May the meat sthick in their tathe till etar-—
nity !”

“Tf we pass this day unmolested, we may be able to escape
to-night, with Miss Macy’s help,” remarked the captain.

“ Faith an’ sure, an’ iv’s a brave little gal she is too,” put in
Dennis. . “She'd spile the ‘b’uty on thet greasy blaggard if
she had the mussel, ‘fore ye could—”

“ Hush !” interr npted Chartie, hastily. ‘“ Some one comes.”

“ Begorra,” said Dennis, sotto voce, as the door opened to ad-
mit Maxwell, “it’s that same dirthy spalpeen. May the divil
fly away wid his grandmother !”

“Ifyou had said him, it would have been more to the
point,” muttered Captain Stewart.

Maxwell advanced, and addressing Charles Harris, asked,

abruptly :

“ Have you seem your sister, this morning ?”

“ No. By what possibility could I have done so ?”

“ Her own notion, perhaps,” was the curt reply. ‘ Thongh
she would doubtless seek her cousin instead of ccming
here.”

“ Coming here? Seek Kitty! What do you mean?” de
manded the young man, in considerable-agitation.

“ Simply that I left her on the other island last right, and
this morning she is gone. A boat is also missing. Of course
she came here.”

“ Villain 2” ejaculated Charlie, beside himself with grief and
anger, “ you have murdered her. Oh, that I were free, 1
would choke the breath from your body !”

’ said the captain, in

”

 
 
  

teeta

 

{IE MOUNTAIN GUIDE, &

“ Softly,’ said Maxwell, “softly. I tell you I left he
alive and well in that room, and she is gone without my
knowledge !”

There was truth in his manner, and despite himself the
young man felt it. .

“Gone,” he repeated, ‘“‘ gone—and where?” .

“ Over here, of course. I shall find her with her cous-
in?’

He hardly felt as confident as he spoke, but turned and
left the room,

Kitty, sitting pale and silent on the matted floor of her
prison, looked up as the door opened and beheld Maxwell
He glanced around, and then stopped with a blank face.

“ Where is Mabel?” he demanded.

“Mabel !’ She sprung to her feet in surprise. “ Who
knows better than you, Richard Maxwell? Where is she?”

“T do not know. I supposed her here.”

“ Liar !”

He hardly heard her. The girl’s sudden disappearance
had upset all his plans. Then, after a moments thought, he
explained to Kitty. She was utterly incredulous at first, but
his manner at length convinced her.

“ Gone, and the boat, too! And the wind blew a gale last
night,” she said, in horror:

Where was Mabel ?

“JT will search the other island,” Maxwell said, struck by
this thought. “If she is not there—”

He did not finish the sentence, but went out, grinding his
teeth together, with an expression of baffled rage on his
face. *

Four hours later he sat in the veranda of the royal palace
with King Bualoa, the latter ‘snoring in his chair, when a mes-
senger came from the other island. The whole iand had
been thoroughly searched, but no trace of the missing girl dis-
covered, - Maxwell had headed the search, but, tired out, he

had rcturned an hour since, ieaving the savages to finish it.

“Foiled !’ he muttered, as the messenger departed, “ Foiled
when my revenge seemed certain! What can I do now?”

He arose and walked down to the beach, While pacing
moodily up and dowa, his preoccupied mind became conscious

  

s

  
   

64 THE CANNIBAL CHIEF; OR,

of something before his eyes which he hud beén abstraytedly
gazing at for several minutes, The waves rolling in had
borne it up on the beach, and as he stopped now, it lay at his
feet. :

He stooped and picked it up. It was a misty affair of
thread and Jace, soaking with salt-water and tangled with
hits of sea-weed, but he recognized it at once. It was a

Y ail —Mabel’s yail—the one she had attached to her hat.

While he stood looking at it, the waves brought in somethin
else—the hat itself.

As he stood looking at these messengers of the wind and
waves, did no thought of remorse for the part he had acted
against the girl who might be lying at the bottom of the ocean,
amid the slime and ooze occur to him? No! He only
thought of his baffled scheme of vengeance.

But there they lay—mute messengers of the fate of their
wearer, confronting him.

Once more, where was Mabel ?

He stood in silent thought for a time, evidently studying |

some plan for the future.

“Tl do it!” he said at last, starting forward, ‘“ Baffled in
this, I will yet find some method of revenge. I can not
escape alone, and I am tired of living here. Yes, I will do
it.”

THe caught up the dripping hat, and strode rapidly up the
bench. Suddenly he heard a loud shout, and looking up be-
held a large number of savages, with Baloa in their midst,
around the door of Charlie’s prison. Evidently there was
something of importance about to be done. But what ?

>

 

    
 

  
 

 

 

THE ‘MOUNTAIN GUIDE. 65

CHAPTER XI.
DRAWING NEAR.
“That loss is comnon would not make
My own less bitter.”"°—TENNYSON.

In ‘hv 1,7 40r of the San Francisco hotel, sat Mr. Harris and
Vernon Jing. On both faces were lines of care and suffer-
ing. SiUeznce had reigned between them, which Mr. Harris
broke by say‘ng:

.““ Veriion, 'vhile there is any uncertainty there is hope. I
can not help, cherishing a hope, that through some agency my
children wel saved. Iean not be satisfied until I see and
question thz sailor who was saved.”

The yousg man sighed deeply. “TI can call him,” he said.
He touched the bell, and a servant appeared.

“Will you be kindsenough to request the man who was
rescued from the Marguerite to come here? Tell him we
would like to see him,” he said, courteously.

The servant bowed and withdrew, and a moment later a
sailor, bronzed and weatherbeaten, with cap in ,hand, stood
before them. ;

“T have been informed that you were one of a boat-load
saved from the Marguerite,” said Mr. Harris. ‘“ Will- you
please to tell all you gw about it 2”

“Well, this ds all I know,” said the man. “The ship
burned, and all the crew and passengers left her in three beats,
The Harris party .was all the passengers there was, and them
and the captain went in the small boat. ’Twasn’t calculated
to live in a storm as well as our boat was, and we nearly went
under. It blew'a gale all night and the next day, but toward
night our boat was picked up by the Annie Bergh. . We never
heard of either of the other boats afterwards, though the
Annie Bergh stood off er course, and lay ’round about twelve
hours to pick ’em up if they were about. There is no doubt
but they both sunk.”

