"Jumbo-led 2!. Ten (Jenn. 14. .\_ THE PONY EXPRESSMAN. b A TALE OF. THE OLD SALT LAKE TRAIL BY FREDERICK WIII'PTAKERL \ ‘ Amen or m tomato room mm: . " < 121 Rue: Ntcx. we Boon, rm: Hm ~ atrm'v Yang: . BEADLE AND ADAMS, PUBLISHERS, A ’ u ynnnux “first. ._ lama wording to Act of Comm, in tho year I“ by ikADLE AND ADAMS. in «In one. or the Librarian of Cannon. .3 Waking!“ DICK DARLING, THE PONY EXPRESSMAN I CHAPTER I. , r-anuun STATION. A. Low adobe. hm, with about the same amount of comfort that cxisls in an ordinary stable in New York ;.fl large corral behind it, in which more twmty wiry lillie nmstungs were playing about; a stocknde near the hut and opening into the corral; a stone granary within the stockade, loop-holed and iron-portalcd; two men lounging in the sun in front, of tho' 1 just, one smoking. another cleaning his revolvers; behold the appearance of Dolores Slatitm, Pony Express Route, in No- vada Territory. some twenty years ago. " The two men w'ere widely different in external nppearanci mid seemed to be no in character, judging from many indica- .t-lona. The smoker was a short, broad, heavy-built man. of about forty, whose shuggy hair and beard looked as if the comb and they werc’distant acqunintnncei, that seldom met. ‘ The lighl-blue uniform in which he was dressed was dirty and careless, tllujncket unbuttnncd, disclosing a shirt, Once red, now u. dingy purple, the lmwsnrs rugged in the sent." nntl in- . side of the thigh to the knee, as if from riding, while tin. hugc hunts “'ct'u hrown and rusty. The little ln'icrwomt pipe Flt-s stuck at out: sidu of u grim, tlctcrmim-d mmuh, and the foce uf the smoker was that of a rough, ruthless {rumiurr man. ' The second man was younger, taller and slighter, u: welt _ ll incomparahly neuter and hmdwmcr. He did not seem to ‘ you've: twenty. {or his rates was nearly mnmth. a 90ft brown it“Adobe. Sun-(Mod brick. the common wtcriul 50: have: in Mali- ot’ Collturutu. Hulda. Nev-do. ’ l ’ to are: manna. mustache barely shading his upper lip He wore his curling chestnut hair long and flowing, under the neat, durk-hlne chussenr cap, which bore in old English letters, on the front, the mysterious initials, U. S. P. E. inclusetl in a .silver horse. shoe. The dill‘erencc between his uniform and that of his oomrutle wnsmnazing. lly the mere fact of its being cut close nnd fitting well, and being buttoned up, while the riding-bouts of patent-leather were kept oiled and shining, it gave him the appearance of It dill'ereln't being. The two re- volvers that he was cleaning were already ns bright as silver, and yet he continued polishing them with a piece of clmmuia— leather. 1‘ Presently his companion removed the pipe from his mouth, and growled out: ‘ “ Say, Dick, whnt'n thnnder‘s the use of clennin’ up them things? They don't shoot a hit straighter fur ’t, and the com- pany don‘t ’low fur’t. I wouldn’t waste my time, n-polishin up them tlzu‘nt‘tl old pops.” The youngster nddretsed as “ Dick," smiled. " I don’t know that I waste nny more time on them than you do on smoke, Jack, and if they don’t shoot nny straighter, It least they don‘t do any Worse for a cleaning.” . “ But what's the use 0’ livin', et' a cuss has to he n-chniu' of himself; all the time i!" objected Jnclr, with at huge ynwu.. “ I aw’nr of it Wnrn‘t fut: tny pipe, I wouldn‘t he worth a' Continentul these times. Put the pistols away and hev n sociable drnw,‘ you fluikin‘ young gnlout." Dick Darling gave his revolvers a final rub, and then plnccd them in the patent-leather holsters, on each side of a neat- lmlt, thnt lay on the end of the bellt'll on which he was sil- ting. - As carefully and methudicnlly as he ilitl every thng else, he put away the belt in the cabin, nml returned, holding. a: lurge and lmntlsmne tneet'schnnm pipe in his lnnnl, which he slowly and cnrufully tilled from a neat little punch. ,Jnck llnrtlin grinned somewhat clIlIlt'tllplUt)ll:l_)'. . “ What u luxuriant .cuss you air, Dickl Kurn‘t be con-. tent with any thing but a meers‘ha'm, out in the Mlmli Deb err. , Durned of I don’t believe you‘ll be hevln' silver-spoon. out hyar, some day." v ' " 2 ‘ mme It ' “ I certainly shall when I get enough spare ctifili, Jack," mid Darling, tranquilly lighting his pipe. “ What’s the use of sir-king tn the level nl‘ a beast, thllllSC we seltlmn rec any thing but horses? I believe in elvilimtiun u:ySelt', and you know, Jack, we‘re pioneers of eivilizatinu out here.” “Cn'ilizmiuu he (innit-til" cried Hardin, with a grimrch. “ We're uut hyar to lterry the mails and keep ull‘ lujius t'rmn Uncle Sam's block, that's what we’re hyar fut'. l'tllilu- tn see a. Ute brave gr: fur your skulp some umrniugl Guess he‘d shake the civilization outeu you in short. order, and spell bounce in darned big capitals. You'll wish you hadn't wasted so much time a-cumbiu’ that ha'r of your-n just abuttt tltenl tithes, I reckon.“ Diek Darling - lavghed gcod-naturedly. He seemed not at all hurt by his compahlun's rough pleasanzries, as he said: “I‘ll admit that such a predicament might be disagreea- ble, Jack, but l fancy [should get through it, sotnt’lttm'." Hardin growled. “ Yes, some/tow. 'I‘tmt‘s'wlnti‘s the matter. Boy, you don't know what it is to hug a grizzly, or meet a red on the Warr path. Et’ you'd drop that 'et‘e eleuniu’ up and take to shoot-‘ in’, l moat hev hopes on yer. As it is, every tithe )‘er go out, 1 never 'spoc' to see yer ag'in.” “ Every man to his taste, Jaek. I‘ve come back late, sev. eral times. Cuntt‘, you Want to be Shooting all the time. What say you to a match Y" “ Shout. yer all'duy at a dollar a shot," saltl Hardin, ea- gerly. “Let’s git up an excitement. The mail won't be up fur an Zrour yet, and it's: your turn.” - “ Duuel" said Darling, qnittly. “ I must want yuu that I've been practicing lately, Jack.” “ You kin practice all you like," said Jack llartlin, a little Pcnrut'ully. “ I'm from Kentuek, paidnct'. “‘lmt‘ they lull“! the little boys, ef they don’t hit a squirrel in the eye, every time.” ‘ As he spake he stalked into the little hut, where the up- posite sides Were as strongly contrasted as their respective owners. Darling’s bed was neatly'madc, and raistd on a h‘amewol’k of slender poles, his horse equipment: hung on a “and. all his vuiona garments nnd acouutermcuta on pegs, V , t 1 t : its!» 1mka ms. 9n the wall ,lef Kentucmfi bed Wm) on the flour, rind while every thing was in order my, ‘ instant use. the dirt was carelessly brushed off every thing. Jack Hardin picked up his hell. and pistols, and left the hut. Dick Darling put away his pipe with a scrupulous care, and buckled his belt tightly around him, before he {01- , ‘ lowed. ' ‘ Hardin inserted a broad silver dollnr in the clt'itfloi it thin stick, threw the stick its fur as it. would go, and then to. marked: ' " Stickit up thur, youngster. That’; fur enough fur you. I , I'll stand hyur." . ,. Dick Darling smiled and obeyed. He found the wand, with the dollar still in the cleftfisome hundred {wt away, where he amok it» into the ground, leaving the dollnr edge- wise to Hardin, then milked buck, rethinking quietly : “ Any tool can see ntlollar, full face. Let‘s see you knock, it out that way, Kentuck." ' Jack Hardin’s that: became grave at once. The rent tin- mandcd of him required ,the powered! nfirst plats: murky mun. . “ Wal. Dick," he said, dryly, " I'll not deny that of you kin hit that ur' dollar, that ar’ way, you hev improved; but, old Kentuclt ain’t so easy hettt. utter itll. Stand ct’nr.” Raising his pistol, he took a steadynnd deliberate aim, and fired. The white stick was seen to. tremble, but rennin-i ed'etanding. It was only grazed. V _ Hardin uttered a disappointed oath, then turned to Du. ling. ' “ Take a shot, young teller," he said, curtly. “ The smoke 0! this (turned pipe got in my eyes‘thttt time, but you kurtt'tg beat. it, anyway." , Without a word Dick Darling fired. ‘ s The stick full, and the dollar was sent flying in the alt. outrun It. TWO CURIOUS 61,3158. Mn. Joms Unions removed the pipe from his mouth. and gazed on Dick Darling with no nir of newborn respect, for mnu'ly half a minute. without speaking. Then he dived Into his tro'wser’s pocket, and extracted a largc'silver dollar therefrom, which he extended to Dick, observing: " Fa’r pluy's a jewel. pard. You'w won her. Thur she is. Two to one you korn't do it ng‘in, hand run‘nin’." Dick was about‘to answer, when the low rumbling thun- der of horses at a gallop struck on their senses, and Hardin , mrted. ‘ “ By the ghost of 'Ginegsl Jackson, purd, thnr’s them gala h-comin' ag’in. Put up yer iron." You hcv me tllll‘lim,‘ , ‘ but. I‘ll git squnr', next matgh, and leave this darned pipe bd- L [Linda I didn’t think ye had it in yer.” ' I - ' While he spoke, ho Wus hurriedly loading the discharged blmmher of his pistol, and Darling, with his usual neat hnhits, was wiping outtho barrel of his oivn weapon with tho , wiping-stick. 'The sound of. galloping horses came plainer and plainer on the our. and 1er oqucstriuns were to he seen approaching the Italian, from the direction of Humboldt Pass. ‘ Dolores Station was on the Pony Express route, attth ' edge of the gloomy and clicerloss Alkali Desert, in one of V the fertile Valleys that inter-Sect that part of Nevadn, among 'V ‘thc penks of, the Rocky Mountains. Snowy summits retired their giant heads in the distance on all sides, and frowned I 'proteotingly ovvr tho-,gruen vulva, along which the Hastings _ Bond run from Salt Lake City to Carson. ‘ ‘ ‘ - A hmnch road forked 03‘ at Hastings Pass to Prom, and ' along hog: thus-s routes the Pony‘ Express mes gsllopod , a 1you station l5).§._l{|ll.~t’)l),‘al the foil avoid- or their game litth , - I f . «no. only animation-«may crush hat: of the plea, for hitndreds o! milieu, till you cum to the old Mission of Santa Clam, where two "conventlfiono / of'nuns, another of monks, stood in holy rivalry, within . mile of each other. ‘ ' 'l‘he equestrians coming toward Dolores Station were not of the civilized order. So much was clear. But whether warriors or sqnaws was not. so clear till it nearer view. Both rode handsome little mustangs, of that beautifully: variegtted color on account of which the frontit-rsmen de- nominatc them “tntlnt horses," which are genet‘nlly nppro~ . priated to chiefs. Both rode in manly style, btbil'ltllllg their steeds with ease and grace worthy of a riding-master, and both were fully equipped 'as warriors. Still, there was ttonicthinsr in the dress of both, feminine in its character, and It near approach revealed the two riders to he Women. I Women they were, or rather girls, handsome in face,'sup- pie in figure, not yet disfigured by tho inborshwhich [turn pquaws, ut thirty years, into wrinkled bags. Front the fair- , upset their complexion: and,t‘ho cast of their’fentures, it Was evident that they were not full-blooded Indium, hnt crossed on some Caucasian stock. The texture and material of their dresses, and the {act of their carrying firearms of handsome make, also proclaimed them to be connected with white men, either the wives or daughters of some mountain man, whose traps and rifle were “ lucky." As they came up, it was ltttt‘d to tell them apart. They seemed to he twins, so closely did they resemble each other Both had great block eyes, high, hawklike pmfilts, straight, glistening black hair, rounded chins, and full, sensuous lips, like Egyptian queens. ' ' . t It was in Very fair English, with a strong French acceuty , ' that one of them suid, us they pulled up: I , “ Good-rimming, Darling. How is my‘ Darling 1’" i . , Dick Darling flushed up at this address, for he was It 1' ,mtttlest youth, with all his good looks. ‘ ’ ' “ Very Well, thank you, Mademoiselle Chevrette,“ he sold. , , ,in a low voice. “ How do you find yourself?" , V .V ,1 Before answering, the, girl sprung oti‘ her hope with (if! “ lightness of a bird. and stood before the; faith, a model”? i, twee-we ~ ' ' '“mwié.r.evre‘tie and 1m always Weill“ wefemegft hunting, and thought we V'would come your way, Darling. Cat's Eye is on the war-path ‘ncair your trail. Look to your- selves, you nnd Blackbeard." - Jack Hardin stnt'ietlf "Look litre, Chevretm, this ain't no time for foolin' n felv iet'. How do you know that cuss is on the war-path ‘3' Is it against is i" ‘ - I ‘- Oh, no," laughed the half-hreed beauty. carelessly. " He ' has ten much Sense for thnt. N0. He’s out against us!’ ‘ And both girls laughed ecornfiully. Dick Darling looked ptllth-d,‘ - ' - I f‘ Tell me, Levretto," he said. " You‘re the quietest of the 'V two. What does she mean?" ' ‘ » ' Levrette, the second sister. answered, more sobtrly “,She rnenns that Cat’s Eye and Crowfoot came after in yesterday, and asked us to enter/ their lodges; that we re- fused; nod that they swore to tollow us till they captured on and made us marry them." U “ Dick frowned. ‘ ‘ “ The insolentdogsl ' What did you any l’” _ “I said,” replied Chevrette, with flushing eyes, “that my “father was a white man, my mother a queen of the"Echips- ' ta, and that it a dog of the Blackfeet bit the hand of a Ute breve. he sickened at the tust‘e.'- I told him to‘ do his heat, nod fear my revolvers." ‘ ~ ‘ - I’“ Good" fer yer grit," said Hardin. with emphasis. 9‘1 . 'w'vnnt to sue the red sneak mound ltynr. that's all. Ef he ‘ ymeddles with “this‘ child, he’ll swul’ler lead, mighty sod- Adint." , ' ' 5 t. 7» lit-re the second girl. who was called Levrette, slowly ' swung herself of? hu‘ horse, with a lazy grace Strikingly in ‘ ‘Cuntrtst with the active motions of her twin sister, from “hunt, ' otherwise, she wss hardly to be distinguished. / “‘Well," she Enid. with the same freedom of speech and manner which was assumed by Cherrette, “ and have you no weieomé {or us, Darling, when we come to see you? I be- thm": 'qfiifioldBliekfiesrtl,“liere;.is more polite."_ 4 I V )‘fifek‘ Vu'ii ‘Itttniinered and yblitshedgu unfiltered-the. ‘ hospitality»: in «bin. Jack Hertha, “thew, wtvh‘thi‘mmm wability, and uttered“; 31:31pm the low butus'vif it had been a twinge. ' ' A -“ Walk in, ladies,” heeaid. ' “ ’Tnin‘t often we get» a vinlt / from any thingbut coyotes out ltynr. Walk in and make youtnelves to hunt)". I A moment. latter the two girls were in the hut, and we grieve to my than the fair Chevrette deliberately pulled out it very large cignr, lighted it at the fire, and commenced amok- .htg, in concert with her sister. ‘ Then: two halt-Indian girls were, curious characters. ‘ Their father, Jean Baptiste Ledoux, had been tt fur-trader and Indian agent of some wettlth, who had mnrrjed an in. 4“!!! wife, autumn the. custom of those times. ' His daughters, whom he had whitnsicnlly named Chevrette 'and Levrette * (Fawn and Leveret), had reCeived, first, some education nt ." 'tCunndian convent, then a second one on the prairies. Lev- cette cuuld play a polka on the piano, tall: French, English cand a dozen lndinn dialects, ride a mustang, about. how, rifle and revolver, and fling a limo. Chevrette could do all these better than her sister, and W119 quite a rapid drunghtsuntn ulno. Their father, dying when they were at his tradingopost, flea theme“ his wealth, and his wishes that they would go ~ KO Montreal to liVeLbut the wild blootlof the Indian mother was too firmly rooted in freedom to submit to thin; ' Eagle's Wing, bend Medicine Chief of the Ecbipetn, had offered to adopt them into the tribe, and the girls had eagerly ' .zccepted the offer. , I t , Their wealth made them favorites; they were generouo' .and tree; the Indians gave them all the liberty of young warriors; and they were happy, to all seething. ' -It‘wn8 nnly when Dick Darling begun tu rile on the Suit Luke trail that truuble-ruse. . » Built girls fell» in lei/e with the handsome youngster, and did not sample to~tell hint an. [int] he been it than of.nm~ :gmfiy' they wuultl perhnps' huve been more .tnodest. 'As it was, both actually besieged the bashful tiny, ttll the time, While a score of Bluekt‘uot nnd Ute braves Were equally_pe:- . ' fluent nj‘tcr Levrette Innd Cheyrette. - m mutate.» .,.;l r ‘ " m"!!! , .t . V .1- CHAPTER I‘x. . - come ton can nun. hut in thnt game day, two men were slowly creeping to— ~ Ward Dolores Station, carefully hiding themselves behind er. ,‘ cry rock and bush, and yet advancing nearer ill the while, unseen'trom the Station. ‘ Both were Indians,nnd armed with rifles, which they trailed after them in the grass‘ as they advanced. Ench carried in his belt, moreover, a large revolver, rusty and grimy, but ’Iervicenble. ' Priatty soon they had arrived at a group of ho'wlders. be. and which the land wee open to the Station, and afforded Ito further concealment. Then both halted‘ and crouched he. bind the ruck: to watch, with the atoie‘ petience ot the In“ line warrior. . These tnen were true Western Indians, of that half Mango! type which is so grim nnd repulsive. Their faces were broad ‘tmd square, with high cheek bones, small eyes, heavy, eensntl jaws and low, broad forehends. The etreuk of paint on their "features told that. they were on the war—path, and their army clothes, dirty and hegrimed, announced them as “ Reeervnthu Indians,” whom Uncle Sum feeds and clotltett, through the -medium of thieving agents, till some robbery ofl the latter “(trim-s them to retaliation and all the wild excessee'ot n eav- . age nature. , Around the station all was quiet and peaceful. The worm nt‘ternnon sun ehone on the low hut, the stockeded incluettre, the lazy mustangs who were dozing in their atruw yard, and on the two brightly-spotted charger: that atood before the door, coveredyvith gny housings. Sitting on the bench before the door was a group of four persons, the night of which seemed to incite the ‘lndinne to 1 “entry, for their eyes h gun to glare, and the net'un clutch ' 'iith firm they V x a fik’e; Juan 2 n to mat. minim muscled mii ‘ The tour personi'were Jack Hardin and Chew-ens bailout. . ‘ and Dick Darling and Levrette, every graceful ,nnd picturesque group in attitude and surrohoalings. The blue uniforms of the men, mtd the bright scarlet. skirts of the two girls,'with the mingling of civilization and savager in their costumes, made every nth-active picture for an utist, but the two In- dians did not appear to admire it. ’ ‘ (Meet them turned and whispered to the other. I 7“ Let us fire, Cat’s Eye. ' l‘is a fair shot. We can each . take one. and rush for the girls." ' ’ Cat’s Eye was it cunning looking rascal, with very narrow ' eyes, whence his name. He laid his hand on the othet"! arm. . “ Let Crow‘s Foot listen,” he whispered. “ The men must die, the squaws must he ours. is it notso it“ _ Crow‘s Foot nodded, with his eyes still And on the couples on the bench. ‘ I " If we shoot the men, the squawa may shoot us, or ride Away," pursued Cht’s Eye. “ We have no horses here.” I " We can take those," objected his comrade, pointing to‘ the corral. . t . ' V 9‘ \Ve shall be known, it we take them here. The soldiers may come by, and trail us, and then they kill warriors with the rope.” . r « ‘ Crow‘s Foot gave an uneasy shrug. An Indian dreads the , jden of being hung, wnrue than any thing. ' t ' V .“LL‘I Crow‘s Foot listen," pursued the wily Cat’s Eye. 9‘ When the two while men ride on the trail to Carson, they past many places fit for an uuihush. Let us rouse the Ute . prams, lie in wait for them, and slay them ill the moun- t talus." y ‘ . . Crow's Foot suitl nothing. He only looked at the girls. 1 mi trembled with spite and jealousy. Cat's Eye continued. cunningiy : , . ‘ ' “ Then we can catch the squaws,shuke the yvarrlors’ scalpl in their faces, and take them. into our lodges, like great shiefs." , V , . I Crow's Foot listened to the last words with attention. I I _,‘.,,:Prgsently he w,hiqureti. . ’ L h N a, . . ' V“ do heme than that. I i out and Beige; girls and hence in the contusion.“w,o gum do, it ‘nud flee to‘the Apaches. ~ Who can find us there?” i V ‘ Cat’s Eye' was about to answer, When both eturted"nnd listened. t ' Al the same moment the two Indian girls started ‘upfnnd ' peemed to be pointing to the east. The keen senses of all ' (our had c'nught a distant sound. Presently it became audible to every one, the notes of a_ huglr,.cchoing guyly from mountain to mountain, mingled} with the rattle and clutter of harness and wheels along the - Huatittgl Road. I ‘ I , Cat‘s Eye and Crow's Foot instnntly shrunk down into the smallest space imttginnble, and began to creep nwny. 4 Neither had any fancy to meet the rough customers of the mall conch. . In a little while more, the'tnll, lumbering body of the great coach have in sight‘at the entrance of the valley, covered with gt-u-yislt~wltlxe dust, and loaded down with passengers. The six horses in front trotted w‘enriedly along, as if they had made a lung stage, and Jack llitrdin and his comrade be» gun‘to bustle about as the coach drew near. " " ' ' As for Chevrette und Levrette, it was evident. that their .ldyl Wits over for the present. lit-furl: the coach was fairly in light, both girls had hurriedly embrnocd Dick Darling, and sprung on their gayly capurisontd steeds, randy to gallop of in it moment. Uprmnhled the eouch. A: it. drew up tn the deer, Dick Darling, neat and trim as ever, rude out of the corn“ gate on n bright “ buck-skin " mustang with black legs mud tail, lead- ing by :Llntlter at second animal. Lie litl there us it ready ‘ for any dutyI quiet and collecttd. , With a great clutter and rumbling, the couch drew up. at , the door, the burly red-shined couchumu flnng'tlowu the reins gndglnwly wnng otf his} perch, ’while the haunted miners ,_whu composed the load cauth piling out. ' , [Dolores Station was the terminus of the stnge route. 30- yond it only the‘mail bags Were curried, and passengers bid to proceed on foot or hire or buy the extra horuea ot‘the Ex- .ptess Company. ' ~ / ‘ ' : int}!!! emotive “a. . :_ . lo.‘ ' ._ m.“ :t a.“ ",V :x While the We Indian girls, with; like status on their trim cued and plunging horses, scared sit the .noisy coach-load, were surrounded with eager miners. , ‘ ’ Dick Darling caught. the mail-bag which was thrown him by the couchmun, hastily secured it on the saddle of his led horse, aned his, [mud in rmmn, and gulloped sway on the , Hastings 'l‘ruit, totVurd Carson. ‘- " Helios, Missy, whet‘ll yer take for the paint hose f" shouted n rough miner, eagerly Waving u bug at gold-dust to Chewette. “ I’ll give five ounces down on the nail," said another, pre- paring to open his pouch. “ Don't listen to that gulcot, Missy. I’ve got the dust." “Bi: ounces, nnd‘l’ut marever time,” yelled a third to Levrette. “ Git out of the way, tellers; the squsw lady sells to me." ‘ ' “ Hyar, elation-master, got any bosses to sell 1” setd nether fellow to Jack Hardin, mnfldentlaily. ‘ “ You bet,” was the laconic response; A nioment later, there were three groups of rulnm ens: horses. hut those around the girls Were the most numerous und'hoistcrous. It Was all in vain to assure them that the home! were not for sale. The refusal only raised the hide ‘ higher, till one burly miner laid his hand on Levrette‘s bridle and rudely said: - “Come, gal, git otf. Hyttr's twolve ounces, two hundred end fifty dollars; and that's more than any paint hose is truth, ary time. The crittur'e mine l” “Not by n darned sight, patdner,” roared another man, seizing the horse on the other side. "l'vo ofl‘ered more’n that u’ready, and hysr‘s the dust.” _ ' The confusion seemed likely to Come tolblosrs, when the diesr, sharp voice of Chevrette pierced the tumult like I knits, ' {allowed by the ominous click of u revolver lock. I ; “ Let go my sister’s bridle," said the girl, fiercely, to” the ‘tfi'spumnts in English. ' .l'u a moment both bends dropped. The miners had thought. the girls common Indians, and the clear, idiomatic ‘ ,Euglieh a’stouinhed them. ‘ r mm hotness-s nutter utter assume teem Me n A .- . v 2 v Hut tin whmw-dw M ii: M’.M.M%. 1' no!» t J {r " you... A. 754;”: ‘ r‘ q _. “I f. I v t fl A. line spoke, as if by instincttgie crowdtell’buek torlgfi ' and left, the two girls struck spurs {filo their homéu, ad un— ‘ fished in a cloud of dust, leaving behind "them only a vague impression of beauty and freedom at which the miners send, with stupid amazement. CHAPTER IV. was IXAHOBID , ci-un. ‘ It! a lonely pass a! the Sierra. overlooking the May 01 Delete; Station,.Levrette .and Chevrette Were slowly riding dong. The pass was that known :- Eumholdt'a Pass. the mountains the Humboldt Range. Overhanging precipices bordered the pm,nnd the wild goat. and highorn. not yet scared by the hunters‘ long-renge rifle. peepcd over the lofty pinnacles down at the lnq \ equestrin'ns, who uuutercd slowly along. chatting tog-the: la - French. They were strange girls both. hastened of how the wilt! nature is stronger than civilizationt Spite of their convent eclucation and the eight of all the great cities of the Eest, the; seemed to be perfectly happy where they were, and to preféi' thc'wild life to any other. ' - I‘Suddeniy, as they wore in the. pass. a crowd of rugged. hut-naked Indiana. wrung up, its it ' by magic, all muntl them. and before even the rapid Chevre’ttc could draw a pie- tul, lmthvgh'ls were prisoners, with wows, rifles and pistol: pointingthrenteningly at their heady; '1‘!th Cat‘s Eye. draping hehintl him a hnn new scarlet blanket which he lmd drawn lit-om the agent that morning, ‘ ( urn-pt forward, and mid with .3 grim chuckle; 33 Eng-1, . lltll‘: . . . . ‘ . . ' \t. ' f ‘ “ finch heap good, equaw. Whatt’ink'howmheyfi' 3 b , a» it .mwmmet WWWK-Wtdfl 9. ,' vhf? ' :,“,"""—‘u." finer. s‘ha imam-m mm nan muguegaxmougu ‘ 'ypoke it well, _ , . ‘ W “ Well,/dog of a» Uie,’ ‘ahe said, bitterly. “ So twenty Ole Warriors are no: (00' much to lake iwo squaws. but [hey must point gun; at. ‘lhem. Go. There is no (lug like a , 3 .' Ute.” . .r ‘ '_ -Cruw’a Fool, who slood'hnaide Cat's Eye, seemed to be ' more of a brute Stung by Chevrclw's \\'IJT\13 he raised the lung lance he carried, and was about In deal the girl a blow with lhu stuff, when Cat‘s Eye interposed and pron-med the blow. . “My brother ,must be patient," snid ‘lho wily chief. “1! ip no use to spoil it lqna‘w, till she grows old nnd_ugly. Leave her in me." -. - H . . - . Then changing his smnoth flowing language to tho imper- fect English he need, he" said: ' i I “ Say, git nfl' hvsi, hymchye. S‘pose no, I make you.” ~ It Levrelie, the indolent and slulelyrlmd not. spoken all lhi: While. anw she ruismi her mice uml drnmuded: ‘ ,“ What do yun want of ns,‘C.-it_’s Eye 2’” “ Want squnw. \Vuut make fire, cook meat, nurse pap- pooso." gruutcd tho Ulu. ( ' “Well then, why don‘t you mm: us civilly Y" asked the girl, coldly, “ You must icrlru lo please a squnw, before She enters your, lodge. This is no way to do it." Qai’s Eye stared at her a moment in surprise, and tlmn burst into :\ coulemplunus lnugh. as he said : _ " Ym) t'inh Cat’s Eye mueh henp foul, gnl, but you Dee no. Git 01f hoes." . in n nimncnt Levrellcs liml whipped mil n revolver. with n rapidity very Linuéiml to her, and held it Cnckud ng-uinsl the. Ute Chili's head. ‘ Ly ' \ “ Onlur‘yunr mm hack, or you die, 8.1M lhe girl fiicrnly. She well knew the lunu ‘shu‘ wns Llenling wiih. Cat's Eye, was mu.- (if Hm few cowni'dly Indians, and he quailcd nnd -rv H this muzzle ml the pistul. ‘ Chm": Flint wins not to be «Jaunted 1km. a i-“d‘iiwot, sq w," he said. 11, lil “1.9‘9‘rewfllfoql it 1‘ __ a ‘ a: :htin.’ V,» I . .. ‘ , ,g Zhaa‘hi‘ldly about}: "when Mimiho had ’2’. , I? “twitching he: opportnnity,'mlsed the pistol she had stenhhily drawn from her belt, and dealt the brute a quick rap under the car, while his attention was directed to lt't‘l‘BiEit‘t‘. Crow’s Foot dropped without it sound, like it felled ox, and the «luring girl, scattering X't'VUlVCr shots ull round her, dug the spurs sharply in the tnttslnng,nntl burst her way alllrollgll the group that surrounded her. r Cat's Eye hud instinctively dropped Levrctte‘s brittle, and the girl mmle innate to follow llt‘l‘ sister's example. The Indians, with loud yells, hegnn to pursue, fixing as they went, but it. was evident f,rnm,the first that they were firing wild, and not Very anxious to hit. - Cat‘s Eye ordered them to shoot at the houses, but by the time he Could give the order, the animals were out of reach of any thing but rifle bullets, and the titles were empty. A moment later, both girls had disappeared round the base of the hill, and the tliscotnfltud Cltltf saw that the prey hmi cscnpnd him. ‘ ' He took his disappointment with all the stoicism of an Indian. A white man. under the some circumstances, would have made the air blue with profanity. Unt‘s Eye tinlply squatted down on tl rock by his partner in iniquity", and calmly waited the lattcr's recovery. Crow‘s Foot “:13 not long in coming to. The lmlintt skull is thick, the Indiun's constitution strong. ' In a very few minutes the Uta chic! opened his eyes, gave u stupid grunt, and then sat up. “Where are the sqmtvn ?” he asked his comrade. “ Gone " Crow’s Foot gave another grunt, and relapsed into (lis- satisfied silence. , " We. must leave here," presently observed the wily Cat’s Eye. “ The squuws hurt-gone to the lodges of the Echipettt, and they “ill he after us.” Crow's Foot grillllL‘Ll again. Presently, he said: “ Let us get horses and go on the Canon trail at once. The riding chlet is there. and yrs can kill him,_and come back. 'By that time'the Echipcta will be going limit: and we inny 3mm: them in the back.’ 1 , 309th lye/'3 Xseevbrightened with pleasure. ' J » > my brother has spoken well; We’will seize the '” V \ homer-this very night. The best will he left. Is it good?" ' ‘ once more Crow’s Foot gave vent to the expressive In- ‘ dian grunt, which means any thing the wurrior chooses, ac. cording to the expression of face which accompanies it. Then the whole party rose and trumped otf down the 5. till they came to a spot which commanded a view of; mlores Station in the valley below them. ' ’ . There luy the station, silent and peaceful to all nppear- \ ’ slice. The corral only contained about a dozen horses, in- . stead of the usual crowd, and soloud of dust going down the valley toward Austin, told that the minm‘ party were»! - with the rest (if the animals. ‘ ‘ The “Pioneer " Coach, lying idle in Iron; of the hut, showed' that its journey was over for the day, and the six ' iromgrsy horses that belonged to it, were feeding peacefully out of a trough in front. . “ Listen," said Cat‘s Eye, sententiously. “ The coach you back to-mcrrow. Its horses are big and strong. and feed on corn. Let us take them too." “ Good," said Crow's Foot. “ They will run Well." “And let us kill the men at the station," pursued Cat's Eye, cunningly, “ lest they trail their horses in themoming. Dead men can not go to the ugeutsud report us." Crow's Foot looked at his companion with admiration. _ The rnscslity compelled his respect. He could appreciate it fully. . .. ’ l. “ Look.“ he said, pointing to the setting sun. “ The time is Come. The two whito‘ men will be drunk to night. Let us go." Gill's Eye nodded, and the party began to descend the m )untnin, together with the shadows of e‘veniug. . ‘ Meantime, in the adobe hut of Dolores Smtion,‘a very snug I little party of two was gathered. Mr. John Hut-din, ot‘ Ken- turky, ttlttl Mr. William Grimes, of Illinois (usually called Billy ‘ Grimes), were, seated on the opposite beds, intently watching,‘ ‘ t the Jtrueess of frying some salt potk ou theh’ut fire. undé'vu, mwgautl ,th ts applying for consolation toe—hi3 danijwihgp. r t h e ashes. Which ' we. I “'H'yar'e luck, Jack,”‘said the stage-drive, at one of these solemn pauses, as he inverted the dcmljohn in air, in enerifl~ cial attitude. , “ Drink hearty,” responded the express rider, with 3 bob 0! his head. Then, as the host, he felt conetrained to watch the frying pan, where the fat was lwginning to catch fire. " Supper‘s ready, Billy," he said, afl'ably,seltlng the frying5 pan on the floor, and producing a great loaf of Itnlt-avened bread, familiarly known among minch as a “ man-killer." Then, as the two rough frontiel'men Set to at their supper, down the mountain, toward the station, ercpt a score of. dirty Utes. hungry for blood and plunder. And darkness came o'er the valley. 'cnerrnn v. TflE HAPPY VAX-L31. 8m odd years ago, when Lewis and Clark first crossed to the Pacific 0000!), they found the great tribe 0! the Echi- peta, or Blackfeet, the most pom-rful of all the wandering bands that possessed the vast wilderness of plain and moun- tain. In that very expedition, also, were laid the foun- dntione of the incxtinguishahlc hate which afterwnrtl characo terized all the relations between Blackfoot and pale-face. The Astoria rettlvmunt, the expeditions of Bonneville, Wyeth and the Suhlettes, the long contest for the furtrade between the Hudson's Bay and Amerirau For Companies, with all their varied episodes of plenty and famine, riotous {east and bloody War, only served to intensify this feeling. Whatever might. be done in the way of treaty with other tribes, three. separate organizations stood out in the North- West, like the Comanchos and Apaches in the South, as re- morseless foes to the‘whites. Sioux, Blackfoot and Crow were each iii-their any-«pretty firmiduhlechnt the; 81W” an» immense“: all. ‘11.. Dakota was ,a'cumttmnby r namsaud nature, but he made ’trnces' for'trade; the URSQQ ' ' roku. with all his beauty of figure and face; Was genernlly’onlj ‘ a cunning horse-thief; but the Echipcto was a warrior that; never rested, day or night; who preferred scalp: to horses, rc~‘ ’ Vengc to booty. ‘{ Thirty years later, Catlin appeared with pencil and pen, to i save the remnants of all these powerful tribes from oblivionr and has left it rccmd, obtained during a brief truce at a fron-‘ tier fort, of what splendid fellows were those Blackfeet and Crows. ' Perfect in physical contour, rejoicing in magnificent black ' imir,.‘in.wh_ich_they took all the pride of at deiicute lady, the], 5 artist found these 'wild nomads to be regular dandirs in poré ' ‘ somtl adornment, while as skillful as ever in war. He met» tions the hair of two Crow chiefs as trailing the ground when they walked, in fttil dress, and describes their costume as tasteful and picturesque in the highest degree. Bo‘h tribes were then ttttcontntttiuated hy the whites, their attitude of relentless hostility having serVed as a means of self-preservation, but in that first parley with the pale-faces. at which Catlin was present, the seal of destruction was into v printed on the two tribes, the noblest of all, by the irresistible hand of ftlitf.’ . t . ‘ At that time. the Blackfeet umuhcred fifteen hundred hands, or villages, scattered from the British dominions to the pre- sent bounds of Colorado ; the Crows, nearly half us numerous, occupied the present territory of Wyoming, bordering on the / i. great. Dakota or Sioux nation, and both were dreaded by the whites beyond all the rest. ' _ In the some year, and during the follonintr spring, the ‘ besom of destruction swept away both tribes, and the names of Echipctn and’Ups-trokn were almost annihilatt-d. ‘ Wh‘at ‘ bullet and knife luul recoiled from, tire-water and the loathiy disease of civilization was to necoutplish. , The stnnll-pox, hrrnking ottt in thnt yenr with fcatful virp- - I ,lenoe, swept. over the North-went like in destroying angel ; and left, of -,ail the Blackfoot nation, scarce six hundred lodgegfl‘. :Whole villages died like sheep,aud the next suntmer any}! t», 's. ' K i It It i" i nun. a that has nevar since raised its hand to check the march of civilization to the setting sun. A few years ago, when we all heard and shudder-ed at the merciless punishment inflicted by Sheridan's orders on a little band kn0wn as the Pit-gen Indians, few recognized in those ’30“? wretelies the little remnant on American soil of the once powerful Eehipeta tribe. that had lortietl it over the plains, and compelled tribute front the strongest. At the breaking npof the Blackfoot. nation, one little band, numbering thirty-live lodges at first, increased to seventy in later years, instead of moving to the safe shelter of British territory, as did the bulk of the nation, emigrated southward to the shelter of the great primitive ranges, then almost unknown to the whites, now included in the north of No- vada. Here, in a large Valley, with it southern exposure. where pasture was plentiful all the year round. as itt California, this t little band had held their station, carefully keeping out of the way of the whites, and increasing to double their original numbers in a single generation. Their chief was now an old man, who had been Mt dicine Chief of the whole Blackfoot nation in the days of their glory, who had been bitter in his opposition to the treaty which had home such terrible fruits, and who, on the dispersion of his tribe, had led a little remnant, composed of the aristocratic Kairma family, every member of whom had a right to sit in the euttncii of chiefs, to the happy Valley. Eagle Wing was distinguished by a grave wisdom of char- acter, that procured him the ascendancy, rather than by per- sonal strength in the field, and the thirty-five Warriors who fullowvd him, being all chiefs, were the very alt'le of their tribe, and superior todouhle the number of any other braves. The great Medicine Chief had exacted an 0th from every one never to touch the fire-water of the whitts. never to trade with them save for weapons, nor to associate with them, un- less adopted into the bands. Under iiiq wise and ettnnin': rules, the little tribe, who still proudly styled themselves “ Kuiuna Echipeta," had main. tained themselves in independence, acccumnlutcd the best swamps of the whites, kept, clear of trouble with. the amt- , t, ,« A ' r _ -’ , V inmates: pas'sed‘iesr momma seemed to be in s harm to returning prosperity. ' But one white man had ever seen their camp, and he was adopted into the tribe. This was the French trader, Joe: I Baptiste Lettoux, who had aided them to procure arms, and whom daughters We have already Seen in our story. Jllrl as the red glow of the setting sun shone on the white mountain-top, above the happy Valley, Chevrette and Levrettn galloped into the village and bolted before the council-lodge, in front of the painted war-pole. The scene before them was quiet and peaceful in character, but picturesque and romantic in the highest degree. The remnant of the Echipeta had learned of adversity, and. their, 5 village was a model of neatnose. Seventy lodges of light-dun buii'alo hide, dressed without the hair, and covered with pictures: emblematic of Blackfoot history, Were ranged in four lines. about twu streets, closed ' at one end with a fifth line of six large lodges, of which the “Medicine-lodge" was the most finished. ‘ All the (Mill and garbage that usually renders an Indian camp so eflensive was absent, and a large mound of ashes, iudurated by rain and sun, at a distant corner of the valley attested that the Echipeta had returned to the process of ore. rumion, used by their remote ancestors before the Europe“ wuqttest. ‘ I A flourishing field or Indian corn occupied the ground near the ash-mound, and the rest was full of grazing horses, , not the little sc'rubby ponies of the northern prairies, but. tbs ' larger and more beautiful mustangs of Texas and Mexico, oh - x v, ’ tained by trade with the south-western trilave Many u! them indeed, from their bone and size, gave token of a min (are of more civilized blood at a recent period, and the prep ence of a large bay stallion, some sixteen bands high, nearly thoroughbred, announced that. the Kainnu medicin chief ha! used his opportunities for improving the breed. This horas, was the best result of a secret raid, undertaken some years before to the frontiers of the Texas settlements, for that very ' purpose. As a result of his far-seeing policy. Eagle Wing?! V tend could ontride any other tribes in his vicinity, and. as. ileum ' fWiq-Mmfimenm-W-fl d , the camp. and the squawo were preparing the evening meal, l‘Uhile the wen-tors were gathered in I circle before the noun- ful-lodge. _ . Before this circle it war, that Chevrette and Lemttepnllcd I » “up, cud the former mllr-d out It) Eagle Wing, in a loud voice: _ “ Great Medicine Chief of the Echlpetns, the Ute dogs haw banked the maidens of thy hand. Cat‘s Eye and Crow’s F000, with twenty brnstea, tried to take 11: to their lodgm in‘ the pass." ‘ r, . A low murmur of wrpriee and indignation rose from the ‘ yttiicle, and Euglé Wing calmly said : t “ Dlltnount, daughters of the Echipcta. The council will gm your tale, and take vengeance for1 the insult.” ' The girl- annotated, ind entered an nouncu. ‘ CHAPTER ‘V‘I. but: DAnLnéo‘a “Iron. V 08 the Walls of_ the convent of Santa Clara, shelter“! from - ‘fiotiv in a coma of the battlements, stood a group ol'women, 'four in nnmher. all dressed in lung sweeping when, their aces surrounde lay hundngea like grave-clothes, while‘their ‘lnug, (Weeping veils were thrown back on accuunt of the heat. The great. strings of wmdt-n bonds which hung from \lhe'ir girdles, terminating in cruclflxes. and the (lomt'ttcnst, rr- drained [wk of thvir faces, sufficiently marked them far ‘ tuna, even had not. their presencu in a convent on that nihl . iput. remote from human habitation, painted nut that they ’ ' Were no urt‘limtry women. ’ ’ ' Tht'e-e‘of this group were professed uunsfin {uncrenl Hawk, ‘, ilhe fourth wore the white’mhrs of a novice nr pnstulnnt, ' ._ There was ngreut digsimilurity, also, between the faces of " " Ibo mm: and the “mica. While the farmer were unam- i abundant-aha 1...: mum-whit: ei'mlol ‘Minrtroh «mg-sum to 1mm plety/ My . . ‘~-“’.~V-.' ' '~ r, - 1‘. mag gm whmmet me. could not be hidden even by ' ‘ ' .theldisflguting head-dress of a nun. ' : - . . '” Her face was perfect in contour as that of a Greek status, I her smile showed pearly teeth, and when she lifted her eyes, ‘ * which was Very seldom, their beauty fairly awod one. Large and curious, dnt-lt-hlne in Color, almost black, they reminded one of the gaze of one of Rafael‘s Mudonnna. The “hole exnt‘eSsion of her face was one of saintly purity and rapt en- thusiasm, for this young girl was already a fanatic of the most intense kind. But such a sweet little fanatic as one might fall down and worship, or follow into any extravagance, for the sake of I , smile of approval from those may lips! Now the little- novice stood on the wall. with; the old nun}. gazing over a wild desolate landscape of. barren Snow—capped mountain and yellow-halted plain, without any sign of human Installation or cultivation. beyond the convent gttrdtn, which cum-lied them all with food. ‘ They stood by the stone hell-tower, watching for the sun- set. when the Atigeltts was to he sounded; and as they waited. the four nuns chatted, in the innocent convent prattle that was habitual with them. ‘ _ “Did you'st‘ae' Sister Felicia, this morning, Sister Ursula? She tripped and nearly fell, as she entered the chapel.“ ’ ‘ “ I wouldn't be as clumsy as Sister Felicia for a good dent” grumhies Sister Ursula. “ She spilt the soup on' the refectory flour. and I had to scrub it up this atoning. . I wish she’d stayed at Guadalupe, instead of the hisltop' sending her. beta." I . Sister Felicia was a. good-hearted, clumsy, Mexican poblana, who had conceived it her mission to become a. nun, but ham ing no money to endow a convent, she was obliged to do ah the rough wotlt, in common with the poorer sistera in gen, ct‘al. “Po/or sister Felicia,” sztiti the sweet voice of 'the youthmt novice, pityingly; " it is not her fault that God made he! clumsy, Sister Agatha. She is so good and kind when we ore lick, that nit-ought all to low lter.',' _ - I 'Ufsula this“ Intact-to, Siam" ‘fi'm‘, . I V o: , H ‘V.’ ,3 Ln. .3 ~ . .-r._,.._ifi-. < «\\a)'. ing to and fro with evu‘y snide, the r-nt'rt-l mustang with bushy mane and tail, hhrck with sweat as he tears :tlr ng. A moment later cattle and vaquero are left behind, as the mull-rider r-cours away over the hard pltrirr,ilrt‘()t1glr a field of stunted wild eats, whrre the trnil stretches enwurd, straight as an arrow, broad and plain, to the east. Now, with a rapid rhythmic rumble of the earth, as the galloping honfs strike the ltttl'tl soil in regular beats, the rider flashes through the field, and dashes up a gentle slope on the other side. On the top of the smll he [nurses for a moment. at a slow canter, till his horse clears its nostrils with it vigor- ous snort, then shakes the brittle, and touches the flank of the steed sharply with the spur. ’l‘hry have come five miles in fifteen minutes, and the horse begins to feel tirtd, l ut the rest of the road is down hill, and far away in the distanCe Dick trees the white walls of the next Station, where they are Watch- ing for him, with a fresh lmrse in Waiting. Away goes the urail-rider,n!ter that. touch of the- spur_ with a magnificent Lurst of speed that covers a mile within two minutes and a hull. When the horse begins to slrreken his pace, the other spur gives a sharp reminder, and another mile is covered under its irrrnetus. The mustang, black with sweat a little time before, is now “‘hite with foam, and begins to rant heavily. But the station is now too plain in sight to allow of more, mercy. Fr r about a quarter of a mile further Dielt allow! his steed i‘s (awn way, till it utters a heaty srrlvr't, then he presses in lmth spurs uith a deeidrd dig, and sheets “Why \rirlr renewed speed. ' Now he (‘an distingltiblt the thatched )‘t‘mf cf the stating.- and some moving figures. Oncu more preases in the spurs, and the hard-driven horse gives a grunt. of disgust and ewitchee his tail as the pressure compels him to exert hint- self more than Her; ' ‘ Anny at it long-stretching laboring gallop, but til-axon u ’ I * M a «mm 8" hundred. yttrds the spurs drawing blind,“ for the sum. speed must. be keptnp. The mail-rider is racing Against time. ’ ‘ Now he cun see men on] horses at the station and even Count their numbers, besides distinguishing the color of the horses and dresses. “ Aha,” he says to himself, “they bring out old Gray Engio Yet-y oiteu, but the old horse is there, every time i” t Then he shakes the bridle, stands unit: the stirrttps to ease the horse, calls to him conxingly. and pats his neck. ' For a few strides the animal freshens up, and than relaxes again. They are now at mile from the stntion. ' “ Come then," says Dick, as he sits down again; “ it’s rough ’on you, i admit, but business is business, old horse. 