“ You are certain there was no other ship near which might
have rescued them?” asked Vernon, eagerly.

 
66 THE CANNIBAL CHIEF; OR,

“T couldn’t swear there wasn’t,” replied the man, “but I
think I know there was none, after all. The CQyclone came in
two days after the Annie Bergh, and she hadn’t seen anything
of them. No, I think there ain't the ghost of a chance for
*em to have been rescued,” added the sailor, decidedly.

“That will do, and thank. you,” said Mr, Harris, The
man bowed and withdrew, and the gentlemen were alone.

“Vernon,” the elder man said, brokenly, “there is an end
to my hopes. But, we must not give way to our grief
Others have suffered before us—others will suffer after us.”

The young man sat in silence, and evidently in painful
thought. At last he spoke.

“T shall sail for New York to- -morrow in the Anjie Bergh.
I can not stay here.”

“ You will return ?” asked Mr. Harris.

“ Perhaps so—after atime. You will stay here ?” he asked,

“Yes, I think so. As well here as there.”

“T have no time to spare,” Vernon said, consulting his
watch. “I must go at once and engage passage.”

He arose and went out.-

“ How changed. the world looks to-day,” he thought as he
traversed the street. ‘“ Yesterday I approached San Francisco
with a happy heart. To-day, I prepare to leave it with every
hope dashed to the ground. Ob, Mabel, Mabel!”

The next morning’s sun looked upon the departure ‘of the
Annie Bergh, with Vernon Boyd upon the deck.

We return to the savage island.

Maxwell, on seeing the unusual commotion, and the savages
about the door of the prison, quickened his steps and reached
the spot just as Baloa had opened the door.

“ What does this mean?” he. asked.

“ Nalote will hear,’ declared the king, in such execrable
English that we can not bring ourself to put it upon paper.
“The warriors are tired of waiting. The prisoners are fat—
they have been well fed. The warriors demand a feast, and
they shall have it!”

The king stood within the doorway, and the captives heard
every word he uttered.

“The divil fly away wid ye!” cried tle irrepressible and

 
 

 

THE MOUNTAIN GUIDE. 67

ondaunted Irishman. “Be the powers, an’ if ye thry to ate
me I'll give ye a hard job ov that same! Jest loosen these
cords an’ T’ll knock ye clane to the further end of next weck.”

“Wush, Dennis,” said Charlie; “you will only arouse their
anger.”

“ Divil take their angry passions!” cried Dennis. “Tl
give ’em something to act like h’athens for, the spalpeens.
Och, if I had a bit of a shillalah Td arnament the frontis-
piece of that blaggard .ov a king—may his stomach ache now
and forever !”

Meantime the savages stood by awaiting the order of their
king to take the prisoners forth, At the close of Baloa’s
speech, Maxwell waved his hand, with a profound bow to the
king.

“ Baloa is great,” he said, gravely, “ but he will hear the
words of Nalote, and see if they are good. It is nearly noon
—there is not time to-day for a great feast; let the warriors
prepare to-day, and let the feast be to-morrow.”

“The warriors are prepared,” said the king, with a touch
of sullenness in his tone,

“ But I have to-day lost the girl who was to be my wife,”
remonstrated Maxwell. “ Does Baloa think I can be joyful 2”

“ Nalote can take the other,” replied Baloa; “me no like
her—she make faces,” he added, in a tone of disgust.

“ But the feast —such an offering to the gods should begin
before sunrise,” persisted Maxwell. “I can not take the
other girl—I do not like ber either.”

To his alarm, he found the king*was determined to have
his own way. Usually he deferred to Maxwell, but now he
wus obstinate.

“ Waited long ’nough,” Baloa grunted, in stubborn sullen
ness, “ Prisoners much good.”

Maxwell was at his wits’ end. He saw the plans he had
laid fading into thin air, He looked around on the throng of
savages, and’ mounting the steps of the building hegan to ad
dressthem. He spoke of their prowess, and the greatness of
their king, flattering the lattcr personage highly.

“Baloa is great,” he declared, enthusiastically, looking
around upon hisaudience. “In all the islands of the world,
there is none other so bold and-skillful.. See how he beat the

py

 
68 THE CANNIBAL CHIEF; OR,

mighty Knokai who had warriors as many asthe leaves of the
trees. Knokai was great and powerful, but Baloa conquered
hins, Baloa is the greatest king in the world.”

He paused a moment, and « murmur of applause ran
through the crowd. He could see that his words had a
pleasant effect on Baloa himself.

“Yes,” continued Maxwell, “there is none so great es
King Baloa, THe rules these islands, and he has seven of: the
fairest maidens for his wives. His enemies fear him-—the-
know his power, and flee away in terror at his approach. It
is a year since he beat King Knokai, a year to-morrow since
he sunk his canoes and drowned his warriors. We have
these prisoners. They are good—there wili be a great feast
in honor of the great Baloa, Nalote would be there, he
would rejoice. Can he not have to-day to weep for the
maiden he has lost and come to the feast to-morrow? Buloa
is great, and Nalote would honor him.”

This piece of flattery had the desired effect upon. his au-
dience and the king. Baloa smilingly consented to delay the
feast until the morrow, and the savages dispersed,
~~ Elated with his success, Maxwell at once entered the prison,
and presented the hat and vail he had found. Charles’ grief
was intense, but he felt a consolation in the thought that she
had escaped a worse fate,-by meeting death.

“ And now,” said Maxwell, “I have a plan to propose.
You heard me persuading Baloa to Jeave you unmolested un-
til to-morrow ?” L

“ We did,” was the cold reply.

“Well, if you consent to my plan, you will not be within
his reach when to-morrow shall have come. Listen: I am
tired of this life bere—I should have left long since, had it
been in my power to have done so. You want to escape. I
have « large boat—an unwieldy affair as compared with
those built by shipbuilders, but it is the result of poor tools
to labor with, and an ignorance of boat-building. However,
it will carry your party and myself, and we, together, can
manage it—something no single nan could do. If you are
agreed, we will leave here in it to-night when the savages sre
asleep. Stecring north-west, we shall very soon be in. the
wack of ships, and be picked up. Do you consent ?”