80 mil along now." Then he plunges in the spurs and keeps them there, while the poor horse, gathering vigor alike from the pain and the sight. of the station, puts forth all its strength for n htst burst; and comes tearing into the station laboring fem-fully, with Dick‘s spurs going at each flank. By having the animal at first, he has screwed it up to go ten miles in twenty-nine minutes, and has gained one minute on time! - As thexeeking horse stops of its own accord at the post, Dick leaps of as light as a boy, for he islyel. i'rt sh in the morning. The two station men rush at the exhausted mustang, strip off the suddle in a. Moment, und fling it in the buck of a dnrple gnry horse, sturdy iu frume, who stands reudy to go the next stage. ' "The old gray looks Well, Dick,” observes one. “ He‘s been getting ruinbumptions in tire stable on his corn. Kicked _ Judy Mugce yesterdny, and cut her hutmeh open. Thar be ‘ ,is, all ready. Guess he‘ll take yer on time.” “ Hope so," says Dick. briefly. “Give a. leg, J int." Jim Seizes the left leg that he crooks for the purpose, and tosses him up into the saddle. Dick Durlingis as careful of, extra exertion for himself-us his horses. ' ‘ ' , ~3'l‘he mail-rider settles himself down, gathers up the} , W‘s reins, gives u. chirrup. sud Grpy,Esgle smitc‘dih I - .u~' 1 thunderbolt, kicking as he goes and shaking his head. He is known its the gamete Mild must vicious horet! on the route. Dick Darling sits loose and easy in his saddle, not uttempth ing to check the horse’s antics. He knows ihut from long habit. the brute will go straight, and cures for nothing else. He gathers up the reins it little to keep his head up and stop :tho kicking, and away goes Gray Eagle like an arrow from 1! MW towntd the mountains. The next station is at the foot of the range. Dick Darling, ettreet-ing onward at :1 speed of twenty miles an hour, seetns'tts fresh as when he stnrted, while the sturdy vigorous horse beneath him for tile first few miles enjoys the work. . ~ ' I Mile After mile vanishes, eateh well within its prescribed limit of three mtnutes, and still the old horse stretches along, with one ettr initl tacit, the other cocked forward, while he swings his head from- side to side in play. Old Gray Eagle has "avers d thut truck too many times not to hem» every step. Upright and gently swaying to the stride, the mail-rider sits ’ in his saddle, his tyes roaming over the landscape, vaguely dreaming of 1: resent, put-J and future, for he has almost for- gotten what he is about. And across his brain, as he rides. along, comes stronger and elettrer the vision of a patirof thtt'k serious eyes and it Maduan face, the vision of the beautiful nun whom he saw on tho ramparts of the Nun's Mission of Santa Clara; ‘9 CHAPTER VIII. THE COBB.th xmeucxmx. WHAT’S the nmtter with the bosses?" suddenly demanded Mr. Grimes, pausing in the act of lighting his pipe after supf per, end . listening. , t Thcystuge horses of the “ Pionebr." conch, which stood ‘at their icedotmx, writhin'tett feet of the door, wlm ranting that! On A. , ' - ‘tnltok uhuius-anknuering unetuy mm; ‘ ‘5 Jack audit: started upTandilistoned at the door. _, f , l _ , - “Wait. till qtd‘Rut-tail speaks," he whispered. “I'll Bare then. I reckon it‘s some 0' them~thierin' Utes around, ' but I ain't curtain—J ' ‘ He tut; interrupted by the souorous bray of an old mule that. roamed loose about the straw-yard, a sound followed by In nngt'y sqtteuliug from all the mustangs there. “ Utes, hy the ghost of Ginerttl Jackson,” said Hardin, has- tily. “Git on yer irons, Bill, and we’ll clmw the greasy var- utmts up in the shaking of n yttlltr (lawg’s lath." As he spoke, he hurriedly picked up his belt, nnd buckled it. room) his waist, ttn exmnple followed by Billy Grimes. The t‘.\'-'\ frontiersutcu were nccustotnetl to hold the degraded Indians mend them in abject contempt, and took no further pre etutiuu against surprise then to blow out the light before onllying out. Then Jud. flvtfdili flung open the door and rushed out in- to the night, with a cocked revolver in each hand, followed by the stage .‘n‘ivér similarly armed. _ ‘ Bung, bung, bung! went reverttl rifles as they ran out, and Grimes uttereu h cry of p.111: and linger as he felt a bullet tenr through the “(if of his lrg. ‘ ' v ‘ In a. moment. mart n score of tlnrk forms seemed to spring I up from the earth, add come making at the burderere, when it confused and {maths tight EUSL‘Ld. V ‘ The night. was bl;bll€ with stunt, hut there was no moon, and :1“ him was uecwonly itistiuctire. us both parties opened Milt rcvolvrt's, ttvo “ginst twenty. ’l‘hc (la-blue of firearm: were inowmnt, nml shouts, yells,- mics and shots made :1 putt-cl [tailor-11H)“lllm in front of the ' little hut for nearly two LII-tuner, art the expiration of which tithe the voice of Jack lluztlagwtts hem-u touring : ‘ “Run, Billy. They're too much ft-t HE. Into the steel:- attle." ' - ' A moment htter two dark figures were seen to break away from the cont’ust-tl group of'savulges, one of them limping n he went, and run for the hlll‘.‘ ‘ - I '7‘ 1' The indium pursued, but several uf'their number in} it“ groundwugd most or their revoly'ersl'wero empty. The, t 1'6 whttéi"’gttitied the door of the tint andrivne min: 1", ' .. ,W, .X‘ . i v e mt LL. use ' “sitar! whenflrow’s Foot, the real leader ot. the assault, ran up he- hind the stage-driver, who was in 'the rear, and dried the last ‘ load of the revolver into the poor fellow’s hack. ' Bill Grimes staggered, uttered a wild shriek, and threw up ' his arms, as he fell forward on his face over the threshold, Jamming the door close to, behind Hardin, who had just sprung -ln. This latter circumstance was all that saved the Kentucki- an’s life. The door opened Outward, and the dead body of» ’ Grimes resisted the efl'orts of the first Indian, who seized the edge of the door-frame to pull it open. _The Expressman turned as he heard the crash of the door, and seized hold of the great staples that'held the inside her, pulling with all his might. , But whereas the dead body without helped him to close It below, something above resisted all his efforts, and he heard the dull sound of cracking bones and tearing flesh, as he crushed in the fingers of the Indian who had seized the edge of the door. The savage howled with pain, but Jack had the advantage of a good hold and would soon have managed to bar the (1601', had not two bullets come crashing through the boards, one of them passing through his right side, plowing up the flesh. The next moment Jack dropped the staple, after one vig- orous wrench with all his Weight, hounded across the but to t _ the back dour,tmd was into the granary before any one could catch him, unfamiliar as they were with the premises. The granary was really the fortress of the post, being a square stone building, some twenty feet high, with thick walls, loop-holed above the doorway, and built with projections to flank the entrance. Like the living hot, the door opened outwards. ‘Uulike that, it was made entirely of iron plates 5 I and secured with a spring lock. The rod of this little forte" V alice was heavy in frame and covered with thick sheet-iron “ purposely to resist the undisciplined efi‘orls of the very foes Jack was now fighting against. ‘ ‘Asthe expressman rushed in, followed at a few feet dil- Vl trance by his yelling enemies, several knives were thrown at 3', “',jt,‘ot_ which two struck him, one gushing his left shoulder, '. » ,‘p‘other his thigh. “ .Hardin seemed to gather new strength; and then he stood It mcx " Mamie. .. . ” . "Wounded as he was, however, he managed to run in, c slam the door to after him. H . “ Thank God i" ejaculated the rough Kentuckian, ferven,‘ ly (for the first time for many years) as he heard the spring . lock catch behind him. He knew he was safe, for the door was perfectly smooth outside. with no handle, and the key was hung round his neck. The most skillful burglar woult' have been puzzled 'to get in, with all his array of tools, and to Indians the place was absolutely impregnable. , He heard their yells of disappointment outside, and the crash of heavy bodies against the door, but the thick plates, resting against the solid stone, did not so much as shake; and the expressman knew that he was quite safe. Then it was that he found time to realize that he was ‘ badly hurt. His right arm was powerless; the warm blood was streaming down from numerous wounds, and he felt faint and dizzy. His first instinct, however. was not for self. Like a. true ‘ . ” American, he thought first of his duty, and of the orders about'what to do in _a similar case, left him by “ The Com- pany,” that unknown entity, which represented to Hardin the world of civilization, from which he was temporarily diVorced. Swaying dizzily from side to side, he staggered through the pitch dark room, feeling his way to the lantern and" match-safe, to strike a light. ‘ ' A moment Inter, he was clumsily trying to approachthe ' " ‘ flame to the wick, which seemed to spin round and round in the air, and when at last he succeeded in lighting it, he fell back on the hard clay 'flnor nearly insensible. ‘ Then a thought. revived him. “ The Company " had pro- vided a bottle of spirits for just such emergencies. which stood in a niche by the lantern. Slowly and dozily he rose- on hands and knees, and succeeded in crawling up to it, ur'— _ corking the bottle, and taking a draught. The efl‘ect Wt immediate. As the tlery liquid flowed down the thro: ; “ without help. and went on with his duty. ' The Indians were shouting and yelling at the door, butts-1 mg it with gun-stocks, and rails torn from the stocked»; trite t , » [Every now and then they would tire a whole volley of bullets ~ : at the insensihle deer, which defied their etl'orts, whilstth ,_ howled out the must. fiendish threats in their broken ' against the single man who was inside. - I Leaning'against the wall and pointing upward, was a long pipe of sheet iron. like a stove-pipe; and this the express- “msn caught hold of, and pointed diagonally upward, onto! ,a hole close under the eaves of the roof. , '«It stuck there, on actuunt of the slope of theoriflce; and. ' Hardin ran across the room, and extracted, from whet ’ seemed a bundle of firewood, a long slender stick, hearing at its end a gay colored cylinder of pasteboard. with a ooni‘ ' cal head. A ‘ It was nothing more or lessthztn a rocket. A moment later, it was in the ‘tnhe, lighted, and so ring eioft in air, scattering crimson spin-ks, to announce h the . stations far and near that the Indians were on the war-y tb. And then a sudden hush came on the\crowdv outside ' ~ They knew what that signal meant. ‘ CHAPTER IX. WHAT THE CLOIETER BEAUTY SEES. ‘SMEH- Francesca, fumilinrly known in the nnnnery by the various mums of Punchn, Puchita, and Lu Chiquita, (lnrg ' tug her novitiate. had just risen (mm her knees by the heli- _ tower of the cement, where she had been praying alone for the htst half-hour before sunset. ‘ n \' Since she had canght sight of that strange vision of the evening before, which had enticed her out of the peaceful paradise in which she had so lung rcsttd securely, and glvrn her one short glimpse of the possibilities of her own nutnro. bhiChiquim \had been strunger silent and reserved. 7 All the next day she had taken every opportunity to steel 1 r » y from the‘ nuns, and wander in the convent gardener ' I i‘oe'thebatth-ments. ' ~ v t . ~ = ' ‘ _\ -' ‘ ~ men manure. x , ’ V \ ' A l . " z» And ; yet, strange to say, she had not mentioned to any one that she had once allowed her eyes to wander onthe, forbidden sex. ‘ Not even to old superannuated Padre Juni- pero, the convent confessor, had she breathed a word of it, , though she had been to confession, and the purhlind old man ., bad sleepily questioned her on the regular round of the‘ i - “ seven deadly sins,f’ and hurried her off with on absolution, ’fé a a matter of 'eourse. Confessing La Chiquita was a mere " form to Padre Junipero, for the sins were so ridiculously trivial, and always ran~ so much in the same track, that the . confessor was fain to stifle a yawn, even when he blessed the ' " -. . innocent little novice at absolution. . " ' But today, La Chiquita, even after confession, felt guilty. She had not told the good padre every thing, and especially she had not mentioned that handsome youth, whose eyes had met hers, and whose face and figure floated before her men- tal vision eVer since, as if indelibly imprinted there, coming, - . between her and the crucifix, interfering with herprayers, and always galloping, galloping, noiselessly on, with face turned toward her, and bright hrown eyes meeting her own. Poor little Francesco felt dreadfully, wicked when she found herself dreaming of this young man, eVen during muss, , and to mnke amends for it, the little enthusiast went without . if her dinner for penance, though her appetite was as hearty ' as that of any other young girl in good health. In the evening, no doubt. for further penance, she volun- ' teered to take on herself Sister Agatha’s turn of duty, to ring . the Angelus, which the old nun, who was growing rheumatic, 3"; was glad to yield to her. ' Here she was then, all alone on the flat roof of the con- -veut, standing by the bell-tower, watching for the sunset,’ which, as it still wanted half an hour of the time, was a ' very Meritorious penance on her part. And then, being all alone on the silent ramparts, Sister Francesca began to pray earnestly for strength to forget this disturbing vision, which she was sure the devil had sent to _. {, draw her from her holy work. La Chiquita. prayed,,and- _ §:1_ “ sobbed earnestly, but whether it was the devil, or nature rail if boiling against unnatural laws, certain it is that she'louuti,’ «K's A mi acorns. seam; herself without! intending it, praying that the stranger might am that way again, and that she might-he the instrument of his conversion to the true church. -‘ , And when once she got on that road, it was surprising how the words came, and how earnestly and heartily she prayed. ' There was no more vague and wandering thought, then. She seemed like one inspired, and her face glowed with a bright light, as she pictured in her rapid prayer what _ 'a blessed lot it would be for her to lead this stray sheep into the true told,and then to see him safe all the rest of her life. - Somehow, she never pictured herself as shut up from him ’by the conVeut walls after that convenient conversion. How they were to be near each other, she had but a vague idea, but in her fancy no thought of separation bad place, and it was with a bright face and cheerful heart that she rose from her knees by the bell-tower, at last, and looked out over the, landscape. Of course she was only looking to see how near sunset it was, and of course she did not want to dazzle her eyes by looking the sun full in the face. Only eagles do that, and she was a very tender little dove. So she first explored the plain below the convent walls with her eyes, to the east, then to the west, gradually working her way up toward the sun, so as not to be drizzled. And thus it befall, that she distinguished, far away from _ the walls, on the Carson trail, a moving speck, which ad- ' vattced toward the convent at a rapid pace ; and Lu Chiquita‘s eyes gleamed, and again she blushed scarlet, while a smile ‘wreathed her lips in spite of herself, and she whispered softly: ‘ “ 0h, Madn dd Dias! cl m'ena 1” (Mother of God! he corneal) ‘ Yes, there was no mistaking the regular. rapid Mundsv of ‘ the horse at full speed, tearing toward the convent gate. ' 'Mlnntes passed like a flash to the waiting girl, who stood riv- . ;,eted to the spot, eagerly watching the gallant figure that came sailing along, with u rapid, undulating grace. ' ."Ee‘mrand nearer comes the horseman, in the midst‘yofi the ted flames of sunset, and soon she can distinguish the‘nm,‘ ’ 3de Datum \ : erect figure, in its close, blue uniform, the black mustang bo- ' neath him galloping on, gray with foam, while—oh, how the . heart of La Chiquita beats l—the rider's gaze is unmistakably fixed on the ramparts of the convent, at the foot of the bell- tower. I Unconsciously, the warm, impulsive Spanish girl extends alter arms. She forgets she is in a convent, soon to take the vail; she only feels that some chord in her nature is quiver~ ing to her very heart, and falls on her knees, calling, in low tones: “ 0h, Dion, b guarda/ Venga, 081196,?“671210 l" (Oh, God, guard him l Come, come, beloved !) Then, as she kneels there by the battlement, watching the.‘ approaching horseman, who is so near that she can distinguish his white face from his hair and clothes, suddenly an expres sion of deadly terr0r comes over her own countenance, at— what she next sees and hears. \ A loud yell tends the air, and at least a score of Indians on horseback suddenly gallop out from the ruinsof an old stable, that once belonged to, the convent, in the days when it ' was a hacienda. , How they got there, how long they had been hidden, La Chiquita could not dream. She only knew that now, just as her cavalier’s features became for the first time distinguishv able, out rushed the mob of galloping savages, and opened a furious fusillade on the young mail-rider. , , It all passed in a moment, and the next she saw Dick Dar- ling drop his bridle on his horse’s neck, bend forward to the saddle-bow,‘plunge in his spurs with a loud yell, then rise ‘ again, with a revolver in each hand, while his charger sped forward like an arrow from a bow. The Indians were on him in a moment, and the pistols flashed to and fro in the crimson sunset, while the spell- bound novice, all aghast, stood as if rooted to the spot, gazing at the fierce skirmish. She saw her hero burst through his foes like a thunderbolt, with the blood spirling from a dozen wounds, while the In- dians hung round him, like wolves round a wounded bufi'alo,[ ‘1 and still the cruel shots went to and fro, with their spiMnl yellow flashes. , , Now they were right under her very feet, careering along, and the innocent novice felt it thrill of strange pride, in the midst of all her terror, as she marked, in that supreme mn- ‘ went, the hearing of her hero. , Surrounded by pitiless red toss, firing into him from all sides, he neither quailed nor shrunk, but sat up erect in his / ' saddle, firing steadily, and felling foe after foe, regardless of , his own wounds. > ‘ ' Then, just as the battle passed beneath her, La Chiquita saw the black horse stumble and roll over, dead, while the savages fired down at the prostrate horse and rider, and the fallen man tired sternly back, till his last charge was gone. Then she saw him fall back, as a last shot peeled out from above, and the Indians raised a fiendish yell of triumph; La Chiquita covered her face with her hands, for she knew ,_ - it was all over. She had seen him but twice, and they had .. killed him before her very eyes. She felt dazed and stupid ' at the sudden calamity. I. She was amused by a bevy of excited nuns, running scream- ‘ .‘ing up on the hattlements, to see what the fearful din meant. ‘ They found the Indians standing respectfully round the body of the dead man. ,, Cat‘s Eye, cowardly and vindictive, was about to reach for his scalp, when the brutal Crow’s Foot interposed, with an . ‘ hir of unwanted dignity. t2» “ Touch not the‘ scalp. Let the body lie,” said the Ute ‘ chief, simply. “ He was a brave man, and never quniled nor . shut his eyes when I shot'him. Let his body be honored. ' Come, let us go." And the lndian chief waved back his party in admiration of the only virtue an Indian respects—s courage greater than ' ‘ his own}. - 0 That this incident is not extravagant, nor alien to Indlnn nature. is evidenced by a recent account of n skirmish in Arizona between a smal. v party ot'the Third U. S. cavalry and the A aches, in which five of the toe- nor were killed. One at these was it lit.t.e buglcr, a lad of sixteen, who was won with tupy-zlassorrom a fort near by, tohc dcteudin himself , With a stubborn bruvcry that was not shown by his comrades. hen the ' ‘reaeue party from the fort arrived, the found the Apaches gone, the -'hod,iee of the dugouns frightfully and sznetlngly mntlinted, while the dad'- had was laid out decently, with his weapons beside him, entinly unharmed. save by his death-shot, a token of respect for [his courage. C H A P T E R X . 'mn smmu. AND rrs answers. THE council of Blackfoot chiefs was gathered round its fire in solemn conclave, listening to the story of Chevrette andl Levrette. As the girls described the manner in, which they had been persecuted by their Ute admirers, and how the lat- ter had finally attempted to secure them by force, some of the younger chiefs could hardly restrain their indign'ation by the rigid reserve of Indian etiquette. There were men in that circle, tall, strong and brave, war- riors scarred from a hundred contts, who were willing to lay down their lives for these very girls, and deemed them too, good for their own lodges; and the idea of a despised Ute, a creature that usually went on foot and dug roots, dar- ng to aspire to these pets of the Ecbipeta, angered the proud warriors beyond endurance. “ Let the warriors speak,” said old Eagle Wing, gravely, “ beginning at the youngest. What says Buffalo Horn 1’” Bud‘an Horn was a young chief of remarkably tall stature, _ . ‘ ' and known as the swiftest runner of his tribe. He sprung to *his feet, without waiting for a second invitation, and cried out: ’ “ Whose dog is a Ute, that he should bite the hand of a maiden of, the Echipeta? We have suffered them too long near our valleys. Let us take the war-path, and cut off every man of the Utes. till not one remains alive to boast that he has insulted a maiden of the Echipeta.” As he spoke, a chorus of approving grunts from the Indians, . around told that they were in unison with the speaker, and Eagle Wing said : , “ it is We". Let Antelope Eye BMk." . - Antelope eye was another young chief, softand delicate in :‘ appearance, and noted for hispersonal beauty and soft, melt-1 « inseyes. . l , ,. . . . “AntelopexEyc is for war on the Ute dog,” he‘said,” ‘ 1 l (I r s a mmmlzeaom'ss. «quietly, “ and m the M who brings home most What! the Jan» to his lodge." ‘ This proposition was treated with more emphatic approval than the other, but Eagle Wing found it necessary to inter- pose. \ “My son is too rash,” he said. “ The daughters of the stranger are sacred to the chiefs of the Eehipeta, and . must not be taken without their own will. Let the maidens speak. ‘Are they willing to enter the lodge of that chief of the Echipeta who brings home the scalps of their enemies l’" For a moment both girls hesitated, and then Levrette an- swered for both. Turning to her sister, she said in French : “ It is our fate, sister. Only one of us can marry Dick. The other must go somewhere. Better a brave chief than a coarse white man. Let us promise. We can make the condi- tions impossible.” To the council she said: , “ The chief that comes home with the scalps of both Cat’s Eye and Crow’s Foot in his belt, and can show ten sculps of the Utes besides, taken in fair fight, may claim either of us ‘ that he wishes, and we will enter his lodge and cook game for him. Is it good i" ‘ ' " It is good,” responded the Medicine chief, gravely, while a bush fell over the assembly at the nature of the feat de- manded. “ The daughters of the Echipeta can only he won by brave chiefs. They have spoken wisely and well." - The old chief was gratified at the girl‘s address. He knew - that two rich_and beautiful girls, such as they, were like fire- brsnds amid heaps of chaff, among his impetnous young braves. The sight of a single favored suitor would be likely to raise a dozen'disappointed ones, and might even end in 'causing divisions in the little tribe. Hitherto the two girls had kept cart-fully aloof from the young men of the tribe, and Eagle Wing had vainly hoped that none of them were affected by the stranger's children. The little speech of Antelope Eye had shown him how mistaken he‘ was, and- how the fire was already smoldering I in many breasts. - , The almost impossible nature of the task assigned for the “favored lover, cast a damper on that fire. .For any single r welder to take twelvesealps out of one party was a matter of. V max * mm. ‘ almost imposlbility, and every one knew it; and old Eagle 'Wing rejoiced as he saw the flame of discord promptly quenched. Only a single warrior or all seemed not cost down by the task. This was a man of medium hight, with very 'broad shoulders, and a trunk and arms remarkably muscular, for an Indian. His face and body were covered with scars, and he wore round his neck no less than three collars of the claws of the grizzly bear. His name among the Blackfeet was Bear Killer, and he had the reputation of being the strongest warrior of his tribe. Bear Killer started up, when all the rest were silent. “ Whose dog is a Ute, that a Kainna should fear to take titty , of his scalpe! Bear Killer will lead the party and bring backs hundred. See yonder l” , ' As he spoke, he pointed to the southern exit of the valley, which looked over the foothills that hemmed in the valley of Dolores Station. A little show'er of red stars had just burst out in the air, and a moment later, the faint distant report of the bursting rocket came to their ears. ‘ skillfully took advantage of the circumstance. “ See, men of the Echipeta Kainna," he cried. “ The pale- !aces are fighting in the valley, and it is the Ute dogs that are haying them. That is their sign to tell their brothers that the foe is on the War-path." A moment later, a second rocket shot up into the air from . 'the station below, and exploded, scattering green and crimson flames all round. Bear Killer pointed away down the valley to where the next station was known to stand. Before the stars of the second rocket had quite vanished, an answering streak shot into the sky. and told that the next station was aroused and passing the alarm. _ “ Let the warriors rouse and follow me,” said Bear Killer. “ There is no time to be lost.” He was turning away into the night, after his horse, when Eagle W 11);; spoke, and his deep, grave voice arrested Bear Killer. 1 “ Hold," said the old chief. “ The Kainua are not boys. Bear Killer had seen it first, and, I to run on a trail without knowing what foe to“ Let V Bear Killer take thirty chiefs. ., it is enough against. the whole- ’9. ly Ute nation. The rest will remain to guard the camp.- Even ' . n a Ute may be brave if he finds none but the squaws and gray- 7 i -y heads here. I have spoken." ?’ r, v - Bear Killer bent his head reVerently before the old chief; i}:- g, for all in the camp were accustomed to obey his lightest ‘ a word. He called for volunteers, and selected from those that ' rt . offered only the strongest and most enduring. Antelope Eye, 3 the lithe, handsome young chief with the beautiful face, he was about to reject, but the young warrior was so urgent in his entreuties that the older one finally conSented. “ But beware of lagging," he said, sternly. “ ’Twill be a long trail and a blind one, and many eyes will be closing for t ' weariness, ere we come back." Antelope Eye smiled a proud smile, but he said nothing. Young braves are always modest in word, till they have taken a few scalps. While the Blackfeet were discussing the preliminaries for , their raidI rocket after rocket, to the number of six, went up . ; ’ from Dolores Station; and Bear Killer hurried them of. M It did not take long for the Echipeta warriors to prepare. '3 Inside of five minutes from the time Bear Killer announced the names of the volunteers, thirty chiefs, each with a rifle at his back, a pair of revolvers in his sash, and carrying in his , hand a long lance, sat on their spotted chargers at one side - ofthe fire, awaiting orders. ' v .1. Chevrelte and Levrelte, armed like the rest, and equally x ' well-mounted, took their posts in front of the center of the , line, behind Bear Killer. ‘ ' t No one remonstrated, for it was an understood thing in fthe tribe that the girls did as they pleased, but munyayoung - chief‘s heart heat higher as he saw the object of his worst adoration sharing the perils of the expedition, and knew that the girls would be with them. i Bear Killer gave the signal. and away they went in single- file down the valley toWard Dolores Station. ' ' ~ , . When they reached the pass that overhung the valley, 3 .' ‘ln'ight crimson glure-arrrsted their attention, and told the story plaiuer than words. ‘ Dolores Station was afire, corral, sheds and all. 'l‘lwltttle f I . stone granary alone stood up, black and ominous, amid the glare of the burning fences, and not a trace of human beings was visible. , - With one accord the Blackfoot warriors galloped boldly down the steep mountain-side, to lift the trail before the light of the fires had vanished. "the marauders had escaped with all the horses. up”. 0 H A P T E R X I. JACK mama’s HOT-AIR BATH. AT, the appearance of the first rocket that shot up from Dolores Station, there was a dead silence among the crowd of Utes that surrounded it. They realized its meaning with- out nny teaching. They had seen it before. Then, as with one consent, they set to work to do all the damage they could before decamping. r ~ The mustangs in the corral, and the stage horses, were ~ hsstily got together, then the rails and posts of the corral and Stockade, with the shattered fragments of furniture from the hut, and the hastily broken up pioneer coach, were piled in a heap before the iron door of the granary, and set on fire. Dry as matches as was the fuel, the flame quickly spread. The paint and varnish on the coach helped to make it fiercer, and the wind, fanning the fire, soon made the heat unbeara- ble outside, within a stone’s throw. Then the Utes, with a parting yell, gallopcd ofi‘ down the v alley, on their way to assassinate the mail-rider, an attempt . "hich we have seenso nearly successful. While they were lighting and piling the fire, Jack Hardin, within, had not been idle. By the assistance of the whisky- flask, he was inspired with a factitious strength, under the in- fluence of which he dragged out three more rockets, One af- ter another, and sent them whizziug up into the air through , tire directing-tube, to scatter their warning Sparks through the, x .At-In‘awnm‘v ,\ . _, r « ,fi'rg, “."N m A new sues. “ I .‘ " s ’ ' a When he heard the galloping horses of the Utes and their " ' farewell yells, the rough station-master shook his clenched w, fist vindictiver after them and muttered: v ' .2 “Ah, ye infernal brutes, ye may run, but of I don‘t git _x even with ye yet, I ain’t Kentuck." " Then he set to work, with the coolness of an old frontiers- man, to wash and bind up his wounds, which were numerous, but luckily not deep. Grazsd he had been by several bullets,- two arrows stuck in the fleshy part of his left arm, two knifeJ Wounds were in his back; but. he seemed as tough as ever, as he deliberately broke ofi‘ the arrow-shafts, drew thent out of the flesh, and bound strips of old bags tightly around them to confine the bleeding. > He had already drank nearly half a pint of whisky, which had no eflect save to clear his head, and when he had finished attending to his wounds, he applied himself once more to the flask, and took a long and hearty swig. The effect. was im- mediate. He stood up and walked round, as strong as ever, to all seeming. ‘ ‘ And then it was that he first began to be sensible of an in- ; creasing heat hi the small and confined granary, as the fire, ‘ which had been wasting its heat outside, began to attack the center of the pile. Through the narrow loop-holes, under the = r. eaves. the bright tongues of flame began to dart; and had ‘2, - the roof been made of wood, the whole edifice would soon have been a mass of flame. . The heavy iron door began to glow with heat, and a dull, ‘ ’ .rcd tinge, swiftly becoming brighter every moment, told that the intense heat of the dry wood in roaring flame was begin- ning to make itself felt. The interior of the granary, five' minutes later, was like an oven in full blast, and the iron door was nearly white hot. l w w teatimmhm (A, w..- A Jam, .1,» M3,. "a, v:- > The tough station-master, fainting and °nearly sufl'ocated 3, with the heated air, sunk gasping on the ground, and began ;; to believe that his time was come. _, , ‘ His fall saved his life, for the earthen floor, still cool and ' damp, revived him, and he became aware that the builders 00‘ this granary, careless and hasty Workmen, had built .it in a’ most imperfect manner. The walls had settled, leaving 3‘. ‘ \ {am and chinksin the mortar, and in one place a hole. ‘1‘ / the ground, from which a cold stream of air was pouring to- ward the fire. With a muttered thanksgiving, the station-master crawled toward the hole, and breathed in long draughts of that cool air. which he had never, till then, fully appreciated. , Meantime the heat above him became, if possible, flercer i'than before, and a new danger reVealed itself to his remem- brance. ~ ‘ 'l‘he hay-bales and graineacks were all uncovered, and at any minute the heat of the glowing doorway might set them on fire. Besides this, not six feet from his head lay the bundle of rockets, at least a dozen of which remained. As Hardin thought of the possible consequences of a fire inside, the cold sweat burst out from every pore. Hastin he started up, and lugged away the rockets to the opposite cor- ner, behind some grain-sacks, while he pulled down a wagon- tilt over the hay-halos, on the side next the door. Hardly had he done so, when he heard the sound of voices outside, the tramping of horses, and became sensible that some ' one was Calling him in loud tones. “ Blackbeard! Blackbeard! Where are you i” t The Voice was the voice of a woman, and he recognized it. It was the voice of ‘Levrette Ledoux. Jack llnrdin tried to answer, but, to his surprise, he could, not make himself audible. His throat seemed to be parched and dry, and refused to form a sound louder than a whisper. Instinctively, he rushed to the water-keg which stood by the flask of strong liquor, and took a deep cool draught. Then he hailed back. 3 “ Here, here! For God’s sake put out the/fire l" He had hardly spoken, when there was a cry of joy outside, and he heard a confusion «toices, while the sound of hissing steam and decreasing heat, showed that his friends, whoever they were, bad obeyed his injunction. . The corral contained a little pool of water. and Levrette and the Eehipeta warriors were busily engaged in casting‘its contents on the fire by the Mammal. TWo warriors would "seize u blanket by the writers, dip it rapidly in the water; - scooping up several gallons in the sagging depression, thee, large enough tg/fh'rust a hand into, had been forrud‘clole to i ..\\.. . c_,m.ww~ .t . x I, out” etc i 'to~ ' 'led 001 081' #11)- I -~ .. -des. ( , Immune; ' 5 running a few steps, cast a sho‘wer over the tire. The closely ‘WOVeD, felt-like, Mackinaw blanket, worn by the warriors, \ as yeou, Miss.” ‘were almost waterproof, and fifteen blankets, going simultane- ously and incessantly, soon produced a marvelous effect. Inside of three minutes, the lust vestige of fire was extino uisheti; and the iron door, cracked from top to bottom, ex- ibited the powers of sudden contraction in a striking degree. Jack Hardin, inside, felt the heat decreasing, while the fire Was being extinguished, and at last heard his friends knock- ing at the iron door. ' Then he pulled out the key, and tried the lock. 1 fresh discovery awaited him there. The heat had'so bent and warped the wards of the patent lock, that it refused to turn, and he found himself a prisoner in his own fortress. . For a moment he wus aghast at the discovery. In another he remembered that " the company " ,had provided another means of egress, in an iron ladder in the corner of the room, which led to a trap door in the roof. . Culling out this intelligence through the chink in the door, he climbed the ladder, emerged from the trap, and stood once more in the open air. ' .Looking down into the faint gloom of the starlit night, he was astonished and horrified to perceive that his deltvet‘ers, as he had fpncied them, were nothing less than a fresh band of Indians. No sooner bed he made the discovery than he dived into the trap door once more, expecting the whiz: of a bullet post his head as he did so. . But new: wine, and after a silent pause he heard the voice of Levrette Culling out: “Blackbeardl Blackbenrdi Where are you? Here are your friends that have come to save you, and you will not look out to see us. These are no Utes, but wnrriors of the Echilteta, come to help you and punish Cat's Eye." Hardin cautiously protrudedfliis hood. , “ All very pooty. Miss Levrette, hut liuow am I to tell that! Injuns is Injuns, and Injuns is p’isen. No offense to you, but. hyar I’m safe. Outside I don’t know hmw long my skulp and me mout keep company, and Ivallys my ha’r jess as much ‘ mot Dianna. CHAPTER x11. THEREDTBAILEBS. anmwrn uttered an impatient laugh of vexation. “ Fool,” she cried, angrily, “do you suppose we should have Gome here to put out this fire, when we might, have helped to burn you up, if we had any need of your scalp 1' Where is my Darling? Tell me that, and you may stay here, for all we care. Tell us, where is our darling i" “ Wind," reiured Mr. Hardin, with exemplary caution, “ he . mout he hyar, and he mout he Lhnr. Levrette." I , ,“I know he’s. on the Carson trail," cried Chevrette, im- patiently interrupting her sister. “ We saw him ride ofi‘, this morning. What we want to know is, how far off is he now, when does he come back, and are the Utes likely to meet him? 'hdl he that." Jack Hardin shook his head, and closed one eye. “ No, ye don't, Missy,” he said shrewdly. , and me,lI nin’tvon the pump biz to-night. is, yourself.” “ 1n short,”,said Levrette, fiercely, “ you refuse to tell us." “ You bet,” responded Hardin, laconically. “ Then his blood he on yourhead, if we fail to. find him, fool," said the girl, vindictively. “'l‘he Utes have gone to- ' ward Carson, on his trail, and if they catch him before we get. up, you lose your commde.” So saying, she turned ungrin away and spoke to her train in the short guttural ,Blackfoot tongue; for not one among them had understood the. colloquy that was going on in En- .,glisl1. ' .0“ hearing her words, the Blackfoot chief uttered a sarcas- tic tmmtlng sound, between a laugh and a yell, in chorushine" That’s haow it is, Miss You know how it lnrlml away their horses. Then, as they galloped away or , the Carson trail in single £10, each chic! contemptuously blew “ Betwln you ‘ 9 erg-B4 2001: «km! mm. 5 his new at the granary, in token of his disgust at the white- ? man's puslllanimity. Jack Hardin took. it very coolly. “ Snivel away, ye darned old painted vsrmints," he mut- 1 tered. “ Safe keep, safe flnd’s an old sayin'; and one skulp’s ‘ wnth a dozen bald heads. Ei' you think Juck Hardin's gwiue ‘ 'er trust a Blackfoot, arter he‘s jest nigh killed by them Utes, ‘ L you kin jest take it out in thinkin’. Hyar I stay, till the { sbgers comes, or the cump‘uy sends on help. The bosses air : gone, and I ain’t gwine to ride no posts till I’m relieved, hyunn ‘ / And the station-master carefully secured the trap-door, and made a safe descent into the fortress, where he made his . bed, lighted a pipe, and sat. down for a solitary smoke, before l . ‘ turning in. . ' i 5 “Poor Billy Grimes," he soliloquized, “ wiped out by a durned Digger Injuu. You and I'll never hev another draw together.” ‘ . ‘ And these few regretful words c::nst.tuted the only epitaph {‘1 not received by poor Bill Grinns. " {5 Meantime the Blackfoot wurriors rode rapidly down the valley along the Carson Trail, following, in a manner that none but Indians could have attempted at such a pace. and 'GO'D. g. 5.! in such a light, the tracks of the drove of‘stolen horses and . ‘ the marsudiug Utes. i There seemed to he no hesitation or embarrassment on the part of a single warrior, as they followed the lead of a. slender young chief who rode in the advance, crouched on his horse’s ‘ neck and carefully watching the ground ahead in the faint ‘ starlight. ' ' v , ‘ ’ And who was this young chief whom all followed so cheer- ? fully? - ‘ _ r E i It was no other than Antelope Eye, the young warrior noted for the beauty of his large melting eyes, which were also remarkable for their singular power of seeing in the dark. _. The only other Indian in those ports known to possess this power was Cat's Eye the Ute, and between him, the 'hoa‘ry old reprobate, and the young and elegant. Antelope ' ye, a mortal hate, the deeper because it was hidden by both, ‘ ' ‘ ' ..'l' . . ._.,‘« .V,’ M ‘ .1 . an , h". v r x" , , ', Some years before, when the young Blackfoot was only a 40".; stripling of sixteen, Cat’s Eye had met him, when out hunting, how all alone. V A The savage me, being the strongest, had also taken the! cm, lad by surprise, stolen his game and weapons, with tho as-i mi sistance of two other Utes. taken away his horses, one of V, (on which was loaded with game, and turned the lad out, stark; gm‘ naked, without so much as a knife, a hundred miles from his '21 ~ ' own camp. ' 3 hol He had only refrained from killing him for fear of the fifl Blackfoot Vengeance that was dreaded by all the neighboring git tribes. w, Antelope Eye reached home after terrible sufferings, nearly 1 w dead, and from that moment had never spoken a word. to his , {e tribe of the means by which he had been brought to such a pi pass. His mortification was keener than his pains. , But from that moment he had devoted himself to atqnir. ' ing the knowledge of a warrior in every manner, and espe-' cially had become the most expert tracker and hunter in his , tribe, always cautions, never again trusting any one outside 01' his tribe. All his earnings in the chase had been deroted to the purchase of arms. ammunition, and horses: an his spare time was spent in secret expeditions among the minntains, with what object, even his tribe knew not. / One thing was certain, that Antelope Eye possessed the finest horses and the best weapons in the tribe, and that the -} product of the chase was not at all sumcient to account for ‘- his riches. Had any one taken the trouble to watch him they might have found the secret, in the transfer of certain - little yellow lumps, brought from remote valleys, to the In- l r (lion traders at the forts, and that those nuggets were found ‘ Qby Antelope Eye. ‘ “l ‘ t r ,But Indians are not prone to watch their own friends, and entertain too much contempt for gold, as a general rule, to care to preserve it. , So Antelope Eye, in his silent self-contained manner, had been preparing for his first war-path and his vengeance; and the solitary glans that witnessed his secret preparations wit-’ nesaed also the fruits of such a long patient practice in 't'nanship as an Indian rarer attempts, and which was yet \ “l 91 ___,~_ , _,,_...~ 1 i I 1 I"! l 7 ; "ins ' the o u- to!{ tnrk,l ,. thiflil t t the, :insg My 3 bis K hat lit. - w. 11's °‘ t to re I. t a A ~_"_, f chief. on whom they looked as lured indifference. ‘toyelevated‘ the silent 'lad into a rcnow bound. ’ All night long Antelope Eye led the band along at a rapid center, seldom halting save to breathe the horses, never hesi- tating at the trail. The early dawn found them nearly forty miles away, with the track of shod horses at a 3:110; still before them. They had passed several stations, all lighted up, with horses safely housed behind stockades, doors barred, and rifles ready to Welcome an attack. To all these they had ‘given a wide berth, for, from their experience of Hardin’s suspicions character, they anticipated trouble; and Eagle Wing’s policy was one of nndeviating peace and non-inter? {erence with the whites, a policy which had borne the hap- pleat fruits, so far. Now that the morning was come, Antelope Eye sat up straight, and glanced around him as he rode along. He expected evidently a divergence from the beaten track. Nor was be mistaken. That apparently mysterious quality, which renders an Indian trackcr’s judgment so unerring, is in reality merely the exercise of a keen faculty of compari- son, knowledge of the country and of tlte habits of the game ned chief at a single ' followed, be it man or beast, white or red. The detective in a city, who follows up a criminal, displays exactly similar \ qualities in a ditl‘et‘ent field. Antelope Eye knew that. his party Was but a few miles behind the Utes, and that the latter were certain to deviate from the track in daylight, in order to escape observation from the Pony Express Stations lie judged that they would follow the Carson Trail. in general direction, from what he had heard said by Levrette and Chevrette, about Darling. Antelope Eye, with his other hidden accomplishments, un- derstood considerable English and some French, though he never spoke eitht-r. His semi-civilized friends the half-breed- girls, had assisted him in that, unkn0wn to themselves; and in lit-toning to them he had acquired a new tongue. Little thought either of the burning and consuming passion. that 'was hidden under the placid exterior of the handsome young almost a’boy with good as ’ Eudden'ly. at the very moment the-sun rose, Antelope Eye r viewed his hand to the right, sworve'd from the path, stilliat ' a gallop, and followed without hesitation a narrow but plainly marked track of shed horses, going at a gallop, which led ofi . up a. side gorge into the mountains. An hour later, be called a halt. The trail ended in a deep narrow mountain stream, and not a Vvestige of tracks appeared on the other side. Bear Killer ordered the warriors to dismount and feed their horses. Antelope Eye started upstream, on foot, Levrette and Chevrette followed its course downward, and both were looking for tracks. Ten minutes later, the sharp war-whistle of the young chief pointed them tip-stream. The trail was found again. CHAPTER XIII. con. SAM JONES in ms: smote. In front of the ruins of Dolores Station, by daylight the morning after the assault, a party of some forty rough beard- ed miners aud mountain men, armed to the teeth with rifles, revolvers and knives, were gathered in groups about their horses, discussing the situation, in frontier style; while on a the roof of the little stone granary, all that was left of the station buildings, Mr. Jack Hardin wus Sealed, pipe in mouth, conversing with the relief party, and awaiting the construction of a rough ladder, to release him from his irn ,prisonment. , Had the statitingmuster been sound and whole, this help r- would not have been needed. Had the door opencd inward, _ it might also have been broken down. As it was, it became necessary first, to help down the wounded man, and then to glntroduee a strong party to break out the door, which defied . all efl’orts- from the outside, not ofi‘ering space to insert even / ‘ a wedge. ' , - ’ I : ileum rm. _ Around the blackened walls of , the ‘adobe hut, noncral ,Wpses were scattered, four of them being Utes, tn ragged . - U. S. uniforms. the fifth that of the unfortunate stage-driver. _' ' . Poor Grimes’s body had been tearfully mutilated, awarding ‘ , . :tovthe barbarous practice of the Western Indians. The scalp , was gone, the body was stuck full of arrows, stripped, and : treated with every conceivable indignity. . No wonder, that in the faces of the rough miners, gath- , _ cred round, could be seen a look of grim ferocity, such as ' , boded ill to any Indians that might cross their path. Such _‘ outrages are unhappily still common in the West, and will "" be, as long as the irreconcilable antagonism between two ‘ 2,1 fleece races is not put down by the strong band of the i dilg'her law of the general Government. To tell half the -“ r-tnuth would cause us all to blush for human nature. , ' Jack Hardin had just finished his account of the attack, while his friends below were lashing together the rounds of their rude ladder, when the leader, of the relief party in- tquired: , “ And how is it that we find the fire out, and the brands .pulled away from the door, Hardin, if they rode away as you say, leaving you to burn up '1’” The speaker was Colonel Sam Jones, superintendent of the _ line, a man of old border experience. “ Waal, cunnel," said the Kentuckian, slowly, “ ’twar Injuna he put out that fire, 1’“ not deny." “ Indians! What Indians? Utes l” “ Waal, no, cunnel, 'twar Blackfwt." ;; “ Speak out, man, what you mean. Are there Blackfeet " round here 9" v “" “ Dunno fur sartin, cunnel. 