 
   

 

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THE MOUNTAIN GUIDE. 69

Charles meditated. That Maxwell was disinterestedly en-
deavoring to rescue them, he did not for an instant believe,
but he did not doubt that he himself wished to escape, and

g this furnished a motive for his conduct. Escape in any way,
} was the thing desirable, and he weighed the matter carefully
j

in his mind before deciding. © ™
s Captain,” he asked, ‘* what do you say ? me
“To go,” was the prompt reply. “I den’t mind. telling
Vex you, in presence of this precious individual, that I wouldn’t
} i } trust him an inch, if I could see that he trad any motive be-

pf sides wishing to escape. But I can’t, and so I say go.”
, “ Thim are my sentiments exactly,” said Dennis. “We'd ba

a dale sight better set sail to-night in his company, san to
stay here an’ be’ made into cuilets an’ sRin-soup to-morrow,
Begorra, an’ i’s meself that don’t relish the idea of bein’
served up hot, with aranges an’ lime-juice for dressing.”
“You are complimentary,” said Maxwell,,“ but I don’t

4 mind that. You'll go ?”
1 “Yes,” said Charles. ‘“ We will go, and as I know my

cousin will not consent without a line from me, or seeing me
personally, you will have to take measures for such a proceed-

Pe ing.”
| Maxwell untied the young man’s hands, and Charlie wrote
q rapidly, on a leaf torn from his note-book, a few words in
: pencil.
4 This done, Maxwell again adjusted the cords on his wrists,
{ ‘and armed with the paper, sought Kitty’s prison.

im On seeing the drenched hat and vail, the probable fate of

Mabel flashed upon her, and though torn,by anxiety before,
she had not shed a tear. Now, at sight of the articles worn
by the missing girl, and seeming to bear the story of her fate
upon them, her tears flowed unrestrainedly, She remembered
the white, agonized face, as she,had seen it last—the wild ery
for help, which she was powerless to respond to—and_ her
* soul rose up against) Richard Maxwell, in a scorn and hate too
great for utterance,

She listened in silence to him, while he related the meaning
of the scene at Charlie’s prison, which she had witnessed from
her window: in wonder and anxiety, and went on to unfold
his scheme of escape.

 

i
.
7

s

a

 

pag)

 

 

  
   

0 THE CANNIBAL CHIEF; oR,

“Richard Maxwell,” she said, when he finished, “do you
think [can believe in you? Do you imagine tkat I will
consent to this ?”

“ Read this,” he answered, giving her the note. She opened
it and read in Charlie’s well-known handwriting :

© -“Dzan Kirry—I think we fad better consent to Maxwell's plan,
Certain death awaits us otherwise. Yours, CHaries Harris”

She mnsed.a nfoment, then looked at Maxwell.

“Since my cousin thinks it best,*I will consent,” she said,
rezarding him steadily. ‘ But I tell you, Richard Maxwell,
that hating and despising you as I do, it is hard for me to
receive a favor at your hands, even though I know that favor
is offered me from a selfish motive on your part.”

“You are gratefifl,” he sneered ; “small thanks one gets
for attempting to benefit his fellow-creatures. _But-”

“Do not add the sin of hypocrisy to your other crimes,
Richard Maxwell,” she flashed, angrily ; “ you can not deceive
me. I can read your base heart like an open book.”

“Ah,” he returned, significantly, “ perhaps you can, and
perhaps you can not, But this is trifling. Be ready as soon
as the village is quiet, and watch for me.”

“ You will bring my cousin here ?” she ‘sald. “ Otherwise
I will not leave this place.”

“ Yes, I will bring the men with me.”

With these words he left the room.

“Miss Kitty,” said Nancy, who had been a silent witness
to the interview, “can you see what that scamp means ?”

“Not clearly,” replied the young girl. ‘“ But, Nancy, we
have to choose between two evils, and this seems to be the
least of the two. Poor Mabel, her fate seems wrapped in
mystery. How can I trust him—Mabel’s murderer? And
yct I have no choice.”

Darkly thenight shut down. Two hours before midnight —

the village was asleep, and an hour Jater there came a low
rap on the door of Kitty’s prison. An instant afterward
it swung open, and Maxwell, followed by Charlie, Captain
Stewart, and Dennis, entered.
“ Ready ?” inquired Maxwell.
“ Yes,” replied Kitty, ——s forward, “all ready. Ob,
. Charlie, Charlie!”

     
    
 
 
   
  
 
 
  
 

 

}
}
  

”

THE MOUNTAIN GUIDE ve}

At sight of him she burst into tears.

“Don't cry, darling,” he whispered, while his own eyes
grew misty. ‘“ Heaven still watches over us.”

“ But Mabel, Charlie,” she sobbed. “ Poor Mabel !”

“T know, dear,” he answered, gently, “and it is hardest of
all to have to go with the villain who caused her loss, but
we have no choice save to be murdered.”

“Come, hurry up,” growled Maxwell; “ we have no time
to Jose.” ~

‘How were the guards disposed of ?” asked Captain Max-
well, as they all left the prison,

“T persuaded Boloa to believe they were useless,” replied
Maxwell. ‘“ Now follow me and be silent.”

They left the village, and following along the beach a
\ short distance, reached a miniature bay. Here, moored, lay
} the boat. It was a broad, flat craft, managed by two huge

paddles, and one sail. In the center was a space about ten
feet long and three broad, which was two feet lower than
the rest of the boat. Over a part of this there was erected
a rough roof, and this constituted the cabin. In one end of
this Maxwell had placed two stone jars of water, a hamper
of provisions, and a large basket of limes and oranges. _

In a moment all were on board, the sail was set, and, with
Maxwell and Dennis at the paddles, the boat moved off,
Unwieldy as it looked, it moved quite rapidly, and when
they were out from under the shelter of the island, where the
breeze caught the sail, they sped forward like a bird.

Morning found them afar on the wide ocean, with a storm

ia prospect

 

 

  
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
  
 
    
    
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
    

~

74 THE CANNIBAL CHIEF; OR,

“Oh, no, she is not dead, Mr. Boyd,” she said; cheerily,
“ She has only fainted.

“ Heaven grant it,” he breathed, fervently.