'Twar them p’isen Utes as ‘ unimpeded the stock and killed poor Billy, and I reckon ’twar 2—1.0at‘s Eye’s hand. Wal, arter Itetched off the skyoodles, they» ;, eavorted around a right smart chance, and then put, on the arson trail. I’ll allow I war 'e’ena’most gone, when I hesrn - oices outside, and a couple 0' gals War a-screechln’ for me. Wasl, ter make a long story short, I hollered -to ’em to put ' - t the fire, for God's sake; and last thing I know’d, slump ‘ ll ' ‘ themteryaud that 'ar’ door cracked open, far it» war 1y white-hot.” BIG! mantra. "Well, well," said the superintendent, impatiently; " get through. How did you find that your friends were Blackfoot Indians ?” I - “ Seen ’em,“ replied the station-master, composedly. “ You don‘t s’pose I kurn’t tell a Ute from a Blackfoot, cunnel ? i 'Twnr sum of Eagle Wing‘s band, in the mountings, yonner, and there wnr two gals, as pretty as picters, a-ridin’ thur at thnr head. But. you bet the painted cusses couldn’t fool me, cunnel. They tried their darndestto git into the station, by' E purtendin’ to be my friends, but Jack Hardin ain’t no chicken, ’ you bet." , ' “ Did they fire at you t" demanded Jones, eurtly. ? “ No, cunnel, I‘ll not say they did. The gals talked sweet, if 1‘ and tried to portend as they Was friends, axin’ whar war Dick ’ Darling, as war out on the trail, and oughter be back tar-5 >2 .- night, of the p‘isen imps don’t snatch him bald-headed. Bitt‘ ‘3'. they couldn‘t’ git no news nout of me, ’haout Dick, you bet." " Oh, stop your internal blowing, Hardin,” cried the super- intendent, in the rough, sharp way he had acquired in con- trolling such characters as the bragging station-master. “ What did the Blackfeet do at last 1’” , " They rid utf, cunnel.” said Hardin, promptly. . “ Very good. Now you’re talking. Did they fire at you before leaving?" ' ‘ “ Nnry shot." “ Where were you ?” “ Spyiu’ nont of the scuttle-hole." “ Could they see you l’” “Guess so, cunnel.” “ Then they didn't treat you so badly, after all." “ Didn‘t say they did." “ Umph, Did they say any thing in leaving l" “ Nairy word, cunnel.” “ Did they seem angry?” " Wool, cunnel, that ar’s a difilcult question." ‘ v ~ “ Aha! -You‘re hiding something from me, then." I" = “ Nary hide, cunnel—but—" ' i f " But. what? Out with it I” , " " Waal, cunnel, they war guilty of a wary msivllo breach , ( o! W, I reckon they calls it, afore learin’.” ‘ 2'. . l ' ' 1‘. u A. mm on mmer ’ 5‘31~ rquwrri , 4» ‘ "‘A breach 0' tlttikt't. cunnei,’ said the Kentuckian, with a grand sir. ' “ What in the devil are you talking about, Jack?” asked ‘ Jones, half-mystified. half-amused; “A breach 0’ tittiquit, cunnel. What the Frenchers calls afozqaaw." ‘ The superintendent stared at the station-master a moment I in amazement, then, as a light broke in on him, he smiled‘ . ' _» . grimly at the mistake. ‘ . ' “ Drop dictionary, Jack. What was this breach of eti- quette i" r -; . ‘ “ Waal, cunnel, ez they rid away, every one of the painted ' galoots took hold of his shoot, and darned of they didn't snivel at me, as ef they thunk I war a hankercher or a bar- room towel, and darn thur painted hides, of I don’t spit in ; the face of the next red imp I meets, cuss me for a skunk i” '1 ' Mr. Hardin delivered this last sentiment with considerable heat. He had been deeply stung by the contemptuous man- I nor of the Blackfeet, and the superintendent could hardly help laughing in his face. “ Never mind, Jack,” he said, consolingly. “ Your sculp's safe, anyway. Don't be in too much of a hurry to ofi‘end Eagle Wing’s hand. They are dangerous fellows, and may not be on the war-path against us, possibly.” ' “ Darn the difi‘erence, cunncl," said the station-master, shrewdly. “ A Injun buck on the War-trail ain‘t apt to stick at trifles. You keep your eyes skinned ei you meet the cusses, that's all I say. One skulp’s wuth a dozen bald heads any day, 'old boss." “ Keep your advice to yourself, my friend,” said Jones, coldly. “I’ve not required it yet, that I know of. Is that r ladder ready, there ‘3" ‘ ‘It was; and a few moments later Hardin was released from his solitary perch, while a party of men entered the buildng through the scuttle-hole, with crowbars and hlacksmith’s tools, “with which from the inside, they very soon forced the door open. \ I a Q m Then, while the wounded Kentuckian was placed in an ambulance and carried away to Salt Lake City,th rapid. ~ R" and ‘. ’10 nick name.” ‘ energetic Jones put the staticu in order once more, with I .promptness and celerity which were the grand secrets of his success in managing “ The Company’s ” affairs on the Pony Route. ‘ Twenty men Were left to repair the stoclcade. and form the nucleus of a fresh station ; horses were temporarily secured for the in-coming rider, who was expected from Salt Lake; and the superintendent. with his formidable party of twenty ‘more, galloped oti‘ to the next station, to ascertain how far the raid had spread, and what damage was done. Colonel Sam Jones was not the man to let the grass grow under his feet, or he would not have been General Superin- tendent U. S. Pony Express. Inside of an hour from the, time when Hardin was released, the superintendent was at Guadalupe station, next on the route. He found eVery thing snug, the horses in their stockaded stable, while the station- _keeper and mail-rider were on guard with loaded rifles, ex- pecting’attacks momentarily. They had heard two bands of Indians pass in the night, and had been unmolested by either. I The superintendent, leaving the rest of his escort to follow at more leisure, took with him only six men, as many as the station could mount, and determined to ride post from station to station, so as to overtake any Indians that might be on the trail, by constant change of horses. At an hour before noon, he started on the Pony Route. ‘. ' CHAPTER XIV. BED AND wnrrn FRIENDs. Tm: young moon was hanging in the faint luster of her first quarter, over the sharp ridges of the sierra, and lighting up the lovely vicinage of the convent of Santa Clara, on the suite night on which the young mail-rider was ambushed, when the thunder of galloping boots was heard in the dis- ridtng .up from the eastward. “ tanoe, and a band of plumed horsemen, bearing long lances. m'mm some~ ' :7. At their head galloped‘ two chiefs, one tall and slendermnd resembling a spirit more than a man, for he was appareled in white from sole to crown, and his charger was snow-white. n The other was short, broad and sturdy, with glittering medals ' _ flashing on his naked breast in the moonlight. He rode a n powerful charger, spotted like a jaguar. , ' Behind the two chiefs came two girls on spotted horses, and fourteen couples of plumed warriors followed in double file. As they neared the convent, at a signal from Antelope Eye the Echipeta warriors fell into a walk; and the young chief, " throwing his bridle to Bear Killer, leaped ofi‘ his horse, and ran forward, half bending over, to inspect the trail more §'_ closely. . A, Right opposite the gate, he suddenly halted, threw up his , *6; hands in warning, and remained as if rooted to the spot, while L the band, at the signal, remained stationary. , [It was a strong proof of the y0uth’s marvelous skill as a tracker, that such an old and experienced warrior as Bear '~ ' Killer should have allowed him to head the party so long. It -" was Bear Killer who now came up, on foot, and demanded: “ What does my son see, that he calls us i" ' The boy chief pointed to the ground. , “ The blood of dogs," he said. In the faint light of the moon, a dark patch was visible, . where the ground was torn up, the yellow dust clotted and . stained with the black pool of dried gore, and all the marks . of a contest could be seen. ly. , “ Where are they, and who ‘t” V I A strong expression of disgust crossed the handsomg I tures of the lad, as he said : . “ Utes! They are cowards, skunks. They have not. even carried them 08'." - . a . . Reckoning to Bear Killer, he advanced to the silent con- vent walls. » » ' k ,A deep broad moat surrounded them, and a heavy draw- hridge was raised, to protect the entrance, but no light shone ~Irons any opening in the long lofty wall. The convent was lilent as the grave. - . it.» / » “ The dead have been here,” said Bear Killer, sententions~ I men mamm- ‘ 1‘ (Yr moonshine had penetrated, round an angle of the wall. There lay the carcasses of two horses, already bloated by the heat, and sticking, legs up. By carefully exploring the cavern, three bodies of human-beings, Indians all, could be ' distinguished. , Antelope Eye went to his horse, and took from the saddle- h w a hair lasso, which he silently handed to Bear Killer. ' Assisted by the powerful veteran, the lad descended into tlte‘tnoat, and made a long and careful examination. When he ascended, his lace was grave. “ They fought one of the white riders that carry the little black bags,” he said. “ They slew his horse, and here are the bags from the saddle. vent. Three Utes are dead. He was a brave warrior, to kill so many." Bear Killer took the mail-bags, and examined them curi~ ously. His face was thoughtful. Like Eagle Wing, he knew the importance of keeping peace with the whites, and realized that his own hand was in danger of being accused of partici- pation in this outrage. While'he Was thoughtfully examining the bags, in doubt what to do, the tramp of horses at full speed was heard from the eastward. and a few minutes later, Colonel Sam Jones, with his six riders, came tearing down tmtiard the convent, at a tremendous pace. The Superintendent checked his speed and halted, the in- stant he saw the band of mounted Indians. He knew that , his fresh horses Were easily able to distance animals that had . come the distance for which he had trailed the Blackfeet. ‘ but golmtel Sum Jones was too cautious to trust himself within reach of such a fomtiduhle party. He and his men hung aloof. revolver in hand, while the Superintendent opened a parley with the strangers, in the Ute tongue_ for Colonel Sum Jones was an old mountain-man. as . well as a college graduate, and had become acquainted with} most lndiun dialects. “ Who are you, and what are you doing 1‘" he shouted. la It was Bear Killer who waved back his men, stalked alone on foot, and answered proudly: r , \ v Antelope Eye pointed into the dark moat, where a ray of “to , He himself is gone into the con. .yr y ,l' » mimm'noe. -‘ “,Echtpets K‘ainea. No Ute. The Utes are skunkswd My! , .‘ The Superintendent was a little puzzled. His old moun- tain experience had not taught him much of the Blackfoot 9 ,jdialect, which is entirely distinct from that of the other , iprairie tribes. " ,, Beyond the name, and a few phrases, he was ignorant, but as he remembered Hardin’s account, he began to suspect ‘- thnt the band before him was possibly composed of friends,‘ ' am! that it might be wise to show confidence in them, by :meeting their chief half-way. He walked his horse forward a few steps, and again hailed 'in Ute: “ Let one chief meet me, and talk, if it is peace.” He had hardly spoken, when Antelope Eye touched Bear "Killer’s arm. ’ l- E; “ Let the squaw chiefs go," he whispered. “ They r ‘ nuke peace for us The pale-faces! will not touch squaws." ‘ l- . Bear Killer nodded, and spoke to the girls, who eagerly , {agreed to explain the case to the white leader. Accordingly, ti, fLevrette and Chevrette turned their horses, and rode toward 0 Efitl'se Superintendent, who met. them close under the cover of '» this men’s pistols. h i,’ Colonel Snm looked suspicious at the fact of more than {1‘ {one Indian coming to meet him, but his suspicions were dis ’ ' t' Isipsted by two facts. I“ 1 First, he saw, at their near approach, that both were wo- 1 Jimen. Second, the rest of the Blackfeet dismounted from ing-wtheir horses, and grouped themselves together, some little ‘ ‘vauy off, as if to convince him that they meant no harm. g The Superintendent thrust back his revolver into his huh I: '4 ;,ljter,hnlf-nshamed of himself, when he saw with whom he 07.56 a 9 {Was to meet, and advunced, extending b'nh hunds, and using 1. “he Echipetn snlutatiun : h" -“ How-ne-tuclba 1’" (How do you do 2‘) I It was the greater part of his Blackfoot vocabulary. ' f Two soft pulnis met his in a frank clasp, amt the sweet fish voices answered together : . “ NW»? (Very well, thank you.) ,. A Then‘Mademdselle Levrette broke into a silvery laugh, ‘ :v‘ and observed : , . < t ‘ “ ’l‘o judge from your attempts, colonel, I should imagine that we might better pursue our conVersation in your own‘ I tongue, unless you prefer French, so that. your men may not. 9? , understand." ' I V Colonel Sam stared in amazement, ejaculating: “ Heavens and earth, ladies! who are you, and what are you doing here i‘" “ I am Levxette Ledoux, a chief of the Echipeta Kuinna,” said the girl, in a tone of pride. " You need not wonder, colonel. Even Indians are sometimes civilized, and we were both educated at the Sacré Cmur of Montreal. What do you x seek here ?" , “ I seek one of my mail-riders, Dick Darling," said Jones, without further disguise. “ I fear the worst for the poor lad, g If he was on time, I should have met him, two stations back. but they have not heard of him, and I know that Cat's Eye’s band is out on the war-path. The brutes burnt Dolores Sta-’ tion, last night.” “I know it,” said Levrette, gravely. “ We'are out after them, and trying to save him, but your tool of a station-mask ter would not tell us when he was expected back, so we have ‘ = been hunting in vain, till now. I fear that Darling is killed." " ' “ What makes you think so, madam ? ’ ‘ “ If you will trust yourself with us to examine the convent 3 ‘ . moat,” suid Levrette, “ we will show you what we have found. . Otherwise we will go on the trail of the Utes again, and trust to your honor to report Eagle Wing‘s band as friendly to the whites.” Colonel Sam threw aside all! suspicion, saying: " I will trust you, madam. Lead on.” v t, ’ h;,,;~.,.,lr L). < , J... - \ 5.91;!- c H i P r E R x v. THE YOUNG wmnron’s PROMISE. TEE Superintendent of the Pony Express was a man of stout nerves, but he was fain to shudder slightly, as he in- spected, in company with the grave, dignified Blackfoot war . , riors, the proofs of the barbarous murder that had been done _ . on the mail-rider. There were many strange circumstances revealed by the 1 " ’ light of the lantern which one of Jones‘ party quicklypro- 'duCed, a small bull's-eye, such as the pony expressman usually ~ carried at night. Under its powerful light, Antelope Eye made several diam ‘ coveries, which he pointed out to the girls, who translated ' his words to the Superintendent, quite unconscious that the young chief understood every word. r , 5 Then a strange state of facts was developed. > I) The mail-rider‘s body was gone, and the three Ute bodies ‘ were Wed. ' 7 1?, When the Superintendent saw this. he at first jumped to “ the conclusion that some whites had rescued Darling and '. killed or driveu 05 his enemies. The young lndizm’s keen in- "' j? r telligence and merciless, logic quickly showed him a different state of things. \ I" See,” suid Antelope Eye, animatcdly, “the tlme Ltcs were killed with single shots, and no“arrows stick in them. ’Iyndlans,would have shot them full of arrows. The white man killed them. He must have fought turd, under the , ,Walls of the big woman’s lodge, and the block squnws have taken him in, to bury him. See the hl'OIid trnil of the Utes, » , away from here. They went at a walk, for their horses are , tired, and drug their feet in the (lust. No one has been here i, 4 since, or there would be tracks. The Utes are skunks and g ' 1f" cowards. Without heart. They are coyotes that eat their own " f, brethren. They dine not take a 'man’s scalp, so they have { have hidden him.” "growled : I ' momma... . taken the ecalpe of their own dead, alter the white man shot them, and thrown the bodies in the ditch.” « ' “ But, where then is the While man‘s body 1’” asked Jones, wonderingly. “ Surely, they must have ecalped him too." “The white man is in there," suid Antelope Eye, conti- dently, pointing to the silent convent. “ We'll soon see about that,” said the colonel, briskly. , “ Give me that bugle, Jim Morrison.” The man addressed handed his leader a small cavalry bugle, wherewith the colonel was fond of amusing himself, and the latter blew a lively reoet‘lle before the door of the 'a" convent. I It was repeated twice, with loud variations, before any no- tice was taken. At his a window opened above the port- cullis, and n shrill, querulous voice demanded : “ Quien llama, caballeron, quien llama .9” (Who calls, gen- tlemen, who calls Y) ' , “ Americans, men of the mail-carrier's route," answered '. the Superintendent, in Spanish. “ One of our men has been -.- ‘ killed before your door, and we want to know where you ‘3: ‘ Go away, senores, in the name of God," snid the shrill ‘ ~‘ voice. “ This is a house of prayer, where no men are allowed ’ f " to enter, and we can not tell you. If the poor man who was ' l I killed belongs to yourrpcople, rest content, He is in holy {' ] hoods and will receive Christian burinl. Bumos oodles." . ' Then came a sharp shun to the window, as Sister Agatha ' ‘ shivered her way buck to bed. grumbling at the “'maldt'tol ' ] trams," who had aroused her from her slumber. ;‘ Colonel Sum Jones uttered, it must be owned, Some lan- ' guagc by no menus complimentary to the old nun, us he ,1 “ You may keep your old convent, granny, I don't went it. But where the devil are my mull-bags? That’s What I want." ' ., " We found them on poor Darling’s saddle,” said Chevrette' , "J . Ledoux. “ Bear Killer will give them to you." " "' It was a great relief to Colonel Sum to find his mail-wetter sefe. A dead rider might be replaced. Stolen‘mail-mutter y the Company was responsible for. Eugerly he clutched the ' phantom ‘ r worth ‘while to go through them. With an air of relief he observed: '3’ “ Come, boys, we’ve no time to lose. Poor Darling’s been wiped out. and the convent people will bury him. A: for us, ‘7' fire must ride on. Jim Morrison, tnke Darling’s mail back to Tidtdgo Station, and carry it on. The track’s safe that side. ._ You others come ulong. We must clear the way to Carson.” As he spoke, he turned away to his horse and mounted. » ' Cbevrette‘s Voice, in deep, rich tones of indignation, de~ maudcd: , “ And do you mean to say, Mr. Superintendent, that you are going to leave the body of poor Darling to be buried or fl" left by these strungers '1” e Colonel Sam shrugged hi shoulders. 9 “ Mudnmoiselle, the affairs of our Company can not come to a hult for a single death. which is to restore our northern route to running order, and Icn’n‘t spore any more time. Muny thanks for your help. ‘ ‘Jim Morrison, did you hear my orders? Away, sir.” .I I» . The mail-rider addressed had been eta-tipping the bags on .’ , behind and in front of his saddle, and now he touched his ' 1 but, and aturted off on the buck trail. ' ' Colonel Sum Jones removed his hat, and bowed with the normal politelle to Levrette and her Slaiel‘, then to the _Blackfoot chiefs. I A moment later, with only five followers, he Was 03' at full speed on tho Curson trail, to Ie-eslublish order on his be- -?_' lulled route. {The Blackfeet, who had been grimly silent during the "‘ thrust-nee of the whites, now begun to discuss their future ' plans. By the fact of their horses being our“ fed, while they ‘Cill'ril'd a dny‘s ration of corn iwilllltl the sn-‘dle, they had lit-pt them in eompnxulively good condition, so fur, and filiesupt-rior blood and hrculing of the animals themselves prumisi-d to bring them up with the swim chnrgers of the - LUtea, before long. . ’ “. What‘thu course of the latter Would be, they misily‘sub 735'“? ‘ '< bugs and inspected the scale by the light of the bull’ewoyele They were intact. Obviously the Indians had not thought K ‘ I have my duty to perform, I to m-dén wide and weeping circui‘, and then a rentan ‘ 4 ' home, so as to give time for any pursuit to tire itsel! 1' ,out. "- Judging from this well known tendency of all Indians to come back on their own trail in a circle, and noticing that t". the Utcs’ trail took a curve to the south at the very gate of the convent, Bear Killer led his lt‘oOp ofl‘ to the south-east, a, through the mountains. V 1'“) It was the first time he had undertaken the direction of ‘E the party, which he had hitherto trusted to the keen sight. of Antelgpe Eye. Striking 03' through passes well! known to the Echipeta warriors, plunging into deep canons, and winding along narrow and precipitous passes, they found. m themselves at dawn high up among the upper passes of the A —' Sierra, andsoon descried the object of their search, a file of A men in the far distant valley of Reese river, slowly and (18-45 jectedly trooping along to the south. ' ‘" Antelope Eye, who was riding near Bear Killer, noticed :. V them first, when they were at least four or five miles off, and _' ' dimly visible as specks on the green surface of the valleyij- He uttered a low hiss like that of a snake, the well-known f ; warning of caution, and instantly halted. ' , Under the guidance of Bear Killer, the Blackfoot warriors ‘- receded in haste behind their horses, and made the animals 5 :' lie down, to diminish the chances of being seen by their toes, who, however, had their backs turned to them as they went. " Then an animated discussion ensued between the chiefs as! to the proper procedure. It was terminated by Antelope? Eye, who suddenly developed a determinationand power of l“ oratory for which no one had ever giVen him credit. . L in a short, animated speech, he pledged himself, if thejc' warriors would but follow his guidance, to bring them to a 1": spot where he would deliver the Utes into their hands, like " rabbits in a net. , “ If a single Ute scalp escapes without our leave," he de— clared; “I will give my own sealp, the scalp of a chief ‘or' the Echipeta. to dry in the lodge of a rota-digger. 'I only. Ask you to follow me this time, for I know where they are, ' going, and i have more wrongs to avenge than any here.” ‘ Then he ended with an account of the indignities he had from Cat’s Eye and the Utes, and demanded penis: is, ' hr“ Z. _r f. numb rum ‘ggnsns. fig: 7 . 53b!) to go first, single-handed, and fightvhis foes,.lo avenge , ; ""‘those indignities. - r ‘i ' With one accord the warriors assented to the request, and _ f 3‘ .told him to lend on. The remarkable thing was, that the "if; " .y;¥Ec_hipetn seemed to fear only that their enemies might slip ’t'j isway from ttu-tn, by some Inenns. Of the imprudehce of . allowing a single warrior to fight a whole hand, as Antelope iv'Eye proposed, they hnd no thought. For the Utes, single, .Igyiey entertained a profound Contempt. That very contempt” 'n "fitwus, that made them so feroeiously anxious, lost a single [(1 ile should escape to tell that he had insulted a. maiden of id» “the Echipetn. 'e As the Utes disappeared round a spur of the mountains, - De“ _:Antelope Eye led his party down a lonely pass into the. ’ f" Egbéart of the Sierra. _ CHAPTER XVI. trs‘a?‘ THE HUMAN CORRAL. Car‘s Em and Crow’s Foot, as perfect a pair of, villains ' _ as the Great West has often seen, were riding slowly south 1“; Item the nunnery of Santa Clara. talking over the death of » ylheir‘ lute enemy, Dick Dnrling, and discussing their future '~ Millimepects, the next. morning after their murderous onslaught, N ‘f The young riding chief died like a. man,“ observed M: '1th F001, gravely, " but how are we to get the squawat a "write man at the station has roused the country and the sol- kc lie" will be after us, with the guns that shoot all day." Cat’s Eye shook his head thoughtfully. Like his friend. '3 i was beginning to realize that. one may pay too dear for & histle. 9".»1.’ “ We 'Ollgltt to huve kept the squews while we had them,” .nhaervetl. “The Echipeta are great warriors, and they ire, h “ may he soon on our track. ' p . - it‘d, 3 ‘f- The Echipeta are dogs,“ said Crow s Foot, savagely. ~ | ' 7' ""78 ban tight them, but the guns that shoot twice who all I a ; dusts-t t" \ ‘l. w h " t DICK bummer. He referred to the mountain howitzers used by the troog’ _' .‘vhose shells were always an object of great dread to the Y disns. “ Let my brother listen," said Cat's Eye,cunuingly. “ The soldiers can not mnrcll as fast as we, and the Echipeta, if on our Iruil, maybe near us now. Let us turn aside to the 7; mountains and hide there. They will follow our trail, and, .501 , we (inn ambush and slay them like buffaloes." Crow’s Foot was not loth to assent to the wisdom of the ‘ counsel. The horses of the party Were completely exhausted, _ " having been ridden for over seventy miles inside of twenty- " four hours, and it became evident that a pursuit must take them at. a fearful disadvantage. ‘ They Were now far out of the track of emigrants, and eh- , tering on that wild and unknown stretch of Country in south; 1 east Nevada, still unexplored and unknown to the whites. I Against any pursuit from these they were comparatively ,' I - safe, from their knowledge of the country, but the likelihood of their being followed by the Blackfeet was a ditlerent mat» ter. Hitherto, they had lived in peace with their grim neighbors, fearing them Ion much to provoke a collision, but an insult had 1" ‘ been ofl‘ered to the tribe which they hurl reason to fear might provoke retaliation. 'l‘heit‘ party only numbered fifteen melt ‘ all told, for they had lost seven warriors killed,iu the cornea, ' at Dolores Station and before the Convent. Three of those? present were slightly Wounded, and they were in ill condition for a battle with unknown forces. - Under these circumstances, at Cat’s Eye’s suggestion, the L. ' roiders turned aside out of the valley they were pursuing, the 1 f, source of one of the tributaries of the Reese river, and en; ' tan-d m)!‘ of the numerous canons that intersect. that rsngeo! mountains. The canon led them winding deviously along through th ' heart of the rungs Yor six or seven miles, the poor broke down horses plodding alongpwith heads down, only partial, invigorated by no oceanional swallow of water. It the opened into a wide amphitheater, carpeted with limit-lat green grass, surrounded wish perpendicular. precipioes, from which the only exit. was on the oppositelldgtwhen 'ti xx .; , > ' “ in V. .j ;,:.V ., ‘71,“; continued, narrower than before, to the source of its mm. ‘ ' “ ' ‘ Into this sheltered paradise entered the fifteen grim, fero- dons-looking brutes who followed Cut's Eye and Crow‘s Foot, tutti then to; the first time lit-gun to show symptoms of mercy their horses. . , -With one accord they dismounted, and turned the poor :creaturee loose, to feed or‘ rest as they might: prefer. it With hardly an exception, the weary hrutes threw them- V ' ,pélves down on the soft, rich grass, utterly broken down, and "not for several minutes did they muster strength to eat as h‘ey lay. . 'But the mustang blood is too stench and enduring to give Way thus forever. Before ten minutes had passed, first one, filter] another, having plucde awuy most of the sweet grails ’ found his head, begun to roll. Then twu rose simultaneously, 'iltook themselves, and began to graze with‘avidity; and be- ;ore long. all of the mustangs were up and feeding. 1‘ "file conchdtorses, htrge, fine-looking animals, with more no and substance than the largest mustang, were not so ‘83:in restored. Only one of them seemed able to feed, lying‘ down, and the rest gave every symptom of linearly death,” ey'lsy groaning and panting on the ground. ' ,The raiders themselves were ditmeriess and hungry: They ' d seized no food on their hurried journey, and were sufliU ntiy forlorn. ‘ It was when they were clustered together in the midst of little valley, gloomily delmting the advisability of killing horse for food, that the sharp war-cry of the En-hipem sud~ It"! rung through the air. . , Instead“ of atnlmshiug the Blackfeet. they found the tuition bed 'on thetnseims. its thirty Echipeta warriors, on foot, I into the menu from the narrow Cttttnn heymt-i. mid charged across to the other entrance, without. tirim: it shut. ‘meen rammed ‘0 guard ettch exit, and before the scattered, ea could come together and make ready for tlrfeuee, they die at the mercy of twice their-number of wurt'tot‘s‘, any one .Hhom was more than rematch {or their best tighter. Then a. dead siietwe fell on all the amphitheater, (or the ‘ dittnot dare to begin a fight which cou’ldhuve but on. isms: amine; ‘ lsltte.‘ They clustered together, dogged and sullen, graspingfl their weapons to sell their lives dearly, but unwilling to be- ' gm. ’ ‘ Cat’s Eye was the only coward among them. He was livid with terror, and shook from heed to foot, for he felt» that his race wus run. It was in the midst of this silent pause that a slight move- ment occurred among the Blackfeet at the upper end of the valley. Four' mounted figures rode out from behind the line and rode boldly nud tranquilly forwurd to the front of the lntrapped Utes. Cat’s Eye uttered a groan of dismay, and his howels seetned to give way, as he recognized, in front, the two girls whom he had but lately insulted, and on one side Bear Killer, the great war-chief of the Echlpeta. 'l‘he slender, boyish figure .on the other side he recognized instantly. It was Antelope Eye, whom he had robbed and turned out to starve, seven years before. ‘ The only thing that gave him hope was, that the 1nd did not seem to know him, and that his handsome young face. \ were an expression of lnildness that was positively seruphic.’ ‘ ‘ But if Antelope Eye looked gentle, Beer Killer was its grim as a statue of cruelty, and Chevrette and Levrette wore am expression of triumphant scorn that holed ill for the Utes. “ So. dogs of root-diggers, skunks of the brushwood,” com- menced Levrette, in that free and elegant style alfected h her and her sister, “the maidens of the Echipeta ure meme . the lodges of such as you, are they? Where'were theleut I . of your warriors, that you could not'heur the Echipetn horsev ' hoofs on your troll l‘ We do not ernwl. like snakes. Where' were your eyes, that ye could not see the Echipettt trail when, it crossed yours, or see our scouts wntch ye safe into the val» hey? Go, you are dogs, skunks, not even squnws in wur.‘ 1 squaw of the Eehipetn would hide her heud in shame to Counted such warriors us you. * Ye are pnppooses, fit to hurt up behind a door and suck at n squaw‘s breast, to learn wl ' dom. _ Go I" . , ' f _ 7 To all her taunts not a man in the group answered a wort Only Cat's Eye shrunk down ’behlud Crow‘s Foot and tr ' ‘M railing,'in true squuw style. No one would have ever "dreamed that these two young ladies had once been inmates of the Sacra Oamr Convent, at Montreal, and received what is . known as a civilized ‘eductttion. ‘ The polish was pretty well T rubbed 03‘ by their wild d‘esert life, and for the notice they. turmere thoroughbred Indians. ' «‘ ‘,‘,See the cowardly Ute slinking behind his brother, like a .jvacoyote hiding in the hole of a prairie-dogl” cried the girl, "Ihrilly. “ Dog and coward, come out and fall on your knees ,_‘_'for mercy, or your heart shall- be cut into small pieces and f ' fed to the huzznrds." '* Trailing like a wounded serpent, in abject submission, the ' dastardly Ute crawled front the group and flung himself on - "‘1 his face at the feet of Chevrette’s horse. He was completely " overcome with terror. - 7- The girl pointed at him contemptuoust with her whip; i and- addressed Crow’s Foot in his turn : ‘3 You, too, dog! You who were not satisfied with one; < “but must have two maidens of the Echipeta in your lodge.- grovel in the mud and ask pardon." It wus evident that she calculated on the force that am: - rounded her to enforce her mandates. In Crow's Foot she A found a difl'erent f0e. ‘ ‘furious kick as he; lay, and shouted : -p_“ Never l Take that, sow of the Echlpem l" And he flung his knife at her. Then, ruising hls cocked ‘ Ilst'ol, he fired full'at Bent Killer's broad breast. CHAPTER XVII. 'rrm BOY carer’s nxrnorr. THE Blackfoot chief was not unprepared for such a ma. neuver. He had his cocked pistol in hand, for he had hardly expected that such an unconditional and absolute surrender as that of Cat’s Eye would be general. When Crow’s Foot fired, the Echipettt chief was in the act of spurring his horse on him with leveled weapon. \ The Ute was just three seconds the quick-eat, and h'u lmll--r struck Bear Killer in the center of the breast, bringing him ' down in a moment, dropped from his horse like a stone, while his pistol exploded harmlessly. / The next moment, the hitherto placid and gentle Autelope’ Eye suddenly became transformed into a living thunder» bolt. ' Before the sound of Crow’s Fool‘s shot had ceased, the young chief, with a revolver in each hand, th8 standing on _ the ground in front of his horse, and firing into the aroused Utes. In allusion to his hitherto bloodless reCord. he wore ' a white hunting-shirt and leggings, his hair was covered with white clay, and his face was painted white, while his horse was white as snow. . ‘ With his first shot he felled Crow’s Foot, pierced throttgh the heart, and the next moment the remaining thirteen Utes were firing at him, madly and confusedly. .Like a rock stOod . Antelope Eye, a pistol in each hand, and his shots pealrd out with a regularity and pitiless accuracy that were atnnz' in'g. l , Then were first revealed the fruits of that patient‘ training which the young chief had so long secretly undergone. had developed, out of a sight abnormally keen, and stoic ’ nerves, a marksman as reliable as a machine, whose every shot‘ 9 v told, and whose roving glance detected, at each shot, Which Was the man a; kill / Twelve shots pealed forth in as many legends. and when Antelope Eye cast the still smoking was: F 1t .5 \ \ _' _;,:,,“pons at the heads of the two remaining men, the groundwu _ (toured withdead. bodies. and he was still unwounded. _ With ’ , It fierce yell of triumph, the young chief snatched from his ‘ t“ girdle u. third revolver, and covered his remaining t‘oes. But. he needed not to shoot. With n how] of superstitious dismay, both dropped on their '- I. knees, holding up their hands for mercy, und Antelope Eye - 'disdainfully beckoned them forward, with his cocked pis~ ’ tol. ' Then, for the first time, he withdrew his foot from where _'*_ ‘ it. had been plunted during the tight, on the neck of the pro.- " trate destttrd, Cat‘s Eye. ’v ‘ The whole thing was over in s quarter of a minute. ‘x' ' ' One instant was seen a group of sullen, defiant Utes, dogg getuy grasping their weapons, then came a. sudden movement, - I nsuccessiuu of red flushes and sharp reports, men falling like niuepius; in silence; and a white figure standing in front ‘ of a group of horses, motionng forward two abject, crawling " "Indians to his feet. ’ Levreue and Chevrette sat on their horses, gnzing at An- ‘ ,telope Eye, in silent wonder and nwe-strickeu admiration. i .1 The quiet, graceful boy had become. at a bound, the greatest ' Warrior of his tribe. Singleohnnded, he had slain twelve men, 9" and conquered three more. The Blackfeet at the end of the valley. while equally attuned, were equally silent.~ Only Bear Killer, the tough .. old Wni't'ior, who had just staggered to his feet in spite of his , , fearful wound, uttered a faint cry of triumph. ” - ‘ It was in the midst of a deep silence, that Antelope Eye .‘j maligned to the two Cowards to drop their pistols, which they ' , did. \ ,‘ . _ 'r-_ .u me your knives," he said, sternly, “ scnlp the slain,nnd " bring me the senips here.” - . , 4 With humble nlucrity, but shuddering all over, the unhappy “"t‘retchts complied with the grim order, and delivered their " Whittle of senlps to the implacable Nemesis, developed in the : bemuiful boy. ‘ . ffmutout a Word, Antelope Eye shot them both down tit , \ -. I is tit-ct. when their tark was done, and then gave a disdainful Rick tu'the prostrate Cat’s Eye. \ t v ~Tw—‘i. I . H (times meme. , “Up, dog at a Ute,“ "he said, scornfully. “Scalp your, .' . brothers, and lay all the scalps at my. feet, tied in a bundle.“ ,' ' Quivering from head to foot, the dastard obeyed, and was confronted by the awful fury that now at last began to work in the features of the boy chief. I “ Ha, Dog, Skunk, 'l‘oad of the Utes l" hissed Antelope Eye. “Crawlng reptile‘of the sage brush! do you remember me now? When three Ute braVes found one boy of the Eehip- etas, they stole on him in his sleep, robbed him, and turned _him out. naked on the prairie, in the snow, to die. But he -found his way home, trapped rabbits with the hairs of’ his head, to feed him on the way, and swore vengeance on you and your accursed tribe. ley are gone, but you live, and shall live, till you pray for death, swine and toad of an un- clean mother l" . - As he spoke, he spit on the degraded chief, and turned . away. . ' . " Picking up the bundle of Ute scalps, Antelope Eye's man— ner changed in an instant, as he spoke softly and proudly to LL-vrette: 'yr '7 .. “ The task is done. A Warrior offers the sealps of fourteen ' Utes, and claims his reward. The maidens will enter the V I lodge of the youngest chief of the Echipeta." Levrette how«d her head low. “The choice remains with the chief,” she said. "The maidens of the Echipeta will keep their word, for Antelope Eye is a great chief.” Here a deep, guttural voice broke in on the colloquy. It was that of Bear Killer, who stood close by. bearing, with the wonderful physical fortitude and strength of an Indian, a wound that would have left a white man helplessly groaning, ~ on his buck. - I .g - “ No longer Antelope Eye," said the" veteran, gravely.‘ " I “ My son is no more a boy. He has bectnme a than among; _ men. From henceforth the tribe shall know only Wau-keen-tka ‘ ‘ , —White Thunder, the chief; for he was white as the moun- ‘ j. tuiu snow, and deadly as the thunder of Wahcondnh.“ “ And as White Thunder the young chief was known, from ' :thnttmoment, not only in his own tribe, but among all his neishbors. ‘ > ‘ ./, I. was“ um White Thunder It was, who turned disdainfully atmy once more to the kneeling Ute, crouched humbly at his feet, his: ‘ eyes imploringly fixed on the young chief, while his quiver- lhg lips begged for mercy. “Strip elf your clothes, coward," said White Thunder; steruly. “ A‘coyote should not went. the 'hide of a warrior, Strip." fl Without Venturing on an expostulation, the abject Ute complied with the order, throwing down his clothesmith ser- vile haste. » White Thunder sprung on his horse, and beckoned to the Blackfeet at the other end of the valley. A number of them» run forward, obeying his gesture as if he had been their head war-chief. His recent wonderful exploit had impressed lheml with such admiration, that, for the time, White Thunder was -. Omnipotent. ' _ vUnder his orders, the wounded Bear Killer was placed open a litter, hastily constructed of lances and blankets, and’ carried slowly away to the exit of the valley, to undertake the home journey. ‘ Then the remaining chiefs mounted their horses, and for the first time the degraded'Ute, Cat’s Eye, was brought. into ‘Ipublic notice. There he stood or rather crouched, a little way 03, stripped to the skin, and evidently dreading the worst, from the ominous silence preserved about him, up to that time. . - 7 White Thunder pointed at the shivering coward, such a " rare exception to his» stoic race, and said to the chiefs: '~ ,“ Behold the dog that stole on a boy of the Echipetas in his sleep with three dogs like himself, stripped him nuked end turned him out. A warrior dies by steel and bullet. A, dog is lashed to death. 1 have said." It needed no 'i’urther hint. , .‘The Blackfeet, like all Indians, carry short, heavy hufl'ulo- ,. hide whips, with a poinltd thng that cuts like u "knife. At -' the‘words of White Thunder, they uttered n yell of mingled ' scorn and fitrce delight, and galloped down on the unhappy amtch. r Cat's Eye knew what was coming. Goaded to desperation. ‘ ' Woodard likes deer to the upper winner: at? the mcx untrue. \ ’nlley, hoping to reach it before . pursuit could arrest him. i ' Behind him sc6ured the Echipctn, yelling like a pack 01, hounds, and soon came up with him. Then the cruel sport ‘ V commenced, as one chief, measuring his distance with pitilesa accuracy caught the flying Ute with the end of his lash, taking l_ V ' a small piece of flesh out. of his hack, and giving way to am other who repeated the operntion. They did not attempt to intercepthis flight, but before he reached the narrow canon, he had received twenty-five such lashes, under each of which ’ v be howled tpiteously like a whipped dog, and his back and thighs were covered with blood. The torture,/ however,‘ seede only to lend him additional strength, for he managed. to gain the canon at last, where only a single horseman could ‘ follow him, and up its rocky bed he darted in haste, where '1 y the proud chiefs disdained to follow hint. I Laughing acornfully at his cowardice, they rode slowly back to where White Thunder calmly awaited them, and took up the return march to camp. ' CHAPTER xvur. PATIENT AND NURfiE. IN it large, dimly-lighted room, deliciously cool in contrae with the hot, sufi‘ocatiug glureof the sun outside, luy stretched. on a coach, the form of a young man, his face pinched, pale and haggard, ll heard'of a month's growth on his chin, his long hair in tangled curls spread over the pillow, He lay' there, hardly seething alive, as he had him ever since the hot. delirium and fever of his Wounds had subsided, three days ‘ before. ' ’ ‘ L - . . Few would hue recognized in tlmt sullow, haggard thee, 'rtlte oneo dashing, handsome young "mil-rider, who had been " left for dead at the gates of the convent of Santa Clara, {I ' ‘ month since.“ v ’ I ’ " ' I ' '» g a The new lead handed out when the A same: or JOY. 81 and picked him up, under the direction of old Padre Juni- pero. They had' brought him into the infirmary, thinking him dead, and intending to lay him out and give him Chris- tian burial. It was only when he was covered with the sheet, that the little novice, Francesca, who had been remarkably quiet and pale, never uttering a word during the whole scene, stole to his side, and presently uttered a loud shriek. All the nuns were amazed. No one had ever known tne child to exhibit excitement before. Usually, she was remark- ably quiet and placid. At her cry they all came running back, and were amazed when told by her, panting and tremb- ling with excitement, that the young cavalier was alive. Slut could hear his heart beat. ' Old Padre‘ Junipero was appealed to, as the medical au- thority of the convent, and he, after a‘long and careful ex. amination, pronounCed that La Chiquita was right. The youth was alive, but, from the wounds he had received, could not probably live more than another hour or two. But here again La Chiquita amazed her friends. She act- ually had the courage to tell Padre Junipero to his face that he didn‘t know what he was talking about. “ How can you, father, when you have not examined him P His clothes are all clotted with blood, but you have not seen his wounds. He must not die. He shall not die l I’ll nurse him. Quick, cut oti‘ his clothes, and wash these wounds. You ought to be ashamed to let a fellow Christian perish be- fore your eyes." And, La Chiquita, trembling with excitement, and some- what resembling an enraged dove, stamped her little foot and "began to cry. Padre J unipero looked as much aghast, as a shepherd might if a very small lamb were suddenly to butt him in the stem- aeh. He looked confused, but at once busted himself to restore the insensihle youth. The older nuns, most of whom had been mothers in their time, and had taken the veil in old widowhood, hustled La Chiquita away, to her great amazement, for the child was ab- ‘ lulutely and entirely innocent as to the reason of their con-' Here's. max Mame. \ gnpct, incl then cut ofi‘ the clothes of the poor wounded lad; _ * ind washed away the blood with great gentleness, while Padre i .Junipero examined the wounds. ' We have said that the old priest was the medical authority of ,the convent, but in fact his knowledge Was of the slight- ' est, and chiefly confined to such simple remedies as‘ he had picked up during a long mission-life among the Indians, from their old medicine-men. : In treating the injured man, he probably did the best that could have been done, which was to bind up his'wounds, . pour some spirits. down his throat, and leave him to nature A ‘ ‘ for recovery. The wounds that Dick Darling had received were many and severe, but there was one circumstance in his favor, that no bullets had lodged. From the short distance _ at which they had been fired, every one had gone entirely ’ through limb or body. , ~ Only one had penetrated the b(dy in the right breast; ,Lhere were holes through each arm, and one through the left thigh, besides at least a dozen gushes, where bullets had plowed up the flesh in various parts. , ‘ _ Out and hacked to pieces. as he Was to all seeming, no vital part had been touched, owing to the suddenness and rapidity . of theshort contest, at the full speed of galloping horses. The mail-rider had succumbed to loss of blood and the shock of so .many bullets striking him, and there seemed to be but little chance of life for him, so completely exhausted was I r he;- , ‘ The/fiery aguardiente, or brandy, which was poured down i . , ,his throat Was the (first thing to revive him. Under its in- , tinence he choked and opened his eyes, and tried to speak. The old priest gently hid him lie still, and the poor fellow” '- lter one wondering glance at the nuns, closed his eyes gain. -r From that moment he was watched over by priest and nuns Nike, with the most kindly solicitude, and as day after day want by, and he still lived, even Padre Junipero begun to en- , r. Itertain hopes of his ultimate recowry. I I As for Le Chiquita, the child, from. that first moment in which she had found his heart beating, seemed to be. quite, Amitfldent. and content. , When every (ace was gloomy, site '. course To use. ‘ 88"; stated on watching at his bedside, giving him the soup and “brandy that were slewly administered, from time to time, by " spoonfuls, and so literally keeping him alive from day to y day. , t- The old nuns, who Were growing lazier and more selfish "1‘ v, than the enthusiastic novice, were quite willing to resign the I V ,, 4‘ post to her. She was not yet a professed mm, and had six ‘ ' ‘ months of her novitiate still to go through. Moreover, Fran— : " “‘ once was the daughter of a rich haciendado, who had lately, ' died, leaving her an immense fortune, and to get that fortune ’for the convent of Santa Clara, it was necessary to make the , _, . (Senorita Francesca de Ribera into a nun, which could only "3'; ' he done by keeping her in good temper. V 'Hitherto, the little girl had been an enthusiastic devotee. ' i ’ Hanging tor the day to come on which she should take the- veil. it the nuns made the convent disagreeable to her, there was no telling how soon she mightleave them; for they were well aware that her family, and especially her brother, who i, a owned half the hacienda, were by no means anxious to see '1 their father‘s property clutched by any religious body. ' L _ 83 La Chiquita found herself, by common consent, installed ' I as head nurse over the poor wounded mail-rider. Not that there seemed any danger to her in the fact. Con ‘-'~ trary to the ordinary romantic notions on the subject, a man ‘ desperately wounded is not a pleasant patient, and as time goes on, becomes positively ofensive to delicate nerves. Poor Dick Darling, hagganl and unshorn| with prominent cheek- bones and glaring eyes, amid 'a forest of’ frowsy, tangled hair, was very ditferent from the Dick Darling who rode out, trim and handsome from Dolores station. As his numerous Wounds began to suppurate in that sultry climate, the odor became , 'very sickening, and altogether, while an object of the greatest pity, there was nothing attractive or in any Way romantic about him. , “ Here he had been, lingering between life and death, for a / ‘full numth, when at last the fever and delirium subsided, and ' -'he lay there, as we found him at the beginning of our chap- 34,1317, inexpressibly Weak, but on the road to recovery. ‘ , ‘rAud beside him, in the cool, dark inflrmary, with her white Med-drawntorward over her face, but watching the sleeper. DICK DARLING. illurtively, while a gentle smile of in'eil'ahle content wreethe'd her lips, sat. La Chiquita, telling her beads slowly. Dick Darling suddenly opened his eyes, and they met _ in here. . “ a “ Who are you i" he asked, fuintly,“eud what is this ' 5" W V place i" / l“ I m i _ f. 1 v I ' c I, I I I l , CHAPTER xxx. , I i ' V A N x n r 1. . . ‘ 1 I LACEIQUITA turned on her patient with a severe and , megietsrisl air. She did not understand a word he said, , 5 Spanish being her only tongue. but she conceived that he was ' questioning her. She put her finger on her lip, and said, with an assumption of antherity that was very ludicrous in one so childishly beautiful : o . “Es mormler que tu mltablee china”, (You must not speak, little One.) ‘ Dick Darling stared in wonder, and a faint smile crossed his lips. L ‘ t It was his first return to absolute/sense, since his wounds; Like all Culiforuiuns, he Understood some Spanish, {ind more than most of them. . It Was with a very humble air that he'seid : , “ Alt, senon'ta, qm‘ere tasted me dect'r en donde yo say! .No hablara mas,“ ya lo eupierm (Ah, miss, will you tell me where I am i" 1 would not talk any more. if I knew it.) I Ln Chiquita smiled, but held up her finger reproviugly. ' “ You are in the convent of Santa Clara, among Ifriends. . \ You were hurt before our gates, and have been very ill. - I '_1 um Sister 'Fruncesc'n, your nurse; uud you must be very ohe- ‘ __ ' dient, or I shall go away and leave you, for Padre Junipem' f says you must not talk. Now lie still. I am) going to give 3 4 you some food, you pour child, and then you must go to " “ sleep." My " - ~ It was interesting to note the Commanding end motherly; see her repair to the little soup-saucepan which was simmer 3 sing in a corner of the room over it little lamp, pour snme lné to a basin and appronch the patient, was a Wonderful sight in itself. ‘ With her brow puckered in a thoughtful frown, nntl her ~ rosy. lips compressed in an expression of nuxiuus importance. / ‘7. she proceeded to administer the said soup to the wounded " inn!) with scrupulous care. When a drop ran down his chin she scolded him gently.