Even while he spoke, there was a faint, fluttering color
came to the white face, the waxen lids lifted themselves slowly,
and the violet eyes looked wonderingly into his. Then, as he
dropped his face to hers, she murmured :

“Oh, Vernon, are we in heaven 2?”

“My darling, no; you are alive and safe with me,” he
answered, while the sailors stood wonderingly by. The cap-
tain and Mjss Easton, knowing th@gyoung man’s story, com-
prehended,

“Come with me, child,’ Miss Easton said, as Mabel, her
senses coming slowly back to her, raised herself from. Ver-
non’s support. “ You are tired and faint. Do not question
her now, wait until she is able to answer you.”

She took the girl down to the cabin, where she was. soon
made comfortable with a suit of Miss Easton’s clothing, and
the care of the kind little woman and the stewardess.

Once more something like herself, Mabel wished to see
Vernon. She told him all that had occurred, adding:

“ And they are there, Vernon, still in the power of Max-
well, if yet alive. What shall we do?’

“T will see. Oh, Mabel, kow could you have married Max-
well ?”

“J would, had he fulfilled his contract, have married him,
but the hour that saw me _ his wife would have seen me a
corpse !” she answered, solemnly.

“My own! But the danger is past. It was a fearful
sacrifice, Mabel, and you have been saved from making it.
Thank Heaven, you are restored to me. If Charlie and the
others still live—

He was interrupted by a hurried tramping, and the captain’ 8
voice. bawling:

“ Boyd, Boyd Ly

“Tam wanted,” he said, rising. “I do not see what the
matter can be. I will return in a moment.” .

He went out, leaving Mabel alone. Overhead the bustle
still contiaved, and the sound of excited voices came in a
confused murmur town to the cabin. In an instant there

   
THE MOUNTAIN GUIDE. %B

was a sound of flying footsteps, the door opened, and Mabel
Jooked up to behold Kitty Macy !

She sprung to her feet in delighted amazement, but before
she could advance a step, Charlie, Captain Stewart, Nancy
and Dennis, followed by Vernon Boyd, came in.

The scene that followed was a joyful and excited one.
When the excitement had somewhat subsided, and a hundred
‘her questions been asked and answered, Mabel asked :

“ How did you escape ?”

“Tn a large boat, with Maxwell,” replied Charlie.

A sharp pain stung Mabel. She asked, hastily :

“ Where is he?”

“ Dead.” ;

She drew a Jong breath of relief. For her life she could
not have helped the feeling.

“ How did he die?’ asked Vernon.

“A squall struck us yesterday,” replied Charlie, “and he
was washed overboard. Had it been more than a flaw wa
must all have followed him. It was severe, but short, and
we could not save him. A large reed basket, half filled with
fruit, was washed away also. But he was a villain; I do
not know that we need mourn for him.”

“Afier clouds, sunshine,” said Kitty. ‘“ We are all safe,
and in a fair way to be happy. Heaven be thanked !”

The day following was a happy one. All were light of

_ heart; the only shadow on their happiness was the thought

that they were going from Mr. Harris, who must mourn them
as dead for so long a time.

“ Poor papa,” said Mabel, “ how I long to see him, And
I must wait so long !”

“Perhaps not, Miss Harris,” said Miss Easton. “ We may
meet a ship bound for San Francisco, and you can leave the
Annie Bergh, and board her.”

“ A bright thonght, Miss Easton !” exclaimed Captain Stew.
art, who, being a bachelor of forty years, appeared to greatly
admire the cheery little woman. “I would not be at all sur.
prised if we did mect a ship, as you say.”

It was even so. A few days later, they spoke the Daunt.
less, bound for San Francisco, and without her usual cempie
ment of passengers, The Harris party could return iv ker.

 
   

%6 THE CANNIBAL CHIEF; OR,

Captain Stewart decided to .go on to New York. His
funds were there, he declared, but dur young friends shrewdly
suspected that the presence of Miss Easton on board the
Annie Bergh, ivfluenced him. in his decision.

In due time, the Dauntless arrived at-San Francisco. Mr.
TIarris owned .a beautiful place in the suburbs of the city, but
he felt that in his loneliness he could not reside alone where
he had hoped to be so happy With his children. When the
Dauniless reached San Francisco he was boarding‘ at a hotel,
attended by Cudjo.

The happy young people went at once to the hotel, and
surprised Mr. Harris sitting alone in the parlor.

At sight of his children, whom he had so bitterly mourned
the father was.totally overcome. For a time he could not,

_ &peak, but embraced them in speechless joy.

“ My children,” he breathed at Jast, “my darling children Y”’

“ Restored to you as by a miracle, papa,” said Mabel,
kissing him fondly. ‘“ God has been very good to us.”

Explanations followed, and when Mr. Harris learned the
great dangers they dad passed through, he was filled with
wonder and thanksgiving at their deliverance.

Mr. Harris and his family at once took possession of the
pleasant place he owned, which was called Oakmere, from the
presence Of .a number of oak trees in the grounds.

Vernon. Boyd remained at. a hotel.

Tt was now the last days-of October, and the marriage of
Mabel Harris and Vernon, Boyd, and .Charles Harris and
Kitty Macy, who had plighted their troth on board the Mar-

_puerite, was arranged to take place the following May. The
gentlemen were impatient of this delay, but the ladies wished
it, and they had nothing to do but consent.

And so the days wore on, every one bringing nearer to them
a blighting shadow that had power to shut all the sunshine
from two of their lives.

 
  

\
THE MOUNTAIN GUIDE,

CHAPTER XIII.

THE SHADOW.

™ But the night grew damp and cold,

The sullen wind rushed by,

I seemed to be growing gray and old,
Under that leaden sky.

I felt my cheek grow pale
And its rounded bloomdecay,

The wind rushed by with a sullen wail,
Seeming to say:

‘There will come no day!
Wither and waste and die away!’ ”

Tne winter was past, and the balmy breezes of spring swept
over the land. It was the first of May.