- ‘ , for his carelessness, and ahashed the poor youth so that he ' ,1 . ' choked over the next mouthful, and a spasm of pain seized ‘ him. Then the severe little nurse dropped her dignity and be- came dreadfully frightened, till Dick ceased to gnap for breath and lay hack, exhausted, when she began to cheer him up Once more, and pet him as if he was a little child. , At last with an innocent uncmtsciunsness that showed‘ that she must have frequently done it before. she softly dropped a. kiss on his forehead, and told him to go I0 sleep. or she would lenve him. Dick obeyed orders with mert-lnus dncility. It is sur- prising how much more influence is exerted by a ltenutiful nurse than an ugly one. He lay back and fell asleep, dreaming that he was wan- dering in the shsdy howsrs of Paradise, nnd that a bevy o! ‘ 'augels surrounded him and carried him 06', n! which every‘ one were the serious Mndntttm face of Francesca tle Rilwra. When Dick woke again it was quite dark, the mom wnl chilly, s small night light burned near the hell, and he felt. shivering and decidedly hungry. t t In the great wicker chnir Ivy the lied ant u suit-mu Mark . figure huwetl over and hunched up. very «lifl'rreut '[mtn Ihe slender figure of Sisier Fl'ullCt‘Siitt in its white t't-hes. ' “ Dick l.ty stnting at it (or at few minutes, it: dunk: whether ‘it were not merely a change of dream. He [Jewell/ed the wrinkled face of a, fat old wontun encircled by as white ‘ ' handetge like that of n corpse, while the rest at hvr body was ' -K*e‘uvult)petl in southt-r hint-k. The old uuu land fallen asleep ",1; - with her‘nuse on her breast and was snuring and wheeling " Iggy in mace“! unconsciounas. 7,, ‘ ‘_ u I max DARLING. :’l‘he young in In stirred‘ and tried to raise himself, finding, ' In the operation, that he, was absolutely unable to turn in bed. He was free from pain while he lay still, but when he moved either arm he was sensible that he was more or less damaged—how, he had quite forgotten. The past seemed out a dream to him, since he left Carson on his return trip' , He had a faint memory of a confused Indian fight and that was‘all. ‘ ‘Now, howeve., th.‘ discomfort of his position, for he was .1; wi weak and cold and hungry. made him irritable. He began , to call out as loud as he could, which was little above a - w whispn‘, and the old nun suddenly gave a. start and snort of ‘5 ' affright and woke up. Once awake she soon made him comfortable, for, like all old nuns, she was a trained nurse. She threw a soft warm cotton quilt over the bed to warm him, fed him skillfully with soap, and talked to him all the while in the comforting, motherly strain that good nurses assume to their weak pa- tleuts. Dick, at first inclined to be snlky about his change of nurses, soon became reconciled to the change, ate a hearty supper of, thick soup, and slept like a top, till next noon,- when he woke, refreshed and voracious. To his inexpressible satisfaction, Sister Francesca was there by his bedside; and when he awoke, she bent over and kissed him again,jnst as innocently as if he was achild, while she talked to him in the same low soothing manner as' the old nun, which in such a young girl had something iner pressibly and funnin charming. . Dick Darling, it must he confessed, took unfair advantage ' ~of his position as a patient that morning. He put on airs, ' and made himself out Worse thin he was. The real fact was, that he felt quite free from pain, clear in head, and very hungry. lie "m: able to move his arms, though not to turn his hody. lie pretvnded that. he needed raising up, his pil- lows arranged, etc., etc, that he might have the pleasure of hello-.1 the soft arms of the little novice round him. He wait * so "touch reduced in weight that she had no ditficnlty in mon, i log him. Then he demanded to sit up and be propped __u! with pillows while he took his breakfast, and kept Slaw; l ' nervous, he said. ‘ coo mes“ walling patiently, spoon ln hand, fo‘r at lesst‘twenty 1 minutes, While!“ he slowly enjoyed the meal that'he pretended to be unable to swallow. At. last he grew eshnmed of himself for his tyranny, and when the ltttle novice came to lay him down again he caught hold of her white hand and kissed it fervently, saying: “ God bless you, Sister Francesca. You are an angel." The little novice blushed ever so slightly, but she smiled‘ with an air of calm protection, as she said : “ You must not excite yourself, child, or Pudl‘e Juniptro will scold. Now you must go to sleep." But Dick suddenly became rebellious and demurrcd. He wanted to talk and ask some questions. He was growing He could not sleep. He would not sleep. He felt. the fever coming on. She must talk and tell him how he came there, or he might grow worse. ' Little Sister Fraricesca, yielding- by nature, was frightened into a quick compliance. Her patient had already discovered ‘ that he was the master there, and, man-like, used the power. The little novice did not know her own heart. yet. The handsome cavalier that had causud it. to flutter, a month be- fore, had distppeared. as it Were, swallowed up in the past, as if he had never been. The poor haggard patient before her was quite a distinct being, to whom she felt a sort of Motherly protecting love, that seemed to her perfectly innoo" ‘ cent and commendable. Inwnslbly to herself, she‘ fell into a. long conversation with Dick, wherein he lny quiet, asking an occasional ques- tion, while she talked on, in her low sweet tones of voice,- telliug him how she saw the terrible light before the Con- 'vc-nt walls, and how bravely the cavalier fought, ere he was shot down. She described it, as if' he had been another person, for she had evidtntly forgotten that the man lay beside her, nnd he! ’. face glowed with enthusiasm as she told of the bottle. Then, when she came to tell‘of his sufferings, and how she'flxst ‘ found that. he Was alive, her eyes titled with tears, and ingen. pslbly she found herself holding Dick's hand and petting is guy, as she described the long struggle between life and " “fit. ' * ' j \ :l, ‘, \ W 3’ fivvga‘waar _ I: ‘ - «5., {‘35 ‘t DICK maniac. V When Padre Junipero looked into the sick room one hot] 5 v a aheruoon about six weeks later, on his medical visit, who/t W! should he see but his innocent little novice La Chiquita, sit- V0“ = ting beside his patient’s couch in a most endearing altitude, ’5 he“ cootng away like a dove to her mate, while the American lay back on his pillows, with his hollow eyes gleaming with .t x {we light, and a soft happy smile irradiating his face. It was I ’ .7 W“ clear case of love. I ‘ .‘ 3 . > ‘nov “ Axum l i" said Padre J unipero. as he looked at them. i L' ' “1e " " ‘* out do: CHAPTER xx. THE SIRENI. Wm Padre Junipero uttered that vigorous cough,=Ls Chiquita started violently, and looked up. I 3 Then, as she caught the severe glance of the old prism, r; she suddenly turned deep crimson, and covered her face ' fwith her hands, trembling from head to foot. , ' Her eyes were opened at last. ‘ As for Dick Darling, he turned round on the priest with very diiferent feelings 'l‘ett weeks’ repose and the best of food had made a great change in the wounded man. Early ., V that morning, Dick had risen from his couch alone and uuas- : —« Iiated. when Sister Agatha, whose turn it was to watch, was ‘ snoring in her chair. He had made several discoveries when he came to stand : first, that his arms and other flesh wounds were almost well; second, that the hole in his right breast was filled up;_ third, ‘ ‘ that although he was very weak, he could walk, without any trouble. _ v‘ It was in the full triumph of these discoverits that he had returned to his couch, determined to make an effort. tu get out, for he was tired of his imprisonment among theold , nuns, .' r' I ‘ ‘It was only when Sister Francesca came, as 'sheralwuya 11d about whom balms noon, to warm lnr post, that . 1'1" , t r wok’r‘knn' a m. ‘ 31m;K "bf/V , began tJ reconsider his determination. After all, there were ' "'t' worse positions than being petted by a little nun with the ' H “den. 'face of a Madonna. t, ' ', '3‘") And so, somehow, their conversation that morning had . ' ,; .H ‘ . gradually taken a confidential character, as the young lrntil~I s ‘ ‘ 3 rider began to ask questions about convent life, and th- , 1‘ .‘ novice had told him of her determination to take the vail a ' ‘ the end of the year. A y! And then Dick had implored her not to do it for his sake ' ‘3' and had begun to coax her, though still without daring to dec are the love that really burnt in his breast. . And La Chiquita, still innocent of what she was coming ‘ t " to, had admitted that of late, the convent duties had begun ' t irksome to her, and that her brother Gonzalo did not " her to be a nun ; and finally, won by Dick's entrusties, she consented to think over leaving the convent. and return- ing to the world, while the mail-rider, who, as we have I , _ discovered, was a person of some considerable refinement and ~ education, for all his rough calling, pictured to her, how happy he should be, after his trips, to be able to visit her at her hacienda, near Santa Barbara. , It was while describing the future to each other in glow- ]ingcolors, though still without any word 0! love or marriage, that Padre Junipero came in and found La Chiquita prat- _ ' sling away, while she patted and played with Dick’s listless 1, hand, in a manner that had become habitual with her, when petting her patient. But the old priest's "AHEHIH" opened the eyes of the lovers in a moment. While La Chiquita qnivered with shame and confusion, Dick turned fiercely on Padre Juni- ' l‘n. ' pe" It is usual for gamut/um to knock at the door when they genter a sick~ruolu," he said. “ You have frightened the lady ‘ and uw, father." ‘ ‘ “Be content, my sou," said the priestgdryly. “This is , no longer a sick-room, I find. You are growing well, per- ' ', traps too Well. Pncllitfl, ny child, you will come to confes- 7‘ ' sion at three this afternoon. Meantime, you can send Sister“ . ,ua‘an here." . ' ’ . M rose up in bed. 7: ' tater~ pause. V f‘ Stay here, senorita," he said, firmly. “ Padre Junipero thus no right to control you, for you have justpromised me ‘ not to take the veil.” 1 “Oh, no, no, Ricardo, I did not quite promise," murmur- . eyes very wide. ‘ Then Dick gave convincing proof that he was quite well - ' and as firm and determined as ever. He suddenly gathered " the little novice to his heart and confronted the amazed priest with glowing eyes. _ ',‘ Padre J uuiperof’. he said, boldly, “ you see she loves me ' You can not have this novice for a nun, That is the reason, is it not, and I love her. , for she is to be my wife. , Pachita t" Pachita made no answer. She did.not eren stir. ,7 on she heard those terribly bold words of Dick, and thougyot‘ facing‘the old nuns, the poor little thing was completely ’overcome with a rush of conflicting emotions, shame, terror . and a, deep sense of guilt, in consequence of feeling a certain . 'thrill of joy, that she was certain she ought not to feel. What with all these, and feeling that the eye of Padre Jun'pero was fixed on her, lying thus in the arms of a man, . without struggling, poor Pachita fainted dead away in Dick’s 811118. \ Breast, and he felt that her silence implied consent.‘ He turned his language to English which the priest spoke < well. » “ You see, father,” he said, “ she loVes me. You may as . well 'give up, and marry us. Her family will help her out of this, if they won’t let her marry an Alnérican. Come, which is best, to lose her to them or to me ‘3” _ ' t “ To them, undoubtedly, senor," said the priest, eo'ldly'. “ Your proposition to me is base, or you would speak it, to V as to let Puchita comprehend.” V. laugh- “ Don‘t you worry, father, about her. She knows as well I ' - ed La Chiquita, brokenly, while-Padre Junipero opened his : Dick did not know this, for the novice’s face was hid in his, Dick gathered Pachita closer to his breast with a carelels V‘ I that her family won‘t let her marry me willingly. [At , the same time, once married, they can not .separattewns. and j \ ms, rm; user) {If you perform the ceremony, you will lie our friend, and _, earn our gratitude." ~ - Padre Junipero hesitated. Like all priests of whatever de- i nomination, he hind a keen eye for the dollars, and Dick’s u ‘ ‘ '1? -' words implied a handsome reward. . we" fl”; While he was thus musing over the question, he turned ,red fi‘; {abruptly away to the wmdow_antl looked ebsently out, on Zed ‘3- the -hot,glaring, dusty landscape, outside. Something he / a '3» law there, under the convent walls, disturbed his thoughts. In front of the gateway, and looking up at the window, me » . . un - ,'—' Were two women, of magnificent brunette beauty, wrth long, 0" min-like tresses of black hair, gathered together on the back ’- of the head, and falling in showars behind. The two wov B . men were gorgeously dressed in the style of Indian warriors u . . of, , ,_ on the warpath, wearing leggings of velveteen loaded down 5 , v with gold lace, whilg their necks, arms and bosoms were y loaded with necklaces, Inedals,-chains, bracelets, and every n ‘ fix-sewer sort of ornament, fit a marvelously picturesque mingling ‘1 of civilized and savage ornament. , - .,Eech girl Wore the [head-dress, only worn by the highest ,: chiefs of the Echipeta and Upsaroka tribe, composed of a ' crest of feathers at least two feet high, on the head of a tiger- cet, the whole fastened to the hair and blending with it, Q; gradually sloped off and falling nearly to the ground behind. ‘3" , The priest was so much amazed at these women warriors, ; who sat on their spotted chargers, bristling'with revolvers, and looking straight at him, that he was compelled to mum- ble a patmwster to himself before he could get. his senses ' “Jolly. , , - V " There the two beautiful, wicked-looking creatures set, like ' leopards of the forest, lithe, beautiful and dangerous, looking ' "straight at Padre Junipero. ,Psdre, with a squ smile that was‘lrresistibly captivating. . .Psdre Junipero crossed himself piously, and repeated the invocation against evil spirits. He and seen Indians and —.4qunws,.hy hundreds, dirty degraded creatures, whose appear- ‘Ince created nothing but disgust; but such luring! asthis he find memo. - . ‘ Cleopatria in her glory might have looked so and, less .' Then one of them put up her finger and beckoned to the, .“ r ' Finally, Padre Junipero gave in bodily. The alluring oi- - -' ten on the left hand, kept smiling and beckoning him down, and he could stand it no more; so out of the sick-room, down the corridor, past all the cells where the nuns were 4 taking their uoonday siesta, he passed till he came to the lit— tle postem door that opened out. on the moat. 1. .Here, as he expected, he found the two strange, mysterious- 3‘ ly-beautiful women, waiting for him, and was greeted with,é ' ' the ealutatiou, in low tones: ‘ ' “‘ Good father, will you not let us in f we wish to speak 5 to you." ' Padre Junipero trembled. I - - . ' , “ My daughters, I dare not. If the nuns were to beer of '_ ‘ V _ my admitting women, dressed as you are, I should be dir' > gOWncd in a fortnight." - t ’ ‘ The one who had spoken laughed a low melodious laugh. ’ ‘ V I. , CHAPTER XXI. THE RED LORD AND MASTER. THE two “girls, ‘with a gesture full of grace, caught upfrom' where they fell over‘ the horses? croups, behind, two rich with ’ lcl cloth blankets, bordered with gold, and very different from . the usual envelope of an Indian. With a careless flirt, each v ' threw her mantle over her shoulders, and sat there, mufled 7 from head to foot in scuflet. , r V . ' “ 'l‘hero, father, are we presentable now 1’" asked the one, ‘- %'10 had not hitherto spoken, in very pure Spanish. “The t holy’eistera may call us Nuns of the Sierra, it they like. Be: _. Iidee, they areall asleep. There will be time for u: to hen“ ' I our little talk with Ian, father, and leave you, before the ‘j .v ' t summons. mammal _’ ' V .' V , . VI. ;- Padre Junipero hesitated. There was something in the WHDS, if n..t the words of these mysterious women, that . made his henrt beat like a small earthquake. They sat. there, smiling bewitchingly at him,and alluring him to let them in, .10; what purpose he could not tell, but somehow he found . hlrnself wishing them in, and that the moat was not so broad. In a few moments the plank was pushed acro—s. and Padre flJunipero, fat, jolly, nud rosy. beckoned for the two women- ! warriors to cross. * , As soon as it was fairly across, one of the women leaped ,down, and held it secure, while her sister, driving her long lance into the ground, tied both horses to the yet quivering weapon, and leaped ofi‘ in her turn. Then both women stole lightly over the bending plank to the narrow postern. / _ Once inside. the door was hastily slammed to, and Padre ' ' / Junipero felt a pair of soft rounded arms thrown round his _ neck. But what. is the reason that the clasp of those arms 1‘ suddenly closes so tightly? What is the reason that one of these mysterious women, standing higher than Padre Juni- ,pero, (who is a short, fat man). suddenly whirls round behind him, the other in front, while both hug him tightly in their urns. Padre Junipero finds the arm of the woman behind under I ‘ his chin, pressing agninst his throat with throttling force, the ’ woman in front seizes his wrists and brings them together with a low laugh; he hours it click; feels something hard ren- _ circling his wrists. realizes that. he is handcuffed, and at the "same moment the perfidlous beauty in front raises one little inoccssined foot, and plants a vigorous kick right over the place where Padre Junipero’s food is supposed to lie, before digestion. V i ‘ It. was a very cruel thing to do, but it answers the wo~ man’s purpose. With a low groan, cut short by pain. the father confessor slips down on the floor, Completely powrr- .7 less. v . - “ Quick, Levrette, the lasso," says the lively lady, so dex- ‘ . terous with her feet. ‘ l 7‘; “Never mind," says the more stately chrette. t“ Here’s 3,“ empty cell. Shove him in and lock him up." scour said than done. Each girl takes an arm's“ fl ' ,n ' ,nicx mamas." they drag the groaning priest down the corridor to a dark . cell-hole, where they throw him into some unknown depth. They hear him go bump, bump, on some stone steps, and bring Levretle says, giggling: here, “it's the wine-cellar, I believe, Chevie. He won't. hurt. ' "1 Let's bolt'him in." ' _7? mm The door is bolted, top and bottom, and then the two girls ‘ ‘ steal back to the postern, laughing at the success of their~ * trick. ‘ Levrette looks out and gives a low whistle. It is answered from the old ruined stable that had contained the assassins of Dick Darling A moment later, a tall, slender chief, whose costume is identical with that of the two girls, and equally magnificent in material, while his handsome face is guiltless’ of paint, comes galloping out to the postern, leaps from his horse, and crosses the swaying plank with active step. “ You called me; I am come,” he says, in the deep, mu- sical tones of an Indian. It was a grand sight to see the two that‘ stood in the con- vent corridor, the tall, stately chief, with his serene, aquiiine face, toWering above the glorious beauty of the two French; Indian Amazons. From the way in which they twined about him, it was easy to see that White Thunder’s lodge was not yet disturbed by jealousy, and that Levrettc and Chevrette adored him. Warrior girls as they were, witlrthe privilege of bear- ing arms and riding on the chase with the chief, they were subdued to softness at his side, whose prowess they had wit- nessed. v What is it that my singing-birds desire 1’" he again asked, ,. in his caressing manner. _ “ Listen," said Levrette, softly. “ Before We. knew how true was the aim of White Thunder, and before we were bought with the scalps of our foes, we both knew a youth who rode for the great father in the East. He was a boy, _ but we both loved him, not as we love hile Thunder, but still passing well. He was slain by the Utes in front of this building, as the black squaws say, but we do not believe it, and we are going to find out whether they lied or not. Is it good t" . I y “ It is good," said‘Whlte Thundez. gravely; “ If themed ’l' minoaermtmsm dives, he is. a brave warrior. who ,killed three Utesaingle- . ‘:b.md8d. Lead on.” I ' .7 “He is not dead," said Chevrette. ‘F The squnws‘ who ,briug fish to the convent told me that they have a sick man “here, and it must be our Darling.” “ Yes," said Levrette, “ and the black squaws are keeping him it prisoner, because they have no man in the convent.” White Thunder frowned. “ It shall not be. A brave man is not to be mewedin a- \ eel], or burrowed like a woodchnck. Let us take him out." ‘ l “ Agreed,” cried Levrelte and Chrevette together. Then the three Indians, all appareled as warriors on the Inger-path, and all so strangely beautiful, stole swiftly and [noiselesst along the convent corridors. u Soon they came. to the rows of cells, with half-open doors, ,' where the nuns lay taking their siesta in a ghastly mockery '_ of death,for each nun lay in her coflin, according to the rules i" of the order, and the bandages around their faces gave them v _ the appearance of corpses in cerements. Levrette and Chevrette were used to this sight, from their yearly convent experience as children, but White Thunder seemed Very much impressed with the spectacle of the cof- - ,flqed nt'ms. , The two girls, as they passed each door, shot the bolts quietly on the outside, and thus had the happiness, in a very short time, of locking up forty-three nuns and the Reverend Mother, :tll snoring away in peaceful unconsciousness. The nuns being secured against giving my alarm to the V I 't‘yo girls, dropped the cnution they hud_hitherto displnyed. “ There can be. no more, Chevie," said Levrelte, in French. ,- ' 9‘ You remember how all the sisters slept in a row at the Snore Cceur. All we have to do is to find the Infirmary I now. Our Darling's there if he’s alivg" . “ He is alive,” said White Thunder, speaking for the first 2 time in his life in the language he had so long secretly un- .‘ derstood. “ He lives, and we shall find him. Then, if you ,‘ Vish_ him to live, keep away from him, for White Thunder is not retool." ‘ ' f I Had a ihnnlerholt fallen, the tWo girls could not have been more utterly crushed and astounded than when the _ look of his face, nwnkened both of these wild,gitltly, thought- , R ' ‘ uncontrollable spasm of jealousy at hearing his wives spean- young chief. for the first time, g’ave‘evidence that he tin/der- stood what they had been saying. Had it not been for In , ing so futt‘iilitu-ly and lovingly of Dick Darling before his, 1' very face, White Thunder might have kept his secret. The. ‘ two girls,‘never yet restrained by any necessity of prudence, any more than young men, on account. of their perfect free- dom in the tribe. had become, as we have seen, as wild“. young colts at pasture, full of animal spirits,"queeus of the ‘ desert, and unused to control themselves. The Blackfoot chiefs they despised us mental inferiors, the course whites, like IInrdin, for their mnnncrs. Dick Darling was the only ’ man they had seen who could talk to them of thi- worldmnd who was not, like Colonel Sam Jones, of a class too high to many an ludiuu woman. In this mnttep-of blood, the sting of humiliation that they had often felt in the East, and which, more than any thing else, hnd driven them from civilization to the wilderness, merely rendered their’hnughtiness more in- eti‘ntflr. The sheer of “ half-breed ” had drtven them from the cities, where people would not nssocintc on tennstot «Quality with the half-Indian daughters of a French hunter. Stung by these taunts, the girls ind fled to the 'Eehipeta lodges, to find themselves queens of oil nround. Wimt Won- \ der that they found the comrnst a pleasant one, and counter- Vniling all the loss of luxuries, in the vigorous hertlth and rude happiness of the desert. I White ’l‘hunder‘s sudden revelation, and the stern, menacing lt‘hs, hut by no tnehrns hm! girls, to n sense of their position, and their eyes fell in shame before the face of the man that they suddenly recognized to he their master. Levrettc nnd Chevrette feli on lhuil‘ knees and embraced those of the stern yang chief, who looked down on them like ' a hronze statue of Justice. ' ' " K - ,. ' “ Oh, my lord and huslmnd," cried the former, excitedly, V I “ had you but told us you knew of the great world, we should have adored you entirely. Fear not. All the white mon‘in the great East are nothing to my brave chief and huhund," ; , t CHAPTER XXII. s'rnaxas: wooma. "lulu was no mistaking the earnestness of Levrette. The, niflcent girl, gifted with a passionate nature, was obviously "flattened, and Levrette, whose eyes were flXed on his, saw the «1061:, and instantly sprung up sud hung on the chief’s neck, ’ Vttr‘hilpering: “Indeed, I love thee, my hero chief.” ,‘Ghevrette seemed then, for the first time, to feel that some - 5 thing was wrong, as she gazed on her sister in the arms of f the chief, and noticed that neither of them seemed to think i- ‘ ‘bf her. Then flashed on her mind the memory of that law of Christianity, which she had heard as a child, und hud al- ' ' mitst forgotten among the polygamous Indians. White Thun- _.,' tier had made his choice, and it was not she. Nominally his ‘ wife, Leyrette was his reul love, and she saw it and trembled with jealousy. Then suddenly a thought cutne_ to her mind-the thought of Dick Darling. If Levrette loved White Thunder, she . could love D.ck, and at that thought she suddenly turned and fled noiselesaly uWny toward the Inflrmury, leaving White Thunder and Levrette to talk in low, loving tones, while the . chief told her of his secret vow, new-r, to claim the rights of an Indian husband till he should find which of the girls really ved him ; for White Thunder, in iris silent, self-contained jvhty, had imbibed a number of civiliZed notions, and umong ‘ ,whers, the strange idea of love, in a sensi- entirely un-Iu- Ciievrette fled away down the corridor, silent‘ as u ghost. .' ngd guided by her old Montreal experience, made her wuy to ' . “to Infirmary. , _;Suflly opening the low door,ahe heard the sound of voch filament conversation, and beheld the object of her" ‘."rch,‘, , ,.j-g , i nicg‘nfimlr‘xo‘” r Dick Darling, looking very pale and thin, but, if possible, ‘7 "' I handsomer/than ever. His face had been shavad at last, his ' a, _ lovg, curling hair was in good order, and flowed down over {9 a long, black coat, one of Padre Junipero’s cassocks, in fact, I (which sat awkwardly on his frame, but was the only garment 3 ' ' procurable, the nuns having burnt up his blood-stained uni- ‘ form when they cut it off him, as he lay, to all appearance, ‘, dying. ‘ l 8m' 3 But what Caused Chevrette the greatest surprise was, that ‘-' bullet the young man had a female companion. , A'. young girl. in the white flannel robes of a device, but with her rich hair falling over her shoulders ln profusion, the disfiguring hood being removed, was lyingin Dick’s arms,and~ the young man was murmuring soft, endearing Spanish word! ' to her. ' “ M querida Puchr'ta ! Anjel de mi alma ./ Never shall you replace that hideous hood again, while Ricardo is here to ' protect you. Let who will come. Padre J unipero shall" marry us, and we will be happy. Your brother will relent, ’7 when he finds that we are safe married, and I shall rise high . yet,.in our Golden State. Do you not believe it P" ‘ “ Mi Ricardo, I believe you can do any thing,” said the soft voice of La Chiquita, fondly, as she raised her lips to’ meet his. “ My riches—l never prized them till now—but“ they will enable you to follow a career worthy of your blood and edt'rcatinn, qum'do; and I shall be proud of you who . . you sit in Congress and make great speeches." ’ ' ‘ ' ' " Dick laughed. ; " Little.flutterel‘l Well, we love each other.’ That is the main point. For the rest, I must get outof this place quickly, or you can not follow me, unless Padre Junipero will marry- us." “ That he never shall,” cried Chevrette, suddenly rushing" ' forward, with a sort of strangled shriek of fury' and jealousy. ‘f You that love a wax doll better than a sister of Warriors, .- ’ see your doll spoiled.” '. ' , As she spoke she whipped out a pistol, aimed at Francescu‘s " 1 head, and was about to fire, when Dick suddenly rushed b6- 7 ' tween. and interposed his own body, while Francesca drop- " ped senseless on the floor. ' V 'nr fo‘u‘nmy-‘t: mfethém, if you must, Chevrette',"'cri‘ed the youth, I merrily. “I never said I lowed you. You and your sister yfilegu'ed ine to death, but I never gave you more than civility. >‘I‘ire away, if you must, but’ at me, not at. this innocent lady.” ) ‘Chevrette had stood glaring at him, her bostnn printing and heaving with fury, her frame half-crouched, like a tiger ready ii; to spring. A. moment later, she rushed round him to kill the ~,'-girl, and pulled the trigger just as he caught her arm. The 7 I bullet rebounded against the wall, and a moment later he was struggling with the ft enzied woman for the pistol, which. Ih’e tried to use on poor Pochita. ' 'In' the excitement, neither noticed loud shouts outside the convent, but a moment later White Thunder and Levrettc fleshed into the room. ' r p The tall chief made but one stride to Chevrette’s side, as '~ ’ she} was breaking away from the exhausted Darling. He leid 'Ahis iron grasp on her wrist, and dragged her to one side of the room, with his other hand on her throat, shaking her 'pitgrily. His Indian blood was roused, and he treated heraa ' ~e chief treats‘ his squuw. . i “ In White Thunder n coyote, that the Fawn throws dirt on.his robe 2’” he thundered, in his guttural Blackfoot dialect. ?‘ Let the squnw remember that she is the promised wife of a chief, and leaye other men alone. I have spoken," He had indeed,nnd the intpetuous. undisciplined girl found she had met her fate. Perhaps it suited her wild nature bet. ter than another, for Indians neVer take kindly -to Chrislinn practices. Any way, she bowed herself at the feet of White Thunder, and humbly kissed his hand. She had accepted her fate. . ' H The angry chief turned to Darling, but before he Could ' Iponk, there was a clutter of steps on the stone corridor, and hind voices. Dick Darling started round in delight, crying, j as he heard one voice that he knew: ' 2‘ Thank God i Safe at last i” “ Wlntr is he? Whnr's the old ring-tnilrd galoot l" be). mined the voice of Jack Hardin. “ I know’d the squnws , v didn’t lie when they said he war hidden hyar, and ti I don’t ‘ ' hev hitn trout in short order: nun or no nun, darn the In! a junk. Hyat- he is, by Gosh l" ' ‘ . , ,r 1' .i - "9'5 WWW ughfidjof rough miners, yelling; . ,“I know’d I’d find him among the gals, the luxuriant , me! Why, Dick Darling, you ornsry, old, long-legged g» 1., fl "loot, how are ye i" Ami theststion-msster _ru|hed into the room, followeii y‘ I. That night Padre J unipero married Dick Darling to Frus- ,oesca do Ribem, and Jack Hardin/stood by, with Colonel Sum v zones, for witnesses. The confessor received in fee enough to. nettle the consciences of fifty ministers. Dick left the Pony Route and went to Santa Barbara, quite satisfied that for his', I wounds he had obtained for wife the most beautiful heiress in ' ‘ California. ‘ ‘ White Thunder and his beautiful wives disappeared. Some day we. may see more of them. That day was the but time unv of them ever saw DICK DARLING. id by riimt gi‘ 7-H)- ium I to in y '1 is in ,_STANDARD\* V" I'D-\IM'E ‘DI'A’LQGIi'E For School Eihibitions and Home Entertainments. Non. l to 91 inelnliro. I! to” Populnr Dining-1n Ind Dnmu In Inch book. End) "In," no Mme pngoo, um. pout-pom, on receipt of price, tan conu. Beadle & Adams. Publishers. 98 William St.. N. Y. Thou rolwnu In" boondpropnml with “poi-In Min nd lad to ochnoll an m nil: «in, pI-thul, lunnor uni milmont. vulon with or without the iurnlturo oi YOUNG PEOP E of ovary I;o.both mm and in ‘cr book- in the marina, at any price, contain no mnny uninl n l rarer-nu to thlir nvlu'lnbillty for Exhibition, Ihfle, and Iuitod to ECHO!— . it in fair to mum. that no nvnilsbio diniognu nddmu nun: mucous, no. 1. Mutin‘ oi-tin Mum. For nine young lmiiel. Hobnobbin‘. Forflrol hm Biting n Livo Euglilhmnn. For Dino boyl. Th1 SocntoiSuccon. ‘or th Inf-onion. Tnuo’n Cor-motion. For main And hmlo. Young AIIIOHCA. Thno Inn A! two {amnion ' Tnlhlon. For two lndlu. Jon ina’o Dntiny. [bur to u, onuunll. Th- hnrni. Fur six ho I. Thu olly of tho Dial. For then I'll] opt-lull. \Vhieh will you Chm-oi or two nthm. For tlim mnlo Ipukcrl. Tho 31mm of Mar. For two litllo girls. The i ornnt Conicundo’d. For two boy; Tho Jul-Pony. or innrlndlom Tho Mt You Mun. Iortwo mnlol. Thru Scan" in Woddul Life. Mnlonnll fmnlo. M-ro. Snifllu' Conic-lion. For male nnd lomnlu. Tho Minion d the Spiriu. Fin: young ladies. The an’o Rm: oning. H fun-loo And i Mala. The Vin-go with On- G'ntlunln. For night to. mnlu Ind on: male. DIME DIALOGUES N0. 8. Tho Gmlnl ofLihorly. 9 main Ind l iomnll. Cinder-oil" or, The Little Glnu Slipper. Doin Guod nnli Saying Bod. Bovcrni chnmrhn. Tho acid." llulo. Two main and two famnlen, ho Gift oi tho Fairy Quun. Sour-i (amnion. titan in nnd Dine Fur. For two hmrtoro. Thu Country Aunt'l “Int-to (in Ci y. For IU- Irnl chnncton. The Two Romain. For two rnnlu. Trying tho Chuncton. For threo rnnloo. The n py Nnily. For unrnl 'nnilmll.’ The )‘oryunl clunruhn. How to riio ‘ Pop-inr’ Stories. Two Ink. The New Ami tin (ll-i. For two min. ' A Sensation It Lani. For two win. The Grunhorn. For two mnlu. The Tluru Mon of Scion“. For {our null- Tho Old Ludy’n Will. For {our main. The Lillie Phil 1m. For two liltln gil‘il. How to Find In air. For fl" main. Tho Viriuu. For nix young hidlu. A Connoblnl Ealogue. \ The Public lnootiu . nun-l.- uui Manuals. Tim Engihh Truvo or. for two MOI. DIME DIALOGUES, IO. 3. Po Mny QInn. For In entlro school. run itdmn Convention. For ten lemnla. Kong-in; End Comgnn y. A Furl-o. For th- "Ill... Courting lhdor D flicultlu. Quinlan, l loinnln. lounl Ruprmntotiru. A Bork-qua. 4 union. buying the Pu“. For numerous main. DIME DIALO Tho Frost King. For tenor morn venom. Min in Lilo. 1 hr" main and two {om-loo. 'Illll, - o nnd Ghnrity. Fur tireolittlo glrll. DIN! In Joan. For two males nml onu female. Tho any. A Floral Fnucr. For nix liltia girls. Tho Euclmntod Prince-o. 9 molel.uvernl fenmln. Hflnorto Whom Honnr in Don. 'I mnlu, i fomnla 'fln Gum]. Cihnt. Turuvunl mnln,ono femull: Phonology. A Diuuulon.‘ For lwonty main. Tho Gentui Cook. For two will" ~- Mnstorpiocg For two nulls- III we loath ‘. Tho Two Rom-no. For two main. Thu Sumo. 50mm! loon- For two main. . Showing the “'hlto Futhor. 4 main, 1 (antic. The Battle Call. A Roch-ti". For one nah. 61115, no. 4. The Stubblowwn Volunteer. 9 main. I (canola; A Scene from “ Pnui Pry.” For four main. i‘i-o Chum“. For thru rnnlel lid on. {om-lo. Bea, Cluck nnd Broom. For thin liltlo giriu. 'i‘ho Right Way. A Colloquy. For two hoyo. \thl the Ledger Says. For two mining. The Crime: oiDruo. A Coiloqny. For lwoboyg, The Reward o! Ben-volume. )or {our malt; ' Tin Letter. For two nulu. mm mucous, no. 5. “a Thrn Gnu-n. For school or nrlor. . ntimont. A “ Thm Pomm' " n-ro. hind Iho Curtain. For mnlon Ind {om-loo. '50 Ell Society. Fin boy- nnd A tench-r. :«uminntlon Dny. For-enrol iornnlo tint-cull 4 Mislclgoi: “ Turn" For oer-ml mnlol. - Tribunal. For ton boyl. kLoon 1'2 0. Several mnleo and formula. w Not Io u. u. Au-wor. For two tombs. DIME DIALOGUES, N0. 6. Th. Wuy ’Huly Kept: Secret. Milo Infill-main. It. hot Ind" mummy. For five nuloo. Willi-n1 Tail. For 1 hole uhool. omn'n Bin“. 80 n {and nod Own raga. b not com Gillian. Ill and . Coo-m low. For at: lulu. Puttlnz on Airs. A Calloqny. For two all“. The Strnighl Mnrk. For levornl buys. Two idou oi Lilo. A Colinqny. Fur Milli-III. .' Extrnrt from Marina Fniim. Mil-tr -Mnney. An Acting Char-rig. Tho S x \‘irtun. For nix \‘oungildlu. u irinhm-n It Homo. For two moi“. uhionntlo Raqninmtn. For three (M. A Bay of 1': (Eyn). For eight ulna link (in. 1 Tim Two cannula". For thy. lulu. Tho Votlriu of Folly. For A number oihmnl‘ Aunt Bohy'o Bolnx. our hmllu nnrl two Inning Tlu Libol Suit For we ion-Alon owl] on. Inb- .Bontn Clo-o. r o-Ionflnr o! . min “in. Tummuimhdh (from Fni . Former- ‘i' fir" Bingo. For two an E 'ot'o m’o do mIltov, All about I hoe, ,roor canton. Thtoo lodloo Ind two gontlomon. .Don’t count your chlckono hoforo ‘ ' A mnan momma: ‘ Louot Chlnooo outage. My oolghbor’o ‘ Tho moollou dootlny o! Condonood Kym. 'l'llo Mloo oolppl mlnclo, ScondIl, ‘A tho lrlohmon, Plotul, Von to Ildo ooomo In, dork oldo vlow. Duos luno vot Mary In! To r voy Foggy MECIII? 'I'ho N NM“, , lo!a 0o oomlng domon, Sproyl {roll ooh Bll Logon o of Attica, Po: ’ hmo vlto lunh lln Tho “mo-pl mud, q Do ol‘r'c’unutncoo oh do A dohur’o mhhlq, oltlwItlon| 1' o eon-flux In“. ' Dor'o nulin now udor Tho llllgont old! It -, , Ad»? m' llgl 1'1?! Millan in ' om re mu m It o I round That vlolln w ' tho comor y thoy “ opokoo,’ Holoklnh anm on \ parody, Molhon-ln-low, MI" uml an, Ho didn’t Io“ tho (Inn. Blll Underwood. pilot, In. two Itory o! ank- Old GrInloy, Picnic doll II, A gonowlno 'lnlorom, llo‘o Mu, l‘ho plll poddlor'o on- Our candl Ito’o vlowo, An- lovlutlnn to tho ' I would I won I boy tlon, lDundruty'o wiodnn. blrd of “My, mlo, Wlddo! GruI’o loot Ploln luguogo by truth- Tho crow, A pothotlo nary, wordo, I M Juno. Out mot. BIKE DIALOGUE! No. 26. Tho louon of non: . Two vo null [13].. " [’1'chch whot you {much F3! lodloo. :3 Pollclclu. Numerouo all-mun Monuhlouodmolo-hlllo. Slxlodlulnduvonl I Tho oonvoulnl.ogont. Two nonloo on! w. opoohton. A an thIt dld not (Ill. Slx hovo. Two woyo ofuolo: thlnxo. Two llttlo lo. oo. y In Grub. Two moloo. hotehod. Four lulloo Ind o boy. A Illoht Icon. Thu. fomoloo Ind on uh. All lo hirlo lovo Ind er. a lodloo, 9 ontlomn. Embodlod oumhlno. Thm you; lodloo. How undo Jooh got rid 01”“le wo moloo, How Jlm Poton dlod. Two lulu: 1 . wtth oovor'Il tnoolomotlono. DIME DIALOGUE! No. 27. - Pony O’Dowd'o umpolxo. For throo molu Tho “not [lll'l good Iopl. For two Moo-QC 3-. Ind an- !oonolo. two llttlo [lrlo. Hoot: In(orooooo not Ilwoyo jut. Noun-ram “That onumtoful mu. nl ." hrtwoluloo. ‘ hoyo. If I hId tho moo-y. For v, roo llttlo llrlo. Diuontontod Annlo. For Iovoul llrll. AppoIroueoo oro docoltful. For oovord lod ‘ A douhlo our rloo. Four moloo Ind ono {om-Io. Ind (mo xoutlomon. ‘ v Wh'It wu ltr' For In lodloo. bovo‘o proton. For two llttlo (lilo. What wlll can thou! For o lIdy Ind two boyo. An onl'oreod on". lndopondont. l'or numornuo chorIcton. Thou who prouh ond thou who porfom. Foo Euh anon tho boot. For {our boyo. throo moleo. ‘. End and found wootlnz. For oovonl thI. A [oath oooqnoot. For two you; drip. hoy’o plot. For Iovorol chunkn. 1mm DIALOGUE! No. 2!. A toot thot told. For olx young lodloo Ind two No room for tho drono. For throo no). hon- lontlomon. Am~eholn For nnlnorouo chomtoro. 1mm" I dobotlol oodoty. For {our hoyo. Mounro [or moo-uro- l‘or {on gum. I‘ho Iwohonlng. For four llltlo 'lrlo. Bond by I for two lull-o oud. b. Who Iohuko prop". For I sooth-moo, I lodloo. lhmololog In ovll m. or u: lodloo. Both oldoo of tho I o. For {our mIloo. Tho oplrlu o! tho wood. For two troupoo o! glrlo. An ogrooohlo prolouloo. l'ol uvonl DIME DIALOGUE! No. 29. . who Ihnll tho tho dlctlonIry! For olx typchl Blnplo Simon. For foo! llttlo hon. mole ohyutoro no two fun-loo, Tho rod llght. F Iomolol. An lnl‘olllhlo olgo. For (our boy- or lolr mIloo, two Iomoloo. or (our boyo ond touhor. 'l'ho owootoot thought. For {our llttlo ark. Tlio toot n blurry. gortuno'o whul. For four mIlo clnonohn. Tho IohlunIn mentor. “Him I [on onol. mu. .othotoo. For olx llttlo glrll. Throo llttlo look. For low I l boyo. The yoo Ind no of who. For throo llttlo boyo. Boworo of tho don! For Ihroo lodqu Moo No rot-noon. ll: gontlooun Ind thm Iodloo. “and ." ' AI Imogl ' good boy. Ono molo, ono lomIlo. Joo Hoht’o hunt. For two hoyI oad infill. Who} o y}. lotion dld. For oounl lodloo. BIKI- l‘or olx moloo. ' ,» fl' 1h. mic loch Ito uld by Xowodoolul ovorywhoro, or will ho loot, pout-poll. “7' I din-o. oI not!» a! ptloo, to unto mh. A good on {or monov. For olx lltltlo £10; . not": ‘ For mml eta-Moro. ’ ‘ “a a ammo. nun mun-ink! Holmi- T' " ~ ' ' I)IlVIE POCKE'I‘ N()VEIJS. PUBLISHED SEMI-MONTHLY, AT TEN was“ 'mcu. l lekorc Harry. 5% Arkunsns Jack. m7 Jul) lleun. The “Mud Runyon ‘ Dead Shot. lllnckbrurd. Illa Th.» \Vuml kin; ' The le lvc. : The Boy Mine”. ' The River Rifles. 10’.) luv-«i llmm-l, ' Beautiful l nlmouu. Blue Di . Hunter Hum. H“ A ' l ." (Immhlnlu Mime. . NM. “'ollr. . (Iluudwuotl. " : " ' llnnk, th (n 'lle, ' 'l‘he “'hile 'l'rnshn. Thu 'l'l-xmi lluwlu. ll'.’ 'l'llr ("rue-.5. ll kn. 'A ‘ ' The llunl-‘r N‘uul. The Oullnw‘u \Vife. ' .‘vlcruilels hlut. 113 Tiger-“curl. “' Ah 7 The Tull 'l‘mmner. ' Mud Anl'ouy‘h S Hull 1” .ll «skrll A\~l=,:l‘l. )iuill (11 \l mhluz, _ nghlning .1... Imkxeas Trummr. us. The r ‘ 'n... TL"... Captives. The lalaml l’lr c. ‘f The Flurillxl S‘s-ml. llfi l P . ‘ 'l'lw Luv-l Hunter. The Boy Rang . ' 'l'hc lslmnl Trnmmr. H7 . A . - 'v . ' llurrler Law. Bans, [he Trupprr. ‘: \Vuthnp. m . ' 'rh. Lined T The French 51x11 ‘ liultlinz Dick. ll‘J ' l The Trader 5] . Long Shel. " Sharp-Era. ‘ l . l ‘ The Fun“ Speck-1. The léunmnkvv. lmu-lluxul. ' ' . ' .. I The Border You. Rm] lluud. X The Yellow llumer. ‘ ' l ‘ I. liunler Vengeance. 'l‘h», l'hnnwn rider. ‘ .‘pnu-rllirlcra. ‘ Bard-r Busulc. Giuul l'm 'I The 50m 0! Llhcnl). 'l he Lust Bride. Kenn-a. Tr. ‘h-nlawu hp). The Prairie Swllllgk‘. um mm; a m. . , um Lignzuing. SLIl‘lx'l. Slwulllrl ' .\1 ml, 13ml. ' llun'v lleull. lluhlor lCil : . llul l mm .2 llunll Kil. 1‘. 3 ‘ ll v lk-uLh-lhm , . ” Kuntnu. vhr r ~. ' v 'I llu .‘Wmu‘. < \‘p. m llursem . . I x .. 'l‘lw Slmwnm- 2~ luv. “ - Tm” mA :. l I. . . Mu)...“ rm ... l. . um .Iuyr r. llvmlur Hulr :lvi. -' . . Th.» l'x 1- lllllrl. ‘ l’l.il llunuvr. ‘ . " . r r. . Uhl kylr, Tmllvr, . ,wlLllm . 'l‘in- lullaufivm‘, ‘ '- ‘ l’Eg l'uuthrUuld-A The no;- m r“. l. ' wquIw‘ 1M r r: 133.3411.» '1-xfialic1'rs.[.,.f.. 'l l . ml : . 'llm l Inn-m ll 1., . l‘,\w._\' m 1.. '1 m- 1.un u .I ,. r 1‘}..- x'oung 5m: “.19 (‘wlum-l L' n “.2. .' Thu Hm} llwl Ch. ‘ L '1 hr lulliun Awugrl. lH’I lel lchl’l’A“. Fill} l}m\l~fi . lnl llnll mA ’l'lzv \ullm ,\ 2‘. ‘ . The Smuup Rlfi. . Mm . lU'.’ \\"ul Ruhr. 1 11rd .lxu Lu ‘ A T- l- linllunn Sr'uls. The \V rll Q n. . l vlullrlu l‘lulllcxfi- ' 'l‘l ‘ 'l‘nm Hawk. lrlilrr. ' .ul lluglr. 1-6 (‘l 'he 1 Th~- 31ml Phian w. l _ ' Tue llnmlll llunnil. :05 lm‘lmhln Bill. The lilarl; Wolf. 106 'l he ludlsm Spy. . 'l'hv: l’lmiol broutu.‘ .. In“, wrulw~ mm ‘1 MIR. '1 HP: FULLU‘J'L‘V; “ILL llla‘ lhhl lull l.\ THE l'lth‘R A51) 0‘; 'l'llll DATE: th‘lL‘A'lEL‘: 209 The Harder Aver-gen. Hy L‘dwmd “'illelL. 11ml) Jule-1m. 210 Thu Humblo‘l Charge. 1" .I' Ru ulr .ln' ' um. 21] The ilmwneo Scout. I . g l uh Jim-41.. 2|? The “lent Slayer. Br \ .J. llnmihun, Am. rlsrh. 3 The Prairie Queen. Bx W. J. UJnxllL m. . . 3‘14 The Huvhwondnmeu. hr Am lleull. an]; m M~mluw I!) The PM mr uf Lu \ lutrenc. Br Mrs. M . . l _ . llulll} Mmcm‘uu Mir. 6 l’elug s nu. llv [Amhhm H "ellina Jam. 1 .1. mm... 3.; 7 The “'lleh al‘ the “'ullowlzlh. y Edfllh la. 1‘ Int. Ill-mlyOCKUbCr 17th. ‘ The Prairie I’ll-alum. lly Gustave Ahmml. lunvly (luwlnu mm. The llu—uur Cnpluln. By Culouel l‘venliu lngmluun. llrml)‘ Nowmlur 14th. The Red hpy. [2' l’. HmnilmnMyers. Remh ‘uremher am), Rid: Darling. l\‘ t Jplfillll Frell'erirk Whlvm, Randy December lull. 22'! [he )lnntunz I Hers. BrCapmin Fr‘ 4. “'hlunlmr. Rem -D¢ueulbor: 2‘63 guilty or Nut ( My. Y} .Irn. Ann P loner. llundannumymh. 22 I l‘he (Dutluu' Hunger. By Joseph E. Badger, Jr. lend} Janunry 23d. For tale M NH A\~»-,< .r pen; or um pm!- ov. far (‘26 Sun.) {-3. «v. bfle‘munhrm, (In rum; nix u.unlL: 1.: ,, IQ "tutu: .n‘n ADAMS,._ «an, em wuunm urea. .Vc-w York. “A