At Oakmere there were joyful preparations. It only lacked
a week of the day appointed for the double wedding, and
every thing wasin pleasant bustle throughout the mansion,

~The back parlors were a wilderness of foamy laces and mus-—
lins, sheeny silks, and satins, and velvets, presided over by a -
hook-nosed female, with a pair of scissors dangling from ler
bodice, and a perpetual needle in her hand. The trousseau of
the brides was not yet completed,

Kitchenward the war waxed furious. Nancy, in an im-
meuse white apron, and with sleeves rolled to the shoulders,
flew to and fro from pantry to kitchen in a fever of culinary
excitement. There were cakes or shelves, tables and cup-
boards, frosting of every hue on every side, and a regiment
of spice-cans, cake-dishes, and pastry-spoons, on the side-
table,

Cudjo, bare-armed and aproned, his black face shining with
a good-humor that overflowed in bubbling little chuckles every
ten minutes, was her prime minister.

On this pleasant afternoon every thing seemed ynusually
pleasant and happy.’ “An hour before sunset Mabel Harris
came down stairs with her garden-hat hanging over her arm,
and a book in her hag. Kitty was seated at the piang,

 
  

78 | SHE CANNIBAL CHIEF; OR,
playing a dashing waltz, but she looked up as Mabel en-
tered,

“ Whither bound?” she asked, pausing in her playing, and
holding her hands suspended over the keys.

“ Only to the garden. — I have to flee somewhere for peace,
Between Cudjo, Nancy, the housemaids and Miss Martin, I am
on the verge Of distraction. Getling married appears to be a
formidable undertaking.”

She made a little grimace, and went out singing merrily,
Did no premonition of the dark shadow hanging over her
come to her ?

She ran down the steps and turned into one of the paths
leading off among the shrubbery. Dennis, the gardener, was
tying up some vines.

“ Wal, Miss Mabel,” he said, as she came along, “ tuings be-
gin to look some like spring, don’t they? There’Sa few grane
leaves on Vmost every thing. This vine will blow afore along.
Y’ve nearly broke my arms intirely, thryin’ to” stir the dirt
good an’ dape go it should grow.”

“The garden does look nicely, indeed, Dennis,” she teplicd
“You take a great deal of pains with it.”

She followed the winding path through the shrubbery
reaching at last a small, rustic arbor, covercd with vines.
Seating herself on the bench inside she was soon absorbed in
the book she held. She read steadily for half an hour, and
then noticed suddenly that it was growing dark very fast.
Looking up she saw a storm was gathering.

sk The first thunder-storm of the | season,” she thought, as a
low, rumbling sound broke on Wer ears. “It looks as thongh
it would he a severe one.”

She rose to her feet, and picking up her fallen hat took a
step toward the door. - She was arrested by the words,.spoken
in a light, mocking voice: “ Good evening, sweetheart.”

A nameless horror took possession of Mabel Harris, as that
voice smote her ears. She looked toward the door He stood
there—the man she feared more’ than death. No ghostly
apparition, no wraith conjured up by her imagination, but
Richard Maxwell, alive and well,

“Not dead,” she said, involuntarily, speaking her thought,
as she gazed at him. “ Not dead, gt living?’

   

 
 

    

THE MOUNTAIN GUIDE. %9

“Exactly so, my dear,” he said, advancing toward her,
"alive, and delighted to see you. I arrive very opportunely
it appears.” He stepped forward as if to embrace her.

“ Stop, Richard Maxwell !” she .exclaimed, putting out her
hands to ward him off. ‘Stop, or I will call for assistance.
You shall not touch me.”

“Oh, very well,” he returned, amiably, taking a seat,
“ We will dispense with the ceremonies usually observed be-
tween lovers, since you wish it.”

He locxed at her smiling. That old, evil, mocking smile,
how well she remembered it.

“ Perhaps you would like to know by what fortunate chance
gou behold me,” he continued, as she stood speechless.
* Your relatives doubtless recollect that a basket was washed
overboard with me. Being a good swimmer I clung to that,
and was picked up two hours later by a homeward bound
whale-ship. Arriving here, I heard that you had ceased
mourning for me, and was about to marry a young chap
bandsomer than I, perhaps. Very faithless in you, my dear ;
I had been inconsolable for your supposed loss.”

He paused a moment, and looked at her. She did not
speak, only stood in a half-defiant, haif-shrinking attitude, and
looked at him steadily.

“T was rejoiced to hear you were alive,” he resumed, “and
delighted that I had not arrived too late. The wedding can
go on—with the important change of one of the bridegrooms.
Mr. Vernon Boyd can officiate as best man if he chooses. Of
course I shall occupy the place intended for him.”

He looked at her complacently, but with tka, evil smile on
his lips.

“Richard Maxwell,” ‘she said, slowly “Jo you suppose I
will marry you? Never!”

“Of course you will, my dear,” he returned, lightly. Then
changing his tone. ‘ Mabel Harris, do you think I am to be
cheated of my revenge at last? Never, so help me God!
I will have revenge. Besides, I like you. Youare pretty, and
will make me a nice wife. I will have you! You dare not
disregard your ofth. Remember you have sworn!”

“ But only on conditions,” she cried, clutching at the straw.

“You did not save me,”

  
   

 

% ~

69 \ THE CANNIBAL -CHIEF;..0R,

“ Was it-my fault that I did. not, Mabel Harris ?” he asked.
“ You know it was not. I would have.saved you, as I did
your party. It was no fault of mine. I fuiriled my part ot
the contract,.and I hold you to your oath.” 2

For an instant.2 fierce expression appeared on ber face, and
she looked as if she was about to defy him, But it faded
again, giving place to.one of despair The storm was near,
and the thunder rolled: ceaselessly. ATready a few hurrying
drops gave warning of the flood to came. Mabel started as
i! to. flee, not from the;storm but from her tormentor.

“ Wait,” he said, voting the action, ‘“ Listen.to me. You
can notyin honor, disregard your oath. Dare to.do so,and I
will: make your life a curse to you. All you hold dear J jill
tear from you, this man, Boyd, whom I see you love, Iwill
murder if you defy me.”

His terrible, vehemence frightened her, The.shock of his
sudden .appearance—his awful threats—stunned her. She
dropped on her knees, holding up her hands.

“ Have mercy!” she cried.“ Be merciful and let met go.
I will pray fen you all my life—I will bless you forever.
Only let me go.”

He laughed sardonically.

“Never!” he cried. “ Ask the forlied Jightnings about us
to cease, and if:they heed you, then.expect me to. do so also.
J never will give you up. I want you, and J will have you.
Nothing shall stand in. my way-—God himszlf slall not hinder
me!”

Mabel shrunk back in horrer.His awtul- blaspheming
froze her blood. 4

“Go into the house,” he continued ; “ you are getting wet
Go, but.on this day weck I shall claim you. It is useless, tv
entreat me, I hold you to youroath. Disregard it, and J will
as I have suid, make your life a,curse,to you. The game is
iymy hands at last, and nothing:shall move me from my pur-
pese. you shall be mine, I defy heaven and earth to prevent
jul? ‘

_ Mabel. put up her hands, as if his words had been a blow.
There came.a blinding flash of lightning—she felt as if heaven
and earth crashed together; .every thing grew dim befcre her
—and then there was a blank.
  

 

CHAPTER XIV.

JUBILATE |

Thus far our chronicle, and now we pause;
Tho’ not for want of matter, but. ‘tis time.” —BYRowN.

Tuer: was a hurried flying of feet through the garden at
Oakmere. The lightning had riven an oak treein the gar-
den that overhung the rustic arbor; and Mabel, the family
had discovered, had not yet returned to the house. Regard-
less of the-storm, they threaded the shrubbery walks, calling
her name, and listening with white faces for the response that
aever came,

They found her at last, lying on the ground .in the .arbor,
her white, still face upturned to the beating rain; and_ beside
her a :prostrate figure, with the face so burnt and scarred by
the lightning, as to be scarcely recognizable.

The thunderbolt had done its work, and with the impious
words he had-spoken yet,on his lips, he had been called into
eternity.

Dead, and Mabel was free! Free to love, free to live, free
to be happy !

They carried ‘her into the house, where, at last, she came
back td life and consciousness. The shock, strangely enough,
had not injured, only stunned her, and :in .a few hours: she
was as. well as usual

The black shadow had lifted at last forever, and nothing
remained but the unclouded sunshine.

The double wedding took place at the appointed time.

Tt was a joyous affair, though mot altogether aristocratic in
every particular. Peltiah Brown was.an honored guest, and
enjoyed himself immensely. He gave it.as his opinion that
“the way things. had turned out «cas surprising. Why.you
understand,” hesaid, addressing Mabel as they..were all gathered
‘in the drawing-room afier the ceremony was oyer, “I never
heerd on such an amazin’ course of eyents.in my life, an’ Pye

 

  
 

  

THE CANNIBAL CHIEF, .OR,

seen a thing or two, too, you understand. The scrapes we
got into up in the mountains was cur’us enough, bein’ as we
got out of ’em with whole hides, but your ’venture does beat
all. Howsomever, I dunno as any on ’em will go ahead of
Cudjo’s,” added the hunter, with a sly twinkle and a glance
toward the last-mentioned individual, who looked/ sheepishly
in return, He was-kitled—-all broke to pieces in fackt, and
was cured an’ restored to the bosom of his lamentin’ friends
by a threatened dose of rocks. Some dezeezes be peculiar,
you understand ?” concluded the hunter.

“You sho’ now,” said Cudjo; “you'll make Miss Mabel
Vink dat ar’s so, when dar arn't a morsel o’ tufe in it. ’Twas
all a joke jest to scare you fellars.”

“ Percisely thus,” remarked the hunter, with a wink,

“ Arrah,” said Dennis, who, with Nancy, was a privileged
spectator and participant in the doings of the day, “you may
tell of your exploits all ye plaze, but Miss Kitty’s doings will
throw ye in the shade after all. Didn’t she thravel boldly an’
unmolested around that cannibal village in the dead of the
night alone? Faith, an’ she did that same, Och, an’ it’s our-
selves that had the surprisin’ time’ The day we was took I
see the first blaggard savage meself, bein’ out after a turtle,
an’ havin’ a hard time to raduce the chrater to d'’acent sub-
mission, turtles bein’ a baste that don’t die till a spell after
they are killed. Sure an’ I couldn’t thole the musky
sea-biscuits any longer. My mouth was all raw intirely, an’
I couldn’t chew my victuals till I got’em clear down in my
throat.” ; 3

Laughter greeted this exquisite piece of Irishism, in which
the Irishman joined, without knowing the cause of the merri-
ment.

There was no wedding-tour. After the wedding Vernon
Boyd and Mabel took possession of an elegant mansion in
San Francisco, and Charles and Kitty continued to reside at
Oakmere with Mr. Harris,

Peltiah Brown continues his hunter life among the moun-
tains, and when visiting San Francisco always calls on his
friends, the Boyds and Harrises. He is as quaint and as ec.
centric as of old, and often entertains his friends with stories -
of his wild, roving life.

 

  
THE MOUNTAIN GUIDE. 83

Captain Stewart sails the seas in a ship far superio: to the
Marguerite, which is called the Hunice, that being the aame of
Miss Easton, who is Miss Easton no longer, but Mrs. Captain
Stewart.

 
 
 

 

 

 
   
  
   

 
  

STANDARD

DIME DIALOGUE

For School Exhibitions and Home Entertaimnents,

Noa. 1 to 21 inelusive. 18 to 25 Popular Dialogues and Dramas:in each book. Each voleme 104
2mo pagesy sent post-paid, on receip) of price, ten cents,

Beadle & Adams, Publishers, 98 William St. N. ¥.

‘These volumes have been prepared with especial reference to the! avcilability for Exhibitions,
ing adapted co schools and varlors with or withcut the furniture c/astage ard anived to SCHOL
- 4 AND YOUNG PEOPLE of every ege, both male and female. iy is n.‘r to assume that ng

yoke in the market, at any price, contain so many useful and availaule dalogucs acd drat
va$uc8, humor and sentiment,

DIME DIALOGTES, NO. 1,

11e Muses, For nine young !adies, )Hobnobbing. For five s jeakers,

 

 

a

 

 

~, 2-9 Engl'shman, For three hoys |The Secres of Success. fur thred speakers, .
pomera Coronation. For male and fe! |Young America, : L'hree males pu® two femstae
abion, For two ladies. Josephine ‘a Destiny. Four femaies, onen-sir
¥_» Rehearsal. For six boys. \Lhe Folly of the Duel. For three male speukem

Which wil you Choose? For two boys. \Dogmatism, For three male speakers,
fee Queen of May. For two liitle girls. |The Ignorant Con ‘otnded. For two boye
Phe Tea Farty. or four ladies. |The Fast Young Man, Fortwo male,

ing: 12 femates’a.? t realy,

cones in Wedded Life . Year’s Re
ree Scenes in Wedded Life. Maleand female.) The Year’s Rec SC admis’ bee espe

#irs, Sniffies’ Confession. For male and female. |The Village v
fhe Mission of the Spirits. Five young ladies. males ant
asi
DIME DIALQGUES, NO, &s
The Genfagof Liberty, @males and 1 female. How to Wiis ’ Popul
Cinderollag or, The Littie Glass Slipper. The Newe 11 the Ol : 5
Doing Good and Saying Bad. Several characters.] A Sensatio1 at Last. For two malas,
The Golden Rule. “Twe males and two femalen|The Green iorn, For two males, 5
The Gift of the Feiry Queen. Several females. |The Three Mon of Science. For foar meict.
Taken ix and Done For. Fortwo characters. Jy’s Will, Forfourmales, ) ..\
The Country Aunt’s Visit to the City. For sev- 31. sophers. +» For two littlegisigy \
era! characters, an Heir For five wales,
The Two Romaus. © For two males. For six young ladies.

   
  

    

 

  
 
    

frying the Characters. For three males. A Connubins Melogues 4
The ha py Family. For several ‘animals,’ The Public nesting. Fivemales and onofermaly,
The bows For several characters. ‘The Englis. Travoler. For two mates.

, DIME DIALOGUES, XO, 3.
fh May Queen. Tor an entire school. ‘The Gentee. Cook. For two males.

Oxn.ss Reform Convention. For ten females, Masterpiecs, For two males and two femeley *
Keoving Bad Company. A Farce. For five males,/The Two R»mans. For two males,

Courting Under Diffieulties. 2 males, 4 female, {The Same. Secondecene. Fortwo males.
Axtional Represertatives. A Burlesque. 4 males.|Showing th» White Feather. 4 males, 1 ferinka

  

Weravinz the Praft. For numerous ‘nales, The Battle Onli, A Recitative. For one male;
DIME. DIALOGUES, NO. 4 <i
The frost Ving. Yor ten or more persons, The Stubb'etown Volunteer. 2 males, 1 feraly

Ssarting in Life. Three males and two females. | A Scene from “Paul Pry.” For four malos.
Faith, Hope and Charity, For three little girls.|‘Tie Charms, ‘For three males and one female,
Darhr rnd Joan. For tvo mules an-l one female.| Bee, Clock snd Broom. For three little girls,
The May. A Floral Faray, For six litte girls.| The Right AColloquy. Fer two koyas
Tre Enchanted Prine % males, several females] What the I For'teo mal
enor to Whom Hero ia De. 7 males, 1 female |The Crimee 2 D
Sentle Client. Forsevaral males, one female| The Rewar’ of 2.
Peg. A Discussion, For twenty males. ‘The Letter

DIME DIALOGUES, 1). 5,

         
  
 
 
  
  

 

 

 
   
  

amecs Guesses, For school or parlor, Putting on ‘1 A Cofoony.
iment. A*'Three Persons’ ” Fa ce. The Straigat Marg a
i Two ideas of Life. A Coiioquy.

 

 

ied the Curta’n. For males and femal
fue Eta Pi Society. Five boys anda tenther, [Extract fro
Exawination Day, Forseveral femals characters,|Ma-try-Money, An Acting Charade.
Frading in ‘ Traps.” Forseveral malra, |The Six Virtues, For six young ladies,
The fchool Boys’ Tribunal. For ¢en boys. |The Irisimen at Home. For two males,
ALeose Tongue. Several males and females, |Fashion:ble Requirements. For three girte.
flow Not to Get an Auswez, For two females. /A RBevy of I’s (Eyes). For eight or less litilegi-%s

DIME DIALOGUES, NO. 6. .
fhe Way They Kent aSeoret, Male and females.|The Tiro Counselors, Foy three malcs.
ThA Post under Difficulties, For five males, The “’otaries of Folly. For « number of fematey
WwW: Tell. For a “hore school, Ann* Detoy’s Beaux. Four females and two males
Wonan’s Righte. Seven females and two males.|The Libel Suit. For two females and one ma_
9 41a not Gol? thas Glitters, Male and fomales.{Sanra Claus. Fors number of bovg
Re eres Jew. Yor six males, Christmas Fairioa. For sovcral little git.
Saesing Bor three males and one female, Tho Thsee Ring Bor two males,
!

viarino Faliero,

 

  
 
 

 

 
f

DIME SCHOOL SERIES.—#peakérs and Dialogues,

 

DIME DIALECT SPEAKER, No, 23,

Dat’s wat’s de matter, |All about a bee, Latest Chinese outrage,| My meighbor’s dogs, -
The Miss ssippi rateacie) Senda The manitest destiny of/Con 1d Mythology,
vu te tide cooms in, A dark side view, the Irishman, Pictns,
Dose las vot Mary haf|'l'e pesser vay, !Pexgy McCann, The Nereides,
got, On Jeurning German, |Sprays from Josh Bil | Legends cf Attica,
Put O'Flaherty on wo-|Mary’sshinall vite lamb! ngs, |The stove-pipe trasedy
man’s rights, A healthy discourse, {De circumstances ob de}A doketor’s drubbles,
The homegrulers, how| ovias sy to speak, | sitiwation, The coming nan,
they “ fies,” Old Mrs. Grimes, [Dar’s nuffiu’ new wnder| The illigunt aflair at
Hezekiah parody, de sun, Muldoon’s,
Mothers-in-law, Mure nnd ents, \|A Nexro religious peem,|/That little baby round
He didn’t sell the farm.| 3ill Underwood, pilot, |Tlat violin, the Corner, ‘
‘The true story of Frank-| id Granley, Picnic delights, A genewine inference §
lin’s kite, The pill peddler’s ora-|Our c ndidate’s views, |An invitution to | ti!
T would I were # boy| tion, |Dundreary's wisdom, bird of liberty,
aain, Vidder Green’s last Plain language by truth-| The crow,
A pathetic story, words, ! ful Jane, Uut west,

DIME DIALOGUES No, 26,

Poor cousins. Three ladies and two gentlemen. |The lesson of merey. Two very «mall girls,
Mounting and miule-hills. Six |.dies and several |Practice what you preach, Four ladies.
sveetators. |Politic + Numerous characters.
A test that didnot fail. Six bors. |The canvassing agent. ‘Two males and twe
Two ways of seeing things. Two little girls. | females.
Don’t count your chickens before they are|Grub, ‘S'wo males,
hatched. Four ladies and a boy. A siight scare. Three females and one male,
Allis fairia love and war. 3 ladies, 2 gentlemen. | Zibodi-d sunshine. Three young ladies.
How uncle Josh got rid«f the legacy. Two males, | How Jim Petersdied. ‘Iwo males.
with several trausfurmations.

DIME DIALOGUES No. 27.

Patsey O’Dowd’s campaign. For three males/The street girl’s good angel. For two ladies and
one female. ° two little pirls.

Hasty inferences not always just. Numerous! That ungrateiul little nigger.” For two males.
ys. fI had the money, For three little girls.

Discontented Annie. For several girls. Appearances are deceitful. Fer several ladies ,

A double surprise. Four males and one femule.| and one gentleman.

What was it? For five ladies, Love's protest. For two little girls.

What will cure them! For a lady and two boys.|An entorced cure. For several characters.

Independent. For numerous characters, Those who preach and those who periurm. For

Each season the best. For four boys. three males.

Tred and found wanting. For several males. {A geutle conquest, For two young girls.

A boy’s plot. For several characters.

(2 The above books are seld by Newsdealers everywhere, or will be sent, post-paid, to amy
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BEADLE & ADAMS, Publishers, 0$ William &t., N. Yeo

 
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a Anaverere Marry. The River Rifles. 111 The Texas Tiger.

d Sho ifunter Ham, The Crossed Knives,
Miners, Cloudwood. Tv
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Nat Wolfe. Merciless Mat.
The White Tracker. Mad Anthony’s Scouts.
The Outla’s Wife. The Luckless Trapper.
The Tall ‘Trapper. 58 The Florida Se.nt.
Lightning Jo. ae pose Trapper.
The Island Pirate. 5 Wo
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Bess, the Tiapper. ? Sharp-Eye.
The French Spy. Iron-Hand
Long Shot. The Yellow Hunter.
The Foe anUners 20 The Phantom Rider.
Red Hand 21 Delaware Tom.
Ben, the Trapper. 72 Silver Rifle.
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The Biat-Miller. 75 The Wood W itch.
Wild Nat. 76 Old Ruff, the Trapper.
2 Indian Jo. 7? The Scarlet Shoulders.

Old Kent, the Ranger, 278 The Border Rifleman.

The One-Eyed Trapper, | 79 Outlaw Jack.

Godbold, the Spy. 80 Tiger-T all, Seminole.

The Black Ship. $1 Death-Denler.

Single Eye. on sreRtOns the Ranger.

Indian Jim. pon ter Horseman.

1
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Cato, the Creeper,
Two-Handed Mat.
Mad Trail Hunter.
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Kit Bird.
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Squatter Dick.

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Red Plume.

Clyde, the Trailer.

The Lost Oache.

The Gannibal Chief.

Karalibo.

Scarlet Mocensin,

Kidnapped.

’ Mald oF the Mountain.
The Sciote Scouta,

Border Renegade.

The Mute Chie’.

Bocne, the Hunter.

Mountain Kate.

The Red Scalper.

The Lone Chiet.

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Eagle Eye. 85 Kaleolah.
The Mystic Canoe. 86 The Ilunter Hercules,

2 The Golden Harpoon, 8% Phil. Hunter.

The Scalp King. 88 The Indian Scecut.

L Old Lute. 89 The Girl Avenger.
Rainbolt, Ranger. 90 The Red Hermiteas,
The Boy Pioneer. 9t Star-Face, the Slayer.

3% Ourxon, the Guide, 92 The Antelope Bo
The Heart Eater. 98 The Phantom Hunter.
Wetzel, the Scout. 94 Tom Pintle, the Pilot.
The Huge Hunter. 95 The Red Wizard,
Wild Nat, the Trapper. | 96 The Riva) Trappers.
Ryne CaP. 97 The Squaw Spy.
The White Outlaw. 98 Dusky Dick.
The Dog Trailer. ae Colonel Crockett.

5 The Elk King. 00 Old Bear Paw.

§ Adrian, the Pilot. jo% Redlaw.
the Man-hunter. 102 Wild Rube,

The Phantom Tracker. The Indlan Hunters.

Moceasin Bill. 4 Scarred Eagle.

The Wolf Queen. Nick Doyle.

Tom Mawk, ‘Irailer. The Indfan Spy.

The Mad Chief. Job Dean.

The Black Wolf. 8 The Waed King.

Arkansas Jack. The Scaiped Hunter.
565 Blackbeard, 110 Nick, the Scout.

165 Wild Nat, the Gulch Terror; or, The Border Huntress. By W.
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166 The Maid of Wyoming: or, The Contest of the Clans. By James
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167 The Three Captives, A Tale of the Taos Valley. By Edward
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168 The Lost Hunters; or, The Mohave Captive. By Capt. J. F.C. Adams.
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169 Border Law; or. The Land Claim. By Mrs. Frances Fuller Barritt,
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170 The Lifted Traw; or, The White Apache. By Edward Willett.
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The Silver Brgle.
Chines, the Che y enne,
ie he Tangled Trail,
The Un-een Wand:
The Lene Inéian,
The Branded Braye.
Billy Bowlegs,
The Valley Scout.
Red Jacket,
Tho Jungle Scout,
Cherokee Chief
The Bandit Hermit.
’ The Patriot Scouts,
The Wood Rangers.
The Red Foe,
Keantiful Untnowr.
Canebrake Moke,
Hank, the Guide.
The Border Sovut.

Do Ba BoD ST SC CS eT Ut he she the hn she pe hn se hee
tt aap don babe Sed. SLADE SO

 

171 The Trader ergs or, TSe Victim of the Fire-Raft. By J. Stanley
Henderson. Ready

172 The Forest Specter: or, rhe Yowng Hunter’s Foe. By Edward
Willett, Ready

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